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Can You Survive the Wilderness?
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Hiker Megan
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Do you have what it takes to survive in the wilderness? Far from civilization, everything changes. You can't go to the grocery store. If you're hurt, a doctor isn't a phone call away. If you're cold, you can't turn up the heat. Even finding safe water to drink can be a challenge.
Being lost or stranded in the wilderness will test both your strength and your intelligence. How will you find food? How can you get the attention of rescue aircraft? What would you do if you were staring down the jaws of a hungry predator?
It won't be easy, but if you stay calm and make good choices, you might be able to get out alive. Are you ready to find out whether you have what it takes?
Where would you like to start? The Canadian wilderness, the Blue Mountains of Australia, or Germany's Black Forest?
Mod
Enjoy beautiful Germany!
Mod
You look out from your small camp, scanning the horizon. Everywhere you look you see trees and more trees covering the rolling hills. There's no sign of civilization, and your situation is growing critical.
What started out as a hiking trip with your older brother, Henri, has gone terribly wrong. The two of you planned a long weekend of hiking in Germany's Black Forest. But yesterday you realized you were lost. And now things are even worse - Henri fell while climbing, badly breaking his leg. He's in terrible pain, and you don't know what to do. Your cell phones are dead, your food is almost gone, and Henri is in shock. Henri is in desperate need of medical help.
This is no time for tears. Henri's life - and your own - depend on you. You've got to get him the help he needs.
To stay with Henri and wait for help:
1. read a book with all the letters of STAY in the title
2. read a book where the MC or author's name begins with H
3. read a book that you have been waiting a long time to read
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
To strike out into the forest in search of rescue:
1. read a book where a significant character plays a sport (like baseball)
2. read a book with a lot of trees on the cover
3. read a book where the MC rescues someone
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
Decision: stay with Henri and wait for help
Book: Seeking Persephone
Author: Sarah M. Eden
Date Read: 6/15
Task: 4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
How it Fits: title begins with S
Mod
Henri is in bad shape. You don't think it's a good idea to leave him by himself. When you don't come home tomorrow, your family will start to worry. A rescue effort should be under way within a day two. All you have to do is to keep the two of you alive until then.
You build a warm fire and cover Henri with all the blankets you've got. You get water from a nearby stream and boil it so that it is safe to drink. The you set out to get something to eat. Henri will need nourishment to fight his injury.
You spend an hour foraging for food. As you kneel down to gather juicy rowan berries, you notice movement nearby. There's a face staring out at you from the bush!
Your heart races as you realize that you're looking at a wolf! And you're crouched down - the grey beast probably thinks you are prey. You've got to act fast!
To stand up and confront the wolf:
1. read a book with one person standing on the cover
2. read a book where the MC confronts someone about something serious
3. read a book with 'wolf' in the text of the book
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
To curl up in a ball and play dead:
1. read a book where the MC has curly hair
2. read a book where the MC plays a board or card game
3. read a book where someone dies
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
Lanelle wrote: "Seeking Persephone is one of my favorite books :)"I loved it and can't wait to start the next one. :)
Decision: stand up and confront the wolf
Book: Loving You
Author: Allie Everhart
Date Read: 6/22
Task: read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
How it Fits: title begins with L
Mod
Humans aren't normal prey for wolves, so you need to make sure that the creature knows what you are. You grab a big stick, stand up, and start shouting. To your great relief, the wolf dashes away.
You start back to camp with your blackberries. Looks like that's all you have to eat. Just then, you see movement again. You gasp, hoping the wolf hasn't returned.
Then you hear a rustling noise. and spy a grouse. Normally you wouldn't have a chance to catch it, but the bird has an injured leg and can't move very fast. You manage to club the bird unconscious. You quickly snap its neck. It's not a big bird, but it will provide much needed protein.
Soon the mouth-watering smell of roasting grouse fills the air. It even pulls Henri out of his feverish sleep. He manages to eat a little, but not as much as you'd like. Once Henri is sleeping soundly, you curl up next to him, sharing body heat.
The next day is rainy and seems to drag on. You collect more berries. You try fishing in a nearby stream, without success. Henri's fever is getting worse. Rescue has to come tomorrow, or you're going to lose him.
At dawn it's decision time. You have to do something to get help today.
To head out in search of rescuers:
1. read a book with just the head of a person or animal on the cover
2. read a book that is out of your comfort zone (or genre :)
3. read a book there are two or more rescuers in the story
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
To build a large signal fire:
1. read a book where the author builds a new world or civilization
2. read a book that has 400+ pages
3. listen to an audio book *
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
* signal - transmit information or instructions by means of a gesture, action, or sound
Decision: build a large signal fire
Book: A Flicker in the Dark
Author: Stacy Willingham
Date Read: 7/3
Task: listen to an audio book
How it Fits: I listened to the audio book
Mod
A signal fire is your best chance. You find a clearing and get to work. You start with small branches and dry leaves. Slowly you add pieces of wood until you've got a blazing bonfire. Next you add wet wood and leave to the blaze, releasing huge plumes of smoke. You continue to feed the fire all morning.
Your work pays off. When you hear the sound of helicopter blades, you stand up and wave your arms. You've been spotted!
The chopper lands and you lead the rescue workers back to camp. They place Henri on a stretcher and load him into the helicopter. Henri is in a great deal of pain, but still conscious. He squeezes your hand.
You've done it! Both of you are going to make it out of the wilderness alive.
Mod
You have some choices at this point.
1 - stop this challenge
2 - stay in Germany and start over making different decisions
3 - go to another location and read for that place
There may be other choices that I haven't thought of. What do you want to do?
I'd like to go to the Canadian wilderness next please.
Mod
You got it.
Mod
As you watch the August sun dip behind the mountains of the Canadian Rockies, you're worried. You were supposed to spend two nights alone before being picked up by a small plane.
But now three days has stretched to six days, and what few supplies you brought with you have run out. And it seems that no one is coming.
Did something happen to the pilot who brought you here? He's the only other person who knows exactly where you are! Your friends and family only knew you were coming to Canada.
Your food and fresh water may be gone, but you came prepared. You've got warm clothes, a tent and sleeping bag, a pocketknife, and a piece of flint to start fires.
It's clear that rescue might not be coming any time soon. It's time to decide - do you wait for rescue here? Or is it time to strike out into the wilderness in search of help?
To wait for rescue here:
1. read a book set near where you live
2. read a book where the author's last name starts with 'H', 'E', 'R', or 'E'
3. read a book where the MC has to wait for something important
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
To strike out in search of help:
1. read a book with the word 'strike' in the text
2. read a book with 'OUT' in the title (can be part of a word, i.e., about, South, outdoor)
3. read a book where the MC asks for help
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
Decision: wait for rescue here
Book: The House Across the Lake
Author: Riley Sager
Date Read: 8/8
Task: read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
How it Fits: title begins with T
Mod
Canada is a huge, wild place. You don't even know which direction to go to find civilization. Staying here is your best chance. You know how to survive.
The good news is that you already have a start on a camp here. There are fish in the lake and wildlife in the thick forest. With some luck, you could last months out here.
Your first concern is finding food. You could try fishing, but you'd have to make your own gear. Or you could work on building snares to catch rabbits or other small game.
To fish for your supper:
1. read a book with a table or chair on the cover
2. read a book where a word in the title has two of the same letter together (supper)
3. read a book where the MC prepares supper or dinner
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
To build snares:
1. read a book where the MC walks into a trap
2. read a book where the MC gets into a hazardous situation
3. read a book where the MC gets ambushed
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
Decision: fish for your supper
Book: A Castaway in Cornwall
Author: Julie Klassen
Date Read: 8/12
Task: read a book where a word in the title has two of the same letter together
How it Fits: Cornwall has "ll"
Mod
A small stream feeds a nearby lake, and you've seen trout swimming there. You find a strong, straight stick and use your pocketknife to whittle it to a sharp point. Soon you've got a crude fishing spear.
The creek isn't very deep, but it's moving fast. Soon you discover that you can't reach far enough to get to the fish. So you strip off your shoes and socks, roll up your pants, and wade in. Wow, that water is cold!
Spearing a fish is hard. You make several attempts, but come up empty. Suddenly you lose your balance and flop into the icy water. The water takes your breath away. Your clothes are now soaked. You shiver in the afternoon breeze.
To go back to camp to dry your clothing:
1. re-read a book
2. read a book with 'camp' in the text of the book
3. read a book where the MC accidentally gets wet
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
To keep trying to catch fish:
1. read a book with a word in the title that has 2 E's
2. read a new-to-you book by your favorite author
3. read a book with 'fish' in the text of the book
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
Decision: go back to camp to dry your clothing
Book: Gone with the Wind
Author: Margaret Mitchell
Date Read: 8/20
Task: read a book with 'camp' in the text of the book
How it Fits: "How would she go about finding Rhett in this enemy camp?" (loc. 9654)
Mod
You're drenched with near-freezing water. It's critical you get warm and dry, even if it means you go hungry tonight. You hurry back to camp and strip off your wet clothes. You quickly build a fire ad huddle close to it. Slowly the warmth stops your shivering, and you climb into your sleeping bag for the night. Tomorrow you'll try fishing again.
Over the next week, you sharpen your survival skills. You trap several rabbits, and you even manage to spear a few fish.
Then one day you hear a buzzing sound in the distance. It's a small plane! You quickly build as large and smoky fire as you can.
The smoke does its job. You watch as the plane turns in your direction. It's a small seaplane that can land on the nearby lake. You're waiting on the shore, watching and waving your arms.
You were patient and smart, and rescue has finally arrived. You've proven yourself a true outdoor specialist.
Mod
What do you want to do next?
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
Gone with the Wind (other topics)A Castaway in Cornwall (other topics)
The House Across the Lake (other topics)
A Flicker in the Dark (other topics)
Loving You (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Margaret Mitchell (other topics)Julie Klassen (other topics)
Riley Sager (other topics)
Stacy Willingham (other topics)
Allie Everhart (other topics)
More...
You are lost in the wilderness. Predators roam through the forest. Hot days and cold nights will test your strength. High cliffs, rushing rivers, and deep gorges will block your path. Any wrong decision could be your last.
Will you survive? In this challenge you'll make choices that could mean the difference between life and death.
I'll set the scene. You choose which path to follow. Follow the directions at the bottom of each post.
You can begin as soon as you get your thread.
HOW TO PLAY:
1. Read through the scenario.
2. Make your first decision and read one task for that decision. The fourth task will always be "Read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'". You can use or ignore the articles 'A', 'An', or 'The'.
3. Once you complete one of the tasks, post in your thread the following:
Decision:
Book:
Author:
Date Read:
Task:
How it Fits:
4. The moderator will then post the related decision result story.
Books must be at least 140 pages.
Page count for audio books will be determined the first paper version shown on Goodreads. From the book's page, select “all editions”, then select the first paper edition as your guide.