I was recently forwarded a quiz titled: "Would you survive in the wild?" There were a dozen questions with "correct" answers on the quiz, but unfortunately, few were applicable to Alaska. It was quickly obvious that the writer had never been in a tough situation in the woods. Today's reality is that a cellphone with a full charge will get most people out of trouble. But ... what if one is beyond service?
The first question on the quiz asked what was the most important thing to do if one was lost. The choices were shelter, fire, food or water. "Shelter" was the correct answer. If the situation was open tundra or above timberline in a winter wind storm, I agree. However, given the accompanying picture of a loose stick tepee in a woodland, I'd shake my head.
A windstorm in open country requires one to find shelter. If one has a shovel, a snow cave on the edge of a ravine would be a good option, otherwise, just decent cover along a drainage will work. I once spent a couple days behind a big rock in an 80-mph wind with blowing snow. Once I could see to walk, I was fine, though cold. A fire would have been my first choice, though it wasn't possible under the circumstances.
Near trees? Start a fire
I have participated in a couple of snowmobile rescues where the guys being rescued set their snowmobiles on fire in attempts to stay warm. In those instances, I'd say that the first thing to do was to collect your thoughts.
In Alaska, fire would be No. 1 on my list if I were anywhere near trees. A fire anywhere out of wind is ideal. It gives one a base of operations and provides a huge mental boost. Smoke is a signal for rescuers and a fire helps provide water in the winter. One should always have the means to start a fire on their person. Snowmobiles can plunge through the ice, taking any survival pack with them, leaving the driver with only his wits and what's in his pockets. A knife and snare wire is a good place to start, but a Zip-loc with a couple of paper towels and matches in another pocket is essential in winter.
The rest of the quiz had to do with how to figure directions and the best bugs to eat. The advice on direction finding was good. The sun is in the south at noon in the northern hemisphere, and the bright side of an evening rising moon is west. In January, Alaska insects are going to be limited to frozen spruce bark beetle grubs. I think I'd opt for the bark instead.
I recall a couple of Alaska winter survival stories that ended badly. Both times, good shelter was available, but neither of the folks made it. Chris McCandless, in the bus on Stampede Road, had both shelter and water. Food was available, though he was unable to access it due to injury. In the other instance, north of Fort Yukon, shelter was a good cabin, but the guy involved lost his head and starved to death, even though he had a shotgun and traps.
The reality of being lost in today's world is that someone will look for you in a couple of days at most — provided, of course, that you had enough foresight to leave behind travel plans. The most likely scenario is to have a snowmobile go through the ice or be stuck in overflow where it is not possible to get going again.
I once dropped a Ski-Doo through the ice at minus 20. I was wet but had matches and spruce available. Instead of making a fire, I opted to walk the 10 miles to my vehicle. That worked, because I was in good shape and I knew building a fire was always an option.
Keep your head
The bottom line to surviving in the wild is to keep one's head. All of the other factors change with the circumstances and any individual's ability. The best long-term survival story I recall happened more than 40 years ago, when a pilot and his passenger crashed north of Whitehorse in mid-winter. They waited 46 days for rescue. Both suffered injuries in the crash substantial enough to limit movement. They survived, because they were able to keep a fire going. Their food was mostly toothpaste, but they were able to catch a few snowshoe hares with electrical wiring from the downed aircraft.
The food was a plus, but they lived because they kept their heads and never gave up hope. Remember this: Most "adventures" are mistakes made in preparation. One can always look back in any situation and say "what if?" However, some mistakes can't be avoided. Unforeseeable things happen. But if you stay positive in an uncomfortable situation, good things often will come your way.
John Schandelmeier is a lifelong Alaskan who lives with his family near Paxson. He is a Bristol Bay commercial fisherman and two-time winner of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race.