It was reported that the family had watched tutorials on YouTube to prepare for living in the wild.
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Earlier this month, a lone hiker near Gold Creek Campground discovered the bodies of Rebecca Vance, 42, her 14-year-old son and her sister, Christine Vance, 41, all residents of Colorado Springs.
The mummified remains of a family trying to live off the grid were discovered in July in Colorado’s Gunnison National Forest. According to NBC News, the family only relied on YouTube videos.
It’s a sad lesson in the dangers of unprepared wildlife.
The pandemic has inspired an off-grid lifestyle
According to her half-sister Trevala Jara, Rebecca Vance became concerned about the state of the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. So she decided to take her son to live in the nature.
The family relied solely on online searches and YouTube videos to prepare for their new life, although family members tried to stop them and point out their lack of survival experience.
Convinced that her presence could help them stay alive, Christine, Rebecca’s sister, decided to join her sister and her nephew.
Jara offered to let the group test their preparation on the mountain property she and her husband owned, but the sisters insisted they would manage.
A text message sent near the end of 2020 was the last communication with the group before the aforementioned hiker came across a body outside a zipped tent, and two others inside.
Adequate shelter is essential
According to investigators, the family apparently began building a “lean-to” shelter, but did not complete it before the arrival of thewinter. It seems obvious that the tent was their only form of shelter during one of Colorado’s harshest winters.
While the Internet often glorifies the idea of off-grid survival, the reality is quite different. Off-grid survival experts suggest securing stable housing, a generator and a propane tank. Abundant supplies are also essential for survival. This family had none of these.
“They had a lot of literature on outdoor survival and foraging, but it looked like they had gotten their supplies from a grocery store.”explained Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes, who determined that this unfortunate family died from exposure to the elements.
Refueling and survival skills are essential to off-grid survival
This tragic incident highlights the dangers of attempting to live off-grid without adequate preparation and survival skills. Whatever the climate, obtaining adequate shelter before setting out is essential for survival.
Watching a video online is not the same as building a safe and warm shelter yourself. Social media and video tutorials make this lifestyle seem easy and manageable. But it is essential to remember that the person who builds a beautiful, comfortable cabin has considerable experience. It is also possible that the shelter he is building is in a temperate climate with mild winters.
A compassionate person made the following comment: “It’s hard enough to spend the winter at high altitude in a comfortable cabin with a big pile of wood, electricity, provisions and a truck. These poor people had no idea what awaited them” .
Another added: “It’s so sad. People who didn’t grow up in the wilderness have no idea how difficult it is to survive. Back then, the pioneers only lived off the land because the Game, fish, and food were much more abundant and easy to obtain in the wild, and it was still difficult.”
Wild foods aren’t as common as they used to be, but even if they were, unless you know how to hunt, you can’t pick up a gun and catch a deer. Interestingly, no firearms or other weapons were found at the campsite. So the family clearly had no intention of joining the 35.8 million anglers or 11.5 million hunters in the United States in hunting their own food.
Even if they had intended to hunt, it would have required knowledge, practice and proper equipment.
According to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, hunters spend more than $7 billion (€6.7 billion) each year on equipment for firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, optics, lures, calls and other essential equipment, and $630 million (€601 million) for clothing. In 2016, the average hunter spent $2,363 (2,256 euros) on items such as clothing and equipment.
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What skills are needed to live off-grid?
Ideally, people should not be influenced by social media. They should do independent research and prepare for this new and challenging lifestyle before committing to it.
Learning how to dress properly and avoid ticks when hiking in tick-rich areas to prevent disease, for example, is a skill they need before heading out into the wild.
This horrifying discovery shows how essential it is to prepare before trying to live off-grid.
It is essential to understand the climate and environment you are traveling to, and to ensure you have shelter, fuel, food and water. Learning to forage is a brilliant idea, but you first need to learn to do it in a warm, safe place. They must be well stocked before embarking on the adventure and acquire additional skills in case the food obtained by gathering or hunting runs out.
There are other ways to improve readiness and self-reliance without completely moving away from civilization. Learn how to pick blackberries and make lots of blackberry jam in the fall for winter and spring. Join the 13% of American households that raise chickens for eggs or meat.
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Learn how to make organic fertilizer for these home-grown produce. Install solar panelsimprove existing property and start to be more self-sufficient at home, where there is a safety net.
A safety net that could have prevented three lives from being tragically cut short.
2023-10-03 12:13:29
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