In an ideal world, when disaster strikes, our community bands together to form an unbreakable shield. Our neighbors, those familiar faces we greet every morning, transform into our saviors, allies in the face of adversity. However, reality paints a different picture. When SHTF, your neighbors are NOT on your team.

Leading a group is like balancing on a tightrope. Lean too much on authority, and you’ll face quiet pushback. Be too laid-back, and people might only look out for themselves. The trick is to build a team where everyone feels valued but still follows a common goal. This means choosing members who share your values, giving clear and motivating instructions, promoting teamwork without falling into ‘mob mentality’, and being fair while still holding the reins firmly. In a survival scenario, these leadership nuances become even trickier. The heightened stakes and primal instincts can overshadow structured teamwork, making a balanced approach more essential yet challenging to maintain.

Unless you are a truly seasoned leader with massive resources at your disposal, staying in your neighborhood will practically guarantee your death because after only a few missed meals any one of your neighbors will be liable do something desperate, and violent to take what you have.

The Descent of Maple Avenue

The Maple Avenue community had been a symbol of peace, trust, and collaboration for years. Elegant homes, manicured lawns, and the occasional block parties were the norms. But when an unprecedented economic collapse hit the country, that serenity was shattered.

Samantha, a well-prepared single mother, had always been the outlier. While her neighbors relished in their luxuries, Samantha spent her weekends attending survival workshops, storing non-perishable food items, and mapping out evacuation routes.

Distrust Shadows the Avenue

Just three days into the crisis, scarcity began to rear its ugly head. Supermarkets ran empty, ATMs were lifeless, and gas stations became battlegrounds.

The Smiths, a seemingly affable family living next door to Samantha, had always hosted the best Christmas parties. But when desperation set in, Mr. Smith came knocking, asking if Samantha had any spare food. She cautiously gave some, hoping to keep a low profile.

However, word spread, and before she knew it, her front yard was filled with desperate faces.

The Strain of Unequal Resources

By the week’s end, a dangerous hierarchy emerged. Those who had more resources, like Samantha, became targets. The Hendersons, a couple from the end of the block, tried pooling resources, aiming for unity. But disparities were evident. Some had hoarded valuables; others had almost nothing.

Fights broke out over trivial matters, as the weight of past grievances resurfaced. The Johnsons and the Garcias, once tennis partners, clashed over an old landscaping feud, which in this tense environment, escalated alarmingly.

The Collapse of Community Spirit

With chaos looming, Samantha knew she had to act. Remembering her survival strategies, she covertly packed essentials and initiated her exit strategy.

One morning, the community woke up to find her house empty. Samantha and her children had vanished.

Weeks later, as some semblance of order returned, tales circulated of Samantha’s escape. Some envied her foresight; others criticized her for not sharing her plans.

The real lesson of Maple Avenue, however, was the grim revelation that when survival is at stake, familiarity and past camaraderie are no assurance of loyalty.

The Game of Telephone: More than Just Child’s Play

We’ve all played the game of ‘telephone’ in kindergarten or first grade. A message begins at one end and as it’s whispered from one child to the next, it inevitably gets altered. By the end of the line, the message often becomes hilariously distorted, teaching kids an early lesson about communication errors. What’s truly fascinating is the child who, whether intentionally or inadvertently, changes the message for amusement, attention, or sheer boredom.

Lessons from the Game:

1. Unintended changes happen: Just like in real-life crises, things don’t always go as planned. Information gets distorted.
2. Malicious intent: There are those who deliberately spread misinformation, causing panic and mistrust.
3. Trust issues: As we cannot verify the original message until the end, we’re forced to trust each participant. A significant lesson in the importance and fragility of trust.

This seemingly innocuous game becomes a microcosm of society. It’s an early indicator that when SHTF, misinformation can become a powerful weapon, and trust, a double-edged sword. The Telephone Game & The Communication Problem (System Tinker.)

Robert Greene’s Strategy #5: A Deep Dive

AVOID THE SNARES OF GROUPTHINK: THE COMMAND-AND-
CONTROL STRATEGY

The problem in leading any group is that people inevitably have their own
agendas. You have to create a chain of command in which they do not feel
constrained by your influence yet follow your lead. Create a sense of
participation, but do not fall into groupthink–the irrationality of collective
decision making.

Robert Greene

Moving beyond child’s play, Robert Greene’s 5th strategy in “33 Strategies of War” delves into the intricacies of leading and being part of groups. Here’s an in-depth analysis of his words:

• Balancing authority: Too much or too little can both be detrimental. In desperate times, a community needs both a decisive leader and inclusive decision-making.
• Avoiding Groupthink: Collective irrationality can lead to poor decisions, especially when SHTF. Diverse perspectives are crucial.
• Appointing the right lieutenants: The importance of trust is reiterated. You need individuals who can carry out your vision without blind subservience.

Greene’s insights throw light on the challenges faced by communities during crises. Neighbors, despite best intentions, come with their own agendas and survival instincts.

The 33 Strategies of War in Under 30 Minutes | Robert Greene

Scenarios to Consider When SHTF

The dangers lurking in our neighborhoods during a crisis aren’t just speculative. History and sociology provide insights into potential scenarios, which include:

1. Resource Grab: Desperation leading neighbors to covet and even steal resources.
2. Misinformation: Rumors and fear resulting in unwarranted attacks or ostracization.
3. Paranoia: Close-knit neighborhoods breeding distrust when resources are scarce.

Resource Grabs and Neighborly Bonds Under Strain

In times of crisis, the lines between friend and foe can quickly blur, especially when essentials are at stake. While many of us like to believe that strong community ties will hold firm during tough times, history has shown that desperation can override even the strongest bonds. When resources are scant and survival is on the line, those living next door might not remain the allies you once believed them to be. The concept of ‘resource grabs’ sheds light on this dark side of human behavior and serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges one might face in a SHTF scenario.

Resource Grab Example #1: The 1977 New York City Blackout Chaos

July 13, 1977, started like any other summer day in New York City, but by nightfall, it turned into chaos that the city had never seen. A series of lightning strikes on power infrastructures plunged NYC into darkness. With the entire city blacked out, the situation rapidly descended into anarchy.

Overnight, looting and vandalism ran rampant. People broke into supermarkets, electronic stores, and other businesses, taking whatever they could get their hands on. More than 1,600 stores were damaged, and over 3,000 arrests were made. What’s more alarming was that the chaos wasn’t driven by hunger or necessity alone, but also by opportunity and mob mentality.

Firefighters battled more than 1,000 fires, and the city sustained damages estimated at $300 million (over $1.2 billion when adjusted for inflation to today’s rates). When the lights came back on, the city faced a harsh reality: the social fabric can be incredibly fragile during crises.

The 1977 NYC blackout is a stark reminder of the speed at which urban centers can devolve into chaos when resources are scarce or when law and order are temporarily disabled. It emphasizes the need for individual preparedness and community cohesion in face of unexpected adversities. 45 Years Ago tonight, A Blackout Struck New York City (The New York Times.)

Resource Grab Example #2: The 2020 Toilet Paper Rush

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, as the gravity of the situation started to hit the U.S., a rather unexpected shortage arose: toilet paper. Supermarkets and online stores ran out of stock almost overnight. The images of barren shelves, where once stacks of toilet rolls stood, quickly became symbolic of the panic and uncertainty that gripped the nation.

But why toilet paper? It wasn’t a direct necessity to combat the virus, like masks or hand sanitizers. Experts believe it was a mix of genuine concern over lockdowns, a herd mentality response to seeing others buy in bulk, and the psychological need to exert control over an uncontrollable situation. The rush became so extreme that there were reports of physical fights breaking out in aisles, leading some stores to limit purchases or increase security.

Beyond the immediate logistics, this rush signified a deeper issue: when faced with uncertainty, even in modern society, our primal instincts can take over, leading to irrational hoarding behaviors. The 2020 toilet paper frenzy serves as a reminder of how quickly “normal” can be disrupted and how vital it is to prepare rationally and maintain community solidarity during crises.

Misinformation: The Hidden Enemy Next Door

When disaster strikes, accurate information becomes as vital as food and water. However, in the chaos that ensues, rumors and false narratives can spread faster than verified facts. These can pit neighbor against neighbor, causing unwarranted panic or actions based on half-truths. While we’d like to believe that our close community would stand united, misinformation can quickly sow seeds of distrust, turning even the most tight-knit neighborhoods into battlegrounds of suspicion. Understanding the destructive power of misinformation is crucial in navigating the treacherous waters of a SHTF scenario.

Misinformation Example #1: The Spanish-American War and the “Remember the Maine!” Slogan

In 1898, the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor became a significant catalyst for the Spanish-American War. The immediate cause of the explosion remained unclear, yet American newspapers, particularly those owned by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, were quick to place the blame on Spain. Sensational headlines and exaggerated stories—known as “yellow journalism”—fueled American public opinion against Spain.

The slogan “Remember the Maine! To Hell with Spain!” became a rallying cry, and the U.S. declared war on Spain shortly after. Later investigations suggested that the Maine explosion was likely an accident, possibly caused by a coal bunker fire, and not the result of any Spanish interference.

This episode underscores the power of misinformation, especially when amplified by influential media outlets, to sway public opinion and even lead nations into war. It’s a testament to the necessity of rigorous fact-checking and the dangers of letting unchecked claims dictate major policy decisions. ‘Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain!’ (U.S. Naval Institute.)

Misinformation Example #2: The 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing and the Reddit Detective Fiasco

In the aftermath of the tragic 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the desire to identify the culprits ran high, not just among law enforcement, but also among citizens. This collective yearning for justice and closure led to an infamous incident on Reddit, where armchair detectives took it upon themselves to identify the bombers.

Utilizing available photos and videos of the event, Reddit users zeroed in on several individuals, most notably misidentifying a missing student named Sunil Tripathi as a suspect. This misinformation spread like wildfire across social media, leading to harassment and undue stress for the Tripathi family.

Ultimately, the real suspects were identified by law enforcement, and Sunil Tripathi was later found to have no connection to the bombing. This incident highlighted the dangers of crowdsourced investigations without checks and balances, as well as the rapid spread and deep impact of misinformation in the digital age. It serves as a stark reminder that in times of crisis, unchecked narratives can lead to harmful actions and deepen divisions in an already tense environment. Hey Reddit, Enough Boston Bombing Vigilantism (The Atlantic.)

Paranoia: The Silent Divider in Crises

Amidst any crisis, fear is an expected response. However, when that fear turns inward, morphing into deep-seated paranoia about those around us, it can fracture even the most cohesive communities. As resources become scarcer and uncertainty prevails, doubts about neighbors’ intentions might emerge, leading to heightened tensions and potential conflicts. Trust, once a given, becomes a luxury, and every interaction is viewed through a lens of suspicion. This section delves into the psychological quagmire of paranoia and how it can erode the very support systems we rely upon, highlighting the dangers of allowing unchecked fears to determine our interactions in a SHTF scenario.

Paranoia Example #1: The Los Angeles Blackouts and Neighborhood Chaos of 1992

The Los Angeles riots in 1992, which erupted after the acquittal of police officers on trial for the beating of Rodney King, was a perfect storm of societal frustrations, racial tensions, and systemic issues. But amidst the larger backdrop of this chaos, there were countless micro-stories of paranoia influencing neighborhoods’ actions.

When the city’s power grid was compromised due to fires and damages from the riots, vast areas experienced blackouts. The veil of darkness, combined with the already tense atmosphere, escalated the fears of many residents. People began boarding up their homes, not just in fear of rioters, but also wary of their own neighbors.

Stories emerged of communities setting up makeshift barriers and checkpoints, questioning anyone and everyone about their intentions. The absence of streetlights and the constant wail of sirens created an atmosphere where trust was the first casualty. In some neighborhoods, residents formed vigilante groups, challenging anyone they deemed “out of place.” There were reports of confrontations and accusations, often solely based on paranoid suspicions without any concrete evidence.

Such an environment underscores the fragile nature of community trust. In the face of widespread crisis and fear, even longstanding relationships can be strained or broken, replaced with doubt and suspicion. The LA Blackouts of 1992 highlight the severe implications of paranoia, reminding us that when the chips are down, the bonds that tie neighborhoods together can quickly unravel.

This song was about the same event:

Paranoia Example #2: The California Drought and Water Watch of 2015

California experienced one of its most severe droughts in history between 2012 and 2017, with 2015 being an especially critical year. The state imposed mandatory water restrictions, and communities were asked to reduce water usage drastically. As reservoirs dried up and once-lush landscapes turned brown, a new kind of neighborhood watch emerged: water vigilantes.

Residents began monitoring and even reporting each other for perceived water wastage. A neighbor washing a car or watering a lawn during restricted hours would quickly find themselves the subject of scrutiny. In some neighborhoods, anonymous notes would appear on doorsteps, chastising homeowners for their water usage. The state even launched an app where citizens could report wasteful neighbors, further intensifying the atmosphere of distrust.

This heightened state of surveillance caused a rift in many communities. Friends and neighbors who had once shared barbecues and block parties were now casting each other in roles of accuser and accused. The fear of being reported and the consequent hefty fines added to the general paranoia.

The California drought scenario underscores how quickly trust can evaporate in a community under external pressures. It served as a stark reminder that when resources become scarce, the bonds of neighborhood camaraderie can be strained, leading to an environment of suspicion and tension.

Putting Stress in Historical Context: Why It Is Important That Being Stressed Out Was Not a Way to Be a Person 2,000 Years Ago

Primal Urges: How History Reveals Our Raw Response to Crisis

Understanding stress in the context of survival is essential, especially when it comes to gauging reactions and strategies for a SHTF scenario. Looking back 2,000 years ago, our ancestors faced a very different set of stresses. Theirs were immediate and tangible: hunting for the day’s food, defending against predators or rival tribes, and seeking shelter from the elements. In those days, stress had a clear cause and a clear solution. But how does that primitive stress response affect our behaviors in modern crises?

Primal Reactions in Modern Settings

Our brains still carry the same fight-or-flight response mechanisms as our ancestors. When faced with an immediate threat, our bodies produce adrenaline, sharpening our senses and preparing us for action. However, in today’s complex societal structure, not every problem has an immediate solution. The result? Lingering stress and often irrational reactions.

In a survival situation, like when SHTF, those old primal instincts resurface, leading to behaviors that might seem out of place in a civilized setting. This includes an innate territorial instinct – the need to protect one’s resources, be it food, shelter, or family.

Your Neighbor’s Stress and You

So, when disaster strikes, your neighbors, just like you, will revert to their most basic survival instincts. Their brain will prioritize their family’s survival over anything else, including neighborhood alliances. They’ll be assessing their food stores, the safety of their shelter, their access to water, and more. In moments of scarcity, sharing might not be their first instinct.

Your amiable neighbor might become fiercely protective of a water source. Another might hoard essential supplies, fearing for the future. Some might even become confrontational if they believe you pose a threat to their family’s well-being. It’s not personal—it’s primal.

The Fragility of Trust Amidst Crisis

Merely depending on neighbors due to past acquaintances can be a treacherous bet in times of calamity. As tensions escalate and survival instincts kick in, trustworthiness should be scrutinized:

• Past Grievances: Historical disputes may unexpectedly reignite, potentially with lethal outcomes.
• Resource Disparities: Possessing more or less than those around you can render you vulnerable, either as a potential mark or as a reliant party.
• Skill Deficiencies: Not every neighbor possesses valuable expertise during crises. Such disparities can spark strain, especially when considering the dynamics of survival alliances.

How to Survive the Unthinkable

When disaster strikes, the unpredictable chaos can be overwhelming. Yet, in the midst of uncertainty, your preparation and strategy will be the anchor holding you steady.

1. Decipher Your Surroundings

To survive, one must first be aware. Knowledge of your environment, especially the people within it, becomes crucial. See your neighbors not just as acquaintances, but as potential variables in your survival equation.

• Neighbor Insight: Take time to understand the assets, limitations, and motivations of those around you. It’s not about judging, but about assessing risks and opportunities. In a situation where resources are scarce, recognizing potential threats early can save you from unforeseen troubles.

2. Design Multiple Plans

One cannot rely on a single strategy in a landscape that’s constantly shifting. The more adaptable you are, the better you’ll fare.

• Adaptive Blueprints: Don’t limit yourself to a singular plan. Think of various escape routes, multiple safe zones, alternative communication methods, and contingency plans for different scenarios. Preparing for multiple outcomes ensures you’re not caught off guard.

Your Strategy: The Beacon in Chaos

Remember, “failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” These steps aren’t just theoretical advice but essential tools in times of adversity. By truly understanding your surroundings and planning for a range of possibilities, you are arming yourself against the unpredictable. Your neighbors, regardless of prior relationships, may not be on your side. But with foresight and strategy, you can be on your own team, and that’s a winning start.

Conclusion: The Stark Reality of Trust in a Crisis

Crises strip away the veneer of societal norms and expose raw human nature. When the chips are down, the intricacies of trust, survival instincts, and stark self-preservation come sharply into focus. While your neighbors might have been friendly faces during the calm, they could swiftly turn into competitors, or even threats, during a storm. The most vital tool in your survival toolkit? Self-reliance. It’s not about isolation but about preparation. The reliance on your own skills, resources, and foresight not only increases your chances of survival but also ensures you won’t be caught off guard by misplaced trust. In the unpredictable whirlwind of a crisis, understanding and preparing for this complex dynamic is not just wise; it’s essential. Your survival might just depend on it.

See you soon!

The post When SHTF your Neighbors are NOT on your team. appeared first on Prepper Facts.

Necessary Requirements for a fire

Before we talk about weird ways to start a fire it is important for you to understand how fires behave and why it can be so challenging to start one in the first place. Don’t skip this part! You’re life could depend on this quick science lesson.

A fire is a chemical reaction. It is the result of the right amount of the right ingredients at the right time. Every fire relies on the combustion triangle. Each side of the triangle represents one of the 3 required elements necessary for a fire to ignite. If you lack just one of those components your fire attempts could fail and you could freeze, starve, or become dehydrated.

Oxygen

Oxygen is readily available so you don’t have to worry about carrying oxygen tanks everywhere you go. As long as there’s 16% oxygen in the air, you’ll be able to start a fire. This is why blowing on a flame helps. You are breathing out carbon dioxide, but also enough oxygen to feed the fire.

Fuel

A fire will burn anything dry and flammable. You will probably be able to find fuel for a small fire even in the wettest conditions. If you can’t find sticks, check your pockets for receipts or even dollars. Imagine this is the end of the world (and you could freeze to death without heat), you’ll be better off bartering than giving up precious fuel for your fire. If you don’t have those items, you may need to get creative. Undergarments will burn with a little prodding, even if you’re not at a protest. This could mean life or death so don’t hesitate to “burn that bra”.

The myth stuck, but cotton briefs are better

For the record, they didn’t really burn bras at protests because starting a fire on the boardwalk was illegal. Instead, the feminists had a designated “Freedom Trash Can” into which they hurled mops, lipstick, high heels, and yes a bra. After that the myth stuck. In this case you really could use undergarments as fuel for a fire, but cotton briefs would be best.

Feminism F.A.Q.s: Did Feminists Burn Bras?

Heat

This is where most inexperienced rookies fail. They think that heat comes after the fire has started, but that’s wrong. The initial heat has to come from somewhere before a fire can make more of it. Getting that first spark can be challenging. A newbie can often make lots of sparks, but can’t sustain the heat in the right place long enough to start a fire. Don’t be like the newbie.

When all three ingredients are properly set in place, you can get a nice warm fire. I’m not going to discuss fire building in this article, but the video below will walk you through 6 different campfires.

6 Easy Campfires Everyone Should Know for Survival and Recreation

Survival tip

You can use your knowledge of the combustion triangle to stop a raging fire. Simply remove one of the three ingredients and the fire won’t be able to continue.

We made it through the mini science lesson! Thanks for sticking with me, now let’s talk about 5 weird ways to start a fire without a lighter.

5 weird ways to start a fire without a lighter

Every prepper and survival site will instruct you to start a fire with friction. If you rub two sticks together long enough and fast enough then you will eventually get enough heat for them to light.

This is effective, but not cool enough for my list of “weird ways” so we’ll skip that option. I’m also going to skip the talk about flint and steel because you probably already have those items in your bugout bag. This article is about weird and unusual ways to start a fire using everyday objects that you might find after a disaster.

1- Start a fire from water

I simply cannot stress enough the importance of having some clear plastic bottles of water. We usually associate water with putting out fires so this might be the most ironic ignition method of all. You can start a fire with water by using a clear bottle as a lens to concentrate sunlight. In fact, some roadside brushfires are actually caused by bottles filled with fluid that concentrated the sunlight’s rays.

The first thing that you should know about making a fire with a water bottle is that it is not easy. It takes some time and practice to learn this technique, but it’s worth knowing. This method is similar to making a fire with a magnifying glass. The water bottle serves as a lens that concentrates the sunlight into a super bright point which heats up the paper or tinder to the point of combustion.

You’ll need:

• A clear bottle (label removed) with a smooth, curved top, filled with clear liquid
• Tinder: paper with dark ink works best because it absorbs heat and ignites faster
• Full strength sunlight. If there are clouds or it is later in the day then your efforts could go unrewarded.

Instructions:

1. Tear two pieces of paper in half, fold, set aside.
2. Fold a third piece of paper in half 3 times. If your paper has dark ink, make sure that that it is visible along the longest unfolded edge.
3. Hold the bottle in such a way that the sunlight passes through the curved top and creates a focused beam on the paper.
4. Steadily hold the bottle until the sunlight burns a quarter-sized hole in the paper.
5. Set the bottle down and place a piece of the reserved paper over the burn hole.
6. Keep adding paper when the hole burns through until the paper ignites.

Start a Fire With a Water Bottle

2- Steel wool and batteries

You will often hear me say that you should always have steel wool nearby. Steel wool has tons of everyday uses, is lightweight, and is especially handy for survival. In this case you can use a battery and steel wool to start a fire. This method is straightforward, fast, and really cool to watch. The best part is that it can work in wet conditions as long as your tinder material is dry.

Many prepper sites will say that this isn’t really a survival technique because you’re unlikely to have steel wool and a battery with you. This is your sign from the universe to start carrying a little steel wool pad with you and to also have 9 volt batteries. You never know when those items will come in handy and they have multiple uses. In a real emergency, if you have a cellphone or any electronic device, then you already have a battery.

You’ll need:

• Steel Wool– To do this right, you need to start with the finest grade of steel wool that you can find. Search for 00-grade steel wool or 000-grade.
• Battery– Almost any kind of battery will work. You should try to go with at least a 9 volt battery to ensure that it has enough juice. If you don’t have a 9-v then consider bringing out the burner phones and using a cellphone battery or multiple smaller batteries connected together (two C’s or D batteries connected end-to-end.)

Instructions:

1. Pull apart the steel wool and fluff it up. You need plenty of surface area and oxygen, but don’t get carried away. The strands still need to be somewhat close in order to ignite each other. Make it a little fluffy and spread it out.
2. Collect tinder. Not the dating app. The material. Place your dry tinder in a location away from drafts.
3. Place the fluffy steel wool on top of the tinder. Create a little pocket by tucking the edges into and under your tinder pile. You want to make sure that your tinder is connected to the steel wool fluff, hence the tucking. If the steel wool isn’t tucked in, then it’s likely to burn out on top and leave your tinder untouched.
4. Connect both the positive and negative contacts of the battery to the steel wool. This will be easy if you’re using a 9 volt. Simply tap the contact end against the steel wool in multiple areas. Pull your hand back quickly because it will ignite instantly. Start adding small bits of tinder on top and feed the fire as you normally would.

Survival- Starting a Fire with Steel Wool & 9V Battery!

I found a ton of videos that demonstrate this process, but the “problem” is that they were all done with a 9 volt battery. That’s honestly kind of lame and might not be helpful if you don’t have a 9V. It’s a common misconception that this method will only work with a 9 volt battery and luckily that’s not true.

It may take a little more practice to use batteries with connections on opposite ends, but it still works! As long as both connectors touch the steel wool at the same time, you’ll still get lit.

3- How to make fire with glasses

I’m sure that we’ve all heard about kids burning ants with a magnifying glass. Maybe we were one of those kids. Starting a fire with the power of the sun is just like burning ants with a magnifying glass.

This method takes a lot of patience and chances are you won’t have a magnifying glass when SHTF so you will need to find other ways to reflect and magnify the sun’s rays.

You’ll need:

• A magnifying glass
• OR broken glasses will work
• Kindling: dry leaves or a piece of charred rope

Instructions:

1. Collect your kindling. Dry leaves or small sticks will work.
2. Place your kindling in a small pile.
3. Hold the lens perpendicular to the sun’s rays towards the kindling.
4. You should see a small, bright dot appear if you’re at the right height and angle. This is focused sunlight.
5. Hold this position for about 30 seconds and a small fire should start.

*This process will NOT work if there is no strong sunlight. Also glasses for farsightedness won’t work. Strong reading glasses will work the best.

How to make fire with reading glasses

Heaven’s knows that I’ve broken my fair share of glasses in various ways, but now I’ll hang onto those old rickety lenses and pack them in my bugout bag just in case.

4- Soda or beer can

In a perfect world, it would be challenging to find a soda or beer can. Sadly, humans can be filthy beings and you can find cans almost everywhere. Forests, cities, and suburbs are littered with these items. While this is annoying in everyday life, the litter could literally save your life in a survival situation.

Keep in mind that this method will only work in areas that get a lot of sunlight. It’s still a cool trick to learn regardless of your location. I would even try it in the Pacific Northwest if I was out of other options.

You’ll need:

• One aluminum can A soda or beer can will work for this. Make sure that the underside has an unpainted, domed, aluminum surface.

Instructions:

1. Polish the domed underside of the can. Use a wet cloth and some kind of polishing compound. Polish the domed underside of the can. Your goal is to make the bottom of your can as reflective as possible. Clay or even toothpaste will work well as a polishing compound. I would say try a paste made from wood ash, but we are still trying to figure out how to build a fire here!
2. Collect your tinder. Create a nice tinder nest and place it between you and the sun.
3. Position your tinder and the can. Hold a small amount of tinder in one hand. Now aim the polished side of the can directly at the sun. Place some tinder near the bottom of the can and feel for the hottest spot while searching for the smallest point of light reflecting on your tinder.
4. Wait. Be patient because this could take seconds or even minutes. As soon as you see the spark and smoke, place your tinder on the nest and gently blow.

HOW TO START A FIRE WITH A SODA CAN !

5- Plastic bags + water

Another must-have item for my survival kit /bugout bag is a handful of plastic bags. They have so many uses! Believe it or not, you can even start a fire with a plastic bag.

You’ll need:

• A clear plastic bag. A plastic zip-lock or sandwich bad will work really well for this. Make sure that it is as clean as possible.

Instructions:

1. Prepare a tinder bundle. Grind your tinder into a fine powder. Sprinkle tinder powder on top of a tinder nest or a base plate such as a strip of bark or wood block.
2. Fill your bag with water. Next, fill your bag half full of clean water, but don’t seal it.
3. Twist your bag and create a water sphere. Hold the bag by the top corner and slowly twist the top of the bag. Push the air out as you twist to create a tight water sphere within the bag.
4. Properly position the sphere. Carefully hold the sphere over the tinder powder taking extra care to not drip any water. Move the sphere until you find the most concentrated beam of sunlight coming through the bag. Now hold it steadily above the tinder.
5. Wait patiently. At this point, you’ll see smoke and you may get a flame. If you only see smoke and a blackened area, add more tinder to the burned spot and refocus the sphere. The will heat the tinder from the bottom and the top.

Can You Start a Fire with a Sandwich Bag? (Cool Survival Hack)

Bonus item: How to start a fire with a flashlight

Even if you’re missing your bugout bag, I have a feeling that you’ll at least have a flashlight. Possibly in your pocket or on a keychain or in a work bag (note to self, put a backup headlamp in my purse.) Flashlights are prepper gold so even if you don’t have one, someone nearby is bound to have a light.

Don’t worry if your flashlight’s lens isn’t intact because it can still start a fire. This method is similar to the soda can process. It utilizes refracted light to focus heat. The main difference in this case, is that the tinder inside, rather than in a pile. This means that the light needs to go inward, not outward.

You’ll need:

• A flashlight. You really only need the reflective cup from inside the lens of the light. Even a non-functioning flashlight can provide this. Don’t attempt this with a very small pen light because a larger reflective cup is necessary.

Directions:

1. Disassemble the flashlight. Unscrew the head of the flashlight and remove the silver cone around the bulb.
2. Place tinder in the reflective cup. Place some tinder in the hole at the bottom of the cup. This is easiest if you push it into the hole from the bottom instead of shoving it down from the inside of the cup. You only need a tiny bit to poke up.
3. Position the cup. Aim the inside of the cup towards the sun. At this point, you should see light bouncing throughout the cup. Position it so that most of the light is aimed directly at the tinder.
4. Transfer the lit tinder in the cup to a larger tinder pile. Once the tinder lights, gently poke it out of the cup and blow on it. Then add it to your tinder pile.

Can You Actually Start Fire with Flashlight?

Conclusion

Now it is time for you to practice these fire-starting methods! They can take a little bit of practice, but it’s worth-it to learn these skills so that you have them when you need them. There are many different ways to refine your techniques. Try different types of tinder in different environments.

I know that when the time comes, you’ll be able to use your best judgement to figure out which method to use. Now you can start a fire without matches or a lighter, even without your bugout bag or the perfect bugout location! A little planning and practice could save your life in the future!

Do you know of any creative ways to start a fire? Have you tried any of these techniques or which of these methods are you most interested in? Comment below to share!

I hope that you enjoyed this article and that you learned something.

See you soon!

The post 5 Weird Ways to Start A Fire Without A Lighter appeared first on Prepper Facts.

You should never feel ashamed of being prepared

Disasters frequently happen with no warning and especially in our ever-changing, turbulent world, preparedness is never something to be ashamed of. Having a supply of water, food, toiletries, fuel, and other necessities is a really great start, but serious preppers will want to have at least two good Bug Out Locations (BOL) to head to when “SHTF.”

You should have more than one BOL because different disasters will have different safety requirements. For example, high ground is the perfect location for flood-prone areas, but being underground is best for avoiding the radiation of a nuclear war. Also, high ground is not the best for wildfire-prone locations.

BOL Essential Requirements

1- The Physical Location

• With in the range of a short hike or one tank of gas.
• Multiple access points available.
• Quick escape routes available.

The first step is choosing your location. It is important to look at simple logistics from the beginning. A good bugout location will be within hiking distance or well within one tank of gas. The farther away your retreat is from home, the less time you will be spending there. You might set the intention to make the 5 hour drive and 2 mile hike to work on setting up your bug out location at least once a week. And for the first few weekends, you might actually do it, but over time, you may get busy and run out of the motivation to make the trek. Also, if the worst does come to pass, if might be very difficult to reach your location especially if you have to travel miles on foot to get there.

Imagine the potential disasters that could take place. Is it easy to get to your bug out location? If the answer is no, then it’s not a good BOL. Make sure that you have multiple access points and quick escape routes.

2- Knowledge of Your Location

• Make sure that you can easily access your location without a map.
• Have a good understanding of the climate and weather patterns.
• If there are neighbors nearby, get to know them.

You must know the ins and outs of your location. Your BOL will be useless if you can’t find it or if you get lost on your way there. Take the time to visit your site often, thoroughly explore and hike the surrounding areas. I like to make sure that I spend all 4 seasons in an area. This doesn’t mean that you have to live there full time, but make sure that you visit the location a few times during each season during the day and also at night. A location might transform in darkness and it’s good to be familiar with all the subtle nuances. This is also a good time to plan where you will set up traps, hunt, and possibly store some food for a rainy day.

3- Seclusion

• A remote area that is difficult for outsiders to get to.
• Accessible year round, yet inconvenient to get to.

You don’t want your location to be easy to find. It should be off of the main roads and have plentiful tree coverage. You want to be properly concealed so that anyone who is passing through the vicinity would not even know that your place exists during the day or at night. Try to be invisible. This means that you don’t want your lights to be seen.

The goal is to be completely concealed from all senses. You will need to take special care if you build a fire because the smoke from a fire is visible from a long distance so it is best to do that at night. You should only cook at night and because cooking smells can travel up to half a mile.

4- Shelter

• The presence of cabins, caves, or cellars
• Something to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
• Will withstand common natural disasters for the area

You will need a cabin, camper, tent, cave or other shelter that will keep you safe during the worst kind of emergency. What do you plan on living in? Keep in mind that it may take you longer than a day to reach your bug out location. Make sure that you are prepared to camp regardless of the season. If you can purchase a property that already has a house or cabin that would be great (the Big Island of Hawaii is ideal because it is remote and has a good climate year round). However, to get something remote enough to serve as a bug out location, you may need to buy land and build on it.

Prepare for a long-term stay

A root cellar type shelter is an excellent low cost alternative for creating shelter. It is a cheap, but labor intensive process that will benefit you in many ways. I like it because it is very easy to disguise and camouflage and it will stay cool during the summer. It is safe in most weather conditions except flooding.

5- Accessible water sources

• Potable water is an absolute must. Make sure that there are nearby lakes, rivers, wells, or other water sources that are available year-round.
• Must have necessary water purification supplies

Dehydration is deadly and happens quickly after a disaster and access to clean, drinkable water is an absolute must. There is no way of knowing how long you will need to stay at your bug out location so it is vital to have water sources nearby. You may be there for weeks, months, or longer and stored water bottles will only last for so long.

Make sure that you have supplies for purifying water in addition to a good cast iron pot, fire pit, and strainer to ensure that you can always provide clean water for your family. You will also want access to a place for bathing and washing dishes and clothes especially if you have to bug out for a prolonged period of time.

6- Available supplies

• Have the ability to stock your BOL before SHTF
• Your BOL needs some kind of secure storage.

You will need to stock up on supplies until you have a complete store of necessities at each of your bug out locations. If you cannot safely store supplies then you will need to find a solution. Can you safely conceal a bug out bag or install some shelving? Or build an in ground root cellar that is connected to your shelter? It is important to have a secure way to conceal your supplies.

7- Self-sufficiency / renewable food sources

• Game rich lands for hunting or lakes for fishing
• A food garden
• Good soil quality, sunlight, and irrigation source for growing food.
• A source of electricity (solar, wind, and/or water)
• A source of firewood
• Space and resources for livestock

Keep in mind that you might be at your bug out location for an indeterminate amount of time. You will no longer be able to rely on the power-grid and you won’t be running to the store every time you need to restock your pantry. We can only store so much emergency food at any given location. If there is a place nearby for hunting, trapping, fishing, and foraging, you will be much better prepared for a potential long-term stay. Self-sufficiency will be vital. You must have everything that you need on your property or be able to produce it.

8- Security

• Have at least one vantage point and one natural barrier.
• Good locations for alarms, traps, and weapons are a must.

In the worst of times, unprepared people will try to take from the people who have things. It will be important for you to have a place that you can easily defend. If your bug out location is well-concealed then you are well on your way to having a secure place. However, you need to make sure that it is not only concealed, but also difficult to access.

Be inconvenient and inaccessible

No one should ever be able to approach your bugout location without you being aware of it. Make sure that you know which roads and paths lead to your property and monitor them at all times. Is there a waterway that will lead to your location?

You need to have an intimate understanding of the strengths and vulnerabilities of your property that way you can plan an offensive that will keep you concealed while you defend what’s yours.

PRO TIP: Get yourself some sentry alarm mines then load them with .22 blank ammo and attach them to a trip wire.

9- Beware of Natural Threats

• Understand the potential natural threats of your area
• Plan accordingly

When it comes to the location of your BOL make sure that you understand the potential natural hazards and threats of the area. Is the area prone to flooding, earthquakes, forest fires, hurricanes, or tornadoes? Do your best to find a location that is as safe from natural threats as possible.

Sadly, not all of us have access to regions that are free of hazards so you need to assess the threats in your area ahead of time and prepare accordingly. For example, if your area is prone to forest fires then clear the areas around your structures so that the fires cannot easily burn them down.

10- Red Tape

Make sure that you know the requirements and government regulations. Does your property have specific zoning? What kinds of permits do you need to build on or alter your property? Once SHTF this will probably not be an issue, but you’ll want to deal with the red tape before that happens.

11- Storage

• Storage solutions should be secure and safe
• Have multiple storage locations. Just in case.

You will need to keep your food and munitions dry and organized. It is absolutely necessary for you to be able to access your supplies from within your shelter. A root cellar that is located within your shelter may be great for storing food, but the damp conditions are poor for storing anything made of metal. Consider dedicating a dry room to storing your weapons.

Remember to stash a few around the land and in multiple locations just in case you are caught unaware. It’s also good to have an additional stash / bugout bag to grab if you have to make a swift getaway.

12- Bathroom “facilities”

• This is a necessity. Make sure that you have one ready before SHTF
• Your bathroom “spot” needs to be a safe distance from your food and water source.

Again, this is a topic that people don’t really want to think about, but you need to figure out how to deal with bodily waste if you BOL doesn’t have a septic tank. Bodily waste is a smelly bio-hazard material that can give away your presence if it is dumped in the same place over a span of time.

If you’re prepping for a long-term bugout a compost toilet is the way to go. It is easy to use, traps odors, and provides needed nutrients for your garden. Talk about not wasting your waste and making it work for you!

CAUTION: Never dump stool into a stream or close to your food. It will contaminate food and water and potentially spread disease.

Proximity: How close should your bug out location be?

In an emergency services and supplies will be limited and most people will try to escape at the same time. Keep this in mind when you are selecting your location. Ideally, you want your location to be no further than what one tank of gas and a short hike can take you. You also want to be able to get there within one daylight period.

Plan for the harshest situations and inclement weather such as extreme heat, ice/snowstorms, and flooding. Are you able to climb that steep bluff in the pouring down rain or in the snow? Is that windy road accessible during the December blizzards? Would you be able to make that river crossing during a flood? Take all of these different scenarios into consideration and plan for them.

When selecting your location, keep the proximity close and accessible in all weather conditions.

Supplies to stash at your Bug Out Location:

You should tailor your supplies to meet the specific needs of your family, but there are some basic essentials that should be present at every survival retreat. Here are some ideas.

10 Foods with the longest shelf life:

Available at your local supermarket. The listed shelf lives on the chart below are approximate estimations.

Water

• Large and small containers of purified water prepared for long term storage.

Clothing and Bedding

I prefer synthetic clothing because it is easy to wash and dry. Cotton panties will stay wet for a very long time and this can get uncomfortable. The list below is obviously a list for a fully stocked bugout location. I would never bring all of these items with me if I were on the run or backpacking.

• Shirts
• Pants
• Underwear
• Wool socks
• Belts
• Jacket
• Coat
• Coveralls
• Boots
• Hiking Boots
• Hat
• Earmuffs
• Sleeping bag, sheets, blankets, pillow cases
• Laundry detergent to wash your clothing and bedding

Toiletries (Bring LOTS of Floss! This is something people don’t talk about)

• Start stocking up on floss right now. I don’t believe in stockpiling a lot of items, but floss is something that I will stock.
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Comb/brush
• Dry body brush (useful if a shower or bath is unavailable)
• Hand and body soaps
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Lotion
• Feminine Hygiene Products
• Deodorant
• Hair elastics, clips, headbands

Kitchen Supplies

• An aluminum or teflon pot (for boiling water, soups, and pasta)
• Cast iron skillet (ideal for grilling, meats, eggs, veggies, and toasting bread)
• A cast iron dutch oven
• Can opener
• Cooking utensils such as tongs, serving spoons, spatula, knives, ladles, etc.
• Plates, bowls, cups, forks, spoons
• Reusable food storage: mason jars, bowls with lids, tupperware, etc.
• Matches or lighter
• Fuel for fire such as cardboard, camp wood, charcoal, axe / hatchet to access more wood

First Aid Kit

• Insect Repellent
• Sunscreen
• Acetaminophen
• Allergy medicine
• Aspirin
• Tums
• Any prescription medication that you or your family requires
• Bandages
• Burn cream
• Ointment / healing gels
• essential oils
• Arnica
• Epsom salt
• Anti-bug sting cream

Weapons:

• Bear spray (works really well on people too)
• Pepper spray
• Guns
• Ammunition
• Bow and Arrows
• Rope
• Fire Extinguisher

Gardening Supplies:

• Loppers
• Shovel
• Buckets
• Seeds
• PVC pipe (if you need to create an irrigation system)
• Pruners

Fishing and Hunting Supplies:

• Fishing Poles
• Extra string
• Long-lasting bait (or the ability to dig up your own bait)
• Additional leads, bobbers, hooks, and sinkers
• A good knife (for filleting, field dressing, and skinning)
• A strong pair of shears
• Trash bags (for meat)
• Ziploc bags (for innards, liver, heart, and other organs you want to save)
• Hunting rifle
• Rope
• Cooler

Bug out location checklist:

1. Easy to access in all weather.
2. Well concealed, off the highway, maybe on a dirt road that you haven’t talked about on Facebook.
3. Multiple access points.
4. Multiple escape routes.
5. Property touches or is near state or public land.
6. Has a sufficient shelter.
7. Has at least one lookout /vantage point.
8. At least one natural barrier such as a cliff, mountain, river, etc.
9. Lots of storage.
10. Storage can be stocked before a natural disaster.
11. Has a water source nearby such as a stream, lake, or well.
12. Available renewable food sources such as fishing, hunting, foraging, or available farming.
13. Access to a latrine.
14. You are very knowledgeable of the area and can access the location without a map.
15. The location is at a low risk or highly prepared for a natural disaster.

Buying a Bug Out Location

There are a number of ways to find a good bug out property. Talk with a local real estate agent and search for wooded lots or fishing or hunting cabins nearby. These cabins would be well equipped with some of the aspects we discussed above and additional features like access roads, cooking equipment, and septic / toilets.

Make it a point to personally visit any potential property. Bring a real estate agent or someone that you trust. You need to make sure that it is exactly what you expect and if someone is selling it for a good price you need to know why. There might be a negative aspect that you cannot see online. It is best to buy your land in cash and keep it a secret.

If there are no cabins nearby, you can also look at public land. National forests are better than national parks. Get some topographical maps and look for secluded areas that have good access to water.

Where can you find your perfect BOL Getaway?

1. Craigslist is a great place to find listings that aren’t real estate agent’s sites. There are listings that often include very remote plots of land.
2. Word of mouth. Speak with locals in the area that you plan to bug out. Of course you shouldn’t talk about your specific bug out plans, but you can chat with them about different areas and lots that might be fore sale.
3. Survival Realty. This might be the best place to find your BOL. They work nationally with both real estate agents and owners who are selling very remote properties.
4. Land.com boasts that it is America’s number one source for off-grid properties, farms, and ranches.
5. Survivalist.com lists isolated areas for sale across America.
6. United Country Real Estate offers land for sale in the US, Mexico, and Panama.
7. You can also search nationwide real estate websites like Zillow, Redfin, Realtor, and Trulia.

A good bugout location is accessible all year round and easy for you to find, well-hidden and difficult for others to detect. Keep it a secret so that others don’t show up during a disaster and raid your stash.

Conclusion

Just imagine the sense of peace and reassurance you will have once you have a bugout location that meets all of these requirements. What do you look for in a bug out location? Would you stay close to home or completely relocate? Comment below to share!

Thanks for joining me today!

The post How to Find the Best Bug Out Location (BOL) appeared first on Prepper Facts.

Is there water in the desert?

Yes, of course there is water in the desert! Since you cannot see puddles, lakes, and other water sources, one might assume that the desert is a barren and dry wasteland. Thankfully, water does exist even if you can’t see it at a glance.

Animals and plants that live in the desert need water just like any other living thing. Even the smallest plants growing out of the parched cracks in the landscape need water to survive.

Follow the animals

A seemingly obvious way to find water is to follow the animals to their water source. While this may sound like a reasonable tactic in most survival situations, the problem is that larger desert animals don’t come out in the blistering heat of the day. In fact, you should avoid the blistering heat, too.

Tracking an animal at night in any condition is challenging, but it’s a nightmare in the dessert because it is cold, hard to see, and you are probably lethargic from dehydration. You can still follow creatures to water sources, but you will need to think smaller.

Flying Insects

We often ignore or try to repel insects. If you have the kind of blood that doesn’t make you popular, consider it a blessing because mosquitoes and bugs love to feast on me. I try to repel them because they carry diseases and can give bites that can get infected, but they are great water detectors. In the desert I would allow the flying insects to lead me to water. If you see them, there’s a good chance that there is water nearby. Bees are an especially lucky find because they tend to fly directly from their hives to the water. This means that you will spend less time searching.

Ground Insects

Ground insects are more challenging to find because they have excellent camouflage and they hide when they feel the vibrations from your footsteps. They must conserve energy because they lack the advantages of wings and light bodies. This means that they tend to stay closer to the water source. A one-off bug isn’t an indication of water, but if you see several bugs in a small radius, it could mean that water is near.

Snakes and Lizards

Snakes and lizards can set you on the path to water. It is easy to spot their trails in the sand and they often burrow or sun themselves near insect nests or high activity areas. And as we mentioned earlier, insects stay close to water. so if you find snakes and lizards, it’s only a matter of time before you will be able to locate water.

Birds

Birds are able to fly long distances and may hunt further from home, but they are still a good way to find water. They spend a significant amount of time hunting insects, lizards, and small desert rodents that live near a water source. Birds are like the desert’s billboards. If you see a bird circling high in the air, take it as a sign that water is nearby. The best time to find a flock of birds is in the early morning or right before the sun goes down.

Landscape features can help you find water

Search for dense, green plant life

Just a single plant is a sign that there is water. Of course, the more vegetation you can find, the better your chances of finding water, but you’re more likely to see a single plant first. Search for vegetation that gets thicker and greener. If you follow the signs, you might get lucky and find a lush greenbelt or an underground water source.

A Tree -any tree

Since trees take a long time to grow, you can be almost certain that water is nearby if you spot a large tree. Cottonwoods and willows are especially nice to find, but any broad leaf tree is a treasure because they often have water at their bases. If you don’t find a spring or watering hole near the tree, trying digging a hole near its roots and the hole should fill with water. Another nice bonus is the shade that a large tree can provide for you in the desert.

Check downed trees and stumps

Downed and dead trees often absorb and hold water. If you get lucky and see insects going in and out of a stump or hole in a tree, there may be water stored inside. Don’t reach in! That’s the type of thing that nightmares are made of. Instead, tie a piece of cloth to the end of a long stick and poke the inside of the tree. If it comes out wet, then you’ve hit the jackpot! Squeeze the water into a container then go back for a few more rounds.

Search around rocks

A rock is generally impermeable to water so you can often find small amounts of water hiding in and around rock formations. Look for dividing lines between rock formations and in any natural dips or chips. You can also check the ground below where the rock slopes into the sand or soil. Water may have settled underground near the rock’s base.

Dig in dried riverbeds and ponds

If you come across a dried stream, riverbed, or pond, you may be able to find water just below the surface. The surface water might have evaporated, but if you find damp sand a few inches below the surface, it means there is more water to be found. Keep digging. The best place to start digging is right in the bend because this is where the water has eroded the bank and probably got stuck and settled into the bed. Once you have a deep hole that appears to be moist, cover it (so critters don’t contaminate your water hole) and wait a few hours. When you return, the hole will hopefully be full of water.

Search for desert trails

Search for desert trails created by animals, dried up running water, or other survivors. It’s a good sign if a trail is well worn because it is likely that you’ll find water at the end of it. Make sure that you follow the trail cautiously because you never know what could be waiting for you around the bend. Animals, other survivors, or a dramatic drop into the sandy abyss could cramp your style.

Look around the hills

Water will always rest at the lowest point of the landscape. This means that if you see hills, you may find water at the base. The hill is still a wonderful tool even if you don’t find water. Climb to the top for a view of the surrounding area. Search for signs of water like trees, birds, greenbelts, dried rivers, or ponds.

Search North-Facing Canyons

Canyons are the lowest point and tend to fill up with water when the rain falls. North-facing canyons are an ideal place to search because they get the benefit of the shade throughout the day which slows the evaporation of water. If you happen to find water in a canyon it will probably be stagnant and mucky from sitting for a prolonged period. Make sure that you purify the water you find before consuming it.

Other Water Sources

Collect moisture from plant leaves

You can collect a few sips of water from a plant’s natural vapor. Simply place a plastic bag over a plant. Next, place a small pebble into the bag to create a dip for the water to collect in and tie the bag snugly around the stem. Check on the bag at the end of the day. While this isn’t a quick fix and you won’t get a ton of water this way, you could get a few sips to wet your whistle in the blistering desert heat.

How to Collect Clean, Drinkable Water from Plants

Can you drink cactus water?

I hate to tell you that Hollywood fooled us into thinking that the desperate cowboy could simply cut into a barrel cactus and drink water from it. This is a dangerous lie because it turns out that barrel cacti are NOT big, friendly barrels of water waiting to re-hydrate you. While, you can find some moisture inside of a cactus, it is difficult to get and it is not water. The liquid you could get from mashing cactus flesh could greatly tax your kidneys and increase your suffering. As a result, you could end up vomiting during a time where you need your fluids more than ever.

There is only one type of barrel cactus that won’t inflict torturous suffering. The Fishhook Barrel Cactus(Ferocactus wislizenii) can still cause some gastric upset and it tastes super bitter, but it is not toxic like the others. It lives in Northern Sonora, Mexico and South-central Arizona. You can also find them in New Mexico and Texas. This cactus can be identified by its thick (2 foot diameter), barrel shaped body, and long hooked spines. Its red / yellow flowers always grow at the top of the plant.

What about cactus fruit?

Once upon a time, in my early 20’s, I lived in the Bay Area of California and was thrilled to find ruby colored prickly pears adorning a giant cactus. I reached out to grab some and was able to fill a shopping bag of cactus jewels, but I quickly learned the prickly lesson of glochids and the reason why they are called PRICKLY pears.

Cactus fruit can provide hydration and some nutrients and is less likely to make you ill. As I learned, the hard way, the spines and prickly hairs can cause injuries and much discomfort. Quickly burn those off with a few seconds in a fire or flame. If you don’t have a fire, you can peel the spines away with a knife. It is honestly a long and arduous process that may not be worth-it if you have access to other water sources.

If you do opt to choose cactus fruit for hydration, they are easy to spot with their vivid red and yellow colors. I think that prickly pears are the best because they are easy to identify and grow well in a variety of climates. They are a staple in Central American diets and also found in the Southwest of the US, Australia, The Galapagos Islands, and in Northern Africa. They have also been spotted as far north as British Columbia.

How to Pick and Eat Prickly Pear Fruit

How to collect dew in the desert

Morning dew is often an overlooked desert water source. An individual droplet may not seem like much, but collecting morning dew could save your life. There are a few proven methods for collecting dew, but don’t be afraid to experiment with new methods along with the tried and true.

• Method #1: Hang clean clothing on a stick, plant, or rock overnight. It’s as simple as that. The clothing will absorb the morning dew and you can wring it into a cup, bowl, or right into your mouth in the morning. Be sure to rise early and wring the water out before the sun gets too hot, otherwise, the water will evaporate.
• Method #2: If you happen to have mesh inside of your backpack, clothing, or other gear, you can use it to collect dew. Remove the mesh from your selected source and stretch it between two sticks, trees, or rocks. Tip at a steep angle and stick the bottom of the mesh inside of a canteen, bowl, or other clean container. The mesh will collect fog and dew like a spider’s web. Gravity will help to guide those dew drops into your collection container. Additionally, you can use a cloth to absorb the dew from the dew catcher.
• Method #3: Cactus spines are not only designed for protection. They also catch water from the rain and fog and direct it towards the base of the plant. You can use a little cloth to absorb dewdrops from cactus and other desert vegetation. Squeeze the cloth into a container or into your mouth. This is a long and slow process, but it can keep you alive if you can’t find water anywhere else.

Use a stick to find water (Dowsing)

The ancient practice of “dowsing” has gone by a variety of names. Twitching, water witching, or simply “the gift.” It’s all about using a stick or other small object to find water. I haven’t personally used it, but I know other preppers who swear by it. It’s because of them and some interesting research that I have decided to include dowsing in this article. If I’m ever stuck in the desert with no water and no other options, I won’t allow skepticism to be the death of me.

Most experts believe that dowsing is a pseudoscience or old wives’ tale, but there was a German study that attracted some interest. In the 1990’s over the course of a decade, researchers had dowsers and geologists work together in several dry locations to test the accuracy of dowsing. Those researchers discovered that dowsing was surprisingly accurate. Additionally, well-drillers were able to find water 96% of the time thanks to dowsing techniques. Those techniques not only predicted where the water would be, but also told drillers the depth and how much water there would be.

If you’re curious and would like to give dowsing a shot. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Find a Y-shaped stick (think sling-shot.) The ideal sticks are 12 to 16 inches long.
2. Hold the short ends (the top of the Y) with one tine in each hand. Use an underhanded hold (palms up) where the palms and heels of your hands are facing the sky. Face the long end of the stick (the tail) directly in front of you.
3. With a loose grip, slowly move around the terrain.
4. Concentrate on the dowsing rod and when you feel it tug downwards, it means that you are close to water.

Some dowsers claim the tug is hard to miss and you need to tighten your grip as you get closer to water otherwise the stick will drop.

Do you know how to find water with a dowsing stick?

Drink your urine

I covered the topic of drinking your own urine for survival in great detail in a previous article. I know that it’s gross, but it is worth mentioning here. You can drink your urine for survival, but it should be your absolute last resort and you should take the time to distill and filter it. If your only option is to drink it straight from the tap with no filtration, make sure that you have exhausted all other hydration options first. Once you drink your urine, it is only a matter of time before it becomes dangerous and puts significant strain on your kidneys. Eventually, it will further dehydrate you. Drinking urine can buy you a few extra days in a tight situation.

Dig holes for water

You can dig a hole in any area where you believe there may be some moisture below the surface. Generally, the deeper you dig, the more moisture you’ll find. This is probably the most reliable way to locate water. Utilize the information to identify an area with moisture then start digging!

• If you don’t have a shovel, use a sturdy stick or a flat, broad rock.
• If you don’t have a shovel, stick, or rock, wrap your hands in your shirt to protect them.
• Dig approximately 1 foot. If the soil or sand is still dry after 1 foot, find a different location. If it’s damp, it means that there is water deeper down. Keep digging!
• Sand can swiftly fill your watering hole so scoop it out and push it away from the edge.
• Pat the sides of your hole to shore up the edges and prevent caving.
• If you don’t have a bottle, cup, bowl, or container, use your shirt or other clean fabric to soak up water from the source and wring it into your mouth.
• Always filter your water. Underground water sources are less likely to be contaminated by parasites or animal feces, but that doesn’t mean that it’s safe.
• Be patient. It may take a few hours for your hole to fill with water.

Finding Water in the Desert | Primal Survivor

Conclusion

If you ever find yourself in the desert with no water, don’t give up hope. With this guide and a little determination and perseverance, you will be able to find enough water to survive while you work your way out of the hot zone. Do your friends (and me) a favor and share this article so that they will be equipped with this knowledge too! You might save a life!

Now I would love to hear from you! Do you have some strategies for finding water in the desert? Please comment below to share!

See you soon!

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Why use bleach?

Boiling water is usually a person’s first line of defense when it comes to water purification. Unfortunately, if utilities get knocked out as a result of a natural disaster, you may not have the option of boiling water.

Practical reasons to have bleach on hand:

• It is a household product with a variety of uses including cleaning and disinfecting.
• Bleach is very affordable and can be purchased by the gallon.
• It is accessible almost everywhere you shop: grocery stores, hardware stores, and big box stores.
• Bleach can make water potable and also combat mold and mildew (white vinegar works well for mold too)

Does the type of bleach you use, matter?

The type of bleach that you use matters. You may find different fragrances and extras, but there are only two classifications of bleach: chlorine and non-chlorine.

To disinfect water with bleach, you need to buy regular, unscented chlorine bleach with an active ingredient of sodium hypochlorite. The concentration (of sodium hypochlorite) should be between 6 and 8.25 percent. This doesn’t mean that you have to stop buying color safe, scented, and hybrid bleaches. You can buy both and use them for different purposes. One for prepper uses and the other for laundry.

Clorox Regular Unscented Bleach

This is regular, unscented bleach with a 7.5% concentration of sodium hypochlorite. Be sure to also get some liquid droppers to disperse the correct amount of bleach into the water you are treating.

Bleach Concentrate

A very common question is whether or not you can use the bleach that is labeled as “concentrated bleach” to purify water. The answer is found on the bottle. As long as the sodium hypochlorite concentration is between 6 and 8.25 percent, then the answer is yes! The most “concentrated” bleach is usually around 8.25% chlorine (or sodium hypochlorite) bleach.

How to use bleach to purify drinking water:

Now that you’ve established a fresh supply of chlorine bleach, it is time to put all that you have learned to use. You don’t want to wait until you’re in the midst of a crisis to try this technique. Let’s mix up a batch of treated water so that you can get your technique down.

It’s time to collect the water you want to treat. This can be water from a tap, rainfall you collected from your gutters, river, lake, snowpack, or another source. Of course, the higher quality your source, the better your water will be. This is a good time to remove particulates from the water by filtering it through a strainer or cloth.

1. Add bleach to your water. Add either 8 drops of 6% bleach or 6 drops of 8.25% bleach to one gallon of water.
2. Inspect your water and make necessary adjustments. If the water is cold, cloudy, or colored, experts recommend doubling the bleach to 12 – 16 drops respectively.
3. Patiently wait. Allow your mixture to stand for about 30 minutes.
4. Smell and adjust if necessary. When you smell your solution, it should smell slightly like chlorine. If you don’t detect a slight chlorine odor, add another 12 – 16 drops and allow the water to stand for 15 more minutes.
5. Reduce the levels of bleach in the water. If the chlorine taste is off-putting, you can aerate your water by transferring it into another clean container. Allow the water to stand (uncapped) for several hours in the new container before drinking it. You can also pour the water back and forth between two containers. This will speed the evaporation of the chlorine in the water.

How to use household bleach for water disinfection:

This video is very informative and helpful. His instructions are based on a quart whereas mine are based on a gallon.

How to mix larger batches of purified water

Here are some ratios for larger quantities.

If you’re using 6% chlorine bleach:

• 2 drops of bleach per liter or quart of water
• 8 drops per gallon of water
• 16 drops per 2 gallons of water
• 1/3 teaspoon per 4 gallons of water
• 2/3 teaspoon per 8 gallons of water

If you’re using 8.25% chlorine bleach:

• 2 drops of bleach per liter or quart of water
• 6 drops per gallon of water
• 12 drops per 2 gallons of water
• 1/4 teaspoon per 4 gallons of water
• 1/2 teaspoon per 8 gallons of water

Let’s talk about the shelf life of bleach

Did you know that bleach has a shelf life? If you’re surprised and hearing this for the first time, then it’s a goo thing that you’re reading this.

According to the iconic Clorox Company, you need to track the age of your bleach. A company representative told Ron Fontaine -the owner of SurvivalTopics.com, “We recommend storing our bleach at room temperatures. It can be stored for about six months at temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.”

After that time-frame the bleach will degrade 20 percent annually until it’s nothing more than water and salt. Also, store your bleach in a cool place because if it is stored above 70 degrees then it’s going to degrade faster.

Tips for storing purified water

Long-term water storage is a wise move that can pay off when disaster strikes. Here are some purified water storage tips that I learned from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

1. Only use clean, food-grade storage containers to store your purified water.
2. If you must use non-food-grade containers, get durable containers with caps that can be tightly screwed on.
3. Never ever recycle old containers for water -especially if they ever contained toxic materials.
4. If you are uncertain of the origin, find out if the container you’re considering is FDA approved.
5. Always sanitize every container that you plan to use. Mix one teaspoon of fragrance-free chlorine bleach with 1 gallon of water and pour it into the container. Shake vigorously. Let stand 30 seconds before you empty it and allow it to air dry.
6. Label every container with a “Drinking Water” label and include the date.
7. Replace all water at 6-month intervals to maintain freshness.
8. Never keep your water near containers that carry gas, pesticides, or other toxic solutions.

10 Bleach facts to know before you buy too much:

1. Bleach can purify water, but it’s a carcinogen.
2. Bleach is sodium hypochlorite (a poison.)
3. Avoid scented and enhanced bleach for water purification.
4. Bleach can help you clean your dishes with minimal water.
5. Bleach expires after 3-6 months so if you choose to use it, label it with the date, and rotate accordingly.
6. You will need bleach alternatives for water purification.
7. Your tap water already contains some bleach.
8. Swimming pools contain DANGEROUS levels of bleach.
9. Bleach is a pesticide.
10. Bleach can irritate asthma.

I know that I would want to know those things if I were considering bleach for water purification.

Other uses for bleach

Preserve flowers with bleach

Dr. Joan Rose of the Water Quality and Health Council recommends picking flowers while you wait for your power to be restored. Simply mix 1/4 teaspoon of unscented chlorine bleach per quart or pint of water into the vase, and you will destroy the bacteria that causes your flowers to wilt.

Sanitize with bleach

You can sanitize the surfaces and dishes in your home using bleach. Sanitizing is essential in any influenza or viral outbreak (which we have learned from recent events.)

To sanitize with bleach, mix 1 teaspoon of bleach with a cup of water. Dip a cleaning towel into the mixture and wipe the surfaces thoroughly to disinfect. Rinse off the surfaces before drying.

How to use bleach to kill mold and mildew

Killing mold and mildew is especially essential if your home is powerless for weeks or months. This is because the air won’t circulate the way that it did with home heating and air conditioning units. It will be much easier for your home to grow mold and mildew and quickly become a health hazard. Thankfully, household bleach (and white vinegar) can kill these things.

To kill mold and mildew with bleach, mix one cup of bleach with one gallon of water. Saturate the mold with this solution using a spray bottle of rag. Allow the solution to sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing the surface clean. Ventilate the area, wear eye protection, and use a face mask to avoid breathing in spores that are in the air while cleaning.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warning

The EPA guidelines state that when a disaster strikes, we should only use water that has been “properly disinfected” for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and brushing our teeth. This is important to avoid the disease causing microorganisms that dwell in water supplies.

The EPA recommends boiling water and using a bleach additive to kill the organisms that could make you sick. However, this is not a perfect solutions to your dilemma. The water could still be laced with salts, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals. Some of them are added by your water company and others naturally find their way into your water supply.

Conclusion

Bleach has so many uses for preppers and survival, Unfortunately you can’t just store and forget about it because it has a shelf life. Make sure that you label and rotate your bleach. You should always have a fresh supply of bleach because when the next “viral outbreak” occurs (which is has), there will be no good replacement for old fashioned household bleach!

If you are looking for other methods of water purification, please check out the article below!

Would you consider purifying your water with bleach? Do you have a fresh supply of bleach? What other uses have you found? Comment below to share!

See you soon!

The post How to use bleach to purify drinking water appeared first on Prepper Facts.

Dangers of getting cold in the wilderness

It is important to know how to get warm in all kinds of weather conditions, whether you are backpacking, living off grid, or in a survival situation. This is a lot tougher than it seems when you are far away from civilization.

You will need to fit everything that you need into your pack or have a place for it in your shelter. This means that you probably won’t have space for a hot tub or a fancy generator. Staying warm in the winter is a very serious matter because the dangers of getting cold go far beyond a runny nose or a case of the chills.

Dangerous effects of getting cold:

• Sluggish. You will begin to feel sluggish, zapped of energy, and sleepy as your body cools. This may prevent you from moving fast enough to survive in an emergency. If you are too sluggish, you may not have enough energy to complete physically demanding tasks like acquiring food or building a shelter.
• Brain fog. When your blood cools, slows, and brings less oxygen to your brain, you will experience brain fog. As a result, you may feel confused and your decision making skills could be negatively affected.
• Shivering. Uncontrollable shaking is one of the first signs that the cold is affecting you. It makes it difficult to care for your essential needs and do tasks like knot tying and starting fires. Shivering can have a mental impact even on the toughest survivors.
• Frostnip and frostbite. When the water molecules in your body begin to freeze, frostbite can irreversibly damage your skin, muscles, and nervous system. Frostnip is an early warning sign and the stage before frostbite. Try to catch it before it escalates or better yet, take measures to prevent frostnip in the first place.
• Hypothermia. Hypothermia sets in when your body’s core temperature drops below 95° F. According to the internet, Hypothermia is the cause of at least 1,500 deaths a year just in the United States. Many of those people could have survived if they had been properly prepared with the right knowledge.

This is another reason why I’m glad that I moved to the Big Island of Hawai’i. We do get snow on the mountain (for those of you who can’t imagine a life without snow), but the weather stays at a survivable temperature in most places and never drops to a severely cold level. This lowers your risk of experiencing the negative effects of cold weather in a survival situation.

Frostnip and Frostbite

Frostnip happens when tissues cool and blood vessels constrict. While it is not permanent, it is a slippery slope. If left untreated, you will quickly slip into frostbite territory. The alarming truth is that there’s no coming back from that. Once your tissues get damaged by frostbite, those cells are dead.

Here are some signs of frostnip and frostbite:

• Cold or numbness in the affected area
• Pale or red skin
• “Pins and needles” feeling in the area
• Itchy, tingly, or clammy skin
• Loss of sensation
• Loss of elasticity and pliability in your skin
• Increasing pain

Frostnip is irritating and the symptoms include, a cold or numb feeling in the affected area, pale or red skin, and even the “pins and needles” prickling of restricted blood flow. Your skin will feel itchy, tingly, and maybe clammy. At this point the texture is not a good indicator of potential damage because frostnip doesn’t affect your skins softness or pliability.

If you cannot get the affected skin warm again, you will have to watch out for frostbite. Signs of frostbite include: skin turning pale or white, loss of sensation to cold, loss of elasticity and pliability in skin, and increasing pain. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do for frostbite other than warm yourself up to avoid further damage. Total prevention is the best plan of action.

Frostnip vs Frostbite in 120 seconds

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is much more worrisome than frostbite because it can quickly lead to death. If you get hypothermia when you are alone in the wilderness, it is basically a death sentence unless you rapidly move to treat it. Here are some signs of hypothermia that you need to be aware of.

• Shivering
• Slurred speech
• Weak pulse
• Shallow breathing
• Lack of coordination
• Confusion and memory loss
• Loss of consciousness

It is very difficult to self-diagnose hypothermia due to the fact that you may be experiencing confusion, memory loss, and have the potential to go unconscious. If you suspect hypothermia at any point, you must take immediate action and warm yourself up.

How to Survive Hypothermia like a Navy SEAL (Eastmans’ and Sitka Gear)

How to stay warm in the harsh winter wilderness

By now you can see that the complications of cold weather survival can be life-threatening. Your best bet for survival is definitely going to be prevention and mitigating damage.

What do you do if you ever find yourself stuck in the cold for a prolonged period of time and caught completely off guard? Know that all is not lost and remain hopeful. Your knowledge may be all the prepping that you will need. Below I will talk about my tried and true tips and tricks for staying warm in a harsh winter.

7 Basic Rules of Winter Survival:

1. Stay Dry. Wet clothes in the winter are an invitation for frostbite and hypothermia. I know that it’s difficult to stay dry in rain and snow, but this is why you should have two extra sets of dry clothes in your pack. Wear your warm, dry clothes while you sleep and dry your adventuring clothes overnight.
2. Cover your mouth. This has nothing to do with manners and everything to do with preventing freezing air from entering your lungs. This is an especially vital tip if you have asthma, a cold, or are prone to breathing issues.
3. Avoid Overexertion. Building a shelter and finding food is important, but not at the cost of overexerting yourself. If you overexert yourself, you will quickly become drenched with sweat and the sweat can cause you to quickly become hypothermic.
4. Don’t sit still for two long. There is a fine line between overexertion and not moving enough. Try to keep moving without overexerting yourself because inactivity will slow your heart and cool your body. Passive exercise works really well in tight quarters.
5. Wear loose layers. Multiple layers can trap air between them. This will make you warmer than wearing just one thick layer. Wear three to five layers and make sure that your top layer is wind and water resistant.
6. Stay close to your shelter. You will need to find food and water, but don’t stray too far away from your shelter. You could get stranded by an unexpected change of weather that will lead to your demise. This is why it is so important for you to familiarize yourself with your surroundings during the daylight hours.
7. Never sleep on the ground. The ground is cold and often wet especially in the mornings. If possible, build some kind of platform to get yourself off of the ground. Even a layer of plastic bags or a tarp would be better than sleeping on the ground so get creative.

Shelter is your top priority

You better be prepared to work because shelter needs to be your top priority for survival especially in the winter.

Shelter provides protection from the elements (rain, snow, biting winds) and is a place to store your precious gear and supplies. You must hunker down and stay alive and that is impossible without shelter. The winter months are severely unforgiving so build a shelter that can withstand the harshest elements.

5 Types of Winter Wilderness Shelters:

1- Tree and Bush Shelters

You should not base your whole winter survival plan on tree and bush shelters. It is uncomfortable and not sustainable or suitable for long-term survival. Also, you cannot start a fire under this kind of shelter and you will need to start a fire at some point if you hope to survive. In a pinch when you have not other option and time has run out, this kind of shelter could keep you alive.

1. Spruce trees are well-suited for shelters because they provide a sturdy and nearly impenetrable canopy. They often have a thick bed of needles beneath them which can be fashioned into a bed. Plus the trunks are often big enough to provide a natural windbreak.
2. If you can’t find a spruce tree in your area, you can use any tree that has a thick trunk and an ample canopy. Avoid trees that are leaning to one side or have roots coming out of the ground. Heavy snow could topple them over.
3. If the branches are too close to the ground then cut or break some off so that you have space.
4. In a pinch, you can slide under heavy brush or inside evergreen bushes. Just watch out for animals that may be hiding in these places.

Keep this type of shelter small to maximize the warmth. Pile debris around all sides of the shelter. It can act as insulation and keep your body heat from escaping.

How to make a Winter Survival Shelter – Mountain Hut – Solo Bushcraft / Survival Overnight

The shelter that this gentleman constructs is free-standing and more elaborate than what I just described. If you have the time and supplies, it’s worth trying.

2- Hollowed Logs

Hollowed logs work a lot like the tree and bush shelters. You may need to dig into them to create a little more space, but they are raised off the ground and provide cover so it’s a decent trade-off.

• Find a tree with a trunk that is starting to rot from the inside out. This means that the center of the log will be brittle or partially hollow, but the outside will be intact.
• Use a trowel, strong shovel, or axe to carve away the center of the log and hollow out an area that is big enough for you to climb inside. Watch out for large insects.
• Once the tree interior is relatively clean, climb inside.
• For additional warmth, you can pile debris around the open end of the log to keep the cold air out and body heat in. Make sure that you still have a way for fresh air to get in at night.

A hollowed log can be great in an emergency if you happen to stumble across the right tree at the right stage of decay. It will take too much time to hollow out a tree or log that isn’t somewhat rotten.

Similarly to the tree and bush shelters, you don’t want to rely on a log shelter for too long. In a pinch, it is a great way to get you out of the elements, but it is impractical for an extended stay.

SLEEPING IN A HOLLOW LOG, Survival Shelter, Solo Overnighter, 17 degrees

3- Tarp Shelter

A tarp shelter is easy to construct if you have some basic survival gear in your bug out bag. All you need is a tarp and a little military grade para-cord to stay warm and dry. A roll of duct tape would be helpful to close up the ends of the shelter.

For the following draping techniques, keep one end higher than the other. This will give you space to crawl in and will allow the rain and snow to roll off the other side. The duct tape will keep the flaps in the back shut. If you don’t have duct tape, you can use heavy rocks to weigh the tarp down and prevent it from flapping in the wind.

1. Drape your tarp over a large log, low branch or fallen tree. This will be sufficient for a temporary shelter for 1-2 days. Heavy rocks on the outside edges can keep the wind out.
2. For a larger shelter, drape your tarp over a tall bush or branch around chest-height or taller. This is typically suitable for 1-7 days. It’s a good choice for a hunting or trapping camp.
3. For a taller shelter, string para-cord or rope tightly in the trees then drape the tarp over the rope. This cord and tarp shelter offers more space for a survival fire and a little more leg room without sacrificing heat retention. This option is great for a longer stay. It provides an excellent base that you can add layers to for additional insulation. As long as your cord holds and your frame is solid, you can add more wind and rain protection to the top. Plastic sheeting, branches, newspapers, and animal skins work well for this kind of shelter.

15 Shelters with a Tarp | Camping & Bushcraft

4- Snow Trench

A snow trench can save your life especially if the conditions are so bad that you can’t get under a tree or construct a tarp tent before dark. A lot of people are hesitant at the thought of constructing a warm shelter from snow because isn’t snow cold?

Well, it is, but it is also an excellent construction material that is highly insulating. I was surprised too, but it’s definitely true!

1. Dig a narrow trench in the snow to mid- thigh that is slightly wider than your shoulders.
2. Place sticks, branches, boards or poles across the trench to create a stable roof frame. Use more branches, tarps, blankets, or plywood to completely cover the top of the trench.
3. Your final roof layer will be snow (which is an excellent insulator.) Cushion the inside of your trench with leaves, blankets, or plastic bags. Now slide in! Your body will provide enough heat to keep you alive until daybreak.

Winter Survival – 15 minutes shelter

5- Lean-To

A lean-to is a basic survival shelter that consists of a horizontal main support across the top with branches or sticks leaning against this support on one or both sides.

1. Find a straight and sturdy branch to place between two trees. You can support it by placing each end of this branch into the V of two branches or bind it to the trees with rope or cordage.
2. For smaller shelter, construct a lean-two with one end in a tree and the other on the ground. This will create a smaller shelter that will help you keep in the heat.
3. Lean smaller branches along each side of the shelter. This will complete the structure.
4. For insulation, pile debris against the framework in cascading layers from the ground up. A thicker debris pile will provide more insulation and help you stay warmer at night.

Lean-Tos are easy to make with a variety of supplies. Branches, wood planks, ski poles, or anything you can find can create a sturdy frame for your shelter. Lean-to’s are excellent for long-term survival.

It is as simple as leaning branches or poles against another sturdy object to create a space below that is big enough for you to lay and sit in.

Bushcraft: How to make a lean-to shelter from only natural materials – survival shelter

Fire Use

Shelter, food, water, and fire are the 4 things that will keep you alive. Fire can be extremely difficult to create and maintain winter conditions so it is best for you to prepare ahead of time. Keep a fire-starting kit in your BOB, your car, and your workplace so that you’re never caught off-guard. If you ever find yourself in the dead of winter with no matches or lighter you can try some of these fire-starting methods that don’t require a lighter.

Start collecting firewood right away. Collect whatever you can find and hang it on your pack to dry as you walk. If it’s snowing or raining, stick it inside of your pack. While it won’t dry very fast in there, at least it won’t get any wetter.

You will require a significant amount of kindling for winter fires. Smaller is better so snap the wood into smaller pieces and bits.

It may be tempting to start a roaring fire, but resist that urge. Everything is scarce and hard to find so conserve your firewood and resources. Keep your fire small and protected and feed it only enough to keep it burning. Prepare to scrounge in the coals the next morning for anything that’s dry and still burnable.

How to stay warm overnight

During the day, you can stay warm by moving your body, but at night your breathing slows down and your body cools off. You will need warm layers, a dry shelter, and good insulation to survive the night. Use the following methods to create a little more warmth.

• Survival Blankets trap heat and can keep you warm in the coldest weather. They are light enough to pack and carry around, yet sturdy enough for tougher uses like a temporary roof for a snow trench.
• Tea Candles are tiny, but surprisingly good heaters. They are easy to pack in your BOB and weight next to nothing. In a well-constructed shelter, one small tea candle is enough to stay warm. Make sure that you place your tea candle in a place that won’t set you or your shelter on fire. I like placing them in tall mason jars near the sealed back of the shelter.
• Plastic bags, newspapers, plastic sheets, leaves, and evergreen boughs make great sleeping mats and can keep you warm if you don’t have a blanket.
• Handwarmers are lightweight, cheap, and easy to use. Keep a few in your BOB for times when you can’t get a fire going or it would be dangerous to start one.
• Hot stones from your fire can prolong the heat production in your shelter without the risk of starting a fire. Place them around you at bedtime.
• Make sure that your socks are dry before you go to bed. It doesn’t take long for damp socks to freeze even inside of a good sleeping bag.
• Keep your blood flowing with passive exercise. You can tense and relax your muscles for a few minutes to raise your body temperature. This works great in sleeping bags.

Essential Winter Survival Gear

Many online articles cover general survival gear, but I couldn’t find many good ones for winter-specific conditions. Here is my personal winter survival gear list. Add these items to your Bug Out Bag and you will be well-equipped to survive the harshest winter conditions.

• Small shovel. This will come in handy when you are constructing emergency shelters or foraging for food.
• Hatchet for cutting down small trees and digging out logs.
• Three extra layers of clothing. I always wear wool socks. I bring workout clothing and longjohns. Pack whatever will fit under your regular clothes and will fit into your BOB. Choose loose fitting items that will dry quickly.
• Baclava, ski mask, face shields or a bandana
• Have two pairs of important clothing so you can wear one while the other dries.
• Hand warmers
• Extra wool socks. Pack two more than you think you need.
• Fire starting equipment: lighter, matches, flint and steel, and some dry kindling
• Canteen to keep close to your body (under your clothes), to ensure that you always have water.

Tip: Synthetic materials dry very quickly if they get wet and are a good alternative to cotton clothing. Always stay away from cotton underpants in the backcountry.

Conclusion

Winter survival is not for the faint of heart and it is not going to be fun. It can be done if you are prepared. Remember to get creative and don’t give up in the middle of a problem.

Do you have any winter survival tips and tricks? Please comment to share. I would love to hear your ideas.

See you soon!

The post How to stay warm in the harsh winter wilderness appeared first on Prepper Facts.

You don’t want your emergency water to freeze

It’s obvious that frozen water in an emergency is bad news that goes beyond the minor inconvenience it may cause in everyday life. Frozen water is a threat to your health in an emergency and can cause significant damage to your property.

Frozen water is a prepper’s worst nightmare in the winter

• It is dangerous to consume frozen water. I’m sure that we have all heard the advice to avoid eating snow (especially if you read my article about finding drinkable water in the winter wilderness.) This advice also applies to your frozen water supply. If you consume ice, you will end up lowering your core body temperature. In a survival situation, that could lead to uncontrollable shivers, hypothermia, and eventual death.
• Frozen water is a destructive force. People often think of water freezing in their ice cube trays and it doesn’t paint a picture of danger. The harsh reality is that frozen water can and will destroy whatever you are storing it in if it isn’t properly stored. When water freezes, it expands about 10%. A few common problems with frozen water are exploding water bottles, bursting pipes, and busted emergency water barrels. A busted water pipe would be annoying in everyday life, but imagine how devastating it would be in an emergency situation when you are depending on it for survival.
• Frozen water is contaminated easily. Frozen water has a higher likelihood of contamination. This is because the expansion of water puts added stress on pipes, seals, and other aspects of your water system. Your entire emergency water supply could easily become contaminated by the tiniest crack in your system. You won’t even know that it’s contaminated until you consume it and end up sick. The frightening truth is that parasites and bacteria can lay dormant in ice then come back to life once thawed. You may not have the luxury of a stove or even a basic survival fire and that will limit your chances of purifying the block of ice that used to be your emergency water supply.
• Thawing ice is a huge waste of energy. When you need to use your emergency water supply, chances are that both inside and outside of your home will be cold. Any method of melting the ice will require significant amounts of energy. Don’t waste it.

How to keep your outdoor emergency water from freezing

Indoor water storage is ideal, but I wouldn’t be a very good prepper if I didn’t also offer solutions for outdoor water storage. I keep a significant portion of my emergency water stored outdoors in large tanks. I do this simply because there isn’t a lot of extra space in my home and I still want to have a lot of water just in case.

There are some anti-freezing methods that require more planning and cost more money, but can yield better results. I also have options for you if you have limited time, space, and money.

Method #1 Store your water underground

First, find out the depth of the frost line in your area. This is the depth at which the ground is expected to freeze. Home builders regularly use this information while planning the construction of the home’s foundation.

Acquire this information at your local building department or by visiting this website to get a general idea of where the frost depth is in your area. Once you know that depth, you can store your water below that level so it will be protected from freezing.

Underground water storage ideas (below the frost line):

• Underground water storage tank
• Airtight containers of water (55 gallon drums)
• Large PVC pipes capped at both ends that are full of water

No matter what container you choose to use, make sure that the top of your water container is below the frost depth. Careful measuring is crucial because you don’t want any part of it peeking above ground. When in doubt, bury it deeper than you think you need to.

You won’t be taking up precious indoor space with your water supply safely stored underground. Additionally, it will be hidden from looters. The downside is that your water won’t be easy to access or portable. You will also need to make sure that it is in close proximity to your shelter or build a shelter nearby.

Pro Tip: A larger tank is better since larger masses of water take longer to freeze.

Method #2 Use steel tanks to absorb heat

Even if you can’t bury your water tank underground, there are still ways to prevent your emergency water from freezing when it’s stored above ground. For example, large, steel tanks can absorb heat from the sun and prevent freezing.

• Make sure that your tank has maximum sun exposure. The more sunlight exposure on your water tank, the better. Make sure that it is out in the open and not shaded. Southern exposure is best for those in the United States or other countries in the Northern hemisphere.
• Paint the kettle (water tank) black. Black absorbs light (energy) while light colors like white will reflect it. Painting your water tank black will help it absorb the maximum amount of warmth from the sun.
• Insulate your water tank. Wrap your water tank with insulation from your local home improvement store. In a pinch you can use foam, newspapers (if they can be kept dry), or blankets. Any insulation will help the container retain the heat it has collected.
• Position your tank to touch the outside of your home. Only do this if it is structurally safe. Remember that water weighs a lot -over 8 pounds per gallon. You can produce a heat sink that will allow your tank to absorb some of the warmth from the wall of your home by firmly mounting your tank against an outside wall.

If you don’t get a lot of sun then this method will be less effective for you.

Method #3 Use a greenhouse

Greenhouses are much warmer inside than the outside even in the winter. You can even increase the temperature by keeping a compost pile inside of the greenhouse. Did you know that compost piles can reach up to 170 °F? Even if the compost doesn’t get very hot in the winter time, the smallest temperature increase can keep a large water tank warm enough to prevent freezing.

The downside of this method is that vermin and rodents with be attracted to the warmth and the compost itself.

Method #4 Store water in your car

It’s a no-brainer that your Bug Out Bag in your vehicle should include a personal water supply. You should keep extra bottles of water in the cab of your car, not the trunk. When you start your car, the water will get warm and the cab will retain heat for awhile which will decrease the chance of frozen water. This is especially true if you sleep in your car because your body heat will keep your water supply from freezing.

Pro tip: For the best results, store your water on the seats rather than the floor.

Method #5 Store water in a cooler

I’m very fond of storing my water supply in a regular camping cooler. The properties that keep my beer frosty and cold in the summer will keep my emergency water supply from freezing in the winter. The key to success is to only open the cooler when absolutely necessary.

Recharge the warm air inside by opening your cooler near a fire. If your cooler has a metal lining, you can place a heated stone from your fire inside to prevent your water from freezing.

Should you use water additives?

I have never found a safe or reliable additive that will prevent freezing. This is another reason why I wanted to move to a warm place (Hawai’i). I was tired of my water freezing in my car.

The biggest issue with using an additive to prevent your water from freezing is that you’ll eventually have to drink it. Or you will have to figure out a way to remove the additive before drinking it.

• Salt. Your drinking water is not going to taste very good if you add enough salt to prevent freezing. Also, the amount of salt you would need to add can be dangerous. As a whole, every prepper knows that drinking salt water is never a good option. Not to mention it can cause dehydration and too much sodium can lead to heart problems and kidney issues.
• Sugar. Some preppers suggest using sugar based additives, but we can debunk this myth by looking at popsicles. A popsicle is literally colored sugar water and it has no trouble freezing.
• Alcohol. I have heard of preppers spiking their water to prevent freezing, but I’m unwilling to try this method. Alcohol can impair your decision making skills and it has lasting effects on your body that can lead to health issues. Consuming alcohol is also an invitation for hypothermia because alcohol causes blood vessels near your skin to dilate. That moves blood and heat away from your core which lowers your body’s temperature.

I think that additives are risky and not worth the risk. I would rather use a different method that doesn’t cause kidney damage and dehydration.

Conclusion

Water freezes from the top down so you should store your personal water containers (bottles, canteens, thermoses) upside down, with the lid on the bottom.

I hope that you learned something new today. What challenges are you having with your water storage? Have you figured out ways to prevent your water from freezing? Comment below to share!

The post How to keep your outdoor emergency water from freezing appeared first on Prepper Facts.

During a bitter cold winter, you will face a level of hunger that you’ve never felt before. It’s not impossible to make it through if you know where to find supplies and how to prepare in advance. My tips for winter foraging in a survival situation will work whether you are in the city, the suburbs, or in the wilderness.

Winter Survival Food Challenges

Any survival situation will test your mettle, innovation, and instincts. Know that you will be tested more than ever after a disaster in the dead of winter. The following factors make finding food in the winter more challenging and in some cases, downright dangerous.

Supplies will be severely limited.

Fellow survivors will fiercely guard and protect their stashes. That will make bartering and trading difficult once you deplete your own supplies. Others will be less willing to part with their food supplies even if you have highly coveted bartering items such as dry firewood, fuel, or bottled water. There is also the danger of looting. If you showcase your bartering items too often, you may find yourself without food and your other supplies.

It will be difficult to prepare food.

When the grid goes down, you may not be able to afford the luxury of a hot meal every night. Your meal choices will be limited to cold and uncooked items unless you have batteries, a generator, or chemically-heated food pads. I know that you’re thinking of building a fire, but fires are tough to keep going in the dead of winter. Even if you manage to get a big enough blaze to boil water and cook meat, dry firewood will be difficult to replenish. It is more important to conserve your firewood for small fires that will warm you up when the cold hits. If you’re serious about surviving winter, the reality is that cooking over a campfire isn’t going to be a practical option.

Rodents will destroy your supplies.

It is not that obvious during the warmer months, but rodents are a big issue in the winter. Once their natural food supplies dwindle, they will be forced to enter your shelter and steal your supplies to survive. In addition to stealing your valuable calories, rodents bring parasites, diseases, and injuries to humans. Imagine a rat infestation in your carefully rationed dry goods. No matter how hungry I am, I won’t be eating rice if it has rat poop in it.

Your supplies can be destroyed by dampness, mold, and destructive freezing.

Even if you manage to avoid the problems mentioned above, you are still at the mercy of Mother Nature’s whims. Winter is notoriously damp in most regions and the smallest bit of moisture can speed spoilage (even in the bitter cold). Despite common beliefs, mold spores thrive in the winter months. Mold spores are everywhere, awaiting the right conditions. If there’s condensation, then there’s going to be mold and mildew before long. A single warm breath into your dry oatmeal stock can blow enough moisture and mold spores into the bag and start mold growth. You probably won’t have enough heat in your shelter to dry it all out before the mold spreads.

Shorter days means less daylight for foraging.

When winter begins, you will have dramatically less daylight. If you don’t plan ahead for your winter foraging, you could get caught wandering in unfamiliar territory when it gets dark and the temperature drops. Make it your priority starting today to know the lay of the land and understand what resources are available.

Your caloric requirements will increase in cold weather.

Your body burns calories to stay warm. The process of non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) kicks in around 64 degrees Fahrenheit. In a winter survival situation, it will be much colder than that and your body will definitely shiver. The colder it gets, the more fuel you will need to stay warm.

That list of issues may sound daunting, but don’t lose hope. Winter survival is far from easy, but it is definitely possible if you can anticipate potential problems and know where to find food.

Foraging for food in a winter survival setting

There are two main types of foraging after a disaster:

• Wilderness foraging
• Urban foraging

Your location will determine the types of food that you can forage in the wilderness. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you specifically what to look for since I don’t know where you live. I have a lot of experience foraging throughout the United States and Canada and there’s something for everyone. Wilderness survival requires some knowledge of the natural resources, local wildlife, and native plants.

To forage in an urban setting, you will need to know the layout of your town, including local gardens, stores, and restaurants.

Wilderness Food Sources

These food sources are typically readily available in the wilderness even in harsh winter conditions. You may need to dig through the snow, but finding food in the dead of winter is still very possible!

Cattail Roots

Cattails are a lot like potatoes and can be prepared in the same way if you have some heat to cook with. Wash and peel them first and then you’ll be good to go. Additionally, if you’re feeling patient and have a way to dry store, you can dry them and grind them into flour. Otherwise, slice them thinly and boil them for a few minutes.

Wild Food Foraging- Cattail- Veggie Pasta

Pine Nuts

Pine nuts are readily available in most regions of the Northern Hemisphere. You want to get the seeds from closed pine cones that are still on the tree. If you can’t find any on the tree, you can check the ground below, but it is likely that animals have already picked through the cones on the ground. It doesn’t hurt to check!

How to harvest pine nuts in the forest

Acorns

You can find acorns on the ground. They often get buried under snow so if you come across one of these trees, it’s a good idea to dig a little. Sometimes they hide under dead grass and fallen leaves, so don’t give up if you don’t find any right away.

Acorns need to be soaked for 3 days and you must change the water at least 3 times to remove tannins. If you are short on water then skip the acorns because they’re not worth losing water over.

Acorns – Survival Food!

Milkweed Seeds

Did you know that milkweed seeds can be eaten? Also, the fluff makes great tinder, insulation for shelter and clothing, and stuffing for pillows. Simply break open the pods to release the seeds and fluff. The pods burn well too.

Wild Food Foraging- Common Milkweed

Watercress

Watercress grows year round and is found in dense clusters in creeks and springs. It is edible raw and this makes it very useful for winter survival when you need to conserve your heat-making resources.

Desert Survival Food: Watercress

Crabapples

Crabapples are cold-hearty and high in nutrients. You can often find them hanging in their trees in the wintertime. While, it is possible to eat them off the ground, you will want to look out for signs of decay and vermin activity. You should never eat crabapples or any items that are full of insects. It’s not worth risking parasites.

Everything You Need to Know About Crab Apples! | DAFT

Wild Berries

Berries are excellent winter foods. In the Pacific Northwest, I loved hiking through the forests from November – January to find the last salal bushes and black huckleberries. Only eat the berries that you are familiar with because unfamiliar berries could make you sick.

How to Not Poison Yourself Eating Berries

Mushrooms

Mushrooms can survive in cold winter weather. However, you want to make sure that you can identify the mushrooms and are certain that they are edible, otherwise skip them. They are a wonderful source of nutrients, but they can also kill you. Many varieties of mushrooms grow in the winter, but the exact varieties will depend on your location. Search for them in rotting logs and vegetation, especially after a thaw. If you’re new to identifying mushrooms, this article is a good place to start.

16 Wild Edible Mushrooms You Can Forage This Autumn

Bugs and Grubs

Bugs and grubs typically stay underground in the cold winter months, but with a little digging you can collect enough to keep your body fueled. Search for rotting logs, vegetation, and signs of insect activity in trees. Crickets, ants, and termites are widespread and usually safe to eat. As a general rule, I always boil all of the insects that I find. Boiling will kill most parasites and bacteria and can neutralize the acid in ants. I would never eat bugs that I can’t identify. As a whole it is always a good idea to avoid brightly colored insects. As the old saying states, “If it’s brown, swallow it down!”

How To Eat Every Insect | Method Mastery | Epicurious

The Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles: Learn How To Forage, Prepare & Eat 40 Wild Foods is the top rated foraging guide on Amazon. I keep it in my bugout bag because it makes identifying edible plants easy. I love that it has clear illustrations and step by step directions for identifying each plant.

Hunting and Trapping

Hunting and trapping are very viable ways to get your food in the winter time. All of the natural food sources that I mentioned above will attract animals so it is very beneficial to know where they are growing. Set your traps accordingly then wait to shoot your shot. You will need a suitable rifle or a powerful bow if you want to take down deer or elk.

Be on the lookout for rabbits, raccoons, beavers, and rats. A rat may sound very unappealing, but it’s better than starving to death. Rats are the easiest to trap because because they have less fear of humans than the other animals. As I mentioned above, the rats will often come to you because they will try to raid your food supply. Make sure that you thoroughly cook all of your meat to kill bacteria and parasites. Also, you should never eat a random dead animal that you come across.

Urban Food Sources

If you are a city dweller and you get caught off guard without supplies, don’t worry! You can still find food in suburban and urban areas.

• Community Gardens are very popular in cities. City dwellers often grow potatoes because they are easy to grow and don’t require a lot of care. Root vegetables will survive underground for months even in the coldest temperatures. If a community garden already looks cleaned out, it doesn’t hurt to do some digging to search for potatoes, carrots, turnips, and other root veggies.
• Abandoned Restaurants are a good place to restock your food. After the first few days, most of the items will be gone since they are usually perishable. If you’re quick and lucky, you may be able to find some dry goods or suitable items in the walk-in freezer. If 3 days have passed since SHTF, I would avoid restaurants because by then the food will be spoiled or gone.
• Abandoned Grocery Stores will be the best place to find food once SHTF (if you are quick enough.) As soon as the dust settles, everyone will race to the grocery stores. Search breakrooms, backrooms, and lockers for hidden treasures. Many looters will overlook frozen items. Frozen foods are preserved and good options. There are many foods will extremely long shelf lives.
• Empty Vehicles sometimes have stashed protein or granola bars and other goodies stashed in glove compartments. I’d aim for minivans to find the best haul.
• Dumpster Diving is much better in the winter than the summer. The freezing temperatures slow down spoilage and it is less smelly. Many people in urban areas throw out perfectly good food. Grocery stores and restaurants usually have the best dumpsters and apartments sometimes have good options too.

I don’t recommend searching people’s homes for supplies. Even if a house may look abandoned, it could be another prepper’s home and you may end up with a rifle in your face. If you must enter a home, you should knock first out of courtesy.

Conclusion

Winter foraging and survival will take problem solving, creative thinking, and killer prepper skills. At this point, I hope you have a better idea of where to find some viable food sources. Take some time to start scouting and creating a solid survival plan.

Have you ever gone winter camping before? Do you have more winter survival and foraging ideas? Please comment below to share!

See you soon!

The post Foraging for Food in a Winter Survival Situation appeared first on Prepper Facts.

WARNING: Don’t eat the snow!

Before we get started, I must lay down the law. Don’t eat the snow! A bite of fresh snow might not hurt you in everyday life, but in a survival situation, it is best to avoid it. Eating snow can drastically lower your body temperature and put you at risk of getting hypothermia. Additionally, snow is known to to collect a significant amount of pollutants from the environment.

Where can you find water in a winter wilderness?

A water shortage is a major problem in any survival situation. However, it is even tougher to stay hydrated in the winter. In fact, it is much easier to become hydrated in the winter than it is in the summer. I was surprised when I first heard this too! The reason for this is that our human thirst response is diminished by up to 40% in the winter time. This means that you might not even know when you are severely dehydrated.

Now you know the importance of drinking water even when you are cold and surrounded by snow, but you shouldn’t eat the snow. So what should you do and how do you stay hydrated?

1- Melt snow or ice

When I went backpacking in the winter time for the first time, I melted snow and boiled it for drinking water. Back then, I felt comfortable doing this because we were at a high elevation in a super remote area that didn’t get traffic or much action. Knowing what I know now, I would do things a little differently.

If your only option is snow or ice, go for the ice first. It is easier to melt with less fuel and provides more water than snow. Additionally, it is less likely to contain the toxins that snow can absorb from its environment.

How to melt your snow or ice:

One of the easiest methods to melt snow or ice is to use a tripod and a piece of cloth. Create a tripod with three sticks or boards then hang a clean sock or other piece of fabric from the tripod. Place a clean container directly under the fabric to catch the melted snow. Fill the fabric with the cleanest snow or ice that you can find. Next, start a fire next to the hanging fabric. Alternatively, you could use a camp stove or even hand warmers to slowly melt the snow into the container below.

Remember to purify your melted snow or ice before you drink it. I survived off of the melted snow that I boiled in a pot, but I was 19 back then and nowadays I would take the extra precautions and purify my water.

Winter Bushcraft & Survival: Generating Water From Snow

2- Collect condensation from the inside of your shelter.

Even though it is cold and you’re not sweating very much, you are still constantly losing water. In the winter, your breath is the primary way that you lose water. Eventually, your body heat and breath will create condensation.

A small tent or properly constructed lean-to is well-positioned to be a water collection structure by collecting condensation. Angle some plastic bags on the inside of your roof. If your tent has air vents at the top, cover the vents with plastic. This will keep your body heat inside and will allow you to direct condensation towards a clean container or pot.

The size, shape, and location of your shelter will dramatically impact your success. Experiment with various angles to find the sweet spot for your shelter. If the angle of your plastic is too shallow then your precious condensation may freeze before it reaches the container. If the angle is too steep, it may drip on your while you sleep.

3- Search for running water in rivers and streams

If the water is moving then you won’t need to melt it. That’s one less stop and a lot less fuel that you’ll need to burn. You may need to break through the icy layer on top, but deeper water sources usually remain free-flowing beneath the ice.

Precautions:

Don’t rush to dive in and start chugging because cold water will lower your core body temperature. Also, you should consider any water that you find, contaminated and take the necessary measures to purify it. You can purify your water with the distillation method mentioned above, sunlight, filters, or purification tablets.

• Using water filters in the cold. Know that water filters can freeze. A frozen filter will result in a broken seal and cracked housing. A simple way to prevent the freezing of your water filter is to keep it with you as close to your body heat as possible. This is not ideal for a larger filtration system, but you can keep a smaller one in your pocket or pack.
• Using Water Purification Chemicals in cold weather. The chemicals you would use to treat your water are less effective in cold weather. You will need to warm up your water to get the most out of your purification chemicals, but this method will use much less fuel than boiling your water.

Water from streams, rivers, and springs can feel like a godsend to thirsty survivors, but you must proceed with caution. It is not only dangerous to drink unpurified water, but collecting water from those sources can be extra risky. Always avoid walking on ice. Use a long stick to thoroughly test the ground several feet ahead of you. The last thing you need is an impromptu dip in icy water. You can stay safer and extend your reach by attaching a collection container to the end of your stick or pole.

I personally think that this method is extremely risky and it is important to know how to get out of the ice if you accidentally fall in. I think this next video is helpful.

Ice Safety – How To Perform A Self Rescue

4- Collect Rainwater

Thankfully, it tends to rain more in the winter than other seasons. Take advantage of this seasonal feature and make an effort to collect the rain as it falls. Rain is a much more pure source of drinking water in a winter survival situation because it doesn’t absorb toxins as readily as snow does. Make sure that you collect the rain in a clean container.

You can use any type of waterproof material to assist with rain collection including:

• Plastic bags
• Tarps
• Plastic sheeting
• Rain Poncho

Stretch the material out between three or four trees and secure it at the corners. Next, place a clean rock in the center of your material. Rain will collect in the middle as it falls and will provide you with a good supply of water depending on the amount of rain.

You could poke a small hole in the material near the center and collect it from below in a bucket or canteen. I wouldn’t personally compromise my valuable fabric because I might need it later.

How to Collect Rain Water Using a Tarp

His climate is obviously different from what we are discussing here, but his approach demonstrates what I just described.

5- Purify your urine for drinking

This option is NOT at the top of my list for obvious reasons, but if you have run out of all other options, it’s something. There are ways that you can make urine safe to drink and I’ve covered them in my “Is It Safe To Drink Urine For Survival?” article.

Distillation is going to be your best bet in the winter. Distillation involves collecting your urine, boiling it, then collecting the vapors. This is very similar to the condensation collection method above. The drawback is that you’ll need to burn some fuel to make this work. Since you’ll be using your precious fuel to boil urine, you should use the same fire to cook food, dry your clothes (catch the vapors!), and warm your shelter.

How to keep your water from freezing

Now that you have found a source of safe, quality, drinking water, you need to keep it from freezing so that it is ready to drink. This can be extremely challenging in the harsh winter wilderness, but there are some things you can do to help.

Keep your water bottle close to your skin

Make sure that your water bottles and containers are fully closed then place them in your sleeping bag with you while you sleep. A good sleeping bag can retain your body heat for a significant amount of time.

Alternate ways to insulate your water bottles:

• Store them in socks.
• Wrap them in spare clothing, towels, blankets, tarps, plastic bags, or anything else that can hold heat.
• Keep them in your sleeping bag.

If your water is already frozen, do not use your body heat to warm it up. A cold bottle against your skin will quickly make your body temperature drop to dangerous levels. Melt it then put it in your sleeping bag or under your clothes.

If you have absolutely no other way of melting ice or snow, put the container between two layers of your clothes, but never directly on your skin. This is far from ideal, but it’s better than getting dehydrated, causing frostbite, or getting hypothermia.

CamelBak Warning:

Wearable water options are not ideal for winter survival. While CamelBaks and similar hydration systems work really well in warm weather, the tubes and nozzles tend to freeze quickly in cold temperatures.

Store your water bottles upside down

Ice forms from the top down. If you keep your bottle turned upside down, the bottom will freeze first and you will still be able to drink from the top. This works for any water container as long as it has a good seal.

Why can’t I just eat snow?

I know you’re probably thinking that if you were in a survival situation in the dead of winter, that water wouldn’t be an issue because you’d be surrounded by snow. The truth is that you shouldn’t eat snow for several reasons.

Reason #1: Hypothermia

Your body is already working extra hard to protect you from the external cold. If you consume frozen water, you will lower your core body temperature and put an inordinate amount of strain on your system.

In the dead of winter, there’s a strong chance that you may not be able to recover from that. Imagine bitter cold biting winds on the outside and frozen water running down your throat. That would be a perfect recipe for hypothermia.

Reason #2: Potentially Toxic Contaminants

In addition to the cold temperature, snow is also full of toxic chemicals. Each snow flake is a tiny net or scrubbing brush that falls slowly from the sky. On the way down it catches all the particles in the air.

A study conducted at McGill University in Montreal, Canada discovered that snow can absorb massive toxins in the air in as little as one hour. They found many pollutants in the snow including:

• Benzene
• Ethylbenzene
• Toluene
• Xylenes

Those pollutants remained in the water even after the snow melted.

What if the snow looks clean?

Many people believe that the snow is safe to eat if it’s white, but that’s just not true. You may be able to see dirt and black carbon (soot), but you cannot see things like sulfates and formaldehyde. Even if you are in a rural setting, you snow isn’t necessarily safer than city snow. There may not be as much city pollution in wilderness snow, but there is still a little.

In the wilderness you have to worry about bacteria and parasites from woodland creatures. The alarming truth is that pesticides can pop up in snow even decades after they were used, according to Staci Simonich (Professor of Environmental and Toxic Ecology at Oregon State University.) She even found 50 year old pesticides in higher elevations in many U.S. National parks.

Conclusion

Yikes! This whole conversation has made me feel thankful that I always melted and boiled snow before drinking it. At 5 years old, I knew that it was gross when some neighborhood boys were walking along the road with their sleds and picking up the gray snow on the road to eat.

Securing water in a winter survival situation is a complicated task. In a perfect world, you would have enough water with you to make it through any situation that you encounter. Still, you wouldn’t be much of a prepper if you didn’t have a few winter survival tricks up your sleeve.

I would love to hear about your winter survival tips and tricks! comment below to share!

The post How do you find drinkable water in the winter? appeared first on Prepper Facts.

Every seasoned prepper knows that water is a crucial element of any well-thought-out survival strategy. Understanding the different aspects of water storage for preppers is not just important—it’s a necessity. An adequate supply of clean, safe water is the one thing that can’t be compromised on in any emergency scenario.

Understanding Your Water Needs

Firstly, it’s vital to determine your water needs. The U.S. government suggests a supply of at least one gallon per person per day in an emergency situation CDC: Creating and Storing an Emergency Water Supply. However, this estimation only considers drinking and light sanitation. For comprehensive hygiene and cooking needs, that amount might need to be doubled. Furthermore, this requirement can increase based on age, health, and climatic conditions.

Choosing Your Water Storage Container

Water storage containers are available in various sizes and materials. They can range from small bottles suitable for personal use to large barrels designed for long-term storage. It is critical that any container you choose is food-grade and preferably BPA-free to prevent contamination. EPA: Protect Your Home’s Water.

For those just starting, buying commercially bottled water is a straightforward option. It’s already sealed and typically has a long shelf-life. However, for long-term water storage for preppers, larger containers are more practical. Products such as the Aqua-Tainer offer 7 gallons of storage and are made from durable, food-grade plastic. REI: Reliance Aqua-Tainer Water Container – 7 Gallons.

Storing Your Water

Next on the agenda is the storage of your water supply. Ensure your water is stored in a cool, dark place to prevent the growth of algae and other microorganisms. If you’re using tap water, it’s already treated with chlorine and safe for long-term storage. However, if you’re using water from a well or a natural source, you’ll need to purify it before storage. CDC: Boil Water Advisory.

Rotating Your Water Supply

Like any stored resource, your water supply should be rotated to keep it fresh. Commercially bottled water typically comes with a “best by” date. While the water doesn’t ‘expire’, this date is a good guideline for when you should replace your supply. FDA: Bottled Water Everywhere: Keeping It Safe.

For self-filled containers, a general rule of thumb is to replace the water every six months. However, if you’ve properly cleaned the containers and stored the water under suitable conditions, it can remain safe for much longer.

Water Purification Techniques

When it comes to purifying water, there are several methods you can use. Some of the most common include boiling, chemical treatment, and filtration. Boiling is one of the simplest and most reliable ways to purify water. However, it requires a heat source and may not be feasible in all situations.CDC: Backcountry Water Treatment.

I think it is essential to become proficient at multiple water purification methods. Visit the link below to learn more.

Chemical Treatment of Water

Chemical treatments, such as iodine or chlorine tablets, are another portable option for purifying water. These can kill most types of bacteria and viruses, but they may not be as effective against certain types of protozoa. Additionally, chemical treatments can leave an unpleasant taste in the water.

Water Filters and Purifiers

Water filters and purifiers are essential tools in a prepper’s arsenal. They work by physically removing contaminants from water. Some filters are also combined with a chemical treatment to kill any microorganisms that the physical filter might miss. One of the most popular options is the LifeStraw, which is compact, lightweight, and can filter up to 1,000 gallons of water.

Best Survival Water Filter | Stokermatic

Storing Water in Your Vehicle

For those who plan to bug out in an emergency, having water stored in your vehicle is crucial. However, it’s important to remember that water expands when it freezes, so it’s necessary to leave some space in your containers if you’re storing them in a cold environment. It’s also recommended to use durable containers that can withstand the rough conditions of a moving vehicle.

How to store emergency water in a vehicle:

1. Decide on the amount of water you need to store: As a general rule, the human body needs approximately one gallon of water per day for hydration and hygiene. In a car, it’s advisable to store at least a three-day supply for each person who usually travels in the vehicle.
2. Choose your water containers: Choose sturdy, leak-proof and portable containers. Avoid glass. Commercial water pouches or plastic bottles are ideal.
3. Use commercially bottled water if possible: This is the easiest and most reliable way to store emergency water because it is already purified and sealed. The FDA states that commercially bottled water can be stored indefinitely, as long as it remains sealed and isn’t exposed to contaminated materials.
4. If using tap water, treat it first: If commercially bottled water isn’t an option, you can use tap water. However, it should be treated before storage to kill any bacteria or viruses. This can be done by boiling the water for at least 1 minute or adding water purification tablets.
5. Store the water properly in your vehicle: Make sure the water containers are in a flat, secure location in the vehicle where they won’t roll or be punctured. If possible, store the water in a cool, shaded place to avoid extreme temperature changes.
6. Rotate your supply: Replace commercially bottled water every 6-12 months and treated tap water every 6 months.
7. Consider seasonal changes: If you live in a climate that experiences freezing temperatures, your water supply could freeze and possibly burst the container. Insulated container holders can help prevent this. Similarly, in hot climates, high temperatures can cause plastic to degrade over time or the water to evaporate. Keep this in mind when storing and rotating your water.
8. Have a plan for additional water sources: Keep a water filter or purification tablets in the vehicle for emergency use on other water sources like rivers, lakes, or snow.

Remember, access to clean, drinkable water is a key part of any emergency preparedness plan. Always be prepared and ensure your stored water is safe to drink.

Rainwater Harvesting

For the long-term prepper, setting up a rainwater harvesting system can be a valuable investment. Rainwater is a renewable, sustainable source of water that can be used for a variety of purposes, including drinking (after appropriate treatment), gardening, and hygiene. Keep in mind that in some locations, legal restrictions may apply to rainwater collection. EPA: What Is Green Infrastructure?.

How To Build A Rainwater Collection System | City Prepping

Water Conservation Tips

When dealing with a finite water supply, conservation is key. Small changes in water usage can lead to significant savings. This includes avoiding unnecessary flushing of toilets, reusing greywater for plants, and catching and using rainwater for washing. EPA: How We Use Water.

Understanding Water Sources

Besides stored water, it’s essential to understand where you can find additional water sources in an emergency. These may include natural sources such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater. However, remember that water from these sources should be treated before consumption.

How do we get clean drinking water? | Interesting Engineering

Emergency Water Packets

Emergency water packets provide another viable water storage option. These are typically durable, with a long shelf-life, and come pre-packaged in small, easy-to-store amounts. However, they can be more expensive than other water storage options. While useful in a pinch, I think it’s better to find a more long-term solution.

Emergency Drinking Water Pouch | Sharpens Best

Investing in a Water Well

If you own your property and it’s feasible, investing in a water well could be a long-term solution for your water needs. Wells can provide a consistent supply of water, and with the addition of a manual pump, can be accessed even when the power goes out.

Water Storage for Apartment Preppers

Water storage for preppers living in apartments can be a bit more challenging due to limited space. However, there are still viable solutions. For example, waterBOB is a large plastic bag that fits in a bathtub and can store up to 100 gallons of water, an excellent option for short-term emergencies.

The WaterBob: Water Storage Containment System | The Angry Prepper

Learning Water Preservation Techniques

Finally, learning water preservation techniques can help prolong the life of your stored water. This includes proper sanitation of storage containers, appropriate storage conditions, and regular rotation of your water supply.

Stored Water Gone Bad – How to Store Water That Never Needs to Be Rotated | The Provident Prepper

Understanding the Dangers of Contaminated Water

Before delving further into water storage, it’s imperative to understand the dangers of contaminated water. Water can be contaminated with a variety of biological, chemical, and physical hazards that can cause severe health effects if consumed. WHO: Drinking Water.

Testing Your Water Supply

Testing your water supply is an essential part of ensuring it’s safe to drink. Different tests can detect various contaminants, including bacteria, lead, and other harmful substances. Regular testing is particularly crucial if you’re relying on a private well for your water supply. EPA: Protect Your Home’s Water.

The Value of Backup Water Filters

Having a backup water filter can be a lifesaver in an emergency situation. Despite the best planning, your main water purification system may fail, become lost, or become exhausted. In these situations, having a backup filter can ensure you still have access to safe drinking water.

Understanding the Role of Water in Survival

Understanding the critical role water plays in survival can further emphasize the importance of effective water storage for preppers. Water isn’t just necessary for drinking; it’s also vital for food preparation, hygiene, first aid, and even maintaining morale during a survival situation.

Keeping Water Safe from Contaminants

Keeping your stored water safe from contaminants is another crucial aspect of water storage. This includes physical barriers to prevent contamination, careful handling to avoid introducing contaminants, and the use of preservatives to inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms.

Conclusion: Water Storage is Essential for Every Prepper

Water is the lifeblood of survival, and an effective water storage strategy is a crucial component of any prepper’s plan. Whether you’re storing commercially bottled water, collecting rainwater, or investing in a well, understanding your options can help you make the best choices for your situation. While the exact methods and tools you use may vary, the principles remain the same: store enough water to meet your needs, keep it safe from contamination, and have a plan for replenishing your supply if necessary. Remember, in the world of water storage for preppers, it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.

Do you currently have enough water stored for emergencies? I hope this article was helpful. See you soon!

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