Preparedness Notes for Thursday — February 13, 2025

February 13, 1692: The Glencoe Massacre. About 38 MacDonalds were killed early in the morning by rival Campbell clan members, allegedly for not promptly pledging allegiance to the new king, William of Orange.

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On February 13, 1861, the first military action to result in the award of a Medal of Honor, as Bernard J.D. Irwin volunteered to lead the rescue of 60 soldiers from Chiricahua Indians at Apache Pass, Arizona.

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And on February 13, 1945, Allied planes began bombing the German city of Dresden, resulting in a devastating firestorm that destroyed the city and killed more than 22,000 people.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. A Laptop EMP Shield and a Smartphone Faraday Bag (a combined value of $200), courtesy of MobileSecSolutions.com.
  4. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. 3Vgear.com is providing an ultimate bug-out bag bundle that includes their 3-day Paratus Bag, a Posse EDC Sling Pack, and a Velox II Tactical Backpack. This prize package has a $289 retail value.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Fuels for Cooking, Warmth and Comfort – Part 3, by Lodge Pole

(Continued from Part 2.)

When the 2024/2025 woodstove season started, I had roughly seven cords of stacked, seasoned wood in the shipping container. We use about two cords of wood each winter. My goal is to always have at least two years of firewood on hand. To me, three years is an insurance policy. If I am unable to gather firewood one summer, I do not need to worry. I will simply gather more the following summer. I also store everything I need to gather, cut, carry, and split wood to prep it for storage. Our log splitter, chainsaws, axes, hatchets, crosscut saws, chains, kindling splitters, and kindling storage racks are all housed in the shipping container. This spring, after I tidy up the end I was pulling from, I am going to install a heavy-duty metal rack to store the tools on. I will also use the rack to store all of our canning supplies and outdoor cooking gear.

Wood Varieties to Burn

I have met people who obsess over which wood to burn because of the BTUs (British Thermal Unit – A measure of heat) certain woods have. I know people who will go out of there way and only harvest/burn lodgepole pine when there are other varieties in the same area that will burn hotter and longer, like fir and oak. I know others who will not burn other varieties because of the amount of ash or smell it creates. To each their own. Find a variety of wood that is readily available in your area, that you prefer, and use it. I burn almost any variety of wood I can get my hands on, but my favorite is fir. I love fir for many reasons. It is abundant near my home. It splits straight, so stacking is easy and neat. It makes great kindling that ignites fast. Most of all, I love burning fir, because even though it is considered a “soft wood”, it heats my home very well. |

Seasoned hardwood burns longer and hotter, but fir suits us just fine. I clean my chimney once a month and I rarely have much creosote buildup. (Creosote is a byproduct of burning wood. If creosote is allowed to build up too long, it can ignite and create a flu fire. Flu fires are extremely dangerous and can damage your chimney, stove/flue pipe. If you have a flu fire, have your stove and piping checked out by a professional.)

Another type of wood that I like to burn is Red Iron Bark Eucalyptus. When we bought our home, there was a large Eucalyptus grove at the very back of the property the previous owner planted. I am no fan of Eucalyptus. In fact, I have a great disdain for it. Eucalyptus trees are extremely messy. Each month of the year, a Eucalyptus tree drops something to the ground, be it leaves, bark, branches, seed pods, flowers, etc. On our property, if there is an ornamental, non-native tree that does not produce food, it gets cut down.Continue reading“Fuels for Cooking, Warmth and Comfort – Part 3, by Lodge Pole”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column: Dismantling the Deep State.

Team Trump’s Substantive Swamp Draining

Some fascinating reading, over at the EKO substack: OVERRIDE — INSIDE THE REVOLUTION REWIRING AMERICAN POWER.  A key quote:

“The secret wasn’t just speed—it was precision. Instead of waiting for Senate confirmations, the transition team prioritized non-Senate-confirmed positions. While Democrats prepared for traditional confirmation battles over cabinet posts, an army of aligned personnel was already moving into place. Strategic positions were identified. Legal authorities were mapped. Support networks were established.”

JWR’s Comments:  So far as I can tell, as a former Marine, J.D. Vance has a good bit of Smedley Butler and Chesty Puller’s blood flowing through him. There is no stopping him, and his talented team.  And if the Deep State is stupid enough to orchestrate an assassination of Donald Trump, then we’ll have J.D. Vance as President. Mark my words: Hell Hath No Fury like a Marine with a full-blown case of righteous Indignation.

See also: Vance and Musk question the authority of the courts as Trump’s agenda faces legal pushback.

And… A-Z index of U.S. government departments and agencies.

Lastly, a pointed (and lengthy) Steve Bannon interview: ‘A lot of you are going to prison’ — Steve Bannon Talks Justice, Revenge and Trump 2.0. (For the real meat of this interview, skip forward to the 18:53 mark.)

Starlink and T-Mobile Could Redefine Backcountry Comms

Starlink and T-Mobile Just Made a Super Bowl Announcement That Could Redefine Backcountry Communications.

Argentina to Withdraw from the WHO

“Kepi” sent this: Argentina to withdraw from WHO after Trump exit, citing ‘deep differences’.

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Children who reach the age of eighteen with their entire skillset composed of Nintendo and eating Doritos have been neglected. Their parents neglected to give them the character traits necessary to live successfully.” – Dave Ramsey

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — February 12, 2025

On February 12, 1818, Chile gained independence from Spain.

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February 12, 1870: An official proclamation set April 15 1870 as the last day of grace for US silver coins to circulate in Canada.

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Ready Made Resources (our longest-running advertiser) has announced a special overstock sale on military contract canned freeze-dried foods. These include some premium meats and are available in individual #10 cans, or in six-can case lots. Stock up!

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I’m scheduled for cataract surgery on my right eye, today. Even though this surgery is now considered a “routine” outpatient procedure, I’m still feeling a bit anxious.  So I’d appreciate your prayers. – JWR

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. A Laptop EMP Shield and a Smartphone Faraday Bag (a combined value of $200), courtesy of MobileSecSolutions.com.
  4. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. 3Vgear.com is providing an ultimate bug-out bag bundle that includes their 3-day Paratus Bag, a Posse EDC Sling Pack, and a Velox II Tactical Backpack. This prize package has a $289 retail value.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Fuels for Cooking, Warmth and Comfort – Part 2, by Lodge Pole

(Continued from Part 1.)

Tools for Cutting Wood at Home

Wheelbarrow or manure cart- I use these to haul wood and cutting equipment. Occasionally, someone will offer me free firewood they cut some time previously. Sometimes, if it is seasoned and not split, the wood can be heavy. In these circumstances, I will use a furniture dolly, but I try to never cut and/or haul anything that large/heavy.

Hunting/Boy’s Axe – I prefer using a two-pound “boy’s axe” because it is extremely light, and easily maneuverable. This is strictly used for delimbing.
Splitting maul – I use these not only for splitting wood, but also for driving wedges. An eight, or ten-pound splitting maul seems to work best for me and the wood I split. The weight of your splitting maul is strictly personal preference.
Gas-powered wood splitter – These are a time saver and are very helpful in processing a lot of wood quickly. Ensure all your limbs and appendages are clear of the blade, rams, and wedges. Until last year, I split most firewood by hand. I love a beefy eight-pound maul with a synthetic handle. I prefer wooden handles, but I have had far too many of them break after very little use. The synthetic handled mauls can withstand far more abuse and for a much longer time. Eventually, they all break, but it takes a lot longer with a synthetic handle. In early 2024, I finally broke down and bought a log splitter. I love it. Under the right conditions, I can split a cord of wood in about an hour.
Chainsaw and associated tools/fluids – I currently use a Stihl 271 Farm Boss. It’s a great chainsaw and has never failed me. When this one needs to be replaced, I may look at other brands.
Sledgehammer – Either handheld or full-size. On too many occasions, I have had a stubborn piece of firewood get stuck on the wood splitter wedge. A few hits from a sledgehammer usually take care of the stuck piece quickly. Be careful though. I swung and hit a stuck piece of wood once, when the wooden handle broke, launching the hammerhead and a sharp piece of handle flying into my friend’s chest. Fortunately, he wasn’t hurt too badly.
I also use full-sized sledgehammers for driving steel wedges into hard, stringy or stubborn wood. Sometimes, a splitting maul just won’t do the trick, or isn’t balanced enough to turn around and use the flat, hammer side. Again, the weight and size are a matter of personal preference.Continue reading“Fuels for Cooking, Warmth and Comfort – Part 2, by Lodge Pole”

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.

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Will North Carolina Be The 30th Constitutional Carry State?

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A recent purchaser of one of our waterproof 2005-2024 blog archive USB sticks wrote to ask about what appeared to be inconsistent access to the “Index” page and to the library of bonus books.  I sent him this explanation:

The archive essentially emulates seeing the blog with a WWW connection. The internal links in the archive stick display point you to the archive contents, but the external links point you to the World Wide Web (WWW), if your computer is connected to the Internet.  Once you are on the web with an active connection, if you click back to SurvivalBlog, then you will be on our active website, rather than sourcing the archive. Thus, the bonus books will seem to disappear.
The best way to test the archive stick’s key functionality is with the Internet disconnected. (Either disconnect your Ethernet cable, or turn off the connection to your wireless router.) That will simulate what you’ll be able to access on the SurvivalBlog archive USB in the event of a disaster — with no working Internet service. All of the bonus books and every SurvivalBlog post since August 2005 is available, again without the need for web access.  – JWR

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EVs Lose 20% Range On Average In Freezing Weather, Study Finds. (A hat tip to D.S.V. for the link.)

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 11, 2025

On February 11, 1851, gold was discovered in east-central New South Wales, sparking Australia’s first gold rush.  Pictured is Bernard Otto Holtermann with the world’s largest monolithic gold specimen, in North Sydney.  It reportedly weighed 630 pounds.

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On February 11, 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini seized power in Iran. Just a few days after Khomeini’s triumphant return from French exile, the Iranian army stepped aside, making way for the creation of an Islamic theocracy.

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Because I have the first of two eye surgeries scheduled for tomorrow, I have put a pause on the automated ordering system for Elk Creek Company. I’m mailing out one order today, and I have two other orders boxed and ready to mail, as soon as checks clear. But I won’t be taking any new orders for a while. (The gun and knife inventory is still visible, but the ordering buttons and “shopping cart” have been temporarily disabled.)  Assuming that my recovery goes well, the “store vacation” will end on March 5, 2025.  Thanks for your patience.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. A Laptop EMP Shield and a Smartphone Faraday Bag (a combined value of $200), courtesy of MobileSecSolutions.com.
  4. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. 3Vgear.com is providing an ultimate bug-out bag bundle that includes their 3-day Paratus Bag, a Posse EDC Sling Pack, and a Velox II Tactical Backpack. This prize package has a $289 retail value.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

 

Fuels for Cooking, Warmth and Comfort – Part 1, by Lodge Pole

Before buying our home, we rented it. The first winter living there, I had forgotten to call and get a propane fill-up. When I checked the tank level, it showed 1%. I called the propane company, explained that I needed a fill-up, and was told they could not service me for another week or more. The only exception was if I agreed to be placed “on route”, which meant they would fill my tank when they were in our area, every two weeks. We needed propane to stay warm since our only heat was an HVAC system, so I agreed to be “on route”. If you are a “will-call” customer, the propane company will not fill your tank unless it is below thirty percent. Being “on route” means the propane truck will top off your tank regardless of the tanks propane level. Our tank was filled the following day after a credit check and agreeing to be placed on route. As I said, these “top-offs” were every two weeks and began to get expensive. It was about two to three hundred dollars each time we were refilled. As soon as we didn’t need to run the heater, I called the propane company and changed our service to will call.

One day during a fill-up, the propane delivery driver told me the cost was .47 cents a gallon more than my neighbors because my tank was smaller than 200 gallons. He told me not to say a word about it, but since I no longer use that company, I believe it is acceptable to warn you that you might currently be taken advantage of. At the time, our house only had a 150-gallon tank. My wife and I planned to put a 500-gallon tank in, but the costs skyrocketed right before we bought our house. A 500-gallon tank ran about $500 a few years prior. Over the past few years, I have seen them reaching as much as $3,500 in some neighboring counties. We shopped around for almost three years until we finally found one.Continue reading“Fuels for Cooking, Warmth and Comfort – Part 1, by Lodge Pole”

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, an emphasis on some backcountry adventures in the American Redoubt.

Idaho

This video gives you some glimpses of our “back yard”: Almost Canada —  Outdoor Idaho.

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And farther south, in the Bitterroot range:

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BITTERROOTS, PART 1 — Outdoor Idaho

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BITTERROOTS, PART2 — Outdoor Idaho

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The Frank — Outdoor Idaho.

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Exploring 100 Miles of the Remote Idaho Backcountry.

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Massive 40-foot avalanche buries Idaho highway.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 10, 2025

On February 10, 1906, the British battleship HMS Dreadnought was launched after only 100 days. It rendered all other capital ships obsolete with its revolutionary design.

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February 10, 1918: In Finland, General Carl Gustaf Emil Von Mannerheim gathered an army known as the ‘White Guard’ to mount a counter-revolution against the Bolshevik ‘Red Guard’.

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February 10,  1951:  “John and Marsha” by Stan Freberg, a parody of daytime soap operas which had only two voices repeating each other’s names, peaked at #21 in the USA.

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Today’s feature article is a review written by our own Tom Christianson.

 

Right Rope 3/8 Inch Polyester Double Braid Rope, by Thomas Christianson

One of my heroes is the late American humorist and outdoorsman Patrick F. McManus. Among Mr. McManus’ vast treasury of reflections about the human condition is a comment about rope. He wrote, “Give a man enough rope and it still will come out 6 inches too short. That is the nature of rope, if not the nature of man.” (“At Loose Ends”, in The Night the Bear Ate Goombaw.) I am happy to report that in one instance at least, the great Mr. McManus is not entirely correct.

I recently tested a 3/8 inch polyester double braid rope from Right Rope LLC of Saranac, Michigan. The rope was compact, strong, easy to tie, easy to untie, abrasion-resistant, and easy to handle without tangling. At approximately 78 feet in length, it was quite long enough for everything that I wanted to do with it. The rope effectively handles all the tasks for which I used it during the testing period without fail or strain. As an added benefit, the rope is made in the USA.

The 78-foot length that I tested was labeled as 75 feet in length and so priced at $39.75 at the time of this writing from RightRope.com. I highly recommend it.Continue reading“Right Rope 3/8 Inch Polyester Double Braid Rope, by Thomas Christianson”