Don't Send A Search Party Yet: I had a Horrible Dream Last Night

Press reporter- Image Source: Pixabay 

Introduction 

Last night, well earlier today, I had a nightmare while I was asleep. I had a dream that I had ran away to the most remote wilderness in the whole state. Before I went to sleep, I was looking up "most remote locations near me" and researching satellite communicator devices, and how they work. I learned how satellites are made and how they circle the earth.

The details of the dream 

Anyways, in the dream, as I was just preparing to run away to this remote wilderness. I turned on the news and saw a news story. The headline said:

"Rising Number of Missing Youth and Trouble Runaways fleeing to the Wilderness"

I was horrified. 

News Reporter: There has been a huge increase in troubled youth and troubled people with mental health problems running away to the wilderness. Some of them leave unprepared. They are unaware of the dangers that are out there. Some of them are as young as 16 years old and as old as 80 years old. Some of them do not carry the proper necessities they need to survive in the wilderness. They do not have bear spray, a satellite communicator, and some do not even have food. A lot of these people are very poor, and have no idea what they're getting themselves into. Let's ask some of the local residents a reason for why they they think these people run away to such a secluded area, without the proper necessities and training. 

News Reporter: Why do you think so many of  these troubled people run to the wilderness? 

Resident: Well I think it's poverty, TANF, embarrassment, non stop humiliation, shame, guilt, hopelessness, fear, maybe bullying. They could be getting physically abused or sexually abused at home and have no where else to go, but I think a lot of it has to do with embarrassment or shame. They don't want anyone to know what they are going through at home and most of the time people don't care, when they reach out for help. 

News Reporter: Do you think this trend will die down any soon?

Resident: No I don't think so. There aren't many resources for the youth or the people suffering from a mental health disorder. They keep reaching out, and people keep shunning them away because they're ashamed of the poor and they don't treat them like human beings. People treat them like animals and they never really believe them when they say they need help. It's really sad.

News Reporter: Well you heard it here first. If you see someone running away with no where to go, please contact the missing persons hotline by dialing 1-800-843-5678, again that's 1-800-843-5678. This is Alexander Warner reporting live from the most remote wilderness. Jeff, back to you.

News Reporter: Alright, we hope to do everything we can to lower the number of youth runaways and missing persons in the area. Being lost in the wilderness is a situation no one wants to be in. Always research the area you are going to. Carry a wilderness map and compass and enough food and supplies to to last. Be sure to always let someone know where you are going before you leave. Always carry bear spray to protect yourself from bears and keep a safe distance from wildlife. Carry a satellite communicator in case you get lost and learn how to use it. Take wilderness classes if you have to. Carry enough clothes and read a few books on how to survive in remote places. Remember, there is no cell phone service in extremely remote areas. If you get lost, it may take days, or weeks for someone to locate you. Never leave home without taking the necessary steps to make sure you stay safe and return safely. 

Dense Forest- Image Source - Pixabay 

After I woke up

After I woke up from the dream, I felt kind of hurt. It's sad that some people take off running into remote and secluded locations behind bullying, abuse, or poverty - which are the reasons that I flee to these locations myself. I'm not a youth, and I'm glad I'm not because if I was I definitely wouldn't have the money I need to buy all the supplies to survive. I probably would just take off without money, food, clothes, or anything and get lost out there. I doubt if I would make it back alive. There are just too many hazards and too much danger out there.

I recently went to the State Forest for the first time about 4 months ago. I got lost my very first time going out there. I wasn't fully prepared like I thought I was, and I needed a satellite communication device, which I didn't have. I got lost and I had no cell service. There were no landmarks in the forest to describe where I was. I tried to get out, but I just kept driving around and around in circles. I could've ran out of gas, and I could've gotten stuck in the forest for days or even weeks. I could've accidentally locked my keys in the car and got locked out. 

That happened to me before while traveling in Indiana. Everything was locked inside including my animal and my cell phone. Luckily the spot where it happened wasn't too remote, and someone eventually drove past me and stopped to help. 

Eventually someone drove past me and help me get back to civilization. I made a promise to myself that I would never travel to a remote location again without a satellite communicator and more protection from bears. In some countries owning a satellite communication device is illegal but in America it is not. A satellite communication device could be a matter between life and death. Next time I vacation in the wilderness alone, I'm going to exercise my legal right in the United States to use one. It is also important to keep money on the satellite communicator. They don't run for free. They require a monthly plan.