My bedroll kit

My bedroll kit

Having a bedroll is very traditional way of camping and in fact can be used on its own.

A bedroll can be as big as you want sometimes containing a small mattress and pillow or as small as you want sometimes only containing a blanket.  There is no wrong way to do it.

To me a bedroll is your shelter kit.  Everything you need to set up camp should be in your bedroll.

My bedroll contains. From top to bottom

Two tent poles

Underwear  (socks, underwear, shirt, vest, bra)

Military poncho

Cotton blanket

Wool blanket

Military poncho 

This set up is based of my needs and built on my past experiences and tested.

Improvements  that I see would be;

 a small tarp  -  to either replace  or add to the kit

a hammock   -  this would increase the functionality of his kit. St Lucia is a mountainous island and so more often than not natural land is not flat making sleeping on the ground a great task though not impossible

better straps  - I  use two belts to secure my bedroll and latch it to my bag using cordage . Dedicated straps that could possible also be used carry it without the bag as well as being used along with my lbe.

My kit for camp when I thought i was going for two weeks. Pouch on the extreme right contains all accessories for my uniforms. Every cadet should have one as it keeps you from forgetting pieces of your uniform and getting booked. LBE suspenders and belt were worn to camp all pouches are on the inside except canteens.

 Tested out for SLCC annual cadet camp 2017. 

Instead staying on camp full time I could only stay the weekends and night. it safe to say whenever I'm not at work i was on camp. having a bedroll let customize my bag to the different periods of time spent on camp. that along with my canteen, mess kit and uniform were the constants of my pack. 

pro and cons of having a bedroll 

Cons

• external to your pack
• gets big and bulky real quick
• packing up requires a lot of space
• some skill in knots is needed

Pros

• saves time when packing
• easy to use as soon as possible
• completely customisable
• can be carried without a pack or with LBE
• external from your pack

Tips for making a good bedroll

• will there be rain, mud and anything to protect your stuff from the elements
• is comfort an issue
• what type of shelter do you plan on making
• what size do you want your bedroll
• where are you going to mount it.
• test it at home before use

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And remember survival is not a choice but a right earned at birth.

Be the Wolf!

Water

So with water making up 70% of the world and almost the same in your body it goes without saying how important it is. Lack of water leads to thirst(no shirt Sherlock) dehydration and confusion to name a few off the top my head. The point is that without water you won't be able to function both mentally and psychically.



There are several points to cover we are dealing with water;
1. Collection
2. Storage
3. Filtration
4. Purification
5. Taste

 

Collection ;  So lets start with collection. Collection is how you attain the water itself. Now this may sound easy but just think of the amount of faith you put in buy water and water coming from your pipes at home.
Do you know how to source water from closed pipes like the ones at businesses like KFC or closed stand pipes. What if the water was coming from an area to small for whatever container you have? Questions like these often make us realize how much we rely on  modern conveniences and fail to think of all the angles.
My suggestions are a four way key, some clear tubing, a funnel and condoms.




Storage;  Storage goes into how you hold large amounts of water at your base or while traveling if need be. It would make little sense if you on had on metal canteen that you have to refill every time you get thirsty. Not only are wasting time and effort but you are also putting yourself in unnecessary danger depending on the situation. In a survival situation three days is not the amount of time you have to drink water. You are working and as such you are losing that water just as quickly in those situations one day might already bring your journey to and end.
My suggestions are collapsible buckets 5l+ and a hydration bladder and pack.



Filtration;  For filtration while it is relatively easy to accomplish, without the necessary stuff if could prove to be impossible. Filtration is basically removing all the foreign substances that I are not microbial.
My suggestions are a cotton bandana, plastic bottle, rubber bands and a small shovel.



Purification;  This is basically making the water safe to drink. Free of any bacteria and other things that can make you ill. Ideally boil the water.
My suggestions are metal canteen, fire kit and purification tablets.



Taste;  This is water makes disgusting water taste better. so any drink mix whether its juice or tea or  even energy drink mix.
My suggestions are Turbo or Koolaid (juice), Nescafe (coffee), powdered milk, strawberry Nessquick (tea) and Powerade/Gatorade (energy drink mix).



I always recommend making individual kits and then adding it to your main bag. With these tips you should be ready for any water related incidents not covering storing water storage at your home or BOL.

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And remember survival is not a choice but a right earned at birth.

Be the Wolf!

Fire

Fire being one of the most important parts of survival.

It not a standalone piece of my kit. To me fire falls under "shelter" and "cooking".

If you had to choose three components of your full kit you shouldn't have to choose fire as one as it should be intertwined with other parts of your kit.

Fire has many uses the main ones are:

cooking -  cooking your food, boiling water and even smoking foods or the area

signalling - fire can be used to make a smoke signal or other types of signalling

shelter - shelter or warmth. fire can be used to keep you warm on those cold night and insome cases like winter it is the vital for life (winter/snow)

When thinking of building a fire kit it would be wise to keep the rule of threes in mind. 
You should try to cover these areas when thinking of starters;

•  Flame. - This is any device that you use a direct flame to start the fire. For example lighters, candles and matches.   #Start fire with fire.
• Spark. - This is a device that uses sparks in order to light a fire. For example fire steel or magnesium fire starter.   #Spark it.
• Random. - Things that you can use to start a fire that don't necessarily fall under normal categories. For example Magnifying glass, air pressure starter or even batteries.    #Let your imagination run wild.
• Primitive. - These are devices that you make and were made before modern civilization. They usually require lots of practice as they are not dependable if you skills aren't dependable. For example Bow drill, pump drill and hand drill.  #Rubbing sticks together.

    

The next thing are tinder or kindling.

Of course you can find these things out in the bush but sometimes everything may be wet or you in an urban environment where you cant find anything and you need options. 

• Natural. - First we have natural tinder which ca be found while out in the field. For example coconut husk, fat wood, dries grass, small twigs or punk wood.  #Feildcraft
• Home. - Then you items that are in your home that lend themselves to the struggle. For example cotton ball with petroleum jelly or even dryer lint.  #No place like home.
• Char. - These are things that you char yourself. Like char cloth or char wood or char natural fiber. #Always have that metal tin.
• Commercial. - Any and all commercial items as seen in the supermarket that are made for this task. For example Wet-fire, Live-fire, fire cord or tinder-quick. #just buy it

Also remember that tools are need as well for processing wood. 

• Axe/Hatchet
• Knife
• Folding saw

This you-tuber does a seris of 14 days of fire where each day he shows how to start a fire using one method. Here is day 1

And the fire module from the urban prepper (you tuber) - Fire Module

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And remember survival is not a choice but a right earned at birth.

Be the Wolf!

Games

Now to start this new year with a light topic I will be giving a list of my top survival games that will help you in a survival situation. This list is in my own opinion and is not limited to these.
The reason for this is mainly to put you in the mindset of being in a survival situation and to get you thinking of ways in which you can start making a bad situation better.



   7 days to die
The reason for this game is its emphasis of resource gathering, reading books and time limits. The whole premise of the game is that every seven days you have a horde of zombies coming to attack you, this gives you a time limit to gather your resources, explore your area and come up with a plan of action. This also forces you consider whether you want to build a base or continue exploring (basically being a nomad). That is also one the things that you would need to consider in a real life situation. Not to mention some items are locked behind books meaning you have to read the book to know how to craft the item. And lastly there is farming and hunting to explore which is very cool though games cant really bring out this properly due to the timing since food normally takes months to grow.

Other games like this are;





Ark Survival Evolved and Ark Survival Scorched Earth  - Which is a dinosaur survival game (I'm not really into that)

ECO - A ecosystem oriented game where for every action you do like cut down a tree the ecosystem suffers so you need to replant and basically keep the planet alive.




Rust - Another survival resource oriented game what makes this one unique is that when you first begin you have to find a rock and use said rock to gather your supplies with I think is way better than punching a tree since in real life if your punch a tree the only thing your doing is hurting your hands. (stay safe kids)





  Survival  (android)
 A survival simulator where you try to find your way back to civilization all while catching food , keeping hydrated and warm. all in all it is a simple game but it keeps you on your toes and gets you in that mind-state (for some reason I keep dying of hypothermia).



These are not the only games that are good for this they are those that I have played last year and thought were great so here is a YouTube video of a guy counting down survival games.

top survival games

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Be the Wolf!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year.

I was gonna write a post on setting goals for the new year but a friend of mine did such a good job that I am gonna put a link here.

Yes we will be going over this at a later date as goal setting is an important part of survival.

Getting right to the point i will be posting every Friday. (not exclusively though)

And remember survival is not a choice but a right earned at birth.

Be the Wolf!

Study Log

So it's about time for test (tmr) so I will be taking a break to study and do the exams and I will be back in January.

so until then....

Remember survival is not a choice but a right earned at birth.

Be the Wolf!

               じゃあまたね

Stealth Camping Tips

Rules/ Tips

Here are some or rather all of the things I think you should be aware of before you go stealth camping.

Trust me.

1. Never leave a trace. Do not break branches, or cut firewood. No campfires, no moving rocks, no altering the landscape. It might be okay to soften your bed with a bit of leaves, but you should spread them back out before you leave. It should not be evident that anyone was there. Leave NO trace. None.

2. Try to leave the location cleaner than the way you found it. The creators of this site believe in removing a few pieces of litter from each location visited. This is our way of thanking the owner, and nature. 

3. You can try to plan ahead, but you will eventually be stuck in a rural area without a restroom. If you must empty your bowels in the woods, be sure to dig a hole, and then bury it. Usually you can plan around these things, but it will happen to everyone eventually. It can be forgiven; we are animals afterall. 

4. Trust your instincts. If the area looks like a location where you should ask permission, do so. We believe you should always ask the owner if the area has a clear and immediatly obvious owner.

5. If asked, be friendly and truthful about your adventure. Most people would rather share in your journey than cause you problems. Your actions will greatly impact how future adventurers are treated. Do not claim you were not trying to hide if your tent is camoflage. 

6. Make stealth camping one of several options. If there is a cheap or free campground nearby that equally suites your needs, it might be best to use it. This is a judgement call that is left to the reader. 

7. If confronted by the property owner, explain your position, and that you would happily pay a typical camping fee for use of the land. A friendly smile goes a long way; in a remote area the landowner will understand the limitations and challenges of your adventures. 

8. Stealth camping with groups often doesn't work. It works best when solo. When in a group we often let our guard down, talk, and are easier to see. If you are in a group, it is best to find a landowner who can give you permission to camp. 


9.Keep bright colored gear in your tent as much as possible. If you are on brightly colored bike or kayak, you may need to store it in your tent or vestibule, or bring an additional rainfly to cover it. 

10.Choose a tent color that hides well in the area, and choose an area that will hide your tent well. Check the color of the tent and rainfly before attempting to stealth camp with it. In a perfect site, colors probably do not matter. If noticed however, landowners might be more suspicious if they see a camouflaged tent. 

11. If you enjoy reading or writing after dark, find a very dim light. Even the slightest light can easily give away your position after dark. Consider reading or writing under your blanket or bag. 

12. Check your water level before selecting a site. You do not want to adventure far from your site at dusk, leaving your gear hidden behind in unfamiliar territory. 

13. Pine trees can provide soft areas underneith, but they can also provide a sticky mess. Learn which types of trees you enjoy camping near, and discover which blend best with your gear. 

14.If you decide to ask permission to stealth camp, you will have better luck asking if you can "rest" than "camp". Most people envision camping as a longer term experience involving some environmental impact, while you really just wanting a place to sleep. 

15.Select a site that is at least 50 feet from the road or trail.  

16.Be careful selecting a site downhill from an adjacent roadway or trail. Being above an adjacent roadway or trail is often more stealthy. 

17.Some campers try not to select sites near water. The areas usually have more mosquitoes, and you are more likely to be awaken in the night by animals going for a drink. Also, keep in mind how visible your site is from the other side of the waterbody.  

18.Many stealth campers have been found by neighborhood dogs or wildlife because of their smell. You should know the type of wildlife in the area, and know how to stop from being detected. 

19.Unless you want nighttime visitors, do not select a site that is located on a trail, no matter how unkept. 


20.Be prepared to explain why you thought the site was open or public land. You should make sure the owner makes no effort to keep the public out. If there is any indication that you are unwelcome, move on.

21.Use caution when choosing a site during fog, darkness, or bad weather. A well hidden site now might be very visible when the conditions change.

22.Try to leave early in the morning. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to be found. 

23.Consider eating dinner before selecting a site. This keeps the cooking smells away from your campsite, and is one less task to complete at your site.

24.Some campers may want to try and find a restroom before hitting the evening stretch of untamed wilderness.

25.Do not wait too long to start site hunting. Many sites look good in the dark but look worse later.

26.Plan to not leave camp after it is setup. Many stealth campers have mentioned having trouble finding their hidden camping location, especially after dark.

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And remember survival is not a choice but a right earned at birth.

Be the Wolf!

What is Stealth Camping

What is stealth camping

Stealth camping is the act of secretly camping in a public or private area (sometimes legally – sometimes illegally) and moving on the next morning without being detected.

Stealth Camping could also be living temporarily in a location, usually for recreation, in a covert or secretive fashion.  Stealth camping is also referred to as wild camping, ninja camping, or free camping.   Stealth camping is often practiced by hikers, cyclists, and kayakers.

Stealth camping should be done without any intention of harm and so no law is being broken.   Stealth camping is intended to allow camping in the wilderness, while ensuring future generations a similarly free wilderness experience.

Tips on finding locations for stealth camping.

Finding the right spot is the most difficult part.

Should be

                 - out of sight of housing

                 - not on developed (cut grass, landscaped) land
                 - not on land that is fenced or marked 'No Camping' or 'No Trespassing'
                 - away from roads or paths

Where NOT to Stealth Camp

Any place public is not a good stealth camping site. There are still many places that are good potential sites but are security concerns. When I'm looking, I check the ground first. Not for rocks or water, but for signs of garbage or other litter.

Any worn area on the ground or between trees means it might be a path. Camping too close to water can mean you visited at various times (usually early morning or late evening) by a variety of fauna. You might think this a charming feature until you are woken by a bear sliding under your hammock on the way for a drink.

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How to decide what you carry in your EDC.

How to decide what you carry in your EDC..

Step 1.....
Write a list of everything you think you need to carry every day

Step 2.....
Leave your home with nothing but your phone and write a list of what you needed

Step 3.....
Do Step 2 for a week slowly building your list and starting carry what you need.

Step 4.....
Research what common natural disasters happen in your area and season.
For example... Rain,  Sunshine, Cloudy, Flood, etc
And develop your basic kit in case you get stuck outside during that time.
For example .... Rain - Umbrella,   Sunshine - Hat,

Step 5
Testing
Test out you kit and make it as small as possible.

Step 6
Always revise your kit
Building a kit is an ongoing challenge that you can always in improve.

NB - Your main stuff go in your bag.
          Make sure it is not bulky or heavy

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Be the Wolf!

You tuber #3 = Living Survival

Living Survival

This is a review and testing channel.

It mainly deals with stuff a little or a lot on the expensive side but once in a while a nice cheap one comes up.

This guy reviews everything in almost every category of survival.

If you are thinking of buying anything above your budget or just looking for good item take a look at his videos.

He even uses real world testing as in things you would most likely do.

All in all he doesn't give you much on survival training and tips just gear reviews.

So after you have acquired some knowledge and you want to know what gear should i buy that is worth the money check him out.

YouTube Page

https://www.youtube.com/user/livingsurvival

Featured video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJCgCNQIP7U&list=PL66_bYgZpf7IdP7TIpcB18GymYy1yZzbk&index=3

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Be the Wolf!

Types of Shoes

It is often not taken in to account. your feet carry you everywhere yet no one bothers to take the time or weight to make sure they are comfortable.

Even in a bug out situation i believe in have more than one type of shoe.

You need a back up to your main shoe so why not.

Here is what I think are the most important types.


Tactical Boots -  These are the most multi use of the types of shoes. it offers a lot of protection, not just from the elements but from injuries such as sprains and cuts. Some are waterproof. So they offer full range of situations. from hiking, to rappelling, cycling, sports( running ), etc.  There are two downsides to this though.

1. Heavy - Quality boots are heavier than all other shoes.

2. Water - If water goes into these shoes they are useless. they take a long time to dry and you cant wear wet shoes of any kind.

Hiking Shoes - These are specialized shoes that make it comfortable walking long distance, running. i offers less protection due to the material it is made from. less protection from injury and the elements. They get wet really quickly and are slow to dry. This shoe is mainly for comfort in my opinion as it is not as strong.



Sandals - These have offer no protection except for under you feet. I prefer a leather sandals with a cushion sole. It is very comfortable and I prefer to have it instead of hiking shoes. It is more for when you shoes get wet you can put on a comfortable shoe that still gives you the grip and such that the hiking shoes offer, if its cold with socks and if not no socks. they do come in plastic and rubber so these would dry fast and the shoe itself would be waterproof though your feet will get wet since its not cover.

Cons

1. No insulation. - Your feet are out in the open.

Pros

1. Comfortable

2. Drys quickly

 rubber

  leather

Slippers - A normal pair of plastic slippers, not much to say this is just for when you shoes are wet. Travelling with slippers is not impossible but not recommended especially in wet conditions.



Feet - Believe it or not your bare feet is often the safest shoes you can wear. it allows you to grip and feel when you are making a wrong step easier. BUT it is not for everyone. If you don't normally walk anywhere outside then your feet will hurt and yo will most likely get a cut as soon as you step on a stone. So yes bare foot is good but you could just end up hurting yourself if your body is not used to it.

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And remember survival is not a choice but a right earned at birth.

Be the Wolf!