Walkabout Kit

F

Fieldtestornothing

Joined
May 23, 2006
Messages
680
Hello All,


Been awhile since I posted. Been seriously considering doing a 7-10 day walkabout this spring. I live in Southern Arizona and know the area's fairly well. Looking at covering close to 200 miles in that time. I would like to keep my base weight down to as minimal as possible and keep a majority of my kit as old school as possible without compromising safety. The intent would be to eat edible plants and small game hunt to supplement my diet as I move. My major weight consideration would be water as I won't compromise on finding water daily. I am open to kit suggestions. My experience is fairly high (Experienced fisher, trapper, hunter and I work and live in the desert commonly) and my fitness level is high as well (I'm 34 and can run a mile in a smidge under 5 minutes on a good day). I'm expecting temperature highs to be in the 90s and lows in the 40s. The intent would be to do WITHOUT and inure my body to the hunter gather life style yet still remain safe. I would hope to build tools as I go. Suggestions are welcome.

Worn:
Shorts
Sandals
Shirt
Hat

Bow and Drill Kit
Tarp
Wool Blanket
Knife (light fixed blade under 5")
Pot
Tinder Kit
Shemag
Pistol: Only used for self defense
Water Storage device (Probably just a few 2 liters filled)
Crooked Knife
Light folding saw
Camera
Jute Twine
Maybe a field guide or two
Hunting License
Wool Sweater

Food:
Mixed Nuts
Dried Meat
Dried Fruit
Oatmeal
Salt
Coffee (I can't live without something)

Emergency ONLY:
Cell phone
Charger
Extra Battery

Suggestions are welcome.
 
Last edited:
seems pretty reasonable, I'm guessing you were planning on boiling your water? Obviously conditions will play into this, as far as relying on fire for quite a bit, is there a backup plan if that becomes unsafe, or will you just stay out of the area if there is a high fire risk?

If you know that you will have good cell coverage and the phone is enough in your mind then go with that. I'd also recommend one of the satellite trackers, like a spot or full on PLB. But that's up to what you feel is your skill-set and the area. I don't see any nav gear on your list, are you relying on your local knowledge, or is the area easy enough to navigate that you are not concerned? Are there good exit options?

Food wise, that's up to you, but that's a pretty big area to cover if you are trapping for food, Even moving light, with little food those are big numbers. If you feel your fitness is up to it, then by all means, go for it.

Don't take any of my comments as criticism, they are meant for others potentially more than yourself. I wouldn't want someone with less experience to see your gear list and feel like that was a complete trip plan. this plan relies heavily not just on your skills, but your knowledge of your body and how far you can push yourself.
 
I don't mean to hijack this thread by doing this..

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...rage-Solutions
I would use Hardigg containers for my storage plan to make an escape. Keep a stock of gas for 300+ miles in gas cans at all times (at least - Keep more if you can). Try to have cans with 150+gallons of gas you need.
ALL KEPT UNDER WATCH AND LOCK.
Archery and fishing gear (so much you wont worry about running out of ammo)
hundreds and hundreds of fishing lures and line reels rods etc...
4 Bows, 8 Bowstrings, Sting wax, Polish, Fletching and Fletching glue, Fletching Jig, Field and Broadheads, Nocks, Releases and Arm Gaurds, All in a tackle box easily accessed.
Tool Boxes filled with woodworking tools (Comealongs, Maasdam pullers, axes, sledge hammers, mauls, tree/rock climbing gear and ropes, towstraps, chainsaws - 2 cycle oil treatment and saw oil with extra sparkplugs, Wedges, drawknives, saws, files, nails, screws etc...)
Roof liners, blankets, heavy duty cloths, 4 bags of quick mix concrete (this is only 2$ a bag, as many as you can carry, hardware like door hinges and locks.
at least 5 large jars of whey protein- 10+ is best. You can basically live on this alone with vitamins and fiber if you need to.
5-10 tins of nuts (as big of a container as I can get)
Multivitamins, calcium, vitamin C, Potassium, antioxidant etc.
Metamucil wafers (lots)
Spices
pans, kettles and small stove
Toothbrush and tooth paste, some TP, Lots of soap or soap concentrate,
canvas fabric bulk, buttons, heavy thread, fasteners and hardware such as zippers, grommets, snaps etc.
5 pairs of good boots
a few gold coins for trade or barter
Bottles of Liquor. These are good for water cleaning and have many practical uses... Always wanted and tradable.
A heavy duty truck with a diesel engine and lots of torque, a trailer full of above mentioned supplies. A mad cap lid for the back of the full sized truck bed with a mattress and blankets/clothes and tent. Rack storage for top of truck holds 1 canoe and 5 paddles along with 20 gallons of gas tied in with climbing rope. Chains for truck tires in trailer. Extra wheel for truck and trailer. 7Gallons of K1 Kerosene in trailer, 40 magnesium fire starters, 10 sealed and vacuum sealed bags of tobacco with pipe and tubes...
Disposable lighters, oil, extra car battery.

Backpack in truck should contain two reliable folding knives, at least one fixed blade knife, 550 paracord or thin climbing rope and calipers, 1-2 pistols - A 1911 .45 (100 rnds of ammo and a .22 with 200rnds of ammo) 5 magnesium fire starters, small liquor bottle full of K1 Kerosene, Lock Picks, Extra Shoe laces, TOPO road and hiking trail map, Tritium Military Compass, 5Pencils, Tank Tops, Extra pants, and two canteens. A machete would be great as well.
This should never leave your side.
Have friends and family with cars/trucks as well. Have a plan and a place picked out. There is power in numbers, have at least twice the gas that you think you will need to get to your destination, and every person in your plan should have about everything above mentioned ready to go..
Pretty much everything. People are way underestimating what they will need for survival. One jar of whey protein can last you more than a month. Peanut butter will last you long as well.
Glass Mason Jars for canning (100+), Dutch oven, Ammo Boxes full of assorted vegetable seeds. Sealed in cool location these will last 3+years. Gardening Pots. Gardening equipment. Plastic Buckets.
3-4 Solar Panels... 10 would be ideal for power.
Such as these: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Sunfo...it/1942179.uts
Pieces of Plexiglas and stainless steel for housing.
1500 Watt Grow Lights (HPS or HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM bulbs)
Nutrients and Bags of garden soil.
Kitchen implements and meat grinders.
Now you should be set. Period.
 
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I would want a 2nd or 3rd fire starting method myself and boots rather than sandals for the ankle protection they provide.
 
I would add:
- better navigation. Maps, compass, gps, and PLB if at all possible.
- real shoes, long pants, long shirt, & sunscreen. Sunburn is no joke, the less exposed skin the better. Covering up reduces the chance of skin cancer down the road and trust me you don't want to experience acute sun stroke... Especially not alone with nobody to cart you off to the emergency room. Even if you don't cover up all the time you need the option of full coverage.
- Extra water AND spare water containers. I might even go so far as to map out/ cache the water sources beforehand. You do not want to run out. And a spare container is light insurance in case a bottle springs a leak on you.
- Water filtering and treatment items.
- Emergency rations. I'd personally carry enough food for the whole trip but that's just me.
- toilet paper
- feet and balls care package (blister bandages for feet, vaseline for chafing balls, and wet wipes to keep both free of infection)
- Hygiene in general. You'll want that toothbrush and maybe even some first aid.
- Signal mirror and whistle

I would also do a dry run.... Go a day or two without eating (your body generates less heat on an empty stomach) and then test the sleeping system without fire; in colder, wetter conditions than you expect to encounter (shit happens).

Naturally you will want to map out the route carefully and leave a copy with someone trustworthy who will send in help if you don't check in.

The goal is presumably to challenge yourself, not to kill yourself. So remember that it is not cheating to pack modern safety and convenience items... You might feel silly if you have to use that bic lighter and alcohol stove when the bow drill fails but you'll feel more silly eating uncooked rat and drinking cold coffee. ;)

Safe and happy trails. :thumbup:

Zemapeli said:
I don't mean to hijack this thread by doing this..
Click to expand...

too late.
 
sideways said:
I would add:
- better navigation. Maps, compass, gps, and PLB if at all possible.
- real shoes, long pants, long shirt, & sunscreen. Sunburn is no joke, the less exposed skin the better. Covering up reduces the chance of skin cancer down the road and trust me you don't want to experience acute sun stroke... Especially not alone with nobody to cart you off to the emergency room. Even if you don't cover up all the time you need the option of full coverage.
- Extra water AND spare water containers. I might even go so far as to map out/ cache the water sources beforehand. You do not want to run out. And a spare container is light insurance in case a bottle springs a leak on you.
- Water filtering and treatment items.
- Emergency rations. I'd personally carry enough food for the whole trip but that's just me.
- toilet paper
- feet and balls care package (blister bandages for feet, vaseline for chafing balls, and wet wipes to keep both free of infection)
- Hygiene in general. You'll want that toothbrush and maybe even some first aid.
- Signal mirror and whistle

I would also do a dry run.... Go a day or two without eating (your body generates less heat on an empty stomach) and then test the sleeping system without fire; in colder, wetter conditions than you expect to encounter (shit happens).

Naturally you will want to map out the route carefully and leave a copy with someone trustworthy who will send in help if you don't check in.

The goal is presumably to challenge yourself, not to kill yourself. So remember that it is not cheating to pack modern safety and convenience items... You might feel silly if you have to use that bic lighter and alcohol stove when the bow drill fails but you'll feel more silly eating uncooked rat and drinking cold coffee. ;)

Safe and happy trails. :thumbup:



too late.
Click to expand...

I think these are all good suggestions, Have Fun
 
I have never worn any sandals that were comfortable enough for me to wear them for a 200 mile trek. I would reconsider.
 
There are sandals and sandals. Some are like boots with open work uppers. The Roman Legions marched 20 miles a day (before digging a "camp") in the latter sort of "sandals."

Still, not something i would wear when hiking, much less backpacking.
 
I'm sure some sandals would be comfortable and durable enough for long walks but for me it is a matter of sun exposure. Even with socks your feet will burn. I have not seen a sock yet that will stop UV.

If you are walking on loose gravel with sandals you'll be stopping frequently to get rid of hitchhikers. You might also stub a toe painfully here and there walking around tired on rough terrain.
 
Thomas Linton said:
There are sandals and sandals. Some are like boots with open work uppers. The Roman Legions marched 20 miles a day (before digging a "camp") in the latter sort of "sandals."

Still, not something i would wear when hiking, much less backpacking.
Click to expand...

I've worn many types of modern sandals, and unless I wore them with socks I wouldn't have been comfortable enough. Not to mention the lack of protection and the little rocks and grit that will wind up in them to irritate your feet.

Do you suppose there were others things the Roman Legions wore that were also uncomfortable? There are lots of things our ancestors did that we no longer do, and for good reason.
 
Also, speaking of UV... are the shorts a concern? There is a good reason that most people who live in desert terrain don't walk around with much exposed skin...
 
Honestly, I have worn sandals for extended hikes in the cold, wet, slippery woods of the high Appalachians in April. Through in some wool socks for cold mornings and you should be good.
 
I'd bring a small first aid kit, some personal hygiene things, maps and a compass.

edit:
oh, that's already mentioned. :thumbup:
 
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