Gold & Silver Forum - Backpack Survival

Gold & Silver Forum (http://goldismoney.info/forums/index.php)

- Survival Prep (http://goldismoney.info/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=141)

- - Backpack Survival (http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=190021)

Backpack Survival

Interesting read...if this has been posted before... I missed it.

Link:
http://www.alpharubicon.com/prepinfo/backpackfever.htm

:rolleyes_m::rolleyes_m:

Re: Backpack Survival

The backpack is a good idea, as an option of last resort. I believe the backpack should be outfitted in such a way as to facilitate the construction of a permanent settlement. Many early American pioneers did as much.

Starving people are desperate, not strong or smart.

This was just bad though. Long knows a lot about guns, apparently little about growing food.

Quote:

Farming? Unless he finds some unclaimed farm machinery and a handy storage tank of gasoline at his retreat, he'll hardly get off first base. Even primitive crop production requires a plow and work animals (or a lot of manpower) to pull the blade. No plow, no food for him or domestic animals.
And domestic animals don't grow on trees. Again, unless he just happens to find some cows waiting for him at his retreat, he'll be out of luck. (No one has packaged freeze-dried cows or chickens--at least, not in a form you can reconstitute into living things).
Intensive gardening? Maybe. But even that takes a lot of special tools, seeds, know-how, and good weather. Can he carry what he needs and have all the skills that can be developed only through experience? Even if he did, he might not have any food to eat. Pestilence goes hand in hand with disasters. Our modern age has forgotten this. But during a time when chemical factories aren't churning out the insecticides and pest poisons we've come to rely on, our backpack survivalist should be prepared for waves of insects flooding into any garden he may create. How good is he at making insecticides? Even if he carries out a large quantity of chemicals to his retreat, how many growing seasons will they last?

You may have seen the big hoe thread I started. There's your "lot of special tools," "farm machinery" and "plow and work animals." The only thing you need to bring with you is the blade if space is a concern, you can improvise the handle using the blade. My three and half acres runs on one.

Cows are a tall order, chickens are easy. Especially bantams.

As long as you don't use pesticides you'd be suprised at how little you need them. It's a viscious cycle thing. I have problems with exactly one insect, fire ants, and everybody will always have problems with them even with insecticides. The rest are easily controlled by sqaushing or feeding the birds. Extra grasshoppers and what not are even suitable for human consumption if you so desire.

Alchohol from grain? That's dumb. Oil from oil crops? That's smart.

I understand his point though. Being a refugee isn't the most desirable position to be in which is why I moved onto a small farm. It does take know-how, but so does everything else. Given the option communities of good, productive people are far and away the best. Everybody should understand how they are useful to their present community or the one they plan on escaping to. Educate yourself accordingly.

Duncan Long is independtly famous but I remain skeptical of the host site.

Re: Backpack Survival

One of my favorite writers on survival was Mel Tappan. He died prematurely but contributed significantly to the survival "movement". Pick up a copy of his "Tappan on Survival" for a good read. He also did one on "Survival Guns" which though flawed was very comprehensive.

He concluded that running off to the wilderness with only a backpack and a rifle in the hopes of surviving a disaster/meltdown/apocalypse was the stuff of fantasy romance novels and best left to the most knowledgeable, most rugged, healthy, determined individuals--certainly not for anyone with a family and one not in the peak of health (like me).

His idea of a small farm in a small town populated with like-minded people was the optimum choice for survival and in which one stood the best chance of making it through any crisis. Safety in numbers...at least for the longer term, where division of labor and barter became the order of the day. One with at least a dentist and maybe a doctor...even a veterinarian.

Having to do everything for oneself would get overwhelming. What if you were injured? Who would stand guard when you sleep? Stuff like that...besides, who would carry all that silver you brought along for trading? ;0)

Re: Backpack Survival

:D Well,the lucky ones who live near missile silos can starve while they fight off their neighbors and roving gangs.

He is right though..sheep would make a beeline for the nearest missile silo for insane reasons we would never understand.

Missile silos are prime targets in a war.

Yeah,that's the ticket people...load up,we're heading for that missile silo over in the next county where it's safe.

:shocked_ma::D:shocked_ma:

Re: Backpack Survival

I have no fantasies of living out of a backpack or longterm "buggin out", but i do carry a pack with me at all times in my car that will get me by for close to week should the need arise. That's all i can ask. If stuff is worse than that then it's "MadMax" time and a backpack is the least of what any of us will need.

Re: Backpack Survival

Duncan Longs good and the last damn thing you want to be is a freakin refugee.

Far as I'm concerned, I'm stayin put.

If there are bad apples in my locale, then WTSHTF it may just be KOBK but I am ok with that.