Wilderness Survival In 2021
BY Herschel Smith
3 years, 7 months ago
It never changes from year to year. It’s always the same. A Hiker goes out in the woods in California and is haunted by mountain lions for a long night.
A Man goes hiking in Tennessee hasn’t been heard from in a week.
Know your topography. Carry a compass. Have maps. Carry a heavy rubberized poncho. Carry a parka. Use high quality hiking boots. Carry cordage (I intend to purchase Amsteel cordage rather than 550 cord). Carry a large bore handgun. Carry plenty of water and a filter. Carry energy bars. Carry a knife, and carry a headlamp or tactical light. Carry fully redundant, independent means of fire start.
Even if you’re going out for the afternoon. One afternoon can turn into a week alone.
On May 16, 2021 at 10:32 pm, Ron said:
I got interested in Amsteel thanks to Dutch’s “Whoopie Slings” for hammocks.
So light it floats, strong as steel cable, sailors are replacing running rigging on sailboats with it.
Winches are spooling it.
“…7/64 Amsteel has a breaking strength of 1,500 pounds…”
That’s 1/64″ smaller than 1/8″.
Compared to 550 cord it’s half the size and three times stronger.
And lighter.
It floats.
My rigging for a Warbonnet Superfly, an ENO Single Nest and a Guardian bug net weighs 6.8 oz.
That’s guy lines, ridge lines, whoopie slings, titanium Rigging hooks.
The stuff is amazing.
On May 16, 2021 at 11:05 pm, Michael Gilson said:
I see it is an Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. How does it handle UV and high temperatures? I heard there was a problem with UHMWPE body armor reverting to HDPE if it was kept somewhere hot like the trunk of a police cruiser.
On May 17, 2021 at 3:48 am, Ron said:
It’s DYNEEMA.
Think kevlar type fiber.
“AmSteel is a non-rotational, Samthane coated, 12-strand single braid that yields high strength and low stretch; equivalent to wire rope with 1/7th the weight. In addition , the product is flexible, and resists flex-fatigue and abrasion.”
It handles UV, but has a low melting point of 140 deg C (284 deg F).
I haven’t heard of degradation in use in sailboats in the tropics
On May 17, 2021 at 9:22 am, revjen45 said:
The BSA 10 essentials is a good place to start. Then add as req’d (defensive firearm, etc.).
On May 17, 2021 at 10:54 am, John Taylor said:
And file a “flight plan” with a responsible person!
On May 17, 2021 at 1:29 pm, bob sykes said:
And most importantly, take a buddy.
On May 17, 2021 at 2:43 pm, ROFuher said:
Dynema is closer to a spectra fiber, rather than an aramid like Kevlar.
Low melt point, but better than amamids for UV exposure. When it is covered in a sheath and core braid, the cover is for heat and abrasion protection, and increasing friction around winches or cleats/bits/clutches. It does stretch more than aramids, but not enough to absorb shock like nylon does. The navy tried using spectra type fibers in mooring lines back in the ’80s with disastrous results, so be wary of undersized line in dynamic situations.
On May 17, 2021 at 4:47 pm, Ned said:
Seems like it’s always an “experienced” hiker with “survival experience” who gets lost – without a daypack and without any mandatory hiking gear.
Got that phone though.