Bushcraft

(The Following is a sponsored post).

by Billy

Cold temperatures and shivers can be an added challenge to the already challenging and adventurous activity of camping. The winter weather conditions can make it difficult for campers and hikers to tread the path, pitch their tents, source food, etc. But, if you’re still determined to experience camping in winters, then here are some important tips for you to keep in mind.

1. Hydration and Nutrition

In winters we don’t feel very thirsty but that doesn’t mean that our bodies don’t need water. Remember to stay hydrated in the winters and keep taking sips of water at regular intervals. Eating proper meals or taking snack breaks regularly to give yourself sufficient calories is also important in winter camping. Drinking plenty of water and eating regularly will help you stay warm.

2. Clothing

Don’t try to manage your winter camping trip with just multiple layers of clothing. Purchase winter-specific, camping clothing because those are designed for camping or hiking in the cold. Invest in fleece pants, a puffy coat, waterproof jackets and pants, socks, gloves, hat, earmuffs, etc. Keeping yourself warm in the winter weather is very important, so make that a priority.

3. Health and Fitness

You should be careful about getting any cold-related injuries like frostbite, hypothermia, and others. It’s very important to keep yourself dry and warm in the winter weather. At any point of time if your feet or any other body part gets wet, change your clothes and get yourself warm immediately. So always make sure that you are carrying an extra pair of each of your clothing.

4. Camping Gear

For winter camping and hiking, you will need extremely sturdy and durable gear. Ensure that your tents are sturdy enough to withstand the winter winds and temperatures, carry warm sleeping bags, two sleeping pads and most importantly, a stove which is suitable for cold weather conditions. Don’t forget to shop for the usual camping essentials which would include a tough UK pocket knife, ropes, tarps, flashlight, maps, compass etc.

5. Gadgets

Remember that in winters gadgets lose battery very quickly so you might want to keep them warm and cozy. It would be best to keep them packed in your backpack until you need them. Take them out to use them, try to keep them warm and cozy while using them and then pack them away when you’re done.

6. Campsite

It’s important to choose the right camping site for your winter camping adventures. You should avoid camping sites that are located at the bottom of the hills because of the formation of cold- air troughs and also the top of the hills because of the cold wind. If possible, choose a site which is flat and if there’s snow, you can suppress it by walking on it. Remember that snow which is packed will insulate heat better than snow which is left loose.

7. Pee Bottle

Cold temperatures can cause you to pee more often than usual and it can also be very difficult to be able to pee out in the open during winters. So, mark a bottle with your name and create your own pee bottle for any urination requirements at night. You can also wrap it in duct tape if you would not like your pee to be visible to other campers

Conclusion

Camping in winters is a great adventure and an even greater challenge. However, nothing is impossible. If you’re well prepared, ready with your gear, aware of your surroundings, dare to take on the challenge and know your do’s and don’ts, this too can be an equally fun activity.

by Ian D

The Importance of Knowing Your Equipment, and the Reality of the Using It.

A few months ago I decided it would be a good experience to go on an extended backpacking trip.   I carefully researched the area I was interested in by asking people who knew the area and by looking over various maps and descriptions.

I initially thought I’d attempt this solo but then asked my daughter if she’d like to come along.   She seemed interested and reluctant at the same time.  I described the hike to her as a leisurely and “easy” hike with several trails we could take and end the trip early if needed.

The one unexpected obstacle I ran into though was my wife.   She didn’t think it was a good idea for us to “jump” into this hike with little to no training or physical preparation.

My daughter and I are not in terrible shape but neither of us are doing long walks or running type activities on a regular basis.  My wife thought we’d be safer if we did a few day hikes beforehand and got used to having a pack on and carrying a heavier load incrementally.  I assured her that neither of us needed to do that and we could easily walk a few miles a day.

The total hike was only expected to be about 20 miles so that would only be about 7 miles a day or so.  So we eventually got the go ahead and started seriously planning.  We did all this serious planning about 5 days before the hike was to begin.

Then life happened and we were delayed by a meeting, a fence building project, and 100-degree record-setting temperatures.  We started packing about 2 days before the trip in the afternoons after working outside all morning on the fence project.   We ran out and got food and extra things we thought we needed and eventually had our packs “ready”.

My pack, an Osprey Kestrel 58, weighed in at 40 lbs and my daughter’s North Face Terra 55 weighed in at 30 lbs.   We figured we could handle the weight as we weren’t planning on very long days and we were going to hike at a leisurely pace.

The day of reckoning arrived and we headed out to the trailhead.  It was forecast to be sunny and around 96 that day.  As we got out of the car at 8:30 am, in the already 80 plus degree heat, the bugs proceeded to enthusiastically greet us.

Once we finally got our packs on our backs, I think we both knew right then this wasn’t going to end well.  We said goodbye to our ride and started up the trail.   We didn’t make good progress though, as we proceeded to stop about every 5 minutes or so for the next 2.5 miles, trying to figure out how to get our packs to sit comfortably on our backs!  We tried adjusting the load inside, the straps outside, and the internal frame adjustment.

We finally both found a somewhat better position that at least rested somewhat on our hips and shoulders together.  My daughter and I were in significant distress, discomfort, and dread from the packs, bugs, and heat!  We considered many times turning back that whole 2.5 miles and camping at the trailhead and hiking down to a place where the phone might work in the morning.   We believe that both packs have insufficient padding on the shoulder and waist straps.

Both packs seemed to just not be right for us, but this is probably more the fact that we clearly had NO idea how to set them up.  After 2.5 miles and 6 hours, we stopped for a water refill and lunch.  The water refill consisted of unpacking the brand new Katadyn Hiker Pro.

This worked flawlessly and allowed for a quick refill of both our hydration packs.  It uses quick disconnects that allow for direct filling of a similarly equipped hydration reservoir.  The cool water from the small stream was refreshing and turned out to be the one thing we both thought was the highlight of the trip.

Next up was lunch of some Backpacker’s Pantry Pad See You with Chicken.  But first I had to get my Solo Wood Stove going.  I knew how to use this stove as I’d pretested it a few years before.  The problem we ran into though was the waterproof matches we had simply would not light.

So the BIC lighter was used and after sufficient nursing of the kindling, the stove came to life.   The stove works fast and efficiently.   I only needed a small pile of twigs to get the water boiling and we were eating about 30 minutes later.

The problem was that 30 minutes gave enough time for every insect in the area to call their friends and come to greet us.  It was all we could do to eat our food, which actually turned out to taste really good, and not ingest some bugs with it.   We quickly finished, cleaned up, and “bugged” out so to speak!

Up to this point, we had yet to find anywhere desirable to camp for the night.  It was too rugged, hilly and any semi-flat spots seemed to be in the vicinity of the areas with a little remaining water, all of which were bug infested and quite smelly places.

So we trudged on in search of a possible campsite and toward the next trail junction which was a way down and out in case we needed to end things.  Around 6:00 pm we got to the junction of the trail we could escape on.   Here we could have made a hasty camp on the trail and hope for the best and then continue onward in the morning.   But I instead called the wife and requested an EVAC.  We discussed our options and decided to head down the trail the 6 miles to the trailhead.

We figured we could do the 6 miles downhill in about 3 hours, which turned out to at least be a correct estimate in the end.  This was some of the hardest 6 miles as we’d already been out for 9 hours in the heat and our bodies were both screaming for us to lie down and stop already.

In that 6 miles we were also contemplating every potential spot where we could stop and camp and still, the only places seemed to be right on the trail or bogs.   So we decided to keep going using the thoughts of a soft bed and a bug-free night to push us along.   Around 8:30 pm, we got to a switchback where there were about 2 miles left.

On the map, it looked as if the lower section of the trail was only a few feet below this switchback and we could take a “shortcut” to get there.  It looked as though someone previously had made a trail so we headed down that.   Unfortunately, the “trail” turned out to be a bad idea as it quickly ended a few hundred steep feet down, through deadfall, and some bushwhacking.

At this point, we both had no energy to try and get back up the steep slope.  So we decided to try a sideways hike through the bush to get to the trail.

This got us almost nowhere as it was simply too steep and closed in to make much progress.   We had both already fallen a few times and were on the verge of a mental breakdown.   I finally spotted the trail a few hundred feet down and it looked like it was almost straight down below us.   We had to slide on our backsides a few times to safely reach the trail and luckily there weren’t any serious rock cliffs.

Once down we thought we still had a few miles to go but luckily our near death off-trail experience had re-energized us ever so slightly.   It turned out to be only about a half a mile from the trailhead from where we had come out.

When we arrived there was a perfect camping spot, of course, in a nice dry grassy field.   I proceeded to essentially collapse and await our EVAC.   The wife pulled in about 5 minutes later which would have brought me to tears had I any water left in my body.  I imagine what we felt is remotely similar to what a soldier feels when the cavalry comes to the rescue.

Lessons Learned

• Know your gear – If you have a backpack load it up and try it out. Simply buying it and letting it sit idly serves no purpose.  If you’ve loaded it to use as a BOB then you need to strap the thing on and walk a mile with it.  That way you’ll know how it feels and if you need help, as clearly we did, in getting it set up and adjusted properly.  The same goes for your water filter, stove, knife, firearm, and other gear.   Use it and know its functions and abilities, become proficient.
• The Wilderness –  It’s got the word “wild” in it for a reason.   Be prepared for the bugs, heat, and rugged terrain.   If you think you could bug out by simply hiking into the woods with your family and survive, well, you’re wrong.  You’ve got to know the terrain and where water and campsites are.   Otherwise, like us, you could be in for a long uncomfortable hike.  Do your research and pre-locate camp and water on a map if possible.   Mark distances and account for the weather with regards to the number of stops you’ll need for breaks and water.
• Backpacks – Apparently you need to know a few things when using one of these devices. I’m going to have to learn more about proper loading and adjustment of these things as we clearly couldn’t figure ours out.   So my advice is to ask a local expert to help set yours up and tell you how to use the thousands of straps, buckles, loops, and gizmos on these things.
• Your Body – Let’s be serious here! Most of us American’s couldn’t hike a mile without getting winded.  Simply put, if you take care of your body then it will take care of you.  Get out and do day hikes with a partially loaded pack and work up to greater loads.   There’s simply no way you will understand the effects a pack has on your ability to move unless you strap one on fully loaded and try it.  Go explore your local wilderness and get to know it intimately.  That could be the forest, the mountains, or the inner city.   The more you know about the surrounding areas you live in the safer you’ll be.  Plus all that exploring will hopefully get you into better shape.
• Hydration – It turned out that I was slightly dehydrated or had heat exhaustion as by the time we got home, I was shivering and feeling quite ill. You need to drink regularly and keep electrolytes in your system.  Carry electrolyte tabs with you to make sure you never “feel” thirsty, and the day before a hike or athletic event make sure you drink plenty of water.  What you drink today is used the next day.
• Shortcuts – Be aware that the trails were generally made to avoid hazards and to get from point A to B in the least amount of slope. Thus why all the switchbacks are there.   But some trails as we all have encountered seem to be built by someone who’s a forest maze builder.   So if you’re going to take a shortcut to avoid the misery ahead then make sure you know the hazards or at least able to see the trail you’re going to.
• Listen – There have been unconfirmed reports and rumors, that in some cases a wife’s advice has been known to be spot on. When your wife tells you something, try to listen to what she has to say.  Maybe even do some additional research and such to show you did listen.   This will make your wife happy and may get you some brownie points.   Then, in the end, discount everything she said and do whatever you wanted anyway.    How else is a man supposed to learn a life lesson?  Also, make sure you allow her a self-gratifying “I told you so!” as she picks you up off the ground and helps you into the car.

by Richard Grimes

No discover since the beginning of time has been more important to the development of mankind, then the discovery of Fire.  The simple presence of fire added to the routinely “normal” day in the outdoors instantly adds the feeling of safety to any situation.  In any severe or extreme condition, the presence of fire literally means life.

There are many ways to start a fire.  They all have the same effect.  The Boy Scout Handbook states, “A fire can warm you, cook your meals, and dry your clothes.  Bright flames lift your spirits on rainy mornings.  On a starry night, glowing embers stir your imagination.”  (Birkby)  The base items needed to build all fires are, Tinder, Kindling, and Fuel.  Each of these must be collected and be prepared before any attempt to build the fire.

These three items are common to all fires.  Tinder is material that catches fire easily and burns fast.  Wood shavings, pine needles, dry grasses, shredded bark and the fluff from seed pods all make good tinder.  You should gather enough to fill a hat.

Kindling is dry, dead twigs no thicker than a pencil.  Gather enough to fill a hat twice.  Fuel, fuelwood can be as thin as your finger or as thick as your arm.  Gather dry dead sticks and limbs.  When gathering fuelwood remember these three rules.

One, you must always have at least 3 sticks in the fire at a time or it will go out.  Two, if you want to burn one, 3” stick, you need to have three 1” sticks burning first.  Three, gather twice as much fuelwood then you think you’ll need.  Once you have all of these items collected you are ready to begin building your fire.

In every case covered below, you will use your “source” to ignite the tinder, which will ignite the kindling, which will ignite the fuelwood.  The effect is always the same regardless of the cause of the initial item(s) used to generate the initial ember, spark or flame that actually starts the fire as these take many forms.

Most Common Ignitors

The most common and easiest items used to start fires are matches and cigarette lighters.  Matches work by striking them against a special surface in order to get them to ignite. The match heads contain sulfur (sometimes antimony III sulfide) and oxidizing agents (usually potassium chlorate), with powdered glass, colorants, fillers, and a binder made of glue and starch.

The striking surface consists of powdered glass or silica (sand), red phosphorus, binder, and filler. When you strike a safety match, the glass-on-glass friction generates heat, converting a small amount of red phosphorus to white phosphorus vapor. White phosphorus spontaneously ignites, decomposing potassium chlorate and liberating oxygen.

At this point, the sulfur starts to burn, which ignites the wood of the match. (about.com/chemistry).

Cigarette lighters work by rotating a steel wheel that is in contact with a flint.  When the wheel is turned the flint produces a spark which ignites the stored fuel in the lighter creating a flame.

Either of these when applied to the Tinder will result in a fire being started.

Metal Fire Starters

Magnesium and flint fire starters are also very common.  A piece of flint approximately 1/8” x 3” will be attached to a piece of magnesium that is approximately 5/8” x 1” x 3”.  It works by scraping a small amount of the magnesium from the block onto your tinder.  (Magnesium burns at 5000 degrees Fahrenheit.)

You then want to strike the flint in a manner to create a spark that will be thrown into the magnesium and tinder.  This is done by holding the bottom of your knife blade directly over the tinder and magnesium.

You then place the top rear portion of the starter against your knife blade.  Then holding the fire starter firmly with under your knife blade you draw the started backward quickly.  This produces a spark that flies forward from you knife blade into the tinder and magnesium.

If you attempt the hold the starter still and create the spark by moving your knife forward across the starter you will most likely know the tinder all over the place.

Wet Weather Starters

Wet weather creates a particular challenge when trying to start a fire.  I have found that taking cotton balls and coating them with Vaseline works wonderfully in wet weather.  You can fit about 10 coated cotton balls in a 35mm film can.  They work by removing one cotton ball from the can and stretching it out until the cotton ball is very thin.  Using any of the above methods to light the cotton ball will result in a small steady flame that will burn upwards to 8 minutes.

Lightning was probably the cause of the first fire that man ever got to enjoy.  If you have got the time, lightning may start your next fire for you too.  Otherwise, it would be smart to be prepared with a few of the items listed here to help you build your next fire.  It could well mean the difference between life and death for you.

By Trina Schmidt, Ed.D.

Being able to go outdoors and see a plant and know that it is edible is a valuable survival skill.  However, for many, eating wild plants sounds unthinkable and even a bit crazy. A few years ago I might have even said the same thing.

I grew up in the suburbs during the eighties where food only came from a grocery store and anything growing wild would be met with severe suspicion.  No one questioned where food came from or what was in it.

A farmer’s market was a dirty, smelly place downtown that you visited maybe once a year for the experience.  Genetically modified food was something from a science fiction novel and intolerance to whole classes of food like grain was unheard of.

Fast forward to today’s world where pesticides are built into the genetics of some of our most basic foods and the prices of products noticeably increase weekly.  Is it any wonder with the uncertainty of our food quality and the increasingly dire economic situation of our nation that a new interest in foraging for wild food has taken the United States by storm?

You can find hotbeds of foraging groups in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City.  Gourmet chefs are finding new and unusual uses for what was once considered weeds.  Unfortunately, foraging skills are all but lost domestic art forms to most of the population.

How do you begin to learn these skills?  This article will discuss the steps to learning how to forage.

Be Safe

Safety is the first rule when foraging.  Imagine a banana.  You know what a banana looks like.  You would not hesitate to pick it up and eat it.  That is how sure you need to be that what you are eating is safe.  For any new plant that you forage, you should confirm from at least three sources that what you have is what you believe it to be.

Also, keep in mind that you may have an allergy to certain plants that you do not know about.  Always try just a small amount first to see if you have a reaction.  These wild cousins of the grocery store vegetables did not make it to the produce aisle for a reason.  What you see at the store is the milk toast of vegetables, least likely to cause reactions in people and chosen for the monetary benefit of the producer, not the consumer.  Unfortunately, you also trade nutrition for over bred easily digestible vegetables.

For instance, while we consider spinach to be a powerhouse of nutrition, dandelions have seven times more phytonutrients [1].  However, because dandelions are so easily available, there is no money in its addition to the grocery store shelf.  Unless of course, you are Whole Foods and import it from California to a clientele who would never even associate this vegetable with the plant that actually grows in the parking lot!  This example is far from being unique.

Safety is not only in what you consume but in how you acquire your wild edible.  Make sure you wear bug spray or you might just bring home a nasty collection of chigger bites and ticks.  If you are on private property, be sure and ask permission.  Be prepared for hot weather and bring a lot of water.  Always tell someone where you are going.

Evaluate What You Do Know

Did your grandmother ever pick Poke plant growing up?  Do you know what a blackberry looks like?  Often you will have knowledge of plants that if just connected to their edibility will open a new world to you.  For instance, as a child did you ever pick the clover flowers and make chains?

These flowers are edible and can even be dried and ground into flour.  Do you have roses growing in your yard?  The petals can be used for jellies, syrups, candy and in bread.  Do you know what a pine tree looks like?

The pine needles of many pine trees can be used to make a delicious tea which has 4-5 times the vitamin C of fresh squeezed orange juice and is high in vitamin A.  It has been used throughout history to treat scurvy [2]. Did you ever enjoy the sweet nectar of the honeysuckle as a child?  Honeysuckle makes an excellent jelly.

Be Inquisitive

Look around you.  What is currently blooming?  Throughout the growing season, there will be waves of plants showing up.  Here is the South, there is a time where thistles will be prolific.  Their purple spikey flowers will show up everywhere.  It turns out that thistle is edible and if you remove the prickly edges, the center of the stem is quite tasty.

Research has also suggested that thistle has anti-cancer effects by reducing the blood supply to tumors and preventing cancer cells from dividing and reproducing [3]. Take the time to identify your currently blooming plants.  If there is a field of flowers, stop and photograph that plant and research it until you know what it is.

I began foraging three years ago all due to a tree that I had obliviously passed for six years.  One day I realized that it had small green balls of fruit growing on it.  It was next to a stop sign at my kids’ school.  I finally stopped and took a sample to a local plant nursery.

The young employee thought it was a cherry, but I knew that was wrong.  It had multiple small seeds not a single seed.  I kept searching until I found a match online and discovered it was a crab apple.  I then began experimenting with recipes, and I was hooked.  This tree was abundant, and I could make jelly all summer long.  I was always into saving money and to discover all this potential free healthy food everywhere was exciting.

Because of this experience, I began to look around me more closely.  Suddenly I was seeing wild grapes at Home Depot, blackberries at the Post Office and mulberries in my local park.  They were always there, I had just not paid attention.

Look in unusual places.  I have found some of the best wild edibles in the growth behind grocery stores and in business parking lots.  Some of the prettiest blooming trees are fruit trees and often business parks will plant them.  Pay attention the next time you go to your dentist or pediatrician’s office.

Our local post office has the most amazing field of blackberries next to it.  Our local Target has twenty beautiful large crab apple trees behind it.  Some foragers will even volunteer where these trees are.  Check out Fallingfruit.org to see if your local area foragers have mapped some of these wild trees.

Connect With Other People with Similar Interests

The internet is an amazing tool for foragers.  If you belong to Facebook, join the Plant Identification group.  It is always helpful to have others look at your finds and help you identify them.  At the very least it will reassure you that you made the right determination.  Also by reading the other requests, you gain knowledge as well.

There are also Facebook groups for Wild Edibles Plants that you can join where people share their finds and recipes.  Pinterest has a huge collection of wild edible links.  You can also use the search tool on Pinterest for specific plants.

Find out who in your local area is knowledgeable on foraging and take a class.  I have taken several classes with our local naturalist.  It was a fantastic way to jump-start my knowledge. Photograph and write everything down that is discussed and research it when you get home so that you will remember it.  Try searching Meetup.com to see if there are any local teachers or groups available in your area.

Acquire a Good Selection of Reference Material

Thrift store book sections are great places to look for reference material.  I have found many books on herbs, mushrooms and several on wild edible plants.  Try your local bookstore for relevant material.  My local bookstore has a small section on wild edible plants in the “nature” section (not usually found in gardening).  It even has one or two wild edible cookbooks!

Amazon has a large collection of wild edible books.  Some of my favorites include Edible Wild Plants; Wild Foods from Dirt to Plate by John Kallas, The Forager’s Harvest; A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting and Preparing Edible Wild Plants by Samual Thayer, Mushrooming without Fear; A Beginners Guide to Collecting Safe and Delicious Mushrooms by Alexander Schwab, and one of the foraging classics, Stalking the Wild Asparagus by Euell Gibbons.

Your local library may be a great resource.  See if there is anything in the nature section and also in the cookbook section.  I have found that some of the cookbooks with antique recipes in them (like founding fathers, old South, and Civil War cookbooks) contain wild edible recipes.

Watch Videos

YouTube has a large collection of foraging videos.  Green Deane is one of my favorites. You can find his site at Eattheweeds.com.  He has over a hundred videos and is very knowledgeable.  He will even answer your questions.  While photographs of plants are a great resource, seeing the plant being used gives you a much better understanding.  Just knowing how big a certain plant is will be very helpful in looking for it.

Keep Track of Your Information

Write down what you learn.  A simple notebook will work.  When you visit an area, write down the location, date and what you find.  What you find will change throughout the year.  This way you will know where and when to find your treasures!  I also use it to store my research on the plant and recipes for its use.

Add your finds and locations to an online calendar.  Set it up so that it repeats every year.  That way you easily know when to go hunt for those Mulberries or pick that Plantain.  I use Cozi.com which is a free service and my whole family has access to it.  It sends you weekly emails letting you know what is coming up.

Be Courageous

It takes courage to try a new plant.  However, I guarantee that after you try it the first time, the fear will disappear and you will look forward to finding that plant next year.  This year I cannot wait for the milkweed flower pods to begin forming because last year I tried it for the first time, and they taste just like asparagus.

If you are still hesitant, try growing some of the wild edibles for confidence.  Many of the wild edible plant seeds can be found online.  It is a slower path but you will become intimately knowledgeable about all stages of the plant.  Try Rareseeds.com for a nice collection of seeds, some of which can be found in the wild.  I have done this with plants that I just cannot find locally but really want to see.

Foraging is a wonderful hobby and life skill.  It is a treasure hunt that can benefit you financially and nutritionally.  It is a great skill to teach to your children as well!  While your kids may complain (mine do), I can pull up to a stoplight and point to the grassy medium and my nine-year-old daughter can usually name at least two wild edibles available.  In these uncertain times, that skill may become priceless! 

Happy hunting!

References

[1] Breeding the Nutrition Out of Our Food (The New York Times)

By: Robinson, Jo.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/opinion/sunday/breeding-the-nutrition-out-of-our-food.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[2] “Pine Needle Tea is Cure for Scurvy.” Toledo Blade 26 Nov. 1943. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19431126&id=0thOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uf8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7201,3982067

[3] Scientific Evidence Of The Significant Anti-cancer Effect Of Milk Thistle (ScienceDaily)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071114111149.htm

Edible Wild Plants: 25 Wild Plants You Can Eat to Survive in the Wild

Everything That You Ever Wanted To Know About Honeysuckle Medicinal Benefits

by Estar H

If you are prepping packs or vehicles to bug out, where are you planning to go? Will you seek refuge in a rural area, maybe even in the wilderness? Whether you retreat to a fully stocked off-the-grid hideaway, set up camp on private acreage, or wing it on public lands, everyone in your circle should be committed to keeping the area clean and safe. Your methods will vary according to location and duration.

This article focuses on activities related to eating. Thoughtfully managing the food cycle will deter pests, preserve the food supply, and help you keep a low profile. Failing to keep your area clean may wreak havoc in the camp, especially if you attract a bear. Then you could end up with a hole like the one in the accompanying photo in your camp.

When living in the wild there are no guarantees. But here are 10 things I do that usually work.

1. Pack all food in solid metal or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids.

Start collecting containers of various sizes and storing food in them now. When you arrive at your destination, stash these containers in a secure area. This could be a cabin, cellar, vehicle, cache box, or a sack hung high in a tree.

2. Don’t bring food in cardboard or paper containers.

It always amazes me when people bring sacks of sugar and flour to camp in the wilds. Such containers are easily chewed and clawed through. When they get wet you’ll have a mess on your hands. No boxes of crackers, mac, and cheese, or cookies in paper wrappers. Your food won’t be safe in cellophane or Styrofoam either.

3. Leave plastic bags in civilization

Ziplock plastic bags can be washed out with soap and hot water and remain useful for a while. It’s nice that they’re waterproof, but they tend to retain food odors. They also fall apart. It’s better to bring containers that will last a long time. Besides, plastic is out of place in the wild.

4. Don’t bring sweet condiments into nature

You may yearn to satisfy your sweet tooth, but so do all sorts of critters, from ants and Yellow Jackets to bears. Bring dried fruits and berries in canisters. Leave sweet sauces, syrups, and condiments behind. Pack hard candy sparingly. Nobody wants to suffer through an extended emergency with cavities.

5. Clean up your food scraps

If you are fortunate to have any fresh fruits and vegetables there will be food scraps to deal with. If you are near a working compost pile, put your vegetable and fruit scraps there. It helps to cut them into small pieces. In a remote undeveloped area, rather than try to start a compost pile, the best bet is to bury those scraps a safe distance from camp.

Thoroughly dispose of meat and fish scraps, fats, and bones you don’t use. The most efficient way is to burn them. If you are trying to lay low, however, a fire will disclose your location. Rocket stoves are efficient and cause much less smoke, so check them out.

6. Clear your plate

Like mom’s of old said, “Clear your plate!”. Leftovers are a liability where there is no refrigerator or ice, and they will attract animals in the wilderness. Before you head for the hills, practice cooking only as much as can be consumed in one meal. Train everybody you plan to retreat with to clear their plates.

7. Washing the dishes

This is where you will be really glad to be camped near water. If you have a fire, wash and rinse dishes in water that is as hot as you can bear. Items used closest to the mouth get washed and rinsed first, in descending order.

What about soap? You may be intending to bring a stash, then make some as time goes by. Some folks like to use baking soda instead. Bicarbonate of soda offers an advantage in that it is versatile. In addition to washing dishes, it can be used as an anti-acid, toothpaste, foot powder, ant deterrent, and more.

For safety sake, assume all surface water contains something that can make you sick. It’s good to bring the water to a boil. This becomes a problem when fuel is scarce. Maybe you only have enough to boil the rinse water. If not, you will have to use cold water. Shake the excess off the dishes and, if there is sun, lay them in it to dry.

If you’re purifying potable water, decide whether you have enough to give implements destined for mouths a final rinse. Don’t worry so much about the pots and pans because high temperatures kill most pathogens. Rainwater is handy, but not ideal due to atmospheric pollution.

Did you bring food in tin cans? These will have to be washed out. Be really careful not to cut your fingers on the sharp edges. Take extra care with cans that contained fish because the strong odor will likely attract critters. Cleaning cans that contained fish packed in oil requires more hot water and soap than those canned in water. Fill used cans with water immediately so they can soak before getting crusty.

You may be tempted to flush waste away by simply discarding it into moving water. It’s not a healthy or aesthetic practice, especially if a lot of people are doing it.

8. Bury the garbage

Limit the amount of garbage you bring with you. For example, what will you do with the cans once they’re clean? They will either pile up or you will have to bury them. (This goes for all your trash). If you think you can bury cans without cleaning them, you’d better dig down at least a good three feet if your hole is near camp.

The picture accompanying this article was taken the morning after a bear visited one of my camps. Some leftovers a fellow camper had buried about a foot in the ground attracted the bear. The hole is about 18 inches down.

9. Managing the gray water

Gray water is what you get when you wash things, including yourself. During a SHTF scenario, gray water may no longer be flushed away through pipes. You’re going to have to collect it and do something with it.

If you will be stationary for a season, you might plant seeds. If water is scarce, you may consider applying gray water to the plants. Check out the pros and cons at oasisdesign.net. Does your gray water contain little scraps of food or oils? Think about insects and animals that may be attracted to it.

10. What goes down must come out

Your destination probably won’t include toilet facilities managed by authorities. Therefore, you will have to take responsibility for your own excrement.

A preplanned refuge should include a composting system or outhouse. If you are escaping in an RV, better not rely on its toilet in case the emergency doesn’t pass before the collection tank is full. The same goes for chemical camping toilets that will have to be emptied somewhere.

On undeveloped acreage, you will either have to relieve yourself in small holes that are covered after each use, or you might dig a latrine, which you may prefer when bad weather hits. A tarp can be strung over the pit to get out of the weather and for privacy. In some cases, it may be practical to build a hut over the hole. Each deposit in the pit should also be covered after use. Ashes make an excellent covering that eliminates odor and flies. Just make sure any coals are cold. If your pit is at a temporary remote camp, fill it with dirt and restore ground cover before moving on.

If you flee to an undeveloped area in winter, with snow and frozen ground, hole digging will be severely limited. If you have a bonfire, burn things that will be completely consumed. Don’t leave half burned garbage lying around on the ground. When the fire is out, you may be able to dig there. If you have to store trash until spring, remove all food residues. Do everything in your power now to arrange for a safe and comfortable place to hole up, in case winter retreat becomes necessary.

Each person should consider it his or her responsibility to maintain a clean camp. Methods will vary according to location and circumstance. One thing is certain: strategies for keeping the camp clean are a crucial part of any bug out plan.

by Andrew Skousen and Joel Skousen, authors, Strategic Relocation and The Secure Home

Threats of the Cold:

Every year people die during the cold and storms of winter because of lack of preparation. Motorists get stuck in blizzards and succumb to the cold when their fuel runs out and old people freeze when their furnace stops working during a power outage. These kinds of deaths will be much more prevalent if war and/or an EMP strike brings down the national power grid for a time (a few months if we’re lucky, a year if the establishment doesn’t get their act together).

For survival situations, you have to consider if your main or backup heating systems are going to operate when the utilities are down. Stored fuels like oil, propane, and coal are fine while they last, but these furnaces require some electricity to control and run the fan.  Renewable resources like wood are limited as well for those who don’t live near a dense, wooded forest. Fortunately, most wood stoves don’t need any electricity. But ultimately, everyone ought to be prepared to survive without external heat.

A Better Way to Stay Warm:

To survive in the cold focus on keeping your body warm—not the space around you. Modern long underwear is thin and comfortable and will keep you warm down to 40 or 50 degrees depending on your activity and other outer layers. Even cotton works if kept dry, but when it gets wet it loses loft and keeps the water close to your skin drawing out heat and making you clammy and cold (this is why survivalists say “cotton kills”). Long wool underwear is still the best of nature’s fabric—especially if you’re moving a lot and perspiring. Wool retains some loft and the new Merino blends aren’t itchy and are machine washable as well. If the daytime temperatures in your house drop below 40 degrees, however, you’ll need a better heat retention system. Fortunately, there is a modern solution to keeping warm even at extreme temperatures.

The 3 keys to staying warm are: retain heat, evacuate moisture and stop wind chill. Jim Phillips, a scientist, and experienced winter survivalist is the originator of cold weather clothing made with open cell foam which does the first two.  A suitable shell does the third. Foam retains heat in the air pockets throughout its structure and evacuates water by soaking excess moisture off your skin like a dry sponge.

Foam clothing does this best if worn close to your skin with a breathable (non-cotton) layer in-between like polyester or nylon. Open cell foam allows hot air near your body to slowly migrate through the breathable foam, absorbing and carrying moisture on its way out. Cold acts like a vacuum pulling some of the warmth (and the moisture in it) outward. The colder it is outside the better the moisture evacuation works. The density of the foam retains warmth even as the moisture is wicked away to the atmosphere.

Phillips wears a windproof outer shell to keep wind chill down and found that with 1” foam clothing he could stay comfortable for days on end in the Arctic. You can still order clothes from Jim’s site ($175 each for the coat and pants or $315 for both) or if you know how to sew, you can buy kit materials from them with instructions on how to do it yourself.

Fortress Clothing:

We have recently been able to test the latest improvements in severe weather clothing with a slightly better type of engineered polymer foam (EPF) from Fortress Clothing. Fortress has pioneered the latest advances in this technology and found an optimal foam for density (retaining heat) and breathe-ability (evacuating moisture) and the results are impressive. They sell a complete package of ½” foam clothes they stuff in a “bug out bag” and the total package weighs less than 5 lbs. They say the comfort zone for these clothes is a full 100 degrees of variation (-30 to 70 degrees F) with the caveat that this range depends on a person’s metabolism, exertion level, hydration, and health.

Fortress Clothing puts a rip-stop, windbreak fabric outside the foam and a polyester mesh on the inside so the foam clothes are comfortable and durable but they still recommend wearing an outer shell. They have found the shell can be waterproof as long as it isn’t tight fitting—you want enough air to circulate that the foam can do its job at evacuating moisture. That’s all you need for – 30-degree conditions you say—only two layers? -No down, fur, or Gore-Tex? I was skeptical too.

We have tried these clothes out in the Rocky Mountains during a snowstorm.  Andrew also ran two miles uphill in freezing temperatures until he had built up a sweat. Then he stopped and waited to get chilled.  It never happened. He even lay down in the snow for 15 minutes but was still comfortable. He then tried them indoors with the furnace off, sitting for long periods at his computer in 50-degree temps. These clothes tend to maintain an optimum temperature in a wide variety of activities.

Consider the worst winter survival scenario: You are cold and wet after getting soaked by rain, melting snow or (absolutely the worst case) falling into icy water in a lake or stream. In normal winter clothes, the sudden freezing temperatures can bring on hypothermia within minutes unless you get a fire started quickly and have access to dry clothes. But, not so with foam-based insulation.  As soon as you extract yourself from the water, the foam starts to drain and the air pockets start retaining warmth. Here’s a video of people who jumped into ice water with Fortress Clothing and documented how quickly they recovered. People reported feeling warm in less than a minute and actually dried out in about five hours—all without changing clothes or starting a fire, which normally spells death in any other clothing.

Other Fortress Improvements: Foam clothes are inherently bulky and tend to bunch up inside the elbows and under the knees, so Fortress designed some ergonomic advances into their outfits that increases comfort. They shape and sew the foam in these areas to be more comfortable. It still feels like a foam suit when you first put it on, but the foam is soft and pliable so it doesn’t restrict movement. You can even sleep in it comfortably.

Slits at the side keep the jacket from bunching up in your face when you sit down and the long tail keeps your back warm when bending over. The foam head covering is a balaclava—a hat and scarf in one. It’s not stylish, but you will love it when the wind is blowing. The wide, padded chin wrap does a good job of keeping your lower face warm too. A large Velcro attachment lets you adjust it over or under the chin at your preference (or wrap it behind the head, out of the way). But the feature we loved the most was the wide ring of double wind-stop material attached to the bottom of the headgear: it blocks all cold drafts and keeps snow from getting down the back of the neck—much better than any scarf.

The “hot socks” are great slippers around the house but you will want extra large boots to use them during work or outside play. I bought rubber boots three sizes larger than my feet in order to fit over the inserts. Even after walking a few miles my feet did not build up a sweat thanks to the foam.

The mittens are simple but well made with full foam all around the hand and a generous cuff. Fortress cuts and sews the foam to match the curve of the hand so the mittens are useful instead of just filling your grip with foam. Hands seem to stay much warmer in these mittens even when you wear a less effective conventional coat.  And, with the foam jacket on, you often don’t need gloves since your core is warm.

The Fortress outfit is all black, but that doesn’t matter because you cover it with an outer shell of your choice. We recommend that the uninsulated shell have a hood so it fits over the foam jacket and hat loosely. The pants shell should be loose fitting too.  Ski pant shells are ideal, but so are coveralls or baggy workout clothes depending on the kind of activities you are engaged in.

You can also buy this clothing in the 1″ thick version that protects you down to a whopping -68 deg. F., but unless you are planning arctic expeditions or live/work where it frequently gets below -30 F., I doubt you will need the extra bulk. What we really like about this high-performance half-inch clothing is that it provides warmth clear down to well below zero, but is light and flexible enough to be used for active outdoor work, hunting or recreation—horseback riding, skiing, snowmobiling, hiking and snowshoeing—without getting overheated. With no more bone-chilling rides on the lift, you will never have a more enjoyable ski experience than with this Fortress gear.

Cost and Discount Offer:

At over $700 for the complete bundle, these severe weather clothes aren’t cheap, but we consider them the ultimate in quality. We have no financial interest in any of the reviews we perform, but Fortress has offered a big discount for subscribers to Joel’s World Affairs Brief—a geopolitical newsletter, which alerts readers to all the current threats we face. Subscribers get a generous 25% discount when they order by December 10. Put another way, the coupon will repay the cost for the year’s subscription and still save you over $125 when you buy a Fortress outfit in the neat, compact compression bag that is ready to store in the back of your car or replace all your other coats and winter fuel supplies. (Create a login, pay and then click on “Latest Brief” to read Joel’s analysis of the Paris attacks with this coupon code in the Prep Tip at the end).

The Fortress website is (www.fortressclothing.com or toll free 855-487-9276). If you can’t afford the whole outfit, start with the jacket, and then the hat and pants. Everything is handmade in the USA with specially designed, high-quality foam (a big part of the cost).

Remember too that this is innerwear that will last for decades. The outer shells you wear over it will take most of the wear-and-tear. And while this lightweight clothing package is the easiest way to tackle winter cold, without gas, wood or batteries, it also serves all your outdoor work and recreation needs during the remaining good times. Highly recommended. [END]