Seshins

Nice one man! Keep it up!

Ah man I really enjoy this thread. Love the humour and the detail. I check back every other day hoping for a new instalment. I’m like 70 days behind on mine now

@hozz1235 i imagine its some sort of wetback system that circulates either heated water or heated oil to keep the antenna from accumulating ice and buckling / breaking under the weight of the ice. Just a guess.

PV Farmstead. I like the abundance of game and the terrible weather - makes planning ahead interesting. I spent the first 50 days of my current run collecting all the good stuff from around and centralised it at the Farmstead. I also like having to plan expeditions to forges.

Day 260 Nearly three weeks have passed since my last entry. I have been busy, with much traveling and chores. I started off with heading over to the back of the Lonely Homestead into the birch forest to collect fallen birch bark for Tea. Since trying Birch Bark tea, i've taken to drinking it regularly, particularly when pottering around the Farmhouse or watching blizzards from the (relative) safety of the back porch. The following 3 or four days were spent restocking my woodpile. I put in much effort a few months ago in building up my woodpile, which was supplemented every so often with Cedar and Fir when the limbs were close or i had the time free. It had been some time and overall the amount of wood available had slowly dwindled (on a side note i'd love an ability to make wood piles!) so the order of business was wood. I set out in a different direction each day, braving the weather and wolves to collect. I mostly targeted Cedar, but built up mu Fir pile. I also moved a good portion inside next to the stove, with some also by the fireplace in the living room (more on this later). Over these few days i saw some foul weather, but also some beautiful scenes. Once i felt the wood pile was sorted, i then went for a roam up to Signal Hill, hoping to rustle up a Revolver but i've picked the place clean. I also took the time to craft some more deerskin pants due to my glut of cured skins. I'm considering a hunting trip for a Moose for a new coat. Around Day 250, i decided to expand my travels further, this time setting out to the town of Milton. I ensured my kit was in order, i took the Rifle this time, ensured i had a hatchet, knife, bedroll, medical kit, sewing kit, fish hook and other assorted items. It was at this moment i made a mistake that while not deadly, could've been. When i set out, i had only 3 matches on me. Usually i'm pretty fastidious about my fire lighting kit, but this time i glossed over it. All was not lost - i had my trusty magnifying glass, however i could only light fires in good weather and during daylight hours. The trip over into Mystery Lake was uneventful, with a light snow for most of the trip. I briefly stopped by the Trappers Cabin, but still had daylight so set off for Milton. I picked my way through Milton carefully, but with the exception of some Revolver ammunition, i wasn't able to find anything of value. It was while in Milton i used my last match, so spent the night hoping for fair weather the next morning. The next morning, the weather was awful, though i had slept soundly so set out for Mystery Lake without delay. On arriving at Trappers, i was now out of food, matches, with nightfall approaching. Fortunately the weather broke while the sun was still reasonably high, and i was able to get a fire going and get some water on the boil. I considered staying in the Trappers cabin for a few days, in the hope of shooting some game and collecting some wood, but decided against it. I had meat prepared back at the Farmstead. I went to bed, before waking early and setting out, arriving back in Pleasant Valley with only a wolf trailing me for a time as company. Once back at the Farmstead, the weather broke in typical Pleasant Valley fashion, and i went through my (130th?) blizzard - averaging one every two days! It was at this time that i lit the fire in the living room, and while the wind howled its fury outside, i sat by the fire and just listened. It was comforting listening to the blizzard outside, the crackle and pop of the fire inside and just reveal in the fact that i was still alive. I sipped hot birch bark tea, before climbing into my Bearskin Bedroll and falling asleep. Following a few more days of chores, i decided to head up to the Pensive Pond for a spot of fishing and camping. All this lumber jacking, hunting and chores had given me a spot of cabin fever. The weather was calm but with a light snow as i set out for the fishing cabin. I collected sticks and some Cedar on my way up there, as i was unsure as to what state i had left it - it feels like months since i've been up. I was pleasantly surprised to find that i had put in a cache of wood, water and tools (hatchet, some matches, sewing kit, fishing tackle etc) when i was up here last, so i repaired the bedroll to keep it good and set about building camp. Once the cabin was ready (bedroll down, fire going, wood stacked) i cracked on with fishing, landed a few, smallish trout, which i fried up and ate with relish. By now darkness had fallen and the fishing hut looked welcoming - a small beacon of light and warmth amongst the dark. I still have much planned. I'm determined to find a Revolver, which means wider excursions back into places i've been. The benefit is know the area, the downside is i've picked it clean so i will need to be self sufficient. I now want a Moose skin jacket, i need more Maple for bows and who knows what else? Maybe i'll find a new region to explore some day. Some fresh fried trout and off to bed. (sorry to bother you @Raphael van Lierop but i've asked with no result - can someone change the thread title to just A Survivors Daily Journal please?)

Thanks mate! I’ve got another two - three weeks worth of in game shenanigans to write up which I’ll do in the next few days!

I wondered what kind of interest there would be for a long blizzard event. This would occur (randomly?) or with a % chance of occurring every say 150 days. Obviously cabin fever would have to be nerfed when the actual event takes place, but it could itself be an interesting test for those players who like to build bases and stockpile supplies. I deliberately set myself up in PV as it has the longest blizzards, but even the standard in-game ones rarely rage for a day or two. There could also be a temperature penalty to discourage venturing out for more fire wood or food, and i don't know how nomadic players would find it but it could add to the atmosphere and challenge and of course, it could be picked as an option under custom settings. I feel for the long term game-play aspect it would add another reason to put wood in, meat, water etc. Thoughts?

Day 243 20 days have passed since my last journal entry. I found, after writing to no-one but myself for so long that i had nothing to say. The added solitude this self imposed exile forced upon me has brought me back to this Journal. What have i been doing these past 20 days? Surviving. I spent my days either patrolling, hunting, mending and little else. I did however recently set off on a week long expedition to the forge out in the Muskeg. That was a close run thing - i was attacked numerous times by wolves in the muskeg but somehow fought them off each time. In fact - the entire trip seemed to be plagued by bad luck, poor timing or a bit of both. I started off in good weather, but as soon as i reached the train tracks out at Mystery Lake the weather broke and i was forced to take shelter in the abandoned rail car After waiting out the worst of the wind next to a campfire and a meal, i set out on the long journey to the Muskeg with only the wind as company. A few hundred metres before the tunnel, i was approached silently and without warning from behind by a wolf. I locked eyes with it as i continued to back towards the tunnel. He looked ravenous and was intent on me. I looked back over my shoulder to check the distance to the tunnel before turning and sprinting towards the entrance. After a short while i was into the Muskeg, however night was approaching and with it the beautiful Aurora. In the morning i set out for the forge by crossing across the Muskeg - the weather was fair and visibility was good. Once i reached the shed i setup camp, relieved to see i had left it well stocked with wood, coal, scrap metal and, with a sigh of relief, the heavy hammer. I also have a heavy hammer back at the PV Farmstead, and agonised over the course of a day as i packed and prepared for the Journey - Do i take the hammer, perhaps for nothing and carry the weight the whole way? Or do i risk not taking it and risk wasting an entire expedition. I will now keep notes about what tools are where! I set about forging 20 arrowheads, 2 x knives and 2 x hatchets. A good haul. The cost in time had been reasonable though, food wise i had packed in only a few kg's of Venison and had made no effort to put in any more meat before forging. I did have my emergency supply of cat stalks though and ate while i walked. It was at this time that i was attacked, but really it was just a blur. Before i knew it a wolf crested a small rise in the ground and pounced. I fought the beast off with my hatchet. The wolf ran off howling, and whilst i was assessing myself for injuries or torn clothing, his companion ambushed me. I fought him off in good order with my hatchet before setting off again. The journey back to PV was calm - there was a light snow falling for most of the trip, but this didn't cause me any problems. I found myself back at the farmstead and spent the next few days repairing clothing, eating the venison stored at the farmstead and resting. Just yesterday, an old black bear wandered out into the orchard at the rear porch. He was a good 150-200 metres away, and i setup on the corner of the farm trailer. It has been a while since i stored the rifle and ammunition and switched to the bow. It took 3 rounds to get my eye in - a waste of good ammunition - before my 4th struck him. He turned to charge but i put another into his head and he collapsed, 50 metres from the back door. I've spent the last 24 hours quartering him, butchers and cooking. I will need to head out and focus on firewood collection as soon as the valley is settled - my wood store took a hammering cooking this old bear. I also need to turn my arrow heads into arrows. i'll also head back out into Great Bear looking for a sidearm - surely folks living out here would've had pistols of some description. Bear meat and birch tea for dinner and off to bed. (P.S could an @Admin please remove this part of the thread title since i no longer can - 192 Days in (camping, Aurora and Wolves). thanks)

Question - Animal Migration. Hello HL / Ralph. I was wondering about an animal migration mechanic - i know this has been brought up in other areas of the forum but wasn't sure if it had been directly addressed by the dev team. I have no idea of the complexities of game design so this idea may be out of touch, Would it be possible to have a rolling animal number mechanic, whereby the total "herd" size of a particular game animal (in this case only deer ATM) grows at a generally even rate within a region, peaking for a time (say a game month) before slowly decreasing over time, while at the same time the "herd" size in a neighboring region increases at roughly the same rate as the emptying region, thus giving the illusion of a herd "moving on" . Perhaps this mechanic could be supported by hunting pressure, leading to a further moving on of the herd. And perhaps dedicated wolf packs could pursue the herds around GBI? Thanks

Day 222 After collecting some meat and wood, i boiled up some water and prepared for my first trip up-country. I took off North and immediately came upon the Hushed River proper. The gorge was deep so worked my way in. After scouting to the East i doubled back to find a way up onto the Northern plateau. I heard wolves patrolling in the gorge but before i encountered one i found a rope heading up the cliff. I ascended and came upon a jumbled, undulating landscape of trees, boulders and ice. The weather had begun to turn now with low cloud and snow gusts blowing in - finding shelter had become my top priority. I found a cave at a base of a cliff and settled in for the rest of the day to wait out the blizzard. I got a fire going and had some of the venison i'd packed for dinner. Day 223 The morning was calm but overcast, so i set off again. More wolves were patrolling the area, but there are also good sized herds of deer - i spied at least two roaming the area so that will be good to remember for the future. I found a few more caves, one containing the sad remnants of a previous survivor. I set in for the afternoon before making my final push to the North. After walking for what seemed like hours, i came upon a frozen lake. The lake was bordered by multiple waterfalls, with small cave on the North end. After exploring the caves, i continue my push up to the North. I climbed a steep incline where I came upon cliff edge up past Monolith Lake which gave stunning views of the valley. After stopping for this view and some lunch, i found yet another cave around the corner. Being at the peak of the region, i named it Peak Cave. I laid out my bedroll, got a fire going and set in for the night. Day 224 I woke up to some average weather, however i was limited in options as i hadn't hunted yesterday and was down to my last venison steak. I decided to chance the weather and push on regardless. I set out back down the pathway and crossed the frozen lake. The rest of my Journey back to my cave was relatively uneventful. My haul for this trip was two hatchets, an additional hunting knife, some flares, a whetstone and a cooking pot. Overall not bad, however i get the feeling this region isn't going to be heavy in equipment. I'll make a decision tonight over a fresh venison steak on how to proceed - do i run a trip to the West or East. I'll also need to decide when to call this expedition and start swinging back to Pleasant Valley.

Day 194 - Day 221 Much has happened over the last month - I returned to Milton and after a day or two of searching found a passable route up into the Hushed River Valley. I spent a week living out of a cave in this beautiful, untamed wilderness before my equipment forced a return to the more “civilised” regions. After navigating my way back through Milton and Mystery Lake I wound up back at the familiar and safe Pleasant Valley farmhouse. It was just as I left it. Over the following month I loitered around Pleasant Valley, turning my hand to fishing for a time to supplement my standard diet of venison, repairing clothing, tools and practising my archery. During this time though the Call of The Wild still burned within me. I had explored but a fraction of the Hushed River Valley, but the prospect of exploring more wilderness, finding more equipment and perhaps....finding an answer to the riddle of my existence become too much. I HAD to go back. I knew I had left behind a cave with some wood, frozen (but cooked) venison among other things. I therefore decided to prepare my pack, and head back to the valley for a more thorough examination. I left my rifle behind - my trusty rifle that had been through so much with me. It had fed and protected me, but I knew this time I had to test myself with bow and snare. I left it on the kitchen table, hopefully to witness my return. I forged on my remaining fish and stepped off. After travessing the now well worn path through Mystery Lake and Milton, I arrived at the pass to the valley, emerging some hours later into a cold, windy day. I found my cave with little difficulty and set out to make it like home. I knocked over a deer for a supply of meat, boiled some water and gathered a goodly supply of firewood, perhaps 48 hours worth for the interim and got ready to explore....

Source?

this x 2 please.

Day 194 - Morning I arrived back at the farmstead in PV late last night so i crashed for the night before waking up and boiling down some snow. All morning however i've been thinking - When i last left Milton, i had glimpsed a valley through a pass in the mountains. For some reason it's been on my mind since i got back. Part of me thinks i need to spend a week or so back home before heading out for another week long journey - this time to a place i havent seen before. It only takes a minute before my mind is made up. I carefully prepare my kit before i set off and gorge myself on the remaining steaks of bear and deer. As i step outside into an overcast, cold dreary day i look back at the farmstead and wonder to myself what lies ahead.....

interesting - i too would like some way to survive essentially forever. I think with careful management of the basics (cloth, tools etc) you can go for a very long time. I think a more pressing issue (which is somewhat related to yours) is the long term game mechanic. At the moment once you've established yourself and built up some good supplies, there isn't much to do but "survive". I've mentioned long term mechanics like migrating animal herds, week+ duration blizzards etc as a way of thinking ahead and planning for events which could take weeks to get through. It could tie into your suggestion of long term survival in the sense that as these long term game mechanic events unfold, you'd need to adapt or make better use of the lower amounts of resources you have at your disposal, eventually leading into some new bare-bones survival situation. Even then you'd essentially start back at the start - you've got the bare essentials to survive, but what events could you go through now to keep the game engaging?

Just an FYI to anyone that actually reads this - i'll possibly be putting this story on hiatus until the next sandbox update. I'm well setup but after playing this game for hundreds of hours since i first brought it i've found traveling to each region to be.....well boring. I've seen and been everywhere multiple times. Hunting isn't a challenge but with so much invested and such a good run i'm still 100% committed to making it to 500 days - i just need a new region to make playing fun again. I know i could start a new game in Stalker or even custom, but that doesn't solve my fundamental issue which is locations. Been there done that. I may start a stalker game but more than likely i'll just wait for the sandbox update and new region.

Day 185 - Morning I woke up and after getting everything in order i set out to cook the deer meat i had harvested. This was done in a few hours which now leaves me with a good supply of meat - at least for a week since i have some bear meat left over. I tidied up the house, refilled the storm lanterns and went for a walk around the farm to kill some time. Come nightfall i decided to stay in the cabin fever retreat. I lit a fire and watched the sun set. Day 186 - Morning Today is the day i head off for a mini-expedition. My plan is to head out to the forlorn muskeg to camp out for a few days, followed by a trip out to Broken Railroad (since i'll be in the general area) before coming back. I double checked the equipment to take - before triple checking it. Too many times have i left after a glancing gear check, only to find out in a critical moment i'm missing a key piece of gear. Once i was sure i was set, i tore down the cabin fever retreat and set out. The weather was fair so my going was good. Walking along the train tracks in mystery lake, the weather started to turn with a dense fog settling over the land. After passing the by the lake hut, i had a change of heart and turned back. With night approaching and exhaustion setting in, i thought it would be prudent to stop for the night. Day 187 - Morning I set out at first light, however the weather was still poor. No wind or snow, but a dense fog - the air was still however i was accompanied by the ghostly howls of a wolf pack in the distance. I kept my eyes front and made it to the tunnel. After emerging on the other side, my first task was to find and establish a camp. I had brought along a few kilos of meat, along with the rifle. The next time i come for an extended camp i'll probably bring the bow for the challenge, but in this test the rifle was the order of the day. I broke trail and started to head off into the country -after and hour of looking i found a small knoll overlooking a vale and, when the weather is fine, the muskeg proper. I dug my snow shelter, lit a fire, laid out the meat i had and collected some wood. Not bad if i say so myself. I hunkered down for a few hours, hoping the weather would clear. I need to hunt soon if i want to have an easy start. Sure enough the weather broke and the sun shone through. I stepped off on my hunt and made my way down into the small vale. After rounding a large tree i ran smack into a wolf. He charged me immediately - i snapped up my rifle and shot him - luckily it was a heart shot and he dropped. I harvested him fully - the meat will last a few days (he was a scrawny thing mind) and i will leave his pelt at the camp site with the intention of swinging by on my way back to collect. I made my way back to camp - mission complete. I laid out the hide and gut and decided to take in the sunset over the muskeg before making fire for the night and cooking dinner. Day 188 - Morning I woke up and got straight into a wood hunt. I had burned down the majority of the wood i had collected yesterday so needed more. I spent a good part of the day collecting wood before rounding off my patrol with some cat tail stalks. I set up a fire and cooked some more wolf for the night, before lounging around inside the snow shelter. Once the sun had gone down, the aurora came out in all its glory! I sat on another small knoll near the camp and gazed out in wonder over the muskeg. While sitting on the knoll i heard a wolf, not far away from me. I had seen in the past what the aurora does to these creatures, so i made my way back nervously to the snow shelter, around 200m away. It was a nervous night - i could only sleep in 1 hour increments and every time i woke and looked into the inky blackness, i thought i could see him not far off. I kept checking this spot, sure i could see him before falling asleep again. Day 189 - Morning I woke to a clear, fair morning. Straight away i looked out and checked the spot i had seen this wolf last night. As soon as i looked down my rifle sights i saw...a tree stump. Your eyes do funny things sometimes. I burned down the rest of the wood and cooked up the rest of the wolf meat. I decided to make this my last night tonight - i'll head off to the broken railroad tomorrow. I'll keep a few wolf steaks for the trip though. I spent my last night beside the fire - watching the sun set. Day 190 - Morning I set out first thing, crossing the muskeg. The weather was poor, and i was trailed for the last half of a trip by an ambitious wolf but he kept his distance. After coming through the rail road i made my way down the side of a large canyon. I hooked around the outside of the area before heading towards the hunting lodge. After passing the bear cave i noticed it was occupied - he stuck his head out and growled so i continued on my way as quickly as possible. After checking out the loge (finding two more rifle rounds) i decided to settle in for the night. I went upstairs, had a wolf steak and crashed. Day 191 - Mid-Day I woke up reasonably early but was socked in my a blizzard so i stayed put. The weather broke around lunch so i took off back to the large warehouse building. I got there after an uneventful trip but there wasn't much worth scavenging, just some boots i could tear down for leather to repair my moose satchel. I continued on and emerged back into the Muskeg. By now it was getting late and the weather was turning for the worse, so i set up in the poachers den in the crashed train. I collected some sticks, wood and coal and settled in for the night. The fire barrel was loaded for the night, so i sat in the corner watching the flames as the cruel wind howled like a demon outside. It's times like this the loneliness creeps in. Day 192 - Morning I woke up with the barrel still smouldering, but the weather had died down and a glorious sunset was burning the morning away. I set out for my return trip home. I swung by the campsite and tore down the shelter, while collecting the pelt and gut. After breaking out through into mystery lake, i made my way back towards the dam. Over the course of what seemed like minutes, the weather turned into a full blown blizzard. I had picked up a pry bar in Broken Railroad so i made my way up to the peppers cache with the locker that i hadn't opened. I managed to get into it, but typically there was only some worn clothing and a box of matches. With the weather raging outside, i decided to stay put for the night.

Sorry for the short hiatus - work and the house build has occupied everything the last few weeks. I’ve got another decent update in the works.

Yup I am aware - I make a point of picking it up after each use (learnt from that mistake after leaving my first ever BSBR on the summit in TWM)

Day 180 - Afternoon After the close call last night i slept in for a good portion of the day. Once i woke i wandered out to the snow shelter for my now routine maintenance check. After finishing that chore i gathered up some sticks and cedar and put them outside of the shelter - i'll probably need to tear this down when i go on my camping trip, i'm leaning towards Forlorn Muskeg. Once i've set up there i'll make my way out to the Broken Railroad for another quick scavenging run before settling in the muskeg for a week or two. I ducked out and managed to snare myself a deer with the bow - i feel very confident using it now. The bear meat is dwindling so this deer will see me through the next week or so. Day 181 - Morning I woke to a misty sunrise with a light snow falling. I decided to head out to Mystery lake for a day or two to look for the prepper cache i haven't been able to locate. I packed the remaining bear meet in my outdoor larder (the porch container is only half full now) and set off. The trip was uneventful up through the cave and Dam. I made my way along the rail tracks and broke trail into the logging area - my intent was to set up in the trailers just off the trail. I got in just as a snow storm started blowing, so made myself comfortable for the evening before going to bed. Day 182 - Morning I woke to some average weather but decided to set out anyway. I didn't want to get trapped in the trailers for any length of time, particular since i only had two days worth of meat and wanted this to be a quick trip. I emerged in the clear cut and started to work my way up into the hills. I had read there was a look out position in the tops - it would make a good location for a prepper cache up there i figured. I found a few birch saplings along with way, along with a lone maple sapling so i cut them and lashed them to the front of my pack. Sure enough i found the area but no caches. The view wasn't great, plus the weather was still poor so i made my way back down the sides of the mountain. After coming around the sides of the unnamed pond, the weather started to break. I sought shelter in a out building, trying to wait out the storm. In a near verbatim repeat of the other night, the weather deteriorated quickly, light faded and my pathetic fire burned itself out. Unlike the previous night, i'm not nearly as well traveled in this area so dead reckoning at night is not really an option. The temperature started to drop quickly so the weather forced my hand. I bailed out into the storm, heading in what i hoped was the right direction. After blundering my way through the storm i came upon the rail tracks - i could just make out the tunnel entrance that goes through to the muskeg so i headed left. I could tell almost immediately that i was being stalked - the wolf started to snarl and growl when he realised i was on to him, but he kept his distance. Soon enough i came upon the camp office which i hurriedly ducked into - relieved. I went upstairs and fell into bed. Day 183 - Mid Morning After a good nights sleep, i poked my head outside and found the weather to be agreeable. There was a knoll on the other side of the tracks which looked easy enough to climb - at least it would give me a vantage point so i could glass the nearby area. When i say glass i mean a Mark 1 Eyeball recce, since i don't have any binos. As i was coming around the top of the knoll i saw it - a prepper cache! How many times have i passed it over the last half year??? I climbed into it and oh boy - the previous occupant was a gun nut. Ammo, rifles. a whet stone and knife along with some spoiled food was what awaited me. I stuffed the ammo, knife and whetstone into my pack, along with two fresh arrows, a arrowhead and an arrow shaft. There was a locker in the bunker but i had no pry bar, so i'll need to come back to check. 15 rounds of ammo - not a bad haul. Before i left the cache i checked the rifles, but they were both in poor condition and were unloaded. I decided to head straight back to the Valley, but the weather was closing in so i spent the night in the bunker. Day 184 - Morning I set out first thing and made my way back to the Dam. I had eaten my last piece of bear meat last night so had a few cat tails and washed them down with some brackish water i had found. The trip back was equally uneventful as the trip here - i found a wolf i had winged a while ago so took the pelt to go on my porch. Once i got home i laid out my fresh pelt and saplings to cure with the deer skin already on the porch. I also had an abundance of cloth so i set to work repairing all my clothing items, even if they were only moderately worn. Once that was done i went out for the usual chore of fixing my snow shelter before coming back and eating some gamey bear meat. Tomorrow i'll cook the deer meat and make some more water i think.

Day 178 - Morning I woke up after a short sleep following last night / this mornings elation at the Aurora returning. Thinking back it seems somewhat surreal. I decided to head out for one final exploration trip of this region. I knew there were still caves and areas i hadn't ventured, particularly up into the back country. I set off heading West, swinging my way up past the pond and fishing hut. Sure enough there were a few caves in the area, along with a maple sapling which i harvested. The caves were spartan, aside from a bedroll which i quickly harvested. I continued to make my way around the area, and after cresting a small rise i was sprung by a wolf. I had my bow out and as soon as i drew back he charged. I got the arrow into his chest as he lunged and a short struggle ensued, however he bolted yelping into the forest. I tracked his blood trail for an hour or so - i wasn't interested in harvesting him for meat but if he was still alive with that arrow in him i wanted to put him out of his misery. As the weather started to turn i found him, lying up under a tree - dead. I harvested his pelt so his sacrifice wouldn't go to waste and made my way back to the cross roads town to set in for the night. Day 179 - Morning I set out at first light and made my way up the road. I found an abandoned car which had.....a chocolate bar. I could add this to my packaged food stash in the farmhouse. i started to make my way north off the road and found some derelict cabins which i set up in for a few hours, around a warm campfire. The weather was clear but a gale was blowing, cutting through my furs and expedition clothing. I found another few caves, however there was no items worth salvaging, aside from some rusty cans of soda. As i approached the edge of a cliff, the weather started to pack in again. At this point it was getting late in the day so i started to make my way back. I found my way down to the river and crossed into the birch forest - by this stage the weather had really started to turn. Like a ghost in the mist i spotted the bear. I couldn't risk a confrontation - i only had the bow (which is showing some serious signs of wear) with no rifle or flare gun so i gave him a wide berth. By the time i emerged out of the birch forest a full blown blizzard was in effect - shit. Out of the gloom one of the small barns emerged. I ducked inside quickly and started to warm myself up. By now it was dark so i a lit a fire out of the sticks i tend to pick up for just this situation. After a few minutes i had a roaring campfire - which the wind snuffed out in a matter of minutes. I hugged the dying flames - trying to eek out as much warmth into my freezing body before the flames sputtered out and died completely. Sure enough the flames died and i was plunged back into darkness, with a blizzard howling on the other side of the flimsy wooden walls separating me from the wind. I weighed up my options - stay put and hope for a break in the weather and a clear night sky to navigate home by - dive out into the blizzard and hope i come across some suitable landmarks i could navigate with or curl up in my bearskin bedroll and pray i survive the night. I chose the middle option - with the last ember fading i flew out into the long dark night. After stumbling around for what seemed hours i came across a snow blown trail in the fields - from memory this meandered in the general direction of the farmstead. I cut across the road and started to head in the direction i hoped was home. After a few minutes i was aware of a low growl, soon joined by another one as i was stalked by wolves in the dark. I lit the roadside flare i always carry and spun around - sure enough just outside the circle of light two black phantoms were stalking me. With my panic levels rising and my skin crawling i turned around and put my head down as i soldiered on - by now i was exhausted so could only hope i would find my way home. As the flare started to die i came across a familiar rise in the ground - the frozen creek to the west of the farm! With relief and joy flooding my veins i crawled into the farmstead, somehow i made it home. I stripped off my frozen clothing and dived into bed. What a trip.

I’ve got a few bear hides left, along with a 100% standard bedroll. Obviously hunting the bear for hide will still be necessary, but not in the near future. But agreed the decay rate on the bearskin bedroll is savage!

Day 174 - Morning I woke up with crafting in mind. I took all the hooks, prepared lines i had outside to sit in the reasonably good weather to craft. Once that was done i took the 11 or so arrowheads, 11 shafts and 33 crow feathers down into the basement to craft up some new arrows. I still have 7 spare arrow shafts, 7 cured birch saplings and 5 cure maple saplings so my bow and arrow requirements are sorted for a long while yet. Not counting my two rifles (my main rifle still has 9 rounds loaded) with an additional 113 rounds in storage. Crafting took all day so i retired late in the evening. Day 175 - Morning I woke again intent to finish crafting my arrows. By early afternoon this task was done. Suddenly i found myself.....with nothing to do. Sure i could craft the rest of the arrows, craft arrow shafts, craft bows etc but i don't need too so i decided i wont. I have meat for days. After thinking on this for a while i've decided to revise my hunting strategy again. No longer will i take bear (only in self defence) and i will limit my hunting to proper day/night hunting trips for deer as i need them. I feel this will give me a task to do every few days, it will include a trip or mini expedition and will also require me to keep an eye on the deer population in the area. Harvesting multiple deer, or a bear may provide me food for a week or more, but it eliminates the adventure aspect of surviving. I decided to spend the next few nights in the Cabin Fever Retreat for two reasons. I'm still waiting for the now elusive, if not mythical Aurora, and to stave off cabin fever. I spent the evening on the slope watching a beautiful sunset. Day 176 - Late Morning I woke late and set off to collect some wood and sticks. The shelter was starting to look a bit worse for wear so that required attention. Once the shelter was repaired i spent the rest of the day relaxing / being bored in the shelter itself, just thinking. Should i go on another camping trip? This time in Mystery Lake, or perhaps over to the Forlorn Muskeg? I'm tempted to head back to the Broken Railroad to see if i had missed anything of value. The muskeg could also be a test, camping out for a week or two in a shelter, surviving on nothing but what i've learned. Something to consider. Before i knew it evening was upon me again, so i laid up in my nice toasty bearskin bedroll and went to bed. Day 177 - Morning After a reasonable night sleep i woke up and wandered back over to the Farmstead. Once inside i checked over all my supplys and started to formulate a plan for this camping trip. I think i'll go when the bear meat runs out - i'll hunt for food on my expedition and then go for a hunt when (or if) i return to the valley alive. I can also go out and search for cloth / metal, but i'll save that for another time. I still have a reasonable supply of cloth (100+) and have no need on metal at this stage. I have a few wolf pelts, deer skins and bear skins left so i can repair my game leather clothing and equipment. My moose hide satchel is starting to slowly show signs of wear - how long did it take me to finally craft that? I'll need to keep an eye on it and maybe plan a moose hunt when it shows signs of serious wear. I wandered back up to the Retreat and went to sleep. Day 178 - Midnight I was dozing throughout the night with a beautiful star lit sky when i saw it..... THE AURORA!!!! I sat outside the shelter and stared in wonder. I don't know why i'm so excited to see it again. The weather has been so bad the last few months it was no wonder i haven't seen it - the odd nights that were clear and calm where obviously just off nights. After staring at the Aurora for an hour i decided to sleep inside for the night. I went back inside and crashed out, the the bedside lamp shining on one of my (well read) outdoor books.

The harvestable plants in TLD don't grow back at this point (AFAIK) so you'd starve eventually. It'd be good if they added more plants like blueberrys.

Day 169 - Morning First thing this morning i woke up to a beautiful but cold sunrise with gales blowing. i went out to my Cabin Fever Retreat (snow shelter on a low hill) to fix up after my time away in TWM. Thankfully it only needed moderate repairs. Once the repair was done i took to the task of hunting. I had decided to take a few deer, however after scouting the immediate area i couldn't locate any. Curious. I wonder if they have migrated out of the region, or just further into the interior. If they don't show up in the next few days this may warrant investigation. I started to make my way back to the farmstead and ran smack into an old bear. He started towards me menacingly so i took no chances and loose an arrow into him. I saw the arrow strike him true and he took off. As soon as he turned tail i saw the smashed arrow fall out of his thick hide. Investigating the impact site i saw a decent blood patch - this indicates a critical organ hit, hopefully he doesn't go too far. I set off in the direction he went but he was bolting like the wind - i decided to loop around to see if i could cut him off. After crossing the frozen creek, i came back around the bridge - sure enough i spotted his tracks and started tracking him. He hadn't gotten far though - he had collapsed and expired on the edge of the creek. i quartered him up and took the meat, pelt and gut back to the farmhouse to process. I cooked into the night but by early morning the meat was cooked ready for preserving with the hide on the front porch, along with the gut. Moose meat (from my dwindling supply) for dinner then off to bed. Day 170 - Morning I woke to a nice calm morning and went out to tidy up my outdoor larder. After half and hours work i had the meat organised - 1kg pieces on the right, smaller cuts on the left. When the moose meat runs out from my porch cache i'll move some of the bear meat inside. Once this was done i went inside and cut up some furniture that i never use - it's good to keep some reclaimed wood inside for emergencys. Now that i'm sorted for the next week or two for food, i've started to think about heading up into the high-country for a 5 day camping trip. This should help break up the monotony of my current routine while adding some zest. Living off the land, living in a shelter - back to dealing with life day to day for a time. Its risky but i'll probably die of cabin fever or boredom before i run out of the ability to support myself. I'll start planning the trip and packing. Day 171 - Dawn I slept well for the night and decided to get a move on early - the weather had other ideas though. When i woke a strong gale with snow was blowing in across the valley so i hunkered down to wait for a weather window. An hour or so later just after first light the wind died down leaving moderate snow falling with the valley socked in with mist. I stopped by the snow shelter to fix it up as i'd be away for a few days. Once i was satisfied that it was in good repair i started my trek west. After a few hours i came over a small rise into the basin that held the Three Strikes Farmstead - this is the area i'd setup camp. I located a small area a ways behind the farmstead and built my snow shelter. By now the weather was turning again so i hunkered down for the rest of the day. Sure enough the gales and snow turned into a full blown blizzard so i called it a day and went to sleep. Day 172 - Afternoon I got up early this morning and decided to hunt. Pickings were slim initially but after a few hours a couple of deer wandered into the area. I stalked a buck that was busy feeding through the snow - missed. The arrow landed just behind him and he took off. I waited patiently for him to calm down and when he was sure the area was clear he resumed feeding. This time my arrow struck him in the heart and he dropped - looks like my meat supply is sorted. I also came across a young rabbit who blissfully but foolishly crossed my path. Once i had them butchered a got a campfire going and cooked the meat supply. I finished cooking in the nick of time - the weather started to turn so i quickly set to boiling some water. Just as the last litre of melted snow finished boiling the wind snuffed out my fire. I snuggled into the snow shelter and had a good feed of venison and water however while i was eating a could hear a pack of wolves in the middle distance howling to each other. Being so far away from home with a deer's worth of meet outside my temporary front porch makes me nervous, but there isn't anything for it. During the night i woke to a very calm night. I stoked the fire and sat outside the snow shelter to take in the stillness and the stars. Day 173 - Morning I woke to a clear and calm morning. I've noticed as of late the weather seems to be deteriorating more regularly. I wonder if this is a trend or just a blip. If its the former that will change things - the blizzards are becoming more frequent and more savage. With good weather i decided to break for home. I was nervous the snow shelter i use near the farmstead (the Cabin Fever Retreat) would be worse for wear and didn't want a collapsed shelter on my hands. Next time i go camping i'll tear the shelter down before i go - that way it won't be on my mind the whole time. I got back to the farmstead and checked on the shelter - it had taken a bit of a beating the last few days but was salvageable. I fixed it up and then walked the short distance back to the farm. It looks like i made it just in time as another blizzard is rolling in. I've got food for weeks now. I think my next focus will finally getting around to crafting all the arrows i can, bows etc. After that i may head up to the frozen lake for a fishing trip.