I had this problem just last week. I went to the local Forest
Service shooting range to take my boy to try out Grandad's
old Remington Model 4 22. I met a couple of guys there also shooting 22's.
One was kind of surly with having to share the
range. When they left, they locked the gate in such
a way using a Forest Service paddlock that my gun club padlock
wouldn't open the gate.

There I was with a young boy, a puppy, 95 degree weather, no
cell phone coverage and no other people around to let me out.

I could walk out, but it would have been a long, hot hike
and we were not "Equipped" for that.

But I alway carry one of those wire saws for metal and was
able to cut a link in the chain and drive home. I called the
Forest Service to let them know what I had done and that someone
with one of their keys was, well, not acting nice. The gate and
lock still functioned as ever because I only took out one link.
And the Forest Service was going to rig the system better so that
wouldn't be able to happen again.

As for fencing, in the parts of the country where I grew up
and range properties were measured in sections rather than
acres, it was considered okay when traveling by horseback to
take out the staples of the fence line enough to lower the
wire so your horse could cross, then you were to replace the
staples and leave everything as you found it. You
carried a fencing tool
(http://www.drillspot.com/products/337692/Crescent_193610CVSMN_Fence_Tool_Plier)
and some staples, with your horse.

Excellent post and good ideas.

What is a "wire saw for metal"?

Is there any comparable, relatively non-destructive and undetectable way to deal with chain link fences?

If you were trying to avoid people and detection, leaving a trail of hacked fences would not help you remain stealthy, it would do the reverse.

That's my point exactly.

Is there any comparable, relatively non-destructive and undetectable way to deal with chain link fences?

Throw a thick heavy carpet over it and climb over. This will insulate you from the sharp edges. Problem is the carpet is heavy and unruly to pack with you.

Well, take a look around your area: Where are the chain link fences topped by razor wire. Seriously. How many and where are they? How many dead end alleys are on your escape route? How long will it take the human predators, dog pack, and rising flaming flood waters to get to you, versus cutting your way through the chain link fence topped by razor wire.

I was raised on a farm, and I never saw a barbed wire fence people couldn't get through without damage quicker than they could have cut through. Farmers weren't running concertina razor wire back then, but things may have changed and things may be different in your neck of the woods.

Without knowing where you are, your imagination does seem to be running rampant. None of what you describe happened in New Orleans as far as I can recall. Did I miss something on the news?

On the other hand, just grab the bolt cutters and put 'em in your BOB. If you're that concerned, just get them.

something similar to this

http://www.technologylk.com/product/162/...-Saw-Blade.html

One of these might be more practical than a wire saw...we all know how hit or miss the wire wood saws can be.

http://www.pocketsaw.com/
You could also carry one of the Gerber multiplier models which has an exchangable blade very similar to the one above.

I'm noticing razor wire on the fences around the new vineyards and around gates in lots of areas on my potential bug out route; sad sign of the times I guess. And of course it is getting to be standard in any urban area. At many bridges the private wire runs into the government wire, so if you need to access the riverbank away from a bridge you encounter wire.

Many of the barbed wire fences in central California are on metal posts, not wooden, and are stretched tight by come-alongs or even vehicles before being fastened down. Maybe cutting the fasteners on several posts would allow you to push the wire up or down enough to get through or over, I am not sure.

Yeah, this thread is about the extreme case; maybe the ridiculously extreme case. I do not know how to judge that, and that's why I posted my questions.

I also figure considering the extreme case and figuring out how to reasonably prepare for that eventuality is part of what this forum is about. Part of that preparation is thinking through the ethics of the situation now, instead of in the heat of the moment, and working out how to deal with any ethical dilemmas.

So I appreciate all the posts so far and look forward to seeing what you wily guys come up with!

Thermite, 10g at a time.

-Blast