Grand Canyon: Pennsylvania mother ate twigs, drank own urine on journey to save family, sister says - Fox News

[Smokin Joe]

But it's a dry cold out West; humidity really adds to where it chills to the bone.

It's dry because the air is too cold to be humid.

I agree, that humidity seems to make the air chill you more, but your body is warming that water vapor, too. That latent heat absorbed by the moisture in the air makes it seem colder, and any moisture absorbed by the clothes you wear is evaporated from them by your body heat, much the same as sweat would be.

The same basics apply: windproof outer layer, insulating layers underneath, head, feet, and hands covered. The slicker suits we wore tonging oysters when I was a young man far from here were as much to stop the wind as keep water off, but they also reduced the infiltration of damp air, helping keep us warm (as if exertion wasn't enough).

[EC]

Basic survival tips say to drink your urine.

It's kind of sick to mention, it's some time now. Do they tell you to eat you know? Your other waste product? I forget that but not to repulse anyone but drinking urine is a time tested method. It is afterall, just done to survive.

I don't want to gross anyone out in saying that. I know we learned some of that, now some years ago.

First pass is OK, assuming you start off fairly well hydrated. After that, the waste gets too concentrated and you will dehydrate.

Second and subsequent urination in very hot climates is done on a cloth and wrapped around your head, including covering your mouth and nose to provide a little humidification to the air. Stinking is better than cooking alive.

As for second part - I've never seen it even suggested. There is always SOMETHING you can eat that won't disable or kill you outright.

[240B]

I don't understand. Twig and urine are great. I have a bowl of twigs and a tall glass of urine(mostly my own) next to my computer. I just call that a snack.


Bugs and rainwater, that's on Monday.
Twig and urine, that's on Thursday.


She did what she did and she survived to tell the tale. That, just alone, means she did the right thing.


If a toe or a finger freezes off, are you going to eat it or dump it? Everyone does what they have to do at the time. If you live, then you did the right thing. If you die, well, then I guess I zigged when I should have zagged.

[Frank Cannon]

I went through my own ordeal last week when I made a pot of chili and realized I had forgotten to buy crackers. 

At least you were prepared to make chili. This PA broad in UT wasn't prepped for shit.

[geronl]

I want to know how many days or weeks this journey took.... did she have to disembowel a large animal and sleep inside for warmth at some point...

[roamer_1]

And that would have killed her in this situation.  Like so many on here you can't handle disagreement without turning to insults.   It shows you have a weak mind.

@driftdiver
It may seem an insult to you, but it is nonetheless true. Her situation was largely caused by her own ineptitude.
The weak mind is the one traveling through wilderness without a single thought toward what would happen if they got caught out in it. 99% avoidable. Imagine the relative ease with nothing more than a simple go-bag and the knowledge to use what it contains.

That's why folks hereon that live in wilderness preach about preparedness.

I'm glad she made it out. I really am. But hers is not an heroic tale, but rather, symptomatic and cautionary.

[roamer_1]

Just for the info, the FM 21-76 US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUAL, says not to "eat snow" as it leads to drop of body temperature and dehydration (eventually).  The body has to do more work to recover the heat loss.

It recommends melting the snow with an outside heat source,

Mine was a more aboriginal training wrt survival, hunting, tracking, and the like... without 'outside heat sources', and where tinder is rare, and preserved for when it is needed.

[240B]