S.F. man lost in woods, survives on squirrels, lizards (SF Gate)

[petronius]

A 72-year-old San Francisco man was recovering Sunday after he spent 19 days lost in a remote canyon of Mendocino County, surviving on squirrels, lizards and berries, and wrapping himself in leaves and grass to stay warm.

Gene Penaflor was on a hunting trip with a friend Sept. 24 in the Bloody Rock area of the Mendocino National Forest when he apparently wandered from the road, hit his head and passed out, he later told rescuers. When he awoke, fog had rolled in and Penaflor became disoriented.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-man-lost-in-woods-survives-on-squirrels-4892887.php

Fortunate outcome; 19 days is a heck of a long time. Guess it's never a bad idea to brush up on those survival skills, and carry the basic tools even on a day trip...

[Eleanors38]

1. I wonder how he "caught" the squirrels. I know it can be done, but

a decent long-barrel .22 pistol would be preferable. They said he was on a hunt, but I guess he had no weapon.

[petronius]

2. One of the articles I saw said that he did have his deer rifle and a handful

of rounds. Apparently he had to shoot really carefully to just hit the squirrels in the head and not totally destroy them.

I've never been much away from the coast up in Mendocino or the main roads, but it must be really rugged to be lost for so long in such a small area...

[yawnmaster]

3. Wow. 19 days is quite disoriented...good for him for surviving...

I'd like to hear the full story of his experience.