I'm a sucker for survival stories. What can I say? Stuart Nelson, a veterinarian from Idaho, has a doozie.  
Nelson lost his inflatable kayak to a strainer on a solo wilderness trip in the Yukon Territory, Canada.  By the way, any time you're traveling somewhere that's still a territory, chances are there won't be a lot of people there.  Along with his kayak, Nelson lost his food supplies, camping gear, and satellite phone.

Fortunately for Nelson, he was experienced, prepared, and comfortable with the environment he was in.  Nelson had essential survival gear on his body which pretty much saved his life including a knife, some snare wire, a signal mirror, a can of highly flammable sterno, a space blanket, some iodine, three fishing lures, and some fishing line.  "The most important thing you need to remember about survival gear is that it's not survival gear if it's not on your body," he said.  Pretty good advice.  

At first he tried to follow the river to find his boat, but after several miles realized the futility.  So he hunkered down, ate rose hips, grayling and waited, keeping the fires lit for 15 days.  A plane passed overhead during his ordeal, but failed to see him. He spelled out SOS and HELP in sticks and tried to light a tree on fire.  

Ultimately, a group of canoers paddled by and rescued Nelson.  Gotta say, I never really thought about keeping truly essential survival gear on my person.  Guess it's time to get some new cargo pants.  
Via The Bonner County Daily Bee