ManicManiac

@Leeanda

I didn't mean to imply it's just you.  I mean that I think it's likely some sort of bug you're experiencing... certainly not intended behavior.
Are you able to work around it?  Perhaps by dropping them or using a container to off load them and see if they will then recombine and stack properly with others?

Some favorite snapshots so far from my current run, "Ghosts of all the was..."

I slept in this morning hoping that I might avoid the bitter cold of the morning... but today seemed a bit colder than usual, and the weather wasn't helping any.  I know I need to start cooking today (I'm out of my on hand found food and I didn't want to start digging into my reserves of good quality food that I have stashed away).  However, I know that I still don't have all of my basic ingredients yet.  The other day I finally got a snare setup, but more importantly I was able to get a few fire-hardened arrows crafted.  While it may take another day or so to find a good spot to start a run of snares... but what I really needed to focus on, was taking my first Ptarmigan.

I did finally spot a ptarmigan return to the Camp Office... I might have been able to get closer, but I really didn't want to risk spooking it (as there was only one).

Sorry little one, but you will nourish me and help keep me warm.

I finally have all my basic ingredients gathered up.  Now I just have to decide what the first dish I'm going to try will be.  I spent maybe an hour mulling over the recipes in my journal.  Ultimately, I decided on what is far and away my favorite protein... Venison.  

I also decided to mark the occasion of cooking my first dish by starting the fire with a bundle of cash.  

While I was at it, I decided it was also a good idea to prep another 2 liters of drinking water as well.

The venison stew was both delicious and hearty enough on its own for a wonderfully restorative full night's sleep. 

Tomorrow, I'd like to check on the rabbit snare.  Twice I've checked on it now... but no catches yet.  Hopefully there will be one in the snare in the morning... or I will have to try again to dial in on a better placement.  I do also need to start looking into maybe crafting lures for fishing.  I do have to make time to go prospect my way through the Carter Dam, but I would like to get a few dishes prepped to keep on hand if I'm going to perhaps be spending a night there.

I crossed another milestone today...  

@Leeanda

As far as I know, I've never seen/picked up a cattail stalk that wasn't 100% condition... this seems to me like some sort of a bug. 
I think it's worthy of a support ticket.

Had to take a bit of a hiatus (to take care of some other real-life stuff)...
However, I should be able to get back to more regular TLD sessions and returning to this run soon.

@Sarah Lane

Welcome to the wilderness.

@MolkoB

Welcome to the wilderness... though I can see you're no stranger.

I had gotten an early start... outside it was already a bit foggy.  I decided to use the cleaning kid to get the rifle and revolver up to par again.

Eventually the weather cleared, and I was able to use the mag-lens for some "free" fire and get a batch of fire hardened arrows made.

Later on, I did check to see if I could work on getting a snare ready... 
Unfortunately... I had a little while yet to wait.

I spent some more time wearing out the clearing kit to get the rifle and revolvers in near pristine condition.
I went back out with the bow and fire hardened arrows looking for ptarmigans... however, none could be found near the Camp Office or the Mystery Lake Overlook.
Naturally though... when I wanted to try to use the second Polaroid to survey from the Mystery Lake Overlook, the dense fog had returned.

Eventually, I did get back to the Camp Office to craft a snare... and get it set up at the rabbit run on the other side of the railroad tracks.  I also spent more time looking for ptarmigans.

Not as profitable day as I would have hoped.
I'm getting low on the food I have on hand.  I'd have to start cooking soon, whether I can get the snares producing yet or not. 

I decided that I should see about trying to find a survival bow today...
I figure my best chance is going to be the Hunter's Blind over by the Frozen Pond, possibly over at the Cabin in the Lonely Meadow, or as a last ditch... Max's Last Stand.  (Though honestly, I don't remember the last time I've found a bow there - but it's near the route I intend take anyway so may as well check there before prospecting through the Trapper's Homestead)

This morning, I was greeted by a very pleasant surprise... for the first time in a long while I was visited again by "The Prince of the Forest."
I know I've mentioned it before, but it's so rare for me to see him these last few years that I feel it's worth retelling.

The story dates back the later part in 2014 when I had first arrived on Great Bear Island.  Back in those days, Mystery Lake was the only area we could explore.  During one of my earliest runs, I came upon this Buck right here near the Camp Office for the first time.

On that very day, I made a promise (also my first personal challenge).  I vowed that this would always be the one animal that was truly safe on Great Bear Island.  I swore I would never hunt him, never harm him, and even go so far as to protect him from wolves (even if that meant suffering a wolf attack if it would keep him safe).  I would even go out of my way to avoid even disturbing him while he grazes here.

Now it's been about nine and half years now... and I've never failed him.

I spent a few quiet minutes saying hello again to my old friend... but I did eventually have to get on about the day.

I had to take the long way around to avoid some wolves, but I soon came to the frozen creek.

Nothing substantial to be found at the Hunter's Blind (just one solitary rifle cartridge).

Over at the Lonely Meadow... 

I'd found a few food items... but no bow.

On the way back around towards the Trapper's Homestead there was nothing at all to find... even this unfortunate soul's pockets were empty.

Before I go and prospect the Tapper's Homestead, I figure it might be worthwhile to check on Max's Last Stand.

Hmm... a wolf and a bear... a potentially dangerous situation.

This was very satisfying... I didn't really expect to find a bow.  

I just had to get back to the Trapper's Homestead for a quick search.

Now I just had to make it back to the Camp Office.

The bow is pretty ragged (only 45% condition) but that will do, to get started.
Tomorrow, I think I will look to making some fire hardened arrows and see about finding some ptarmigans.

@Leeanda
Fair enough, I hadn't considered hardware failure.

Odd... you say these times you were selecting from the Radial Menu?  
I ask, because that interrupt does not happen if we are selecting food from the regular inventory screen.

For any curious when this was implemented:

Quote

ver 1.36
Released 27 August 2018
HIGHLIGHTED FIXES:
[ALL] Added new pop-up warning to prevent players from accidentally Eating Raw Meat or Fish when selecting them from the Radial menu.

This already exits though...
But frankly I really dislike that this sort of handholding kind of safety net has wormed its way into the game.
In its current form it's an interrupt prompt when making selections from the food radial menu.

Frankly, I think the better answer would be for players to pay more attention to what they're doing.
I think if the player misclicks... or otherwise just isn't paying attention to what they are doing, then I think the player should be punished for that.

It's the same thing with accidently wasting matches or accidently hip firing the revolver... all the player really needs to do is pay more attention and these sorts of mistakes will rarely ever happen (my personal experience can attest to that).

Raph said a long time ago that this game wasn't going to be holding the player's hand, and even though a few little handholding type of safety nets have wormed in over the years... it's largely still a game that's not afraid to punish players for their mistakes.  Frankly, it's one of the things I love and respect most about this game.

Anyway... that's just my perspective.

Then here's another to help fill out the thread a little.  

Right after the Emergency Stim kicks in...

KYARY PAMYU PAMYU - DODONPA (LYRIC VIDEO) (youtube.com)

Alternate link:
【Dance Practice】Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - DODONPA（Metaani × Kyary Pamyu Pamyu） (youtube.com)

After going back over the chronicle thus far... it turns out that I hadn't found a cleaning kit yet.
So, I think I need to make that the priority for the day.

My aim was to get over to the Carter Dam.
However, that also meant I could stop by the Logging Camp on the way.

I did a few repairs to clothing... and started out in earnest late in the morning (close to noon).

I'd decided to take the "high ground," this way I could scout ahead to spot wolves along the tracks... but also gave me a quicker way to get over to the Logging Camp trailers.

What I'd found at the Logging Camp was a pleasant surprise... and also enough food items for the day to "pay for itself" (so-to-speak).
I decided I would hold off on a trip to Carter Dam for another day.

As I made my way back (and with the way being clear along the track), I decided to harvest a ravaged deer carcass.

Not only is it good for a bit of venison to cook with... I can also get a head start the cured gut for more snares (or more fishing line).

When I saw the weather was clearing up... I decided to take the chance of heading up to the Lake Overlook and harvest another ravaged deer carcass.

After dark is even riskier to be hauling around a lot of raw meat, gut, and pelt... but from my scouting today, I knew the way was clear enough take that risk.  The result... two deer pelts that I didn't have to harm a deer to get, and eventually four more snares to add the snare line that I will be working on in the next few days.

All-in-all, a very profitable day.  

🤔
I think that making them scarce but more durable (by being either "repairable", a flat out "forever tool", or even just reduce the current decay rate) would be a good/fair exchange.

I think they currently decay at about 1.6% condition per use (whether that's clearing ice or prying open locked containers)... but that also means they are completely spent after only about 60 uses (possibly less as the break threshold starts at 20%, I think). 

I'd support the idea.  

I think it's reasonable to ask folks to keep their pejorative comments to themselves rather than be dismissive or condescending towards other members of the community.

I was sorely tempted yesterday to go back to grab the rifle and lure the Crystal Lake Bear closer to the Camp Office...  However, the rifle I found at the Hunting Lodge in Broken Railroad is only 37% condition, and I don't have a rifle cleaning kit on hand.  I ultimately decided against it because the last thing I need is to suffer brutal mauling due to a misfire.

I'll have to look back at my notes...  I don't recall finding a cleaning kit while in Broken Railroad.
I'd feel very short sighted if I did find one, but just forgot about it and failed to bring it along with me.

I'd managed to get up sometime midmorning.  I scouted outside briefly, but finding a rather nice sunny day... I decided I would dedicate a good portion of the day to take advantage of the sunshine for some "free fire" (also my first fire for the run) and finally start bolstering my water supply.

Thanks to the water purification tablet I'd found... I was able to get a good amount of water stockpiled relatively quickly.  There was even enough time for me to spend to make another quick route around the lake before dark (this time properly searching the lake cabins).

I realized that I hadn't checkout this cave yesterday...

Empty... oh well.  As always, it was worth a look.

I decided to heal to the left and take the lake trail... there were three wolves out on the lake today.

As I got back to the Camp Office... the weather had started to clear and reveal an eerily beautiful green evening sky.

I know I've mentioned it before in a few threads, but I have to say that the Mountaineer's Hut there on Crystal Lake (at the base of Timberwolf Mountain) is still my favorite place to live.  

On 5/26/2019 at 3:24 PM, ManicManiac said:

I think the Mystery Lake Camp Office will always be home in our hearts (at least for those of us who remember when Mystery Lake was the only region in the game)... But nowadays, home is the Mountaineer's Hut in Timber Wolf Mountain. 

And also, I love that we have a Crystal Lake in this game  

On 2/5/2020 at 1:45 PM, ManicManiac said:

At present, my favorite place to live is Timberwolf Mountain.  I really love the variety of paths and terrain, as well as the abundance of game for hunting (in most cases you have good access to every kind of pelt).  Also, fishing... fishing is always good for the food stocks and lanterns.  

Don't get me wrong, Mystery Lake will always be home to me.  I think it will always be home for those of us who've been playing since the days when Mystery Lake was our entire world.

I do, also, really enjoy Desolation Point and Forlorn Muskeg... but in the end I'd have to settle on Timberwolf Mountain as top of my list.

On 2/3/2023 at 10:41 PM, ManicManiac said:

For me, Mystery Lake will always be home.  When I first found Great Bear Island, Mystery Lake was the only region we had access to.
However, Timberwolf Mountain is my favorite region to live in.

Fog and an absence of wolves on Mystery Lake did indeed give me a good opportunity to try my hand again at fishing.

Six hours of fishing was rather profitable (especially considering I had no lures or bait).  I managed to pull 8 fish without snapping my line; I think a rather lucky day.  I came out with 4 Smallmouth Bass and 4 Lake Whitefish.  It was definitely worth the wear and tear on the prybar... though eventually I'd like to find a hammer to serve the purpose of clearing the ice.

The smell of the fish brought two wolves from skulking around near the tracks... however they turned their attention to some nearby Ptarmigans.  Thank you, little bird.  I didn't mean for you to come to harm... but you likely saved me from a brutal mauling.

I do hope the ptarmigans return one day... I've never hunted to spooked them before, and I have no idea if they ever return or if the survivors flee and seek a new place to forage for food.

Since I still wasn't anywhere near tired enough to sleep for a meaningful length of time... I decided to stay up and keep prospecting around the lake until I got tired.

A purple evening sky is so beautiful... one of my favorites; so beautiful.

While there may not have been any wolves on the lake... there is a bear.

Since the bear was out on the lake... I did venture to take a look in its den.  (Yes, that's the bear there in the distance on the left, making its way back)

I decided not to go inside any of the houses... I would leave that for daylight.  By the time I'd made it around the further reaches of Mystery Lake (sometime near midnight), I was finally getting tired enough to want to head back to the Camp Office.

Naturally, the weather took a turn, and it very quickly became "deadly dark."

I managed to feel my way along the Lake Trail and found my way back to the Camp Office.  Ate some sardines and a Nuts and Stuff chocolate bar. 

After my last hard trek across the expanse of Great Bear Island... this slower measured approach back to the most fundamental of survival tasks almost feels wonderfully relaxed after years of pushing my limits.  

@Fjällröven

For regions I know very well... I do sometimes put together a playlist but I keep the volume tuned so that I still hear wind and "footsteps" easily over the external accompaniment. 🤭As I mentioned before, I don't often do that... mostly for long treks or maybe if I'm just out gathering sticks or perhaps just prospecting through houses and other structures on routes that I know very well.

I'd managed to get up sometime midmorning.  I started out doing some scouting up to the Forestry Lookout.

I decided I'd come back for acorns sometime around dusk.

There were no wolves in the immediate area today.  I decided I needed to try and take good advantage of that.

I took the opportunity to survey the vista shown in the polaroid I'd found.

On the way back down, I'd stopped at the Train Derailment.  It was rather empty, except a solitary box of revolver cartridges.

As much as I didn't want to... I'm not being so nomadic as I've been in the past.  I'd have to start working on a stable food supply while working on cooking recipes.

I took the time to gather up some acorns as well.

On the way up to the Lake Overlook, I gathered up more sticks and birch bark as well.

I kept working through a good portion of the evening.  If I start sleeping in a bit more, I can maybe avoid most of the deeper cold of the mornings (at least until I can gather up some better cold weather gear).

If a good opportunity presents itself... perhaps I can start some fishing tomorrow.  Perhaps I can start looking into what I might need for a tip-up. 🤔