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The Various Musings of Don Wing
Submitted by Don Wing, USA.
2. Stealth and Things
I have learned that there are times Stealth can be important. At these times a wood fire would not be the best choice for heat or cooking. If light will be a problem, I go with alcohol. The one stove I take out all the time is made of an Andies mini tin, made with a piece of steel mesh and some insulation. It rests, till needed, in the little pocket on my canteen cover that the water purifier tabs fit in. The canteen cup heater form the army 1-Qt canteen cup works well with this stove as a pot (cup) support and wind screen. It will boil 3 cups of water on 1.5 oz of 70% iso. 1 OZ of meths can get 4 cups going into a rolling boil.Try making coffee at Gettysburg or Lee National Civil War Memorial Forest out side Ft Lee VA. Try at Arlington National Cemetery.
Stealth works well at these places. A cup of coffee just outside Arlington is $6.50. Making it myself is 29 cents.
If light is not going to be a problem. I have several Coleman Stoves. The Gas stoves put out a lot of light when starting and even a wind screen does not block as much as might be needed.
More and more these days you hear about ultra light this and ultra light that! I read about he guys that go out for months at a time with packs measured in ounces. This is not me! I do lighten up as much as I can. But I have turned a $129 silnylon tarp into patch material in just one night. Winds of 100+ Mph are not the light nylon tarp's friend.
When thinking days, I can get my pack down to 20 lbs with food and water. Now this is not living as far as I am concerned, it is pure and simple survival. For living, I need my coffee and that adds another 10 lbs. The better food adds weight too. So that 20lbs is now about 40 or 45 lbs. For long term (30) days or more. I get as far from ultra light as is needed to make the other guys cringe. This is why I put wheels on my full frame pack. It can get up-words of 60 or 80 lbs. Food and water included. At those times when I have to take TDW Camping with me. A 40 ft semi trailer, barely does the trick.
Survival, weather it is for a few days after a storm, out in the wilds or on the streets for an extended time, is a matter of knowing your environment and adapting to it. Knowing what can and is out there and being able to use it. Or in some cases abuse it!
Being able to use what we know and how to use what we can acquire, is the key to survival. Now that I stated the obvious! The things we learn and practice when out camping can often be used in other areas. I know several young people who had no idea that iso alcohol could be used to heat dinner or that cardboard makes a great insulator for a temporary shelter.
The trick is not to know everything, but too be able to think when it counts the most. I forget where I heard it but I remember the saying. "Adapt to Survive".
Page 2 of 4 Previous Next [Top of Page]
Page 1: Stoves and things
Page 2: Stealth and things
Page 3: Wood, cold weather and things
Page 4: Axes and things
Page 2: Stealth and things
Page 3: Wood, cold weather and things
Page 4: Axes and things
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