Stealth Survival

Riverwalker’s Book Review and Gear Giveaway - The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:44:00 +0000

In his latest book, “The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide”, Creek Stewart has put together a rather impressive and unique wilderness survival guide. This survival guide utilizes a theme based on a very popular series of books and a major motion picture. Hollywood special effects and make-up crews can create on camera sequences that almost make survival look easy. In real life, you will need a lot more to survive. This book showcases many of the survivals skills and tricks utilized by the characters in the movie and gives a thorough explanation of how to develop those same survival skills. It is having a proper working knowledge of survival skills that will ultimately keep you alive.

One of the things that is fairly unique to this book is the number of illustrations it contains. It is positively loaded with pictures from start to finish and this makes visualizing the skills being taught much easier. It also makes it an excellent guide for younger people who are quite likely to be more “visually” orientated. If you like illustrations, this survival guide has plenty from start to finish.

Building a primitive survival shelter is one of the more impressive sections of the book. Techniques for building a debris hut are clearly illustrated so that even the novice survivalist can build an excellent shelter for their survival. These shelter instructions are very good.

Even if you haven’t read the trilogy or seen the movie, this is still an excellent survival guide with many useful tips and tricks for developing your primitive survival skills. The subject matter is laid out in an easy to understand and organized manner that closely follows the table of contents. It also has a very impressive index that can quickly guide you to the location of relevant survival information you may be seeking. This also allows you to review specific survival topics quickly, easily and in a very precise manner. Creek has also included a section that lists numerous survival kit resources that will allow you to find additional survival gear or information that you may need.

Creek also includes a number of “Survival Quick Tips” throughout the book that can help you further enhance your survival skills. These tips cover a wide variety of survival techniques that can be of value to anyone reading or using his book.

All things considered, this is an excellent survival guide that is well organized, with easily referenced topics and numerous illustrations to help the reader have a much better understanding of the survival skills being outlined and taught in the book. This can certainly help to put the odds in your favor.

Whether you are new to the game of survival or you're a seasoned "pro", this book will help the novice develop new skills and the more experienced survivalist to reinforce their current skills.

Riverwalker gives “The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide ” by Creek Stewart a thumbs up!

Special Reader’s Bonus - Free Survival Gear Giveaway

As a special bonus to my readers, Stealth Survival is also having a survival gear giveaway sponsored by Creek Stewart and Willow Haven Outdoor. Two lucky readers will win a multi-function survival tool, a bandanna, a drawstring backpack and a free copy of “The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide” signed by the author.

In addition, the winners will receive an added bonus. A signal mirror from Riverwalker and Stealth Survival will be included in the gear the winners receive. This is the same signal mirror featured in the recent series of posts on “Building a Survival Kit.”

How do you win? It’s simple and easy. Leave a comment on this post with a “Survival Quick Tip” of your own that you feel others may be able to use. That’s all you need to do in order to have a chance at winning the gear giveaway. Two winners will be chosen from the responses received and will be announced in a special post on June 1, 2013.

You may also want to check out Creek Stewart’s first book, ”Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit”. This is another excellent book that you may wish to include in your survival library.

Creek Stewart is the owner of Willow Haven Outdoor, a Survival and Disaster Preparedness Training Facility located in central Indiana.

Are you ready to put the odds in your favor?

Then let the “games” begin!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Disclaimer: This book is unofficial and unauthorized. It is not authorized, approved, licensed or endorsed by Suzanne Collins, her publishers, or Lionsgate Entertainment Corporation.

Riverwalker's Pics - Resting in the Shade

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:49:00 +0000

It seems that everyone is looking for a nice shady spot to rest on a hot day.

Got shade?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Rainwater Collection - Catching the Overflow

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:51:00 +0000

Even a small amount of rain will generally fill a rain barrel to the point of overflowing and do so in a very short period of time. The potential for collecting additional rain can be lost if you have limited capacity for rainwater storage. If you have a minimum of additional space next to your rain barrel, simply connect an extra barrel by means of an overflow tube near the top of your current rain barrel. This will allow you to collect additional amounts of rainfall from the same rain gutter.

By adding additional rain barrels to your gutter drains in this manner, you can harvest extra rain water with very little effort.

Got rain water storage?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Knots - The Tautline Hitch

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:07:00 +0000

One of the most useful knots in an outdoor environment is the tautline hitch. These knots are extremely handy in securing tarps or tents being used for shelter in an outdoor environment. Like most hitches, it is easily tied and untied (once the load is removed) but allows you to keep your tarp or tent secure, especially in windy conditions. Learning to tie and use a tautline hitch will help to keep your tent or tarp from becoming just another kite in the sky.

The tautline hitch makes it easy to adjust the tension on lines being used to secure your shelter. It slides easily for adjustment and will then hold firm once a load has been placed on it.

The tautline hitch works just as easily when taking down your shelter. Once the load has been removed, it can be moved easily to give you slack in the line which allows it to be untied easily.

Here is a link to a tutorial on how to tie a tautline hitch:

http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/tautline-hitch/

Got survival knots?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Knots: The Cow Hitch

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:21:00 +0000

Hitches are basically a means of attaching rope or cordage to an object. The simple cow hitch is better known as the lanyard hitch. It is generally used to secure cordage or a rope to a post, an item of gear or some other object. This knot is similar to the clove hitch but instead of tying the two half-hitches in the same direction, they are tied in opposite directions. It is a very simple and basic knot.

There is a variant of the cow hitch that is easily tied and can create a more secure knot. This variant is known as the bull hitch. It is simple and easy to learn to tie and will give you a more secure knot.

By simply twisting the top loop of your cow hitch and feeding the end of your lanyard back through the loop you create a bull hitch. When tightened properly, it gives you a very secure lanyard connection to your gear. It's important to remember that keeping your gear properly secured in any situation is critical.

My personal preference is to use a bull hitch for attachment of the leg tie-down on the scabbard of my Mora. This insures a good snug fit for the scabbard of my knife when tied off.

A great resource for learning how to tie a variety of knots properly can be found at http://www.netknots.com/. They offer different sets of knot cards at a very reasonable price. The knot cards can be easily carried and used for reference purposes to insure your knots are being tied properly.

Got survival knots?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Knots: The Clove Hitch

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sun, 12 May 2013 12:15:00 +0000

A clove hitch is considered one of the four primary maritime knots and being able to tie one should be included in your survival skills. The clove hitch is essentially two successive half-hitches around an object. It is simple to tie and can be used to secure the end of a rope to an object and is most effective when tied to a round (tree, post, etc.) or cylindrical-shaped object (pipe, barrel, etc.).

It can also be easily tied in the middle of a rope in order to secure a line to a carabiner.

The clove hitch has another distinct advantage. With a little practice, it can be tied quite easily using only one hand. This is important should you suffer an injury that leaves you in the position of only having the use of one hand. When you can tie a clove hitch to the index finger of the hand you are using (right or left), you have mastered the ability to tie a clove hitch one-handed.

Got survival knots?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Prepping on a Budget - Affordable Items for Preppers - Emergency Lighting

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:41:00 +0000

Being caught in the dark when the power goes out can be a very unsettling feeling. This is when you need some form of emergency lighting. A flashlight can go a long way towards solving this problem but sometimes you need a little extra versatility in your preps. You may need the use of your hands and this can be complicated if you are trying to hold onto a flashlight. One item that can serve a number of purposes for use as emergency lighting is a portable solar-powered LED light.

There are a number of versions of these solar-powered lights available. If you want it to help with security, you can get one with a motion detector. They also come in various sizes depending upon your lighting needs and may have as few as 5 LED lights or up to sixty. Most of the solar lights available with 5 or 10 LED lights are available in a very affordable price range ($20 to $25).

This particular solar-powered light is a SUNFORCE #81095 5 LED Solar Shed Light.

The light comes with magnets for attaching it to a metal surface as well as regular screw mounts for attaching it to a wall or ceiling. While designed primarily for tool sheds and other small buildings (chicken coop?). The magnets make it easy to attach to surfaces in a number of ways that increases the usability of the light.

When attached to the front of the refrigerator with the built-in magnets, it provides more than enough light to move around safely and perform simple chores. If attached to a metal surface on your vehicle it can provide sufficient light to change a tire or do minor repairs. The unit provides a fair amount of light that will allow you to maneuver about in a 10 foot X 10 foot room with a fair amount of safely. The light will only last for a few hours before needing a recharge but that time frame should be enough to get most of your important tasks done.

The solar panel is weather resistant but not water-proof. You could probably add a bead of silicone caulk around the front edge of the panel to make it more weather-resistant if you need to mount it in a more exposed area. The power cord is about eight foot long which is sufficient to mount the light and solar panel but would be better if it was just a little longer.

The important thing about preps is that they should be portable, serve a variety of uses and not cost a fortune to operate and require only minimal amounts of maintenance.

Got emergency lighting?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Upcoming Survival Guide Review and Gear Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:46:00 +0000

On May 22nd, I will be doing a special review of a new survival guide that is being released. Two lucky readers will have a chance to win a copy of the new survival guide along with an additional survival gear package.

More details later.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker’s Book Review - Fight Flight or Hide - The Guide to Surviving a Mass Shooting

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sun, 05 May 2013 14:51:00 +0000

Here is an excerpt from Fight, Flight, or Hide. The Guide to Surviving a Mass Shooting that really explains our responsibility in order to survive a mass shooting.

“The simple fact is that we, as a populace, need to become the solution to the problem.”

John Forsythe gives common sense advice on the actions that we can take as individuals to survive a mass shooting. He gives relevant and meaningful advice of how and when you should take cover, flee or take the fight to your attacker. Whether you are seeking to avoid being a victim, determining the proper actions to take as a guardian or quite possibly be an unintended hero, John gives simple, common sense advice that can be an invaluable part of helping you to become a part of the solution to the problem. You will also have a significantly better chance of being a survivor.

No matter your level of expertise, good advice is always useful. This book provides the good advice necessary to increase your chances of surviving a mass shooting. If you find yourself with the time to read only one book, it should be this one.

Riverwalker gives Fight, Flight, or Hide. The Guide to Surviving a Mass Shooting a thumbs up!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Prepping on a Budget - Affordable Items for Preppers - Silver Coins

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:51:00 +0000

While having an emergency fund is essential, it’s even better if you can create a diversified one that will also provide a hedge against inflation. While the purchase of gold coins or bullion is probably beyond the reach of the average prepper, silver coins offer a unique and affordable alternative to add to your emergency fund.

Silver coins can sometimes be found in everyday change or rolls of coins obtained from a bank. All it takes is a watchful eye to spot coins with a high silver content. Silver coins also make an affordable and excellent investment to guard against inflation and can be purchased in amounts that are affordable without destroying the family budget. Silver coins offer a very reasonable option for increasing your emergency funds in an efficient manner.

A little research on the internet can also let you know which silver coins can be easily found and added to your emergency fund. You can also use a resource like BuySilverCoins.com which specializes in affordable options for purchasing silver with a major focus on silver coins.

Got silver coins?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Hidden In Plain Sight

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:14:00 +0000

It's important to remember that you may not see many of nature's creatures because they are hidden in plain sight. They will see you long before you notice them if you aren't paying close attention. Can you spot the hidden dragon?

Ever have the feeling you're being watched?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker’s Book Review - Traveler by John Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:08:00 +0000

What would you do to survive in a world with dwindling resources and desperate people? In Traveler by John Wilson, this is the ultimate question you will be asking yourself. The book is a thought-provoking look at the harsh realities of survival and the things that you may be required to do in order to survive.

Would you pretend to be something you’re not? Or take your chances with the truth, only to be disappointed by the harsh realities of a changing world. A changing world in which the only difference between friend and foe may be your only chance for another meal or a warm place to sleep.

In his book, John Wilson examines the moral dilemma of what’s right or wrong. True reality becomes blurry at best and it becomes extremely difficult to see who the real threat to your survival is and the difficulty of choosing the path you must take for survival.

Here are a couple of brief excerpts from the book:

“Rob’s smile was suddenly gone. “Okay, kid, I won’t destroy your delusions. But it’s obvious to anyone paying attention that we’re on the down side of the slope. Resources are getting scarcer every year...people are getting more desperate... more vicious. It doesn’t take a fortune teller to see which way this world is going.”

The girl honestly asked ”So you don’t think the old world will ever come back?”

“Nope...” A few years from now they’ll all be extinct, they’ll be as dead as the dodo, but people like me will still be here.”

If you want to read a book that examines the concept of “survival of the fittest” and what it truly takes to survive, perhaps it’s time for you to read “Traveler” by John Wilson.

Got Traveler?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Using Renewable Resources for Barter

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 02:09:00 +0000

In most survival situations, you will need to conserve as many of your resources as possible. While barter remains one of the best ways to trade what you have for what you need, you can conserve many of your resources which may be limited by using renewable resources for barter.

There are many items that can be used for barter that will not deplete your resources to the point of no return. You can also use your barter skills to trade for items that are renewable. Non-hybrid seeds are one such item that can offer you a renewable resource that makes an excellent barter item.

An example of a great item that serves as a renewable resource for barter is eggs. You don’t trade your chickens but you can trade their eggs without putting a strain on your resources. This will enable you to replenish your resources without using finite or limited resources. Many times using renewable resources for barter can also help you to establish routine trading patterns to keep additional resources available on a regular basis.

Got renewable resources for barter?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Mrs. RW’s Cooking Tips - The Hard-Boiled Solution

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 16:54:00 +0000

One of the advantages of having chickens is the availability of fresh yard eggs. Since they are a lot fresher, they have a better flavor but can cause you some difficulty if you happen to like hard-boiled eggs. Here’s a simple solution to that problem which should help you.

Fresh yards eggs that have been hard-boiled can be extremely difficult to peel. You can literally destroy your egg when trying to get their shell off. Quite often you find yourself digging the egg out with a spoon. Thankfully, there are two simple things you can do to simplify the egg peeling process.

First you need to add two or three tablespoons of salt to the water in which you will boil the eggs. This doesn’t make your eggs salty. It just makes them easier to peel. The next thing you need to do is peel the eggs while they are still warm. This should make it easier for you to peel your hard-boiled yard eggs with less difficulty.

Got hard-boiled yard eggs?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

The Well-Dressed Survivalist - Part Four - Ranger Beads

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 03:18:00 +0000

Ranger Beads

Ranger beads were originally developed by military personnel as a means of gauging distances when traveling by foot. Also known as “pace beads”, they are easy to make and can assist you in determining distances that you have traveled. When combined with a good compass, they make an excellent tool to assist hikers or the well-dressed survivalist.

Ranger beads are merely a lanyard (usually made from paracord) that has two sets of beads separated by a knot. The bottom part has nine beads and the top part has five beads. Moving the beads helps you to keep track and calculate the distances you have traveled based on your pace count.

Your “pace count” is determined by how many steps it takes for you to walk 100 meters. For every 100 meters you travel, you simply move one of the nine lower beads up the lanyard. When you have traveled 1000 meters, move one of the five top beads up and pull all of the lower beads back down. This will reset your beads and indicate that you have traveled one kilometer (or “click”). You can measure distances up to five kilometers with a set of ranger beads configured in this manner (see above pic).

You can also visit a friend of mine. Army Ranger Rick at Survival Outdoor Skills has even more survival tips and tricks for you to check out.

Got ranger beads?

Riverwalker

Prepping on a Budget - Affordable Items for Preppers - Emergency Supplies - The First Aid Kit

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:42:00 +0000

The vast majority of minor medical emergencies can be handled with a simple First Aid Kit. Minor medical problems if left ignored can lead to even more serious problems and quite often can be avoided if you have a minimum of first aid supplies on hand.

First Aid Kits come in all sizes and shapes and most are quite affordable in price. Practical first aid kits can be found with an average price of less than $20. If you have the time and the inclination, you can even assemble a quality First Aid Kit for even less money that will give you the needed supplies to handle a wide variety of minor medical problems. Many times all you may need is a band-aid and some anti-biotic cream to handle a minor emergency.

The affordability of most first aid kits makes them an essential item for your preparedness supplies. Pocket first aid kits that cost about a $1 or small first aid kits for under $10 can be added to your backpack, BOB or carried in the console or glove compartment of your vehicle. This allows you a wide range of options to keep first aid supplies available for when the need arises. A larger and more extensive first aid kit can be kept in your home or at your bug out location that will give you even better and more extensive coverage for those minor medical emergencies that always seem to happen at the most inconvenient time.

Don’t get caught short when a minor medical emergency comes up. Keep first aid supplies handy and avoid more serious problems that could arise if minor injuries are left untreated. For less than $20, you can generally keep a decent amount of first aid supplies on hand without ruining your budget.

Got band-aids?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Prepping on a Budget - Affordable Items for Preppers - Emergency Water Storage

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:02:00 +0000

When you have limited funds to prep with, the only way to manage is by looking for specials that will save you money. The first thing you should look for is simple and affordable water storage. Water is something you can’t live without and is one of the first things needed if you experience an unexpected event. Unfortunately, the savings are often hidden and you may not realize there is a bargain right in front of you. Here’s a cheap and inexpensive way to have emergency water storage that is both portable and affordable.

The first thing you will need to get is a manual pump for one of those portable water bottles. These cost about $10 at your local Walmart. They give you a hint on the outside of the package about discount savings without actually telling you. The discount happens to be a $5 coupon off your next purchase of a bottle of water. Using the coupon, the bottle of water (5 gallon size) which normally costs about $11.50 will now only cost you $6.50.

When you add your total cost, you will have only spent $16.50 for a manual pump and five gallons of emergency water storage. The pump also works even if you don’t have power. The water bottles also have a built in handle for portability. A five gallon bottle of water will weigh in excess of forty pounds but is still a manageable weight for most people. The five gallons should be enough water for two people for almost 72 hours.

To increase your emergency water storage, just purchase an additional bottle of water later when your budget permits. This type of setup is ideal for preppers who have limited space.

Emergency water storage that’s portable for less than $20...now that’s a bargain.

Staying above the emergency water storage line!

Riverwalker

Computers, Coops and Chicks

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 23:23:00 +0000

Things have been pretty busy this last week. Lots of computer issues that finally got resolved. There was a problem with my ISP for several days but that’s fixed now that the server of my ISP is working properly. Mrs. RW also has quite a few new additions to the flock and is going to need a bigger chicken coop. One more thing on my to do list.

This is also going to be a great project for me to show everyone some tips on building a lightweight but strong coop for your chickens. There was only enough time to build the coop gate today. We have a big family get-together planned for Easter Sunday and there are beans to cook and guns to clean. The plan is to do a little plinking with the twelve gauge. Now it's time to get back to the coop building.

The first tip for building a strong but lightweight chicken coop is to use what I call the sandwich technique. Simply put, you just sandwich your wire between your boards (1X2's). This makes it stronger and there’s less chance of a possum or coon getting in your coop...which it seems we have more than our share of both. The wire is almost impossible for them to pull apart when fastened to your framework in this manner. In this case, I’m using welded wire fabric with the small squares (1/2 inch) to attach to the framework.

I’ll include some later updates as the coop begins to take shape.

Have a Happy Easter!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Semantics - The Unexpected Event

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:34:00 +0000

Many times our message is lost in the way it is expressed. One of the hosts and guest speakers at The Ready, Set, Prep Summit in Irving, Texas, Mark Hyland of Food Insurance , brought up this fact when the discussion turned to how we can make the message of being prepared more effective. Too many times words like disaster or crisis create a very negative view in people’s minds. If we want more people to be prepared, we may need to re-examine how to get our message across to those persons who aren’t prepared.

There is a mindset amongst many individuals that a disaster or a crisis is something that happens to other people. It’s something we hear about on the radio, see on TV or read about on the internet. They take the view that it is something that happens to other people. They mistakenly think it will never happen to them. This makes it extremely difficult sometimes to get people on board with the need for being prepared for the next “unexpected event”.

We all have family members or friends that may see us as slightly different because of our views about being prepared. Personally, I prefer being prepared to being a refuge. I would also like to think that my family members and friends don’t want to wind up a refuge waiting for help or a handout from some government agency that may be slow in coming. This is where semantics is important.

It should be a lot easier to get family and friends involved if we use the right message. I agree with Mark that it will be a lot easier to get people on board with being prepared if we use better terminology when discussing the need to be prepared. The use of his new term “unexpected event” can cover a lot of areas that other words like disaster or crisis don’t. The “unexpected event” may be a lay-off from work, a sudden health issue or a major and quite unexpected maintenance issue with our home or vehicle. The term “unexpected event” also doesn’t carry the negative connotations of the other terms that are frequently used when discussing preparedness issues.

If you’re having trouble getting your family members or friends involved in preparedness, you may need to talk with them about the unexpected events that could occur in their lives.

Mark Hyland is the CEO of Food Insurance . Thanks Mark for some valuable insight on how we can help others be better prepared for an “unexpected event”.

Got unexpected event?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

We have a composting book winner!

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:59:00 +0000

We have a winner! A lucky reader has won a free copy of The Mini Farming Guide to Composting: Self-Sufficiency from Your Kitchen to Your Backyard. Here is the winning comment:

TMM said...

I tried composting, I built one of those rotating barrels out of a 55 gal plastic barrel. Spent hours making that thing. even had an aeration tube down the center and all. Put all the clippings in it, rotated it regularly.. and after an entire year, I had stinky mushy clippings...

Then I did the metal can in the ground with holes for worms to go in and out.. tossed in the kitchen scraps for a few months and then let it sit for a year.... ended up with stinky mushy kitchen scraps!

Guess composting is not my specialty :(

March 5, 2013 at 9:27 AM

TMM please send me your shipping address via email to riverwalker_texas@yahoo.com

and your free copy of The Mini Farming Guide to Composting: Self-Sufficiency from Your Kitchen to Your Backyard will be sent to you direct from the publisher.

Please respond within 72 hours to receive your prize or an alternate winner will be chosen.

Congratulations to TMM.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Five Rules for Survival

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:51:00 +0000

You must be prepared to take any and all actions necessary if you find yourself in a survival situation. You will need to be prepared to utilize any and all resources in order to insure your survival. Your skills and your knowledge may be put to the ultimate test. This will be a test that you can’t afford to fail.

Five Rules for Survival

Rule #1 - There are no rules. In a survival situation, your actions shouldn’t be bound by arbitrary rules that may exist and be essential to maintain order and stability in normal times. Things are not going to be anywhere close to normal in a survival situation until you’ve managed to get control of your circumstances.

Rule #2 - There is no guarantee of survival. Despite your best efforts, you or a member of your family or group may not survive. You will need to be prepared for this eventuality if it happens. There will still be family members or others in your group that may be depending upon you for help and guidance.

Rule #3 - There is no second chance. You will need to give it your best effort the first time if you want to survive. You probably won’t get a second chance.

Rule #4 - Don’t depend upon luck to save you. Your luck has probably run out if you find yourself in a survival situation. Put your faith in your knowledge and skills to help you survive.

Rule #5 - Never give up. If you give up, you lose the battle for survival. It’s really that simple.

Got rules for survival?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

The Well Dressed Survivalist - Part Three - The Paracord Keychain

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 03:15:00 +0000

You don’t have to wear a boonie hat loaded with paracord or a paracord bracelet in order to have a supply of paracord handy. Paracord is still a versatile and very useful item that you will want to have available for emergencies. One simple alternative is to use a paracord keychain. This allows you to have your paracord handy and you won’t have to make any fashion decisions while you’re doing it. You can also add a light or a whistle to your keychain to make it a good old survival keychain.

Get one with a carabiner clip and you can fasten it to your jeans, your BOB, or just about anywhere else you may decide to hang it. This way you'll be able to keep your keys handy.

Got survival keychain?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker’s Book Review and Bonus Giveaway - The MiniFARMING Guide to Composting

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 23:30:00 +0000

Probably one of the least understood things when it comes to gardening is being able to make compost. Knowing a few basic techniques can help you enrich your gardening experience and make your plants a lot happier. Brett Markham in The Mini Farming Guide to Composting: Self-Sufficiency from Your Kitchen to Your Backyard can help you achieve your goal of better gardening through the use of composting.

While not a technical manual on composting, Markham manages to provide a basic and simple understanding of what is required to be successful when composting. He also provides an explanation of several ways to make a compost bin including a simple plan using a five gallon bucket to make a small composting bin. This would even be a great project that would allow urban dwellers with minimum amounts of space to benefit from composting as well. He also gives very good instructions on how to make compost tea in simple and easy to understand terms. Just don’t use one of your wife’s good pillowcases or you could wind up in the doghouse.

Even if you are an experienced gardener, there are numerous tips and tricks throughout his book that can help make your gardening efforts more successful through the use of proper composting techniques. A little compost can go a long way in making your gardening efforts a success.

As an added bonus, one lucky reader will win a free copy of The Mini Farming Guide to Composting: Self-Sufficiency from Your Kitchen to Your Backyard. Just leave a comment telling us of your composting experience. Feel free to include any tips or tricks you think others may find useful. A winner will be chosen at random on March 15th and the winner will receive their free book directly from the publisher.

You might also want to check out Brett Markham’s other books including Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre.

Got compost?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Just Another Gun Pic

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 13:42:00 +0000

Gratuitous Gun Pic

Got bipod?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Group Survival - Diversity in Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (riverwalker) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:10:00 +0000

It’s difficult to be all things at one time. Although many of us have probably done a wide variety of tasks in our lifetimes, we may still lack necessary skills in many areas. A lack of skills in different areas can affect our survival. This is where diversity in numbers comes into play.

When you have numerous people in your group, the chances of someone having the required skills for your survival will be much greater. While being a “jack of all trades” is a plus, sometimes a little more expertise is required to get the job done. The odds are greatly in your favor of having a wide variety of skill sets in a group. This effect is magnified if you have a large group.

It is up to the leader of your group to be aware of the skills each member has in your group. This will enable you to play to the strengths of your group. You may have someone with medical knowledge and skills. It may be mechanic or carpentry skills that stand out among certain members of your group. The chances for your survival will be increased by the types of skill sets that are in your group. The chances for everyone’s survival will be enhanced when you have numerous skill sets in your group.

There will be those times when an experienced person will be needed to accomplish a task. Knowing the abilities of the members in your group is just as important as having an inventory of food and supplies. These members can then be assigned to the more difficult tasks that may require a higher level of expertise and experience. These persons can also be used to teach others and further increase the skills and knowledge of your group. Don’t discount the ability of the members of your group to learn new skills.

Don’t fail to recognize that the “jack of all trades” makes an excellent helper for those with more advanced skills. They usually grasp new concepts easily and will work diligently to achieve their assigned tasks. They will also usually require less basic instruction to accomplish the goals of your group.

Always include the younger members of your group as well. Young people can absorb knowledge like a sponge collects water. There level of enthusiasm is usually way beyond normal and they will take pride in being included in the efforts of your group. While they may not be capable of certain physical tasks, older members can also provide a wealth of information from their past experience to assist in the efforts of your group.

Utilizing the diversity of skills in your group will ultimately make the efforts of your group more successful. The success of your group will ultimately require you to take advantage of this fact and this will increase the overall chances for your survival.

Got group diversity?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker