My BOB Presentation

J33psru1e said:
Water
You must make accommodations to carry water as part of your kit. Everyone if your party will need an adequate water supply, not just you. This is one reason that I suggest you get a pack with a water bladder. One thing is for sure, our bodies are made mostly of water and without it you are in serious trouble. Remember the rule of 3’s. I suggest that you figure out how much water that you consume during various activities and carry accordingly. Water weighs approximately 8 pounds per gallon excluding the container it’s in. Everyone has different degrees of physical fitness and the amount of water that I need may not be the same amount that you need.
Some of the survival literature I have read recommends carrying 1 gallon of water a day as a minimum. As the temperatures increase, you might find that between 2-5 gallons of water is needed. In these more extreme temperatures it is recommend that you move at night and rest during the day if possible. Given that we are talking about potentially carrying what you (and potentially your family) need on your back, you will need to carry as much water as you reasonably can.
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J33psru1e said:
Food
Food that does not need much preparation and has a long shelf life is ideal for a BOB. Things like Power Bars, MRE’s (meals ready to eat), powdered Gatorade, Top Ramen, nuts, peanut butter, beef jerky and trail mix are all good examples of food for you kit. Canned food also works, but it’s very heavy. There are meals that you can add hot water to that come in a plastic pouch as well. You can find these at camping stores like REI. If you have a baby or someone that has a specific food allergy, you need to plan accordingly. Powered baby formula may be necessary (as well as a bottle and nipples) if you have an infant that you need to feed. It may not be mom’s milk, but it will get the job done. Food will need to be rotated out of your kit periodically so that it does not spoil. No need to plan on gourmet meals here. We are talking about survival. I suggest checking food on a monthly basis.
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Being in a desert environment you're of course concerned with remaining hydrated. While powdered Gatorade is great, IMO this product is superior: http://eletewater.com

Essentially it's seawater (with a bit of potassium chloride added). Blood and seawater have similar percentages of dissolved salts (as well as similar densities and pH values). In evolutionary terms, one can conceptualize the body as an sack of seawater that has escaped from the ocean and is running about on dry land.

I have found eletewater to enable me to remain hydrated during even the most extreme physical exertions - it seems to work much, much better than any sports drink.
 
Excellent thread. Just one thing though. I've been reading a lot of BOB/Go Bag threads and there's one thing I never see listed that I always take with me. Does anybody else keep field guides in there bags? I always keep a copy of Petersons "A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants" and Petersons "A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North American" (I live in Maine so I have the eastern version). Any thoughts on carrying field guides?
 
aaronjayl said:
Excellent thread. Just one thing though. I've been reading a lot of BOB/Go Bag threads and there's one thing I never see listed that I always take with me. Does anybody else keep field guides in there bags? I always keep a copy of Petersons "A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants" and Petersons "A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North American" (I live in Maine so I have the eastern version). Any thoughts on carrying field guides?
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Yep, I carry Peterson's "A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants" (in a ziplock) in my BOB/Go-Bag. It's a great reference and worth its weight, IMO. :thumbup:
 
excellent post.


Aaronjayl,


I have 3 or 4 field guides in my pack(s) 2 tom brown ones, 2 from the army and i think a guide to ampibians&reptiles from national geographic, for color photos of venoumous reptiles, for a small book, and my propensity to step on reptiles i thought it was a good idea.
 
Posts above cause me to do some research. Interesting stuff.

Physical fitness does seem to reduce the adverse effects of dehydration, at least up to a point, according to a U.S. Army study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Dehydration tends to reduce physical performace at levels as low as loss of 2% of body water, due to increased buildup of lactic acid in the muscles, in turn resulting in cramps, weakness, and -- eventually- muscle spasms. This may adversely impact the "smoothness" of motion. These effects are more likely seen in "endurance" exercise (Jour. of Strength and Conditioning, Vol. 16, 11/1/02).

Losses of body water as low as 7% have resulted in death. 11% loss seems to guarantee death.
 
I notice most B:O:B: bags are fairly small . The best quality bag I have is a small Alice backpack . Main bag with three external quick access pockets . and a few loops which serve nicely for mag-lites etc .

Is it too large ? I mostly use it for camping as it is how I learn to live off the land a bit better . I see most of your choices are smaller . Is it for conveniences sake ?
 
You might need to travel at night.

LCD lights are a very efficient new
technology; head-lamps are preferred.

I use a single stick, others use trekking poles;
I hate the clack/clack of metal (or wood)
on hard ground, so I put rubber tips on
both ends of my stick.

In summer, snakes are much more likely to be
out hunting, at night, IMO. This may still make
it a remote probability, but I would take some
precautions.
At night, no sandals, no bare legs
(use leggings or change to long pants), use
sticks to probe an area, if in doubt.
BTW, leggings can be made from the cutoff-part
of jeans.
Usually one would step over an obstacle without
even seeing the other side. Modify this behavior,
where you can: step onto the obstacle or look
over it, then proceed. This is a hard regimen to
maintain on rock trails, but may be easier if going
uphill.

I would be very interested in others experiences
and opinions on these night-travel issues.

frank
 
J33,
Thanks for the info on your night-time adventures.

I forgot to mention that, at night, it is easy to turn
an ankle going downhill, not as likely on level or uphill.
I agree with your caution in staying on roads or groomed
trails, at night.

Another reason for a stick is that, older hikers cannot
balance themselves like they once did. With hard work,
tired muscles, and heavy loads, it only gets worse.

I bought a 4 foot wooden dowl, 1.25 or 1.5 inch diameter.
For rubber tips, use black rubber ones that are intended
for furniture legs, of stools etc. Buy it at the same store,
Lowes or Home Depot and make sure everthing fits, never
needed any glue, works great.
I did it 15 years ago, so I dont know prices now.

I also have a harwood Bo, too good for the trail.

I made a slightly arched choke cherry staff. It works
good, but I would have to glue the rubber tips on.
When looking for choke cherry or any bushy wood,
always look at bushes that are growing in shade, or very
large bushes that shade themselves. Shaded bushes
contain branches that are longer and straighter.
Near streams, is your best bet.

Also, any tree that is recently cut down (or ringed)
will put out long straight shoots, in 2 weeks you got
arrows, in 3 months, with minor trimming at 1 and 2
months, you got walking sticks.
It's called copicing (coppicing).

When green wood is cut, minor crooks can be straightened with
heat. Bigger crooks, require steam or boiling. The down-spout
of you rain gutter, when laid horizontal, works as a dandy steam
chamber. Do this when your wife is gone for the day.

If I did it again, I would use bamboo composite: very light
and strong. At Peer One Imports, and some Garden/Nusery
places you can buy medium and large bamboo. I would
intentionally split it and glue back together. Add some
fiber, cotton, Kevlar, etc. to hold pieces together.
I may do this anyway.

Rattan appears to be a solid type bamboo, very light and strong.
Though not a true bamboo, it is great stuff, as is.

With all of these, protect the tips or they will make noise and
splay out.

Happy night walking.

frank
 
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