If you are in a survival situation, or just trying to supplement the meat available for an independent homestead, small game can be a great source of calories and protein. Small game animals are more abundant that large animals, they live in a greater variety of habitats, bag limits are often quite generous, and the hunting pressure is often zero. The small game species that have most often been…
How to Hunt Small Game – The Basics Read More »
A wildfire was reported at approximately 3:00 am Thursday morning near Cold Mountain in Haywood County on the Pisgah Ranger District. Currently the fire is at approximately 106 acres.
The wildfire is burning within the Shining Rock Wilderness on the Pisgah Ranger District. The U.S. Forest Service has implemented a forest closure order for the entire wilderness area which prohibits all recreational uses, including the use of 53 miles of trails.
There are 30 firefighters working on the fire today and a crew will continue working throughout the night.
There will be heavy smoke in the area throughout Thursday night as a result of smoldering in the burn area. There is no imminent threat to structures at this time. Crews have been performing structure protection activities and this work will continue through Friday.
Agencies involved in the response include USDA Forest Service, NC Forest Service Haywood County Emergency Management, Cruso Fire Department, and National Park Service.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Shining Rock Wilderness Temporarily Closed to All Visitors Due to Wildfire Read More »
Sandbags. One tool that is indispensable for dealing with rising water, be it from a river that has crested its banks or a biblical deluge that is turning a once dry suburb into a drowned wasteland. Sandbags are laborious to fill and take time to emplace, but there is little that can do what they do for preventing and mitigating damage caused by water. Everyone knows about that use of sandbags…
10 Ingenious Uses for Sandbags Read More »
November 27th is the birthday of both SurvivalBlog’s Field Gear Editor, Pat Cascio, and sci-fi novelist L. Sprague de Camp (pictured). De Camp was born in 1907 and died in 2000. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 85 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The more than $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A $3,000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for …
The post Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — November 27, 2019 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — November 27, 2019 Read More »
So, Gerber’s representatives said they’d like me to check out some of their survival-related items and write up a review. I figured, why not?
You’re reading Gerber Survival Items Review, originally posted at Graywolf Survival – Emergency preparedness from a Counterintelligence Agent by Graywolf.
Gerber Survival Items Review Read More »
Hello Pack, the fall chill has arrived here in my neck of the woods. I am not one to like it when the temperature gets below 80, but I loathe fall far less since moving onto your dream land. On the up side, our creek actually looks like a creek again and not dry – nor have we had any major flooding yet. We have not yet been reduced to using the hay we baled for our herds.
What I Did To Prep This Week – Week 69: November 3rd 2019 – November 9th 2019 Read More »
What is the best way to run air compressor lines Read More »
When you think of survivalist, you’re probably thinking of igniting fires, building shelters, and hiking miles of wilderness. Though survivalists do these things, many people don’t think about the aquatic survival skills people need to know in order to survive places like rivers, oceans, and other larger bodies of water.
As a survivalist, you will need to be comfortable with the idea of being around water if you want to explore the world to the fullest. Not only that, but learning basic aquatic survival skills may save your life on vacations or allow you to explore your abilities as a survivalist in the water.
All survivalists should know how to swim. Though there are a variety of swimming techniques to use, the most common form is freestyle, where you alternate kicking your legs and alternating extending your arms forward. Using your arms, you push yourself through the water using your legs as a natural propeller. However, knowing how to swim isn’t the only thing you need to know. You also need to be cognizant of your swimming ability and endurance so you don’t overdo it and put yourself in harmful situation.
There are a variety of techniques you can choose from when learning how to tread water. Some important things to keep in mind, however, is that you will need to use both arms and legs while keeping your head above water.
One technique you can try is moving your arms horizontally while spinning your legs as if you were on a bike: in a vertically circular motion. Another technique is to use flutter kicks (point your toes downward and then kick your legs back and forth in short bursts) while using your arms to keep balance. No matter what treading technique you try, you will run out of energy, so be sure to practice consistently and frequently.
If you cannot tread water anymore, then you may lie on your back in the water and float to regain your strength. You can attempt to backstroke to safety if you’re within an ideal range, but the main focus should be on you getting your strength back so you can stay afloat!
If you get stuck in a river or ocean current, this isn’t the end of the world. If you are stuck in an ocean current and are getting pulled out to sea, do not panic. Take slow deep breaths and then begin to swim parallel to the shore. You will waste energy trying to fight against the current to swim back to shore. Though it may take a while, you will eventually feel the current stop pulling on you and then you can swim to shore. If you can, try and call for help, but not if you think you’re going to inhale water doing it!
Similarly to being stuck in an ocean current, do not fight against a current. Swim at in a diagonal line to shore; don’t swim upstream or perpendicular to the current. If, worst case scenario, you are going downstream and can’t fight it, turn your body so your feet are facing the way you are going. Doing this will prevent your head from hitting something and causing you injury or unconsciousness.
If you are going to be around or going into any body of water, be prepared to bring a flotation device with you. This prevents you from having to expend precious energy in staying afloat in a dangerous situation. Along with having floatation devices, be sure to continue practicing swimming– never know when it could save your life one day.
3 Important Aquatic Survival Skills Read More »
Who is around me and what are they doing? – Tom Givens
What are you capable of? – Ken Hackathorn
What’s the object of the exercise? – the Tactical Professor
What is the best use of my time right now? – Alan Lakein
METT-TC is a well developed structure for asking questions when developing plans for Personal Protection.
SALUTE is a good structure for gathering information in the moment.
When we are children, we are constantly asking questions. As adults, we usually get in the habit of providing opinions, experiences, and self-promotion instead of asking question. Information gathering is a vital skill in Personal Protection. Putting ourselves back into the question asking mode requires a shift in our thinking patterns that requires practice.
My thanks to John Correia of Active Self Protection for stimulating my thinking about the topic.
My Patreon page is where I go into more depth on Personal Protection topics. https://www.patreon.com/TacticalProfessor
The Role of Questions in Personal Protection Read More »
A year or so ago, I became interested in preparing for a disaster, so I went to the Internet to see what other folks are doing to prepare. I was surprised to learn the number of people who have been preparing for quite some time, and also at the level of their preparations; purchasing remote properties, building up a personal arsenal, and buying and storing food stocks for their families.
I figured I needed to ‘get on board’ and start my own preparations. I had a lot to do and a lot to consider; food stocks, weapons and ammunition, off-the-grid living,communications, tools, skills, bug out bag, get home bag, maps, cash, precious metals, and much more. Whew!
I am a planning-type person, and I don’t usually do anything without careful consideration and a solid plan. I like to think through what I will do, what I might need in the way of tools, parts, etc., and what my desired results are before I begin a project. Like all my projects, whether they be a family vacation, changing the brakes on my car, or preparing for a disaster, I feel a need to plan.
I decided to work on my preparedness tasks in parallel. As I was building up my food stocks, I also built up my weapons and ammo stock, and continued to read and learn about preparedness and survival. When I began to tackle a bug out plan, I found the task quite difficult as I thought through the three elements of how I tackle projects:
Right away, I knew the answer to question three. In a bug out situation, I desired to stay alive and have the best quality of life possible for the situation. Answering questions one and two were not so easy. The planning gene in my head caused me to think about what actually is involved with pre and post “bugging out” in order to answer the first two questions. As I thought about making my plan, a sound solution to bugging out became quite murky.
There are many websites, blogs, and videos available via the Internet that provide information, ideas, and examples of bug out situations, bug out equipment, and bug out strategies, and I eagerly studied as much as a I could. I initially thought bugging out was a mighty fine idea when the SHTF. After careful consideration, though, I have concluded that bugging out should be my last resort, my “plan Z”, and only after I’ve tried every possible way to avoid it. I offer these bug out cons for your consideration:
Everyone should have a plan and equipment for bugging out for those extreme situations when your back is to the wall, or marauding gangs are torching every house on your street. If you must bug out, have a pre-planned destination, and you must get there before your supplies run out. Essential to your bug out plan is to clearly define the condition(s) that would trigger your “got to bug out” alarm.
Remember, though, you’ll be quitting your job, abandoning your house, and your bills will pile up in your overflowing mailbox and remain unpaid. When a crisis occurs, you will not have time to make a successful bug out plan, so you must make your plan now. Anyone can make a plan, but it takes careful thought and consideration to make a successful plan.
The notion of bugging out is quite simple; grab your stuff and go. However, after bugging out and arriving “somewhere”, then what? What will you do and what will be your quality of life? When you are at home, all your equipment, food stocks, weapons, and gear are basically within easy reach.
If you have prepared and planned well, you can stay indoors for quite some time and enjoy a high quality of life. You can continue to sleep in your bed, have a bathroom down the hall, and even keep up with current events and what’s happening in your neighborhood.
The act of bugging out brings on its own set of potentially dangerous problems that you will have to deal with and suffer through “on the fly.” In all of my Internet travels, I have yet to see a bug out bag that was stocked and equipped as well my home. Bug out bags usually provide basic survival-type equipment and rations for up to 7 days.
The prospect that my situation would become that much more precarious after my rations ran out is none too appealing. Can I really depend upon hunting, fishing, and berry scavenging?
You are much safer in your own home in most situations. With adequate planning and supplies, you can hunker down and survive through chemical and even biological gas clouds. You can still call the police who might be able to assist you. You and your neighbors might band together to improve your collective security. Think long and hard before you engage in bugging out.
On your way to your pre-determined bug out destination, you need to avoid being ambushed, injured, robbed, or worse. You will not know who is friend or foe, and you must remain as inconspicuous and “normal” as possible.
I think it is unwise to assume you can and will homestead in the forest, hunting and fishing like Daniel Boone until “someone” gives an “all clear” and you can return home. You will not be the only person in the forest, and any food that is available will quickly be hunted or scared away. Your forest will soon be overrun with survivalist who claim hunting territories, and battles will ensue. Gangs will form and if you’re a loner, you will not survive.
Under such conditions, it would be nearly impossible for you to rest or sleep. You’d have to be on your guard 24/7. You couldn’t leave your camp to hunt or fish for fear of coming back to nothing, or a pack of squatters who have taken over your camp and everything you depend upon.
If you knew or sensed that others were in your forest, having a camp fire would be a bad idea because it would give away your location. How would you stay warm, or cook your kill? What if someone off in the distance sees smoke and calls 911 to report a forest fire? What about the winter cold or the summer mosquitos?
What would you do? Remember, you took only your bug out bag which did not have a sleeping bag or multi-season clothing. Sure, you have your big bowie-knife, your .22 rifle, and your length of para cord, but what about those other hundred items you need now that are back home?
If you are one of the fortunate individuals who has some land in a remote location that you have already set up to be your bugged out location, great! The difficult task for you is to know when to bug out and before the crisis or disaster occurs. Timing will be critical. Bugging out after the crisis only increases your chances that you’ll be stuck in gridlock traffic, apprehended, robbed, or again, even worse.
Predicting when and where a disaster or crisis will occur is anyone’s guess. If you guess wrong, then you would have bugged out for nothing, and increased your chances of coming home to a looted and ransacked house.
If you decide to return home, your immediate task would be to navigate your way through or around newly formed gangs and other non-friendlies you might encounter. If you bugged out with your get home bag, it is safe to say that any food you had in your get home bag would have already been eaten a long time ago.
You might arrive home only to find that your house has been looted, and all the food, gear, weapons, and supplies you didn’t take with you when you bugged out are gone. Your windows are broken, your electronics have disappeared, and you quickly discover thieves stole all the copper wires and pipes in your house, along with your refrigerator.
We all know that thieves are not a considerate lot. Since they took your copper pipes and left the water turned on, your house is now flooded, and your water bill is over $1,000. To add insult to injury, every thread of clothing, shoes, tools, and anything of any value that you had is now gone. Was it bugging out or going home that was the wrong decision?
I am unable to convince myself that I, after being so dependent upon grocery stores, utilities on demand, and sound shelter for decades, could just set up camp in the forest for an unknown length of time with only a bug out bag. You know, I am not the MacGyver type.
What do you think? Is “bugging out” a better plan than “bugging in”?
Courtesy of The Survivalist Blog.
How to Know When to Bug Out Read More »
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