USMC Mountain Survival Course- Part 4, by E.T.

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Phase 3 – Group Survival (continued)

Relocation and Warmth

We had been in the field on our USMC Mountain Survival Course for four days in Phase 1 and five days for Phase 2. Phase 3 was just beginning. We had taken in roughly 1500 calories over nine days. After everyone had arrived from our isolation locations, the group went for a hump. We moved about five klicks up and down a couple of mountains and posed at the top in some snow for a couple group pictures. Then we humped back down into a large, mostly barren valley, which had a grassed stream running through the center about 4-5 feet across.

We arrived around afternoon and dropped our packs and gear in formation, except our personal survival kits and knives that were strapped to our bodies. After the hump and with the rising sun, we warmed up. Most had stripped down to skivvy tees or taken off their grid fleece and dropped them on their packs. I had put my grid fleece in my pack but still wore my blouse.

Group Division and Fishing Lesson

The instructors split us into three groups– two groups of nine and one group of eight. I was in the group of eight. We spent a couple of hours learning from the instructor how to catch fish with our hands. One person would muddy the water upstream. As the sediment floated down and obscured the fish’s sight, another would slowly move their hands through the murky water along the creek bank feeling for fish. No one caught any except the instructor. We did have some close calls. The fish were still small but slightly larger than before. The largest fish we saw was probably six inches.

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Editors’ Prepping Progress

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As preppers work to make progress to achieve prepping goals, we took some actions this week too. The SurvivalBlog editors made plans earlier in the week and now reflect upon these. At this time of year, gardening is at the top of our lists. Below, the editors share what we each accomplished. Please write to us in the comments and tell us what you did this week to get your preps in place and to be ready.

JWR

Dear SurvivalBlog Readers,

Well it was a busy, very warm, and humid week here at the Rawles Ranch. Because of the heat, not everything we planned to do outside was accomplished. However, this is what we did do outside:

In The Orchard

Our orchard is about 1/2 acre in size and the weeds were two feet high, so Lily weed-whacked three quarters of it. The fruit trees were composted with manure. One more apple tree was added, and the hoses were set up for watering.

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The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods – a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. Today’s focus is on Food Prep.

Food Prep and Storage

Reader T.J. sent in the link to this Canadian Prepper’s video on using the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer to produce long-term food that you can use as currency in SHTF. We’ve reviewed their machine before, and we have an update coming out next week on the long-term use of this machine. When you consider how expensive commercially-made freeze dried food is and the fact that you have to eat what they make rather than what you like, this machine makes a lot of sense.

Yes, it’s a big up-front cost (between $3000 and $4000), so it has to be considered a major appliance, but you can recover that cost in less than a year if you regularly use it. My favorite part is the low-sodium foods that we produce. I also have to say that Mrs. Latimer is a much better cook than any of the major freeze dried food producers.

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Editors’ Quote of the Day

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the Lord commanded Moses. And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the Lord had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.” Numbers 8:1-4 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday – June 09, 2017

On June 9, 1954, Army counsel Joseph N. Welch confronted Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy during the Senate-Army Hearings over McCarthy’s attack on a member of Welch’s law firm, Frederick G. Fisher. Said Welch: “Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?” Of course, years later, when the relevent documents had been declassified, we find that McCarthy’s concerns were pretty much right on.

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If you haven’t visited our Amazon store in a while, you should take a look. We’ve made many improvements and fixed the broken links. If you shop in the store (or just follw a link from there and order something else from Amazon), then a portion of your purchase helps support us.

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Looking for a father’s day gift for that special dad in your life? JRH Enterprises is having their annual Father’s Day sale with some great gift ideas:

USMC Mountain Survival Course- Part 3, by E.T.

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Second Phase – Individual Survival in the USMC Mountain Survival Course (continued)

I was on the third day of my individual isolation survival of the USMC Mountain Survival course. By mid-afternoon I had improved my fuel (wood) situation, improved my shelter and signaling for rescue, and boiled enough water to fill my plastic bladder and two Nalgene bottles. So I went scrounging for food.

Food for Day Three

I was five yards from a small running stream that provided just enough running water to scoop some out with a metal cup. Another 50 yards downhill from my shelter, the stream emptied into a larger stream several feet across. The stream was small. The fish in it were, at best, three or four inches long. I hooked some line to some low hanging branches, baited the smallest hooks from my fishing kit, and dropped them into the stream. Then I made a quick split point spear. It was easy enough. Find a straight stick, sharpen the point, and then split the point into two. Wedge a small piece of wood between the two points and wrap some fishing line around to hold the wedge in place.

Now you’ve got a simple fish spear. Then wander around the river banks and wade out. Stand still and look for fish. Put the tip in the water. Move slowly, and keep an eye on where your shadow falls. It will warn the fish that there is danger above. Keep your spear aimed slightly below the fish (water reflection), and use a quick thrust. I used to do this all the time as a kid. Like then, I’ve never actually got anything but frustrated.

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Economics & Investing for Preppers

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Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, and derivatives, and obscura. Today’s focus is on LNG. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the quirky “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor):

Precious Metals:

First of all, let’s look at an essay at Silver Doctors. The Sun Rises on the Precious Metals Sector – Clive Maund

Commodities Economics (LNG):

Next, over at OilPrice.com: America’s Unstoppable LNG Boom.  JWR’s Comment:  The expansion of the piped natural gas and liquified natural gas (LNG) infrastructure is great for American energy independence. However, the new and expanded coastal LNG terminals will surely become terrorist targets. That will surely continue all through the rest of the century.  Why? These targets will have lots of the proverbial “bang for the buck”, for terrorists. Some brief history reading from a disastrous LNG explosion during WWII illustrates this vulnerability.)

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Letter Re: Storage Food

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Just this past year, I’ve discovered what a good storage candidate sweet potatoes are. I’m in the south, near Austin Texas and find that “Irish” potatoes do not keep well, a few months, and can not be reliably used as seed stock. Sweet potatoes seem much better. They will keep at least 8 months, probably much longer. And they reliably produce plantable “slips”. Nutrition is said to be very good, probably better than white potatoes. Up in Idaho, your mileage will almost certainly vary.

I offer this as a suggestion to whoever wants to do a more extensive write up.

Oh! I regularly shop for long term shelf stable store foods. I find almost without exception that sodium contents are unacceptable. Another suggest for someone else to write on. – M.W.

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day

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“Whenever someone must buy a license or pay a fee to exercise a right, then it is something less than a right. It is in fact a mere privilege, subject to the whim of petty bureaucrats. Fundamental rights are not abstract tokens that are given or sold by other men. They are in fact primary liberties bestowed upon us by God, our maker. Rights are not substantially secured by asking, ‘Mother may I?’ of any government agency. Rights are more properly demanded or boldly seized and then conspicuously exercised regularly. This secures the liberties that have legitimately belonged to us since birth. If need be, lost rights can and must be restored through proscriptive use. If you live in a land where your rights have been marginalized into privileges, then it is either time to change your government, or to change your address. Much like a muscle that atrophies with disuse, any right that goes unexercised for many years devolves into a privilege, and eventually can even be redefined as a crime.” – James Wesley, Rawles, How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It

Preparedness Notes for Thursday – June 08, 2017

On June 8th, 1776, Canadian Governor Sir Guy Carleton defeated American Patriot forces under John Sullivan. After taking heavy losses and the loss of General Richard Montgomery at Quebec, the Patriots were pursued by Governor Carleton. Halfway between Quebec and Montreal, at the Trois-Rivieres, the Patriots turned to fight. The Redcoats and German mercenaries killed 25, wounded 140, and captured 236, but Carleton allowed the rest of the 2,500-man force to complete their retreat. This battle changed the priorities of the Patriots, and Colonel Benedict Arnold wrote, “Let us quit and secure our own country before it is too late.”

USMC Mountain Survival Course- Part 2, by E.T.

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Rabbits

On the evening of the first night of being in the instructional phase of our USMC Mountain Survival Course, we were handed a pet shop rabbit. The Marine Corps had bought a batch of larger farm raised rabbits, only to find out they carried the nasty Tularemia (rabbit fever). They discovered the disease after looking at the first rabbit’s liver, which was spotted white/yellow and/or swollen. They weren’t willing to accept the risk of disease transmission. So, they searched all the nearby pet shops and bought up all the pet bunnies they could find. Those bunnies were small and cute instead of large and fluffy and full of meat. Mine was black and white. I had always wanted a pet rabbit. Just the same, I didn’t bother naming him since he looked tasty.

Butchering a Rabbit

Using one as an example, the instructors showed how to kill, skin, and butcher them. A large portion of the class had never hunted anything except humans. Therefore, eating what they killed was new to them.

The instructors taught us the “broomstick” method for killing the rabbits. First, we pet the rabbit to calm it. Then, we put our boot on its head and snapped the spine with a clean jerk. This looked easy when they showed us and seemed easy in theory. I tried it. Mine just got really scared and angry. I couldn’t get it to hold still enough to put my boot back over its head to try again, so I used my Tanto. There was a lot of neck breaking failure going on around me. It seems brutal. But it is much more humane than how animals die in the wilderness– eaten alive.

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The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods – a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. Today’s focus is again on Islam.

Second Amendment

Reader W.W. sent in his Christmas wish list for the year. St Louis Police are upgrading their hardware and will be selling 27 Thompson Sub machine Guns. These were purchased 100 years ago for $125, but they will be selling them for $22,000 each. One does have to wonder how much of that is due to ATF restrictions and how much is inflation.

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Once again, the liberal progressive media demonstrates that they are above the law. The judge in Katie Couric’s anti-gun documentary debacle has dismissed the case against her even with the evidence showing how she and her producers edited the piece to make the members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) look unsure of their answers. The judge determined that even though they did have answers, none of them answered her question. Thanks to H.L. for the link.

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Preparedness Notes for Wednesday – June 07, 2017

On June 7th, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed to the Continental Congress a resolution calling for a Declaration of Independence.

June 7th, 1967 is also the day of Jerusalem’s redemption from foreign governments in the Six Day War, placing it back under Israeli sovereign control after having been occupied for more than 2,500 years and in accord with the UN General Assembly’s vote in 1948.

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Seed for Security is now including US Postal shipping on all products at no additional cost. Now is the time to stock up on fresh seeds and benefit from included shipping costs too!

USMC Mountain Survival Course- Part 1, by E.T.

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Preparations For Mountain Survival

I spent June of 2014 in Bridgeport, California at the USMC’s School of Mountain Warfare undergoing the grand reopening of their Mountain Survival Course. Over the span of 13 days, I lost 31 pounds while in training. Here’s my story and lessons learned.

I left an elevation of 3,300 feet in the mountains of North Carolina for Bridgeport, which is at 6,500 feet. The first morning we ran our PFT with less than 12 hours of acclimation to the new elevation. We were required to score a First Class PFT before continuing the course. We had one Marine fail to achieve first class score twice and was shipped back to his unit. That left 26 students with three instructors. Our class consisted of all NCO’s, with a 1st Lieutenant and a Captain thrown in. We were a handful of Scout/Snipers, a Polish Commando, a Headquarters guy filling an empty slot, a Navy Corpsman, a Navy Doctor, a ROTC officer, and a handful of infantry grunts, like myself, who looking for fun and adventure.

Classroom Preparation

We spent a total of five days in a classroom setting going over wilderness survival basics. In class we learned to read the weather, learn shelter types, and identify edible plants, critters, and insects, as well as develop skills in signaling, fire starting, fishing, trapping, hunting, land navigation, path finding, and traversing mountains and rivers. Essentially we covered everything you can hit fast and hard. The smart ones studied at night and practiced starting fires with a bow and drill. Being a former Boy Scout, a hunter, fisher, and someone who grew up in the woods playing with fire and building forts, I had a good base knowledge to build upon.

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