Tag: prepared

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Are you ready for the road?

We are headed into the time of year when travel reaches its peak level, especially by passenger and/or recreational vehicles. That means it is time to get them in tip-top road ready condition. This includes making certain that we have emergency supplies that are congruent with our travel plans. We don’t want to be the ones in the news that fell prey to an unforeseen incident that left us unprepared and vulnerable. We don’t want to be lost, stuck or disabled without the tools and supplies that will help us prevail in whatever situation we find ourselves. That being said it is untenable to prepare for every situation, but we can prepare for most.

Frequent traveler

As an instructor, I travel year round all around the NW. Often times I find that I am the only vehicle on the road. That is actually my favorite time to travel. I have a keen sense that most times the only thing separating me and the oncoming traffic is a painted line. You are at the mercy of every other driver out there when you travel. You can be doing everything right and pay the price for the mistake or indiscretion of someone else at any time. I often see debris on the roadways from storms, improperly secured loads, and accidents. These hazards can and will cause problems for you, the recreational traveler if you are not careful and prepared.

Unprepared travelers

All too often we hear of someone who was caught unprepared while traveling. Whether it was weather related, mechanical failure, poor planning, or just bad luck the result is the same. They are forced into survival mode trying to improvise for shelter, food, and water occasionally resulting in death or severe injury. Something I say in all my classes is, “It costs us very little to be prepared and safe, but could cost us a great deal if we are not”, it is relevant to almost all aspects of our lives.

How do we prepare?

Skills first

As an instructor, I will always start by developing your skills. The skills that are relevant to this topic are easily attainable. The key is to learn the skills before you need them.

  • Learn how to check your tire pressure
  • Learn how to change a tire
  • Learn how to check your oil
  • Learn how to check your coolant level
  • Learn how to check your transmission fluid
  • Learn how to check and change fuses in your vehicle(s)
  • Learn how to use a weather radio
  • Learn how to read a paper map (not google maps)
  • Learn how to use a compass
  • Learn how to properly place flares
  • Learn how to use your fire extinguisher
  • Learn how to use jumper cables
  • Learn how to use a water filter
  • Learn how to use a portable stove

Tools and Supplies

Now that we have an idea of what skills we need, lets put together the tools and supplies to compliment those skills.

For your vehicle

  • Flashlight/Headlamp
  • Ice scraper
  • Tire gauge
  • Carjack
  • Spare tire (preferably full size)
  • Tire repair kit with a compressor
  • Shop towels
  • Quart of oil
  • Gallon of coolant
  • Quart of transmission fluid
  • Long funnel
  • Basic toolset (wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, etc…)
  • Solar or crank powered weather radio
  • Maps and compass
  • Flares (preferably electronic to avoid combustion hazard)
  • Fire extinguisher (ABC)
  • Jumper cables
  • Portable Battery Jump Starter
  • Small shovel
  • Tow Rope

For the people

  • Candles
  • Lighters
  • Matches
  • Duct tape (we like Gorilla tape)
  • Disposable gloves
  • Well-stocked first aid kit (with any prescription meds you may be dependant on, such as an EpiPen, insulin, etc…)
  • Solar blankets
  • Wool blankets
  • Warm socks
  • Raincoat or poncho
  • Good all-weather coat
  • Cash (small bills and coins)
  • Stocking cap
  • Sun hat
  • Umbrella
  • Heavy gloves (work gloves)
  • Sleeping bag for the current season
  • Tent
  • Sleeping pads (one for each person)
  • Paper and pencils
  • Whistle
  • List of important phone numbers (on paper)
  • Can opener
  • Knife
  • Scissors
  • Garbage bags in various sizes
  • Sewing kit
  • Baby wipes
  • Toilet paper
  • Hand soap
  • Comb
  • Hairbrush
  • Toothbrush
  • Change of clothes (season appropriate)
  • Towels in a waterproof bag
  • Water (preferably one gallon per person or more)
  • Water filter (such as a Sawyer mini)
  • Backpack (small, for carrying supplies during excursions i.e. getting water, etc…)
  • Good walking shoes or boots
  • Portable camp stove (we like Jetboils)
  • Freeze Dried food (preferably 3 days per person)
  • 100 feet of Paracord
  • 25 feet of 3/8 inch rope
  • Pocket survival guide
  • A container for all your supplies

Important things to note

  • In cold weather, your water containers should have space to allow room for expansion when the contents freeze.
  • Always have a backpack for each person. If you are forced by circumstances to leave your vehicle on foot, you will want to be able to carry as much of your gear as possible. Always choose to stay with your vehicle if you can.
  • Your kit should change with the seasons, winter gear won’t do you much good in the heat of summer, but extra water will be invaluable.
  • When taking a longer trip, add extra food and water to your kit.
  • Don’t forget about communications: you can summon help with a cell phone or a two-way radio.
  • Depending on the laws where you live and your personal preferences, weapons and ammunition can be a useful addition to your vehicle kit.

Urban vs. Remote

This article is focused on remote travel where you would not be able to depend on services like AAA or other roadside assistance. Although these skills, tools, and supplies will benefit you wherever you travel you may not need to prepare for the extremes that I have. Not everybody needs everything on this list.  Pick the items that are relevant to your situation, your environment, and your disaster scenarios. No list can be comprehensive for everyone, but this has done well by me. As I said before,
“It costs us very little to be prepared and safe, but could cost us a great deal if we are not”

As Always,
Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

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The Myth of rising to the occasion

Prepare for summer

It is important that we deliberately choose how we spend our time. After all, it is our most valuable resource. No matter what we do, we can never get it back once it is spent. Each morning we have 1,440 minutes deposited in our accounts, that we must spend, there is no saving it. We can choose to waste it or use it, it is all up to us.

There is a myth that is commonly perpetuated, but is no less a myth. It is the myth that when bad things happen to us we will rise to the occasion. This is a dangerous idea, as it could not be further from the truth. It has been proven time and time again that you or I will not rise to the occasion, we will fall to the highest level of training we have mastered.

It behoovs us to train and develop the skills we need to meet our needs during a potential disaster. This is anything from a natural disaster like a cataclysmic earthquake (The Big One) to a man-made disaster such as the next depression. These events will need an entirely different set of skills then most of us have and use on a regular basis.

Make no mistake, these skills will be needed, it is only a matter of when not if. We all need to prepare for the eventuality choosing, not to can and probably will prove to be a fatal mistake. These are skills that our ancestors used on a daily basis, yet we have lost them through lack of need. We have been spoiled by the technology of the new world. It has made us dependent on it, and we will suffer if we do not take steps to break that dependence. we need to bring back the skills of our predecessors.

Water

We need to be self-sufficient and secure our own water sources whether it be through collection or retrieval. Water is life and we will not survive more than 3 days without it. If you are on city water, what happens when you cannot pay anymore, or the lines are broken due to liquefaction? How will you provide water for yourself and your family? Do you have the tools, skills and knowledge to overcome this crisis?

Shelter

We need to have safe and secure shelter, Is your current dwelling sufficient to provide you with this need should the big one hit? Do you have the tools, supplies, and skills to repair your house to a point where it will provide the needed shelter? What happens to you and yours when you can’t pay the rent? Will you survive without shelter? Unfortunately, you will not survive without shelter for more than 3 weeks, and those will be miserable.

Food

Do you grow your own food? Do you hunt and know how to dress an animal? How will you provide food for your family when the stores are empty? In the event of a disaster there will be a run on the stores. We see it every time there is some perceived threat, remember what happened this winter? Imagine it lasting 6 months, a year, or longer. Are you ready?

Security

Now let’s just assume, even though that is a bad idea, that you have all those bases covered. What about security? How will you protect yourself and your loved ones when disaster strikes? Because most of us now live in high-density cities we will feel the sting of not being prepared much more than the rural areas, let’s face it there are a lot of rates in the cage. When the shelves and bank accounts go empty those that have not prepared are coming for what you have. It is human nature to preserve yourself and the ones you love, you will only be an obstacle to them. Are you prepared for this eventuality? What tools do you have? What skills do you have?

Conclusion

I know this may sound alarmist or apocalyptic to some. But, let me ask this question, will it harm you in any way to be prepared? Knowledge is the easiest tool to carry! Always remember, the more you know, the less you need to carry. There is no harm in preparing yourself and your family for a possible disaster, but it may prove fatal if you don’t.

As Always,
Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

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Don’t be a taco sauce hero

I hope it has been long enough to be sensitive, but not so long that you don’t remember. I have to say it angered me greatly to listen to the news about the man and his dog that survived 5 days in the wilderness on nothing more than 3 packets of taco sauce. They not only completely misrepresented what it takes to survive, they essentially made the idiot a hero. The media going to the extreme and Taco Bell stepping up to salute the young man for being so resourceful and rewarding him is ridiculous and dangerous.

This is probably the worst thing that could have happened. It sets up a lot of ignorant albeit well-meaning people to fail in a survival situation. The facts are that this young man failed at everything but death. His situational awareness was non-existent, had he even the slightest bit he would have recognized that he was getting in over his head. He would have seen all the warning flags that were flying around his head. If he had any sense at all he would not have gotten in the bad situation in the first place. It is not as if some exigent circumstances caused the problem, it was sheer carelessness, and we paid for it. Who do you think paid for the search efforts?

Don’t get me wrong I’m happy he and his dog survived, but it wasn’t because of taco sauce. He did enough things right after the fact, that he survived, and he would have without the taco sauce! What is being missed here by the media, and all those watching it yet ignorant of reality is the rule of threes and how it relates to survival.

The rule of threes

  • You will not survive for longer than 3 seconds without staying calm
  • You will not survive for longer than 3 minutes without air
  • You will not survive for longer than 3 hours without shelter
  • You will not survive for longer than 3 days without water
  • You will not survive for longer than 3 weeks without food
  • You will not survive for longer than 3 months without community

As you can see from the list above he would have survived an additional two weeks without any food, let alone the taco sauce. It was completely irrelevant. We need to take our survival and preparedness seriously and not propagate these aggrandized misconceptions about survival, that helps no one.

I am an advocate of getting out there and exploring, pushing your limits, and expanding your skill sets. But I am wholeheartedly against being foolish and reckless, let alone the media making a circus out of such foolishness.

Remember, Knowledge is the easiest tool to carry!

  • Know where you are going.
  • Know who you are going with.
  • Know what you are taking with you.
  • Know the limits of your own skills.
  • Know when to turn around.
  • Know better than to foolishly put yourself at risk.

As Always,
Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

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Camping tips

Now that we are officially well into the camping season here in the northwest. I thought we should share some of our favorite camping tips.

One thing all of us will face when camping is laundry, even if you don’t have to wash your clothes you will inevitably need to hang something up to dry. We usually will just drape it over one of the many rope strung around camp or the back of a chair,this is not very efficient. Next time try using the little plastic clip from a bread bag, they work great as clothespins and are easy the pack.

Tired of all your cooler stuff getting soaked after a couple of days in the melting ice. Try filling old drink bottle 80% with water and freezing them before you go out next time. You won’t have the usual cooler swamp and you also end up with a bunch of fresh drinking water when they melt.

Ever trip over the guy lines of your tent when climbing out for your nightly relief, I have, they are hard to see when you are mostly asleep. Try this, take short little mostly useless pieces of tin foil and make little flags on your guy lines. The moon reflects nicely off these, not to mention your flashlight.

Always put a rock with a nice big flat top, level in the fire ring, it is so nice to have a place to keep your food and drinks warm by the fire.

Last but not least, we deal with the most dreaded camping nuisance of all, mosquitoes! You just can’t seem to avoid them, so here is a couple of useful tips. Firstly, bring some sage sprigs with you, when the mosquitoes are thick, through some on the fire, they hate it. Secondly, after you get bit, and you most certainly will, use a little dab of toothpaste, not gel, directly on the bite, it knocks down the itch and helps it heal faster.

Well that’s it for now

As always,

Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

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Back from the batcave

Good morning,

Sadly it has been awhile since you have heard from me, but that doesn’t mean I have NRA Training Logo Suite-INST-3CSPOTbeen stagnant, I bring word from the batcave.

 

I have been busy in the field, we have completed a couple of gun safety classes. I really enjoy these classes because I feel very strongly about how important they are. If you feel that you need to own and/or carry a firearm, I believe it is your responsibility to become highly proficient with its use and safe handling. I believe you should have to show competence, not just a written exam. Just like an automobile, show me you can parallel park.

Backpack

 

My steadfast partner in crime has been insistent that we start offering pre built Bug out Bags. So we have been doing a lot of research so we can be sure to offer what we feel are the best solutions for the different type of bags we all should have. In the not too distant future you should see a selection of prebuilt solutions being offered. We believe everyone should be prepared for the unforeseen, and look forward to offering the best bags you can get. Stay tuned.

 

As always,

Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

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Food in the Backcountry – Trapping with snares

We live in a society that has trained us to eat meat on a daily basis. Fortunately we are moving away from this paradigm, as we have learned it is both unnecessary and problematic to the long-term health of our planet. That being said, when we are in a survival situation it may become necessary to our survival to harvest some fauna from the earth. Chances are you will not be packing around your hunting gear, if you even have any, when the need arises. So this will focus on methods that use your natural surroundings and a few basic tools.

There are many types of traps at your disposal. Snares, deadfalls and pits to name a few. If you are reading this I am assuming you have a certain level of readiness, like a pocket knife and some paracord.

Lets talk about snares, the two we will talk about today are spring snares and drag snares. Of these the spring snares are the most complicated of the two.

rabbit-snares

This is an illustration of what I call a drag snare. it is designed so that all that is needed is a well placed loop of cordage and the animals instinct to flee for successful operation. If you look closely you will see the loop is fashioned with a slip knot that will become tight when strained. This ensures that your prey does not escape. Placement is the key ingredient to success. Try to find an animal trail and place the loop so that your prey will pass through it while traveling normally. Make the loop the size of your intended prey. 3-4 inches for rabbits 2-3 inches for squirrels. You don’t want to catch a bear.
spring_snare

spring snare is quite effective but way more complicated in the setup and reduces your chances of releasing an unwanted captive, as it is more aggressive. But it tends to be more successful because it uses the critters body weight to maintain tension on the snare once it is tripped.

The single most important message I want to pass on is;

Traps are indiscriminate and must not be forgotten!

If we decide we need to set traps for our survival, we must be responsible in their placement and management. Taking life to maintain yours should never be taken lightly, be a good steward.

 

As alway,

Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

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Skill Development – Water, finding it and making it safe

As usual, one post leads to another, you saw me mention finding water in my last post, if you read it. So, today we talk about water. Water is the third of the 3’s, the only two more important are air and shelter. Here in the NW we tend to dismiss the importance of water due the usual abundance of it. But, let me tell you, from first hand experience, when you need it and can’t find clean water to drink, you will realize just how scarce it is. Now, I realize most of us are in either an urban or rural setting where potable water comes straight out of the faucet, so we spend little time thinking about the acquisition of water. We don’t think about how we will find water when the pipes run dry.

In the wilderness there are no artificial water pipes, but there is plenty of water, even in the desert. Nature has a way of finding water, it is the only way it can survive. So, keep your eyes open and look for the signs. Mother nature will show you where the water is, or at least where it usually is. Animals need water looks for signs of activity. Small birds that are grain eaters like finches will lead you there in the mornings.

In the forested wilderness that is most of the gorgeous NW, finding water can be as simple as traversing (moving laterally across the slope) a hillside or mountain. you will most assuredly find a stream or pond. In the desert you will want to look for what appears to be a stream bed or dry river. These will usually be found near strips of land that have larger vegetation growing, the greener and bigger the better.

If you find what looks like a dry stream bed there may still be water there. Just as in the desert, dry streambeds with green vegetation are good places to look for water if a readily available source has not been located. The greener the vegetation the better.

A Seep is going to be your go to method of getting water where there is naught.

  • In the dry stream bed, at a low spot or the outside of a bend, start by removing the bulk of any rocks lining the stream bed in the area you have decided to dig.
  • Now, dig your seep about one foot deep and two to three feet wide. Start by digging an exploratory hole. Look for the soil to start getting darker as you dig. Once you get to about a foot deep you should see either moist soil or if lucky you will see water starting to fill the hole. Sometimes you need to give it a few minutes, take a break and relax, come back to check in a few minutes. You may need to go deeper than a foot. If you don’t see signs of water, find yourself a better spot to look.
  • Once you have your seep dug, line it with the smaller rocks you cleared out earlier, this will reduce sediment from getting stirred up when using the seep.
  • Filter the water or boil it if you have the means, but in general this water should be fairly clean and safe to drink.
  • You can use a t-shirt, kerchief or any piece of fine knit material to filter out particulate.

A Seep or Egyptian well can be used to filter water from an active stream or river, if you find yourself without a filter or means to boil your water. Just dig it about a foot or so away from the water on the bank. The water from your active source will be filtered through the earth and you seep will gradually fill. When you have an active source of water the seep does not need to be as wide, but always go at least a foot down.

If you source of water is a lake or pond, it is best to add a secondary seep about a foot further away, in line with your first seep. Now, take your water from the second seep, it has been double filtered. Since the water in a lake or pond is static, it is more prone to bacteria and parasites.

Remember, it is always best to be prepared for these types of emergency and carry the appropriate tools to make your water safe to drink, whether a filter, tablets or a pot and fire source. Although, we don’t get to decide when bad things happen, we can choose to be versed in the skills that will get us through them. These are the basics, nothing replaces hands on experience. go out there and try it out before you need it to survive.

As alway,

Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

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Skill Development – Basic Land Navigation

This is a very complex subject, but very simple in application, if you follow a few simple rules and have a basic understanding of how to read a map.

Map Terminology

  • Contour – Imaginary line on ground, all points of which are at the same elevation above or below a specific reference surface.
  • Coordinates – Linear and (or) angular quantities that designate the position of a point in relation to a given reference frame.
  • Declination – Magnetic declination is the angular difference between magnetic north and true (geographic) north at the point of observation; it is not constant but varies with time because of the “wandering” of the magnetic north pole.
  • Elevation – Vertical distance of a point above or below a reference surface.
  • Grid – Network of uniformly spaced parallel lines intersecting at right angles. When superimposed on a map, it usually carries the name of the projection used for the map, that is, Lambert grid, transverse Mercator grid, universal transverse Mercator grid.
  • Latitude – Angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and seconds of a point north or south of the Equator.
  • Legend – explanatory table of symbols used on a map or chart.
  • Longitude – Angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and seconds, of a point east or west of the Greenwich meridian.
  • Map – Graphic representation of the physical features (natural, artificial, or both) of a part or the whole of the Earth’s surface, by means of signs and symbols or photographic imagery, at an established scale, on a specified projection, and with the means of orientation indicated.
  • Orientation – Establishing correct relationship in direction with reference to points of the compass; the state of being in correct relationship in direction with reference to the points of the compass.
  • Overlay – Printing or drawing on a transparent or translucent medium intended to be placed in register on a map or other graphic and which shows details not appearing or requiring special emphasis on the base material.
  • Relief – Elevations and depressions of the land or sea bottom.
  • Relief shading – Technique for making topography on a map appear three-dimensional by the use of graded shadow effects. Generally, the features are shaded as though illuminated from the northwest.
  • Ridge – A spur of land that is higher than the land on either side.
  • Topography – Configuration (relief) of the land surface; the graphic delineation or portrayal of that configuration in map form, as by contour lines.
  • Triangulation – Method of extending horizontal position on the surface of the Earth by measuring the angles of triangles and the included sides of selected triangles.
  • Valley – A spur of land that is lower than the land on either side.

Tools of the Trade

Basic land navigation only requires three tools. A topographic map, a compass and a pencil or dry erase marker, if your map is laminated or sealed in plastic.

Finding your Grid Coordinates

All topographic maps have grid numbers listed on the top, bottom, and both sides. To find your grid coordinates you simply find the numbered line to the RIGHT of the grid square you are in. Then you find the numbered line on the BOTTOM of the grid square you are in and you can get the four digit grid coordinate which will give you the 1 km square area you are in. Remember you read the map RIGHT AND UP.

To get a more exact fix on your location you first break the two sides (from right to left and bottom to top) into ten equal parts each. To get the next set of numbers for your coordinates you first go from the right and figure out which of the ten parts you are in, then do the same from the bottom up. This will give you a six digit grid coordinate, which will give you your location within 100 meters. To get your coordinates within ten meters of your location you divide each of those ten square you mentally created in half, you would use either five for half way between those lines or zero for directly on a line. It takes practice, lots of practice to “eyeball” an eight digit grid coordinate but it can be done.

Orienting your map

To orient your map first lay your map on as level a surface as you can then find the North Declination line, usually located in or near the maps legend. Lay your compass on the map and line the edge of your compass up with the MAGNETIC NORTH line. Then simply turn your map until the North seeking arrow is pointing in the same direction as the Magnetic North Line on the map.

You can now use the compass to find a bearing to any terrain feature, road, building, or grid coordinates on the map.

Resection – finding where you are

First orient your map and look for a prominent terrain feature you can see to the LEFT of your location. Then find that terrain feature on your map. Place your compass on the map, with the edge of the compass running through the center of the terrain feature and draw a line back towards your vantage point.

Next find another terrain feature you can see to the RIGHT of your location. Find that terrain feature on the map, place your compass on the map with the edge running through the center of that terrain feature and draw another line backwards towards your vantage point.

Where the two lines cross is your location. You can now get the grid coordinates to your location.

Reading the Map – What does it all mean

The legend is going to tell you everything about the map except how to read it. Here are the two most important things to know.

Distance traveled – this is a huge one, as it is difficult to keep track of your location if you don’t know how far you have traveled. The best method that does not depend on anything battery operated is a pace count. You should know your pace count to distance traveled ratio, for example mine is 110 steps to 100 yards, walking normally. Now I can pace off 100 yards using 100 steps, learned this from golfing, but that is not my relaxed pace and that is what you need to know. Go to your local High school track and walk the 100 yards with a relaxed pace, now you know your number. Remember a mile is 1760 yards. A good practice is to carry a string of pace count beads, an easy way to manage your counts and you can make your own.

Contour lines – you know from the glossary what these are, and what they mean, but can you read them. The simplest way to look at it is, if the line curves toward a higher elevation, it is a valley. If the line curves toward a lower elevation, it’s a ridge. Best place to find water is in a valley. When contour lines are far apart, it is a gentle slope. When contour lines are very close it is a cliff or at least very steep. If the contour lines form a circle, it is either a peak or a pit, based on the elevation change.

Now that you have the basics, get out there and practice in a safe place, with limited risk. I found that going out to some local Orienteering events is a great way to become intimately familiar with a map and build your navigation skills.

as Always,

Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

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Skill Development – Building a one match fire

OK, Let’s build a fire!

The most common mistake when trying to build a one match fire is not having all your supplies gathered before you strike a match.

 

Supplies consist of three types of wood: tinder, kindling and fuel wood.

  • Tinder is very brittle, dry wood that is roughly the diameter of pencil lead and about as long as the spread of your hand from thumb to pinkie. Longer is better than shorter. Get a good double handful – you know, when you put your hands together finger tips touching and thumbs touching, like when they are around your snoring partners neck – that much is perfect.
  • Kindling is dry wood that is roughly about the thickness of your thumb. Be sure to collect a double arm load, imagine you are hugging your mother, about that much will do nicely, but always err on the side of too much. You want long pieces, about the length of you forearm from your elbow to tip of your middle finger (a cubit). Be sure it is good and dry because you’ll want it to break rather than bend it.
  • Fuel wood is larger pieces of wood that are anywhere from the thickness of your wrist to the size of your thigh. It can be bigger but those tend to require tools for processing. It is simpler to get what you can process by hand. Try to get pieces that are about the same length as your kindling. The drier the better, but you can place fuel wood around your fire to help get it drier. You want to get a pile about knee-high ready before you start because you can always get more later.

Now that you have acquired all your supplies, you are ready to build your fire.

 

Building Your Fire

Always build your fires in a safe location, and on bare ground far from any structures or trees that may catch fire. You are trying to get warm and potentially cook food and boil water, not burn down the forest or your shelter. If you have rocks available, make a nice little fire ring about the same width as your forearm is long.

 

Start by placing your pile of tinder in the center of you fire ring (assuming you found some rocks). Fluff your tinder so that you have a little air underneath it. Now, you are ready for your match. Protect it from the wind and make sure the match is burning well before you move to the tinder. You can do this by holding the match with the head slightly below your fingers. Now push the match under the tinder and hold it there as long as you can. If your tinder was dry, it will readily start to burn. Once you have a flame, be sure to roll or fluff the tinder over the burning part so you get a good portion of it burning.

 

Now time for your kindling! Start with your smaller pieces and just slowly add them by laying them over the burning tinder. Try to add them in a reasonably symmetrical manner (balance is good but not required). You are going to get a lot of smoke during this part. This is a good thing because where there is smoke there is fire. Once you have a good fire going with your kindling, you’ll know this because the smoke will have died down significantly, you can start adding your fuel wood.

 

When you are adding fuel wood remember the triangle of fire; Fuel, Heat and Air. Be sure not to smother your beautiful fire, feed it slowly, and add any remaining kindling to aid it if you run into trouble.

 

If you follow these simple guidelines and practice you should have no trouble starting one match fires and being the hero of your group.

 

NW Tips

A couple of insights from here in the NW where it tends to be a tad wet…

 

If you are dependent on a fire every night, start your day by collecting some moss. There is almost always plenty to be found and be sure it is free from insects. Then place some under your hat and on top of your head. This makes great tinder and if you keep it under your hat all day it will be nice and dry by the time you build your fire.

 

Also, I have found that quite often it is difficult to find dry ground to build a fire. So you can use either a large flat rock or build a platform from wet deadfall. If you take a couple of large pieces of wet deadfall place them parallel about a foot apart, then place 4 or 5 pieces across these at a right angle. Add one more layer like this, again at a right angle. Build your fire, as normal, on top of this. Not only will your fire be easier to start, the platform you build will dry out from the heat and turn into fuel.

 

Now, get out there and do it!

 

 

As always,

Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

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Skill Development

Good afternoon,

We here at NW survival tend to spend a lot of time talking about all the things you need to have in order to survive an adverse or emergency situation, either in the city or the wild. That means actual skill development may end up taking a back seat. This week I want to talk a bit about the importance of skill development.

The truth of the matter is that no matter what you have with you during times of stress, they are useless to you if you do not know how to use them. Even something as simple as a first aid kit may go unused without the proper skill set. If we don’t take the time to learn what the appropriate response is to any given situation, our other preparation is for naught.

So, we are going to start a series of posts dedicated to Skill Development, not equipment. Starting with the basics, how to start a fire. I can already hear the grumbles… “I know how to start a fire!! You are wasting my time.” But let me ask you this, when is the last time you built a fire with one match? OR When was the last time you built a fire with no matches?

Then we will talk about knots, followed by land navigation (both urban and rural), and many other skills that I consider basic.

 

As always,

Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

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