AmericanSurvivalGuide201411 PDF

ASG_1411_COVER1 8/29/14 6:23 AM Page US_C1
AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE
OLS
EST
THEIBVAL SCHO
SURV
THE RIGHT GEAR 5 WAYS TO BUILD
FOR EVERY TERRAIN SURVIVAL ENDURANCE
FLASHLIGHT
HACKS
GLOW
BRIGHTER,
LONGER
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 6
ONE
GUN
O
HOW-T
PICK A
CK
PADLO
A
WRAPRD
O
PARACCELET
BRA
ORE
AND M
DO-EVERYTHING
FIREARM FOR
DISASTERS
WHY
ORGANIZED
GROUPS
SURVIVE
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 6 NOVEMBER 2014 U.S. $8.99

DISPLAY UNTIL: 11/4/2014
NOVEMBER 2014
DOUBLE-DUTY
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
AS SURVIVAL GEAR
14 WAYS TO USE A BANDANA

5 MUST-HAVE MEDICAL SUPPLIES
11
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ASG_1411_C2 8/27/14 10:38 PM Page C2
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ASG_1411_3 8/27/14 10:39 PM Page 3
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ASG_1411_TOC.qxp 8/27/14 11:17 PM Page 4
52
COVER
SURVIVAL OF
THE PACK
Everybodys in a crisis
state: Do you lead,
or follow?
AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE (ISSN 2331-8937) Volume 3, Number 6 is published 9 times a year January, February, April/May, June, July, August, September, November, December by Beckett Media, LLC, 22840
Savi Ranch Pkwy., Suite 200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887. POSTMASTER: send address changes to American Survival Guide c/o Beckett Media, 4635 McEwen Road, Dallas, TX 75244. 2014 by Beckett Media, LLC. All
rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. GST #855050365RT001 Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. Return undeliverable Canadian
addresses to: PITNEY BOWES, INC. P.O. Box 25542 London, ON N6C 6B2.
ASG_1411_TOC.5 CX 8/31/14 11:47 PM Page 5
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 6 | NOVEMBER 2014
FEATURES
ENDURANCE
URBAN
18 ENDURANCE INTRODUCTION
66 URBAN INTRODUCTION
19 THE BRAIN IN ACTION
67 10 HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
The psychology of mentality
Everyday things you can use in an

emergency
22 THE GET-HOME BAG

Youre out, and theres been a crisis. What
tools do you need to get home?
71 14 GOOD USES FOR A

BANDANA
26 FIVE WAYS TO BUILD
Got a bandana? A rag? Use it to your

advantage
Be ready both physically and mentally when

a survival situation strikes
74 THE ULTIMATE SURVIVAL

SHELTER
32 FIVE MEDICAL ESSENTIALS
Spartan Shelters shows you how to weather

the storm
Put together a solid medical bag that you

can rely on
78 PREPPING FOR SENIORS
36 PERSONAL THREAT ANALYSIS
Senior citizens know how volitile the world

can be. Heres how to prep for elders
ENDURANCE
BUYERS
GUIDES
58 TERRAIN
82 CORDAGE
82
Whats the first thing you do in a crisis?
40 KNIVES: COMMON POINTS OF

FAILURE
WILDERNESS
Learn how to pick a reliable knife
88 WILDERNESS INTRODUCTION
HOW-TO
42 HOW-TO INTRODUCTION
43 INSTA-ROPE
How to make a paracord bracelet
THE COVER:
Photo by GUS ALONSO
Style: BREANNA ARMSTRONG
Models: KATIE CARSON,
STEVEN HURST,
JOSH NICHOLSON
Makeup and Hair:
LYNSEY STANFIELD
Gear:
Under ArmourAlegent Tactical Boots
Lugz- Tambora Spark
AfflictionWomens Live Fast Jacket
Affliction- Mens Easy Rider
Design: JESSE CAO
46 HOW TO PICK A LOCK WITH A

BOBBY PIN
89 TREATING AN ANIMAL BITE

How to treat animal bites to avoid serious
infection
92 THE SHELTER ENVIRONMENT

How do you assess your environment and
build an appropriate temporary shelter?
98 SAVE YOUR SKIN

Avoid being lunch for ticks and mosquitos
A simple tool and a little practice can get

you out of a sticky situation
102 ADVENTURE IN ALASKA
48 WATER FILTRATION
The Kilcher family gives an insiders view of

living off the grid
Keep yourself hydrated
50 HACK YOUR FLASHLIGHT

Put those obsolete tools back in your
survival bag
108 NATURAL AND IMPROVISED

SURVIVAL CONTAINERS
Simple tools to simply survive
112 FIVE TOP SURVIVAL

SCHOOLS
Find all levels of training, from beginning

for when things come to an end
118 JUST ONE GUN
16
COLUMNS
6 FIRST WORDS
8 NEW PRODUCTS
12 NEWS & NOTES
16 GEAR REVIEW
128 PREPPING WITH RALSTON

130 CLOSING WORDS
Room for just one firearm? No problem
ASG_1411_EDIT.qxp 8/27/14 11:22 PM Page 6
FIRSTWORDS
BY AARON GOLD
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 6 / NOVEMBER 2014

EDITORIAL
Editorial Director: Jennifer Degtjarewsky
Editor-in-Chief: Aaron Gold
Managing Editor: Kari Windes
Associate Editor: Breanna Armstrong
Senior Creative Director: Eric Knagg
Art Director: Jesse Cao
Think To Survive
CONTRIBUTORS
Sean Cooper, Mike DAngona, Amber Erickson
Gabbey, Torrey Kim, Alex LaGrand, Tony Nester, Tim
Ralston, Larry Schwartz, Tori Tellem, Gary Carter,
Patrick Granger, Jason Fogelson, Jeff Zurschmeide
ADVERTISING
Gabe Frimmel - Ad Sales Director
(714) 200-1930 - GFrimmel@Beckett.com
Casey Clifford - Senior Account Executive
(717) 896-8956
Mark Pack - Senior Account Executive
(714) 200-1939
Gennifer Merriday - Ad Traffic Coordinator
DIRECT MARKETING GROUP

John Bartulin
Paul Caca
Ryan Lauro
Mary Ann Jaca
(866) 866-5146 ext. 2746

(866) 866-5146 ext. 4961
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Gus Alonzo: Newsstand Sales Manager
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Amit Sharma: Business Analytics Manager
Mohit Patel: Newsstand and Production Analyst
Alberto Chavez: Senior Logistics & Facilities Manager
John Cabral: Creative Graphic Designer
NOVEMBER 2014
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE
THERE IS AN OLD EXPRESSION: Lead, follow, or get out of the way. When disaster strikes, people tend to self-sort into these very groups. If youre reading this
magazine, chances are you are a leader. Your intention is to control your own destiny rather than put your fate in someone elses hands. You know what could happen and you want to be preparedwith tools, with knowledge, and with a plan.
But what if you find yourself in a survival situation with a group of strangers?
Many self-determined people see only two options: Leave them to fend for themselves or take them with you at the risk of imperiling your own survival. But there is
a third option, and that is to use your leadership skills to turn the group into an
effective survival team. To do that, one cant simply give orders. One needs to see
people as potential tools: Identify the leaders, the followers, and even those who
just want to get out of the way, and put them all to work to ensure everyones survival. Thats the subject of this months cover story.
Were big advocates of the survival mindset, which involves planning and thinking through scenarios before they happen, and knowing how to improvise when
you have to. This month, youll find lots of articles that pertain to how we think
about survival, everything from finding a good survival school to using simple
household items as survival equipment. Well talk about how the mind deals with
stressful situations, well show you the latest gear, and well even tell you how to
pick a lock, because, hey, you never know.
Remember, your most valuable survival tool is the one between your ears. Keep
it clean and keep it sharp.
Thanks for reading American Survival Guide!
22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200

Yorba Linda, CA 92887
Ph: (800) 332-3330
Fax: (800) 249-7761
www.americansurvivalguidemag.com
www.facebook.com/americansurvivalguidemagazine
www.facebook.com/eembybeckett
AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE (ISSN 2331-8937)
Volume 3, Number 6 is published 9 times a year
January, February, April/May, June, July, August, September,
November, December by Beckett Media, LLC, 22840 Savi
Ranch Pkwy., Suite 200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887. POSTMASTER: send address changes to American Survival Guide
c/o Beckett Media, 4635 McEwen Road, Dallas, TX 75244.
2014 by Beckett Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is
strictly prohibited. GST #855050365RT001 Canada Post:
Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: PITNEY BOWES, INC. P.O. Box
25542 London, ON N6C 6B2.
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Nick Singh: Executive Director
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Group Editorial Director & Business Unit Director
This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the
understanding that information presented is from
various sources from which there can be no warranty or
responsibility by Beckett Media, LLC as to the legality, completeness or technical accuracy.
ASG_1411_7 8/27/14 10:40 PM Page 7
Eclipse OWB - MSRP $69.99 to $79.99

The following features are available for the Eclipse holster.
The Eclipse OWB Outside the Waistband Holster is the perfect alterQDWLYHKROVWHUIRUWKRVHZKRZRXOGUDWKHUFDUU\WKHLUUHDUPFRQFHDOHG
securely on the outside of the belt rather than Inside the waistband.
The Eclipse is a Pancake style holster with a full sweat guard designed
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Will not collapse
})L[HGEHOWORRSVL]HVRU
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ASG_1411_PRODUCTS.qxp 8/27/14 11:23 PM Page 8
NEWPRODUCTS
C U T T I N G - E D G E I N N OVAT I O N
1. ALPS OUTDOORZ
2. KURGO
3. PAPER SHOWER
PRODUCT: Crossfire Pack

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MSRP: $139.99
PRODUCT: Muck Collar

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MSRP: $14.99
PRODUCT: Large Body Wipes (12 pack)

WEBSITE: PaperShower.com
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Specifications:
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Dening Features: This 2,225 (38 liter)-cubic

inch pack from ALPS OutdoorZ has a large
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that can be attached to the chest or worn separately over the shoulder. The Crossfire has a
vented back design to reduce perspiration, and
is designed to securely hold a gun or bow. A
removable bright orange rain cover is included.
Dening Features: Regular dog collars can

stink to high heaven when they get dirty. Kurgo's new Muck Collar won't absorb water, bacteria or muck because it's waterproof and
odor-free, and it's easy to cleansponge it off
or drop it in the dishwasher. Collar includes a
bottle opener in case Fido wants to pop open a
cold one.
Dening Features: When youre out camping

miles from civilization, staples like soap and
water can be considered luxuries. While it
would be nice to be able to carry around a
bucket of water and a few bars of soap, its not
always practicalthats where Paper Shower
comes in. Paper Shower is just like a moist towelette, but biggeryou can easily wipe yourself
down after a hike in the outdoors, and at 88
cents per pack, you can afford to stock up.
Hunting & Outdoor Gear

Meet The Outdoors Head On By Sean Cooper
1
3
8
ASG_1411_PRODUCTS.qxp 8/27/14 11:23 PM Page 9
5
4. DECIWATT
5. NIKON
PRODUCT: Gravity Light

WEBSITE: DeciWatt.com
MSRP: TBD
PRODUCT: ProStaff 7S 8x42

WEBSITE: NikonSportOptics.com
MSRP: $189.95
Specifications:
Power (max): 124mW
Weight: 0.8kg
Power Output: 0.10W (High), 0.05W (Low)
Specifications:
Includes turn-and-slide rubber eyecups
Waterproof and fogproof
Comes with a lifetime warranty
Dening Features: Designed as an off-grid

accessory, GravityLight is a safe alternative to
fuel lanterns. Attach to the ceiling, fill the two
bags with rocks or stones, raise the larger bag,
and gravity does the rest, generating electricity
for up to 25 minutes of light at up to 0.1 watt.
Despite only generating one deciwatt of
power, it outshines kerosene lamps, plus its
better for the environment. And since no fuel is
required, GravityLight doesnt cost a penny to
operate.
Dening Features: Nikon ProStaff 7S are

hybrid binoculars, combining a slick, ergonomically fitting design with a top-notch optical
system. The body is protected by a durable
coating of rubber armor, reducing the chances
of damage if the binoculars are dropped.
6. PRIMAL GEAR
UNLIMITED
PRODUCT: CFSB Compact Folding Survival
Bow
WEBSITE: GoPrimalNow.com
MSRP: $169
Specifications:
Arrows travel an average speed of 170 fps
Dimensions: 23 inches in length by 1.5 inches
wide by 1.5 inches in height.
Weight: 2.25 pounds
Dening Features: Weighing in at only 2.25
pounds and measuring 23 inches when folded,
the Compact Folding Survival Bow is a weapon
that is light, compact and powerful. Designed
for durability with an aluminum riser and Fiberglas bow limbs, the CFSB can easily be converted from right- to left-hand operation.
Available in 40-, 50- and 55-pound draw
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ASG_1411_11 8/27/14 10:45 PM Page 11
THE RENEGADE
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ASG_1411_NEWS.12,14 CX 8/31/14 11:53 PM Page 12
MALARIA OVER?
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
RESEARCHERSINCLUDING SOME from Harvard

School of Public Healthhave found the first
indication of an intercellular bacterial infection in
natural populations of two species of Anopheles
mosquitos, the type mainly responsible for
transmitting malaria in Africa and dubbed the
deadliest animal on the planet by the Harvard
School of Public Health.
LOS ANGELES MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI will be

appointing the citys first-ever chief resilience officer.
The position will involve figuring out ways to
improve the citys ability to recover from any
disasters, be they natural or man-made. The goal is
to prepare major infrastructures for any calamity,
including risks to communications and water.
Im making sure that Los Angeles, threatened by
13 of the 16 federally designated natural disasters,
gets serious about resilience and sustainability,
explains Mayor Garcetti. A partnership with the U.S.
Geological Survey on earthquake safety and building
resilience is part of the plan.
NOVEMBER 2014
TAK E AW AY: City governments bear the brunt of

post-disaster issues, and Los Angeles hopes to set
standard for how other city leaders can not only
prepare for a disaster, but also be ready to recover
quickly in the aftermath.
12
TAK E AW AY: Malaria is responsible for more than

600,000 deaths each year. This finding could help
stop the spread of malaria on a global scale.
READ ALL ABOUT IT

There are 50 steps to prepare for a
disaster, according to the Preppers
Instruction Manual by Arthur T. Bradley,
Ph.D. And prepping goes
beyond a stocked pantry. Do
you have a source for making
electricity? How about
purifying water? Dr. Bradley
explores those concepts and
48 other important steps you
should take with detailed
descriptions of how to
execute your plans, including
administering first aid,
learning to shoot, and
keeping warm. This is a good, practical
survival guide for unexpected situations.
PHOTOS BY THINKSTOCK
Los Angeles Takes Major Step

In Disaster Preparedness
Although the word infection sounds bad, its

usage heretechnically called Wolbachia
infectionhas been shown in lab studies to
decrease the incidence of pathogen infections in
mosquitos.
ASG_1411_NEWS.qxp 8/27/14 11:25 PM Page 13
FLOOD APP
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS has
introduced a Flood App that allows for
one-touch messaging of the phrase
Im safe to friends and family. In
addition, the app offers instant local
and real-time information about what
to do before, during, and after a flood.
Even if the app is closed, audible
NOAA flood and flash flood watches
and warnings will be transmitted.
Other handy info includes locations
of open Red Cross shelters, a toolkit
with a strobe light, flashlight, and
alarm to alert others of your
whereabouts, and resources for the
aftermath of a flood. Red Cross also
offers apps for tornadoes, hurricanes,
earthquakes, fires, and first aid.
TAK E AW AY: This is smartphone
technology at its best: A multi-tool
that keeps you connected and safe.
$840 MILLION
GOVERNMENT
GRANT
TAK E AW AY: Improving how

communities can respond to natural
disasters, infectious disease outbreaks,
and biological, chemical, and radiological
events is money well spent.
NOVEMBER 2014
MORE THAN $840 MILLION in grant

money has been awarded from the U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services to state and local public health
and health care systems to prepare for
emergencies. There are two funds
distributing the monies: the Hospital
Preparedness Program and Public Health
Emergency Preparedness.
Events in the last few years have
demonstrated how critical it is for health
systems across the country to be ready
and able to respond quickly and
efficiently, says Nicole Lurie, M.D.,
assistant secretary for preparedness and
response.
13
ASG_1411_NEWS.12,14 CX 8/31/14 11:53 PM Page 14
DRONES FIGHT FIRES
PHOTO COURTESY OF PSL.NMSU.EDU
UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLESknown better

as dronesare increasingly being used to assist
fire fighters and other first responders. With the
ability to be launched remotely, record video,
capture data, map areas, and take photos, drones
can allow for better planning and monitoring,
especially with wildfires.
Firechief.com highlighted a few drones to
watch, including the Viking 400-S Unmanned
Aircraft System, which could be outfitted with
detectors for hazmat situations such as nuclear
and chemical leaks. The Senseflys eBee is
extremely small and can cover 10 miles in one
flight. Its small size makes it easy for a first
responder to deploy in the field.
TAK E AW AY: Advanced-technology drones have
proven themselves to be life savers in war zones,
so imagine what they could do in an urban postdisaster setting, especially in a situation where
deploying first responders is risky without
adequate situational assessment.
NOVEMBER 2014
THE EMERGENCY DIAL-UP, 911, is finally moving

into the modern era. Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and
AT&T are offering emergency text-to-911 to any local
governments set up to function with that option.
Among the states currently using text-to-911 are
Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine,
Maryland, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, and
Virginia. If you try to text-to-911 in a region not yet
connected, you will received a bounce-back message.
Note that calling 911 is still the preferred method,
due to your ability to provide immediate answers to
the dispatchers questions.
14
TAK E AW AY: Perhaps those benefitting most from this

new option will be the hearing impaired and those in
dangerous situations where speaking on the phone
would put their lives at risk. Experts predict
nationwide deployment will take a couple of years;
hopefully, it will happen sooner.
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
911 EXPANSION
ASG_1411_15 8/29/14 11:43 AM Page 15
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ASG_1411_REVIEW.qxp 8/27/14 11:27 PM Page 16
GEARREVIEW
The Do-Everything
Desert Outfit
ASG Geared-Up Survival Expert, Tony Nester, In The Latest From 5.11
Tactical. Find Out What Features Worked Best During His Rigorous
Desert Survival Training | BY T ONY NE ST E R
Flex-Tac Stryke Pants
Just when I thought that Id never wear
another model of 5.11 Tactical pants
besides my trusty Tac-Lite trousers,
the Flex-Tac pants come along. These
are probably the most comfortable
and durable pants Ive worn afield, and
Im amazed at their well-thought-out
design, with numerous cargo pockets,
seven belt loops, and 5.11s patented
ripstop fabric material. After three
days of beating these up on a desert
survival course where we were plowing through knee-high thickets, they
held up extremely well and only
showed minimal signs of abrasion.
$69.99
Traverse Shirt
NOVEMBER 2014
This is a polyester shirt that comes in

both long- and short-sleeved versions.
It has several integrated vents that run
from the armpit to the bottom of the
shirt. Ive always found polyester fabrics to be mildly uncomfortable in the
triple-digit heat of the desert, though
acceptable in normal summer temperatures, and that was my experience
with the 5.11 Traverse shirt, this despite
the venting and moisture-wicking fabric. I prefer poly-cotton or nylon-cotton
blends given how straight polyester
can irritate the skin of some people
(myself included). That said, the
design is solid and I like the two zipper-secured pockets on either side.
The shirt provides SPF 50 sun protection. $69.99-$74.99
16
ASG_1411_REVIEW.qxp 8/27/14 11:27 PM Page 17
XPRT 2.0 Tactical Desert

Boots
The rocky and cactus-strewn terrain
of the desert demands rugged
footwear and the XPRT boots did
not disappoint. These were pretty
stiff out of the box and I was concerned there would be a long breakin time, but the fit started to relax
after a weekend trip and are now
very comfortable. The material,
comprised of Nubuc-Suede with
leather overlays, is above average
for a desert boot. This alone makes
it stand out from the myriad knockoffs on the market today and should
add considerably to the boots
longevity. The factory insole was a
little thin for my tastes and I
replaced it with a pair of Superfeet
soles, which add more cushioning
for walking on rocky surfaces. Being
a full-time guide, I tend to go
through a pair of boots about every
eight months, and I envision the
XPRT holding up well beyond that
timeframe given their current performance. All in all, a lightweight,
durable design for arid regions.
$194.99
LMC Recurve Stainless Steel

Folding Knife
5.11 RUSH24 Backpack

As with other items in the 5.11 line,
this pack is made of quality material
and has a spacious design. With my
height of 6 feet, I found the neck
yoke and shoulder strap width fine,
but I would like to see thicker
padding in the latter. The pack
comes with a wrap-around web
platform that is molle compatible
and provided ample room to attach
my survival kit and a small medical
pouch on the front panel. The company calls this a 2,000 cubic inch
(33 liter) pack, but thats only the
main compartment; the multiple
side and front pockets greatly
increase the carrying capacity. The
RUSH24 is more space than one
needs for a day-hike, but ideal for
two- to three-day treks or as a bugout bag. I know mine will be seeing a
lot of use. $130.99
LMC Recurve
Stainless
Steel Folding
Knife
Flex-Tac
Stryke
Pants
Traverse
Shirt
XPRT 2.0
Tactical
Desert
Boots
5.11 RUSH24
Backpack
NOVEMBER 2014
The LMC Recurve is a plain edge

folder with a 3.25-inch hollow
ground blade. The blade is easy to
deploy with one hand and comes
with a liner-lock mechanism. The
grip offers the option of a reversible
clip to accommodate right- and lefthanded users. It measures 4.25
inches closed and 7.5 inches open
with a satin finish on the blade,
which is crafted from 3mm thick
AUS 8 steel hardened to 57-60 HRC.
The thing that most impressed me
was the comfortable finger choil, a
feature not often found in folding
knives. This provides better control
when carving while increasing the
safety factor. I used the blade
numerous times for creating wood
shavings from a resinous log for
firestarting along with general camp
chores, and it shined through. Ideal
for everyday carry and utilitarian

functions, the LMC is a reliable cutting tool in the competitive world of
folding blades. $47.99
17
ASG_1411_INTRO_ENDURE.qxp 8/27/14 11:29 PM Page 18
ENDURE
IN THIS SECTION
PSYCHOLOGY OF SURVIVAL + THREAT ANALYSIS + GET-HOME BAG
NOVEMBER 2014
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
PREPARING FOR A DISASTER or a survival situation

isnt just about having up the right equipment, its about
preparing yourself. In this section, well take a look at
the psychology of survival, specifically how the human
brain reacts in an emergency situation. Well discuss
analysis and classification of threats, plus ways you can
build your mental and physical endurance to prepare for
a situation that will press both to their limits.
Of course, equipment is important, too, which is why
well tell you about the five medical supplies every survivalist ought to have. Finally, well talk about building a
Get-Home Bag, a minimalist survival kit containing the
essentials youll need if you suddenly find that motorized transport is not an option.
18
ASG_1411_PSYCH.qxp 8/27/14 11:32 PM Page 19
THE
BRAIN
IN ACTION
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MENTALITY
BY ALEX LAGRAND
A POSITIVE ATTITUDE IS A MUST.
NOVEMBER 2014
INDSET IS KEY TO SURVIVAL. Whether

were camping at Lake Nowhere or safeguarding our family after a natural disaster,
were relying on our ability to think, to
assess, and to plan. And yet not all situations allow such careful assessment: Emergencies can flare
up without warning, require an instant responsethe right
responsewith no delay.
Fortunately, our brains are wired to work both waysto
assess carefully and to react instantly. By understanding the
way the human brain processes information, we can use our
brain as a tool to increase our chances of survival.
19
What is Psychology?
There are many viewpoints on what psychology
truly is, because there are many aspects of modern psychology. Psychology, by the American
Psychological Association definition, is the scientific study of the behavior of individuals and
their mental processes.
Since the creation of the first psychological
laboratory by William Wundt in 1879, psychology
has grown to apply to include many types of psychology, including biopsychology, clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental
psychology, environmental psychology, forensic
psychology, social psychology, and many more.
PREPARATION IS ESSENTIAL IN A DIRE SITUATION.

BRAIN BIOLOGY
Parts of the Brain

and Their Functions
NOVEMBER 2014
Below are some of the parts of the brain and their basic
functions. Each has a responsibility in contributing to
stress responses, such as fight or flight.
20
Cerebrum: Most of the brains function.

Cerebellum: Balance, posture, and coordination.
Amygdala: Emotion.
Hippocampus: Memory.
Hypothalamus: Thirst, hunger, and body temperature.
Thalamus: Feeling and pain.
Midbrain: Movement, vision, and hearing.
Pons: Sensory analysis and motor control.
Medulla: Heart rate and breathing.
Psychology revolves around the brain; in particular, its

processes (both biological and cognitive) and its outputs
(which manifest themselves as ones shown behavior). In
any emergency situation, it is key to understand the biological processes within the brain to ensure optimal critical thinking.
The bodys sensory system, such as the eyes, will
deliver information to the brain due to visual capture,
explains Christopher Volkmar, advanced placement psychology teacher from Cary, N.C. The visual cortex within
the brain may then route this input to the amygdala, sympathetic nervous system, and eventually, the higher cognitive areas such as the frontal lobethe brains very own
judgment centerand cerebral cortex for higher-level
critical thinking.
But what about situations that dont allow adequate time
for reflection? The brain offers immense power in emergency situations, such as the fight or flight response.
FIGHT OR FLIGHT
Many are already aware the fight or flight response,
a stress-induced bodily response triggered by the autonomic nervous system, is also referred to as the sympathetic nervous system.
This response is reflexive and occurs without our
conscious deliberate control over it, says Volkmar. It is
designed from an evolutionary standpoint to help us to
react before we are fully aware of what is transpiring. In
an emergency, speed may save your life. All emergency
physiological systems go into high gear, such as increased
respiration, blood flow to the bodys extremities, pupil
dilation, and increased heart rate.
When in a situation that triggers fight or flight, our

bodies react. Most often, when this response is triggered,
the body is preparing itself to either fight the cause of
stress or flee from it (hence the term fight or flight).
POSITIVITY AND PREPARATION

Little can be done to alter brain processes in emergency situations, but two things can certainly help ones
mentality: Positivity and preparation.
In any emergency, understanding that you are more
than capable of surviving and getting through while
maintaining composure is crucial. Not only will it allow
you to stay calm and avoid panic, but it also gives the confidence you need to believe in them to resolve the emergency at hand.
There are many

threats in nature,
ranging from wild
animal attacks to
drastic turns in
weather. Understanding the psychology of your
mental status is
crucial to ensure
safety in any
emergency.
THINK TO SURVIVE
Understand how the brain processes information
Recognize when the Fight or Flight response is kicking in
Maintain a positive attitudetalk to yourself if need be!
Be adequately prepared, both mentally and physically
A positive attitude is a must, Volkmar explains.

Self-affirming statements such as I can do this, I have
overcome tougher problems, I will not fail, and just generally fostering an optimistic but relentless attitude
through positive self-talk cannot be overstated enough.
Aside from positivity, preparation is also important.
The simple understanding that various unexpected situations can and will occur is a must for any outdoorsman.
Notes Volkmar, Preparation is essential in a dire situation. Considering beforehand the type of perils one may
face is crucial while preparing for these situations with the
proper tools, equipment, supplies, training, and mindset.
Being properly prepared with the right tools can give
you the time you need for your brain to adequately assess
the situation at hand and evaluate the necessary response
for the best outcome.
One of the most famous

outdoor emergency situations known is in the
instance of Aron Ralston, a
rock climber who, while in
a canyon in Utah, was
trapped underneath a
boulder, and was forced to
make a decision over the
course of five days regarding how to free himself. In
a journey that evaluates
the will of people to live,
the popular 2010 movie
captures the true story of
Ralston and the psychology and mindset of those
caught in dire situations.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION
For some more information
on psychology, the history of
psychology, and other brain
processes and theories, visit
the website of the American
Psychological Association at
APA.org.
NOVEMBER 2014
Bio: Alex LaGrand is a N.C.-based freelance writer who enjoys writing about various
topics, particularly involving the outdoors and the military.
127 Hours
21
The Get-Home
BAG
J
WHY ITS A VITAL PIECE OF THE

PUZZLE DURING A DISASTER
BY L AR R Y SC H W AR T Z
NOVEMBER 2014
anuary 28th, 2014 brought one of those Ill never forget events: A winter
storm front dumped two inches of snow on the Atlanta metropolitan area,
which melted on contact with the ground and quickly turned to ice in the
freezing temperatures. When the snow started to fall, businesses let their
employees off and schools dismissed early. The massive influx of vehicles
on the icy road system resulted in a gridlock that lasted through the night and into
the next day. It was a vivid confirmation to those in the Atlanta metroplex who
actively prepared for lifes unexpected challenges, and a shocking wake-up call to
the thousands who didnt.
22
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
ASG_1411_BAG.qxp 8/27/14 11:34 PM Page 22
THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN ONLY COVER

AROUND TWO AND A HALF MILES EACH HOUR
WHEN WALKING OVER UNEVEN TERRAIN OR
WHEN CARRYING A LOAD.
But it isnt just a weather-related situation that can turn your normal commute into
10 or more hours of walking to get home or
to some kind of lodging. Your car breaking
down while driving between cities, a metro
car derailing, a bridge collapsing due to an
earthquake, a terrorist bombing, or anything
else that affects your normal method for
getting from point A to point B can cause
the same kind of personal transportation
crisis for any of us.
Most of us reading this magazine have a
bag or pack with emergency supplies in it
for each member of the family in case we
need to bug in when the power goes out
for an extended period of time or bug out
when a natural gas leak or forest fire threatens our home. But those supplies only help
if you are already home. We each need to
have something similar in our vehicles or
office to help get us home. And we need to
have enough of these get home bags to
support each of the people we might have
in the vehicle with us.
Bug-out bags (BOBs) and get-home

bags (GHBs) serve similar purposes: They
both contain the gear and supplies you need
to sustain yourself while you get to someplace safe. The difference is in how long they
need to sustain you. Your BOB is designed to
keep you going for three days or more. Sure,
you could use it as your GHB, but this isnt
the best choice. Your GHB doesnt need as
much food and water in it, so it can be
smaller. And it should be smallera GHB is
something that you can and will carry with
you at all times. You take it to the office with
you, you take it on trips out of town, and you
take it to the beach with the family.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: PICK A ROUTE
WHAT TO CARRY
As with all things related to preparedness, you need to do some planning ahead
of time to ensure success. You need to think
through how you will get home from wherever you are stranded, and there are a number of things youll want to consider.
Remember that you will be carrying your

GHB for several hours, or for several miles, or
both. So if an item doesnt address a specific need you know you will face, then it
doesnt belong in your GHB. To take care of
yourself between your origin and your destination, you need items that address the
basics of survival: Shelter from the weather,
food and drink, navigation, the right clothing,
a way to defend yourself, and some basic
tools and supplies. Here are some things to
consider for each category:
Your GHB is going to be on

your back or side for several hours and you dont
need additional aches
and pains along the way.
If using a backpack,
ensure it rides well by
keeping the center of
gravity over your hips.
Some things to observe:
> Make sure the pack fits
your body size and torso
length.
> Put the lightest items
low in the pack and farther away from your
body.
> Put the heaviest items
next to your back and
high in the pack, but not
above your shoulders.
> Medium weight items
will fill in the rest of the
space.
> Pad any sharp objects
with clothing and keep
them away from the
part of the pack that
rests on your body.
Your get home

bag doesnt
have to be a
backpack, anything that you
can sling over
your shoulder
will do. Just
make sure it is
something you
will always
take with you.
NOVEMBER 2014
What route is available if you are walking?

What dangers will you face along that
route? Are there dangerous neighborhoods
along the way? Do you have to walk on the
highway? Will you face danger from dogs
or other animals running free? Is there a
chance of downed power lines along your
route? Could unpassable bridges block
your way?
How long will your route take you to get
home? The average person can only cover
around two and a half miles each hour
when walking over uneven terrain or when
carrying a load.
Should you even consider home as a destination, or should you pick someplace else
to go, like a hotel? (Call ahead and make a
reservation if you pick this option.)
Under what conditions would it be better to
shelter in place and just stay at the office or
in your vehicle?
What alternate routes exist if you cant use
your first choice?
BUG-OUT BAGS VS. GET-HOME BAGS
HOW TO
PACK A
BACKPACK
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
23
The Get-Home
Since you will be

walking and not
riding, one of the most
important items in your kit,
and the one that most
people dont think about, is
a sturdy pair of walking
shoes or boots that have
been thoroughly
broken in.
BAG
GOOGLE
MAPS ON
STEROIDS
Google Maps is a treasure
trove of information for
route planning to those
who know how to use it
and what to look for. Use
its search options to
determine the time to
walk somewhere, along
with the location of hospitals and food stores.
Shelter from the weather: A lightweight tarp,

space blanket, poncho liner or woobie
Food and drink: Protein bars or other meal
replacement bars, one or two liter-sized
bottles of water, a small pocket stove like
the ones made by Esbit, firestarters,
matches, and butane lighters
Navigation: Compass (know how to use it),
maps of your routes home, a GPS unit
Clothing: A warm jacket, rain suit, gloves,
knit cap, extra socks, and a pair of waterproof walking shoes or boots that have
already been broken in
Defense: Some defensive tools like a heavy
stick, sheath knife, pepper spray or kubotans, or (where legal) a firearm
Tools and supplies: Paracord, a strong
knife, cash, extra batteries, a headlamp
(much better than a handheld flashlight),
and first aid kit
BE REALISTIC IN
YOUR PLANNING
Many people overestimate what they are able to
do, how much they can carry, and how fast they
can walk. Things to keep in mind:
> The average person will walk at around 2.5
mph over varied terrain, so if you need to cover
10 miles, plan on at least four hours to do it. If
you are 25 miles from home, plan on at least 10
hours, but probably more since you may not be
able to maintain that pace.
> Your GHB should be on the smallish side and
lightweight. Most people can comfortably
carry 10 to 20 pounds for an extended period
of time, but when the weight rises to 25
pounds or more, it gets difficult.
> If you have to cover more than 10 miles in a day,
or if you might start off late in the day, you
should consider intermediate stops along the
way where you can spend the night or sit out
bad weather. Stopping at a friends house is a
good option. Hotels and motels along your route
are also good choices, but they may be filled
already.
> Figure out your travel route now so you dont
have to do it when disaster strikes. Pick a route
you can take safely on foot, look for places you
might stop along the way, and note the location
of medical facilities and stores along the way.
Practice with these items before you

need them so you will know how to use
them. Starting a fire for the first time in the
rain is no fun; neither is realizing you dont
know how to read your compass when you
dont know which way to turn on a road.
WHAT TO CARRY IT IN
The walking option

in Google Maps
directions function
can give you multiple routes to
choose from if you
need to walk to
someplace safe.
As mentioned above, your GHB should be

relatively small, the size of a large fanny pack
or a shoulder bag. Many people simply upsize
the bag they take to work each day and use
that as their GHB. When I used to travel for
work I did exactly that with a 17-inch wide
briefcase that I could put my laptop and travel
gear in plus a set of rain gear, some protein
bars, and a liter bottle of water. My maps,
compass, folding knife and such were already
part of my every day carry (EDC) gear.
The key is to choose a carry bag that is
large enough to hold what you want to have
with you but not so large that you wouldnt
take it with you everywhere.
24
GOOGLE MAPS
NOVEMBER 2014
With a little planning, a pack or bag

whose contents address your basic needs, a
pair of well broken in shoes, and the addition
of some regular walking practice to your
daily regimen, you should be ready to face a
situation where getting home will depend on
your feet and not your gas pedal.
Biography: Larry Schwartz is an experienced outdoorsman, hunter,

and former Scout leader who enjoys passing on his knowledge of
the outdoors and how to Be Prepared through his writing and
workshops.
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
ASG_1411_25 8/27/14 10:48 PM Page 25
ASG_1411_ENDURE.qxp 8/27/14 11:41 PM Page 26
Five Ways
To Build
Endurance
For Survival
Situations
Be Ready, Both
Mentally And
Physically, When
Disaster Strikes
BY GAR R E T T K I M
26
ED ALL LIKE TO THINK WE ARE THE MASTERS OF

PREPARATION, BUT OFTEN THAT BELIEF IS BASED ON
THE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING HAD TIME TO PREPARE
FOR OUR ADVENTURES. NOT EVERY SURVIVAL
SITUATION HAS A WEEK OF LEAD TIME; IN MANY SCENARIOS, WE
MAY FIND OURSELVES HEADING OUT THE DOOR WITHIN MINUTES
OF LEARNING ABOUT A DISASTER.
Being mentally and physically prepared is vitally important; such
preparations can make the difference between life and death. Here
are five ways to build endurance and mental toughness, tools you will
always have at the ready when you face a survival situation.
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
27
1. Spend a weekend without electricity. One of the hardest things

youll find when beginning life off
the grid is learning to live without
the comfort of electricity. This
means having to find other sources
of heat and light, and doing without
devices like computers or television.
One easy way to start preparing
yourself mentally for this drastic
change is to spend weekends without any electricity. After a few weekends, you should no longer feel lost
without juice, and if you find your-
self in a situation where electricity

isnt an option, youll have a head
start on how to function.
2. Perform mock drills. While youre
preparing for the ultimate survival
situation, you should condition your
body through preparation exercises
that involve your entire household.
The best way to mentally prepare for a disaster scenario is to do
training or mock drills, says Robert
Allen, president and head instructor
with the SIGMA 3 Survival School.
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
NOVEMBER 2014
According to Holding, the most difficult mental challenge one faces when
living in the backcountry for an extended period is loneliness and isolation.
You can prepare for this by taking solo camping trips, either by yourself or
with your family, so you can determine how self-sufficient you are and how
you can pass the time without getting bored.
28
Go out and test your ideas, but

turn them into camping trips and
have fun doing it, he said. If practicing is always an exercise in difficulty,
you wont want to do it, so I always
recommend either getting direct
training from an expert or experimenting heavily with your family
while having some fun. Get the family
involved because they are part of the
scenario as well. Its not a realistic
simulation unless all the pieces of
the puzzle are in place.
3. Develop a can-do attitude.
When it comes to surviving the
toughest situations, one of the most
beneficial things you can have with
you is the right frame of mind.
Being mentally prepared boils
down to having the right mindset or
attitude, says Laurel Holding, head
instructor with the Boulder Outdoor
Survival School.
Having a Can-do attitude, for
example saying, I can live in a bug
out cabin for an extended period; I
can eat fewer calories than Im used
to; I can be colder or hotter or more
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
If youre in a survival situation, you may

not have to build your own shelter if
you find one thats been abandoned
thats suitable for your family.
DONT FORGET
YOUR TRIAL RUN
Be sure you can survive by
candlelightthat way,
youll have no problem if
the power goes down.
When you test your survival skills as advised in step

two, take realistic notes after every mock drill so you
know where you need to improve. When you perform
your next drill, make sure you spend time on your
weak areas. Once youve addressed all these
issues, perform a full trial run to ensure
that youre ready for the future.
4. Get past any mental and physical humps. Many survivalists will
tell you that the hardest part of
adapting to life in the wild is getting
over the hump. What exactly does
that mean?
Its getting past your bodys normal state of function in society and
adapting to a changing diet and
environment in full survival mode,
Allen says. The first few weeks are
the roughest and then you get down
to survival weight and you will
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
tired or more uncomfortable than

Im used tocomes from I-did
experiences, she says. So its a
good idea to expose yourself to
challenges and a bit of discomfort
on a regular basis so that you can
look back on with a sense of accomplishment and confidence and say, I
did that, so I can do this.
NOVEMBER 2014
29
Preparing kids for survival doesnt have to

involve scaring them. Show them the fun side
of camping, fishing and other activities so
they become part of their lives.
plateau quickly. Plan to lose a lot of

weight, but you wont miss it. The
second most difficult part is maintaining enough energy initially to get
yourself over the hump and produce
enough food to live off the land to
where you are sustainable longterm. That is not easy and takes lots
of training.
5. Train to build up your body

strength. Planting crops, building a
shelter, fishing, hunting and building
fires will test your physical reserves,
so now is the time to build up your
strength. If youre able to head into a
survival situation with a well-toned
physicality, youll be a step ahead in
handling what the earth throws at
you during a survival scenario. You
dont have to win any body building
competitions; just ensure that you
have some muscle tone and your
heart is sound.
NOVEMBER 2014
FOR MORE INFORMATION
30
To learn more about SIGMA 3 Survival School,

visit SurvivalSchool.US. To find out more about
Boulder Outdoor Survival School, Inc. (BOSS),
visit Boss-Inc.com.
Walking off into the wilderness to

live is not childs play, Allen adds. Its
serious business and youd better
have the training. Take a look at that
movie Into the Wild for a perfect
example of how not to challenge the
wilderness. Mother Nature can kick
your rear if youre not careful.
PREPARING KIDS
You dont want to scare your children in
letting them know they have to prepare
for the worst, but you can prep more easily
if they are accustomed to living simply.
The best way to get them ready is to
toughen them up from birth, Allen says.
Take them camping, get them in the
woods, and most of all talk to them
about some basic survival skills.
Not only will kids enjoy the experiences, but they may just handle them
better than many adults, Holding says.
In many ways, children are better
equipped than adults to survive, she
notes. They already tend to live more in
the moment and do not waste energy
dwelling either in the past or in a doomsday future. Physically, too, they are
incredibly resilient. The things that are
going to best prepare a child might just
be considered good parenting: Cultivate

the ability to delay gratification, model a
positive attitude, model acceptance of
things beyond our control, model cooperation and respect for others, and model a
good work ethic. Although this may be
easier said than done, a child who has
been parented this way will be well
equipped to meet any challenges they
face, Holding says.
I work with my daughter often on
survival skills and as a result she tells all
her teachers and her friends that her
daddy lives in the jungle and eats snakes
because she has seen me take game and
live off the land in our training, Allen
says. Now she wants to be just like me.
Training is about immersion, and age
doesnt matterjust be proactive with
your kids.
ASG_1411_31 8/27/14 10:49 PM Page 31
ASG_1411_ESSENTIALS.qxp 8/28/14 12:24 AM Page 32
Five Medical
Essentials
FIVE THINGS THAT EVERY MEDICAL KIT NEEDS TO HAVE BY AL E X L AG R AND
a situation where medical help is not

immediately available, youre going
to have to play doctor. A first-aid kit
is a good start, but the small ones
tend to be aimed at simple cuts and
scrapes, while the big ones are, well,
really big. In addition to basic firstaid gear, here are five items that
should be a part of your medical kit.
1. CRAVAT
A cravat is the multi-tool of the
medical kit. It can serve as a
tourniquet for severe extremity
hemorrhage, a sling and swathe for
an injured arm, a large bandage or
trauma pad, or to secure smaller
bandages in the absence of first-aid
tape. And because of its size and
strength, it has other non-medical
uses, as well.
NOVEMBER 2014
2. MEDS
32
Medicine is often overlooked in

preparing an outdoor medical kit,
yet is extremely important to
remember. Having medicine on
hand can make the difference in providing that fast pain relief and continuing to suffer.
What should you keep in your
kit? Start with basic non-steroidal,
anti-inflammatory drugs, such as
ibuprofen and acetaminophen, as
well as antibiotic ointments and
diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for
allergic reactions. If your family or
you have prescriptions, keep extras
in your kit, and be sure to keep an
eye on the expiration dates.
3. BANDAGES
When it comes to bandages, you
cannot have too manyor too many
varieties. Keep a range of sizes, and
remember that youll need swabs
before you bandage, because
wounds must be cleaned before
being dressed. Though bandages
generally dont have an expiration
date, its important to replace them
regularly. Most bandages are
enclosed in packages that are easily
damaged, a problem that can compromise the sterility of the bandage.
TAKE A
FIRST AID
COURSE
Equipment is useless if you
dont know how to put it to
good use. If you havent done so
already, take a basic first aid
course, otherwise you may
harm more than you help. The
Red Cross (RedCross.org) offers
comprehensive first aid courses.
If you find yourself in
ASG_1411_ESSENTIALS.qxp 8/28/14 12:24 AM Page 33
Still Have Room?
THOUGH BANDAGES DONT HAVE

AN EXPIRATION DATE, ITS IMPORTANT
TO REPLACE THEM REGULARLY.
Here are some helpful accessories to

round out your medical kit:
Tape
Trauma shears or scissors
Sterile gloves
Cotton swabs
Thermometer
Chemical ice packs.
Remember to carefully inspect the
packaging of sterile items and replace
them as necessary.
4. SPLINTS
Musculoskeletal injuries, such as
sprains and fractures, are a common
occurrence in the outdoors, and its
always best to be prepared. Moldable
splints, which consist of soft metal
(such as aluminum) wrapped in foam,
are a great addition to your kit, as they
are lightweight and compact.
5. WATER
Water is the basic necessity of life,
and its also a basic necessity in your
emergency medical kit. First and foremost, water is a cleanser that can flush
out dirt or other bacteria in an open
wound. In case of a heat-related illness,
water can help rehydrate and prevent
further overheating.
Before going on any

outdoor adventure, it
is smart to keep an
up-to-date medical
kit in the case of any
emergencies.
NOVEMBER 2014
Bottled water is
perfect for
cleaning out
wounds and
staying
hydrated. Every
medical kit
should have, at
the very least, a
small supply of
water.
33
ASG_1411_34 8/28/14 10:26 PM Page 34
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ASG_1411_35 8/28/14 10:27 PM Page 35
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ASG_1411_ANALYSIS.qxp 8/28/14 12:27 AM Page 36
Personal
Threat Analysis
FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO FIRST IN ANY SITUATION
36
hen each of us started out on our prepping journey, there were dozens of
things we were told were important and needed to be done right away:
Make a bug out bag, build an emergency pantry in the basement and stock it
with a six-month supply of food and water, take a basic first aid course, buy a
rifle/pistol/shotgun for home defense, and start looking for a retreat in the
backwoods that you can escape to when things go bad. It was totally overwhelming and confusing.
Todays new preppers face the same situation and are looking for a way to
decide what to do first. You can flip a coin or use the kids game of rock, paper,
scissors to make your decision, but there is a much better way to go. It is a
technique that decision makers have been using for decades to analyze risks
and decide what order they should be worked on. Its called prioritization.
[TOP]
Your disaster
scenarios can
range from
something very
personal like
losing your job to
something
regional like a
natural disaster.
Start local and
work your way to
global as you
think of scenarios
you should
prepare for.
NOVEMBER 2014
BY L AR R Y SC H W AR T Z | Photos Courtesy of Larry Schwartz and Thinkstock
There are many examples of how we prioritize our actions.

Every time many of us pay our bills, we
decide which of the needs that are competing for the limited resources in our
paycheck we will address first. The electric
bill and the rent get priority over food and
new clothes because if we lose power and
the roof over our head we are in worse
shape than if we eat macaroni and cheese
for a week or wear our old shirts and
pants.
In first aid you treat injuries in the following order: Serious bleeding, stopped
breathing, poisoning, shock, and then anything else. This ensures you treat the
things that can lead to death or serious
injury fastest. Since blood carries oxygen
throughout the body it is more important
to stop arterial bleeding and keep the
blood in the body, even if the person is
having trouble breathing.
Emergency room doctors and nurses are
taught to triage patients that are in the
waiting room to ensure the most serious
are cared for first. This is why you may be
sitting in the lobby for an hour or two
with what you consider a serious problem, because the ER staff is dealing with
someone who couldnt walk in under
their own power.
Triage
Triage is the method used by medical personnel to determine how they will allocate their finite resources, be it in the emergency room or at a natural disaster or
massive accident on the highway. The most common triage methods use a color
coding system like this one to prioritize care and resources:
COLOR
RED
YELLOW
GREEN
BLACK
WHITE
MEANING
Needs immediate attention. Critical life-threatening injury or illness;
transport first for medical help.
Serious injuries needing immediate attention. In some systems, yellow
tags are transported first because they have a better chance of recovery than red-tagged patients.
Less serious or minor injuries, non-life-threatening, delayed transport.
Will eventually need help but can wait for others.
Deceased or mortally wounded.
No injury or illness (not used in all systems).
DETERMINE WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT OR CRITICAL TO

YOU AT THE TIME. IT MAY NOT BE THE MOST URGENT TASK,
AND IT MAY NOT BE THE BIGGEST TASK, EITHER.
Productivity guru, Stephen Covey,

teaches an organizing process that helps you
categorize tasks so you focus on what is
important, not merely what is urgent. First,
you divide tasks into quadrants.
Quadrant 1: Important and Urgent (crises,
deadline-driven projects)
Quadrant 2: Important, Not Urgent (prepara-
tion, prevention, planning, relationships)

Quadrant 3: Urgent, Not Important (interrup-
tions, many pressing matters)

Quadrant 4: Not Urgent, Not Important
(trivia, time wasters).
What Is Most Important To You?

The best way to prioritize things, or to
decide what to do first, is to determine what
is most important or critical to you at the
time. Keep in mind that it may not be the
Medical professionals use a triage system to decide which patients to handle first.
NOVEMBER 2014
Quadrant 2 is where the tasks which provide the most value are found and where you
should spend most of your effort and time.
37
Threat
Analysis
most urgent task and it may not be the
biggest task, either. Sometimes something
relatively small may actually be what needs
to be completed before anything else. But
how to we decide what we should apply our
resources to first?
The first two factors that any leader or

manager uses to evaluate and prioritize risks
or actions are probability, or how likely it is to
happen, and severity, the magnitude of the
impact if it happens. Ron Hanus, the founder
and host of the ThePreparednessPodcast.Com, adds a third and equally
important factor, onset, which addresses
what lead time, if any, you may have to prepare for the event. By assigning a numerical
value to probability, severity, and onset, you
can then calculate a number you can use to
establish each scenarios priority.
For example, if you live in Oklahoma and
you are trying to decide whether you should
take preparations for a tornado striking your
home or do something to prepare for an outbreak of ebola in the United States, you will
likely pick the tornado over the ebola. The
severity is just as bad with both scenarios,
and both can happen with little warning, but
the probability of a tornado hitting downtown Lawton or Cache is much higher than
being stricken by a disease that is only
spread through physical contact.
When probability, severity and onset are all at their highest levels,
we must think differently. [RIGHT] Part of your survival plan should
include charting out potential threats and assigning them a priority,
in order to guide your preparations.
NOVEMBER 2014
TRIAGE IS THE METHOD USED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL TO

DETERMINE HOW THEY WILL ALLOCATE THEIR FINITE
RESOURCES, BE IT IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR AT A NATURAL
DISASTER OR MASSIVE ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY.
38
Probability, Severity, And Onset
Prioritization Matrix (Initial)

Event
Probability Severity
(1-5)
(1-5)
Job Loss
Serious Illness
Asteroid Striking Earth
Tornado or Hurricane
Gasoline Shortage
Earthquake
Regional Power Outage
Floods
Pandemic Disease
Drought
Terrorist Attack
Home Burns Down
2
2
1
3
1
3
4
1
2
1
1
1
4
5
5
3
3
5
3
3
5
2
5
5
Onset
(1-2)
2
1
1
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
Prioritization Matrix (Prioritized)

Priority
(P x S x O)
16
10
5
18
3
30
24
6
10
2
10
10
After you identify the scenarios that might affect you and your family, put them into a
table and assign values for probability, severity, and onset for each one. Then calculate
the priority for each row in your table.
Start by making a list of things that will

affect you personally and in your community,
then move up to state and regional scenarios,
and finally to national and international
events that you think you should prepare for.
Then build a table like the ones illustrated
here with the events in one column and
columns next to it for probability, severity,
onset, and finally priority. Fill in the values
for each event and calculate the priority. Once
that is done, you can then sort your scenarios
by priority and get a rank ordered list showing
what to work on first, second, and so on.
Event
Earthquake
Regional Power Outage
Tornado or Hurricane
Job Loss
Serious Illness
Pandemic Disease
Terrorist Attack
Home Burns Down
Floods
Asteroid Striking Earth
Gasoline Shortage
Drought
Probability Severity
(1-5)
(1-5)
3
4
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Onset
(1-2)
5
3
3
4
5
5
5
5
3
5
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
Priority
(P x S x O)
30
24
18
16
10
10
10
10
6
5
3
2
After you have filled in your table, sort the rows to bring the highest priority to the top. You
now have a prioritized list of what needs to be worked on first and in what order.
Where To Get Some Good Advice

Many communities, and all states, have an emergency management agency similar
to FEMA. These agencies are a great resource for the prepper who wants to know
what scenarios he or she will likely face in their area. They can be found by doing a
web search for your state and emergency management agency (e.g. Connecticut
emergency management agency). In addition to helping you prioritize, they can
also provide checklists and other online references on what to do, what to pack or
store, and how to react in different situations.
Closing
Immediate Action
So, you now know how to identify the different scenarios you may want to prepare for,
how to organize them into a prioritized list,
and where to find more resources to help
you. If you are new to preparedness, you can
go ahead and do your planning and start
your prepping. If you have been at it for a
while, now is a good time to rethink your priorities and maybe shift gears to work on
something else.
Biography: Larry Schwartz is an experienced outdoorsman, hunter,
and prepper who enjoys passing on his knowledge of the outdoors
and how to Be Prepared through his writing and workshops.
WHERE TO LEARN MORE

The following books can help you organize your thoughts around what
is most important to you and help you determine what to work on first.
Ten Natural Laws of Successful Time Management, by Hyrum W. Smith
Preparedness Capability Checklist: A Planning and Evaluation Tool for
Becoming More Self-Reliant, by Rob Hanus
First Things First, by Stephen Covey
How We Decide, by Jonah Lehrer
NOVEMBER 2014
We can apply the concepts of what is

most important to you right now and make
the best use of your resources when we face
an immediate threat. Many times we face situations where there is more than one threat
competing for our attention.
Example: You awake in the middle of the
night to the sound of the smoke detector
ringing in your ears. What do you do first:
put out the fire, call the fire department, get
everyone out of the house, or put your
clothes on? In this scenario, probability,
severity and onset are all at their highest levels, so we need new criteria for making our
decision. In scenarios where you need to act
fast, the best approach is to do what will separate you and your loved ones from the
threat (get everyone out of the house). If you
cant do that then you want to neutralize or
minimize the threat (put out or contain the
fire). Anything else (call the fire department)
can wait until later.
39
ASG_1411_KNIVES.qxp 8/28/14 12:28 AM Page 40
Common Points Of Failure

What Separates A Quality Knife From A Cheap Wannabe? Here Are Seven Common
Points Of Failure You Should Look Out For BY PAT R I C K G R ANG E R
CHEAP LOCKS
This knife is a lockback with a second
lock built in. The
second lock
doesnt work.
NOVEMBER 2014
POCKET CLIP
Proper heat
treatment is
critical; cheap
clips often bend
out of shape.
40
BACKSPRINGS
Cheap knives use cheap
steel for back springs.
They can rust and break.
LINER MATERIAL
6AL4V Titanium is
not magnetic. If a
magnet sticks, it
isnt titanium.
ASG_1411_KNIVES.qxp 8/28/14 12:28 AM Page 41
Knives
HEAT TREATMENT
A blade that is too hard will be brittle and
may not take an edge. Too soft and it wont
hold an edge, or the edge will roll over. This
$30 knife is case hardened with a 57 HRC
shell around a 45 HRC core and cutting edge.
HANDLE MATERIAL
6160 hard anodized aluminum
is the best choice as it wont
scratch or dent easily.
NOVEMBER 2014
ILLUSTRATION BY ERIC KNAGG
QUALITY FASTENERS
Some cheap knives have screws
that are neither metric, standard
nor Torx. When they work loose,
how will you tighten them?
41
ASG_1411_INTRO_HOWTO 8/28/14 10:42 PM Page 42
HOW-TO
MAKE A PARACORD BRACELET + LEARN TO PICK A LOCK + MORE
NOVEMBER 2014
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
IN THIS SECTION
42
RESOURCEFULNESS AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY are key to survival. In this section, well

show you how to make a paracord bracelet. (If youre new to prepping, this isnt some
survivalist fashion accessory; its the best hands-free way to carry 8 feet of cord without taking up space in your pack.) Well also talk about finding and purifying water, one
of those survival essentials that is so easily overlookedwithout water we die, but
drinking untreated water could kill us just as quickly.
Our third article deals with a nightmare scenario: Being held against ones will,
deprived of tools, equipment and freedom. Often the first barrier to freedom is a simple
lock, so well teach you how you can spring yourself with improvised tools.
ASG_1411_PARACORD.44 CX 8/31/14 11:55 PM Page 43
Insta-rope
HOW TO MAKE A PARACORD BRACELET
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY R YAN L E E PR I C E
If youre stuck in the middle of nowhere with very

little equipment at your
disposal, youd be hardpressed to find a better
piece of gear than a paracord bracelet. Unraveled,
an 8-inch bracelet contains 8 feet of paracord.
NOVEMBER 2014
urvival is not a fashion show. Your life wont ever depend on what
brand of boots youre wearing or if you have this seasons cargo
pants with the fur-lined pockets. Survival is survival, and your life
depends on what you do with those shoes and whats inside
those pants pockets. However, one accessory is so basic that
most people forget to think about when packing a few essentials for a weekend in the back countryand yet it's intrinsic to survival. Its a length of rope,
and the rope industry has come a long way since Edmund Hillary used hemp
to hoist himself up Mount Everest.
43
ASG_1411_PARACORD.44 CX 8/31/14 11:55 PM Page 44
Insta-rope
Parachute cord, or paracord, is a
type of lightweight nylon kernmantel rope used first on U.S. parachutes during World War II. It features a woven exterior sheath (mantle) surrounding a multi-strand elastic core (kern). Once on the ground,
soldiers found paracord especially
useful for a wide variety of survival
applications where light but strong
cordage is neededa fire bow,
securing shelter, or even as simple
shoelaces. Since nylon doesnt rot or
mildew, its all-weather properties
are well suited for a variety of outdoor tasks; for example, its inner
strands can be pulled out and used
as a fishing line, tripwire, to repair
gear, or to floss your teeth. The most
popular paracord is Type III, also
known as 550 cord for its ability to
withstand a minimum of 550
pounds before breaking, which is
great for lifting or climbing.
ONCE ON THE GROUND, SOLDIERS

FOUND PARACORD ESPECIALLY USEFUL FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF SURVIVAL APPLICATIONS WHERE LIGHT
BUT STRONG CORDAGE IS NEEDED:
A FIRE BOW, SECURING SHELTER, OR
EVEN AS SIMPLE SHOELACES.
NOVEMBER 2014
However, rope being rope, it can

get tangled and knotted if not
stored carefully. It may be lost at the
bottom of your pack, or lost entirely
if you and your pack go separate
ways. The trick to avoid these inconveniences is to keep a good length
of paracord with you at all times,
and what better way than to have it
wrapped nicely on your wrist?
Though there are literally hundreds
of weaves that one can use to fashion a bracelet, the cobra stitch is a
very common weave that is easy
and quick to master.
44
1. The tools to weave your own bracelet can be found at most craft stores or around the house. A
tape measure, scissors, and a source of re (lighter or candle) is all thats needed to make one.
2. Paracord comes in a wide variety of colors

and is available in a few common sizes from
Type I to IV. We are using 550 cord (Type III)
due to its popularity and strength. Since
were doing the two-tone cobra stitch, well
need two colors.
3. Because paracord bracelets have become

symbolic of civilian support of military personnel and first responders, a variety of sizes
of connectors are available (to make them
more fashionable). Though it has no effect
on the construction of the bracelet, connectors do make it easier to put them on and
take them off. An alternative is a Celtic knot
and loop attachment.
4. Start by measuring the wrist of the hand

you plan to wear it on. So it doesnt interfere
with your watch, use your non-watch hand.
5. For an 8-inch diameter bracelet, cut two

lengths of cord, each 48 inches long (in our
case, one grey and one red).
ASG_1411_PARACORD 8/28/14 10:46 PM Page 45
6. Start by fishing each cord through the

male end of the connector. Pull the cords
almost all the way through.
7. String the female end of the connector

through the other ends of the cords and
leave about 2 or 3 inches leftover.
8. Tape the ends of the cords to the main

core of the bracelet to hold them down and
keep the connector from sliding off. This
tape will be removed later.
11. Now put the black cord under the core and
over the red, through the loop. Pull it tight so
the first knot secures the overall length. You
may wish to re-measure in case the connector shifted.
12. The first half of the second knot is a

reverse of the first knot: red under the core
and over the black.
13. The second half of the second knot is

black over the core and under the red
(through the loop).
15. The biggest thing to worry about is to

remember which of the two knots you are on
and what comes next. Make a mental note of
where the vertical loop is. In our case, when
the red loop is on the right, we need to tie the
first knot next.
16. Once each of the two knots is repeated

and alternated over and over again and you
have reached the end of the core at the
female end of the connector, cut off any
excess cord, leaving a very small amount.
17. With a candle or lighter, melt the ends of

the cords so they wont unravel. Go through
the bracelets knots and make any space
adjustments necessary for a uniform look.
NOVEMBER 2014
9. Measure the length of the overall bracelet,

from the ends of the connectors, to verify it
will t your wrist. The male connector can be
adjusted before you make your rst knot.
10. There are two basic steps to tying each

knot. For the first half of the first knot, pull
the red over the core and under the black.
14. Steadily making progress down the core,

alternate from one knot to the other, pausing
every now and again to adjust the knots and
tighten any loose spacing between them.
45
ASG_1411_LOCK 8/28/14 10:49 PM Page 46
How To
Pick A Lock With
A Bobby Pin
NOVEMBER 2014
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY RYAN LEE PRICE
46
THE IMMORTAL
WORDS OF
WILLIAM SHATNER, WHATS A
MAN DOING
WITH A BOBBY PIN? IF YOURE
SHORT-CIRCUITING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OF A SPACE SHIP
HURTLING TOWARD THE SUN,
THATS ONE THING, BUT IF YOURE
CHAINED TO THE RADIATOR IN
THE DANK BASEMENT OF A CRIMINALS LAIR, A BOBBY PIN JUST
MIGHT BE YOUR TICKET TO
ESCAPE AND IT COULD SAVE
YOUR LIFE.
The ability to pick a lock when the
key is not available is difficult to master, but its certainly not impossible.
Lock picking is all about feel and
sound. With patience and perseverance, youll be able to pick a lock in
the dark, while blindfolded, with your
hands tied behind your back.
All modern pin-tumbler locks
have been constructed in a similar
fashion since Linus Yale first did so in
1861. The principle is simple: When
one inserts a key into the cylinder of a
lock, the ridges on the key correspond
to a series of five or six pin sets of
various lengths. Each of these pins
has a shear point, creating two
stacked pins for every set. Those pins
are attached to springs, and the
ridges of the key pushes each pin up
a specifically designed amount so
that the shear point aligns with the
outer casing of the cylinder. When
Since 1861, all modern pin-tumbler-style locks have been made with the same design concept: A
series of pins that are aligned in a specific way by the ridges of a key.
that happens, the key is free to turn

the cylinder, opening the lock.
Removing the key returns the pins to
their previous position, making the
cylinder immovable.
Several survival suppliers sell
micro escape kits containing several
different types of lock-picking tools,
contained in a small pouch or
packet that can be hidden on your
person or sewn into your clothes.
Owning lock-picking equipment
might be illegal in your state, so
check your local laws before purchasing. However, owning bobby
pins is perfectly legal, and if you
know how to use them properly, no

lock will keep you out or in.
Is it really that easy to pick a lock?
No, not at all. Professionals with
training and tools designed specifically for this kind of work are still
challenged with each lock they have
to pick. Additionally, with these
primitive tools, it will take you a great
deal of time and practice to get the
proper feel of when each of the pins
have moved and when they have
aligned with the shear line. Still, if
your life is on the line, learning to
pick a lock isnt a bad thing at all.
ASG_1411_LOCK 8/28/14 10:50 PM Page 47
Manufacturers have
devised various tools to
circumvent locks by
exploiting their weaknesses. Shown here are
padlock bypass tools,
micro handcuff keys (to
be sewn into waistbands or pant cuffs),
and pin-tumbler lock
picking tools.
The finished torque

tool and the hook.
This is the easy part;
the difficult part is
putting them to use.
One can easily fashion a lock-picking kit from a pair

of bobby pins. Two components are required: The
pick and the torque tool.
To create the pick,
bend the bobby pin
up and cut it off in
the middle, leaving
a small portion of
the bend still
attached to act as
the hook. This can
be fine tuned with a
pair of pliers to
meet the angle of
the lock to which
you are trying to
gain access.
The hooks of picking
tools come in a wide
variety (half-diamond,
ball, double ball, wave,
sawtooth), and
although a number of
different sizes should be
considered, the only
shape well need to open
a pin-tumbler lock is a
standard hook.
To shape the
torque tool,
merely bend
the bobby pin
to a 45-degree
angle and clip
off the ends.
This creates a
small handle
on which to
apply tension.
Insert the torque

tool into the bottom of the lock and
apply tension in the
direction you would
if you were using a
key. The goal is to
put slight pressure
on the six pins, as
each one will
behave differently
under this pressure.
HOW A LOCK
FUNCTIONS
Without the key in the lock,

each set of pins is pressed
down by the springs so that
the shear point between the
driver pin (blue) and the key
pin (red) dont align, preventing the cylinder from
turning.
Since the ridges of all keys

are fashioned differently,
sliding the wrong key into the
locks cylinder prevents the
key and driver pins from
aligning, keeping the lock
from turning.
With the pick inserted
(angled side up),
locate each pin and
push it up. If there are
six pins, four or five of
them will move freely.
Because of variations
in machining, the
other two will be difficult to move
because they have
bound up on the side
of the cylinder.
The alignment allows the

key to turn the cylinder and
open the lock.
NOVEMBER 2014
Those are the

two pins to focus
on. Push them up
until you hear or
feel a slight click.
That is the key
pin slipping over
slightly onto the
shear line of the
cylinder. Once
youve heard
that, find the
next pin with the
most resistance
and push that
one up until you hear a similar click. All the while, apply
slight tension with the torque tool until the lock turns.
When the proper key is

inserted, the shear points
between the key and driver
pins align with the outer casing of the cylinder.
47
Water
Filtration
How To Get Clean Water When There Are No Working Faucets To Be Found
BY TRACY BREEN
NOVEMBER 2014
ts a well-known fact that humans can go weeks without food,

but without water, we can survive only a few days. Most of the
time, access to good, clean water is no more difficult than taking a short walk to the nearest faucet. But what about when
there are no faucets?
I spend a lot of time in the Western backcountry, hunting miles
from the road or hiking the Grand Canyon. Over the years, I have
had several close calls where serious dehydration nearly set in,
either because I ran out of water while miles from a good source
or because I left my water filter or tablets at camp. Today, I never
leave camp without plenty of water and some sort of filtration
source in case I run out.
48
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
ASG_1411_WATER 8/28/14 10:51 PM Page 48
ASG_1411_WATER 8/28/14 10:51 PM Page 49
PREPARING
FOR THE WORST
STREAMS ARE OUT
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
In the movies, we see people sip

cool water from an obliging stream,
but the truth is that many backcountry streams and lakes are
loaded with organisms that can
make you sick. One common infection is the giardia infection, a microscopic parasite that can wreak
havoc on your body. Sure, the water
may look clean and clear, but you
wont know it isnt until vomiting,
diarrhea, cramps, and a variety of
other symptoms show up. Fortunately, there are several ways to
ensure the water you find is clean
and safe.
Option 1: Water Filtration Tablets
I never leave the trailhead without
water filtration tablets, which contain iodine that kills most (though
not all) of the most common nasties. I prefer Potable Aqua Plus, a
two-step treatment that uses one
type of tablet to treat the water
and a second to take away the
iodine taste. One package will treat
up to 25 quarts of water. The
downside of the tablets is you cant
just drop them in and drink; it takes
up to 30 minutes for the tablets to
do their job.
WHERE IS ALL
THE WATER?
You cant purify water if you cant find
any! A few years ago, while hiking in
Colorado, a friend and I got severely
dehydrated because every streambed
we found had dried up. There was a
bad drought that year and although
our maps and GPS units showed several streams, none of them had water.
We eventually found a small trickle in
the side of a hill. We dug it out and
slowly filled our water bottles with
waterit took 45 minutes to get 20
ounces! Lesson learned: Before leaving the trailhead, check with rangers
or other local officials about what
water sources are available in the
backcountry you will be traveling. If
guidance is not available, then dont
pass up any available water source
stop to refill and purify.
Water filtration is a necessity in the event of a

natural disaster. Make sure you have a filter or
treatment tablets (or both) as part of your
bug-out and bug-in kits. Even if water is
available, if there is any doubt as to its
cleanliness, be sure to purify. You
cant be too careful!
their pack as a backup in case they

lose their tablets or have problems
with their primary filtration system.
Option 3: U.V. light
A high-tech option is to use ultraviolet light to sterilize your water with a
device like the SteriPEN. Simply turn
it on, drop it into your one-liter water
bottle, and 90 seconds later, the
water is ready to drink. The U.V. light
kills the harmful bacteria in the
water. The SteriPEN reportedly can
do 8,000 water treatments on one
lamp, and weighs just 3.8 ounces.
Option 4: Boiling
A decidedly low-tech way to purify
your water is to boil it one minute
at sea level, five minutes at high altitude. Boiling water is a sure-fire way
to kill bacteria; the problem is that
you need a heat source and time. If
building a fire isnt an option, a lightweight stove such as the Jetboil is a
good option.
YOU CANT BE TOO CAREFUL

After filling your container, be
careful not to get any unpurified
water (i.e. water that may have
dripped down the sides) into your
mouth. Be cautious and always
wipe down the outside of your container, including any parts with
which your mouth will make contact, before drinking. Considering
the dangers of drinking water in the
wild, its never a bad idea to give
your water a one-two punch by
using both tablets and a water filter,
or filtering and then boiling. You
cant be too careful.
NOVEMBER 2014
Option 2: Portable Water Filter

Another (quicker) option is a
portable water filter. There are a
variety of different filters on the
market that quickly pump water and
filter it. I have used a variety of water
filters over the years, and I like their
simplicity: Put the hose in the water
and start pumping. The water is
forced through a filter that removes
bacteria, leaving the water tasting
fresh and clean. With a filtering rate
of about a liter per minute, it doesnt
take long to fill up your water bladder or canteen.
Most of the water filters available in the U.S. offer micro filtration, which will get rid of almost
anything harmful in American

waters. If you are going abroad,
youll want to do some research to
find out what types of bacteria and
viruses are in the local water. A filter
alone may not provide adequate
protection; you may need to treat or
boil as well.
There are several types of filters
on offer. Pump-style filters are
extremely popular because they can
treat a lot of water quickly, but you
may want to also consider a water
bottle with a filter built in. Water
bottle filters are easy to use; just dip
them into a stream. But you must
wait for the water to run its course
through the filter before you can
drink it. The simplest filter may be
the LifeStraw: Just dip it into a
stream or lake and start drinking.
The suction draws the water
through the filter before it reaches
your mouth. Many survivalists keep
one of these lightweight filters in
49
ASG_1411_FLASHLIGHT 8/28/14 10:52 PM Page 50
Hack Your
Flashlight
PUT THOSE OBSOLETE INCANDESCENT LIGHTS TO WORK
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY AARON GOLD
LED flashlights have all but replaced oldfashioned incandescent flashlights, and
rightfully so; LED flashlights are brighter and
use less power. But dont toss those old
incandescent lights just yet. With a little creative hacking, they still have some use.
NOVEMBER 2014
HACK #1: The maximum-overdrive

flashlight
50
Generally, brighter flashlights are more

expensive, but we were able to whip up a
blazing torch for less than 10 bucks. Starting
with a $2 discount-bin flashlight, we soldered in a 9-volt battery connector ($2.99
for a pack of five from Radio Shack, or salvage one from any 9-volt equipment), connecting the positive wire to the positive contact and the negative wire to the metal
switch contact. We then swapped the original bulb for a 7.2-volt Krypton flashlight
bulb (Radio Shack part #272-1164,
$1.99). We cut a piece of Styrofoam to
fill the barrel, but a plastic bag filled with
dirt will give it some heft.
The results were incrediblea bright
beam of light that would put any highend incandescent flash (and a few LEDs)
to shame. Of course, our hacked torch
isnt particularly durable, and with 9 volts
going through our 7.2-volt bulb, we dont
expect long bulb lifebut for the cost of a
decent LED light, you could make a whole
fleet of these, and not have to worry about
the LED getting broken or lost.
[ABOVE] We soldered in a
9-volt battery connector to
power our flashlight. Electrical tape ensures that we
twist the wire, rather than
the solder joint, when we
screw it together.
[LEFT] What a difference!
Hacked 9-volt flashlight
beam on the left, standard
3-volt light on the right.
ASG_1411_FLASHLIGHT 8/28/14 10:52 PM Page 51
ANOTHER WAY
TO GET 9 VOLTS
No soldering iron (or no power)? No problem. We
were able to get our nine volts by stacking three
CR123-size lithium photo batteries. Since the
batteries are so much thinner than D-cells, we
rolled up a piece of paper to form the battery
tube, and centered it in the barrel with more
rolled-up paper. A cube of tin foil between the
negative spring and the bottom battery
ensured good contact. Be warned, however, that
CR123 lithium batteries can be volatile (quite literally). If you go this route, use high-quality
name-brand batteries (avoid cheapies) and
store the batteries outside the flashlight until
you need them.
2
[ABOVE] For our
battery-saving
dim-light conversion, a D-cellsized tin foil slug
replaces one of
the batteries.
[LEFT] Running on
a single cell
(left), our hacked
flashlight creates
a noticeably dimmer beam.
HACK #2: Run your two-cell flashlight on one cell
KRYPTON BULBS
Most flashlight bulbs are filled with argon
and nitrogen. Krypton gas conducts less
heat than argon, allowing a higher filament
temperature and increasing both output
and efficiency. Krypton also reduces filament evaporation, increasing bulb life.
Xenon gas gives even better performance
than krypton, but xenon-filled bulbs are
more expensive.
A 7.2-volt krypton bulb
is at the heart of our
overdriven flashlight.
Radio Shack sells them
for $2; buy spares.
NOVEMBER 2014
Why run a two-battery flashlight on one

battery? Perhaps you only have one good battery available, or you want to conserve your
battery supply as much as possible. Also, running a 3-volt battery on 1.5 volts produces a
dimmer light, good for preserving your night
vision or maintaining a dimly lit space.
Cut a square sheet of tin foil and fold it
lengthwise repeatedly until you have a long
strip, the height of which matches the
height of a single battery. Now, roll the tin
foil tightly to form a slug. (For smaller batteries, cut the foil when the diameter
matches that of the cell.) Drop the tin foil
slug in place of the bottom battery (the
one closest to the negative spring) and
put the good cell in the positive position,
then screw the battery cap on. Presto: 1.5volt flashlight!
Solder-free 9-volt conversion with CR123 lithium batteries

and an improvised paper battery case. Due to the volatility
of CR123 cells, this is one you should only use in a pinch.
51
ASG_1411_COVERSTORY 8/28/14 10:58 PM Page 52
COVER STORY
Survival
of the
Pack
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SURVIVAL IN A GROUP DYNAMIC

STORY BY RYAN LEE PRICE | Photography by GUS ALONZO
Los Angeles.
NOVEMBER 2014
Rush hour. The Blue Line of the Metro Rail has just pulled out of the
Pico station when it hits. At first, you and your fellow commuters think the vibrations are caused by a stretch of rough track construction, maybe. Most merely
hold on tighter.
Suddenly theres a large jolt, and its not just the train car being rocked, but
the entire world. The train lurches to one side. Briefcases and purses spill onto
the floor. Lights flicker, brakes squeal, and then the wheels jump the track,
smashing the train into the wall with enough force to slam everything onto the
right side of the car. The noise is tremendous and the air fills with smoke and
dust. The train grinds to a halt in the soft gravel of the siding at a heavy list, but
the rolling undulations of the earth make it seem as if the train is still moving.
Its an earthquake. And it feels like The Big One.
When the rumbling stops, all is dark save for the dim emergency lighting. The
acrid stench of smoke fills your nostrils and burns your eyes. Blinking cell phone
screens flash like fireflies. Blood is pouring from the head of the man next to you,
and a woman on the floor at your feet shouts out that her leg is broken. Some are
eerily calm, returning to their seat or collecting up their belongings like the train
had just pulled into the station, while others seem to have completely lost their
minds, screeching wide-eyed and out of control.
53
ASG_1411_COVERSTORY-CX-p54 9/3/14 4:44 AM Page 54
Survival
of the
Pack
The same question looms over everyone:
What next?
Most will say the best thing is to wait for
help to arrive. Most are confident that someone else will rescue them. Most will say that
survival in this modern day and age is someone elses responsibility.
Most are not you.
In his book, Mans Search for Meaning,
Auschwitz survivor and psychologist Viktor
Frankl recalls a simple mindset he learned
that helped him survive the infamous Nazi
death camps. Everything can be taken from
a man but one thing: The last of human freedomsto choose ones attitude in any given
circumstances, to choose ones own way.
Three Types Of People

Youve just been thrown into a survival
situation, but youre not alone. There are 12
other people on that car and certainly dozens
more in the other cars of the train. The next
few moments are what defines a persons
character in a true emergency. Do you rise to
the top 10 percent and take command of the
circumstances? Do you fall to the bottom 10
percent and completely lose all control of
Five Leadership Skills To Master

1 . C O M M U N IC AT IO N : Understanding how to communicate tasks to people is as
important as the tasks themselves. Keep people well informed when changes happen
and do so in a manner that everyone can understand. When in a stressful situation, one
of the first things to suffer is ones ability to process new information. You have to make
them understand what is happening and what they need to do about it.
2 . D E C IS IV E N E S S : One thing that can ruin a group dynamic in an emergency situation is vacillation, a wavering from one direction or choice to another. Plan for the unexpected and nothing will surprise you. When you display an inability to make a decision,
people will quickly lose faithnot only in you as a leader, but in the whole enterprise.
Employ the Q-CAT system: Be Quick, Committed, Analytical and Thoughtful when
making decisions.
3 . T E A M B U IL D IN G : You didnt pick this group of people you need to work with,
but helping them to work together will result in higher productivity and better morale.
Avoid personal conflicts between individuals by channeling their anger or frustration on
tasks that are good for the whole group.
NOVEMBER 2014
4 . C O N F ID E N C E : Know who you are and what you want, what your weaknesses
are and how youve compensated for them in a positive way. You dont have to be the
best at everything to be a leader. You just have to surround yourself with people that can
get things done, and know how to get them to produce results.
54
5 . M O T IVAT IO N A L S K IL L S : Morale is one of the most important factors in

keeping people positive, productive, and supportive. Encourage people when they need
energy to keep going. Celebrate success and be quick with praise, even for the smallest of
tasks. Never criticize or place blame, and always pitch in first with a task.
your senses? Or do you remain in the ranks

of the 80 percent and do as you are told, relying on others for salvation?
Author of Deep Survival, Laurence Gonzales points out some of the signs of the 80 percent.
Like animals, people like to herd
together, he writes. They begin to feed
from each others panic and negativity. Shallow, quick breathing leads to cluttered thinking, which limits ones ability to control their
emotions. Theyll make up solutions to the
problem no matter how stupid they are. Or
they employ abdication and dependency
with comments like: Thats why we have the
government and the Army; thats why we
pay our taxes. Theyll look after us. Theyd
have to.
Most people who are in the bottom 10
percent are not crazy or stupid or selfish;
they simply have not had a combination of
skill and life experiences to prepare their
brains to handle the influx of changes that
are taking place. Nor does their lack of
understanding of the need to react to a situation necessarily mean that they do not have a
strong desire to survive. However, that can
make them dangerous.
On November 18, 1987, a fire broke out at
the Kings Cross St Pancras tube station in
London, killing 31 people and injuring 100.
Witnessing the pandemonium that ensued
was Dr. John Leach, a renowned psychology
professor at Lancaster University and author
of several books on survival, who used his
experiences to explain the role of the bottom
10 percent.
Denial and inactivity prepare people
well for the roles of victim and corpse, he
said. These people are dangerous to themselves and others because they act on emotion, impulse, and the desire to return to the
normalcy they may have experienced a mere
10 minutes earlier. Leach calls this the
Incredulity Response. People simply dont
believe what they are seeing and act as if
everything is okay.
The Top 10 Percent

Unlike most people in a survival situation,
the top 10 percent will quickly change the
gears in their brains from normal to survival
mode, all the while avoiding the negative
denial and panic that consumes the others. In
Ben Sherwoods book, The Survivors Club, he
explains, An effective survivor is someone
who can shut off the fear alarm and channel
NOVEMBER 2014
55
Survival
of the
NOVEMBER 2014
Pack
56
the resulting motivation into purposeful

action that reduces the danger. In short, you
have to be able to throw that switch from Im
going to die to Im going to survive. Youre
not dead already, you must reason, so youre
likely not going to die. The worst is over. The
should-haves and could-haves are in the past,
and you need to remain calm.
Gonzales elaborates: Notice that the villain in the Hollywood movie is always the guy
whos going over the top with his emotions.
He laughs, cackles, rants, and raves. And he
loses in the end. The hero is the guy who
doesnt react. He is calm and collected, and
he thinks things through. And he triumphs in
the end. Theres a reason Hollywood movies
are structured that way: Its the truth.
In the book Survival Personality, Al Siebert
discusses the commonalities that arise
between leaders in survival situations, which
make them different: They are non-conforming. Their radar is always on. They think outside the box. They set goals and are flexible
when things change. Overall, a leader is
empathetic, creative, imaginative and intuitive to act on good hunches. This is where
thousands of years of instincts stored in the

oldest parts of your brain come aliveand
survivalists allow it to.
You Are Not Alone

As a natural leader, you must take action,
but you dont have to do everything by yourself. Youre in a group; in this scenario, there
are 12 others in the same situation. But how
do you organize them into a group with purpose and drive?
First, you must quickly decide what the
people around you are capable of. Is someone already administering first aid to the
bleeding man next to you? Good. Hes the
doctor. Anything medical that comes up, hes
your go-to guy. Are there a couple of big
guys, construction workers, perhaps, or a
pair of buff buds who look like they are on
their way home from the gym? They are your
muscle. If anything needs lifting or moving
(or even breaking), look to them.
What about the plump guy in the suit
with tears in his eyes? Hes part of the 80 percent, but that doesnt mean he cant help.
Suggest that he check to see if the doors will
open. The first person to stand up, look

around and perhaps share with you a few
swear words about the situation is thinking
the way you are. He understands things have
gone horribly wrong, and that now is the
time to get to work to not only save himself,
but the other dozen people on the train. He is
your closest comrade.
Two ladies are comforting the woman
with the broken leg. Ask them to gather up
all of the belongings. They will probably still
be clutching their purses and bags, so have
them go through and find anything useful:
Water bottles, fire extinguishers, pain killers,
band aids, working cell phones, napkins.
Share your mindset: Explain how a tampon
or a diaper can be used to stop bleeding and
how a shoelace can be used in a tourniquet.
Dont shout orders, but instead rationally
give specific people specific jobs to do, no
matter how small, if nothing more than to
keep them busy, keep their minds off of the
situation, and give them a sense of accomplishment, the feeling of being part of the
solution. Youll find that most peoplethe 80
percent just want to help, and when
focused, can do remarkable things. They just
need someone to guide them. This goes double for those that are in a panic and those that
seem cantankerous or combative with authority. The trick is to make each seem like it was
their idea to search for water or to see if the
emergency radio still works. Is one guy really
pissed off about being stuck there? Great, put
that anger to work by having him break a
window or two for some air circulation.
Keep Moving
There is an ongoing debate among survival enthusiasts about whether it is

better to stay in a group or go it alone.
There is a romantic notion supplied by
Hollywood of the lone survivor, the
rogue loner, the singular hero tackling
insurmountable odds all by himself
but is running solo really best?
Alone, you can move faster over
open terrain, but with a group, the extra
muscle will help you overcome obstacles. Groups can carry heavier loads,
while a single person is limited. With a
group, youll need more supplies for
everyone like food and water; alone, you
only need enough food and water to
take care of yourself. But when foraging
for supplies, a group can cover a wider
area than can one person, whereas one
person will expend a lot more energy
covering the same ground.
A single person is quieter and can
hide easier, leaving a smaller footprint on
the trail and less trash/debris behind
when leaving an area. On the other hand,
more people means more security and
less of a need to hide in the first place.
Groups of people have as many
ideas as there are people, which leads to
disagreements about plans. However,
the sole survivor has to make all of the
decisions and figure out every solution
to every problem. Sometimes it is good
to have someone to argue against a
decisionof course you think youre
right, but maybe you arent.
Loneliness can be as dangerous as
anything you will face in a survival situation. Humans are social animals. We need
outside encouragement to motivate us to

the next goal and to keep up our spirits
when times are tough. That doesnt happen when one is alone. And when youre
by yourself, there is no one to take turns
on watch and nobody to cover your back.
You are vulnerable to attack 24/7and
think of all the times in your day when
youre doing something during which
youd rather not be attacked.
With more people in your group, you
get a better mix of ideas and solutions,
a wider range of expertise, a greater mix
of gear, more people to carry supplies
and weapons, and more general equipment than a single person could ever be
able to handle.
Is there a good middle ground
between a large group and a single person? Of course. Consider your family or a
group of close relatives. For one, youre
probably already the leader, and you
probably all get along. A six-person
group of survivors is optimal in most situations: Two can watch the camp, while
a four-person foraging group makes a
resource run. And the resource gatherers
can break down into two groups of
watchers and gatherers. If a threat
emerges, theres cover for escape and
warning available for everyone else. For
someone on his or her
own, danger of capture or attack is significantly higher.
And all of those decisions should be

based solely on the group needs, but not necessarily with the groups consent. In this case
of being trapped underground in the aftermath of an earthquake, the groups needs are
for medical attention for the injured, followed by extraction from the situation.
Up To You
When you end up in a life-or-death situation, your chances for initial survival is down
to what Ben Sherwood describes as the cosmic roll of the dice. After that, though, anything that happens is completely up to you.
Will you be ready to lead?
NOVEMBER 2014
An important step in a survival situation

is to keep moving. Keep making positive
progress even if it seems like there might not
be any hope in doing so, if for no other reason than the groups morale.
As the leader, you must project this air of
forward motion. Sitting down, throwing up
your hands and answering questions with I
dont know will spread a poison of defeatism
throughout the crowd, destroying both the
groups trust in you and their own morale. If
the leader is quitting, then so is everyone
else. Remember, once you take the reins as
leader, you are the leader forever or until
youre replaced by force or circumstance.
These people dont need a shoulder to cry on.
They dont need a buddy, a simpatico, or
commiseration. If they need a friend, they
should get a dog. What they need is someone
to make the tough decisions.
Survival: Team Up Or Go Alone?
57
ASG_1411_Terrain 8/28/14 11:04 PM Page 58
Get Equipped
SEVEN GEAR SET-UPS FOR SEVEN TERRAINS
BY BREANNA ARMSTRONG, JENO TORRES AND JENNIFER DEGTJAREWSKY | Photos by Breanna Armstrong
NOVEMBER 2014
DRESSING FOR YOUR ENVIRONMENT gives you an edge in

any survival situation. Weve compiled the best gear for seven
different types of terrainlowland mountains, islands,
jungles, prairies, deserts, snowy mountains, and urban city
streets. From backpacks, sunglasses, and GPS watches, to
jackets, hats, boots and so much morethis guide is here to
help you prep and be ready for whatever happens next.
58
SNOW
When youre trecking in the mountains, you
dont want to wait until you are a 16-hour
hike away from the nearest treeline to realize
that you brought the wrong equipment.
Warmth and durability are what you need to
survive, and we have you covered from head
to toe.
WIGWAM
Watch Cap Black
Wigwam.com
$13
Acrylic outer shell
Warm and comfortable
THE NORTH FACE

Mens Texture Cap
Rock Scallion Green
GREGORY
GREGORY Z65
PACK STORM
BLACK
GregoryPacks.com
$229
Ventilated EVA foam on
hip belt and shoulder
harnesses
Top-loading main compartment with quickdraw top closure and
full-body front U-zipper
access
Floating, removable top
pocket with zippered
pocket and key clip
MARMOT
Expedition
Mitt Black
Marmot.com
$115
Waterproof, breathable
and durable
Recommended for cold
weather expeditions
TheNorthFace.com
$70
Insulated
Breathable
Reverse coil front zip
Reverse-coil zips at Napoleon
and hand pockets
MAMMUT
Takhin Jacket Space
Graphite
Mammut.ch
$329
Durable, yet soft and quiet Drytech premium polyester ripstop
shell offers waterproof, windproof
and breathable protection; mellow
stretch enhances comfort
High-quality synthetic fiber insulation offers lofty warmth, low bulk
and excellent packability, plus it
continues to insulate even if wet
Taffeta lining slides easily over
base layers
Hood with laminated brim adjusts
both vertically and horizontally for
a personalized fit and good visibility in all directions
The Mammut Takhin jacket features long pit zippers with mesh
gussets for venting
OUTDOOR RESEARCH
Foray Pants Pewter
SALOMON
Quest 4D GTX Olive
Dark/ Olive Black
Salomon.com
$230
Lightweight
Protection
Stability
NOVEMBER 2014
OutdoorResearch.com
$175
Gore-Tex technical fabric keeps you comfortably warm and dry by providing durable,
lightweight, wind- and water-proof protection while still remaining breathable.
Fully taped seams keep the moisture out.
Attached, adjustable hood.
Long sleeves sport hook-and-loop
adjustable cuffs.
Water-resistant, two-way, full-zip front
closure with interior wind flap.
59
ISLAND
Things to remember in an
island environment: stay cool,
reduce sun exposure and stary
hydrated. With reliable
footwear, sunscreen of at least
SPF 30 and UPF clothing protection, your chances at overcoming the challenges of any
isolated tropical environment
will increase .
PEPPERS POLARIZED EYEWEAR

Cutthroat
PeppersUSA.com
$39.95
Polarized
Bouyant foam chamber- H2O floaters
ARCTERYX
Mens Motus Crew Long
Sleeve Iron Anvil
Arcteryx.com
$75
Moisture-wicking and lightweight
Four-way stretch
Trim fit
F latlocked seams
Sun protection: UPF 25
PATAGONIA
Mens Baggies Long Shorts
AHNU
Del Rey Dark
Shadow
NOVEMBER 2014
Ahnu.com
$100
Shock dispersal plate
in forefoot for stone
bruising protection
Integrated webbing
system
Snug fit
Adjustable TPU heel
strap for secure fit
Rubber toe cap for
protection
60
Patagonia.com
$49
Relaxed fit
Baggies Long Shorts are made from
moisture-wicking, quick-drying
nylon thats treated with a durable
water-repellent finish so that water
beads up and rolls right off
Polyester mesh liner feels soft
against skin and speeds up drying
Deep hand pockets are designed to
reduce drag in the water and
pocket bags feature quick-draining
mesh corners
Elasticized waist with an internal
drawcord ensures a comfortable fit
JUNGLE
CAMELBAK
Fourteener 24
Hydration Pack
Camelbak.com
$145
Load-bearing waist belt
Multi-directional airflow provides superior
ventilation
100 ounces (3 liter)
reservoir antidote
In a jungle setting, one

needs durable, waterproof
gear. Whether you
encounter tropical rains,
swarming insects or a
muddy swamp, you need
reliable equipment in such
a densely vegetated area.
KUHL
Kuhl Wunderer Mens
Shirt
Kuhl.com
$70
UPF 50-plus rating fabric
Super-fine mesh
Hidden, zippered security pocket
CAROLINA MFG
Paisley Bandana
CarolinaMfg.com
$4
Lightweight, soft, 100
percent cotton
Fits in your pocket
MARMOT
Spectra Jacket
Marmot.com
$175
NanoPro membrane moves
moisture away from skin
Pit zips help dump excess
heat build-up
Hidden-zip hand pockets
OUTDOOR
RESEARCH
Sentinel Brim
Hat
OutdoorResearch.com
$47
Solar shield
Insect shield
ASOLO
Piuma Hiking Boots
COLUMBIA
Silver Ridge
Convertible Pant
NOVEMBER 2014
Columbia.com
$60
UPF 50-plus rating fabric
Omni-Wick fabric treatment
pulls moisture off your skin
Pant legs zip off, converting
the pants to shorts
Asolo-Usa.com
$189.50
Water-resistant suede leather
Lightweight Vibram
rubber/EVA blend outsoles
Wicking nylon velveteen
linings absorb and disperse
excess moisture
61
MOUNTAIN
When you find yourself in a mountainous environment, it is important that
you are completely equipped from head
to toe in durable and warm clothing that
provides total protection.
PATAGONIA
Mens Down Sweater Vest
GREGORY
Gregory Z65
Pack Spark Red
GregoryPacks.com
$229
Ventilated back
panel
Wrap-over padding
on waist belt for
added comfort
Two exterior stretch
water bottle pockets
Hideaway
axe/trekking pole
loops with secure
carry
Interior sleeve with
port for hydration
reservoir
Patagonia.com
$179
Lightweight
Windproof and waterproof
100 percent traceable down insulation
THE NORTH FACE

Mens Shellrock
Jacket Burnt Olive
Green/ Black Ink Green
TheNorthFace.com
$129
Short-pile fleece backer
Brushed chin guard and collar
facing
Two secure-zip hand pockets
Adjustable Velcro cuff tabs
Hem cinch-cord
KEEN
Gypsum WP Mid Hiking
Boots Dark Earth/ Neutral
Gray
MAMMUT
Traileka Soft-Shell
Pants Black
NOVEMBER 2014
Mammut.ch
$149
Quick-drying
nylon/polyester/spandex soft-shell
fabric breathes, draws moisture
away from your skin and repels
exterior moisture and light wind
Knee darts shape the knees for
enhanced comfort during active
movement
Five-pocket jean styling with two
front pockets, two rear pockets
and low-profile right-side cargo
pocket; zip fly and button closure
Rear pockets and cargo pocket
have rip-and-stick closures
Mammut Traileika pants have a
slim, athletic fit
62
KeenFootwear.com
$150
Waterproof nubuck leather uppers
offer ample durability, flexibility and
breathability for lasting comfort on
and off the trail
Keen Dry waterproof breathable
membranes keep feet dry while
allowing perspiration to dissipate
before it saturates the inside of the
shoe
Patented rubber toe guards protect
feet and uppers from impacts and
abrasion
Removable metatomical EVA
footbeds are shaped to provide
ample cushioning and arch support;
can also accommodate orthotics
External thermoplastic urethane
heel stabilizers support feet on
impact, dissipate shock and reduce
the chance of twisting an ankle
PRAIRIE
When youre moving through wide-open
spaces during the winter or summer, conquering a large swath of prairie is all
about being layered and prepared.
CAMELBAK
Pursuit 24 LR with quick
link system 100 ounce
3L Grey/Green
Shop.CamelBack.com
$150
SV Backpanel
Load-bearing waist belt with
cargo pocket
Tool attachments
Quick stash overflow pocket
SUNDAY AFTERNOONS
Charter Hat Sand
SundayAfternoons.com
$49
UPF 50-plus sun protection
Nylon mesh ventilation
Security pocket
PATAGONIA
Better Sweater
Jacket Grey
Patagonia.com
$139
Full-zip polyester fleece
Handwarmer pockets
REI
Mens Revelcloud
Vest Black
PATAGONIA
Mens Fjord Flannel
Maroon/Black/Orange
Patagonia.com
$89
100 percent organic cotton
flannel
Single-button patch chest
pockets
Two-button adjustable cuffs
MAMMUT
Mens Sultana
Pants Dark Oak
REI.com
$159
SOFtech soft-shell fabric,
highly weather resistant
Drawcord hems to seal
out the weather
Suggested for hiking
REI.com
$109
Recycled polyester shell
Resists rain and 50-mph wind
Inner pocket doubles as a
storage pouch
Chest pocket has chord port
VASQUE
7404 Taku GTX slate
brown/puma red
Vasque.com
$179.99
Recommended for hiking
Vibram neo day hiker sole
Gore-Tex breathable liner
NOVEMBER 2014
63
DESERT
Light weight: That is what you are
looking for in a desert setting. Having
UPF sun protection is a must when
finding the right gear for this terrain.
PEPPERS
Polarized Eyewear
Style MP554-45
PeppersUsa.shptron.com
$44.95
REI
Mens Sahara
Tech Shirt
REI.com
$54.50
Fabric wicks moisture
and dries fast, keeping
you cooler
Offers UPF 50-plus sun
protection
Lots of pockets for
essentials
SEIRUS
Quickshade
Sunsafe Hat
Serius.com
$39.95
Versatile sun cape
Lightweight, breathable
nylon fabric
UPF 25 sun protection
PLATYPUS
MODEL: Cross Trail
Sprinter XT 25.0 M/L
Raven
CascadeDesigns.com
$139.95
Big Zip LP 3.0L reservoir
Hydration pocket with reservoir suspension system
Trekking pole carry and ice
axe loop
Stashable waist belts and
compression straps
REI
Khaki Cargo Pants
NOVEMBER 2014
LOWA
Zephyr Mid All Terrain
64
LowaBoots.com
$185.00
Integrated polyurethane midsoles deliver amazing shock
absorption
Split-grain leather uppers
Polyurethane MONOWRAP
frames provide stability
REI.com
$64.50
UPF 50
Lightweight, nylon fabric
dries fast and has a durable
H20 repellent finish
Loaded with pockets for
essentials.
URBAN
When a disaster occurs in an urban
setting, its possible to have gear that
is both action-ready and stylish. Weve
selected gear that is functional and
looks cool.
PEPPERS POLARIZED EYEWEAR

Cutthroat Matte Tortoise
PeppersUSA.com
$39.95
Polarized
Bouyant foam chamber- H2O floaters
KUHL
Mens Dfynce Jacket
DEUTER
ACT Trail 32 Pack
Kuhl.com
$139
Four-way stretch nylon/spandex shuts
out the wind, sheds precipitation and is
durable without being rough or heavy
Side and underarm smooth-face knit
panels are extra soft and stretchy,
highly breathable and moisture wicking
Fabric is treated with a durable waterrepellent finish for water resistance and
quick drying
Deuter.com
$129
Main compartment has plenty
of room for an all-day hike; twoway zipper on the front allows
access to buried items
Hydration-compatible design
features reservoir pocket and
drink tube exit port for on-thego hydration (reservoir sold
separately)
Aircontact back system with
Delrin U-frame rod allows warm
air to escape and fresh air to
circulate between the pack and
the users back
PATAGONIA
Mens Capilene 2 Lightweight Crew
Patagonia.com
$49
UPF 20
Slim fit
Good for hot and cold weather
Odor resistant
LOWA
Renegade GTX Mid
PRANA
Bronson Pant Mens 30-inch
Inseam Pewter
Prana.com
$70
Certified 100-percent organic cotton
canvas fabric is blended with spandex for comfortable stretch; peached
finish is soft to the touch
Reinforced rivet detailing and triple
needle stitching add durability
Inseam gusset allows unrestricted
range of motion
LowaBoots.com
$225
Waterproof, breathable
Gore-Tex lining
Climate-controlled footbed
Comfortable and stylish
NOVEMBER 2014
65
ASG_1411_INTRO_URBAN.CX 66 8/31/14 11:55 PM Page 66
SPARTAN SHELTER + PREPPING FOR SENIORS + HOUSEHOLD GEAR
NOVEMBER 2014
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
IN THIS SECTION
66
IN THIS SECTION, well talk about improvising. Well show you how a humble bandana
can be a survival multi-tool, and how you can make use of simple household gear when
you are separated from your own survival toolkit. And since we believe survival is for
everyone, well discuss the unique challenges faced by elder preppers, and how to
address them.
Of course, the whole purpose of preparation is so that we wont have to improvise.
Well look at the ultimate in preparation: Custom-made bug-in shelters that can be built
right onor should we say right underyour property.
ASG_1411_HOUSEHOLD.qxp 8/29/14 12:22 AM Page 67
Ten
Household Items
BY JEFF ZURSHMEIDE
You Can Use In

An Emergency
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
here will you be when the lights go out?

You may be at home or in your car where
you have everything you needor you may
find yourself elsewhere with few or no supplies. The point of self-reliance is not reliance
on all the stuff Ive stashed in case things go
pear-shaped. The point is being able to rely on
your wits and your skills to get you through whatever may come.
Fortunately, there are good tools all around youyou
just have to learn to recognize them. To kick-start your
thinking process, here are 10 useful items you can find in
most North American homes, and some ideas on how to
use them in an emergency.
Kitchen Knife
This one is so obvious, it feels like cheating to even
mention it. So what if your awesome, combination Bowie
knife with skinning hook and tactical built-in compass is
up at your cabin, while youre three states away at Aunt
Myrtles 80th birthday party? Bet you money shes got a
10-inch French chefs knife, and thats good enough.
NOVEMBER 2014
67
WHY DO I NEED
TO IMPROVISE?
If youre reading this magazine, chances are good that youre
better prepared for an emergency than the average individual. You probably have the tools you need to take care of
yourself and your family when the worst has happened, and
theyre carefully stored in your home, car, cabin, or wherever
makes the most sense for you.
Yet you never know when disaster will strike. Maybe
youll be visiting friends or relatives. Maybe youll be at a
resort or traveling in a foreign country. If your luck turns that
way, you may have to MacGyver something up in a hurry.
Once you learn to look at the objects around you as potential
survival gear, youll never be without your survival gear
instead, your gear will be all around you.
Laundry Bleach
Eight drops of standard bleach will
treat a gallon of water for drinking.
Start by filtering the water through a
bandana (see page 71) to screen out
solids, and then mix in your bleach
and let the water stand for a halfhour before drinking.
Wire Coat Hanger

Useful for anything from unlocking a car to securing a door. This
metal is both bendable and strong,
and when its unfolded, a hanger
has enough length to be useful. You
can even use it as temporary welding rod if you have an oxyacetylene
torch handy.
NOVEMBER 2014
Ten
Household Items
68
Liquor
Any alcoholic beverage of 80
proof or more will burn quite readily,
and can be used to start a fire. That
generally means hard alcohol like
whisky, vodka, gin, and so on, but
not beer, wine, or other drinks.
Honey
The National Institutes of Health
tell us that honey has been documented in the worlds oldest medical literatures, and since the
ancient times, it has been known to
possess an antimicrobial property
as well as wound-healing activity.
The healing property of honey is
due to the fact that it offers
antibacterial activity, maintains a
moist wound condition, and its high
viscosity helps to provide a protective barrier to prevent infection.
CD/DVD
Do you need a signaling mirror?
Try a CD or DVD; they work great for
catching the attention of rescuers
who may be flying over your area.
Get a bunch of them and tie them
on a string to really flash and catch
the light. As a bonus for long-term
use, tie CDs to fruit trees and berry
bushes to keep birds from poaching
your produce.
Magnifying Glass
You can get a fire started quite
easily with a magnifying glass. A
lens is certainly better than flint and
steel and almost as good as
matches, provided that theres
direct sunlight.
NOVEMBER 2014
THE POINT OF SELF-RELIANCE IS

NOT RELIANCE ON ALL THE STUFF
IVE STASHED IN CASE THINGS GO
PEAR-SHAPED.
69
Ten
Household Items
Dental Floss
Everyone has at least a
dozen packs of dental floss in
drawers and medicine chests,
right? This handy thread is super
strong and can be used for anything
from stitching up wounds to replacing buttons on your clothes. The
waxed kind will stay where you put it,
which makes it nice for wrapping
knife handles and tying simple knots.
Broomstick
An ordinary broomstick can
become just about any kind of pole
weapon or tool you need. Strap a
flattened kitchen fork to it to spear
frogs or fish, or bend the fork to pull
down apples that are out of reach.
Cardboard Box
In the big list of stuff you can find
in any house, its hard to find something more generally useful than a
cardboard box. These have been the
go-to construction material for the
worlds poor for generations. You can
turn a box into temporary shelter (if
its big enough), or just someplace to
sit or stand that will stay dry for a
short time.
A box can be used to collect or
carry small items, such as kindling,
and can be flattened and wrapped
around your body to protect and
insulate your skin from cold winds.
With a basic cardboard box, you can
leave a note, make a sunshade, or
cut out a window covering.
NOVEMBER 2014
CONCLUSION
70
This list barely scratches the surface of useful items that are everywhere around you. Survival is a mindset, and if you start thinking about it,
youll soon see that the world is full
of everything you could possibly need
to get yourself and your family
through an emergency.
SURVIVAL IS A MINDSET, AND IF YOU

START THINKING ABOUT IT, YOULL
SOON SEE THAT THE WORLD IS FULL
OF EVERYTHING YOU NEED.
ASG_1411_BANDANA.71,73 CX 8/31/14 11:56 PM Page 71
14 Good
Uses For A
Bandana
(or just about any old rag)
BY J E F F ZUR SC H M E I D E
the list of human virtues, resourcefulness doesnt often
make the top ten. In truth, the modern world has become so
adept at making low-cost, single-use, single-purpose items,
that resourcefulness often doesnt make the list at all
because we havent needed to be resourceful for a generation or two. But in a pinch, your ability to make the most of what youve got
can be the difference between life and death.
Remember the scene in Apollo 13 when they took everything that the
astronauts had on board and dumped it onto a table? They had to fix the
spacecraft with what was available, and they did. Thats not just a movie
scenethey really did fix a spaceship on the fly, and the astronauts survived
because of it.
So, to reignite the flame of resourcefulness, we decided to take the most
ordinary of household itemsthe common hip pocket bandanaand see
what we could do with it. Quite a bit, as it turns out.
NOVEMBER 2014
71
ASG_1411_BANDANA 8/28/14 11:18 PM Page 72
Diaper
In the event of long-term self-reliance,
families with small children face special challenges. That drawer of bandanas would be obvious to our greatgrandmothers as a source of reusable
diapers.
Cold Compress
Use your bandana as a bag for an ice
pack or folded as a cold compress;
your bandana can keep ice on an
injured limb, or pack ice around a severed finger, for that matter.
A bandana is a simple thing, a square of thin

cotton cloth about 22 inches on a side, with the
edges sewn up to prevent fraying. Its usually
dyed with a pattern, but after a couple trips
through the wash, thats nothing to worry about.
What you have in front of you is a little bit of
ancient technology that can save your life. So
here, in no particular order, are all the things we
figured out to do with a bandana in the course
of a single afternoon.
Hot Pad
Are you cooking in the wilderness? It
doesnt matter if youre on a camp
stove or a campfire that bandana in
your pocket can be folded up a couple
times and used as a hot pad. No one
needs a burned hand.
Impromptu Pocket
Hot Pad
Your bandana makes an excellent

pocket or bag; just gather the nuts,
berries, or whatever in the center of
the cloth, then pull up the corners and
tie them together.
Portable Anchor
If you need to anchor something
against the wind, such as a lean-to
shelter, put some rocks in your bandana, tie up the corners, then tie the
whole bag to your item as an anchor.
Short Rope
While not as strong as a proper rope or
paracord, you can use your rolled-up
bandana to tie off some small items
maybe affixing your knife or a cup onto
a poleand it will hold long enough to
get a job done.
Make Silence
When you need to move quietly, all the
stuff you have carefully acquired and
organized can give you away. Wrap
noisy items like keys, sierra cups, or
tools in your bandana to stop them
clanking and jingling.
NOVEMBER 2014
Dust Filter
72
You might look like youre about to rob

a train, but in any dusty environment,
your trusty bandana tied around your
nose and mouth will help keep you
breathing clean air.
Dust Filter
ASG_1411_BANDANA.71,73 CX 8/31/14 11:56 PM Page 73
Bandana
Sling
Probably the most obvious medical
use for a bandana is as a sling or triangle bandage. Just fold and go.
Coffee Filter
If you have a common household
funnel, some coffee or tea, some
hot water, and a bandana, you have
a reusable coffee filter or tea bag.
You can also make herbal infusions
this way.
Cheese Filter
Heres a use to please the homesteaders, or anyone who wants to
make some of their own food
beyond garden vegetables. If you
get some standard store-bought
Rennet and some milk, you can
make your own spreadable cheese.
Once you follow the instructions to
make the curd, take your bandana
and line a kitchen colander. Put it in
the sink (or wherever) and dump
the curd into it. Turn the curd over
occasionally and let the whey drain
through the bandana until you have
your cheese.
Sling
Duster/Mop
Hand Protection
In addition to protection from heat,
your bandana can protect against
abrasion, whether around a wrist,
palm, or fingers. This technique is
quite useful with hand-line fishing!
Shelter/Clothing
Hand Protection
Duster/Mop
Everyone agrees, cleanliness is key
to long-term survival, and a bandana on a stick makes a decent
mopor dry-mop it to make the
original Swiffer.
NOVEMBER 2014
ILLUSTRATIOINS BY JESSE CAO
The most common use for a bandana is also a critical safety item: tie
it over your head to protect against
the sun, and tie another around your
neck to protect that tender skin.
Bandanas around your neck can
also be soaked in water on hot days,
and theyll help retain heat on cold
days. Along the same lines, you can
stretch the bandana over sticks or
just about anything to make a small
sunshade or parasol.
73
ASG_1411_SPARTAN.CX 74,75 8/31/14 11:57 PM Page 74
THE
ULTIMATE
SURVIVAL
SHELTER
SPARTAN SURVIVAL LEADS THE WAY FOR PREPPERS SEEKING SHELTER
BY T OR R E Y K I M | Photos by Spartan Survival Systems
MAGINE THIS: A nuclear meltdown
has hit your town hard, with residents
sealing off their vents using duct
tape, scrambling to ration the case of
bottled water they have stashed in
the pantry, and unsure of where to find
safe cans of food for nourishment. But
you have no worriesbecause youre
safely underground in your Spartan Survival Systems shelter with a neatly organized stockpile of food and water to
keep you and your family safe for
months.
NOVEMBER 2014
ELITE MILITARY BACKGROUND
74
Spartan Survival Systems was born

following a novel idea devised by two
survivalist preppers who have years of
experience with elite military units, combat operations, law enforcement, SWAT,
security, welding, fabrication and construction experience.
With this knowledge, we sat down
and tried to think of ways to survive
should one or more of the hundreds of
doomsday scenarios play out, says
Todd Stump, Spartans president, who
WHAT BETTER WAY TO SURVIVE ANY ONE OF THESE SCENARIOS THAN

TO SIT IT OUT IN A HIDDEN UNDERGROUND SURVIVAL SHELTER?
ASG_1411_SPARTAN.CX 74,75 8/31/14 11:58 PM Page 75
SPARTAN SURVIVAL SYSTEMS
with his partner came up with a

clever solution. What better way to
survive any one of these scenarios
than to sit it out in a hidden underground survival shelter? While
everyone else is sitting around trying
to figure out how to get food or
water or shelter, we wanted to be
sitting in a safe place that has all of
those things already in it through
years of preparationand we
wanted other preppers to be able to
have the same confidence that they
would be able to survive should
some terrible unforeseen event happen in their lives.
Combining their construction and
fabrication experience, Stump and his
partner spent thousands of hours creating CAD drawings, planning budgets and sitting in business meetings
before they took the final step toward
shelter bliss. Spartan Survival Systems was created and we havent
looked back since, he says.
[ABOVE] An inside
look at a Spartan
Survival Systems
shelter during
construction.
[LEFT] Yes, you
can get clean,
running water in
your underground
shelter.
CUSTOMER ASSISTS IN
DESIGN ELEMENTS
If you are interested in creating
your own underground survival
haven, the first step is to reach out to
Spartan and share your project goals.
Spartan will then begin customizing
a shelter to meet your needs.
Each individual lets us know what
type of budget they are trying to meet
and what type of situation they want
their shelter system to be forstorms,
civil unrest, safe room, etc., Stump
says. Once those details are ironed
out, we prepare computer models
with dimensions and measurements
that provide a good idea of the type of
space they will have in their shelter,
and if we need to upsize or downsize.
If you need room for 10, for example,
Spartan can tweak the air filtration
system to ensure that it can handle
that size.
TEAM EFFORT
Spartan Survival Systems

makes its shelters with preppers in mind, so the structures have several distinctive
qualities that allow them to
be ideal for survivalists.
Underground location.
The fact that the shelter is
underground is probably the
most important factor for
any of the situations or scenarios you can think of, he
says. Being underground
allows you to remain hidden
and concealed from both a
storm and roaming bands of
people who want to take
your supplies. Being under-
ground allows for a constant

temperature range much
like a basement has.
Filtration. Our shelters
have air filters which can
function as regular air
pumps to bring in breathable air from outside as well
as NBC filters should there
be war gasses or fallout in
your area, Stump says. We
design the air filter system
based on how many individuals are expected to occupy
the shelter.
Customized bedrooms.
If you have children, we can
build the number of bunks
required, Stump says. If the
shelter is just for you and
your spouse, we can make
the living quarters into a single room rather than a room
with several bunks. If you

have dogs, we can customize
the entrance with stairs
instead of a ladder.
Pick your extras. The
entrance door can be fortified should someone stumble across your hidden surface entrance, Stump says.
We can customize a bathroom so that it can have a
shower in it with external or
internal water tanks
depending on how you want
to store water. Your toilet
can be an internal chemical
toilet or we can plumb it out
to an external tank. There
are countless combinations
and setups depending on
what you want your shelter
system to have.
NOVEMBER 2014
Model and size decided upon, the

next step is to research shipping and
excavating companies to deliver and
install the shelter, a process with
which Spartan provides assistance
but for which the owner is ultimately
WHAT
MAKES
SPARTAN
UNIQUE
75
ASG_1411_SPARTAN 8/28/14 11:21 PM Page 76
THE
ULTIMATE
SURVIVAL
SHELTER
SPARTAN SURVIVAL SYSTEMS
PICK YOUR PRICE
WORKING WITH
SHIPPERS AND
EXCAVATORS
NOVEMBER 2014
Once youve begun creating your customized

Spartan Survival shelter, youll contact shipping companies and let them know the size
shelter you need transported to your location,
and how far you need it to travel. Its best to
get price quotes from multiple vendors before
deciding on a shipper.
Your next step will be to get in touch with
excavation contractors to let them know the
size shelter youre ordering and how deep
you want it to be buried. The excavator will
generally come out and do a site check to
determine the soil conditions and the site
conditions before they give a price quote,
Stump says. Once these steps have been
accomplished, you will have a very good idea
on how much the different steps in this
process will cost.
76
responsible. Once shipping and

excavation are established, Spartan
begins work on the shelter. Completion times vary based on Spartans
workload, and a busy summer building season can delay installation by
the excavators as well.
Once the shelter has been completed, Spartan coordinates with the
shipper while the customer contacts
the excavating company to ensure
Just like no two homes are exactly the

same, neither are Spartan Survival Systems
shelters, and therefore, the prices can vary
depending on the customization specs.
The companys Series-1 shelters, which
are all 10 feet in diameter and between 20
and 35 feet in length, have a base model
($20,000 to $35,000), standard model
($28,000 to $43,000), and deluxe model
($46,000 to $65,000) available.
Spartans Series-2 shelters are all eight
feet in diameter and between 10 and 35
feet in length. There is no differentiation
in models of the Series-2s and the price
ranges between $13,000 for the shorter
lengths and $28,000 for the larger models, Stump says. The difference between
Series-1 and 2 is pipe diameter, which really
equates to amount of head room you will
have once inside. The larger diameter pipe,
the more head room and more under floor
storage you will have.
Spartan can also customize a pipe to
serve as a food or supply cache with security doors. These are a lot smaller in size
than our shelters and allow you to keep
your supplies separate from your main
shelter or your home, Stump says.
CHOOSE YOUR MULTIPURPOSE USE
[FROM TOP] The hatch and stairway of a

shelter thats being constructed. In this
shelter under construction, you can see the
ample headroom.
that the site is prepped in time for the

shelters arrival. Spartan provides the
excavators with detailed installation
instructions to maximize the chances
for a smooth installation.
Although you may think of a survival shelter as something you

need for a weekend getaway in the
face of a storm, the reality is that
you can stay longer if you need to.
Our shelters are fully customizable depending on the situation you see happening, Stump
says. If you live in tornado alley
and you want something you can
hunker down in during a tornado,
we can provide a smaller survival
system. On the other end of the
spectrum, if you see yourself trying to survive the total collapse of
society and you want something
you can stay in for extended periods
of time, we can do that too.

To find out more about Spartan Survival Systems and determine how to customize your shelter, visit: SpartanSurvivalSystems.com.
ASG_1411_77 8/28/14 11:23 PM Page 77
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ASG_1411_SENIORS 8/28/14 11:31 PM Page 78
Seniors
NOVEMBER 2014
78
HETHER YOU ARE A SENIOR CITIZEN

WHO IS STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT
WHAT YOU WILL DO IN AN EMERGENCY
SITUATION, OR YOU ARE THE CHILD OR
FRIEND OF A SENIOR, THERE ARE SOME
THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER IN ADDITION TO
YOUR NORMAL PREPPING ACTIVITIES. SENIORS HAVE
ADDITIONAL NEEDS IN A DISASTER SITUATION, BUT THEY
ALSO HAVE AN IRREPLACEABLE LIFETIME OF SKILL AND
EXPERIENCE. PREPPING FOR SENIORS SIMPLY REQUIRES
A FEW FACTORS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
FACE DOWN
EMERGENCIES
WITHOUT FEAR
BY LARRY SCHWARTZ
AS WE AGE, OUR BODIES

AND MINDS CHANGE AND
THAT AFFECTS OUR
ABILITY TO OPERATE IN A
CHALLENGING SITUATION.
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
Prepping For
PHOTO BY WIKIMEDIA
ADDITIONAL CONCERNS
THAT COME WITH AGING
Practice now using alternative

methods so that the process isnt
new when an emergency occurs.
BUG-IN, EVACUATE,
OR BUG-OUT?
Having a disability does
not make you
an invalid or
a burden.
One of the first decisions you need to make in an emergency situation or natural disaster is whether you will stay where you are or
leave where you are. If you are a senior, or have an older person as
part of your group, your decision is going to have to take into
account their strengths and weaknesses. Many seniors are as fit
as those half their age, but many also face challenges from
weakened bodies, the need for medications, and sometimes
impaired cognitive functions. As a result, in some instances it is
often better to stay in place and avoid exposing them to the
physical challenges of walking long distances or carrying the
weight of a pack or other supplies.
NOVEMBER 2014
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
As we age, our bodies and minds

change, and that affects our ability to
operate in a challenging situation.
Our skin can get thinner and
more prone to tearing or other damage and may take longer to heal.
We use more medications on a
daily basis, some of which may
require refrigeration or have other
special storage needs.
As much as we dont like to
admit to it, we often lose strength,
flexibility, and endurance as we age,
so we cant do the things we did
when we were younger and cant do
them for as long, either.
Our minds are not as sharp and
we dont remember things as well
as we used to; sometimes we need
to be reminded to do things.
We are more dependent upon
others for our mobility and transportation, and sometimes even our
daily tasks.
79
Prepping for
Seniors
MAKE SURE YOUR

MONEY IS AVAILABLE
The Department of Homeland Security, on
Ready.Gov, recommends that seniors simplify their lives by going electronic with their
paychecks or benefit payments such as
social security. Going electronic will ensure
that your money is available in case you
couldnt get to the bank to cash or deposit
your check or if your mail cannot get to you.
They recommend one of two options:
> Set up your paychecks or benefit payments
with direct deposit. Your employer can set
this up for you if you are still working. For
federal benefits payments you can set up
direct deposit by calling (800) 333-1795 or
by visiting GoDirect.org. Your state and
local jurisdictions should have similar information on their websites.
> If one is offered, use the option of a cash
card which is basically a pre-paid debit
card to access funds in your checking
account. If you dont already use a debit
card with your checking account you
should consider it. Federal payments can
be placed on a Direct Express prepaid
debit card by calling (877) 212-9991 or
going to USDirectExpress.com. As mentioned above, your state and local jurisdictions should have information on their
websites if they offer this service.
There is strength in numbers, so

work together with family and
friends during emergencies.
ONE OF THE FIRST DECISIONS YOU NEED TO MAKE IN AN EMERGENCY

SITUATION OR NATURAL DISASTER IS WHETHER YOU WILL STAY WHERE YOU
ARE OR LEAVE WHERE YOU ARE.
NOVEMBER 2014
WHAT YOU CAN DO
80
None of these problems are

insurmountable. In fact, most of
them just need some additional
preparation time and planning.
Connect now with local emergency support groups like your
neighborhood watch or Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT),
which may be able to provide you
with assistance in the event of an
emergency.
Get involved with family or
friends to provide mutual support.
They can help meet your mobility
challenges and you can provide
them lifetime of experience and
skills that they do not have.
Dont let the challenges get the better of you

... planning and some help from family will
take care of most things.
Figure out how to get yourself or

your loved ones from where they are
to a safer location and then practice
on a regular basis.
Find ways around your limitations, such as getting a jar
gripper/wrench to help open jars, or
a device used to get things off of
high shelves.
Modify your environment now to
accommodate the use of wheel-
chairs or walkers. Make things easier

to get to. Raise rabbits and chickens
rather than goats and cows.
Start prepping now if you have
not already started. To your normal
prepping supplies of food, water,
fuel, add anything that you personally need, like hearing aid batteries,
a stockpile of your medications, or
adult diapers.
Develop a plan for how you and
your family or support group will let
each other know where you are and
if you are in trouble should an emergency or natural disaster occur.
Also, pick a location where everyone can meet and a backup should
your initial gathering location not be
available.
BE YOUR OWN FIRST

RESPONDER
Whether you are a senior doing
your own preparations or you are
preparing to help older friends or
family, medical issues are a more
serious and more frequent risk for
seniors. Mobile medical personnel
like EMTs and stationary personnel at
hospitals and clinics will be stretched
Seniors have skills that many of us

dont, so take advantage of their advice.
Maintain a stockpile of your regular

medications for when you dont have
access to a pharmacy.
thin in many emergency situations.

For these reasons it is vital that you
develop and maintain the skills,
materials, and supplies needed for
you to serve as the first responder for
the seniors in your group.
Your first step should be to take a
basic first aid course from an organization like the American Red Cross
or the American Heart Association
that includes how to use defibrillators and perform CPR. Then, practice
your new skills on a regular basis so
that you can perform them without
having to think about what you need
to do or look it up in a book.
The next step is to learn how to
handle more serious situations that
involve trauma, like serious bleeding
or major puncture wounds. This
training can be obtained from companies offering trauma kits or blow
out kits or from various Wilderness
First Aid courses.
Community colleges in your area
also frequently offer the courses
needed to become certified as an
EMT. You may not want to go all the
way to certification, but the breadth
and depth of the knowledge you will
receive will make you much more
capable in an emergency or disaster
situation.
Find us on
Discover the
world of rearms at
your ngertips.
www.gunworld.com
Order
your copy
Subscribe to
Today!
GUN WORLD
Today!
Call us at
1-800-764-6278
Call us at
1-800-764-6278
Biography: Larry Schwartz is an experienced outdoorsman, hunter, and former Scout leader who enjoys passing on his knowledge of how to be prepared and the
outdoors through his writing and workshops.
NOVEMBER 2014
To learn more about prepping for seniors check

out the following websites:
Department of Homeland Security; Ready.gov
Federal Emergency Management Agency;
Fema.gov
American Red Cross; RedCross.org
81
ASG_1411_BG_CORDAGE 8/28/14 11:36 PM Page 82
Buyers Guide
PARACORD
SURVIVAL
LINE-UP
NOTHING SAYS MULTI-USE IN
EMERGENCIES LIKE PARACORD
NOVEMBER 2014
BOOTLACES ALONE cant cut it when

you need cord to build shelter, create
snares or even climb down a steep cliff.
Thats where paracord comes into play.
Paracord is military-grade cordage
used in the construction of parachutes.
Its available in many lengths, colors and
strengths550 being the norm in the
survival world (550 pound minimum
bursting strength). This type of cord is
useful in hundreds of survival or emergency applications and should be packed
in everyones supply bag and carried on
every adventure, planned or otherwise.
82
PARACORD Buyers
Guide
PARACORD FUSION TIES VOL. 2
1 $24.95
750 LB. MILITARY SPEC PARACORD
2 $27.97
HIGH VISIBILITY ORANGE 550 PARACORD
3 $8
750 LB. MILITARY SPEC

2
PARACORD
HIGH VISIBILITY
ORANGE 550
3
PARACORD
Paracord Planet
$24.95
ParacordPlanet.com
Tough Grid
$27.97
ToughGrid.com
Not If But When Survival Store

$8
NotIfButWhenSurvivalStore.com
Key Features: Step-by-step

instructions; advanced fusion
knotting; 35 projects
Description: Paracord Fusion Ties,
Vol. 2 goes beyond the basic
knots. Using full-color photographs and easy-to-follow,
step-by-step instructions, this
book will show you how to create
bracelets, bush sandals, a no-slip
machete grip, snow goggles, and
a single cord rock sling. Instructions are included for 35 useful
paracord designs, all of which can
be quickly deconstructed to
unravel foot after foot of fully
functional survival paracord.
Key Features: Mil spec Mil-C5040-H; 750-pound test; 11

strands
Description: Sometimes you need
more strength than standard
550 paracord can provide, and
thats where this mil-spec 750 lb
paracord comes in. Using an 11strand core (instead of the typical 7) gives it an extra 200 lbs
over standard survival-grade
cord, eliminating the need to
double up your cord for heavy
applications, and its only 1/32 of
an inch thicker in diameter than
standard 550 cord.
Key Features: Seven strand; 550

strength rating; brightly colored
Description: This seven-strand, 550
lb test strength paracord is standard survival grade, useful for
applications such as tying
together a temporary shelter,
making a hunting bolas, or hoisting your food up and away from
scavengers in the woods. Bright
high-visibility orange color makes
it easy to see against natural colors (and difficult to lose). Made in
United States; comes in 100-foot
bundles.
NOVEMBER 2014
PARACORD
FUSION TIES
1
VOL. 2 BOOK
83
Buyers PARACORD
Guide
PARACORD RIFLE/SHOTGUN SLING
4 $46.92
PARACORD
RIFLE/SHOT4
GUN SLING
Colt
$46.92
NotIfButWhenSurvivalStore.com
Key Features: Quick-detach
swivels; fully adjustable; 550pound rating
Description: The Colt Paracord
Rifle or Shotgun Sling is a great
multi-purpose tool that pulls
double duty to keep your
weapon steady and secure while
providing useful paracord if a
need may arise. The rifle strap
adjusts to 48-inches long and
features dual, quick-release
swivels. Unravel this sling into
four lengths of 550-pound test
paracord for a combined overall
length of 130 feet.
5 NANO CORD
Atwood Rope
$5.49/300-foot spool
AtwoodRope.net
Key Features: 0.75 mm diameter;

36-pound test strength; made in
United States
Description: With a diameter of
just 0.75mm, Nano Cord is the
smallest paracord you can find,
and yet it has a useful test
strength of 36 lbs. Nano Cord is
compact and lightweight and
useful for projects that dont
require the full strength of heavier-duty paracord. Sold in 300foot spools in multiple colors.
NANO CORD
NOVEMBER 2014
5 $5.49/spool
84
PARACORD Buyers
Guide
EZ-JIG BRACELET GUIDE
7 $19.99
PARACHUTE CORD
STARTER PACK
Pepperell Braiding Company

$7.99
ParachuteCordCraft.com
Key Features: 550 test paracord; six complete
projects; easy-to-follow instructions
Description: We like paracord because it serves
multiple purposeswhen you dont need line,
it can double as something equally useful.
This starter pack includes instructions for
making a shoulder strap, jump rope, bead
bracelet, hiking stick, climbers bracelet and
sunglass strap, and comes with three 8-foot
hanks of paracord and three buckles. A lighter
and a pair of scissors are recommended (and
not included). Useful for an amateur learning
to work with paracord or an advanced practitioner looking to hone his or her skills.
PARACHUTE CORD STARTER PACK
6 $7.99
EZ-JIG
BRACELET
7
GUIDE
Pepperell Braiding Company
$19.99
ParachuteCordCraft.com
NOVEMBER 2014
Key Features: Consistent production output; included buckles;

faster construction ability
Description: If youre looking to
produce multiple paracord
bracelets in a hurry, this is a tool
you will want. The EZ-Jig helps
you to create consistently sized
bracelets every time, without the
need to measure your paracord.
The EZ-Jig has 12 and 15 mm
clips pre-mounted, with a screwon plastic mount for using different sizes of buckles.
85
Buyers PARACORD
Guide
SHOCK CORD
6 $0.25/foot
MILITARY
8PARACORD
Outdoor Bunker
$14.99
OutdoorBunker.com
MILITARY PARACORD
NOVEMBER 2014
8 $14.99
86
Key Features: Military spec (MILC-5040); 550-pound breaking

strength
Description: Outdoor Bunkers
paracord is fully licensed as the
same product used by the
United States military,
designed with a core of seven
nylon yarns for increased durability, compared to commercial-grade 550 paracord.
9 SHOCK CORD
Outdoor Bunker
$0.25/foot
(10-foot minimum)
OutdoorBunker.com
Key Features: Elastic core; shockabsorbent; multiple colors

Description: Unlike typical paracord, this shock cord is specially
designed to stretch in a way
similar to bungee cord. It is constructed with an elastic rubber
core surrounded with a 100percent nylon sheath. This
multi-use cord absorbs shock
far better than rigid cord or
ropes. Multiple colors are available, and the length is cut and
sold based on your specific
needswith a 10-foot minimum.
PARACORD Buyers
Guide
PARA-SAW BRACELET
10 $19.49-$38.69
PARA-SAW
BRACELET
KEVLAR SURVIVAL CORD

Think Geek
$6.99
ThinkGeek.com
Key Features: Dual function

bracelet; integrated wire saw;
more than 8 feet of cord
Description: A general rule in the
world of survival is to have multiuse supplies and equipment, and
the Para-Saw falls directly into
that category. Tucked away
inside this paracord bracelet is a
tungsten carbide wire saw, perfect for slicing through branches
or foliage that are too thick to
break with your bare hands. The
saw blade is wrapped in 8 feet of
useful paracord.
Key Features: Ultra-thin; dozens of

uses; flame-resistant
Description: This ultra-fine Kevlar
survival cord is useful for small
tasks that dont require thick paracord or even thicker rope. At only
.036 inch in diameter, this cord is as
thin as thread, yet capable of supporting up to a 200-pound load.
The cord is coated with blue
polyurethane that is UV resistant,
flame resistant and can withstand
extreme fluctuating temperatures.
Useful for snares, a sewing thread
to ensure a no-break repair, boot
or sneaker laces in a pinch, or even a
bow string for starting a fire or
hunting small game animals. Sold
in 25-foot bundles.
KEVLAR SURVIVAL CORD
11 $8.89-$22.81
NOVEMBER 2014
Think Geek
$24.99
ThinkGeek.com
87
ASG_1411_INTRO_WILDERNESS 8/29/14 1:23 AM Page 88
WILDERNESS
NOVEMBER 2014
IN THIS SECTION
88
SURVIVAL SCHOOLS + ANIMAL BITES 411 + IMPROVISED CONTAINERS
THE WORST TIME to hone your survival skills is in an actual disaster, when a mistake
can mean injury or death (and isnt the whole purpose of survival to survive?). Survival
school is the answer, but this isnt a one-for-all solution like Drivers Ed. Well show you
how to pick the right program, and well even suggest a few schools.
Any seasoned survivalist will tell you that the little threats can kill you just as easily
as big ones, which is why we like to cover the fundamentals. Well discuss survival
essentials like treating animal bites, avoiding mosquitoes, and improvising that cantlive-without-it survival item, the humble container. And well cover an age-old question
that preppers have been arguing about for years: If you can only take one gun with you,
which is best?
ASG_1411_BITES.CX 90 8/31/14 11:59 PM Page 89
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
Treating An
Animal Bite
KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN IT HAPPENS, OR RISK SERIOUS INFECTION
BY AL E X L AG R AND
nimal bites may not be the first thing on your

mind in a survival situation, but they are a
constant threat and pose a serious risk to
health and safety. Whether you are bitten by a
woodland creature or someone's family pet,
an animal bite is a dangerous injury that must be treated
properlyand without hesitation. Anyone who is serious
about survival should have a basic understanding of how
to treat animal bites.
The most common animal bites come from

pets, especially dogs. Cat bites are less common, but pose a greater risk for infection, as
a cats teeth are typically longer and sharper
and thus able to puncture the skin more
deeply than dogs teeth. Small wild animals
such as skunks or raccoons are a common
source of bites, with the number of those
bitten by these animals typically running
into the thousands each year.
NOVEMBER 2014
[TOP] Dogs, both domestic and stray,

are the most common biting animals.
More often than not, bite victims have
been bitten by their own pet.
Common Bites
89
ASG_1411_BITES.CX 90 8/31/14 11:59 PM Page 90
Treating An
Highlight on
SNAKE
BITES
Many of us have seen
Snakes on a Plane and
have an extreme fear of
snakes, yet many of us
dont know any treatment we should perform
should we ever be unfortunate enough to be bitten by one. According to
the Mayo Clinic, most
North American snakes
are not poisonous, and
to prevent being bitten
by a snake, try to avoid
touching it. Many snakes
shun people altogether
unless they feel threatened. However, if you or
someone you know does
get bit by a snake:
Most North American

snakes are not poisonous;
however, this does not
mean one can take a
snakebite lightly. If bitten
by a snake, be sure to seek
medical attention.
F our Steps To
Animal B ite
Tr eatment
The basic procedure for
treating an animal bite of
any kind is as follows:
1. Stop the bleeding.
2. Clean and protect the
wound.
3. Get help, regardless of
the severity of the bite.
4. Follow up with a health
care provider.
ANYONE WHO IS SERIOUS ABOUT SURVIVAL

SHOULD HAVE A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF
HOW TO TREAT ANIMAL BITES.
1. STOP THE BLEEDING
Should a person find himself in the situation of getting a minor bite that produces blood, the immediate
reaction should be to stop the bleeding. Applying pressure directly to the area on the skin where the bite
occurred can accomplish this. Take a cloth and press
down on the skin until the bleeding stops. If the bleeding does not cease, contact emergency services immediately if possible.
This is the time to judge the severity of the bite and
decide whether or not the victim of the bite needs
emergency care. If the bleeding cannot be stopped with
ten minutes of firm pressure, if the bleeding is severe, or
if blood spurts from the wound, the victim needs professional medical assistance. Call 911 if possible.
2. CLEAN AND PROTECT

NOVEMBER 2014
After stopping the bleeding, wash out the bite with

warm water and soap. Apply an antibiotic lotion before
covering the wound with a sterile bandage.
90
1. Remain calm.
2. Immobilize the part of
your body that has
been bitten.
3. Position yourself so
the bite is below the
level of your heart.
4. Cleanse the wound,
but do not flush with
water.
5. Cover it with a dry
dressing.
6. Apply a splint to
reduce movement of
the area, but do not
use a tourniquet.
7. Do not cut the wound
or attempt to remove
venom.
8. Do not drink caffeine
or alcohol.
9. Call 911 or seek professional help immediately.
Source: Mayo Clinic, mayoclinic.org
Animal Bite
ASG_1411_BITES 8/28/14 11:44 PM Page 91
No Knife?
Not Prepared.
Both Benadryl and calamine lotion act

as antihistamines that reduce itching for
minor skin irritations. In the case of animal
bites, they can reduce the discomfort
brought on by the irritation on the skin.
However, before using Benadryl or
calamine lotion, be sure to be aware of any
allergies the bite victim may have and consult a doctor if you are unsure about using
either. If the victim has an allergy, using
Benadryl or calamine lotion could potentially make the injury worse, or even bring
on unwanted side effects.
REGARDLESS OF THE INTENSITY OF THE BITE,

ITS IMPORTANT TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
3. GET HELP
Regardless of the intensity of the bite,
it's important to seek professional medical
attention as soon as possible after having
been bitten. Remember, the severity of a
bite may go beyond the bite itself; animals
may be carrying rabies or other diseases.
And despite the best efforts to clean and
disinfect, bites can become infected. Even
if a bite appears minor, you should always
follow up and follow through with a visit to
the doctor.
What is
Calamine
Lotion?
Calamine lotion is the generic
name for a topical cream to
use on ones skin in the case
of itching or minor skin irritations, such as poison ivy. To
use, one applies on the skin
gently and rubs on the irritated area. There are very few
side effects to using this
lotion; however, if the victim
experiences rashes, itching or
swelling, severe dizziness, or
trouble breathing, contact a
doctor immediately, as they
may be having an allergic
reaction.
Funxion EMT
Model 8100
This one, from Kershaw, offers an extra

measure of ready. It has a big, useful blade
that opens one-handed with SpeedSafe
assisted opening. It also has a selection
of emergency-ready features, like a cord
cutter and a built-in carbide glassbreaker.
What are YOU carrying?

Source: MedicineNet, medicinenet.com
KERSHAWKNIVES.COM
NOVEMBER 2014
Bio: Alex LaGrand is a North Carolina-based freelance writer

who enjoys writing about various topics, particularly involving the
outdoors and the military.
Be sure to seek emergency

care if the animal bite is
severe. Regardless of
severity, however, be sure
to seek medical attention.
91
NOVEMBER 2014
ASG_1411_SHELTERS.qxp 8/28/14 11:52 PM Page 92
92
The
Shelter
Environment
Youve Probably Thought About
How You Will BuildBut Have You
Considered Where You Will Build?
BY EMILY ARGABRIGHT
We read and learn
a lot about building

shelters, but even the best-built shelter will fail if it
is designed without regard to the immediate environment. If you have to build an emergency shelter,
you may be so concerned with the approaching
darkness (and whatever else might be approaching)
that you rush into the construction phasebut have
you given due consideration to other important concerns, such as shelter design and location?
When making a shelter, its important to focus

on the changing seasons. Knowing how to control
the temperature of your shelter is important not
only for survival, but for comfort.
Looking at a modern house, it most likely has a
roof, walls, some elevation off of the ground and a
certain amount of insulation that keeps in heat in
cold weather and keeps the heat out in hot
weather, says Paul Sveum, a wilderness instructor
for Jack Mountain Bushcraft School. Lets break
these issues down.
NOVEMBER 2014
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
BE COOL OR WARM
93
NOVEMBER 2014
EVEN THE BEST-BUILT

SHELTER WILL FAIL IF IT IS
DESIGNED WITHOUT
REGARD TO THE IMMEDIATE
ENVIRONMENT.
94
First is elevation. If your shelter is in direct contact

with the ground, it will lose heat by conduction (the tendency of two separate objects of differing temperatures to
try to come to equilibrium), so separating your shelter
from Mother Earth will help keep it warm. An elevated
platform or an insulated bed will give you the separation
you need, but even a pile of leaves between the dirt and
the floor will provide a much-needed barrier.
Next is insulation, and this one is fairly simple: If you
are trying to stay warm, you need to build a shelter that
restricts airflow. If you want to stay cool, you need to
build a shelter with permeable walls.
Another consideration is evaporation. A little bit of
rain is good for your survival garden, but not necessarily
for your shelter. If the weather is cool, moisture will not
evaporate easily, so you need to stick with materials that
will keep your shelter dry. A plastic tarp on the shelters
roof is the simplest idea, but other solutions include a
grass-thatched roof, sheets of bark, or 55-gallon barrel liners. Be creativeas long as whatever you use keeps your
shelter dry, its good.
NOVEMBER 2014
95
The
Shelter
Environment
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
NOVEMBER 2014
YOU WONT
SURVIVE LONG
IF YOU IGNORE
THE FIVE WS, NO
MATTER HOW
GOOD YOUR
SHELTER IS.
It is always good to go by the old Five Ws

rule when selecting a campsite, Sveum says.
You wont survive long if you ignore the Five
Ws, no matter how good your shelter is.
The Five Ws are:
1. Water. Always an essential, but also
important to avoid in some situations. Your
shelter location needs to be close to a reliable
source of water, but watch out for places that
could easily flood.
2. Wigglies. Bears and bugs may not take
kindly to an invasion of their space. Unless
you like unannounced midnight guests,
check out your surroundings thoroughly
before you decide to use it for your shelter.
3. Wind. Do not set up your campsite in
areas of high wind. Lick your finger and stick
it in the air to figure out which way the wind
is blowingand then avoid it.
96
4. Weather. The sun may come out tomorrow, but for the night you might be stuck with
thunder and hail. If this is a short trip, consult
a weather forecast if possible. If not, look for
clues in the environment, such as ground
moisture or recently broken tree limbs.
5. Widow Makers. Look up. Are there
dead trees and branches? If so, they could
wind up making a rapid descent and damaging your shelter. Or you.
Consider location and temperature control,
and your chances of building a successful
shelter go up exponentially. Sweet dreams!

For more information about Paul Sveum and the Jack
Mountain Bushcraft School, visit JackMtn.com
What to Bring?
> A knife or an axe. In most survival situations, a good knife is a mans (or
womans) best friend.
> A tarp. There is no shortage of natural
items that can serve the same purpose,
but the preparation can be tedious, eating up time you may not have. A tarp,
made of durable rip-stop material, is a
one-step solution.
> A water-tight container, particularly
one that can be put over the fire for uses
such as disinfecting, cooking, and collecting berries or other wild edibles.
NOVEMBER 2014
When determining what you need to build

your off-grid shelter, remember its use (Is it
a full-time home? A bug-out cabin? A
hunting stop?) and then make an inventory
of what youll need. The following items
could come in handy in any location:
97
ASG_1411_BUG.CX 98,99,100 9/1/14 1:01 AM Page 98
BY AM B E R E R I C K SON GAB B E Y
Save Your Skin And

Sanity By Preventing
Mosquito Bites
ug bites: Itchy, red, inflamed, sore,

annoying little wounds that sometimes last for days. Not only are they
inconvenient and bothersome, but
some bug bites can be downright dangerous.
While mosquitos are the most common culprit, flies and ticks are common offenders.
NOVEMBER 2014
WHY MOSQUITOS BITE
98
The mosquito is the most prolific biter

youre likely to encounter. Only female mosquitoes bite, according to Joseph Conlon, technical advisor at the American Mosquito Control Association. They need protein found in
blood in order to lay eggs.
Female mosquitos use a sophisticated

system of physical cues to track their victims.
At a distanceup to 90 feet awaythey
detect your carbon dioxide plume and are
thought to take a zig-zag pattern to find the
source. They are also attracted to movement,
since things that move generally have blood.
Once they are about a foot away from you,
they rely more on olfactory sensethey smell
sweat and emanations from bacteria on the
skin. When they are very close, they can
detect warmth and moisture and can then
aim for areas with easy access to blood. Some
species have specific attack points, like the
lower extremities or the head.
ASG_1411_BUG.CX 98,99,100 9/1/14 1:01 AM Page 99
WHERE MOSQUITOS LIVE

Mosquitos are found throughout the
United States, though there are areas that
have higher concentrations. One of the most
dense mosquito populations is found in the
everglades, where Conlon describes their
density as astronomical numbers. Salt
marsh species of mosquitoes can be found
along the coats. Mosquitoes also proliferate
near rice fields, as well as the Arctic Circle in
Alaska. The first three stages of the mosquitos life cycle (egg, larval and pupal)
occur on water, and adults like to rest in tall
grasses or marshy areas, so locations near
water (especially swamps or standing
water) can be mosquito havens.
HOW TO REPEL MOSQUITOS
Its impossible to completely repel mosquitos, but there are several strategies that
can help you avoid being bitten.
Clothing: Wear loose-fitting clothing that
covers as much surface area as possible.
Even in summer, look for lightweight,
breathable long-sleeved shirts and pants,
especially for activities that put you outside. Denim is good because its hard to
bite through. Mosquitos can bite through
tight-fitting clothing, so loose, thick materials are best.
Movement: Mosquitos especially are
attracted to lactic acid and sweat, so dont
move around or fidget. Staying still will help
you avoid detection.
Biting flies such as horseflies, deer flies and black

flies are big, formidable
and produce a painful bite
that may result in an infection or allergic reaction.
The basic standards
for repelling mosquitos
also applies to biting flies.
Wear long clothing,
preferably in light colors.
Vanilla, lavender or pine
extracts may be helpful
natural solutions to repel
flies. For conventional bug
sprays, check the label to
see if they work against
fliesnot all do.
NOVEMBER 2014
Bug Spray: Conlon recommends only using

sprays registered by the EPA, which means
they have been tested for effectiveness.
Make sure you apply the product as recommended and reapply after sweating or
swimming. The products are usually only
effective if used exactly as recommended on
the label. Be careful when using around children, avoiding the mouth or eyes. Insect
Basics of
Repelling
Biting Flies
99
ASG_1411_BUG.CX 98,99,100 9/1/14 1:01 AM Page 100
Basics Of
Repelling
Ticks
Ticks are different than mosquitoes
and flies in that they dont buzz around
you; instead, they crawl up from the
ground onto your shoes or body. Sometimes
you can feel a tick crawling on you, but other
times they bite and attach before you even know
they are there.
The basic standards for repelling mosquitos
apply to ticks as well. Some conventional sprays
work to repel ticks; check the label to be sure. One
simple trick is to tuck your pants into your socks to
keep ticks on the outside of your clothing where
you can spot them and brush them away.
After any time outdoors, especially in tall
grass or wooded areas, do a tick check. The easiest way is to remove all your clothes and check
your entire body, including scalp. If a tick attaches,
carefully remove it with a fine-point tweezers,
grabbing as close to the skin as possible and gently tugging to remove the head. Do not squeeze
the body and do not just yank. To be safe, you
need to remove every bit of the tick from inside
your skin.
repellents vary in price, brand and specified

use, but most of them have one of three
base repellants.
Contact
American Mosquito
Control Association
Mosquito.org
NOVEMBER 2014
University of Rhode
Island Tick Encounter
Resource Center
TickEncounter.org/Prevention/Protect_Yourself
100
DEET: A synthetic chemical, DEET is the most effective

option (around 97 percent repellence). Many people
avoid DEET because it is a chemical, and while the
EPA says its safe, potential long-term health effects
are largely unknown. Conlon suggests the 30 percent
formulation for use against mosquitos, ticks, flies and
other biting insects. 3M UltraThon has the highest
concentration of DEET 34.34 percentand is one of
the most effective repellants you can buy.
Picaridin: Although it is also a synthetic chemical, like
DEET, Picardin is a plant derivative. Its effectiveness
is somewhere in the 89 to 93 percent range, but Conlon says that difference in effectiveness wouldnt
really be noticeable. Conlon likes the 15 percent formulation found in Cutter Advanced Sport.
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus: While this option isnt as
effective as DEET and Picaridin, it is a natural solution against mosquitos and ticks. Look for a 40 percent formulation for best results. Other essential oils
may help repel insects, but they are unproven and

may not work as well.
Other Natural Sprays: There are several chemical-free
solutions on the market that vary in effectiveness. If
youre sensitive to chemicals or just dont want to use
them, these options may be worth a try. Be sure to
use them as directed and if they dont work, try
something else.
Clip-Ons Or Area Repellents: These are

designed to cover an area, either ones personal space (clip-on) or a backyard (area
sprays). While these solutions can help, their
effectiveness is limited. The only way they
can keep you or the area surrounded with
the repellent is if there is no wind. These
products are essentially pesticides, rather
than repellants, meaning they kill insects or
bugs in close proximity. While they may help
keep the bugs away, you will be sitting or
recreating in a cloud of toxic pesticides.
None of the large-scale area repellants are
very effective, according to Conlon. Citronella can help, as can campfire smoke, but
none of these solutions are as effective as a
repellant.
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF
QUITO BITES
MOS-
Mosquitos are not just a nuisance; one

bite really can kill you. Preventable illnesses
such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease
can be transferred by mosquitoes and ticks,
and both are potentially life-threatening.
Conlon sums it all up with one final
thought: Mosquitos are here to stay, bites
can cause serious health conditions and
these conditions can be prevented through
actions to repel insects.
Bio: Amber Erickson Gabbey, MA, is a freelance writer, holistic
health expert and yoga teacher living at 8,500 feet in the mountains
outside of Boulder, CO.
Preventing
Mosquito Bites
ASG_1411_101 8/27/14 10:53 PM Page 101
ASG_1411_ALASKA.CX 104 9/1/14 12:32 AM Page 102
Adventure In
ALASKA
AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE KILCHER FAMILY, STARS OF THE

DISCOVERY CHANNELS HIT SHOW, ALASKA: THE LAST FRONTIER
NOVEMBER 2014
BY GAR Y C AR T E R | Photos Courtesy of The Discovery Channel
102
ASG_1411_ALASKA 8/28/14 11:58 PM Page 103
More than 80 years ago, Yule and Ruth Kilcher came to America from
Switzerland and settled in Homer, Alaska, intent on living the simple life. They had
eight childrensix girls and two boysand taught them to live solely off the
resources of the land.
Today, three generations of the Kilcher family continue the tradition, homesteading on 640 acres of Alaskan wilderness. The Kilchers live off the grid with no
running water, and they have to hunt, gather, garden and raise livestock to provide
enough food to ensure their familys survival.
With only two seasons in this remote stretch of land in southern Alaskasummer
and winterthe Kilchers have just four months of warm weather to complete big projects like rebuilding and reinforcing housing structures and driving cattle to graze 20
miles from the homestead. In addition, this is the time during which they have to
amass enough food and wood for themselves and their animals to last them through
the eight long, dark and frigid months of winter.
The Kilchers have to work together to ensure their survivalthere is simply no
other option.
The Kilchers are the subject of The Discovery Channels hit series Alaska: The Last
Frontier. ASG had the chance to talk to Atz Kilcher, Sr. and his sister-in-law, Charlotte,
about living in a place where survival is a day-to-day lifestyle.
ANYONE WHO KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT HOMESTEADING OR

SURVIVAL WILL TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.ATZ KILCHER
NOVEMBER 2014
103
ASG_1411_ALASKA.CX 104 9/1/14 12:32 AM Page 104
Adventure In
ALASKA
PERHAPS THE BIGGEST TEST OF ALL WAS GROWING UP WITH A MOM

AND DAD AND EIGHT KIDS COOPED UP IN A SMALL CABIN. ATZ KILCHER
ASG: What has been your
biggest challenge in the

winter months?
ATZ KILCHER: My biggest challenge
in the winter months growing up
was having to walk a mile down to
our spring to chop the ice every day
so the cattle and horses could drink
water. Another challenge is putting
up with the short amount of daylight
during the winter. Perhaps the
biggest test of all was growing up
with a mom and dad and eight kids
cooped up in a small cabin.
CHARLOTTE KILCHER: For me, its
the amount of darkness and the
length of the season. Its easy to feel
sluggish and not so happy about
going outside into the cold and dark
to do chores that seem so simple in
the summer time.
NOVEMBER 2014
ASG: What about the summer

months? What is the biggest challenge then?
104
AK: Remembering to take time to

stop and eat and rest. With daylight
almost around-the-clock its easy
just to keep going until you fall over
with exhaustion.
CK: Everyone keeps up this frenzied,
manic pace in the summer because it
is light until all hours so you just
automatically work until all hours.
There is so much to get done during
each part of the summer season that
its nonstop pedal-to-the-metal until
about November, when you are
forced to slow down again on
account of the darkness and cold.
ASG: Is there any sort of government on the homestead? How do
you decide who does what?
AK: The homestead is currently run
by a board made up of eight members. My six sisters, my one brother
and my oldest son Shane make up
the governing board. All decisions
are based on a vote. Sometimes the
most qualified person does the job

needing to be done and sometimes
we form committees and appoint
chairpersons. Sometimes we bicker
and squabble and nothing gets done.
CK: Otto and I run our activities
within the family homestead and we
divide the work based on capabilities. Otto does all the mechanical
work and the lions share of haying
and cattle operations. I mostly concentrate on gardening and caring for
the animals poultry, dogs and milk
cows. I also do all of the canning,
smoking and freezing of our food.
ASG: Have you ever run out of
food?
CK: We have never run out of food.
We are sitting on top of a herd of
beef cattle, we have flocks of chickens and ducks, we catch as much fish
as we can eat and we grow enough
vegetables to preserve plenty for

winter. We have apple trees and
various berry bushes, and we pick
wild berries, nettles and other
wild plants.
We put up the hay for our cows
and horses, and sometimes we
worry about having enough when
environmental conditions are
working against us. Sometimes the
power goes out and you worry about
losing all your frozen goods. But we
always have backup food, either
alive in the yard or in the root cellar.
AK: Anyone who knows anything
about homesteading or survival will
take precautionary measures. The
person who lives off the land has got
to take the time to live in the wilderness and semi-survival situations.
He or she will learn quickly that you
should always have enough food or
enough alternative plans to stay fed.
ASG: How did you end up on The

Discovery Channel?
AK: The original producer of the
show, Grant Kayler, had a vision of
doing a show on people who lived a
simple lifestyle. He came to Homer
and started asking around and
ended up at the Kilcher homestead.
CK: The focus of the show was originally on men because of the Discovery viewer demographic. Our men
had to fight to bring the women into
the show. I think weve proved that
we add interest and round out the
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NOVEMBER 2014
105
Adventure In
ALASKA
An Alaskan sunset in all its glory.
IVE BEEN A VEGETARIAN SINCE THE AGE OF 13, AND IT WASNT EASY
TO ADAPT TO LIFE ON THE HOMESTEAD WHERE BUTCHERING CATTLE AND
OTHER ANIMALS IS THE NORM.CHARLOTTE KILCHER
story to show more real life
behind our macho men
doing macho things. My hat
is off to Discovery for trying
something new and finding
success with our family-oriented show.
ASG: What are your biggest
tips for growing and stocking food during the short
summer in order to prepare
for winter?
AK: Depending on where you
live in Alaska you have to find out
what types of garden vegetables
grow the best. You also have to find
out which grow the best in greenhouses.
CK: Ive been a vegetarian since the
age of 13, and it wasnt easy to
adapt to life on the homestead
where butchering cattle and other
animals is the norm. Thats why I
DID YOU KNOW?
NOVEMBER 2014
106
ended up taking care of gardening,

raising chickens and ducks for eggs,
bee keeping and milking the cow
for my contribution to the family
food supply.
AK: As far as stocking food, it
depends on whether or not you have
electricity in the freezer. You have to
stock those foods that last the
longest time and require the least
amount of work. Of course it should
go unsaid that you want to stock
foods that you are actually going to
eat and enjoy. Growing up I knew
homesteaders who stocked only
canned goods, whereas other people
stocked dry goods such as pastas,
beans and rice. The most important
thing is to maintain a balanced diet
and eat a variety of foods. In my
opinion, it is just as important or
even more important knowing how
to store the food you grow as to actually grow it. There are only so many
The title song for the show was written by Atz Kilcher. He performed it together with his daughter, Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter, Jewel.
ways of preserving food such

as pickling, canning, making
sauerkraut, salting, drying,
smoking or freezing.
without chemicals. I love

being on the edge of the
wilderness in the peaceful
beauty that surrounds us.
ASG: What is your favorite

aspect of homesteading?
AK: My favorite aspect of
homesteading is being able
to figure out on your own
how to do things, how to use
the natural resources
around you, and living in a
beautiful wide open space
and living a simple life.
Another wonderful aspect is
carrying on the traditions of
my parents and passing
them on to my children.
CK: For me, its the feeling of
being self-reliant. It is really
satisfying to know where our
food is coming from and that
it is 100 percent healthy and
ASG: And what is your

least favorite aspect of
homesteading?
AK: My least favorite aspect
always has been and continues to be the amount of hard
work. I noticed that less
when I was younger but now
its telling on me more. I
have to adjust, do less and
take more breaks.
CK: Sometimes I just get tired
out and think its a lot of
work. I can always talk myself
out of that feeling, though, by
asking myself if Id rather
have an 8 to 5 job working for
someone else. The answer is
always No!
A New Addition
Otto Kilchers son Elvin and his wife, Eve, produced the first
Kilcher baby born on the homestead in 17 years, beginning
a new generation.
Elvin Kilchers duties on the homestead focus
more on hunting and fishing rather than farming, and if he cant bag a moose, bear or deer in
the fall, he has to resort to small game like
rabbits and squirrels for the long winter
months. In addition, Kilcher serves as a parttime guide with a non-profit called the Homer
Wilderness Leaders. He and other guides take
local kids camping in the coves of Kachemak Bay
State Park, where they train them in a wide variety of outdoor disciplines including camping and fishing.
His wife Eve was raised not far from the Kilcher homestead, and she spends most of her time in the garden,
where she grows vegetables galore during the very short
four-month growing season.
NOVEMBER 2014
107
ASG_1411_CONTAINERS.CX 109 9/1/14 12:34 AM Page 108
Natural and
Improvised
Survival
Containers
NOVEMBER 2014
Simple Tool For Simply Surviving | By Tony Nester
108
Left to right, a birch bark basket stitched together with pine root, a willow water basket prior to
being sealed with pine-sap, and a gourd canteen. These methods of fashioning containers are
more associated with primitive living skills where ones life is not at stake and you have the time
to make such items.
ts easy to take containers for

granted, but think about how
many we use in our daily lives:
Coffee pots, water bottles,
pasta potsthe list goes on and
on. Now transport yourself to the
backcountry or a long-term, griddown situation, and the value of
such an object becomes paramount. Purifying water, preparing
food, and making medicinal teas are
just a few of the many tasks that are
impossible without some sort of a
container. Clearly, containers are
vital to our survival.
There are two approaches to
procuring a container: Using what
you have in your bug-out bag or
vehicle or fashioning one out of natural materials. It pays to be prepared: Having some sort of small
cooking pot with you will help circumvent Murphys Law.
ASG_1411_CONTAINERS.CX 109 9/1/14 12:34 AM Page 109
LONG BEFORE PRICEY TITANIUM COOKWARE CAME ON THE SCENE, MOST OF US IN

THE SURVIVAL FIELD RELIED ON USING AN APPLE JUICE OR COFFEE CAN.
THE MIGHTY COFFEE CAN

Its possible that you could happen across a discarded beer can or food container in the wilds and use
that for boiling water as some survivors have done, but
carrying a 32 to 64-ounce can in your pack sure makes
life easier. Long before pricey titanium cookware came
on the scene, most of us in the survival field relied on an
apple juice or coffee can for our culinary needs.
When I was a teenager working on my bushcraft skills,
I used a discarded Folgers coffee can for cooking meals,
boiling water, melting snow, baking
bread, roasting meat, and as a crude
digging implement. When it wasnt
in use in the field, I kept it stocked
with survival gear in my truck. Mine
had a handle constructed from an
old wire hanger. I still use this setup today on field courses and save
my more expensive stainless steel
Zebra pots for personal trips. In my
pack I also carry a 40-ounce Kleen
Kanteen stainless steel water bottle that can double as a container
for boiling water.
You can make a low-tech
heater by inserting a roll of toilet
paper into the coffee can and saturating the entire roll with rubbing
alcohol. Wait a few minutes until
the alcohol has soaked in, and
then light it. This can be used like
a can of Sterno for heating water, warming small spaces
(crack a window slightly!), and melting snow.
If you snag a used 64-ounce can from a recycling center, be sure to avoid the cans that held beans or tomato
sauce, as every future meal will forever impart that taste
no matter how many times youve bleached out the interior. For something a little nicer, go to a big-box pet store
and purchase a 48-ounce stainless steel milking bucket.
To install the handle, I punch two holes on opposite
sides of the can using a 16d nail and then insert a wire
hanger or .22 gauge picture wire. The latter can be found
at hardware stores and is also useful as snare material
for small game.
Aluminum foil is an old standby for baking potatoes,

fish, and meat, bt you can also fashion it into a container
NATURAL MATERIALS
A skilled woodsman armed with a quality knife can
carve firemaking tools, deadfall traps, quickie bows,
spears, and more from their surroundings, but creating a
durable container with your bare hands can be a challenge. (Ive always thought this is the reason so many
native cultures were eager to trade with the early French
and British colonists for their castiron cookware.)
Coal-burned
In some regions, such as
aspen bowl and
Canada,
before the widespread
walnut spoon,
use of formal cookware, the
made in a few
hours around
natives used birch-bark baskets
the fire.
for boiling stew and rendering
maple sap into syrup. Ive used
such containers along with buffalo
stomachs and gourds. The key is to
never let the flames rise above the
liquid level so that the edges of the
container wont ignite.
You can try this with a paper or
Styrofoam cup on your next camping trip. Place the cup (filled with
hot cocoa, coffee or cider) near the
edge of the fire pit and then build up
the surrounding area with twigs.
The fluid inside will come to a boil.
The same can be done using a large
sheet of aluminum foil formed into a rectangular pouch
and place in the fire.
Gourds are a little trickier to use as cooking vessels; I
prefer to use hot rocks to heat them rather than placing
the gourd directly in the fire. The gourd walls are usually
too thick to prevent proper conduction and wont allow
the liquid to come to a complete boil.
For hot-rock boiling, I use a golf ball-sized rock that
has been heated in the campfire for 30 minutes. Remove
the rock from the fire with handmade willow tongs and
lower it into the gourd. You may need two to three hot
rocks to do the job. Just make certain not to use any
rocks collected from a riverbed or drainageeven if it
hasnt rained in a long time, they can still contain enough
internal moisture to explode in the fire, sending stone
shrapnel in all directions.
NOVEMBER 2014
TINFOIL COOKERY
and use it to boiling water or make hobo stew. I carry a

24x24-inch section of folded foil in my micro-survival kit
for just these functions.
109
ASG_1411_CONTAINERS 8/29/14 12:01 AM Page 110
Survival
Containers
COAL-BURNED BOWLS
Through the use of hot coals and the proper wood, a
survivor can fashion a quart-sized bowl in two to three
hours around the evening campfire. Start with a 6-inch
section of split wood, then place a golf-ball sized piece
of hot coal in the middle and gently blow on it. This will
cause the wood underneath to start smoldering. After 10
minutes, dump out the coal, scrape away the charred
wood, and begin the cycle anew with a fresh coal. Once
you reach the desired depth, place some dirt in the bottom so you can continue burning out the width without
the risk of going through the bottom of the bowl.
Wood selection is critical: Use soft, non-resinous
material such as aspen, cottonwood, cedar, poplar, or
willow. Avoid conifers such as pine, spruce, or fir trees,
unless you like the taste of Pine-Sol stew.
This method of woodworking was also used on a
larger scale in the Pacific Northwest, where indigenous
people coal-burned immense cedar logs over a few
months to fashion canoes for fishing.
LOG CONTAINER
If you have a hefty blade or ax for choppingand if you
will be staying in one spot for a whileyou can use this
crude, but field-expedient, method. Again, look for wood
that is soft and non-resinous and chop out a depression
in the middle. I like to use a piece of charcoal to draw out
a rectangle beforehand so I have a visual template while
hewing the log. After 10 minutes of chopping from all four
sides, you will end up with a one to two-quart depression
that can be used for hot-rock cooking.
PINE-PITCHED COVERED BASKETS

If you are well-versed in weaving primitive baskets,
you can use this method, which is similar to the way the
Apaches and Supai Indians in the desert Southwest
made their canteens. (Ive done it on month-long outings
where we had the time and patience.) Your basket can
be turned into a watertight container by smearing warm
[TOP] A variety of options for cooking and boiling water: Tinfoil
pine sap over the exterior. The gooey sap from pinon
pouches, a Kleen Kanteen stainless water bottle, and a paper cup.
pines works best but any coniferous tree resin, such as
Note the edges on the latter are crisped, but the water inside is simmering. [BOTTOM] Tin foil pouches for boiling water. The rectangular
spruce or fir, will do the trick. Warm a glob of pitch on a
design on the left works best and can hold more liquid.
stick near the fire and then dribble it onto the basket.
This natural epoxy can also be used for repairing cracked
containers and was used extensively for waterproofing
birch-bark canoes in Canada.
Primitive pottery is another option; native cultures
A pine-pitch stick was something most ancient travthroughout the world use ceramic vessels on a daily
elers carried on them. Keep in mind that if you use
basis for cooking and water storage. This is a
conifer sap to repair a container, you dont
demanding area of study that takes time to
want to add hot fluids to that bowl again or
develop proficiency in, plus its materialQuality cooking
the sap will leach into your meal, making it
intensive.
pots are made by Zebra
inedible.
NOVEMBER 2014
FASTER CONTAINERS
110
Gourds, animal stomachs, and pottery

fall into the realm of bushcraft and nonsurvival situations. How does one obtain
or fashion a quicker, improvised container
in the wilds? Lets take a look.
Billy Cans, Snow Peak, and

Trangia. For micro-pots for a
daypack, check out the fine
wares made by Esbit, which
come with fuel tabs.
YOUR BEST OPTION:

BE PREPARED
While not essential for an overnight
outing, I rank a cooking container as a critical tool for long-term survival and wilder-
ASG_1411_CONTAINERS 8/29/14 12:01 AM Page 111
[LEFT TO RIGHT] After the hot coals have been scraped away, a 12-inch green willow stick is driven into the ground and the Cornish game hen is
placed over the top. Next, place a 64-ounce coffee can over the top so its edges meet the ground. Cover the sides and top with hot coals and let
the meat bake for 30 minutes. This method can be used for baking entire trout, sage grouse, and slabs of beef or chicken.
ness living. In keeping with the mindset of having your

emergency gear layered, you can carry a folded section
of foil in a pocket survival kit, a 40-ounce Kleen Kanteen
in your smaller pack, and a 64-ounce commercial pot or
coffee can in your extended bug-out bag or vehicle.
When faced with a crisis, your simple containers will help
you to survive some rather complex situations.
About the Author: Tony Nester is the author of numerous books and DVDs on survival.
His school Ancient Pathways is the primary provider of survival training for the Military
Special Operations community and he has served as a consultant for the NTSB, FAA,
and the film Into the Wild. For more information, visit apathways.com.
For Additional Reading

Roughing It Easy by Dian Thomas. This is still the landmark classic
for learning both methods of wilderness and backyard cooking.
Foil Cookery: Cooking Without Pots and Pans by Lori Herod shows
you all the amazing things you can make with a roll of aluminum
foil. Excellent for those just starting out camping and for preppers
wanting to learn some quick improvisational methods.
NOVEMBER 2014
111
ASG_1411_SCHOOLS.CX 113,115 9/1/14 1:23 AM Page 112
Five Top
Survival Schools
QUADRATIC EQUATIONS? NO. SAVING YOURSELF IN A CRISIS? ABSOLUTELY.

BY J ASON F OG E L SON
volving conditions, fresh
discoveries and new
developments in equipment require that the survival education youve
accrued must be refreshed in order
to remain viable. Conventional wisdom from 10 years ago may be outmoded today; then again some evergreen approaches remain vital and
immutable. You can accumulate new
skills and knowledge in many ways:
Reading books, articles and haunting
internet forums; watching survival
instruction videos; interacting with
other skilled people; or simple trial-
NOVEMBER 2014
E
112
and-error, real-life experience. You

could also invest the time, energy
and money in attending a survival
school.
Attending a survival school has
several distinct benefits. The best
schools provide a concentrated time
frame and environment for learning,
with instruction and feedback from
true expertsoften the very experts
whose written and video work
youve studied at home. Schools can
also provide you with a community
of like-minded and like-skilled fellow students, people you can
exchange ideas with, learn from and
share skills with during school and

even beyond. Schools often give you
the opportunity to test your skills in
a fairly controlled environment.
Instructors dont often get repeat
business or recommendations if
their students dont live through the
course, so they design scenarios that
are inherently survivable, or have a
safety net. You can test your limits at
a good survival school, and know
that your instructor has your back.
There are some experiences that a
survival school can never deliver.
The very nature of the school environment that demands repeatability
PHOTO COURTESY JOHN BROWN JRS TRACKER SCHOOL
[LEFT] Survival schools give you the opportunity to build skills that would
take too long to learn through experimentation and trial-and-error.
[BELOW] Tom Brown, Jr., lectures students at his Tracker School.
[OPPOSITE] Survival schools provide you with a community of like-minded
survivalists with similar skill sets and interests.
and a safety net in essence undermines the true nature of the survivalist experience, at least to some
degree. If you are in a group class or
session, you may find yourself with
students who are not at your level, or
who are not entering the experience
with the same goals that you have.
And sometimes the experts you
admire on paper and on video are
not quite as impressive in a real life
situation.
When seeking a survival school,
its important to find the right one
for you. Here are some factors to
consider:
Contact Information
Tom Brown, Jr.s Tracker

School
Tracker School
928 Main Street
Manahawkin, NJ 08050
609-242-0350 - phone
609-978-2222 - fax
info@trackerschool.com
TrackerSchool.com
School Type
The Lowdown:
Wilderness Survival
Tom Brown, Jr. has written and published 16 books about wilderness
survival, tracking and scouting. His
experience as an outdoorsman
began at the age of seven, when an
Apache elder named Stalking Wolf
took him on as a student. When
Brown became an adult, he went on
a 10-year odyssey in the wilderness,
honing his survival skills, returning
to become a tracker. His success as a
tracker of lost people and fugitives
from the law led to his 1978 book,
The Tracker, and the founding of his
Tracker School.
According to a letter from Brown
on the Tracker School website, I
believe that if you want to be one
with the Earth it is not enough to just
have good survival skills, but to
strive for a more rounded combination of philosophy and skills. That is
why each of my courses covers
equally the three major categories of
survival: tracking, nature observation, and awareness.
Locations
Waretown, NJ; Boulder Creek, CA;

Fort Meyers, FL
Courses Offered
Live: Survival (46 courses); Philoso-
phy (100 courses); Scout (27 courses);

Tracking (30 courses); Healing (35
courses); Teaching (29 courses);
Vision (48 courses); World Tracker (3
courses).
Online: Standard; Philosophy 1; Hidden Secrets of Tracking; Hidden
Secrets of Primitive Fire; Hidden
Secrets of the Ancient Scout; Hidden
Secrets of Awareness.
Prices
Vary according to course. Most live

7-day classes run $900; online
courses range from $50 to $250.
NOVEMBER 2014
1. Are you interested in a wilderness

experience or a classroom environment?
2. What is your current skill level?
Youll want a program matched to
your experience and skill so that
you have room to improve without
being overwhelmed by challenges
beyond your current abilities.
3. What environment will be most
useful to your personal survival? If
you live in the tropics, a mountain
survival course will probably not
be a wise investment. Look for a
school that takes place in the kind
of environment that you will most
likely face in real life.
4. How much time can you invest in
a school? A one-day course may be
all you want, but a longer experience (weekend, full week or
longer) will give you the opportunity to encounter more challenges,
repeat unfamiliar experiences, and
correct mistakes and bad habits.
5. How much money do you want to
spend? Do a personal cost/benefit
analysis before you hunt for a
school. Set a personal limit and
stick to it.
Here are five top survival schools

to help start your search:
113
PHOTOS BY JOSH BERNSTEIN
Find a program matched to your own experience and

skill. Too challenging, and you will be overwhelmed;
too easy, and youll be wasting your money.
[INSET] Schools give you the opportunity to put your
skills to the test in a controlled environment.
2
Boulder Outdoor Survival
School (BOSS)
Prices
28-Day Field Course: $4,385
14-Day Skills Course - Primitive Living:
$1,395
School Type
Explorer Course - Hunter Gatherer (13 days):
Traditional Living Skills/Wilderness

Survival
$2,175
Location
Contact Information
Boulder, UT
Boulder Outdoor Survival School,

Inc.
P.O. Box 1345
Boulder, Utah 84716 USA
Toll free: 800.335.7404
Website: Boss-Inc.com
NOVEMBER 2014
Courses Offered
Field Courses: 7-day, 14-day and 28-day
Skills Courses: 7-day and 14-day
Explorer Courses: Desert Navigator;
114
Ancestral Storytelling; Hunter Gatherer; Pathfinder; Survival Rescue

Training Courses: Medical certification
and recertification for guides, outdoor trip leaders and other Wilderness First Responders
Custom Courses
Survival Rescue (72 hours): $525
The Lowdown:
The Boulder Outdoor Survival

School was founded in Provo, Utah
in 1968 by Larry Dean Olsen, author
of Outdoor Survival Skills. Olsen
was a professor at Brigham Young
University at the time, and believed

that students had lost the mental
toughness needed to survive modern
life. Wilderness survival, he
believed, would produce more
adaptable and resourceful people.
The program thrived at BYU for 10
years before going private. Over the
decades, the school has acquired a
permanent field office in Boulder,
Utah on 41 acres of land, and maintains administrative offices in Boulder, Colorado.
The BOSS mission, as stated on
its website, is dedicated to the
instruction and preservation of traditional living skills and the development of people through experiences
within the natural world ... We do
not seek to live in the past, nor to
live in fear of catastrophe. We do,
however, hope to bring the wisdom
of the past and the knowledge of traditional skills with us into the
future.
Five Top
Survival Schools
Survival Training School

of California
School Type
Survival Training
Locations
Tehachapi, CA
Courses Offered
Basic/Tier 1 Courses: Intro to Critical
Survival Skills (single day); Basic

Map & Compass (single day); Critical Survival Skills (2 days); Basic
Stone Knapping (single day)
Intermediate/Tier 2 Courses: Basic Outdoor Survival Certification (5 days);
The Field Course (3 days); Critical
Skills (3 days); Survival Skills for
Families (3 days); Intermediate Map
& Compass; Wilderness First Aid
Certification (2 days)
Advanced/Tier 3 Courses: 7-Day CrossClimate Course; Intermediate Survival Certification Course (10 days);
10, 14 and 21-Day Alaska Field
Courses
Specialist/Tier 4 Courses: Survival
Instructor Certification Course
(Skills); Survival Instructor Certification Course (Field)
Prices
Tier 1: $105 - $225
Tier 2: $145 - $550
Tier 3: $1,050 - $1,450+
Tier 4: $2,500
Contact Information
Survival Training School of California

Tehachapi, CA 93561
805-503-8861
info@californiasuvivaltraining.com
CaliforniaSurvivalTraining.com
The Lowdown:
dents can develop a wide range of

skills, including emergency medicine, anthropology, botany and
materials science, all of which can be
implemented in order to survive.
According to the STSC website,
Training will often include physical
and mental stressors, in order to
introduce the student to harsh and
austere conditions that can be
encountered in the field, and build
the mental/emotional fortitude that
may be needed to overcome them.
4
Ancient
Pathways
School Type
Desert Survival and

Bushcraft
Location
Flagstaff, AZ
Courses Offered
Skill-Based Courses: Brain-
tan Buckskin Workshop;

Womens Outdoor Survival Basics; OrienteerThe U.S. military is a frequent client of Ancient Pathways in
Flagstaff, Arizona.
ing and Land Navigation; Outdoor Survival;
Desert Survival and Ecology
The Lowdown:
Field Courses: Walkabout; Knife-Only
Tony Nester founded Ancient PathSurvival; The Resourceful Nomad;
ways in 1989. Nester is a prolific
Desert Survival Basics
author whose books include Practical
Survival, Desert Survival, The Modern
Hunter-Gatherer and When the Grid
Prices
Goes Down, all published by DiaVary according to course. One-day
mond Creek Press. Nester is a regucourses start at $85; 2-day courses
lar contributor to American Survival
start at $295; 3-day courses start at
Guide and writes a monthly column
$425; and 4-day courses start at $595.
for an oudoors magazine.
According to the schools website,
Contact Information
The focus of all Ancient Pathways
Ancient Pathways, LLC
courses is to provide hands-on train2532 N 4th St, PMB #313
ing in practical survival skills and
Flagstaff, Arizona 86004-3712
outdoor safety techniques. Our sur928-526-2552
vival courses emphasize direct expeinfo@apathways.com
rience with the valuable skills you
APathways.com
need to take care of yourself in the
wilderness.
NOVEMBER 2014
Survival Training School of California (STSC) touts its client list, which
includes the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine
Corps and U.S. Air Force, as evidence that it provides serious,
worthwhile wilderness training.
Founded by Thomas Coyne in 2011,
the school has built its reputation

quickly. Coyne is the schools chief
instructor, bringing his experience as
a wilderness firefighter and professional rescuer for the U.S. Forest
Service and Kern County Fire
Department to bear. Coyne is an
approved instructor for the American Safety & Health Institute (AshInstitute.org).
The STSC philosophy is based on
the idea that wilderness survival is
an interdisciplinary study. Stu-
PHOTO COURTESY ANCIENT PATHWAYS
115
PHOTO CREDIT TOM LASKOWSKI
PHOTOS BY JOSH BERNSTEIN
Five Top
Survival Schools
5
Midwest Native Skills
Institute
School Type
Wilderness Survival/Self-Reliance
Locations
Richfield, OH; Columbus, OH;

Seven Hills, OH
Courses Offered
Survival Classes: Survival 1, 2, 3 and 4;
NOVEMBER 2014
[ABOVE, TOP] Here, students in the Survival 101 class have constructed a drying rack and are making beef jerky over an open fire.
[ABOVE, BOTTOM] Consider the location of the school you will be
attending. Look for a school that takes place in the kind of environment that you will most likely face in real life.
116
Weekend Survival Class (abbreviated version of Survival 1); Survival

Self Defense; Fire Without Matches
(1 or 2 days); Deer Hide Tanning (3
Days) Edible & Medicinal Plant
Workshop
Homesteading Classes: Homesteading
Weekend; Canning; Candles; Wine;
Cheese; Soap
Spiritual/Healing: Shamanic Journeys 1
and 2; Reiki 1, 2 and 3
Prices
Vary according to course. 6-Day Survival Skills courses start at $750 plus
$30 supplies fee; Survival Weekend
course (2.5-day) starts at $350 plus
$20 supplies fee; Survival Self
Defense (2.5-day) starts at $295 plus
ammunition and hand gun rental (if
needed); Skills courses start at $100
per day plus supplies; Plant workshops start at $60.
Contact Information
Midwest Native Skills Institute, Inc.

P.O. Box 31764
Cleveland, Ohio 44131
888-886-5592
Tom@SurvivalSchool.com
SurvivalSchool.com
The Lowdown:
Tom Laskowski trained with Tom

Brown, Jr. (see Tom Brown, Jr.s
Tracker School), then added training

from several other primitive skills
experts, including Errette Callahan,
Daniel Firehawk, Del Hall, Robert
Berg and Ray Reitze. In 1997,
Laskowski started the Midwest
Native Skills Institute in his home
state of Ohio.
According to the schools website,
A majority of Toms experience
comes from practical application
going out into the wilderness in
every season throughout the year
and putting his skills to the test by
applying them, refining them, and
testing them again and again. Tom
believes theory is a good foundation,
but practical application is the true
test of survival knowledge. The
schools stated goals are to provide
comprehensive wilderness training
with small class individual instruction, all at affordable prices.
Alternatives
to Survival
Schools
The best way to conquer a large
challenge is to break it down into
a bunch of small challenges.
If the idea of an expensive,
time-intensive survival school
doesnt appeal to you, or doesnt
work for your schedule or budget,
consider seeking out smaller,
more specific task-oriented
classes and schools. Focus on one
area of your off-the-grid experience, like fire-starting or shelterbuilding, and develop your expertise. Start with aspects of survival
that are your own particular
weaknesses, and turn them into
strengths, one at a time.
Find us on
Be prepared when
disaster strikes.
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ASG_1411_GUN.CX 126,127 9/1/14 1:33 AM Page 118
JUST
ONE
GUN
SELECTING A SURVIVAL FIREARM WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE ROOM FOR ONE
BY T E R R I L L H OF F M AN
NOVEMBER 2014
IVE
118
JUST RECEIVED AN EMAIL ASKING ME THE SAME QUESTION I GET

ON ALMOST A MONTHLY BASIS. IF YOU COULD BRING ONLY ONE
FIREARM INTO A SURVIVAL SITUATION, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
This same question probably arises on every internet survival forumor any
time two or more hunters share a campfire. It would be comical if the question
wasnt such a serious concern. We only have to decide on a president once every
four years, but the search for the ultimate do-it-all firearm is never ending.
The question itself could be the stimulus for a rather entertaining debate
except for one major flaw: We are looking for an answer before we set the criteria
of the question. What gun would I prefer to face down the charge of a wounded
lion? Being a true sportsman, I would select a tripod-mounted .50-caliber
machine gun. Ask me about squirrel hunting and the answer would vary somewhat. Either way, its the need that dictates the answer.
The lone individual making

his way to safety may make
for a good fiction novel, but
there is nothing glamorous
about finding yourself in
this situation. You may find
yourself dependent on the
only tool you can carry on
your back. Plan wisely.
ASG_1411_GUN.CX 126,127 9/1/14 1:33 AM Page 119
NOVEMBER 2014
119
ASG_1411_GUN.CX 126,127 9/1/14 1:33 AM Page 120
Over the years, Ive seen that this

question is usually prompted by a
few specific situations. The first is
that one firearm is all someone can
afford. In this case, an answer can be
given based upon the persons abilities, experience and needs, and
accompanied by the caveat that
more firearms could be obtained as
funds allow. But the motives for a
single firearm can often be much
darker than simple economics: When
a man who already has multiple
weapons is asking this question, you
can be sure he is expecting problems.
Allow me to use myself as an
example. I have more firearms than I
really need. Should the need arise
while I am sitting at home, I can easily expect to have the best weapon
for the situation. It is when I am
forced to leave my happy domicile
that I must decide on the one and
only perfect firearm to accompany
me. Were not talking about a
casual trip to the grocery store or a
short family vacation. When someone asks, If you could only take
one, they are talking about times
that transcend the normal.
NOVEMBER 2014
BAD TIMES
120
Before comparing firearms, note

there are three types of scenarios
that would cause us to leave home
[CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT] Lever-action carbines can handle just about any
situation and there are good reasons why this design has withstood the test
of time. You can practice with a .22 version, but I would suggest a proven
.30-30, should you have to depend upon it as your only weapon. There is a
time for speed and there is a time for caution. The best scenario is having a
firearm and not having to use it. One major advantage of the AR-15 is that
it can be configured to match the needs of any individual. The aftermarket
support of this weapon is outstanding. An entire family can have this rifle
fitted to each individual, yet still share a common platform.
ASG_1411_GUN.CX 126,127 9/1/14 1:33 AM Page 121
Every member of the family should be trained to use every firearm you plan
to carry during an evacuation. When selecting your weapon of choice, take
into account the other members of your party.
with only a single firearm. The first

involves leaving by choice, i.e. an
extended vacation. The second
would be an evacuation due to a
natural or man-made disaster. The
third, and scariest of all, would be a
social collapse that rendered our
home location as unsafe.
As different as these situations
may be, our basic needs for a firearm
remain unchanged. A gun can be
used to gather food by hunting, as a
signaling device, or to provide protection from predators, whether
from humans and animals. The only
other purpose for a gun is recreational. What does change with
each situation is the priority we place
on each of those needs. We need to
take a look at each scenario and
judge the value of a gun in each case.
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122
may be the main uses, though recreational value may also come into
play. One aspect of a vacation is
that it is the only one of these three
scenarios into which you have chosen to remove yourself, and therefore it is the one over which you
have the greatest control.
That leaves us with the latter two
situations, and the more common of
the two is the results of a natural
disaster such as a hurricane, flooding, or fire. In this case, signaling and
protection from both man and animals becomes the major concern.
Since these occurrences are usually

regional, you can normally remove
yourself from the area or count on
help to arrive long before the need
for food becomes a life-threatening
issue. You may get a little hungry,
and there may be a call for some
hunting, but that is not your main
concern.
Regional or even national social
collapse is our third concern, and
even though at first glance it may
seem a little farfetched, it is still a
possibility. In such a situation, selfdefense becomes our main priority.
[CLOCKWISE FROM TOP] If you think

you will be safe at home, remember
that trouble can still come to you.
Even if you think staying at home is
the best solution, be prepared to
defend that decision. A boltaction rifle is great for hunting, but
is a poor choice for a defensive
weapon. The limited capacity and
slow operation when compared to
other weapons, puts it on the bottom of my list. An alternate type
of firearm is the pistol-caliber carbine. This ASR by TNW Firearms is
in 9mm and uses Glock magazines.
It is mild enough for anyone to learn
to shoot well and can be broken
down and carried in a daypack.
ASG_1411_123 8/29/14 11:46 AM Page 123
ASG_1411_124 8/29/14 1:28 AM Page 124
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Complicating things further is

the possibility that more than one
of these scenarios will occur at
the same time. Look at the havoc
caused by Hurricane Katrina: The
aftermath of this natural disaster
resulted in social collapse in several areas affected by the storm.
So the first step is to think
through the problems you could
be facing in any given scenario.
Think not only about where you
will go, but how you will get there.
The perfect firearm may change if
you are instantly forced out of your
family car and must travel on foot.
Now that weve considered the
perils we may face, lets consider
the firearms available to us. We
must decide if our prospective
scenario favors the selection of a
handgun, shotgun, or rifle. Each
has its strong points and each has
its weak ones.
HANDGUNS
[TOP RIGHT AND RIGHT]

There is a lot to be said
for the advantages of
the AR-15. It is easy to
carry and has been
proven in combat.
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The handguns chief advantages are light weight and ease of

concealment. Its primary disadvantage are that it has less power,
is harder to shoot accurately, and
is best suited to shooting at limited distances. The rifle and shotgun have greater firepower and
accuracy and are easier to shoot,
but are rather difficult to conceal.
The deciding factor between
them comes back to the main
purposes of having a firearm.
While all types of guns can be
used to signal, the rifle and shotgun have the advantage in both
hunting and self-defense. My personal evacuation plan involves
avoiding other people, so the ability to conceal my firearm would
[TOP LEFT] A handgun

may prove to be your
best choice in an urban
environment; this
Smith & Wesson .45caliber pistol can
match the power of a
good rifle. It would
make a great choice as
a backup weapon.
125
ASG_1411_GUN.CX 126,127 9/1/14 1:34 AM Page 126
be of a less importance. And a more

visible gun has a nice deterrent factor: If others see you are prepared
for trouble, there is less chance they
will bother you.
RIFLES AND SHOTGUNS

When deciding between a rifle
and shotgun, personal preference
becomes a major factor. We should
discount any single-shot, double-
NOVEMBER 2014
[TOP] Ive decided on my rifle of choice as well as the

other gear I may need in times of crisis. My best decision
was to take the time to plan ahead for what may occur.
Once you have made your plans, practice on a regular
basis with all of your tools.
126
[BOTTOM] The Benelli M4 would make an ideal survival

shotgun. It has been proven to perform under the harshest
conditions and has the firepower to take on all comers.
barrel, or bolt-action weapons; the

limitations in these types of actions
are too great when compared to
pump, lever-action, or semi-automatics. I can give a straight answer
when asked what one I would
chose, but when asked which one
you should choose, my answer
might be totally different.
No one can deny the raw power
and versatility of a 12-gauge (or
even a 20-gauge) pump or semiautomatic shotgun and the traditional .30-30 lever-action rifle has a
long history of successful performance. Try different weapons now,
before a situation arises. Go with
the one you feel comfortable with
and practice until you are proficient.
ASG_1411_GUN.CX 126,127 9/1/14 1:34 AM Page 127
MY CHOICE
Lets go back to the original
question: If I could have only one
firearm, what would it be? My
answer would be quick and concise:
My go-to weapon of choice is a
semi-automatic AR-15 chambered
in 7.62x40WT. Loaded cartridges are
only available through Wilson Combat (WilsonCombat.com), but they
are a reloaders dream, and provide
a major improvement over the standard 5.56 cartridge used in most
AR-15s. I have an ample supply at
home and have also placed stores
of this cartridge at another location
should I need to evacuate. I built my
AR-15 myself, which gives me total
understanding of its function and
capability, and I practice with it no
less than on a weekly basis. I have
also hunted various game (including
deer) and have confidence in its
performance.
Some may quickly point out that
I should have chosen a more common cartridge so I might have the
chance to resupply away from
home. However, immediately following any natural disaster, the
availability of firearms and ammunition may well be non-existent. You
can only depend on your prior planning and the stores of supplies you
have set aside.
YOUR CHOICE
The best solution is not to ask
anyone else what they would
choose, but to think through the
options and ask yourself the same
question. Defining the problems
that may arise and planning out the
solution will help you choose the
right tool for the job.
Wilson Combat
2234 CR 719
Berryville, AR 72616
800-955-4856
WilsonCombat.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM RALSTON
ASG_1411_RALSTON.qxp 8/28/14 3:29 AM Page 128
PREPPING RALSTON
WITH
BY TIM RALSTON
Timothy Bryan Ralston is an American inventor, veteran, adventurer, author and movie consultant for his expertise in the field of
survival and preparedness education. He is best known for his appearance in the powerful motivational film The Compass and
for being the international spokesperson in the launch of NatGeos No. 1-rated program, Doomsday Preppers.
SOLAR KNOW-HOW
NOVEMBER 2014
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
Lighting Up When Everything Goes Dark
128
There is no denying that in todays

world, we are strongly dependent
upon fossil-fueled power. From our
lighting, to our entertainment, down
to the way we cook our food, this
source is the key component that drives it all.
While the use of modern electricity may provide convenience to our
everyday lives, it is in actuality very
unreliable. The evidence of this lies in
how common outages are as a result
of natural disasters. Every year there
are thousands of people left suffering
through these after effects, having
failed to prepare backup resources.
With the number of disasters rapidly
increasing, so will the probability of
there being more losses of power
across our nation.
On a much larger scale would be
the event of an electromagnetic pulse
(EMP), which would cause the entire
grid to go down all at once. If this
were to occur, all technology would
become ineffective and we would
enter a state of darkness. It is unpredictable when and if we would ever
be able to rebuild.
An EMP can be caused naturally
by a suns solar flare, and also due to
the ill intent of man. A single nuclear
bomb detonated into the Earths
atmosphere has the capability of
bringing on this devastation. With an
ASG_1411_RALSTON 8/29/14 11:52 AM Page 129
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EMP of this magnitude, life as we

know it would cease to exist.
It is because of these types of scenarios that I encourage taking the
steps towards self-sufficiency.
Whether it is for a short term crisis or
something much greater, it is imperative that you are able to survive on
your own. One excellent way to do so
is to prepare with alternative forms of
energy devices. Not only are they better for the environment, but they are
certainly more reliable.
Battery-operated items have
always been incredible saviors in
emergency situations. I propose there
might be a problem with relying on
battery power during a major catastrophe such as an EMP; since commercial production would suddenly
come to a halt, all of the most essential supplies (including batteries)
would become limited and sought
after. Hence, items requiring batteries would eventually become useless.
If you arent ready to begin stockpiling batteries, a much cheaper and
efficient solution is solar power. The
sun is the most abundant energy
source there is, providing renewable
energy for our utilization. It is both
dependable and less detrimental to
our planet than fossil fuel electricity.
Hybrid Solar
Headlamp
There are numerous solar power

products on the market today that
would be perfect backups during a
disaster. From flashlights, to head
lamps, to chargers for your mobile
devices, they allow you independence from man-made energy. Solarpowered items are also very durable
with long shelf lives.
Another positive reason to choose
solar is due to space restriction on the
go. When packing a BOB, every provision must be absolutely vital to your
survival. Even items as small as batteries will take up extra space in a
pack. Instead by choosing solar products, you will eliminate the need for
batteries altogether. This too makes
sense for vehicle preparedness.
I am always looking for new, solarpowered items for practical use for
emergency preparedness. Here are a
few of my personal favorites.
NOVEMBER 2014
ADVERTISER
PAGE
AirForce Airguns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

American Tactical Imports . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Blade-Tech Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Hybrid Solar Headlamp Can be

charged with any light source, and
shines 75 lumens for six hours. It is
also water resistant and extremely
durable. MSRP $29.95
The LuminAid An inflatable and
waterproof solar lantern that provides
up to 15 hours of LED light on one
charge. MSRP $19.95
Hybrid Expandable Lantern Flashlight & Charger A mere 2 inches
when closed, but expands into a 6inch light source with eight hours of
use. It also has a USB port for charging mobile devices during an emergency. MSRP $39.95
Chiappa Firearms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Hero T-Shirt Club/ Fructhman Marketing . . 117
Kershaw Knives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Liberty Log Cabins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
LifeStraw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Major Surplus & Survival . . . . . . . . . . 10-11
Nitro-Pak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,131
Primal Gear Unlimited LLC . . . . . . . . . . 111
Secure Medical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Silencerco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. . . . . . 34-35
Survival Bags Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Tactical Night Vision Company . . . . . . . . 15
TOPS Knives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Tormach LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Ultra Holdings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. . . . . . . . . . 2
NOVEMBER 2014
The Advertiser Index is provided as a service to American Survival Guide

readers. American Survival Guide is not responsible for
omissions or typographical errors on names or page numbers.
129
ASG_1411_CLOSING.qxp 8/28/14 3:30 AM Page 130
CLOSINGWORDS
Survival is the
celebration of
choosing life over
death. We know
were going to
die. We all die.
But survival is
saying: perhaps
not today
LAURENCE GONZALES,
DEEP SURVIVAL:
WHO LIVES, WHO DIES,
AND WHY
PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK
130
ASG_1411_C3 8/27/14 10:54 PM Page C3
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ASG_1411_COVER1 8/29/14 6:23 AM Page US_C1

AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE

THE RIGHT GEAR 5 WAYS TO BUILD

FOR EVERY TERRAIN SURVIVAL ENDURANCE

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 6 NOVEMBER 2014 U.S. $8.99

14 WAYS TO USE A BANDANA

Engaged Media By Beckett

ASG_1411_C2 8/27/14 10:38 PM Page C2

A NEW CASE AND TONY BOSE COLLABORATION

CASE BOSE TEAR DROP

TEAR DROP 10302 (TB61028 SS)

ASG_1411_3 8/27/14 10:39 PM Page 3

Americas Foremost Preparedness

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ASG_1411_TOC.qxp 8/27/14 11:17 PM Page 4

AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE

ASG_1411_TOC.5 CX 8/31/14 11:47 PM Page 5

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 6 | NOVEMBER 2014

19 THE BRAIN IN ACTION

The psychology of mentality

Everyday things you can use in an

22 THE GET-HOME BAG

71 14 GOOD USES FOR A

26 FIVE WAYS TO BUILD

Got a bandana? A rag? Use it to your

Be ready both physically and mentally when

74 THE ULTIMATE SURVIVAL

32 FIVE MEDICAL ESSENTIALS

Spartan Shelters shows you how to weather

Put together a solid medical bag that you

78 PREPPING FOR SENIORS

36 PERSONAL THREAT ANALYSIS

Senior citizens know how volitile the world

Whats the first thing you do in a crisis?

40 KNIVES: COMMON POINTS OF

Learn how to pick a reliable knife

46 HOW TO PICK A LOCK WITH A

89 TREATING AN ANIMAL BITE

92 THE SHELTER ENVIRONMENT

98 SAVE YOUR SKIN

A simple tool and a little practice can get

102 ADVENTURE IN ALASKA

The Kilcher family gives an insiders view of

Keep yourself hydrated

50 HACK YOUR FLASHLIGHT

108 NATURAL AND IMPROVISED

Simple tools to simply survive

112 FIVE TOP SURVIVAL

Find all levels of training, from beginning

118 JUST ONE GUN

128 PREPPING WITH RALSTON

Room for just one firearm? No problem

AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE

ASG_1411_EDIT.qxp 8/27/14 11:22 PM Page 6

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 6 / NOVEMBER 2014