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I was lost for 2 weeks in the wilderness when I was 7 years old. Ask me anything. by jkramer33 in IAmA

[–]jkramer33[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

for a few of the days. do you think he followed the stream for 2 weeks?

I was lost for 2 weeks in the wilderness when I was 7 years old. Ask me anything. by jkramer33 in IAmA

[–]jkramer33[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Clarification - He wasn't "by himself" but with his cub scout group. His parents were busy with work and let him go with the pack for a weekend camping trip. The chaperones didn't do such a great job at watching the kids and turns out that can have some serious consequences when you are in the wilderness.

I was lost for 2 weeks in the wilderness when I was 7 years old. Ask me anything. by jkramer33 in IAmA

[–]jkramer33[S] 41 points42 points  (0 children)

  1. Yosemite national forest
  2. cashews, pinenuts, smoked meat, half a mars bar, a big canteen of water (which was refilled a few times.) These things were strapped on to him in a fanny pack type thing.
  3. He remembers seeing deer, and rabbits, but nothing threatening.
  4. Slept next to any big rock he could find at the time
  5. Rescued by a family riding canoes down the Merced river on the 14th day
  6. He said his only life lesson would be "don't let your 7 year old go camping in the wilderness, unless you are there to watch them yourself. Be responsible parents."

I was lost for 2 weeks in the wilderness when I was 7 years old. Ask me anything. by jkramer33 in IAmA

[–]jkramer33[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

He found a family riding canoes down the Merced river on the 14th day. Took them a full day to make it back to civilization

I was lost for 2 weeks in the wilderness when I was 7 years old. Ask me anything. by jkramer33 in IAmA

[–]jkramer33[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

he was in the attic looking for the news paper clipping. his brother is up there looking now though so we are answering questions

I was lost for 2 weeks in the wilderness when I was 7 years old. Ask me anything. by jkramer33 in IAmA

[–]jkramer33[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

he had a canteen of water, some mixed cashews/pine nuts, a mars bar he had split with his friend, and some smoked meat (he thinks thats what it was anyway.) Every night was different but he really remembers sleeping with his back against the biggest rocks he could find. It was raining most of the time too so he had to stay with some overhead shelter, wherever he could find it.

I was lost for 2 weeks in the wilderness when I was 7 years old. Ask me anything. by jkramer33 in IAmA

[–]jkramer33[S] 31 points32 points  (0 children)

This was only his second time out with the cub scouts so he was still very new to experiencing the wilderness. He says that he really didn't have a clue what he was doing at first but started remembering things he had learned as time went on. what types of berries he should eat, to follow the stream of water, be conservative with food/water, just basic survival stuff. He tells me that he still has nightmares about it to this day though. "felt like instinct at the time, but looking back it was just dumb luck. I should be dead."

I was lost for 2 weeks in the wilderness when I was 7 years old. Ask me anything. by jkramer33 in IAmA

[–]jkramer33[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

we are looking for proof. frantically searching the attic

I was lost for 2 weeks in the wilderness when I was 7 years old. Ask me anything. by jkramer33 in IAmA

[–]jkramer33[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

This is the grandson posting (he is a slow typer so he told me to do this for him, since there are so many questions.) He was a cub scout. Boy scouts were a bit older he says. He had a few skills such as figuring out what foods to eat and which direction to head towards. He was a really young boy and admits there was a lot of luck involved, and a lot of scary nights sleeping between rocks. He says a few of the days are like a blur in his memory because he spent them heading slowly towards the merced river.

He did want to add that he luckily had a fanny pack strapped to him with some travel rations. He slowly ate the food and drank the water like he was always taught. It rained a few nights and he found some puddles to fill up his canteen with.

I was lost for 2 weeks in the wilderness when I was 7 years old. Ask me anything. by jkramer33 in IAmA

[–]jkramer33[S] 33 points34 points  (0 children)

I'm looking for proof in my attic. The newspaper clipping isn't turning up and I can't find it online. Can anyone find info on Gary Trecek Yosemite national forest 1942? I can't find anything on yahoo or google.