For nutritional use, there is blood from animals. Don't think drinking it from the arteries is the best plan...you could let it dry and make an extra ingredient for stew.

For preservation of food...maybe you could find a salt lick and grind it up and rub it into said game. Watching animal patterns could lead one that way perhaps.

There are salt deposits on land and underground, and in the seas / oceans.

You might want to bring a little with you.

TR

Salt used to be underground.....
 

Salt used to be underground - now it's on a self at Food Lion.

Battle of Saltville

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-h...e-of-saltville

"....Additionally, salt and lead mines located in the area were vital to the Southern war effort. In September 1864, Union General Alvan Gillem planned a raid from his base in eastern Tennessee...."

From the OP:

"What are the minimum tools and equipment you need to survive for 60 days in this environment?"

TR

Am enjoying this thread! The Hickory tree roots can provide salt occording to literature but how are you going to get at them and how much value per effort?
I can remember a few times when salt seemed pretty darn valuable but didn't have any. It is important for electrolytes and can kill or suck out bad juju if necessary, not to mention curing and preservation.

I'd like to throw my thoughts out here for review or critique if you don't mind.

In this scenario we are staying put and awaiting rescue rather then actively finding our way out. In this case I wouldn't mind being a little tool heavy as I'm not going to be humping it to much and have time to set up a proper shelter rather then something quick that doesn't require many calories.

I generally keep a small pack with the following on me or in my truck:

Medium fixed blade
40 oz Klean Kanteen
USGI poncho
100 Feet paracord
Fire Steel
Sailing Needle
GSI Glacier cup
Fish mouth spreader
Bungee cord
4 metal tent stakes
2 55 Gallon drum liners
Small first aid kit
Small spice kit
Bic Lighter
Picture Hanging wire
PVC fishing kit
Sharpening stone
Foot kit (powder, mole skin, socks, etc)
Flashlights
Mirror

With winter coming up I add on the following:
Wool blanket
CS Trail Hawk
Jacket
Space blanket

For this scenario I wouldn't mind dropping the Poncho, bungee, tent stakes, and Hawk as well as dropping the pack for a small homemade shoulder sack and bumping up the amount of spices I would be taking. Then adding:

4 #110 traps
2 #220 traps
A axe
20 Feet of 8.5mm rope

This would have me living fairly comfortable, and while I could do with less, if I'm not humping it every day why live like I'm rucking 10 hours a day and counting every oz?

In truth the first 5 on my list are the only things I would consider absolutely necessary just because of how much a pain they are to create out in the sticks.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Can we survive without a knife or axe?

Yes.

Do I want to try and survive without a blade, and try to fabricate field replacements?

No.

I feel the same way about friction fire starting.

I am okay down to the firesteel, and then I draw the line.

If I am rubbing two sticks together to make a fire, I hope at least one of them is a match.


Runningwolf, I think you are largely on the right track.

There is need to have, and there is want to have. I think you have drawn a good line.

If it was going to be cold, there was large game, or I was going to build a substantial shelter for a long stay, I would want the axe for sure. Not sure that the hawk is practical when I can have a hatchet or small axe for the same size and weight. They look cool though.

I might pass on the traps for some good snares.

The bungee cord and 550 make for great cordage that is hard to replicate, though it is good to know how to do it.

The space blanket is a good reflector and a passable rain shelter. It will not really keep you very warm.

TR

Reaper,

The Hawk is really a lack of knowledge choice. It's light and works OK for where I am. I'm not really taking any trees down when I go out, mostly saplings or splitting already felled logs, any farther South and I would be speaking with a Jamaican accent so freezing Winters aren't as big of a concern. The biggest thing with that choice, I know how to make a new handle for it if the current one breaks. At this time I don't know how to make a handle for an axe or hatchet. It's something I need to get around to learning, thanks for reminding me and thanks for your insight.

I can't imagine grass working, but maybe. Google up swamp milkweed. Perfect time of year for harvesting cordage fiber and easy to ID because of the seed pods. As implied by the name, look around ponds, streams, low spots. It's the spectra of the plant world. In summer, nettles. Google Egyptian bow drill to solve your slipping problem.