Riverwalker’s Gear - iTP A3 EOS (Upgraded) Keychain LED Flashlight - Gear Mod and Update

While some pieces of gear can be really great items straight out of the package, there are real life situations that sometimes dictate a modification of that gear to enhance their use. The iTP A3 EOS (Upgraded) Keychain LED Flashlight is one great piece of gear but can be improved with a simple gear mod that can make a great light even better.

Realizing that in the real world of survival your gear is going to be put to the test in ways you or the manufacturer could never imagine, you should never be afraid to make simple changes to your gear to make it more efficient for your own personal use. It’s now time for a quick update on my iTP-A3-Eos flashlight and a simple gear mod for it.

One of the best things about this flashlight is the reversible clip. It makes it really easy to change from the “pocket clip” mode to a “visor clip” mode. This makes it easy to work in the dark using both hands. This is great for a “no hands” mode of operation. No modification needed here!

The “water-proof” factor is another great thing about this little light. In Texas the heat can get really bad and the “sweat” factor gets really high. There will be times when you get wet plum down to your knees just from sweat. Pulling a compact flashlight out of a wet pocket that still works is a big plus for this flashlight. Accidentally dropping this in a puddle of water won’t hurt this little baby!

With temperatures running in excess of 100 degrees on an average day in Texas during the summer, it’s difficult to do an “arctic simulation” but with a little help from the freezer it was possible to come close. After an hour of being buried beneath ice cubes in the freezer at -5 degrees, which is a lot longer than I ever plan to be outside in those kinds of temperatures, the light still functioned properly in all modes. The hard part was peeling the ice cubes off the light. There was a little fogging on the outside of the lens when taken out of the freezer due to our high humidity but a quick wipe with the finger took care of this little problem. Cold weather durability gets this flashlight an A+ from Riverwalker!

Although the keychain itself has been quite durable, it’s hard to trust them when you’ve lost things because of a broken keychain. This is probably the weakest part of this light but can be fixed with a simple gear mod. The post on the flashlight where the keychain is attached has a very small hole and finding something that will fit through it that is reliable was a challenge easily solved. Using a simple safety pin was the answer.

The safety pin attaches quickly and allows you tie cordage to the light that improves the functionality of this light. With a cord attached, it can be hooked to a belt loop, the inside of your pack or just make a simple wrist strap to make it easier to carry without losing it. Attaching some bright cord to it will make it easier to find in the dark if you drop it (don’t ask me how I know this!). Finding a little black flashlight in the dark ain’t easy!

Just a quick note about my own experience with the battery life of this flashlight. With a new alkaline AAA battery you get about 35 to 40 minutes in the high mode and a little over 3 hours in the medium mode. This is still pretty decent for light on a single AAA battery. Manufacturers do have a tendency to overestimate run times that are hard to duplicate outside a testing laboratory.

Gear mod cost...less than a buck!

You can read my original review here:

http://stealthsurvival.blogspot.com/2010/04/riverwalkers-gear-itp-a3-eos-upgraded.html

You can get this great compact LED flashlight here:

GearUpEurope

Got safety pin and cord for a gear mod!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - The Blade Arsenal

For "extending the reach of your rifle barrel" mode...

For your "blending in with the natives" mode...

For your "every day carry" mode...

For your "hunting" mode...

For your "tactical" mode...

For your "chopping" mode...

For your "survival in the bush" mode...

For your "extreme tactical" mode...

For your "stealth tactical" mode...

For your "survival" mode...

For your "stealth ninja" mode...

And your "just in case you want to keep your distance" mode...

All of the above for your "in case I run out of bullets" mode...which is not very likely!

Got blade arsenal?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Advanced Prepping 101 - Part Two - Long Term Shelter

Your home will generally be the safest and most comfortable place to stay in most emergency situations but an extended power outage can quickly change your home into little more than a big, dark box. Without the necessary power for cooling, heating, to run appliances or to furnish lighting, you might need to seek other options. This could include an extended visit to relatives or a stay at a hotel or motel that could be even more costly. The loss of power for a few hours is often quite manageable for the majority of people but an extended power outage could become a life threatening situation that could eventually force you to leave the safety and security of your home until the power is restored to the grid.

Having a home power generator can help you in numerous ways if an extended power outage occurs. There are several options when doing some advanced prepping to help cover your needs when a loss of grid power strikes.

The first option is a portable home generator and is probably the most affordable for the average person. While most portable home generators are not large enough to power everything in your house, but they can be used to keep a few items (like your freezer) functioning until power is restored. There are many types available that run on a variety of different types of fuel and most can be easily hooked up during an emergency.

The second option is a stationary home generator that can be hooked up directly to your home power system through a power transfer switch that can be set to start automatically during a power outage. These systems are quite a bit more expensive and usually require a direct connection to a long term fuel supply.

A third option is to include solar power as a back-up. Solar systems that can satisfy your total power needs can also be quite expensive but a small solar back-up system can offer you another option for maintaining your power needs during an emergency.

One of the things that will take you beyond the basics when being prepared is to have some means to re-establish power to what will be your best form of long term shelter… your home.

You can download a free guide for the safe use of a home power generator here:

Using a Generator During Power Outages

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Free Download – Burn Prevention and Care Guide

One of the most frequent and most preventable of all serious injuries are burns. Even a minor burn if not treated properly can have devastating effects that could affect you for the rest of your life. Burns can be one the most serious types of injuries that a person may face in their everyday lives but are also one of the most preventable.

Knowing how to prevent them and the proper care required for the treatment of burns is an essential part of being prepared. Recognizing those things which can affect you in your everyday life and being prepared to deal with them can be critical if the worst happens.

Here is a simple guide to help you understand the proper care for burns and how to prevent them:

Burn Prevention and Care Guide

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Advanced Prepping 101 - Part One - Beyond the Basics

While most advocates of being prepared center their attention on being prepared for at least 72 hours, there are those times when those preparations may not be sufficient or the situation may require more advanced preparations. Unfortunately, not all disasters or crisis situations run on a strict timetable. It is for these situations that you may need to go beyond the basics and do some advanced prepping.

Advanced prepping should be concentrated in the main areas that will affect you and your family. Depending upon your individual circumstances, the needs of your family that will require advanced prepping will vary to a much greater degree than involved in basic prepping. While being prepared for at least 72 hours will put you ahead of the majority of people once you have the basics covered, you may find a need to do some advanced prepping that will help you survive a crisis or disaster scenario that becomes more than a short term event. This will put you in an even better position to deal with the effects of a long term survival situation.

Your family’s need for things like shelter, sustenance (food & water), safety and security will still be present should a disaster or crisis become a major, long-term event. Eventually, even during a worst case scenario things will gradually begin to return to normal as order in your life is restored. It will be your ability to manage those long term needs that will serve you and your family the best.

Advanced prepping will require more time, money and effort on your part and should be done in a manner that will not disrupt the daily life of you and your family. Your efforts will need to be focused on dealing with the essential items for your survival. Planning to survive for the long term without endangering your short term needs will be critical. Your planning will need to be even more specific and developed in greater detail in order to accomplish the additional requirements for your long term survival.

Extended power outages, a lack of sufficient water and food or even an improved type of shelter for more than a short period of time may become essential and critical to you and your family’s survival in the long term. The best thing about advanced prepping is that many people have already done some advanced prepping in these different areas. This will give you an even better start when proceeding with your plans for advanced prepping.

The next installment in this series will be:

Advanced Prepping 101-Part Two-Long Term Shelter

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Rio Grande River Rapids

Rio Grande River Rapids

Staying way above the water line!

Riverwalker

Custom Mosin Nagant with Bipod

While looking for bargains at the big box store, there was a Shooter's Ridge Rock Mount Bipod reduced to half price ($20). At this price, it was too good to pass up and it quickly disappeared from the shelf to my shopping cart. My mind was made up quickly to grab this bargain to install on my custom Mosin-Nagant rifle. Although it is a cheaper version of a Harris type bipod, at that kind of price point there wasn't a whole lot to lose either way. It attached quickly to the sling swivel stud in a matter of moments and still allows a sling to be attached.

The above picture shows the bipod extended at its shortest position of 9 inches. It can be extended to a full thirteen inches by simply releasing the thumb screws and pulling the bipod legs out until they lock in place and re-tightening the thumb screws. They are released by loosening the bipod leg thumbscrews and pressing the release button and then re-tightening the thumbscrews to hold the bipod legs in position.

The above picture shows the bipod in the folded position. There is plenty of clearance between the feet of the bipod and the barrel when in the folded position. At only 12 ounces, it does not add significantly to the over-all weight of the rifle. Make sure you mount it with the bipod legs folded in the forward position to prevent damage to the stock of your rifle.

Got custom Mosin-Nagant with bipod?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Free Download - Emergency Preparedness Plan

Your family depends upon you to provide for their safety and well-being. What will matter most to them is not the federal, state, or local response to an emergency but your own response to that emergency or crisis.

Here is a simple emergency preparedness plan that you can download and print out in order to make a simple emergency plan. It also includes a section where you can plan your response to certain types of events through a Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA).

You can download the 56.5 Kb file here:

Emergency Preparedness Plan

Got emergency plan?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Preparedness Essentials - The Emergency Plan

Being prepared is a good way to handle the majority of challenges that arise during our everyday activities that seek to destroy the normalcy in our lives. It can be a man-made disaster, a simple mechanical breakdown or an act of nature that reminds you who is really in control. Being prepared could save your life and the life of your family and will make the return to normalcy in your life a much simpler task. The road to recovery will be a very bumpy ride if you are not prepared.

While having emergency supplies are critical, an emergency plan is just as vital to your preparedness efforts. A good emergency plan should be developed that will help you make an informed decision in a timely and effective manner. The need to bug out, the option of bugging in (sheltering in place), where to go and how you’ll get there are all important considerations that should be determined first and foremost. Being properly prepared requires advance planning that will cover your needs.

Emergency plans are essential. They should be in written form and kept in a safe place that is accessible by all family members. Your emergency plan should be considered a vital part of any emergency kit. Your emergency plan should also include up-to-date maps of your local area (city, county, and state) and current maps of any areas that you may need to travel through outside of your immediate area. Keep a list of family, friends, resources, and phone numbers for emergency purposes as well as any important documents such as birth certificates, ID’s and insurance documents where they will be available in an emergency.

Include all the possible locations that you may be able to access safe shelter and list them in order of their priority and what place will be your first, second or even third choice if an evacuation or if bugging out becomes a necessity.

Include a list of any special needs that your family members may require that covers everyone from infants to senior family members. Include any required medications or items, such as wheelchairs or walkers, needed by those who may be physically-challenged. Remember to include items needed by your pets or livestock because they depend upon you as well.

Make sure the location of your emergency supplies is well known to family members. Supplies that can’t be located quickly may be of little or no use in an emergency unless family members know where they are located. Don’t forget to keep some extra cash handy along with your other emergency supplies. After you’ve got your lists made, don’t forget to check your lists for any deficiencies or items that may have been missed.

Even a small amount of emergency supplies, when combined with a good emergency plan, will put you way ahead of the majority of other people. It is quite easy and fairly simple to develop an emergency plan. It may not be the best plan but it is a plan. Having a good emergency plan doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. Even a small amount of preparation can take you a long way down the road to recovery after an emergency or crisis.

You can download a free simple emergency preparedness plan here:

Emergency Preparedness Plan

Got emergency plan?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF FIREARM SAFETY

The Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety should be etched into your memory before you begin to handle firearms. These rules are intended to be followed by all persons handling firearms in the field, on the range, or at home. Please read, review and understand these rules before you begin to use your firearm.

Commandment #1 - Always Keep the Muzzle Pointed in a Safe Direction

This is the most basic and most important safety rule. A safe direction is one in which an accidental discharge will not cause injury to yourself, to others or property damage. This is particularly important when loading or unloading your firearm. Never point your gun at anything you do not intend to shoot. Treat every gun as if it were loaded at all times.

Commandment #2 - Firearms Should Be Unloaded When Not Actually in Use

Firearms should only be loaded when you are in the field or on the target range or shooting area, ready to shoot. When not in use, firearms and ammunition should be secured in a safe place, separate from each other. Remember to unload your firearm completely, so that there is no ammunition in the chamber or magazine. Before handling this or any firearm, or handing it to someone else, visually check the chamber and magazine to ensure they do not contain ammunition. Always keep the gun’s action open when not in use. Never assume a gun is unloaded - even if you were the last person to use it. Never cross a fence, climb a tree, wade through a stream, or perform any awkward movement with a loaded gun. When in doubt, unload your gun! Never pull or push a loaded firearm toward yourself or another person. And never carry a loaded gun in a scabbard, a holster not being worn, or a gun case.

Commandment #3 - Don’t Completely Rely on Your Gun’s Safety

Treat every gun as though it could fire at any time, even if you are not applying pressure to the trigger. The “safety” on a firearm is a mechanical device which, like any such device, can become inoperable at the worst possible time and fail to function. By mistake, you may think the safety is “ON” when it actually is not. Or you may think your gun is unloaded when there is actually a round of ammunition in it. The safety serves as a supplement to proper gun handling but cannot serve as a substitute for common sense. Never handle a gun carelessly and assume that the gun won’t fire, just because “the safety is on.” Never touch the firearm’s trigger until you are ready to shoot. Keep your fingers away from the trigger when loading or unloading. Never pull the trigger when the safety is engaged or when the safety is positioned between the “SAFE” and “FIRE” positions. Never place your finger on the trigger unless you intend to fire.

Commandment #4 - Be Sure of Your Target - And What Is Beyond It!

Once fired, a bullet (or shot charge) can never be called back, so before you shoot know where the bullet is going and what it will strike. Be certain your shot will not injure someone or strike something beyond the target. Never fire in the direction of noise, a movement, or at any object you cannot positively identify. Be aware that a .22 Short bullet can travel over 1-1/4 miles. A centerfire cartridge, such as the .30-06, can send its bullet over 3-miles. Shotgun pellets can travel 500-yards and a shotgun slug has a range of over a half-mile. Make sure your shot has a safe backstop such as a hillside. Keep in mind how far the bullet will travel if it misses your intended target. Once fired, a bullet can never be called back. You are responsible for your actions and judgment.

Commandment #5 - Use the Correct Ammunition

Every firearm is designed to use a certain caliber or gauge of ammunition. It is important that you use the correct ammunition for your firearm. Information on the correct ammunition to use with your firearm appears in the firearm’s instruction manual and the manufacturer’s markings on the firearm itself. Use of the wrong ammunition, improperly reloaded ammunition, or corroded ammunition can result in the destruction of the firearm, serious personal injury and/or death. Form the habit of examining every round of ammunition before you put it into your gun to ensure it is of the proper gauge or caliber and that it is in good condition.

Commandment #6 - If Your Gun Fails to Fire When the Trigger Is Pulled, Handle With Care

If a cartridge or shell does not fire when the trigger is pulled, follow Commandment #1 and keep the firearm’s muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Keeping the muzzle pointed away from your face and anything you do not intend to shoot, wait at least 30-seconds (to ensure that the ammunition is not delayed in firing) before carefully opening the action, unloading the firearm and disposing of the ammunition safely.

Commandment #7 - Always Wear Eye & Ear Protection When Shooting

Exposure to shooting noise can permanently damage hearing and flying debris, such as powder residue and ejected cartridge cases can injure your eyes. Thus, it is only common sense to wear both eye protection (such as shooting glasses) and ear protection (such as a sound muffling headset) whenever shooting. Also, wear eye protection when cleaning or disassembling your gun to ensure that cleaning solvent and tensioned parts (such as springs), do not come into contact with your eyes.

Commandment #8 - Be Sure the Barrel Is Clear of Obstructions Before Shooting

Discharging a firearm with an obstruction in the barrel can result in personal injury, property damage or death. Before you load your firearm, check the chamber and magazine to ascertain that no ammunition is inside. Also, check the inside of the barrel (called the “bore”) to ensure it is free of obstructions. Even a small amount of mud, snow or excess lubricating oil or grease in the bore can cause excessive pressures resulting in a bulged or burst barrel which can injure or kill the shooter and bystanders. It’s a good idea to make a habit of cleaning the bore and checking for obstructions with a cleaning rod just before each shooting session. If the noise or recoil experienced upon firing seems low or weak, or something doesn’t feel “right”, cease firing immediately and check to make sure that there is no obstruction in the barrel. Placing an undersized shell or cartridge into a gun (such as a 20-gauge shell in a shotgun chambered for 12-gauge ammunition) can result in the smaller round of ammunition falling into the barrel and acting as an obstruction. When a round is subsequently fired, the barrel may burst causing injury to the shooter and bystanders. For reference, re-read Commandment #5.

Commandment #9 - Do Not Alter or Modify Your Gun and Have It Serviced Regularly

Firearms are complex mechanisms that are designed to function properly in their original condition. Any alterations or changes made to a firearm after its manufacture can make the gun unsafe and will void its warranty. Do not jeopardize your safety or the safety of others by altering the trigger, mechanical safety or other mechanisms of your firearm. You should have your firearm periodically checked for proper functioning and serviced by a qualified gunsmith.

Commandment #10 - Learn the Mechanical and Handling Characteristics of Your Firearm

Not all firearms operate the same way. The method of carrying, handling and operating firearms varies with the mechanical characteristics of each gun. Thus, you should never handle any firearm until you become familiar with the safe handling, loading, unloading and carrying procedures for that particular firearm, as well as the rules for safe gun handling in general.

Source: Century GP1975 Rifle Manual © Century International Arms, Inc.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Rest in Peace My Loyal Friend

A simple tribute to my friend of 15 years who is now gone but not forgotten. Loyal friend of RW and companion to Lady. May he rest in peace.

Close Encounter of the Cottonmouth Kind - Mrs. RW vs. Cottonmouth

Mrs. RW had a close personal encounter with a cottonmouth yesterday evening while working in the yard. As she was checking her plants along a walkway that leads to the back door, she happened upon a young adult cottonmouth. Unfortunately, we try to avoid the needless destruction of nature’s creatures unless they invade our personal space.

The banding was still fairly distinct. It becomes less noticeable as they age and the markings will become quite dark. This one still had a slightly yellow tinge to the tip of its tail when examined closer by myself. All Mrs. RW knew was that it was time to take action when she saw the gaping white mouth and those big fangs. She knew instantly that it was a cottonmouth and wasted very little time in dispatching it with a chopping hoe, especially since local law enforcement takes a dim view of using a shotgun in the city limits. It’s best not to take any chances where a cottonmouth is concerned.

Less than 10 % of all Texas snakebite cases involve cottonmouths or water moccasins, as they are sometimes referred to by many people. Throughout the United States, less than 1% of all deaths by snakebite have been caused by cottonmouths.

Cottonmouths sometimes travel or move between areas in response to drier conditions. During the month of August it gets really hot and really dry in Central Texas. They also use the ambush technique, similar to copperheads, as well as being active foragers when seeking their prey. In this case, Mrs. RW has a water feature, a small pond, in the back yard and that was what probably attracted the cottonmouth to this area of the yard.

As a result of ever-increasing population growth and with the conversion of wildlife habitat for use by people, chance encounters with venomous snakes are going to occur more frequently. Many of these chance encounters are going to occur around the home and in your own backyard. As a result, the number of snakebites close to home will continue to increase unless people become more aware of the possible dangers. Keep wood and brush piles, trash dumps, etc. as far as possible from your home. Always exercise caution when working in your yard and make sure to use a good flashlight when moving around in the yard during early evening hours or at night.

Got cottonmouth and big fangs?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Stormy Weather Strikes on Discovery's Dual Survival Tonight

Stormy weather strikes on Discovery’s Dual Survival tonight at 10 PM ET/PT in an all new episode. As usual, Cody will be “barefootin’ it” with his “hippie style” survivalism and Dave will probably be looking for “meat to eat”…the man needs his protein after all!


This episode deals with a hurricane's aftermath. Cody and Dave find survival resources among some unlikely items…trash. Their journey begins at the Dominican Republic's coast and is filled with creatures that sting. Dave, as usual, ignores Cody's advice about hunting the deadliest one of them all.

Clips from Friday night's episode are available at the below links:

Dual Survival - Operation Pooh Bear - After the Storm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPfKgueNAsw

Dual Survival - Treacherous Descent - After the Storm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31qB880uyiU

Got survival trash?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - The Salad Tree

What can you find in a residential area, in a park or growing along the edge of a remote wooded area? It’s a fairly common species of tree that offers a couple of options as a food source and is widespread throughout many parts of Central Texas. Chances are you may even have one growing in your own backyard! The above picture is of a large tree growing in my own backyard.

This widespread and locally available tree is the Texas mulberry (Morus microphylla). The ripe fruit of this tree is edible and the young leaves of the mulberry tree can be cooked and eaten to make a tasty salad of greens. Make sure to discard the water the young leaves were cooked in and consume only the cooked leaves themselves.

Mulberries begin to ripen in the late spring and continue to ripen into the early part of summer. Mulberries can also be used in much the same manner as any other types of berries (jellies, jams, wines, etc.). The ripe fruit falls easily from the tree and makes a big mess underneath that can be seen quite easily.

The Tonkawa tribe also used the inner bark of the mulberry tree to make ropes and a form of coarse cloth. The mulberry tree, which was originally introduced as an ornamental plant in the United States, now grows like a weed in Central Texas.

Mulberries also contain anthocyanins which possess an antioxidant property that can help to improve your visual acuity. There main use is as a food colorant and as an agent in making dyes.

Mulberries can be grown from seed or from cuttings. Trees grown from seedlings are usually healthier and form a better shape for ornamental purposes. Cuttings take root easily and are a widespread method of planting mulberries.

Got mulberries?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Free Download - Bushcraft and Survival Guide

An excellent resource on bushcraft and survival is available for free in a secure download. This bush survival manual was put together in order to help people be better prepared. It's 120 pages of very useful information and tips on how to survive in the bush. Much of the information and many of the survival tips in this manual can also be applied to your daily lives as well. It will be a great addition to your digital survival library.

You can download a secure copy here:

Bush Survival Manual (1.3 MB)

Got bushcraft and survival guide?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Muddy Water

Muddy Water

Home to crawdads and cottonmouths.

Got muddy water?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Preparedness Essentials - Hot Beds and Cold Frames

Gardening is an essential part of being prepared. Being able to raise your own vegetables will help you to be more self-reliant. Although many people don't have ideal weather conditions for growing a successful garden, using a hot bed or a cold frame can be used to extend your growing season. With fall weather soon to be upon us, you still have time to build your own hot bed or cold frame.

Here is a secure download for a PDF file that covers some of the important aspects when using a hot bed or a cold frame to extend your growing season:

HO_53.PDF (104.6 kb)

The file also contains some great illustrations to help you in your efforts in making a hot bed or cold frame. Building your own hot bed or cold frame can be a great way to help you raise more vegetables for the dinner table.

Got hot bed or cold frame?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - The Ambush Predator

One of the most colorful snakes in the United States is also one of the most dangerous. Knowing the habits of these superbly camouflaged creatures will help you to better understand them and reduce your risks of an unpleasant encounter. This most beautiful of snakes is the copperhead and it has a well-deserved reputation as an ambush predator.

Unlike many of its kind that seeks to avoid contact with humans by fleeing the area, the copperhead will wait silently and depend on its unique ability to blend in with its surroundings for protection. It is often referred to as an ambush predator. It will wait patiently for its victims to come within range before striking. It also depends upon its superb camouflage to hide its location when it feels threatened and many times its presence will go completely unnoticed.

The copperhead, which normally grows to sizes that range from two to three feet in length, is responsible for a great majority of poisonous snakebites in Texas. As a result of its shorter fangs and its venom being slightly less lethal than that of the rattlesnake, the majority of bites are not life-threatening. Unlike the bite of a rattlesnake which injects poisonous venom deep into muscle tissue, the copperhead with its shorter fangs will quite often deliver bites that only penetrate the upper skin levels which usually result in less tissue damage. The main danger posed by the copperhead is that many times it will make repeated strikes when it feels threatened and has assumed a defensive posture.

Copperheads prefer a temperature range of about 80 degrees and are most active during daylight hours in the spring and fall during mating season. Females usually remain within a two acre area for most of their adult life, while males will range over an area of ten to twenty acres most likely due to their search for a mate. The spring and fall is also a very active time for many people and may be a factor in the number of snakebites that occur as a result from copperheads. During the extreme temperatures of summer (100+ degrees), they will avoid these dangerously high temperatures by seeking out shaded areas and become active at dusk or during the early morning hours of dawn when temperatures are more moderate.

There are actually three types of copperheads in Texas. The broad-banded southern copperhead has a range that runs from an area around Dallas to areas as far south as Victoria and westward towards Abilene and Del Rio. The other main species is predominantly found in the piney woods of East Texas. The Trans-Pecos species of copperhead is less common and is usually found near water sources in desert areas of West Texas.

Be careful when gathering firewood and be aware of where you are placing your hands and feet. This will help you avoid a possible snakebite from these masters of camouflage that wait in ambush for the unwary.

Got ambush predator?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Preparedness Essentials - The Emergency Fund

There are many essential items that are needed to be properly prepared. Making sure you have adequate shelter, water supplies and food are all critical to your survival. The major problem is that all of these items cost money. Even fuel and a means of transportation should you need to "bug-out" for a while will require adequate funds to do so properly. If your emergency fund is empty, you could find yourself in a serious situation with very few options as a result.

While not a financial expert, some of the simple ways I've discovered over the years has helped to create an emergency fund that will help see me through tough times. Tough times happen to everybody sooner or later, you just need to be prepared for them. Hopefully, some of the things I've learned over the years may be helpful to others.

There are a couple of essential things you will need to do first when creating an emergency fund. Creating an emergency fund takes a serious commitment on your part to do so properly. Sacrifice and changes will need to be made, especially if you're living from paycheck to paycheck. You will need to be prepared to make these changes and realize that you are working to build a reserve against hard times. It is always easier to deal with having less of something than to deal without having it altogether.

When it comes to building an emergency fund, I've found that it's not really that complicated. There are really only two ways to effectively build an emergency fund. In order to make money available for an emergency fund, here are what I consider the main options:

1.) You will need to spend less of your currently available income.

2.) You will need to find an activity that will generate extra income.

Option #1 involves spending less to help create savings. Savings which can then be used to start an emergency fund. This is extremely hard if you're struggling to get by from paycheck to paycheck. Saving additional funds from your current income will require a great deal of sacrifice on your part and is one of the harder ways to create an emergency fund. With our consumer-driven economy, it is extremely difficult to do with less when everyone is telling you that you need more or better "stuff". Learn to eliminate some of the excess.

Option #2 involves finding an activity to create additional income. This can be anything from having a part-time job (my personal choice), holding a yard or garage sale on a regular basis, or doing handy-man type jobs on the side. Even this will require some sacrifice on your part. It will cost you some of your time and additional work as well.

Once you have committed yourself to building an emergency fund there is one basic truth involved: No matter how you choose to build an emergency fund there will be a certain amount of sacrifice required. How and what you choose to sacrifice should be your decision and designed to fit your circumstances.

Got emergency fund?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Free Download - S&W M&P15 Rifle Manual

The Smith & Wesson M&P15 rifle is S&W's AR-15 platform that is considered by many to be very reliable. This is a rifle that deserves serious consideration if you are looking for an AR-15 type rifle.

Here is a link to a secure download of the S&W M&P15 rifle safety and instruction manual:

S&W M&P15 Rifle Manual (1.9MB)

Image Source URL:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4

Got AR-15?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Update on Storm Damage - Getting Back to Normal

The roof repairs are fairly complete now except for a little painting that will hopefully get done this weekend. My plans are always subject to change though because you never really know what will happen next. Still have some downed tree limbs to clean up but things are getting back to normal fairly quickly. A big factor in this was due to having an emergency fund. It's nice when you can make needed repairs without having to worry about where to get the money to pay for those repairs.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Emergency Water Storage Containers - The Aquatank I

In an emergency situation, clean water will always be needed. Water is a critical element for everyone’s survival. This is a basic fact of life and is true no matter where you live. Unfortunately, a good supply of water may not always be available during a crisis and additional emergency water supplies may have to be stored in advance.

When deciding how to store your emergency water supplies, there are some great products that are now available. One of these is called the Aquatank I . The price range of these nifty emergency water storage containers runs from as little as $59.99 for the 30 gallon size to $99.99 for the 150 gallon size. For persons on a budget, these emergency water storage containers won’t break your piggy bank. These water storage containers are made from a food-grade material that will maintain the quality of your stored water. They are also designed to be impact and abrasion resistant. They store easily when not needed and don’t take up much room because they fold up easily into a very compact unit. This is important for those of you who don’t have a lot of storage space to dedicate to emergency water storage.

For heavier duty applications and the ease of convenience and portability there is also an Aquatank II model available to satisfy the need for a stronger and more durable emergency water storage container with an even greater storage capacity. Currently there is free shipping on both models. Pictures provided by Directive21.

Got emergency water storage containers?

Staying above the water storage line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Remnants of a Mountain Stream

Sometimes a mountain stream becomes little more than a muddy trail after it makes the trip down the mountain.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker