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Post by walkingdeadman on Sept 6, 2011 22:49:44 GMT -6
****NOTICE****
The majority of the content in this discussion is geared toward skills, information, and tools needed to save your rear when the worst happens. the worst may present itself in any form. Paranoia dose not exist here, just solutions for problems that have yet to present themselves. there are no advertisements for products or programs. posters may make recommendations. there are to be no attacks on others ideas. if you disagree with someones post explain why you think its wrong and provide evidence to explain how to fix what you perceive as wrong. we are here to help one another. now without further ado... Oh when things go wrong they can go very wrong. be it at camp, on the trail, or at home. and in these many posts we will talk about how to ensure (at the very least) a much less rough time getting to safety of ensuring the safety of you and your loved ones. we well start with the "out and about" areas first. By out and about i don't mean driving around. i mean you left your car at the parking spot and headed out for the hike, way out. Camping, Geocaching, Hiking. There are many ways for things to go wrong out in the field. From medical issues, to mechanical, to the truly unavoidable lets talk and go over things needed for these outings when you don't expect to stay over night "but just in case". Navigation- While your GPSr is a highly useful item it should have extra battery's and you should have a compass as well. Shelter- You may not intend to stay out but if lost and its dark, your choices are this: keep moving in the dark with no light or limited light or stop and make camp. you will need shelter, a simple 8x10 tarp and 10 - 20 feet of rope could be very useful. a poncho is good too. Fire starting- matches/lighter/magnesium & striker/ or faro rod w/ cotton balls soaked in vasoline. All good for the purpose. you may ask why should i have to make a fire? well if your are way out in BFE then you may have just been put on the food chain and fire will keep most of the big predators away as well as the smaller ones too. also having a fire is good for the moral and for cooking, but we will talk about that later. a knife- plane and simple, a knife is one of the hardest things to make in the wild and it is the most useful item for saving your butt. the best knifes are fixed blades with a Scandinavian grind. serrations aren't needed but they can be helpful when cutting notches/rope/trough material/trough meat. there are more uses for a knife then you may ever know. water/food- here's the cooking bit i mentioned before. starting with water. you would drink from your faucet at home because it has been cleaned and purged of bacteria and parasites (though i have thoughts on what is put in after) but you wouldn't want to drink the water elsewhere say from a pond you pass by or a river you stop to soak your feet in, or a puddle by the side of the road/path/trail with out filtering it of particals and boiling it for 10 minutes. for this it is best to have a water container or two and a stainless steal cup/bowl. depending on your food source, you may require a tool. can opener, knife, pot and pan, what ever you need. (ex: i carry i 3L camelbak, 2 1QT canteens, 2 stainless steal kidney cups. an aluminum boy scout style mess kit and a set of cutlery, some canned food. this is for a long hike.) personal protection- this i will leave up to you.... EDIT: Yours truly, Cowboy. I Highlighted the intro, because it's a good one.
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Post by Cowboy Camper on Sept 7, 2011 19:46:18 GMT -6
Well placed and well said WBM. WDM, Thanks. I remember talking about a post like this when we were caching just this last Sunday. So... I agree. 100%.
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Post by walkingdeadman on Sept 8, 2011 18:07:55 GMT -6
keep in mind your could me several miles from your car, camp site, or home when you need this stuff. this is what every one in your group should have on them: a knife, a tarp, a faro rod, a canteen and cup(with water and food), a map and compass, 100ft of rope, a headlamp, a blanket(emergency mylar/wool/ fleece), and first aid. thats the basics in my mind. with those 10 ten things you could get out of any thing. just add duct tape and your MacGyver. any thoughts
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Post by Cowboy Camper on Sept 8, 2011 19:41:49 GMT -6
I've been a bit busy the last few days with this dang Fire right by work, so I apologize for not yet taking all of this info in and considering it. Good Post! (don't get me wrong!) But I haven't been able to think about all said just yet. However, I Do have one question. What is a Faro Rod? Never heard of that one before.
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Post by walkingdeadman on Sept 8, 2011 19:58:29 GMT -6
I've been a bit busy the last few days with this dang Fire right by work, so I apologize for not yet taking all of this info in and considering it. Good Post! (don't get me wrong!) But I haven't been able to think about all said just yet. However, I Do have one question. What is a Faro Rod? Never heard of that one before. A ferro rod or Ferrocerium rod is a metal match, a fire striker. the image below it the version i carry. you can be found on ebay for well under ten bucks w/ shipping its almost sure fire.
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Post by Cowboy Camper on Sept 8, 2011 20:09:13 GMT -6
Another quick answer, referring to the Original Post about Personal Protection. You leave this up to us.
Here's My Answer: (assuming you're talking about personal Defense.) When I pack up to go either to Camp or on a Caching run, I Never (as of yet, anyhow) ever considered Needing such Personal Protection. However, if a trip were to come up, and this might be a consideration (be it animals or criminals....) I would not hesitate to "pack Heat" at all. To spell it out, Guns. I am a Full Supporter of the Second Amendment, and as such, I own a few firearms. I also maintain a valid FOID Card as required by this here State of Illinois. If it ever comes a point where a License to Carry becomes a good (and IMHO, It SHOULD!) Law, I Will pursue whatever it takes to let me pack and carry.
Depending on any given Threat level at any given time, I guess it's up to the criminal Perp as to decide if I may or may not be Armed at the time. Local Laws will not necessarily prevent me from holding onto my Second Amendment Constitutional Right to bear arms and defend myself and family. And if it ever comes to it, I Will Shoot to Kill.
If it should ever come to that, I am Confident that my appeals will Win if it goes all the way up to the Supreme Court. However, having said all that I have one last thing to add. Don't Ever pull a gun on a person unless you have No Other Option. Furthermore, it it ever comes to that, you had best be prepared to Use the firearm. (IMHO, Preferably, to Kill) Otherwise, that firearm can (and likely Will...) be taken from you and you may Die if you have any hesitation in the back of your mind.
Wouldn't that suck? Being shot to death with your own gun?
As I said, it's the Last Resort. Use it wisely.
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Post by walkingdeadman on Sept 11, 2011 0:42:54 GMT -6
well, i was instead referring to fire arms, though i think everyone needs to have a condom (non-lubricant) in their wallet or in their purse. if nothing else for safe sex. but it can be an emergency water container and some other things. but yes i was talking about guns, bows, atlatls, sling shots, machettes, spears, clubs, staffs, ect. its all up to the individual. i personaly do not have a foid card, nor do i own a bullet eater. the most i have is a pellet gun that is on its way to me from the mountians. it is not because i have a record, and it isnt because i am against guns. i believe in our rights even when they are being striped from us. if i could i would have a whole arsonel but i cant afford the cost of these things. there will come a day when i can and will see how that gose but you carry what you want, i will carry/make what i need. i wll kill if i need to but it is allways last option. the best way i can put it is in a quoit from serenity, the firefly movie: Capt. Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds to DR. Simon Tam: "You don't know me son, so let me explain this to you once. If I ever kill you, you'll be awake. You'll be facing me, and you'll be armed. "
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Post by walkingdeadman on Sept 20, 2011 12:21:48 GMT -6
Oh key folks, who's ready for stage two? This is the more or less driving/riding portion of this discussion. For the last part (which i should mention can be brought up at any time) i didnt included scenarios that would (forgive the pun) put you up a creek. I have yet to decide weither i want to include one in this stage but i welcome, and to be fully candid crave the input of others. While on the road, one should have a kit that is seasonal appropriate while at the same time covering a wide area of potential problems that may occur. anything from in the summer:over heated radiator to in the winter: blizzard buried me under and much more. I personaly cant drive (in a sain and legal manner) to save my soul. but if your being chased my a maniac? get out my way i'm drivin us out. But i digress. think maintenance, navigation, food & water, warmth, and protection (not so much but to each his own gun)
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Post by walkingdeadman on Oct 4, 2011 21:56:58 GMT -6
thoughts:drivers is your vehicle in working order? dose it need oil? gas? new lights? tires need air? hows your spare and jack? if your on a bike, how are your tires and chain? do you have food and water to "fuel" you? walking? got a good pair of shoes? are you prepared for unexpected weather?
where are you headed and what issues might you face? weather? wild animals? poisonous or other wise dangerous plants? mother nature can be cruel.
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