The wild does not suffer fools...

[Wambli Ska]

Buried his street SUV tires in the sand and got to walk a whole 1/4 mile before the desert took him. I know exactly where he died, I 4W there all the time (actually I was in there with my dog about a week ago) and there is ZERO cell phone reception. Not very difficult trails but not the trails you want to take in your street SUV either. A terrible reminder to never venture anywhere off road without some basic supplies.

Sad...

https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/09/09/ma ... ce-assist/

So this made me curious, if you like going where others don't, what do you carry in your vehicle when you head there?

I always have all the basics for at least one/two overnight stay/survival in the car, plus basic hiking necessities if I do ever need to walk out like a daypack, water (A LOT OF WATER), snacks. A pretty comprehensive Medical Aid kit and an IFAK when I venture away from the Jeep. Also some repair stuff like zip-ties, tapes, small socket wrench set, screwdrivers, pliers.

As added insurance I upgraded my iPhone to the ProMax because it now has Satellite Emergency messaging capabilities. Cheaper than buying a SAT phone that I was strongly considering. A 20 mile hike out of some areas around here is pretty much not doable by most, that's why there are so many Off-Road "rescue" services in this area.

Image.jpeg (365.74 KiB) Viewed 2008 times

[Varmintmist]

Wait, he walked .25 miles and croaked??

[Justsomedude]

Wait, he walked .25 miles and croaked??

This?

I've never been in a desert of any sort. But I've heard of people getting pretty crafty when their vehicle gets stuck in different terrain. You can use alot of natural stuff from the surrounding areas and a come-along works wonders. The best thing to do is let people know where you'll be and stay put.

[Japhy]

A come-along works great as does a winch in most locales however in the desert there is little or nothing to anchor to.
A couple time I’ve been out and stuck we drop the tire pressure and try to crawl without breaking traction that usually works.
What doesn’t work is spinning tires in the sand which quickly converts a truck to a trenching machine

[Zee]

Wait, he walked .25 miles and croaked??

Darwinism.

[shotgunshooter3]

Quarter mile has got to be a typo... Maybe anyway.

Regardless, when I venture into the wild I have a similar load out. I keep a 10L can of water filled up in the vehicle at all times, a basic first aid kit, tarp (shelter), and some rope. Back when I was doing more serious off roading I also took a recovery kit with the usual accoutrements. If I'm going to be somewhere out of cell service I usually leave an away message ("I'm hiking/backpacking/etc in [area] with [people] and if I'm not heard from by [date/time] call the state police") with both my family and a local friend more familiar with the area.

For true back packing trips I don't really add much extra. I carry food for a full day past what I'm planning on, and iodine tablets and filters. I download a map to my phone for offline use but ALWAYS have a paper map of the area as well (comes in really handy in general). I keep eying Garmin inReach Mini units, just haven't ponied up for one yet. I likely will on the next sale.

For backcountry winter sports, which is something I'm deep diving into, it's the same away message and sundry supplies such as water and snacks. In addition to that it's a repair kit for the splitboard, an avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel. This is also something to NEVER do alone no matter how mild the conditions seem.

[Justsomedude]

A come-along works great as does a winch in most locales however in the desert there is little or nothing to anchor to.
A couple time I’ve been out and stuck we drop the tire pressure and try to crawl without breaking traction that usually works.
What doesn’t work is spinning tires in the sand which quickly converts a truck to a trenching machine

I didnt consider that everyone isn't aware of this.

spare anchor.jpg (94.52 KiB) Viewed 1956 times

[Chiro1989]

I would be good for a few days in my truck stuck out somewhere, longer if I drop some wild game

[Freezer]

He walked for two hours and was found 1/4 mile from the car.

Most deaths in the wilderness are caused by denial and embarrassment.

[Admin]

A come-along works great as does a winch in most locales however in the desert there is little or nothing to anchor to.
A couple time I’ve been out and stuck we drop the tire pressure and try to crawl without breaking traction that usually works.
What doesn’t work is spinning tires in the sand which quickly converts a truck to a trenching machine

I didnt consider that everyone isn't aware of this.
spare anchor.jpg

If a 400 yard hike did him in, I doubt he could have dug a hole like that in desert hardpan.

I don't get out into that kind of area much, but I still carry pretty serious supplies and emergency gear even when I'm just up in the middle of my 200 acres. Poo happens, and it usually happens to me.

[Diver43]

He walked for two hours and was found 1/4 mile from the car.

Most deaths in the wilderness are caused by denial and embarrassment.

He must have been walking in widening circles trying to find a trail or something.

[CPJ 2.0]

I rarely get far enough from anything that I’d have an issue. When I went to Texas last spring, I went through BFE Texas. No cell signal, no…..nothing. But I had my tiny camper, so I’d be good for a week or so.

Last month I took the same basic route but no camper full of stuff. And it was hotter than five fat girls in a Honda. Had I veered off road and crashed so no one could see me, I’d have been in trouble. Didnt even considered it till just now.

[FJB]

I rarely get far enough from anything that I’d have an issue. When I went to Texas last spring, I went through BFE Texas. No cell signal, no…..nothing. But I had my tiny camper, so I’d be good for a week or so.

Last month I took the same basic route but no camper full of stuff. And it was hotter than five fat girls in a Honda. Had I veered off road and crashed so no one could see me, I’d have been in trouble. Didnt even considered it till just now.

I have to ask because you know I’m an asshole, just wonder how hot are “five fat girls in a Honda”? That statement alone is a classic!

[CPJ 2.0]

I rarely get far enough from anything that I’d have an issue. When I went to Texas last spring, I went through BFE Texas. No cell signal, no…..nothing. But I had my tiny camper, so I’d be good for a week or so.

Last month I took the same basic route but no camper full of stuff. And it was hotter than five fat girls in a Honda. Had I veered off road and crashed so no one could see me, I’d have been in trouble. Didnt even considered it till just now.

I have to ask because you know I’m an asshole, just wonder how hot are “five fat girls in a Honda”? That statement alone is a classic!

I’d wager pretty hot.

Just a phrase I heard and it kind of stuck. Like fat girl thighs stick together.

[Wambli Ska]

Wait, he walked .25 miles and croaked??

Darwinism.

Yep…

[Wambli Ska]

Wait, he walked .25 miles and croaked??

This?

I've never been in a desert of any sort. But I've heard of people getting pretty crafty when their vehicle gets stuck in different terrain. You can use alot of natural stuff from the surrounding areas and a come-along works wonders. The best thing to do is let people know where you'll be and stay put.

The problem is that if your car can’t get you out or outright dies in most of the desert areas around here there is zero shelter or natural resources to help you. And if it’s 110° outside you can’t stand out and you can’t stay in your car in the “shade” because even with all the windows open it’ll still be even hotter inside the car. Even if the car is running and the AC is on full bore it will NOT be able to keep the cabin cool just standing still in the open.

I can guarantee you this guy didn’t have a single tool or anything that would have helped him survive in that vehicle or get out of the trouble he got in. And around here you dehydrate just talking or breathing if you’re not constantly drinking. No one leaves my house without a water bottle. He was probably already dehydrated when he left the vehicle and probably in poor shape. A quarter mile of just walking in the desert is absolutely enough to kill someone that is not fit and dehydrated.

And as you can see in the picture his vehicle was highly unsuitable for where he was just as a starter. But I see that all the time around here. All wheel drive on a BMW or a Volvo mommy’s kid hauler does not mean dirt road king for daddy.

Shotgunshooter knows where this happened too. Part of the “road” system that I took him and his friend in when he visited a few months ago. Not super challenging, but NOT street SUV friendly.

[Freezer]

I rarely get far enough from anything that I’d have an issue. When I went to Texas last spring, I went through BFE Texas. No cell signal, no…..nothing. But I had my tiny camper, so I’d be good for a week or so.

Last month I took the same basic route but no camper full of stuff. And it was hotter than five fat girls in a Honda. Had I veered off road and crashed so no one could see me, I’d have been in trouble. Didnt even considered it till just now.

I have to ask because you know I’m an asshole, just wonder how hot are “five fat girls in a Honda”? That statement alone is a classic!

Not hot enough for me to be interested

[Castle]

Not hot enough for me to be interested

You'd be no fun on Hoggin' night!


I have to wonder how long this guy waited in the car before he decided to head out. I'm guessing he waited to see if anyone would show up and was dehydrating the whole time waiting. Once he was well dehydrated, thirsty, frustrated and not thinking too clear, he probably figured he would self rescue.

If you are in poor physical condition, have medical problems And dehydrated... your odds alone in the hot desert aren't very good.

The desert doesn't care who you are, if you're a fool or just have bad luck, the desert will let you know.

[Wambli Ska]

That sums it all very nicely. And you’re probably right. This area is relatively active on weekends with folks going around in UTVs Jeeps and other vehicles, though by no means crowded. During the week I’ve made 20+ mike runs and have not seen a body for hours. My overnight with my buddy we saw ONE other vehicle in 2 days.

[Wambli Ska]

And people just do stupid stuff. During one of our hikes we had a young couple going all the way to the top (about 3,000 ft vertical climb) to a spot that has an amazing view of the city with a friend photographer in tow because he was going to propose and they wanted pictures. They were both in good shape and obviously experienced hikers. The friend? Not so much and poorly dressed for the hike with highly unsuitable footwear.

Guess who didn’t make it to the top. At least she was smart enough to find one small place with shade about 1/3rd of the way up and call it quits or she would have probably died that day.

It’s serious out there when the ground temp is hot enough to delaminate many cheap sneaker soles…

[Castle]

Speaking of stupid stuff or out of shear ignorance and possibly really bad luck, I'm reminded of this story from 2021.

In October, authorities said 45-year-old Jonathan Gerrish, 30-year-old Ellen Chung and their 1-year-old baby died from hyperthermia and probable dehydration while hiking in Devil's Gulch Valley.

https://abc7.com/mariposa-county-family ... /11306062/

I'm very familiar with the desert and remember well hearing about bodies turning up often, usually found by hikers and people on dirt bikes enjoying the desert.

Where I'm at now, bodies keep turning up in irritation canals but that's a whole different cause.

[Justsomedude]

Who the fugg takes a 1 year old baby into the desert? What a bunch of dumbasses.

[Gila]

Who the fugg takes a 1 year old baby into the desert? What a bunch of dumbasses.

My parents. But then I was brought up and live in the desert...

[Justsomedude]

into

[Wambli Ska]

into

It’s all good. We all come at our opinions with nothing but the knowledge of our own experiences. It’s tough to constantly have to see things from other’s perspective. I think your statement would have been spot on if you had included with proper preparation.

People who know the desert can thrive in it. And it IS a lot of fun environment where you can experience some amazing freedom!

I’m surrounded by millions of acres of the stuff and it’s a new environment for me so I’m being overly cautious and reading/learning everything I can about it. Don’t want to become some headline in the local newspaper because of carelessness or outright stupidity. The post was only put here to hopefully make my friends think about their own plan when leaving the road behind if they do so.