Riverwalker's Pics - Bird's Eye View

Bird's Eye View

Sometimes you need to put forth a little extra effort to get a different perspective.

Climbed any trees lately?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Making Improvised Tools for Survival - The Broken Knife

A situation may arise where you find yourself in a situation where the use of your gear may result in it breaking. It could be accidental, from normal wear and tear or a little abuse on your part. The main thing to remember is that it can still be used to make an improvised tool that will allow it to be useful in a survival situation. One of the more common mishaps that can occur to your gear is winding up with a broken knife.

One of the easiest and most useful survival tools that can be made from a broken knife is a simple spear. Here is an example of an improvised spear that could be used for hunting or defensive purposes in a survival situation that was made from a broken knife. You could also shorten the stick to make an improvised handle that would turn it back into a useful working knife.

A short section of wood about 3 to 4 feet in length split on one end to allow you to insert the blunt end of your knife blade (the blade tang) and then secured in place by whipping the end with some sturdy twine. Thus a blade that had no handle now becomes a useful tool that can be used safely and effectively.

In a survival situation, you will need to be able to make use of all your resources. This includes the ability to turn broken or damaged gear or other items back into useful items. if your resources become limited this will be a very useful survival skill.

Got broken gear?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - The Tinder Maker

Making Tinder

One of the most important parts of bushcraft is being able to make a fire. Making a fire requires several different elements for it to be a successful operation. Lacking a source of good tinder can be a problem but is easily solved with a simple piece of kit that is compact, lightweight, low cost and readily available anywhere. Using this simple piece of kit is an easy way to create an adequate source of tinder to help get your kindling started when building a fire.

The above picture shows some tinder that was made using a simple pencil sharpener.

Adequate or suitable tinder may not always be readily available, especially in wet or damp conditions, but by using a simple hand pencil sharpener you can make sufficient quantities of tinder to help get that fire started. By collecting small twigs and then using a hand pencil sharpener you can create lots of tinder to help get your fire started. Outer layers are sometimes damp or wet but the inner layers of small twigs will usually be dry enough to work as suitable tinder. It’s also a very safe means of creating tinder that will help to reduce a possible injury from the use of a knife to make shavings for tinder.

Lil' RW and myself are now off on another bear hunt!

Got tinder maker?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Rain,Thunder and Lightning

Well, it's been really wet the past few days due to all the rain showers. There's been an abundance of thunder and lightning that usually comes with the thunderstorms but not much else. As a result, there hasn't been much of an opportunity to get outside and work on some of my projects that are currently scheduled for Stealth Survival. Hopefully the weather will clear up soon and these projects can be finished.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival and Physical Fitness - Survival of the Fittest

An area that is often neglected when considering your survival is your level of physical fitness. Being physically fit should have as much priority as having a well stocked pantry. The old saying “Survival of the Fittest” will come back to haunt you if you haven’t maintained a proper level of physical fitness.

It’s not necessary to become a world class marathoner or weightlifter to be physically fit. You just need to make sure that your daily activity levels are such that you can stay in shape physically. A daily exercise routine will go a long ways in this regard and when combined with a healthy diet you can easily reach levels where your physical fitness will be at a satisfactory level. It needs to fit your lifestyle so that it can be incorporated into your daily life and be maintained on a regular and consistent basis.

Almost everyone has some sort of limited physical ability that could adversely affect their survival but even with these limitations there are many types of physical activities that can be used to enhance your level of fitness.

Where do you start? One of the best and easiest things to do that will help increase your fitness level is to do a little extra walking. You may even want to work your way up to the point where you can do a little jogging or run the occasional race. Another great way to increase your fitness levels is to do a little bike riding or simply take a hike.

You can also set a goal to eat a healthier diet and remember to include portion control. Sometimes it’s not a matter of “what” you are eating but of “how much” you are eating. If your caloric intake exceeds the amount of calories burned by your daily activities on a regular basis, you will eventually develop additional health problems that could have been avoided.

If you do have certain physical conditions that may limit your physical abilities, you will need to make any and all necessary adjustments possible so that these will have a reduced impact on your ability to survive. How well can you see without your glasses? How long can you get by without that prescription medicine? These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself so that you will be prepared.

Got physical fitness?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Recipes - Beer Bread Recipe

Beer can be used to make a pretty tasty loaf of bread. When used in a fairly simple recipe it allows almost anyone, including myself, to make a decent loaf of bread. This recipe also uses no shortening (except that which is used to grease your loaf pan) or salt. You can also use herbs, spices or peppers to enhance the flavor of the beer bread. You can also make a decent loaf of home-made bread in just a little more than an hour!

List of Ingredients:

3 Cups of flour

3 Tablespoons of sugar

1 12 ounce can or bottle of beer

1 Tablespoon of baking powder

If you use self-rising flour no baking powder will be required.

How to Make Beer Bread

Place three cups of flour in mixing bowl.

Add two to three tablespoons of sugar (more makes it slightly sweeter).

Add one tablespoon of baking powder.

Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly.

Add a 12 once can or bottle of beer to your dry ingredients and stir.

Place dough into a greased loaf pan.

Place loaf pan with bread dough in oven.

Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.

Allow bread to cool on a rack before slicing.

This recipe makes one small loaf of bread that will generally be enough for two to four people (or one if RW is around!).

This recipe is so easy that even RW can make it!

Got beer bread?

Staying above the beer line!

Riverwalker

Free Bushcraft Books Downloads - Expedition Medicine

Kayaking on open sea water (G. Bruce)

Knowledge is a fundamental part of survival. It is what feeds our brain and makes it your best survival tool. When traveling in any type of outdoor scenario, it is important to have information that will help you maintain your health and safety. Here are some free basic guides that are available in a secure download to help further your knowledge should you become involved in a situation that may be a threat to your survival.

There are several excellent books available for download on Expedition Medicine that provide useful and helpful information that can be of value to anyone. Download links follow.

EXPEDITION MANUALS FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

1.) WATER PURIFICATION by Paul Goodyer and Larry Goodyer can be downloaded here:

Water Purification.PDF

2.) BASE CAMP HYGIENE AND HEALTH by Hokey Bennett-Jones can be downloaded here:

Base Camp Hygiene and Health.PDF

3.) FIRST AID AND MANAGEMENT OF MINOR INJURIES by Jon Dallimorecan can be downloaded here:

First Aid and Management of Minor Injuries.PDF

4.) TROPICAL FOREST EXPEDITIONS by Paul Richards can be downloaded here:

Tropical Forest Expeditions.PDF

5.) CANOE, KAYAK AND RAFT EXPEDITIONS by Andy Watt can be downloaded here:

Canoe, Kayak and Raft Expeditions.PDF

Things included in these guides involve how to build numerous types of latrines, how to minimize the effects of biting insects (such as mosquitoes) and field expedient treatment for such injuries as a dislocated shoulder. Many health problems and minor injuries can be avoided or treated by the use of proper techniques.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Portable Water Filtration in an Emergency - The Go Berkey Kit

A must in any emergency situation where electricity, water pressure or treated water may not be available is a good water filtration and purification system. An even safer bet is to have the option of a portable system. Let’s face some hard facts. Water is heavy (approximately 8.6 pounds per gallon) and difficult to transport in large quantities. If it becomes necessary to bug out or evacuate due to an emergency or a crisis, there is also the distinct possibility that water supplies along your evacuation route may also be contaminated and any water sources will need to be filtered and purified. Having a portable water filtration and purification system will help solve this problem before it arises.

Portability is a nice option when it comes to being able to have a safe supply of drinking water and the Go Berkey Kit can fill the gap if you’re lacking a portable water filtration and purification system. This kit is constructed of high quality stainless steel and has an easy setup and installation process that will allow you to purify approximately 1.5 gallons of water per hour.

You can view a short video on the setup and use of the Go Berkey Kit here:

Go Berkey Kit Video

Lightweight, high quality construction and being easy to transport makes this an ideal portable water purification kit.

Got portable water purifier?

Staying above the filtered water line!

Riverwalker

Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - A Field Guide to Texas Mountain Lions

One of the most important parts of practicing bushcraft is knowing the hazards you may face when spending time outdoors. While chance encounters with extremely dangerous wildlife are usually quite rare, there will come a time when it may happen. A working knowledge of the wildlife you may encounter will allow you to be better prepared to handle such a chance encounter should it occur.

With the advent of the increased urbanization of wildlife habitat and many more people spending an additional and significant amount of time involved in outdoor activities, the possibility of a chance encounter with dangerous wildlife becomes more of a risk.

Here is an excellent field guide on Texas mountain lions to help you be more knowledgeable about one such possible hazard. Here is a brief excerpt from this excellent field guide:

“The mountain lion (Puma concolor), also known as cougar, puma and panther, has been an integral part of the Texas fauna for thousands of years, as evidenced by the paintings and pictographs of Native Americans and the fossil record.

Lions were once common throughout Texas, but since Anglo settlement, they have mostly been confined to isolated and rugged areas of the state. Lions now appear to be moving back into historic habitats where they have not been documented for well over a hundred years.

It is increasingly more important for range and wildlife managers to be able to recognize lion “sign,” in order to monitor populations in a given area. Lions are solitary, secretive creatures. This guide attempts to provide field people with a working knowledge of the mountain lion. It is not intended for the experts, but rather for laypersons in order to provide them with the basics of lion behavior, allowing them to interpret the traces left by the animal.

Mountain lions are controversial animals that often evoke love-hate feelings on the part of humans. Whatever one’s perspective, however, mountain lions are fascinating and little understood animals that play an important role in the Texas ecosystem. The mountain lion is adaptable and can be found thriving in hot deserts, wetlands and high mountains.”

This field guide is available in a secure download here:

A Field Guide to Texas Mountain Lions

Image Source: A Field Guide to Texas Mountain Lions

The habitat of mountain lions is not limited to Texas by any means and they occur in areas ranging from the extreme southern parts of South America to areas as far north as British Columbia in Canada.

Got field guide?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Cannons, Cooking and Cutting Grass

Got a lot of projects in the works right now and a heavy work load to boot (12 hour days). Going to try to do a little cooking to try out a recipe or two, especially since my cooking skills don't get any where near my eating skills. Give me a can opener and an ugly drum smoker barrel and I can prepare a pretty decent meal on my own without much help. This is especially true since I've got a couple of dozen can openers and a couple of cans of beans handy there's not much risk of going hungry anytime soon.

Had a few good soakers lately also which kept things pretty busy. The grass is growing faster than weeds and the rain showers are speeding up the process. If it keeps growing at this rate, I'll need to use all my bushcraft skills just to survive in my own backyard. It's a jungle out there!

Plan on trying something new and different for a change also. Something I haven't done is build a cannon and have decided to try to build a few just in case they might be needed later on.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - High Places - Part 2

Got high places?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Advanced Prepping 101 - The Dedicated Bug-Out Vehicle

It’s a simple fact that most people don’t have a dedicated vehicle for bugging out and will use their everyday means of transportation for this purpose. While any vehicle will work for most daily transportation needs, many vehicles may lack the necessary qualities for use as an efficient bug-out vehicle. There are some important considerations that should be taken into account that will help you decide if you may want to have a dedicated BOV.

The first consideration is cost. An additional vehicle will involve the need for extra insurance, maintenance or fuel costs. These items cost money and there aren’t a lot of ways to avoid these. Buying used will save some money but may require additional maintenance costs or upkeep to make them viable options.

The second consideration is capacity. If your entire family or group won’t fit easily inside your chosen means of transportation, you’re going to be in trouble before you even get started. Numerous test runs and actual use of my chosen BOV has also revealed an area that is often overlooked. You not only need space for each person but you will need room for their gear (BOB) and additional things like food and water. My chosen BOV, a large van (1 ton) which has a seating capacity of 15 persons, can comfortably hold 8 persons and their gear and sufficient food and water for several days if necessary.

The third consideration is the type of vehicle. There are quite a few possibilities in this area that may work to your advantage. A pop-up style camper or small travel trailer, a pick-up with a camper unit, a small RV or motorhome are definite possibilities and will depend upon your capacity needs and the amount available in your budget. Depending upon where you will be bugging out to, you may require additional things such as 4 wheel drive capacity.

The fourth consideration is the range of your vehicle. Your vehicle will need to get you quickly and safely to your bug out location. A vehicle loaded with people that is pulling a trailer loaded with gear will require more fuel than in normal circumstances. More fuel may not be available due to power outages, etc. and may limit the distance you can travel before requiring additional fuel. If you wind up with an empty fuel tank, you will have a serious problem. It is vital that the range of your chosen BOV will get you there without the need for additional fuel. Carrying extra fuel is an option but it takes up space and increases the weight you are carrying. This is space that could be used for other needed items. Consideration should be given to vehicles with larger fuel tanks or additional tanks to help avoid this problem.

The fifth consideration is living space. Your BOV may become your home away from home and you will need it to provide shelter from the elements and some measure of security for you and your family. Motels and hotels will fill up quickly during an evacuation. The evacuation of a large number of people will put a strain on all the available resources. Even with a good emergency fund and plenty of cash you may need to be prepared to spend time living in your BOV, even if it is only for one night. A vehicle that provides a sheltered place to sleep and live for your family will quickly become a valuable item.

The sixth consideration is the ability to not attract attention or to go undetected. This can be your best form of protection. A vehicle that blends into the surroundings may be one of the safest options. An expensive motorhome or large RV may attract the attention of those seeking to change their status at your expense. A Jeep 4X4 with a great camo paint job will attract a lot more attention on the highway than you may desire. Cheaper vehicles are also less of a target when things and people start to get out of control due to a crisis or emergency.

The final consideration is optional equipment and ease of maintenance and repair. Will your choice of vehicle allow you to tow a trailer with extra gear, mount a winch, or have the fuel capacity that gives it an extended range? Even simple things like a luggage rack on the roof could come in handy. You will also need something that will allow you to do simple maintenance and repairs should they become necessary. The ability to make simple repairs to your vehicle without specialized tools or additional help will be a big benefit during an emergency.

While there are other things that you may consider important when choosing a BOV, these are some of the basic considerations that should be taken into account that will help you decide on a proper BOV. Having a dedicated bug-out vehicle will also give you the option of having many needed items loaded in advance and ready to go. This will save you additional time in an emergency.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Free Download - Safe Home Food Storage Guidelines

Having a long term food storage program is one of the essentials of being prepared but it should be done safely and properly. Here is a free download that can help you in your efforts to maintain a safe home food storage program.

The guidelines are available in a secure download here: Safe Home Food Storage (428 kb)

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - The Barometer Bush

Nature will quite often give you a warning sign in advance of changing weather conditions. Knowing the simple signs that indicate weather changes will keep you more in tune with nature and current weather conditions. In Central Texas, one of the warning signs for impending rain is the Texas sage. It is also commonly called Texas Rain Sage or the “barometer bush”.

Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) is called the "barometer bush" because its prolific flowering is triggered by high humidity levels prior to rain or high soil moisture content after rains. It is found from Northern Mexico through the Rio Grande Plains and Trans-Pecos area of Texas and into the Western Edwards Plateau and on into certain areas of New Mexico. It is extremely drought and heat tolerant and is fairly maintenance free once it has become established. They are not susceptible to pests or diseases and require only well drained alkaline soil to survive. Texas Sage is hardy to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit and can get to be fairly large with some being as much as 8 feet tall.

A quick glance at the plants in my yard each day will quickly tell me if it’s going to rain. The amount of rain that can be expected usually depends upon how prolific the blooming of their purple flowers are and extensive blooming is usually indicative of a rain shower that is on the way or extreme humidity levels.

Got rain indicator?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Yard Patrol

It's always nice to have a sentry on duty...or two, or three, or four.

Got yard patrol?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Traits - Adaptability

The ability to adapt is a critical tool for your survival. Many people can easily adjust to a wide variety of circumstances in order to deal with the different situations that can arise during their daily lives. Meanwhile, others will remain unyielding and go into extreme denial because they dislike change and prefer the familiarity of their established routine. By having confidence in your abilities during a crisis or an emergency, your ability to adapt to abrupt and life-changing events will help to make you a survivor.

Adaptability compromises a number of different traits that can help you to survive. The first thing you should remember is to be flexible. Quite often there are numerous ways to accomplish a given task if given enough thought. Your brain is your best survival tool; you just need to remember to use it when needed. Remember not to limit your options by thinking it can’t be done and think in terms of how it can be done. You will need to create goals and be ready to make any necessary changes to your situation in order to survive.

Avoid going into a state of denial that will not allow you to adapt properly to your circumstances. You are only fooling yourself if you refuse to accept that your situation has changed because of a crisis or an emergency. If you act like nothing has changed, it will be harder for you to accept that change and make the necessary adjustments to get your life back on track. Your life can change quicker than the weather and you will need to stay tuned to your environment. By realizing this, you will be ready to make the required changes in order to survive.

Our survival has depended largely upon our ability to adapt and it is this ability that has allowed us to succeed in our goals for making a better life for ourselves. The saying originated by Herbert Spencer back in 1864 “survival of the fittest” was actually meant to describe how well a species was suited to their environment. It is our ability to adapt to our environment that has allowed us to survive some of the most hazardous and extreme conditions known to man.

Got adaptability?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Free Downloads - Pet First Aid and Disaster Preparations for Pets

Preparing for a disaster or a medical emergency involving your pets is often overlooked as part of your emergency planning. Preparing ahead of time is always the best way to avoid complications where your pets are concerned. Here are a couple of free downloads that are designed to guide you through the process of administering proper first aid to your pets and how to make the necessary preparations prior to a disaster to provide adequate care for your pets.

Knowledge of the proper ways to prepare for a disaster or to provide quality first aid for your pets will help you to keep them healthy and safe.

The First Aid and Emergency Care for Dogs and Cats is 33 Chapters (56 Pages) of first class, practical and easy to follow advice in an easy to read PDF format. It is fully indexed, searchable and printable. It includes information on the do’s and don’ts in specific emergency situations.

You can download the Pet First Aid book here:

Pet First Aid.PDF (290.9 kb)

The Emergency Planning Guide for Pet Owners is 19 pages of very helpful information and also contains a Pet Identification Form and an Emergency Kit Supply List for your pets.

You can download the Pet Planning Guide book here:

Disaster Preparations for Pet Owners.PDF (404.2 kb)

Got pets?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Natural Camouflage - Blending in Naturally - Part 6 - Colors

Blending in Naturally with Color

Blending in naturally isn’t always about light and shadow or shades of gray. More often than not it involves bright colors and quite often depends solely upon the environment. Many of the simple creatures in nature depend upon their ability to blend in naturally for survival.

With the proper coloration, many creatures are able to avoid detection and reduce the threat from predators who may be actively seeking them. The true mastery of camouflage is using your surroundings to disguise your presence from those who would seek to end your existence.

It is only through the ability to see past the colors and distinguish minute differences in size and shape that will help you to truly see what is waiting silently in your environment.

Got camouflage with color?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Simple Survival Tips - Tips for Securing Loads

When using any type of vehicle or trailer to haul material or other items, it’s always a good idea to take a few minutes to secure your load. Making sure your load is secured will prevent the loss of valuable items you may have difficulty replacing and will avoid creating a hazard that could endanger the lives of others who may be traveling the highways with you.

Tips for Securing Loads

1. Secure your cargo or load by using rope, bungee cords, netting, or straps.

2. Cover your load with a sturdy tarp or cargo net. This will help prevent items from being lost if your load shifts when traveling down the highway.

3. Securely tie down heavy items directly to your vehicle or trailer to prevent shifting when stopping or turning. Make sure your load is well balanced.

4. Make sure to load lightweight items at the bottom of your load or inside the vehicle if possible. The wind can easily catch lightweight items which will cause them go sailing off like a kite.

5. Make sure your tie downs, rope, bungee cords, etc. are in good shape and are not damaged or frayed. A broken rope or over-stretched bungee cord will be of little or no help in securing your load.

6. Frequently check your load to make sure all items are secure. Stop as often as possible and double check to make sure everything is still tied down properly and that nothing has come loose.

7. Avoid overloading your vehicle or trailer. Try to keep items being hauled level with the bed of your truck or the sides of your trailer.

8. Make sure your trailer is properly secured to your vehicle with safety chains. You don’t want to risk losing your whole load all of sudden if your trailer should break loose from your vehicle.

9. Make sure the tires on your vehicle and trailers are in good shape and properly inflated. A heavy load will put increased demands on your tires.

10. Become familiar with local and state laws concerning loads on vehicles and trailers. Many cities and towns have laws making it illegal to haul loads that aren’t covered even though they may be securely tied down.

Got secure loads?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - Native Texas Peppers

There are several native edible plants that grow wild in central Texas. Texas is home to and part of the natural range of a wild chile pepper, Chile Pequín (Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum). This is a small and very hot pepper that is the mother of the majority of our cultivated varieties and bears fruit almost all year long when winter temperatures are moderate. It is quite tasty and easy to find. Known affectionately as “bird peppers”, they come up most anywhere birds have deposited the seeds, especially mockingbirds which are the state bird of Texas. You can also find dried ones for sale in many ethnic Latin American grocery stores and markets.

The most common uses are in salsa, soups, vinegars, beans, and pickled. They are used mainly for a liquid hot pepper sauce. The green peppers are usually pickled in vinegar and the red ones are usually dried and crumbled for use as a seasoning.

The Pequín is the smallest of all chilies and is only about a third of an inch long and wide. Do not let its small size mislead you. They are extremely hot and have a Scoville Heat Unit rating of anywhere from 30,000 to 60,000 heat units. They also have a very complex and nutty flavor which may account for their popularity with birds. Just two of these small peppers smashed in a bowl of beans will get the party started!

There was a time when every South Texan had a bottle of chile pequins in vinegar sitting on the dinner table. The usual custom was to add vinegar as you used the pepper sauce. Later, when a new crop of chile pequins were available, you got rid of the old chiles and made a fresh batch. They also make a great ornamental plant for your yard. They are extremely hardy plants and the peppers will add a splash of color to your yard.

Chile Pequín Liquid Sauce

Ingredients: (depending upon the size of your sauce bottle)

1/2 cup chile pequins

1/2 cup white vinegar

Directions:

Clean a previously used pepper sauce bottle with boiling water. Pack the chilies tightly in the bottle. Make sure they have been thoroughly rinsed and cleaned.

The next step is to heat some vinegar in a small pan over low heat until it just begins to steam. Pour your hot vinegar over the chiles to the top of the jar.

Allow the mixture to sit for at least a day before using. The bottle can be refilled with vinegar several times.

You can get additional information here:

http://www.pequin.us/

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - At the Beach

Nice weather for a trip to the beach. No hurricanes in our area...yet!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker