Day 52 - Into the Wild

            Day 52

            The first rains of the winter dry season fell here about two days ago. The first rains in over a month. It only lasted about 20 minutes, and was soaked up in a flash. It’s been damp and consistently cool the last three days though.

            As the first stages of the cattle muster have come to a finish, tomorrow I plan to head out to put all I have learned about this area to the test. We won’t begin any more work for several days, allowing me plenty of time to wander and explore different survival techniques for the region and feast on whatever the land is willing to offer after the light rains. It is surprising how much life can spring from such little rain. 

            There are many resources around the area, lots of potential food – if you can find it and have time to properly prepare it. Like in many other areas of Australia, much of the potential food requires extensive preparation before it is safe to eat. Many plants and fruits harbour toxins which must be leeched out prior to consumption. As well, many plant species have close relatives which often occupy the same areas, or similar ones. You can never look too closely. The last thing I need is to be the inspiration of Into The Wild Part II, with a similar ending...

            I’ll take a few basic supplies with me; my survival kit (containing a first aid kit, compass, JetScream whistle, Strike Force Flint; thermal blanket and signal mirror) and Remington Excursion knife, given to me by Ranger Tactical; snare wire; water bottle; and of course camera.

            I have been experimenting here and there with alternative solutions to creating cordage to use in the field. Because it is so dry most materials are very brittle, making most dense grasses useless when put under any stress. With the Warrago River near by though, there is an abundance of reeds in areas, which have proven to hold up much better than any of the grasses or vines found in the open fields.

            Being able to produce some sort of cordage in the field from raw materials is a huge asset. It can mean the difference between having your shelter remain standing in a wind storm and... well, not. As well it can come in handy for many other things. In the rainforest areas you can easily find different varieties of vines which will act as great cordage, some even capable of supporting heavy loads. As I mentioned before, many of the materials I have discovered here so far will NOT support much of a load at all. But let’s see what the fresh rains will have produced.

            A few things I’ll have to keep in mind when I set out (so should anyone considering the same). Even though it is winter, and most reptiles in this area are hibernating, it is still very possible to come across snakes in this area – the King Brown and death Adder being two of the most common, and two of the most deadly in Australia. 

The easiest way to avoid an encounter with a snake... Stay home. But since that’s not going to happen, be wary of walking in tall grass, especially around logs and fallen brush. Always keep your eyes sharp and be scanning the area in front of you and around. While most snakes will usually retreat when they feel vibrations of your approaching footsteps, not all will. The death adder for instance has been known to lie in the middle of bush tracks partially buried in the sand or leaves and will normally only strike when stepped on or grabbed. It is possible to stand right beside it and never know, as their behaviour is sluggish and quiet.

On that note, it’s time to hit the bush and see what else is out there and if I have learned enough about the environment here to survive it or not!