Urbancraft Part I - Recon

[Mistwalker]

Survival in any environment, be it wilderness, desert, tropical, or urban, still entails meeting the basic needs to sustain human life...shelter, food, and water. Even though the acquiring of the materials to meet these needs will be somewhat different in each environment, the mentality needed is pretty much the same. In each of these environments the best tool you can posses is knowledge. I titled this one "Part I - Recon" because it is just a look around at the resources and dangers within urban environment.

***NOTE*** This thread, as with most of my threads, is one that is building over time. There are picture posts, then discussion, more pictures, more discussion, so on and so forth... etc., etc.

Water is a basic need of the human body, however ground water in an urban environment is almost always unsafe to drink for one reason or another. Chemicals from factories and storage depots that pollute the water.

E coli is often a problem, it seeps into the water table from the untreated sewage of septic systems.

Then there is all the litter thrown out every day by people who seem to have a major problem with waiting until they get to one of the thousands of garbage receptacles scattered throughout this city. The rains come and carry this garbage into the storm drains which empty into the natural water courses. Then you end up with images like these.

 

[Mistwalker]

In an urban environment you're much better off to get your water bottled from a store or from a tap. This is pretty easy when all you're wanting is a small bottle of water, however if you are trying to support a long term camp with multiple people things get more difficult. There are still a few places here and there that still have the old style spigots where you could quietly fill up a few larger bottles at a time and store them in a pack or in the trunk or bed of a vehicle without arousing much suspicion.

If you use your resources wisely a couple of dollars spent washing clothes can also afford you the opportunity to get out of the weather for a while, read a newspaper to maybe help find work, fill up your canteen, and charge a prepaid cell phone...which with them being so cheap now and minimal refill costs not being too bad can be a very wise investment if you make your time count. Really helps you find work of any kind if you can be contacted easily. Even an empty milk container can make a decent improvised canteen...on the streets image is as important as anything else. People tend to see what they want to see so if you appear to be able to buy things on your own on a regular basis you will be seen as less of a threat by most people. You can keep a cache of different containers and swap out during the times you can't afford to buy anything.

More and more the outside water faucets at stores and other commercial buildings are designed to discourage use by outside individuals. There are even some here that have covers that lock with an actual key and then have the little square socket key to turn the water on. I've installed a few of those covers myself. Ironically all of the ones I've installed, or even seen, were on government buildings

There are various different sources for obtaining food available. For some of them you just have to swallow your pride a little, for others you have to swallow it a LOT. There are places like the United Way.

pretty much any church will either help you obtain food or point you in the right direction.

At many fast food places and gas stations lots of food is thrown out every day because it wasn't eaten. Befriend the clerk...maybe empty a few garbage cans, pick up a little trash on a rainy night and you can make a valuable ally who can right off a hot dog or two now and then, maybe not charge for refills on coffee and fountain drinks or pay for them themselves depending on the situation at that store.

 

[Mistwalker]

Dumpsters are one option for obtaining food. Every night perfectly good food goes out from some restaurants, and it's usually in bags with nothing else in it. There are garbage receptacles right under the line just for pulling the food that has been up too long to legally serve.

some dumpsters are easier to access, but what you find there will likely be less appealing.

Then there are other food sources available in most cities. If you know how to recognise them there are often fruit trees scattered through cities in different places.

There are restaurant supply houses that have produce that is edible but not sell able where you can sometimes trade them out of it for help loading trucks or cleaning up around the lot doing the jobs they either don't have time for or no one else wants to do.

Then you can also fall back on the more traditional methods of hunter/gathering

 

[Mistwalker]

And while there is usually fuel and tinder for fires even in urban centers...

 

[Mistwalker]

Even this much smoke can be a problem in broad day light...

Because even when it looks like there is no one else around, you are seldom alone out there.

and any place that actually looks like a viable shelter structure and that could serve as one has likely already been claimed. If not... there is usually a very good reason.

The holes between and under over passes often have occupants.

Even places like the caves in this cliff face will be occupied during certain times of the year.

There are shelter options out there...you just have to look and pay attention...and use your imagination. Remember there is competition for most things out there. Also like the tropical jungles the concrete jungle has its predators and predatory scavengers. To appear weak, confused, or disoriented is to invite their attention, which is something best avoided. Luckily, and I mean no offense to anyone by this, the education levels of most out there is limited, a quick mind and a clear head will serve you well. Out there the early bird does tend to get the worm, and little if anything comes to those who wait.

 

[texastonydobbs]

my though in the urban search for water is a tad easier...... the homes that are still intact but vacant the toilet water tank has fresh clean water in it(1.5-3gallons), the hot water heater (20-60 gallons)has alot of water and would require filtering due to years of built up sediment & rust/whatnot.... IMO but cool thread be looking forward to part 2
I also believe some folks will be in for a rude wake up call.....

 

[Phantom]

Very nice photo-essay.

Thank you, Mistwalker.

 

[TKAZ]

Fantastic Thread! love the pictures, keep em coming. great backpack as well, I sell a ton of those. very hard to keep them in-stock!

Also looking forward to part 2.

 

[Don Rearic]

I'm glad to see you posting here after starting to purchase these great tools. I think many of your observations and photoessays will be more appreciated here.

 

[texastonydobbs]

I'm glad to see you posting here after starting to purchase these great tools. I think many of your observations and photoessays will be more appreciated here.

I agree 100% :thumbup:

 

[MrCoffee]

Very good post Mist. Well thought out (as always).

 

[Expatriated]

Good stuff. I think the urban-survival stuff is neglected too often for the wilderness kind. I'm glad to see some more urban focused things these days. See the Apocalypse Man show? I want to know if that mixture he made to manufacture his own diesel fuel works or is that a gimmick?

Again, nice shots. (Don't let the FBI see you taking those types of photos--you'll be on the terrorist watch list before you know it )

 

[Mistwalker]

my though in the urban search for water is a tad easier...... the homes that are still intact but vacant the toilet water tank has fresh clean water in it(1.5-3gallons), the hot water heater (20-60 gallons)has alot of water and would require filtering due to years of built up sediment & rust/whatnot.... IMO but cool thread be looking forward to part 2

Thanks man, glad you like the thread.That may be an option in some places...but in the inner city here any intact home that would still have water in any toilet...or a toilet period for that matter...would likely only be that way long enough for night to fall after the people moved out unless guarded, plywood-ed, or had wrought iron security doors and protected windows. I've been in the construction industry here for years, though I prefer not to work in those areas I have for friends who own buildings there. All things of any value start being removed the first night it's empty unless secured or guarded. Within a few days the insides are completely stripped of anything usable or sell able.

 

[wildmike]

Good stuff Mistwalker. If you use a jungle hammock your campsite locations are greatly expanded.

 

[Spenceds]

This reminds a lot of the "homeless" story on Don's site, good stuff.

 

[Mistwalker]

Very nice photo-essay.

Thank you, Mistwalker.

Thanks man, glad you liked it.

Fantastic Thread! love the pictures, keep em coming. great backpack as well, I sell a ton of those. very hard to keep them in-stock!

Also looking forward to part 2.

Thank you, glad you're enjoying it! I really love the pack!

I'm glad to see you posting here after starting to purchase these great tools. I think many of your observations and photoessays will be more appreciated here.

Thanks Don, I'm loving the knives. I just got the shipping notice on my RC4S this morning, should be here by Friday...though I doubt I'll be taking it into town much

Yeah...I run into problems with the dedicated bushcrafters sometimes...

I agree 100% :thumbup:

Thanks Tony!

Very good post Mist. Well thought out (as always).

Thanks Mr. C, glad you like it...I've been thinking about this stuff and making observations for years watching things change and develop.

Good stuff. I think the urban-survival stuff is neglected too often for the wilderness kind. I'm glad to see some more urban focused things these days. See the Apocalypse Man show? I want to know if that mixture he made to manufacture his own diesel fuel works or is that a gimmick?

Again, nice shots. (Don't let the FBI see you taking those types of photos--you'll be on the terrorist watch list before you know it )

Thanks, I think so too. While I'd much rather be in the woods that's not always possible. Life for me has become so urbanized that my primary area of study has shifted in that direction.

Yeah, I thought about that one day when I was on a building top and realized the Federal Building and the T.V.A.C.O.C. & P.C.C. were in the background of the pictures I was taking...but then again I am a part time photographer and writer in a town full of tourists.

 

[MrCoffee]

The holes between and under over passes often have occupants.

There are shelter options out there...you just have to look and pay attention...and use your imagination. Remember there is competition for most things out there. Also like the tropical jungles the concrete jungle has its predators and predatory scavengers. To appear weak, confused, or disoriented is to invite their attention, which is something best avoided. Luckily, and I mean no offense to anyone by this, the education levels of most out there is limited, a quick mind and a clear head will serve you well. Out there the early bird does tend to get the worm, and little if anything comes to those who wait.

While I tend to agree with some of this Mist, I have to really object to the "limited education" part of your write up. Today, more and more people are finding themselves as homeless, and many of them are quite well educated. Locally to me in Southern Vermont/Southwestern New Hampshire I have talked to a number of the homeless people that live along the river, within a mile or so of my home. Not only are they educated, but I am sad to say, almost 50% were veterans. (I can't tell you how sad, angry and generally pissed off it makes me that so many of our vets are tossed to the wayside). So assuming anything about the other people you might be competing with for shelter is a mistake. For the local Southern Vermont area, we have between 120-150 Vets living under the bridges and along the river.

Other resources are becoming more and more available in urban areas (and more rural areas too) for the homeless. Locally we just opened a "warming center", just a place where homeless folks can come in, get out of the brutally bitter cold, warm up and have something warm to drink. No questions asked. More shelters are opening, as unemployment takes it's toll.

Having talked to and interacted with quite a few of the homeless in my area I can tell you without a doubt that they are as sharp as anyone, and you are not going to out smart them easily. Some of them have drug related problems, but a lot of them simply lost there way in live, had a run of bad luck, or just don't quite "fit" in with the rest of the world. For the most part, I have found treating them with respect goes a long way to avoiding any kind of trouble.

 

[ratamahatta]

great job mist!!!!! I live out in the country so my needs are different, but it gives an idea of what to look for in an urban environment!!!!

 

[Don Rearic]

Yeah...I run into problems with the dedicated bushcrafters sometimes...

That's really a shame, too. I learn a lot of stuff from their posts but it seems that when a topic/thread gets hot and it's about urban stuff, they almost get in your face aggressive about shooting certain aspects of it down. I really don't understand why that is. I guess some people get so openly hostile, and I can understand why (!) about "cities" that they just look at the whole thing with contempt and consider it all B.S.

It's almost becoming like a protectionist racket over yonder.

 

[banana-clip]

Nice pic