The Survival Trip

Ok, remember a few posts back when I asked what the map and the inflatable had in common?  Well, here's the deal with it.  Two years ago, at the very end of July, we floated the Buffalo National River.  We being, me and my 3 children Bryan, Donovan, and Madison.  We really had a great time despite it being drizzly  and overcast.  That day, we had over 4 hours on the river and floated a total of 10 miles or so.  You may ask, "Why the heck in the dead heat of summer in the South?"  Well, it's because my oldest, Bryan, had a college break at that time.  I've always liked the outdoors and so have my two youngest kids.  My oldest can take it or leave it I think.  Anyway, I've been interested in survival-type situations since my first Air Force survival school.  It meshed nicely with my youth hunting and fishing.  After joining, the Air Force sent me to Land, Water, and Arctic schools in Washington State, Florida, and Alaska respectively.  I enjoyed them all.  They were relatively short, but I learned lots of concept.  Also, as part of job, I taught survival continuation training for a few years.

Occasionally, the 2 younger kids and I watch the various survival shows, Man Vs. Wild, Survivorman, Dual Survival, etc.  I think I mentioned something to Donovan about doing something like that during one of the shows and he jumped on the thought of it.  So, the concept turned into a planned trip.  We are going to float the perimeter of the Ozark National Forest first on the Buffalo River, then on the White River for 5 to 6 days.  I've coined it "The Survival Trip."  I plan to demonstrate fire-building techniques, shelter-building techniques, food procurement, etc.  Now, my skills aren't practiced as much as I'd like, so I'm countering that newbie aspect by incorporating some aspects of camping and that includes 2, 2-man tents, some backup food, fishing rods, etc.  This will be used only as needed or if the kids can't stand it anymore.  We are two weeks out from that trip and I'm getting excited like a little kid!  Some shots of the 2009 trip: