BajaNomad - Your Survival in Baja

Your Survival in Baja

Bruce R Leech - 4-13-2005 at 05:52 PM

You have taken a 7 day back Pac and rock climbing trip with Ned your best friend in the mountains of northern Baja Sur. You have all the necessary equipment and supplies for this trip. 4 days in to the adventure you have a bad accident. While trying to clime down a vertical face in to a canyon a hand hold lets go and your friend falls to his death smashing his face into the rocks. He is dangling at the end of the rope. After several hours you have no choice but to cut the rope and let him fall the rest oh the way to the bottom along with most of your equipment and supplies. You manage to get back up to the top with a broken leg. You know it is broken but it is not a life threatening brake as long as you don?t put any wait on it. But all you have left with only a small day Pac about 14 inches square bye 10 inches deep, a good hunting knife on your belt and the close on your back. Also 2 one letter water bottles half full each.

Now here is where it gets fun. You Nomads tell me what you would want to be in the Day Pac. It can not include any food or any items that require batteries or solar power because those items all went to the bottom of the canyon along with your best friend Ned. you can pick only 15 items but they would all need to fit in that day Pac. Please list in order of importance to you.

[Edited on 4-14-2005 by Bruce R Leech]

Diver - 4-13-2005 at 06:13 PM

Satellite Phone
VHF Radio
Signal Flares or Smoke
Mirror
Tarp
Tequila
Jacket or Shirt
Chem Ice Pack
Toilet paper
Sunscreen
Painkillers
Ace Bandages
Good Book

[Edited on 4-14-2005 by Diver]

Bruce R Leech - 4-13-2005 at 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Diver
Satellite Phone
VHF Radio
Tequila
Sunscreen
Painkillers
Signal Flares or Smoke
Ace Bandages
Good Book

your first 2 cant count . nothing electric your Friend Ned rode that to the bottom

here are a couple of my favorites
duct tape
Bic liter

[Edited on 4-14-2005 by Bruce R Leech]

David K - 4-13-2005 at 06:23 PM

Well... you excluded important items I would have in my day pack... which is a Sat. phone (as soon as I can afford one), I would also have:

Water bottles or a camel pack.

First aid kit (inc. snake bite kit and signeling mirror),

Food bars & snacks (also not allowed on your list).

Swiss Army Knife and a hunting knife,

Baja Almanac and some satellite images from the new service we have been drooling over.

Matches and cig. lighter.

Some sky rockets or a flare gun.

That's about all I can think of, and is what we took on our hike up the Camino Real near Gonzaga.

Because water has the most weight of the items, there really isn't much more that can be carried. Leaving a cache of water halfway in is a good idea to reduce weight, if you are returning the same way.

Bob and Susan - 4-13-2005 at 06:28 PM

That's easy....

We'd ride out on the ATV we rode in on...never walk when you can ride :lol:

rpleger - 4-13-2005 at 07:03 PM

Swiss Army Knife
small bottle of water
Matches in a pill bottle
Maybe a piece of string

Bruce R Leech - 4-13-2005 at 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
That's easy....

We'd ride out on the ATV we rode in on...never walk when you can ride :lol:

moor people git in to series trouble down here on motorcycles and ATVs than do the hikers because they can cover so much ground in a few hours . for you Bob Imagen that you crashed your ATV in the same spot and broke your leg . this is a much likelier scenario than the one I posted.

lizard lips - 4-13-2005 at 07:30 PM

There is only 1 thing I would need.....A bottle of really good tequila :tumble:

gringorio - 4-13-2005 at 08:15 PM

a folded 10' by 10' sheet of clear durable plastic (to make water with in some canyon drainage)

a sturdy sharp knife

a length of strong string or small diameter line

storm matches

a good whistle

a signal mirror

some thick aluminium foil

a parachute flare

a smoke canister

the book by Tom Brown on wilderness survival

a good wide brimmed hat

the tequila everyone else is mentioning

a rubix cube :lol:

Nikon - 4-13-2005 at 08:31 PM

A Pencil
An Envelope
A Stamp
A blank check to make out to Merriam Webster, for a dictionary for YOU!

lizard lips - 4-13-2005 at 10:33 PM

Nikon WINS! Im bustin a gut here.......

Bruce R Leech - 4-14-2005 at 07:17 AM

I'm sorry I'm not a very good writer. I made a mistake in that I wrote the scenario for adventurous people and I should have written it about some who gets lost on there ATV . I call them motorized wheel Charis. it seems like most of you didn't understand what this is all about. I think gringorio is the only one. I was hoping to get people to put down the things that they though would be most likely to git them rescued or help them to be able to git out on there own. I'm kind of disappointed in the response from some Nomads . I have even received some hate mail over this post .

it was getting kind of boring here in the last couple of days and I tried to do something to make it more interesting.

sorry about the spelling Nikon I do the best I can and I don't think I will ever be able to achieve the level of perfection that you have. mabey in my next life.

[Edited on 4-14-2005 by Bruce R Leech]

lizard lips - 4-14-2005 at 07:43 AM

Come on Bruce, I dont care how you spell as a matter of fact you git your message through with flying colors. My post was not intended to put you down. When I work all day long and log in to this board in the evening Im looking for some entertainment and a few good laughs and Nikons post hit me right in the funny bone. You said that things were dragging a little on the board and you were right. Please dont take anything we say personally Bruce. Please explain the hate mail. What is tat all about. Who sent it to you? If you cant find out let me know and I will check it. You know what I do for a living. Take a deep breath and get back to posting.......

David K - 4-14-2005 at 07:53 AM

You are not always going to get the responces you think you will... so don't get too bummed out. Nikon and others probably forgot that you explained the reason you spell poorly... Even I bugged you about it when you started posting here, then you shared your handicap with us...

Maybe to help understand what kind of list this is, besides the obvious, why no food or items using batteries?

Bruce R Leech - 4-14-2005 at 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Maybe to help understand what kind of list this is, besides the obvious, why no food or items using batteries?

David the reason I wrote that the food all went to the bottom with Ned is that I wanted it to be about survival not opening caned food. as you know there is plenty of food and water in the mountains here. and as for the items using battery's the one single thing that would end this situation in a hurry would be a satellite phone or a 2 meter radio. but as you know these thing always let you down when you need them the most. so I put all that stuff at the bottom of the cliff with poor Ned.

Bruce R Leech - 4-14-2005 at 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lizard lips
Come on Bruce, I dont care how you spell as a matter of fact you git your message through with flying colors. My post was not intended to put you down. When I work all day long and log in to this board in the evening Im looking for some entertainment and a few good laughs and Nikons post hit me right in the funny bone. You said that things were dragging a little on the board and you were right. Please dont take anything we say personally Bruce. Please explain the hate mail. What is tat all about. Who sent it to you? If you cant find out let me know and I will check it. You know what I do for a living. Take a deep breath and get back to posting.......

thanks Lizard lips I don't understand why they sent me the hate mail over this post I really did not think I was offending anyone. I Will keep the names of the people to my self for now .but if they continue to send that junk I will post it here.

bajaloco - 4-14-2005 at 08:50 AM

Bruce...Don't let a few small minded people bother you. Here is my list...

1. Compass
2. Map
3. Water filtration pump
4. First aid kit, including ace bandages to wrap that busted leg
5. Signal mirror
6. Signal flares
7. Nylon cord
8. Slingshot
9. Plastic sheeting
10. Fishing line and hooks
11. Waterproof matches
12. Swiss army knife
13. Army mess kit
14. Extra pair of socks
15. Camping and Wilderness Survival book

The good thing is it's baja...hopefully your close to the ocean, and probably close to someone anywhere...

Don Jorge - 4-14-2005 at 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
While trying to clime down a vertical face in to a canyon a hand hold lets go and your friend falls to his death smashing his face into the rocks. He is dangling at the end of the rope.

Well, lets see. First, I think we will rappel down. Ned and I climb up, rappel down. So there are no friggin handholds and our anchors are bombproof.
So either Ned rappels off the rope, which is his friggin problem and I call for help to scrape his arss off the rocks or, of course, he did put a stop at the end, came up short and jumars up, or he smashes his face and dies.\
Bruce, those I know who do this kind of stuff, have sat phones, would have the sat phone and phone#s in the daypack, with water, compass, topo, first aid kit, mirror, whistle, multitool and firestarting stuff.
Food, I don't need no stinking food, that's why I carry this bellyfat! Packing a sat phone and not having it with you at all times is like driving around Los Angeles with an unloaded pistol in your glove box. What good is it?

[Edited on 4-14-2005 by Don Jorge]

Nikon - 4-14-2005 at 08:56 AM

Not to worry, Bruce. You do keep your posts mercifully short, for the most part. Long ones, like this one, tend to magnify your handicap. For which, I believe, spellcheck was suggested. My post was humorous, admittedly at your expense, but still in jest. Ray Charles was able to laugh at his handicap; when asked what the most difficult part was about being blind, he replied "not being able to see"

Asking a crowd of twelve-packers about a theoretical rock climbing expedition is like asking Mother Theresa about motorcycle maintenance. Maybe that's why you're having problems over this. How about a pool, say, guessing the next date someone asks for a telephone number for Joaquin? Or that other perennial favorite; "what's the road like south of San Felipe?" Without JR around it was bound to get boring. Two weeks ago, everyone was being indignant about his penchant for verbal combat, and now he's quit posting. What didn't wash with me about it all, was why his posts drew five times the number of views other subjects did. Which says a lot about the diff between what people say and what they do.

Start a new thread! Title it; "ATV's-Motorized Wheelchairs?" I guarantee you, you'll have all the fun you can stand.

Bruce R Leech - 4-14-2005 at 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Don Jorge

Quote:

Well, lets see. First, I think we will rappel down. Ned and I climb up, rappel down. So there are no friggin handholds and our anchors are bombproof.
So either Ned rappels off the rope, which is his friggin problem and I call for help to scrape his arss off the rocks or, of course, he did put a stop at the end, came up short and jumars up, or he smashes his face and dies.\
Bruce, those I know who do this kind of stuff, have sat phones, would have the sat phone and phone#s in the daypack, with water, compass, topo, first aid kit, mirror, whistle, multitool and firestarting stuff.
Food, I don't need no stinking food, that's why I carry this Packing a sat phone and not having it with you at all times is like driving around Los Angeles with an unloaded pistol in your glove box. What good is it?

if you understood rock climbing better you would know that if you repel down a face then you cant recover your vary expensive rope and other equipment at the top few rock climbers I know can afford to do this. and also I like to not litter a site with such things. so you rope up and clime down recovering your gear as you go . this way you have it to use on the next leg of your hike .

as for the sat. phone it was in Ned's pack. all the food and other equipment was hanging on a rope below Ned. usually I climb this way with only a small light pack on my back with only the enough water and equipment to do the climb.

Don Jorge - 4-14-2005 at 09:29 AM

if you understood rock climbing better you would know that if you repel down a face then you cant recover your vary expensive rope and other equipment at the top few rock climbers I know can afford to do this. and also I like to not litter a site with such things. so you rope up and clime down recovering your gear as you go . this way you have it to use on the next leg of your hike .

Bruce, I am sorry I jumped in on this thread. Didn't realize you understood rockclimbing so well.
I will never do use a double rope rappel or leave any gear behind, ever, ever again.
And Ned can't have my sat if he's going down first!

Bruce R Leech - 4-14-2005 at 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaloco
Bruce...Don't let a few small minded people bother you. Here is my list...

1. Compass
2. Map
3. Water filtration pump
4. First aid kit, including ace bandages to wrap that busted leg
5. Signal mirror
6. Signal flares
7. Nylon cord
8. Slingshot
9. Plastic sheeting
10. Fishing line and hooks
11. Waterproof matches
12. Swiss army knife
13. Army mess kit
14. Extra pair of socks
15. Camping and Wilderness Survival book

The good thing is it's baja...hopefully your close to the ocean, and probably close to someone anywhere...

good list . I'm glad a few of you understood what the thread is really about. not climbing technique.

the reason I picked duct tape as something I would like to have in my pack is it is the best thing for making a splint for the leg. also good for holding sticks together to build a shelter etc.etc. and the bic Liter to build a big smoky fire and keep it going . If you know this aria you will realize that a smoky fire will bring a rancher sooner or later. with the things on your list you would survive just fine. :bounce:

Bruce R Leech - 4-14-2005 at 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Don Jorge
if you understood rock climbing better you would know that if you repel down a face then you cant recover your vary expensive rope and other equipment at the top few rock climbers I know can afford to do this. and also I like to not litter a site with such things. so you rope up and clime down recovering your gear as you go . this way you have it to use on the next leg of your hike .

Bruce, I am sorry I jumped in on this thread. Didn't realize you understood rockclimbing so well.
I will never do use a double rope rappel or leave any gear behind, ever, ever again.
And Ned can't have my sat if he's going down first!

when you are on a seven day pack trip you cant always carry enough rope to do a double line rappel for a 600 foot or more face. if you are going to have poor Ned carry 1200 feet of rope he isn't going to carry much else. it sounds like you have done some recreational climbing . you are probably a better climber than I .But I don't think you have done much point to point cross contry rough terrain climbing where you carry and climb with every thing you need for 7 to 14 days. it is easy to have all the right gear when you drive up to the face in your truck and go up come down have a few beers and go back to the hotel.

Nice try Bruce

jrbaja - 4-14-2005 at 11:06 AM

but when you realize that there is more fun to be had at a jehovahs witness convention, you will realize that a good number of these so called "nomads" sit in front of a computer the majority of their lives complaining about peoples political preferences and calling others who don't think like them lots of names.
But Nikon, since you missed me so much, I will try and find some time between bamboo orders to entertain the BORED. :lol:

But not today.

Bruce R Leech - 4-14-2005 at 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jrbaja
but when you realize that there is more fun to be had at a jehovahs witness convention, you will realize that a good number of these so called "nomads" sit in front of a computer the majority of their lives complaining about peoples political preferences and calling others who don't think like them lots of names.
But Nikon, since you missed me so much, I will try and find some time between bamboo orders to entertain the BORED. :lol:

But not today.

welcome back Jrbaja

pappy - 4-14-2005 at 06:45 PM

jerky, granola bars, a knife, waterproof matches, duct tape, plastic sheet, compass, topos,gloves, rope,space blanket, filter and a good attitude....

Santiago - 4-14-2005 at 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jrbaja
I will try and find some time between bamboo orders to entertain the BORED. :lol:

But not today.

JR: OK, I gotta ask - how does one order bamboo? Does it come random or dimensional; by the foot or by the pound; old growth or new growth; clear heart or CC; kiln dried or will a 16d go all the way through with a gentle tap; can I pick thru the stack for the good straight stuff or do I have to pay the fork lift driver a little on the side? :lol:

Debra - 4-14-2005 at 07:39 PM

The first thing that came to my mind in this query was....

(and I hate to admit this.......) What else! A "Nomad"to bail out my dumb butt!

Again, a thanks to all that bailed out my butt last summer when I was down, and stuck with the two kids, what a great network we have!

One orders bamboo

jrbaja - 4-15-2005 at 09:12 AM

by going to the art show we had in Los Barriles last weekend where we pretty much sold out everything we had in stock. :bounce:

Now, we are filling the orders that were made for things that we ran out of.
And most of Santiagos order ideas are correct as far as dealing with bamboo. Almost like wood except, WAY BETTER! :bounce:

Bruce R Leech - 4-16-2005 at 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jrbaja
by going to the art show we had in Los Barriles last weekend where we pretty much sold out everything we had in stock. :bounce:

Now, we are filling the orders that were made for things that we ran out of.
And most of Santiagos order ideas are correct as far as dealing with bamboo. Almost like wood except, WAY BETTER! :bounce:

Jr. we need to git some Bamboo planted here in Mulege

jehovahs witness convention was fun.....

yankeeirishman - 4-18-2005 at 08:46 AM

Heck....you might as well hear my list too!

The biggest killer in any emergency situation is panic. Panic blinds a person to reason and can cause them to compound the emergency with fatal results. Controlling panic is a matter of focusing the mind and operating in an organized manner.

Picture of the kids?for your mental survival
Whistle?in case you forgot the mirror
Knife?. helps when eating cattail shoots
flint striker?.works when your matches are not!
alcohol wipes? Besides being antiseptic it will ignite with sparks from a flint striker
Snare wire?and luck?.. to catch dinner

Oh...you spilling is just as fine as mine two!

[Edited on 4-18-2005 by yankeeirishman]

Bruce R Leech - 4-18-2005 at 11:04 AM

Good list Yankeeirishman I especially like the picture of the kids that is a really good one.

yankeeirishman - 4-18-2005 at 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
Good list Yankeeirishman I especially like the picture of the kids that is a really good one.

I'll sent you a picture of "me" for your survival pak :lol:

bajaruby - 4-18-2005 at 04:15 PM

Ya know that is something I have never thought about, I guess 'cause I don't rock climb. But I do take my grand daughters up the Mokelume river every summer to go swimming. It is a 4 mile hike and my main things are food, water, and toilet paper.
They are 7 and 9. and what would happen if something happened to one of them or "me". I have taught them many things about the wilderness, but never thought about what would we do....... IF!
THANKS FOR PUTTING THAT BUG IN MY MIND. :wow:

trailhead

yankeeirishman - 4-19-2005 at 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaruby
Ya know that is something I have never thought about, I guess 'cause I don't rock climb. But I do take my grand daughters up the Mokelume river every summer to go swimming. It is a 4 mile hike and my main things are food, water, and toilet paper.
They are 7 and 9. and what would happen if something happened to one of them or "me". I have taught them many things about the wilderness, but never thought about what would we do....... IF!
THANKS FOR PUTTING THAT BUG IN MY MIND. :wow:

Sounds like a great trail if you go there each year, you have directions to this place (trailhead). I live not too far from it. Campsite recommendation?

bajaruby - 4-19-2005 at 10:09 AM

Y.I.M.
If you are comming from sacramento, you come up hwy. 16 to hwy. 49. Follow 49 through all the little towns to Jackson. about 2 miles south of Jackson is Electra Rd. on your left. Follow this little windy rd. about 2 or so miles to the power house. You will have to park there and walk the rest of the way. You will pass a b/wire fence,(just step over it) and another one you will go through. Don't worry you won't get in trouble for doing this. Then you will come to a spring. Your feet will get pretty muddy as the snow you probablly already know is going to last quite some time this year. Keek going and just follow the river up. You will come to a bunch of head size rocks and in the river will be a small island. That's my spot! Just about 100 yards from there up stream is a GREAT swimming hole. The water above the power house is MUCH warmer than the water below by about 50 degrees and is well worth the hike if you want to be alone.
As for the camping part. You are not allowed to camp out there and they lock the gate at 49 at night. Also if the gate at the power house is opened, don't drive down there 'cause pg&e lock and unlock that gate all day long and you are not allowed. I will check and see if there is somewhere to camp around here. Shoot I live here so I don't go camping here.
But believe me if you do go up there you will go as often as you can. If you fish bring a pole. Lots of trout. :yes:

If you see this:moon: don't look. LOL
Hope to see some other nomads up there as well.

Trout...you bet!

yankeeirishman - 4-19-2005 at 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaruby
Y.I.M.
If you are comming from sacramento, you come up hwy. 16 to hwy. 49. Follow 49 through all the little towns to Jackson. about 2 miles south of Jackson is Electra Rd. on your left. Follow this little windy rd. about 2 or so miles to the power house. You will have to park there and walk the rest of the way. You will pass a b/wire fence,(just step over it) and another one you will go through. Don't worry you won't get in trouble for doing this. Then you will come to a spring. Your feet will get pretty muddy as the snow you probablly already know is going to last quite some time this year. Keek going and just follow the river up. You will come to a bunch of head size rocks and in the river will be a small island. That's my spot! Just about 100 yards from there up stream is a GREAT swimming hole. The water above the power house is MUCH warmer than the water below by about 50 degrees and is well worth the hike if you want to be alone.

Hey thanks! I will be going there on May1. Trout? Oh yes! Thanks for the great directions.

bajaruby - 4-20-2005 at 05:34 PM

Let me know what time you are going to be there and I'll meet you and show the best fishing hole.