The Winter Bug Out Contest! Rookie of The Year Award!

[riverjoe47]

How big is that centipede I hate those things . In the Nam they would get about a foot long (bird eating centipedes of Viet Nam)and if you got bitten by one it was medivac time .
Also back then I remember getting water out of a stump like that only it looked a lot blacker . We loaded it up with iodine and coolaid and it was the worst water I ever drank . We were always looking for water cause we stuck to the ridges and stayed out of the valleys . What part of Texas is this if you don't mind me asking . I thought it only snowed in the panhandle .
Nice post .

[Dubbya]

The centepede was no more than inch, inch and a half. Nothing deadly, but hurty. I was just outside of Georgetown, TX. We don't get very much snow at all in Central Texas, but normally once a year.

I just realized that I didn't give much background information on my AO. Below is a link to the Goodwater Trail map. I put in at Russell Park and headed east along the trail to Walnut Springs (G on the map). The orginal plan had me starting at Tejas Park (E on the map) and hiking west to Walnut Springs. I haven't been out hiking much in a while so after some thought I picked a shorter route.

http://files.georgetown.org/files/2009/ ... 4oct07.pdf

[Woods Walker]

Darkside.

Am I to understand that you’re actually picking citrus fruit? I liked the scope photo and the deliverance 10/22 over the shoulder pics.

Dubbya.

Given the right set of circumstances anyone can get lost so that lost hiker story doesn’t surprise me. The ID Siltarp is nice for sure but make certain you seam seal it. Is that a ZL H501? I have a Primus Iso/pro lantern and it puts out a bunch of light and uses the same canister as the MSR Pocket Rocket. Shoot it even gives off a little heat under a tarp. Looks like a nice trip.

[Hunt4lyf]

i spotted this prickly pear on the way out, though there was no fruit.

[/quote]


Hey Darkside, you can eat the pads of the prickly pear cactus also, tastes good, kinda like a crisp green bean. All you do is cut the pad off, trim the top and bottom and scrape the spines off with a knife edge. Then simmer it for 15 or so minutes in hot water with a bit of salt and then slice it up or you can then throw it over a fire for a couple minutes, good stuff. Google "Cooking Nopales", I used to eat it a lot back in So Cal on my rambles in addition to the "tuna" or fruit of the PP. Oh yeah, use gloves!!!

[Dubbya]

Dubbya.

Given the right set of circumstances anyone can get lost so that lost hiker story doesn’t surprise me. The ID Siltarp is nice for sure but make certain you seam seal it. Is that a ZL H501? I have a Primus Iso/pro lantern and it puts out a bunch of light and uses the same canister as the MSR Pocket Rocket. Shoot it even gives off a little heat under a tarp. Looks like a nice trip.

Yup you nailed the headlight. As for the unfortunate hiker, I can understand. It's just hard for me to comprehend. Some where down the line I was gifted a very good natural sense of direction. I've been lost before, but manage to find my way.

The tarp is seam sealed, but only on the seem down the middle. I didn't see much advantage to seam sealing the outside seams. Should I reconsider?

Thanks for the kind words WW!

[Woods Walker]

If ID sealed the center seam already than you should be ok. There are a bunch of factors which can make someone get lost even in areas which it would appear unlikely. Weather, darkness, hunger, injury, dehydration and panic can all work against a person. Once or twice a year I run into day hikers in trouble simply because they don’t have a flashlight or headlamp and got a bit turned around into dusk. Nothing life or death however I feel sorry for the guys who gotta eat their pride and ask for help with wives/girlfriends letting it be known they knew the correct direction all along.

[Dubbya]

If ID sealed the center seam already than you should be ok. There are a bunch of factors which can make someone get lost even in areas which it would appear unlikely. Weather, darkness, hunger, injury, dehydration and panic can all work against a person. Once or twice a year I run into day hikers in trouble simply because they don’t have a flashlight or headlamp and got a bit turned around into dusk. Nothing life or death however I feel sorry for the guys who gotta eat their pride and ask for help with wives/girlfriends letting it be known they knew the correct direction all along.

Yup, I have no problem getting egg on my face asking for directions. Probably another factor in why I don't get lost. I'm sure the hiker was pretty panic stricken. I think that is the most contributing factor. Once panic sets in and the mind races, you just can't make very rational decisions.

[Manliest]

Only three weeks left for me to get my entry in? Yeah, I'm in!

[riverjoe47]

If ID sealed the center seam already than you should be ok. There are a bunch of factors which can make someone get lost even in areas which it would appear unlikely. Weather, darkness, hunger, injury, dehydration and panic can all work against a person. Once or twice a year I run into day hikers in trouble simply because they don’t have a flashlight or headlamp and got a bit turned around into dusk. Nothing life or death however I feel sorry for the guys who gotta eat their pride and ask for help with wives/girlfriends letting it be known they knew the correct direction all along.

In the Nam we had an arrogant captain with a Napolean complex who along with his other inadequecies was totally unable to read a map . There in the triple canopy it was impossible to shoot an azmuth on a distant object so map reading became more of an art then a science . The result of the captain refusing to ask for help was our company wandered into Laos and was basically lost for about a week . Now it was bad enough running out of chow and ammo but what really sucked was no air or artillery support . Finally he admitted to the brass what had happened and the choppers finally spotted us popping smoke .The captain later left our company thank god and was replaced with a fellow draftee who was great .

[FreeRider]

Looks like I will have another free weekend to bug out in the coming week. I already have a contest entry ready in the wings but figured I may give it another go and see if I can document my trip a little better. My last trip was cold (nearing -30C) so taking pictures and video fall lower on the list of priorities...although I did capture quite a bit last time, its a great excuse to head out into the bush again!

[xxxDarksidexxx]

Darkside.

Am I to understand that you’re actually picking citrus fruit? I liked the scope photo and the deliverance 10/22 over the shoulder pics.

well, i wasnt... my buddy was. the fruit on this trail is free for the pickin. in fact, a game warden came through on a horse while we were geeting the fruit. he asked if we were small game hunting, and we said yes. then he said looks like youre hunting for grapfruit too, and kinda smiled and rode off. he didnt ask for our license, or permits, or even if we bagged any game... now if i didnt have the proper license and permit he would ask for it!

the rifle pic is pretty awesome. squeal piggy

the scope pic is pretty cool, i agree. i was just playing around a bit after lunch. made me start wondering if i could connect a video camera and still see through the scope. now if i actually shot something it would make for some great video.

[xxxDarksidexxx]

Hey Darkside, you can eat the pads of the prickly pear cactus also, tastes good, kinda like a crisp green bean. All you do is cut the pad off, trim the top and bottom and scrape the spines off with a knife edge. Then simmer it for 15 or so minutes in hot water with a bit of salt and then slice it up or you can then throw it over a fire for a couple minutes, good stuff. Google "Cooking Nopales", I used to eat it a lot back in So Cal on my rambles in addition to the "tuna" or fruit of the PP. Oh yeah, use gloves!!!

you are correct. i didnt mention that in my post, but it can be done. i have never eaten it, but i need to try it some time.

[xxxDarksidexxx]

If ID sealed the center seam already than you should be ok. There are a bunch of factors which can make someone get lost even in areas which it would appear unlikely. Weather, darkness, hunger, injury, dehydration and panic can all work against a person. Once or twice a year I run into day hikers in trouble simply because they don’t have a flashlight or headlamp and got a bit turned around into dusk. Nothing life or death however I feel sorry for the guys who gotta eat their pride and ask for help with wives/girlfriends letting it be known they knew the correct direction all along.

Yup, I have no problem getting egg on my face asking for directions. Probably another factor in why I don't get lost. I'm sure the hiker was pretty panic stricken. I think that is the most contributing factor. Once panic sets in and the mind races, you just can't make very rational decisions.

its hard to see how people could get lost on marked trails. while researching the hunting rules and regs on myFWC.com i read an article that said search and rescue gets called several times a year to find hunters / hikers that are lost in our area.

i can see how a hunter off in the woods away from trails could get lost... but as you point out WW the right chain of events can throw you off i guess, and yeah panic is the icing on the shit cake.

[xxxDarksidexxx]

nice trip dubbya! good looking gear and you made good use of it. i like the ZS carved in the table. i always read the crap people carve into picnic tables at camp grounds. how you made that hike in without snow shoes is beyond me. cool looking cave. great photos!

Thanks! And thank you again for setting this up. Got me motivated to go out and test new gear and test myself.

youre welcome!

[riverjoe47]

I just realized you were on the Fl . trail . I never realized how extensive that was . A friend of mine had a trailer near Inverness about a half mile from the trail . I just assumed it was a county thing . Man thats big . Ill have to check it out when we go back to Crystal River .

[JoeTosco]

@xxxDarkSidexxx: This is a Winchester 62. I have a copy of it, made under license by ROSSI here in Brazil for several years.

[xxxDarksidexxx]

I just realized you were on the Fl . trail . I never realized how extensive that was . A friend of mine had a trailer near Inverness about a half mile from the trail . I just assumed it was a county thing . Man thats big . Ill have to check it out when we go back to Crystal River .

its like 1,400 miles long.

@xxxDarkSidexxx: This is a Winchester 62. I have a copy of it, made under license by ROSSI here in Brazil for several years.

thanks, but its not mine its my buddies. its a cool little rifle. thanks for the comment.

[riverjoe47]

Jeesh where's the action . Where's all these low drag LRRP types . Where's the beef . Maybe there will be a glut of entries in the last week .

[aa1pr]

Jeesh where's the action . Where's all these low drag LRRP types . Where's the beef . Maybe there will be a glut of entries in the last week .

I am not a long range recon patrol type but have been hoping to get my submission in this weekend or possibly this upcoming week

Gotta get all those ducks in a row....

[Woods Walker]

I will be winter camping Thursday-Sunday. Hope to see a bunch of new trips posted when I return.

[Kyle Ryder]

Nice thread, does this contest only cover the USA or is SE Asia covered?

I am in Thailands tropical south and am fixing up for some jungle adventures shortly

Get some video made guys! I see some cool pictures but zilch video

Great efforts though.

[riverjoe47]

Jeesh where's the action . Where's all these low drag LRRP types . Where's the beef . Maybe there will be a glut of entries in the last week .

I am not a long range recon patrol type but have been hoping to get my submission in this weekend or possibly this upcoming week

Gotta get all those ducks in a row....

I hear that . The hooch I'm building is taking about twice as long as I bid . Also weight keeps soaring so now Ive got to beef up the sled . Should have just bought one of those pulks like on your thread , but I want everything to be convertble to summer use . Come to think of it you could put wheels and axle on that monster pulk of yours pretty easily .

I look forward to WWs adventures as always .

[oldsoldier]

I havent been able to get out yet-GF had health issues. This weekend is out, as its valentines weekend. Next weekend though, I am planning it, come hell or high water!

[xxxDarksidexxx]

I will be winter camping Thursday-Sunday.