Of course I wouldnt have brought all of that if Id known I was going out alone, but better over prepared than under, as my mom always says. Hightower and Burned heart trekked out with me, and shared some drinks as we watched the sun set, and I prepared for what may turn out to be ether a cold night fighting off the Big Foot, or a restful night of staring at the stars. After unloading my Bob I realized that during the bumpy single track accent, Id punctured a can of beer, half of which was now absorbed by my sleeping bag. Were off to a good start.
I set up camp and just as I was falling to sleep, I heard foot fall in the nearby brush. I shined my pen light in that direction and saw the glint of eyes looking at me. It was ether a small deer, a big cat, or a coyote. At what I guessed to be midnight, I stood a greater chance of getting run over by a drunk redneck on my way home, than I did getting eaten by a woodland creature, so I stayed put.
I woke up again at sunrise and engaged in an un-winable wrestling match with my Ridgerest getting it in its sorely undersized stuff sack, and then began my journey back to work for another day toiling for The Man.

Im going back for more of this, and as the winter continues to build steam, Im sure Ill have an even more difficult time finding folks to accompany me out there, but as long as I have the pistachios, and the hootch, Ill be just fine.

(A broken flashlight, bungee chord, space blanket, and a leaky can of beer. What else do you need?
Im the survivalists envy.)