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The Box
Aug 13, 2010 22:35:58 GMT -6
Post by Phalon on Aug 13, 2010 22:35:58 GMT -6
Somethinged is better left to the imagination.
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The Box
Aug 14, 2010 14:24:02 GMT -6
Post by stepper on Aug 14, 2010 14:24:02 GMT -6
Subject to modification...here's a stepper survival box You're going on a trip, forever. You are not coming back. Stop thinking about cost - only the best of anything will suffice. There are no roads, no motels, no domesticated animals, and some of the local critters will consider you to be food. Say goodbye to things like pork chops and cured hams - pigs were domesticated in China around 1500 BC and then exported from there. The predecessor of the domesticated pig ranged over broad areas, but it wasn't the bacon producing ham hock we know and love today. If there have never been people on alt-earth, then none of the things our ancestors did have happened there. Wolves are all still wild and will think of you as an appetizer. There may or may not be horses. That depends on where we settle down. Ancient horses in the Americas disappeared between 8000 and 6000 BC. Horses were reintroduced by the Spanish in the 1500s. There should be bison which can be captured and raised for meat and their skins, but I've never heard of domesticating bison. In other words, we won't be able to use them as draft animals to help plow or anything else in the labor saving arena. Sadly, Europe or Africa may be a better choice for roughing it. And right now, I'm more in favor of the Mediterranean. We would be at the bottom layer of Maslow's Survival Hierarchy on alt-earth. Forget about self actualization. Right off the bat we'll be starting at the lowest level. Pure survival. For the most part, physiological needs are obvious-they're the literal requirements for human survival. If these requirements are not met, the human body simply cannot continue to function. These mandatory needs are: Breathing, water, and food; however you will also require Shelter, Heat, Clothing, and Homeostasis (a relatively stable state) My idea is that at first I'll be dependent on fish, small defenseless animals, wild berries and nuts. I don't want to bring more food than enough for a day or two because I'll need space for survival gear. Like it or not for the first years diet will primarily consist of meat and/or fish. If we go as a group, someone can bring a multi-person tent and the rest of us can bring more survival gear. Going it alone means individual tents taking up space in everyone’s boxes. If going alone, I'm bringing a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 3-Season Backpacking Tent because it's a three season tent that folds down to 7" x 20" leaving me space for other survival gear. It's that or a small tarp that I can use for a lean-to. You can make a usable log/dirt/tarp lean-to fairly easily. (If I don't have space for Big Agnes, I have alternatives - see the comments about the box.) You'll notice that my choices tend to be oriented towards military equipment. That's because the military has a lot of experience with survival equipment and training, and experience is a great teacher even for the military. === I understand there's a better book that combines all the best of military and civilian survival tactics, but I can't find it so I'm opting for the "Special Forces Survival Guide" and "Wilderness Survival Guide: Wilderness Survival Skills & Emergency Medical Treatment." The combination book would probably be too large unless one has traveling companions which changes packing strategy. But in a wilderness situation, even a minor wound must be treated carefully and quickly or the injured person could be in serious trouble. Remember the line from Xena in Is There A Doctor in the House - "I've seen this color before. This color is disease." I'm not a doctor and other people’s insides are icky, but we'll all need first aide skills which means we need to be able to recognize what's happening to people medically. Disease, wounds, and even minor injuries are serious concern in the extreme circumstances we'd experience. ============ Medical Kit (not just first aid) Maybe a Medical Systems Kit. Drugs, needles, thread, more drugs, compresses, bandages, etc. There will also be a small first aid kit. Scavenging food will mean covering greater territory and probably overnighters. (You can't depend on Peter Rabbit and Secret Squirrel falling for your traps and snares within easy walking distance for long. The other critters will share the news that their cousins are becoming scarce in our neck of the woods and we'll go hungry. The small first aid kit is for those scavenging trips. Both the small and large kits will include an already threaded needle in case haste is required. Also, both contain one of those little gizmo's with the extremely thin wire that can be used to help thread the needle. ============ Aspirin - sprinkled all around in what ever loose hole they'll fit into. ============ Kotex pads (sanitary napkins) - what ever I can cram in safely - they make excellent large size bandages ============ If there's space, I'm taking a couple MRE's (Meal Ready to Eat). High calorie, ready for consumption, and will stave off starvation for a few days whilst I/we get oriented and commence with finding food. I'll try very hard to ensure there's space for these. ============ I'll be taking 2 or 3 2nd Generation vented fire pistons with extra cylinders. Compact, easy to carry, easy to use, can be operated with one hand, and excellent for starting fires. More than one leaves one in base camp and takes one with you as necessary. =========== I know some people are opposed to guns, but this isn't negotiable even if I have to go it alone somewhere. Rifle: The Springfield M6 Scout Survival System - 22 Long Rifle over the .410 bore shotgun barrel - with sling. (as modified Here) It's a version of the survival gun used by downed USAF pilots - nearly an exact copy but includes a few minor changes I like. I'd use .22LR hollow points.) A .22 hollow point can take down animals as big as deer. Since there will be animals hunting me, I'm taking a number of .410 slugs & buck shot to turn the tables on them. Besides, I don't want my/our survival ending in the first 5 minutes or hour there because we ran into mother nature's top of the food chain as soon as we arrived. =========== An LCD flashlight with extra LCDs - the kind that has a hand crank to charge it up so no batteries are required. Mine includes a flashing light that would probably be useless and a siren that might be heard on alt-earth since nothing else would sound like a siren. (Nothing except for the pet parrot I'm going to teach to talk so it sounds like I have company. ) =========== Some kind of small mirror or something similar - used for signaling/communications over long distances, and for teasing ladies about gray hair and crows feet. ========== Two Hudson Bay axes - one medium and one larger - and a file to sharpen them. Tents, quick lean-to's, and caves if available, can all serve as a short term domicile, but long term I/we will need a real shelter. Why? Severe weather situations will blow apart less hardy structures. (Think of the posts detailing winter conditions in a well-built modern home but without electricity, and apply that scenario to anything less than a sturdy shelter.) The type and quantity of locally available materials will have an obvious affect on the decision about what will be an acceptable shelter, but I think it's a must have. ========== Gerber Big Rock Hunting Knife ========== Utility knives - one Victorinox Swiss Army Explorer Plus Pocket Knife and one Two Blade Barlow Military Pocket Knife ========= 550 cord has tons of uses and should be included in everyone's outdoor kit. Uses include everything that requires great strength, durability, quick drying, rot and mildew resistance cord. 550 Para Cord is made of seven separate nylon strands inside a sheath to provide strength. The individual strands can be removed for other uses and the sheath can be used by it's self for lanyards of all types. Available in different lengths, I'm bringing 3 or 4 100' Hanks of it depending on space. ============== I think Madam P's pot is a good idea. For myself, I'm going with two seasoned flat lid Dutch ovens - one large and one medium. =========== Classic Boy Scout Mess Kit (3 Piece stainless steel knife, fork and spoon locking set) =========== Scout Mess Kit - 7" fry pan, 6-1/2" fry pan cover/plate, 1/2 qt stew pot with lid and 8 oz cup. All pieces nest together compactly but all gaps will be filled with what ever fits - even if it's nails, pins and needles - but I think more ammo, iodine tablets, and asprin will go here. ========== balaclava ( A warm woolen hood covering the head and neck, worn especially by mountain climbers, skiers, and by soldiers and sailors as protective clothing.) ============= Under Armour - a couple or three of the T-Shirts ============= Three in one jacket from LL Bean or Eddie Bauer. Separate fleece lining, waterproof outer jacket. Wear the fleece, wear just the jacket (if you don't need the warmth), or both if it's cold and rainy.) If, as I hope, we end up in a moderate temperature location - meaning hardly any extremes - then I'd go with down. The lightest weight for the warmth is down, and you can compact it very tight. Again- LL Bean. ============ Boots: Wolverine Amphibian CarbonMAX 6" Safety-Toe EH GORE-TEX Waterproof Work Boots - GORE-TEX breathable waterproof membrane with safety-toe - 50% lighter than steel Footbed with mesh sock liner. Boots include a removable footbed with mesh sock liner, and a rubber lug outsole that’s oil, water, abrasion, and slip-resistant. and/or Danner Striker II GTX Uniform 8" Waterproof Work Boots - comfortable, long lasting, good for cold and 2 pairs sneakers - the standard Nike/New Balance running or cross-training shoes =========== Socks: DeFeet Cloud 9 Top vents, virtually seemless, ankle cushion at the back. Made of Coolmax and Nylon. All-weather sock (restriction with this one though) Wash in cold water only. =========== Leather gloves - working gloves not dress gloves. =========== Mittens - I'm told that the advantage of mittens is that the fingers share warmth - but to me they are useless unless they have the thumb separate from the fingers. Based on my choice to insist on the guns, the mittens will be the type that includes a flap that can expose the trigger finger. =========== Something else may be better, but jeans go everywhere and do everything. 3 or 4 pair. Maybe overall jeans with the extra pockets. =========== A couple pairs of shorts - the kind that have multiple pockets like jeans. ========= Compass - In an unexplored alt-earth I'll need some kind of orientation/direction. ========= Two canteens - both WW-II metal style. Melting snow inside a metal canteen by the fire = water. Warm water in a canteen in the bottom of a sleeping bag at night = warm feet. They'll be filled with either 22LR Hollow Points or Iodine and Aspirin while in route. ========= Sleeping Bag: I'm thinking an ECWS (Extended Cold Weather System) -30 Below Sleep System - the four piece one. I know you are supposed to equip for the environment so a 3 season bag might be a better choice depending on where we actually settle down. Since I can only afford space for one bag, I'm going to want to be warm in the winter. I can always lighten up for other seasons and use just the gore tex cover in the summer as necessary. If the climate isn't that severe, I'll reconsider and possibly go with a 3 season bag - but right now I favor the ECWS and Gore Tex. ================ Credit to Madam P on her Maddox. My box will include the lighter weight folding trenching tool, and I'll use it in the process of forming a digging stick. Her tool is heavier and will do a better job - at this point I'm simply looking for what I can fit in the box and I think the trenching tool will have more uses. =============== Two Wilderness Survival Steel Wire/Cable Saws (62CM-Length) =============== Great idea about the nails Madam P! A good supply of galvanized nails to use in snares and for the shelter will be most welcome! 4 boxes if they'll fit. ============== I mentioned this thread to a friend and he came up with something both obvious and inspired. Leatherman Multi Tool kits. Notice the plural. I'd look for the best ones I can find and take more than one. ============== Fishing equipment. Hooks, lines, sinkers, bobbers. ============== Crops. I'm looking for best return on time/work investment. Sunflower seeds. Peas. Lima beans. Potatoes. Sweet potatoes. Apples. Pears. Strawberries. =============== Salt - Three salt containers ============== Thread for clothing repair and stitching up people. Monofilament fishing line may do this too so I'll have extra fishing line someplace. ============== A spool of copper safety wire. You can expect to set from 10 to 15 snares per 1 animal caught if you set the snares properly...so lots of wire needed. ============= Large Zip-lock bags - they'll lay flat and will need almost no room when packed. ============= If there's space: An AF Survival vest - it'll be great for caring stuff - including the Glock - while setting up camp and checking on those snares. ============= Sprinkle iodine tablets in with the loose ammo that fills every available empty spot - hundreds/thousand of them for use treating water away from camp (in camp I/we will boil water). ============= If I can find space, I'll take a Pur water purification pump with cleanable filter but it's about 10" X 4" ============= One of those larger 2 tined forks use for flipping meat in a pan ============ Ladle - more cooking ============ Heavy weight tin foil - cooking - but it can be cleaned and reused to wrap foods that would be baked/cooked under coal fires ============ I'll need an extra pair of my prescription glasses. =========== Plastic throwaway sunglasses like the optometrists use when they dilate your eyes. Small, easily packable, I'd suggest an entire roll of them. You want to protect yourself from glare (preventing snow blindness) and these would be very light but are still effective. ========== I don't know if this is fair, but I'm not traveling naked enroute to alt-earth so I'll be wearing extra jeans –overall jeans, boots, light shirt under a heavier shirt under a medium weight waterproof wind breaker jacket, a Glock (pistol) in its holster, a couple of bandoliers of extra ammo, an extra piece of 550 cord lashed down the sleeves of each arm, and a military style web belt with all the extra pockets I can make it carry filled with all the small stuff I can cram in them. I may look a bit like a tick but it will be worth it when we arrive. The "box" I'm using has a frame made from heavy stainless steel L brackets bolted together at the corners , with spare bolts and nuts in each of the many predrilled holes. The sides top and bottom of the box are made from layers of treated canvas and porous canvas. More L brackets along the inside edges hold the canvas taut. The L brackets break down after arrival and can be used to form a small sleeping hut or decent sized lean-to covered in canvas. The porous canvas can be used for water purification (layered filters of grass/leaves, sand, and fire charcoal will filter out junk and improve the taste. A couple pliers for the bolts will be necessary. I’m missing something – thought of it earlier today and now I can’t remember what it was.
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The Box
Aug 14, 2010 22:28:31 GMT -6
Post by Phalon on Aug 14, 2010 22:28:31 GMT -6
Wow! You certainly did your research! Ah, yes, it's evident you were a military man....or a Boy Scout; always be prepared - that's their motto, yes? Wherever we end up, I'm going with you, Step.
I actually thought of a few of things you packed. The salt, for instance - I thought it could be used to cure meat, but then wondered how the Native Americans cured meat without salt - they smoked or dried it. I decided to pack my Ipod instead.
MREs crossed my mind as well. But then, I remembered what they taste like. Bluck, bluck, bluck. Except the hot chocolate mix - MREs have the best hot chocolate. I know the MRE taste has probably improved in the past 25 years, but I'm opting for fresh food instead, that will be found in abundance, I'm sure.
Scrappy mentioned a collapsible shovel. I thought about that too as I was making my list. I decided against it, thinking I could make one out of a good heavy stick, and flat rock or turtle shell. Honestly, this crossed my mind. How I would secure them together did not. Super Glue, maybe. (eye-roll)
I'm adding a six pack of Super Glue, anyway....just in case.
Yes, I thought about a Saneox, but there were none to be found, so I had to go with a mad one. He will probably flirt with those semi-wild cows that Scrappy mentioned.
I'm not too sure apples and pears would work, Step. I'm not sure, exactly though. I think you'd have to do some propagation research first. Apple and pear trees as we know them, are not started from seed - they are grafted. Planting seeds result in trees that produce fruit that is not very similar to the actual fruit planted. And psst.....strawberries are not necessary if we live in the Mitten; they are native here.
I agree with Scrappy. Snakes....shudder. Not little, harmless snakes, but great big ones that are venomous, or squeeze the life out of you.
I agree with you, Poppet on this one too. The Pacific Northwest is a great choice....but, but, but, but...(this is obviously the start of my re-buttal)
....if you look on a cold-hardiness map, much of the Pacific Northwest is the same climate zone as the strip of the Mitten which I'm proposing we live. It's the narrow band along Lake Michigan, from the shoreline to 1 to 2 miles inland - the SW part of the state. The Lake keeps the climate here more temperate than the rest of the state and much of the Midwest - our summers are cooler, and our winter temperatures milder; it's the Lake Effect. Average summer temperatures are in the 70s; average in winter is in the 20s. Of course, there is all that snow. But what's a few feet of snow? In the milder parts of the Pacific Northwest, all that snow would be rain. Pfft! What can you do in the cold and rain? Nothing but stare out from your shelter, wishing it would stop. Or venture out and get soaking wet. Snow is different. It's actually a great insulator. Think of those Eskimos all snug in their igloos. Snow can also be packed in a wall around a tent, or piled against a more permanent structure for insulation, (my neighbor across the street actually still does this to save on his heating bills - he snowblows his yard, blowing the snow up against the base of his house). Snow enables you to track animals better. Rain washes away the tracks. And you can do stuff in snow! Make snowpeople for instance - I shall be sculpting mine in the likeness of Hubs and the girls, (sniff and snob, and pass that handkerchief, please). You can snowshoe. I can teach you all how to ski. After a few runs, you, Stepper, and Katina can hang out in the lodge and eye all the cute snowbunnies....ok, so these snowbunnies will be wearing fur and long ears, but they're still cute. Oh, and there are no real mountains here - not like in the Pacific Northwest, anyway. No chances of avalanches....
or monsoons, hurricanes, tidal waves, earthquakes, or even tornadoes....tornadoes jump the shoreline here, and hit further inland. It's that Lake Effect again.
All that here too, except no matter how far you go up the coast, you'll never run into a shark. Or jellyfish, or stingray, barracuda, or any maneating water critters. And snakes? Pfft. Our only semi-dangerous snake is the Michigan Rattler - which I'm sure has a more scientific name like the Itty-Bitty Little Snake Pretending to be a Big Bad One. It's worm-sized in comparison to most snakes. And our insects are insect-sized, not bird or small mammal scary-sized. Lots of furry little food though - rabbits, squirrels, possums, etc. Deer in abundance. Apparently the maddoxen and semi-wild cow have started a herd.
Fresh water? Step, you can save a lot of space for other cool gadgets by taking that water purifier out of your box. The Great Lakes is the largest supply of fresh water in the world; Lake Michigan is the second largest of the lakes. Streams, rivers, and inland lakes are also in abundance - teeming with fresh-water salmon, perch, pike, bass, trout, sunfish, walleye, and pickeral, as well as smaller fish.
Michigan is in the top three producers in the nation of apples, asparagus, cucumbers (for pickles), potatoes (for chips), tart cherries, and blueberries - all of which are grown in this area. Not that we'll be growing any of these, just mentioning it to show how fertile it is here; they don't call it Michigan's Fruit Belt for nothing. Blueberries are native here, as well as blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, paw-paw (a fruits that tastes like bananas), and other berries.
You may remember me complaining about my soil being sandy. That is because the fertile topsoil was blown away when the land was stripped of timber. Timber is literally what put Michigan on the map. It became a state - and the second richest state in the nation, after California, because of timber. California had its gold rush; white pine in Michigan was called green gold. White pine is good for building, its resin can be used for water-proofing shelters and canoes, and tea made from its needles has more vitiman C than a glass of orange juice. True beans. We won't get scurvy. Or whatever else vitiman C prevents. That canoe I mentioned - birch canoes were favored by the Native Americans in the area. There are also maples for sugar and syrup. Beech, hickory, oak for nuts. Various other plants have multi-uses. Cat-tails for instance - Euell Gibbins, the author of Stalking the Wild Asparagus (I love that title), and Grape Nuts guy, called cat-tails "the supermarket of the swamp" - they can be used from everything from eating to insulation.
Anything else? I'm sure there's more; this is just off the top of my head. Oh - one more thing. No maps are needed. You wanna meet somewhere? You just hold up your mitten hand and point. No compasses either. The Lake is west. That's all you need to know. Even I can't get lost here.
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The Box
Aug 14, 2010 23:34:44 GMT -6
Post by Scrappy Amazon on Aug 14, 2010 23:34:44 GMT -6
You certainly have some good points there Madam P.
However, I keep picturing those photos you sent of that pretty little light house at the end of the pier completely covered in ice.....stuck out sideways due to the wind.
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The Box
Aug 14, 2010 23:47:43 GMT -6
Post by Mini Mia on Aug 14, 2010 23:47:43 GMT -6
Ooh. If anyone knows how to plug these suckers in, that would be cool. Although they'll probably take up too much space. If they even fit.
Too bad this wouldn't fit, it could be plugged into one of the above:
BTW: I learned of these from Nathan Fillon's Twitter page.
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The Box
Aug 15, 2010 8:05:17 GMT -6
Post by Phalon on Aug 15, 2010 8:05:17 GMT -6
But, but, but...(more rebuttal)...Poppet, this Alien World Shockingly Like Our Own will not have pretty little lighthouses or piers, so there's no need to worry about them being covered in ice. (eye-roll) No really, cold temperatures and water make ice - you'd have that in the Pacific Northwest too. The wind - well, yes, that adds another element....and I hadn't thought of that until Joxie brought it up: how it could be harnessed to our advantage. Over time, we could build windmills as a power source - they are actually proposing to put some modern ones out in the Lake now as alternative energy resources (though most of the people who live in those big houses right on the lake are lawyers, and are fighting to have "their view" preserved).
Besides - we would not be living directly on the beach, exposed to the elements like the poor, pretty little lighthouse. Oh, speaking of the beach - I forgot to mention the beaches! Sunbathing, jetskiing (I wonder if a jetski would fit into a 3x3 box?), windsailing. Sand is a natural cleanser and exfoliater, btw. Our skin will be shiny smooth, and forever young!
But the beach brings up another point I forgot to mention. This area's biodiversity is amazing. There are something like 54 different types of ecosystems along the Lake in the SW Mitten. Coniferous forests, hardwood forests, the oak savanna, Northern prairies, wetlands, dune area and fens - all within a day's walk. The pine forest - made up of white pine, hemlock (a tree, not the poison Shakespeare was fond of killing people off with), sugar maple, basswood, birch, and beech - is prevalent right along the shoreline, and that's where I propose we settle. The pine acts as a natural wind break - you won't even realize its windy down on the beach while we are nice and cozy warm in our forest home. Stepper will actually be sweating in all his cold weather gear. Shoot, I sweat to the point of being soaking wet while skiing in just jeans and a regular old jacket - of course, I'm skiing for the purpose of a workout, but really it's not all that cold here. Twenty degrees is nothing if you're dressed for it. I still say I'd rather have snow than rain. Rain in winter is just miserable. And oh, pine boughs make excellent thatch for shelter until a more permanent structure can be built.
Turkeys. Did I mention turkeys? (An out-of-the-blue change of subject interlude that just popped into my head) We have wild turkeys so our first Thanksgiving dinner is just a matter of plucking a few feathers. Ducks and geese too. We could run a-fowl (akin to running amok) and have all the meat and eggs we want.
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The Box
Aug 15, 2010 11:17:49 GMT -6
Post by Phalon on Aug 15, 2010 11:17:49 GMT -6
Oh, and potatoes! I forgot about potatoes. This area of the Mitten has what is referred to as duck potatoes, or as the Native Americans called them, swan potatoes. The tubers of arrowroot were harvested from along the shores of inland lakes and ponds, and eaten or stored like potatoes.
I know all kinds of practical uses for plants here. Like white cedar can be used as a wound salve and mosquito repellent. Juniper berries can be made into gin once we get the still up and running. Plant lore is a hobby of mine, and I did some pretty extensive research on how plants in this area where used by the Native Americans and pioneers for a book I once planned on writing. Who knew it would come in handy for a thread here; I think I'll pack what information I've got. Stuff like: “During World War II a call went out from the government for milkweed pods. In Michigan and elsewhere milkweed farms were established where these suddenly valuable plants were grown in large fields, and the harvesting of the pods became a large-scale operation. Milkweed floss is 5 or 6 times as buoyant as cork, and it was soon discovered that a life jacket containing a few pounds of this floss could hold up a 150-pound man in the sea. It is warmer than wool and 6 times lighter. Flying suits lined with milkweed floss are warm and light-weight, and, if an aviator falls into the ocean, the suit will act as a life preserver.” The young shoots can also be eaten like asparagus, and the pods boiled and eaten - they have a similar taste and nutrition value to broccoli.
We've got wild American ginger, ginseng, and spice bush which was used as a coffee and tea substitute.
Stepper mentions the Mediterranean. I know little of the area. Turkey, India, Egypt, and Libya to me seem harsh in terms of extreme climate. Hubs says no agricultural commodities come from Turkey - "they can't grow sh!t". What I know of Greece comes from the bit of research for the Zena and other Scrolls and even the House of Whoosher about how the ancients might have lived and what they ate (yeah, kinda ridiculous, I know, but I wanted some ethnicity to what era Phalon lived in). The diet seemed unvaried. Fish, little vegetables, figs, olives, and flat breads. I don't know a fig about growing figs. But I know a helluva lot about milkweed. Not to mention the ancients used a method of trial and error to discover what was poisonous and what was edible. Not quite willing to risk eating a bunch of berries we aren't familiar with to discover if they're going to kill us, or not.
I guess it boils down to this: wherever we go, we need to have extensive knowledge of the area as it once was, not as it is now. Are we going to be an agricultural community or one of hunter/gathers? Or both? Depending on one or the other, I think sets us up for disaster. Here, we can be both.
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The Box
Aug 15, 2010 12:29:03 GMT -6
Post by stepper on Aug 15, 2010 12:29:03 GMT -6
Darn darn darn! Corn - I'm bringing corn. Don't know how I missed it while I was putting the list together.
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The Box
Aug 15, 2010 15:53:07 GMT -6
Post by stepper on Aug 15, 2010 15:53:07 GMT -6
I remembered the missing thing. A Nuremberg dial. I hadn't heard of them until a few months ago. Watching Pawn Stars - or what ever that show is where people bring in neat stuff to pawn in Las Vega, one person brought in this little flat thing that opened up and turned out to be a small hand held sun dial called a Nurember dial. It could tell time, month, and surprisingly enough this thing could even tell time at night based on the moon. I'm guessing that alt-earth has a moon, but even if it doesn't having a good idea of time and or month would be very helpful.
Madam P - compared to more temperate areas - what's the crop growing time in Michigan? Where I am now there's two crop seasons between the end of winter and the first killing frost.
I had no idea you were a party girl!
BLUCK!
No offense to Hubs but he is mistaken. I was in Turkey for 2 1/2 years. They are very backwards in how they do things so production doesn't match modernized countries, but the territory very definitely supports a variety of crops. Way out in the country side they dry the sh!t and make huts out of it. No kidding. Somehow they stand up to weather conditions which are generally mild unless you go to the mountains which have some terribly offensive white crud all over them. I'm not recommending that we try living in that kind of hut, but there are people who do so. Backwards - as in they had a top of the line John Deere tractor but only used it to pull a flatbed behind it. People got on the flatbed to be taken out to the fields to work on the crops. The driver sat there all day and then reversed the route at night to take people home. They knew what the tractor was for, but this way more people were employed. (The census they took while we were there included the question "In the past year have you had a job for which you were paid?" Plowing with the tractor would have put people out of work.) And - just to say it - they have THE BEST pistachios. Not those stupid little dyed things that turn your fingers red - large undyed and overly yummy pistachios.
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The Box
Aug 16, 2010 1:21:46 GMT -6
Post by katina2nd on Aug 16, 2010 1:21:46 GMT -6
Looks like I have everything I'll need just by borrowing off Gams and Step'.
;D
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The Box
Aug 17, 2010 8:30:12 GMT -6
Post by Phalon on Aug 17, 2010 8:30:12 GMT -6
We have essentially two too, though I'd bet they are different than in Texas. Cold weather crops usually go in at the beginning of March; warm weather crops are planted May to June. Then toward the end of summer, it's time to plant cold weather crops again - I planted green onions a couple of weeks ago, and got peas, spinach, and lettuce in this past weekend. Harvest lasts until frost - usually sometime in October. Leafy stuff can planted then too; seeds overwinter and germinate as soon as the ground thaws for an early crop.
We're gonna have to do something to amuse ourselves. Sloe gin fizzes on the beach sounds good. I'm not sure where will get the sloe or fizz, but cute little drink umbrellas can be made out of milkweed pods.
Are you blucking the asparagus, broccoli, milkweed, or all three. I think we'll, at least at first, end up eating a lot of things we don't like...especially when it's my turn to cook. You know if we choose the Mediterranean, asparagus will probably be served often - it's native to the area; it's not native in this country, although it grows wild here. (psst...not that it matters where we are concerned, but it's an aphrodisiac...just look at the shape of the spears) Go ahead ask me why I know this. Whoo-hoo, my article (on asparagus) made it to print; I got the advance copies of the magazine last week. It's a nice 6-page spread, with gorgeous pictures I did not take, and an opening paragraph that I did not write (they removed my aphrodisiac spear reference).
In all fairness to Hubs and the people of Turkey, it's probably the way I presented the question: "What comes out of Turkey?". Hubs' job fresh fruits and vegetables - he reports on fresh produce commodities grown and sold locally, nationally, and what is imported to this country. "They can't grow sh!t" was in reference to what they export...which is basically nothing. (and btw, I am NOT living in a sh!thouse!) He suggested the San Joaquin Valley in California based on the fact that the majority of our fresh produce (excluding grains and the like) comes out of here. Then I told him why I was asking, and oddly he did not roll his eyes at the thought of aliens taking me away. He did recant his suggestion though - the valley's need for man-made irrigation is too great. Which is why the Mitten would be better (HA!) - water, and ice for food preservation.
What? No Vegemite? Whew!!!
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The Box
Aug 18, 2010 8:21:51 GMT -6
Post by katina2nd on Aug 18, 2010 8:21:51 GMT -6
What? No Vegemite? Whew!!! Sorry to disappoint Gams, but the reason I'll be sponging off you and Step' is to keep my box empty for the essential items, which of course includes a huge supply of Vegemite, plus some Vegemite Cheesybite as well [ Vegemite infused with cheese... yum ] www.namedevelopment.com/blog/archives/2009/10/07/cheesybite-vegemite.gifP.S. Where can we read your Asparagus article?
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The Box
Aug 18, 2010 20:13:48 GMT -6
Post by stepper on Aug 18, 2010 20:13:48 GMT -6
P.S. Where can we read your Asparagus article? Ditto! Yes. I like ya Kat, but you're gonna have to borrow Phalons toothbrush - some things you just don't share.
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The Box
Aug 19, 2010 21:55:07 GMT -6
Post by katina2nd on Aug 19, 2010 21:55:07 GMT -6
Make sure it's the 'X' rated version though. I like ya Kat, but you're gonna have to borrow Phalons toothbrush - some things you just don't share. Fair enough mate, I'll sling a few personal items in the box, don't wanna push my luck to far.
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The Box
Aug 20, 2010 22:25:09 GMT -6
Post by Phalon on Aug 20, 2010 22:25:09 GMT -6
Oh, good! I was wondering what we were going to use to tar our roads. It can also be used to fill in the cracks between logs in our cabins to keep the inclement weather out. Or used in place of sh!t to build our sh!thouses...because basically, it's the same thing.
Oh, come on, Katina, you know I'm just teasing....although everyone I've spoken to who's had Vegemite wouldn't dispute that 'it tastes like...." statement.
The copies I got last week were advanced copies; the article comes out in the September/October issue....of which I just received my subscription copy yesterday. It should be up on the website soon; I'll post the link if you really want to read. BOLL! Are you two really interested in asparagus - especially you, Step, since you "blucked" it. Go on, tell the truth - it's not the articles, it's the X-rated pictures, isn't it?
Oh, oh, oh - and guess what?! I got an e-mail the other day - they want me to write two more articles, (in addition to the one I was supposed to be writing for the last few months). These are different though - all my published articles have been "Hey, I have this idea for an article I'd like to write. Would you be interested in publishing it?" With these two, they came to me and said "We have ideas for a couple of articles, and we'd like you to write them." Pretty cool for me, I'm thinking.
Uhm.....
Whew, again! Yanno I like you too, Dearest Katina, and would do anything for ya....within reason. Some things though would send me over the edge. Tar-breath on my toothbrush would be one of them. Leaving the toilet seat up on the Vegemite-sh!thouse would be another.
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The Box
Aug 21, 2010 21:05:06 GMT -6
Post by stepper on Aug 21, 2010 21:05:06 GMT -6
Golly. What's it take? We keep asking! Here. Can we pretty please with cherries on top have the link oh published one? WOW! CONGRATULATIONS!Way to go Phalon! What's next? Oprah?
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The Box
Aug 21, 2010 21:21:26 GMT -6
Post by Mini Mia on Aug 21, 2010 21:21:26 GMT -6
Congratulations, Phalon. And Happy Anniversary!
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The Box
Aug 22, 2010 21:07:16 GMT -6
Post by katina2nd on Aug 22, 2010 21:07:16 GMT -6
Oh, good! I was wondering what we were going to use to tar our roads. It can also be used to fill in the cracks between logs in our cabins to keep the inclement weather out. Or used in place of sh!t to build our sh!thouses...because basically, it's the same thing. Oh, come on, Katina, you know I'm just teasing....although everyone I've spoken to who's had Vegemite wouldn't dispute that 'it tastes like...." statement. It has a multidude of uses but building dunnys is one that never crossed my mind. The copies I got last week were advanced copies; the article comes out in the September/October issue....of which I just received my subscription copy yesterday. It should be up on the website soon; I'll post the link if you really want to read. BOLL! Are you two really interested in asparagus - especially you, Step, since you "blucked" it. Go on, tell the truth - it's not the articles, it's the X-rated pictures, isn't it? Like Stepper says, of course we want to read it, you have a wonderful knack of making even the most seemingly mundane appear fresh, interesting and danged funny ....... and of course in this case the X rated pictures are an extra bonus. Oh, oh, oh - and guess what?! I got an e-mail the other day - they want me to write two more articles, (in addition to the one I was supposed to be writing for the last few months). These are different though - all my published articles have been "Hey, I have this idea for an article I'd like to write. Would you be interested in publishing it?" With these two, they came to me and said "We have ideas for a couple of articles, and we'd like you to write them." Pretty cool for me, I'm thinking. Pretty cool for you indeed, more heartiest congratulations. Whew, again! Yanno I like you too, Dearest Katina, and would do anything for ya....within reason. Some things though would send me over the edge. Tar-breath on my toothbrush would be one of them. Leaving the toilet seat up on the Vegemite-sh!thouse would be another. Yeah figured a blackened toothbrush may just be pushing our friendship a tad. ;D
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The Box
Aug 24, 2010 4:13:26 GMT -6
Post by Phalon on Aug 24, 2010 4:13:26 GMT -6
Apparently, all it takes is to mention it to Joxie - leave it to her to find the missing link. Dang, Joxie - how'd you do that? I still show the July/August issue as being the current magazine issue on the site. Even when I put "asparagus" in the search box, it doesn't come up. Ah, but then again, I don't have wand dust that spans the Internet globe. Thanks!
But really, Stepper....if the article was titled "The Joy of Vegemite", or was about the Peanuts characters, I could understand you and Katina being interested. But asparagus? It'd be like me wanting to read an article titled "The Joy of Math". But thanks! I'm flattered!
I sometimes feel, even though I like doing it, that writing these kinds of articles and the blog, sucks all the humor out of me. My humor and their kind of humor are two different animals.
And drat! It looks like the online version of the article doesn't have but one of those X-rated pictures.
Psst....don't forget the toilet seat.
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The Box
Aug 24, 2010 17:26:48 GMT -6
Post by Mini Mia on Aug 24, 2010 17:26:48 GMT -6
Apparently, all it takes is to mention it to Joxie - leave it to her to find the missing link. Dang, Joxie - how'd you do that? I still show the July/August issue as being the current magazine issue on the site. Even when I put "asparagus" in the search box, it doesn't come up. Ah, but then again, I don't have wand dust that spans the Internet globe. Thanks!
You're very welcome.
I got your name off of your blog and did a Google search for:
Asparagus article by (insert your name here)
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The Box
Aug 25, 2010 23:49:56 GMT -6
Post by stepper on Aug 25, 2010 23:49:56 GMT -6
Thanks Joxee - I did what you said and it went right to the article. Good Job Phalon! I have the excuse of living where we have clay instead of dirt so I'm not obliged to pretend I'm going to try out your suggestions, but that obviously took a bit of research.
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The Box
Aug 26, 2010 16:20:10 GMT -6
Post by Mini Mia on Aug 26, 2010 16:20:10 GMT -6
You're very welcome, Stepper. Did you miss this post, or did you just want to try out the Google search?
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The Box
Aug 26, 2010 22:07:13 GMT -6
Post by stepper on Aug 26, 2010 22:07:13 GMT -6
You're very welcome, Stepper. Did you miss this post, or did you just want to try out the Google search?
What? Huh? Who? Me? Miss a post? Well, it's possible that I misconstrued the big red letters as you playing with fonts because ... uh....well....darn it. I dont' have an excuse this time.
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The Box
Aug 26, 2010 23:07:46 GMT -6
Post by Mini Mia on Aug 26, 2010 23:07:46 GMT -6
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The Box
Aug 29, 2010 7:08:07 GMT -6
Post by Phalon on Aug 29, 2010 7:08:07 GMT -6
My name comes up in a Google search? Wow, that's kinda cool, I think...maybe.
Have you ever put the name you use here into a search engine? I use Yahoo, so I can't say 'Googled your name', which to me, sounds kinda scary.
I did a couple of times, just to see what came up for the hell of it. For a spelling I made up due to a mispronunciation of what I was really trying to spell, "Phalon" gets something like a billion results, which I'm sure is only a slight exaggeration, and has nothing to do with my post count here. (eye-roll)
Randomly clicking on sites from the search, one of the weirdest things I stumbled on was a vintage recipe for "Phalon's Instant Hair Dye" or something of the sort. I think it was from the 1800s, was included in a White House recipe book, and contained all kinds of scary-sounding ingredients that might dye your hair, but would probably make it fall out at the same time.
Of course, we won't have this problem on the Alien Planet Shockingly Like Our Own. Wanna get rid of a little gray? Just use Katina's Vegemite, guaranteed to give you that tar-black shine....if it doesn't make it fall out at the same time. Which would save on shampoo, of course.
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The Box
Aug 29, 2010 12:52:42 GMT -6
Post by stepper on Aug 29, 2010 12:52:42 GMT -6
You could let it harden over night and it'd serve as a combat helmet. Of course the smell would drive off any prey in the area. How's it work as fertilizer?
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The Box
Dec 31, 2012 8:08:41 GMT -6
Post by scamp on Dec 31, 2012 8:08:41 GMT -6
This intrigued me quite a bit. Subject to modification...here's a stepper survival box These mandatory needs are: Breathing, water, and food; however you will also require Shelter, Heat, Clothing, and Homeostasis (a relatively stable state) My idea is that at first I'll be dependent on fish, small defenseless animals, wild berries and nuts. I don't want to bring more food than enough for a day or two because I'll need space for survival gear. Like it or not for the first years diet will primarily consist of meat and/or fish. If we go as a group, someone can bring a multi-person tent and the rest of us can bring more survival gear. Going it alone means individual tents taking up space in everyone’s boxes. If going alone, I'm bringing a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 3-Season Backpacking Tent because it's a three season tent that folds down to 7" x 20" leaving me space for other survival gear. It's that or a small tarp that I can use for a lean-to. You can make a usable log/dirt/tarp lean-to fairly easily. (If I don't have space for Big Agnes, I have alternatives - see the comments about the box.) You'll notice that my choices tend to be oriented towards military equipment. That's because the military has a lot of experience with survival equipment and training, and experience is a great teacher even for the military. === I understand there's a better book that combines all the best of military and civilian survival tactics, but I can't find it so I'm opting for the "Special Forces Survival Guide" and "Wilderness Survival Guide: Wilderness Survival Skills & Emergency Medical Treatment." The combination book would probably be too large unless one has traveling companions which changes packing strategy. But in a wilderness situation, even a minor wound must be treated carefully and quickly or the injured person could be in serious trouble. Remember the line from Xena in Is There A Doctor in the House - "I've seen this color before. This color is disease." I'm not a doctor and other people’s insides are icky, but we'll all need first aide skills which means we need to be able to recognize what's happening to people medically. Disease, wounds, and even minor injuries are serious concern in the extreme circumstances we'd experience. ============ Medical Kit (not just first aid) Maybe a Medical Systems Kit. Drugs, needles, thread, more drugs, compresses, bandages, etc. There will also be a small first aid kit. Scavenging food will mean covering greater territory and probably overnighters. (You can't depend on Peter Rabbit and Secret Squirrel falling for your traps and snares within easy walking distance for long. The other critters will share the news that their cousins are becoming scarce in our neck of the woods and we'll go hungry. The small first aid kit is for those scavenging trips. Both the small and large kits will include an already threaded needle in case haste is required. Also, both contain one of those little gizmo's with the extremely thin wire that can be used to help thread the needle. ============ Aspirin - sprinkled all around in what ever loose hole they'll fit into. ============ Kotex pads (sanitary napkins) - what ever I can cram in safely - they make excellent large size bandages ============ If there's space, I'm taking a couple MRE's (Meal Ready to Eat). High calorie, ready for consumption, and will stave off starvation for a few days whilst I/we get oriented and commence with finding food. I'll try very hard to ensure there's space for these. ============ I'll be taking 2 or 3 2nd Generation vented fire pistons with extra cylinders. Compact, easy to carry, easy to use, can be operated with one hand, and excellent for starting fires. More than one leaves one in base camp and takes one with you as necessary. =========== I know some people are opposed to guns, but this isn't negotiable even if I have to go it alone somewhere. Rifle: The Springfield M6 Scout Survival System - 22 Long Rifle over the .410 bore shotgun barrel - with sling. (as modified Here) It's a version of the survival gun used by downed USAF pilots - nearly an exact copy but includes a few minor changes I like. I'd use .22LR hollow points.) A .22 hollow point can take down animals as big as deer. Since there will be animals hunting me, I'm taking a number of .410 slugs & buck shot to turn the tables on them. Besides, I don't want my/our survival ending in the first 5 minutes or hour there because we ran into mother nature's top of the food chain as soon as we arrived. =========== An LCD flashlight with extra LCDs - the kind that has a hand crank to charge it up so no batteries are required. Mine includes a flashing light that would probably be useless and a siren that might be heard on alt-earth since nothing else would sound like a siren. (Nothing except for the pet parrot I'm going to teach to talk so it sounds like I have company. ) =========== Some kind of small mirror or something similar - used for signaling/communications over long distances, and for teasing ladies about gray hair and crows feet. ========== Two Hudson Bay axes - one medium and one larger - and a file to sharpen them. Tents, quick lean-to's, and caves if available, can all serve as a short term domicile, but long term I/we will need a real shelter. Why? Severe weather situations will blow apart less hardy structures. (Think of the posts detailing winter conditions in a well-built modern home but without electricity, and apply that scenario to anything less than a sturdy shelter.) The type and quantity of locally available materials will have an obvious affect on the decision about what will be an acceptable shelter, but I think it's a must have. ========== Gerber Big Rock Hunting Knife ========== Utility knives - one Victorinox Swiss Army Explorer Plus Pocket Knife and one Two Blade Barlow Military Pocket Knife ========= 550 cord has tons of uses and should be included in everyone's outdoor kit. Uses include everything that requires great strength, durability, quick drying, rot and mildew resistance cord. 550 Para Cord is made of seven separate nylon strands inside a sheath to provide strength. The individual strands can be removed for other uses and the sheath can be used by it's self for lanyards of all types. Available in different lengths, I'm bringing 3 or 4 100' Hanks of it depending on space. ============== I think Madam P's pot is a good idea. For myself, I'm going with two seasoned flat lid Dutch ovens - one large and one medium. =========== Classic Boy Scout Mess Kit (3 Piece stainless steel knife, fork and spoon locking set) =========== Scout Mess Kit - 7" fry pan, 6-1/2" fry pan cover/plate, 1/2 qt stew pot with lid and 8 oz cup. All pieces nest together compactly but all gaps will be filled with what ever fits - even if it's nails, pins and needles - but I think more ammo, iodine tablets, and asprin will go here. ========== balaclava ( A warm woolen hood covering the head and neck, worn especially by mountain climbers, skiers, and by soldiers and sailors as protective clothing.) ============= Under Armour - a couple or three of the T-Shirts ============= Three in one jacket from LL Bean or Eddie Bauer. Separate fleece lining, waterproof outer jacket. Wear the fleece, wear just the jacket (if you don't need the warmth), or both if it's cold and rainy.) If, as I hope, we end up in a moderate temperature location - meaning hardly any extremes - then I'd go with down. The lightest weight for the warmth is down, and you can compact it very tight. Again- LL Bean. ============ Boots: Wolverine Amphibian CarbonMAX 6" Safety-Toe EH GORE-TEX Waterproof Work Boots - GORE-TEX breathable waterproof membrane with safety-toe - 50% lighter than steel Footbed with mesh sock liner. Boots include a removable footbed with mesh sock liner, and a rubber lug outsole that’s oil, water, abrasion, and slip-resistant. and/or Danner Striker II GTX Uniform 8" Waterproof Work Boots - comfortable, long lasting, good for cold and 2 pairs sneakers - the standard Nike/New Balance running or cross-training shoes =========== Socks: DeFeet Cloud 9 Top vents, virtually seemless, ankle cushion at the back. Made of Coolmax and Nylon. All-weather sock (restriction with this one though) Wash in cold water only. =========== Leather gloves - working gloves not dress gloves. =========== Mittens - I'm told that the advantage of mittens is that the fingers share warmth - but to me they are useless unless they have the thumb separate from the fingers. Based on my choice to insist on the guns, the mittens will be the type that includes a flap that can expose the trigger finger. =========== Something else may be better, but jeans go everywhere and do everything. 3 or 4 pair. Maybe overall jeans with the extra pockets. =========== A couple pairs of shorts - the kind that have multiple pockets like jeans. ========= Compass - In an unexplored alt-earth I'll need some kind of orientation/direction. ========= Two canteens - both WW-II metal style. Melting snow inside a metal canteen by the fire = water. Warm water in a canteen in the bottom of a sleeping bag at night = warm feet. They'll be filled with either 22LR Hollow Points or Iodine and Aspirin while in route. ========= Sleeping Bag: I'm thinking an ECWS (Extended Cold Weather System) -30 Below Sleep System - the four piece one. I know you are supposed to equip for the environment so a 3 season bag might be a better choice depending on where we actually settle down. Since I can only afford space for one bag, I'm going to want to be warm in the winter. I can always lighten up for other seasons and use just the gore tex cover in the summer as necessary. If the climate isn't that severe, I'll reconsider and possibly go with a 3 season bag - but right now I favor the ECWS and Gore Tex. ================ Credit to Madam P on her Maddox. My box will include the lighter weight folding trenching tool, and I'll use it in the process of forming a digging stick. Her tool is heavier and will do a better job - at this point I'm simply looking for what I can fit in the box and I think the trenching tool will have more uses. =============== Two Wilderness Survival Steel Wire/Cable Saws (62CM-Length) =============== Great idea about the nails Madam P! A good supply of galvanized nails to use in snares and for the shelter will be most welcome! 4 boxes if they'll fit. ============== I mentioned this thread to a friend and he came up with something both obvious and inspired. Leatherman Multi Tool kits. Notice the plural. I'd look for the best ones I can find and take more than one. ============== Fishing equipment. Hooks, lines, sinkers, bobbers. ============== Crops. I'm looking for best return on time/work investment. Sunflower seeds. Peas. Lima beans. Potatoes. Sweet potatoes. Apples. Pears. Strawberries. =============== Salt - Three salt containers ============== Thread for clothing repair and stitching up people. Monofilament fishing line may do this too so I'll have extra fishing line someplace. ============== A spool of copper safety wire. You can expect to set from 10 to 15 snares per 1 animal caught if you set the snares properly...so lots of wire needed. ============= Large Zip-lock bags - they'll lay flat and will need almost no room when packed. ============= If there's space: An AF Survival vest - it'll be great for caring stuff - including the Glock - while setting up camp and checking on those snares. ============= Sprinkle iodine tablets in with the loose ammo that fills every available empty spot - hundreds/thousand of them for use treating water away from camp (in camp I/we will boil water). ============= If I can find space, I'll take a Pur water purification pump with cleanable filter but it's about 10" X 4" ============= One of those larger 2 tined forks use for flipping meat in a pan ============ Ladle - more cooking ============ Heavy weight tin foil - cooking - but it can be cleaned and reused to wrap foods that would be baked/cooked under coal fires ============ I'll need an extra pair of my prescription glasses. =========== Plastic throwaway sunglasses like the optometrists use when they dilate your eyes. Small, easily packable, I'd suggest an entire roll of them. You want to protect yourself from glare (preventing snow blindness) and these would be very light but are still effective. ========== I think we generally agree. Here's my start list. My North Face VE-25 tent: luxury for 2-3, can hold 6. Feathered Friend multi temp sleeping bag: 900 fill goose down, range 40 degrees to 40 below. Ensolite pad - I'm old. 550 ft parachute cord and some 75 feet of static perlon rope. Multiple fire starters. Tarp for tent footprint or shelter. Foldable sven saw. Hudson's Bay cruiser axe. Field surgical kit plus burn gel. Sulfa drugs -- good for a year anyway. Leather sewing kit, camp repair kit. My pocket guide to brain tanning. A couple of rock climbing pulleys, pair of ascenders with biners -- double as come alongs. Web belt with locking buckle. Osborne hole puncher. Box mounted on sled. Frame of box made with bits of my reloading hardware. Stuff to use in reloading. Leatherman tool, Swiss army knife, Benchmade Emerson tanto knife. 2 one liter naglene bottles. Potable aqua. Suunto barometer watch, wound by motion. Mess of pink lady and plumber's candles. Personal. No cotton. down, fleece, and wool with gore shell and quick dry poly/nylon pants and shirt. Capilene underwear. Smart wool socks, with extra pairs cause you can use them as mitten but mitten don't make good socks. Boots, Asolo or Pivetta. OR gators. Seattle Sombero (wide brimmed gore hat). Balaklava. bandanna. camp shoes are Go lites. I could spend days on footwear. Oh, silicone free sno-seal or beeswax. In box: ammo, foldable 22lr rifle, Rem 700 chambered in 270 win with a 10x scope -- if Step brings his 410. Step, you carrying a 9 or 40 mm glock? I'll match you but must have my H & K. Or at least a Sig Sauer. I'll skip the MREs and stick in some mountain house. Snow weight Pack, either a Dana bomb pack or a Mchale. Towel is one of those tiny but hold tons of water jobs. Non- hybrid seeds. Various bolts and frame pieces from box can be fashioned into a simple plow. my 10 + essentials: sunglasses, spare glasses, compass with clinometer on it, whistle, smoke bomb, small sam splint and dressing kit, zinc oxide, petroluem jelly, milner's mitts, insulated mittens and shell over mitt. Another leatherman, hand chain saw, and an AFCK knife. More parachute cord. second cheaper compass. on zipper thermometer. Eye wash. small repair kit. extra socks. fire starters. ben's 100% deet bug juice, chapstick. Wire (snares) and fishing gear. This stays with me always. Note I don't carry space blankets: they work by reflecting your heat back to you but if you aren't producing heat, they're useless. Personal hygiene stuff stays in camp. Not counting more than 3 days of ammo, pack weighs in at 42 lbs. Leki poles add 9 ozs. Before departing I refresh my knowledge of the 5 ways one loses heat, dangers of lack of water etc. Without being forearmed with a modicum of knowledge you're in trouble. Sorry about the spelling, key board is dying.
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Post by Phalon on Jan 2, 2013 6:56:25 GMT -6
That's quite the list, Scamp - very prepared, you'd be. Why no cotton, though - just curious.
I'd forgotten about this thread. Thanks for bringing it up again; always fun to read through old stuff. Shoot, it's been over two years - I wonder if we survived? I wonder if we ran out of coffee...which for me, would greatly reduce my chance of survival.
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The Box
Jan 7, 2013 20:39:31 GMT -6
Post by scamp on Jan 7, 2013 20:39:31 GMT -6
That's quite the list, Scamp - very prepared, you'd be. Why no cotton, though - just curious. I'd forgotten about this thread. Thanks for bringing it up again; always fun to read through old stuff. Shoot, it's been over two years - I wonder if we survived? I wonder if we ran out of coffee...which for me, would greatly reduce my chance of survival. Phalon, I surely hope we find mountains onto which coffee can grow... otherwise we'd be deep doq doq! I dislike cotton simply because it holds lots of moisture and doesn't dry quickly. So, in the summer, you can't use your sweat glands effectively and, in the winter, wet clothing equals hypothermia which means illness, frostbite, or death. Most hypothermia occurs at temps between 35 and 50 degrees -- wet cotton offers no insulation where things like wool and fleece do. In the heat of a hot summer, I'd rather have on a very breathable poly shirt. Or as my climbing buddy used to say: "cotton kills." scamp, wonder if Step is really gonna make me lug around a 40mm glock.
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The Box
Jan 11, 2013 0:22:44 GMT -6
Post by stepper on Jan 11, 2013 0:22:44 GMT -6
Wow - I'd forgotten about this one.
Darn tooting! (Or shootin.) I'm aware of the argument that 9MM does as much damage to flesh as 40MM, but I'm not convinced, so...
40MM on the Glock (love a woman who packs and doesn't flinch) - and I'll stick with the MREs for the calories. I like your choices.
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