Going to SE Arizona to test my emergency gear

[1leglance]

There is another forum I am on & enjoy called equippedtosurvive.org...it is not some nut ball bunch of "survivalist" but more a group who believe in personal responsibility when it comes to preparations. I have used the knowledge from that forum, scouting and years of backpacking to “be prepared” when I go out off-highway. Well it is time to test things out.
My thought is that I have a bit of free time here in early January and I haven’t sent near enough time exploring Southeastern Arizona so I will go SE of Wilcox and into the national forest to “camp” using only the emergency gear I carry in my rig normally.
Now those that know me and have seen my FJ Cruiser know that it is packed with goodies. I have been lucky to never have a breakdown or “stuck” bad enough to cause me to overnight or worse, mulit-day alone in the wild so other than my backpacking gear much of what I have has not been field tested by me.
This trip will give me the chance to:
1) Enjoy a bit of “new year solitude” which I always like to reflect on life and where mine is going.
2) See a pretty piece of Arizona
3) Test out the emergency gear I have such as, wool blanket, water supply, emergency food stocks, tablet stove, fire starting gear and such.
My plan is to wheel for most of the first day and in the late afternoon find me a spot to “breakdown”. Then using only the gear I have in the FJC I must devised shelter, attempt to make phone/radio contacts (only for test and conversation), feed myself, locate water and purify it, and figure out my plan.
I have 3 days to enjoy this trip and I plan to try to last as long as I can on only the regular supplies I carry for any day trip.
Of course the rig is an excellent shelter but I will attempt to setup other types of shelter in case I rig was to roll over, burn, crash or other event that would rule it out in an emergency.
Should be interesting and should help me find gaps in my supplies and knowledge. Of course I will leave a detailed route plan, timeline and I should be in radio range at all times just in case something real did happen.

Partial List of my everyday carry:
Leatherman Wave
Zippo Lighter
ARC AAA LED flashlight
High pitch whistle
Card case with polished side for signal mirror
Bandana
Woven nylon belt that can supply cordage

Partial List of FJC Emergency Gear:
Engel Fridge with 6-8 1L bottles of water
1 jar Peanut Butter
1 Can Beans
1 Can Tomato Soup
3 Lg Freeze Dried meals
Tablet Stove & Lg Sierra Cup
Water Filter
Trauma Level First Aid Bag
50’ para cord
Lg & Small nylon tarp
Wool blanket
Multiple methods of fire starting
Various cliff bars, and energy bar snacks
Shovel, Pulaski Axe and other recovery gear that can be used to make a shelter
2m/70cm Ham Radio both mobile and handheld
Various electrical wire that could be used to set snares, fish with

[shane4x4]

Lance,
Sounds like a great test of your gear. We'll be very interested to know how it turns out.

[Mr R2FJ]

Awesome Lance, please let us know how it turns out! Perhaps you should write some articles for that up and coming FJC magazine ;-)

I should have my 2m by then, so if you want any help testing your communications please let me know.

[homedad]

Call me when your ready to bail..... and CAN'T.......

I did the same test a few years ago.....You may just be shocked how prepared you really are......I didn't want to come home at the end of mine....

Quite a few people would not have the same experience....

Bring a good book....

Kurt

[Crotalus]

If you were so inclined, it would be really cool for you to take a camcorder and do an FJC version of Survivorman! Having spent some time exploring in SE AZ, I know how beautiful it is. Have fun!

[1leglance]

I have done this type of test once a year for a long time when I backpacked...however this will be my first trial with a 4x4 and the extra gear that I can carry
I do plan on taking my still camera and of course always take notes for recording the good, bad and indiferent
I will be doing a full write up after I get back based on what worked and what didn't...
Some of my gear I have used in the past but I will treat it like it is new and unknown.
I am a big believer in that in order to be prepared you have to have knowledge above all else...that is what this exercise is all about.

[LandCruiserSteve]

Eager to hear the results of your "test."

Give us a full write-up if you can.

[Relic hunter]

Lance, would like me to do the photography? Let me know. Relic Hunter

[waterdog]

Have fun. One thought: Print out your list of gear and slice in up. When you get to the breakdown spot, pull out one slip of paper randomly. That piece of gear got left at home.

[1leglance]

as long as the slip of paper didn't say Engel fridge on it...hate to give up all the beverages
no really that is a neat idea for the ol "adapt and overcome" test....
the interesting thing for me is that I will be doing a 3 day camping trip with friends right before this...so sunday evening I will unpack the FJC of all my camping gear and of course I will be tired and it will be dark so I am curious if I will forget to reload any of my everyday gear and as a good tester I won't know until I get to my breakdown point....

Hey Chuck-relichunter....thanks for the offer but the main reason I go out at the first of every year is for the alone with my thoughts time...hike, sit, smoke cigars (yes there are cigars in my emergency pack....what is the point of survival without something to live for....not to mention they make a good STOP activity to lesson panic).....and look at where I have come from and where I am going.

I will take pics of the area and post a write up after my '"rescue"...