marlin55388 wrote on Nov 19^th, 2010 at 1:15pm:

I think the question is not what would happen if _________(fill in blank) happened...but rather do I have the needed/necessary in the kit that will always be on me to survive, get rescued, or get myself/others back to the vehicle/home.....I still dont understand why I get the puzzled look when I take a longer day trip and in preparation for that trip they watch stuff the sleeping bag in the daypack, like duh to me. Expect the unexpected. If given the choice between wits and _______. I will choose wits not _______.

Bingo for Marlin!

Once while fishing just offshore of a pass here in Florida I spied something quite peculiar on the horizon. "I don't like the looks of that" I said to my dad as I fired up the motor. We tucked up back inside amongst the interior islands and resumed fishing. I turned around 1/2 hour later to a whiteout. A solid cloud bank had enveloped the area. Very unusual for Florida. We gave some effort at following the channel markers back to the dock but I knew it was hopeless. Chances were we would miss the turn or worse strike an oyster bed. After 20 minutes I knew we were in serious trouble. Neither of us had any jackets, the day had been sunny and warm and we were in a populated area. Now I found myself already shivering, wet and 12 hours of darkness coming on. I cut the motor and started praying for Gods help. The reply came quickly enough in the form of a flock of crows sounding off. I knew they wouldn't be on the mangrove islands but rather in the oak hammocks.

Away we went and landed on a private very exclusive island where we were given accommodations for the night on a screened in front porch of a million dollar home.

To this day I don't believe my Dad realizes the seriousness of what could of happened. Hypothermia was already taking hold and neither of us had any fire. Now I venture into the backcountry expecting to spend the night.