Mine wasn't a death march. It was spring and nice early morning not really cold. I had purchased my second older Alpine snow machine. Left home and didn't say where I was going or when I was to return. Oh yah non food or water. just a short last run on a nice day!
The trail had knee deep packed snow and was getting soft as the sun was coming up. I was at the 7 mile point, (not that far) and there was a difficult stretch of the trail and it was getting warm so I decided to turn around. As I was backing up to make the return the single ski hooked something in the soft snow, twisted the only spindle shaft and snapped it.
I stepped off the machine and went to my knees immediately. Took a step and one foot on top of the trail the other foot knee deep and the steering as on a swivel. Now 7 miles in these conditions might be a slight problem but more of a problem is no food or water.
I tried to cut a log and attach to the ski with rope so I could steer this heavy beast out but didn't have either. saw or rope This is the typical trap line and lots of right and left turns, creek and 4 river crossings I had to navigate.
I had to get to the road and the only option was to muscle the machine down the trail. I would go straight as far as I could without going off into the deep snow climb off the machine sink into the soft trail and plant both feet lift the machine to either side the right or left keeping on the trail and drive untail doing it again and eventually made it to my truck.
All the survival kits in the world would not fix STUPID in this case. I always had survival kit since I had trapped alone a lot over my 45+ years.
That day was such a nice day BUT!