My tale of survival

[fast318]

My friend once got his 1993 Toyota 2wd PU stuck in soft sand down to the top of the rear end out at Dumont Dunes. No second vehicle or tow strap necessary, we simply lifted up the back of the truck by hand and pushed it forward. BTW there were three of us.

[dondo]

Are you a teacher?

[blindluck]

so why dont you try to help educate him? recommend a book or two. ect.

Yeah, my post was kinda non-contributory. I was more patronizing than usual because the original post read more like a reckless, juvenile, bragging, look-at-me, laugh-in-the-face-of-danger, survival-is-a-game, complete with drunken-exuberance-happy-ending type of post. I didn't offer advice because he wasn't asking. All I remember was how immature the OP sounded - drinking beer, showing off to his uncle, thinking how "ballsy" his equally childish friend is for scaring the ladies at supercuts, bragging about his new guntoy, etc, etc, etc...

Yeah, I'm being hard on him which might be unfair, especially considering that we all got into stupid trouble. However, I don't remember bragging to anonymous people on a public forum. One thing is for certain though, I sure as hell would not have been as mistaken to make a photo-journal of my stupidity and then post it on a forum without knowing that some well-deserved criticism was coming. From the way his later posts ignore the criticism, ignore all advice including yours and is glaring in its absence of thankfulness, then I'd conclude that I made the correct decision.

[dondo]

Yeah, my post was kinda non-contributory. I was more patronizing than usual because the original post read more like a reckless, juvenile, bragging, look-at-me, laugh-in-the-face-of-danger, survival-is-a-game, complete with drunken-exuberance-happy-ending type of post. I didn't offer advice because he wasn't asking. All I remember was how immature the OP sounded - drinking beer, showing off to his uncle, thinking how "ballsy" his equally childish friend is for scaring the ladies at supercuts, bragging about his new guntoy, etc, etc, etc...

Yeah, I'm being hard on him which might be unfair, especially considering that we all got into stupid trouble. However, I don't remember bragging to anonymous people on a public forum. One thing is for certain though, I sure as hell would not have been as mistaken to make a photo-journal of my stupidity and then post it on a forum without knowing that some well-deserved criticism was coming. From the way his later posts ignore the criticism, ignore all advice including yours and is glaring in its absence of thankfulness, then I'd conclude that I made the correct decision.

Pretty much.

[AfisBoy]

I think I've seen your Uncle's Suburban parked out by the Chevron station with a for sale sign on it. Nice looking machine.

[sloguy]

Yeah, my post was kinda non-contributory. I was more patronizing than usual because the original post read more like a reckless, juvenile, bragging, look-at-me, laugh-in-the-face-of-danger, survival-is-a-game, complete with drunken-exuberance-happy-ending type of post. I didn't offer advice because he wasn't asking. All I remember was how immature the OP sounded - drinking beer, showing off to his uncle, thinking how "ballsy" his equally childish friend is for scaring the ladies at supercuts, bragging about his new guntoy, etc, etc, etc...

Yeah, I'm being hard on him which might be unfair, especially considering that we all got into stupid trouble. However, I don't remember bragging to anonymous people on a public forum. One thing is for certain though, I sure as hell would not have been as mistaken to make a photo-journal of my stupidity and then post it on a forum without knowing that some well-deserved criticism was coming. From the way his later posts ignore the criticism, ignore all advice including yours and is glaring in its absence of thankfulness, then I'd conclude that I made the correct decision.

well, in many ways your right. but the other side of that is that we were all uninformed dumb kids at one time. we have all done stupid things and maybe when we were young enough to do them we didnt have access to the internet to tell the stories. our retarded exploits may have reached the ears of a hundred and not the tens of thousands reached via internet.

anyway, threads like this can serve many purposes. its an opportunity to discuss survival. even if the original poster doesnt heed the warnings and use the info, someone else might be saved by the info in the future. if another calguns member reads this thread they might decide to create their own car kit. the same vast numbers of people who can read the story of poor choices can also read the solutions and recommendations , if we take time to discuss it.

[blindluck]

pm sent.

[Pred@tor]

Well leaving my truck probably wasn't that best idea is right. If I had found it again and got back to it I would have built a shelter and light a fire. I had old school work and stuff I had some things with me just not the other stuff I could have used that day. Like I said I am usually more prepared... Never again...

[sloguy]

in the spirit of promoting discussion, i took pics of the stuff in the bag that lives in my truck. the bag is not all of what stays in the truck, its just one of the many items that i do not take out unless its to resupply it or add things. in addition to this stuff i usually have automotive tool bag, 4 or so extra( good quality) flashlights, a gallon jug of water, folding shovel, pick axe, 2 cb radios, automotive fluids, 1 or 2 fire extinguishers, sleeping bag and/or work blanket( good for covering cargo, or keeping things clean when moving stuff, but in a life or death situation can be slept with to keep warm) extra heavier jacket and other random things. i try to keep a unopened roll of papertowels along with what roll im using.

i just obtained a old gps and that shall live in the truck as well. make any cb calls i have to make trying to get rescued as easy as possible on my rescuers.

needless to say, i take alot of extra junk that is seldome/never used. but i like having options.

first pic, the bag.
second pic, the unzipped bag.

third, visible are a soft beanie sorta hat( that i dont wear usually) a flashlight, duct tape and garbage bags stuffed inside it, two smaller plastic bags( contents pictured below) a can of "ensure plus" in the bag still are 4 bottles of water, 3 cans of soup, a old pillow case with a sweater, pants, 2 pair of socks, 2 pair of undies, and 2 shirts.

fourth pic, contents of smaller plastic pouch. gum, toothbrush, paste floss/pick thingies, allergy meds, neosporin, a lone bandaid( i know i need more) and chapstick.

fifth pic, contents of other plastic ziplock. 2 pouches of tuna, a few condiments, some string, od green utensils some old leftover vicoden, 3 tea candles wrapped up in a paper towel.

sixth pic is the rest of the contents from the outer pockets of the red bag. tylenol and more vicoden, water purifier stuff, a heat pad, lotion, gloves, ammo, eye wash, sting ointments and wipes, magnesium block, whisle, matches wrapped in plastic wrap, fish hooks and fish line, two folding knives( one has a little fork on it), a small cheapo multi tool, a nylon mesh bag that doubles as a bug net over my head( isnt easy to see thru but it works, a darker color would be beter) a old vitamin bottle with more gum, toothpick/floss aspirin, chapstick, needle and thread, little can opener,ect.

[Pred@tor]

Are you a teacher?

If that question is for me. No I am a substitute Custodian... Custodian by day and Janitor by night. Blue collar jobs are what I enjoy working with my hands and what not.

I have an emergency blanket in my glove compartment I would have used it too if I made it to the truck again. Since I found my way I just had to keep going folks. I have lighters too and some matches in the truck so I wasn't like totally screwed but it sure was wet out there and I needed help so I seeked it and well got it. I am glad it turned out the best possible way it did. I made one too many mistakes that day but I learned a whole lot in the process. I may be a naive young man but I have a story to tell. The local women around here despise men like me. Hell I grew up here yet I had always have had to endure hardships just because I never conformed and have been myself. God has his reasons though and he will help me find someone one day. If I had a girl I probably wouldn't do stupid **** like this but I shouldn't in the first place.

[locktime]

Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.

[Two Shots]

Nice kit Sloguy everyone should have a kit if they use a vehicle for commuting,offroad use or any trip 5miles from home. And before anyone says why would you need a kit. I've used mine when I was Stuck for many hours(food,blanket) due to freeway closures, I used the first aid kit and blanket on several accidents,used the shovel to put out a small fire on the freeway, used the tow rope to remove a fallon tree on the road and a few other situations. As far as Pre@tor goes hey we weren't born old and wise, we learned alot from other people,experiance and thier mistakes and we grew wiser. I did stuff that makes me wonder why I lived past 21 and I'm sure others have. His adventure should be a lesson to others who take it for granted that it won't happen to them.

LOL when I read this "If I had a girl I probably wouldn't do stupid **** like this but I shouldn't in the first place"
I thought this too but then i remember trying to explain why i buried a car in mud out in the boonies to a irate dad because his daughter was with me. Then there was the time of fighting two guys because they made a comment to the GF as we walked by in town (the cops kinda understood) so anyway don't count on GF's keeping you out of trouble. And I still do stupid s*** once in a while even tho I'm a gray beard just ask my wife.

[sloguy]

Never again...

very good to hear.

in your place, beginning from when first stuck, and assuming the truck was empty of gear exept for me and a jacket. first decision id make is if i wanted to get home that night or in the morning. first case id have taken my spare tire and taken it as far away from the truck as i thought safe, then doubled that distance, and then set it on fire to create a smoke signal.
if i was staying the night id have immediately curled up with my jacket in the back and slept. if it got too cold id have skipped making a fire and run my engine to get the trucks heater going. that usually will warm a truck for a hour or two at a time before its back to painfully cold. should leave enough fuel to attempt a drive home the next day, and if not, at least your safe and warm thru the night and can either begin digging out the truck or begin the walk home with dry clothes and feet.

leave a sharpie marker or two in your glove box so that when you start a walk home you can write out exactly when and why you left the truck. indicate direction and what your wearing. write directly on your windows, as sharpie can be removed with wd40 or other cleaner. paper can blow away ect.

if you have vynil seats you can cut the vynit off and use duct tape to create semi-waterproof shoe coverings. keep those toes dry as you trek across the wet terrain.

[big jon]

Did ya put the sign back up?

[sloguy]

Nice kit Sloguy.

thank you. there are a few items ive been meaning to add but have been lazy. maybe i should get off my butt eh?

peanut butter has about the same fat content for 2 table spoons as a medium can of baked beans. fat is important for survival. i need to stick a jar of pb into the bag. im more worried about water tho. if im planning a trip off the beaten path i have a case of water i stick into the truck( 6 one gallon jugs sealed in cardboard). i also need to remember to buy a honey bear to stick into the bag. honey is a natural wound treatment, as well as adds flavor to drinks and food. i need to make another "portable campfire" and a few more fire starters. the portable campfire is a coffee can with a cotton rag or thick cord imbedded in candle wax. with a large enough wick itll burn great and cant be blown out. down side is that its a outdoor only thing as it gives off some smoke. the fire starters are cotton balls saturated with vaseline. each normal cotton ball gets you about 15 or so smaller ones and each of those start a fire. you pack the cotton/vaseline into a film can and take out a tiny bit, fluff it up and itll light with a single flint spark. itll even light after being dunked in water. you just squeeze out the water and fluff the cotton and it still lights easier than magnesium shavings. stick that vaseline/cotton ball on a screwdriver and arc the battery terminals and you can get a fast easy fire. far safer than using fuel for that trick.

edit: oh yeah, duh, ive been meaning to add a few chocolate bars for moral. trudgeing thru wet fields is more fun while eating a chocolate bar.