Here's my flying-off-the-handle response:

By the time you and your family are in a position like that, you've probably already made so many bad decisions that what you do now isn't going to matter very much. You're probably all going to croak. The local coyote family is going to have a few good meals.

First, I do realize that these are just mental exercises. But if there's one thing I do know, it's that if you need to bug out, you'd better be d*mn careful what you're doing.

Heading for the hills on foot with young kids sounds really stupid to me. Is it raining or snowing and the trail is slippery, and you're still moving? Bad choice. You should have holed up before now.

Are you and your spouse in poor physical shape and you decided to head out on foot in rough country? Another bad choice.

Are you heading for a specific Safe Place, or just running away from the shelter, warmth, food and water that you left behind? Maybe another bad choice?

Are your kids used to this kind of travel? Or are they whiney couch potatoes who've been wired into their electronic toys since birth? Oops, another bad decision.

Food supplies? How long do you intend to stay up there?

Where is your water supply? Got a way to purify surface water?

Winter is coming on? Did you bring enough warm clothes, blankets or sleeping bags for everyone?

Are you aiming for a real shelter, or are you going to have to build a leaky, drafty one after an exhausting day on the trail with complaining kids?

Does anyone know how to build a travois? Do you have the stuff to make it with? Do you have any strength left to pull it?

Which is the bigger problem, the one you think you're running from, or the one you're running to?

Sue