Urban Survival: Do's, Don'ts, & Questions

[Mistwalker]

Ok first off, it needs to be stated up front that I am not stalking some random homeless person here nor am I just arbitrarily rifling through their possessions. Yes I do know the person this camp belongs to, they have been an acquaintance for about seven years now and I was asked to go to this camp and collect a few things for him by his mother...long story, not going there. When I got there a few things bugged me and some just plain pissed me off. If this were my land I would have been really pissed off. I decided to grab the camera so I could back up what I had to say about the situation in an eminent discussion. Then after thinking about it later I saw it as an opportunity for another discussion on urban survival, and I always enjoy those. I'm sure he wouldn't be happy about me disclosing his name or actual location so I won't, and I waited at least waited till he had moved on to another location in another state.


Right off, well worn open trails off of grocery store parking lots draw attention in more ways than one. Just by existing they will at some point catch the attention of store employees...maybe when they are parking, gathering buggies, emptying garbage cans, cleaning the lot, taking a break outside...whatever. They will draw the attention of local kids and teens looking for a place to get out of sight for a few, and they will draw the attention of customers. And they will also draw the attention of others seeking a spot to set up camp, looking for camps to raid, or looking for easy targets to assault just for entertainment.

In places like this where the woods are about a half mile or so deep, and have train tracks that pass through them it's usually better to walk the tracks a ways out of sight and make a not-so-open entrance to the woods. And actually there are several square miles of woods on the other side of the tracks.

Leaving a plain trail of fresh litter is on such a well worn trail is only asking for trouble. It's not only bad for the environment, wastes potential resources, and it's bad because it draws further attention. This is one of the main reasons people have issues with people "camping"...which is technically called squatting...on their land. I know it is for me personally. It can cause the problem, if you're found, to go from being run off to having charges pressed for as many things as they can find even destruction of property over a couple of saplings cut just because of the mess...and the litter being alcohol-based only will only make it worse.

It will at some point totally negate any camouflage work you may have done on your position.

There are always some wild animals in wooded areas of this size even in an urbanized area. Here he have had Raccoons and Opossums around for years. Then add in stray cats and dogs, as well as the coyotes moving into the area and hanging food up out of reach is a good idea. Using earth-tones will help keep your cache from catching any attention from a distance through trees but I'd suggest a little more camouflaging.

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[Mistwalker]

Also when camping on an-other's land, especially close in to buildings in a urbanized environment, collecting more than can quickly be relocated is not really a good idea.

It was looking here for the small items I was sent to retrieve that really got me thinking again. I had already seen quite a bit of kit scattered around, now I see a lot more tools and kit...more than I would personally want.

There are many people, much like this guy, that are suddenly finding themselves homeless. They have lost their jobs and couldn't afford the rent, the mortgage, and from what I've read and heard many are behind on their taxes and even lose land that is already paid for. While this is hardly new, it has run in cycles waxing and waining with the positive and negative changes in the economy this has been the worse time I have personally witnessed being as I was born well after the great depression of the 1930s. Many families have been away from the rural farming lifestyle for generations now, so many of these people's only experiences with the out of doors and camping are from car camping at local state parks or others on vacation. They have been conditioned by that and have no idea how to approach the new situation and approach it the same. Often, from a desire to ward off depression and create some sense of security and comfort I suppose, a lot of stuff is gathered, often too much stuff. There comes a natural "weeding" process as this is one of those situations where the edge meets the wood and one gets their metal tested in many ways...physically, mentally, psychologically, morally you name it, it's there.

Now, having had the pleasure of the "suddenly-without-a-home" feeling early on in life while I was still a teenager I guess I look at this situation through jaded eyes. Also I was fortunate in that I grew up both farming and hunting...fishing and trapping. Being born into a mostly military family was also a plus. I at least had a knowledge base to work from and I had memories and previous input to fall back on a different situations arose.

Now I find myself several years later, though not exactly greedy still somewhat spoiled of my own making, having spent a lot of time enjoying life in as many ways as possible. Enjoying being on the warm and dry side of the glass, sitting at a table eating a warm meal in good company rather than being one of those passing by looking through the glass longingly. Now I am sitting here watching or reading the news as the economy hiccups and thousands lose jobs and homes and the "street" population rises. In this time I reflect on lessons learned from the past, but I am also aware that if this time it catches me by surprise that will be entirely my fault.

If it does happen again this time it will be much worse as something very drastic will have to happen, last time around I was a minor and didn't own a home and land. I also have a family now. Still crazy things are happening and time around I have had time to think and at least somewhat prepare for it. This time around I have had time to think about and test possible equipment, as well as scouting out possible locations. I have been waiting on the temps to cool so I could work on a few projects without it being sheer misery, and one project in particular was an "urban survival" camp. I am going to start on that this coming week.

In the mean time, since is the W&SS where sharing knowledge is always the goal I am curious to hear others thoughts on how they would deal with such a scenario in their lives in their areas. I know each situation would be different for different people and that's the whole point. So... without giving away too many specifics: What type area do you think you would be seeking shelter in? What are the hazards and resources there? What pieces of gear would you want to start off with and why? Which pieces do you see as absolutely necessary? Which pieces would you want to be durable, and which would you currently consider the cheaper versions of being better for this...as in which items would you see as easily replaceable and therefore expendable?

Personally I almost think it would be easier if it were all out catastrophe and chaos as in the absence of law I could take pretty much any gear I wanted and could carry...but that is not the scenario here. The situation at hand is that life is still going on "normally" for most of the world around you...it's just you that has to cope with suddenly being forced "outside".


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[powernoodle]

Would you be willing to briefly elaborate as to whether this individual was affected by mental illness or addition? I ask because I don't know anyone who would voluntarily live like this for any extended period of time. It looks like he had been there a while.

 

[Mistwalker]

Would you be willing to briefly elaborate as to whether this individual was affected by mental illness or addition? I ask because I don't know anyone who would voluntarily live like this for any extended period of time. It looks like he had been there a while.

Well...obviously this particular individual has an alcohol dependency problem. Which in turn is a big part of his over-all problem I do believe...and might could in turn be argued as a a form of mental illness. However the collection of "outdoor stuff" happened in less than two weeks. I think he was spending a big chunk of his unemployment at a near by wal-mart...partially on food, some on gear...and obviously some on beer...in an effort to create some sense of normalcy. His choices here were very limited. The Salvation Army shelter here has been maxed out for two years since thousands here got laid off when several factories closed. The Union Gospel Mission was bought and torn down because of its location on the edge the "tourist area". Shelters for women and children we have, my wife has interned at one of them and knows about the others. Men have few choices here, even the jails are over flowing. The only free "legal" places to set up camp are either several miles away from anything, the others cost more than a cheap motel and still a few miles out . People can find themselves in bad situations through multiple ways and be hundreds of miles from other family members or real support.

I am just curious as to how others think they might deal with suddenly being outside... even if on a temporary basis, due to whatever reason they could imagine forcing it upon them.

 

[Brutane]

Thank you for this post! It is a great one for discussion but also a great reality check for those of us who by the graces of God and hard work have never had to make such decisions. I feel blessed to the n'th degree that all of my outdoors expereinces have been by choice and not necessity but I also feel as though outdoor skills are one of the treasures that God has given and should be fostered not buried in the sand. My heart goes out to this guy and his family. I have met several people in his situation due to the proximity that I live to a truck stop along a major interstate artery and the fact that many use cross country truckers as their transportation. I however am always torn as to the best way to help such individuals out. I usually try to give them some cash but on one occasion the individual who I had given cash to in the AM was spotted at the store later that same day wearing all of his belongings on his back while carrying two cases of beer. It made me feel sick and angry at the same time. I was wondering what do y'all do to help such individuals out?

 

[jackknife]

The best urban survival I ever saw was a homeless guy here in Washington D.C. He went into Rock Creek Park, and found a heavy wooded and brushy hillside, and dug into it. He excavated a small cave, the size of a small room, and disguised the entrance with bushes that he transplanted. He lived there for most of a year.

The only way they found him, people at the National Zoo kept reporting they smelled wood smoke. Park police looked but found nothing. Finally a hiker stumbled on it by smelling smoke on a cold winter day, and looking around, saw smoke coming up from a hole in the ground. The homeless guy had made a chimney out of rain spout tub, and he had a small wood stove in the cave. He had kept very warm and dry most of the winter. He avoided detection for months by keeping the place clean, and leaving no trace.

The police of course, re-located hi to a homeless shelter.

Looking at the news footage of the cave, I'd rather stay there than a shelter. He had it set up pretty good.

I'm going to remember this one just in case of disaster of some kind. Burrow into a wooded hill side like a ground hog.

 

[Mannlicher]

The last restaurant I owned was down the street from the Interstate, and was bordered by some woods.
There was a constant stream of homeless bums camping there. At various times, the hobos would harass my customers, assault my staff, and create a mountain of nasty litter around my biz.
After going the normal route, calling the Sheriff, trying to 'reason' with the bums, I had a long talk with the owner of the property. He gave us the green light to keep an eye on his land. I started visiting their camp about once a week. My Son and I would go through the camp, and destroy it, burning anything we found.
After several months, and some tense confrontations with the bums, they finally decided that camping there was just not worth it.

 

[reconranger]

One big issue here in the arid bushy southland are camps of homeless and illegal aliens, who light a fire to cook or maybe keep warm....and 2 weeks later the fire has finally gone out after burning thousands of acres and hundreds of homes!

 

[koyote]

several things pop up-

1: alcohol "issues" can be a cause or an effect. We may have gone too far, as a society, in our definition of alcoholism. I've been through the homeless thing backwards and forwards - I went bush for a short time after getting out of the Navy, did some traveling with carnivals and ren faires, and when we lived on a cruiser (sailboat) we encountered all the various sorts from long term beach campers to semi-homeless people who were only allowed to sleep on their boat 2 or 3 nights a week due to liveaboard rules.

Beer and a campfire can replace a TV, so to speak. Though with many people it's a sympton of larger problems.


The trash on the trail could be his, and he should police it up regardless of whose it is, but- given the other notes about the trail being a way for store employees to get away from the parking lot on a break, teeners wanting to grab a smoke and a beer out of sight, etc- it's possible that not all the trash is his.

The problem with walking tracks is primarily that you can get ticketed and arrested for it. It's a type of tresspassing that police tend to pay attention to since track related deaths are big news and bad PR.


The trail could be more easily hidden by choosing an entry point with a natural stepping stone, and a camoflaging tree or shrub to hide a dogleg.


I don't have a specific argument with the amount of stuff, for two reasons:

1: "growing pains"- if he's new to this, he could need time to adjust to what works and what doesn't

2: it's just stuff, as long as you keep your minimal kit mobile and ready to go, you are fine.

Now, it DOES need to be better policed and camo'd.

The hanging food bag is okay, I guess, but I'd go with a locker. larger cheap cooler, some rocks in the bottom for weight, and a lock and hasp for the lid. Or a "steamer trunk" even.

Back in CA, a lot of the dialed in homeless people around Davis (and for some it was a very long term lifestyle choice) used bikes. You can get decent panniers and look "toury" without spending too much money and the increase in mobility tends to expand the horizons of thought in foraging, camping, shopping, and general living.


Oh, and you NEVER, EVER leave camp without carrying a bag of trash back out. grocey bags are useful.

 

[fixer]

Back in CA, a lot of the dialed in homeless people around Davis (and for some it was a very long term lifestyle choice) used bikes. You can get decent panniers and look "toury" without spending too much money and the increase in mobility tends to expand the horizons of thought in foraging, camping, shopping, and general living.

Davis is "bike meca" and used bikes or bike related gear would be very easy to find there. the weather is mild (no snow, not too hot) and that explains a lot of it, it's also a fairly small town so everything is in range on a bike.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Thoughts:

In general for being homeless:
Stay clean. Personal hygiene is both a health issue and greatly affects how you are treated. If you look like a filthy bum, you'll be treated like one. If you keep shaved, hair kept well done, or shave your head. Don't stink -- in fact, hint of cologne is helpful. Have enough clothes to do your laundry once a week. Wear clean clothes everyday.

You'll never be treated well, but being clean and presentable will get you rousted a lot less, and you can pass yourself as someone having a life crisis, searching for self, etc.

Have stories to tell. Real or made up, a good story can be the difference between getting someone's help versus being run off. I don't mean a good sob story. I mean, go with a story (again, make it up if you have to) about your adventures on your "walk to self". A lot of times people will offer to buy you lunch just to hear you tell them tales of adventures they'll probably never be on. Or they might offer you a ride to the next town or whatever if they are passing through.

Try to get a temp job every now and then. Not just for money, but to keep the pay stubs in your pocket. It helps if you have two weeks of pay stubs. It helps you with police if you do the traveling adventurer story. Tell them you work temp jobs to build some money and then move on to the next place that strikes your fancy. If they are current stubs, then you can pass off that you are still working the area. If they are more than a week old, say you are moving on int he next couple of days. Be aware that sometimes police will give to a ride to the next town, or to the edge of town in very rural areas -- to help you and to get rid of a potential vagrant without having to fill out paperwork for throwing you in jail. Don't let them find you again.

DON'T GO TO THE SHELTER. You can have your stuff stolen -- by the "residents" or the staff. May get foot fungus from the showers (keep flip flops with you and wear them in any semi public shower). You may get diseases from the others there. It's ok to eat a meal there or do a load of clothes or (with precautions) take a shower. But don't sleep there.

Take advantage of any programs you can. Often there are government subsidized places that give out food, toiletries, etc. Don't be ashamed to take advantage of those, if you've worked, they've taken some of your tax to pay for them, just like unemployment. You paid in, you have a right to get some benefit when you need it.

Much as I don't like it, going armed is a bad idea. I've never been questioned about having a Buck110 on my hip or a SAK in my pocket. I even used to carry an Estwing hatchet in my pack. I got the third degree one from a cop that made me empty my pack looking for drugs. He wanted to bust me for carrying a concealed weapon. I said yes, but that's the reason it's in the very bottom of the pack, look how long it took to get to it. To be a concealed weapon it really needs to be immediately at hand. I'd never get to it in time for such a purpose. He let it go and gave it back to me after driving me to the edge of town. You may or may not be as lucky. A small hatchet in the bottom of your pack is more likely to get passed as a tool (a carpenter's hatchet is probably even better) than a large knife or machete.

As helpful as they may be for some legal purposes, DO NOT carry a pry bar and bolt cutters.

Learn to guerrilla camp. LNT is just the beginning. Definitely don't leave trash about like in the OP. Also don't leave a trail. If you're setting up in the same place every day, take different approaches. Best is to not make any visible permanent camp. Find a good spot with lots of cover all around. If you want to store food, you can bring a big cooler like in the OP, but don't leave it out. BURY it, and put the "scalped" grass or leaf litter back over the top. It's a pain, but it keeps stuff safe, can't be seen and helps keep things cool.

Keep everything you NEED in your pack. Be prepared to abandon everything else.

If you can afford it before going homeless, get a membership in a nationwide gym like Gold's, Powerhouse or Bally's. When you head into town, you can go there, the locker rooms can give you a shower, a place to fill up on your water, even do some guerrilla laundry. You have a membership. If you want to hit the weights, do some aerobics, etc, you can, and they can't deny you entry because you have a valid membership card. Often they have "half lockers" where you can stash your pack in a locked box. Like them or not, frameless packs are easier to stash.

Man, there's a lot more.

 

[Yorkshire Boy]

I really wouldn't want to be homeless in a city.

One good thing about British cities is you don't have to go far to get into the "countryside".

I can think of several roads that go into my city that have freshly killed rabbits, wood pigeon, pheasants etc...just waiting to be picked up.

If you wanted to travel then you could follow the hundreds of miles of canal networks that go through the countryside. It would be simple to catch some perch with a handline, use a catapult and the odd duck could be on the menu too.

I fish rivers where I don't see another soul all day, but the banks are teeming with animals, fruit trees and wild edibles.

 

[Jeff Venture]

These are some very informative posts keep 'em coming.

 

[koyote]

Davis is "bike meca" and used bikes or bike related gear would be very easy to find there. the weather is mild (no snow, not too hot) and that explains a lot of it, it's also a fairly small town so everything is in range on a bike.

While that in particular is true, the same is common through san diego up into the PNW, and even out here in Fallon I've clued into a half dozen or so. The countryside out here is high desert outside of irrigation zones, but it's close.

Weather makes a difference, but the difference between walking a bike in the snow and pushing a cart in the snow is visually huge, if the bike looks halfway neat.

 

[quick kill]

I had a friend that was living behind a Safeway food store in northern California with several other's in like a colony. I offered several tines to let him live with me until he got back on his feet but he declined. He said he enjoyed the freedom to do what he wanted wen he wanted. I went back to visit with him often and it was quite nice and fareley clean. He worked construction job's wen he needed money, and some of the other members got ssi, and they all shared pretty much everything. But all were addicted to drugs or alcohol. Some choose that life as it's easier then living a normal life , with know responsibility. But if your forced to do it, it can be done rather comfortably if you live in wooded state, but here in southwest Oklahoma or similar area it would be much harder, because there is not a lot of public land and almost no cover. But if I had to do it back home in the Pacific Northwest the gear I would take would be. A good 3day type pack a bivy tent a tarp and a good lightweight sleeping bag a small cooking set like a mettle cup titanium spork a mettle water bottle as well as a medium sized soft folding cooler, and a little shower kit type bag with hygiene products. I'd take a smaller set of knives like an esse 4 an izula and a sak and small folding saw lastly I would bring a small collapsible fishing pole a fishing kit and fire kit along with some snare wire and small traps Anything more then that is more of a luxury

 

[sicily02]

Great post. I am looking forward to reading more.

Bryan

 

[Mistwalker]

Some good thoughts guys keep 'em coming. I have more to say later when I have more time.

As to those tracks I should have this is a spur in the line. It's not carefully watched as trains are not allowed to move quickly through this area these tracks end at a business about 2 miles to the right.

And yes a gym or "Y" membership is a really good idea. Bathing outside in the summer is easy, even fun....doing so in the winter...not so much.

I've been on both sides of this coin and I'm curious to others thoughts. Earlier in my life I was the one without a home...now I own my land and own some wooded land on a ridge side near me at the edge of the city. I have ran people off for making messes and I have hung out with one guy who didn't make a mess and even cleaned up the area. I thanked him for that and even took him food and taught him a few things. One day I went back and found a note thanking me for the time he spent there and never saw him again.

 

[Barbarossa]

I truly feel sorry for any homeless person. I really can't stand people who judge others who are down on their luck when they come from a pampered upbringing and suffer from the SSS ARSS "silver spoon syndrome". I wish all crooked rich A-holes and their prissy wives would have to spend a day as a homeless person without food and in crappy weather. I have seen a lot of rich people treat and talk about homeless people this way and they stop when I give them a dose of their own medicine. The funny thing is most of these people are hypocritical bible thumpers too. Cops that harass homeless people and are nasty to them are gutless and heartless and have no business wearing a badge. I have never been homeless but have been close due to no circumstances that I brought on myself so I know how crappy life can be. I guess I have a soft spot for people who are down and out.

 

[Brutane]

This is one of the best threads here for a long time!! Keep the thoughts flowing.

 

[ROCK6]

I truly feel sorry for any homeless person. I really can't stand people who judge others who are down on their luck when they come from a pampered upbringing and suffer from the SSS ARSS "silver spoon syndrome". I wish all crooked rich A-holes and their prissy wives would have to spend a day as a homeless person without food and in crappy weather. I have seen a lot of rich people treat and talk about homeless people this way and they stop when I give them a dose of their own medicine. The funny thing is most of these people are hypocritical bible thumpers too. Cops that harass homeless people and are nasty to them are gutless and heartless and have no business wearing a badge. I have never been homeless but have been close due to no circumstances that I brought on myself so I know how crappy life can be. I guess I have a soft spot for people who are down and out.

I have the same feelings and those who call themselves “Christians” should really stop and consider their words and actions. I use to be pretty hard on the city bums in and around Seattle, I still am to a degree, but I’ve met some who were truly down on their luck; not a mental condition or drug/alcohol addiction. Some do prefer that lifestyle and don’t meet the typical stereotypes and are not that aggressive alcoholic pan-handlers harassing passer-byes.

I spent a year in Korea and saw several homeless who at least worked at cleaning the streets and doing other odds and ends for a meal or roof over their head. One individual was a Korean War veteran that was blind with no arms and no legs with a small cup for monetary donations (which I did donate to); if that doesn’t pull at your heart, you really need to reassess your humanity.

This is an interesting thread as the “homeless” really are pretty robust which is amazing for those that are ailed by mental illness, alcohol or drug health problems and living the open environment full-time. There are a lot of good (and bad) examples to learn from.

Keeping a low profile, having a concealed sleeping area and considering security measures are critical. Theft and being targeted for abuse or harassment are common enemies that must be guarded against and the best defense is not attracting attention to yourself or where you camp or plan to camp. I think it’s interesting that we rail about leaving little to no trace when camping and abhor littering…it’s not just environmentally bad, but it gives away your presence, attracts nuisance animals and is unsanitary. What you practice is what you will do.

As mentioned, personal hygiene and sanitation are really important for long term survival in such conditions. The good news is that semi-urban and urban environments all provide a multitude of sheltering options; although security is a greater concern. Outside of a functional society where food is readily available, I would be really concerned in a built up area after a major crisis. Food would disappear quickly, although rats, raccoons, possum, dogs and cats would be in abundance, but then you’re back to dealing with contamination and the requisite fuel needed to cook. Gangs would be a major threat and any sign of your presence would quickly turn into your demise.

As to gear selection, I don’t think it would be any different than what you’d select for a bushcraft outing. I would think water purification/filtration would be a high priority. The addition of tools to access an abandoned house or warehouse for shelter would be critical. A good set up adjustable pliers would allow you access to abandoned water heaters or other similar potable water sources. A multi-tool in my mind would be essential with the amount of man-made material available to improvise other tools, traps, shelter, etc. Tough clothing would be essential, but depending on your ability to move fast, there would have to be a compromise. Wool would probably be the most robust and best insulator in less than ideal weather, but the weight could offset your ability to move fast. I would really want fast-drying clothing, but urban environments are probably the toughest on clothing. A portable solar charger is something to consider for those battery operated items…cell phone, flashlight, etc.

I feel for your “friend”. Times can be tough, but substance abuse can really make it tougher. Those that really earn my sympathy are those with mental illnesses. I’ve know a few Iraq/Afghanistan veterans that would have ended up in similar situations if it was for the attention they received and their families…they weren’t scumbags, they truly had conditions that didn’t allow them to cope with reality and the effects were readily manifested in their appearance, behavior and actions. A very interesting topic for discussion; it’s something that should be considered, studied and evaluated. If you’re fortunate enough to have a home, job and loving family, don’t forget that a little charity and helping hand to someone in need goes a long way to helping your own soul and mental health.

ROCK6