Silent Fury...

[Leeanda]

Just now, ManicManiac said:

@Leeanda

I just figured I'd be investing a lot of focus on situational awareness, so I decided that having a little less to worry about day to day food/water would feel like a fair tradeoff.

Quite rightly so .🙂.    Seems a shame to let all the yummy stuff just deteriorate anyway.  

[ManicManiac]

@Leeanda

Yeah, but thanks to Cooking 5... no food ever really has to go to waste. 🤭

[ManicManiac]

I think that once I get the containers dealt with... I think I will make the trek to Bleak Inlet.
I have a revolver and fair bit of ammunition for it (for culling or dire emergency).

I've proven to myself, I'm able to handle bears and wolves... I think it's time to test myself further.  I kind of want to test to see if I can deal with the Timber Wolves.  Not being able to hear them; feels like maybe will make them even more dangerous.  One solitary wolf very nearly ended my run the first day, and now the thought of a whole & cohesive pack... it's kind of terrifying.

 

(I don't care if campfires/flares/torches actually work on them right now or not...  I still don't feel like that's intended. So I won't be using any of those methods.  As it was when they first were introduced, the only flare I'd be permitted to use would be Marine Flares.)

Edited June 22, 2022 by ManicManiac

[conanjaguar]

@ManicManiac

You are about to enter a world of hurt. Bring lots of ammo, and LET THE BARBECUE BEGIN!

[ManicManiac]

I know I probably should have spent some time fishing... but I decided to see how many containers I could hit before dark.  

I've already taken care of the one at Erric's Falls, but all the rest littered around the mountain were still up for grabs.  I made sure I had a decent hacksaw (and three sodas just in case) and started the day's trek.  I initially intended to take the short cut up to the Upper Engine Wreckage and work my way down, but I as I was sneaking towards the rope, I took a look down into the basin down in Echo Ravine.  Much to my surprise, there didn't appear to be any wolves skulking around down there at all.  I couldn't pass up an opportunity like that... I almost never see the basin empty.

I quickly decided to do some risky goating, and worked my way down the cliff to the bottom of the basin.  Sure enough the way was clear.  I was able to gather up the two containers by the Lower Engine Wreckage at my leisure. |

I don't ever use spray paint... so I just left that there.

I made my way back through Echo Ravine, and decided to head back up my shortcut again.  I still wanted to hit the container near the Upper Engine Wreckage too.


At this point, the hacksaw I had on hand was down to about 10%.  I didn't want to press my luck any farther.  The last thing I needed was a ruined container that I could never open.  I decided instead to head back home to Crystal Lake, drop off the haul, grab another hacksaw, and head back up to the bluff to hit those two containers.

I had to skirt past the two wolves prowling out on the lake... but up on the bluff there wasn't a wolf to be found.  (Three locations in one day, not a bad pace)

Bonus... I got another hacksaw too.  

At this point, I carried the gear and supplies back to the Mountaineer's Hut.  I spent the rest of the evening, sorting, harvesting clothing, and making some needed repairs.  Early the next morning I set out again, this time heading directly for the Lower Wing Wreckage.  I had to be wary of the bear... and there were at least four wolves nearby that I could see.

 

After gathering up these two, I stopped back home again to sort and stash.  I got a little sidetracked and started exploring around the upper reaches around the edges of the region.

Found this unfortunate soul while exploring the upper reaches along the outer ridgelines.

I even had the chance to honor the Venison Accords... however, one of them nearly broke the treaty.  So both lost the meal... unfortunately, the deer was felled a bit too deep in their territory... so I guess I'm going to miss that meal too.  Oh well, they got aggressive but they didn't have a chance to attack, and so the treaty still holds.  

 

Hmm... I'll have to go through the list, to make sure I hit all the containers:

X     Summit
X     Eric's Falls
X     Upper Engine Wreckage
X     Buff above Crystal Lake
X     Lower Engine Wreckage (Echo Ravine)
X     Lower Wing Wreckage
... 
Oh... Deer Clearing.  I'd forgotten Deer Clearing.  Tomorrow then, I suppose.  

Edited June 23, 2022 by ManicManiac

[Leeanda]

I've never had that corpse there. Once I had the rifle and the scarf, then just the scarf once and since then nothing!.  

Nice to see you had some blue sky for a change🙂

[ManicManiac]

@Leeanda

It was nice.  I've also not had to deal with any blizzards for days... some fogy/heavy snow threatening blizzard but the weather has held up remarkably well (the core reason I was able to get around so effectively the last couple of days).  

[ManicManiac]

 The Echo Peak Bear, has been visiting Crystal Lake more often recently... if it keeps that up, I'd be tempted to try and take him down near the shore or perhaps the fishing hut.  🤔  Maybe, ideally, luring it in as close to home as the pier?  On the other hand, I don't want to tempt the Crystal Lake wolves into breaking the treaty... it's been a shaky peace already.

Once I get Deer Clearing finished up.  I have to do one more hard push for the summit (I think I ought to be able to get everything else down in one more trip...I hope).

I would like to get some fishing done, though the Crystal Lake wolves are rarely absent... so the makes it a risky proposition already.  I suppose if I do manage to drop the bear, that would be more than enough food for long haul survival later on.  Of course, I suppose none of that's really necessary there was a fairly sizable stock of found food in those containers I've emptied.

Once that's all situated, I'll pare down again to bare essentials (plus revolver and cartridges) and trace my path back to where it began.  Bleak Inlet, and rather than taking my more familiar route by entering from Raven Falls Ravine... I mean to fully walk back my path through Forlorn Muskeg, and back to Bleak Inlet via the cave I had original woke up in front of.

I have a feeling it's going to be a wild time.  I'll have to be careful about eating predator meat at first (I'm still just a beginner in all my survival skills right now ).

[Leeanda]

3 hours ago, ManicManiac said:

@Leeanda

It was nice.  I've also not had to deal with any blizzards for days... some fogy/heavy snow threatening blizzard but the weather has held up remarkably well (the core reason I was able to get around so effectively the last couple of days).  

I was beginning to wonder if they were still following you around!😁 

How do you feel about seeing them but not hearing them?  I ask because I turned wind down to low on my run because I love the feeling it gives you . It almost seems like a kind of fog effect.  Or maybe I'm just weird?😁

[ManicManiac]

@Leeanda

The weather had been really kind the last few days.  A couple of heavy snows that were threatening pretty hard... but ultimately stayed mild (at least compared to an actual blizzard anyway).

It's a bit surreal not being able to hear them.  It's also a bit surprising when I peek my head out expecting a cold but clear day... and be greeted by a wall of blinding snow.   

Edited June 23, 2022 by ManicManiac

[Leeanda]

Just now, ManicManiac said:

@Leeanda

The weather had been really kind the last few days.  A couple of heavy snows that were threatening pretty hard... but ultimately stayed mild (at least compared to an actual blizzard anyway).

It's a bit surreal not being able to hear them.  It's also a bit surprising when I peek my head out expecting a cold but clear day... and be greeted by a wall of blinding snow.   

That's true🙂.   It's a nice change not to hear all that rattling though. 

Its something I've begun to love ,I just think it adds a little more to  the feeling of isolation  and a kind of serenity I suppose.

[ManicManiac]

Woke up early again, but the weather was looking a bit bleak.  With the Deer Clearing being the last spot to gather up gear and supplies from cargo containers... I wasn't about to let bad weather stop me, so I pressed on.


As I made my way towards the Lower Wing Wreckage... it seemed the bear had a desire to visit Crystal Lake again.  As long as I keep a respectful distance, there'd be no issue.

I did make a quick stop off at the Forest Cave... but all I found there were two polaroids.  

By the time I'd made it up to the Deer Clearing the weather had cleared up.



I quickly gathered up everything from both containers.  At first, I was just going to go back the way I came... but when a wolf from up on the slope decided to give me the opportunity.  I decided I would do some risky goating to get back down.  

I did stop off at the "three-way cave" but didn't find much of interest (another sleeping bag and a torch, so that was nice).  I ended up goating all the way back down into Echo Ravine...

From there it was a fairly leisurely stroll back towards Crystal Lake.  However, I once again found I had some company.  

Finally... back home again.

Spent the rest of the day sorting out all the gear and supplies.
Now I'm just contemplating one last trip to the summit for the last of it... though I may just leave it there and prepare for the trek back to Bleak Inlet.

Next on the list... go manage the Timber Wolf population.

Edited June 24, 2022 by ManicManiac
...can't seem to get rid of the second picture of Echo Ravine from the bottom of the post... oh well.

[Leeanda]

That's a lot more loot than I thought for a stalker run..  

Question is....are you going to eat any of it😁

[James Hickok]

21 hours ago, ManicManiac said:

 The Echo Peak Bear, has been visiting Crystal Lake more often recently... if it keeps that up, I'd be tempted to try and take him down near the shore or perhaps the fishing hut.  🤔  Maybe, ideally, luring it in as close to home as the pier?  On the other hand, I don't want to tempt the Crystal Lake wolves into breaking the treaty... it's been a shaky peace already.

Why not just kill them all ? You have guns and all. Easy peasy even with just bow and arrows. In fact i prefer bow and arrows over guns. It doesnt scare the animals away (sound) and you can bag and tag pack's of animals, then just make fire, skin em and gut them.

On my current run i lured a bear in CH that roams near the Quonset Garage clos to the moose that spawned and killed them both very close to eachother. Could strip them off everything using just one fire. Now i have a big stack of meat @ Quonset garage where i do my crafting. I think ill hit 100 days in coastal today - moving to Milton next.

Edited June 24, 2022 by James Hickok

[ManicManiac]

53 minutes ago, James Hickok said:

Why not just kill them all?

Personal rules... i.e. the Venison Accords

Could I just rampage... sure, but that's not as much fun or challenging as being able to evade/avoid and leaning to live along side the other predators.  For me, I prefer to hunt when I need to... not just because I can.

[ManicManiac]

As I start to prepare for Bleak Inlet, I'm approaching it with one thing in mind... If I can make it through an area without having to cull the timber wolves, then that's what I'm going to do.  However, they are hyper-aggressive so I know that some confrontations are going to be unavoidable, but I'd like to avoid harming as many of them as I can.

Perhaps that will make things needlessly difficult... but for me, that's where the fun begins.   

Edited June 24, 2022 by ManicManiac

[ManicManiac]

I think (assuming the wolves allow it) I may spend a couple of days actually fishing... just to build up a healthy supply for later on.  Plus I could then pack up a little bit of travel food (from all the found-food) without having to worry about making too big a dent in the overall stockpile.

So much to consider... 🤔

[James Hickok]

4 hours ago, ManicManiac said:

Personal rules... i.e. the Venison Accords

Could I just rampage... sure, but that's not as much fun or challenging as being able to evade/avoid and leaning to live along side the other predators.  For me, I prefer to hunt when I need to... not just because I can.

Oh i wasnt aware. I understand everything now. 

 

Im a type 'if u stand in my way ur dead' type plus its more meat for me. Im not  saying  i always  kill  everything and trust me playing on  loper and nogoa  is challenging enough. To a point i wouldnt risk wolves and/or bear roaming around. 

Anyway its fun to read ur story.  😀

[ManicManiac]

@James Hickok

I'm glad you enjoy reading along on my adventures/misadventures.

[conanjaguar]

The wolf culling on my end is not going too well, as is seen in today’s episode of Mordred. I just hope that Pleasant Valley weather does not follow @ManicManiac to Bleak Inlet. The weather and Timberwolves there have reportedly caused the famous @Drifter Man to rage-quit TLD for a while.
I hope you avoid his fate...

[ManicManiac]

@conanjaguar

I appreciate it.  My luck with the weather this time around seems to have improved (nearly to the point where I'm starting to wonder where all the blizzards went - but not so far as to say I miss them though ).

I still have yet to get prepped and make the trek back.

[ManicManiac]

  ...as I mull over what's to come:

I know full well that Bleak Inlet may be the place where my run ends.  Not being able to hear the Timber Wolves (I think) is going to make for a very perilous journey.  Even if I can manage to successfully evade and avoid each pack.  I do plan to stop off at the Cannery to face the onslaught.

I think from there I want to work my way back around, eventually try to make it to the Pensive Lookout, and out of the region via Raven Falls Ravine.  I figure this way I should hit just about every spot where the timber wolves prowl... and visit all the major locations along the way.

If I manage to survive that... I'll consider myself ready to go map Keeper's Pass and Blackrock.
Beyond that, I think I'd like to spend some dwell time in Ash Canyon and Hushed River Valley.  I'm not going to bother with the crampons or the back pack though.  For one thing, it seems weak ice isn't anything to worry about for beachcombing these days... and for another... I kind of like my carry weight limitations.  For the most part I like to keep my pack light anyway. 🤭 

Edited June 27, 2022 by ManicManiac

[Leeanda]

Maybe the fact that you can't hear them could work to your advantage. You'll be more focused on what's actually happening rather than anything else. Plus you have plenty of experience in avoidance ,

[ManicManiac]

@Leeanda

That could be... I have certainly learned to always keep my eyes moving, since I started this particular personal challenge.

[Leeanda]

12 minutes ago, ManicManiac said:

@Leeanda

That could be... I have certainly learned to always keep my eyes moving, since I started this particular personal challenge.

Relying on one thing does make you focus more . I trust you have blue flares too though?

If all else fails ,which I highly doubt, there's always the long distance sniper tactics.