How I am prepping.

[SkyyFyre]

How I have prepped: (A work in progress)

Comments welcome, flames to /dev/null.

Given the situations with ISIS, Russia, and the rest of the belligerent world:

Basically, I have 2 packs. 1 overnight pack, one base pack for longer stays. In
addition I have 1 set of bits always needed on a web belt in pouches. We
have 2 types of walkie-talkie.. a cheapo set for short range (up to about 1/2
mile), and a better set with about 5 mile range.

Primary considerations for any site are: Shelter, warmth, water, food.
Secondary considerations are: Safety, Isolation/protection from others,
foraging.

Contents:

Overnight pack:

9' by 12' Basha, 2 poles and bungees with lightweight Krabs.
Covered hammock with suspension tapes and Krabs, lightweight sleeping
bag.
Small gas stove (piezo-lighter).
Lightweight pan/billy set, sporks.
1L water bottle (expandable).
Spare socks.
Emergency meal pack (self heating). 1 man, 24 hrs.
Lightweight fishing set.
Torch/lamp.
Light sticks.
Small rope/Paracord.
Emergency Med kit.

Base pack:

2-man tent with all guys/bungees/pegs etc.
5L water bottle (expandable).
Small gas stove (piezo-lighter).
Larger pan set, sporks etc.
Spare socks, underpants, mocassins.
Meal packs, mostly dried/long-life foods. Pemmican/jerky and other meats.
Larger fishing set.
Torch/lamp.
Light sticks.
Small rope/Paracord.
Emergency Med kit.

General:

Water filter bag, Aquaclear tablets, TDS meter.
Combination compass, and other things (10 functions).
Fire lighting kit: Matches, flint and steel, tinder fluff, BIC lighter.
Knife
Billhook (modified cutting edges)
Maps and a GPS tablet (with solar charger)
Multi-tool.

Preparations (at home):

Dehydrator for foodstuffs and storage. I have a Vac Pak system.
Bannock flour mix (for both packs).

For a long-term emergency:
(all this is in a small trailer)

All above, plus partner's kits (similar).
Large gas stove, pans.
Full med kit including BP and O2 meter, scalpels, forceps, and all the rest of

bandages/plasters/antiseptics.
Silent 1Kw mains generator and all bits for it (lamps, chargers etc).
Spare petrol (in jerry cans).
Various hand/battery tools or re-chargeable tools.
Survival bow, field heads and broadheads. Crossbow, field/broadhead, fishing
tips with reel fitted.

[SkyyFyre]

In addition in the various packs are:

Towels. I found some of those compressed small tissue-type towels. Just add water If you then let them dry you have a handy towel to use.
No-water soap. use sparingly.
'Sticky' gloves. Look after your hands, and they are non-slip when using tools.
Toilet bags (for the morning after a curry). Seal them in a bag and take with you.

On the belt is a small entrenching tool, daily water bottle.

On emergency food:
You can get 'sea biscuits' These are not hard tack, but survival rations. I find them quite tasty
Soups in packets.
OXO cubes.. a good warm drink.

Most of what I carry is bio-degradeable. I don't carry tinned food, just vac-packed or freeze dried. Carry your litter with you and dispose of safely.
The WORST is plastic drinks bottles. I hated the sight of unspoilt moorland in Cumbria, and coke bottles just discarded. Crush them and take them away!
Glass in any form, don't use them!
If you smoke, take the filters with you, they take forever to degrade!

I have collected various foraging guides online, Eatweeds for example. The dishes he does tend to be a bit 'gourmet', but the basic guide on plants is good.
Likewise, freshwater fish, what is edible, and legal. Remember that they are good protein.
I tend to stay away from fungi, too many types look the same, but with MUCH different effects. Anyway, there's low or no calories in them.
Learn to make your own Charcoal. No need for a huge burn, just a bit here and there.
Also on fuel, what's wrong with animal dung? OK, it smells a bit, and you need to make sure it's dried properly, (good fishing worms in horse dung!).
If you're looking at a campsite to return to, consider a clay oven. Easy to make, and re-useable, or use a pit to cook in.

In all of this, use what is naturally available, if you're going to 'wild camp' look up the rules and stick to them. Don't prejudice landowners against us.

Anyway, a few thoughts/ideas to offer here. I hope no-one gets too upset with any of it.

[DustyDog]

You seem to have all the bases covered there, and some nice anti littering too, i live in Cumbria and would like it to be as litter free as possible. Thank you.

Do you visit Cumbria a lot??? I'm north lakes near Penrith.

[Stasher]

Animal dung for fuel

It's a great idea, just remember to only use herbivore poo! In this country drying can be a major issue tho

[SkyyFyre]

Thanks for the replies, folks. Nice to know I'm not talking to a vacuum .

I've not been to Cumbria for a while, but it's my second most favourite area (after Yorkshire). Scotland is No.3!

I'm posting a 'Thoughts on prepping', because (no offence) I think a lot of folks are a bit unsure or misguided about what we are trying to do. Fine, if all you want is a few days away, but that's not what I see as the main reason for doing it. Comments welcome (as always), flames to /dev/null!

[itsybitsy]

Thanks for the replies, folks. Nice to know I'm not talking to a vacuum .

I've not been to Cumbria for a while, but it's my second most favourite area (after Yorkshire). Scotland is No.3!

I'm posting a 'Thoughts on prepping', because (no offence) I think a lot of folks are a bit unsure or misguided about what we are trying to do. Fine, if all you want is a few days away, but that's not what I see as the main reason for doing it. Comments welcome (as always), flames to /dev/null!

I wouldn't class any of our members as misguided. Some are new and perhaps a bit unsure about where to start, but we aim to put them at ease and not terrify them into thinking they need to build a bunker and live on MRE's for the rest of their days. They made it here, and the majority of them are still here, which means they pretty much 'get it' about our forum and our aims. The ones who have left (or in some cases been jettisoned out the door, fast!) are the ones who are misguided because they arrive full of opinions about what and how people should be preparing, spouting conspiracy theories and generally trying to tell everyone that their way is the right way. That's really not what we're about.

[Briggs 2.0]

Thanks for the replies, folks. Nice to know I'm not talking to a vacuum .

I've not been to Cumbria for a while, but it's my second most favourite area (after Yorkshire). Scotland is No.3!

I'm posting a 'Thoughts on prepping', because (no offence) I think a lot of folks are a bit unsure or misguided about what we are trying to do. Fine, if all you want is a few days away, but that's not what I see as the main reason for doing it. Comments welcome (as always), flames to /dev/null!

I may have missed it in your list of kit, but how do you filter water and store water?

[Briggs 2.0]

Thanks for the replies, folks. Nice to know I'm not talking to a vacuum .

I've not been to Cumbria for a while, but it's my second most favourite area (after Yorkshire). Scotland is No.3!

I'm posting a 'Thoughts on prepping', because (no offence) I think a lot of folks are a bit unsure or misguided about what we are trying to do. Fine, if all you want is a few days away, but that's not what I see as the main reason for doing it. Comments welcome (as always), flames to /dev/null!

I wouldn't class any of our members as misguided. Some are new and perhaps a bit unsure about where to start, but we aim to put them at ease and not terrify them into thinking they need to build a bunker and live on MRE's for the rest of their days. They made it here, and the majority of them are still here, which means they pretty much 'get it' about our forum and our aims. The ones who have left (or in some cases been jettisoned out the door, fast!) are the ones who are misguided because they arrive full of opinions about what and how people should be preparing, spouting conspiracy theories and generally trying to tell everyone that their way is the right way. That's really not what we're about.

I thought I was misguided, because my mum had me tested. Twice. But it turned out I just had a wonky eye.

Perhaps the OP can tell us a bit more about why he is prepping, not so much how then we may understand a bit more about where he's coming from and what he's trying to achieve.

[SkyyFyre]

Sorry, I think I used the wrong word in 'misguided'. My apologies. What I meant was 'unsure what to do and what to ask about'.

My water filter is a special canvas bag, cost about £7.. it's a purpose-made filter bag. I mis-remember the name of it, but I will find out. For storage I use 1 and 3 L collapsible plastic containers.

I am prepping much because it is a way of life I have chosen. Consider that I was around when the Nuclear 'clock' stood at 3 mins. Apart from that, I have always been an outdoors person, as the years have extended, I have learned what I can to make it as easy as I can to live without a local 'Superstore' etc. and have gained skills and abilities towards the whole lifestyle of living self-sufficiently.

What has raised it in my awareness recently is the facts that ISIS and Russia are separately flexing their muscles, Korea is testing Hydrogen bombs, and much of the rest of the world is in a state of unrest. Add to that the fact that, for relatively low-paid people, this county's government has failed them. I am retired, and don't have a lot of cash to throw around. So, I suppose, I am looking for a way to move out of the rat-race and just live without co-ercion, unrest, and danger.

I hope this addresses some of the comments you have made. It is not my intention to scare the living daylights out of relatively new people, but to pass on assistance I wish I could have got over the years.

Many regards, folks, Skyy.


P.S. It's a Millbank water filter bag.

[Briggs 2.0]

Okay, thanks for explaining a little more about why.

I'm located very rural, so I'm not so focused on Daesh, Putin or social unrest. My preps are more focused on power outage, food and water, hence why I asked about your water preps. I'm not comfortable unless there's a few hundred litres in store.

I am sure that you will find a great deal on water in the forum, it's a topic we revisit regularly. A popular portable filter, used by many on here is the Mini Sawyer. Well worth checking out if you haven't already.

There's a good mix of characters and skills here, all with a different motivation to be better prepared.

Briggs