(Continued from Part 4. This installment concludes the article series.)
If you’re even further away you may need to consider how you can supplement your food supply as you travel. One obvious way to do that is to learn how to forage. Foraging can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing, so take some training on how to recognize edible plants and what to avoid. If you’re going to be traveling to the same area frequently you should look into taking a local foraging class; they’re offered in most major locales. I also carry an edible plants reference card and a foraging guide with me, and I always do some research on regional plants whenever I travel to a new area. You could also bring a trotline and/or some snares with you and set them out while you’re sleeping. As with any wilderness skill, you should practice using both of them before you need them (check local laws governing fishing and trapping before attempting).
If you have food that needs to be heated or have boiling water added to it you’ll need some way to start a fire, and all of the common wisdom regarding lighters, ferro rods, tinder, etc. applies here. I carry a small Esbit-style folding stove in my travel kit along with various fire starters and tinder, and a 15-20 minute fire with twigs is usually enough to get a cup of water boiling. If you need something bigger to cook a fish or some wild game or warm up I’d recommend using a Dakota fire hole if possible to reduce the fire’s visibility. Remember that fire and cooking smells can carry for quite a distance, so you’ll be better off if you leave the area as soon as you’re done eating – don’t prepare meals in the same location you plan on sleeping.
When traveling in unknown conditions there’s always a chance you’ll get sick or injured, which could interrupt or even end your journey if you’re not prepared. In a post-SHTF world you most likely won’t be able to call an ambulance or stop by the local doc-in-a-box, so you’ll need to have a decent first-aid kit and the knowledge on how to use it. There are plenty of good articles on what should be in a first aid kit, but there are a few things that will be especially important for multi-day RTB travel:
- Moleskin/Leukotape P for the inevitable blisters
- Pain relievers for the inevitable aches and pains
- Instant cold & heat packs, for additional pain relief
- Electrolyte Replacement Tablets to replace what you sweat out
- Anti-Diarrheal tablets, since your diet will be going through radical changes and having the runs can result in serious issues
- Boiron Oscillococcinum for cold/flu symptoms (or a DayQuil equivalent)
- A full course (30 250mg pills) of antibiotics in case a cut or wound gets infected – I carry Amoxicillin, which you can buy as ‘FishMox’ online
The common wisdom is that you should get plenty of rest when you’re sick or injured, but if you’re desperate to get home to your family, curling up in a nice warm debris shelter for a couple of days probably isn’t an option. You’ll need to reduce your pace and rest more frequently and for longer, but staying in one place for too long may cause more problems than it solves.
Unless the event results in the world all of a sudden becoming a bastion of rainbows and unicorns you’ll most likely need some way to protect yourself from both two- as well as four-legged threats while moving through unknown terrain. Whenever I travel I always bring at least one firearm if I’m legally allowed to possess it at my destination; if you don’t have a firearm with you, obtaining one at your destination location after an event will be extremely difficult. I always try to meet people and make friends at local gun shops and gun ranges when I travel – there’s no guarantee, but knowing some people can increase the chance of you being able to acquire a firearm if a major world-changing event occurs. One alternative to firearms is an edged weapon – I always pack a Gerber Downrange Tomahawk in my suitcase – it makes a decent weapon with a long reach as well as providing chopping, hammering and prying capabilities. If all else fails a simple club made from a chair leg or piece of metal pipe might be your only option, or you can attach a knife to a long rod or sharpen a stick to make yourself a spear. None of these are ideal, but it’s better to have some weapons than none at all.
Another aspect of security is how you can protect yourself while you’re sleeping. Unless you’re traveling with a large enough group that you can have people on a rotating watch to keep an eye out for trouble, you’re going to need some form of alarm system. This can be as simple as a tripwire connected to a metal can with some rocks in it, or you can carry a personal alarm, attach it to a tree or post and connect a tripwire to the pull tab. One thing I carry with me when I travel with firearms is a motion sensor alarm with a remote control that I can put inside my gun case and turn on when I’m not around. The same alarm could be attached to one end of a tripwire looped over a branch or nail so the alarm moves when the tripwire is tripped, setting it off
Hygiene and sanitation are things you should also plan for. You’ll probably be getting dirty while traveling, and being dirty can lead to sores and infections. Using leaves for toilet paper may sound folksy, but it’s not something you want to do if you can avoid it. Grab the rolls of toilet paper from your hotel room and put them in a ziplock bag, and grab the little bars of soap for washing. If you can find a bottle of hand sanitizer you should grab that also. Compressed towel tablets are a good thing to carry, since they’re great for cleaning up and don’t take much room; individually wrapped pre-moistened wipes are another good option. You should also have a folding travel toothbrush and some toothpaste tablets with you to maintain good oral hygiene. Make a habit of cleaning up every time you stop before going to sleep.
Items like flashlights and radios will require power to operate, and if your journey will be more than a few days you’ll most likely need some way to recharge batteries. In my previous article I mentioned that I carry a foldable 15W solar panel that has a couple of USB ports, along with a small USB battery charger, and I use rechargeable batteries for everything. However, another alternative would be to use the batteries in abandoned vehicles along the way. I always have a 12V USB charger to use in rental cars, and I also bring a 12V lighter socket with wires and alligator clips soldered to it. Even with an EMP car batteries most likely won’t be impacted, so you can plug the charger in the socket, clip it to a car’s battery and recharge things.
Another potentially critical piece of kit is the ability to repair stuff. I covered this in my previous article, but for RTB travel you should pay special attention to being able to repair your shoes, clothing and load-bearing gear. Your repair kit should include some E6000 shoe glue, Tear-Aid Type A repair tape, some Gorilla tape, some heavy-duty thread and a heavy-duty needle at a minimum.
One somewhat unusual item I carry as part of my RTB kits is an 8” pair of bolt cutters. As I mentioned earlier I always walk or drive as much of the beginning of my RTB route as possible when I arrive at a destination, and one thing I’ve noticed over the years is that there are a lot of chain link fences around, especially on highways. If part of your route requires you to cross a highway or transition through any industrial/railroad areas there’s a really good chance you’ll run into one or more chain link fences, and if you don’t have the ability to cut through it you’ll either have to climb it (not easy with a pack) or go around, which may add considerable time. I’ve played around with cutting scrap chain link fencing with my Leatherman Wave Plus, and while it’s possible it would take a very long time and leave you exposed.
Conclusion
Hopefully this article has provided you with some food for thought when you’re planning your next trip. I realize that a lot of people think that the concept of traveling cross-country after a SHTF disaster is the stuff of post-apocalyptic fiction novels, and that you’d most likely never be able to pull it off, but if I’m separated from my home and family when a disaster strikes I know that I’m personally going to do everything I can to get home. While no one can guarantee that you’ll be able to make it home, I’m absolutely certain that if you don’t plan and prepare for it then the odds of you making it are a lot lower. I also realize that there are a lot more aspects to this discussion that I wasn’t able to cover, so I’m hoping that others will pick up the torch and fill in the blanks in future articles.
(This concludes a five-part series.)
All very good info. But if you actually carry all the things you mention in your articles you’re going to end up with a very heavy go bag. I have most of the things you mention in mine and I know if I tried to carry it very far I’d start winnowing it down quickly. I carry mine in the back of my pickup truck just in case but if I had to start walking I know I’d have to ditch all but the most critical items. Good job on the article though!
GotUR6 – I agree that if you carried everything I mentioned you’d probably be overloaded, but that’s why I try to do detailed planning. That lets me know what I’ll most likely need, what I can easily acquire locally, and what I may need to improvise so I can pack accordingly. As I mentioned I always check a full-size suitcase, and I’ve found that I can usually carry most of what I think I’ll most likely need. I have a luggage scale at home to make sure I keep it below the 50lb limit so I don’t have to pay extra,
Absolutely great article and timely for me. I am just starting a business that does require frequent travel out of state. On my first trip – via plane on short notice – to the east coast, I scrambled to tuck in a few things I could carry I might need if SHTF while I was there. One thing I do carry is sufficient currency to get me back to the hotel, airport, or wherever I will embark to RTB. I talked to people about the early aftermath in Chicago on 9/11 when mass transit was shut down. You needed sufficient cash to get a cab to take you home or you were on foot or the mercy of someone who didn’t come by train. Don’t know how it will work with the gig cab services. Cell and internet would likely be down or overloaded.
Great stuff! This is certainly a heavyweight of a topic and you put a good dent into it. My reflections on your 5 submissions are as follows:
1)Force multipliers
A small rechargeable night vision or infrared optic /monocular paired with your portable solar panel charger may be key. Whatever the reason for travel, g.o.o.d, getting home, or scouting/patrolling ones retreat, night time has its advantage. In a travel situation, I’d use the device to survey the next few hundred yards, then shut off and use your low profile methods of flash light travel. Also, the hours of 4pm-3am being the most violent will probably be moot in shtf scenario. More like 24/7. In winter I’d travel at night weather dependent, to stay warm and seek a cozy spot to rest in the sun during the day.
2)Transportation
Walking across country or any long distance is gonna stink. A bicycle is a huge advantage. Your comments are spot on. Know basic maintenance ( not hard with practice) changing tires, etc. have spare tubes and a pump. This stuff will fit in small seat bags on the bike. Lots of wheel sizes out there, stick with a mountain bike sized in 26” wheel. Still the most common. Also, riding a bike in the rain without the best wet weather gear will leave you soaked. Know when it’s better to walk.
3)Food and water
Simple is better. I’d avoid freeze dried meals/mre’s or use only sparingly. Limit cooking mess/ time by not cooking. Apart from boiling water for purification or tea and instant coffee I’d stick with peanut butter, jerky, nuts, dried fruits until you are out of densely populated areas. No visibility, no smell.
All these items are available from hotel lobby snack stations to gas stations to convenience stores.
Having lived in Denver and Atlanta I’d avoid drinking out of urban streams at all costs. Grab a gallon jug of water to keep in hotel room. That’ll buy you a little distance before having to pump water from natural sources.
4)First aid
I’d add some quick clot or the like. Knife or gunshot wounds are serious business. That may bug you time and or save you or someone elses( travel partners) life.
5) Fire arms
My hearing still works quite well immediately after a .22 gun shot. Not so with 99% of the remaining calibers. Food for thought.
Keeping our senses sharp is huge.
Again, thanks for the great week of installments
Fred p
Your idea about eating nuts and foods that don’t smell is excellent. However, I would definitely include some dried prunes with that. Try it as a diet without the prunes for a few days, and you will see why.
Being sick from constipation will not help your travel time.
To everyone that’s commented on this article (all parts), thank you for your contributions. Covering every possible scenario and detail on the subject of RTB planning would require a lot more time and space than I have available, and I find that the comments contribute a lot and help fill in things that I missed.
We appreciate the writing, i need to repack my bags and this has helped. My GHB turned into a bush craft bag then disolved into a gym bag. All my gear is scattered in the basement with camping gear.
Good mind exercise, in the blueridge mountains this weekend. Beautiful country to hike in.
JMD, I note and appreciate your collaborative attitude. Humility is the word that is hear. Your article give us great food for thought and action.
Carry on
Food advice from a a friend who has through hiked the Appalachian Trail multiple times,she stressed carbs,especially potato chips,ramen or other empty calories normally considered bad but your body will readily burn after shtf. You can also use potato chips as kindling,they burn well
I have worked out of town (usually 4 to 9 hours drive) for the last 20 years. My truck has always been my get home, or at least some of the way home, plan. I’ve always kept items in it that I figured that I’d need for basic survival. Axe, shovel, tools, and various other items right down to snare wire and water purification tabs. I’ve also always known that if the truck for some reason couldn’t get me all the way there that I’d have to pick the most important items and abandon the rest. Your article (which I’ve saved for more in depth reading at a later time – I hope you don’t mind) has made me realize that it’s probably time to pull it all out again and reassess. Plans need to change with time and circumstances – and with getting older. The one thing that I have always counted on is “Situational Awareness”. Because knowing when to pull the plug and get out/head home, is probably one of the most important factors, and will probably be the single determining factor as to whether you actually RTB or not.
Couple things you may want to add to your med kit. First, first responders on disaster duty almost always experience acid and gas, and recommend something like an antacid/antigas combo you can chew up with or without water. Second, part of my bow hunting kit is always a couple small tubes of Superglue, which can quickly deal with even a fairly bad wound. In same vein (no pun), a tin of fine snuff/snoose can be a good blood-stop as well as a pick-me-up. You can add all those with little additional wt or bulk.
TJMO – Good points – thank you.
A few things I would like to add to the list of options
Most water sources have Giardi that after 24 hours of drinking this water will make most folks seriously ill, and unable to travel. Hopefully we can boil, filter, or treat the water adequately to prevent infection. Yet we would be exposed to unusual circumstances, and the chance that we might drink bad water are high.
To mitigate, metronidzole for amebic dysentary (Guardi), and azithromycin for ‘traveler’s diarrhoea’, or other common causes of diarrhoea. Diarrhoea in a situation were water is scarce, add to the risks of dehydration. Of course the side effects of some antibiotics is diarrhoea. Becasue there is the risk that taking any antibiotic could make one very sick, I would not take any antibiotic unless the was a serious condition that had to be treated. Combating diahorea while traveling on foot to safety, is good reason to take an antibiotic. Azithromycin is only a course of six 500mg tabets, 1 each day, https://patient.info/travel-and-vaccinations/travellers-diarrhoea-leaflet/giardia. If I suspected I was becoming sick from drinking contaminated water, I would use the metronidazole and azithromycin together to cover all possible water borne infections. I would already in a potentially life threatening environment, and would become at greater risk from other life threatening factors as a result.
Azithromycin is not the first choice for soft tissue infections as it is said to often be ineffective against staph, a common cause of wound infections, however there are other infectious bacteria that is effective against. I would hope not to be enroute to my destination for more that a week, and will attempt to carry the least amount of weight as possible. If cephalexin were not available, amoxicillin would work too. The combination of cephalexin, azithromycin, and metronidazole, these 3 antibiotics would cover a wide variety of infections including infection in wounds from burns and infections in general. There is a chance that any antibiotic that one has not taken before, may make you very sick. There are options for those allergic to the penicillins. It would be wonderful if a professional could chime in, and provide their short list for a light weight BOB. I am not medical professional of any kind.
To avoid the risk of taking an antibiotic on the trail, to deal with infections from common wounds, clean it with drinking water, apply iodine deep into the wound, and use a triple antibiotic ointment as a top dressing, and finally protect it with a bandage. If thoroughly cleaned in this way, at least twice a day, even a deep wound is likely not going to become infected. One trick I use to reduce the size of the kit is to use alcohol wipes that come in sealed foil packets. This can be used as a part of an improvised bandage that can be secured in place over the wound with a variety a means. These can also be used to clean body oils and blood from the area around the wound, so that adhesives with more likely hold a bandage in place. They can act as a substitute for a sterile bandage, and draped over a larger abrasion. These alcohol wipes are multipurpose and can be carried anywhere. In a pinch, they can be used as toilet paper, and as a fire starter that produces flame from a strong spark.
https://bpac.org.nz/BPJ/2014/April/docs/BPJ60-correspondence.pdf
“the usual dosage of oral metronidazole for adults is 250 mg 3 times daily for 5-7 days. Adults have been treated successfully with a single daily dose of 2 g for 3 days. For adults with coexistent amebiasis, the usual dosage is 750 mg 3 times daily for 5 – 10 days.”
This information should be used only in the event that the person would be in a survival situation. Because we would not have testing available, I would chose the most aggressive course of treatment suggested.
Re: “To avoid the risk of taking an antibiotic on the trail, to deal with infections from common wounds, clean it with drinking water, apply iodine deep into the wound, and use a triple antibiotic ointment as a top dressing, and finally protect it with a bandage. If thoroughly cleaned in this way, at least twice a day, even a deep wound is likely not going to become infected.”
Wonderful advice, Tunnel Rabbit. Here is an example of how iodine saved me as a child when I was 8 or 9 years old. Growing up in the country like free range chickens, my brother and I learned to take care of ourselves. One day, a neighbor girl I let ride double with me, pushed me off of my horse, and I fell into an old barbed wire fence. A barb ripped through my jeans cutting a deep gash in my leg from my ankle almost to the inside of my knee. Being home alone, I tended to the wound myself. I knew I my mom put iodine on cuts, so that’s what I did. I swathed my bleeding leg from top to bottom with the iodine. But what was I to do with all the bleeding? I decided to put cotton balls in the cut, and bandaids on top to keep them in place. I must have had more than a dozen bandaids going up the inside of my leg like a mini ladder. I was too little to know about pain medicine, so I just put on another pair of jeans and went back out to play. The problem I inadvertently created, was, of course, the cotton balls dried inside the wound and scab. Also, it never occurred to me to tell my mom or dad about what had happened. Anyways, days later I decided to pull the cotton out, which was more painful than getting the cut.
Long deep cut with 8 yr old EMT = long wide scar. I did not know to wash the wound first and only put the initial application of iodine on it. By the grace of God, it healed without any further attention, and the big scar reminds me of my wonderful childhood.
Iodine can also be used for water purification, and is apart of an ultra light weight pack load out. Triple antibiotic ointment can also be purchased in small squeezable packets. Most of the time, iodine is enough, and it can be diluted in a plastic bag with water, clip one corner, or punch a hole in the bottom, and the stream of water with iodine can flush away the blood and get into the wound. Clean the wound before it clots, and it will be cleaner. Cleaning it after it clots, increases the risk it will be infected. It will also heal much faster, and be less painful, or not be painful at all as it heals. Any sign of redness and swelling is an indication of infection. Most of my self inflicted injuries are with blades. Lots of practice. Yet I cannot remember any time when it became infected because I’ll stop immediately and clean it. There could be however wounds that are not easily cleaned without help. Because of the rise in antibiotic resistant bacteria, such as MRSA (Methecillin- Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus), the time tested antibiotics are no longer a sure thing. Staph is found on 30% of the population. #1 choice for MRSA would be clindamycin, however, we can not carry everything with us. Cephelaxin is good one because it a broad spectrum antibiotic like time tested amoxicillin, and might be more effect. It is also useful in combination with metronidazole, for burns. Burns happen when one is not paying attention around a camp fire. Iodine diluted in water could be used on a burn, yet it will be painful, yet can we afford to carry honey or a triple antibiotic? And because the pack has to be light as possible, each item should be multi-purpose, and wound care is the best prevention, and the lightest to carry.
The problem with antibiotics is there is the risk of side effects such as diarrhea, or worse yet, an allergic reaction.
Boil or filter ‘natural’ water – period. DO NOT ingest otherwise. By doing this and thoroughly cooking any ‘wild’ meat you can avoid giardia. If you are on foot with space/weight limitations and are going to carry any antibiotics with you for an ‘overland adventure’, doxycycline is a much better alternative. With it you can treat soft tissue wounds as well as the crazy tick associated bacterias in addition to a whole host of other common (pneumonia) and uncommon (anthrax) infections.
Boiling is always best because unlike most light weight filters for back packing, it eliminates viruses. If there are dead bodies in the water, boiling is necessary. And yes, and in my unqualified estimation, doxycyline is a good alternative, especially if one is allergic to the penicillin or cephalsporins. I ain’t no doctor so you are on your own. All this is a best uneducated guess.
The only way to know what you are allergic to or not, is if you have taken the antibiotic previously, and had no adverse reaction. One can be allergic to cephalporins, yet not to the penicillins. I would not take any antibiotic unless it was a life threatening situation, and I have take that antibiotic before. A minor infection will not kill you, and if properly treated, there will be no infection. And in most cases, it can wait until you get to safety.
Doxycycline:
https://www.drugs.com/doxycycline.html
Chephalexin:
https://www.medicinenet.com/cephalexin/article.htm
Sulfamethoxzole-trimethiprim is also a good alternative, and better with staph or strep infections common with the mostly likely injuries on the trial that would be a knife cut, or abrasion to soft tissue from a fall. It is also a good alternative for MRSA, and the now many kinds antibiotic resistant bacteria out there.
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-3409-9071/sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim-oral/sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim-oral/details
I would not take any antibiotic on the trail, unless I believed I had severe diarrhea from Giardia, cholera and other intestinal bugs, because the side effects could be diarrhea, and others mild reaction that would slow this old man down further. Exceptions to this rule would be if I was coming down with pneumonia. I plan for the most unlikely, and extreme situations. I layer my pack, or have several packs from the largest to the smallest, and have redundant means for dealing with the key issues such as water, fire and shelter. Even with my pack off, I will have an ultra light kit on me at all times, while on or off the trail. With the pack off we are in vulnerable situation and could be easily robbed, or otherwise attacked. If I loose my container for boiling, or loose, or break my compact filter, or inadvertently must run to safety leaving all that behind, and must go primitive, eating raw fish because fire is too risky, or more likely, I am forced to drink water without boiling or filtering, then the odds of becoming infected with Giardi or cholera, and other go way up. And one can contract giardiasis simply by swimming in water. Several Search and Rescue team members dived in a local, and apparently in pristine Montana lake last year, and came down with giardiasis.
Metronidazole is the first choice for dealing, not with bacteria, but the protozoa, and amoebic infections that cause severe gas and possibly explosive diarrhea, and intestinal cramps etc., starting about 24 hours to several days after ingestion. I can tolerate infections for awhile, yet this could rapidly dehydrate me and stop travel to safety as our world falls apart. Therefore, this type of infection can quickly develop into a life threatening situation, not only because of the infection itself, but also because of the circumstances.
About giardiasis:
https://www.healthline.com/health/giardiasis
Because medicine will be scarce in the austere times of the near future, I will be focused on learning what I can this winter. Any knowledge about Radio, and especially medicine, will be in short supply.
Crusader97
I looked further into it, and would dump my azithromycin and cephalxin for the doxycycline, because of it’s outstanding track record with MRSA, and that it would be good for Traveler’s diarrhea, and other as mentioned as well. Happen to have enough… Thanks for the help… Will be reloading while listening to Dr. Joe Alton on Blog Talk Radio, Survival Medicine.:
https://www.wisegeek.com/how-effective-is-doxycycline-for-mrsa.htm
“Research has shown that taking doxycycline to treat MRSA can yield positive results the majority of the time. One study where patients with SSTIs were treated with different types of antibiotics effective against MRSA showed that only doxycycline had a 100% success rate for treatment. All patients given doxycycline experienced a complete relief of their infection after 14 days of treatment. Even among MRSA strains resistant to several antibiotic types, this medication tends to have an 80% to 95% success rate for treatment.”
Crusader97 – thanks for the pointer on doxycycline – I’m going to take a look at replacing my amoxy. Regarding boiling water – my concern is if you’re in a scenario where you have to keep moving to get home, stopping to boil the required 1 gallon of water a day might be difficult, and if you don’t have the capacity to carry a full gallon you may have to stop and boil several times a day. With modern water filters handling particles down to 0.01 microns and having secondary activated charcoal elements I’m reasonably comfortable trusting them to handle most water sources, but everyone needs to do the research and use their own judgement.
And I just went back and re-read your comment – you said ‘boil or filter’, not just boil – sorry about that.
For Giardia I much prefer Tinidazole over Flagyl and the like. The course for Giardia with Tinidazole is just one dose and the side effects are about the same or less. Doxy and Zithromax are excellent for most other issues one will encounter getting home.
I also have a cart like this for walking. Large wheels and can carry more than my old lady body can. Can load things in it and would be easier than a back back for me. It is in my trunk with my walking shoes at all times. Thanks for all the super suggestions. I, too, will have to take a look at my bob and see some of the things that are missing.
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00KXMB6TO?aaxitk=z1j5DgmSZCnyMh1XqSjKbQ&pd_rd_i=B00KXMB6TO&pf_rd_p=44fc3e0f-4b9e-4ed8-b33b-363a7257163d&hsa_cr_id=4444173940601&sb-ci-n=asinImage&sb-ci-v=https%3A%2F%2Fm.media-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F91dGX1ztEjL.jpg&sb-ci-a=B00KXMB6TO
Hi Julie,
Especially if we are getting old and slow, we have to be smarter, or learn to do without as we need our packs to be a light as possible. Using a cart will give us the ability to carry more tools, better shelter, and more food and water. I probably should make a list what I believe would be good in an ultra light pack of around 20 pounds. About the cart in the link, the price is nice, but the wheels concern me. I also wonder about the sturdiness in general, and by the looks of it, I am not sure that it would hold up on the trail. This is why I like the cart I linked to earlier. It will hold more weight and roll across uneven ground much better.
Just for Julie, here is the baby stroller/bicycle trailer that is like my own, and is popular because they work. Attach a stick to it and it could be pulled by hand.
https://www.amazon.com/Clevr-Bicycle-Stroller-Children-Foldable/dp/B07WTQQQXB?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-brave-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07WTQQQXB
If a person had to travel for more than two weeks it would be hard to carry that much food along with the other items one might need. Your “carry food” would need to be supplemented with food found or shot along the way. That’s why I have abandoned the idea of carrying my 223 weapon and instead substitute it for a 22 long rifle. I figure that if I had to shoot a rabbit or squirrel for food I would want a rifle that is pretty quiet and the 22 fits the bill. Normally a person will have a hard time detecting the distance and direction of a single shot from a 22; not so much with a 223.
And the idea of traveling at night with a quality NV monocular would give a person a great advantage.
There a several options. One is a Henry brand AR-7 that weighs 2.2 pounds. It should have 2 seven round magazines. The barrel and action break down and fit in the stock. It will prefer CCI Mini Mags and be good enough out to 50 yards. If buying used, insist on test firing it. They are known to have bad feed ramps and other problems, but if they work, they work good. However it is larger, and heavier than a pistol. You might find that a 9mm, if it shoots well for you, will do the job. Use FMJ on small animals. It can also be carried concealed, and the magazines can hold much more. Also get a fishing net, or make a hobo fishing set up. Small animals are hard to find, and harder to hit. Unless wild life is abundant like it is around here, small fish is likely the easiest. Fish nets, and fish traps will produce more food.
John, you should consider writing a novel incorporating all your knowledge and practical experience. I would buy your first book.
Bowman – thank you. I actually have a non-fiction book I wrote on Amazon called ‘Elements of Preparedness’ that’s focuses more on the overall risk identification and planning aspects of preparedness. It’s somewhat high-level, but I wanted to write something and it seemed like a good starting point. And I’ve started noodling with some ideas for some fiction novels, although that’s kind of on the back burner.