Ancient Pathways Survival School, LLC

Updates on Water Purification Methods

2012-01-07T16:31:00.003-07:00

Here is some info I wanted to pass along on water purification. I am rethinking my purification strategies after having a chemist in a class recently who has done extensive testing on all the filters and chemical methods out there for his county’s water treatment facility back East. Through exhaustive studies using E. Coli contaminated water, he and his staff have tested out most of the commercial water filters and chemical (bleach, iodine, etc...) methods on the market.

He basically said that the only truly reliable water treatment methods to kill viruses and bacteria are using bleach and boiling. 6 drops of straight (unscented) bleach per quart of water which is what I’ve recommended in classes and this still holds true. Iodine and most mechanical filters aren’t very effective for removing protozoans from the water. The mechanical filters work well for removing any chemical contanimants (fuel, etc...) that may be present in an urban situation where infrastructure is damaged and should be considered for a bail-out kit or home emergency kit.

So bleach and boiling for taking care of bacteria and viruses and the mechanical filters for chemical residue (or draining off the backyard pool in a long-term grid-down situation). Boil water for 1 minute.

He also said that two things tend to cause stomach ailments/GI issues in the household on a regular basis- 1) not cleaning out the ice/cold water lines in the fridge dispenser, allowing bacteria to build up there. He recommended blasting this system out with a bleach solution 1-2 times a year depending on usage. 2) Not cleaning/flushing the hot water tank annually. Draining this and flushing it will also extend the life of your tank by 2-3 years and provide you with 40 gallons of emergency water if the utilities are down.

I will be adjusting for these in our home systems and bail out kits for sure.

Kindle Release of our books: Surviving a Disaster & The Modern Hunter-Gatherer

2011-12-09T09:02:00.001-07:00

We now have two of our books up on Amazon Kindle for those who enjoy e-books and will be getting these into Barnes & Noble and Smashwords shortly.

The Modern Hunter-Gatherer: A Practical Guide to Living Off the Land

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005G66YRQ

Surviving a Disaster: Evacuation Strategies and Emergency Kits for Staying Alive
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005NIY0LY

We are also finishing up the final editing on our new DVD on Winter & Cold-Weather Survival Skills and will have details on this posted in January.

Enjoy the Wilds!

Tony Nester
Ancient Pathways, LLC
http://www.apathways.com

Desert Medicine Conference Notes

2011-12-05T10:31:00.000-07:00

I had the good fortune of being asked to teach at the Wilderness Medicine Society's Desert Medicine Conference in Tucson last month. In addition to teaching several workshops on basic desert survival, I sat in on lectures by the leading physiologists, MDs, toxiclogogists, and sports-trainers in the world today. Most of these are folks who literally wrote the chapters on venomous creatures, heat-stress, and dehydration in wilderness medical manuals on the market today.

Following are some (scattered) notes from different lectures. This is not intended as medical advice so do your own homework before heading out to the desert or working in the heat and talk to the locals and resident physicians who live in those parts for the most current info as this material is constantly changing as research progresses.

Desert Medicine Notes, November 2011

Dehydration and Heat-Stress Issues

At 70% humidity or higher, sweating stops and is ineffective for heat dissipation.

Heat Stroke- 80% fatal if delayed more than 2 hours. Cool First, then transport, but avoid getting them hypothermic by cooling for too long! Lessons learned- if your kid/hiking partner has heat-stroke, cool them NOW and then deal with getting them out or transporting as the damage is considerable and potentially fatal the longer you wait.

Sunburn/Solar Radiation issue

A person will be more photo-sensitive if they are taking:

NSAIDS

Antibiotics

Retinoids

Diuretics

For every 1000 feet of elevation, there is a 4-7% increase in UVB. Clouds absorb only 30% UV rays.

Maximum SPF needed for protection is 30 SPF. Vitamin C ointment is excellent for sunburns and tissue recovery.

Venomous Creatures

From a single rattlesnake bite, you may get 1-4 fang marks (maybe you got bit twice, maybe the snake had another fang growing in, etc...)

Most bites nowadays are middle-aged men (out barbecuing in backyard) or women (out gardening in backyard).

Treatmen in field: Immobilize limb (put arm in sling) to avoid lymphatic pumping and walk/get out. Anti-venom is critical, especially for kids. Time = Tissue so don't waste precious time with John Wayne methods or gimmicks on the market, just get them to the ER.

Bee Stings

Bees attack because of visual and olfactory factors so reducing these will help in your survival- Breathing and waving arms is what draws bees to you so run out of area, don’t swat them- just RUN, and cover eyes/mouth/nose while retreating. Once safe, pull stinger out any way you can, use poultice of wet salt. It’s a myth that you shouldn’t grab the stinger in your skin and pull out. Just get it out/scrape it, pull it, whatever.

3 million people or 1% of population are hypersensitive and there are around 50 deaths per year in US.

Yellowjackets are not found in the Sonoran Desert.

Scorpions

500,000 stings/year in Mexico

15,000/year in US

250 stings are severe, especially in childrens under 5 years of age. Anti-venom is key in treating so get kids (or adult who is not responding well) to hospital. Most people use ice/Ibuprofen. Kids and those with pre-exisiting health issues are at the greatest risk so don’t waste time if you suspect they were stung and call 911 and get them to the ER.

All this being said, have fun in the Land of Little Water.

Tony

Mantracking Class AAR

2011-10-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we hosted a 3-day Mantracking Course in Flagstaff. It was taught by the staff of the renowned David Scott-Donelan School out of Sierra Vista. We had a full house of students, many were former survival students of mine along with several several LEOs present and some of my instructors.

The initial phase focused on the basics of tracking, terminology, stride, straddle, determining how many people walked through an area, and plenty of spoor-pit demonstrations and interpretation exercises.

After this, we focused on micro-tracking and then macro-tracking exercises where we tracked groups over long-distances and varied terrain. The emphasis was on the tracker formation using flankers which was the key to picking up the trail when it was lost and catching up with our quarry. We spent our days afield rotating duties as trackers and quarry, debriefing, and then heading out again. We ended with a major thunderstorm pounding down on us as we trekked back in from the wilds.

The instructor, Cornelius Nash, had tremendous command of his skill-set and topics and added in plenty of real-world examples. I can't speak highly enough of his teaching abilities and field experience with bringing the science of tracking to life.

I will be hosting this course again in the Spring but I'd highly recommend checking out their class offerings as they teach throughout the world- http://www.trackingoperations.com -they also run one-day events near Tucson and Sierra Vista.

Tony

When You Meet a Bear

2011-09-16T11:35:00.000-07:00

This article is taken from one of my recent survival columns at Outside Magazine. To read additional articles, visit http://www.outsideonline.com -Many thanks to colleague and friend David Cronenwett for sharing his wealth of backcountry know-how and insight into bears.

What's the most dangerous animal in the lower 48? How do I protect myself from it?

In my experience, other than running into a shady two-legged, the bear is the most dangerous large animal in the backcountry. Given much-publicized attacks by grizzly bears in recent years, I thought I would focus on them and spoke with wildlife educator and northern-skills expert David Cronenwett who lives in the heart of bear country in Montana where his job regularly takes him in sight of these amazing creatures.

David recommends, that if you run into a Griz at close range and they are not aware of your presence, then it’s generally best to quietly leave the area. He says that “if you bump into one that knows you are there, turn sideways slightly and avert your stare, since bears recognize a full-frontal gaze as a threat (predatory stare). Talk to the animal in an unthreatening voice and pull your pepper spray from its holster....do not arm the can unless a charge is in progress.”

Cronenwett, also states that “bears generally do not want to fight; it’s a dangerous waste of energy and most Grizzlies by far do not recognize humans as prey. Sure there are exceptions, but most of the recent incidents have involved mothers with young and defensive actions.” The vast majority of the time, a Grizzly will go the other way if given a chance.

His advice from many years on the trail: “Keep a clean camp, make noise around blind corners and in brushy spots, hang/bear box your food, be alert (hugely important), understand how to recognize bear sign (rub trees, scat, tracks) avoid camping near carcasses, camp away from trails (since critters use them for the same reasons we do) and carry pepper spray. The effectiveness of pepper spray is undisputed; practice "drawing" and arming it regularly. This device isn't perfect but far more effective and easier to use than firearms. Taking a snoutful of pepper spray is a powerful deterrant to a charge.”

David’s wilderness skills training school that focuses on bear ecology can be seen at http://www.wildernessartsinstitute.com

9 Meals To Anarchy

2011-09-01T22:12:00.001-07:00

The title I picked up while watching an intriguing docu-drama on the History Channel called "After Armageddon." A good show illustrating what a global pandemic might look like and the challenges of life in the years after the event. I am not one for these doom and gloom movies but this show had a panel of contributors which made it all the more interesting.

The term "9 Meals To Anarchy" was used by survival instructor Kevin Reeve (don't know the man but I liked the expression) when referring to how most people in the U.S. only have a 3-day supply of food on hand at home. During a disaster, after the grocery stores empty and your 3-day supply of grub is gone, then things fall are gonna get ugly for the unprepared.

Brings up the point of how much food to have on hand in your house? It all depends on YOUR living arrangements- are you in a house, apartment, dorm (with roommates), cabin, senior living center, etc.... I tell people in my urban survival classes to strive for 30 days if possible (again space dependent) at the minimum and then build up from there. I have some friends who live in a small town with a population of 200 who keep a 6 month supply on hand while others I know have 2 years. Adjust for your lifestyle, space, and budget but at least go beyond this often-touted three-day supply of food that is bandied about.

What kind of food, you say? There are three main areas to gather up:

1. Canned Goods (especially veges like corn, green beans, etc...)
2. Dehydrated or Freeze-dried (jerky or backpacking-style meals from Mountain Home)
3. Dry Goods like rice, beans, lentils, oats, millet, quinoa and so on.

We have a blend of all three at home and the above is identical to what we eat on a regular basis. Don't just buy a 60-day supply of MREs. Your body is already going to be stressed to the max during an urban crisis and will need some decent, comforting foods so stock up on chow you normally consume. Plus MREs, to me, have a serious Gag factor!

Lastly, don't forget to look at how you are going to cook your meals when the grid is down for a week. That's the nice thing about the dehydrated and freeze dried foods is that they can be quickly rehydrated with a few cups of boiling water. The rest of the food can be heated on a campstove or campfire.

Buy a few extra cans, grains and supplies each time you shop and you will be on your way to increasing your food supplies and avoiding the "9 Meals" predicament. Your belly (and family will thank you). Oh, and don't forget about your four-legged friends and their food requirements.

Stay safe,
Tony Nester

Wet-Weather Firemaking: Resinous Wood Rules!

2011-08-24T09:53:00.002-07:00

Resinous wood is king in wet-weather. Wood such as pine, spruce, and fir piled up on a fire in wet weather will help to sustain it during a downpour. Look for wood that is saturated with gooey sap. This stuff is impervious to moisture and will ignite even when wet. Avoid hardwoods like oaks, maples, birch, hickory, etc…. The latter are great for providing long-lasting coals for campfire cookery but won’t burn furiously when wet.

In the forests near where I live in Arizona, we rely on dead Ponderosa Pine trees during our rainy season (yes, we get rain here and lots of it!). It has characteristic yellow streaks that indicate the presence of resin in the wood. In fact, there is probably more resin than actual wood as evidenced by the absence of coals in the firepit hours after burning. We have even gathered limbs sitting in puddles for days (yes it rains here!) and ignited it.

In the Great Lakes where I grew up, we would always use spruce and pine trees and even gather the balls of sticky sap to create mini-torches. Resinous wood is found the world over so look to this when the skies are grey and the night is stormy.

One final tip for a wet-weather environment if resinous wood is in short supply: gather sections from a dead-standing tree over 4” in diameter and split it down the middle with your knife or ax. This was a tip I learned while attending one of Mors Kochanski's fieldcourses in Canada during the late 90s and it has served me well over the years. The interior wood on such a tree will be dry and can be shaved into fine pieces (tinder) to ignite your fire and then the rest of the log can be burned.

Recent Urban Survivor Course in Scottsdale, AZ

2011-06-30T22:28:00.004-07:00

Just taught a one-day Urban Survival class at the Scottsdale Gun Club this past weekend. We had a full house of 39 students! Along with many good questions on pre-disaster issues, there were considerable, useful tidbits by several EMTs in the audience.

The class was a blend of lecture, group activities, and individual evacuation planning strategies. The focus was not on looking at each individual disaster type but on how to develop a self-reliant mindset and lifestyle by acquiring the necessary skill sets.

It wasn't hard to find a personal example as we, as a family, had to pull out of our home two weeks prior due to the annual, summer wildfire threat. This one caused by an arsonist on the loose who started 20 fires only 1/4 mile from where we live in the woods.

I led off with this and we delved into other areas listed below

-Planning and preparation as the keystone to self-reliance and a look at successful survivors
-When to stay put at home and when to bug-out
-The 7 critical priorities for surviving a disaster
-Home preparation involving food and water storage, meds, and more
-Evacuation planning for your neighborhood
-Bail out kits and shoulder bags for the office, home, and vehicle
-Water purification methods
-Sanitation and hygiene issues for long-term living
-Roadside survival
-First aid kits and common injuries
-Urban trapping

A question arose on how wilderness survival differs from urban survival. One could argue over the radically different environments and the obvious personal defensive considerations in a long-term urban disaster, but the fact is that the body needs certain things to stay alive. Dehydration, hypothermia, medical and hygiene issues, and caloric intake will rear their heads in both urban and backcountry settings. The body doesn't care where it's at! There are many parallels but the goal is the same: Surviving and extricating yourself from the immediate danger. More on this to come...

Thanks to SGC for hosting the course. They have hosted my 1-day Desert Survival courses in the past and are a pleasure to work with.

The next Urban Survivor, run by our company, will be on October 8 in north Phoenix as well as several others throughout the US in the coming year.

Stay safe,

Tony

Ancient Pathways, LLC
http://www.apathways.com/

Survival for Travelers

2011-05-10T10:28:00.005-07:00

This week's article is taken from Tony's reader-driven monthly column on survival at Outside Magazine- you can view the last few years of articles at http://www.outsideonline.com/ - under the Survival Guru (their wording).

I travel internationally and wonder how to be prepared for a disaster survival situation? I am thinking of the recent tsunami and what priorities one might have in the city versus the wilderness if you get stranded during a major crisis.

If you are a business traveler and spend a considerable amount of time flying around the country or globe, then consider carrying some traveler’s survival gear in case you ever have to weather out life in a disaster-riddled city. Such a kit should be lightweight and contain: cash, passport, relevant maps, small first-aid kit, a few meal-replacement bars like Met-RX or Myoplex, flashlight, cellphone and charger, spare clothes, and water purification tablets.

While researching my book Surviving A Disaster, I spoke with many survivors and first-responders about what they recommended as the most important survival items on their list. The most common item in all of these cases was the ability to purify water and the means of maintaining personal hygiene. At the very least, carry Potable Aqua Iodine or Chlorine Dioxide tablets which will enable you to purify 25 liters of water per bottle of tablets. A Steripen is also good for purifying but you will want to carry extra batteries. For hygiene, stow some sanitary wipes or purchase a bottle of hand-sanitizer upon arriving at your destination.

Lastly, you may want to add an innocuous multi-tool like a Swiss-Tech 9-in-1 which lacks a blade but has many useful features. This gear can fit in a small fannypack but remember to check airline regulations, particularly with a multi-tool, as they are constantly changing.

Stay safe,

Tony Nester

Ancient Pathways Survival School, LLC
http://www.apathways.com/

The Dangers of Hyponatremia and the Need For Electrolyte Replacement

2011-04-27T17:31:00.004-07:00

It's that time of year when things are starting to heat up in our Southwestern Deserts and daily water consumption rates for those of us in the outdoors will only increase.

One danger with consuming too much water is Hyponatremia- also called water poisoning or water intoxication. Like heat-exhaustion which results from not enough water intake, hyponatremia can be life-threatening (remember the lady in Sacramento who died in her kitchen during a radio-show contest to see who could consume the most water in 2 hours).

We see cases of hyponatremia all the time at our nearby "survival labratory" - the Grand Canyon. Here dayhikers venturing into the innards of the Canyon and contending with triple-digit heat, are consuming too much water without replacing lost electrolytes. A few hours into the hike, they are nauseous, have cramps, headache, and maybe an altered level of consciousness. In the wilderness medical community, you will notice what's called the "umbles" where the person is stumbling, mumbling, and fumbling as their thermoregulatory ability goes haywire.

Technically, you are hydrated and peeing clear fluid but internally your electrolytes have been diluted from over-consumption of water and that's where things can go downhill. Every time you pee, you are flushing the sodium and potassium out and in a hot-weather environment like the desert where water rates might be 4-5 gallons a day per person, you must replace those lost electrolytes!

The solution: get some quality electrolyte replacement powders (ie, not Gatorade which is low in sodium and has too much dye and sugar) such as GU2O, Vitalyte (my preferred), Clif Bloks, or Camelback tablets. The key is to balance your water intake with electrolyte replacement while you exert yourself.

Sometimes, I will just bring bananas and salty chips in the truck and use those if I am car-camping. For every hour of working/hiking in the heat, I will have a handful of the above snacks with my water. This is what a lot of my ranching friend do here in AZ.

At the end of the day, I will also add some extra salt into my dinner or campfire meals. We do this on all of our survival courses this time of year and during the summer when we are out, 'round the clock, for ten days in 110 degree heat. That's also why I recommend carrying Bullion Cubes in the survival kit as it helps with replacing sodium and spruces up nasty backcountry water sources.

Again, you have to compensate for lost electrolytes in the heat or your body will suffer. Most folks who venture into the heat of the desert or tropics, know they have to bring plenty of water and be aware of heat-exhaustion but often fail to include the all-important electrolytes and forget about the risks of Hyponatremia. Your survival and equilibrium are dependent on both water and electrolytes.

Get some different replacement powders from the local gear shop and try 'em out (some are tastier than others) and then stuff a bunch into your vehicle, BOB, and survival kit.

Stay cool,

Tony Nester
Ancient Pathways Survival School, LLC
http://www.apathways.com

Essential Gear for the Desert Explorer

2011-03-09T14:40:00.005-07:00

Desert Survival Garb- How to dress for the heat

Hats

Let’s go top to bottom and start with headwear. A wide-brimmed hat is an essential item for desert travelers unless you want your face to turn into a piece of driftwood. There’s a bevy of types from cowboy to Indiana Jones style explorer hats.

I have bounced back and forth over the years between using Tilley, Filson, and Stetson brimmed hats. The Tilley hat is ideal for triple-digit weather during the hotter months of the year as it is a lighter fabric. During the cooler months, I will opt for the oilskin Filson or a wool, crushable Stetson cowboy hat. The latter two will cook my head in the summer though and I value my hair.

Eye Protection

Many cowboys go without them but if I can reduce the chances of getting cataracts later in life, I will start by wearing sunglasses while afield. Goggles are excellent as well and come in handy when the wind kicks up and can help prevent a corneal abrasion (not fun!) when there’s flying grit (different than True Grit).

Sunscreen

Enough said! Especially critical as you climb up in elevation. SPF 15 or higher. The Bullfrog brand is superior for waterborne activities like we see up at Lake Powell and Lake Mead.

Bandanna or Shemagh

A shemagh is a garment many of our troops and indigenous cultures use in Africa and the Middle East for wrapping around their head and necks. They are usually made of cotton and are larger than a bandanna at about 43”x43”.

This is one of my most treasured pieces of desert garb and I’ve used it not only as a scarf but water strainer, sling, dustmask during sandstorms, potholder around the campfire, pillow, and much more. Mostly, it keeps the sun off my neck but can be soaked in water and draped over my hat to keep me cool while hiking.

I also have a large silk bandanna that I was given by some ranching friends and you’d be hard-pressed to find a cowboy without his protective, multi-purpose neckerchief. The latter can be purchased through western wear stores. Get it in large.

Cotton bandannas which sell for a few dollars come in a variety of colors and some with topo maps and star charts printed on them. I usually have one lining the inside brim of my hat which acts as a sweatband and also bulks up my hat’s inside if it’s too loose (like after a haircut or days without enough serious thinking!).

Outer Shirt

Long-sleeve, lightweight cotton/poly or cotton/nylon material. These are quick-dry fabrics and don’t have the hypothermia-inducing qualities associated with wearing 100% cotton in the outdoors. Columbia, Royal Robbin, and Patagonia are good brands to consider.

Inner Shirt

For cooler weather, a wicking layer is essential to prevent your core from becoming chilled from sweat. Coolmax, Underarmor, silk, polypro and wool are all outstanding fabrics that will transfer your perspiration away from your body.

Gloves

Your hands are essential survival tools and you don’t want to shred them on cactus spines or mesquite thorns while gathering firewood or building a shelter. Pick up some work gloves at the hardware store or leather tactical gloves for something more durable.

Pants

I like the 5.11 brand desert pants as these are a ripstop cotton/poly material and have held up well on punishing fieldcourses over the years. Filson also makes Safari-style desert pants that are extremely lightweight although these start at about $110.

The beauty of the 5.11 and BDU pants are all the cargo pockets for stowing my survival gear like firestarters, signal mirror, snacks, and pocketknife. Avoid, at all costs, jeans and 100% cotton materials.

Belt

A 2” leather belt is my preferred for carrying a firearm. Cabelas and Galco has affordable quality leather belts.

Underwear

As with the inner-shirt, wear a wicking layer as damp cotton can be harsh on the skin long term. Boxers are much better than briefs which can chafe the groin region.

Socks

There’s a plethora of fabrics for socks nowadays- try Smartwool, Thorlos, or Smart-Wool. Avoid cotton athletic or tube socks unless you want more blisters than usual.

Footwear

Again, there’s a lot to choose from but here are a few pointers: avoid black; get ankle high or higher boots as this will help to keep spines and stickers from attaching to your socks and making life miserable; and get some decent insoles which your feet will appreciate after a long day of hiking.

My preferred brand is SWAT Original. One pair tends to last for about 8 months of abuse and a few hundred miles of hiking. Danner also makes excellent desert boots. On the low-end but still reliable are the Hi-Tec brands.

On overnight or multi-week trips, I will also pack along some Gold Bond powder for applying to my feet and boots at the start and finish of each day.

Other items

Eye drops

On overnight or longer trips, it’s nice to have some eye-drops along to wash out the grit and dust from your eyes after a day of being in the wind. Systane eye-drops or other saline based solutions are good.

Electrolyte replacement powder

Water and electrolyte replacement powders are both critical to your body’s thermoregulation ability. Hyponatremia, which happens when too much water is consumed and electrolytes are diluted in the bloodstream, can be life-threatening. GU20, Hydralyte, and Clifshots are just a few of the electrolyte replacement items available. These replace lost sodium and potassium and are essential during the hotter months of the year when your water consumption rates increase dramatically.

Water

Really, in the desert- you’re kidding! Yeah, that’s right, carry 2-6 quarts in the pack and 10-30 gallons in the truck depending on the time of year and number of people. Even it is was a wet year, even if it rained that day, even if my buddy told me he came upon water in the same canyon that week, I will still bring plenty of it with me as there’s a reason it’s called a DESERT and you don’t want to turn into jerky!

And if, for some reason, you do run out of water, then stay put from 10 am to 5 pm and hike during the cooler hours of the evening or morning. People have lasted up to two days without water in triple-digit heat of the Grand Canyon and Death Valley while others, trying to find water in the middle of the day, have perished within 3 hours for heat-stroke. Hole up in the shade like a coyote and remaining clothed to cut down on sweat loss.

Binoculars

An old desert-rat who had spent most of five decades prospecting in the arid Southwest once told me that his binoculars saved him more sweat than anything else in his pack. If you can get to a vantage point and scan the topography below for water, you can locate water sources more readily and reduce the risk of trekking to what looks like a “suspected” waterhole. I carry a pair of 8x24 binoculars for just this purpose and they have served me well.

Aquarium Tubing

A 3’ section of aquarium tubing will enable you to extract water from tiny rock fissures, hollow tree cavities, and sandstone seeps where your water bottle can’t fit. A Ziploc baggy is also handy to have along these lines and I carry several gallon-sized spares in my first-aid kit.

Down Jacket

For nine months out of the year, I carry a down jacket in my daypack and scrunches down to the size of a grapefruit. Remember the desert is a land of extremes where it can be 110 degrees during the day and then plummet to 30 degrees at night! A down jacket is low-cost life-insurance against hypothermia if you get stuck out at night.

In conclusion, dress properly, pre-hydrate prior to your trip, cut out caffeinated beverages, take frequent breaks to prevent heat gain, and suck down those electrolyte drinks every 30-60 minutes in the intense heat. Remember that shade-hunger is a good thing.

Enjoy the Wilds!

Tony Nester

Ancient Pathways Survival School, LLC
http://www.apathways.com/

The book- "The Long Walk" now a movie

2011-01-24T19:47:00.002-07:00

First read this book, "The Long Walk" in the 80s while holed up during a grueling 21-day trek in a canvas tent during howling winter winds in Idaho. The story, which covers a survival march across Siberia, the Gobi Desert, and Tibet, delves into the account of Gulag escapee Slavomir Ravich.

Reading the book lessened the cold at my back and made me appreciate the woodstove in the corner. Now it turns out that the 1956 book was not entirely accurate and large parts, if not the entire story, were fictional.

The movie titled, "The Way Back" should make for a riveting movie but we'll see? Stars Ed Harris and Colin Farrell. The movie centers on Janusz, a Polish prisoner of war accused of sedition by his Soviet interrogators and sent to a gulag near the Arctic Circle. His escape is a story of human endurance as he and some other prisoners make their way across the landscape.

I'd be interested in hearing feedback on the movie. We only have one theater in town and it's unlikely it will make it here. The book is still worth checking out as the author had some knowledge of cold-weather survival skills despite his fanciful storytelling.

Tony

What's the best multi-tool?

2010-12-30T09:02:00.005-07:00

I get this question a lot in my courses. Multi-tools, like knives, are all about personal preference and the nature of the tasks you are undertaking. My primary blade has always been a Swedish Mora but there are times when the various gadgets on a multi-tool are helpful. The one I use the most is the Wenger brand Swiss Army Knife, the Evolution model in particular. This has a handy folding saw along with the usual features (screwdriver heads, awl, tweezers, etc…). Mine cost around $25 and is a streamlined model of the older, bulkier versions of Swiss Army Knives.

I also have a Leatherman Wave in my truck’s glovebox for any vehicle issues or minor work. I have found that the most important feature for my line of work is the folding saw that these multi-tools provide. The other features are not as critical (of course, that toothpick feature is nice after a dinner of wild game....). There are so many variations of multi-tools so look at the features you need the most- do you really need scissors or corkscrew in the wilds?

These tools compliment my 4” fixed-blade Mora Knife that is my main “working” blade when teaching and when I am on the trail. I would recommend going with a reputable brand when purchasing a multi-tool like Leatherman, Gerber, SOG, or Swiss Army as there are many cheap spinoffs and the last thing you want in the backcountry is a critical tool that fails you.

Also, keep in mind that a multi-tool is not a knife it- is a multi-tool! So, carry a quality fixed-blade in addition to a multi-tool. The fixed-blade will allow you to split firewood, whittle, and handle the heavy-duty chores associated with wilderness living. Carry at least two blades and remember the motto with critical life-saving gear: “Two is one and one is none.”

Enjoy the Wilds!

Tony Nester

Ancient Pathways, LLC

http://www.apathways.com

Skeletons on the Zahara- book review

2010-12-17T08:20:00.005-07:00

Looking for some good survival literature, check out the book by Dean King- "Skeletons on the Zahara".

When I was guiding professionally throughout the Southwest for the university, I had a couple from New England who spoke highly of this book. With each bend in the canyon trails we were on, they recounted the tales of hardship and resourcefulness from the book. After that, I forgot about the title only to graciously receive a copy a few months later from those two kind folks.

Once begun, you are not likely to put the book down. The gist: twelve American sailors who were shipwrecked off the coast of Africa in 1815 (yeah, before SAT phones, Leatherman, and spark-rods) and have to survive not only the elements but the hostile nomads roaming the region. They figured they were better off turning themselves over to the locals and being made into slaves than to perish in the desert and that is when the tale of survival really begins. The crew then endures two months of hellish conditions while journeying across some of the most inhospitable landscape on the planet while contending with barbarism and starvation.

There is a lot of insight into "primitive skills" along with providing a look into the harshness of life in the unforgiving desert for those not familiar with this trying land.

Originally taken from the sea Captain James Riley whose journal "Sufferings in Africa" were unearthed by author King, and turned into this riveting account of survival, endurance, and brotherhood. Riley's journal was published shortly after the War of 1812 and gained considerable notoriety, attracting such followers as Thoreau, James Fenimore Cooper, and Abraham Lincoln, the latter of whom said it was one of the most influential books of his youth.

This tale reminds me of when I was pouring over the story of the Bielski brothers (the movie "Defiance" was based them) and Shackelton's story years ago and thinking- "What is there to complain about in life!!"

If you're looking for some literature on the triumph of the human spirit and survival, and from a time when people's ingenuity and skills ruled, then check it out. Just have a cool glass of water handy for the chapter called "Thirst."

Enjoy the wilds!

Tony Nester
Ancient Pathways, LLC
http://www.apathways.com

What is the best way to melt snow for water?

2010-11-25T07:01:00.003-07:00

This article is taken from Tony Nester's popular monthly column with Outside Magazine. To read more from his "Survival Guru" column, visit http://www.outsideonline.com

On overnight winter treks, I always bring a pillowcase that I turn into a snowmelting device later at camp. Simply pack the pillowcase with snow and hang it off a branch near (not over) the campfire. A pot below can catch the dripping water. It normally takes about 30 minutes to fill a quart of water this way so we keep the device going during our evening fire. One woodsman from Michigan I know, prefers using a mosquito headnet instead of a pillowcase as his snowmelting device. Just be cautious not to get the headnet, which is made of nylon, too close to the fire or it will melt.

Other methods that I have used include the “snow marshmallow” where you take a large, soccer-ball sized lump of snow (like the hardpacked kind you make for a snowman), and place it on a stick anchored near the fire. You can also use a few (hopefully clean) socks or a bandanna that are stuffed with snow and hung by the fire.

I have heard of survivors using black trash bags and reflective emergency blankets with snow on top to passively melt snow in the sun.

On short dayhikes, I bring along a Nalgene water bottle that is covered from top to bottom with black duct tape to provide me with a passive solar snow-melting device. I have another (lightweight “whiskey” flask) bottle that has a 3’ loop of webbing taped on so I can wear it around my neck and inside my parka where my bodyheat converts the snow into water while I hike.

If you are going to melt snow in your cooking pot over the fire or campstove, be sure to add a little water first unless you like the taste of burnt snow.

For further info on Tony's survival courses, books, or DVDs, check out http://www.apathways.com

News and Events at Ancient Pathways

2010-11-25T06:41:00.004-07:00

It's been quite a while since posting (6 months!) and an extremely busy season teaching throughout the US for government agencies and private groups, editing the Desert Survival DVD (now available), and being immersed in EMT school.

Now that things are winding down for the season, I plan to post more often and will be also adding one of my articles on occasion from my monthly column with Outside Magazine. If you haven't checked it out yet, Survival Guru (their wording) has been one of the most popular monthly columns at Outside since its inception two years ago. There is a backlog of articles archived on their website to review and the column is reader driven so send in your questions- http://www.outsideonline.com

We have also added a partial list of 2011 fieldcourses in Arizona and southeast Utah. Once our schedule with the military is hammered out further, we will add in more courses along with a return of our summer kids outdoor safety classes so stay tuned.

The 2-hour Desert Survival DVD is finally done and available through our site and Amazon.com. Also keep an eye out for it at National Parks throughout the Southwest. The material was filmed in the Four-Corners region last spring and covers material entirely different from our Youtube segments . Nearly half the program covers water location methods and hydration issues along with the most up-to-date information on venomous creatures and flash floods. Rounding out the rest of the program are the skills of firemaking, shade-shelters, signaling devices, and survival kits along with a Special Features section for dayhikers as well as Soldiers Deploying to Desert Regions. For more info- http://www.apathways.com

Well, it's time to go finish tanning a deerhide and get out under open skies. Thanks for catching up.

Enjoy the Wilds!

Tony Nester
Ancient Pathways, LLC
http://www.apathways.com
Flagstaff, AZ

Defiance & a meeting with one of the Bielski sons

2010-04-23T13:30:00.002-07:00

Last night I had the rare pleasure of going to a lecture by the son of Zus Bielski (played by Liev Schreiber in the movie Defiance) held in Flagstaff.

Zvi Bielski, the son, recounted many stories of growing up around his legendary uncles and father who had all been responsible for the largest rescue of Jews in WWII and told many behind-the-scenes stories regarding what unfolded in the movie.

Some interesting tidbits and statistics:

-The final scene in the movie where they flee from the Nazis who've surrounded their forest camp and then retreat to the swamps, didn't last one day but saw them waist-deep in the cold mud of the swamps for 2 weeks while being pursued by up to 60,000 German soldiers (according to Zvi). At one point during this trek, one of the partisans removes a weakened mother and infant from the line and tells them they are slowing down the group and must leave. Zus finds out, goes back, shoots the partisan, and retrieves the mother and baby.

-Those living in the forest not only got food from frequent raids on local (Nazi-sympathizetic) villages but from many farms in the area who helped the Bielski partisans along with continually hunting and fishing the forest lands. The forest was immense then- with up to 800 miles of wilderness to the north according to Zvi. I had wondered about their hunting/foraging efforts as little is covered in the books out there and Zvi said they were indeed hunting everything from deer to bear to rabbits. As we all know, a growling stomach will cause anyone to put aside their food biases after a few days!

-When Zus (again played by Liev Schreiber) meets his wife-to-be in a ghetto rescue operation by the Bielskis, she later asks him to go back and rescue her parents who are still there. He makes no promises but goes back a few days later and sneaks them out. Two days after that the Nazis removed the remaining thousands of Jews and killed them. The rescued parents lived until recently in NY and died at the ages of 99 and 98! Think of what they had seen in their lifetimes.

Other than a few minor Hollywood scenes, Zvi said the entire family, most of whom were on set as technical advisors, applauded the director and the way the movie accurately portrayed the events and characters involved. Zvi said that he and the other Bielskis still can't spend time in Belarus because of the very real threat of retribution from those whose families suffered payback from the Bielski brothers who were merciless.

If you haven't seen the movie, check it out- it's a must-see piece of history and of great warriors and a survival story of epic proportions. The book by Peter Duffy, "The Bielski Brothers" was recommended above others by Zvi.

Tony Nester
Ancient Pathways Survival School
http://www.apathways.com

Rattlesnake Bites

2010-04-11T06:53:00.003-07:00

The following article is an excerpt from Tony's monthly column in Outside Magazine, titled the Survival Guru (their wording). To view the last 14 months of articles, visit http://www.outsideonline.com

Beware Rattlers!

On nearly every trek and walkabout I've done in the desert Southwest, I have encountered a rattlesnake, especially under and around rockpiles as this is where rodents also dwell.

While writing a book on desert survival, I spoke with the fine staff at the University of Arizona Toxicology Department, who said your best treatment for rattlesnake bite is to grab your car keys and head to the ER. Using suction devices, snakebite kits, and Hollywood methods of cutting and sucking will only waste precious treatment time that should be spent at the hospital.

In the field, stay calm, wash the wound, stay hydrated, and make a call for help if possible, but otherwise, if you're solo, plan on walking slowly back to your vehicle and driving out. Don't use a tourniquet or ice, just plan on getting to a hospital--remember, if you were actually envenomated, time is tissue.

Around 25 percent of rattlesnake bites are dry (without the snake envenomating you), and the good news is that rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal. According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, there were 1,912 people bitten in Arizona from 1989 to 1998, with only four fatalities. One thing to note is that kids are at higher risk from any venomous bites because they have a smaller body mass to absorb the toxin. Interestingly, the pattern associated with rattlesnake-bite victims is that they tend to be male, 18-35 years of age, and intoxicated. In other words, the snake was provoked.

Bottom line: Carry a walking stick and remember the golden rule of wilderness travel--don't put your hands and feet where you can't see!

Enjoy the Wilds,

Tony Nester

Ancient Pathways Survival School, LLC

http://www.apathways.com

SteriPen Water Purification Review

2010-03-18T11:06:00.002-07:00

I have had a Steripen water purification device for several years now and have tested it in various locations during this time. Recently took it on the Costa Rica course last month and put it through a few more trials and it held up well.

I have to say this is an excellent product if you understand its limitations. Simply turn it on, stick the probe end into your water bottle/glass and then leave in, while stirring, for 48 seconds for 16 oz or 90 seconds for 1 quart.

Pros
-Lightweight
-Kills both viruses and bacteria
-Uses UV rays to sterilize water so no unpleasant taste as with Iodine
-Purifies 200 half-liters on one set of batteries (needs 4 AA Lithiums)
-Takes mere seconds to purify water
-Excellent for business travelers, urban survival kits, and in a stationary wilderness basecamp

Cons
-Uses batteries though you can get a solar charger
-Delicate so I wouldnt use if backpacking long-distance or would bring Iodine as backup in case system failed.
-Won't work well below freezing as batteries are affected so must be kept warm prior to use in the field.
-Only works with clear water, so no murky, silty, or muddy water. Even prefiltering our desert stream water in AZ doesnt get completely settled and therefore UV rays won't penetrate to the depth of water bottle. In crystal clear mountain streams, it is fine.

Overall, I recommend getting one for your home kit for an emergency, or for international travel to treat hotel/restaurant water. For wilderness travel, I would carry a MSR Filter or Iodine or skip the Steripen if lengthy, travel over rough terrain is involved.

Retails for $80-$90.

Thanks for reading! If you're interested in info on our survival fieldcourses or our books, visit http://www.apathways.com

Take care and enjoy the wilds!
Tony Nester

Survival Firestarters- Tony Nester & Outside Mag

2009-12-22T14:50:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

This video on survival firemaking methods was filmed by Outside Magazine editor Joe Spring who accompanied Tony on a Knife-Only Survival Course. There are 11 more videos for viewing at Outside Online which accompany Tony's monthly column on survival. You can also go to http://www.apathways.com for Course listings with Tony's survival training school in Arizona.

Water Purification Methods with Tony Nester and Outside Magazine

2009-12-11T02:45:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

This video on water purification methods was filmed by Outside Magazine editor Joe Spring who accompanied Tony on a Knife-Only Survival Course. There are 11 more videos for viewing at Outside Online which accompany Tony's monthly column on survival. You can also go to http://www.apathways.com for Course listings with Tony's survival training school in Arizona.

Winter Survival & Safety!!

2009-12-10T10:18:00.002-07:00

Survival Tips for Nature's Most Challenging Season
by Tony Nester

We just had a blizzard impact northern Arizona this week and drop over two feet of snow. As it was, I was driving back from Joshua Tree NP after teaching a desert survival class and then had to negotiate the icy roadways back home. Only in the Southwest can you go from the potential for heat-exhaustion to hypothermia and frostbite in one day!

With winter weather upon us, it is time to deck out our vehicles and daypacks for the unexpected emergency. If you become stranded on the road, your vehicle will become a mini-hotel providing shelter and warmth for the next few days until rescuers can get to you. With this in mind, here is some essential gear that I keep in my truck:

sleeping bag rated to zero degrees F
wool hat & mittens
spare wool socks
3-4 upper body layers (not cotton as this fails to insulate when wet)
winter coat
insulated boots or Sorel pacboots
food consisting of a jar of peanut butter, a box of crackers and a package of M & Ms
120 hour Nu-Wick candle for warmth, light, and snowmelting
coffee can for melting snow and cooking
2 gallons of water per person
vehicle cell phone charger
first-aid kit
shovel
cat litter or sand for traction if you get stuck
LED flashlight

For a longer roadtrip, I will bring a cooler with food and sandwiches and packets of instant soup and hot cocoa. High-fat food is essential in cold-weather hence the peanut butter which is stowed in the vehicle for much of the winter. Chocolate provides a quick burst of energy and should be in bite-size pieces.

For children
extra clothes and socks
mittens & hat
sleeping bags or blankets
food
water
reading materials, coloring books, or "travel" games

If you become stranded on the road, stay with your vehicle. It is a tremendous resource for weathering out a winter storm if you prepared it with the gear above. Run your vehicle every 15 minutes on the hour to warm up your body's core and to conserve fuel for the next few days. Make sure you check the exhaust pipe to remove any snow that has accumulated and crack your window when the engine is running to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

Hypothermia and frostbite are your greatest dangers in the outdoors during the winter months. When dayhiking, dress properly (no cotton!), stay hydrated, and carry 3 firestarters. If you should become hypothermic, get a fire going, dry out, and get some hot fluids in you. A good hypothermia recipe is to have a cup of hot chocolate with a tablespoon of butter. I always carry this solution in a thermos when on the winter trail.

Enjoy the Wilds!

Tony Nester

Ancient Pathways Survival School
www.apathways.com

Tony Nester is an author and instructor who runs the Ancient Pathways Survival School and has taught courses for the U.S. Military, National Park Service, and served as a technical consultant for the movie Into The Wild.

How not to "die of exposure"

2009-12-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Hypothermia and Immersion Hypothermia are both serious killers of people in the outdoors each year. Most cases of hypothermia happen in 50 degree F weather and are preventable- dress properly (no cotton!), stay hydrated, and do something about it when you get wet or begin losing dexterity such as build a fire & shelter, get back to the vehicle, or into the sleeping bag. A good hypothermia recipe is to have a cup of hot chocolate with a tablespoon of butter and I always carry this solution in a thermos when on the winter trail.

Keep in mind that the statistics bear out that the classic "survivor" lost in the wilds each year is injured and hypothermic.

Immersion Hypothermia is a real killer and you only have a limited amount of time on your hands. The best info comes from this U of Toronto Professor who has studied it the most and is on YouTube. Pass this vid around to those who spend time playing ice hockey, ice-fishing, or traveling the wilds in winter. It can be a lifesaver to know- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysnKtuUTt8k

Another test I do with my students on winter survival courses is to have them place their hands (minus gloves) in the snow for a count of 60 seconds. After this, they must get a fire going using their matches, lighter, or spark rod. With a loss of dexterity, the spark-rod wins out as it involves gross-motor movement compared to the lighter and matches. Try this test in the backyard next snowfall and see how your firemaking gear holds up when the hands are numb.

Cottonballs smeared with vaseline and used for tinder is the other half of the picture in successfully starting a fire when the forest is buried in snow.

Tony Nester

Ancient Pathways, LLC
http://www.apathways.com

The value of a good down jacket

2009-10-28T17:32:00.003-07:00

I was out in the Painted Desert today, north of Flagstaff. Temps were mighty cold as we had a winter storm roll in (yes it snows in Arizona!) and were hovering around 40 degrees with a 20 mph wind. Snow was on the way later in the day.

In addition to wearing 4 upper-body layers and a Carhart coat, I always pack along a down jacket, which I wore underneath the Carhart today. A down jacket is an indispensable piece of gear. My down jacket is something that is kept tucked behind the backseat of my truck for most of the summer and I have another one that I carry with me in my daypack throughout much of the year, even in summer.

A good down jacket can be had for $80 on up. I usually look for ones on clearance in the spring or through Sierra Trading Post. Mine packs down to grapefruit-size. For longer dayhikes in the mountains, I will actually pack along a tiny, sleeping bag like those made by Mountain Hardwear. Such bags have come a long way from those clunky, polyester bags I had as a scout. Mine packs down to the size of a loaf of bread.

How much space are we talking about in the pack in exchange for what a down jacket can provide if stranded in the wilds for a night?

Down has its drawbacks- loses loft when wet or when used in damp weather for extended periods. Not a good choice for primary insulation in a place like the Pacific Northwest or the Tropics. Here in the desert or as a supplement to a vehicle survival kit, it is excellent.

So, keep an eye out for an extra one next Spring when they''re all going to be on sale. I highly recommend getting one for the daypack or vehicle as emergency gear for when the chips are down and the cold night is upon you.

Enjoy the Wilds!
Tony

In the News

2009-10-26T15:30:00.003-07:00

Just finished up teaching our 5-week program in primitive skills. We had fantastic weather and a great group of folks! We went on walkabouts in the mountains, spent time tanning deerhides and making bows, visited friends at Hopi, and checked out archeological sites throughout the Southwest to better understand the context for the skills we were learning.

Now I am busy marketing the new book on "The Modern Hunter-Gatherer" and finishing up our Fall season with our November Trapping Course in Utah. I recently had the good fortune to have Outside editor Joe Spring accompany us on a course recently to do some filming for my Outside Online column. He should be posting a variety of how-to videos on the site shortly.

Piggybacking off that, I recently finished 11 videos on Desert Survival that are now posted on our page on Youtube- http://www.youtube.com/user/AncientPathways -These are largely lecture but I will be posting more hands-on videos on bushcraft and living off the land in the near future.

Enjoy the Wilds!

Tony Nester

New Book and Survival Gear Review

2009-09-04T17:10:00.004-07:00

It's been quite a while since I posted but there's finally some time to sit down and relax. It's been my busiest season yet doing lots of teaching for the military, taking actor Josh Brolin out for training in the desert, finishing up my fourth book The Modern Hunter-Gatherer while working on a new Hogan at our basecamp. Whew, I need to go on a Walkabout!

After returning from my latest trip, I found a nice package in the mail from Doug Ritter. In case you don't know Doug and his company Equipped To Survive, he runs the most comprehensive survival and outdoor gear testing company you will find. Many refer to his company as the Consumer Reports for the survival industry and I agree. If there's a new GPS, Personal Location Beacon (PLB), firestarter, or first-aid kit, you will get an honest review from Doug as to whether it works, is worth the money, or a waste of money.

I had the good fortune of heading out on a desert survival course with Doug and Ethan Becker a few years ago to test gear and what impressed me the most about Doug is that he goes out in the elements (in this case 112 degree heat) to actually test his gear rather than writing about it solely from the comfort of a keyboard as so many reviewers do. If you haven't seen the man's site, do so- http://www.equipped.org and you will be outfitting your survival kit with quality gear.

OK, so what was in the package? The first contained the eGear Pico Lite designed by Doug. This is a power-packing LED flashlight in a pinky-sized package. Now, most of us have had the fragile keychain lights and mini-pulsar lights that crack the first time they fall on the pavement. The Pico Lite has a durable casing that can take a beating and is powered by four replaceable alkaline button-cell batteries. This is a flashlight that has the output of a much larger LED. In fact, the Pico kicked out more light than my Inova light! But what I like most is that this is a piece of gear that WILL take punishment and that is what I need when out under extreme conditions- reliability. These retail for $12.95 or a blister pack (of 5) for $9.95. Well worth it!

The other item I received for review was Doug's latest survival knife, the RSK Mk5 which in his words, " is compact and light enough to fit in almost any small personal survival kit or stash-away location, yet robust enough that it's a knife you can bet your life on^™. The blade is made by Columbia River Knife & Tool. I will take this blade out on an upcoming walkabout this month to run it through some tests but so far it is excellent at producing fine shavings for firestarting and did a nice job of cleaning a trout my son and I caught fishing this past week. This is a knife I can see including in my pocket survival kit.

The blade is 1.75" long and the knife has an overall length of 3.81." Cost is $26.99. I carry two blades on me at all times in the backcountry, and will now add this one for the smaller jobs in the bush.

Again, when you are looking at getting survival gear, obtain quality items that will get you through the long, cold night when you're stranded and life hangs by a thread. In survival, you do get what you pay for, both in skills training and in the gear you carry. Ritter's gear is highly recommended by our school for the forethought and durability put into it!

Stay safe and enjoy the wilds!

Our 5-week program starts up here shortly and after that it's more fun with the fine warriors from Ft. Bragg so the next blog might be a while.

Thanks for reading,

Tony

Tis the Season For Fishing

2009-04-15T22:06:00.002-07:00

Note- the following is an excerpt from Tony's forthcoming book on food procurement due out this summer. In the book, this chapter will also cover gill and cast nets, cleaning and cooking fish, and an assortment of primitive methods.

Improvised & Modern Fishing Gear

Fishing was a huge part of my life growing up in the Great Lakes. I could walk in any direction and practically run into a river, lake, or creek. Nowadays in the Southwest where I live, good fishing is hard to come by so the focus is on wild plants and small game. For those who live near riparian areas, you should definitely become versed in the fish of the region and the (legal) methods for catching them.

Having access to such freshwater ecosystems is the best of all worlds for a modern hunter-gatherer. With such a water source, you not only have fish to subsist on but edible plants such as cattails and bulrush along with an excellent chance of spotting animals coming down for a drink. Plus, in a survival situation, your hydration needs can be easily met.

Fishing Kits

Every fisherman has their take on what should go into a fishing kit. I have two setups. One is a reductionist survival fishing-kit and the other is a collapsible fishing pole with a standard reel. Be sure to obtain a fishing license for your state and to follow the guidelines. The rules are in place to protect the ecology of rivers and lakes so stick to them.

I have to say that you will dramatically increase your catch if you talk to the locals in the region. Stop in at the tackle shop and pick the brains of the people who are out fishing the region daily. They will give you a feel for what type of bait to use and where the best spots are for fishing. There is no substitute for local knowledge.

My minimalist fishing kit for the backcountry is pretty simple: three dozen assorted hooks secured on a safety pin, two dozen split-shot sinkers, small roll of 6 lb monofilament line, and a few bobbers.

I don’t use a pole but rather cast off of my hand, a stray pop can, or a smooth stick. I have probably caught more fish on survival outings using this simple “hobo reel” than through using any of my expensive rod and tackle sets, most of which are gathering dust. I was first introduced to this setup in the Boy Scouts but have found it to be pretty universal and still in use by native cultures throughout the world which is no surprise given it's low-tech appeal.

If you would rather purchase a pre-made survival fishing kit, then I would consider picking up one of the fine kits from the BestGlide Company in Texas. I recently obtained a sample kit to try out and was really impressed with both the quality and well-thought out components that went into their Standard Kit which retails for $24.95. This company sells a kit that will take care of your emergency fishing needs if you are not inclined to assembling your own. For info, check out http://www.bestglide.com

Carry A Big Stick
For a longer wilderness trip, I will bring along a collapsible fishing pole with a quality reel and an assortment of artificial lures. As you can guess, we are not talking about an expensive fishing kit with either of the above setups. If weight is an issue, then just pack along the hobo reel. Remember, you will need the appropriate license and be mindful of harvesting regulations for your state.

Successful fishermen are ardent observers of their surroundings and constantly filing away information on weather, insect hatches, etc…. Awareness is critical to subsistence hunting and fishing so pay attention not only to the waterhole where your line is dangling but to the immediate landscape and weather.

Lastly, remember when fishing to not overharvest a river or lake and to only take what you need. Other creatures, beside us humans, depend on aquatic wildlife for their survival too.

The Film World

2009-04-15T21:55:00.003-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of taking actor Josh Brolin ("W", "No Country For Old Men") out for a survival training course to help prepare for an upcoming film. He picked up the skills like an old pro.

Often times on courses, folks ask about accuracy in films in terms of survival skills. Some are better than others but below are a list of the ones that myself and my fellow instructors have enjoyed and either excel at showing the atmosphere or accurate skills (or both).

Some of these are not appropriate for youngsters.

Into The Wild
Last of the Mohicans
The Snow Walker
The Fast Runner
Black Robe
The Naked Prey
Quest for Fire
Castaway

Walkabout
Ten Canoes
Derzu Usala
The Edge
Jeremiah Johnson
Alive
Ten Canoes
Defiance (at theaters in 2009)

Hunger

2008-12-18T17:01:00.010-07:00

The Inuit of the Arctic referred to hunger as the "Great Want." Something few people have experience with in our modern Western world where food is but a step away in our fridge.

People often ask about food on our survival courses. It is certainly not something of concern for the stranded dayhiker lost for a few nights. Our bodies are hardwired for fasting from our hunter-gatherer past when such things were a part of one's existence.

One of the most harrowing survival stories regarding long-term food deprivation that I know of comes from the Himalayas where a trekker was stranded in the snow-covered mountains for 43-days. He endured bitter cold days and nights with little more than a sleeping bag, snow which he held to his lips to melt, and sheer willpower. He lost close to one third of his body weight but survived. If you need calories it is in a cold-weather environment and the only food available was his lean muscle mass. Nothing was available to eat in his stark setting and supplies in his pack were quickly exhausted. Still, he prevailed and lived.

On winter survival courses in the subarctic, I regularly consumed 8,000 calories a day. A typical snack in camp would consist of a bagel with cheese, butter, and a slab of bacon. Every hour, I would down a cup of hot cocoa with a tablespoon of butter. To my body, this was just wood in the furnace. Dinner was a feast like you wouldn’t believe but it was necessary to cope with nighttime temperatures that dipped to –40 F below. Steger Expedition members that crossed the Antarctic unsupported consumed 12-15000 calories a day! Cold-weather requires a higher than normal daily intake of fat and calories. There's a reason that the Inuit ate large quantities of seal and whale blubber.

Yes, we humans can endure amazing hardships and go long periods without food. Our genetics are encoded for such events but the question remains: why not plan ahead and carry food with you? My philosophy is that skills and preparation trump suffering so bring chow with you on outings, especially in the colder months. Jerky, cheese sticks, fruit, chocolate, and PBJ sandwiches all make great trailfoods that will keep your furnace stoked. If you work in the cold, bring a thermos with hot cocoa and a few spoons of butter.

Then, the "Great Want" can be something best left for blogs and conversation around the woodsmoke of the evening campfire.

Winter Travel Tips

2008-11-28T08:18:00.005-07:00

Just finished a long but rewarding season of teaching and guiding. Spent most of the Fall out in the wilds teaching our 9-week Southwest Semester Program with an amazing group of folks. Now, with the colder months here, it is time to start writing more and enjoying the warmth of home.

With two days of rain and snow on the way here in northern Arizona, I have been updating my truck supplies that I carry for roadside emergencies. Each year, there are many tales of stranded motorists having to weather out a night or two on the highway when the interstate is shut down. Being prepared, as you would when hiking in the backcountry, is essential to handling a roadside emergency during the unforgiving months of winter.

Remember, even if you live in the desert Southwest like I do, it can get mighty cold and inhospitable during the winter. On a recent desert walkabout a few weeks back in early November, the nighttime temps were averaging 24 degrees! Where else, but the desert regions of the world, can you go from worrying about heat-exhaustion during the day to hypothermia at night?

In addition to having the usual gear in my truck like a small air compressor, quality jack, a can of Fix-A-Flat, LED flashlight, cellphone and charger, I also have the following items below.

Shelter System
Your clothing is your primary shelter system so dress appropriately when venturing out in the the elements or taking to the road. I once had to change a blow-out on the highway east of Flagstaff while driving home one December morning. I was glad I had plenty of layers as the temps hovered around 10 degrees. So, you may not even be in the wilderness when encountering Murphy's Law.

Here's my "shelter system" that's stowed in the truck:

Winter jacket
Wool or fleece sweater
Mittens
Wool hat
Sorel (insulated) boots
Spare wool socks
Long underwear bottoms
Sleeping bag
Emergency blanket (not the cheap Mylar blankets)

Once you have spent a few bone-cold nights out in the wilds with the clothes on your back you will see how essential a sleeping bag is for winter survival. Nowadays bags compress down to the size of a loaf of bread so we're not talking about a bulky item here. Slumberjack makes inexpensive bags in this size range or you can get a quality bag from Western Mountaineering. Carry one- you won't regret it if you become stranded on the road! Short of that, carry a few wool blankets.

Hydration
Minimum of 2 gallons per person in your vehicle. I have a couple of 64 oz plastic juice containers along with two 1-quart Nalgene bottles. One of my Nalgenes is wrapped with black duct tape which will turn the bottle into a snow-melting device. Water is a critical survival item, even in the winter so don't skimp on this.

Food
Yeah, you can go without food for weeks as real-life survivors have, but why?! I've been without food under survival conditions for days on end and it isn't fun, so why suffer. Bring some quality food not far off from what you normally eat. Remembering that such items freeze in the colder months, I usually opt for M & Ms, a small jar of peanut butter, crackers, raisins, and jerky. This is all stored in a small tupperware. High-calorie, high-fat foods are a must in the winter. I also bring along some packets of instant soup and hot cocoa (see below).

Miscellaneous
In addition to the sleeping bag, I also carry a Nu-Wick candle. This is a non-toxic candle in a tin that comes with 5 wicks that burns for 120 hours. You can add or subtract wicks to boost/reduce heat output and these candles can even be used for heating a small pot of soup or cocoa.

A small cooking pot or enamel cup is essential for melting snow and heating up water. Nothing fancy here- mine is a recycled peach can. A small (32 oz) apple juice can would work too or you can buy an18 oz enamel cup at Wal-Mart.

In both our vehicles, we have small first-aid kits made by Adventure Medical Kits. These start at $20 and are quality kits.

I also have a small shovel and a canister of cat litter for digging out when stuck in the snow. This has come in handy more than a few times.

The Campmor company carries the aforementioned sleeping bags, Nu-Wick candles, and AMK First-aid kits in addition to other outdoor gear.

What to do when stranded on the road
So, let's say you become stranded on the highway during a blizzard. Use your vehicle as a survival shelter and consider walking out as a last resort.

Hopefully you topped off your fuel tank before leaving home. To conserve fuel, run your engine 15 minutes each hour to warm up the interior. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO CRACK OPEN A WINDOW! Carbon Monoxide is a silent killer so make sure your exhaust pipe (muffler pipe) outside is clear of snow and then crack the window open slightly while running your engine.

The coldest part of the vehicle will be on the floor as cold air settles so put your feet across the seat. Wrap up in your sleeping bag, put a hat on, have a snack, and settle in. It could be a while before emergency services clear the road or get to you.

If you have kids, bring along extra winter clothes, food, and water. Every winter it seems, there is a disheartening story about a family who decides to take a "shortcut" home on secondary roads and become stranded, often without any supplies. So plan ahead and BE PREPARED!

Depending on your lifestyle and travel interests, you may wish to carry more gear but at least start with the basics above.

Take a few minutes to prepare while in your driveway at home and you will be able to handle an emergency should it befall you.

Stay warm and enjoy the wild places,

Tony

Knowing Your Local Water Sources

2008-06-09T10:42:00.002-07:00

While talking with a former survival student of mine about disaster-related, the issue of water resources came up. Concerns like: what to do when your tap runs dry during or after a disaster, where are the best sources outside of your home, outside of your city, which lakes/rivers/springs are nearby and are they safe?, etc....

Every region of the country has it's survival concerns to factor in with regards to disaster preparedness, and here in the Southwest, water is at the top of the list.

I have a "water map" that I've made up over the years, it is a Forest Service map that has red-ink marks for all the water sources I am personally familiar with and also info on their reliability, access (only in summer?), and purity. This is something I think everyone should do for where they live, if water is a major survival concern (not you folks in the Pacific NW or Great Lakes!).

Get a local map, start with a 10 mile radius and move it out from there as time permits. Then drive/hike around one weekend and check them out. Are they safe to drink from? What's upstream (farms with pesticide runoff or an old mine)? Is the water year-round or just seasonal? And so on.... Check on your water sources a few times a year or more, especially the primary ones you'd consider using in an emergency.

Now, I'll qualify all this by saying that I live in a high-desert region so my water map and concerns look different than someone in a big city but the principles are going to be the same: where, outside of your neighborhood or metropolis, is your nearest reliable water source(s)?

Don't rely on topographic maps to be up to date either. Most I have are dated 1965 or 1983 and out here water availability in the wilds changes each season. I remember doing a land navigation exercise with my students where we trekked to a designated "water tank" on the map. When we arrived, we found a rusty cattle trough turned on its side and riddled with bulletholes. So much for slaking our thirst based on the topo map features!

And yes, being prepared and having quantities of water on hand at home are essential but there's no substitute for "local knowledge" of nearby water sources for a potential long-term situation. Such knowledge costs little and can go a long way if your well-prepared stocks at home run low or are comprised in some way.

Whether one is talking about survival in the wilds or the urban jungle, it's all about being prepared and taking care of yourself and your family by having a few basic necessities in place and a PLAN.

Survival Myths & Misconceptions

2008-06-02T10:22:00.003-07:00

Here are a few of the more common myths that show up in survival literature and that we address during our fieldcourses.

Water From a Barrel Cactus

The notion of slicing open a juicy barrel cactus and scooping out a cup of water to quench your thirst sounds appealing. The problem is that, due to the alkaloids present in the cactus, most people experience severe cramping and vomiting, which only increases their dehydration.

Furthermore, the amount of moisture found in a barrel cactus depends on seasonal rainfall. Assuming that you have the tools (i.e., machete, tire-iron, etc...) to cut into the spiny cactus without injuring yourself, you have just killed a succulent that may be over one hundred years old not to mention protected by law.

The few times I have had the pleasure of choking down barrel cactus fluid (notice I didn't say "water") made my stomach churn like a cement-mixer and required a Buddhist's monks meditative effort at keeping from vomiting. Like I tell my students- there's a reason why you don't see "Cactus Juice" sold at the grocery store!

Save the romantic notions for the Hollywood westerns and rely on this method only if there is no other alternative. By the way, the only barrel cactus that isn't toxic is the fishhook barrel (Ferocactus wislizeni).

Collecting Water With a Solar Still
The solar still involves digging a two foot deep pit with a three foot diameter, placing a container in the bottom, and covering the whole pit with a six foot by six foot piece of clear plastic. The plastic
condenses ground moisture on the interior covering where it funnels down to the center and drops into the container.

Constructing a still involves expending considerable amounts of your precious sweat to dig the pit. It also presupposes that you have a sheet of clear plastic and a shovel. If you had the foresight to bring this gear then you probably had the good sense to pack plenty of water. The solar still just isn't that useful in the desert and yet it still shows up in survival books as a reliable water-collecting device.

I have constructed many stills over the years in each of the four North American deserts. Each time I arrive at the same conclusion after seeing the results: Plan ahead and carry plenty of water! If you hadn't already guessed, this is the mantra that a wilderness explorer has to live by.

Getting Rescued In A Flash

2008-05-09T17:20:00.003-07:00

Just finished teaching a ten day course in the mountains to the military. Seems like the wind never stopped blowing during that entire time as is often the case this time of year in the West. Some days we had fires, some days we went without as it was just too risky.

Each year, though, we hear about lost hikers who light up a signal fire to expedite their rescue and then ends up torching the forest instead. With much of the Western US a tinderbox, my advice is to carry a quality (glass) signal mirror and learn how to use it- something that takes a few minutes in your backyard.

A decent signal mirror will run you $10 and can shoot a flash for miles and miles and, most importantly, doesn't endanger the forest and the dozens of searchers on the ground headed your way.

Signal fires have their place; such as when the ground is covered with snow, it's the rainy season, it's a non-windy day, and you have exhausted other means.

Since survival is all about being prepared, carry a signal mirror and whistle, at the very least, and you'll have a much easier time drawing Search and Rescue personnel to you in the event you become stranded in the wilds.

The Romanticism of Living Off the Land

2008-04-03T21:16:00.005-07:00

Got a call today from a magazine writer who asked if I would provide some "tips" for helping the average person learn to live off the land during a crisis in the city or countryside. I said that it would take more than tips- more like a whole lot of practice, sweat, and time out on the land and even then it can be a dice-roll as to whether you fill your belly that day.

The area of food procurement in the wilderness is, by far, the most challenging area of study in the field of bushcraft and survival. In my opinion, it's an area that requires a few lifetimes to delve into and one that I have been pursuing for many years with no end in sight. Our ancestors spent their entire existence on an eternal food quest and it took the cooperative efforts of the whole tribe survive. Trying to acquire the skill set of our ancient hunter-gatherers during or after a disaster is like learning to sail a ship during a storm. Better to be prepared in the first place with some food supplies at home.

Food procurement, and being an effective modern hunter/gatherer, involves some of the following skills:

-Tracking and animal behavior.
-Ability to effectively use archery gear, atlatl, and throwing sticks along with proficiency with a rifle.
-Stalking and camoflauge skills.
-Fishing skills: both primitive and modern.
-Knowledge of the common edible plants for your region and how to harvest and use them.
-Ability to construct and properly use deadfalls and snares for trapping.

Just looking at the list you'll see that living off the land takes TIME and PRACTICE.

If you read the old accounts of mountain men like Jim Bridger, you'll quickly see that it wasn't anything like Dances With Wolves. Old Jim described one time that he was so famished due to lack of game, that he took off his deerskin moccasins and crisped them over the fire until they were crunchy and then ate 'em! And this coming from a veteran trapper/hunter who had spent over 4 decades in the wilderness. Living off the land is not romantic!

I've taught bushcraft courses where we are out in the wilds for a few weeks, hunting & gatheirng, where the acorns are dropping on our heads, the berries are abundant, and the fish are jumping into your lap. However, I've also had courses that saw us chowing on cattail roots and pine bark for three days because the drought, that season, left the landscape barren.

My advice, if you want to learn to be self-sufficient, is to learn as much as you can: spend time with experienced hunters, fishermen, edible plants instructors, trappers, and bushcraft folks and slowly integrate your skills into your lifestyle at home. My kids know how to pick and eat amaranth, cattails, dandelions and other wild edibles but it something that my wife and I have introduced them to over the years and build on with each trip out the back door.

My advice to those who simply want to be prepared for an emergency, and have no desire to go Jeremiah Johnson, is the same I gave the writer who called: Plan Ahead and Be Prepared. Stock up on basic food supplies at home, enough for a few weeks, to weather out a crisis and you will be way ahead of the game. You can bet our hunter-gatherer ancestors took the same precautions.

Tony

From the Oven to the Freezer: Spring Travel in the Desert

2008-03-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

Just finished another glorious trip in the desert. What a spring we are having in Arizona- perhaps the best in ten years due to the heavy precipitation this winter in both the high-country and lower desert. An amazing array of wildflowers that are a sight to see and probably won't come again until the next productive winter which seem to be few and far between.

We actually saw waterfalls cascading over canyon edges in the Superstition Mountains a few weeks back and many of the "dry" washes were flowing.

Typical of the desert, though, we were hiking in t-shirts and shorts during the day with temps in the 70's and then donning wool hats and down jackets around the evening campfire where the temp plummetted to 20 degrees, only an hour after sunset. The "Land of Little Water" is indeed a land of extremes. The city of Yuma holds the record for most drastic temperature change when it went from 120 degrees during the day to 39 degrees at night!

I remember one spring dayhike I was leading in the Western Grand Canyon on Hualapai tribal lands. We were hiking in 80+ degree weather and soaking our shirts in the nearby stream to help us cool off. My shirt would be bone-dry in 30 minutes. After finishing lunch in an a remote gorge, we headed back to the vans which were a few miles downstream. The wind kicked up and ominous clouds began rolling in. By the time we started our drive out of the Canyon, it was raining and by the time we finished atop the Rim, it was actually snowing. When I arrived home in Flagstaff a few hours later, there were white-out conditions and a storm upon us that would dump up to two feet of snow. So, in a short period of time, we went for the potential for heat-exhaustion to hypothermia and frostbite! Ah, welcome to the desert.

Along with my trusty survival kit and water, I always bring some fleece or wool layers on those balmy spring hikes in the sun. You never know what the coming night and weather will bring.