By Chad Love

--Chad Love

Remember that scene in The Empire Strikes Back where Han Solo and Luke Skywalker are trapped on Hoth, so Han uses Luke's lightsaber to cut open a dead Tauntaun and hollow out the body cavity to use as an overnight shelter from the freezing temperatures? If not, see below...and since it's kind of a sin to have never seen Empire, you get the dubbed version.

In recent news, a pair of Canadian moose hunters trapped overnight in the freezing wilderness didn't follow the script to the letter, but they came pretty darn close.

From this story on cbcnews.com:
A western Newfoundland couple used the hide of a freshly killed moose overnight Tuesday to keep warm after getting lost in the woods during a hunting trip near Gros Morne National Park. Stephen and Sheila Joyce said they lost their way after wounding a young moose and began following the trail of its blood. Shivering and soaking wet, they eventually caught up with the wounded animal.

“My wife thought it would be a good idea to skin the calf and we could use the skin as a blanket. Then we found a place under the root of a tree,” said Joyce. By morning, they were weak and scared. “It was quite horrific. We really were expecting the worst for a period of time there and we really didn’t know what would happen. The direction we were going was the wrong one,” he said.

Happily, the pair were found the next morning by a flight of rebel snowspeeders sent out to search for the lost couple. Then the Empire showed up and ruined everyone's day.

Comments (6)

from PigHunter wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

Interesting story. They definately got lucky and may have been found dead without the skin. Their photos are in the original article and they don't look like they were properly dressed or equiped for the adventure. There was no mention that they had a fire. Perhaps that would have been very difficult to do anyway in the wet conditions. A gps or compass could have also made a difference in getting out of the situation. Here's the story link:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/12/08/nl-...

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from Bwana Hunter wrote 1 year 26 weeks ago

Sounds and looks like the Joyces are not very experienced to be out in the deep bush without proper equipment, clothing, some dried food and water. A light survival pack each would have made all the difference in the world - especially with weather proof matches along.

A hunter lost in the wilderness that has basic survival gear, a small hatchet, matches, and knows that even wet pine and spruce needles on branches will easily burn can rig up a shelter & campfire to survive for at least a few days.

With a fire in the wilderness - even for a single hunter, you're never really alone either.

I'll bet that couple will never do that again - lets hope..!

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from shane wrote 1 year 26 weeks ago

Just like the guy that broke his leg and did the same thing. Got up inside the carcass. Not the best idea, especially for armchair survivalists, but it worked then and it worked this time.

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from BScrabber wrote 1 year 7 weeks ago

I have heard stories of mid west blizzards in the 1800s where a family shot an oxen in their barn and put their children inside to keep them from freezing. Like Solo did for Luke. May the Force Be With You!!

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from jmshackelfo@aol.com wrote 1 year 6 weeks ago

Bear Grills would have been proud

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from Pathfinder1 wrote 50 weeks 6 hours ago

Hi...

According to the media, they were not at all prepared for the conditions which they were subjected to. They were woefully ignorant regarding facing those emergency conditions.

Let us hope that they learned something from their experience...to each carry PROPER survival gear with them...whether they plan to be afield for a half day, or on a longer hunting trek.

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from PigHunter wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

Interesting story. They definately got lucky and may have been found dead without the skin. Their photos are in the original article and they don't look like they were properly dressed or equiped for the adventure. There was no mention that they had a fire. Perhaps that would have been very difficult to do anyway in the wet conditions. A gps or compass could have also made a difference in getting out of the situation. Here's the story link:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/12/08/nl-...

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Bwana Hunter wrote 1 year 26 weeks ago

Sounds and looks like the Joyces are not very experienced to be out in the deep bush without proper equipment, clothing, some dried food and water. A light survival pack each would have made all the difference in the world - especially with weather proof matches along.

A hunter lost in the wilderness that has basic survival gear, a small hatchet, matches, and knows that even wet pine and spruce needles on branches will easily burn can rig up a shelter & campfire to survive for at least a few days.

With a fire in the wilderness - even for a single hunter, you're never really alone either.

I'll bet that couple will never do that again - lets hope..!

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from shane wrote 1 year 26 weeks ago

Just like the guy that broke his leg and did the same thing. Got up inside the carcass. Not the best idea, especially for armchair survivalists, but it worked then and it worked this time.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from BScrabber wrote 1 year 7 weeks ago

I have heard stories of mid west blizzards in the 1800s where a family shot an oxen in their barn and put their children inside to keep them from freezing. Like Solo did for Luke. May the Force Be With You!!

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from jmshackelfo@aol.com wrote 1 year 6 weeks ago

Bear Grills would have been proud

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from Pathfinder1 wrote 50 weeks 6 hours ago

Hi...

According to the media, they were not at all prepared for the conditions which they were subjected to. They were woefully ignorant regarding facing those emergency conditions.

Let us hope that they learned something from their experience...to each carry PROPER survival gear with them...whether they plan to be afield for a half day, or on a longer hunting trek.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.