Wilderness Survival Challenge

You have just crash landed in the woods of northern Minnesota and southern Manitoba. It is 11:32 AM in mid January. The light plane in which you were traveling crashed on a lake. The pilot and copilot lived. Shortly after the crash the plane sank completely into the lake. None of you are seriously injured and you are all dry.

The crash came suddenly, before the pilot had time to radio for help or to inform anyone of your position. Since your pilot was trying to avoid a storm, you know that the plane was considerably off course. The pilot announced shortly before the crash that you were twenty mile northwest of a small town that is the nearest known habitation.

You are in a wilderness area made up of thick woods broken by many lakes and streams. The snow depth varies from above the ankle in windswept areas to knee-deep where it has drifted. The last weather report indicated that the temperature would reach minus twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime and minus forty degrees Fahrenheit at night. There is plenty of dead wood and twigs in the immediate area. You are dressed in winter clothing appropriate for city wear - suits, pantsuits, street shoes, and overcoats. You now realize how dumb your choice was to fly north in winter wearing dress clothes.

While escaping from the plane several members of your group salvaged 30 items. Your task is to rank these items according to their importance to your survival, starting with 1 for the most important item and ending with 30 for the least important item. The group has agreed to stick together and stay put.

Winter Survival Decision Form - Ranking

Rank the following items according to their importance to your survival, starting with 1 for the most important and ending with 30 for the least important.

_____ ball of steel wool

_____ sectional air map made of plastic

_____ iPad with extra batteries

_____ 20 by 20 foot piece of heavy duty canvas

_____ iPhone

_____ Emergency Locator Transmitter attached to your plane that you can activate

_____ functional snowmobiles

_____ generator with fuel for two weeks

_____ The guys from the TV show Man Verses Wild (survived crash)

_____ That person you’ve been crushing on

_____ 10 18oz Ribeye

_____ 3 bags of charcoal

_____ Popup tent that sleeps 10

_____ Sleeping bags for 10

_____ Ice fishing poles

_____ Ice fishing gear

_____ water for 10 people for 10 days

_____ Food for 10 people for two weeks

_____ Lots of guns

_____ Lots of ammo

_____ compass

_____ extra shirt and pants for each survivor

_____ hand axe

_____ can of shortening

_____ cigarette lighter (with fluid)

_____ _____________________ [fill in the blank]

_____ Your homework

_____ family size chocolate bar (one per person)