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.

Good call doing a dry run. A shakedown cruise is a good idea before relying on the kit for real.

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."

checklists

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.

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.

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.

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


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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....

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.

That's a very good point!!

Totally awesome! Love hearing about people getting out and testing their gear and their plan. Well done, Wildman!

That physical conditioning part is a *itch! It had been months since I took my GHB for a good long walk. Despite being in pretty good shape, it's taken a couple of weeks of carrying it almost daily for my back and hips to stop complaining. Being in shape is not the same as being in backpacking shape. A few ounces here and there can really add up. Great idea try to reduce where you can, especially with the miles you're looking at having to haul it.



Just a thought - Is the poncho now going to be rain gear and shelter? It's possible that if you need one, you may need the other, and the poncho can't be both at the same time.

Actually, it can be - the Gatewood Shelter http://www.hikelight.com/six-moon-designs-gatewood-cape.html

I have no personal experience with this rig, but one of these days.... I have used a standard poncho for both rain gear and shelter and it can require rapid contortions.

You're right Jacque, but that is what I'm going to deal with.

BTW: BacPacBaby has become BacPacGirl! She has grown so fast!

She is growing like a weed! I'm having a hard time keeping up. She's almost a better fire prep forager than me! She keeps me young and makes me old at the same time.

NICE!! I don't think I'm that limber.

I'm reminded of an episode of Man Vs Wild (I know! I know!) when BG tried to make a shelter and fire in freezing conditions - (Iceland, maybe?) high cold winds, rain... can't remember the details, but it was totally a staged lab experiment. The point was that he needed to be wearing his rain gear while making his shelter and fire, and he failed on all. It's an episode that's stuck with me since backpackboy and I were caught in a similar situation a few years ago. (Not as bad, but just as urgent as a parent.) Two ponchos or one and a tarp for me now.... One to wear and one to build a shelter out of. Know your environment, I guess.

just a quick note on trying to use a poncho to fill two needs.
on a very early canoe trip where i was sleeping under the canoe and using my Army poncho as a ground cloth i got really dirty when
i used it for a rain poncho!

Another quick note on the tarp or poncho dilemma - take a poncho and a bit of painter's drop cloth of whatever size and thickness you wish. They are surprisingly sturdy when used for survival/emergency situations and weigh just about nothing. There are also very lightweight (also expensive) ponchos...

6'x8' sil/nylon is in my GHB. Ultra-light sil/nylon tarps are worth 9 ounces. IMO, YMMV

I carry a Sea-to-Summit sil/nylon poncho in my EDC bag for the size and weight. In my hiking or camping backpack I will add a military poncho or 2 just because they are more durable and a LOT cheaper.

I have some tarps as well, but generally carry the ponchos as they are more versatile. It depends on where I am going, who is going with me, and what I am doing.

Sometimes you need a vapor barrier between you and the ground, sometimes you need overhead shelter, and sometimes you need both.

But for camping in swamps, nothing beats a hammock with a poncho hooch overhead.

This is something I read or heard a long time ago regarding backpack weights - "You worry about the ounces and the pounds will take care of themselves" -- Unknown

My $.02