When it comes to hunting with a handgun, I very rarely have ever looked at the handgun as anything more than a back up or a convenience. I very rarely ever go hunting without a handgun, but it is used very little in comparison to my long guns. Having owned many pistols that people say […]
Firearms For Freedom and Forage-Part 4, Hunting Handguns Read More »
Survive the harsh winter with our comprehensive list of winter survival tips to thrive in the cold.
RELATED: Total Whiteout | A Compilation Of Winter Storm Survival Tips
In this article:
Why do many people fail with winter survival skills? When we think of “survival,” we immediately imagine activities perfect for warm weather.
These can include camping, fishing, hiking — the list goes on because most of us are more comfortable in warmer weather, of course. So, it’s not surprising we tend to practice or hone our survival skills during the summer.
This practice can be a dangerous and even deadly mistake when emergencies happen during winter. You may not have the right winter survival techniques and proper winter camping gear.
Want to learn more? Click here to download our complete guide to winter survival.
We cannot overstate the importance of winter camping kit and survival tips. Even the most basic of survival tasks can be more challenging when there’s cold temperature, snow, ice, and strong winds.
For this reason, we’ve put together your ultimate winter survival kit. It can help prepare yourself during the harsh, cold months.
Since your survival needs will change depending on the season, it’s a good idea to pack a separate bug out bag for winter. This bag includes the essentials fit for the cold:
Click here for more winter bug out essentials.
In any survival situation — no matter the season — the most crucial step is to stay calm. This will enable you to think clearly.
You can make rational decisions to keep you alive. No matter how grim the outlook may be, try your best not to panic.
Once you have the time to organize your thoughts, here are the winter survival priorities:
Despite popular belief, your first priority in a stressful situation is not food or water. It should be the best survival tent or shelter.
This is especially true in the winter months. Exposure to the elements even for a few minutes can be dangerous.
You can develop hypothermia. Before you do anything else, make sure you have adequate winter survival tents and shelters.
You should also have a fire to maintain your body’s much-needed warmth. After these, you can start looking for food, water, and other survival essentials.
After shelter, water is the most pressing need. A person can survive a month or more without food. You can only go for three days without water (remember the survival rule of threes).
Keep in mind, drinking cold water or eating snow in winter will cause your body to burn a lot of calories, which your body desperately needs to stay alive. In a winter survival situation, always heat up the water before drinking it.
It is important to exert all efforts to get the attention of your rescuers, especially in the first three days. You can learn how to signal for help in the wilderness.
Know, too, the different emergency communications using light, fire, and smoke.
Of course, your bug out bag should have MREs (meals, ready to eat) and other winter survival food items. Even so, make an effort to get food from other means.
Familiarize yourself with edible plants in the area. Learn to make traps and snares to obtain animals for food.
Again, your bug out bag must come with a few basic survival tools. In addition, you should know how to make your own tools from the materials readily available to you.
Having a well-stocked bug out bag is crucial, especially in the winter. The harsh elements can make it even harder to survive, let alone stay comfortable.
Your winter bug out bag should contain plenty of food, water, and matches. It must also have at least two high-quality knives and tools.
You may also need materials to build survival shelters, such as cordage. It should also have some tool for purifying water and warm winter survival gear.
The bag must include items you can use to signal for help. Your bug out bag should also include a first aid kit with all the necessary supplies to treat common ailments or preexisting illness or injury you may have.
Building a fire is the single most important winter survival skill you can possess. Without it, you are unlikely to thrive longer than a few hours.
Here are the basic steps for building a fire in the winter:
Remember that wet wood won’t burn. It’s a waste of time to dig in the snow for wood buried underneath. Instead, look for fallen and downed branches and twigs on top of the snow.
Carve dry the wood by breaking it apart and gathering the inner splinters. Use these small pieces as kindling for your fire.
Once you have a flame, feed it with fuelwood. Dead limbs off standing trees work best, especially if they come from broad-leaf hardwood trees such as birch, dogwood, or maple.
The type of winter survival shelter you need will depend on your situation. If you find yourself inside a vehicle, it is almost always preferable to stay put in your vehicle until help arrives.
Hopefully, you also have a car winter survival kit. If you’re not in a vehicle, use whatever materials you can find to construct a winter survival tent to protect yourself from the elements.
Keep an eye out for caves or rock overhangs. These can make for great survival shelters.
You can also dig into a snowdrift to create a makeshift “snow cave.” These are a few ways to find or create shelter in the winter.
RELATED: 13 Winter Survival Methods To Keep You Warm
Aside from shelter, water is the most crucial thing to focus on in a survival situation. Fortunately, winter often means there is water readily available in the form of snow and ice.
After melting the snow or ice into water, heat it up before you drink it. Drinking cold water in the winter will make you colder.
It will cause your body to expend more calories. This is where a metal pot or cup comes in handy. You can heat it on an open flame safely.
You should also carry a water purification system. It can be LifeStraw or iodine tablets. They can help ensure your water is pure and free of bacteria.
The difficulty of finding a lost or stranded hiker can become even greater in the winter. The glare off the snow can cause decreased visibility.
The elements can make it challenging for others to get to you. If you plan on venturing out in the winter, always leave a detailed itinerary behind.
This way, rescuers will know where to look for you. It’s also important you stay put.
It may be tempting to strike out in search of help. Rescuers, though, are more likely to find you fast if you stay near your camp.
Use fire, smoke, reflective blankets, signal flares, and other methods to call attention to yourself.
Aside from the winter survival food in your bug out bag, your main source of food will be edible plants and animals. Learn more about the local plants.
Know the difference between edible and poisonous ones. In winter, look out for plants like aspen, birch, cattails, maple, pine, rose, and willows.
They have a variety of survival uses. In addition, develop your skills on how to hunt, build snare traps, and ice fish. These will help you acquire your much-needed animal protein.
A snare trap is the simplest, most effective way to hunt game in the winter. This loop of wire or cordage suspends an animal into the air or restrains it from movement.
Using a snare trap will save you time and energy that you would have spent hunting. Click here for our list of snare traps and how to make them.
Tools and weapons will be lifesavers in a winter survival situation. They will help you hunt, prepare food, and build a shelter.
You can craft them from natural materials such as wood and flint. You can also modify your already-existing weapons.
One of the best tips for winter survival is to always be aware of their surroundings. This season poses several unique threats. Here are a few things to consider when packing your winter survival gear:
Once you get cotton wet, it’s no longer able to keep you warm. Opt for a warmer fabric such as wool.
Wear proper clothing, stay dry, and wear a hat. Also, stay out of the wind, build a fire, stay active, and eat energy-rich food.
These are only a few ways you can do to prevent hypothermia.
Frostbite symptoms include cold and “tingly” ears, nose, fingers, and toes. You may also have numbness in the extremities.
The skin may be waxy or stiff and it can limit joint movement. For mild frostbite, warm the area with skin-to-skin contact for 15 minutes.
For superficial frostbite, splint and cover the affected area. You can then loosen clothing and seek medical attention.
In the case of deep frostbite, rescue and evacuation are the only cure.
Check out these simple winter survival tips from RoastedEngineers:
Winter survival needs a unique set of skills, situational awareness, and preparedness. These winter weather tips are only scratching the surface.
This article, though, can provide you with a good foundation to thrive during colder days.
Do you have cold weather survival tips? Share them in the comments section below!
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***Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer.***
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on December 2, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
Winter Survival Kit: The Prepper’s Guide To Winter Survival Read More »
While I spent most of my years in the rolling valleys and sprawling city of Southeastern Pennsylvania, this massive state with a radical diversity of lifestyle and population is an interesting prospect. It’s one of the biggest players in the … Continued
The Pennsylvania Prepper’s Guide Read More »
As we sit here on Christmas Eve, we can reflect on the overwhelming groundswell response across Virginia, to the threats of tyranny from Richmond. The MSM is carefully not mentioning any of it. Yet the vast majority of counties and towns have declared themselves as either 2A Sanctuaries, or Constitutional Counties. This has resulted in more rhetoric from Richmond, including threats of violence against the citizens of Virginia.
None of this is complicated. You do not need to be an attorney to understand the Constitution. In regards to the 2A, it says right there:
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed…..”
This is really a struggle about rights, although focused at this time on the Second Amendment. It is about the rights of the citizens in opposition to the increasing tyranny of the leftists. However, the mindset of those tyrants in Richmond is fascinating: They do not appear to see the predicament they have put themselves in. They are doubling down. You see, they believe their own propaganda. It is clear to any sensible citizen that they are preparing to enact a huge tyranny across Virginia. But the left does not see it that way; they twist the meaning of ‘Constitutional’ and believe that they can pass ‘laws’ that are in fact repugnant to the Constitution, and have them validated by black-robed leftists in a corrupt court system. There have already been statements that any law enforcement officer, not enforcing these proposed new laws, will be fired. Even threats of raising the National Guard for employment in violence against the Citizens of the State. I won’t bore with a full summary, most of you know what is going on.
However, the real reason I decided to sit down and write this article was something I am tracking in comments across the board. It is fear. What do I mean by that? Essentially, it is your normalcy bias not registering the seriousness of our situation. This forces you to act in what you see as a ‘rational’ way, but that in fact is an advantage to the leftists in Richmond.
You see, you are in fear of ‘the authorities.’ You are in fear of saying something that may get you in trouble. You don’t want to cause a fuss. You are a ‘law abiding citizen.’ The usual response to these sort of gun ‘laws’ coming down the pike, as seen in other States, is for people to scuttle and run, and look to ways they can ‘sort of’ get around the ‘laws.’ But God Bless Virginia! Things have gone differently here, and we have a chance. We have a chance to push back on this tyranny, and maybe even create a wave going back into other lost States where they may be able to stand and reclaim their Liberty. Because make no mistake, the leftists are playing for keeps, and if We (The People) lose this now, we will lose it forever, for our kids and grand kids, forever.
The whole Virginia thing has been great so far. However, it may seem to you to be a political / Facebook struggle right now. Making some noise to hope to avoid the promised plans from the Democrat majority in the 2020 session. Posting a meme is fairly low effort, low risk. But make no mistake, this is EXACTLY the kind of tyranny that the 2A is there to prevent. Do not sit in denial. Thus, it is possible that on July 1st 2020, you may become a felon, for standing by your natural and enumerated right to self-defense. It is your duty as a free citizen to NOT ALLOW THE 2A TO BE INFRINGED.
We mostly don’t want to think about it, but there may come a time, and it may be soon, where we face an armed struggle for our rights. If this happens, it will be absolutely because Richmond tried to enact tyranny and force it down our throats. Don’t be duped by the way they talk about ‘laws’ and having them obeyed. Any Virginia Citizen knows their Constitution, and knows what is right and what is wrong. Be absolutely clear in your mind that if this comes to violence, it will be the fault of Richmond. This is why I am writing this article – because I don’t think many of you are there yet. You need to get your mindset right. You need to have your kit packed and ready to go, in case Richmond sends armed men against us.
We are not here making threats. Chest beating is pointless. I’m not one for spurious rhetoric. We are standing by as free citizens, and you need to get your head in the game in terms of what it may mean depending on what comes down the pike from Richmond. To me, there is no course of action other than to ensure that YOUR RIGHTS are not infringed. As such, you will very likely need to be prepared to ACT in SELF-DEFENSE should Richmond send armed men against you. That this may happen is totally un-American, and seems almost impossible in our times of peace and prosperity. But it appears we are there, on the very cusp of that tyranny. If we do not stand, then we lose it for all that come after us. It is a civic duty as free American citizens.
Reminder: If a right is not defended, then it is not a right, and is lost.
Here in Culpeper, we are doing all that we can to avoid such a situation. Through the Culpeper County 2A movement (and Facebook page) we succeeded in having Culpeper voted as a Constitutional County by the Board of Supervisors. We are working on the Culpeper Town Council. We are working on campaigns and rallies, because becoming a Sanctuary is just the beginning.
I have created, as a subsection of Culpeper County 2A, a Facebook Group called Culpeper Volunteers. No, it isn’t a militia, but a pro-bono community outreach of Max Velocity Tactical, where will put on some free training. Nothing we are planning involves violence, or terrorism, or civil disorder of any kind: we simply want to lawfully improve the readiness of County residents to protect their family and community should the need arise. As part of this, I am creating specific threads on the MVT Forum, posted to the Culpeper Volunteers group, in order to address specific issues such as equipping the Patriot etc.
But despite all this, what happens if you, as a law abiding citizen, become a felon in 2020? Because it seems these leftists in Richmond are hell bent on passing these laws, they have the majority, and they think they are in the right. I would not even be surprised, if due to the possible attendance at Lobby Day on January 20th 2020, that something (false flag?) happens to create a situation. It may even go hot. What happens then? That does not give us the six months to campaign that we currently think we have. What if, at some point, a state of Insurrection is declared in Virginia?
It may even be that once the laws are enacted, nothing specifically happens. However, as I stated above, what you need to do is not scuttle and hide. You need to stand up as a responsible Citizen. What could this mean? Perhaps business as usual with going to the range, wherever that is, even in your backyard? Do not acknowledge that any ‘laws’ have even been enacted. Carry on as normal. Particularly if your County has already declared itself a Sanctuary. It may be the case that raids are conducted by armed men in the employ of the State in order to create an example – I would suggest the creation of mutual support groups in your area, in order to make that impossible.
I personally am sick and tired of the laws in this Country being corrupted in the name of tyranny, so we now have a situation where even writing what I have written today is something that will be avoided, for fear of consequences. I would like to see some Federal support for Virginia from the Trump Presidency, perhaps even stopping Governor Northam’s proposed raising of the National Guard to enforce his tyranny. But this is where we have the essential issue – we have a Deep State and elites who are forcing this upon us, and a corrupted government security apparatus. Anyone working for the sort of Agency that will read this, should have sworn an oath to the Constitution. To act against normal American citizens who are only standing for their Constitutional rights is criminal. This has got to stop. There are many things that standing up to this tyranny from Richmond may achieve – and throwing off the yoke of Tyranny is perhaps the most noble. This may be our one and only chance. Put the middle finger up to Richmond!
I advise you to work on your preparations. Physical fitness, equipment, and training. You have to understand that what is happening in Virginia is not the normal way of things. It has not gone this way in other States; normally, the tyranny is simply enacted. In Virginia, the people are reacting and saying NO. This is unique. However, in that unique way, it may lead to places not normally contemplated in our affluent and lazy society. When the Regulars marched to Lexington, they were faced by people who were certainly terrified of the consequences of defying the tyranny of the Crown. And recall, at that time they DID NOT EVEN HAVE the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to hang their hats on; simply an idea of Liberty that must be defended. Whoever fired that shot, it was certainly heard around the world. In our case, we must not fire any shots first, but we must be prepared to act in self-defense should the State act in tyranny and send armed men against us.
1859. Tick-Tock.
Virginia: Let’s get down to the heart of the Issue. Read More »
Security overload leads to apathy. How often do you hear a car alarm go off and roll your eyes hoping the owner would disable the blasted thing before the incoming headache comes a knocking? The primary objection I have to such systems is they work too well. Every week I hear an alarm being triggered […]
This is just the start of the post Security Information Overload: From Panic to Apathy & the Remedy. Continue reading and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments!
Security Information Overload: From Panic to Apathy & the Remedy, written by Thomas Xavier, was created exclusively for readers of the survival blog More Than Just Surviving.
Security Information Overload: From Panic to Apathy & the Remedy Read More »
I knew it had been a while since my last post, and was feeling guilty about that. The guilt changed to shock when I realized it’s been two weeks since I wrote a word.
Since I wrote a word here, that is. Recently I took on some contract work that, combined with a happy glut of freelance assignments (and holiday preparations), has left me busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.
While I’m loath to post without an actual topic, I also didn’t want to let another two weeks go by before saying anything. Short form: Sorry for the disappearing act, but I will return. I promise.
The post Not dead. Just busy. appeared first on Surviving and Thriving.
Not dead. Just busy. Read More »
Wama Hemp Hipsters – Front
In late summer I received the Wama Hemp Hipsters for testing. Hemp is a much more sustainable fabric fiber than most base layer materials, and therefore I was excited to test the underwear which is made of approximately half-half hemp and organic cotton. As I was heavily pregnant when I received the Wama hipsters, I have mostly been testing them on easy hikes, walks with the stroller and for everyday use. Here is what I found out.
Wama Hemp Hipsters are suitable for:
The Wama hemp hipsters are made of 53% hemp, 44% organic cotton and 3% spandex. The feel of the material is slightly rougher than 100% cotton, but still pleasant on the skin. In terms of performance, hemp and cotton have some similarities as well as differences. While cotton fibers are softer, both materials get softer with washing, take quite long time to dry and are about equally breathable. Hemp is, however, more durable and has some anti-microbial properties to keep odor-causing bacteria at bay. Now, I have been testing naturally anti-microbial underwear both in the form of Merino wool mixed with silk (the Falke silk-wool underwear) and now hemp mixed with cotton, and I have to say that although there might be a slight difference in their odor level after a full day of hiking compared to panties made of 100% cotton, I have still not felt inclined to wear anti-microbial underwear for more than one day.
This sentiment may just be due to the habit of changing underwear every day, but on the other hand I have used naturally anti-microbial Merino base layers for many more days than cotton tops – even after the Merino shirts had been soaked with sweat from hiking. Aside from performance, there is another very important difference between hemp and cotton – the environmental impact of their production process. As described in the article Sustainable Outdoor Materials growing cotton conventionally requires 10.000 liters of water per kilo of the fiber, and accounts for 10-16% of the global pesticide usage while only taking up 2.5 % of cropland worldwide. In comparison 1 kilo of dry hemp matter (of which 30% is suitable for clothing production) requires 300-500 liters of water, and less than half the territory to produce the same amount of finished textile.
These large-scale numbers might be hard to relate to, and even feel downright silly to take into consideration when purchasing something as simple and small as underwear but for each of their products Wama has included ‘sustainability counters’. These show how much water and energy you have saved by choosing Wama’s underwear made of hemp and organic cotton versus underwear made of conventional grown cotton – and the numbers may just surprise you! There is, however, proper research and analysis behind the numbers as described in the complementary report made by Green Story.
Although I was eight months pregnant when I received the underwear, it fitted me perfectly both before and after birth due to the low cut of the hipsters. Size L was a good fit for me with 40 inches (101 cm) wide hips, so I’d say that their sizing is pretty correct. Note, however, that Wama (like most other manufacturers) bases underwear sizing on waist circumference instead of hip circumference. The ‘height’ at the side seams of the fabric is 14 cm (5.5’’) and there is good, if not full cheek coverage, which I’m personally in big favor of.
You can also get Wama hemp underwear for women in the form of bikini briefs, boy shorts and thongs, but the latter is not recommended for hiking as it provides too little cheek coverage and thus warmth. Due to their cut, thongs are also more prone to transport bacteria from the anal area to the vagina while walking or moving, which can lead to infections. Not to mention that thongs are just all-around uncomfortable to wear! Wama’s hipsters are, on the other hand, designed to be super comfortable to wear. The washing instructions are printed on the inside, rather than on a label, the elastic waistband is soft and brushed on the inside, and the underwear is stitched with flatlock seams all over. Rather than being placed on the sides (or God forbid, mid-front and -back) the connecting stitches are placed around the groin of the hipsters, which gives them a sporty boyish look.
The Wama hipsters should be washed inside out on the cold setting (max. 30 ⁰C) and only be tumble-dried on the low setting. It should be noted, however, that all garments will last longer if air-dried – not to mention that it is a much less energy-consuming and thus sustainable way to dry textiles. You can read more about reducing the environmental footprint of your clothing here.
The Wama hemp underwear is for sure a great replacement for cotton underwear – especially when it comes to sustainability. But cotton is in general not recommended for hiking because it takes too long to dry, which can become a serious problem if you first sweat and then get cold – for example when reaching a windy peak or taking a longer break where your body temperature drops. This is also why my boyfriend didn’t recommend his Wama men’s hemp underwear for aerobic activities. I am, however, a bit on the fence. In general women feel colder and sweat less than men, so if you (like me) rarely sweat on the butt and keep the intensity level moderate I don’t see a reason why you shouldn’t wear the Wama hipsters on shorter easy hikes out and about.
If you have any questions about this product, drop me a line in the comments below.
Wama Hemp Hipsters – Fabric Porosity
Wama’s website tells how much saved water and energy
Wama Hemp Hipsters – Brushed inside of waistband
Wama Hemp Hipsters – Logo Label on side
Wama Hemp Hipsters – Flatlock seams around groin
Wama Hipsters – Washing Instructions
Wama Hemp Hipsters – Back
Rating
| Design |  |
| Quality | |
| Comfort |  |
| Functionality | |
About Rating
Pros:
Cons:
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The post Wama Hemp Hipsters Review appeared first on Best Hiking.
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Here are the links for my SANS @Night OSINT talk in Washington DC (December 2018):
SANS @Night Talk Links Read More »
Hello hiking friends, As summer winds up, Labor Day weekend is just around the corner. That means it is time to grab some bargains as stores rush to make room for snowsports gear! Here are some fantastic deals to check out before you store away your summer gear: Labor Day Gear Deals REI has an …
The post Hot Hiking Gear Deals: End of Summer Clearance! appeared first on Hiking Lady.
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