The OP is a good story of survival. As someone already mentioned, accepting his situation and staying focused on doing what's necessary saved his life. He didn't panic and take off running, he stayed put and addressed his needs. And carrying a ditch kit on his person definitely helped.

I recently started reading "Lost in the Wild" by Cary Griffith, and I ordered extra copies to give to some friends. I've been too busy with work to fulfill my solo trip plans (2 years in a row now, next year I will quit my job if I have to), but I have started "grooming" some old friends for tripping in the future. We spent some time this fall bow hunting deer, and also hunting grouse and small game in the SNF, and both are committed to a spring fishing trip. Next summer, I hope to have them in canoes, and hopefully next fall we can relocate our hunting camp to somewhere deep in the BW. We did a lot of mild bushwhacking without incident, but in the back of my mind I was always thinking about what could happen.

This thread also got me thinking. I am also going to put together "ditch kits" for them, something they can carry on their person when we're out hunting or hiking and get them through a couple of days should they become separated from the group. I like the small hip packs someone mentioned, as it could be clipped to a belt and wouldn't feel like an extra burden to carry. But would it hold everything? Some ideas for useful supplies, or at least what I would want / want them to have:


-Compass (even if they have one already)
-FireSteel and a Bic
-Some kind of tinder (I like the vaseline + cotton)
-Space blankets, maybe 2 or 3 (spares or can use for shelter)
-Whistle
-Snare Wire
-Water purification tablets and/or filter straw in case of no container
-Paracord if space allows
-Clif bars or similar
-Some bandages and basic first aid supplies
-Extra batteries for the 2-ways we left in the truck and didn't carry
-Basic tools to clear and clean a .22 thats been dropped in mud
-Topo map of the hunting area if possible
-Pen and small notepad for making patrol maps
-Paracord Pedomoter (thanks to my retired Army friend for the idea)
-Large plastic garbage bags or small-packing poncho


I feel that with the above, if that's all I had, I could last long enough to be rescued or find my way to safety. I carry a backpack when I'm out hunting or canoeing solo, that contains most of the above plus my lightweight sleeping bag and a comprehensive first aid kit, because I have room. Even if I have a large pack for gear, I always find it nice to have a day pack for fishing or side trips. It's tricky thinking about creating a survival kit to fit in a small space, so I'm sure this will be an ongoing process.

Since we were hunting, all of us had sheath knives and multi-tools, which include small saw blades. There were a few posters looking for bigger knives, so here's my recommendation: I really like my SOG Seal Pup because it's a solid knife, perfectly sized, and the nylon sheath has a pocket that holds a firesteel or whatver else. I've gone through a lot of knives, and this is the best one I've ever owned.