60-year-old Wally Fosmore was snowshoeing in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington state when he took a wrong turn and got lost in a blizzard. He was at one point able to reach his son using his cell phone and was reported missing. But the rescuers were not able to search for him because the area he was … Read more
Ground Cherry is the common name given to a variety of different species of plants in the Physalis genus. They are related to tomatoes and therefore have several visible similarities that make them easy to spot, though specifics will differ from species to species. Ground cherries grow wild all over the world, though usually … Read more
32-year-old Nicole Glenn was missing for 6 days before detectives found her in her SUV, stuck in the snow. Her mother reported her missing to Siskiyou County authorities after she failed to check in after arriving at a planned destination. A helicopter was used to search for her, and detectives were sent to the … Read more
While almost everyone that carries a firearm for self-defense spends nearly all of their training time practicing putting rounds down range, that’s not what statistics tell us is the most likely scenario armed defenders find themselves in. Now I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be practicing your draw, aim, and trigger control, I’m only … Read more
Part of survival is preparedness, another part is adapting. If you are venturing off into the woods you should always bring with you an axe, hatchet, or a saw, but you might have forgotten them or lost them. In that case, you will need to use a knife for jobs that generally require a … Read more
When I write about a particular fire building method I usually mention that if the only fire you know how to build is a tee-pee fire then you don’t know enough about fire to stand much of a chance in the wilderness. But that’s not at all to say that the tee-pee fire is not … Read more
The threat of martial law has hardly ever been higher for those of us in the West. Glimpses of this have been seen after events like the Boston bombing, hurricane Katrina, or the Paris attacks. While martial law is done under the guise of increasing safety, it will often put one in greater danger, there … Read more
Generally speaking, it’s sound advice for survival to stay healthy, avoiding drinking, smoking, and drugs. But, there are times that you might want to get “high” to increase your survivability. Survival situations can call for more than you have to give, more energy, more stamina, and more concentration. Hitler’s forces were able to blitzkrieg … Read more
Days ago a Pennsylvania family that set out to visit the Grand Canyon was plunged into a wilderness survival scenario. Luckily for them, they all survived. Luckily for us, we can learn from their experience, what they did right, what they did wrong, and what it is really like to face to face with survival … Read more
Some items are just cooler than others, and because of this we give them more attention. But when disaster strikes and you are digging into your supplies it won’t matter how cool an item is, all that will matter is if you enough. For this reason, you might want to spend a little less on … Read more
Not all wood that you come across in the wilderness is the same or will offer the same benefits. Green wet wood is no good for starting fires, and rotten wood does not have the strength you will need to build most shelters. Developing an eye, and touch, that is sensitive to the differences in wood … Read more
In this video, step-by-step instructions and explanations are given for how to construct a gas mask out of material and supplies that you probably already have around the house. You will need a 2-liter plastic bottle, soda can, duct tape, cotton rounds, rubber bands, and activated charcoal (which you should have around already with your … Read more
Not all skills that can benefit you in a survival situation involve building shelter or properly identifying edible plant species. Sometimes, especially in an urban survival situation, your ability to deal with, or avoid dealing with people will be a determining factor in your ability to stay alive. Learning another language can be a valuable … Read more
Hog peanut is the common name of Amphicarpaea bracteate. It is a wild edible that grows in the forests of North America. Hog peanut produces both an edible root and edible seeds. Hog peanut is a member of the Legume family, same as beans and peas (and peanuts, which are not technically nuts). The vines … Read more
Pepper spray can be an effective tool for self-defense, but it has limitations. Not everyone is equally affected by it, your attacker could be on drugs, have a high pain tolerance, or could even have been sprayed previously and knows how to fight through its effects the way police officers do that carry it. Either … Read more
In internet can be great tool for our daily lives, providing a wealth of information never previously available with such ease, allowing people even in remote areas to purchase goods that stores in the area don’t carry, and allowing individuals to connect to people in their areas that they would otherwise not be likely … Read more
If you have a disaster survival strategy that involves getting out of your area in case of emergency, then you are going to want to plan for seasonal adjustments. Your route, destination, and the gear you will want with you will greatly change from summer to winter. Now that winter is officially here and most … Read more
I recently wrote an article about protecting your birds from infections of the avian flu from wild birds, and to a lesser extent yourself. At the time there wasn’t much need for concern about human infections in North America since none had been reported and even cases of infected birds were not widespread. However; I … Read more
It is possible to walk right past food in the forest without ever knowing it. Not every wild edible is as noticeable as a tree full of ripe apples. One such plant that might be passed by without taking note of it despite its edibility is Medeola virginiana, better known as Indian cucumber. The edible … Read more
“Jugging” is a term that seems to be mainly used in Texas for a crime that is not geographically confined. The basics of the crime involve watching a bank, or an ATM and waiting to see who makes a withdraw, then following that individual to a location that has less security so they can be … Read more
Outside of bug out scenarios or soldiers getting lost behind enemy lines, most wilderness survival situations begin by people willingly entering into the wilderness to enjoy themselves. For many, the more remote, the more enjoyable the experience. The concrete parking lot, hot shower, flush toilet, “camp” site is just not the same as a site … Read more
Broadleaf Arrowhead, or Sagittaria latifolia is a shallow wetland plant that can be found all over the globe. Broadleaf arrowhead produces green leaves which are edible, best when they are young and still curled, and more importantly an edible tuber. Even with nothing else available this plant offers enough nutrition, and can usually be found … Read more
On their online magazine ISIS has threatened terrorist attacks all over the world on Christmas. What does this mean for you and how can you protect yourself? Here are a few tips on how to stay safe tomorrow. As always, arm yourself. Recently Detroit Police Chief triggered the left when he said that citizens … Read more
This year we have seen wildfires all over the globe. Whether caused by natural factors like prolonged dry weather and lightning, accidents like fallen power lines in California, troublesome kids in Tennessee, or potential acts of terrorism in Israel, the result will always be deadly. The only good thing about wildfires is that they usually … Read more
An economic crash, or currency devaluation could cause as many deaths as any natural disaster. The irony being that all the actual resources are still there, but without currency to lubricate the flow of goods and services those resources will be largely unavailable. But like all disasters, even economic ones can be prepared for so … Read more
This is the fastest I have ever seen anyone construct a snow cave. There is some editing in the video so I’m sure it took longer than the run time of the video, but it gives you a good idea of the speed that this tool makes constructing a snow shelter possible. I’m not getting … Read more
The bird flu is back in the news again, spreading and mutating. Most of the cases are in Asia which might make those outside the region feel that there is no need to be concerned. But there are also cases in Africa and Europe, and if wild birds are infected it could be spread virtually … Read more
In a post-disaster scenario when resources and not being resupplied and there is an interruption or full breakdown in law and order, your biggest threat will come from other people. People who have not properly prepared themselves will want to take what you have, those that have not developed their skills will rely solely upon … Read more
This brave guy was kind enough to demonstrate how to survive falling through the ice of a frozen lake. In the video below he outlines 3 different methods to get out alive. Although, the last one requires the assistance of the local fire department and won’t be of much help in the wild. A few … Read more
This is a video of an armed robbery from Russia where a man with a blunt force weapon (hard to tell what it is, it looks like a slap stapler) walks into a check cashing office and brutally attacks a female employee. The video is a graphic departure from the Hollywood depiction of self-defense … Read more
It’s always nice in survival when you can get more than one use out of material you gather or from one plant or animal. Black walnut is a perfect example of this. It can be used medicinally, as well as provide food, and in long term survival it can even be used to help tan … Read more
Tornadoes cause devastation across Midwestern states each year. Unfortunately, people die in these storms, so it makes sense for you and your family to be as prepared as possible if you live in or are visiting states that are in the path of tornadoes. Although you might not have too much warning before the storm … Read more
Shotguns are some of the most versatile weapons, but eventually, you will run out of ammunition. This video demonstrates an easy method of using a spent shell, primer, black powder, and bb’s to reload in the field. The technique does not require much to be carried with you in the way of specified tools or … Read more
This guy’s videos have been making the rounds on the internet lately. For some reason, he has chosen to spend his time seeking out the most painful insect stings the world has to offer, for the purpose of youtube notoriety. That said, this video does illustrate why insects and pests should always be respected. He … Read more
When most people think of bugging out they think of making their way out of a heavily populated area by foot, or even by vehicle. But these are not the only methods of bugging out one should consider, for many there is the possibility of bugging out on the water. Here are some of the … Read more
Japanese Knotweed, or Fallopia japonica, is now an invasive weed that grows all over the earth. It’s stems and new shoots look similar to bamboo, though it is not related, while its leaves are much larger than bamboo leaves and are oval with truncated base. The new shoots can be harvested as a spring vegetable … Read more
Human rights organizations inevitably report higher instances of sexual assault and attacks on women after disasters. With the interruption of law and order, predators will be emboldened. If you are a woman, or if you have women with you, especially younger women, steps will need to be taken to protect them from the elevated threat … Read more
One of the biggest mistakes that some of the survivalists out there make is with their bug out vehicle. They go overboard and buy something ostentatious like a Hummer decked out with “survival accessories”. Some even advertise that they are preppers right on the vehicle. These tend to be the same preppers who go overboard … Read more
When you are new to prepping, it is quite easy to be overwhelmed by all the things you need to do. It can be difficult to know where to begin and what you should be doing to increase your readiness for whatever comes your way. The following are some simple tips you can use to … Read more
When you are trying to survive in the wild, one of the most important skills you need to have is the ability to collect water. Just because you might find a stream or a lake doesn’t mean you can just drink the water, as it could be contaminated and need to be boiled first. In … Read more