We Do: The author’s purpose is to________________

We Do: The author’s purpose is to_________________?

Survival

Eric Le Marque’s situation was grim. He was alone and lost in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in frigid weather, he had no food, and his cell phone was dead. What was supposed to be an exhilarating day of snowboarding became a seven-day struggle to survive. Yet he did survive, and his story has lessons to teach about what to do- and what not do- in the wilderness.

First, the “don’ts”: Le Marque went into the mountains alone and unequipped. According to experts, you should bring a companion and certain supplies with you when you go into the wilderness, even if you plan to be there only a day. Those supplies include a compass, a map, extra food and water, extra clothing, waterproof matches, and a candle or a fire-starting tool. Le Marque brought none of those and it almost cost him his life.

Now, the “do’s”: Once LeMarque knew he was lost, he stayed calm and confident, and he did some creative thinking. To avoid starving, he ate tree bark. To insulate himself from the cold at night, he slept on wood chips he made by using his snowboard as an ax. Most important, he thought of a new use for the MP3 player he had with him. He realized that the player, a portable device that plays computer files of music, picked up radio signals. The stronger the signals, he reasoned, the closer he was to civilization. He was correct. Using the signals as a guide, he began walking in the right direction, back to safety. Experts say if you do become lost in the wilderness, do what LeMarque did. Keep a cool head, persevere, and be creative.