How airsoft and skirmishes can teach you about being prepared for survival

Many airsoft BB gun users take part in organized skirmishes - aka fake battles and survival scenarios. A lot of people don’t believe in ‘playing’ with guns or allowing youngsters to play with guns or take part in skirmish activities as they believe it’s setting a bad example. However, using airsoft BB guns and taking part in skirmishes can teach you a lot about being prepared and surviving in any situation.

Honing your shooting skills

You may think that in real life you will never need to know how to shoot a target, but at one point or another, you may well need to be able to do so. Its one thing shooting targetsat a shooting range; it’s completely another shooting a moving target during a skirmish, which is why skirmishes are so useful when it comes to honing your shooting skills. When it comes to surviving in the wilderness, being able to shoot a moving target - ideally, at a distance away - is crucial. Proving that skirmishes are an ideal way to do this, many police forces and military forces use BB guns and skirmishes to help new recruits hone their shooting skills.  

Learning to work as part of a team

Another important lesson that skirmishes can teach you is working successfully as part of a team. If you’re someone who watches survival films or war films even, then you will know that when it comes to survival, teamwork is often crucial. Skirmishes teach you how to not only look after yourself but also your team members, as well as how to obey orders and do as you’re told. If you are put in a leading position, skirmishes also teach you how to lead a team and determine who does what role within it. When it comes to survival (and preparation), being a good delegate is important - this is a skill that leading a skirmish team will allow you to develop.

How to stay hidden

Just like in real wars, the key to surviving when under attack is being able to stay hidden. Taking part in skirmishes teaches you how to stay hidden by camouflaging yourself. It also teaches you how to pick the opportune moment to reveal yourself and how to determine when that is. Talking about careful thinking, it’s also crucial to learn to use ammunition wisely, which is another key thing that skirmishes teach you. You only have a certain amount of ammunition and have to learn to make it last, if you’re going to survive, that is.

Adapting to different environments

Last but not least, skirmishes teach you how to successfully adapt to play in different environments. Sometimes matches will be held outdoors in woodland areas other times they will be held in indoor areas like old malls. If you’re going to survive whatever is thrown at you, you need to know how to adapt to different environments and use your airsoft skills successfully in each of them. They say that practice makes perfect, so the more skirmishes in different environments you compete in, the better.

Airsoft BB guns and skirmishes can teach you a lot about being prepared and surviving anything, from a Zombie apocalypse to a terrorist takeover.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

6 Prepper Tips to Start Now

We’ve all made mistakes before, but some of us are still making mistakes that we don’t even realize we’re making. Our bug out bag is sitting in the corner and we think we’re ready to go if anything were to happen, but there’s really so much more you could be doing to be completely prepared. Here are 6 things to start doing now.

1.) Gather your team

You might decide that turning your back on mankind and trying to survive completely alone is the best idea, but there’s no way you can do it all on your own. Find those closest to you who you trust and want to survive and create a team. In the end of the world, having others on your side will make your load lighter and chances of survival higher. When you’ve assembled your team, figure out who is strong in what areas and assign tasks. If you don’t have someone who is skilled in a certain area you believe is vital, either find someone who is to join or have someone learn how to do it.

2.) Learn new skills

Even the most prepared survivalist doesn’t know everything they need to survive. Being skilled in all kinds of different areas will help you be even more prepared for the worst. Skills like hunting, defense, building shelter, and lifesaving techniques are important for every advanced prepper. Taking online courses like ACLS recertification and canning classes make learning new skills easy.

3.) Practice, Practice, Practice

When a disaster comes, you don’t want to be running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off. You want to be prepared for the worst, but how do you do that? Practice. Get your team together and start running through drills so everyone knows exactly what they need to do when the dreaded day comes. Practicing won’t only help teach everyone what is expected of them, but will help you figure out what areas still need to be prepped. You’ll hit roadblocks in your practice run that you can fix before a disaster hits and you’ll be that much more prepared.

4.) Take a breather

Take a minute to just think and relax. You don’t want to always be uptight and worrying about what could go wrong. Being mentally stable is a key to being a successful prepper. Not focusing on being prepared will help you get back to the basics and figure out what is really important to you. Once you get back to work, this will help you be refocused and know what areas need work.

 5.)Bug in

We all have our bug out plan, but what happens if we get trapped in or it isn’t safe to go outside? You need to be prepared to bug in, or stay in place and survive, and know when you should bug out or bug in. Certain emergencies will require you to bug out and certain ones will require you to bug in. Either way you should be prepared, but a lot of us only think about bugging out. We don’t have the necessary supplies or plans to stay in place. Create a plan for staying in place that includes security, shelter, communication, and how you will get food once your supply runs out. Keep a stash of food close by to be prepared to bug in. Here are some other tips for bugging in.

6.) Check your supplies

Things go bad and we don’t think about it. You don’t want to be stuck in a disaster zone when nothing works. Checking all your supplies periodically will avoid this disaster of it’s own. Make sure your car is still in good shape. Check your food storage occasionally to make sure everything hasn’t expired. The best tip I’ve heard when checking your supplies is check it all yourself. You can’t just assume they will work when you need them and someone else might not like some of your supplies. If you check everything, you’ll know it works and you’ll know if it works for you.

We all make mistakes when we’re prepping for a disaster, but there are some we can easily avoid. If you start implementing the above tips, the day the world ends will go a lot smoother for you and your family. 

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

The 12 Essentials of Any Bug-out Bag

There’s a new trend emerging, but it’s not one that’ll have you visiting clothing stores. Natural calamities are hitting places all over the world – occurring at a rate never seen before. The chances of you being next are at the highest they’ve ever been, and you best prepare. For this, you have the bug-out bag.

Bug-out bags should contain everything you need for at least 72 hours of evacuation from a disaster site. Keep that in mind when you go over the following list of essentials found in every bug-out bag.

1. Water

Ah, the stuff of life. Science says you can last weeks without food, but can die from dehydration in a matter of days. Bring at least a liter for every day you expect to remain in evacuation per person. In that case, have a minimum of three liters per person ready. Store your water in sturdy containers just to be safe, too. If in case it turns out you hadn’t brought enough water, having water purification tablets ready should do the trick.

2. Food

Canned goods and dehydrated meals in plastic containers and paper bags are ideal over fresh food for a lot of reasons. For one, they require little to no preparation – something you probably won’t have the resources for in an evacuation site. They also have a prolonged shelf life (or, in this case, bag life), which you’ll need when you can’t access refrigeration. To add, the cans could also be used for other purposes throughout your evacuation. Prepare some food preparation instruments like a knife, although that could easily be substituted by the more useful Swiss knife.

3. First Aid

Accidents can happen at any time, and even more so when disaster strikes. Your bug-out bag should contain basic first aid, including bandages, povidone iodine, adhesives, tweezers,vitamin tablets and your prescription medicines. Also consider putting in some antibiotics like cephalexin, ciprofloxacin and metronidazole. These handle all kinds of nasty infections you’ll be prone to in an evacuation.Your bug-out bag should also have some benadryl in case of allergies. Not everyone may have these ready, so be open to sharing your aid with strangers. Who knows? You may even find yourself on the receiving end.

4. Zip ties

Zip ties already have so many functions in regular, everyday life, yet they prove even more useful for evacuation purposes. These can be used to restrain objects in cases of strong winds, restrain people in times of danger or panic, hold together different materials to keep warm or expand your shelter, serve as a temporary tourniquet when a proper one can’t be made – the list goes on.

5. Personal hygiene materials

Getting struck by disaster is no excuse to let yourself go. Have the basics like tissue, soap, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. Bringing a razor serves both purposes of grooming and self-defense.

6. Self-defense

Should supplies become scarce or you encounter any danger (let’s hope not), you’ll be glad you packed something to protect you and your loved ones with. Rifles are good for hunting too in case food runs short.A .22 caliber rifle seems to be the rifle of choice in this case.

7. Alternative power supply

When you’re bugging out, chances are there won’t be a readily available power supply. It’s a good thing technology has alternative, renewable solutions for generating electricity. Get yourself a crank power charger or even one that runs on solar power. The latter would, obviously, not be ideal in a hurricane situation. More specifically, there are also emergency radios available that run on crank power. 

8. Fire-starter items

At home, you cook, warm up, and need light. Evacuation is no different as these are essentials. There is, after all, a reason the discovery of fire propelled human evolution. Pack some waterproof matches, lighters, maybe even a can of butane. That last one will be especially helpful in the case of a zombie apocalypse as it makes a good makeshift fire bomb.

9. Light source

Again, no power means no light, and that becomes an especially pronounced problem come night time. A torch with a hand crank is ideal, but isn’t always available. Battery-powered should do just fine, but remember to pack extra batteries in that case. There are also some solar-powered lamps available in the market. Most of these things can be found in the camping section or appliance section of most department stores.

10. Clothes

Don’t bring your whole wardrobe. Remember that a bug out bag is ideally good for only three days. Go for smaller, lighter garments like your average t-shirts, shorts, and the like. Extra underwear and socks are good, too. Should these run out, you could rinse them out at a nearby water supply, but let’s not hope it gets to that. And, make sure the water used for laundry isn’t meant for drinking. Come on.

11. Shelter

Other than having shelter for the sake of shelter, this also provides safety for you, your loved ones and your belongings. You’ll also need to be well-rested to stay alert – of utter importance in times of calamity. There are several compact tent variants for you to choose from. Also make sure you have on you some tarp and ground pads.

12. Survival manual

There are some thing you just can’t be too prepared for, and being prepared entails covering every possible scenario. Survival manuals will provide the necessary know-how for sticky situations and should your evacuation level up to a survival scenario.

The rule of thumb in packing your bug-out bag is to expect for the best while preparing for the worst. You know your area and its people better than any website, and should use that knowledge in stocking up. Should disaster strike, you’ll find these items to be more than useful for your evacuation.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Dreaming of a Green Holiday Season

It pays to be prepared for Christmas. Most people have a certain set of rituals for the holidays. This usually includes buying and wrapping gifts, decorating and buying a Christmas tree. These are time honored traditions, and they’re fun, but they can also be hard on the environment. Fortunately, there are many fun ways to celebrate a “Green Christmas” — one that is both environmentally friendly and joyful. Let’s look at some of the best ways to prepare for a green holiday season.

Send Emails Rather Than Paper Cards

While Christmas cards are a tradition, they also waste quite a bit of paper between the card and envelope. Emails are not only more environmentally friendly, they save you postage. You can get creative in your emails and include nice holiday themed graphics or links to e-cards.

Gift Wrap Using Recycled Paper

You can either buy recycled gift wrapping paper or repurpose paper you already have. You can make your gift wrapping even greener by also using recycled bows, ribbons and other decorative items. Another option is to wrap gifts in decorative gift bags that can be reused.

Use a Live Christmas Tree

It may come as a surprise to some, but live Christmas trees are better for the environment than plastic ones. Plastic consumes many resources and creates quite a bit of waste and pollution. The most sustainable type of tree is a live one in a pot. You can either keep the tree in its pot or replant it after the Christmas season.

Use LED Lights on the Tree

When lighting up your Christmas tree, use LED lights, which are far more energy efficient than other kinds. LED lights can last as long as 100,000 hours, which will get you through many holiday seasons! You should also remember to turn the lights off while everyone is asleep. Christmas tree lights, even LEDs, can actually hike up your monthly energy bill in December, so this might also be a good time of year to look into whether or not you can reduce your monthly energy costs by changing service providers (see this website for more details).

Give Creative Gifts

There are many alternatives to buying gifts at the mall or ordering them online. You could make gifts for people. If you are artistic you could create paintings, sculptures or collages for people. If you are handy, you could make items out of wood, metal or other materials. If you are good at sewing or needlepoint, clothing, rugs or blankets all make great gifts. Another option is to give experiences rather than physical objects. This might include yoga classes, massages, spa treatments or gift certificates for a nice restaurant.

Buy “Green” Gifts

There are now many companies that make eco-friendly gifts, whether clothing, jewelry, toys or home decor. You can also find creative and green gifts at antique shops. Most of all, try to avoid toys and gadgets that require batteries, which are an environmental hazard when discarded.

Reduce Holiday Driving

It’s easy to get into the habit of driving everywhere during the holiday season. Between shopping, holiday parties and visits, people often consume extra fuel during this time of year. Try to minimize this by doing more carpooling. If you have friends, co-workers or family members attending the same events, arrange to go together.

Buy in Bulk

It’s typical for people to stock up on food for holiday parties and meals. When you go to the store, buy as many items in bulk as you can. This includes not only food but also paper items such as paper towels and napkins. This will save you money and cut down on the packaging used.

These are just a few of the ways that you can have a “Green Christmas” this year. When you start thinking this way, you will probably come up with more ideas of your own. It’s often more fun to have environmentally friendly holidays, as you have to think creatively rather than simply do everything the same old way.

Thanks to Beth for a great guest post.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Stay Safe from Summer Storms with These DIY Home Projects

Every day, hundreds of lightning bolts crash down from the heavens onto the earth below. For the Scandinavians, just as thunder was the embodiment of Thor, lightning was the embodiment of the hammer he used to protect humans from the ever-present threat of giants. These days, there may be fewer giants in the woods, but menacing electrical storms can still wreak havoc on your property. Luckily there are many small things you can do around your home to prepare it for the worst.

1. Remove Debris: Broken branches, building materials, lawn furniture, or other loose items around your home have the potential to become dangerous projectiles in the midst of a storm. Take time to assess your backyard and complete any tree removal or limb-trimming you feel is necessary.

2. H2O to Go: If a severe electrical storm is in the forecast, your power grid and city water system might both be at risk of going down. Fill up buckets, bottles, and even your bathtub for washing and drinking. Ice bags in the freezer can also help- a couple days without power may cost you a couple hundred bucks in rotten food. Fill freezer bags with water and keep them in the freezer, then use them in the event of a blackout to help food stay cold longer. When they thaw out, you’ve got clean drinking water. Before the storm, you can also make a rainwater collection system for very little money and store hundreds of gallons of water to use for your garden, plumbing, or other uses.

3. Repair Your Roof: In order to prevent leaks and severe damage to your roof during a downpour, you should carefully inspect your roof gutters and shingles. Doing minor repairs early on is much better than cleaning up the after-effects of indoor flooding. Start by examining chimneys, skylights, and plumbing vents for moisture. Look for algae stains on interior plywood, wet insulation, or rust around nails, since these are some telltale signs of leaks.

4. Solar Sump Pump: For remote areas needing pumping without access to power, a sump pump with solar batteries can provide the answer. Install a couple of small solar panels to charge the portable water pump’s batteries, and you can go “off the grid” with your portable pump. Some people live in areas where storms may leave them without access to a working electrical grid for weeks or even months; in these cases, it can be very useful to have a battery backup to keep solar electricity in reserve for nights and cloudy days. Solar energy is catching on among many in the United States, and in Canada you can even find alternative eco-friendly energy plans through various informational websites that can let consumers bypass main fossil-fuel based providers altogether.

5. Fill Your Gas Tank: Keep a full propane tank handy so that you and your family can still enjoy a hot meal if you have a gas grill and meat in the freezer. In times of lengthy outages, you can always grill the contents of your fridge before the food spoils. Filling your car with gas before a storm allows you to turn it into an additional survival tool. Cars can be used to charge cell phones, provide heat, and even function as a generator with a power inverter. Your car is also your means of emergency transport and without power, gas stations in your area will be unable to help you refill your tank.

Each storm is unique, and presents its own unique set of challenges, but having some survival tips in mind can help put the odds in your favor. With all the time and money you’ve invested into your property, being prepared is just plain common sense.

Beth Kelly is a freelance blogger from the Midwest and the author of this guest post.

Thanks go out to Beth for some great tips.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

5 Easy Tips for starting an effective food storage

If you needed to live off of the items in your home for an undetermined amount of time, would you be ready?  No matter where you live, your home is susceptible to natural disasters and emergency situations. Creating an effective food storage is important for everyone, no matter their household size or living situation. Because starting your food storage may be a bit overwhelming at first, we’re here to help you take care of this important detail in emergency preparation. Check out these five easy tips then start building your food storage today!

1.       Take your time :

While it may feel like you should be getting this done ASAP, it’s important that you take your time to get it right. Add a few items to your supply each week until you have three months of food stored away for you and your family. It takes time to stock up on a whole year’s supply of food. Learn to use your freezer and make extra portions of your favorite foods to bag and freeze them.

2.       Planning:

You don’t have to go broke buying supplies for your food storage. Start with a food storage plan and add a little at a time. Use a checklist to ensure that you’ve purchased foods that you will actually eat. This will help you stick to a budget as you add to your food storage over time.

3.       Find Storage space:

One of the major obstacles you will encounter is finding enough space for your emergency preparedness supplies. Preparing space in advance will help you find areas for storage. Don’t panic if you have a restricted amount of space to work with. It’s fun to get creative when looking for storage space ideas. The most common places that are overlooked are under beds, in closets, under dressers, under desks, and under or behind sofas. You can also go through your household items and toss duplicate or seldom-used items.

4.       Create a Rotation:

Occasionally, you will have to go through your emergency food supply to replace older items. You will want to do this once a year or even every two years. It is important to restock what you remove. Rotating your long term food storage is an awesome way to introduce your family to the flavors of your emergency supplies while keeping it refreshed.

5.       Keep track of your items:

Find a simple system for tracking what you have as well as what you need. Without a food storage inventory, you could end up with too much or too little of food.

Guest post by: Augason Farms 

                                                                 

About Augason Farms:

For more than 40 years, Augason Farms has provided quality a la carte and bulk food storage items to home and business owners throughout the U.S. Our high quality kits and a-la-carte items provide our customers with easy and affordable solutions for starting an emergency food storage supply.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker 

Emergency Supply Kit

One of the basic tenets of living the survival life is to always be prepared. After all, you never know when a simple hike in the woods can turn into a life-threatening situation or when a natural disaster will turn your comfortable home into a bunker. Being prepared means always having basic survival gear with you at home or on the road, no matter where you're headed or how brief the trip.

A basic emergency supply kit for survivalists should include the following:

Basic Emergency Supply Kit for Survivalists

1. Water. Although people can survive without food for quite a while, water is essential to basic day-to-day survival. Because of this, it is recommended to have one gallon per person per day available (enough for two days at home and enough for three days away from home.) A pocket water purifier is also a good idea, so you can replenish your water supply.

2. Food. Non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food items are also part of a complete survival kit. Again, enough for two days at home and enough for three days away from home.

3. Flashlight and extra batteries. You can't count on electricity in a crisis or emergency situation. Having a flashlight and a good supply of batteries stored in a plastic bag is essential.

4. Hand-crank radio. Having a radio can keep you apprised of an emergency situation a lot more reliably than a cell phone or mobile device that is dependent on reception issues and having the batteries fully charged.

5. First aid kit. Sprains, cuts and other emergency health situations can happen anywhere. Being prepared includes having a basic first aid kit on hand. It is advised to include bandages, antibiotic ointment, sterile gloves, scissors, aspirin, a blanket, tweezers and a non-glass thermometer.

6. Extra cash. In an emergency, such as a hurricane or other natural disaster, you likely won't be able to use credit cards or get to an ATM machine. Our "cash-less" society shuts down when there isn't any electricity.

7. Medications. In an emergency, you may not be able to get to your supply at home or to re-fill your prescriptions at the pharmacy. It is recommended to have a seven-day supply on hand at all times and make sure to rotate that supply regularly so you don't have expired medications in your emergency supply kit.

8. Family and emergency contact information. If you're separated from your family members in an emergency situation, you'll want to be able to call them to let them know you're okay. Equally, you may need police, fire or emergency medical personnel. It's wise to keep those numbers at hand, also.

Putting it together in an emergency supply kit helps you have the materials you need in the event of an emergency situation. It's all part of living the survival life, and such a kit will help you have peace of mind that you can handle whatever life has in store.

About the Author

At Survival Life our mission is to provide a vast array of knowledge, tactics, and skills in the survival and preparedness fields, to any and all who wish to become more prepared for whatever may come. We will take a logical and no nonsense approach to survival without bias in hopes of dispelling the myth that anyone who prepares themselves is crazy or paranoid. Click here to visit our site and learn more.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

RW Visits Destiny Survival

Last Tuesday I had the opportunity to be a guest on John Wesley Smith’s radio program. It had been a while since I had been on his show. You can find a link to the radio program on his site and a brief overview of the many topics we discussed including “underground preppers” here:

Are you becoming an underground prepper?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

The Benefits of Using Airsoft Guns for Shooting Practice

While the politics and opinions of gun ownership continue to be debated, one aspect that remains constant is the most important factor regarding owning a firearm: safety. The safety of gun ownership is mostly expressed though firearm storage and handling the weapon properly. Learning how to correctly control, aim and fire a gun and maintaining these skills are the difference between responsible gun owners and everyone else. Regardless of the purpose of possession, whether for safety, hunting, survivalist or hobby, regular shooting practice is a must.

In recent years, heading to the range has become increasingly difficult due to a practice ammunition shortage. This has increased the cost of ammunition has made maintaining one’s shooting skills inaccessible for many of the population. The solution for many has been airsoft guns, which use plastic pellets for ammunition for shooting practice.

What target practice used to look like

Cost-Effective and Convenient Option

The difference between training ammunition used for real guns and airsoft versions can be measured in dollars, not pennies, per round. Thousands of quality plastic pellet rounds can be bought for less than ten dollars. Compare this to twenty dollars for only fifty real rounds. These price differences dictate that the price of purchasing a new airsoft gun will be offset within a few practice sessions. Cheaper practice sessions represent more frequent training and increase comfort and safety with a firearm.

Another benefit to the wallet and schedule of utilizing airsoft guns is the ammunition does not require one to travel to a shooting range. These danger free rounds allow gun owners to perform target practice in their garages or backyards. This eliminates range fees and travel making frequent shooting practice and increased safety extremely convenient and affordable.

Realistic Practice

Today’s airsoft guns are far from the kid’s toys they used to have a reputation for and many are now almost exact replicas of almost every available handgun and rifle on the market today. They have the same look, weight and feel of the real versions. In addition, the airsoft adaptation can utilize the same accessories and fit in the same holster as a true firearm.

Depending on the type of airsoft firearm, much of the function of the real version can be maintained as well. Spring action versions are the least expensive but are also the least realistic and have a slow reload speed. Automatic electric guns are more representative of automatic or semi-automatic firearms with their quick reloading but lack the break and recoil feeling of pulling the trigger. The best airsoft guns and rifles are the gas blow back versions that are as close to the real thing that isn't a real firearm. Though they are the most expensive option, they share the same inexpensive ammunition as the other two types.

If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for anyone

Airsoft firearms have become so realistic they are commonly used by military and police forces for safety demonstration, target practice and even tactical training. The airsoft allows these essential services to mimic any situation they may face at a fraction of the cost and much more safely than using live rounds. The best gun instructors around the country are strongly pushing their students to include airsoft training to supplement live and dry fire training to become comfortable with their weapon.

Safety First

All of these benefits add up to the most important part of gun ownership, safety. A lifelike replica airsoft allows rehearsal of every aspect of handling a firearm. The exact same precautions utilized with the real version can be applied to the airsoft. Splurging for the blow back gas airsoft guns and rifles allows for an authentic shooting experience that directly translates to the true variety.

The only gun safer than an airsoft

The ammunition is safer as well. Small plastic pellets carry a proportion of the danger and cost of real bullets. Daily practice in the garage or backyard can occur with less concern of tragic consequences to others and the wallet. Frequent, real world training that increases confidence and skill is a benefit of airsoft firearms that make them an essential accessory of any gun owner.

This article was written by an Editor for Airsoft RC . Airsoft RC has a wide selection of airsoft guns for both enthusiasts and beginners.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Trekking Survival Tips

Trekking is an amazing experience that can change your life, taking you through some of the world’s most amazing landscapes and treacherous terrains. As you venture up steep mountains toward the clouds, miles from the rest of civilisation, you will test your survival skills to the very limit.

Here are some tips to make sure you stay safe during your adventure:

      Adjust to the altitude!

• Altitude sickness will occur if you climb too quickly, too soon, with symptoms including headache, nausea, dizziness and exhaustion.
• Make sure you give yourself a few days to adjust to the atmosphere by spending a few days in the locality of the trek.
• By ascending slowly you can give your body an extra fighting chance - once you are above 10,000 feet, avoid increasing your sleeping altitude by more than 300-500 meters a night.
• Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol.
• Training is important too, spend time building your leg muscles prior to your trip; hill walking and gym time will improve your body’s ability to carry oxygen.   

     Wrap up warm!

• Mountains get incredibly cold at night; the highest point of Peru’s Inca Trail, ‘Dead Women’s Pass’, is 13,900 feet above sea level, with temperatures dropping below freezing at night.

• Your head, hands and feet will lose heat the quickest; make sure you wear a woolly hat, warm gloves and thick thermal socks, while protecting naked areas of your body, like the neck, with a fleecy scarf.
• Make sure you have plenty of layers (synthetic materials are better than cotton).   

     

           Wear decent boots!

• Trekking is grueling on your feet; make sure you wear a good set of hiking boots which are worn in to avoid blisters.
• Insoles will provide extra comfort while helping to maintain body heat.
• For rocky or icy terrain, grips are a really good idea too.   

           Food and water!

• Rehydrating yourself is key, so make sure you always have a steady supply of water and take water purification tablets; a urine test will tell you when you need to top up, the darker the urine, the less hydrated you are.
• Trekking food needs to be high in energy and light to carry; remember, survival is your number one priority here, not culinary enjoyment.
• Make sure you eat plenty of carbohydrates for energy – pasta, rice and bread.
• Protein is also important to maintain and develop strength - eggs, tofu, lentils and nuts.
• Fruit is required to fight off infections and colds but will go off quickly, so take multivitamin and iron tablets also.
• Sugary foods will give you a quick boost of energy while you walk, so take a few packets of sweets.
• Specialized food from hiking stores is usually dried or freeze-dried to reduce its weight and surface area, making it easy to pack and carry; this guide will show you how to dry your own.   

           Equipment!

• A good closed tent and sleeping bag are a must, minimizing heat loss at night.
• Light and functional cooking equipment is also important, but don’t be afraid to cook on an open fire, it really adds to the experience and will keep you warm.
• A head torch will allow you to navigate in the dark and cook food, keeping your hands free.
• A light, durable backpack is a must, allowing you access to your most treasured items and distributing weight on your back.
• Trekking polls are important for hiking steep or rocky terrain, providing extra balance and support.
• A guide book, compass and first aid kit are imperative and could be the difference between life and death.

Trekking will open your eyes to the natural world, just make sure you are fully prepared and go with someone experienced; you want your trip to be memorable for all the right reasons!

This post was written by Helene Cooper of adventure travel company, Imaginative Traveller. Helene is an avid trekker and regularly writes about Peru’s Inca Trail.

Thanks Helene for an informative guest post.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Your Home Security and the Big Picture

I’ve always considered “home security” to be a misleading phrase.  In truth, the greatest elements of your home security aren’t always located within your home. It isn’t necessarily the equipment that helps detect criminals encroaching on your property, and neither is it the reinforcements and upgrades that might prevent burglars from breaking and entering into your property. Don’t get me wrong – those tools can be immensely helpful when a criminal has selected your property. However, I think we can all agree that the best element of a home’s defense is what makes your home being targeted in the first place.

This benefit to a home’s security is called deterrence, and it is perhaps the most important aspect to your home defense – and you can influence it in several ways.

Boosting Your Deterrence    

                                                                     

There are a few practical steps that any homeowner can take to make sure that their home is well-guarded. Here are a few additions to your home that can make the difference and deter people from your home:

Besides their functionality, home security systems or signage indicating that an alarm exists can help keep out unwanted visitors. 

·       1. When this equipment isn’t affordable or obtainable, equipping false cameras or signage can help nonetheless. 

·       2.  Keeping a guard dog, or simply erecting signage that a dog exists (i.e. “BEWARE DOG!”) can scare the wits out of people who might otherwise consider targeting your home.

·        3. Joining or starting a neighborhood watch program can make a huge impact on crime awareness and deterrence in your neighborhood. FBI statistics indicate that it could make an impact of up to 40% in reducing crime in your area.

·        4. Keep an eye on foreclosed or abandoned homes, since these can quickly become dens of illegal activity when left unmonitored.

5. Finally, homeowners can make a great splash in their neighborhood crime rate by something that we might take for granted. In fact, simply maintaining your yard and keeping your home in good repair and nice appearances can, and does, reduce the incidence of crime in your area. This might seem unusual, considering most means of deterrence are based on fear and an increased difficulty of trespassing undetected. But despite how odd it may sound, the “broken windows” in your neighborhood should be addressed to positively influence crime around your home. Still skeptical?

No More “Broken Windows”

In the 80’s, criminologists developed a theory about the effects of vandalism and other kinds of disorder and disrepair; put simply, they put forth the idea that maybe people will be more likely to act out in criminal ways if it’s apparent that nobody cares about the state of their environment. Several municipalities in New York gave the broken windows theory a spin in practice and found the results impressively reduced rates of crime. Keeping graffiti cleaned on a regular basis and public facilities properly maintained made a notable and obvious impact in reducing crime.

Similarly, I remember my college years spent in run-down campus housing, in a dorm situated in what used to be an old mill. I remember the fragments of beer bottles at the front door, the missing panes, and the graffiti vandalizing the campus mascot mural on the fourth floor. I also remember how much these behaviors changed when management switched out and began extensive renovations. Overnight, it seemed like students attending there were more concerned about the well-being of the dorms. While there was still vandalism, it died off over time when whoever responsible for the acts realized that their damages were constantly repaired and painted over whenever they were discovered.

Now consider this: how do you think this theory applies to your city? Your neighborhood? Your home? When a property is left damaged with wear and the lawn grows wild with age, criminals doubtlessly become more interested in targeting it as opposed to well-maintained neighbors.

What will you do to address your “broken windows”?

Naomi Broderick is a stay-at-home mother and prepper enthusiast.

Thanks Naomi for an excellent guest post.

Staying above the water line!    

Riverwalker

Getting Lost in the Woods - Prevention and Resolution

Got that big backpacking trip coming up? Take a second to read this and learn how to help prevent getting lost in the woods and what to do if you get lost.

Don’t pull an “Into the Wild”

Have you ever read Into the Wild? I wouldn't recommend doing anything that kid did. It is your life and safety at risk. Use your resources and think smart. If you choose not to prepare (please prepare) then look for help. If that kid had checked out the terrain, like any smart camper or explore should do, he would have found his salvation about a mile away down the river from the broken down bus he was found in.

Get on the move

Don’t stay in one spot. Staying in one spot will, literally, not get you anywhere.  Only by moving are you going to get yourself back to where you want to be.

Track yourself

 Chances are you weren't on a trail. There should be signs that you have been through there. Footprints, disturbed terrain, snapped branches, etc. On a prevention note, take a leaf out of Hansel and Gretel’s book and leave a trail. Not of bread crumbs or garbage but just occasionally take the time to mark your way. Roll a rock into an open area on at an odd angle or lay a thick stick against a tree.

Get to a high spot

If there is an elevated point available, get to higher ground so that you can better see your surroundings. This will allow you to see whether or not there are barriers in any particular direction, land marks, or perhaps even your destination.

Get Loud

If you are separated from your group, get loud. If you are concerned about wild life, put your worries at rest. Animals are deterred by noise. This can do nothing but help your situation.

Check the map

Bring a topographic map and a good compass with you. Be sure to mark your vehicles location on it, your camp site and the location of any roads if they are not on there already.

GPS

Use a GPS or even a light weight mini GPS tracker. A GPS will give you an overview of your surrounding area. A GPS tracker can attach to whatever you want. Attach it to your truck or something in your campsite. If you get lost switch on your GPS tracker and it will guide you straight back to your vehicle.

Follow a river

Depending on how serious your situation is, if you are very far out and need to find civilization, follow a river. There is always life along a river and a road (or even town) will eventually meet up with it. If we are looking at a potentially long haul, it has the means to sustain you. If you get desperate, it has water and food, whether it is fish or plants or whatever critters that go to the river. 

Thanks go out to Dave for an excellent guest post.

Dave Burr is a freelance writer for Spyville. In his free time, he enjoys backpacking in the Seven Devils with his kids or reading in his backyard. 

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker