Big Surprises on Winter Camp Trip

“I just got back from my overnight trip for my winter camping and survival class, and it was an interesting one! The 6 lectures were enlivened by a gal named Coyote who professed to be the world's survival expert on everything, and being native american knew all about mukluks, wikiups, and all things natural.

After 6 classes of going over what to bring, she showed up the morning of the overnight trip, with a giant pack with no buckle on the waistbelt, no sleeping bag straps, and a suitcase. At the trailhead I sorted through the pack and suitcase, and eliminated about 20 pounds of stuff, and we got her tied into the pack. After an easy and flat 2 mile hike, Coyote pulled into camp exhausted, and like everyone else, started making a shelter.

There was only 2 feet of snow, and it was very dry so it wouldn't make blocks, so we all built Quinzee shelter, piled up snow mounds which you hollow out. I checked her progress periodically, and finally finished her shelter for her. She had gotten her clothes wet digging the cave, as expected, but she had no change of dry clothes, as instructed. Luckily some of the gals on the trip were very experienced, and loaned her a new set of clothes. With dry clothes she slept fine in her quinzee, but I was very close to putting her on my sled and hauling her out Saturday night.

I guess I'll have to put together a whole set of loaner clothes for situations like that. There are no prerequisites to the class, but most students have backpacked before, and some are very experienced. Some of those experienced people took on Coyote as a project, and really saved the day.

Point of interest: where we camped usually has 5 feet of snow, this year it has 2 feet. What does that tell you about the availability of water in the Pacific NW, and the price of electricity next summer? Happy trails!!”

“You walked in the woods and sleeped in the woods with a TOYOTA?
o-8=

Did she howl at the moon?
Was she vishiss?
Was she stinky?
Did she try to sneek yer food?

Oh dawg! I would LUUUV to see a toyota in the woods. And woofs!
Know what? Me and my daddy (he ain't my reel daddy cuz I am a dog and he is not a dog) was watching TV about Jellostone and woofs. I seen woofs and they are like dogs. My mama (reel mama) is a yeller lab.
Know what? My reel daddy is a WOOF! That's rite! I'm some parts a regular dog, and some parts a WOOF!
o-:3 AWROOOOOOOooooooooooooooo!

I think that mebbe that is why I am such a good woods dog that can smell rats reel good and chase brids and see at dark and fight bears and lissen reel good cuz I am some parts a woof.”

“Just goes to show that outdoor skills are not a genetic trait.”

“I think it shows more that arrogance breeds stupidity...
good thing there were other out there to save her a$$. If nothing else, maybe she learned a littel humility and will be better prepared next time.
next time...? >gulp<
=:0

sounds like it(the class) was a good experience, Bob. :o)”

“Man, if there's ever a time to pay attention and listen to experience, it's when you plan to go out and camp in the snow.

Like listening to your sky dive instructor. You might want to know this stuff, okay? Sheesh.”

“My guess is that when Coyote told her friends about the trip she left out all the help she got. That probably wasn't the first, or last, time she talked big and walked small. I would hope she learned some humility AND skills. But if she went through SIX sessions and still prepared that way, then the cosmic plan is trying hard to weed her out and she's helping the cause.”

“I think I need to take more spare equipment, and when I see a potential basketcase, check them out for having the right gloves, slocks, raincoat, etc. I did take a spare tarp and a spare foam pad, which helped save the day. I hate to tell a beginner they can't go on a trip, which I have only done once, and it was awful.”

“I have never "lead" a group hike, heck most of the time I am going by myself or with one other person. Anytime I have hiked with others I have met them at the trailhead. The Savage gulf trip was the first trip in years where I was involved with a group of other hikers (a great group of ECT'ers at that). I guess what I am saying is that I have never been in a situation where it was up to me to decide wether or not a person went on a hike. I do feel that it's my responsibility as a person to make sure that the people going are prepared. I am not the best judge in that area and mostly rely on talking to the people going to get an idea of how prepared they are and their skill level. I too usually carry extra clothing and food on trips not some much for others but for emergencies in general. You have raised a very serious issue, I mean what do you say to someone that travels hours to a trailhead to go on a hike and your feeling is that they are inept and ill equipt. They might just go in there on there own and thats not good either. I guess it would really depend on how tough a trip it was going to be as to what I would do.”

“I learned to backpack the hard way. BY GETTING MY ASS KICKED. It's made me a wiser BPer. The trick is to NOT die while learning.”

“It's when I see people at the trailhead wearing espadrilles and carrying a suitcase that I begin to worry.”

“Bob I sympathize. For years I was in charge of our SAR winter exercise. Always felt that it was a good thing that we didn't get called out.”

“Sounds like she needs chlorine in her gene pool. Ya done good, Big Bob. Happy trails.”

“I actually had a similar expereince. When I did the canyon, we passed a crew abot a quarter of the way down the north rim heading for the river while we were going up the north rim. We had already been hiking for about 5 hours, so they had a long way to go. One of the guys was carrying one of those wal-mart sleeping bags barely attached to his pack and he didn't appear to have much other gear based on the size of his pack.

On that same trip we encountered some people who were doing rim-rim and brought canned food, like soup.”

“Idaho Bob, sounds like quite a trip. On a few group trips I went as a teen the leaders would go through our packs before we headed out. We also were given a specific gear list and a weight limit. With rare exception (experience) were you allowed to exceed the perameters. It sucks to have to "screen" gear and whatnot but unpreparedness on any individuals part especially in winter may result in tragedy. Hopefully coyote learned somethin and if not she ought to keep her "nature activities" confined to the discovery channel.”