The Long Dark: Tale From the Far Territory
Interloper. Day 12. Mystery Lake. -15F/-26C. On a whim, I changed my plans and went from Coastal Highway to Pleasant Valley instead of going straight to Mystery Lake. The gamble didn't really pay off. I searched Thomson's Crossing, the red barn and the farmhouse, and didn't find a lot of immediate value. I didn't go up to the plane wreckage, but now I'm thinking I should've, because the temps are dropping and I might have found some more clothing up there. I did find a forge hammer, and a lantern, which allowed me to search Carter Dam without having to chain torches, then I found a hacksaw in Carter Dam. So that was good. If I'd gone into Carter Dam through the front, I probably wouldn't have had the lantern.
So now I'm rummaging around Mystery Lake. I chased a deer into a wolf near the camp office, so I have plenty of food, but I worry that I'm falling behind on clothing. I'm still okay in the afternoons, but it's getting mighty cold in the mornings. I found the bunker in the same place as last time, but it was empty. I found a second forge hammer, which I guess could be useful down the road, but not right now. I've got enough matches for the time being, so not having a mag lens isn't a big deal yet, but I still haven't found a bedroll, which is going to make life interesting.
Late-afternoon of Day 11, I was down by Unnamed Pond and almost got got by Ninja Bear. I had checked near the cave as I was approaching the pond and didn't see any tracks, then went into the hunter's blind. The S.O.B. must have spawned while I was inside the blind, because he roared at me when I came out. I couldn't see where he was, so I just turned around and went back inside the blind. I had a single down-arrow on the temperature, so I figured I could hang around in there for a couple of hours, until he wandered off. Then a blizzard started. And the bear didn't leave. I could hear it snuffling and scuffling around right outside the blind. Now I had two down-arrows on the temp. Then three. -28F/-33C, even out of the wind. My plan was to wait until he was around the far side of the hunter's blind and then sprint over the hill and try to reach the lonely cabin, but the mother[lover] went that same direction, and I couldn't wait any longer, so I had to make a break for it in the other direction. Which turned out to be not so bad. The blizzard was still raging and it was getting dark, but I could follow the cliff all the way to Trapper's Cabin, and I was able to make a coal-fire and heat up some tea in the lee of the cliff.
At this point, it's probably prudent to head for the forge in Forlorn Muskeg. But unless I find a bedroll along the way, I'd have to reach Old Spence without any delays. If a blizzard came up while I was en route, I'd be done for. Alternately, I could go through Milton, which would take another couple of days, if I just hit the highlights and don't waste too much time.