We had a great time and upon packing up this morning Scott uttered the words that inspired this post...
"You know if we had to bug out we wouldn't even have a tenth of this stuff"
On the way home my mind was trying to wrap around those words and all the scenarios that ran through my head. Go to any survival board, You Tube, or survival blog and you will find endless information on the best type of BOB's to have, what you should have in it, etc. But the consensus is it should have 3 days of supplies in it to get you to your bug out location.
Ok you made it to your bug out location now what?
Most people have given more thought to whats in their BOB then where they are bugging out to and what happens when they get there. Some don't even have a bug out location but they have a BOB? If you don't have supplies stashed at your bug out location how do you live past the 3 days of supplies you have in your BOB? What if you can't go home for weeks or months or perhaps not at all, is your BOB going to save you?
Unless you are a hardcore survivalist your answer like mine is going to be "NO" so you need to have a plan. A bug out location that has food and supplies to sustain you for months and those supplies have to include a way to purify water, and hunting and fishing supplies. You have to have the answer to these these questions and the answer has to be for MONTHS
Shelter
Water
Food
Be prepared, not sorry.
11 comments:
Excellent post. I try to keep other survival tools in the cars at all times such as tools, extra ammo, etc. that would allow me to live off the land a bit. I also carry water purification kits as well. Between the shelter making supplies, food prep and other stuff, yes, We could probably last several weeks. If I have time to load other preps (about 20 minutes) then definitely!
Thank you Mike, the key is long term survival. When SHTF it won't be a temporary situation.
Good post Terri, I consider the BOB as a very short term piece of equipment for a short term event only. Yes the purpose of a BOB is to get you through until you get to your "safe" location of the event is over. One must not be over dependent of a BOB as again they are for a very short term event, Skills are what really take over after your three day period if you are not at a bug out location...
2 trucks full for one family? My guess is this is new to you and my advise, bring what you want, but learn to camp with less. RUstic camping with 2 truck loads of gear? We camp 2 adults and 3 children 5 and under with only 4 bck packs, 2 large and 2 child size. We boil water, gather fire wood and make shelters.
Rustic camping with 2 trucks full of gear for one family? I think your family could use some serious survivial training. We go camping,2 adults and 3 children with 2 large back packs and 2 child sized, with one of us carrying the year old child. We boil water from a lake for use, gather firewood and our oldest knows how to make a shelter from the materials around our camp and we help him build one. Spend some time camping with less to and learn how really make a small BOB so you can make it.
I understand what you are saying and my point with the post was to get people, myself included to think long term not just three days.
A simple thing to do is get a plastic tote and fill it with a 100lb mix of rice and beans (70/30 or whatever you think you'll prefer). Then in a bug out situation, if vehicles are available, you can just throw it in your vehicle and you will have something to eat for a few weeks or more depending on how you ration it. Throw in a small jar of spices and while it won't be perfect, it will cover your needs. During that time, you can hunt/fish for more/supplement your food supply (over what is in your BoB.)
That is a valuable tip thank you!
I think what has happened is the 72 hour bags has become the BOB concept, meaning what started off as a grap and go bag to well grab and go then return home is now thought of as the bag of might not return. Now thinking this way, a 72 hour kit, yes long term you might be screwed. Now start with 72 hours then build from there, to a add on pack or even a trailer.
Over all not a bad thing to think about and discuss but sorry, to my way of thinking you can not be rustic camping with 2 trucks of geer and supplies. I am sure the was a vacation but maybe try to camp with just a couple packs and build from there. Both my 3 and 5 year old have spent nights in a debris hut we have made so I know having a shelter is something we can do with out, if we had to.
I like your article, and though I agree that camping should be less about 'stuff' and more about nature, I also fully understand your general meaning. The rice/beans comment is actually old school prepper tactics, but dont forget the need to heat water and cook them. Dry Rice & Beans do best when soaked and/or cooked a long time. They are useless unless you have the time to prepare them. If your 'BUG OUT' has you on the move, then you just have 100 lbs of useless weight. Such a toat would be best stored at the BOL in air tight containers.
I have used a recipe for Bannock where you keep it in sealed freezer bags and you just add water and cook it over a fire on a stick. Fire roasted bannock (basic bread like food) can be packed in a BOB or BOL in bulk in pre-measured and mixed with dried fruit, nuts and meats as needed or simply eaten plain.
How to Make Bannock
Instructions
Step 1: Mix dry ingredients listed in one of the recipes below. This can be stored in a plastic or mylar bag until you need it.
Step 2: Add water until you reach the consistency somewhere between pancake batter and pizza dough. At this point you can also optionally add any other ingredients you see fit (ie raisins, nuts, sausage etc).
Step 3:Flatten dough onto a pan until it’s about a half an inch thick.
Step 4: Cook on a greased pan (or non-stick cast iron pan) until medium brown underneath, flip over, cook, and repeat. Each side takes about 8-10 minutes depending on the heat of the heat source.
s there Recipe 1 (breakfast bread) for Single Serving
1 cup flour
1/2 cup powdered milk
1/3 cup powdered egg
1 teaspoon baking powder
Mix all together and store in a plastic or mylar bag. Pack away in your bug-out bag or just take it with you when you’re camping!
Recipe 2 (dinner bread) for Single Serving
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons powdered milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
Same as other recipe; mix all together and store in a plastic or mylar bag. Add water and cook over a fire!
Another trick is to have either a pre-made snare or the supplies to make a squirrel pole. On overnight survival hikes I have scored as many as three squirrels hanging from a single pole. They provide a stew base, meat and a ration extender. Squirrel guts make great catfish bait too.
Very good information, thanks for sharing with us and hope that you always provide me such type of information.
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