My journey alone into the wilderness

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." ~ T. S. Eliot



The plan:

To journey deep into the wilderness with only as much gear as can be carried on my back, and the skills I can keep in my head. There is no time limit. I will return when I feel the need to return. I will be leaving sometime next year, after winter has ended. I have until then to prepare.


Destination:

Still undetermined


Gear that I currently own:

ALICE pack (large)
2 one-liter canteens
2 canteen covers with ALICE pack clips
2 canteen cups
SOG Seal Pup Elite knife
Ruger GP100 .357 magnum revolver
Strike Force fire starter
Magnesium bar
2 Bic lighters
100 cotton balls soaked in Vaseline
Diamond knife sharpener
Revolver cleaning kit
Leatherman Charge TTI multitool
Compass
100 feet of 550 paracord
Toothbrush and toothpaste


Gear that I still need:

Ammunition for defense against wild animals
Snare wire
Hatchet
Entrenching tool
Mess kit
First-aid kit
Emergency rations
Fishing hooks and line
New clothing
Sewing kit
Pocket magnifier
Sleeping bag (optional)
Tent (optional)
Duct tape
Bandanas
Other items still under consideration

right on!


sounds like a life of road kill soup and sore feet!

whatcha gonna do when your shoes wear out go to Walmart?

ever tried camping?

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Originally Posted by silkyblue

ever tried camping?

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Ever tried getting off your couch?

Take your your soul and a belly full of mama's cookin', can't go wrong with that.

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Ever tried getting off your couch?

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I dont own a couch !


why the cotton balls soaked in vaseline?


oh ic from having to wipe yo ass on corn cobs!


go to it buddy!

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Originally Posted by silkyblue

why the cotton balls soaked in vaseline?

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YouTube - Lint vs Vaseline soaked cotton ball

sounds like lots of fun man. looks like you got alot of stuff covored.also take some thin cotton and put it in an airtight metel box, and stick it in a fire, like an altoids can will work perfect, and burn the cotton so its all black. with the magnesium stick or even a flint rock and steel, will ketch the spark and help light your fire. another thing i would bring would be a good tarp. you would be suprized how handy it will be. and if you are in the rockies, i would get a bar bag or the food safe. dont forget to pack the weed also!

i plan on doing this too. and word of advice, the alice packs get really uncomfortable for long hikes, so maybe invest in a good internal frame. they are alot more comfy and hold about the same. and a net would be handy too.

Dude, go for it..shit, I would build a log cabin and just stay there..grow a long ass beard and grow the kindest of weed:jointsmile:

add weed to your checklist

watertight box
emergency blanket
4 ft bong :jointsmile:

The only necessary thing on the whole list is duct tape.
Leave the rest and just bring the tape --- you can make anything you need out of duct tape.

Awesome gun! :jointsmile:

Some sort of light-weight frying pan would be useful also. Just a thought

Why is a sleeping bag optional?

Also I would agree with what someone said earlier about a tarp --- extremely useful, especially if you are skipping the tent.
You will also probably want a water filtration system or purification tablets to avoid the squirts.
Maps are handy.
Lights are handy.

a folding shovle would be useful to. and maybe some toilet paper.. i dont know about you, but when i take a shit, i dont exactly like using pinecones.... they tend to hurt but they do a great job of scraping everything off

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Originally Posted by dragonrider

Why is a sleeping bag optional?

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I'll bring a sleeping bag if there's enough room after getting more essential gear. It will make life more comfortable, but is not critical as long as I can build a good shelter and have a fire going.

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Originally Posted by dragonrider

You will also probably want a water filtration system or purification tablets to avoid the squirts. .

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The only way to guarantee water is safe to drink is by boiling it. Although I may bring some purification tablets just in case I run into a situation where I don't have time to boil water.

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Originally Posted by dragonrider

Maps are handy.

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I'll get a map once I decide where I'm going.

Buddy, the weed. You have to add the weed to your list.

dude did you forget to put Weed on your check-list?

or is that kind of just a given?

totally cool if this is one of those non-smoking trips, just wonnndering :thumbsup:

Yes, I'll be bringing weed. I'll also be bringing seeds to plant all over the place.

spent my whole life on the move, good for you ... take rubbers ... oh, wait, they call 'em 'condoms' nowadays :D

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Originally Posted by Pathfinder

Yes, I'll be bringing weed. I'll also be bringing seeds to plant all over the place.

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SHIT!

It's like Johnny Appleseed!


Johnny Cannaseed!

You should refer to yourself as that when you meet people on the journey.

Hahaha. :jointsmile:

Sounds like it's going to be an enlightening trip to say the least.

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Originally Posted by Fotokopie

Johnny Cannaseed!

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haha

Good one. :D

+Rep for you mate I respect anyone who has the testicles to do what you're doing.

But why are you taking bananas?

Oh its bandana's................ my bad.

hahahah bananas

hey photokopie!

stop sending me nasty im's

I dont get it!

I find that T.S. Elliot quote rather ironic. You have a lot of stuff on that list.

someday I want to embark on a similar journey. recently, in the hustle and bustle of life, i've been feeling like for some reason, i need to prove to myself my actual worth on this planet. our society dumbs us down so much, it forces us away from nature. so many of this earth have lost their connection with nature. I don't understand how a person can be afraid of a simple bug as a spider when not even hundreds of years ago, we were living alongside such critters.

i think people need to realize not only their worth on this planet, but more importantly, other organisms' worth on this planet. the ecosystem is such a delicate and fragile thing, the slightest alter with be magnified. i think taking a journey like this will teach me a lot about the environment around us.

I don't plan on taking nearly as much stuff as you do. but don't forget to bring a pen and paper. you're going to want to record your thoughts, keep a journal, ect.

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Originally Posted by Ghengis Chron

You have a lot of stuff on that list.

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It's going to be rough. I have no illusions about that. And so I am trying to prepare for everything. I'll be alone out there. If something comes up, it's up to me to deal with it. No one is going to be there to save my ass.

Hypothermia and hyperthermia are the 2 biggest risks of getting back to nature on foot. So I would expect a sleeping bag and a tent to have a higher use value than a firearm and ammo in most situations. Granted I have never hiked with a hand gun, so I can't comment on their usefulness, but I have kicked myself severely in the past for failing to carry adequate shelter.

I think the best way to decide what is really essential is to pack it all up and then take a stroll with it. Then unpack and start culling the dead weight. Trim the kit and repack until you can carry it comfortably at an average walking speed over flat ground.

Then test the kit. Set it up in the backyard and camp out. Sounds silly? Not really, if you have to go back into the house to get something, you know your kit is inadequate. Cull again and try again. When it works at home, take a couple of short trips.

This way you can find the flaws in your kit... long before your life depends on what's in your rucksack.

Leave only footprints, take only memories. Happy travels :hippy:

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Originally Posted by Ghengis Chron

I find that T.S. Elliot quote rather ironic. You have a lot of stuff on that list.

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haha i was thinking the same thing. personally i wouldnt bring a REVOLVER... hunting knife and a hatchet can make you whatever weapon you need.

Interesting plan. Much respect to you for going through with it.

I suggest you bring a backup knife that is serrated. It will come in handy for cutting wood to make a shelter and tools, and it will keep you from dying if you somehow lose your SEAL knife.

And you can make the sleeping bag and tent work, no shame in that.

...And if you're going out there long enough to grow some pot, you should definitely bring vegetable seeds too.

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Originally Posted by jessem98

haha i was thinking the same thing. personally i wouldnt bring a REVOLVER... hunting knife and a hatchet can make you whatever weapon you need.

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I'd keep the gun. Bears are pretty tough.

Sounds like u watched the movie into the wild and decided to do the same. There is a whole group that follows the into the wild idea that Christopher McCandless started. Thats who into the wild is based off of. If u havent seen the movie i recommend it man. It really directly applies to what ur talking about.

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Originally Posted by bud luv

I'd keep the gun. Bears are pretty tough.

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Mountain lions, wild hogs, wolves, etc. I'm not going to try knife fighting a mountain lion. He'll tear me apart. If I go to brown bear country, I'll also bring bear pepper spray.

If I'm desperate for food, a .357 magnum will drop a deer. One deer could give me enough meat for quite a while.

Sounds crazy man...and fun to some degree.
but dont you like have a job/family, and what are their thoughts on all of this?

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Originally Posted by WielyDevil

Sounds like u watched the movie into the wild and decided to do the same. There is a whole group that follows the into the wild idea that Christopher McCandless started. Thats who into the wild is based off of. If u havent seen the movie i recommend it man. It really directly applies to what ur talking about.

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Read the book first though. The movie is pretty good, but the book is better.

I wouldn't say Christopher McCandless "started" this idea, I think it's in everyone. It only surfaces in some people though.

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Originally Posted by Pathfinder

Mountain lions, wild hogs, wolves, etc. I'm not going to try knife fighting a mountain lion. He'll tear me apart. If I go to brown bear country, I'll also bring bear pepper spray.

If I'm desperate for food, a .357 magnum will drop a deer. One deer could give me enough meat for quite a while.

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It will be tough to take a deer with a handgun. Since you plan on staying long you could consider an ultralight hunting rifle as well (5.5 lbs).

Immerse yourself in bush food preserving techniques... smoking... curing. You're gonna need cookware... A Pot to boil water, a pan to cook in... a cup. You can also cook food in folded leaves directly over coals... I'd go somewhere that the salmon or trout are plentiful, and the soil is fit for growing and has a rich supply of natural nutrients. gotta do some research.

Learn the aboriginal method of starting a fire with a bow... just in case.

Learn how to trap animals..

Look for quick-yielding veggies.... some radishes are ready in 3-4 weeks. Beets are good because you can eat the root and the leaves, good source of vitamin A and C. Cabbage is hardy... Watermelon is nice if it's warm enough. Generally things that grow low to the ground are better for the short term.

Learn about composting... maybe even bring some earthworms with you...

Ok... that's all for now...

Oh and bring herb seeds too...

And try to go to an area that supports salt-making... or maybe even bring a bunch of salt.

if you plan on staying a long time, some nails would be handy too. if you have a hatchet you wont need a hammer. also a book about etable plants and stuff in your area would be nice, maybe even a book to identify some mushrooms incase if you want to spice up your meal or night. get one of those little handheld weather band radios too. its nice ot know when a storms coming your way so you can prepair a little in advance.

most importantly have a good emergency plan inplace. have people know where your going to be, so that if you dont come back in a set amount of time, or if something important comes up, they can find you. say if a family member was dying, they would be able to get ahold of you somehow to tell you. remember safety first for things like this. this is pretty dangerous stuff, and if you have never done anything like this before, it is even more dangerous. remember, just be careful, and repsect where your staying and the area around you. dont just go up to the top of some mountain and make a mess of garbage and a bunch of things like that.

Weather radios and emergency plans cheapen the whole experience.;)

If you do not return. we will have this equipment waiting:

Helicopters
Snow mobiles
ATVs
Jeeps
Thermal imaging
Satelite imaging
Search and rescue team
EMTs
Paramedics
Ambulances
TV cameras
News crews
Official Spokesperson
Blood hounds
Cadaver dogs
Body bag
Coroner
Weeping family members