The Biggest Myth About Survival

Myth: You can know everything and be 100% safe no matter what.

Truth: You always have to pay attention.

This is story of how even folks with lots of skills and knowledge can still make life threatening mistakes.

So...

I needed firewood.

Lots of dead trees in the woods behind my house, and I knew the area well. I spent some time getting the saw running, it wasn't cooperating but I finally got it running and adjusted.

There had been several late winter/early spring snows, and snow was about 2 feet deep on average.

I gathered up my tools, including a head lamp, fire kit, and a windbreaker jacket in case the weather changed. It was only about 1/4 mile back to the trees I wanted to harvest, but I rarely go anywhere without a few basic items. I loaded the saw on my toboggan, strapped on my snowshoes and headed out.

My first mistake was a last minute decision to go check an area I had stacked firewood earlier in the year, probably 200 yards behind the house. I was fairly sure I'd used up the stack, but I was hoping to find a toboggan load and not have to go farther into the woods to cut more.

No luck, not a usable piece of firewood left. It had started out a partly cloudy day, but the clouds had really thickened up in the last hour. I was sure I had plenty of daylight left, so I headed for the original area I had planned to cut firewood.

Dogs were having a great time, flushing bunnies out of hiding, exploring and just being dogs.

Somehow, I missed the faint road track thru the woods, and ended up in an area full of snags and sagebrush, lots of things to catch my snowshoes and toboggan, and I got frustrated and started sweating - trying to overcompensate for missing the trail, this was the 2nd mistake I made.

I finally made it back to the faint trail, remember there's 2+ feet of snow on the ground, and it's now late in the afternoon. I found the trail, and proceeded on.

This "trail" is a faint two track in Summer, and barely visible with all the snow. Add in the hidden sagebrush under the snow, and it makes for slow going. I get to the area I had originally planned, and started up my saw.

I can't take off my snowshoes, as the snow depth makes it difficult to maneuver without them. The saw is being cantankerous, but I manage to get a fair amount of wood cut, but I kept cutting-even though it was now getting darker and starting to snow.

Not a gentle Robert Frost snow, but SNOW.

The most important tool you have is your brain, don't let fear override your skills and knowledge.

Again, I'm letting my frustration with the saw not working right get in front of my thought process. I suddenly realized it was REALLY dark, thankfully I had a headlamp, but I was using it to get the saw adjusted for "just a little more cutting"...3rd and 4th mistakes.

Something in my brain finally connected, and I realized I needed to head home, remember it's just 1/4 mile back up the trail to the house. I loaded my toboggan, and started for home.

The snow had increased to whiteout conditions, and it was black dark. I live in an area far from streetlights and marked roads. My headlamp wasn't doing much, the whiteout conditions were also messing with my sense of direction, and I was tired. I couldn't find my tracks into the woods, they'd already filled up with snow in just a couple of hours.

I started to run scenarios in my head of wandering around until I passed out, or heading in the wrong direction-the wrong direction could lead me to more woods and off the edge of the mesa. I started to really freak out on the inside, chastising myself for the mistakes I'd made earlier, and starting to actually be afraid.

I stopped, gathered my dogs, and just started breathing, slowly centering my mind, and trying to assess my predicament.

My first rational thought was to check myself for injuries - none except my pride.

I then did an assessment of available tools. I put my hand on my knife, my fire kit, and my compass. I rarely use my compass, but it gave me a sense of stability.

I knew the layout of the area, and I knew my house was West of me. I also asked the Creator for help and guidance. A few moments later, the snow slacked off a bit, the wind died down, and I saw the porch light come on from my one neighbor's house. It was just a glimmer of hope in the distance, but I knew where I was, and how to get home. I hugged my dogs, said a quick "thank you" to the Creator, and continued home to safety and warmth.

We often think "I'm only going out for a short hike" or "I'm not far from the house/car, I don't need to take anything with me" and nothing will happen...

I've been wandering in the woods since I was a young man, I was a BoyScout (Be Prepared), and have taught survival skills for years. I could have died within 300 yards from my house/safety. Yep, DIED in my own backyard.

Never be overconfident, never second guess the weather conditions, and ALWAYS take a basic kit. The most important tool you have is your brain, don't let fear override your skills and knowledge.