[mweidner]

So I am heading out for a 4 day hiking/camping weekend, am planning on working on some survival skills and wanted to see what suggestions you guys had that I should try while I am out.

This is the first time I have gone out specifically to do a "Survival" weekend, so I will be working on some basics, but I am a country boy and grew up in amish country, so very used to camping, hiking, and such.

I will be taking pretty much just my BOB to see how I make out with it, I have been building the BOB over the course of the last few months (and a few easy camping trips). Unfortunately I will have to carry all the water I plan on drinking as the area I am in is an old strip-mining area and the water in the area has tons of heavy metals in it, so no purifying water or fishing. (Will be in a national forest in Ohio).

On my list so far is building a dakoda fire hole, starting a few fires with my firesteel I just got last week, starting a fire with a firedrill. Building a shelter (will probably use the tarp from my BOB). Also will be having a bit of fun with my ham radio, that is the only electronics we will be carrying (cell will be in the car).

Will also be on the lookout for food since I am mostly bringing stuff to make bannuck, and some dried fruits and nuts. Am going to be looking for wild grapes, apples, maybe some thistle or queen annes lace roots, mint, etc.

Any other idea's on things I should try this trip? I plan on doing a few of these a year if I can get the time, oh, and BTW, I will be out with a friend. I don't really head out into the woods alone if I can help it.

[kevin]

If its legal, try some trapping.

bring a slingshot and / or .22 and do some plinking (or hunting if legal)

do some tracking

do some tree climbing

practice making different shelters besides the tarp shelter, including raised sleeping shelters

bring some 550 paracord and learn some new knots

[B52gundog]

Some ideas to practice:

Fire
- Firesteel with natural material (ie. cattails, birch bark, fungus, punky wood)
- Magnifying glass (or Fresnel lens)
- Coal Extender (fire bundle)

Navigation
- Stick Shadow method
- Watch Compass
- Patrol map
- Stars/ Moon (Night Navigation)

Making Cordage
- Plant Fibers
- Cordage from clothes

Hunting
- Slingshot
- Throwing stick
- Snares/ Traps (deadfalls)
- Spear or Spear Thrower (Atlatl)
- Fish hooks (from natural material)

Signaling for help
- Whistle
- Mirror
- Night (Flashlight & Mirror)
- Dense smoke
- SOS in big letters
- Breadcrumb trail (purposely break branches as you walk, indicate your direction of travel if on the move)

- Boil water with hot rocks (careful they don't explode)
- Use hot rocks for warmth when sleeping
- Aluminum foil pot/ cup (boil water)
- Carry water around using improvised water carrier known to be in a survival kit (ie. condom, plastic bag, oven bag)
- Boil water in a plastic bottle or paper cup
- Cook eggs & bacon in a brown paper bag (Boy scouts do this)

- Simulate working with less than ideal tools. Stuff that's already broken (like a broken lighter) or low quality items (broken knife). Or improvise, if you forgot something relatively important (like a spoon).

- Consider less than ideal circumstances. Meaning, how well you handle being uncomfortable (ie. Fatigue, thirst, hunger, being wet, the cold, sleep deprivation, injuries, crumby weather...). At least think about 'em, ha ha.

- Tree, plant, & animal identification.

[RangerXanatos]

Try your hand at making wooden spoons and bowls.

Try to rope braid from natural sources.

[JMJKD]

Map out where you will be and what time you should be there and let someone know. . Check in with whoever a couple days in. find meat and water, doesn’t matter if the area has been mined, find water. Once you have done that, then find things to occupy your time. That’s what you would be really doing… IMHO

[novazer0]

things to do
-handdrill
-you might also try first aid
-planet ident. for eating and medical
-you might try fish traps even though you can eat them.. just let them go afterward. just practice setting them up.
-what about diff ways to collect rainwater if it rains.
-setting up a signal fire

oh i would suggest taking the cell phone just in case.

[tjwilhelm]

And after you've squeezed all that into 4 days, we want a FULL report -- with photos -- when you return! (Imagine the "grinning" smilie I would put here if they were available) ;)

[TnLonghunter]

Looks like everyone has you pretty well booked up on projects, lol, so I just say enjoy, enjoy, as I'm sure you will.

I do also think you should carry the cell phone just in case, oh yeah, always room for that camera to document the fabulous time you had so we can vicariously enjoy also.

[Dick]

Originally Posted by novazer0

things to do
-planet ident. for eating and medical

I would start off with one of the smaller planets, but use caution as Venus is quite hot.

In all seriousness...
I always like to grub around for edibles. The down side is that you’ll need to bring reference books with you.

[mweidner]

Thanks for all the idea's. In reply to a few of them:

1) I will be having a daily check-in with my wife, probably via phone (might have to walk out for it). If I can find one that supports it, you can use a ham radio repeater to make phone calls, I am really hoping to try that out. Also we have an itinerary on where we plan to be each day.

2) I don't have an plant identification guide... yet. That being said, I do know quite a few that are edible, as mentioned before I have lived in the country for years, and can identify, just never really tried relying on them.

Sidenote, one thing I am excited about is harvesting a bunch of acorns here, the season is well on, and I want to do some roasted acorns, and if I have time I would like to do some bannock with just what I can find out in the wild (and maybe some olive oil I will be carrying).

3) Making my utensils sounds like fun, I will definatly try it, also good idea on a catch and release fish trap.

4) Already decided to try and build a debris shelter, but have tent as a backup.

Finally, I may not make it through half of this stuff, mostly I want to get away from civilization for awhile, am taking a few books and I would love to find a nice spot to just sit and read for a good while.