Equipped To Survive Equipped To Survive® Presents
The Survival Forum
Where do you want to go on ETS?

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 >
Topic Options
#277988 - 12/15/15 06:05 AM GHB Test Hike
wildman800 Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 11/09/06
Posts: 2846
Loc: La-USA
I took the GHB out for an overnight test run on 11-12Dec. The problems were an overloaded backpack and pistol belt, forgot the breakfast, bad rigging of equipment, and [censored] poor physical condition. The successes were a decent tarp shelter, sleep system, gained first hand experience w/a Katadyne filtration pump, built a good heat reflector behind the fire, and started the fire with a ferrocium rod and my KaBar knife! After returning to my truck, my nephew and I went through my backpack and removed "nice to have equipment" and reorganized the pack to eliminate the need for a pistol belt to carry pouches. We also marked the various equipment pouches with different colored small carabiners for identification. I will now start a daily treadmill routine to rebuild my strength and stamina.
_________________________
QMC, USCG (Ret)
The best luck is what you make yourself!

Top
#277989 - 12/15/15 07:25 AM Re: GHB Test Hike [Re: wildman800]
Phaedrus Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3148
Loc: Big Sky Country
Good call doing a dry run. A shakedown cruise is a good idea before relying on the kit for real.
_________________________
“I'd rather have questions that cannot be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” —Richard Feynman

Top
#277994 - 12/15/15 05:20 PM Re: GHB Test Hike [Re: wildman800]
MoBOB Offline
Veteran

Registered: 09/17/07
Posts: 1219
Loc: here
wildman800 - could you elaborate on the equipment that was "nice to have" yet apparently not suitable to your situation?

You can start with the Preparedness Anonymous line: "Hi, I'm wildman800 and I have way too much stuff in my GHB."
_________________________
"Its not a matter of being ready as it is being prepared" -- B. E. J. Taylor

Top
#277997 - 12/15/15 07:53 PM Re: GHB Test Hike [Re: wildman800]
TeacherRO Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 03/11/05
Posts: 2574
checklists

Top
#278001 - 12/15/15 10:28 PM Re: GHB Test Hike [Re: TeacherRO]
hikermor Offline
Geezer in Chief
Geezer

Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
Here is one way that will get you tuned up for potential survival scenarios. Volunteer for service with your local SAR group. This works best in the western states. You will soon find out what works, what is truly essential, and what is only nice to have.

SAR will keep you on your toes and reward you in ways too numerous to mention - and you will have lots of war stories to relate at family gatherings.
_________________________
Geezer in Chief

Top
#278003 - 12/15/15 11:08 PM Re: GHB Test Hike [Re: hikermor]
wildman800 Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 11/09/06
Posts: 2846
Loc: La-USA
I agree with your idea but 2/3rds of my life is at work on a boat. I've got more SAR missions, including a Boeing 727 crash, than I can remember. I've got many actual war stories that I'd prefer to forget.
_________________________
QMC, USCG (Ret)
The best luck is what you make yourself!

Top
#278004 - 12/15/15 11:17 PM Re: GHB Test Hike [Re: MoBOB]
wildman800 Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 11/09/06
Posts: 2846
Loc: La-USA
You can start with the Preparedness Anonymous line: "Hi, I'm wildman800 and I have way too much stuff in my GHB."

A pair of mini binoculars with a camera first comes to mind that has been set aside. A large bunch of Piggin string (leather) since I already carry paracord. I leave the tarp behind from now on and use my poncho. I'm still carrying 4 ways to make fire and I'm still carrying 3 water purification tablet bottle sets (6 bottles total) which I justify because of the distances I may have to cover (35-1,000+ miles).

I've cut down on my food stocks in exchange for a conibear trap, wire snares, & fishing gear.

I am going to add a Katadyne water filtration pump. I also plan to drop the sleeping bag, except in cold weather, and use my poncho liner.


Edited by wildman800 (12/16/15 12:09 AM)
_________________________
QMC, USCG (Ret)
The best luck is what you make yourself!

Top
#278029 - 12/17/15 01:58 PM Re: GHB Test Hike [Re: wildman800]
Dagny Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 11/25/08
Posts: 1918
Loc: Washington, DC

Wildman -- Is it possible you could bring a bicycle on the boat? You'd get home a lot faster on wheels than feet.


.

Top
#278033 - 12/17/15 03:32 PM Re: GHB Test Hike [Re: wildman800]
wildman800 Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 11/09/06
Posts: 2846
Loc: La-USA
I've done that before. It was stolen. I have made a contingency plan to procure a bike locally. The question is whether they will accept cash at such a time....
_________________________
QMC, USCG (Ret)
The best luck is what you make yourself!

Top
#278037 - 12/17/15 07:08 PM Re: GHB Test Hike [Re: wildman800]
Mark_F Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 06/24/09
Posts: 714
Loc: Kentucky
This might be a good time to get to know the shop's owner(s) and/or employees better.

Do they smoke? If so is it cigarettes, cigars, a pipe, or something else? Do they use a smokeless tobacco? If so is it chewing tobacco or snuff? Do they drink? If so what's their favorite? Is it beer, whiskey, bourbon, etc? Do they shoot? If so what's their favorite gun and caliber?

Point is, find something they like or might need and if possible keep some around to barter with. It might also be something you'd like to have or need which doubles it's usefulness.
_________________________
Uh ... does anyone have a match?

Top
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 >



Moderator:  KG2V, NightHiker 
March
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Who's Online
0 registered (), 406 Guests and 76 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
GallenR, Jeebo, NicholasMarshall, Yadav, BenFoakes
5367 Registered Users
Newest Posts
What did you do today to prepare?
by dougwalkabout
03/27/24 11:21 PM
Zippo Butane Inserts
by dougwalkabout
03/27/24 11:11 PM
Question about a "Backyard Mutitool"
by Ren
03/17/24 01:00 AM
Problem in my WhatsApp configuration
by Chisel
03/09/24 01:55 PM
New Madrid Seismic Zone
by Jeanette_Isabelle
03/04/24 02:44 PM
EDC Reduction
by EchoingLaugh
03/02/24 04:12 PM
Newest Images
Tiny knife / wrench
Handmade knives
2"x2" Glass Signal Mirror, Retroreflective Mesh
Trade School Tool Kit
My Pocket Kit
Glossary
Test

WARNING & DISCLAIMER: SELECT AND USE OUTDOORS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TECHNIQUES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Information posted on this forum is not reviewed for accuracy and may not be reliable, use at your own risk. Please review the full WARNING & DISCLAIMER about information on this site.