File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Has anyone here ever lived independently in the wilderness for a long period of time?

This summer I have plans to hitch-hike across America from PA to AZ to Alaska living off nature as much as possible and is needed finding odd jobs here and there for money.

What kind of advice would you offer me? Besides saying don't do it, because it's been a dream of mine for years now, and I'm doing it.
>> Anonymous
Bring a sword and wear a coolie.
>> Anonymous
>>170387

I've got all the gear planned out already. Weatherproof sleeping bag, backpack which will hold carry everything, a couple sets of clothes, hunting knife, 9mm pistol (killing small game), bagged food such as rice, etc.
>> Anonymous
>finding odd jobs here and there for money.
>9mm pistol
>> Anonymous
>>170393

lol
>> Anonymous
Im planning to do a similar thing across Australia and New Zealand in a few years. The best advice i have ever received is first to do a trial run for a few weeks. The second is to find a way to not go stir crazy through lonelyness. Either a partner or radio with someone to talk to regularly. Or if you are very good on your own bring some novels.

Do it, im sure you will enjoy it, better than sitting around watching the latest piece of crap on tv.
>> Anonymous
Read Into The Wild, and don't eat Sweet Pea Pods. Of, and don't do what he did.
>> Anonymous
>>170399

or set up meetings with anon throughout! sadly i am in PA too (pittsburgh) but you could... uh ... stop by. and have a beer.

so ronery ;_;
>> Anonymous
yeah the 'finding odd jobs' part is harder than you think. primarily in small towns where theres little work to be done and a large demand for jobs already. plus you may find they arent too keen on outsiders just passing through town. theyd rather hire their cousin curtis. also, hitchhiking is not as viable as it was during kerouacs days. hitchhikers=drug crazed killers. bring good footwear, youll be doing more hiking than hitching. consider hopping trains. things should get really fun once you start to near the yukon territory. i hope youve got plenty experience with typical camping techniques or at least ton a lot of homework. know what kind of wildlife to expect (bears, scorpions, etc). i could go on a long time about this but suffice to say you need to do a shitload of planning and expect many things will still go wrong. when all else fails, refer to
>>170393
>> Anonymous
>>170400

OP here, I've read that. Also read Jon Watermans book about Mt. Denali which is mentioned in Into the Wild.
>> Anonymous
ask in /k/ again.
There should be some survival freaks around.
Also:
Get a swedish fire steel stick and something like a Hammock tent, maybe.
>> Anonymous
I'd make sure that it's legal to carry a 9mm around where you intent to go hiking.
>> Anonymous
>>170408
Don't ask in /k/, it will turn into what gun has the minute edge over the other gun going up against a grizzly bear.
>> Anonymous
>>170399

I don't get lonely. I'm always content just thinking about things and living in my own dream world. I do plan on stocking up on some new books for the trip though.
>> Anonymous
>>170411
this thread is now about grizzly bears.
>> Anonymous
>>170413

Hey, leave us grizzlies out of this shit.
>> Anonymous
Bring a guide to edible plants, and only eat the specific parts of the plant that are listed as edible. Several years back a young guy trying to "live off the land" ate the roots of a plant whose leaves were known to be edible. They stopped his body from absorbing nutrients and he slowly starved to death.

And just plain avoid mushrooms unless you're an avid outdoorsman.
>> Anonymous
>>170414

Fuck off, furfag.
>> Anonymous
yea, good luck with hitch hiking there stinky... it's hard enough for a clean person to get a ride, crazy 4chan guy who's been living in the wilderness ain't gonna get much love.
>> Anonymous
get yourself a cheap motorcycle, you can work your odd jobs dream for gas to keep the thing running and any repairs you'll need. At least you'll have the option of covering some distance quickly. This will be especially useful when you get into the arizona area and it's 110 degrees or higher in the summer (I live in Arizona, that's not an exaggeration). You don't want to spend hours walking along the road in that heat.
>> Anonymous
OP, There's a movie based on a true story coming out soon about a guy that did that.
He dies.
>> Anonymous
>>170455

I know he dies, I read the book. Lots of people have died doing stuff like this. Doesn't mean I'm not going to do it.
>> Anonymous
don't eat any mushrooms,

if you see a black bear, play dead
if you see a brown bear, climb a tree
watch where you step
walk with a stick, and put the stick where you're going to step FIRST
you can boil water in plastic cups over a fire
fires are easy to start, but you need to learn how
don't sleep next to your food, or next to a fire that you have used to cook
learn native edibles including herbs for supplemental nutrition and medicine (such as chewing on/brewing a tea with pine fronds for vitamin c, or using native ephedra as a stimulant/antihistamine)
learn how to trap food including fish (fish are some of the most easily accessible, and high calorie food in the wilderness)
learn to eat things raw
>> Anonymous
OP, you are a fucking idiot.
>> partelo Anonymous
www.lost.eu/69842
>> Anonymous
another dead dumbass
>> Anonymous
>>170384

I have gone backpacking numerous times and done numerous week-long hunting trips but never done a hike that long.

My suggestions are as follows:

1) when deciding what to bring, think very carefully about your list. Many things that you would think you need, you don't. And other things will come in handy that you never thought of.

For example, the 9mm is a poor idea to bring. Not only are there a lot of legal worries, but it is also a poor choice for a hunting weapon. If you absoloutley have to have a gun, reconsider your choice. The 9mm has poor ballistics. At distances where you could use the 9, a .22 will do just fine--and the 22 is much quieter, lighter, and easier to shoot accuratley. You can also pack a lot more .22 ammo than 9 ammo in the same amount of space.

A hunting knife is good. Bring a swiss army knife too--they are amazingly handy. Water filter, lifeboat matches, fishing line and hooks, "filter straw" for drinking water. A mangesium firestarter is also very handy. Whistle and a small mirror for signaling. Wire for snares. Plastic bags are a must. You can use them to collect food and water, to keep yourself warm, and to fashion a simple water purification device if you need it in emergency. Extra shoelaces and GOOD socks, including spares.

And, if you haven't already done this: make sure you get experience hiking, camping, fishing, trapping, shooting, and hunting. You don't have to do this for months at a time, but practice the skills you will need, just as if you were doing the real thing.

Also, plan some stops at civilization along the way. Mail yourself "care packages" before you leave so you can pick them up as you make your "pit stops".
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Can't be done. Give up.
>> Anonymous
...continued.

When thinking about clothes, think layers. Don't bother to bring a big jacket. It's useless unless it really is super cold. The rest of the time it's just dead weight. Bring clothes that are lightweight and flexible to use. A lightweight nylon windbreaker is great. It keeps water off when worn outside, and when you wear one as an inner layer it can keep you very warm.

A good set of boots is a MUST. Get a new pair before your trip. Don't skimp--buy a GOOD pair. Break them in first, but don't wear them excessively before you go.

Don't forget a hat. Get something with a big brim to help keep the sun off your head.

Forget about all the normal toiletries. They're pretty much useless. Toothbrush? Waste of space. Use your finger.
>> Anonymous
...continued, again:

Do, however, bring some spices. You can certainly find food, but palatable food is a different story. Spices (particularly strong ones) don't take up much space and can be very handy. If your food is unpalatable, then you won't eat it--and that's useless. Also, some spices have medicinal properties, and that can be handy. Salt is very useful. Also pack some very hot red pepper. Why very hot? It can act as a decongestant if you need it. Plus, you only need a little to season your food, so you don't have to pack as much of it.

Speaking of food, make sure you have experience not only cooking, but also cleaning and preparing fish and game. This includes using some of the less desireable bits of the animal! "living off the land" sounds cool, but until you've actually killed an animal, cut it up, cooked and eaten it--especially with a minimum amount of resources--you don't really know what you're in for.

In fact, this is a great idea: pack up some matches, a knife, and your tool of choice for catching a small animal. Now go out in the woods and kill a rabbit or squirrel, clean, cook, and eat it with your backpacking supplies. Do that again, but fish instead. Now imagine doing that for a couple of months.
>> Anonymous
>>170408
survival freak here,
pick up a copy of sas survival handbook by john "lofty" wiseman. its great.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
OP,

Read the link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_McCandless

Now do you want to die a stupid death like that idiot?
>> Anonymous
>>171084

Agreed. The SAS book is one of the best survival manuals out there.

Though, I want to echo what 171056 (and continuations) said: Reading about this stuff and actually DOING it are two different things. It is certainly possible to do a long trip like this. But, you need to know what you are doing. You need hands-on experience with the skills required. Get out there and get some practice with backpacking, hunting, fishing, etc before you even think about a trip of this magnitude.