Do You Have Enough Skills to Survive?
Every time we see a disaster on the news that causes people to evacuate – Hurricane Ian and western wildfires come to mind immediately – we’re reminded that the same thing could happen to us at any time.
Extreme weather, such as tornadoes and other violent storms, can send people packing at a moment’s notice.
It’s very possible a serious weather event could put any of us out of our homes for a day or more. Do you have enough survival skills to deal with that?
Today I want to provide you with my list of the top seven survival skills to master. None of them is overly difficult, but they do require practice.
Camping trip practice
Knowing about survival skills and actually putting them into practice are two different things. It’s going to be cold soon in many parts of the country, which makes the next month or so the perfect time to do something very important.
If you are physically capable of this, I’d strongly encourage you to take a weekend camping trip with one or more family members or friends.
It’s a great way to unwind and bond with other people. But I have something even more important in mind for this activity.
I’d like you to use this time to practice some survival skills you may need in the future. In fact, it’s possible you’ll need them sooner than you think.
Get mistakes out of the way
If you can’t afford the time to get away, another option is doing some of these things for one day and night in your backyard. Either way, the great thing about practicing survival skills is that you can learn from your mistakes.
An error during a survival practice drill is not going to leave you in a life-threatening situation. You’ll have enough resources to overcome it and get back home safely.
But if you make a mistake in a real survival situation, it could be fatal. And you’ll be less likely to make that error if you’ve practiced ahead of time.
Here are a few ways you can go about practicing your survival skills, ideally during an upcoming camping excursion.
Shelter making
Once you’ve set up your tent and other camping items, try to build a shelter from what you can find in the woods.
This doesn’t have to be an elaborate shelter. Just something that will keep you covered so you’re safe from the elements.
In a real survival situation, you may get lucky and find a natural shelter, such as a cave, an overhang or very thick foliage.
If not, you’ll have to use forest debris including tree branches and leaves. Now’s the time to practice this. You can find plenty of instruction videos on the Internet.
Fire starting
Even in a real survival situation, you should have easy fire starters such as lighters, matches and magnesium sticks in your bag.
But it’s a good idea to practice starting a fire the old-fashioned ways. Such as with flint and steel, and with a bow and spindle.
Yes, both of those methods will take a while. But that’s what this camping trip is all about – to prepare for a survival scenario.
Again, you can find a number of how-to videos on this subject online.
Water gathering
There’s a reason I listed fire starting before water gathering. You will need to boil the water you find before you can safely drink it.
Hopefully in an actual survival situation you will have enough clean water to last for a while. But eventually it could run out if the crisis continues.
Once you find a water source, gather some in containers and boil it to take out impurities. You should also filter it with a portable water filter.
Take a look at some boiling and filtering videos before you leave for your camping trip. They will give you a variety of ideas on how to purify the water you find.
Signaling
This is an activity you want to be careful about practicing. You don’t want anyone to risk their health or life trying to save you when you don’t need saving.
One way to signal for help is by holding a mirror up to the sunlight and moving it slowly to reflect that light upward. Make sure there is no airplane in sight when you are practicing this.
Something else that can be seen from the air in a cleared area is three of just about anything large enough to be seen. Such as logs. That’s a distress signal.
Smoke from your fire could also be seen by rescuers if they are looking for you in a real emergency.
Tool making
You will hopefully have a good survival knife and a multi-tool in your bug-out bag. But if you don’t have that bag with you in an actual survival scenario, you will have to improvise.
So, it’s a good idea to know how to make a few basic tools out of forest debris. One of those would be a short, sharpened stick you could use as a knife.
Another would be a longer sharpened stick you could use as a spear. These items could help you cut twigs and branches for a shelter and to fish or hunt game.
Internet videos can help you discover different ways to find the right materials in the woods for these tasks.
First-aid giving
Bugging out and injuries go hand in hand. From minor to major, these injuries can derail an escape plan if they’re not taken care of promptly.
Having a comprehensive first-aid kit is job one. Knowing how to use the contents of that kit is just as important.
If you’ve never taken a CPR course, I’d strongly recommend it. Knowing how to perform CPR and the Heimlich maneuver could be a lifesaver.
You should also know how to dress a wound, set a splint, apply a tourniquet, treat a burn, recognize a stroke, and treat hypothermia and heat exhaustion.
Food finding
You’ll have food with you on your camping trip, and hopefully you’ll have some in your bag or vehicle if you have to bug out quickly.
But spend a little time during your camping trip foraging for edible plants and berries, even if you don’t actually eat them.
Knowing which ones are safe and which are poisonous could go a long way toward keeping you healthy during a crisis.
There are plenty of online materials to help you make those decisions.
A real survival situation will be much more intense than a camping trip. But by practicing some survival skills in a comfortable atmosphere, you’ll be able to perform better when it happens for real.
StarFire Camp Stove
Once you’ve found food – or better yet, brought meat, vegetables, etc., with you – here’s a great way to cook that food. The StarFire Camp Stove from 4Patriots is a low-smoke stove that cooks food and never needs gas.
All you need are sticks, twigs, leaves or paper to build a roaring fire. Lightweight (1 pound) and portable, it boils water in 8 to 12 minutes.
Enjoy a skillet breakfast or use it to cook soups, stews, vegetables and meats. It can also roast marshmallows or hotdogs, and provide light.
And with a purchase of the StarFire Camp Stove, you also get FREE bonuses worth $196.10. They include nine of our top-rated survival items.
The Sun Can Cook Your Food… With a Little Help
I’m sure you’ve heard this expression: “It’s hot enough to cook an egg on the sidewalk.”
Many parts of the country experienced that type of sweltering heat this past summer. Including Sacramento, California, where the temperature reached 116 degrees one not-so-fine day.
You probably could cook an egg on the sidewalk on a day that hot. But would you want to eat it? There is a much better way to cook without electricity. Whether you’re home and the power is out, or you’re in the woods camping or hiking?
It’s called solar cooking. The sun is 27 million degrees Fahrenheit at its core, but its rays cool considerably during their eight-minute, 20-second journey to Earth. By the time they arrive, they’re not hot enough to cook food or boil water.
But those electromagnetic rays contain a great deal of energy. They cause the molecules in whatever they strike to vibrate. That’s what generates heat. And solar cookers are capable of harnessing that heat.
Sun-powered ovens
There are a number of different types of solar cookers. They include solar ovens/box cookers and panel cookers. Plus evacuated tubes and parabolic solar cookers.
The solar oven or box cooker is usually about three to five feet across. It’s basically a sun-powered oven. It heats up and seals in the heat. The open-topped box is black on the inside with glass or transparent plastic on the top.
It usually has several reflectors featuring flat, metallic or mirrored surfaces outside the box. They collect and direct sunlight onto the glass.
A pot of food sits on the black bottom of the box. Sunlight enters the box through the glass top. When light waves strike the bottom, the box heats up and the food cooks.
Variety of choices
Panel cookers incorporate different elements of box cookers and parabolic solar cookers. They use parabolic reflectors above a box-type oven.
Evacuated tube solar cookers use a double-wall glass tube for the cooking chamber. The space between the glass is created as a vacuum.
Many people prefer parabolic solar cookers due to their ability to achieve higher temperatures and their portability.
A parabolic solar cooker uses curved, reflective surfaces to focus sunlight into a small area. The evacuated tempered glass tube traps every bit of heat-producing light that hits it.
No noise or smoke
Temperatures inside a parabolic solar cooker can get very hot. But it’s cool to the touch on the outside. So, you can safely handle it with your bare hands when it’s at full temperature.
The sides fold out to reveal two parabolic mirrors. These “wings” grab every bit of sun and focus it on the glass tube.
A parabolic solar cooker does not need batteries or electricity. Because it boils water, it protects you from parasites such as giardia.
It doesn’t need any flames or fuel. You don’t have to be concerned with gathering wood or sticks. And it doesn’t produce smoke or make noise. So, it allows you to keep your location covert.
What to cook with it
What can you cook with a parabolic solar cooker? Hard-boiled eggs and hot dogs come to mind immediately.
But you could also cook an omelet or vegetarian couscous. Or oatmeal and a wide variety of soups.
As well as mashed potato flakes and instant rice. Plus stovetop stuffing, ramen noodles and bulgar wheat.
Not to mention pastas that cook in less than four minutes. Such as artisan pastas and instant grits.
When to use it
When are the best times to use a parabolic solar cooker? They’re great for camping, boating and hiking.
As well as picnics, your job site or tailgating. Or just sitting on the sidelines while your kids or grandchildren play.
Cooking food such as hotdogs, eggs and freeze-dried meals is one way to use a parabolic solar cooker. But there are many others. Including…
- Heating water for hygiene needs
- Keeping liquid hot for hours for coffee, tea, cocoa, gelatin or baby formula
- Melting snow for drinking or other usages
- Pasteurizing water
- Killing giardia, cryptosporidium and other waterborne bacteria
Sun Kettle XL is the ideal choice
Our choice for a parabolic solar cooker at 4Patriots is the upgraded Sun Kettle XL Personal Water Heater. It boils water in just minutes without any fuel or flame. For cooking, drinking, cleaning and hygiene.
We sold more than 70,000 of our regular-sized Sun Kettles. And now we’re offering the Sun Kettle XL with twice the water capacity. This “deluxe” water heater can boil water wherever you have sun. Silently and safely.
It’s like having a microwave the size of a large thermos. Constructed from tough ABS plastic and shatter-resistant tempered glass, it’s built like a tank. And the ventilated cap means no worries about pressure levels and dangerous over-boils.
The square base and kickstand combine to give four points of contact so you don’t have to worry about tips and spills.
Many great features
The Sun Kettle XL has many great features that will make it your go-to solar cooker. It’s compact, clean, advanced and insulated. As well as convenient, safe, stealthy, lightweight and useful.
The Sun Kettle XL is very easy to use. Just fill it with water, leaving about two inches for steam.
Then open the reflective panels and face them into the sunlight. When steam escapes from the top vent, enjoy hot water right away. Or close the doors to keep the water hot for later.
To Sleep, Perchance to Dream – Part 2, by J.M.
(Continued from Part 1.) Another platform option to consider are hammocks – I’m not talking about those huge macrame things people have in their backyards, but real camping hammocks from companies like Eagles Nest Outfitters, Hummingbird, Lawson, Dutchware and Warbonnet Outdoors. I may be a bit biased since I transitioned from a ground-dweller to hammocks […]
A Vehicle to Help Adjust Your Thinking, by R.V.
We bought a travel trailer. Our first trip took us from Georgia to North Dakota and back. The unit is built to handle changing sources of energy and limited sources of energy. It is designed to leave no trace other than tire prints. My primary motivation was to be able to join our family together […]
Can a Solar-Powered Flashlight Really Do All This?
With our 7 Days of Solar Event going on now – right smack in the middle of National Preparedness Month – today I want to tell you about one of our most popular devices that you can charge with just the power of the sun. So stay tuned.
When you need light in the darkness, a flashlight is your go-to tool, right? Well, it wasn’t always this way. When men and women needed light before electricity, they used torches.
Those torches were followed eventually by candles, oil lamps, and kerosene lamps. Each involved a flame that had to be carried, so there was always the possibility of danger.
Near the end of the 19th century, the incandescent light bulb and the dry battery were invented.
Flash lights needed to rest
The flashlight was created in 1899 and there’s a good reason the word “flash” was used in its name. The small, incandescent electric light bulb was powered by batteries, with a contact switch turning the light on and off.
But these “flash lights” could not emit light for very long. They ran on zinc-carbon batteries that could not provide constant current for extended periods of time. The user had to give these flashlights frequent rests.
Over time, as batteries improved and tungsten replaced carbon filaments, the flashlight became more dependable and popular.
Most of today’s flashlights run on disposable or rechargeable batteries. They use incandescent light bulbs or LEDs (light-emitting diodes). Incandescent bulbs have a tungsten filament. LEDs are semiconductors that emit light.
Standard flashlights still the same
Today, there are two basic types of flashlights: standard and tactical. We’ve all probably used a standard flashlight at one time or another.
Many still require big batteries and they still turn on the same way and weigh about the same.
These basic everyday flashlights are handy when you’re looking for something under a couch. Or when you’re trying to find something in a dark closet. And, of course, when the power goes out in your home.
Standard flashlights are usually constructed from inexpensive aluminum or cheap plastic and low-grade steel. Many don’t last too long.
A variety of devices
Among the many flashlights we see today are incandescent bulb flashlights, LED flashlights and high-intensity discharge flashlights. Plus pressurized gas flashlights, solar-powered flashlights and headlamp flashlights.
As well as shake flashlights, USB-charging flashlights and utility flashlights. And heavy-duty flashlights and work flashlights.
They all have their place, and some are more effective than others. A high-intensity discharge flashlight, for example, can deliver a very bright light. That’s due to an electrical current that runs through a ball of ionized gas.
A shake flashlight turns on by shaking it. It’s powered by magnets that cause a reaction to produce light. A headlamp flashlight is ideal if you need to shine light on something you’re using both hands to work on.
Tactical flashlights the best choice
Tactical flashlights are far superior to standard flashlights. So why settle for anything less?
Tactical flashlights look and feel much different. They’re more durable and weather-resistant. And they feature a variety of settings, such as strobe and SOS. Once you get used to a tactical flashlight, you’ll probably never use a standard flashlight again.
Most tactical flashlights are made with a higher grade of aluminum and are armor-coated. Normally they are lighter in weight than basic flashlights. And they can resist shocks, corrosion and whatever the weather throws at them.
The average standard flashlight gives you about 10 feet of brightness. That’s approximately 100 lumens. Tactical flashlights provide brightness to about 50 feet. And they give you visibility up to about 100 yards.
What to look for
Here’s what I look for in a tactical flashlight:
- Ultra-bright LED flashlight
- Solar panel
- Power bank
- SOS light & strobe
- Work light
- Seatbelt/rope splitter
- Glass-breaking hammer
- Compass
- Magnet
- Lightweight
- Anti-slip handle
- Adjustable wrist strap
Could a tactical flashlight save your life?
A tactical flashlight is not only superior to a regular flashlight. It could also save your life. Here are six ways that could happen.
Spotting danger in the darkness. If you find yourself walking in a dark area – due to a power outage or if you’re camping in the woods – a flashlight is a big help for finding your way and avoiding pitfalls. You might even spot a human with bad intent or an animal looking for its next meal. Spotting either of them before you get too close could save your life.
Escaping from a hazard zone. If there were a chemical spill near where you live and the power were knocked out, a flashlight might be the only tool at your disposal to help you get out of the region as quickly and safely as possible. The same thing would be true if you were dealing with a fire, flood, earthquake or other disaster that would require you to get away quickly.
Signaling for help. If you get lost in the wilderness, whether during an escape from a bad situation or just a camping trip, or are stranded somewhere, a flashlight could be used to signal for help. Especially if your flashlight has a built-in SOS component or a strobe function to it. Light carries a long distance in a short amount of time – something like 186,000 miles per second – and it will attract attention if someone is able to observe it.
Self-defense from an attacker. There are weapons that would be more useful than a flashlight if you’re attacked. A gun comes to mind first, of course. But most of us don’t have immediate access to that type of weapon when we’re out and about. And there are usually restrictions on how and when they can be carried. A flashlight can temporarily blind an attacker to allow an escape, while its barrel can be used for a counterattack.
A vehicle breakdown. If you have to get out of your vehicle after pulling off to the side of the road, your hazard lights should help other drivers see your car. But they won’t help you see what’s going on under the hood. A flashlight will come in very handy in this situation, as it would if you were changing a tire. And if you have to abandon the car and walk somewhere in the dark, it will help light your way.
Charging a cellphone for an emergency call. If your cellphone is dead and you need to make a call for help, some tactical flashlights will enable you to charge it. That phone call could allow you to escape a very dangerous situation.
Everybody needs a flashlight. And several of them are much better than having just one. But make sure you have tactical flashlights because they can do so much more.
HaloXT Tactical Flashlight
Now that I’ve told you what to look for in a tactical flashlight, let me also tell you that you don’t need to look any farther. Because I have the ideal one for you. It’s called the HaloXT Tactical Flashlight from 4Patriots.
In addition to several light functions, this flashlight has small solar panels so you can charge it with just the power of the sun. As well as a glass breaker, a seatbelt cutter and a compass. The HaloXT also has an anti-slip handle and an adjustable wrist strap.
Despite the fact that it’s small, lightweight and easy to handle, it’s extremely sturdy. That’s because it’s made from aluminum alloy. It can handle abuse. And that includes dropping it on the floor or ground, and banging it against something.
It will continue to perform perfectly. This flashlight is weather-resistant, shock-resistant and corrosion-resistant. It even includes a magnet so you can secure it to your car and use both hands to work.
Here’s how you can get yours… or better yet, several of them.
Learn These Off-Grid Communication Methods
For many of us, it’s hard to imagine our lives without a cellphone. That’s how dependent we’ve become on them. Despite the fact that most of us did not own one during the first half of our lives.
Now, we use them for a variety of tasks. Phone calls, text messages, emails, Internet searches, maps and other usages. And it’s always in the back of our minds that we may need our cellphone to request emergency help. Or receive a call from someone needing help right away.
That’s why we feel so powerless when we realize we left our phone at home. Or when we realize it’s dead.
And even if our fully-charged cellphone is resting comfortably in our pocket, there’s always the chance extreme weather or a natural disaster could render a cellphone tower useless.
Today I want to talk about off-grid ways to communicate when a cellphone is not an option. Hopefully this will never happen to you. But you need to be ready if it does.
Ham radio
Today I want to take a look at different ways to communicate when you don’t have your cellphone with you. Or when it’s at 0 percent power.
One option is ham radio. FEMA uses this method when communication lines are down to communicate vital information during emergencies. Ham radio is also used in police stations, fire departments, hospitals and shelters.
Because ham radio is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), users need a valid license.
Another option is CB radio. Truckers use this form of communication on a daily basis. Some families and businesses use FRS (Family Radio Service) and GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) radios. They also require licenses due to FCC regulations.
Satellite phone
In an emergency, you’d rather rely on a satellite than a telecommunications network. That’s why satellite phones are so effective. Of course, they should only be used in emergencies. They are expensive and calls are traceable. In some countries, it’s illegal to own a satellite phone.
Depending on where you are when an emergency occurs and your cellphone is dead, you might be able to find a phone booth. There are far fewer of them than back in the day, but they still exist.
Another great option is a landline phone. The challenge in this case is convincing a stranger who owns one to allow you to use it.
GPS Messenger Beacon is considered the little brother of satellite phones. It has an SOS function that transmits your GPS location with an emergency signal to search and rescue teams. It also gives you the ability to send a pre-programmed message to family and friends with GPS coordinates attached.
Morse code
You probably don’t own any homing pigeons or Pony Express horses. But if you really want to take the covert communication thing to a new level, consider learning Morse code.
This was first used in 1844 after being invented by American Samuel F.B. Morse. The code turns letters, numbers and punctuation into a series of dots, dashes and spaces.
Information carriers such as an electric current, radio waves, sounds waves and even signal flags can communicate messages through Morse code.
With Morse code, it’s much easier to filter out background noise and hear weak signals than with some other communication methods.
Signaling
Outdoor Life magazine calls signaling “one of the most under-practiced and underemphasized skill sets in our survival arsenal.” Here are seven ways to signal for help in an emergency. Remember the international code for SOS is three short, three long and three short signals, followed by a pause and then repeated.
- Fire. Keep it small and contained, and aim for an elevated area. If you have room and it’s safe, build three fires in a triangle or straight line, about 30 yards apart.
- Flag. Always carry a colorful signal flag in your bug-out bag. If you don’t have a signal flag, you can construct one out of colorful clothing attached to a stick.
- Flare gun. It should only be used in wetlands or over open water. They’re still burning when they fall, so they can be a serious fire hazard.
- Flashlight. You can use this item to flash an SOS whenever you hear an aircraft. This will be even more effective if your flashlight has a strobe option.
- Mirror. On a sunny day, this item can reflect sunlight as far as 10 miles away. It can be used to attract the attention of aircraft, watercraft or searchers on foot.
- Spell H-E-L-P. This did not work for Tom Hanks in Castaway, but it has been effective in real life. Use logs, tree branches, rocks or vegetation to spell out H-E-L-P in an open area.
- Whistle. The range is short for this simple device, but it is effective. Three short blasts are recommended to signal for help.
Like many other survival techniques, signaling for help is a skill best practiced before it’s needed. Knowing multiple ways to signal in an emergency can make a world of difference when the situation and surroundings are rapidly changing.
Family emergency plan
In anticipation of a phone-less crisis, establish a family emergency plan so you will know exactly where to meet family members.
Have a family meeting and make sure everyone knows that if an emergency occurs and no one can contact anyone else, you all will meet at a specific location.
Ideally this would be your home, but that might not be practical in every situation. Pick a secondary, central location everyone could get to without too much trouble from wherever they are most likely to be. Such as work, school or a grocery store.
Revisit this emergency plan every six months or so to update it. And make sure everyone keeps a current version of the plan in their wallet.
Talk-N-Go Walkie Talkies
I saved one of my favorite off-grid ways to communicate for last. It’s walkie-talkies. When a cell tower goes down and the Internet doesn’t work, you can still communicate with family members.
And this is a great time to get them because the Talk-N-Go Rechargeable Walkie Talkies from 4Patriots are back in stock.
These babies never need batteries, and they’re rechargeable via USB. We offer 16 different channels to avoid interference and you can stay connected for up to a three-mile distance.
Easy to use and a potential lifesaver, Talk-N-Go Rechargeable Walkie Talkies are even smaller than a cellphone. Keep tabs on the kids and grandkids, stay in touch while camping, communicate covertly in public… you’ll find all sorts of uses for them.
Largest California Wildfire This Year Destroys Homes, Devastates Families
It has become a way of life for people living in northern California. Every summer, wildfires engulf huge tracts of forestland, destroy homes and sometimes end lives.
As of this writing, the McKinney Fire has spread to more than 60,000 acres in and around the Klamath National Forest near the California-Oregon border. The fire has claimed at least four lives and 185 structures including homes.
It’s the largest wildfire in the Golden State this year so far, and there were fears it would grow even larger and more deadly. Especially due to rising temperatures and decreasing humidity levels.
Many families barely escaped with their lives, outrunning the flames. But when they returned, their homes were gone. So far, more than 2,000 people have been forced to evacuate the area.
The Losses Keep Mounting
One 32-year-old Klamath River resident evacuated her home with two children just in time after grabbing a few personal belongings. “I could hear the crackling, and I could hear trees falling and I could hear the fire,” she said. “The ash and embers (were) going in my eyes.
“Devastating. There’s no word that I can use to describe it except for devastating. I lost pretty much everything I owned.”
Another couple in the town lost much of their ranch, including barns and animals. The ranch had been in the family since 1954.
A 28-year-old man who had lost his mother in a fire when he was age 6 got out of his home before the fire destroyed it. “It’s just that same emptiness that I felt as a kid, really,” he said. “It doesn’t feel real.”
The mother of another family said of her home, “There’s nothing left. It’s completely burned down to the dirt. It’s just completely gone. It’s hard to convey to somebody what it’s like to know that you have nothing.” Her husband added, “We don’t even have an address anymore.”
Governor Declares State of Emergency
While firefighters welcome any rain they can get, thunderstorms sometimes make the situation even worse. That’s because lightning strikes are capable of sparking new fires and fueling existing ones. And sometimes the rain evaporates before it hits the ground, so it’s no help.
A U.S. Forest Service spokesperson said, “The fuel beds are so dry, and they can just erupt from that lightning. These thunder cells come with gusty, erratic winds that can blow fire in every direction.”
Just two days after starting in a largely unpopulated area of Siskiyou County, the McKinney Fire grew in size to 80 square miles. With the blaze reaching homes and threatening crucial infrastructure, California Governor Gavin Newsome declared a state of emergency.
Cellphone service was out in some areas, so automated calls were made to landlines urging evacuation. A 110-mile section of a trail from the Etna Summit to the Mt. Ashland Campground in southern Oregon was closed.
Red Flag Warnings in 7 States
Across the border in Oregon, two firefighters who were camping saw the orange skies and knew it was time to leave the area. They also knew they’d be coming back if deployed to fight the fire.
One of them was Oregon state representative Dacia Grayber and the other was her husband.
She tweeted, “In 22+ years of fire I’ve never experienced anything like this fire behavior at night. It felt absolutely surreal and not just a little apocalyptic.”
More than 2 million people were under red flag warnings, and not just in California and Oregon. The warnings extended to eastern Washington, Montana, eastern Wyoming, western South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska.
Drought, Rough Terrain Add to Challenge
The combination of historic drought conditions and rough terrain made fighting the McKinney Fire a big challenge.
Fire officials say the dry brush, grass and timber fed the fire and allowed flames to run uphill.
Tom Stokesberry is with the U.S. Forest Service. Here’s what he told CNN affiliate KTVL. “Klamath National Forest is a big and beautiful forest, but it also has some steep and rugged terrain.
“And with that, coupled with the high temperatures, low humidity, they all come into play and make it a very extreme fire danger right now.”
Fires Create Own Weather System
Technically, a wildfire is not a weather condition like rain, snow, wind, etc.
But when wildfires become large and intense enough, they can generate their own weather in the form of pyrocumulus clouds. The clouds form when heat from the fire forces air to rise.
Also called flammagenitus clouds, they’re similar to firestorms, which can create and sustain their own wind system. These clouds are often gray to brown in color due to ash and smoke.
They can trigger a thunderstorm, and the lightning can make a fire worse or start an additional fire. And even when there is no lightning, increased winds from the clouds can make battling fires even more difficult.
If you live in an area prone to wildfires, I hope you’ll take every precaution possible to avoid getting caught unaware. Including making sure you have advance warning to evacuate and much-needed supplies if you hunker down.
An Illustrative Family Reunion Camping Trip, by MacHam
Editor’s Introductory Note: The following article illustrates the difficulties of what I often label “group dynamics.” Anyone who plans to operate a post-Schumer retreat with more than just two families should pay close attention! – JWR I have just returned from a four-day family reunion and here are my observations. To set the stage I […]
In a Blackout… Let There Be Light
What’s the first thing you think of when you get hit with a blackout? That’s a pretty easy one. The answer is light.
Whether it’s grabbing the nearest flashlight or lighting some candles, you want to see what you’re doing and where you’re going. And the same is true when you’re camping or walking outside in the dark. Lighting your path is essential for staying safe.
Today I want to talk about a variety of ways you can create light to break through the darkness. Some of these you’ve used for that purpose. But I’m guessing you haven’t used some of the more unusual ones.
And when I finish with my list, I’m going to introduce you to a new product that works great at lighting your surroundings. Whether you’re inside or out.
Flashlights, candles, etc.
Let’s get the obvious ones out of the way first. The quickest and easiest way to produce light is with a flashlight. Keep several around the house and take a couple with you when you go out.
Another is lighting candles. While this is also a quick way to produce light, candles can be a fire hazard. They shouldn’t be left burning when you leave a room or walk away from a campsite.
Oil lamps are another option. Using oil as the fuel source, these lamps have been employed for thousands of years. A textile wick drops down into the oil and is lit at the end. The oil burns as it is drawn up the wick.
Of course, your smartphone can also serve as a flashlight. And you can always provide some light while camping (or in your fireplace) with a fire. Headlamps and glowsticks also illuminate your surroundings. As do battery-powered and solar-powered lanterns.
Lighting with some color
OK, now for some lesser-known ways to break through the darkness. Remember those Crayola crayons you used as a kid? And maybe you still join in some coloring fun with your kids or grandkids.
Because crayons are basically wax, you can light them like a candle and they’ll produce light for about 30 minutes.
Break the point off a crayon and light the paper label at the end. The paper will serve as a wick as the wax melts.
If you tie several crayons together, you can get a larger flame going, thereby producing more light.
Glowing water
I mentioned headlamps a moment ago. As the name implies, it’s a light that ties around your head with a strap so you can see in front of you in the dark.
But a headlamp can also be used to produce a glowing light to set the mood at home or in the woods.
Fill a clear plastic gallon jug with water. Then wrap a headlamp “belt” around the container with the light shining inward, toward the center of the jug.
When the water diffuses and diverts the light, you’ve got a glowing lamp to provide some ambiance.
Crisco, sardines & bacon
Would you like to be able to produce a candle-type light that will stay lit for a long time? Maybe a month?
Just get a large can of Crisco. Using a forked stick, shove a natural fiber wick (such as a mop strand or a cotton t-shirt shred) down to the bottom of the thick grease.
Here’s another idea. Once you’ve eaten sardines out of a can containing olive oil, place a natural fiber wick (like that mop strand I mentioned) into the oil that’s left over so it’s completely immersed.
Then bend the strand up at the edge of the can and light it. It should stay lit for several hours. The downside? It will smell like fish. Bacon grease can serve the same purpose – and will smell better.
So… how about this SoLantern?
While there are a number of good ways to create light at home during a blackout or while you’re camping, I want to share a brand new one with you. It’s the 4Patriots SoLantern. It has a long-lasting battery and recharges with the sun.
This powerful light produces 800 lumens. Which is the equivalent to the light produced by 800 candles. It’s lightweight so you can take it anywhere. The SoLantern has five different light settings and can power up your phone and other electronic devices.
Use it at campgrounds, on RV trips, and in your front and back yards. All at the simple push of a button. Carry it with you to light your path or set it down and read by it.
And this is a great time to acquire the SoLantern because we’re offering one free whenever you purchase four.
Here’s how to get yours…
Don’t Camp Without These Cookware Essentials
Summer is hot. The bugs can be pretty annoying. And it can get rather crowded at some camping grounds.
But you know what? There’s never a bad time to go camping!
One of the most important items you can take with you on your next camping trip – regardless of the season – is non-perishable food. Hopefully with a long shelf life.
But if you fail to include a variety of camping cookware, you may have a difficult time eating that food. Here are some items you’ll want to include on your camping excursions.
Pots, pans & plates
First and foremost when it comes to cookware for your trip are the three P’s – pots, pans and plates. A store-bought mess kit will do just fine. They are usually designed for one, two or four people.
You can find them in a big box store’s sporting goods department for a low price. They usually consist of a small frying pan and a plate on the outer shell. Plus a drinking cup or bowl and a boiling pot and lid.
Assuming they inter-stack and lock together into a compact unit, these mess kits are easy to carry, use and clean. And pack up again.
If you consider yourself more of an “upscale” camper, or just want more durability in your mess kit, you can go the stainless steel route. If you don’t want to pay for a mountaineering mess kit, you can assemble one yourself.
Silverware & aluminum foil
Enough silverware for each person in your party is also an essential. Again, the big box store sporting goods area should contain interlocking knife/fork/spoon sets.
To keep the weight of your supplies down, there might be a temptation to pack plastic or extremely lightweight utensils. Don’t. Pack ones that will stand up to some rough circumstances.
When we’re sitting around the dining room table, we rarely say, “Please pass the aluminum foil.” But when you’re camping, this is an item that will come in handy.
You can use aluminum foil to wrap vegetables, meat or fish when they are cooking over a campfire. As well as to carry cooked food when you go exploring.
Coffee & cooking pots
Not everyone will want to include a small coffee pot among their camping supplies. But I can’t imagine camping without one.
To really be efficient, you can keep small, clean clothing items inside it when you’re on the move.
A cooking pot with a lid is another necessity. You’ll be able to heat up larger quantities of food that way, including stew.
And you can keep other items inside it when it’s in your bag. You might want to add a soft, lightweight, folding bucket for carrying water.
Canteen & water purifiers
Make sure you have at least one military grade canteen in your camping supplies. Some of the better ones also include a matching cup (which can double as a boiling pot). Plus an insulated carrier and a utility belt for transporting them.
The canteen should be able to hold at least one quart of water. Don’t skimp on this purchase. The better canteens will be able to keep beverages hot or cold for longer periods of time.
While you’re at it, make sure you include at least one personal water filter. And a small bottle of water purification tablets.
There’s nothing that spells disaster for a camping experience faster than drinking contaminated water.
Fire starters & dishwashing liquid
A fire starter does not qualify as cookware, but can you imagine trying to go camping without one? Or several? There are a number of different ways to start a fire for cooking food.
Bic lighters have served campers well for years. You’ll also want to carry waterproof matches. If you really want to rough it, you can rub two sticks together or use flint and steel. Or use batteries and steel wool or a magnifying lens over tinder.
In order to keep all your cookware clean, include a non-breakable, non-spill bottle of dishwashing liquid. Keeping cookware clean and germ-free is important.
Another usage for dishwashing liquid is coating the bottom and sides of your cooking pots and pans with a heavy film of dishwashing soap, prior to cooking over an open flame. It will make removing the black soot buildup a much easier task.
Serving utensils and stoves
Knives, forks and spoons are great for transporting food from your plate to your mouth. But when it comes to getting food from the pot or pan to your plate, items such as spatulas, ladles and meat forks are much more preferable.
Single or two-burner camp stoves can make your camping experience easier. And can replace a fire if it’s not convenient to safely build one.
Sometimes called “survival stoves” or “mini-folding pocket stoves,” they can really help warm you up in the cold at night when needed. And can boil water.
They can also serve to dry wet clothing. There are definitely downsides to these portable stoves, however. In addition to their size and weight, they require fuel, which can be bulky and hazardous. And which doesn’t last too long.
A much simpler and safer way to boil water and heat up food is a solar cooker. You won’t be surprised to learn I have just the one for you – the SunKettle from 4Patriots.
Once you’ve determined which cookware items you’ll need for your fall camping trip, pack them first. Your optional items can always fit in and around these “musts.”
