Left in Wilds, Man Penned Dying Record

[Jimbo]

Was he hunting though? I know towards the end he was but was that his plan from the beginning?

I think that is the point. I would never take off into the alaskan wilderness without preparations for hunting and survival, even if I didn't plan on needing it.

[Sleeper]

A 22 was not a bad option it just was not the best.

Most older folks killed a lot of bigger game with them. It was more about shot placement.

I know we are talking Alaska here but a .22 and a shotgun are better than nothing. Maybe its all he could afford.

I'm sure his plan was to not use them much at all.

[Forever_frost]

Why the hell did he dump the ammo? "Because he didn't think he needed it" is not an answer. I mean why take it and then dump it?

[Kyle]

Here's my problem with the story that was posted by the OP.

This guy obviously knew, come late July or early August, that he was starting to run out of food and probably other supplies. Now assuming he had a map and compass, then he could have easily hiked to Fort Yukon 75 miles away... again assuming that he knew how to navigate using a compass and map.

I'm going to assume that he was probably physically healthy at this point. A healthy person can travel over rough terrain at approximately 2.5 miles per hour at a constant sustained rate for as long as a needed. Let's assume that he was walking 7 hours a day from his camp towards Fort Yukon. He could travel approximately 17.5 miles per day and it would take roughly 4.5 days to walk to Fort Yukon. This doesn't seem unrealistic to me.

Based on a quick internet search, temps in Alaska during the day are in the low-mid 60s. At night I could see the temps being in the low 30s, so he would need to carry his tent and sleeping bag. Along with water and enough food for 5 days (assuming he is eating two meals a day), he would probably be carrying about 30 pounds that first day. Everyday that the food supply diminishes he would obviously lighten the load. The water could be refilled as needed b/c I'm sure there would be at least one water source on the way to safety.

To me this seems like a perfectly viable option and I'm quite confused as to why he wouldn't have done this as soon as he realized there were problems. Speaking from the personal experiences of a Boy Scout that traveled on two treks through the New Mexico mountains, I have no pity for this guy assuming all things above are accurate. Our personal best as a group, carrying roughly 40-60 pounds (each of us) of supplies on our back, we did 14 miles in one day not really pushing it that hard.

I know it has been said already, but planning would have been all the difference for this guy. He had no one to blame but himself for his own (obvious) mistakes!!!

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/average-walking-speed.html

http://www.alaska.com/about/weather/

[Forever_frost]

To graduate OSUT we had to do the bayonette. That's a 30 mile fast march with a 50-60 pound ruck and weapon with no food but water at the half way part. We walked for 50 minutes and rested for 10 and did that till the end. This guy evidently was used to the walking so the fact he died there is inexcusable. Hell, pick a direction and move when you realize you're running low.

I'll be damned if I'm going to be found wasted away 5 miles from somewhere because I refused to go walking

[Lone Sailor]

Maybe he went out there with the intent to do what he did, end his life. Lots of incidentals in the story that are easily explained away, like flagging off the rescue plane when he may have likely known the signal he was giving was going to send them packing and he just didn't want anyone around him until he had completed what he set out to do. Same with writing it all down, make everyone believe he committed suicide because he was out of food, thinking it was too far to walk for help, pitching perfectly good ammunition in the river for no apparent reason, not rationing his food better, not setting up his ride out beforehand, and then had major frostbite setting in at the end. Not saying that's what his intention was, but certainly a viable scenario.

Another thought, why was he out there with no flare gun? He knew he may get injured while out there and would possibly need a reason to send a message for help.

[Forever_frost]

Maybe he went out there with the intent to do what he did, end his life. Lots of incidentals in the story that are easily explained away, like flagging off the rescue plane when he may have likely known the signal he was giving was going to send them packing and he just didn't want anyone around him until he had completed what he set out to do. Same with writing it all down, make everyone believe he committed suicide because he was out of food, thinking it was too far to walk for help, pitching perfectly good ammunition in the river for no apparent reason, not rationing his food better, not setting up his ride out beforehand, and then had major frostbite setting in at the end. Not saying that's what his intention was, but certainly a viable scenario.

Another thought, why was he out there with no flare gun? He knew he may get injured while out there and would possibly need a reason to send a message for help.

You just put all the pieces in place. Thank you. Had to be on purpose. He left 100 pages of notes (when he could have used it for fuel for fire), his rolls of film and how to develop them, and all of that tidied up. And who heads out there without a guaranteed pickup? And if he really was in bad shape, why didn't he do something like spell out HELP with lumber or rocks or something?

[blownragtop]

Why the hell did he dump the ammo? "Because he didn't think he needed it" is not an answer. I mean why take it and then dump it?

"I keep thinking of all the shotgun shells I threw away about two months ago. Had five boxes and when I kept seeing them sitting there I felt rather silly for having brought so many (Felt like a warmonger). So I threw all away into the lake, but about a dozen, real bright.”

link

[Nash B.]

It's better to have and not need than to need and not have, amirite?

[DamonH]

Speaking from the personal experiences of a Boy Scout that traveled on two treks through the New Mexico mountains, I have no pity for this guy assuming all things above are accurate. Our personal best as a group, carrying roughly 40-60 pounds (each of us) of supplies on our back, we did 14 miles in one day not really pushing it that hard.

I've done Philmont myself.

I shouldn't be surprised at all the conspiracy theorist trying to figure out his "Master Plan", but I am. I think the dude just fucked up, plain and simple. I know he obviously made the ultimate in fuck'ups, but I too have been so excited to get out in to the woods that I've forgotten things ... important things.

I can't help but have a little respect for these guys getting out and living their dreams. It may have killed them, but you might also die not living your dreams.

[CJ]

Was he hunting though? I know towards the end he was but was that his plan from the beginning?

He made mistakes constantly, over and over, which ended up getting himself killed. If I was out there, I would always carry a weapon to take down any target of opportunity. I surmise given his bad decisions he probably didn't proactively store food until it was too late.

[mstng86]

I don't know much about how these expeditions are put together, so I will ask a dumb question.

How does he move 1400lbs of supplies from his drop point to camp? Do they drop him directly in the camp?

[CJ]

I don't know much about how these expeditions are put together, so I will ask a dumb question.

How does he move 1400lbs of supplies from his drop point to camp? Do they drop him directly in the camp?

Multiple trips.

[mstng86]

Multiple trips.

thats what I figured, just validating my thoughts.

The more info comes out, the more I feel like he was trying to commit suicide, but, it could be all mistaken for pure dumbassery.

[CJ]

thats what I figured, just validating my thoughts.

The more info that comes out, the more I feel like he was trying to commit suicide, but, it could be all mistaken for pure dumbassery.

He dumps his shot shells in the river, he doesn't set up a pickup for the pilot to get him, he mistakenly tells a rescue pilot that he's fine and doesn't need help, then he shoots himself in the head.