84 days, 14 hours
I have reached the goal that I set out for myself, 80 days. As I have survived for such a very long time, found almost everything that I need, I am sometimes thinking what another survivor could have done different.
I am down to 10 bullets. To conserve ammunition, I don't go for direct kills any longer. I rather observe the wildlife and get what I need through patience.
Strange how good I have become with flares. 2 months ago I was unable to make any use of flares, and almost got myself killed. But not I manage to get 1 or 2 deer carcasses for free with just a single flare (they burn for a very long time and can be picked up). Flares could become more valuable to me than rifle ammo, being sort of non-lethal, reusable weapons.
But often my strategy fails and I have to it take out with the wolves. I have killed numerous and the blood in the snow is my own.
I get used to the exquisite burning of antiseptic in my wounds and the adrenaline rush.
My supply of food eventually allows me to go on expeditions into the mountains. The first attempt to reach the lookout tower it from the East is a failure, there is nothing but cliffs from this side.
I need to turn back, although not empty handed. In a portable home I find a jerry can with almost 4 liters of kerosene!! That is more than I had found on the whole combined map, and I dont have to save lamp fuel as much as I used to. Together with the 2 liters that are still deposited in Trappers 'Homestead I have almost 10 liters.
In one of the huts I als discover a premium winter coat. With the ridiculous toque I now look like a god damn hipster, but I am sure the wolves don't mind and it is by far the best in terms of warmth. I momentarily get a 15C clothing bonus!
On my second attempt from the West I get way up the cliffs and can see thar the lookout is not that far away.
I stay on the cliffs and get back onto some sort of a road. Which means there also must be a safe way to get up here, if I just follow the roads.
I arrive at a lookout tower very much like the one in Mystery Lake.
It's in total disarray. There isn't too much inside. It looks like some hobo was living in the place, or some criminal.
But there is another rifle, and it is in almost perfect condition, smelling of Ballistol.
I laugh at my misfortune, now I have 2 rifles for the same meagre amount of ammunition.
But then I realize that I could deposit the rifles in different parts of the map, like Jackrabbit Island or The Camp Office.
I could then go to hunting expedition without carrying a rifle and save 4.00 kg of weight.
From the tower there is a fantastic view over the lake. If I had binoculars I could look into Misanthrope's Homestead, Jackrabbit Island and Lakefront Cabins from the safety and comfort of my bed.
I spend a day in the tower. Unfortunately I get food poisoning from eating wolf, and most of the day is spent in agony, defecating and vomiting all over the place.
There is a nice iron stove. If I could only take that and put it into one of the houses by the lake ..
It would be possible to stay and even live here, but I have not seen any deer. There is also no real storage space, just a five kilo wooden box. It would be very difficult to stay here, although it is certainly interesting.
After a day and a half in the tower, I take the rifle and some stuff that I found, and head back to my Camp. I only need to follow the roads to get down to the lake. Back in my base. I decide I have enough kerosene to use the lantern more often. I quickly discover a few items that I missed.
Turns out to be a hunting knife someone put up there. I had not seen it in two weeks, sleeping every night in the room!
Hidden in very dark corners I also discover a can opener in the kitchen and some lantern fuel.
But none of the which I really need. Like a few bullets, or a mens magazine.
Though I very nearly bought Don't Starve after the free play weekend last month!
