Category: Outdoor Survival

Letter Re: Advice on Sleeping Bags

CPT Rawles: I have read with interest all the good advice on sleeping bags and how to stay warm in very cold weather.  Most of the writers speak about a specific area they lived in, or traveled in, as a basis for the post.  There is a lot of good, sound advice out there by these writers.  I thought I might contribute my own personal opinion as well, since my own experience ranges pretty much across all weather extremes, and was under conditions far harsher than hiking, camping or hunting – at least for the most part.  I spent 29+ …


Emergency Shelters From Materials On-Hand, by SnoMan

The key to building an emergency shelter is knowing how to improvise. Whatever the situation, whatever materials you have, if you need shelter from the elements, you’ll have to make do. Be efficient; every calorie spent is a calorie you’ll have to replace, so build your shelter using the least time and energy you can. For the purposes of this series of articles, we’re assuming you’ll be on the move, and that your shelters are truly just for temporary, perhaps even one-night use. If you’re going to be in place for awhile, then the rules about minimalist construction are off, …


Letter Re: Advice on Sleeping Bags

JWR: Okay, I hesitated to write, but here it is. I want the gal with the questions to get some good solid advice. First, I do not always agree with James Wesley Rawles, I read his site every day, I agree with lots, but not all of what he says. As for the sleeping bags, I do agree. I’m a 5’2” female at 140 pounds. I’ve lived in Alaska for as long as my memory goes back. I camp, hunt, trap, all winter long. I’ve tried a lot of things, two sleeping bags, liners, bivvy sacks. I’ve slept out in …


How I Survived an Attempted Murder, by A. in Ecuador

I am an American in Ecuador, and I have a story to tell.  This happened in July and I should absolutely be dead.  A little introduction to the kind of person that I am.  Growing up in Alaska and playing in the great outdoors has always been a huge part of my life.  When I was a couple of years old, my wonderful father would strap me on his back and take my sister and I fishing.  I absolutely love him for that.  The beauty and serenity of the great outdoors has always been a stress reliever for me.  My …


Six Letters Re: Advice on Sleeping Bags

JWR: As a long time camper, backpacker, outdoorsman, and now K-9 SAR Tech, I understand that temperature regulation at night can be a problem.  Here are some of the tricks I’ve used: I almost always use a silk bag liner.  This has multiple advantages: 1) silk feels warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot (2) silk protects the sleeping bag from dirt, minimizing the amount of needed washings and prolonging its life (3) in the winter, silk will make you bag about 5-10 degrees warmer (technically speaking, this “drops” you temp rating number- a 35 degree bag becomes …


Bug-Out Bag (BOB) Levels, by Bob M.

I’ve been a prepper for over 40 years, starting back when we were called survivalists. I still have the .22 rimfire AR-7 rifle and Ruger Mk. II pistol bought in the 1970s, as well as other gear. I’ve also always had a bug-out-bag (BOB) in my vehicles, and still do today, even though I’m retired to my retreat. Over the years, the contents of the BOB changed as new items came out or old ones were discontinued (or discredited — remember the Aqua Timer?). My BOB got larger, as I was now packing for two and my bug-out location got …


Letter Re: Advice on Sleeping Bags

Dear Mr. Rawles, Would you please address outdoor sleeping gear for women?   I feel like I am very prepared. However, the one glaring problem I have had my whole life is sleeping comfortably outside in about any season.  When I was 20, I just didn’t care but now that I am 40 and have five kids, not getting enough sleep is not an option.   I would love to hear how others, especially women, stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  The biggest problem I have is that I either sweat too much and freeze (doesn’t …


Letter Re: Gear Recommendation–GORUCK Backpacks

JWR: There is a new bag company called GORUCK. This company was started by a former Army Special Forces member with the goal of “introducing military-grade gear, tough enough for Special Forces to adventure seekers worldwide.  Built in the USA, GORUCK products come with a lifetime guarantee and adhere to the highest standards of functionality, durability, and style.” I own two of these bags and use the smaller one for a day to day bag and a training tool for weighted rucks. The larger bag I have used for hiking. It is not a large bag but I have been able …


Letter Re: Rawhide and Brain Tanning

Mr. Rawles, Regarding the use of rawhide, I would recommend the short film “Lige: Portrait of a Rawhide Braider” (1985), that can be found at Folkstreams.net. The film is just under half an hour in length and is fascinating for both the people portrayed and the information it contains about the traditional working of rawhide in “the region known as the Sagebrush Corner of northeastern California and northwestern Nevada”. The site contains many additional short films (free and licensed for individual viewing) that would interest readers of your blog – rural and traditional crafts, music, lifestyles are examined. Fascinating shorts …


Letter Re: Guns for a Tight Budget Minimalist Survivalist

James Wesley, I thought some of your other readers might like this. It is a conversion kit that turns your Ruger 10/22 into a takedown rifle. It is also is available in a short-barreled rifle (SBR) configuration. [This requires a $200 Federal Transfer Tax, for U.S. residents.] Either of these configurations could easily fit in a gym bag or backpack. – Adam P.


Letter Re: Adaptation to Cold Environments

James, Thank you for your excellent web site and the forethought that has gone into making it so successful. I wanted to make a brief comment on the “Adaptation to Cold Environments, by D.W.” piece which appeared 11/24/11.  One of the best ways to maintain internal body heat is by increasing specific foods in one’s daily diet.  During extreme cold conditions, there are few foods that improve thermoregulation better than fats — specifically, animal-based fats.  Fat is an easily digested, readily utilized metabolic heater that “stokes the furnace” to help maintain body temperatures during extreme cold conditions.  Although our culture …


Reasons for Rawhide, by Pat in Oregon

This time of year we have a lot of hides on hand – deer, elk, and even cow hides when we are butchering.  We’ve tanned them, traded them for gloves, given them away to others, but usually we just dispose of them.  Not anymore.  This last year we’ve been experimenting with using rawhide, and after a year, we are convinced having rawhide on-hand is one of the more valuable items for regular or emergency use.  It is quite easy to process, unlimited in its use, and readily available to most of us.  Hopefully some of our experiences get others thinking …


Letter Re: The Accidental Orchard – Persimmons and Mulberries

James Wesley: As trees go dormant, you can look for saplings to transplant and seed to germinate.  In the southern US, right now is the time to look for persimmon fruit to get seeds.  Persimmon grows on the edge of fields and as an understory tree. About the time of the first frost, the fruit loses it’s famous sour taste and becomes sweet like an apricot. At this point,the fruit is wrinkling and starting to look spoiled but it isn’t. Look for 1″ orange fruit hanging on bare branches in moist areas, roadsides, and power line easements. Animals eat the …


Letter Re: Field-Test Improvements to a Go Bag

James, Excellent article on the Field-Test Improvements to a Go Bag by Todd S.  A couple of suggestions for your readers.  First, as an experienced backpacker, I agree with the assessment about the socks.  Athletic socks just don’t cut it for backpacking.  In fact, no cotton socks will work effectively.  Two moisture-wicking pairs of socks is sufficient for several weeks at least. I have learned, however, that the moisture-wicking performance is lessened with each day of use unless the socks are washed with soap and dried.  The sweat from your feet contain salts and oils that will degrade the performance …


Field-Test Improvements to a Go Bag, by Todd S.

In September of this year I took my JanSport Trail Series external frame backpack, aka “Go Bag” into a controlled field test. It was a 2-day, 1-night, hike and camp excursion into a rainforest in the Olympic National Forest in Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula. The purpose of my trip was to test my Go Bag as thoroughly as possible. What I learned surprised me and two days worth of practical experience greatly enhanced my previous two years of “theoretically” planning. The concept of a Go Bag for me is not “bugging out” or leaving my home for greener pastures. A …