Fire Safety

Shooting at A&M Texas Commerce Mass Shooting Vigil

Shooting at A&M Texas Commerce Mass Shooting Vigil

Gunshots were fired Sunday night during a vigil for the so-called “victims” of a mass shooting during a twerking party at Texas A&M Commerce. […]

This Article Shooting at A&M Texas Commerce Mass Shooting Vigil is an original article from OFFGRID Survival If it is appearing on any other site but OFFGRID Survival, that site does not have our permission to use our copyrighted content!

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A Visit to HUCKEPACKS

Accompany me on a visit to the ultralight candy shop that is the HUCKEPACKS Workshop in Cologne, Germany!

HUCKEPACKS Packs

Disclosure: Mateusz is a long-time friend, but I paid this trip myself and was not paid to write this article or produce the videos. I received a PHOENIX Lite for testing and giving feedback. As you know: I’m keepin’ it real and tell you how it is – I maintain full editorial control of the content published on Hiking in Finland. Read the Transparency Disclaimer for more information on affiliate links & blogger transparency.

Handmade in Cologne

I remember the first call from Mateusz about the new company. I was backpacking in Vålådalen in September 2018, and was just at the beautiful turquoise lakes having a short break when my phone rang. I answered, and as usual Mateusz talked and talked and talked, until I had to tell him that I was about to continue hiking again and would like to know what it’s about. “Well, I plan to open LAUFBURSCHE Gear again. But it won’t be called LAUFBURSCHE anymore. What do you think about the name HUCKEPACKS?” I like it, I answered, it connects well to the old brand. From then on forward my phone would regularly ring and I’d chat for an half hour or longer with Mateusz about the new company and the new products.

Fast forward to the summer of 2019 and the family and me are on a train to Cologne. We have been travelling for two weeks around Germany, visiting Berlin, my home town and other places, and now we arrived in the city with the cathedral. We stayed at a nice Hostel in Ehrenfeld, and one morning I was able to steal away from parental duties and visit Mateusz at his Workshop.

HUCKEPACKS Workshop

Now I have seen photos of the workshop before when friends were visiting him, and it was with much anticipation that I entered these “holy halls”. And amazing they were indeed. I was welcomed by the four new packs – the PACKL and PHOENIX – in their DxG and Cuben versions, and Mateusz walked towards me with a coffee in hand. I gave him a big hug and was happy that he was still with us. He made me a coffee, and then we sat down to chat.

It is always enlightening to sit and talk with Mateusz, and realize how much thought he puts into the smallest of details. Case in point: The new roll-top closure of the PHOENIX backpack. Where other companies are happy to use a tried & tested roll-top, Mateusz found it neither practical nor aesthetically pleasing. When he showed me the new roll-top closure, which folds and opens like an accordion, my jaw dropped. So easy, so beautiful, so practical, and such a smart continuation of the old HUCKEpack closure. And what is most amazing: He had this design already in 2015, and tested it on his HRP thru-hike that year!

HUCKEPACKS PHOENIX

Mateusz and the PACKLs

DXg x DCF

Cutting

We shot two more videos after the Interview above, about the PHOENIX and the PACKL, drank another coffee and talked about the launch of the company, backpacking, and much more. Sadly, and you likely see this coming, parental duties called and so, after several hours, it was time to say good bye to Mateusz and head back to the city, so I could play with the kids and we could go have some lunch with the family =)

Cologne Playgrounds

I am so excited that my friend Mateusz not only won his battle with cancer, but that he decided to return to sewing the finest ultralight backpacks which he is well-known and loved for! A few weeks later I was fortunate enough that a PHOENIX Lite pack arrived here, which I used on a backpacking trip in Lapland, and I still am using my old PACKsack regularly. If you are in the market for a pack for everyday use and Overnighters, or need a pack for long backpacking trips, give the new HUCKEPACKS packs a good look! I for one am really loving these packs, and wish Mateusz all the best with the new business!

If you enjoyed this article and video Please support me on Patreon and get some useful rewards (like hanging out on Discord with me, and Discount codes for kit from partners!) or buy me a coffee – I work Full-Time on Hiking in Finland to bring you inspiring trip reports, in-depth gear reviews and the latest news from the outdoors. You also could subscribe to the rarer-than-ever Newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Youtube for more outdoorsy updates!

LAUFBURSCHE PACKsack

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Muzzle direction is the primary safety

Muzzle direction is the primary safety. Always has been and always will be.

–Bill Rogers of the elite Rogers Shooting School

“He told police he was oiling a handgun and had put a magazine in it and racked the slide when it fired, hitting his wife as she sat on a couch nearby.”

Man sentenced to probation in shooting of his wife

I absolutely despise the meme from Blackhawk Down that shows a trigger finger with the phrase “This is my safety.” Trigger finger discipline is a good thing but there’s a reason it’s Number 3 in the Four Rules of Gunhandling. Muzzle Direction is Number 2, as it should be in the scheme of things.

this is my safety no

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10 Tips to Add to your Weather Forecasting Knowledge After SHTF

Learning how to predict the weather without relying on forecasts is an essential skill that a survivalist or prepper should develop.

You’re reading 10 Tips to Add to your Weather Forecasting Knowledge After SHTF, originally posted at Graywolf Survival – Emergency preparedness from a Counterintelligence Agent by Graywolf.

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Dirt Poor Floor Joists for an Off Grid Log Cabin

by Todd Walker

Dirt Poor Floor Joists for an Off Grid Log Cabin - TheSurvivalSherpa.com

I think I now understand why so many pioneer log cabins had packed dirt floors.

Ease of construction may have been the #1 reason. Lacking dimensional lumber, time, and labor, a dirt floor was an easy solution. You weren’t necessarily poor, but the term, “dirt poor”, stuck. Believe it or not, there’s a growing number of wealthy folk returning to earthen floors.

With my self-reliance on trial, I wanted a wooden floor for my little log cabin in the woods… complete with a front porch overlooking the creek. As promised in our last article, here’s what I came up with for my budget floor support system.

Round Log Floor Joists

A big box hardware store is a 10 minute drive from the cabin site. They sell dimensional lumber of all sizes to speed up the build. However, this whole “self-reliance on trial” thing had me going another direction.

Dirt Poor Floor Joists for an Off Grid Log Cabin - TheSurvivalSherpa.com

The living area with five log joists set in place.

When I first started this project in February, the cabin dimensions were going to be a cozy 8’x10′. The first tree I felled was bucked into 10 foot sections for the 8 foot walls. Since expanding the cabin size to 10’x12′, the 10 footers wouldn’t work for wall logs. Bingo! These would become my floor joists.

Hew One Side Flat

Ax-cut logs need to be sawn flat on both ends to start the hewing process. Secure the log to cribbing with log dogs. Last year I made two from half-inch rebar which work fine. Hammer one point into the log and the other into the cribbing log. Repeat on the other end of the log.

I choose the side with the fewest knots to hew. Pine knots are a curse from the devil for hewers. The chosen side is turned and secured to the cribbing perpendicular to the ground. Dog the log before marking plumb lines.

Measure the center of the log end horizontally and place a mark at the halfway point. Place a level on the mark vertically and draw a plumb line. Do the same operation to draw a level horizontal line through the center mark. You should now have two lines intersecting to form a cross hair on the end of the log. Repeat this step on the other log end.

One more plumb line to draw before we’re done. Determine how much wood you want to remove from the side of the log. Place the level at that point and draw a vertical plumb line. I took off about an inch of wood which created ample flat surface on the joists.

Dirt Poor Floor Joists for an Off Grid Log Cabin - TheSurvivalSherpa.com

Plumb and level lines drawn

Where this second plumb line meets the top of the round log, use a knife or ax to score a slit through the line. Drive a nail shallow in the cross hair. Hook the string of a chalk line box to the nail. Slip the string into the slit at the top of the log and run the chalk line to the other end of the log. Secure it in the other slit you made. While holding the line in the slit, reach down the line with your other hand and pull the chalk line up vertically, not horizontally. Release and the sting to “snap” or “pop” the chalk line.

Dirt Poor Floor Joists for an Off Grid Log Cabin - TheSurvivalSherpa.com

The chalkline secured in the ax slit at the top of the line to be hewed.

By the way, all my logs have been debarked. If hewing with bark on the log, strip off a section of bark where the chalk line will be snapped. Read more about hewing with the bark on in this article.

Scoring

Scoring is the process of making relief cuts down the side of the log to remove the bulk of wood before hewing to the line.  With so little wood to remove from the floor joist, I thought slash cuts would be best. Slashing is a series of overlapping 45 degree cuts about 4 inches apart down the length of the log. However, the logs had seasoned enough to make it difficult to remove wood after slashing.

Dirt Poor Floor Joists for an Off Grid Log Cabin - TheSurvivalSherpa.com

Slash scoring with the log turned 30 degrees added too much extra work.

I ended up cutting “V” notches about a 8 inches apart down the log side. The raised wood between the notches are called jogs or joggles. The joggles were removed close to the chalkline with my ax. The log floor joists were all in the 6-8 inch diameter range. Not large enough to stand on to cut notches with my long-handled felling ax. I stood on the opposite side of the log and cut notches using a 26 inch boy’s ax. Make sure that the notches go all the way to the line and are plumb through to the bottom of the log.

 Joggling or Juggling

Now is the time to remove the joggles. On these small logs, I used the grub bit of my double bit felling ax mostly. The 36 inch handle allowed me to swing almost upright, saving my back. Removing this excess wood can be the most dangerous part of the whole hewing process. A forceful swing is needed to knock off the protruding joggles. Be aware of where your legs and feet are before swinging.

Dirt Poor Floor Joists for an Off Grid Log Cabin - TheSurvivalSherpa.com

I hewed several logs with my double bit only.

My most comfortable stance was to straddle the log with my right foot well to the right of the log. A slight bend at the waist and knees adds insurance that the ax will strike the ground and not my boot. The grub bit will strike the ground as it passes through the wood from time to time. Wood chips create a barrier between the bit and ground as the process continues.

A safer way to remove joggles is to rotate the log on the cribbing about 30 degrees (captured two photos above). A lateral swing (out of the frontal zone) is used with the log between you and the moving ax. You’ll need to re-plumb the log before hewing to the line.

Hewing

With a thin layer of wood (1/2 inch or less) proud of the chalkline, hewing begins. I used my broad ax on some, and the double bit felling ax on others. I’ve become fond of using the longer double bit even for hewing. It dealt with lighter’d knot better. I found that once the joists were rough-hewn with the double bit, I could set them in the sill log notches and comfortable hew high spots by swing horizontally with my broad ax. And it could be done while I sat on the adjacent joist.

Dirt Poor Floor Joists for an Off Grid Log Cabin - TheSurvivalSherpa.com

Hewing to the line with the double bit ax. This log was almost too short to use. Notice the ax-cut end almost makes a nice tenon.

The angle in which the double bit struck the wood had to be adjusted. It’s not a vertical swing like the broad ax. Once the angle is dialed in, the wood begins to slice off. I actually obtained smoother finishes using the double bit over the broad ax. I got closer to the chalkline as well. Keep in mind, this is rough-hewn lumber.

Mortise and Tenon

Before joists could be set, a level line was needed on the inside of the sill logs. Using a water level, I penciled in marks on all four corners. A chalkline was snapped to give me a level line on the two sill logs where the top of the joists would rest.

I marked the sill logs at 2 foot intervals for joist positions along the 12 foot walls. Mortise joints (pockets) were cut into the sill log with a 2 inch chisel and dogwood maul. The mortise pockets measured about 2″x4″. Each joist measurement, from pocket to pocket, was different. Working with round logs of differing diameter is entirely different from building with dimensional lumber.

Dirt Poor Floor Joists for an Off Grid Log Cabin - TheSurvivalSherpa.com

The faint blue chalkline is still visible. This joist needed to be lowered. I switched to red chalk as it seemed to last longer.

Tenons were cut on the ends of each joist to match the mortise pockets. Joists were set and raised or lowered to meet the level line on the sill logs. A simple wedge of wood underneath or trim of the tenon did the trick.

Dirt Poor Floor Joists for an Off Grid Log Cabin - TheSurvivalSherpa.com

Mortises chiseled to 2″x4″ dimensions.

Leveling Joists

Dirt Poor Floor Joists for an Off Grid Log Cabin - TheSurvivalSherpa.com

The four-foot level on top of the aluminum bar extended my reach to four joists at once.

Though each joist tenon met the level line on the sill logs, rough-hewn logs will have high spots… at least from a hewer like me. I used a long piece of rectangular aluminum as a straightedge coupled with a 4′ level to ride atop four of the five joists. I moved the level from sill to sill checking for high spots and dips in the joists.

Dirt Poor Floor Joists for an Off Grid Log Cabin - TheSurvivalSherpa.com

Close enough!

Taking a comfortable sitting position on an adjacent joist, I planed the high spots down with the broad ax. This was a great change of pace on how I typically swing this heavy hewing ax. Recheck level, plane, recheck, plane… until my OCD subsided. It’s close enough for an off-grid log cabin in the woods!

After shimming and shaving to level joists, I carved and drove wooden wedges into the mortise pockets to take away any wiggle that might be present in the joints. I’m following the same process for the front porch log joists. I’m running 3 long joists perpendicular to the living area joists with a girder underneath at the halfway point. The 6’x12′ front porch will provide hours of relaxing ambiance as creek water tumbles over rocks.

Dirt Poor Floor Joists for an Off Grid Log Cabin - TheSurvivalSherpa.com

One more porch joist to add…

Keep Doing the Stuff of Self-Reliance,

~ Todd

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JAKE WYLD’S SURVIVAL BUGS SERIES: Could You Safely Eat Cockroaches in a Survival Situation?

By Jake Wyld

I’m Jake Wyld, and I eat “gross” things, so you don’t have to. Check out my work with Creek Stewart’s Survival Kitchen here:

When It comes to eating bugs, the western world views it as something taboo. It could be blamed on culture itself or the fact that economics in the West tend to be a bit healthier, affording people the ability to not “have to” eat bugs to survive. In fact, I’d dare say that most of us in the West would consider bugs as a last-ditch food option, purely for survival. That thought pattern isn’t the norm throughout most cultures in the world. Large amounts of insects, cooked in various ways, are not only consumed, but considered delicious treats—something to be savored and enjoyed. So, what’s the deal with eating bugs for survival and beyond? I want to find out! Join me on this series of posts where I delve into the creepy, crawly, and delicious scoop behind SURVIVAL BUGS.

COCKROACHES!

I’ll be honest, I associate cockroaches with some pretty nasty things—decay, uncleanliness, and even disease. And to be honest, none of these associations are without merit. Cockroaches feast on rotting garbage and thrive in warm, germ-infested environments. Because of this, it’s logical that cockroaches can spread diseases to humans through defecation—things like salmonella, streptococcus, and staphylococcus—they can even carry the polio virus! In recent years, studies have shown that cockroaches even cause and agitate allergies.

Okay, so I’m not painting cockroaches in a positive light. But these bacteria-infested bugs, the ones that we know in the West (American Cockroach, Brown-banded Cockroach, Oriental Cockroach, and German Cockroach) are portrayed so negatively everywhere! Could there be any chance that cockroaches could serve, in a pinch, as a survival food?

DID YOU KNOW: Most cockroaches are considered beneficial. Roughly, only 1% are considered pests.

WHO EATS COCKROACHES?

Note: This is by no means anywhere close to an exhaustive list of peoples or places that consume cockroaches. It simply includes several examples.

China

China has a booming market that has just come about in the last decade or so—cockroach farming! China is exploring options to help minimize the cost of medical care for its large and aging population. Cockroaches are farmed and fed healthy, clean fruits and vegetables and then consumed as a cheap and sustainable source of protein. It’s believed that cockroaches have medicinal value, too.

How They Eat Them: Skillet-fried, or double-fried

Cockroaches and other insects are widely consumed in Asian Countries. In some places, they are so popular that they can be found in busy markets being sold a street food snacks.

Thailand

I had a friend in college whose parents were missionaries in Thailand, and he had spent some of his latter formative years there. I definitely heard some stories about the food and the “ick factor” it could have on someone with a Western palate. This includes the cockroach! He was adamant that people there LOVED them, and they touted that cockroaches were delicious. In fact, in Thailand, cockroaches serve as the base for many dishes considered “comfort” food in their culture.

How They Eat Them: Deep-fried; you can find lots of street vendors selling them on skewers. The Thai people love to cook their cockroaches with strong spices to give the cockroaches a pungent flavor.

Tangy and spicy chili salad with cockroaches and other insects.

Anyone Who is Feeling Brave

I’d dare say many readers know of the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach. It’s large, loud, and downright creepy looking. I saw them for the first time when I was 12 years old watching Joe Rogan host Fear Factor. They made this guy get in a glass box and poured them on him. He lasted a few seconds before involuntary high-pitched squeals ensued and he bailed out of the challenge. In recent years, with the rising popularity of things like Fear Factor-style contests and YouTube food challenges, the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach has had its 15 minutes of fame.

Madagascar Hissing Beetles in the wild.

Though they are only found on the island of Madagascar, off the cost of Africa, Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches are shipped and eaten all over the world. People even keep them as pets! That’s right, apparently these massive cockroaches are easy to care for, cheap to feed, and don’t need much space to have an enjoyable existence. Many places, including the United States, require permits to own a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach as a pet. There are strict limitations from fear of the species becoming an invasive one. They just need some warmth. Be forewarned, they are nocturnal insects, so unless you find the sound of their hissing the perfect white noise to fall asleep to, you may want to find a more agreeable pet.

How They Eat Them: Deep-fried, skillet-fried, boiled, or raw (Note: I’d NEVER recommend eating ANY insect raw).

Other Ways Cockroaches are Consumed Around the World: Roach Stir Fry, Roach Fondue, Roach Tacos and Burritos, and many more!

WHY EAT COCKROACHES?

It should be noted that I’m not suggesting anyone, anytime, or anywhere eat a cockroach. Particularly in the United States. Roaches in highly developed places tend to be what they eat, which is usually garbage and rot from urban areas. The cultures that consume cockroaches seem to either be attempting to farm them cleanly and healthily or eating them from the wild jungles and forests, where the diet of the cockroach consists of a lot of wild fruits and/or vegetation.

Cockroach farming has become popular in recent years for the same reason cricket farming has—done correctly, it’s a healthy and sustainable high-protein food that is cheap and easy to maintain. That’s huge for developing countries and poorer regions of the world.

Raising or farming clean-eating cockroaches ensures their place as a championed cheap and sustainable source of quality protein.

WHAT DO COCKROACHES TASTE LIKE?

I have eaten some weirdly disgusting things. I can’t personally speak to the taste of cockroaches, as I have never tried one. However, after researching and scouring videos and the internet for articles, I can confidently say that the consensus is that they are somewhat bland in taste, taking on the flavor of any strong spice or marinade they are cooked with. However, it’s suggested that alone, cockroaches have a slight shrimp-like flavor. I will say, having eaten a tarantula and a centipede cooked over a fire, I can imagine how that might be the flavor profile. Weirdly enough, the insects I have devoured do have somewhat of a fishy/shrimp-y taste to them.

THE VERDICT: NOT A SURVIVAL FOOD (FOR ME, AT LEAST)

When it comes to our bellies here in the West, it looks like we got the 1% on the cockroaches—purely pests. I’d say it’s the best and healthiest option to stay away from eating cockroaches, even in a survival scenario. I don’t deny that if hunger strikes, you might do whatever you need to fill up on calories and survive. But when it comes to eating the cockroaches that we know here in North America and other highly developed places where the cockroaches aren’t feeding on fruits and wild veggies all day, I think the risk of potential disease or sickness are enough to make me pass. Besides, if you’re in a survival situation and you eat something that will make you sick, you’ll end up losing more bodily fluids and doing more harm than good for yourself and your situation.

Disclaimer: Neither the author nor the publisher of this post advise that anyone, anytime, anywhere eat a cockroach.

Jake Wyld is a former chef, photographer, content creator, producer, avid writer, and a professional editor in the outdoor space. He currently operates as Senior Editor at DROPSToNE Press and works for Wilderness Survival Instructor and TV Host, Creek Stewart, as Director of Operations for APOCABOX (https://www.myapocabox.com/), SURVIVAL SKILL of the MONTH CLUB (https://www.survivalskillofthemonth.com/), WILD EDIBLE PLANT of the MONTH CLUB (https://www.wildedibleplantofthemonth.com/), SURVIVAL on the 7th (https://www.survivalonthe7th.com/), and OUTDOORCORE ( https://www.outdoorcore.com/). Jake is currently working on his first fiction novel, due out in 2020. You can follow him on his Instagram and Twitter, both handles are @thejakewyld

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