Blizzard Survival Excercise

“OK TT, show me what ya got! Today, I took part in Intrest Based Baragining Training with one of my negotiating teams and a Board of Education. IBB is conducted by Federal Mediators, and the training emphasized team and concensus biulding. One of the excercises our group did was the "Blizzard Survival Excercise". Please take part, it's pretty fun, and relevant!

Scanrio:

Your hiking party of 6 people has been caught by a sudden blizzard while trekking in a remote region of the Appalachians. A mad dash back to your Ford Windstar resulted in a few scratches from slipping in the snow, but none of your party sustained any major injuries.

Your attempt to drive out has failed. Veering slightly off the road to avoid a fallen tree, the Windstar smashed into a hidden rock and careened into a shallow ravine. In the wreck, your headlights were smashed and the oil pan was torn out. Getting the van back in working order is impossible.

On the radio, which is still working, you heard that the blizzard is a major one and is not expected to end until tomorrow night. Immediate clearing is expected then. Temperatures tonight are expected to plummet below zero with winds in excess of 40 mph. The high temperature tomorrow is forcast at 10 degrees with winds unchanged.

You are unsure of your exact position. Your best estimate is that you are 35 miles from the nearest paved secondary road.

Your van is standardly equipped with bucket seats in front and a continuous back seat and storage area in the rear. A windows are glass. In the storage area, you have the following items: several magazines, a magnetic compass, a map of the immediate area, one pound of beef jerky, a first aide kit, a knife, shotgun, shovel, several paiurs of blue jeans, two old blankets, and some hubcaps. Each of your party is wearing hiking boots and a woll jacket. In your pockets you have some cash and assorted change. In the glove compartment are sunglasses (one pair per member) and assorted maps. None of your party smokes.

In discussing your survival possiblities, your group has compiled a list of 15 items.

Your Task

Rank these items from most important to least important for your survival. You are to assume that:
1. All members of the party have agreed to stay together.
2. The time is 3 pm. Your families expect you home by 6 pm and have a vague idea of where you are.

Rank the following items with 1 being the most important, and 15 being the least important for your groups survival.

Beef Jerky
Blankets
Lighter
First Aide Kit
Gasoline
Hoses
Hubcaps
Knife
Compass
Map of Area
Shotgun
Shovel
Spare Tire
Sunglasses
The Van's rear view mirror


Vote here. I'll compile the votes, take an average, give the the "experts" results, and see how far off we are from what the experts think. The group in the training is interested in what TT has to say, including the mediator, who may use our input in future training sessions.

I'll take votes until Wednesday. Have fun, and thanks!

BB”

“I'll defer, since I've taken this test before and know the answers... but the rational behind the alleged correct answers is interesting. Cool test.”

“I had to stop after the first sentence of the scenario. Screw the mad dash to the Winstar. Set up camp and enjoy the blizzard. Drink beer, wine and write your name in the snow until the storm ends.

note: writing your name in the snow is much cooler than whizzing in springs.”

“lol Pennsy!

Where did you take the test Artex?”

“A co-worker from about a year and a half ago gave it to me. It was a print out, and I'm not sure where she got it.”

“there used to be one where you were on the moon, very similar....


lighter
hubcaps
gas
blankets
jerky
gun
first aid
knife
mirror
map
compass
sunglasses
shovel
hoses
spare tire”

“no bullets for the shotgun?”

“First of all, I'd pull out all of the seats and carry them up and place them in the middle of the road so someday someone driving past will see them and summon help to retrieve our frozen bodies from the wreckage.

Prior to us dieing, we'd take the hose, siphon gasoline into a hubcap and light it. Then use another hubcap as a pot to melt snow for water. And if we wanted to be found we'd make a fire, throw the spare tire on it and have ourselves a nice smokey fire that may signal for help prior to us dieing.

I'm sure we'd use the gun on whomever whined the most.

While we're freezing, we'd smunch up pages of the magazines into loosely packed balls and stuff them into our pants covering enough of our legs to create dead airspace for layering warmth. That way, when they find our bodies, the rescuers will at least get a kick out of our last activities.

Well, this is getting rather morbid since we're all going to die because noone brought their Henry Shires TarpTent to use as a makeshift morgue.”

“1. Make a fun game to play to keep warm, such as flaming skeet with the shotgun, hubcaps and gasoline.

2. If we get hungry, we kill and eat the driver who got us into this mess.

3. Make parkas out of the seat covers and driver's skin.

4. Set the spare tire on fire and send smoke signals.

5. When it stops snowing, ignite the van, take the map and compass and go home.”

“Blankets
Shovel
Lighter
Compass
Map of Area
First Aid Kit
The Van's rear view mirror
Gasoline
Hoses
Spare Tire
Hubcaps
Beef Jerky
Sunglasses
Knife
Shotgun”

“bump”

“lmao phaeddy!”

“1. blankets
2. hubcap
3. rear view mirror
4. beef jerky
5. sungasses
6. map of area
7. shovel
8. lighter
9. compass
10. knife
11. 1st aid kit
12. spare tire
13. gasoline
14. shotgun
15. hoses

warmth 1st priority
water 2nd priority
signalling 3rd priority

-stay out of the wind in the van, covered with the blankets.
-use the hubcaps to melt water with body heat(do you really want to light a fire and keep it sustained to melt water in those conditions?
-use the rear view mirror for signalling in the morning if you see or hear any planes in the vicinity. and the horn of the van should be honked 3X every hour at night
-eat jerky to sustain body heat
-wear sunglasses to prevent eye damage
-the map may show you where best to put an 3 X in the snow with
-use the shovel to elevate snow and put sticks, branches what-have you in a high elevated area for a signal you don't have to be outside of the van to use.(in the afternoon when it is warmest)
-keep the spare tire and gasoline and soak magazines in one of the hubcaps and light it if you see a plane nearby
-likewise if the shotgun is loaded keep it for another signalling device if you hear any vehicles honking or see any vehicles in the distance

or build a snow cave with the shovel hmmmmm. does the van really soak in the cold to be worth getting wet?”

“come on slackers!”

“I've seen this one before so I will not cheat and answer.”

“I can't believe this thread isn't getting more posts. Too bad, it's a cool test. For the record, when I took it, I remember I did okay, but had a few key items out of place.

Kudos to those who took the time to give it a shot instead of posting about why they have a headache or what birds they see in their backyard.”

“Blankets
Shovel
Beef Jerky
Lighter
Gasoline
Spare Tire
The Van's rear view mirror
Hoses
Hubcaps
Sunglasses
First Aid Kit
Knife
Compass
Map of Area
Shotgun

Artex forcing me to work my brain.

If the hubcap looks anything like this: http://www.hubcaps.org/hubcaps/ford/frdtam51.jpg
you could use it as a weapon. LOL better then a shotgun that's not loaded.

I am still thinking that somehow they may have to use the hose to repelm but oh well. I also don't think water is much of a problem with all the snow around them.”

“i don't have to explain though right??

All I can say, I would stay in the car because of the windy conditions and the temperatures. They don't have enough clothing to keep them warm. help will be on the way in a little bit more then 24 hours.

they can use the blankets to keep them a bit warmer.sunglasses: to protect the eyes of course.

they can warm up the snow and use it as drinking water.
eat the beefjerky. that should give them enough energy to keep warm while waiting for help.

They can also start a small fire outside of the car to keep warm and use the tire to keep warm. If they don't need the hose for something else, they can burn it too.

they can signal for help with the mirror and hubcab during daytime hours.

I think I am pretty close to the true answer. I am getting curious, don't know if I can wait for wednesday.”

“I also have taken this test and I have about three different scenarios tucked away somewhere in all my scouting and outdoors literature. I only did ok when I first took it.

Frankly I think this thread doesn't get much play because many of us here have decent backpacking skills but are poor at woodcraft and outdoorsmanship.”

“so meaning we're not even close, eh? dang!! I'll leave it like that though. I am not starting to carve me a dang wood tire. LOL”

“Not at all Gem. You guys have some good answers. It's just that the silence on this topic is deafening.”

“Everybody hates me. :)”

“No time to spend thinking this through, but I heard someone put it this way as far as priorities for survival go depending on conditions such as freezing temps or desert conditions.

You can survive 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food.”

“1. Knife
2. Blankets
3. Mirror
4. Lighter
5. Gasoline
6. Hoses
7. Hubcaps
8. Tire
9. Sunglasses
10. Shotgun
11. Beef Jerky
12. Shovel
13. First Aide Kit
14. Compass
15. Map”

“did they explain why they ranked it this way??

seams to me the knife isn't as important as shelter with those winds and the closing they are wearing.

I guess I still to learn A LOTTTT!!!”

“Blankets
Lighter
Gasoline
Hubcaps
Hoses
Knife
Sunglasses
First Aide Kit
The Van's rear view mirror
Shovel
Shotgun
Beef Jerky
Compass
Map of Area
Spare Tire


We did a scenario a lot like this during Greenbelt training involving what you would prioritize if stranded on the moon.

Our answers were ultimately compared with the answers given to the same question by NASA scientists.

I listed my priorities based upon the facts and what I would do to survive.”

“Well, hell, while I answered the damn phone, etc, etc, etc, BB comes along and posts the #&%!$ing answer.

Oh well, sorry about showing up late Prof BB.”

“KNIFE - The most pressing survival need is to insulate your body against the cold. The primary methods of doing this are by creating dead air space around your body and protecting your extremities. This knife can be used to rip up the seats and the padding used as insulation inside your clothes. The knife has other multiple uses to be discussed later.

TWO BLANKETS - Heat flows from warmer to cooler surfaces. Any areas of the body left unprotected allow heat to be conducted away from the body. Up to 50% of the body's heat can be lost by leaving the head uncovered. Also, uncovered hands can cause the body to lose heat. The two blankets, cut with a knife, can be used to form makeshift hats and gloves.

MIRROR - Effective signaling is impossible during a blizzard. Once the storm ends, a small mirror is the single most effective signaling device. In sunlight, it's reflection can reach beyond the horizon.

LIGHTER - Any of several items will suffice to spark a fire, with the lighter being the handiest tool. Besides its other obviuos uses, fire is the most effective night signal.

GASOLINE - The best fuel for the fire. It can be siphoned with a water hose.

HOSES - Useful to siphon gas.

HUBCAPS - ALthough dehydration would not seem a problem with tons of snow around, it is. Eating snow without melting it first dehydrates the body. The body also loses heat warming the snow to body temp. in the mouth and stomach. Therefore, to survive for any period of time, melting snow is neccessary. The best implement for doing this is a hubcap bent in the shape of a pot.

SPARE TIRE - A tire, which can be easily ignited if delated and soaked with gasoline, will burn for some time, throwing off black clouds of smoke. The burning tire will serve as a continous signal. Other fires, fed with evergreen boughs will suffice, although the smoke is not as thick or black. Three fires burning in a triangle some distance apart is the international mountain distress signal.

SUNGLASSES - Once the weather clears, the reflection of the sun off the snow can cause snow blindness within a day. While not fatal in itself, snowblindness can be completely disabling, which in this case would be fatal.

SHOTGUN - Other than fire, the shotgun is the only effective night signaling device. Three blasts in rapid succession is an international distress signal.

JERKY - Death from dehydration would occur long before death from starvation. However, once fires started to melt the snow, eating jerky will produce body heat and ward off physical exhaustion which usually occurs as a result of nutritional depletion.

SHOVEL - A shovel cave is warmer than a car, which conducts heat into the atmosphere. While it is not adviseable to build a snow cave during the blizzard, the shovel and knife can be used to build a snow cave or lean-to after the blizzard. The shovel can also be used to scoop out an area for the fire.

FIRST AID - Aside from obvious uses, creams, sunburn ointments, gauze, and bandages provide useful protection against the sun.

MAP - Worthless, except as fuel.

COMPASS - Potentially the most dangerous item because it might encourage the party to try to walk out. Walking during a blizzard would result in almost certain death. AFter the blizzard, it is doubtful that members could survive one or two nights which would be spent in transit to the road.


There ya have it.... from the experts.”

“Now take the differnce between your rank and the experts rank, add them up, and you produce a score.

My answers:

Lighter
Knife
Hubcaps
Blankets
Shovel
Mirror
First Aide
Gas
Jerky
Map
Compass
Shotgun
Hoses
Sunglasses
Tire

My score was 60”

“Must Hike said it best IMHO.

When I took it I got about 60 or so. I can't remember that well as I took it about 10 years ago.”

“Looks like a 40 for me.”

“stud!”

“I remember the van was a chevy Astro in ours.
One of my Scouting aquaintences remembers it as a Vista Cruiser wagon in the 70's.”

“Yeah, well just keep your hand in your own pants, Mister.”

“okay, call me stupid, but HOW did you figure out your score?? None of mine are listed exactelly like the experts... but BB not either...so somehow I add the score up wrong. :(”

“Well, I turned mine into the instructor and he graded me.

Get on it BB!”

“Remind me not to go hiking with these guys. I think I'd take my chances with Twigeater, MB, and Pennsy with their three hour tours....LOL”

“yes buddha baby...please score me ;)”

“I pretty much got it like the experts. For example I had #4 & #5 reversed. But where I blew it was the knife, I forgot to even rate it. I rated beef jerky as #1, cause I know I'd nibble a bit while figuring out what to do next. I also had the mirror rated way too low, and put the map and compass at # 9 and 10.

Interesting to note that if lost, one needs to stay put to be found, and do what they can to signal for help. I guess I am too inclined to make my own good luck....

Of course, you didn't say hwo would be with you on the trip. Shucks, if it was Pennsy and Twigeater, we'd do just fine and make a darn good blizzard party of things.”

“I think the shotgun should be number one. I have seen "Lord of The flies" and know what happens when the cool kids gang up on ya...”

“hey wait a sec.... weren't these 6 guys graduates of BB's backpacking class?”

“F- Pennsy!

LMAO Birch!

Gemini - 10++++++++ (or did you mean "rate the test scores")

HPM - ya damned eraser clapper, this is self grading!

Chili - roll camera

monkeyboy - I have a feeling, if you rated jerky #1, you overlooked the whole "Reese Witherspoon" participation.”

“BB, sweat...and I love you for it...but not the answer I wanted. :)”

“Did you mean "sweet"? LOL!”

“He's such a sweatheart....”

“I missed the Reese Witherspoon thread, but I found it on another thread.....”

“Oops, I mixed them up!”

“oops..yeah "sweet" I wanted to write... dang Germans!
Anyway, he still didnt' give me my score, meaning he has no clue how to add it up.

I still don't think it's fair. They went into all those details, but didn't say anything about if the shotgun was loaded. They cheated (pouding)

Well, would've not made a difference in my score. (that I still don't know!!!!!!)”