Excerpted from: http://www.woodpilereport.com/html/index-502.htm
His essay on "The Leatherman" (Oct. 31, 2017)
"Although technically a vagabond, a man the locals called "Leatherman" lived a life approximating Escape and Evasion a century and a half ago. He traveled a circuit some 180 miles on a side, from Connecticut to the Hudson River and back again, with such regularity his reappearances were dependably foreseen by townspeople. In time he became an Odin The Wanderer-like legend.
Modern day Escape and Evasion derives from the US military's Code of Conduct, which requires captured military personnel to "make every effort to escape". Escape and Evasion training is based on standard survival woodcraft with emphasis on covert techniques appropriate for hostile territory. The survivalist in a catastrophe is more likely to be escaping detection than capture, but the methods apply.
Leatherman was in no danger of capture as far as we know, nor was he in hostile territory, but for thirty years or more he used the basic practices of Escape and Evasion, including regular movement between proven sites in a large, remote area familiar to him.
If we assume, and it's reasonable to assume, a collapse of civil society to the extent such skills become necessary, the prudent survivalist will prepare not just a bugout destination but also prepare for worst case Escape and Evasion. The "escape" part could mean retreating from hostiles who overrun his main bugout site or otherwise prevent him from occupying it.
Some will practice Escape and Evasion as a prepared means to reach a safer destination. Catastrophes in the past suggest it will more commonly be used to avoid a present and mortal threat that may persist for weeks or months, which is what we'll consider here.
The first requirement is a home territory, preferably not much more than a day's hike from the survivalist's bugout site. Wooded and watered hill country offering sites for covert camps are close to ideal. Five miles on a side is probably too small, twenty miles on a side is not too large.
While a contour map has its uses, it's no substitute for the familiarity that comes with methodical woods-cruising in good weather and bad, even at night. The survivalist must "own" his territory, every ridge and swale, every spring and rock and run, every tree and bush. It's a crucial advantage for evasion if discovered and pursued. With time familiarity approaches the supernatural, sensing when something's not right, tipping off a presence not yet obvious.
The usual attributes of covert camps are to be observed, but no one site will be ideal. Each should offer something unique. Perhaps it's a hotspot for game or fish, or well suited to particularly bad weather, or it includes a free flowing spring and rich forage in season, or is exceptionally secluded. Think of them as a network of resorts, a few miles apart, each having a special asset in addition to their standard features.
Leatherman resupplied about every five weeks in towns along his route, something like long-distance hikers do on the Appalachian Trail. This is not an option in a catastrophic survival situation, obviously. Nor is raiding in any form. In a time of extreme scarcity, theft announces the presence of a lurker and demands attention.
Prepositioned caches provide the necessary independence from outside supply. They also allow escape as-is and afterward permit traveling light between sites. Provisions for ninety days may be a good first approximation, six or seven caches with two week's rations at each, say. As elsewhere, this is for one person. Should the nature of the calamity warrant and become apparent sufficiently in advance, perishables could be doubled or tripled. Ramping up is easier done than starting from nothing.
A plan for providing each site with caches might include: one cache for arrival with emergency and immediate use items on top, another with food only, a third one with standard survival supplies: firemaking, ammunition, batteries, cordage, medical, water purification and so forth. Caches should be well away from the shelter site and, if practical, a standard distance in the same direction from each site. Precut pole timber for shelter framing could also be stashed in such a way as not to attract notice.
An aside: one item to consider carrying is a weather radio. Tiny, battery-powered units are available for about twenty dollars. Assuming the reporting service is maintained it's a resource worth having.
Migration at intervals from one camp to another, in addition to serving situational awareness, levels out the depletion of supplies. Also think about one centrally located cache for seldom needed items. These might be bulk cordage, spares and repair items, specialty tools and equipment, clothing—especially seasonal clothing—perhaps a few books and other comfort items. But beware of over-reliance on equipage rather than improvisation and woodcraft.
Covert camping is a study in itself: choosing and improving sites, camouflage and stealth fires, quick shelter construction and takedown, noise abatement, unattended fishing, night travel, area surveillance methods, anti-tracker techniques and on and on.
A survivalist is not a partisan guerrilla looking to engage an enemy. While it's wise to have a retrievable battle rifle should that day come, it makes sense in the interim to carry a light game rifle in a small caliber, backed up with a heavier caliber sidearm for defense.
A survivalist handles armed confrontation by evasion, meaning "be somewhere else". If surprised, he will break contact and disappear, easier to do with confidence when every tree and trail is familiar for miles in any direction. If there's no option but to take down a relentless bad guy he will make it an unfair contest.
Stripped of its conventions and models, survival means emerging from a catastrophe alive and functioning, with preparations for not being materially worse off than going in. All else is preference.
Few of us wish to live as a fugitive. But most of us want to live. The tradeoff, once made, would soon be intolerable for some, miserable but bearable for others, an adventure for still others.
For those who imagine going "off grid" is roughing it, decoupling from society altogether, even amidst murderous chaos, will be inconceivable. Said differently, these are life's self-selected victims.
Emergencies eventually moderate, whatever "eventually" may mean. When and how to reengage may be perilous call. But should the emergency outlast the survivalist's self sufficiency, or devolve further, the next step may be to migrate to a different region or affiliate with others to construct a viable community for the duration. Even then, survival as a latter day Leatherman is Plan B.
Excerpted from: http://www.woodpilereport.com/html/index-502.htm
His essay on "The Leatherman" (Oct. 31, 2017)
"Although technically a vagabond, a man the locals called "Leatherman" lived a life approximating Escape and Evasion a century and a half ago. He traveled a circuit some 180 miles on a side, from Connecticut to the Hudson River and back again, with such regularity his reappearances were dependably foreseen by townspeople. In time he became an Odin The Wanderer-like legend.
Modern day Escape and Evasion derives from the US military's Code of Conduct, which requires captured military personnel to "make every effort to escape". Escape and Evasion training is based on standard survival woodcraft with emphasis on covert techniques appropriate for hostile territory. The survivalist in a catastrophe is more likely to be escaping detection than capture, but the methods apply.
Leatherman was in no danger of capture as far as we know, nor was he in hostile territory, but for thirty years or more he used the basic practices of Escape and Evasion, including regular movement between proven sites in a large, remote area familiar to him.
If we assume, and it's reasonable to assume, a collapse of civil society to the extent such skills become necessary, the prudent survivalist will prepare not just a bugout destination but also prepare for worst case Escape and Evasion. The "escape" part could mean retreating from hostiles who overrun his main bugout site or otherwise prevent him from occupying it.
Some will practice Escape and Evasion as a prepared means to reach a safer destination. Catastrophes in the past suggest it will more commonly be used to avoid a present and mortal threat that may persist for weeks or months, which is what we'll consider here.
The first requirement is a home territory, preferably not much more than a day's hike from the survivalist's bugout site. Wooded and watered hill country offering sites for covert camps are close to ideal. Five miles on a side is probably too small, twenty miles on a side is not too large.
While a contour map has its uses, it's no substitute for the familiarity that comes with methodical woods-cruising in good weather and bad, even at night. The survivalist must "own" his territory, every ridge and swale, every spring and rock and run, every tree and bush. It's a crucial advantage for evasion if discovered and pursued. With time familiarity approaches the supernatural, sensing when something's not right, tipping off a presence not yet obvious.
The usual attributes of covert camps are to be observed, but no one site will be ideal. Each should offer something unique. Perhaps it's a hotspot for game or fish, or well suited to particularly bad weather, or it includes a free flowing spring and rich forage in season, or is exceptionally secluded. Think of them as a network of resorts, a few miles apart, each having a special asset in addition to their standard features.
Leatherman resupplied about every five weeks in towns along his route, something like long-distance hikers do on the Appalachian Trail. This is not an option in a catastrophic survival situation, obviously. Nor is raiding in any form. In a time of extreme scarcity, theft announces the presence of a lurker and demands attention.
Prepositioned caches provide the necessary independence from outside supply. They also allow escape as-is and afterward permit traveling light between sites. Provisions for ninety days may be a good first approximation, six or seven caches with two week's rations at each, say. As elsewhere, this is for one person. Should the nature of the calamity warrant and become apparent sufficiently in advance, perishables could be doubled or tripled. Ramping up is easier done than starting from nothing.
A plan for providing each site with caches might include: one cache for arrival with emergency and immediate use items on top, another with food only, a third one with standard survival supplies: firemaking, ammunition, batteries, cordage, medical, water purification and so forth. Caches should be well away from the shelter site and, if practical, a standard distance in the same direction from each site. Precut pole timber for shelter framing could also be stashed in such a way as not to attract notice.
An aside: one item to consider carrying is a weather radio. Tiny, battery-powered units are available for about twenty dollars. Assuming the reporting service is maintained it's a resource worth having.
Migration at intervals from one camp to another, in addition to serving situational awareness, levels out the depletion of supplies. Also think about one centrally located cache for seldom needed items. These might be bulk cordage, spares and repair items, specialty tools and equipment, clothing—especially seasonal clothing—perhaps a few books and other comfort items. But beware of over-reliance on equipage rather than improvisation and woodcraft.
Covert camping is a study in itself: choosing and improving sites, camouflage and stealth fires, quick shelter construction and takedown, noise abatement, unattended fishing, night travel, area surveillance methods, anti-tracker techniques and on and on.
A survivalist is not a partisan guerrilla looking to engage an enemy. While it's wise to have a retrievable battle rifle should that day come, it makes sense in the interim to carry a light game rifle in a small caliber, backed up with a heavier caliber sidearm for defense.
A survivalist handles armed confrontation by evasion, meaning "be somewhere else". If surprised, he will break contact and disappear, easier to do with confidence when every tree and trail is familiar for miles in any direction. If there's no option but to take down a relentless bad guy he will make it an unfair contest.
Stripped of its conventions and models, survival means emerging from a catastrophe alive and functioning, with preparations for not being materially worse off than going in. All else is preference.
Few of us wish to live as a fugitive. But most of us want to live. The tradeoff, once made, would soon be intolerable for some, miserable but bearable for others, an adventure for still others.
For those who imagine going "off grid" is roughing it, decoupling from society altogether, even amidst murderous chaos, will be inconceivable. Said differently, these are life's self-selected victims.
Emergencies eventually moderate, whatever "eventually" may mean. When and how to reengage may be perilous call. But should the emergency outlast the survivalist's self sufficiency, or devolve further, the next step may be to migrate to a different region or affiliate with others to construct a viable community for the duration. Even then, survival as a latter day Leatherman is Plan B.
Excerpted from: http://www.woodpilereport.com/html/index-502.htm