Lessons learned from the Oregon tragedy

wrote

Ok. So there's one case. I did say there's probably been a couple of
cases. This once incident you cite doesn't make leaving the
car/airplane a good idea. If anything, I think it strengthens the
advice to stay with the car... The guy lived for 60 days!! Almost
amazing that he wasn't found in that time.

But nobody ever said to not get out of the car. The point was to not leave the
protection of the car, for a walk out. I would think that you should be out
making markings with branches for air visibility. Get some gas and some pine,
and the battery or something for a point of ignition to start a quick signal
fire. A small hike on nice days to see what is around you, and what might be
used to increase survival chances, such as food, water, roads, houses, wire
right-of-ways.
--
Jim in NC

wrote:

Matt Whiting wrote:

I know that is the standard advice, but I'm not sure I could follow it
for more than a day or two. Personally, I'd rather die trying than die
sitting waiting on someone who may never come.



I know what you're saying Matt, but I don't think I've ever heard of
anybody dying in their car when they got stuck. I'm sure there's a
couple of cases, but from all the stories I've heard in our general
area (you're in Montrose right?) the vast majority of exposure deaths
were when people left a protective shelter.

No, I'm from northern PA. Around here we have about as many people die
from CO in their car than from leaving and hiking out. Granted, we have
few places as remote as the mountains of the west, however, we do have
many places where you can be 20 miles from civilization. Just look at
the Detroit sectional in and around Bradford PA.

Matt

Five miles on a deserted road and you can die. Rumor has it
that the mob does hits in the winter near Chicago, by
forcing the victim to drive their own car into the country
and run into a ditch, then try to shovel it out. Then they
leave them with just city street clothes.




"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...
| wrote:
|
| Matt Whiting wrote:
|
| I know that is the standard advice, but I'm not sure I
could follow it
| for more than a day or two. Personally, I'd rather die
trying than die
| sitting waiting on someone who may never come.
|
|
|
| I know what you're saying Matt, but I don't think I've
ever heard of
| anybody dying in their car when they got stuck. I'm
sure there's a
| couple of cases, but from all the stories I've heard in
our general
| area (you're in Montrose right?) the vast majority of
exposure deaths
| were when people left a protective shelter.
|
| No, I'm from northern PA. Around here we have about as
many people die
| from CO in their car than from leaving and hiking out.
Granted, we have
| few places as remote as the mountains of the west,
however, we do have
| many places where you can be 20 miles from civilization.
Just look at
| the Detroit sectional in and around Bradford PA.
|
| Matt

wrote:
Matt Whiting wrote:

I know that is the standard advice, but I'm not sure I could follow it
for more than a day or two. Personally, I'd rather die trying than die
sitting waiting on someone who may never come.


I know what you're saying Matt, but I don't think I've ever heard of
anybody dying in their car when they got stuck. I'm sure there's a
couple of cases, but from all the stories I've heard in our general
area (you're in Montrose right?) the vast majority of exposure deaths
were when people left a protective shelter.

There are a few of these deaths every winter, from somewhere in the
West. Last winter's most memorable was a guy who was only about 100
yards from a working payphone and a trailmarker - with instructions on
how to get help. He died of thirst and hypothermia. Can't remember
which range of mountains. He wrote in his journal, IIRC - but
apparently never got out of the car * at all * - took about three days!

But, I was wondering about this very same issue. Given that it snowed
the first night, then rained for 3 days (Mrs. Kim's account) - and that
they had water, if not food - just how cold do you think it was inside
that car each night?

I'm thinking they had no blankets or insulation of any kind - he
obviously had a few pieces of clothing and was probably wearing all of
them.

How long would it have taken for them all to die of starvation,
hypothermia, etc., you think?

A.

Atalanta Beauregard writes:

How long would it have taken for them all to die of starvation,
hypothermia, etc., you think?

At least a month or two for any risk of starvation. Hypothermia is a
much more pressing danger.

--
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