Pinole - What is it?

Although it known by many different names, in the western world it is most commonly referred to as the Spanish word “Pinole”. This “trail food” has been the staple for indigenous cultures world-wide and as it turns out, it’s the perfect bugout/travel food.
Here’s an excerpt taken from “History, Manners and Customs of the Indian Nations”, written by John Gottlieb Ernestus Heckewelder, describing how the Lenni Lenape, or Delawares, prepared and used this emergency food:


Their Psindamooan or Tassmanane, as they call it, is the most nourishing- and durable food made out of the Indian corn. The blue sweetish kind is the grain which they prefer for that purpose. They parch it in clean hot ashes, until it bursts, it is then sifted and cleaned, and pounded in a mortar into a kind of flour, and when they wish to make it very good, they mix some sugar [i.e., maple sugar] with it. When wanted for use, they take about a tablespoonful of this flour in their mouths, then stooping to the river or brook, drink water to it. If, however, they have a cup or other small vessel at hand, they put the flour in it and mix it with water, in the proportion of one tablespoonful to a pint. At their camps they will put a small quantity in a kettle with water and let it boil down, and they will have a thick pottage.

With this food the traveler and warrior will set out on long journeys and expeditions, and as a little of it will serve them for a day, they have not a heavy load of provisions to carry. Persons who are unacquainted with this diet ought to be careful not to take too much at a time, and not to suffer themselves to be tempted too far by its flavor; more than one or two spoonfuls, at most, at any one time or at one meal is dangerous; for it is apt to swell in the stomach or bowels, as when heated over a fire.

Pinole is also the staple of the famous Tarahumara Indians (sometimes referred to as “the running people”), a Mexican tribe of super athletes who run 50 or 100 miles at a time for pure enjoyment, seemingly without effort. Their fuel for these runs? They take with them small sacks of Pinole.

How to Make Pinole

What You’ll Need

• frying pan (cast iron or non-stick preferred)
• dried corn on the cob: For this you just hang some corn in a dry place in your home until the kernals are dry throughout and come off the cob without much effort. For a less auhentic but still workable solution, you can also dehydrate frozen or canned corn in your dehydrator.
• blender, coffee grinder, or food processor: (or mortar and pestle if you want to really do it the authentic way)

How to Make Pinole

	Step 1: Remove the dried corn kernals from the cobs (skip this step if you dehydrated frozen corn)
	Step 2: Heat up a non-stick pan (or oiled pan if you don’t have one) to medium heat.
	Step 3: Spread out the kernals on the hot pan so that none are on top of another. Heat until the majority swell up and turn round and light-brown.
	Step 4: Remove from heat, place the parched corn in a blender, coffee grinder, or food processor and grind until finer than cornmeal (but not as fine as wheat flour)

I’d like to add that you can also make Pinole by taking cornmeal and cooking it over a pan in the same manner as above (don’t expect it to swell however).

Pinole Recipes

One popular method of consuming Pinole is to mix it with water (1 T to 3 cups) to make an energy drink. I personally did not like this all too much since it doesn’t dissolve completely in the water and feels like I’m drinking a glass of sand and water. The taste was good but the consistency wasn’t to my liking (and I’m someone who doesn’t mind eating bugs…go figure )

Instead, I preferred to take the tablespoon into my mouth and chug it down with water.Since the Pinole actually tastes pretty good by itself (I used the Tarahumara Pinole Recipe found below), I found this a lot more appetizing.

As a side note, I was quite surprised at how much it made me feel full. The Pinole must of swelled inside my stomach after a bit giving me that “full” feeling — and that was only two tablespoons of it. I can see how this would sustain you on long trips.

Here are some recipes found online:

Tarahumara Pinole Recipe

• 1/2 cup pinole, ground fine
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar, honey, or agave nectar
• 1 Tbsp chia seeds (optional)

Runner’s Recipe

• 2 cups Pinole
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 tbsp. hemp or chia seeds
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon      This can be quickly blended together in a hot pot or pan and cooled until dry.

All of these recipes can be added to water and drunk (1 tablespoon to 3 cups water), cooked down in a pan with water to make a gruel (oatmeal-like consistency), or just shoved in the mouth while on the run (bugout, exercise, E&E etc).

Conclusion

In place of packing Cliff Bars or MREs into your bug out bags, how about some Pinole instead? If it can fuel the Tarahumara Indians for a 100+ miles of running on a regular basis I’m sure it can benefit the prepper’s bug-out to a safe location. Try it out and let me know how it works for you!
 

LDS Preparedness

In 2006 I, Karin, received an LDS Preparedness Manual via my email. Wow, what a wealth of information. Since then it has only got better with up-to-date information and editing. The interesting part is that within the last few months I have seen "survival" type YouTube videos promoting it, who have nothing to do with the LDS church. The LDS church doesn't promote this manual, but it was originally put together by a member with church members in mind.

Today I found this book review on Survival Cache discussing the LDS Preparedness Manual yet again! It is available via a FREE download.

I hope you enjoy it and glean as much information as I have from it. Let us know what you think.

Do you live near a Nuclear Power Plant?

For those living near a Nuclear Power Plant

There are a lot of “ifs” to this scenario. IF there is an EMP attack or solar event. IF the emergency diesel generators will function (or not) and IF the spent fuel pooling system can get power from the diesels or be cross-tied to the shutdown cooling system. Perhaps the emergency diesel generators will still function, but what happens when they run out of fuel? In the event of an EMP attack, can tanker trucks with diesel fuel get to all of the nuclear power plants in the US in time to re-fuel them before they stop running? Will tanker trucks even be running themselves?
I think it also bears noting that the volume of fuel in the spent fuel pools is many times greater than that in the reactor cores. Most nuclear power plants have 10 to 20 years or more of spent fuel stored in their spent fuel pools. Therefore, the consequences of a spent fuel pool melting down and subsequently spewing radioactive fission products into the air is potentially worse than if just the reactor core were to melt and its fission products releases into the air. Assuming all of the spent fuel in the pool melts, catches fire and the radioactive isotopes are released into the atmosphere, lethal dose rates may be accumulated even 5 to 10 miles from the plant site (>500 REM), with dose approaching 50 REM even out as far as 50 miles. Since Cesium-137 would be the largest released isotope in terms of curies (which the body preferentially uptakes over potassium), it will be about 300 years before the area might be habitable again. This is because Cesium-137 has a half-life of about 30 years, and the “rule of thumb” is that you need to wait ten half-lives before the isotope has decayed away to a negligible level. (Results for dose were calculated for a typical pressurized water reactor (PWR) spent fuel pool using the RASCAL radiation dose code from Oak Ridge National Laboratory assuming 100% release over two days, winter conditions, calm winds at 4 mph.)
I urge anyone living within 50 miles downwind of a nuclear power plant to be prepared to bug out in the event of an EMP attack. You will likely have a few days to pack and leave, but no more than a few. If the reactor near you has just refueled, and the emergency diesels do not start, you may have less than one day (since the heat load in the spent fuel pool immediately after a refueling is much greater than normal, and boiling will occur much faster). Many people have already expressed here the importance of having a G.O.O.D. bag and a plan to leave their current location if required. However, many people may need to evacuate on foot or by bicycle if the EMP attack renders their vehicles useless. I think this puts added emphasis on having a G.O.O.D. vehicle that is not reliant on computers or complex electronics.
For those of you who commute long distances to work I would also suggest that you have and maintain a G.O.O.D. mini-bag. (Nutnfancy on YouTube has produced an excellent series of videos on this – he has called it an “Urban Survival Kit” or “USK”). If your primary commute vehicle fails due to an EMP (or if your train or bus fails to function) while you are at work, then you may have a long walk home. It is wise to have pre-positioned (if you are able), a bag or backpack which contains items that may help you to get home more comfortably and safely.
I will cover what is in my mini-bag that I have pre-staged in the event that an EMP happens while I am at work at my power plant. (I would need to walk more than 30 miles to get home) in another letter. But I certainly hope that I never have to use it! - B.Z.

Sheep or Sheepdog... Which are you?

The Combat Mindset

Do you always expect the unexpected?
Are you prepared to attack your attackers?
Are you a wolf, a sheep or a sheepdog?

THE WOLF
The wolf is always on the hunt, working with a pack of other wolves to search out its prey. The wolf will always attack with extreme violence of action. The wolf will hit you from one side while his pack hits you from the back.
The wolf feeds on the sheep without mercy

THE SHEEP
The sheep is a kind, gentle creature who can only hurt other sheep by accident. The sheep goes to pasture with little concern for situational awareness.
The sheep requires a sheepdog to protect it from predators

THE SHEEPDOG
The sheepdog has an important role in life. The sheepdog lives to protect the flock and confront the wolf even at the risk of his losing his own life


DO YOU WANT TO DEVELOP YOUR COMBAT MINDSET?
First, define your inner animal.If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf. But, what if you have a capacity for violence and a deep love for you fellow citizens? What do you have then?

A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness and walk out unscathed. The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference though is that the sheepdog must not, cannot and will not ever harm the sheep. Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn’t tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports in camouflage fatigues holding an M-16.

The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go “Baa.”Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog. Here is how the sheep and sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be in the thick of it. You want to be able to make a difference and protect those around you.

It is denial that turns people into sheep. Sheep are psychologically destroyed by combat because their only defense is denial, which is counterproductive and destructive, resulting in fear, helplessness and horror when the wolf shows up.
And so the warrior must strive to confront denial in all aspects of life and prepare himself for the day when evil comes. If you are a warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today.
No one can be “on” 24/7 for a lifetime. Everyone needs downtime. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath and say this to yourself…
“Baa.”

(With credit to LTC (Ret) Dave Grossman, author of “On killing”)

Alternative Energy

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

The Need:             Electrical power is required for lighting, communications, tools and many other useful devices. A source of back-up electrical power can be very useful in many emergency situations.

                                                                                          Electrical Calculations 

                                              volts x amps = watts                                                           amp hours x volts = watt hours

                                                Examples:             A refrigerator normally runs 10 hours per day and uses 500 watts when it is running. How many amp hours for a 12 volt battery are required to run the refrigerator?

                                               

                                                10 x 500 x 5000 watt hours

                                                5000 watt hours / 12 volts = 417 amp hours

How can a 12 volt 0.5 amp light be operated on a 12 volt 100 amp hour battery? how many watts is the light?

                                                100 amp hours / 0.5 amps =200 hours

                                                12 volts x 0.5 amps = 6 watts

                                                                                                                   

Addressing the Need:

Step 1:   A gasoline or diesel powered generator give the most power per purchase dollar and can handle large loads for a short period of time. Plan on 0.25 gallons of fuel storage per kilowatt hours for gasoline generators and about half that for diesel powered generators. Plan for adequate fuel storage. Honda engines tend to run much longer between rebuilds than other small high rpm gas engines. Low rpm Chinese diesel engines have been know to run over 20,000 hours before a rebuild compared to 500 hours for small gasoline engines. Diesel powered generators cost two to three time more than gasoline generators.

Step 2:   Add a battery charges and batteries so that electrical power can be used when the generator is not running. Large loads such as washing machines and tools could be schedules to be used when the generator is running and some of the power could be stored for used with small loads such as lighting when the generator is not running. Use high quality commercial grade batteries that are made for deep cycle applications. Costs are roughly $1.50 per 12 volt amp hour. The battery bank should be sized to allow for 4 to 7 days of operating planned loads without recharging.

                Proper battery care is critical! The battery should not be cycled too deeply and should reach a full state of charge as often as possible. Electrolyte (water) level should be checked monthly and only distilled water should be added to the battery.

               The batteries should be kept in a well ventilated area and the tops of the batteries should be kept clean. An equalizing charge (overcharge) of the battery should be accomplished once a month if the batteries are in heavy use. For installations in shelters sealed absorbed glass mat  (Gell Cell) batteries should be considered. Hydrocaps (catalytic) can be added to help conserve electrolytes; their use may make water addition a yearly event instead of a monthly event and will help keep the batteries cleaner. Desulfators can prevent sulfation and add life to the batteries. The batteries should not be charged or discharged faster that 1/20^th of their capacity per hour.

An inverter can be added to power AC loads form battery power. AC appliances are much less expensive than SC units and AC appliances are much more common. Large AC load can be operated from a small alternative energy system for short periods. For example; a 1000 watt AC toaster can be operated for a short period of time from a energy stored in batteries that were charged by a solar panel producing only 50 watts. Inverters can have extra features such as an integral battery charge and battery monitoring capability, automatic load switching, or many other features. Inverters can produce power that is either square wave, modified wave, or sine wave. Normal AC power is sine wave. Some equipment won’t operate on square wave but almost everything except for computer printer will run on modified sine wave. Any AC equipment will run on a sine wave inverter but is actually just a 34 step sine wave approximation.

Step 3:   Add photovolatic panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric turbines or other equipment to supplement or almost replace the generator. With a large alternative power source and small enough loads the generator will seldom be needed.

Photovolatic panels are silent and relatively portable.  In this area you can plan on getting an average of 5.5 hours of rated capacity per day. This figure includes cloudy days and seasonal hours of daylight variations. Panels come in rated voltages and two or more panels may be required to charge higher voltage battery banks. Quality of panels and warranties vary significantly between manufactures. New “thin film” panels have yet to be totally proven over time but may contribute to cost reduction in the future.

Wind turbines are somewhat more noisy and less reliable than solar panels. The installation with a tower as such adds to that cost and the turbines are not as portable as panels. The turbine should be mounted at least 30 feet above any obstructions 500 feet away. Recent wind turbines are much more reliable than their predecessors. Output of wind turbines varies significantly with location and some care should be taken in choosing a location. Look at nearby airport data, experience from long time residents of the area or signs of trees being affected by the wind to determine whether your location is suitable. Care should be taken in the design and construction of the tower since wind loads on a tower can be significant.

Hybrid wind and solar panel installations the advantages of more regular power generation since more solar power and less wind power are available in the summer and there is more wind power available in the winter when solar isolation is less available. A hybrid system in this area should have roughly on-third the generating capacity in solar panels and two-thirds in wind generating capacity.

Hydroelectric systems are very site dependent but a suitable locations can be very valuable since power can be generated almost constantly. Several gallons per minute with at least a five foot drop are required for a practical installation.

Alterative energy equipment has been in high demand and some manufactures have up to a six month backlog. This is particularly true with wind turbine manufacturers. Most components can be delivered in a few weeks.

              BECOMING ENERGY LESS DEPENDENT

When considering an alternative energy system it is important to note that for every dollar you spend in reducing your overall energy consumption you will save roughly three dollars in the initial cost of the system. In preparing for emergencies it is also wise to conserve valuable resources such as fuel, clean water and electrical energy.

Water Storage and Purification Tips

Concerns about water supply and storage top the list of questions I am most frequently asked.  To help motivate people who have not yet begun planning for a emergency, I usually suggest two easy starting points:  place a pair of shoes under the bed (so that you don't shred your feet on broken glass), and please store water.
 

Water: The Essential Nutrient

From a strictly survival point of view, water is the most important element for your body's survival.  A person can lose all reserve carbohydrate and fat, and about half the body's protein without being in real danger.  A loss of only 10 percent to 22 percent body weight as water is fatal.
 
The amount of water lost from the body through urine, water vapor from the lungs, and through perspiration averages 2.5 liters per day.  Water loss must be made up by fluids consumed, and by the water produced in the body as a result of metabolic processes.


The effects of dehydration on the body are dramatic.  They range from thirst to stronger thirst, sleepiness, apathy, nausea, emotional instability, labored breathing and dizziness, delirium--and finally death.  Infants, children, the elderly or physically ill persons are particularly susceptible to dehydration.

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FAQ's About An Emergency Water Supply

1. "We live near a stream that runs year round.  In the event of an emergency could we take drinking water from the stream?"
   • Answer:  Under serious disaster conditions, no water can be presumed safe for consumption.  Typhoid fever, dysentery, and infectious hepatitis are diseased associated with unsafe water.  Water purification techniques may be effective in removing some, but not all contaminants from water.  The only way to guarantee a safe water supply is to store it away yourself--before a disaster.
2. "How much water should I store?"
   • Answer:  This is a highly personal decision, but I urge you to store at least three days worth of water for each family member--including pets.  A minimum of 1 liter per person per day (for drinking purposes only) is the bare minimum for survival.(for three days only)  For our family of 2 people we have over 2000 gallons stored..
3. "How long can water be stored before it should be rotated?"
   • Answer:  This is one of the most difficult questions to answer.  The shelf life of water depends on the original quality of the water, the temperature at which it is stored, how much light it is exposed to just to name a few.  Many manufacturers of bottled water will include a shelf life on their product.
4. "Some of the water I have stored tastes flat, what should I do?"
   • Answer:  Stored water may eventually develop a disagreeable appearance, taste, or odor.  Inspect your water supply at least every six months (I inspect ours every three months) to see whether the containers have leaks or if any of the above problems have occurred.
     Under emergency conditions, water that tastes flat can be aerated by pouring the water from one container to another to another about three or four times.
5. "How can the shelf life of water be increased?"
   • Answer:  To increase the shelf life of water stored in translucent containers, group the containers together in dark plastic bags to keep out the light. Polyethylene plastics (water, milk, and bleach bottles) can be permeated by hydrocarbon vapors. Store your water supply away from gasoline, kerosene, pesticides, or similar substances.

NOTE:  I have stored our water in commercial water storage containers, and in 50 gal drums in two different home locations, in case we are unable to access one stash.  Approximately half outside while the some is stored in our garage.  

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Additional Water Sources

In addition to your stored water, there are a number of other possible sources of water in your home:

• Water drained from the hot water tank if the tank remains upright.
  • Immediately after a major disaster, we can prevent contamination of our hot water tank supply by shutting off the water valve that leads from the water main into the house.  To drain the tank, follow these instructions:
    • Turn off the gas or electric supply to the tank.
    • Close the water intake valve into the tank by closing the faucet at the top of the tank.
    • Drain water into a container by opening the faucet at the bottom of the tank.  Never turn the gas or electricity back on until the valve is reopened and the tank is full of water.
    • Drain water every six months allowing water to drain until it flows clear.  This process will ensure that the tank remains free of mineral and rust deposits and will also save on fuel!
• Water remaining in the pipes.
  • If your home is multilevel, you can drain the existing water in the pipes by gravity flow, after the water line into the house has been shut off.
  • Open a faucet on the top floor and drain water from a faucet at the lowest level.
• Water dipped from the flush tank (not bowl) of the toilet.
  • Purify water before using.  Do not use chemically treated "blue" water.
• Water from a swimming pool.
  • This water can be used for hygiene purposes only.  If consumed, this water can cause diarrhea due to chlorine content and can even cause permanent kidney damage.

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Purifying Water

• If water is polluted, strain through paper towels, paper coffee filters, or several layers of clean cloth into a container to remove any sediment or flaking material.  Then boil the water vigorously for 10 minutes, as this will usually make it safe to drink.  Add one additional minute for each 10,000 feet of altitude, depending on the area you live in.
• Another method of purification is to strain the water as described above, and then to chemically purify it by adding liquid bleach or tincture of iodine.  Do not use granular forms of household bleach as they are poisonous.
• For clear water, use two drops of bleach or three drops of tincture of iodine per liter.  If the water is cloudy, then these amounts should be doubled.  Store an eye dropper with your emergency supplies, to be used only for this purpose.
• Mix thoroughly by stirring or shaking water in a container.  Let the water stand for 30 minutes.  A slight chlorine odor should be detectable.  If not then the dosage should be repeated and the water allowed to stand for an additional 15 minutes.
• Liquid bleach loses strength over time.  For this reason I mark each bleach container with the current date.  If the bleach is one-year-old, double the amount. Two-year-old bleach should not be used.
• Water purification tablets will purify one liter of water.  The tablets have a shelf life of two years and lose their effectiveness if them get damp.
• Purify enough water to last a maximum of 48 hours.  Water allowed to sit for longer than this may become re-contaminated.

This is only a basic and cursory discussion on water storage.  We will be going in-depth on this subject in future articles.

Gear you should have in your Bug Out Bag

Bug Out Bag

For someone new to being a prepper building your first Bug Out Bag can seem like a big task. Everybody you read about has been tweaking theirs for months or even years and has a pile of gear built up. It’s hard to know where to start, but if you cover all of the basics in a survival situation you will still be much better off that 99% of the people.

A Bug Out Bag, (also called a BOB, Get Out of Dodge Bag, GOOD Bag) is usually designed to get you out of an emergency situation and allow you to survive self-contained.. A lot of people plan their Bug Out Bag to sustain them for much longer than that, but there is always a limit to what you can carry on your back.

There are the 7 basic types of gear you will need for your Bug Out Bag:

1. Water

It should go without saying that water is a survival basic for any situation. In a survival situation water quickly becomes the most precious commodity.
1 Liter per day per person is really the bare minimum. So your 3 day Bug Out Bag should have at least 3 liters of water.

To expand your capability or survive longer than a couple of days you will need a water purification system. This can be as simple as boiling water and iodine tablets, or a serious water filter.

• You can use a collapsible bag for extra storage.
• Coffee filters can extend the life of your water filtration system.
• Water purification tablets are a necessity because of their size

2. Food

Backpack Meals

For a 3 Day Bug Out Bag Backpack Meals and Energy Bars can be sufficient. Back pack meals are freeze dried meals that you just add boiling water to. They are light weight and last a long time.
Obviously you will need a longer term food solution in any type of wide area catastrophe, but for your basic Bug Out Bag backpack meals can be good idea.

3. Clothing

Your Bug Out Bag clothes should be similar to what you would pack for a weekend backpacking trip.

• A pair of sturdy boots or shoes
• A pair of long pants (preferably not blue jeans)
• 2 Pairs of socks (preferably not cotton)
• 2 Shirts (Maybe 1 long sleeve and 1 short sleeve for layering)
• A Jacket that is both warm and protection from rain
• Warm long underwear of some kind
• A hat
• A Bandana

This list could go on for a while and many people would never dream of leaving their Bug Out Bag without twice that much, but in a pinch that set up could get you by for 3 days.
Be sure to plan for the weather in your area.and change they type with the seasons.

4. Shelter

Be sure to have a ground tarp...

If you are going to survive for 3 days you are going to need protection from the elements and a warm dry place to sleep. You need at least:

1. Some type of tent or tarp and a way to set it up
2. A ground tarp for underneath your shelter to stay dry  or a sleeping pad
3. Some type of Bedroll, preferably a good sleeping bag

5. First Aid Kit

Trying to cover everything you need in your Bug Out Bag first aid kit is another article entirely to itself... probably several more. I recommend that you build your own First Aid Kit instead of buying one of those prepackaged first aid kits.  Building your own first aid kit gives you an intimate knowledge of what it contains and how to use it. How many people buy one of those pre-made set ups and just assume they are prepared because there’s so much crap in it there must be what I need? Bad Idea.  Make sure you have a lot of 4X4 pads, 2X2 pads and kerlex rolls.  We will talk about this in detail at a later time.

6. Basic Gear

Basic Gear is a category for the things you absolutely cannot live without but don’t really fit well into another category. Many survivalists will not like this list because it is not exhaustive by any means, but again I will say: It will be enough to get you by until you can replace it.

Rain Gear – at least 2 ways to stay dry in the rain. Poncho and Coat are good coupled with your Tent/Shelter

Fire – A bare minimum of 3 different ways to make a fire.  With that you can get a flame but you will have to actually build the fire source up too with tinder of some sort. You’re also going to need something to cut your firewood a pruning saw works well, and is small and can be folded.


Cooking – Bare minimum here is a large stainless steel cup like a sierra cup to boil water in for both drinking and freeze dried meals. A small backpacking stove and fuel are better.

Light – At least 2 dependable battery or chemical lights and a backup set of batteries for the flashlight.

Survival Knife – The most used and most versatile tool in your Bug Out Bag is your.  Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman are great tools for short-term use.

7. Weapons

The fact of the matter is you are might be dealing with a “Without Rule of Law” situation, or close to it, and people are likely to do crazy things. Being prepared to defend yourself is part of the survivalist mindset.
Obviously a firearm of some sort is best for this. (Though not in all situations) I will not go into specifics about what type of gun you should bring because that is hotly debated and really a personal choice. Take what is comfortable to you. Be sure you are licensed to carry and trained in how to use if you carry.

Outside of guns your survival knife could be used as weapon if you had to. Also something as simple as a big walking stick or club can be a strong deterrent for bad guys. It’s all about giving yourself options.

Once you get these basics covered you can begin to test and refine your Bug Out Bag with other useful gear and prepare it for longer term survival situations.

The Road Not Taken

Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken (1915)

This poem is usually interpreted as an assertion of individualism, but critic Lawrence Thompson has argued that it is a slightly mocking satire on a perennially hesitant walking partner of Frost's who always wondered what would have happened if he had chosen their path differently.

So, each of us today are at a crossroads....think about it....


Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.