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.

__________________
The remembrance of today, is the sad feelin of tomorrow
-Bob Marley

I read somewhere, how important it is in life, not necessarily to be strong, but to feel strong. To measure yourself at least once, to find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions - Into the Wild

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

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.

__________________
NIN > all

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.

__________________

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.

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?

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.

__________________
The remembrance of today, is the sad feelin of tomorrow
-Bob Marley

I read somewhere, how important it is in life, not necessarily to be strong, but to feel strong. To measure yourself at least once, to find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions - Into the Wild

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.

__________________
I have a time machine at home..

it only travels forword at regular time..

its essentially a cardboard box with the word time machine on the side with a sharpie..


(\__/)
(o.O )
(> < ) This is Bunny. Copy Bunny into your signature to help him on his way to world domination

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

sounds like an experience
have you ever spent time alone...in the woods
its not as easy and as fun as you might expect

i hope you do make this happen
id be very interested to read your journal

what part of the country are you thinking

why not hike the john muir trail
you can have all the solitude you like and
when you get tired of yourself you can have fun with us

__________________
Love is patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres

Pathfinder, what kind of experience do you have doing this sort of thing? It seems like some people are giving advice like you had never gone on even a single backpacking trip, and others are telling you how to survive on your own totallly bereft of human contact for the rest of your life. If you are going to be way out on the wilderness with no contact, you should ahve a good amount of experience with smaller scale backpacking trips, and you will need experience with fishing, hunting, trapping, edible plants, etc.

Personally, I'm not that interested in a full blown survivalist experience, unless it is the stranded-on-a-tropical-island variety, preferrably the Mysterious Island of Beaturiful Women. Wilderness is great, but total solitude gets old after awhile --- it's ok for some time, but it gets old. And completely relying on catching/finding your own food also gets very old very quickly --- most people have no idea how much work it is every day.

So no survivalist trips for me; however, I do have a lot of backpacking experience, and I would like to some day do something like what freindowl was talking about --- one of the long trail treks, like the John Muir, or Pacific Crest or Appalachian trail.

7-18-08...jmt

__________________
Love is patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres

I have a job that I absolutely hate, and I have zero desire to remain at this job for the rest of my life. I'm planning a career change. After I leave my current job, and before I start a new one, I'm a free man.

The only family I have worth mentioning is my 15 year old. But he lives half way across the country from me and I never get to see him anyways.

There's really nothing here for me to miss. The solitude won't bother me at all. I've been groomed for it my whole life. I've always been the outsider, always been alone. Loneliness is the very least of my concerns.

what part of the country are you thinking of exploring

__________________
Love is patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres

I still haven't made a definite decision as to location. Here is one prospect:

YouTube - Ray Mears' Extreme Survival - The Rocky Mountains 1of3

Thanks for that link, I think I like Ray Mears better than Bear Grylls and Les Stroud. This is really cool. Teaches you exactly what you have to know that's most important, and nothing more. And the music is great!

__________________
The remembrance of today, is the sad feelin of tomorrow
-Bob Marley

I read somewhere, how important it is in life, not necessarily to be strong, but to feel strong. To measure yourself at least once, to find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions - Into the Wild

Ray Mears is awesome. Thank goodness for YouTube or those of us in the U.S. would never get to see his show. I like Les Stroud, too. Bear Grylls, however, is the pro-wrestling version of survival shows.

Yeah I actually like Les Stroud too. Bear Grylls is O.K, I don't see any problem in staying in a hotel or whatever he did, the point is to prepare people to the extremes. Les and Ray are more realistic though.

__________________
The remembrance of today, is the sad feelin of tomorrow
-Bob Marley

I read somewhere, how important it is in life, not necessarily to be strong, but to feel strong. To measure yourself at least once, to find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions - Into the Wild

haha been their done that