Survival-Evasion Vacation

[theGinsue]

Just saw this story on Yahoo...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_weekend/20101119/ts_yblog_weekend/survival-evasion-vacation


Here is the text of the link, but the link also has video of the camp.

My grandfather was a Naval Aviator during World War II. As a child I listened to his stories with amazement; I look back today with an even greater appreciation of his bravery. The news today is full of survival stories, most recently the saga of the Chilean miners (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/news/yblog_weekend/ts_yblog_weekend/storytext/survival-evasion-vacation/38633360/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101014/pl_yblog_upshot/five-touching-moments-from-the-miner-rescue), rescued after being trapped underground for more than three months. Movies like "Into the Wild" (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/movies/yblog_weekend/ts_yblog_weekend/storytext/survival-evasion-vacation/38633360/*http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809698364/info)and the recently released "127 Hours" (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/movies/yblog_weekend/ts_yblog_weekend/storytext/survival-evasion-vacation/38633360/*http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810124599/info) tell harrowing tales of people trapped alone in the wilderness.
It all makes me wonder: Do I have what it takes to survive the unthinkable? I decided to find out.
There are hundreds of survival schools (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/search/yblog_weekend/ts_yblog_weekend/storytext/survival-evasion-vacation/38633360/*http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=survival+schools&fr2=sb-top&fr=aaplw) in the United States and around the world. Regular people can spend a weekend, a vacation, or even up to a year learning how to survive in the Arctic or the South American jungle; or you can focus on practical skills a little closer to home.
Many schools now offer students a chance to experience a simulated emergency, like what to do if you survive a plane crash, or run into trouble in a foreign country. At Mountain Shepherd Wilderness Survival School (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/yblog_weekend/ts_yblog_weekend/storytext/survival-evasion-vacation/38633360/SIG=1124s0r5k/*http://www.mountainshepherd.com/) in Virginia, one of their most popular courses is called Hidden Pursuit.
Owner Reggie Bennett teaches survival skills based on his experience as a S.E.R.E instructor in the United States Air Force. S.E.R.E. stands for "Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape." Reggie doesn't teach resistance (that's classified), but for three days my fellow students and I learned about the basic priorities of survival ... and what I learned really surprised me!

On the final day, we were put to the test. As masked men roared by us on ATV's, we tried to make it quickly and quietly to a safe zone several miles from our campground. Even though I knew it wasn't real, I could feel the adrenaline surging as I tried to move quietly through the woods. I found out the hard way that it's a lot harder than it looks!

[Wulf202]

In an attempt to sidetrack the thread.

Anyone who says Into the wild is a movie worth watching or has something worth teaching other than stupidity hurts is a fucking moron. I want the time I spent reading and watching it back.

Seriously someone owes me several hours of my life back.

Although the movie was actually better than the book.

[soco11]

I still remember our Escape and Evasion training vividly in the military, even though it was now about 40 years ago (can I really have gotten that old that fast?!). We were trucked deep into a woods and were taken to a briefing place where we were told shown maps of the woods, and given an objective of a road to try to get to. Then, without warning, "enemy" soldiers broke into the building we were in and took us captive, and forced to crawl into fenced enclosures where we were kept under armed guard. Occasionally one or more of our group were taken out of the group by armed guards and taken into a building from which we could hear sounds as though people were being beaten. Suddenly sirens went off and the gates were thrown open briefly by attackers, and we ran into the night and into the woods for our lives. Then we had to escape and evade the "enemy" who were in the woods tracking us and listening for us, trying to recapture us and take us back to the enclosures. It was nearly dawn by the time my buddies and I who had teamed up made it safely to the road and were picked up by the transports and taken back to base. Fun? Not as much as it sounds! But certainly a little educational!

[Hoopty]

Fucking sweet. [Beer]

On a side note, a buddy and I are planning an extended weekend trip next summer somewhere without food, water, or shelter. I can't wait. [Tooth]

[flan7211]

Fucking sweet. [Beer]

On a side note, a buddy and I are planning an extended weekend trip next summer somewhere without food, water, or shelter. I can't wait. [Tooth]

Same here man! Are you on the move or staying put?

[Irving]

I was going to try and do a hike using a map and a compass sometime next spring/summer if I can swing it. Then, if I live, I'd like to do it again with the rest of the family.

[glock21]

that would be fun and educational, i would be up for planning a trip[ if anybody was game, i would have to take my gun tho.

[theGinsue]

i would have to take my gun tho.

I won't go into the woods without one!

[BigMat]

been trying at this a little at a time down in AZ, but I haven't done anything serious out in the woods up here. I am all ears and have been thinking about the same with a friend of mine.

[BigMat]

I won't go into the woods without one!

What fun are the woods without one?!

[theGinsue]

Fun that I have a chance of surviving should Murphy show his ugly head (which he often does in my life)!

[Hoopty]

Planning to stay put, set up shelter, snare/fish etc for food yadda yadda... And yes, I will be bringing a pistol, but will not be using it unless I need to for defense. I will not be using it to get food.


Same here man! Are you on the move or staying put?

[gnihcraes]

Watch ManTracker on TV, you'll learn some things there just by watching. Pretty intense at times and its all a simple game. get from Point A to B and don't let the tracker catch you. Some make it, some fail very badly.

[Irving]

My uncle turned me on to ManTracker and I like that show.

I was planning on going in the woods between Granby and Tabernash (north side of the highway). I was going to hike through all of Sol Vistas land. It used to be federal land that you could do whatever you wanted on, but now you can pretty much only hike and bike in there. I was going to try and hike from Sol Vista back to my cabin. If anyone is very familiar with the area and has any info I'd appreciate it.