Help for urban wilderness

xbxb

xbxb

Basic Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2005
Messages
1,618
Ok folks I need some help. I dont live in the wilderness, mountains trees bears etc. I live in that 60 mile stretch of land that goes from Miami to Palm Beach. 6 million of us live in that area and it is approximately 15 miles wide (depending where you are)before you hit the everglades. So---- 60 miles long 15 miles wide with 2 major highways going north and south. Six mm folks runnning around like chickens with their heads cut off. We have 3 major ports in the area with all kinds of security problems and about a zillion miles of beach front to try and keep safe. If for some nasty reason something really bad happens I may have to walk from Miami to West Palm Beach to get home, and that goes for all the other people on the road. Thats 60 miles ---which I can walk. I need to know what gear might be essential to have. Now remember it will be crazy out there. Cars can't run. People are not so friendly. Right now I have about 2 gallons of water in the car. Walking shoes, a hat, 3 cans of spam, some of those nutrition bars (cant remember the kind), a firearm, a knife, a leatherman tool some first aid stuff --bandages etc. and a pack. It is about 95 degrees with about the same humidty. I can only carry so much without someone trying to steal everything from me and I'm not a water buffalo. Once I get home, no problems I can live for about 6 months. So help me out-- what do I really need to make it 60 miles in unfriendly territory. I only want the essentials. I just want to get home. Can you guys help me out.
 
Don't forget a good current local map of your area that includes this 60 mile radius. The main roads may be unpassable and dangerous. Make sure the map includes side roads.

Toss in a space blanket for some shelter and be sure to have some small bills $$ in your pack. If electricity is down, plastic will not work for buying things.

Maybe you should list what is in your pack so you don't start getting redundant responses.
 
Would it be better to walk that 60 miles at night and sleep during the day? Or do you want to knock out all 60 miles as fast as possible?

My first suggestion would be to buy a water purifying straw and save yourself the weight of trying to pack all of that water. I would carry some water, not the 18 pds worth of water for a 60 mile walk.

Or make friends with a person with a boat to drive you the 60 miles! Leaving by boat would have several advantages to trying to walk home.
 
xbxb said:
Right now I have about 2 gallons of water in the car. Walking shoes, a hat, 3 cans of spam, some of those nutrition bars (cant remember the kind), a firearm, a knife, a leatherman tool some first aid stuff --bandages etc. and a pack.
Click to expand...
Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but, you keep a firearm in your car? A friend of mine kept his loaded Firestorm .380 in his car, too, which he parked on the street. Unfortunately, many criminals being cowardly, especially when it comes to being caught, they'd prefer to commit a crime against someone who isn't around. One night, while my friend was asleep, person or persons unknown broke into his car and took his loaded firearm. My friend (being a lawyer), for some reason decided not to report that his handgun was stolen....

To this day, to the best of my knowledge, my friend's Firestorm .380 is still out there, somewhere, and he still hasn't reported it stolen....

If/when his handgun is found, perhaps in the commission of a rape, robbery, or even a murder, that handgun is tied to him by virtue of the firearms' serial number, and his B.A.T.F 4473 form that was duly filled-out. My friend might find himself on the wrong end of the law, for simply having his handgun stolen, and not reporting its theft.

I'd think twice about keeping your gun in your car because it's always easier for a criminal to attack a car or a garage, in the middle of the night, when no one's likely to be out on the street or fiddling around in their garage. The biggest thing stopping me from keeping a firearm in my car is that it could be taken, without my knowledge, and used against me and mine, or my neighbors.

The legal stuff would certainly happen, too, if the criminal that stole my firearm gets caught, but, it'd be my stolen handgun that could have hurt or killed me, mine, my neighbors, or even strangers. If I weren't a victim of my own stolen firearm, I'd know that it was my irresponsibility with a firearm that led to others' injuries or deaths. Legal stuff you can get through, your conscience, however, is something that you cannot escape from.

If you want to carry a firearm in your car, at least bring it out with you from your house in the morning, and take it back inside when you get home. Better yet, get a CCW permit and wear a .38 snubbie in an ankle holster. That way, if anyone wants your gun, they'll have to at least discover that you have it, first, and then wrestle you for it, second.

Don't let some low-life criminal break-in to your unsupervised car with a rock that he's just picked-up, off the street, and suddenly give him an advantage in the "arms race."

GeoThorn

P.S. As a response to your questions, I'd suggest moving closer to your work, if you can. Is there any way to get a houseboat, live a half-mile offshore from work, and commute in a dinghy...?

Hm...instead of a gun in the trunk of your car, how about having an inflatable dinghy, and a small battery-powered motor...? Leave your car parked at the beach, set-up your dinghy, using an inflator, and attach your motor and battery. Transplant as many things from your car into your dinghy, as you can, if you've got time, i.e. hordes of people aren't running up to you, hoping to hitch a ride....

You'll at least miss all of the traffic....
 
fixer27 said:
Would it be better to walk that 60 miles at night and sleep during the day? Or do you want to knock out all 60 miles as fast as possible?

My first suggestion would be to buy a water purifying straw and save yourself the weight of trying to pack all of that water. I would carry some water, not the 18 pds worth of water for a 60 mile walk.

Or make friends with a person with a boat to drive you the 60 miles! Leaving by boat would have several advantages to trying to walk home.
Click to expand...

I think i would try to do 60 miles as fast as possible, I like the idea of a purifying straw, but im not familiar with them could you tell me who makes them?
 
hatchetjack said:
Don't forget a good current local map of your area that includes this 60 mile radius. The main roads may be unpassable and dangerous. Make sure the map includes side roads.

Toss in a space blanket for some shelter and be sure to have some small bills $$ in your pack. If electricity is down, plastic will not work for buying things.

Maybe you should list what is in your pack so you don't start getting redundant responses.
Click to expand...

Dont need the map Ive got the streets down. Thanks
Space blanket-- Well its hot here most of the time and if it rains no big deal you just walk in the rain Its just 60 miles.
Thanks
 
Im a salesman and I carry the gun in my pocket. had to use it twice to defend myself. Cant get a house boat and paddle a half mile to get to land everyday -- no way. The hurricanes and storms would eat you alive. but thanks for the info
 
xbxb said:
I think i would try to do 60 miles as fast as possible, I like the idea of a purifying straw, but im not familiar with them could you tell me who makes them?
Click to expand...


I bought a McNett Frontier emergency water purification system. I bought them online last year and I cannot remember where I bought them at..

Hopefully you can cover the 60 miles in a fairly short amount of time, normally it takes a couple of days before the really ugly activities kick off.

A link www.campingsurvival.com/watpur.html
 
space blanket also reflects the sun should you decide to take a rest from the heat. plus disasters aren't always weather friendly. could happen when it gets the ocassional cold snap in the south.

the bataan death march was only 60 miles.....but no, you won't have a bayonet in your back.
 
Based on the distance, my first concern would be foot gear -some medium hiking boots with 2 pair of sox (Min).
footcare products for blisters would be next. (unless you do that kind of jaunt regularly).
a vehicle (possibly at a friend's house or in a storage locker (mountain bike, moped, kyack etc).
If escape involves tires at least one patch kit and an airpump.
some means of water purification (I hear that huricanes sometimes polute the availiable water with salt and debries dead fish animals etc. for miles inland- how about a hand pumped desalinator, ala life raft)
A nasty looking BOB (too ugly or too pink(with pretty little flowers) to steal) with the standard edibles.
Some bear spray (acording to my local LEOs its leagle and much less likely to get you arrested or shot (good for people and dogs)
A crow bar to make certain that the bears you spray stay down. (and helpful for rescue)
A good first aid kit including military wound dressings, blood stop ace bandages, some betadene etc.
An Led flashlight
some gloves
A tetnus shot
money as above.
I'm certain theres more.
Enjoy!
 
Happy Joe said:
Based on the distance, my first concern would be foot gear -some medium hiking boots with 2 pair of sox (Min).
footcare products for blisters would be next. (unless you do that kind of jaunt regularly).
a vehicle (possibly at a friend's house or in a storage locker (mountain bike, moped, kyack etc).
If escape involves tires at least one patch kit and an airpump.
some means of water purification (I hear that huricanes sometimes polute the availiable water with salt and debries dead fish animals etc. for miles inland- how about a hand pumped desalinator, ala life raft)
A nasty looking BOB (too ugly or too pink(with pretty little flowers) to steal) with the standard edibles.
Some bear spray (acording to my local LEOs its leagle and much less likely to get you arrested or shot (good for people and dogs)
A crow bar to make certain that the bears you spray stay down. (and helpful for rescue)
A good first aid kit including military wound dressings, blood stop ace bandages, some betadene etc.
An Led flashlight
some gloves
A tetnus shot
money as above.
I'm certain theres more.
Enjoy!
Click to expand...


Well lets see Ive got the shoes, and Ill throw in a couple of pair of socks
Cant get a bike sorry Im a traveling salesman
Ill get one of those purification straws for water
Ya got me on the BOB sorry I dont know what that is
I can get some spray
got the first aid kit and flashlight
dont think i need gloves
shots and money ok unless you want to send me some ?!?
Thanks!!!!
 
hatchetjack said:
space blanket also reflects the sun should you decide to take a rest from the heat. plus disasters aren't always weather friendly. could happen when it gets the ocassional cold snap in the south.

the bataan death march was only 60 miles.....but no, you won't have a bayonet in your back.
Click to expand...

good point about the reflection but not worried about the cold
Thanks!!!!!
 
Just a thought, but what about one of those hydration type packs? I've never used one, (they didn't have them in my day) but might be useful in your tropical climate. Might be a comfortable way to carry some of that water.
 
With 60 miles to cover I'd think of some form of transportation that does not require a lane of roadway. The sugestions for a mountain bike or mo-ped is right on. The roads will just be long parking lots, so you need something that can go in small spaces. Travel light, and ditto the use of a water filter instead of the weight of water. Caned goods are to heavy as well.

I'd make the firearm a small concealable corossion resistant one, like a stainless or scandium S& W j-frame.

A light sil-tarp for some shelter, bug repelent for sleeping out at night, a fire making sourse in waterproof container.

Cash in small bills.

Small first aid kit.

Plus your edc stuff of course.
 
xbxb, a BOB is a bug-out-bag. Basically, this is a bag that has everything you need to bail out of town, out of civilization, whatever, without having to think about what to put in it when the SHTF. There have been quite a lot of conversations around here about what to put into a BOB. Obviously, the answer to that question is driven by where you live, the climate that you live in, and just how far outside of civilization you want to bug out to.

Re: hiking boots. Many ultra light hikers have taken to abandoning hiking boots entirely in preference for inexpensive running shoes. They say that that the lack of ankle support is more than made up for the lack of weight on your feet. They also say that you can get away with the lack of ankle support so long as you are carrying under 25 lbs. Something to think about anyway.

If it was me living in a place like xbxb describes, I'd keep a bicycle at work. I'd also try to ride to work and home every so often (a couple of times a week?) just to stay in shape.

Barring that, I'd give a lot of thought to an inflatable raft and electric motor (plus paddles!) in my trunk. If things went bad, NOT being on the roads where everyone else is seems like a fine idea.
 
An excellent backpack for your bob. This is a very personal choice, don't skimp here. Maybe an extra magazine or 2 (or speedloaders) for your handgun. A surefire in addition to a couple of led lights. At night, it can visually stun someone long enough for you to make your escape. Save your ammo for when you need it. :D Iodine for water purification and wound disinfectant. Make the crowbar titanium (yes, they make them) for ease of carry. An excellent fixed blade (along the lines of a SR Camp Tramp or Busse NO-E). This is bladeforums, after all. Don't forget the SAK or folder for your pockets.

Have I weighed you down enough? :D First aid kit is always smart, superglue for closing cuts and many other uses, and definitely one of Doug Ritters PSK's.
 
Thanks for the education Bulgron on BOB. My workplace is my car and where Im at I dont have an office as Im on the road every day making calls on customers. Sometimes Im 10 miles from the ocean sometimes Im two blocks it just depends on where Im at. A bike wont work unless I carry it in my car everyday which I cant do. Im on my own. so any suggestions will help tremendously.
Thanks to everyone and please keep it coming
 
sodak said:
First aid kit is always smart, superglue for closing cuts and many other uses, and definitely one of Doug Ritters PSK's.
Click to expand...
But wound the superglue be poisionous to the us esp. when it is use to close wounds where it might enter our bloodstream?? :confused:
 
Have you seen the folding bikes that are available?
Very nice and fold into a pretty small package. Cold can be a concern even in tropical climates, especially if you get wet. I'd carry some kind of insulation.
Jim
 
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