Survival Firestarter

I am planning a trip with a friend into the wild. It will take place most likely in June, for 3-5 days. We plan to drive as far as possible somewhere in the cascades, then hike until we find a good place to set up. We will bring minimal supplies after we leave the vehicle, along the lines of a knife, compass, basic firestarter, a hatchet/machete, and warm clothes.
I need some advice/hints from someone who has done this before and/or knows what to look for.
I'm trying to pick a location, and my first question is;
Are there any geographic patterns (i.e. riverbeds, streams, earth forms) I should be looking for that would indicate the abundance of wildlife. I was thinking close to a lake would be good, but maybe up on a hillside to keep a good vantage point for predators. But then again a hillside might not be the best habitat for food sources. Also, I will not have a chance to survey the area until i get there, so any advice in picking a camp location would be helpful too.

Also, what is the surest form of water purification? I have heard iodine is bad for long periods of time, and we would be going for 3-4 days. I'm considering not bringing anything at all, as this would be most realistic in a survival situation, and perhaps building a birch cone filter. What are my alternatives here and how do they compare as far as availability in the wilderness and effectiveness for purification.

Next, I am considering bringing a gun for safety measures. I am not of legal age to carry a concealed weapon, so it's shotgun or rifle on this one. I think a ruger 10/22 would be realistic, but relatively ineffective in the event of a bear attack. I might not even bring one though, the whole point is to push ourselves to the limits of human survival physically and psychologically, so the gun might deter from that a bit.

I'm looking for ultimate and complete seclusion from civilization, to see what the human mind and body does when removed from captivity. So any advice or experiences you have to share would be greatly appreciated.
alright since the two answers so far are essentially useless and do not answer my question in any way... Let me emphasize the need for actual input here. I will not be bringing food, or anything that I wouldn't have in a survival kit. This is not a trip i'm taking to have fun, it's for the experience and the challenge.

Hillsides are good, depending on how far from the water resource you happen to be. Many animals migrate or even daytime up-slope. Halfway between the crest of a finger and bottom of a draw, if possible, allows both good shelter from elements and access to water.

Iodine over one week won't be that big of a deal except for taste. Regular bleach can be used, if you plan ahead (one to two drops per quart and left overnight). Or carry a purification filter, but you want to minimize equipment, so that is probably right out. Boiling water, already mentioned, is best in that category. A big pot can be used for a lot of things, from cooking to noise making to fishing to collecting berries. Do not skimp on water intake!

Why would you need to conceal a weapon? Were you planning on robbing a river bank? Carry what you feel safe with...you probably won't actually need anything. If you are really worried about bears, then a 20G shotgun with double-ought or slugs would do you a lot better than a 10/22, and would even be legal. Add some birdshot shells, and you eat comfortably, too. Oops, just re-read, said you are trying to push your limits. Get a 8' or 10' walking staff, and if you really run into a situation with a bear, you can use it as a pike. Can be useful for a boatload of other stuff, too. I'd also suggest an real axe rather than a hatchet or machete, both of which are pretty limited in usefulness. You be glad you carried the extra weight. Don't get stupid and try to down a big tree, though, I've seen some folks get dead doing that in their own backyard.

Warm gear, whether it be sleeping bags or layered clothes or whatever. Keeping your body at 98F is the challenge: plenty of hydration so the body can keep cool, clothes for warmth. Don't depend on fire for heat. Fire is for cooking, good for psychology, but not so great for actually keeping you warm.

Last thing...please leave a "flight plan" with someone. It is such a bitch for my buddies in the National Guard to search half of Oregon or Washington or wherever for missing campers. If someone at least knows where you were headed (preferably a point like a specific hill or lake, not an entire county or national park), and when you intend to be back, at least they can narrow the search down to a reasonable area. Not saying something is going to happen, but just in case it does. Take a mirror (any mirror) and a coach-style or storm whistle: they take up very little space, weigh next to nothing, yet are indispensable if they ever are needed.

2009-03-21 16:12:53 by Ryder McPherson

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