- Joined
- Nov 8, 2005
- Messages
- 1,339
Yes the dummies series made a book on Wilderness Survival. It's a good read too. Now that Borders is going out of business you can probably snag one on the cheap.
A few questions please...
1. Where can I buy surgical tubing for use in solar still/transpiration bag construction? Or a better alternative to surgical tubing. I suppose hydraton bladder tubes are an option but they're a little thick and not long enough. Surgical tubing really does seem best.
2. How do does a good cold trap look like in a snow shelter? I understand it's supposed to allow the cold air to pool below you, but how deep and wide? Do you dig it beside you? Do you just dig a two foot trench that's two feet wide and feel it with insulating debris that you sleep on? Pictures, explanations, anything would help as I would like to build one this winter.
3. Does anyone remember how warm it is inside of a snow shelter? Like an actual temperature reading with a thermometer. And how can one warm up the shelter just a little. Maybe using a candle to seal the inside?
4. Parachord is a must. But what about fishing line instead of thread for sewing task? I figure the fishing line would be more multipurpose since it could also be used for....fishing.
Why carry both? Thread seems weak to me anyway. I believe one of you on this forum carries fly fishing leads. That sounds like a cool and convenient way to quickly set up gig. Also, where can I get some good wire for making traps?
I'll likely edit this first post later if I think of some more questions and to add to my review.
Review:
I like it, and to answer your first question; Yes. It does recommend carrying a knife. Actually two knives. A large and small knife. But with emphasis on the large knife. Everything you make with a knife requires the stripping of bark. And that will quickly dull a thin edged pocket knife. And many tools are made with fresh green saplings that need to be first cut down, then stripped of it's bark, than make notches and or carvings.
It's not written by PITA. It does recommend getting dirty. Pissing on your hat if need be to keep cool, cleaning and stitching together animal skins, using a bola to snag a deer then clubbing it to death (even making a club for killing animals is covered and illustrated), making various traps to snag prey, making fire using a push plow and bow drill methods.
It doesn't rate things in importance. It does say the four items you absolutely need are: Flashlight, Knife, Fire Maker, Water container. Though it does go on to for suggestions in making your survival kit.
Extra emphasis is in having a knife, parachute chord, sewing needle, and fire making. And; The skills to put them all together. You could conclude from the read that a fixed blade rig with para chord, ferrocium rod or storm proof lighter, sewing needle, and a little button LED flashlight covers just about everything minus a water container.
What I liked::thumbup:
I like the details on water. They covered it well and in different parts of the book. They may skimp on details for surviving in the snow and in a hot desert, since those are subjects that mandate a separate book, but they tell you how to regulate your temperature and find water in both.
What I didn't like::thumbdn:
They skimp on details for creating a survival kit. They're vague. Very vague. This topic deserves it's own book. But it didn't need it. They could have done so much better on this with just a few more pages and some real suggestions.
There may be more to add later but that's for now. An easy read that covers the basics and taught me a few things I didn't know and gave me some ideas. :thumbup:
A few questions please...
1. Where can I buy surgical tubing for use in solar still/transpiration bag construction? Or a better alternative to surgical tubing. I suppose hydraton bladder tubes are an option but they're a little thick and not long enough. Surgical tubing really does seem best.
2. How do does a good cold trap look like in a snow shelter? I understand it's supposed to allow the cold air to pool below you, but how deep and wide? Do you dig it beside you? Do you just dig a two foot trench that's two feet wide and feel it with insulating debris that you sleep on? Pictures, explanations, anything would help as I would like to build one this winter.
3. Does anyone remember how warm it is inside of a snow shelter? Like an actual temperature reading with a thermometer. And how can one warm up the shelter just a little. Maybe using a candle to seal the inside?
4. Parachord is a must. But what about fishing line instead of thread for sewing task? I figure the fishing line would be more multipurpose since it could also be used for....fishing.
Why carry both? Thread seems weak to me anyway. I believe one of you on this forum carries fly fishing leads. That sounds like a cool and convenient way to quickly set up gig. Also, where can I get some good wire for making traps?I'll likely edit this first post later if I think of some more questions and to add to my review.
Review:
I like it, and to answer your first question; Yes. It does recommend carrying a knife. Actually two knives. A large and small knife. But with emphasis on the large knife. Everything you make with a knife requires the stripping of bark. And that will quickly dull a thin edged pocket knife. And many tools are made with fresh green saplings that need to be first cut down, then stripped of it's bark, than make notches and or carvings.
It's not written by PITA. It does recommend getting dirty. Pissing on your hat if need be to keep cool, cleaning and stitching together animal skins, using a bola to snag a deer then clubbing it to death (even making a club for killing animals is covered and illustrated), making various traps to snag prey, making fire using a push plow and bow drill methods.
It doesn't rate things in importance. It does say the four items you absolutely need are: Flashlight, Knife, Fire Maker, Water container. Though it does go on to for suggestions in making your survival kit.
Extra emphasis is in having a knife, parachute chord, sewing needle, and fire making. And; The skills to put them all together. You could conclude from the read that a fixed blade rig with para chord, ferrocium rod or storm proof lighter, sewing needle, and a little button LED flashlight covers just about everything minus a water container.
What I liked::thumbup:
I like the details on water. They covered it well and in different parts of the book. They may skimp on details for surviving in the snow and in a hot desert, since those are subjects that mandate a separate book, but they tell you how to regulate your temperature and find water in both.
What I didn't like::thumbdn:
They skimp on details for creating a survival kit. They're vague. Very vague. This topic deserves it's own book. But it didn't need it. They could have done so much better on this with just a few more pages and some real suggestions.
There may be more to add later but that's for now. An easy read that covers the basics and taught me a few things I didn't know and gave me some ideas. :thumbup:
