UKC

NB. this is a just for fun thread.

Any situation and any type gear of gear you may have on you whilst climbing / on a climbing trip or expedition. What could you possibly use from your gear to help you in a survival situation?

The first that come into my mind...

Rope sleeping mat.
Frayed wire fish-hooks (from nuts), cam lobes a lures.
Tent pole spears.
Ice screw water filter straws, stuffed with frayed rope and possibly charcoal (yeah, right).

The more bizarre the better, complete fantasy accepted but ideally feasible.

In reply to leon 1:


#10 hex for that

In reply to GarethSL:

Nut removers are probably quite good for gutting fish.

In reply to GarethSL:

Not strictly climbing gear, but regular survival techniques include using compass magnifying glass to start fire. Headtorch battery and chewing gum wrapper to start fire.

Dry bag as water carrier.

Wiregate removed from krab and used as fish hook.

Chopped up rope to make nets.

Crampon to make spikey deadfall traps.

Shoe rubber as fire starter/black smoke for signalling? (Has anyone ever burned a climbing shoe to find out)

Nylon webbing as fuel for fire

Waterproofs sleeve/trouser leg tied off as a water carrier.

Slings as a tourniquet.

Hexes on a tripwire to warn of approaching bears!

In reply to GarethSL:

Fallen leaders as a source of protein.
(Make sure they're dead first!)

In reply to Dell:

Brilliant list!

I wonder if a climbing shoe would produce enough smoke though?

In reply to Dell:


See note on #10 Hex

In reply to GarethSL:

Andy K has done some essential research in this field.

youtube.com/watch?v=aU4yR105KdI&

In reply to GarethSL:

Survival bag as water collector
Chalk to write messages visible from above (until it rains!)
Rope to lasso passing herds of meat
Helmet as porta-potty
Nuts as jewelry trade items when meeting lost tribes
Bouldering mat as flotation for raft building, slings to lash together
Tent as sail and mast for said bouldering mat raft
Torch batteries to get spark for fire lighting. Possibly.
Troll Omnis to hang from tree as emergency signal
Deadman as shovel for latrine duties or the burial of the picked bones of whichever companion got the short straw when the food ran out; ice axe as handle

In reply to GarethSL:

I watched Ray Mears put a plastic bag over some plants to 'sweat out' water in the Sun.
Probably a bit superfluous in Scotland though.

In reply to Mal Grey:


Or to wear as face paint when it all goes 'Lord of the Flies'

(or for friction when climbing Lord of the Flies)

In reply to GarethSL:

The 'Seagull Slayer' Cam would serve the otherwise intended purpose that I carry it for. It could no doubt be renamed the 'Seal Slayer' Cam (depending on my coastal location). And if inland it might be ultimately be renamed as the 'Belay Slayer' if the consumption of Simon was paramount to my survival.

In reply to GarethSL:


Been there done that, but so have many other people. I thought it was a completely normal & standard part of bivvy procedure?

In reply to GarethSL:

Throwing (ice) axes, for hunting elk, etc.

In reply to AlanLittle:


Have some sugar to sweeten you up.

In reply to Timmd:

But the OP was asking for bizarre, I was just being helpful. Completely bog standard =/= bizarre

In reply to AlanLittle:

Yeye, it was one of the first things that came to mind. Perhaps weaving a rope hammock would have been better.

In reply to brianjcooper:


I read that first as 'put a plastic bag over some pants to sweat out water'

You would have to be very thirsty.

In reply to AlanLittle:


One lump or two?

In reply to GarethSL:

Not strictly climbing, but I've used an abseil rack to hack out & eat Christmas pudding from a tin in a cave; our hands being too muddy.......

In reply to Maarten2:

Works for me +1 for fitting pudding into your reply

In reply to GarethSL:

Survival pudding? That would probably be something like caramelized wasps, with stinging nettle custard.