CHAPTER FIVE: Bushwhacking
“We should walk not
only to reach a destination, but also to be in motion.”
- Author Unknown.
Survival Kits for day hikers.
While bushwhacking in remote areas beyond designated trail systems, there is
always the possibility that you will be faced by the prospect of spending an
unexpected night in the outdoors. This happens to day hikers on well marked,
designated trail systems that might be delayed past nightfall due to missing a
turn in the trail, bad weather, or trail damage.
“The sovereign invigoration of the body is exercise and of all exercises
walking is the best.”
Thomas Jefferson, (1743‑1826) third president of the United States
Surviving a night in the open
The National Rifle Association, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and
other groups have developed educational programs which, among other things, include
material to help prepare outdoor sports persons to cope with an unexpected
night in the outdoors.
As an example, a few years ago, in a class in firearms safety, the instructor
gave us students the assignment of making up a survival kit. What the
instructor envisioned was a pocket‑sized plastic box, filled with the usual
survival items such as matches, candles, candy, string, compass, etc.
Following instructions, I put together a survival kit in a pocket sized plastic
box. However, having done so, I found some doubt in my mind if I could
really get by with its contents, especially if I ever lost the way while on a
day hike to a remote place such as Peanut Lake. Peanut Lake is a small,
isolated lake located deep in northeastern Minnesota’s Superior National
Forest. Because it is several miles from the nearest road or trail, getting
there involves off-trail bushwhacking.
Somehow, I was not comfortable about the thought of staying out overnight in
the open with only the contents of a small plastic box between me and an
unpredictable Mother Nature who is always beautiful but sometimes vicious.
With that in mind, I started to pack my old rucksack with what I felt would be
the bare necessities for a summer time, overnight stay in a northern Minnesota
forest. I started off with the contents of the plastic box and gradually
added other items as I visualized myself out in the middle of a darkening wind
and rain swept forest. The more I thought about it, the worse the weather
conditions became in my mind, and the more items I packed.
According to the dictionary definition, a bivouac is an unsheltered
encampment. After I felt that I had packed enough gear to survive
overnight in an unsheltered encampment, the rucksack seemed to be a full load
for an army pack mule. When I weighed my “survival kit,” it was just a
few pounds shy of my backpack loaded with equipment and supplies. Besides
the weight of the loaded rucksack, I was uncertain as to how comfortable I would
be with its contents. I knew I could not have slept very well in a
plastic tube tent without a sleeping bag. It did not make much sense to
leave the security and comfort of my backpack with a tent, sleeping bag, and
pad merely to avoid carrying a few more pounds.
Besides the possibility of losing my way going into or coming out of Peanut
Lake, it could be possible that something might develop at the lake campsite to
cause me to have to - or want to - extend my stay. A backpack would give
me the flexibility to cope with, or exploit, the unexpected. When I
finally did hike into Peanut Lake, it was with my backpack. A loaded
backpack is still the best survival kit. Sometimes, you have to have too much
for most situations, in order to have enough for some situations.
“You’re off to great places, today
is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.”
– Dr. Seuss
Survival Essentials
Experienced outdoor recreationists have recommended a list of items that should
be carried by anglers, berry pickers, bird watchers, hunters, or rock hounds
who often hike off of designated trail systems. They call this off trail
hiking bushwhacking. For normal day hiking most of these items would not
be used. However, to be on the safe side, survival experts advise
carrying these survival items when at least two of the following conditions
might apply to an outing.
The air temperature
might fall below plus 60 degrees F.
There is a
possibility of a wind in excess of 5 miles per hour.
You will be walking
in a remote area.
You will be walking
alone or with only one other person.
Your plan is to be
out walking for more than two hours.
The survival pack
(1) A
complete change of clothing, and rain gear packed in a water proof bag inside
your pack.
(2)
Emergency shelter in the form of a plastic tube tent with 50 yards of nylon
cord.
(3)
Matches and fire starters.
(4)
Extra food and drink besides your lunch.
(5)
Signal devices such as a whistle, flares, and strips of bright cloth.
(6) A
flashlight with extra bulbs and batteries.
(7)
Topographic maps of the area and compass.
(8)
First aid kit.
(9)
Scout pocket knife or a Leatherman tool.
(10) Insect
repellent.
(11) A
synthetic fiber filled sleeping bag.
The best pack for carrying this load of survival items is a backpack with a
capacity of at least 2,000 cubic inches or more. When hiking far from
civilization, it is better to have a pack that is too big than one that is too small
for your needs. While you may have the
physique of a National Football League quarterback, this gear and the smarts to
use it properly will get you safely back home more than brute strength will.
“Here is a great day, here is a
perfect choice! A camp in nature! What else do you need? You don’t have to
dream because you are in a dream now!”
– Mehmet Murat ildan
Campsites
Most parks and forest backpacking trails have developed and designated
campsites with fire boxes and pit toilets. Although off-trail camping
(making camp away from designated campsites) is allowed in some forests, it is
not allowed in most parks. To reduce environmental damage, as well as to
have the use of a better site, it is best to camp at designated campsites.
When off trail camping, pick a place that is at least three hundred yards from
a designated campsite to respect the privacy of those using that
campsite. Also, camp at least fifty yards from the shoreline of a lake or
river to prevent pollution and erosion.
In the past, recreationists camping on Pacific Ocean beaches have been swept
away by unexpected tidal waves. They are events geologists have named the
tsunami; they are often the result of a distant seaquake. To protect
yourself from this danger make sure your campsite is sited well back from
Pacific Ocean beaches. This also holds true for large lakes, as storm
driven waves could flood a lakeshore campsite.
Avoid hiking or camping in or near dry stream beds. A sudden rainstorm
many miles away could result in a dangerous flash flood that could wash you and
your tent away. Recently, a group of eight hikers following a hired guide
were hiking in a narrow, deep, dry stream bed when they were overtaken by a
flash flood originating upstream from a distant downpour. All but the
guide, a former factory worker with little guiding experience, were swept to
their deaths. According to the U.S. Weather Bureau, flash floods kill
more Americans every year than any other weather phenomenon.
Avoid pitching a tent under the canopies of isolated tall trees, as these often
attract lighting strikes. In the past, standing tress struck by lightning
have conducted deadly bolts of electricity from their crowns through their
trunks, down into their roots, and sometimes killed campers whose tents were
pitched above the roots.
Be aware of standing dead trees. Several times while walking through
forests, this writer has been startled by the sound of a distant falling
tree. Standing, solid looking, dead trees - especially old birch trees -
sometimes topple without warning or any visible cause, so be careful;
especially during periods of high winds. Standing dead trees, sometimes
called snags, should be removed by trail maintenance crews from campsite areas
and along trails for safety sake. However, unless these dead trees
present a danger to recreationalists, they should be left standing because they
do provide tree cavity nesting sites for wildlife.
“I just want to live in a world of
mountains, coffee, campfires, cabins, and golden trees, and run around with a
camera and notebook, learning the inner workings of everything real.”
– Victoria Erickson
Summer Campsites
The ideal summer campsite is a well drained, level site somewhat higher than
the surrounding land. This area should have enough trees to provide day
time shade, but spaced wide enough to allow the evening breezes to have some
effect on flying biting insects. High, dry, shaded and breezy locations
are ideal places for warm weather camping.
“Light a campfire and everyone’s a
storyteller.”
– John Geddes
Campfires
Many agencies now prohibit open fires in their recreational areas, while
encouraging the use of stoves. However, in areas where building open
fires is legal, here are a few general guidelines.
When you first arrive at any campsite, be it undeveloped or developed, you
should pick up all combustible litter to burn in your campfire. Carry
enough plastic bags to haul out some of the non-combustible trash.
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