Simple Survival Tips - Emergency Treatments for Minor Bleeding and Cuts During a Crisis

During a crisis or a disaster, you may find yourself experiencing some very simple medical problems for which proper medical treatment may not be readily available. One of the more common and frequent conditions you may experience are minor cuts or bleeding. There are usually simple solutions to these problems that can be found in your own kitchen.

While a severe cut or puncture wound will require immediate medical attention, there are several remedies for treating minor cuts and bleeding available using simple items from your kitchen. Treating minor injuries quickly will help reduce the risk of more serious complications from infections that could possibly develop if left untreated, especially during a crisis or disaster when the risks will be greater.

Some of the more frequently used items to help stop minor bleeding are ground black pepper, ground cayenne pepper, teabags, flour, cornstarch and ground coffee. Most of these items are highly absorbent and will help to slow down and help to eliminate bleeding from minor cuts or injuries. Don’t forget about treating your pets who may have suffered injuries as well. Cornstarch not only works well on people but can also be safely used on your pets to treat minor bleeding and cuts.

Pressure bandages will also help to eliminate or slow down bleeding and can be easily made from kitchen towels and wash cloths. Duct tape, electrical tape or whatever type of tape you have handy can also be used to help pull the skin together to help slow down or eliminate bleeding from minor injuries as well.

Being aware of your available resources will help you be better able to treat minor injuries that could lead to further complications in a crisis. While there are numerous alternatives for treating minor injuries, one of your best resources is a well-stocked first aid kit and the knowledge of how to use it properly.

Got kitchen remedies?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

DIY Survival Gear Test - Throwing An Improvised Spear

Making your own improvised survival gear can be a great way to boost your confidence in your skills and abilities. The only problem is sometimes that gear doesn't hold up the way you planned. The best way to avoid this problem is to test it so that you will know how it performs and if there are any flaws that need to be corrected.


My recently improvised spear was put to the test and held up very well. After a few practice throws from about 25 feet, some fairly decent results were achieved. Now it takes quite a few practice throws to get it right and throwing a 5 1/2 foot improvised spear isn't as easy as it may seem. Using an old hackberry tree as a target, decent results were obtained after a couple of complete misses and a few glancing blows. My efforts actually came out as well as RW, Jr. for a change. Putting some hefty effort into my throw managed to sink the spear about 3/4 of an inch into the tree. It took some effort to remove the spear but the spear head remained intact and didn't come off the spear after it was removed. This was one of the main things that could have caused a problem. If the spear tip came off, it would be just another stick.


A picture of my best throw is shown above. Not too bad for an old guy with a pointy stick.

RW, Jr.'s spear throw turned out pretty decent as well and he managed to sink the tip solidly on target. Of course, Mrs. RW was closely supervising our activities and took her turn at throwing the spear also. Although most of her throws were glancing blows, she did manage to take a small chunk of bark off the tree being used as a target.


DIY survival gear is great to have around but it's important to make sure it works as intended.


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker

Personal Survival Kit Options - The Belt Pouch

There are some very basic rules that must be considered when building your own Personal Survival Kit (PSK). It will have little or no value if you fail to keep certain basic requirements in mind. One of the basic requirements for any Personal Survival Kit is that it is absolutely necessary to keep it on your person at all times. There are a number of options that can satisfy this requirement. One of the best ways to accomplish this is with a belt pouch.

A small belt pouch will hold a decent amount of survival gear without affecting your mobility and allow quick and easy access at all times when needed. And since it is literally strapped to your body, it will leave your hands free for other tasks. It will go where you go and be readily available if and when a need arises.

The belt pouch in the above picture is simply an old camera case without the strap. It has a zippered front pocket and a couple of D-ring attachments on the sides to clip extra gear and a fairly large rear storage pouch. The D-rings were the attachment points for the strap which had broken but like many small camera cases it also had a belt loop. 

This belt pouch can easily accommodate a variety of survival gear in a very small package. This particular belt pouch has a rear storage compartment that easily holds a small first aid kit and an assortment of other gear. While measuring in at a very compact size (approximately 5”X 4”X 2”), it’s big on storage space for PSK items. In comparison, it’s only a little more than twice the size of a small cell phone.

When making a decision about how you are going to carry your survival kit items, a belt pouch may be just what you need. No matter how you decide to build your PSK, just make sure to keep it on you!

Got belt pouch for PSK?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Views of a Riverwalk

Heres a few pics taken on my latest riverwalk. The water level of the river is down quite a bit due to the drought conditions in my area but it was still a very enjoyable riverwalk.


Got riverwalk?


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker

Visual Emergency Signals for Survival - Daytime Emergency Signals

In an emergency situation, being able to utilize any and all your options to create an emergency signal will increase your chances of being found quickly. From a simple vehicle breakdown to being lost in the wilderness, your ability to create a visual distress signal can be critical. The most important factor in creating a visual emergency signal is its ability to get someone’s attention and make them aware of your presence.

Most persons readily noticed items that are unusual or seem out of place and this should be your goal when creating an emergency signal. If you can combine a visual signal with movement, sound and color, you will draw even more attention to yourself and your chances of being found will increase dramatically. For these reasons, flags have been utilized as distress signals with great success. It’s extremely difficult for someone to fail to notice a colorful flag that is flapping in a breeze. You can utilize a bandanna, your shirt, a mirror, a blanket or a poncho or raincoat or just a  colorful piece of cloth or surveyor’s tape for this purpose. If you’ve got a flag bandanna, it can be even more effective if it’s flown upside down. This is a universal distress signal familiar to most people. 

Another option for creating a visual signal is the empty container. An empty can, water bottle or bag can be tied to a limb or other object to draw attention to your situation as well. If you’re carrying a small notepad and pencil, you can even leave a note with additional information. Even if you don’t have writing material, you can still leave a message by simply wring in the dirt with a stick. If you happen to be a riverwalker, you can even float an empty bottle (with a note inside) on a piece of cord in the river and leave it fastened to a tree branch on the riverbank.

Even natural objects, when placed in an unnatural position can be used to create an emergency signal. A pile of rocks in the middle of a trail will most assuredly get someone’s attention. You can even indicate your direction by making it look like an arrow to point the way to your location. You can even use a combination of all these types of signals to further increase your chances of being found. If you can include the sound factor in your emergency signal it will be even more effective. A simple object like a rock, a stick or an eating utensil (i.e., spoon, etc.) tied on a piece of cord that is banging against a can or bottle blowing in the wind can create a wind chime effect to draw attention to your plight.

Remember, the main goal of an emergency signal is to get someone’s attention in as quick a manner as possible.


Got wind chime for survival?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Sticks for Survival - DIY Survival Gear - The Spear

Sticks are the original multi-tool. From use as a simple digging tool to use as a defensive weapon in the form of clubs, arrows or spears, sticks have great versatility in a wide variety of situations. They can be used to build a shelter, make a litter to carry an injured person, as fuel for a fire or to fashion a raft to make a river crossing. You just can't beat a good stick.


Sticks can be modified or used for numerous items that are very useful in almost any situation you may encounter. One of the easiest and simplest tools that can be made from a stick is a spear. Simply attach a sharp object to one end and you have an improvised tool that can be used for defensive or hunting purposes. 

They can also be decorated to create a very unique item that will be distinct from other sticks that may be out there. Using a strip of leather and adding a few beads, a couple of feathers and a tassel made from elk hair and you have a unique piece of gear for your survival.


Got stick?


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - River Trail

Mrs. RW and myself took a little time to do some riverwalking the other day. It was a slightly warm day with temperatures over a 100 degrees but still nice and relaxing. We also saw a young fawn that had already lost most of its spots. 


Done any riverwalking lately?


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker 

Survival Super Foods - Corn Starch

Many food items have unique properties that allow them to be considered “survival super foods”. Their unique qualities are what make them important as food in a survival situation. Cornstarch is quite simply a basic food item that is a survival super food.

Cornstarch is composed of starch which has been isolated from corn. Stored properly in an air-tight and moisture-proof environment it will easily last for up to two years in storage. Its main drawbacks are that it will “clump” if exposed to excess humidity and will absorb odors from other food items stored nearby. It has the appearance of a very finely ground white powder and is a much coarser consistency than regular cornmeal which has a more granular type of texture and appearance.

Cornstarch has many of the qualities that make it a survival food. One of the qualities of a survival food is how much cooking and prep time is required. Cornstarch can quite literally be eaten straight out of the box without even cooking. This is important if the means to cook or prepare your food is limited.  Another important quality is that it can be combined with other basic ingredients to make a soup or gravy to enhance your meals when other food stocks may be low or non-existent.

Corn starch is also amazingly easy to digest without any adverse effects on your health and is a very good source of energy for your body. Cornstarch is also effective in treating digestive disorders in persons who are experiencing trouble and aren’t able to consume sufficient calories to maintain their health at a proper level.  It is also gluten-free. This is an important consideration for those persons who have low tolerance levels for certain types of foods containing wheat or similar products.

Got super food for survival?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

                                            

The 5 C’s for Building Your Personal Survival Kit

The first thing to remember about a Personal Survival Kit is that it is personal. The items you may need in your PSK will vary according to several different factors. The size, type and quantity of items will be different for almost every individual and your PSK should be built around your personal needs. Using a little common sense and having a PSK that you are comfortable with will insure that you will always have it with you when it is needed.

The 5 C’s for Building Your Personal Survival Kit

1. Container - One of the most important factors when building a PSK is the container for those items necessary for your survival. If it isn’t something you are comfortable carrying at all times, the chances are it will be left behind and not be available when you need it. The main way to solve this problem when building a PSK is to find a container you are comfortable carrying at all times. Once you have made a decision about what type of container you will be going to use, you can start the process of assembling your PSK. The size and type of the container you are using will determine the type and amount of items you can carry.

2. Carry - You will also need to factor in the method you will be using to carry your PSK.  Depending upon the type of container you choose, the method of carry will be different and this will impose limits on your PSK so that it doesn’t become a burden. You may have decided to use a small container for your pocket, a belt pouch, or items on a lanyard or a keychain. You may have even opted for a small fanny pack. No matter what type of carry you have decided upon for your PSK, it has to be something that you are comfortable with at all times.

3. Contents - The contents of your PSK should complement your EDC (every day carry) items and should act as a backup to those items. If you regularly carry a folding pocket knife, a small utility blade could then be included in your PSK as a backup.  Similarly, if you carry a bandanna in your back pocket, you won’t need one in your PSK. Perhaps you carry a good multi-tool on your belt at all times; this would allow you to include a miniature one in your PSK as a backup. In all cases, your PSK contents should complement your EDC items.

4. Complement - Your PSK should also complement your skill levels and individual abilities. If your skill levels are better than average, you may be able to get by with less than you think. On the other hand, if you are not very good at something you may need additional backup items in your PSK to cover any deficiencies in your skill levels. It should be designed to fit your own personal skill levels and abilities. Remember, the more you know, the less you will need to carry.

5. Change - Don’t hesitate to make changes to your PSK.  Changing the way you carry your PSK or its contents should be a natural process. As your skill levels increase, your needs for certain items will decrease. If you find an area that could be a problem, you can work to solve that problem by making the necessary changes. Change is sometimes required to maintain a proper balance of items in your PSK.

Your PSK (Personal Survival Kit) should be a personal reflection of your skills and abilities and will be unique in almost all circumstances. There is seldom a “one size fits all” Personal Survival Kit.

Keeping it personal?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Backyard Bushcraft - Bushcraft 101

Nature can teach you some very valuable lessons when it comes to survival. Many people quite often ask how to get started learning bushcraft without realizing they don’t have to go any further than their own backyard. You can spend years learning about nature by simply observing the things that happen on a daily basis in your own backyard.

Most people spend a large amount of time in their own backyard without knowing what is happening on an everyday basis. Most creatures pay more attention to your activities than the average person does to theirs and will notice you before you are even aware of their presence. There’s a lot of stuff happening in your own backyard.

On any given day there are probably a dozen or more types of birds in my own backyard. Most of these birds have a preference for certain types of nests and have their own little rituals of daily activity that are often performed on a regular basis. They will also lay claim to your backyard when establishing their territory and they will defend it aggressively if they feel threatened by your presence. If you have never been “dive-bombed” by a mockingbird protecting its young in the nest, you are missing out on a truly unique experience.

Another example of backyard bushcraft is learning about the hazards in nature. From thorny plants to insects, there is a wide variety of creatures and things living in your own backyard that can help learn to better understand nature.  There’s not a dangerous type of snake that hasn’t been found in my own backyard at some time or another. Everything from copperheads to coral snakes has decided to move into my own backyard without seeking my permission. It seems they don’t recognize fences and property lines like my two-legged neighbors. There are also numerous varieties of other snakes that are usually quite harmless and that are of a beneficial nature hanging around in my own backyard.

How many times have you walked into a spider’s web in your backyard without even being aware of its presence? Perhaps you just got a rude awakening from that ant pile you failed to notice when you put your foot in the wrong place at the wrong time. You may have even realized that walking around barefoot at night isn’t such a great idea after being stung by a scorpion that was on the prowl for a late night snack. If you aren’t careful, nature sometimes has a very harsh way of getting your attention.

Start by practicing a little “backyard bushcraft” which will help to teach you to be more observant about your surroundings and make you a little more aware of all the things that are happening. Nature and its creatures perform an enormous amount of activities in your own backyard on a daily basis. Taking the time to learn more about your own immediate environment is a great way to start learning bushcraft. If you find yourself in a totally different area, you can then use that experience and knowledge to your benefit.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

The Power of Observation - Birds in a Bush

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush but what do you do if there are more than two birds in that bush? Can you find all the birds in the bush?


Here's a hint for you! There's more than two.


Got powers of observation?


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker

The Personal Survival Kit - Part Three - Using Sound to Create Emergency Signals

One of the main components for creating an emergency signal is sound.  Certain sounds will get someone’s attention a lot quicker than others. Unfortunately, the range and types of sounds which we can hear and process are quite limited. Otherwise, professional speakers wouldn’t need to use special equipment in order to make sure that everyone in their audience can hear them.

Why is sound so effective when being used to create an emergency signal? It is due to our startle reflex. Loud noises can startle people and whenever we hear a loud noise there will be an automatic response by our bodies that causes us to blink our eyes. This is a normal response by our bodies to what may be a possible danger or threat. This is due to the fact that our eyes are one of the most vulnerable parts of our bodies and require more protection from a possible injury. Our bodies automatically work to protect our eyes because they are so vulnerable. This is one of the main reasons that sounds can be so effective when creating an emergency signal. It creates an automatic response by anyone within range of the sound you are making, especially if it’s a loud one.

When using sound to create an emergency signal, the whistle is one of the best devices and probably the easiest to use for this purpose. They are available in small, compact varieties that will easily fit into a personal survival kit. My personal preference is the flat style boat whistles which take up less space and are not so bulky if carried on a lanyard around your neck. The small metal whistles that are the "pea-less" variety are also great little whistles as well. Many can be carried easily around your neck on a lanyard, attached to your hiking stick or simply placed in your pocket. You can even get whistles that include things like a button compass and a thermometer. Although they are somewhat less compact than a regular whistle this can make your whistle a multi-use item.

Another important thing to remember is that you should always use a combination of threes when making an emergency signal with sound. A series of three short blasts from your whistle is normally the best way to signal for help. It will also help to conserve energy and require less effort if you are having breathing difficulties by allowing you to pace yourself and avoid hyperventilating. A series of three items is a universal sign of distress and it will also allow your location to be more easily determined if someone has their attention focused on the sound you are making. If possible a loud continuous sound will also be effective. Banging on an object to create a continuous noise at a steady pace may also help to get someone’s attention.

On many of the camping and hiking trips with my family over the years, everyone wore a whistle on a lanyard on their neck. Always and at all times!  If we got separated or temporarily lost sight of each other, everyone knew that three short blasts from their whistle would bring everyone to their location very quickly.

Even though a whistle in its simplest form is not a multi-use item, it should be considered an essential item for any Personal Survival Kit (PSK).

Got sounds for survival?


Riverwalker

The Personal Survival Kit - Part Two - Reflective Devices for Creating Emergency Signals

There are five major components of creating an emergency signal in a survival situation. The first three components involve sight, sound and movement. These are the basics that are involved in any effective means of communication, regardless of your current situation. If you can’t be seen, heard or draw their attention to your area, chances are nobody is going to find you unless it is totally by accident. They would almost literally have to stumble upon you in order to find you or determine your location. The other two major components deal with the time of day or night you are creating your emergency signal. Emergency signals at night will often be different from those that you would use during the day.

Creating daytime emergency signals gives you a lot of options as long as you remember to use sight, sound and movement. One of the easiest and most effective means of creating a daytime signal is to use a reflective material or surface. When considering items to include in your personal survival kit, you can use several different options to increase your options for an effective daytime emergency signal. Having a reflective surface of some sort can involve using a number of different items. Many of these items can be carried quite easily on your person and won’t necessarily need to be included in your PSK (Personal Survival Kit). This will leave room for other emergency items in your kit.

One of the most effective items for creating an emergency signal in the daytime is a signal mirror. These can be ready-made devices or ones that have been improvised from most any type of reflective material or object. It could be as simple as a piece of aluminum foil (which can be easily kept on your person - folded in your pocket or wallet), a CD, an old aluminum can that someone carelessly discarded or is sitting in the cup holder of your vehicle, a piece of reflective Mylar or any other item that that has some ability to reflect light. The quality of your signal will be affected by the type of item you are using. Regardless of this fact, you are still communicating some type of signal to enhance your chances of survival.  You can always opt to carry a signal mirror on a lanyard around your neck to free up space in your PSK.

Depending upon your circumstances, you may have more reflective surface options readily available than you realize. The majority of people usually travel in their cars in more instances than they do on foot. This in itself gives you a large number of available reflective devices that could be used in an emergency. Most vehicles have small vanity mirrors on the sun visors that could be utilized. All vehicles have inside and outside rear view mirrors that could be utilized along with any shiny chrome or chrome-plated items of trim, or any “shiny” object you can find, etc. Even the scope of your rifle could be utilized to create an emergency signal. You could actually create a number of reflective signals to further enhance your signal’s ability to get someone’s attention. Women have a slight edge over guys in this department as most already carry a make-up compact that usually has a great little mirror included.


Knowing more about your available options to create an emergency signal will make it easier for you to carry less gear.


You can read additional information here:

The Personal Survival Kit - Part Three - Using Sound to Create Emergency Signals

Got shiny surfaces for survival?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

The Personal Survival Kit - Part One - Avoiding the 40 Pound Monster

Most everyone agrees that just about anything can go in a survival kit. The only problem is that it often becomes a 40 pound monster when it’s finally put together. It’s important to remember that its purpose is to help you survive until you reach civilization again or you are rescued. Many people have a tendency to pack way more than they will probably need to survive and wind up including a lot of “extras”.  

While it may be wonderful to have all those extras, you should remember that your survival kit should be designed to satisfy the basic requirements for survival. You need water, food, shelter and a means to signal for assistance or rescue. That’s it. If it’s too big or too bulky, odds are you won’t have it with you and it won’t do you much good.

You should also rate your survival kits for its use. A personal survival kit is just that. It’s what you keep on your person (K.O.P.) at all times. Many of the necessary items can be carried with little difficulty on an everyday basis without becoming a burden. Anything more than that and it becomes something different entirely.

The survival kit you carry everyday in your vehicle can be a little more extensive but it’s not something you will probably want to carry around everywhere you go. The same thing can be said about your BOB (bug out bag). If you stick to the basics, you will find that your personal survival kit will become smaller, lighter, and more efficient and will serve its main purpose... to keep you alive until you reach civilization or are rescued.

Your personal survival kit should be designed to complement the basic items you carry on your person at all times. Everything should serve double duty in some form or fashion so that it will have multiple uses. It should also be designed to complement your own skill levels. All the items should be checked on a regular basis to make sure they are functioning properly as intended. It should also include main components for each category... water, food, shelter and signaling. If at all possible, you should have a backup for each component as well should something get lost, break or otherwise fails to perform as needed.


You can read additional information here:

The Personal Survival Kit - Part Two - Reflective Devices for Creating Emergency Signals

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

DIY Survival Gear - RW Jr.'s Custom Firesteel

Here's a pic of RW Jr.'s custom firesteel. It has a more conventional style wood handle. The handle was made from an old grill fork handle. The handle was shortened and holes drilled for the firesteel and a lanyard. Took about 15 minutes total to create this custom firesteel. The old grill fork was bent and no longer being used. It was a fairly easy process to remove the handle and convert it into something useful.


Got custom firesteel?


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Bird on a Limb

Sometimes on a hot summer day all you really need is a little shade.


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker

Practical Self Reliance - Cross Training for Survival

Quite often the independent nature created by developing our own self reliance leads us to forget an important aspect of self reliance. There will be times when one person may not be able to perform tasks in a normal manner due to abnormal circumstances. This is where cross training can increase your chances of survival.

Cross training is having more than one person capable of certain tasks that are a requirement to keep things working smoothly.  Even the simple act of changing a tire is something that every member of the family should know how to do in an emergency should it become necessary. Likewise, everyone in the family should be able to prepare a basic meal should the “regular” cook become incapacitated in some manner. No matter the task, you should always have someone that can function as a backup. You should also have the most capable person performing that task. In the event they are unable to do so, having a backup is going to make things go a lot smoother and more efficiently.

An injury, illness or absence due to your presence being needed elsewhere or simply becoming separated in a crisis can leave other family members at a distinct disadvantage. Cross training will not only increase your self reliance but it will also enable things to get back to a state of normal a lot quicker and faster that might otherwise possible.

It is also important to remember that in a crisis even routine and mundane tasks can add to a person’s sense of well-being and importance to the overall functioning of the family as a unit. Young children can be taught many simple tasks that would allow other family members to work on more pressing needs. This adds to their importance in the family unit and will increase your ability to maintain your self reliance.

By way of example, in my training of personnel at work, everyone generally has specialized duties which they perform. In their absence, there is always someone else that is capable of performing that task. They may not be the fastest or most efficient at that particular task but the job will get done. Thus, the unit as a whole will continue to function even though it may be at a somewhat slower pace. At least things won’t come to a grinding halt.

Cross training is fairly simple to incorporate into your lifestyle. Just take a little extra time and patience to show other family members how and what needs to be done. Whether it’s how to change a flat tire, repair a water leak, cook a meal or repair a roof, realize that you can’t impart years of experience and practice overnight to a novice. It’s also important to remember the physical and mental aspects that a task may require and make sure the individual being cross trained in that skill can manage the task on both a physical and mental level. If the task can’t be performed safely by that person you will be adding an additional element of risk to your survival that is unnecessary.

Got cross training for survival?

Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Ducks Taking Flight

Ducks are always a good indicator of nearby water sources.


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker

Simple Survival Gear Mods - Sticks for Survival - The Stealth Survival Stick

Sticks can be modified in numerous ways that will allow them to suit your needs. There may be those of you who prefer the more traditional look of a hiking or walking stick. You don't want a pouch attached or need a hook on the end but you would still like to be able to carry those few little extras...just in case. You also don't want everyone to know about any little extras you might be carrying. Here's an idea that can help you make a "Stealth Survival Stick".

A short piece of 3/4 " PVC pipe and a few fittings are all you need to make a handle for your hiking stick that will give you additional storage space for those "little extras" you might wish to carry. They won't be as obvious to anyone as items attached to your stick where they can be easily seen.  In this case, one 3/4" PVC pipe cap, two 3/4" PVC fittings with 3/4" threads and one reducer that was 1" by 3/4", a good stick that was 3/4" in diameter and a little glue were all that was needed. The inside dimensions of the reducer were pretty close to the size of the stick that was used. A little sanding on the end gave it a good snug fit. The other two fittings went on the short piece of 3/4" PVC pipe and the 3/4" pipe cap went on the top. A little paracord wrap was added to the handle to give it a little better grip and it was good to go.


  

Here's a view of the finished handle with paracord. It was measured in order to fit my hand and to give it a comfortable grip. The top cap can be unscrewed to allow access to the inside storage for those "extras". 

You can also unscrew the complete handle from the stick with this configuration. This allows the handle  to be used as an emergency container (with gear items removed). Other than a somewhat different handle than people may be used to seeing, it simply looks like a plain old hiking stick. Your hiking stick will remain fairly sturdy as well.


Surprisingly, you can store an awful lot of stuff in the handle storage compartment. You might want to wrap your gear items in a bandanna or something similar before placing them in the handle to keep down the noise that can be caused by the "rattle factor".


Got "Stealth Survival Stick"?


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker

Happy Fourth of July from the USAF Band of the West

Thought everyone might enjoy some patriotic music from the USAF Band of the West.

Have a great Fourth of July celebration.


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker

Bushcraft - Central Texas Style - Nature's Guides

Blue Darners on Pond

Dragonflies are strong fliers and are very territorial. They quite often have an established route that they cover in their area and will quite often be found perching on limbs or twigs in the same area on a routine basis. They fly much faster than a butterfly and can fly backwards or hover similar to hummingbirds. Dragonflies are most often seen perched on plants along the edges of ponds or other small bodies of water.

The above picture is a twelve-spotted skimmer. Twelve spotted skimmer dragonflies (Libellula pulchella) normally have twelve spots on their wings that make them fairly easy to identify. Males will usually have additional white spots on their wings. The twelve-spotted skimmer in the picture above can be seen quite regularly sitting on this particular limb. This is in an area that is only a few hundred yards away from a large pond.

Nature will quite often show you the way to survive if you know the signs to look for when searching for a natural source of water.  Dragonflies are just one of the indicators that a natural source of water may be located nearby in your area. 

There's an old saying with a lot of truth in it: 


"Let nature be your guide."

Staying above the pond line!

Riverwalker

Diy Survival Gear - Custom Wood Handle Firesteel with Lanyard

The picture above is a custom firesteel with a wooden handle and a lanyard. A larger size firesteel was used in making this unique and one of a kind firesteel.  

A size comparison of a smaller firesteel with a brass holder is shown in the picture above.


Got that personal touch?


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker