Letter Re: Planning Alternate Routes
Sir:
Thank you for your blog, your service to our country, and the info you provide. I recently moved away from the Denver metro area to a more “rural” area in northern Colorado. There are still lots of people, but we are not surrounded. I have done my share of preparing and believe my “tribe” could survive for possibly a year or more during a breakdown in society. After a year I would have to change direction in my quest to remain above ground. A nuclear attack would be a different story for us.
We travel a good deal between Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska with an occasional trip to Idaho. This said, the reason I am writing is to challenge your readers to always find alternate routes to “home”, “bug out destination”, “safe spots”, etc. I carry my day pack and BOB everywhere I go. On any given day I am from 7 to 125 miles from home. Rarely do I use the same route to get to my destination or return trip. There is an abundance of paved roads in this area and well maintained gravel roads. I know my local grid well. Even at a distance of 125-250 miles away I am able to use several different routes to get to my destination and most are not highways. The highways I try to use are two-lane and minimal travel (too slow for most people). Luckily, I have lived in this three state area since the early 1960’s. I kinda know my way around these parts!!! I have been blessed (or cursed) with a somewhat photographic memory. This blessing has diminished somewhat as I have aged but my recall is still very sharp and I practice my recall to keep it as useful as possible.
As I drive alternate routes I watch for landmarks for navigation and other “specific things” of interest. Any landmark will be useful for travel especially at night. I watch for towers, bluffs, silos, water tanks, tree rows, electrical substations, unique structures (including farm houses)—anything that can be spotted at a distance. Looking for and finding sources of water along your “routes” is a must! Creeks, ponds, stock tanks, windmills, drainage ditches, oil wells (watershed), abandoned farms–all are potential sources for water. On the plains many houses and buildings had tanks and troughs under the roof line to collect water from rains and snow melt off. Almost all these farmsteads had cisterns. In your search for water you will likely come across wild game as they are driven to water also. Truly abandoned farms can provide water, shelter, and food if the need arises. I keep track of the miles between water sources just in case I may have to walk to the next source. Remember, your next source may be frozen in winter so you have to be able to thaw it. I am assuming you have ways to start a fire in your day pack or BOB. Sorry… I always carry food and water for four people to hopefully survive for 72 hours. If we are not at our destination in 72 hours my plan B is to hunker down where we are and revise our direction of attack. The plan may require finding food or water, finding fuel, and finding a different direction home. I have two GPS systems, but I prefer to use a compass. As long as I can spot one of my landmarks I can figure out which direction I need to go to reach my destination. This may require waiting until daylight or waiting out a storm to find my bearings. Thank the LORD I have never been lost on the plains or in the mountains. I have been lost in a mall and a skyscraper, so I avoid them as much as possible.
A side note: As I travel I find routes to avoid “major” intersections—especially on highways. Even on paved roads and gravel or dirt roads I look for other ways to go around these major intersections, “T’s” in the road and dead ends. In times of collapse these would be places of roadblocks and getting ambushed. So, being able to avoid them (especially at night) will greatly enhance your chances of getting home. HOME: no matter what it may look like, or be, is where you want to be when things turn ugly.
Keep your vehicle stocked, your mind sharp, your thoughts positive, and your Bible handy. Your destination can only be reached through the journey! Peace, – S.F.H.