Category Archives: Survival/Outdoors

05/14/13

Traveling Tip for BOB’s and Backpacks

DSCN0233If you are backpacking, traveling with suitcases and airports, or packing a get home or get out of dodge bag there are some common similarities that make life easier. Pack only what you need, put the more common items near the top, and be careful when packing things like liquids or they will leak all over your gear.

Today’s tip is an easy way to prevent that. Simply unscrew the top of your shampoo, conditioner, or any other liquids with flip top openings, place a small square of plastic wrap over the bottle opening and then replace the lid. Continue reading →

05/1/13

Survival Still Urine

2This may seem like a kind of a gross post – but I think it really showcases the capability of water distillation versus filtering.

Obviously, the volume of urine produced is going to yield less distilled water than a person needs per day, but I am not doing this demonstration to say that my plan involves distilling urine into drinking water, but rather to show how well the still works.

If it purifies the urine into water I am willing to drink, then it’s obvious that this is a process I trust. Continue reading →

04/18/13

Knots: Bowline (Including Tying One-Handed)

bowlineI had an interesting childhood – my Dad and I were a lot alike, and when I was growing up he jumped with both feet into the world of rope courses – he single-handedly built several small courses in Tennessee which, coupled with his work as a Park Ranger fed my infatuation with survival techniques and self-reliance.

I spent a lot of time as a pre-teen and teenage years tying knots and lighting fires and I want to spend more time getting back to that as I learned a lot, had a lot of fun, and want to refresh my skills with you so I am ready when Tell gets big enough to keep the rope ends out of the dirt long enough for me to teach him. Continue reading →

11/12/12

Survival Squirrel Snare

23.1Trapping gives much more meat per unit of energy expended than hunting does. Using snares is a passive activity; you can set several traps in multiple locations and check them once a day leaving you free to do other useful work while still gathering food. Hunting requires active attention; you cannot stalk a deer while tending a signal fire. Continue reading →

04/9/12

CETME Bolt Gap

cetmeFirst off let me say, I am not a gunsmith, and I am even less an expert on delayed roller blowback rifles like the CETME or an HK 93. However, let me say that this post from military firearms.com does an OUTSTANDING job of describing what is going on inside your rifle.

If you’re not interested in knowing how your carburetor works and just want to know how to stick in the key and drive, then my article will tell you what you need to know to ensure your CETME or G3 has proper bolt gap. BUT, I would highly recommend you read the military firearm post by bladeworks123, because the more you know about your rifle the easier you will be able to keep it running.

Continue reading →

04/5/12

How To Start a Fire With a Battery

fireBeing a DIY Prepper involves learning multi-disciplines, and while I believe living off the land in a wilderness setting is a unrealistic TEOTWAWKI plan, I still think everyone should have basic wilderness survival skill.  One outdoor skill everyone should possess is the ability to make fire.  This is one skill that redundancy is especially useful.  Today we are going to show how to use steel wool and a battery to light a fire.  Once the basics are understood this process is repeatable with almost an unlimited variety of batteries.  Theoretically, it can even be done remote controlled. Continue reading →

02/16/12
UVpaqlite

Uvpaqlite Review

UVPaqliteI don’t do reviews all that often, but not too long ago survivalblog had a passing mention about a new company that made reusable glowstick the size of a chemlite. I immediately ordered a couple sample for my personal evaluation.
Continue reading →

02/6/12

How to Eat Acorns

acornsAcorns are not something most of us think about as food, however, Acorns were a staple of many Indian tribes and were used as a primary foodstuff from one coast to another. According to Jackie Clay (of Backwoods Home fame)

Acorns have been tested and found to be possibly the best food for effectively controlling blood sugar levels. They have a low sugar content, but leave a sweetish aftertaste, making them very good in stews, as well as in breads of all types.

The only two problems I have with eating acorns are I am too lazy to pick them up quick enough to prevent worms from ruining them, and the bitter taste the tannins give them. Luckily there are solutions to both problems, and this article and accompanying video will show them. Continue reading →

12/19/11
Pemmican

Recipe Modern Pemmican

pemmicanI grew on a state park as a son of a park ranger and was encouraged (maybe that’s too strong a word –tolerated) to explore Native American crafts and wilderness survival skills. I had always wanted to make pemmican, but since I lived on a state park, I could not hunt so I never had access to enough meat and fats to make it. (Mom wouldn’t let me experiment with the family’s groceries unless I was cooking supper…. LOL) Continue reading →