And It Starts To Fall ApartIt was at this point that I realized how pathetic my thin veg tanned mocs were against the rocks. I felt every bump, every sharp edge, every painful step. When I reached a driftwood log that was at the waters edged I rapidly dumped my gear, after carefully resting my rifle against the log. I was thirsty, I was over heating, it was so hot. “Ok, you need water and you need to cool down.” Looking around me and listening I couldn’t detect any sign of anyone about on this part of the river, aside from the mooing of cows on the other side. I stripped down to my shorts, pulled out the filter straw from my market wallet and slowly began to wade out into the water.
The water wasn’t nearly as cool as I was hoping for and I managed to find every painful rock with my bare feet until I was about fifteen yards out. Down the straw went into the water. I drew the water fiercely through the filter, sucking as hard as I could. I spit out the first several mouthfuls of water that was made black by the charcoal section of the filter back into the river. The moisture felt refreshing in my mouth. It was a relief to be taking in fluids for the first time in a couple of hours. I’d hiked about three and half miles through the woods, a good chunk through thick, waist high grass.
The relief, however, quickly changed as I began to notice a change in the draw of the filter. Things began to
After I made it back to the log I began putting my clothes back on, but only after I was sure I had removed all of the ticks. Shirt: 8 ticks. Pants: 13 ticks. “Swell.” Out came my little kettle and I filled it up with water. Into the kettle went the straw. No dice. “You piece of…” Out came a flour sack wash drying towel. I folded it over on itself until I had a thick square of material. I put it over the top of my kettle and filtered the river water through it into my tin cup. The water felt good going down until the third large gulp. My mouth finally recognized that this dish drying towel had gone through the dryer with a dryer cloth. “Ok, screw it.” I took a few swigs straight from the kettle to rinse the awful soap taste from my mouth and spit out the water. “Time to boil water, momma’s havin’ a baby.”
Leaving my gear against a downed tree where I decided I was going to make camp I began to search for wood for a tripod and a fire. I was being rather selective as I was feeling drained and wasn’t all that up to swinging a hatchet too much. I was beginning to search aimlessly for deadfall. I wasn’t happy with what I was finding. I dragged a small pile of sticks to the camp and lay down, hat over my eyes. “Man it’s hot.” I was thirsty again. The EMT inside my head started connecting the dots. “Leif, call Jeff.” “I just need to get the water boiling.” “Leif, this is onset of heat exhaustion.” “I’ve got this, I can make it work.” “Yes you can, but you should call Jeff.” “I’ll feel better if I just lay here awhile.” “Leif, make the call.” Forty five minutes later Jeff pulled up to my camp with a four-wheeler. He hopped off, smiled and threw a bottle of ice cold Gatorade at me. “You read my mind.”
So the trek failed. I was pretty irritated with myself. I had followed the plan, resorted to backup plans and it still fell apart. The plan was partly broken. What would have changed things?
K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid): I wanted to accomplish too many things, and as a result I was lugging around too much gear for the conditions. This wore me out quicker. Even one trap would have sufficed for what I wanted to do.
Location, Location, Location: I ended up hiking about 3 ½ miles to the site. A location 1 mile in would have been sufficient for my needs.
Know Your Limitations: I had pushed too far, too hard. Though I have what I consider better than average outdoor skills, I’m not 23 anymore, nor and I in the same shape I was in at the age of 23. I’m 32 and fat. For a trek like this it’s perfectly acceptable to pace yourself. I didn’t do that. I shouldn’t have gone as far down river, full speed ahead, as what I did. I could have called Jeff and updated him of the new location.
Know Your Gear: It should be noted that it was not my period gear that failed me, it was the modern stuff. You should always test your gear under safe conditions before it needs to be used “for real.” Other options for the water that I could have used could have been drops and purification tablets. I also could have used the handkerchief around my neck to filter out the large sediments. A canteen would have been good as well. If this would have been an actual survival situation, would I have drank the river water? Given the conditions as they were during my trek, yes, I would have drank the water. Since this was not a survival situation I opted not to. I didn’t think it prudent to risk getting sick at that point. As a result of this experience I now have a different filter system and purification tablets. Also, I take care of the washing of any the gear I use…no more dryer sheets for me.
Keep An Eye On The Weather: Ironically, that particular day ended up being the hottest day all week. It got to be 93 that day. If I would have looked at the weather info I likely would have done things differently. Possibly even brought along a plastic canteen of water just to play it safe and made camp sooner.
The Outcome
Despite the fact that my trek came to an untimely end, it wasn't a complete failure. I was able to recognize the signs and call a spade a spade. I got out when I needed to. Sometimes knowing when to call a thing for what it is an important part of your survival skill set. Also, I know to take the above five mentioned things listed in my assessment into consideration for the next time I go out on a trek by myself.
On a slightly humorous note, about a week after my little adventure a man stopped by my friend’s house to show him a picture on his cell phone that was from one of his trail cams. He asked Jeff what he knew anything about a mountain man living in the area. Jeff looked at the picture on the man’s phone. (It was a picture of me…where I’d gone on the wrong trail.) Jeff shook his head and said “Nope. I’m not aware of any mountain man living in the woods.”
- Leif
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