[Meldon]

A few years ago when doing the survival section in a bowhunter ed class, one of my students brought up they he carried a couple packets of grape kool-aid in his survival kit. After trying to figure out why, he finally told us that it works great when using it to write on snow for signals.

[Mac]

That is a nifty idea....

I guess too - if it came down to it - you could eat it for the sugar content...

Mac

[Jon]

Seems kind of a waste of space to me. You would need a lot of packets to write anything unless your just putting an X. But if you were just doing that 3 fires about 20 feet from each other in a triangle shape is the best signaling in my opinion. (it's understood internationally)
I bet it's more for drinking. Next time you see him ask him what his favorite flavor of Koolaid is...

[WoodsCustom]

I think its a heck of an idea. I doubt he was carrying the Ready Mix with sugar added. It was probably just the little packs.

WC

[stairman]

Havent heard that one but I would think large logs spelling help would be better seen than a coolaid trail.

[CuriousGeorge]

Think it would "bleed" into the snow and if spread carefully, a couple packets could make a large mark on clean snow. Imagine if aircraft was searching for someone who they knew was missing, the large purple dot in an otherwise white snow background would get attention. Also wonder how much of a stain it would make in a large body of clear water as a signal to aircraft?

[icefisher45]

Sounds like a good idea, and the little packets wouldn't take up much room.

[Celticwarrior]

I think my question is why Grape? Why not berry or orange? Wouldn't a big red or orange mark be more visible in snow than purple? Weirdly, orange dye is what they use in the rivers on St. Patricks Day to make the water bright green. I would think that would also get you noticed if you were in the middle of a giant green spot in a lake or ocean.

[stairman]

ITt still makes no sense to me.Koolaid can blow or wash away. If Im spelling HELP Im gonna use something more dependable. It would be good to disguise the taste of Iodine or clorine for purifting though.

[Celticwarrior]

Iodine reaction can be halted by adding Vitamin C, or any citric acid. That is what cuts that horrible taste. I would think an Orange Koolaid or Tang, or some kind of Gatorade or Crystal light powder would do that more effectively than grape anyway. As for being a signal, first off its' useful only in white snow, so it's pretty limited anyway. If I am in a clearing, I can't imagine you could carry enough to make a really big signal that can be seen from a rescue plane or chopper easily. I would almost certainly go with a burning pyre or set of pyres, and use large amounts of greenery and logs/rocks to make a HUGE sign on the ground. To me, the whole packet of koolaid - as - signal-device seems a little spurious in any event.