A Survival Tips and Techniques Blog | UrbanWoodsman.com

In this two part video the Okieprepper discusses basic preparedness techniques for storing bulk dry goods in food grade buckets with mylar bags, oxygen absorbers and gamma seal lids. Food storage products in this video were purchased from usaemergencysupply.com www.usaemergencysupply.com

Gear up for an exhilarating day in the great outdoors. Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran hiker, being prepared and following a few hiking basics can help make your adventure as safe as it is sensational.

You don’t have to be a professional hiker to fully enjoy a hiking adventure. Hiking basics begin with a good sense of the outdoors and a willingness to get connected with the wilderness. The right equipment and supplies can help ensure a successful outdoor adventure.

Hiking Boots

Can you safely say, “These boots are made for hiking”? If not, it’s time to go shopping. Hiking basics start from the ground up, so make sure you’ve got a good foundation. There are all sorts of different styles of hiking boots to choose from. Choose your boots and wear them for a few days before your hiking trip. If your boots are nicely broken in, blisters and sore feet won’t spoil your hike. Remember, your feet will be your only source of transportation on the trail, so you’ve got to keep them comfortable.

Clothes and Accessories

There are no fashion runways in the forest, but it’s still important to choose the right clothing and accessories. You want to be comfortable, but you need protection. Layering your clothes is always best. Start with a light shirt or tank, and then wear flannel or fleece over top. If the hike heats up, you can tie the top shirt around your waist; if the air gets chilly, you’ve got an extra layer of warmth available. Zip-off and roll-up cargo pants are also great for offering flexibility and comfort. Remember to bring a hat and sunglasses, just in case your hike takes you to a sunny spot.

Food and Water

It’s important to keep your energy and hydration levels on track while you’re on the trail, so pack plenty of snacks and fresh water. It’s great to pack light, but more important to have enough water and food when you get hungry or need an energy boost. Fruit, trail mix and protein bars are all easy to pack, and packed with energy. Just be sure to take any food wrappings with you. Avoid sugary snacks and drinks that give you an initial boost, and then cause you to crash. Sugar doesn’t replenish energy, so leave it at home. Drink lots of water along the trail to keep from being dehydrated, particularly on hot summer hikes.

Survival Supplies

Don’t underestimate nature, or overestimate your navigational skills. Accidents can happen and you may become lost, so be prepared for anything. Pack a first aid kit for unexpected cuts and mishaps, and bring anything you might need in the event you get stuck or lost. Chances are, you’ll never need your survival kit, but in this case, it’s better to bring what you don’t need, than it is to need what you don’t have.

Respect Nature

Leave nothing behind, and take only your memories. These are important hiking basics for all adventurers. Nature is a gift that must be respected as well as enjoyed. Take a break every now and again to appreciate your gorgeous surroundings. Bring a camera to capture your memories. Smell the flowers and breathe in the fresh air. A few quiet moments can create memories that last a lifetime.

A few hiking basics are all you need to hit the trail for a great day outdoors. If you have kids that can safely hike the trails, bring them along to let them experience natural wonders they don’t get to see everyday. You’ll all see the world in a whole new way.

I’m a 17 year old female and a little nervous about it. I still have 2 months to prepare for it, and I’m worried about how fit I’ll need to be and the experience in general…

primitiveskills.com At the Scout Basic course build a survival shelter emphasizing low profile.

We are talking here about killing devices to hunt and to protect yourself. When the electricity and all current technologies are gone, people will need to use some primitive techniques to survive.

KILLING DEVICES
There are several killing devices that you can construct to help you obtain small game to help you survive.
The rabbit stick, the spear, the bow and arrow, and the sling are such devices.

RABBIT STICK
One of the simplest and most effective killing devices is a stout stick as long as your arm, from fingertip to shoulder, called a “rabbit stick.” You can throw it either overhand or sidearm and with considerable force. It is best thrown so that it flies sideways, increasing the chance of hitting the target. It is very effective against small game that stops and freezes as a defense.

SPEAR
You can make a spear to kill small game and to fish. Jab with the spear; do not throw it.

BOW AND ARROW
You can construct a suitable short-term bow fairly easily. When it loses its spring or breaks, you can replace it.

1. Select a hardwood stick about 1 meter (3 feet) long that is free of knots or limbs. Carefully scrape the large end down until it has the same pull as the small end. Careful examination will show the natural curve of the stick. Always scrape from the side that faces you, or the bow will break the first time you pull it. Dead, dry wood is preferable to green wood.
2. To increase the pull, lash a second bow to the first, front to front, forming an “X” when viewed from the side. Attach the tips of the bows with cordage and only use a bowstring on one bow.
3. Select arrows from the straightest dry sticks available. The arrows should be about half as long as the bow. Scrape each shaft smooth all around. You will probably have to straighten the shaft.
You can bend an arrow straight by heating the shaft over hot coals. Do not allow the shaft to scorch or burn. Hold the shaft straight until it cools. You can make arrowheads from bone, glass, metal, or pieces of rock. You can also sharpen and fire-harden the end of the shaft. Fire hardening is actually a misnomer. To fire-harden wood, hold it over hot coals or plunge it deep under the coals in the ashes, being careful not to burn or scorch the wood. The purpose of fire hardening is to harden the wood by drying the moisture out of it.
4. You must notch the ends of the arrows for the bowstring.
Cut or file the notch; do not split it. Fletching (adding feathers to the notched end of an arrow) improves the arrow’s flight characteristics. Fletching is recommended but not necessary on a field-expedient arrow.

SLING
You can make a sling by tying two pieces of cordage, each about 60 centimeters (24 inches) long, at opposite ends of a palmsized piece of leather or cloth. Place a rock in the cloth and wrap one cord around your middle finger and hold in your palm. Hold the other cord between your forefinger and thumb. To throw the rock, spin the sling several times in a circle and release the cord between your thumb and forefinger. Practice to gain proficiency.
The sling is very effective weapon to survive against small game.

In order to survive the real world after the 2012 events, it is clear that we need to make sure we have those tools to protect ourselves and to hunt for food. Surely this is quite an adaptation for the majority of us, yet not a luxury nor an option if we want to stand a chance. Pick your equipment well and learn the skills to use them and make new ones when necessary!

TAGS : 2012, how to survive 2012, survival tools, survival equipment

shilohtv.com Trail Boss Steve Doran shows you how to put together a miniature or mini-survival kit to be worn on a knife case or carried in a pocket. For the full article and more free information, outdoor articles and videos go to www.shilohtv.com

Remember the word “SURVIVAL”! It can literally save your life when the 2012 cataclysm arrives.

SURVIVAL ACTIONS:
     S – Size Up the Situation

Surroundings
Determine the pattern of the area. Get a feel for what is going on around you. Every environment, whether forest, jungle or desert, has a rhythm or pattern. This rhythm or pattern includes animal and bird noises and movements and insect sounds.

Physical Condition
The pressure of the battle you were in or the trauma of being in a survival situation may have caused you to overlook wounds you received. Check your wounds and give yourself first aid. Take care to prevent further bodily harm. For instance, in any climate, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. If you are in a cold or wet climate, put on additional clothing to prevent hypothermia.

Equipment
Perhaps in the heat of battle or due to accident, you lost or damaged some of your equipment. Check to see what equipment you have and what condition it is in.
Keep in mind the physical needs — water, food and shelter.

     U – Use All Your Senses, Undue Haste Makes Waste

You may make a wrong move when you react quickly without thinking or planning. That move may result in your death. Don’t move just for the sake of taking action.

     R – Remember Where You Are

Spot your location on your map and relate it to the surrounding terrain. This is a basic principle that you must always follow. Constantly orient yourself. Always try to determine, as a minimum, how your location relates to
    * The location of local water sources (especially important in the desert).
    * Areas that will provide good cover and concealment

     V – Vanquish Fear and Panic

The greatest enemies in a survival and/or evasion situation are fear and panic. If uncontrolled, they can destroy your ability to make an intelligent decision.

     I – Improvise

Learn to use natural objects around you for different needs. An example is using a rock for a hammer. Your imagination must take over when your kit wears out or gets lost.

     V – Value Living

We dislike discomforts. Faced in a survival situation with its stresses, inconveniences and discomforts may cause panic. This is when the will to live is vital. The experience and knowledge you have gained through life and training will have a bearing on your will to live. Stubbornness, a refusal to give in to problems and obstacles that face you, will give you the strength to endure.

     A – Act Like the Natives

The natives and animals of a region have adapted to their environment. When and what do they eat? When, where and how do they get their food? When and where do they go for water? Animal life in the area can also give you clues on how to survive. Animals also require food, water and shelter. By watching them, you can find sources of water and food.
WARNING:
Animals cannot serve as an absolute guide to what you can eat and drink. Many animals eat plants that are toxic to humans.

     L – Live by Your Wits, But for Now, Learn Basic Skills

Without training in basic skills for surviving, your chances of living through a survival and/or evasion situation are slight.
Learn these basic skills now — not when you are headed for a remote or harsh environment. How you decide to equip yourself will impact on whether or not you survive. You need to know about the environment to which you are going and you must practice basic skills geared to that environment. For instance, if you are going to a desert, you need to know how to get water in the desert.
Practice basic survival skills. Survival training reduces fear of the unknown and gives you self-confidence. It teaches you to live!

PATTERN FOR SURVIVAL
Develop a survival pattern that lets you beat the enemies of survival. This survival pattern must include food, water, shelter, fire, first aid and signals placed in order of importance. For example, in a cold environment, you would need a fire to get warm; a shelter to protect you from the cold, wind and rain or snow; traps or snares to get food; and first aid to maintain health. If injured, first aid has top priority no matter what climate you are in.

Change your survival pattern to meet your immediate physical needs according to the environment.

Visit our blog at http://blog.2012pro.com to find out more about this and other related phenomenons and to see what else we have in ‘store’ for you! Finding a safe location is of utmost importance and educating yourself about this and related topics will be vital if you would like to survive what is upon us in 2012!

TAGS: safe places, survival, 2012, cataclysm

Equip 2 Endure’s goal is to bring the most modern examples of survival preparedness and survival trends gadgets and news. Our intro video begins with our Practically Prepared Series; examining examples of different levels of Survival Kits for any given situation. We examine Survival Kits ranging from small hand held kits, pocket size to small bag kits, to kits everyone should maintain in their vehicle. Remember: If youre not always prepared, youre never prepared!

Check Out My Channel This is my basic wilderness survival kit which covers the Imidiate needs of just being out into the bush and I also show the containers in which I keep my kit