0 Threats to Survival - Part One - Darkness - Friend or Foe?

Many times the greatest threat to our survival is influenced by irrational fears. While there is some basis to our fears, it is our understanding of those fears which will strongly affect the outcome of our survival. Learning to cope with these fears requires a basic knowledge of why we have developed an irrational response to threats to our survival.

Many of us have a basic fear of the darkness. This is due to a variety of factors from our own life experiences. Tales of the boogeyman when we were young made us fearful of the dark but had little or no foundation in the truth. It was simply a way parents controlled unruly children but their actions also instilled a healthy respect for the dangers that can be encountered in the dark. Many dangers of the dark are real but many of the dangers are ones of our own making.

Simply put, darkness is the absence of light. Thus the ability to conquer any fear begins with a thorough understanding of that fear. This is important in order to develop ways to conquer the darkness that will alleviate our fears. One of our most severe shortcomings is our inability to see in the darkness. Our night vision is extremely poor and pales in comparison to other creatures present in our world. This creates problems when it becomes necessary for us to move about or perform tasks in the darkness. Even the simple task of moving from one place to another can create a dangerous situation. We risk injury from falling or tripping over an object even in the safe confines of our home if we move about in the dark unaided.

The darkness comprises nearly half of our existence and it is necessary to deal with this fact. One of the means to conquer a fear of the dark is to combat it with its opposite. Light can banish the darkness and reduce our fears. A flashlight, a simple candle or a roaring campfire can and will help to reduce your fear of the dark. You have given yourself the means and ability to see things more clearly. Those dangers which lurk in the dark have now been brought into the light and your safety and well-being is increased.

The darkness can hide many things. This is the reason a majority of predators; including the two-legged variety, use the darkness to disguise their movements. The darkness can also be your friend because it can hide your presence or activities if necessary. The important thing is to use the qualities of darkness to your advantage to increase your chances of survival.

The darkness is both friend and foe. While we are basically creatures more accustomed to sunlight, it is your actions and a rational response to the darkness that will ultimately determine the outcome of your survival. Understanding our physical limitations caused by darkness and using relevant actions to overcome them will prevent the darkness from becoming your enemy.

Got dark?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Detail: Threats to Survival - Part One - Darkness - Friend or Foe?

0 Riverwalker’s Pics - Agnes Vaille Falls

The trail to Agnes Vaille Fallsis located in Chalk Creek canyon near Nathrop, Colorado. At the end of the trail you will find Agnes Vaille Falls, a small waterfall that cascades from a rocky shelf below Mt. Princeton (14,197 feet). The trail to the falls is fairly short and is considered a relatively easy trek for most hikers. There is a slight gain in elevation of about 450 feet from the start of the trail head.  Overall this is an easy hike until the end where there are some rocky and fairly steep sections.

Agnes Vaille was a member of the Rocky Mountain Club and had successfully climbed most of the peaks in excess of 14,000 feet but lost her life on the mountains she loved.

You can read about Agnes Vaille and her tragic death on the mountain here:

The Tragedy of Agnes Vaille

Got falling water?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Detail: Riverwalker’s Pics - Agnes Vaille Falls

0 Lost in the Wilderness - The Common Sense Approach to Staying Alive

The most important thing you can do to insure your survival in a wilderness setting is not to get lost in the first place. Unfortunately, people still get lost and put themselves in serious jeopardy when it happens. When you do get lost, you will be on your own until rescued or you can find your way back. Here are a few common sense techniques to help you increase your chances of survival if you do get lost.

Common Sense Tips to Avoid Getting Lost in the Wilderness

1. Make sure someone knows where you're going and how long you'll be gone.- One of the mistakes people often make is to fail to properly inform someone of their activities. If you get lost on the first day of a three day trip, you will have to be able to survive on your own for at least two days and probably longer before rescue efforts may begin.

2. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the area where you will be camping and hiking. - Get a good map of the area and study it carefully. Learn all the major landmarks in the area where you will be staying. Keep the map with you at all times and make notes on it to indicate the area you will be camping and hiking and mark any trails in the area for future reference.  

3. Make sure you take your survival gear with you when hiking. - Survival gear is of no use if it is left in your camp. Make sure you have the minimum requirements to survive - a good knife, fire starting equipment, a means to purify water, a compass, a signal whistle, a flashlight and a good first aid kit.

4. Make sure you carry extra water and food on your hike. - Realize that if you do get lost, having extra water and food will keep you ahead of the game and will save you time that may otherwise be spent searching for water or food.

5. Mark the location of your camp so you can find it. - Mark the location of your camp with markers at different intervals around the perimeter to help you find your way back. Use “line of sight” markers when possible to help you easily see your camp’s location. You don’t want to return from a hike and wind up getting lost when you are only a few hundred feet from the safety and security of your camp.

6. Make sure you stay in the same general area and move only when necessary for safety or security reasons. - Generally your best option is to stay put when you become lost and let them find you. This may not always be possible depending upon the circumstances. If you are in a low area that may be subject to flooding, you need to seek higher ground. If you are out of water, you may need to look for a water source. If the weather is a factor, you may need to search for adequate shelter or the resources to make one.

7. Make sure to avoid traveling at night if at all possible. - If you got lost in the daylight, you won’t find your way back in the dark. You will also put yourself at risk for a serious injury if you are stumbling around in the dark. Always allow sufficient time to return to camp before it gets dark. It is a lot easier to become disoriented in your surroundings when it starts to get dark.

8. Make sure to leave plenty of tracks, trail markers or signs to indicate your direction of travel when hiking and remember to use these to help you return to camp. - Use whatever resources you have or can find and take the time to leave as many indicators for your direction of travel as possible. These may be the only thing you need to find your way back.

Got that lost feeling?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Detail: Lost in the Wilderness - The Common Sense Approach to Staying Alive

0 Free Digital Copy of Self Reliance Illustrated

Stealth Survival has teamed up with Self Reliance Illustratedin a special giveaway for the readers of Stealth Survival. In an effort to help everyone increase their self reliance, any of my readers who would like a free digital copy of any of the issues of Self Reliance Illustrated can receive a free digital copy of one of the premier self reliance magazines available.

How do you get your free digital copy? It’s easy. Leave a comment on this post stating you want to be more self reliant.

Then go to: http://www.selfrelianceillustrated.com/backissues.htm

Then pick out the issue of Self Reliance Illustrated you would like to receive from the issues that are currently available.

Then send an email to Self Reliance Illustrated at: info@selfrelianceillustrated.com   

In the subject line of your email enter Free Digital Copy and in the body of the email state the number of the issue you would like to receive and Self Reliance Illustrated will send you a free digital copy. Don’t forget to mention that RW sent you.

Self Reliance Illustrated is a collaborative effort of Dave Canterbury’s Pathfinder School and Blind Horse Knives. Each issue covers a wide variety of topics from shelter and food requirements, knot tying and fire-making...just to name a few. SRI has numerous articles by some of the most knowledgeable people in the preparedness and survival community who want you to be better informed and hopefully develop the necessary skills to enable you to become more self reliant. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to check out Self Reliance Illustrated,

Got SRI?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Detail: Free Digital Copy of Self Reliance Illustrated

0 Urban Survival Tools - Part One

Urban Survival Tool

Many times the tools shown being used for survival deal with rural or wilderness settings. The truth of the matter is that far more of us will be dealing with survival in an urban setting. The vast majority of people don't live in remote wilderness areas but instead must deal with the problems of surviving in an urban environment. If things go bad or take a turn for the worse, you may wish you had a different set of tools to get the job done.

In my next series of posts, we will take a look at the various kinds and types of tools you may need for urban survival. Even the simplest of tools can make an extreme difference when viewed from the perspective of an urban environment. There are many unique challenges to surviving in an urban setting. Hopefully you will have the right tools when needed.

In Part Two, we will do a real "world test" of  the Smith & Wesson Extraction & Evasion Tool.

Got urban survival tools?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Detail: Urban Survival Tools - Part One

0 Riverwalker’s Book Review - Traveler by John Wilson

What would you do to survive in a world with dwindling resources and desperate people? In Traveler by John Wilson, this is the ultimate question you will be asking yourself. The book is a thought-provoking look at the harsh realities of survival and the things that you may be required to do in order to survive.

                                                                                   

Would you pretend to be something you’re not? Or take your chances with the truth, only to be disappointed by the harsh realities of a changing world. A changing world in which the only difference between friend and foe may be your only chance for another meal or a warm place to sleep.

In his book, John Wilson examines the moral dilemma of what’s right or wrong. True reality becomes blurry at best and it becomes extremely difficult to see who the real threat to your survival is and the difficulty of choosing the path you must take for survival.

                                                                                                        

Here are a couple of brief excerpts from the book:

“Rob’s smile was suddenly gone. “Okay, kid, I won’t destroy your delusions. But it’s obvious to anyone paying attention that we’re on the down side of the slope. Resources are getting scarcer every year...people are getting more desperate... more vicious. It doesn’t take a fortune teller to see which way this world is going.”

The girl honestly asked ”So you don’t think the old world will ever come back?”

“Nope...” A few years from now they’ll all be extinct, they’ll be as dead as the dodo, but people like me will still be here.”

If you want to read a book that examines the concept of “survival of the fittest” and what it truly takes to survive, perhaps it’s time for you to read “Traveler” by John Wilson.

Got Traveler?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Detail: Riverwalker’s Book Review - Traveler by John Wilson

0 Five Rules for Survival

You must be prepared to take any and all actions necessary if you find yourself in a survival situation.  You will need to be prepared to utilize any and all resources in order to insure your survival. Your skills and your knowledge may be put to the ultimate test. This will be a test that you can’t afford to fail.

Five Rules for Survival

Rule #1 - There are no rules. In a survival situation, your actions shouldn’t be bound by arbitrary rules that may exist and be essential to maintain order and stability in normal times. Things are not going to be anywhere close to normal in a survival situation until you’ve managed to get control of your circumstances.

Rule #2 - There is no guarantee of survival. Despite your best efforts, you or a member of your family or group may not survive. You will need to be prepared for this eventuality if it happens. There will still be family members or others in your group that may be depending upon you for help and guidance.

Rule #3 - There is no second chance. You will need to give it your best effort the first time if you want to survive. You probably won’t get a second chance.

Rule #4 - Don’t depend upon luck to save you. Your luck has probably run out if you find yourself in a survival situation. Put your faith in your knowledge and skills to help you survive.

Rule #5 - Never give up. If you give up, you lose the battle for survival. It’s really that simple.

Got rules for survival?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Detail: Five Rules for Survival

0 Riverwalker’s Book Review - SAS Guide to Desert Survival

From the introduction to the final page with the Five Golden Rules of Survival, the SAS Guide to Desert Survival by Barry Davies covers the major factors that can affect your survival. This is a compact guide to surviving not only in a desert environment but a comprehensive guide that covers all the basic items and more that will be needed for your survival.

The contents are broken down into not only the basic requirements for shelter, water, food, and fire but also include helpful tips about the equipment you will need, medical priorities, and survival medicine.

It’s also compact enough to fit easily in your backpack or bug-out bag but where space may be at a premium. With over 150 pages of comprehensive information, it is presented in a useful format that allows anyone to access needed information quickly and effortlessly. This is one item that should be included in every backpack.

While the book gives many useful and worthwhile tips for survival in an extreme desert environment (or Texas summers), it also contains a wealth of additional survival information that is suitable for both the novice and the more experienced outdoorsman. This is information which could play a critical part in your survival.

From knots to fire-making techniques, the SAS Desert Guide to Survival is full of useful tips and plenty of illustrations to guide you in your quest for survival. It’s also available at a very affordable price that won’t wreck your budget or break your piggy bank.

Got heat?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Detail: Riverwalker’s Book Review - SAS Guide to Desert Survival

0 Training for Survival - Avoiding the Popsicle Syndrome

When faced with a survival situation, the stress that occurs can cause a wide variety of reactions in people. A proper response to a survival situation can be achieved with the proper training and preparation. Quite often people react to the immediate stress of a survival situation with inaction. They will literally find themselves frozen in place and unable to take the necessary actions that may be needed to help them survive. They have literally fallen victim to the “Popsicle Syndrome”. They will suddenly be unable to take the required measures to allow them to effectively react to a survival situation.

Training drills are an effective way to help combat this problem. With the proper training, you won’t suffer from the information overload that can cause you to stress out to the point where you are suddenly “frozen in place” and unable to react. You need to train your brain to react in a positive manner when confronted with difficult situations. A lack of inaction on your point can decrease your chances for survival.

When conducting emergency drills at work, it is not uncommon for persons in my charge to literally freeze up. The flashing lights and warning sirens may not even be enough to shake them out of their stupor. They stand there like a test dummy and may not even react when confronted by someone else who is trying to get them to respond to the threat. If they were on a sinking ship, they quite literally wouldn’t be able to don a lifejacket...even though it could mean the difference in their ability to survive.

Training will enable you to take the proper and necessary action in a survival situation and it will be a key factor in your ability to survive. You will not only be able to recognize what needs to be done but you will have the ability to get it done. Being prepared to face a threat by properly training your mind and your body to respond accordingly will give you a definite advantage in a survival situation.

You don’t want to be a “popsicle” when things start to heat up.

Got training?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Detail: Training for Survival - Avoiding the Popsicle Syndrome

0 RW Tours an Atlas Survival Shelter

Shane Connor from ki4u.com has placed an Atlas Survival Shelter on display at his facility. I recently had an opportunity to make a short trip to his facility in Gonzales, Texas and  “take the tour” of a survival shelter. You can contact shane@ki4u.com to obtain more information on the different Atlas Survival Shelters that are available.

This is a view of the main entrance to the shelter. You can also see the flange "connecting tube" for what will be the below entrance. 

This is an outside view of the escape hatch and the outside air duct. Having an escape hatch is a primary and extremely critical part of any survival shelter.

This a view of the NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) Air Filtration System in the shelter. This is another critical component of any type of survival shelter.

Here is a view of the inside access to the escape hatch. This will give you an additional way out  if your main entrance is blocked.

Here is a view of the entryway and the overhead lighting. The shelter has both AC and DC power options.

This is a view of the living area with a full-size sofa. It didn't appear to be a "sleeper" sofa which would probably be a good idea to give you additional sleeping space.

This is a view of the microwave and refrigerator. These were AC powered units and a DC alternative would probably be needed. Otherwise, you'll be eating most of your meals cold and straight from the can.

This is a view of the "entertainment area" of the shelter. Probably don't want to rely on satellite or cable reception. I'd stick with a few DVD's and a12 volt DC automobile DVD player.

This is a view of the sink area and some of the overhead storage space that is included. Chances are you will need additional storage capacity and there is adequate room to add additional storage cabinets.

This is a view of the counter area and the additional cabinet storage in the sink / kitchen area.

There was additional storage space in recessed floor compartments throughout the shelter. This is an important part of a shelter in order to have room to store additional supplies and gear.

Here's a view of the bunk beds in the survival shelter. There were a total of four bunk beds and room for a full size queen bed on the other end of the shelter.

There was also a small toilet area which had a chemical toilet. I didn't see any type of shower facility and this would probably need to be addressed. Otherwise, you may be taking a lot of sponge baths.

Whether you are planning to buy a ready-made shelter or build your own, it's probably a good idea to tour an actual shelter and see what it includes and what may be needed to cover your needs.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Detail: RW Tours an Atlas Survival Shelter