/out/ - Outdoors » Thread #248852

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Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 16:11:22 No.248852 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>248859 >>248907 >>249709 >>249749 >>252161

If I am walking through the woods and I am about an hour away from my car and I screw up and step somewhere and go through the ice up to my knee on one leg, and I can't (legally) build a fire, and the temperature is getting near freezing...should I just power through the hour back to my car with the heat? Strip and dry? Call 911?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 16:20:13 No.248859 Report

Quoted By:

>>248852
Pack the pants and knee down in snow if available to absorb excess water remove snow and reapply as needed. Change out to dry clothes if available if not build fire and warm up and dry clothes.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 16:21:24 No.248861 Report

Quoted By: >>248881

Hmm... Hard to say.

If you are pretty sure you can make it I'd say run for the car.

This sort of depends on the conditions and how cold it is out.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 16:23:23 No.248864 Report

Quoted By: >>248881

First off, fuck legalities, you are in a life or death.

Second, can you build a fire? You can die in less than an hour.

The priority is getting dry.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 16:35:49 No.248881 Report

Quoted By: >>248884

>>248864
only up to the knee
>>248861
lets say its about to hit the freezing point and the only thing you have as far as a change of clothes or towels go is a change of socks your boot is soaked inside out.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 16:43:23 No.248884 Report

Quoted By: >>248887 >>249027

>>248881

I'd just keep moving.

In fact I"ve been in this situation (more or less).

I fell through the ice near a beaver dam in winter, it was about -10C. I was soaked just up to my balls. I kept moving for another hour until I reached the camp I wanted to be at (my car was many more hours away). I started a fire first, dried out (actually I had some clothes to change in to) and then set up my camp and chilled under the stars.

It depends on the layers you have, too. Like, your feet might actually get warm if you're moving and they heat up the water in there.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 16:43:44 No.248885 Report

Quoted By:

If you're already showing symptoms of hypothermia, then you need to stop and make a fire right now. Making a fire is going to be nearly impossible in later stage hypothermia, when your hands are shaking and you can't think straight. If night is falling and you don't have shelter, you should call 911 if you have that ability.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 16:47:34 No.248887 Report

Quoted By: >>248955

>>248884

I just re-read what you wrote OP. Up to you knee in one leg and it is near freezing temperature. That's nothing... You'll be fine, just keep moving and you should generate more than enough heat to stay warm.

If your body was also soaked this would be another situation.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 17:19:09 No.248907 Report

Quoted By:

>>248852
>I can't (legally) build a fire
Legal doesn't at all mater if you're talking about saving your life. No one in their right mind would ever worry about breaking the law (by starting a fire) if it meant saving their own life.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 18:32:26 No.248955 Report

Quoted By:

>>248887
This, half a leg is fucking nothing.
>>248908
This, better get fined than die.

Shit, I don't even have anything to add, everything was said, aside that you're being a faggot as usual OP.

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO KeepMoving_640px.jpg, 250KiB, 640x538

Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 18:39:21 No.248960 Report

Quoted By:

I'd keep moving and try to dry leg (tearing wet pants away and wrapping with shirt, etc)

Go for the car 100%. What else are you gonna do? Hunker down somewhere and wish there was a car only on hour away you could walk to?

Plus your body heat will keep you from freezing to death... just don't work up a sweat and then stop, go for the car and make it to the car

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 19:52:15 No.249004 Report

Quoted By:

If it's just near freezing and it's just the leg that went in, AND you know exactly the way back to the car and that it will take an hour, I'd just keep going and monitor the state of your leg.
If it's colder or more of you became wet or you are unsure how long it will take back to the car, build a fire.
If a ranger happens to meet you, they'll help you out, not give you trouble.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 20:20:42 No.249027 Report

Quoted By:

>>248884

I've been fully submerged in the winter before. I was about 30 minutes from my home but it was hell after 10 minutes. All my clothes froze solid except at my joints. Fuckin' hell.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Fri 03 Jan 2014 22:40:45 No.249122 Report

Quoted By:

>Can't build a fire
Build a fire faggot

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO son.jpg, 43KiB, 480x600

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 00:21:26 No.249203 Report

Quoted By: >>249436 >>249438 >>249439

>If I'm crossing a river and I am about 3 meters from the bank and I screw up and step somewhere I can't touch the bottom and suddenly sink, and there's a sign saying "swimming prohibited"...should I just drown? Call 911?

OP's logic.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 12:22:59 No.249426 Report

Quoted By: >>249449

Ok, it is plain to see none of you stepped in the freezing cold water while out day hiking. Let's say OP doesn't have fire starting skills. He's not going to die or lose his foot an hour from his car.

Remove your footwear, and cut your pants away below the knee. You are only an hour away from your car, so don't be a pussy faggot. Rub your leg and foot vigorously to try and remove moisture. Take your sock off your dry foot and put it on bare foot. Put sockless dry foot back in boot. Cut off sleeve of jacket or use parts of backpack/trash bag/etc to make temp footwear to get back to car.

Of course, if it is NOT below freezing out, you should just ring your sock out, dry your foot, and continue on your day, occasionaly ringing out your sock until you can get to some fire.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 12:31:52 No.249427 Report

Quoted By: >>249435

You'll probably die from hypothermia before you actually get a fire going. I personally would keep on going until I reached the car, that way atleast you'd warm yourself up in the process

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 12:50:03 No.249435 Report

Quoted By:

>>249427
I think you missed the part where it is only one leg that went in the water.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 12:50:33 No.249436 Report

Quoted By:

>>249203
I loled.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 12:51:15 No.249438 Report

Quoted By:

>>249203
So your leg is wet, and you build a fire and start camping when you are an hour from a fire?
It would be embarassing if a park ranger came up to investigate the fire and you just have a wet boot.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 12:52:35 No.249439 Report

Quoted By:

>>249203
lrn2compare

In your scenario, OP's leg would be the only thing swimming.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 13:21:44 No.249449 Report

Quoted By: >>249450

>>249426
>Remove your footwear, and cut your pants away below the knee

What the fuck? Just keep going. One wet leg isn't going to make you significantly colder. In fact if you are wearing synthetic pants then it will make almost no noticeable difference. Wet leg or no, you'd probably lose more heat stopping to build a fire, let alone stopping to cut your fucking pants off.

OP: I'd maybe change my socks if I was stopping anyway, but probably out of comfort more than anything.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 13:23:41 No.249450 Report

Quoted By: >>249455 >>249465

>>249449
so if the temp is dropping to freezing point ,you wouldn't mind wet clothes socks and boots?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 13:37:42 No.249455 Report

Quoted By: >>249468

>>249450
The drop in temperature from about 15 minutes of inactivity is way more than the temperature drop caused by one wet calf/foot over the course of one hour spent moving.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 14:03:46 No.249465 Report

Quoted By: >>249471

>>249450

No? We used to find it quite entertaining in the Army when our (cotton) troos froze solid while we were still wearing them. Feet might be a concern over a longer period of time, but that should be the case with any wet feet.

Quite simply you don't lose all that much heat from your legs. It would have to be well below freezing for me to risk wearing thermal legs, I'd be far more concerned with overheating and not being able to remove them easily.

If you ever go climbing in Scotland you will probably spend most of the day soaking wet. It is uncomfortable, but in theory (science and shit) it makes very little difference to your temperature provided you have some sort of windproofed insulation (pile, primaloft etc). Basically the same principal as a wetsuit except you are trapping air instead of water. Most climbers will wear their belay jacket over their waterproof even in the pissing rain - it's almost exactly as warm.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 14:06:14 No.249468 Report

Quoted By:

>>249455
how is collecting wood and building a fire "inactivity"? I'm not saying that's what I'd do but, you have a weird idea of "inactivity".

I wouldn't stop and build a fire just for a wet foot, one hour from my car but, slogging around with a soaked sock for an hour is dumb even when it isn't freezing. stopping to change your socks is a good idea.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 14:10:53 No.249471 Report

Quoted By:

>>249465
the concern about being wet is when activity stops. you are now bathed in a coolant and no longer exerting yourself physically.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 14:13:49 No.249474 Report

Quoted By: >>249532

>illegal to make a fire
Its always legal to make a fire for survival purposes.

However if you have good blood flow and warm clothing you can survive wet in freezing temperatures if you keep moving and keep warm. As a kid I spent snow days outside and coming home soaked from crossing streams was normal.

So its important to know your body and your situation so you can make that decision.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 15:59:43 No.249532 Report

Quoted By: >>249542

>>249474
>Its always legal to make a fire for survival purposes.

Where are you getting this information?

I'm not so sure it is legit advice.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 16:19:06 No.249542 Report

Quoted By: >>249564

>>249532
Legality aside, would you rather die or live and be fined for building a fire?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 16:22:22 No.249544 Report

Quoted By: >>249696

I am leling hard at the thought of OP actually being in this situation, and posting on /out/ for advice about what he should do.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 17:04:48 No.249564 Report

Quoted By: >>249567

>>249542

The latter, obviously. I just am not sure that you could always get away with "oh it was for survival" as a get off free card. What if you put yourself in a dumb situation by being unprepared, making ridiculous decisions - perhaps trespassing - and then you start a fire for survival. Your fire grows out of control and you burn down half of California.

Will you be prosecuted for your reckless behavior? Your fire may have been for survival, but you were a bonehead (saw this term used in another thread) for getting into that position in the first place.

I'm not saying you should necessarily be prosecuted, it depends on the case, but no doubt there are lawyers and laws out there that could find you guilty of something, and it might be more than a campfire fine.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 17:08:36 No.249567 Report

Quoted By: >>249573

>>249564
> detroit
nigger detected

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 17:12:09 No.249573 Report

Quoted By:

>>249567

Would you say that about Tacoma?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 20:07:19 No.249696 Report

Quoted By: >>249702

>>249544
You don't enjoy hypotheticals? I think the whole point is being on some non-fire detail (state park maybe?) and figuring out if just a cold limb constitutes an emergency to require fire

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 20:29:42 No.249702 Report

Quoted By:

>>249696

No I don't mean it like that. I know its hypothetical I just like the idea of someone so addicted to 4chan that they make a post asking what to do when they're in a life or death situation.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 20:51:20 No.249709 Report

Quoted By: >>249730

>>248852
>the temperature is getting near freezing
Just take your pants off, or cut off the one pants leg at the knee to remove the wet part, and keep walking. Freezing isn't hard core. Walking will generate enough heat and blood flow to prevent frostbite.

And take the wet sock off. You may get a blister, but you'll dry faster.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 21:25:55 No.249730 Report

Quoted By: >>249744

>>249709
>cut off the one pants leg at the knee to remove the wet part, and keep walking

What the fuck is your obsession with doing this? This would literally be colder than the wet pants.

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO 1334210830488.jpg, 74KiB, 328x328

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 22:01:29 No.249744 Report

Quoted By: >>249745

>>249730
>Because air conducts heat better than water while also having more capacity to store it.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 22:05:02 No.249745 Report

Quoted By: >>249760

>>249744
>dry air has a specific heat of ~1 j/g
>water has a specific heat of 4.184 j/g
How do I thermodynamics?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 22:18:51 No.249749 Report

Quoted By:

>>248852
>I died because the cops said I can't build a fire out here in the middle of no where, where no one is able to recuse me.

fuck that noise. I would instantly get out of the water and burrow into the snow down to the dirt, lay a bunch of leaves or stick to make a flooring and build a fire inside the burrow or outside the entrance to heat up, I'd wait for my pants to dry while doing push ups or constantly rubbing myself down.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 22:45:34 No.249760 Report

Quoted By:

>>249745
>>dry air has a specific heat of ~1 j/g
>>water has a specific heat of 4.184 j/g
Not the guy you replied to, but how do I sarcasm?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 04 Jan 2014 23:03:12 No.249767 Report

Quoted By: >>252285

Temperatures near freezing? You mean near 0 celsius? That's warm you pussy, and an hours walk isn't that long, yeah your shin might go numb but it'll be fine when you warm up

And yeah, your situations far from life threatening, but if you're worried about frostbite it's a perfectly valid reason to build a fire. You won't be fined for self-preservation.

It's like you guys never went aimlessly wandering through the woods as a kid, humans are tougher than you think

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO 19(62).jpg, 271KiB, 1642x2620

Anonymous Wed 08 Jan 2014 21:03:52 No.252161 Report

Quoted By: >>252402

>>248852
keep moving and the blood flowing. id decide whether or not to build a fire based off how cold it is. i've hiked in below freezing temperatures with soaked boots and they will warm up. done plenty of stream crossings in ~32 degree weather. but i've never had a wet boot in under 10 degrees f so idk if your bodyheat is still enough to dry them once it gets that cold. i personally would keep moving to my car if i was only an hour away. if you feel like your health is seriously in danger fucking ignore that law and take care of yourself

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 09 Jan 2014 00:02:05 No.252278 Report

Quoted By: >>252281

it's one hour away. Jesus just keep walking seriously, the only way youd get frostbite on your toes is if you're a big enough dumbass to stop and try build a fire in the snow when you are LESS THAN 5 KILOMETERS FROM A VEHICLE WITH HEAT THAT WILL GET YOU HOME.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 09 Jan 2014 00:08:38 No.252281 Report

Quoted By:

>>252278
>I like slogging around for an hour with a waterlogged boot
for fuck sake, stop and change your fucking socks

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 09 Jan 2014 00:16:44 No.252285 Report

Quoted By:

>>249767
>humans are tougher than you think
>get hit by a nuke
>die
nope

54g3

54g3 Thu 09 Jan 2014 04:21:27 No.252402 Report

Quoted By:

>>252161
>>252161
>blood flowing
>dat pic
achieved

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