# I'm leaving tomorrow to spend two weeks in the desert with no food or water. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 14, 2002, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872 "2002-08-14T17:31:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/21 "2002-08-15T17:07:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KidCharlemagne \* > \*\* > > I will make an obsidian knife while I’m there which, when knapped correctly, is 500 times sharper than surgical steel. Black obsidian is still used in eye surgery today though it has been supplanted a good bit by the laser. \*\* The real trick to surviving in the desert is choosing a location with plenty of readily available obsidian, fresh water, firewood, cover and game to become stranded in… * * * Damn! I have forgotten to not become drunken again! ---
**Author:** ![kitarak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kitarak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitarak)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/22 "2002-08-15T23:56:09Z")
Hmmm. Two thoughts crossed my mind when I read this: 1. Jesus christ man, are you MAD?! 2. I wanna do that! 🙂 Of course, there are multiple problems with 2: I’m a vegetarian, and I’m a wimp to start with. But it still sounds cool. have a great time, and stay clear of plague squirrels! ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/23 "2002-08-16T00:32:10Z")
Please don’t take this the wrong way. But I hope you aren’t paying anyone for this. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/24 "2002-08-16T01:46:24Z")
> [@](#): > > The real trick to surviving in the desert is choosing a location with plenty of readily available obsidian, fresh water, firewood, cover and game to become stranded in… I’d recommend Vegas. All of the above and dinner shows. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/25 "2002-08-16T02:38:44Z")
As someone once said: “I’m from New York. We don’t call that camping, we call it _homeless._” ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/26 "2002-08-16T04:43:56Z")
I recall joking about a friend of mine that he’d feel lost in the wilderness standing on the median of Park Avenue in Manhattan. I’m not quite that much of a city person, but I try not to find myself so far out in the wilderness that there’s no decent public transportation within walking distance. I guess that’s why I’m here, and you’re there. Have fun, you damn nut. ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/27 "2002-08-16T05:38:46Z")
I don’t have the knowledge or physical stamina to do it on foot and unsupplied (I’m diabetic). But my bf and I other go four-wheeling with his parents, who know the desert around us like their own house. So far I’ve had the good sense never to blurt out: “This is NOT a road! This is a wide spot in the brush!” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/28 "2002-08-16T07:34:27Z")
Dude, when you get back resurrect this thread or start a new one and tell us all about it. I think you’ll have some interesting tales to tell. I’ve spent some time in the desert while in the military (White Sands Missle Range, Saudi Arabia and Egypt) and even with all the high tech equipment available it ain’t very fun or pleasant IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/29 "2002-08-16T08:27:09Z")
Is this the same expedition that they had on National Geographic Today recently, or a different one? Sounds fun. I should do something like that, but I’d have to have a camera… ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/30 "2002-08-16T13:15:34Z")
You lucky bastard. I’d love to do something like that. Though it would be mostly to learn how to knap stone and then use it. You have to tell us all about it. And then tell us how much it costs. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/31 "2002-09-23T01:41:32Z")
WELL??? It’s been a month. I assume **Kid** made it through as there is somebody posting with that username lately. Did you get your caveman badge? What was it like? Spill, spill!!! ---
**Author:** ![Grim\_Beaker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Grim\_Beaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grim_Beaker)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/32 "2003-04-04T17:29:27Z")
Ok, I specifically did a search for this thread having remembered reading it with interest the first time around. I figured **KidCharlemagne** certainly would have updated it by now. Satisfaction, denied. C’mon man! Tell us all the juicy details about your trip! Didja have to eat beatles? Get mauled by a bear? Scavenge the bits left from old candy wrappers? What?! ---
**Author:** ![Labor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Labor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labor)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/33 "2003-04-04T19:28:01Z")
Hey Kid, I will charge you one dollar less than whetever those criminals are charging you! Of course I won’t be able to give you the training, just the abusive 10 days part. Let me know. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/34 "2003-04-05T07:40:53Z")
**Kid** didn’t actually make it. Someone else just moved in and grabbed all his stuff, including his PC. Since **Kid** was allowing cookies, the takeover guy just started posting with his ID. ---
**Author:** ![Quonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ed655f/32.png) [@Quonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quonk)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/35 "2003-04-05T16:13:38Z")
Someone could e-mail him; his address is in his [profile](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&username=kid+charlemagne). Not me, though. I’m just weird about that. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872/36 "2003-04-05T22:02:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Grim\_Beaker \* > **Didja have to eat beatles?** Say what you want about Paul’s & Ringo’s solo careers, but that’s just cruel! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-leaving-tomorrow-to-spend-two-weeks-in-the-desert-with-no-food-or-water/123872.md?page=1)