Product Review: Streamlight Sidewinder

I just recently purchased the Streamlight Sidewinder, and all I can say is, "Cool!"

Streamlight claims that the Sidewinder is the most versatile light in the world, and the more I play with mine, the more I tend to believe them. This little light is literally 20 lights in one. There are two versions that you can purchase, but there is only one little difference. One of the versions has an IR (Infra-red) light, and the other has a green light in the IR's place. I purchased the one with the green light, since I currently don't own any night vision devices. The light has 4 LED lights, each with 4 brightness settings, and each with a strobe setting. The different LED's are: white, red, blue, and either IR or green. There is a push button on the side of the angle head that controls everything from on/off function, brightness settings, and to activate the strobe feature. One click simply turns the light on or off, push and hold to adjust the brightness, or simply double click the button to turn on the strobe. The pull and turn rotator on the outside of the push button changes the color of your LED, and is large enough to operate with gloves on.

For me, one of the best features of the Sidewinder is that it requires two AA akaline or lithium batteries. If you remember from one of my previous articles, it is a good idea to have everything run off of the same type of battery. Since my digital camera, GPS, and hand held radio all take AA batteries, it was a no-brainer to pick up one of these ingenious lights.

Here are some of the more detailed specifications of the light from http://www.streamlight.com/

*Mounts to MOLLE or ACH for hands-free use
*High-impact, super-tough nylon case
*Battery polarity indicators for easy replacement in the dark
*Unbreakable, gasket-sealed polycarbonate lens with scratch-resistant coating
*O-ring sealed for waterproof operation. Meets MIL-STD-810F, Method 512.4
*Tethered tailcap to prevent loss
*Cord attachment hole supports up to 25 lbs
*Articulating 185° rotating head
*Clip can be mounted on either side of the light
*Dimensions: 4.63" High; 2.31" Wide
*Weight: 4.96 ounces
*Available in Coyote Tan and Green
*US and foreign patents pending
*One year limited warranty

Overall, I'm very pleased with the Sidewinder, and it will be a permanant addition to my "bug-out-kit". Being able to use different color and brightness settings along with every color being able to have strobe capabilities will definitely help you live to see tomorrow.

Acronyms

How do you remember what to do, or how to do something when all heck has broken loose? Some people might be able to just remember, others may need a little reminder. Acronyms are great ways to help remember important tips, tricks, or even skills. Here is a small accumulation of some that I feel are important to remember, and a couple that I've put together myself.

METT-T: This is an old military acronym for how you will go about with staying alive.
M: Mission. Whether it's a military mission, or just the goal of surviving, stay focused on the situation.
E: Enemy. Again, whether we are talking about people, or just obstacles, keep track of what you might be up against.
T: Terrain. What kind of terrain are you operating in? Know your surroundings.
T: Troops. Who do you have with you, and how can they be of importance to the mission/goal?
T: Time Available. What is the time frame for the mission/goal. Long term survival or a short military raid? You need to determine how much time is on hand.

SURVIVAL: Keep this acronym handy for when you might get lost or abandoned in the elements.
S: Seek Shelter. Depending on the elements (weather, altitude, etc..) your body can only survive for a short amount of time. Shelter should be the first priority on your list.
U: Unpack. Once you've established some sort of shelter from the elements, unpack everything you have. Take inventory of whats there, and then repack with the most essential items within easy reach.
R: Recon. Explore the immediate area around your shelter. Look for water sources, food sources, firewood, game trails, or anything that might help you get out of your situation, or make the situation better.
V: Vaccinate. Take care of any cuts, scratches, and anything else that can get infected. Even the smallest scratch can get infected and cause a ton of pain and troubles later.
I: Ignite. Start a fire. Even if it's hot out, nights get cold, even in the desert. More than anything, a fire can boost moral, signal for help, boil contanimated water, and cook food. Make sure you have plenty of firewood to last through the night.
V: Visualize. See yourself surviving and making it out alive. Your mind can be your best friend or your worst enemy. If you have the will to live, and can see yourself living to see tomorrow, you have a huge advantage.
A: Action. Don't just sit there and wait for somebody to come along and save you. Continue to collect firewood, food, water, and continue to make improvements on your shelter. It may be awhile before somebody finds you. You can also venture a little farther from your shelter every day, so you can see whats around the next bend. Just be careful not to get injured or lost again.

L: Listen. Whenever you have the chance, listen to your surroundings. If you haven't found a water source, maybe you'll be able to hear a river or stream. You might be able to hear dogs if there is a search party out looking for you. Even the sound of birds and chipmunks can boost moral and let you know there aren't any predators in your area.

Never Eat Soggy Wheat. A good way to remember where the points on a compass are.

Never: North

Eat: East

Soggy: South

Wheat: West

If you make a circle and start at the top; that is where North will be. Going clock-wise, the far right of the circle will be East, the bottom is South, and the far left of the circle is West.

SHELTER: Here is an acronym that I came up with to you help you build a good shelter.

S: Sturdy. Make sure your shelter is safe and sturdy. If you find a cave, make sure the roof isn't going to cave in, or that fallen tree isn't so rotten that it will crash down on you.

H: High ground. You don't want your shelter in a low spot where rain water will channel through or pool up, making for a long and wet night.

E: Entrance. You'll want to be able to enter your shelter easily without the risk of knocking down part of it, but you want to keep out as much of the cold are also. This part might take some trial and error, but keep working at it, because a good shelter may be the only thing you have going for you.

L: Level. Unless you like to sleep on a slope or on top of rocks, try to keep your shelter on level ground. Look for any uneven spots and flatten them until you think you'll be comfortable. Lay down and try it out before you build. The last thing you want is to finish your shelter and find a huge rock right in the middle that you can't unbury.

T: Time. In some situations, you might have to make a hasty shelter. (Just something to get out of the downpour.) But, if you know you are lost and might be there for a couple days, take your time and build a good sturdy and dry shelter. Heck, this is your new home for a few days; might as well make it as comfortable as you can.

E: Escape. You might want to make an escape route out of your shelter. If a predator decides he likes your shelter and doesn't like the idea of sharing it with you, you'll probably need an alternate way out.

R: Relax. Once you're satisfied with your shelter, take some time to lay in it and relax. More than likely, you spent a ton of energy building your shelter. Don't forget, there is still lots and lots of work to do to live to see tomorrow.

KISS: Another acronym stemming from the military, but it basically tells you to keep things simple.

K: Keep

I: It

S: Simple

S: Stupid

Keep It Simple, Stupid. Sometimes, the best solutions are the simplest. If things seem to get too complicated, then go back to keeping it simple. It's like trying to pack a survival kit. You can't carry everything including the kitchen sink, so keep it simple and train with what you can carry.

I hope these few acronyms will help give you an idea on how to simplify remembering certain terms. You can also make up your own if it's easier for you to memorize. As long as it works for you, then it's the right way to do it. You never know, maybe this will help you live to see tomorrow.

CTS Defensive Handgun Skills 1 Class

"INDEX!", "HEEL-TOE, HEEL-TOE!", "OVER THE TOP!" These are just some of the phrases I heard yelled at me on Saturday while attending Center Target Sports' Defensive Handgun Skills 1 class, taught by CTS's founder/owner Edward Santos in Post Falls, Idaho.

I was a little hesitant to attend this class at first, but after the first hour, I realized I didn't know nearly as much as I thought I did when it comes to defensive shooting. Mr. Santos is a retired Army officer, author, and a reserve deputy for Kootenai County, Idaho. Throughout the 8 hour class, Ed was able to point things out that I have never thought of, much less considered when drawing, firing, and re holstering. The class is limited to 10 students, cost $150 to attend, and you have to bring your own 250 rounds of ammunition, (you can buy it at the class or bring in your own from another store) a holster, spare magazine, magazine carrier, and hearing and eye protection. The first 4 hours of class is in a classroom environment, but believe me, Ed makes that 4 hours fly by like nothing. His antics and teaching strategy keeps your attention and really makes you think hard about your own shooting habits. After the first 4 hour segment (every 1 hour of class time, you get a 10 minute break) you break for a 1 hour lunch. You can bring your own lunch, but there is a variety of fast food chains within a few blocks of Center Target Sports. When you return for lunch, everybody meets in the classroom with all your range gear and move to the indoor tactical shooting range. Once inside the range, Ed will brief everyone on his safety rules, and then you jump right into the practical exercises. For the next 45 minutes or so, you will learn Ed's way of drawing, drawing and moving, changing magazines, changing magazines and moving, shooting while moving, and then learn how to put all these into one fluid movement. Once Mr. Santos feels comfortable with everyone in the group, you go straight into the live fire portion of the class. Most of the shooting involves draw and move, dynamic grip, sight picture, fire, and re holster. After the stationary firing, Ed puts out targets that require you to move from your firing line, and he also makes some of the targets move and come towards you. If you are like me and carry a .45 caliber with a 7 round magazine, you will become VERY proficient with changing magazines compared to the guys/gals with high capacity magazines. I found myself dealing with mis-feeds and magazine changes a heck of alot more than I wanted to throughout the day. Ed also displayed his ability in shooting, and all I can say is, I'm glad I was on his side of the barrel. (Even while he shot his Glock holding it upside down.) I don't want to spoil the whole class for you, so I will finish by saying, Edward Santos and Center Target Sports earned a lifelong customer out of me and Ed will see me in a whole lot more of his classes, including this one. (You can repeat any class you've already attended for the rest of your life for free.) Thank you for your professionalism and time Ed.

If you would like to attend one of Edward Santos' classes, please visit: http://www.centertargetsports.com/ to view his class descriptions and schedules, or call 208-773-2331.

If time and finances permit, take some of these type of classes so you can be more prepared to live to see tomorrow.

Situational Awareness

Do you notice that guy walking around with a winter coat on when it's 95 degrees outside? Do you know what direction your plane is flying when you cross the country? See the person driving in front of you talking on their cell phone and drinking a cup of coffee at the same time? Do you remember which way you went when there was a fork in the trail? These are all examples of situational awareness. The term basically means, knowing what is going on around you and taking notice of the small details. In this post, I will discuss different ways you can have more situational awareness, in both the wilderness and in urban settings.

WILDERNESS:

Terrain: When you're out hiking, take in the surrounding areas, not only for the beauty and scenery, but also for the sake of finding your way back. If you're hiking on trails, make sure you take note of any turns or forks you follow, and also the terrain you are hiking in. Terrain features are areas that stand out like, ravines, valleys, hilltops, cliffs, and even rivers and lakes. Watch for terrain features as you are hiking, that way you have something to

recognize when you return to that spot.

Weather: Anytime you are out in the wild, you want to watch the skies. Bad weather can move in without much warning, and when that happens, you will want to be as prepared as you can. Listening for thunder can also be a life saver. If you hear thunder in the distance, you either want to start heading back to the car, camp, or in the worst case, build yourself a shelter to endure a long wet night. If you are out during the late fall, watch for the first tales of snow falling. Not that hiking or camping in the snow is a serious threat, but if you're not prepared for it, then you need to think about getting out of there.

Animals: I pretty much already covered this area in an earlier post, but just to recap. Watch for animal droppings while you are out and about. If you start seeing alot of bear, moose, cougar, or any other large animal droppings, keep your eyes and ears open for more signs of the animal itself. Also, watch for snakes, bees, and any other creature that you might not want to come across while you and your family are out enjoying the afternoon. A rattlesnake bite can ruin a picnic real quick.

All in all, while you are out enjoying the great outdoors, don't fall short because you wanted to walk and "veg out". Always keep your senses open and even let your imagination run a little bit. You'd be suprised at how many times my imagination actually helped keep me and my family out of danger.

URBAN:

Convenience stores: If you go into the gas station late at night to buy yourself a candy bar and you notice a person wandering around with his hands in his pockets and his eyes are shifting back and forth nervously, take note and watch this person. Or pay as soon as you can and get out. (Sit in your car for a few minutes to watch and see what happens. If the person robs the place, you can call the police. If they buy something and leave, you didn't do any harm by watching the store clerks back.) If you are in the store while it's getting robbed, remain calm and try to stay out of sight. If you are comfortable confronting the suspect, then by all means, use YOUR best judgement and make the move. (I will not be responsible for your actions in these situations.)

ATM's: When you go to your local ATM to withdraw some money, just take a look around and see who's watching you or hanging out around the machine. If you see someone that looks like trouble, then most likely they are trouble. Find another ATM. Your life is not worth risking over the $300 most banks allow for a days worth of withdrawals.

Weather: Again, weather can be a huge factor on what we do everyday. If you want to go out shopping, but the weatherman said there is a possibility of a tornado in your area, you should probably save your money and wait for another day. Most major weather systems are seen before they hit major urban areas (except earthquakes) so when you wake up in the morning, turn on the weather channel or check the weather on the internet before you plan your big day out on the town. If you are already in town and some serious wind and rain come in, just be aware of your surroundings, because this type of weather will affect everybodies patience and judgement.

TRAVELLING:

Airplanes: Whether you are flying from the east coast to the west coast, or flying across the Atlantic Ocean, you should always be aware of the direction of travel. It may seem easy, but the plane does not always fly straight east or straight west. I once flew to South Korea from Seattle, and the plane went north toward Alaska before heading west. Most flights offer a up to date map of where the plane is, which direction it is flying, and when you will reach your destination. If possible, look out the window and watch the ground. See if you are flying over mountains, water, or desert. This way, in the event of a crash, you will know what kind of terrain you will have to deal with in order to find help or survive the long wait until help arrives. Lastly, listen to the flight attendants and pilot. They have been doing their job for awhile and probably know what they are talking about when they tell you to keep your seatbelt on and your trays in the upright position.

Boats: Cruise ships, sailboats, and ski boats all have one thing in common. They can sink. Hopefully you have the proper life vests and signalling equipment, but it still might be awhile before help arrives. As with flying, know which direction you are travelling and which way it is to dry land. If you are the captain of the boat, make sure you watch the water for debris or anything that can damage the hull of your boat. The last thing you want to do is turn your ski boat into the Titanic because you were watching the babes on the jet skis. Also, boating is a very important time to watch the weather. If the weather seems like it's gonna turn foul, by all means, turn back and go out on the water another day. We have all read to many news stories about family members drowning in the lake, because their boat capsized on a windy day. Think safety and think about making home to your family.

Driving: Here's the tricky one. Everybody that drives gets distracted. Distractions can cause accidents. But, here are some tips on keeping situational awareness while travelling by automobile, motorcycle, or even bicycle. If you need to talk on your cell phone, pull over where it's safe to and make/take your call. Don't ever text message while driving your vehicle. Eating food while driving is another major distraction. Try to keep eating in the car down to snacks and not meals. It's alot easier to eat a candy bar then it is to hold and eat a double bacon cheeseburger. Loud music can also be a huge distraction. You may not hear the sirens of an emergency vehicle, or you might get into your music to much and worry more about singing along than paying attention. When you are driving down the highway, watch your mirror for traffic coming up behind you and to the side of you. If you want to change lanes, don't depend on your mirrors alone; you have blind spots. Take that extra second to turn your head and check your blind spot. USE YOUR BLINKERS! They aren't there for looks. They let other drivers know what you intend to do before you do it, whether you're changing lanes or turning onto a side street. And for goodness sakes, don't turn your blinker on while you are turning. Turn it on before you get to the intended turning point. When you approach intersections, check for other vehicles or pedestrians that want to cross that intersection. You don't know what they are thinking, so be prepared for the worst. If that person decides to pull out in front of you, being prepared for that, may be enough to brake and avoid a collision. Watch for any animals that might be on the side of the road. I've avoiding hitting numerous deer, just for the simple reason, I saw them and was prepared for them to jump out in front of me. Same goes for dogs, cats, raccoons, or any other animal that might get in the road. Weather can be the most dangerous to us when mixed with driving. Snow, fog, rain, and even a hot dry day, can affect our driving skills. The best advice I can give here is SLOW DOWN. And, for you SUV and four wheel drive vehicle drivers; all four tires spinning helps you get started, but four wheels locked up on ice is just that. All cars have four wheels, and all cars and brakes on all four wheels. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT HELP YOU STOP! It's a proven fact that fog makes drivers go faster. It has to do with depth perception, so watch your speedometer and keep it slow. As far as the hot days go, keep hydrated and well rested. Heat has a tendancy to make you more tired, and long driving trips can wear you down quickly. Whatever situation you find yourself in while driving, remember that it's always better to show up late, then it is to never show up at all.

I know I've just barely scratched the surface of situational awareness, but I hope that this gives you a small idea on how you can watch your surrounding to help you and your family live to see tomorrow.

First Aid Kits

First aid kits are like survival kits; you can't carry everything, but you need to be able to carry enough. What's enough? That depends on you and your family's medical needs and how many people are in your family or group. Is there anyone who has special needs or medications that need to be packed along with the other normal medical supplies? Does somebody have diabetes, allergies, or are they just plain clumsy and might need extra bandages or splints?

The best advice I can give you on this, is to buy a large commercial first aid kit from a store like REI or an outdoor sports type, get home and empty the contents onto the floor or table. Sort through the band-aids, ointments, and other supplies, figure out what you need or don't need, then add your own supplies. (Specialty items for people who need them.) If you determine that the commercial kit just needs more bandages, then go to your local pharmacy and pick up more bandages or whatever else you deem necessary to add to your first aid kit.

Here is a small list of some items that I've added to my kit:

SAM Splint (good for almost any broken or dislocated extremity)

Tylenol (childrens and adults)

Benadryl (for poison oak, sumac, ivy and other allergies)

Medical scissors

Tweezers

Extra Band-Aids (a great remedy for the kids' scrapes and scratches)

Cough drops

Super Glue (works great for deep lacerations that require stitches)

Small hand sanitation gel tubes

Snake bite kit (we have poisonous snakes in my area)

Sting Away (for bee stings, nettles, bug bites, etc)

Glow stick (for night injuries)

This isn't my whole kit, just things that I've added in order to satisfy my families needs. This is in our large first aid kit that stays in the vehicle at all times.

You will also want to make a small first aid kit for everyone's backpack or EDC (everyday carry) bag. This should be a smaller and simpler kit. The EDC first aid kit should contain items that you might need right away, like aspirin, large bandages, band-aids, Super Glue, snake bite kit, Sting Away, and anything else you might think would help the injured until medical care arrives or you can get them to the larger kit.

Every family or group is different, so make sure you can atleast take care of you and your immediate family. If you take the family out for a day hike and someone uses part of the first aid kit, make sure you replace what was used immediately upon returning home. Disasters and emergencies happen in an instant, and you don't want to be caught short a cravat because someone thought it would make a good headband while out hiking and you forgot to replace it.

Everytime you go to the supermarket or sporting goods store, look around their medical/first aid sections. You might see something that you never thought about before and realize that it would make a great addition to your arleady exsisting first aid kit. The more prepared and thought out your first aid kit is, the better chance of living to see tomorrow you'll have.

Product Review: Kelly Kettle

This weekend I got the chance to use one of the most sensible pieces of survival gear I have yet to run across. It's called the Kelly Kettle. Although, not a lightweight, packable item, if you have to bug out with your vehicle, then the Kelly Kettle is a must have.

The whole kit is comprised of 8 pieces. First is the kettle; an ingenious design with a spout and an internal "stove-pipe". The kettle has a wooden handle for pouring and carrying, and a cork for the pour spout if you want to transport the kettle with water in it. Next is the fire base; a small base where you put any kind of combustible material in to make a fire. The base has a small hole on one side so you can add fuel, or to stick a match through to light your fire. The hole also allows air to fuel your fire once it's burning. The kettle sits on top of this base to boil the water that is inside. You can add fuel (wood, sticks, pine needles, paper, etc.. ) through the top of the stove-pipe, and it falls straight down to the base. The next item goes along with the fire base. It's just a simple two piece screen to set on top of the base if you want to cook right over the fire. Fourth, is a pot stand that you can put onto the top of the "stove-pipe". It does exactly what it says. It holds the cooking pot over the stove-pipe, so while you are waiting for your water to boil, you can also cook or heat up some food. The next 3 pieces are the cooking pot, the lid, and the pot handle. All pretty self explanatory. All of the items listed are made out of a high grade aluminum. The last item is the carrying bag. The bag is made of durable nylon with a drawstring at the top to cinch it closed.
The kettle itself holds approximately 5 cups of water, and once your fire is going in the base, it takes just over 3 minutes to get all 5 cups of water to a boil. To pour the water into your cup or bowl, simply lift the wooden handle to 90 degrees (DO NOT HOLD IT OVER THE STOVE-PIPE!!!) and use the chain to lift the kettle and pour. The stove-pipe acts like a furnace, so all the heat from the fire shoots straight up the pipe and out the top. Once again, DO NOT HOLD THE HANDLE OVER THE STOVE-PIPE!! My dad (it's his Kelly Kettle) cut a small groove into his wooden handle so he can use a knife or stick to pick up the kettle and carry it while the water is boiling. WARNING! Do not boil water with the cork in the spout. We cut a standard 2x4 into a 5 inch piece, then split it into small kindling. Half of that was enough to boil the 5 cups of water, so as you can see, it doesn't take alot to get this thing hot.
Overall, I'm very impressed with the Kelly Kettle and I will be adding one to my long term survival kit soon. Everything nestles inside of the kettle for easy storing and transporting. The only downside to this kit I found was, the cooking pot got stuck inside of the fire base. We were able to get it out, but not without damaging the cook pot itself. This is a great cook set if you plan on being out in the wilderness, or without electricity for an extended amount of time. You don't have to worry about packing numerous fuel canisters, or waiting for your firewood to dry before you can have boiling water. Just add anything combustible, and enjoy hot water in under 5 minutes. Visit www.kellykettle.com for more information on pricing and ordering. Don't forget, moral is a huge part of living to see tomorrow.

Thanks to my dad, for letting me try out his Kelly Kettle, so this product review was possible.

Battery Operated Items

GPS? Check. Flashlight? Check. Walkie Talkie? Check. Digital Camera? Check. Spare Batteries for everything? Che... wait, how many different types of batteries do we need? AA's? CR123's? AAA's?

Spare batteries are always overlooked when people go hiking, camping, or building a survival kit. IF you do remember to pack the extra batteries, do you really want to carry two or three different types? Today's society has gotten caught up in the "coolness" of high end flashlights, GPS's, and digital camera's, but the problem lies in the batteries. What if you keep it simple and buy these items, so they require the same battery? Most GPS's run off of AA batteries, and there are numerous flashlights on the market that take AA's as well. Your camera selection should also lean towards one that requires AA instead of the CR123 battery. If you already have a digital camera that takes a specialized battery, and finances allow, buy another one just for your "kit".

The biggest reason for my advice here is, if your batteries die in your GPS, you can take the ones out of your camera to run your GPS. It could be the difference between staying lost, or getting back to your car. If you carry spares, you only have to carry one type, thus saving space and weight. Of course, this isn't the only way to do things, but to me, it's the easiest and most practical. I own flashlights that require special batteries, but I keep those in my tactical kit, because that is what they are intended for. As far as my survival and hiking kits, I will continue to keep everything simple and use only one type of battery.

My kit includes:

1 Garmin Etrex GPS

1 MagLite AA flashlight

1 Canon digital camera

1 Motorola Talk-About 2 way radio

1 Maxpedition Volta battery case

All these items require 2 AA batteries and the Maxpedition Volta case can carry 8 spare batteries.

Remember, one of the keys to survival is simplicity, and this is just one small way to keep your survival kit simple and easy. People tend to overthink these types of things, so keep it simple and live to see tomorrow.

Emergency Food

Emergency food is one of the most overlooked items of a survival kit, whether it be short term or long term survival. Most people will buy one or two cases of MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat), store them and then forget about the food aspect of their surivival kit. But the thing that they don't think about is, how many people are they feeding and how many meals a day are they going to eat? A case of MRE's has twelve meals. Three meals a day equals 4 days for 1 person. What if they're feeding themselves, their spouse, and a child. 12 meals, 3 meals a day for 3 people, equals 1 day and a breakfast. Now if you think about the cost of a case of MRE's, (average $80 per case) you would have to spend a considerable amount of money just to feed you and your family for a week. How long were Hurricane Katrina victims out of their homes for? All I can say is, thank goodness for the American Red Cross, National Guard, and relief funds, because without them, alot more people would have died due to starvation and exposure.

Here's something to think about. Every payday when you go to buy groceries, buy a bag of rice, dry beans, and even a couple of cans of Spam to store away with the rest of your survival kit. For the most part, these items are fairly inexpensive, lightweight, have a long shelf life, and they are easy to prepare with just some water and a heat source. After a couple of trips to the grocery store, you will have enough food to feed your family for atleast two weeks. Don't forget that MRE's aren't as easily available as grocery stores.

Am I against MRE's? No. I think having a couple cases ALONG WITH other dry goods is the best combination. Not only are MRE's great sources of carbohydrates and proteins, but there is also a great deal of psychological benifits. What better way to keep the kids' moral up with some gum, or a Tootsie Roll? The newer MRE's now come with some pretty good stuff, like the milkshake powder (just add water), and all kinds of new meals that would rival any restaraunt. They also come with an accessory pack with contents such as: toilet paper, coffee, creamer, sugar, salt, pepper, gum, matches, and a alcohol wipe. Sometimes instead of the coffee, it will have cider mix or hot cocoa, it just depends on which main meal you choose. Along with the main meal, most meals come with a side dish (rice pilaf, mexican style), crackers, peanut butter or cheese, some sort of dessert, a plastic spoon, and a water activated heater. I have found that it is easiest to open the cardboard case and pack them in the bottom of my emergency box (a large rubbermaid bin), with my other items on top. Every meal is packaged in its own sealed packet, but I open them and empty the contents. The main entrees and side dishes are in a seperate small cardboard box that I will also discard. I will then store everything in it's own ziploc bags. Main meals and side dishes go into gallon size bags, drink powders and mixes go into smaller quart size bags, and miscellaneous food items go into another gallon bag. The spoons and accessory packet will go together in a seperate ziploc bag also. I make sure that everyone in my family carries atleast one entire MRE in their backpack, just in case we can't readily get to the storage bin. Realistically, 1 MRE can last a person a full day. It won't be like being at home and eating three square meals, but you will get enough supplements from it to survive on. Here's how I break it down for 1 MRE per day:

Morning: Crackers and peanut butter/cheese.

Afternoon: Side dish, drink mix, and gum.

Evening: Main meal and dessert (Tootsie Roll, LifeSaver, etc)

The following day, I would make some rice or beans from my dry goods stash so that I wouldn't use up all the good MRE's in the first few days.

If you've noticed, everything I've listed, including the MRE's, requires water. Obviously you can't store and transport 55 gallon drums of water, so you should have atleast 1 or 2 portable water purifiers, some water purifying tablets, and a pot to boil water. You can find water in every eco-system (that will be a later post), no matter how arid the region is. If you are going to use the MRE heaters to warm up your meal, don't waste good potable (drinkable) water on the heater. The fumes from the heater are toxic, so make sure you don't open your meal packet before heating it. This also means you can use unpurified water to activate the heater.

Here's some tips to make your dry foods a little more flavorful. Add some natural vegetation to your rice or beans, like dandelion leaves, pine needles, pine nuts (boil twice before adding) or even some cattails to thicken your meal. If you're not sure what is edible or not, watch the surrounding wildlife and see what they are eating. Also, save the salt and pepper from the MRE (the main meals are pretty good without it) and add it to your beans. The MRE's also come with a small bottle of Tabasco sauce, so you can add that to your Spam or whatever else your taste buds desire.

There are hundreds of options out there on the market for dehydrated foods, survival foods, MRE's, or even dry goods, so which ever one you choose is okay. At this point, it only depends on what you can afford and how much of it you can buy. Just make sure you buy and store enough to feed your family for atleast two weeks. During that two weeks, you should also do whatever you can to obtain more food, whether it's hunting, fishing, or in some cases still buying more. This isn't the answer all for survival food, but it is a good starting point to be prepared to live to see tomorrow.

Which Weapon?

There comes a time when you'll have to make a decision on whether or not to shoot somebody in self defense. When that time comes, will you have 100% confidence in yourself and your weapon to do so? .

What's the best firearm for you? There's some factors you should consider before buying a firearm. When will you use it? Where will it be used? What will it be used for? And most importantly, are you comfortable shooting it?

For starters, the first consideration of any of these factors is whether or not the weapon feels right in your hand. If you aren't comfortable shooting a large caliber handgun, then downsize to something smaller that you can be comfortable with. The last thing you want on your mind when you have a threat in your sights, is how hard the weapon will kick. The size of the grip is also a huge factor. If you have small hands, you don't want to carry around a large frame, double stack magazine handgun. You would be better off with a small/medium frame and a single stack magazine like a Kahr 9 mm. Some people I know will buy a handgun just because of the brand or because of the caliber. WRONG; WRONG; WRONG! Here's an example. A buddy of mine goes to the local gun dealer and tells the clerk, "I want to buy the best pistol you have." Well, guess what. Who's to say what the best pistol for him is. Is it a Glock? What if it doesn't fit in his hand comfortably. Is it a Ruger Red Hawk 44 Magnum? What if it's to powerful and kicks too much. The best advice I can give to you the reader is, get out there, take some pistol classes, rent some different models and calibers and find what "fits and hits". Regarding "knock down power", if you were to shoot me in the stomach with a 22 long rifle round, I would probably think twice about mugging you. Okay, I know, there have been cases where a drugged out maniac got shot 25 times and kept attacking. Well, all I can say is, he was still being shot with .45 ACP hollow points. So, my point is, buy and carry (make sure you follow your local and state laws when carrying a weapon) what is comfortable for you. If you made the mistake of buying something that isn't right for you, take it to the next gun show and get some trade credit for something that fits better. There have been hundreds, if not thousands, of ballistics test conducted to find the "ultimate" round. I don't think there will ever be an answer for this. From the books that I've read and the articles in magazines and online, the 38 Special +P hollow point is supposed to have the best "knock down power" and the least amount of "shoot throughs". (The round exiting and hitting another object behind the target.) There's also been cases of a store thief being shot point blank in the chest from 2 feet away, and looking at the clerk for a couple of seconds, telling the clerk he shot him, then finally collapsing. There's alot of damage he could've inflicted in those couple of seconds. The scariest part; there were no traces of drugs or alcohol in the robbers blood. The point I'm trying to get across to you is, it doesn't matter what brand or caliber you carry, as long as you are comfortable with it, and you can hit your target when you need to.

As far as the question, where are you going to use it; you need to decide on where this weapon will be used. Is it just for home defense? Plain and simple; buy a shotgun. There is no scarier sound than a pump action shotgun being cocked . If a 12 gauge kicks to much for you, then buy a 20 gauge, but no matter what, have a pump action shotgun in your home for home defense. The spread of the shot can cause massive damage in a confined space, like a hallway or small room. The idea of a shotgun in a home defense scenario is that you don't need to aim, just point and shoot. I don't care what people say about 00 buck, slugs, or even bird shot. Load your shotgun with either a bean bag or rubber ball round as your first shot, then follow up with bird shot. The reasoning behind this is, you give the thief a verbal warning that you have a shotgun and that you will shoot if he doesn't leave. If he fails to leave, shoot him with the non-leathal round. If he fails to understand how serious you are after that and he remains in your house, shoot him with the birdshot in the middle of the chest. Some people will argue with me about a "warning shot" but with the legal system the way it is, wouldn't you rather to go to court saying you gave him 2 different kinds of warning, before having to use deadly force? Also, mount a tactical flashlight to your barrel, that way you can leave the lights off in the house, and when you approach the threat, you can switch on your light which will temporaly blind him and give you the advantage.

Regardless of your beliefs on deadly force and gun ownership, think about how you would feel if somebody you love was murdered because you didn't want to own a gun. Can you live with that guilt? What if your life is the one in danger? What if it's your child? There's an age old saying that I live by everyday. "I'd rather be tried by 12, then carried by six." If you don't understand what that means, email me at live2see_tomorrow@yahoo.com and I will be more than happy to explain it more. Until next time, buy a gun so you can be prepared to live to see tomorrow.

Natural Disasters

Mother Nature can be the most beautiful sight in the world, but just as everything seems majestic, the ground starts rumbling and rolling. Trees fall, crevices open up, buildings collapse, roads crack and break apart, and dams break. We are talking about an earthquake. Not a tremor, but a real 6.9 on the richter scale. An earthquake that puts you and your family in a sudden survival situation. Were you prepared? What about the thunderous sound of a tornado ripping apart the countryside, heading straight for your house? Were you prepared for that one? No offense, but probably not. Why? Because Mother Nature doesn't normally give you any warning signs of her wrath. Yes, there are warning signs of a hurricane, tropical storms, even blizzards or extreme heat, yet hundreds, sometimes thousands of people die each year from natural disasters. Due to the lack of knowledge, or possibly just the lack of common sense, these people either ignore the warnings, or they are just not prepared, because they probably thought that it will never happen to them. I know that some of these people perished just for the fact they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some of them were prepared. But unfortunately, you can prepare for everything.

The best way to prepare for any kind of natural disaster or extreme weather is to have a plan. If you live northeast United States, you more than likely don't need to prepare for a tornado, or plan for a hurricane in Arizona. So plan accordingly. No matter what region you live in, keep your emergency supplies someplace that is easy to access, even if your house collapses. Store it in the garage where there is less debris, or maybe in a tool shed. The last thing you want to do is spend hundreds of dollars on an emergency kit, store it in your basement, then have it buried under 3 floors worth of fallen debris. Have a plan in place, for your entire family, and most importantly, make sure EVERYONE knows what to do when the first sign of an disaster hits. I'd rather be prepared for a 9.8 and it only be a small tremor, then think that it's going to be a small tremor and my family gets killed because it turned out to be a 9.8. In the event of an earthquake, every family member needs to know where to go (door jams or under a good solid desk) and what to do after the first wave of tremors passes. They need to remember where to meet with everybody after everything settles down so you can get a head count and make sure you have your entire family. Maybe you can designate certain members of your family to conduct specific duties, such as, get the emergency kit, pack the blankets in the car, keep the kids calm, or whatever it might be in your plan. You should also have someplace planned on where to go, in case you find yourself without a house after the fact. (Most of this implies to an earthquake, as well as a tornado.) Remember that whatever shelter the Red Cross or the community sets up will probably be over crowded due to the unprepared people. Do you want your young child waiting in line for hours just to get the remnants of a meal that all the other unprepared adults ate? I doubt it. Wouldn't it be better to be able to drive to a relatives house, or even drive a couple hours away to a KOA campground? You also need to protect your family and assets the best you can. Hungry, wet, tired, and desperate people will do desperate things to eat, sleep and be dry. I'm not saying you HAVE to pack a gun and run around shooting anyone that looks like they will mug you for a donut, but you should use your best judgement on how you will protect yourself and your family. Another good idea is to never let you gas tank go below half a tank. What if you end up sitting in stop and go traffic trying to get out of the city and none of the gas stations are open due to power outtages? All in all, make sure you and your family are prepared to live independently for atleast a short amount of time. Here are a few ideas of what you can put in an emergency kit:

*MRE's (enough for everyone to eat atleast two meals a day for 3 days.)

*Blankets (preferably wool)

*Water or water filter/tablets

*First aid kit

*Fire starting material (strike anywhere matches in a waterproof container, dryer lint, steel wool, flint and steel, etc)

*Clean clothes (at a minimum; socks, underwear, jacket, gloves, and a hat)

*Multi-tool (Gerber, Leatherman, etc)

*Toiletries (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc)

These are just the basics that I would put in a large Rubbermaid container or something similar. You can add to it to make everyone more comfortable (toys for kids, radio, pillows, etc) as you feel necessary. In my personal opinion, I would stay away from pre-made store bought emergency kits for the simple fact that they will overcharge you and it's not personalized to you and your family. If you need a more in depth idea of what to put in a kit, email me at live2see_tomorrow@yahoo.com or leave a comment and I will get back to you at my earliest convenience. If you don't think you live in a disaster zone, think again. Nature can affect anybody, no matter where you live. So get informed, be prepared, and live to see tomorrow.

Wildlife

Wildlife can be your best friend or your worst enemy when it comes to survival. If you know how to hunt, kill, skin, and cook the wildlife its going to be your best friend. But, if you can't tell the difference between a poisonous snake and a non-poisonous one, you might be in a very bad day.

Hunting for animals when you are lost out in the woods can be extremely tiring and demotivating. What are you hunting them with? A spear? A knife? Do you know how to set traps and snares? Traps and snares are your best bet for killing small game in the wild. Once you have them set, you can leave them until the next morning or afternoon. You just don't want to ignore them too long, or else the meat might spoil. If you are the type of person that carries fishing equipment in your survival kit, then you also need to know how to set the lines so you don't have to sit there all day waiting for a fish. (I'll cover that in a later post.) Depending on what part of the world you have found yourself surviving in, killing small game and gutting them can also attract larger game. Dress your game in an area away from your shelter and discard what you won't use. (You should try to use as much as you can.) Remember that even small insects can provide you with lots of nutrients to keep your body and mind going. Ants, grubs, crickets, grasshoppers, etc are all edible and can provide you with a small snack while building your shelter or waiting for you fish to bite your line. Even if you can't catch or kill a large animal, thats okay, because you really don't have a way to cure or store the meat. (Yes, there are ways to make a field craft smoker, but we'll get into that later.) Another benefit of animals in the wild is how you observe them. If you see a deer grazing in a meadow, its a pretty safe bet to say the area doesn't have to many predators around. You might be able to lift your spirits when you see a bald eagle soaring overhead, or a moose drinking out of the lake. You can also watch the birds and see what berries they are eating to determine if they are safe for you to eat also. Waking up to birds chirping should bring good news for the simple reason that you survived the night and you get the chance to hear them chirp again.

The downside to wild animals is the dangers they pose against the untrained person. If you think you can catch that snake and cook it over your fire, only to have it turn on you and be a venomous snake before you realize it. Now you have to treat yourself for a poisonous snake bite. Do you have the medical supplies and experience to treat a bite? Probably not. What if you're in bear country? I would hate to waste all my time building shelter and finding food, and then have a huge grizzly wander into my area to steal the squirrel I spent so much time snaring, skinning, and cooking. If you are in a tropical location, there are so many poisonous snakes, insects, and plants it would take a book to explain them all to you. Do I know them all? No. But I will watch what other animals are doing to continue their existence. Even if you are in a natural disaster situation, dogs can become vicious and bite, or maybe the wild animals are fleeing and you get caught between a mother bear and her cubs.

No matter what situation you find yourself in, you need to have some kind of general knowledge of wild animals and vegetation. Even if its as simple as being able to tell the difference between a venomous snake and a non-venomous one, atleast you won't die from a snake bite because you tried to catch a copperhead. There are hundreds of books out on the market about wildlife and vegetation. Take a little time and read some of them. That will bring you a little closer to being prepared to live and see tomorrow.

CRKT Ultima Review

For my birthday this year, I received a Columbia River Knife and Tool Ultima knife from my wonderful fiance. I thought I would share with you my first impressions and my thoughts about this knife.

First off, I believe that a first impression is a lasting one. Well, CRKT had me hooked with my first impression. The knife seems to be extremely sturdy and well built, along with a blade edge that seems to compete with much more expensive knives on the market. The Zytel grip with "ooze grooves", seems like they will do their job, which is channel away water and mud. I feel like I'm holding a hard AquaTread tire. The stainless steel blade with light bead blasting has what CRKT calls Zeff serrated edges. These serrations are quite larger and more angled than most serrations I find on other knives. The butt end of the Ultima has a pry tip, which I wasn't 100% convinced was needed, until I found out that I used the pry tip before I ever cut anything. Another great feature of the Ultima. The Ultima's sheath is extremely rugged and can be mounted and carried in numerous configurations. It appears to be "over engineered", but the versitility of the sheath makes it stand out as one of the best out there. It can be carried on your belt the traditional way with the regular belt loops, and can be secured to your leg with either the removable leg strap, or with the 550 paracord that is lashed half way up the sides. The leg strap is a bit of a pain to remove, but not so much that I would make a big deal out of it. There is also slots in the back of the sheath so that the user can attach the knife to any pack or vest with MOLLE attachment webbing. You would have to buy some sort of attachment strap like a Maxpedition Malice Clip or Tactical Tailor Malice Clip; both of which are under $5.00. There is also a good size utility pocket on the front of the sheath that is big enough for a multi-tool or sharpening stone. The Ultima fits secure and snug into the sheath by using a injection molded liner and two fastening straps with snaps. (Both straps are removable also.)

I have yet to take the CRKT Ultima out to the field with me and test it's durability and overall performance, but like I stated earlier; my first impression was that this is a great knife with loads of useful features. I'm looking foward to getting out and actually field testing this thing, and when I do, I will make sure to update this post with my feedback.

Overall, I believe that Columbia River has outdone themselves with the Ultima. It will definitely be a part of my survival gear, and go on all my camping and hiking adventures with me.

Until next time, be prepared, and live to see tomorrow.

Survivor vs. Survivalist

I was sitting here talking with some friends and telling them about my plans for the weekend. (I'm going camping with the bare essentials) and they all laughed and asked if I was some sort of "survivalist". That's when I started thinking about the difference between a "survivor" and a "survivalist". Now remember, this is my opinion and not fact, or documented anywhere as being the true difference.
To me, a survivalist is somebody that will go to the local sporting goods store, buy a pre-made 72 hour "survival" kit, a dynamo radio, a case of MRE's, water pouches, and a compass and call themselves prepared. He/she will read a book or two on edible plants, MAYBE a survival guide but skim through it and look at the pictures of the shelters and animal tracks and then go on some internet forum and argue with the world on how they are the experts. These so called survivalist will store their MRE's, keep the 72 hour kit in the trunk of their Prius, and probably lose the compass on their way home. BUT DON'T WORRY, THEY ARE PREPARED!!!! Prepared for what? Let's pretend for a second. This "survivalist" couple just found themselves neck deep in water because the levy broke and their town is now underwater. Where is their 72 hour survival kit? Oh that's right; it's in the trunk of the car that floated away during the night. The compass? Who knows where that thing went. (Who knew how to use it anyways?) Well, atleast they have the MRE's. The two of them are used to eating three meals a day, with their small snack in between meals, so that case of twelve meals will last them a WHOPPING 2 days. Now for the best part. Remember the book they read about edible plants? Well, they have to go scuba diving for them now. Good thing the American Red Cross is on their way to give these survivalist shelter, food, water, and warm blankets.
Now for the survivor. This is somebody who will buy certain items that he/she feels they will use in a disaster/emergency situation. They will go camping with this stuff to try it out, test it, see if it's actually a common sense thing to carry along. Once they determine that this piece of equipment is useful or a waste of time, they will either add it to their "kit" or sell it to a "survivalist". A survivor spends a lot of time researching books, the internet, tv, and even attend some seminars. A survivor will do whatever he or she deems necessary to have the knowledge to survive in any situation. They will test not only their equipment, but also themselves to see where their limits are, and how far they can be pushed. Yes, a survivor will also buy MRE's and compasses, but they will know how to pack them and use them. Not just own them because their neighbors told them it would be a good idea to have them around. Am I a survivor? Yes. Do I test my equipment and myself? Yes. Should you? Yes. Just remember, prepare now, and live to see tomorrow.

PS. If you were at all offended by this post, maybe you should take a look at what catagory you fall under. If you fall under the "survivalist" catagory, please do everything you can to get out of this catagory. Read more, watch more, learn more, and for goodness sakes, get out and practice more. If you are under the "survivor" catagory, then I will gladly have you by my side when the time comes.

Money Well Spent?

Can you put a price tag on your life? Depends. Would you spend every spare penny on non-essential items? Do you trust that $5 discount knife to chop your firewood or skin an animal? Do you really need to spend $25 on a signal mirror? What good is a $600 GPS when the batteries go dead?
Ever hear the expression, "you get what you pay for"? But what if you don't need a top of the line, most expensive piece of equipment? What if going cheap will get you killed? What if you spent hundreds of dollars just to lug around a bunch of dead weight? There is always an argument here, because, like I said in my last post, take with you what makes you comfortable. But at the same time, don't go bankrupt trying to buy the best of everything.
For example, I will carry an extra 2 ounces of weight to save $20. But I won't save $20 to buy an inferior knife. I was at my local sporting goods store the other day and noticed that "signal mirrors" were running in the range of $14 to $22. What makes these so expensive? Is it the hole in the center to aim it, or is it the durability? I bought a compact (make-up) mirror at the Dollar Tree and can "aim" it just as good as if I had a hole in the center. Is it as thick or durable, no. But I also have other means to signal a plane, boat or person if the need arises. What if its a cloudy day. I just lugged around $22 for nothing. I've spent literally hundreds if not thousands of dollars trying to find that "perfect" knife. Have I found it? NO. I have found one that I'm happy with so far. It's sharp, stays sharp, sturdy, and big enough to handle most camp chores. Will it be the last knife I ever own? NO. I own a GPS, but about 90% of the times I go out, it just sits in it's neat little pouch and adds weight to my shoulder straps. Why don't I use it? Most of the times that I go out, I have either been there before and know the area, or I have done things the old fashion way and looked at maps and brought them with me. The knowledge of knowing how to read a map and terrain features is worth WAY more than any price tag on a battery operated machine that can malfunction. In short, the best money I have ever spent on survival items, is my computer (to search the web on techniques and to buy items) books on survival and how-to's, and the gas for my Jeep to get me out and conduct practical exercises.
Spend what you want, or skimp where you want, but remember this; Prepare now, and Live To See Tomorrow. That is whats important.

Essentials?

Everybody has their own opinion on what essentials they need in order to "survive". In my experience, the number one essential to survive is your mind. If you don't want to survive, you won't. If you don't have the knowledge of how to survive, or what to do so you can survive, you will perish with the rest. Read, watch, and learn everything you can about survival techniques and then go do some practical exercises. How do you know you can make it through the night without a sleeping bag, or without matches? You don't; until you try. I would rather fail at practicing then fail when the real show begins.
I named my blog-spot "Live To See Tomorrow" because that is the mindset you need to survive. You should wake up every single day and BELIEVE that you will "live to see tomorrow". This applies to everyday life and in an emergency/survival situation. If you're worried about freezing to death or starving and thats all you can think about, then it will more than likely happen. Focus on finding shelter, food, fire, and water, but keep a cool head and ALWAYS remember "Live To See Tomorrow!".
You can go to any retail store and spend paycheck after paycheck buying the most expensive "survival kits", but what happens when you get lost out on a day hike? Do you carry your entire 72 hour survival kit with you? Do you carry your "bug out bag" with you everyday? If you have the knowledge and desire, you can survive off of what you have in your pocket/pack/or car. Maybe all you need is matches and a knife, or maybe you do need an entire pre-made "kit". Whatever it is, you need to have it with you, and most importantly, you need to know how to use it.
Whatever it is you take with you is fine. As long as you can haul it yourself (you don't need to drag down everyone else because you can't carry your own gear) and it makes you have a peace of mind. If you think you need your teddy bear in order to survive a week in the wilderness or a month in a tornado ravished city, take it along. There's nothing worse than being alone or sad when trying to survive.
Most situations happen without warning (floods, earthquakes, accidents in the wilderness, etc) so you never know for sure what you need or if you can be prepared. Like in my first paragraph, the most important piece of equipment you can obtain is KNOWLEDGE. Prepare now and live to see tomorrow.