Friday, December 31, 2010
Using Search This Blog
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Knowledge is Power-a Trail Story
Youtube offers videos on just about anything you can think of, from Review of the 2100 Casio Piano Keyboard, How to Break Down and Reassemble a Shotgun, to music by Rianna, and How to Build a Snow Cave.
You can see gear in use before you buy it, learn techniques on survival hunting, and watch cute animal videos.
Knowledge is power. If you surf awhile, there's no telling what you'll come across. I love the http://walletpop.com website for the boring financial stuff made interesting.
Yes, knowledge is power but without experience, that power will burst like a bubble under stress.
I try nearly everything I can at least once. Not everything works for me, but even failures or less than ideal outcomes are valuable learning tools.
We met a Continental Divide Trail hiker up in East Glacier a couple years back. He'd come into the hostel and my partner and I were trading stories with him. He pulled out a water spotted map and pointed out an alternative route, skirting through a range just north of Enis. It looked interesting, viable. Some of his descriptions, however, seemed nebulous.
I finally asked, "Have you hiked through there?"
"Nope", he replied, "but it looks totally doable".
After he put away his maps and data and went for supper, I told Rainmaker, "I don't think we should be pissing around on someone else's bushwhack"
Rainmaker laughed and agreed. We'd been on enough bushwhacks and alternative routes of our own to know how disappointing they can be.
Water? Campsites? Lost trails? Impassable blowdowns.
Experience ruled out this route suggestion from our new friend, although we filed away its existence in our trail brains.
You just never know when this piece of information might come in handy.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wanderers Die in Fire-A Carbon Monoxide Warning
Unfortunately, we are often bombarded with Non News.
Check out this heart rending story of a fire in an abandoned building:
Fire Kills At Least 8 "Wanderers" in New Orleans
Young people huddled in one of many old buildings, as temperatures dipped below freezing. In their attempt to stay warm, they built a fire in a large metal trash can. You would think in these old buildings there would be sufficient draft to allow fresh air into the building. Not so. Enough carbon monoxide built up to render some young "wanderers" unconscious and thereby unable to flee the burning building. Small places like tents and snow caves would be more deadly with even tiny unvented combustion.
This article brings up even more disturbing trends. Not only is there an estimated 12,000 people homeless in New Orleans, but many of them are young. Even those with skills like carpentry are still unemployed, in a city so desperately needing rebuilding .
Those who died in the fire were called "wanderers". At first I thought it denoted adventure, idealism, and a creative lifestyle. After reading the article, I felt it reflected hopelessness; a roving band of the directionless.
The continuing recession brings up important issues. As people become more impoverished with fewer options, there will be further breakdown in family and society.
If the media doesn't present these issues, no one will know they exist or find solutions. The above article does an excellent job in exploring the roots of this disaster.
As survivalists, our surroundings are very important indications of pending threats. If I am unaware of the storm brewing, I am unlikely to seek shelter. If I am aware, I make plans and take action.
I'm also making a mental note, a survival memo: beware of carbon monoxide!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Bushwacking in Snow
Monday, December 27, 2010
Wind Chill Online Calculator
Check out this link for a great chart, information on what it means, and at the bottom of the page, an actual calculation plug in the numbers tool.
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/windchill/index.shtml
Before heading out, follow safety measures, including layering clothing, full face covering, sunglasses, lip balm. Leave your itinerary with a friend or in your vehicle.
Wind chill can kill.
Five Days Left
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Heads Up to All Internet Posters
There is an alert out to all those who post articles, or do any copy and pasting to their web sites:
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/12/death-ray-lawsuits/
Apparently, there's a company called Righthaven. Its whole purpose is to buy the copyright to various articles from any given newspaper, then check the Internet for that article. If they find someone who has put it on their blog or website, they try to sue them. The federal copyright law allows fines or penalties of up to $150,000 per article.
About 80 lawsuits have been filed so far, I'm told, against organizations like the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the Democrat National Committee of Nevada, a real estate broker in Las Vegas, and FreeRepublic.com. More are expected to be hit by the end of the year.
Its never right to use someone else's work, copying and pasting into your site and not giving the rightful owner credit.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The Hobo Survival Lamp
Today I made the hobo lamp. Its a quick and easy project.
Fill a tin can to within one inch of the rim with dry dirt. I used a clayish soil.
Next, find a twig about as thick as your pinkie, long enough to push into the soil the length of the can, plus about 4-5 inches above the can. We're talking about 7 inches, give or take.
Now, find an old scrap of cotton fabric. I used an old bandanna and tore off a strip measuring 2 inches wide by 26 inches long. This will be the wick, so, be sure its substantial enough or it will burn up too quickly.
Now, with the twig firmly planted in the middle of the can, wrap the cloth around the twig, leaving a decent amount at the top to receive the oil and lighting.
Next, chose some type of liquid fat, grease or oil, and pour this over the wick, filling the can to within half inch of the top rim.
If you have a room temperature solid fat, heat until its liquid so that it will saturate the fabric and flow into and on top the soil.
Let this set up awhile, so that the oil soaks into the cloth wick.
Your lamp is now ready to light. Follow all normal safety procedures.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Firing The Pistol
I was reminded to hold the pistol very steady, take a deep breath, let out some air, and hold the remaining breath while I squeezed the trigger.
I am wearing shooting glasses, ear protection.
The target was a Styrofoam plate, with a red dot in the center to assist in focusing.
By following my instructors directions, I was able to make my shots count. He was very pleased.
More practice is needed. I still feel awkward handling a firearm.
I recognize how devastating one small mistake could be. I think that's always going to be very important attitude.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Loading and Stance
I checked to be sure it was not loaded by removing the clip, then, checking the chamber and breach.
Next, I loaded the clip with five cartridges. Inserting the clip, but not working the slide, I was nearly ready for firing, but not yet.
Holding the pistol in a balanced stance is very important, too. Feet placed about shoulder's width apart, knees slightly bent, the weapon held firmly in my right hand, supported by my left.
As I raised the pistol to eye level, I felt some uneasiness. In the future, I might need to actually use this skill for self defense. I've been warned, never point the pistol at someone unless you mean to fire.
The semi automatic Ruger that we are using is heavy. Holding it out in front, at eye level for any amount of time is tiring.
After all these drills, I unloaded the firearm, unloaded the clip and replaced it. Checking to be sure the pistol was totally unloaded, safety on, I wiped it down with a clean cloth.
It was a good class, and I am feeling a little more comfortable handling firearms.
Monday, December 20, 2010
First Firearms Class
Sunday, December 19, 2010
How to Shoot a Gun
Piano by Chords Website
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Hunting the Dogs
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Movement In Survival-I Shouldn't Be Alive Review Lessons
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
In The Shadow of Denali-final review
Monday, December 13, 2010
Resting on Uphill Climbs and Poison Ivy
I always check for vines first. Without leaves, its hard to tell if the vine is poison ivy. Even in winter you can get the oil on your clothes. Once there, the oils can cause a reaction any time you use this garment unless the item is thoroughly washed.
Poison Ivy and Poison Oak are serious stuff. Either can cause systemic reactions, and even hinder breathing. If you've had a bad case , you are aware how maddening the itch, swelling and seeping of pus can be.
Sometimes you have to wade through a pathc of poison ivy. The Bartram Trail, near Wayah Bald is especially overgrown with it come June and July.
If you find yourself exposed to poison ivy or poison oak, wash in Cold water, never warm and absolutely never hot water, as soon as possible. Wash for several minutes, more is better. If you wash in a stream, do not use any soap; soap is not necessary. Hot water only spreads the oils.
If you are not certain of exposure, take the safe way out and wash everything. Change clothing if it has touched the plants, place items in a plastic bag and wash thoroughly in cold water.
Once all the oils have been removed, you can not transmit it to another person. Your body may react, but you are not contagious. Poison Ivy is an allergic reaction to plant material, not bacterias or viruses.
Some people recommend calamine lotion to relieve itching. I find the Polar Ice analgesic gel cools the area, and eliminates itching. You may find this works for you as well. Cold compresses help by reducing blood flow and keeping the inflammation localized. In my experience, warm compresses worsen the reaction by increasing blood flow. Scratching can break the skin and introduce infection. If you must, cover the area after applying cooling gel, to keep from scratching or further irritating the skin.
Never burn leaves in the fire ring or as toilet paper unless you are certain they are not of the poison ivy family.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Survival in a Can- Contents List
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Piano Keyboard Therapy
Friday, December 10, 2010
Paying for the Summit-Chapter Four
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Lone Wolf, the John Waterman Story
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
In The Shadow of Denali
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Getting Off The Gerbil Wheel
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Scouting the Territory
Today I stashed firewood under the cave-overhang, my new favorite spot in this forest. Its hard to find, and a very steep descent, so I'm thinking it could be nearly unknown . The water source is reachable and there are sign of wildlife. All good.
It is snowing lightly today, wind chills in the teens. Winter is a good time to bushwhack cause poisonous snakes and bees are much less a threat. Always good to watch your step though.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
The Road-A Movie and Book Review
This movie is based on the novel, a Post Apocalyptic scenario which is both profound and monotonous as to be genius. Written by Cormac McCarthy and published in 2006 it contains a few more dramatic scenes than the movie. Scenes which involve infanticide, pregnant women, slaves, canabalism, farming of body parts, and catalytic destruction are so moving as to cause dreams and nightmares.
I'm still pondering all the implications.
The movie follows the book in mood and theme quite well. If you want a fuller experience, read the book afterwards. Do not be surprised at the lack of sentence structure or normal punctuation, such as quotes. Whole conversations flowing along between the man and boy fill a page, yet the normal constraints and protocol of literature are abandoned.
How fitting. I found it very much in keeping with the end of world scenario. "Old and troubling issues resolved into nothingness and night...
Darkness implacable....There is no god and we are his prophets".
These sentences are examples of McCarthy's talent.
We find ourselves on The Road, along with the man and his son, hunting food, watching over our shoulders, wearing rags, freezing, ever scared of those that follow us. I read the book in two days; I found it so gripping even after seeing the movie.
An entire semester of high school English could be taught with through this one literary work. Ethics, economy, religion, relationships, history, and creative writing, would be just a few areas of exploration.
Many times the book is much better than the movie. I would say they are nearly equal in impact. However, the book does offer more understanding of the breakdown of humanity, the scavanging of trinkets, the years of wasteland invisioned in The Road. Thankfully, we are left with a ray of hope at the very end of the novel.