E-Mail 'Getting Home Long Distance in the Event of An EMP/Solar Flare- Part 3, by B.M.' To A Friend

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1. I take it that the author is using a hammock sleeping set up if he is not comfortable sleeping in a tent. He made some valid points on drawbacks of a tent’s use for sleeping/shelter without another person/group who could post sentries.

   1. It would really depend on the size and color of the tent and WHERE you are when you make camp. one other issue is THE SEASON the weather if it is raining you will crawl inside a garbage bag if you could–getting wet and cold is a nice way to work yourself into sickness. The prepper who travels without tactical gloves or leather gloves is also making a big mistake. Protect your hands. Most people can afford the pup tent and the gloves–but a well-fitting bullet-proof vest too. Mosquito netting could also serve as a “tent” also know English and another langauge spoken by the locals,

2. This article seemed well thought out. Nice job. If I could add two things that I carry that would be a huge help. These are not cheap but may be a lifesaver. First, night vision. Get a pvs14 gen3 autogated. They sell on a couple of Survival blog advertisers. You’ll need batteries and a solar charger to keep them functional. For traveling at night these are awesome and are a force multiplier in a sticky situation. Normally these are mounted on a combat type helmet which you may find hard to carry or conceal during the day. Crye Precision makes a soft cap carrier that is far superior to the skull crusher that comes with the unit.
   Second, also very expensive but well worth it is a FLIR unit. The nice thing is these can be used day or night. I have the one that’s good to 500meters. I was testing mine during the day and from about 150 yards a saw a bright red cherry dot in an autumn olive bush. I checked again at 75 yards and by eye could not see what it was. At 25 yards same thing. When I got right up to the bush the red dot was a chipmunk. The dot actually showed the head where heat was escaping. Think about scanning an area before you approach and see multiple thermal images hidden in bushes from 3 or 400 yards away. That’s what’s awesome, these work day or night. When you get them practice with them. Unless the ambushers are using thermal blankets of some sort you can spot them from a long way away. As always avoidance is the key.

   1. I tried ordering the Crye Precision soft cap last year. First it was delayed because they did not actually have any in stock for sale. Then after a couple months of waiting I was told that they wanted a different type of credit card to complete the sale or they would cancel my order. I let them cancel. I have ZERO patience for games from these kinds of companies anymore.

      1. I’ve only talked to people that had the Crye cap. They liked them. Mine is on a helmet. Skull crusher is terrible.

   2. Good advice on the NVD and thermal unit. And one thing to keep in mind would be to make sure that both of them as well as the solar charger are carried in some type of Faraday cage otherwise an EMP may make them useless.

3. I paused at the no-tent thought as well, but will have some sort of tent-like apparatus because of the insects. I have been in poor living conditions before and am living in a camper now. Even with screens on windows, I am up frequently most summer nights, slapping at biting insects or violently scratching at bites. I think for me, better sleep quality would offset the negatives.

   1. You can get a mosquito net that is cot-sized. Mine has ties at the corners to suspend it above you. Or just use a piece of cheesecloth-type of material. Either way, plus a small poncho or tarp, and it’s still much lighter than most inexpensive tents.
      As I looked at the list for his get-home bag weight will be a serious issue. Having spent many hundreds of days and nights backpacking and sleeping rough in my life, I can guarantee you that most of those “nice-to-have” and “might-need” items will make for a miserable trek when you carry them very far.

4. This is the first time I’ve seen a fencing tool & Gold Bond powder in a GHB. I assume the cigarettes & rum are for barter along the way. I think I’d pack some of the food in my backpack, in case I lose my bike in an encounter w/ 1-2 violent people. Overall, a very good series of articles!

5. A couple of recommendations for your EGOB. You can absolutely dump the snakebite kit. They truly are completely worthless (there is no evidence that they have EVER worked). If you are not taking a tent, I would recommend dumping the military poncho as well and add a dedicated rain jacket as well as a lightweight waterproof tarp and mosquito net. You can make your own tarp out of waterproof nylon that weighs only 1-2oz/square yard. I’d dump the 12lb test line and go straight to the 80lb test dyneema line. Same size and weight, but infinitely more uses. I would also take a trot line setup vs an individial line and hook. If you have the time to fish, you want to catch 3-4 or more fish at a time and not just one. It’s also too easy to set discretely and then return to check later. If you are taking only 200 rounds, you can probably dump the gun cleaning kit.

   1. Thanks for the recommendations

   2. Great recommendations, I have a couple of fishing yoyos but a trotline fishing method would be much more effective.

6. Pay Attention To Your Feet,

   I walked to work a while back, 11.2 miles, because of vehicle issues.

   I normally walk 4-8 miles a day, so this was about 50% further and shouldn’t have been a problem.

   Starting at 09:00, the weather forecast was supposed to be 80-90s, until isolated thunderstorms later in the afternoon. So, I needed to hurry up and get there before it got hot and rained… I was wearing well worn military boots, with two pairs of socks, the outer pair being brand new. Because I work in a GFZ, no FA protection.

   At the halfway point, things were going well until a fast moving thunderstorm appeared. My medium umbrella was no match for the heavy sideways rain, and close lightning. Everything, including my boots were soaked, and there were four miles to go. Twice, I took temporary shelter from the lightning and had to wait it out.

   Now with every step, I could feel blisters forming. My pace was reduced by the time I got to work, it took four hours to go 11.2 miles. A foot inspection showed large blisters covering the bottoms of my feet.

   I could barely walk for a couple of days afterwards and it took about a week to get back to normal. So, we have multiple failures relating to transportation, footwear, rain protection, weather forecasting, and security. Not the worst day of my life, but cause for concern and improvement. Although I got to my destination, I was immobilized for days and would have been unable to continue a trek.

   Under more stressful conditions, the author is correct, this could have proved to be a lethal combination.

7. I liked your list and your advice. I consider these and other well thought out posts good training and working material. You are spot on about the tents. We always wanted to put them up in VN, and our NCO’s and officers wouldn’t let us, even in a typhoon. I did that once in Cambodia during a typhoon, and just after my squad leader told me to take it down, the wind took it to who knows where. You get too comfortable in a danger areas, the bad guys will find you and plug you. Also, if you’re alone and prone to snoring, you need to find a way to muffle or otherwise handle that noise.

8. Some different perspectives might help garner a better methodology.

   In the 1960’s, my combat veteran Dad showed me how to take a tin can and make a twig stove, just using a cheap imitation Swiss Army knife. Then I learned to make one with just a P38 ( a P51 is better) can opener. Canned food would be more available for scrounging rather than trying to carry several weeks worth of supply.

   Carrying two rolls of silver dimes and quarters would be good enough to barter for cans of food, and more compact to carry, as well as not expiring.

   Long ago I bought a 9 shot High Standard Camp Gun. I carried it in the Redoubt for over 30 years. That revolver has killed rattlesnakes, and harvested many types of small game and even fish for me. And you can use sub-sonic .22 Short ammo now found at big-box discount stores for $3.25 per box of fifty, as well as hypersonic .22 rounds for self defense.

   Nowadays we all get targeted by companies marketing magazine-fed arms. But in the last century we had revolvers and tube-fed weapons that worked just fine. I, too, have bought 6 to 10 magazines per gun (multiple striker and hammer fired pistols). But I have started investing in older, good condition tube magazine .22 rifles. Many have highly accurate barrels, and often they have decent 4X scopes.

   Prices on these rifles is good, often for less than $100 each at estate sales and smaller gun shops. Redundancy is highly cost-effective. So instead of one Glock for $550, you can get 5 good .22 semi-automatic tube-magazine rifles. Put one in each vehicle, shop, bedroom, PVC container.

   When you get your older .22 rifles, watch the on-line videos showing disassembly and cleaning. Most of these have never been completely taken down and thoroughly cleaned, so do that and get rid of decades-old residue. Then test fire them using several types of ammo- both subsonic and hypersonic, jacketed and unjacketed, to determine what to avoid.

   Most detachable-magazine-fed .22 weapons can only take Long Rifle (LR) ammunition. One great aspect is that revolvers and tube fed-magazines can eat Short, Long, and Long Rifle ammo.

   In our PNW state, a murderer killed 4 people with a .22 rifle just a few years ago in a shopping mall. That horrible tragedy shows how the common .22 is deadly and to be treated with the same respect as all weapons.

   If things actually reach the point where crime is open and rampant, you will probably want to transition to open carry just as a deterrent. This will also probably result in others wanting to travel with you, which could be of help in lessening the danger of trying to be a lone-wolf. As SELCO said in recounting his experience, the lone wolves always died- whether from violence or just disease. Most tube-fed .22’s are longer and not concealable, and look more business-like in my opinion- than the Ruger 10-22 carbine.

   I am getting one Ruger 10/22 for each grandchild but they cost quite a bit when you add in the nice upgrades and slings and maybe a scope, and several more magazines…..compared to an already equipped Remington or High Standard or Winchester that may just need a good cleaning.

   As always, best wishes and God Bless.

9. Our state laws recently changed to remove “swords” as an item prohibited to carry. I now have a Cold Steel sword cane as a walking stick/self defense item in my vehicle. I believe Pat reviewed this product awhile back.

10. Lilia, just a suggestion for the insect problem….take large doses of vitamin B complex. it’s a natural insect repellent and along with that it is a very great benefit to your system when you are under stress.

11. If you will be riding a bicycle then it’s possible to mount your heavy back pack on the bike which will take a tremendous strain off of you physically. I would suggest giving it a test try.

12. Well, as usual, good content from SB. I have a few comments. That’s an awful lot to carry BOB-wise.

    200 hundred rounds ? No. 4 mags, yes. If you are in a running gun battle and can’t persevere (E and E) with 4 mags, you’re done. 200 rounds is too much. Better to avoid conflict and scram.

    Don’t carry a book “when there is no doctor”, READ IT, then carry the knowledge forever. Don’t carry the damn book. What are you gonna do, flip open the book to see how to perform CPR ? Learn NOW. there will. be. no. time. to do this when SHTF.

    Cleaning kit ? not needed.

    Grey man. avoid contact at all costs.

    Agree with the tents. Mosquito netting will save you. But, severe weather can be countered with tarpcraft.

    Goldbond powder, hell yeah. miracle drug.

    Triage your shit. Discard ruined/useless gear daily.

    Fires ? only for water and lifesaving heat. Others will not be roaming in severe weather. they will be hunkering too. Boil water when needed. then fire for drying/warming heat when needed. Multiple sources. ferro rod, candle stub/ dryer lint/etc.

    Snakebite kit ? ditch it. unproven science. carry FA stuff. comfort items, aspirin, Tylenol. etc. imodium comfort drugs. blister care. not included in an IFAK. but extremely necessary.

    1. I completely agree with you. This is a great thought exercise and one I have performed myself; however, when I got to the list of items in the get home bag I thought “Holy Cow! Has he tried to carry all of this?” Sure, it would be great to have all this stuff, but question how quickly and effectibely a person could move with this load.

13. Regarding your bicycle, any bike is better than none, but 900 miles is about 90 hours of riding time, about 9 days of solid riding, the same usage as 3 months of typical cycle commuting. That is a lot of use so you need a bike that will stand up to the wear. Many people select the cheapest of bikes but would choose a much higher grade of firearm or knife. On a bike journey you are usung your bike all of the time. You may use your firearm a handfull of times to catch food or warn off dogs, probably never to shoot other people. Less than one second of operation.
    Fit a comfortable saddle, not a soft one, some premium kevlar protected commuter/ touring tyres. Carry more than one spare inner tube + patch kit and spare cable inners. Bike touring sites have packing lists, tools, spares and advice.
    Fit a touring style rear luggage rack for bike panniers and strap your backpack to the top. A front bar bag is std for touring.
    River crossing with a bike is possible with inflatable pack- boats.
    Travelling in convoy is much safer than solo.

    Bikes are very stealthy, McAleese’s Fighting Manual relates when the author was on night watch, lying in the Angolan bush, he heard a whoosh as a local villager rode past, with no advance warning sign. He noted the stealth of this mide of travel.

14. I would not eat canned fish the containers will put a smell in the air to bring in people and things you do not want. As for a long gun that you could put out of sight, I might suggest a Remington TAC 14 with a Arm Brace, and AR pistol with the same would work but the sound signature is very loud.

15. In reference to the advice on the weight of the pack. Multiple items are carried on my person and several of them are packed together in ziplock bags. I have packed and hiked with it (not 900 miles) but significant distances and it is surprisingly manageable. It is not lightweight by any means but remember, I am walking a significant distance and items I have listed are what I believe that I need to make it.

    Thanks for the advice on snakebite kit.

    Items
    1) Pack itself
    2) The pistol is carried in a holster on the belt along with one mag
    3) Folding Knife/multitool carried on the person.
    4) Firestarter on a chain around my neck.
    5) Items 11/12/13 were meant to be interchangeable
    6) Small flashlight on my person.
    7) Items 17/18/20/40/41 all fit in a quart sized ziplock bag.

    I always appreciate good advice and input

16. Overall, a well thought out article; my concern is the walk itself. 850 miles over the course of however many days; under very likely duress, strain, and hardship – is almost a herculean task.
    I understand the reasoning behind not walking the 50 miles back, but if you need to get that 850 miles done in reasonable safety and security; it will probably take more time than you’ve planned, and be decidedly more problematic than expected as well. I admire your courage and intent to get ‘home’ – it would be my intent as well. But always err on the side of caution. And while there’s still planning time, perhaps some effort to meet folks along the way… maybe visit a few local churches, or gun shows, or camping/hunting/fishing stores or shows… meeting like minded people along your route could prove quite good, along that much of a trek.

17. In a TEOTWAWKI situation, simple theft, especially of essential equipment/supplies, becomes a mortal threat to the lives of you and your loved ones.

18. Excellent article and very thoughtful in many ways. The comment section is loaded with good information as well. I would add a couple of thoughts. Keep in mind these thoughts come from people that have operated in the middle of the poo in some sketchy areas of the world. They don’t just come from me. With that said, your feet are job one. If your feet are not in shape for walking, you are done before you start. Your socks and the ability to apply a protective layer are paramount. Next, never travel in the rain unless it is absolutely necessary. No matter how tremendous your rain gear seems, it will fail in heavy rain. Once your feet are wet you must quit walking. Find shelter and wait it out unless a direct threat comes along. With that said, be aware of rising water. Finally, never walk down the middle of anything be it street, sendero, railway, or bridge. Stick to the edges of the paths. You are more difficult to spot. This tactic will drastically slow your travel time, but priority must be placed on safety. There are several good manuals and books on small unit tactics that can be applied to 1-3 man units. I recommend seeking them out and reading them. Thanks for the excellent article.

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