Prepping with Ham Radio - Start the New Year with Communication!

In the aftermath of an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, tsunami, landslide or other natural disaster, or even an act of terrorism or some other catastrophic man-made event, communication plays a vital role in man’s survival.

Prepping With A HAM Radio

You may have secured your family in a safe area and your bug out bags have proved useful, but you are going to need contact with other survivors and of course help would be more than welcome.

Cellphones will not work when the cellphone facilities are torn down; the same is true with land-line phones. It would also be logical to assume that power lines are going to be down, as well as the internet in the affected area. This is where amateur or HAM radio comes in.

A HAM radio can run on a portable generator or even a car battery, and it doesn’t depend on cell phone signals to be able to communicate with other users. The bottom line is that if you have a HAM radio, chances are high that you will be able to find and get help.

If you are new to the idea of HAM radios (as they have become obsolete since the advent of the cell phone and the internet), they made rescue operations during Hurricane Katrina and the Sichuan and Haiti earthquakes faster and more efficient. So you can imagine what one could do for you. Click here to learn more about prepping with HAM radios:

A Prepper’s First HAM Station

Being amateur radio operators and  a preppers, we tend to share a little more about HAM radio than most emergency preparedness pages.  Just search our site with the word “HAM” and you will find a plethora of articles on amateur radio, better yet, just click here.  We’ve noticed that there has been some confusion as to what types of equipment you need to talk to whom, and how far each radio can communicate.  This is to be expected from folks on the outside of the hobby looking in as things can get somewhat complicated.

The most popular HAM radio at the moment seems to be the Baofeng UV-5R.  Why?  Because it is the least expensive way to get into amateur radio.  For less than $35, you can have basic, local communications.  The Baofeng is what it is, a very inexpensive radio, and it has it’s limitations.   It isn’t much to do with the radio, more so the bands that it operates on.  We say 2 meters and 70 centimeters in HAMspeak.  What we are referring to are the frequencies on which it operates.  2 Meters and 70 centimeters, or 2M and 70cm, are what we call “line of sight” frequencies.  These frequencies are limited by the curvature of the earth and interference from trees, buildings, hills, etc. The Boafeng is great for communicating person to person but the real world range is limited to just a few miles in this configuration.  Baofeng’s are also limited by their output power.  At 5 watts or less, they don’t have a lot of “punch”.  While you will never talk through the earth, a little more power can overcome other forms of obstructions.

via A Prepper’s First HAM Station – TinHatRanch.

Contact with the outside world is made possible by amateur radio. This is why we recommend having a handheld in your bug out bag so that you can be ready whenever disaster strikes.

Investing in a communications station or radio base for your home would also be a wise decision as it is more powerful and has a longer reach compared to a handheld. Just remember to comply with the regulations and do a little studying to pass the test and get a license.

You can have all the necessary tools and skills to survive anything that comes your way and self-sufficiency may be your by-word, but communication through HAM radio will make you realize that when disaster strikes or when the EOTW comes, we still need each other to survive.

Want to pick up a personal HAM radio for your preps?

Check out this one for under $40.00!

NOTICE: There is a high wind forecast

NOTICE:

There is a high wind forecast for the next couple of days. Winds may exceed 60MPH in Davis County. Be advised and take appropriate actions.  

Also, don't let your plumbing freeze up.  Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls, and let faucets drizzle water in freeze prone areas of your home.  Don't be cheap, turn up your heat. 

5. Ladder Rack Knot Paracord Survival Bracelet

This weave gives you more paracord than the average weave, but not so much that it’s big and bulky on your wrist.

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

Is Your State Prepared for a Natural Disaster? Check Out These Rankings and See Where You Stand

How well could your state handle a disaster?

In an infographic posted earlier this year, Foodstorage.com’s “Prepper Feed” blog came up with a measure of each state’s disaster-preparedness by analyzing the risks each state faces from different natural calamities and stacking that against each state’s per-capita disaster budget.

As you might expect, those criteria led to a ranking system that favors lower-population, bigger-government states.

The worst-prepared state, according to the rankings: Texas, which faces threats from hurricanes, flooding and tornadoes but which has a fairly low per-capita disaster budget for its 26.5 millionpeople.

Meanwhile, states with smaller populations fared much better: Wyoming, North Dakota and Delaware nabbed the top three spots.

See the risk map below:

(GIF via foodstorage.com/Business Insider)

The other large states — California (nearly 40 million people), Florida (almost 20 million people) and New York (19.6 million people) — rounded out the list’s bottom four.

Check out the complete rankings below:

(Image via foodstorage.com/Business Insider)

Drinking Water for Survival | 8 Reasons Why It’s Important

I’m sure you’ve heard an earful about the benefits of drinking water, but have you actually taken it to heart? Do you drink enough water, and do you know what the benefits of drinking water actually are?

Gaye Levy has shared with us her expertise on the survival benefits of drinking water and the eight reasons why you should make sure you’re getting enough water each day. Read on to learn more.

Benefits of Drinking Water

In the summertime when you get hot, sweaty and sticky, it is quite natural to reach for a nice, cool glass of water to quench your thirst.  In the Fall and Winter, however, it is easy to forget to drink an adequate amount of water to stay hydrated.

Think about it.  You are indoors, covered with layers of warm clothing and subject to the dry heat produced by your furnace wood stove, or fireplace.  Talk about a recipe for dehydration.

Today I discuss some reasons why you need to drink water for survival.  This may see rather simplistic and you may be saying to yourself,  “yeah, I know that” and move on.  Before doing so however, keep in mind that in a stressful disaster, survival, collapse, or SHTF situation, you are going to need to be healthy, alert, and physically able to deal with the toils of the environment and the chaos around you.  And for that, you need to be hydrated.

Simply stated, dehydration occurs when your body does not have sufficient water and fluids to function in peak form. To re-nourish your cells, the remedy is to drink water and lots of it.  Let me tell you why.

Eight Survival Benefits of Drinking Water

1.  Protect Your Immune System:  The lack of water can dry out the mucous membranes of your lungs, stomach, intestines, and sinus passages.  This is especially true in the winter.  When this happens, you lose your resistance to disease since these barriers can only protect your body against bacteria, viruses, and pollutants when they fully hydrated and intact.

2.  Lose or Maintain a Healthy Weight:  A well-hydrated body has a higher level of oxygen in the bloodstream, translating into an increased ability to burn fat as fuel.  In addition, drinking water reduces hunger by quenching your appetite so you eat less.

3.  Prevent Headaches:  Drinking plenty of water can mitigate headaches.  You will often hear that someone who has been vomiting will come down with a massive headache.  This is not fallacy and has happened to me.  The reason for this is the lack of fluids and electrolytes.

General dehydration can also bring upon what is commonly referred to as a low-grade headache.  Whatever the type, a headache is no fun and a severe headache, such as a migraine, can be debilitating for hours if not days.

4.  Prevent Indigestion and Constipation:  I am not trying to be gross, but to keep things moving down your digestive track, the solids need water.  Plain and simple.  Keep the digestive track well-flushed so that you can flush frequently yourself!

5.  Relieve Fatigue:  Dehydration has been associated with decreases in mental concentration and physical coordination.  The result is fatigue.  The dehydrated body has to work hard simply to perform its most basic functions, sapping energy and leaving you exhausted.  Feeling tired?  Drinking water will give you an instant energy boost.

6.  Energize the Muscles for Better Exercise: Cells that don’t maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel. This can result in muscle fatigue. When muscle cells don’t have adequate fluids, they don’t work as well and performance can suffer.  As long as you are going through the effort of working out and staying fit, why not get the most out of your efforts by staying well hydrated?

Note:  the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines  recommend that people start drinking fluids about two hours before exercise. During exercise, they recommend that people start drinking fluids early, and drink them at regular intervals to replace fluids lost by sweating.

7.  Healthy Looking Skin:  The skin is an organ, and just like any other part of the body, the organ is made up of cells.  And skin cells, like the other cells in the body, are made up of water.  If your skin is not getting a sufficient amount of water, the lack of hydration will present itself by turning your skin dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling.  This is not a pretty picture and no amount of creams, ointments, or salves will improve your skin if you do not take in an adequate supply of water.

8.  A Positive Outlook:  According to the Mayo Clinic, even mild levels of dehydration can hinder your emotional state.  Although drinking water is not known to directly cause positive moods, it can give you a lift by preventing lethargy.  You will feel good and that in itself will make you happy.

Are You Dehydrated?

The most obvious clues that you are dehydrated are thirst and dry mouth.  For some, these symptoms may be so common that they do not connect the dots and do not realize they are dehydrated. Besides headache, fatigue, sallow and dry skin, constipation and other woes, the color of urine can be a clear indication of your hydration levels.  The darker the yellow, the greater the level of dehydration.  When you see this, toss back a few glasses of water and at the next potty-break, you should see some definite improvement.

To summarize, here is a list of the symptoms of dehydration:

• Little or no urine, or urine that is darker than usual, especially if it is almost orange
• Dry mouth 
• Sleepiness or fatigue 
• Extreme thirst 
• Headache 
• Confusion 
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded 
• No tears when crying

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, grab some water fast.  Better yet, since your electrolytes most likely are also low, add a quarter to a half a teaspoon of sea salt to your glass of water and you will feel a lot better sooner.

How Much Drinking Water Do You Need?

For prepper’s, the standard rule of thumb is to store 1 gallons of water per person per day.  Okay, I get that.  But how much does your body absolutely need?  Here is a very general rule of thumb:

Take your body weight in pounds, divide in half, and and that is a general guideline for the amount of water, in ounces, you need to consume daily while performing normal activities.  If you are chopping wood, fighting off bad guys, or otherwise exerting yourself in a survival situation, the amount will be more.

Also, consider the fact that vegetables and fruits contain a goodly amount of water that can contribute to the daily requirement.  Alas, fruits and veggies may be difficult to come by in a survival situation but if you have a bountiful garden, you will be in luck.

Want something other than plain old H2O?  You can also drink unsweetened beverages such as herbal teas, juices, and yes, to some extent, even coffee.  The later is a bit controversial but leading health authorities including the Institute of Medicine and the American College of Sports Medicine say that’s a myth. While caffeine does signal our kidneys to rid our bodies of excess water, it does so for only a short time, so we still retain more fluid than we lose after sipping a caffeinated beverage.  You be the judge.

Water Storage and Purification

While not the subject of this article, it goes without saying that in addition to stored water, you should have a number of water purification methods on hand.  There are many excellent systems available at various price points in including the Berkey, ProPur, LifeStraw, and SolarBag.

It would also be a good idea to have some water purification tablets on hand.  I keep a bottle in my car and also in all of my various survival packs.

The Final Word

You have probably heard this before but let me repeat it:  you can survive for 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food.

When it comes to water and water storage, remember that you need to drink water and stay hydrated if you are going to survive.  Whether you use the official 1 gallon per person guideline, or the simple little calculation above, storing water and then actually drinking it is a should be a priority both before, during and after a disruptive event.

How to Use a Pair of Glasses to Survive in the Wilderness

Anyone who has ever been called four eyes may have felt a little down in life because of their specs, but childhood teasing does not last forever. Those four-eyed individuals will one day be able to rub those bullies noses into the fact that those glasses could be the difference between life and death.

There are several everyday items that can be used to survive in the wilderness, shoelaces to make rope, socks to filter water or a volleyball named Wilson to have conversations with.But one of the most useful at-home items someone can use in the wilderness are eyeglasses.

Notice how the people from Walking Dead, never use glasses to survive. And they keep dropping like flies.

Vision Assistance

Obviously glasses help people see, but out in the wilderness it can be more than that. Sunglasses or transition lenses can protect from blindness against the elements. If someone is climbing a mountain completely covered in snow, there is one basic color, and that is white. The problem with this is when the sun comes out, that white snow becomes blinding. Another area in which sunglasses can protect eyesight is out in the ocean. Just like snow, when the sun shines onto the water it can become extremely bright. A pair of sunglasses protects the eyes from the overwhelming brightness of the snow or water and lets an adventurer see clearly without damaging their eyesight.

Protection from the Elements

Not only do glasses guard against the sun, they also guard against injury. If someone is in a desert area, glasses can be essential to protecting the eyes from the sand. If winds come up, sand can be a vicious thing and having it slice into the eyes can be extremely serious. Even is someone is not in a desert area, a forest or jungle with high winds can carry a lot of small harmful objects that can wedge themselves into an eye.

Starting a Fire

One of the most well-known uses for glasses in the wilderness is starting a fire. The lens inside a pair of glasses works the same way as a magnifying glass. When the sun hits a lens it creates a beam of light that converges all the energy of the sun into one small area, which creates heat. The thicker the lens the better because it results in a stronger conversion. Fire means life when trying to survive. It is what makes food, filters water and provides warmth. A pair of glasses starting a fire can truly save someone’s life.

Create a Useful Tool

The lenses inside a pair of glasses can be used for more than making fire. With the assistance of a sharp rock, a lens can be filed down to create a small sharp knife. This can be helpful to use as a weapon but also a tool. A knife can help cut roots or plants to eat. It can also be useful for cutting meat. If someone has caught an animal, the knife can be used for skinning and cutting out the meat. It is helpful for gutting and fileting fish as well.

Signal for Help

Similar to the process of making fire, eyeglasses can partner with the sun to create a help signal to oncoming travelers. When the light bounces off or transmits through a lens, it results in a small flash or glare. Travelers can often be too far off to hear someone shouting and may not be paying close enough attention to see a someone who is stranded. A glint of sunlight or a glare can be seen farther off, and if someone can manage to shine it into someone’s eyes, they will be more likely to turn around and notice that someone needs help.

Catching Dinner

If someone has wire frame glasses, the temples of the glasses can be used to create a fish hook. The temple tips can be bent into a hook shape and sharpened with a rock. If someone can find some strong roots or vines along with a small bug, they have just created their own fishing pole and dinner is a catch away.

Survival of the fittest may have just turned into survival of the nerdiest, so before someone starts a new adventure, grabbing some Ray Bans glasses could very well save their life.

He is the Gift – Christmas Video – #ShareTheGift

7 Things You Probably Didn’t Know about the Prophet Joseph Smith

Many of us know only a few common facts about Joseph Smith: He was born in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont on December 23, 1805. His father’s name was Joseph Smith. He lived on a farm in western New York when he had the First Vision. The Church was organized on April 6, 1830. Joseph was in the Liberty Jail and he lived in Nauvoo, etc.

Let me give you at least 7 facts you probably didn’t know about the Prophet Joseph Smith.

One:  Joseph Smith the Prophet lived in no fewer than twenty different homes from his childhood to his death. Of the fourteen homes he lived in after he was married to Emma Hale, they only owned three of them. When Joseph and Emma finally had a home that was all theirs and that they really wanted—the Mansion House in Nauvoo—Joseph would only live in it for 10 months before he would be killed.

Two:  During the Kirtland period, Joseph Smith received a “cascade of revelations”, 67 of which are canonized in the Doctrine and Covenants. Those 67 revelations were received in 10 different specific locations. Forty-six of these revelations were received in just three different rooms; a) fourteen in a room on the Isaac and Lucy Morley Farm; b) fifteen in the John and Elsa Johnson Farmhouse upper room, southeast corner; and, c) seventeen in the southeast upper room in the Newel K. (and Elizabeth) Whitney Store.

Did you know that this Witness of the Light iPad App can easily be given as a gift then downloaded for immediate delivery? Click here to see simple instructions on how.

Three.  It was thought for many years that Joseph Smith was involved in about 50 lawsuits that were leveled against him. With the latest research and compilations it is clear that he was involved in more than 220 cases and in every case was found to give more than lip service to honoring, obeying and sustaining the law. These range from simple collection cases to complex trials. One of those trials led him to a Springfield, Illinois courtroom. If you look in the photograph above, you’ll see a trap door just above the judge’s bench. In that upper floor was a small law firm with two young attorneys. One was Stephen T. Logan. The other partner would later become the President of the United States—Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln appeared before this U.S. District Court concerning 40 regular cases and 72 bankruptcy proceedings. Mary Todd Lincoln attended the trial of Joseph Smith.

Four.  Joseph and Emma Hale Smith had eleven children, two of whom were adopted. They lost six of those children to death, four in infancy. Joseph’s parents, Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith also had eleven children. Two of them would die in infancy, then five more sons would die in adulthood: Alvin, Don Carlos, Joseph, Hyrum and Samuel Harrison. Joseph Smith Sr.’s parents, Asael and Mary Duty Smith, also had eleven children, all of whom lived to adulthood.

The new Witness of the Light iPad App, that recounts all these stories and facts, can easily be given as a gift then downloaded for immediate delivery? Click here to see simple instructions on how.

Five.  The Angel Moroni visited Joseph Smith (and others) no less than twenty-two times. We are most familiar with the first five visits, then the visit each year at the Hill Cumorah to prepare Joseph to receive the gold plates. That leaves 13 more visits to account. These visits and interviews became an integral part of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon.

The revelation known as the Word of Wisdom was received on Wednesday, February 27, 1833. That date is familiar to us, but we don’t often know what led to Joseph’s receiving that revelation. Twenty-four brethren had been meeting together in what was called the School of the Prophets (or School of the Elders). Twenty-two of those brethren used tobacco. The brethren would, as Brigham Young recounted, “light a pipe and begin to talk about the great things of the kingdom and puff away.” The room would become filled with thick smoke. Then they would put a wad of tobacco in one side of their mouth, and then the other, and chew away and spit on the floor. Emma Smith had to clean the floors and she was disgusted with the filthiness of these habits. One day she emphatically said to Joseph, “It would be a good thing if a revelation could be had declaring the use of tobacco a sin.”

Six.  The revelation known as the Word of Wisdom was received on Wednesday, February 27, 1833. That date is familiar to us, but we don’t often know what led to Joseph’s receiving that revelation. Twenty-four brethren had been meeting together in what was called the School of the Prophets (or School of the Elders). Twenty-two of those brethren used tobacco. The brethren would, as Brigham Young recounted, “light a pipe and begin to talk about the great things of the kingdom and puff away.” The room would become filled with thick smoke. Then they would put a wad of tobacco in one side of their mouth, and then the other, and chew away and spit on the floor. Emma Smith had to clean the floors and she was disgusted with the filthiness of these habits. One day she emphatically said to Joseph, “It would be a good thing if a revelation could be had declaring the use of tobacco a sin.”

Seven.  A revelation was given on April 26, 1838 in Far West, Missouri indicating that in one year from that very day, the brethren should “recommence laying the foundation of my house” then they should take leave for a mission to England from that very spot. In the mean time Governor Lilburn W. Boggs issued the Extermination Order and the Latter-day Saints had been driven from the State of Missouri to Illinois. How could they fulfill that directive from the Lord? Risking their lives, five of the Twelve made the dangerous journey, mainly in darkness and in hiding, to fulfill this prophecy. Before the sun arose on April 26, 1839, these faithful member of the Twelve held a meeting with others, quietly sang hymns, laid a huge stone in place in the southeast corner of the Far West Temple site, ordained two new members of the Twelve, Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith, and then took their leave back to Illinois. Many know that part of the story. What is tender is that Joseph and Hyrum, Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae and Caleb Baldwin had escaped from the Liberty Jail on April 6 and were making their way east to Illinois while the other brethren were making their way west to Far West to fulfill the prophecy. This is faith and super faith.

Please note: Just last week we released an incredible iPad tool www.josephsmithwitness.com that will completely enhance the way you look at Joseph Smith and the Restoration—it’s more than an app, more than a book, it’s an experience. One user said: “What a gift! I felt like Parley P. Pratt when first reading the Book of Mormon: eating and sleeping held no allure. I read virtually nonstop from ‘cover’ to ‘cover’. The photographs are stunning, the text is moving, and the story riveting.” The following are a few fun facts you will glean from Witness of the Light.

We have created this app, which is more like a book with extras like 230 photos, videos and interactive pages, so that you might have a more thorough knowledge base of Joseph Smith and the Restoration and that you might see this marvelous work and a wonder unfold in beautiful, panoramic form on your iPad.

$4.20 Per Pound: Price of Ground Beef Climbs to Another Record

(CNSNews.com) – The average price of a pound of ground beef climbed to another record high -- $4.201 per pound -- in the United States in November, according to data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

In August 2014, the average price for a pound of all types of ground beef topped $4 for the first time, hitting $4.013, according to the BLS.  In September, the average price jumped to $4.096 per pound, and in October, the average price climbed to $4.154 per pound. In November, the average price hit the highest price ever recorded -- $4.201 per pound.

A year ago, in November 2013, the average price for a pound of ground beef was $3.477 per pound. Since then, the average price has increased 20.8 percent in one year.

Five years ago, in November 2009, the average price of a pound of ground beef was $2.062, according to the BLS. The price has since climbed by $2.139 per pound, or 103.7 percent.

The overall Consumer Price Index measures the relative change in the prices of a basket of goods and services relative to a basis of 100.  Subordinate indexes measure the relative change in price for individual goods or services or categories of goods and services.

The price index for seasonally adjusted, uncooked ground beef hit an all-time high of 296.616 in November, up 1.4 percent from October when it was 292.588. In 1947, the earliest year in this index, it was 26.5.

“The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) declined 0.3 percent in November on a seasonally adjusted basis,” states BLS. “Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.3 percent before seasonal adjustment.”

“The food index rose 0.2 percent in November after increasing 0.1 percent in October,” states BLS. “The index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs increased 0.6 percent in November after declining in October. The index for beef and veal rose 0.8 percent, its tenth consecutive increase.”

25 Winter Bug Out Essentials | Survival Tips

To bug out or not becomes a critical decision when we are faced with an emergency, disaster or when SHTF. Winter is a season that involves a lot of preparations for everyone. But for preppers, winter preparations don’t just mean planning your winter wardrobe and arranging Christmas decorations. It should also involve carefully organizing a winter bug out kit just in case the unexpected occurs.

25 Winter Bug Out Essentials

Preparing for a winter bug out is a necessary thing to do since we do not really know what can happen during this cold and gloomy season. It is best if we are totally prepared. The bug out items consist of all the necessities one would need in order to survive a disaster for at least 72 hours.

Putting together a winter bug out kit can be a little tricky. That’s because most of the time, it includes specialized gear. You might get puzzled or confused as to what things should be included in this special and essential survival list. We have some suggestions to help you organize your own winter bug out kit.

It may be a long list and you might think you won’t be able to fit all of these items in your bug out bag. We recently wrote a post on that very topic. The fact is that winter weather is unforgiving, not to mention deadly at its worst. We preppers must be ready and have plenty of supplies.

The following is the list of items that are most important to be included in your kit if there is a need to bug out during winter.

1. Winter Bug Out Essential: Hand Axe

A good hatchet with a steel handle that is melded perfectly into the blade is a timesaver, and a life saver. Hand saws and wire saws are mostly a waste of energy. Click here for the full post.

Here is a video on choosing a hand ax for winter bug out survival:

Follow this link to watch the video on YouTube.

2. Winter Bug Out Essentials: The Bivy Sack

With a bivy sack you can keep the cold out and survive a winter bug out. Via Survival Gear Guru

A Bivvy Sack (or Bivouac Sack, Bivy Sack, or Bivi) is usually a slip on cover for your sleeping bag to make it warmer or waterproof. An emergency bivvy sack is made so that it can be used by itself. Usually out of synthetic materials that are designed to reflect and hold body heat. Read more…

3. Winter Bug Out Boots

These boots are made for surviving the cold winter. Courtesy: Fourwheeler.com

But not just any pair of boots. You need a durable pair of boots that will hold up exceptionally well in the fall and winter. One option is snow boots, but since those only work during the winter, perhaps a better option would be a good pair of mud boots. Mud boots are high (some can even reach your knees), they hold up well both in winter and in muddy terrain, are lightweight, and also easy to slip on and off. Granted, you might not be able to fit a pair of boots in your survival/but-out bag, but at least you can in your car. Click hereto read the whole article.

4. Bug Out but Stay Connected: Communication Devices

Connect to the world and survive even when you have bugged out. Via Forbes

You’ll most likely have no cell phone coverage in the backcountry. Two-way radios allow you to stay connected to members in your group who travel at different speeds. They are, however, limited to line-of-sight coverage. Satellite messengers and phones offer an option to communicate with folks at home. See more…

5. Winter Bug Out Essentials: First Aid Kit

Do not bug out in winter without a first aid kit. Courtesy of myfamilysurvivalplan.com

First Aid Kits are one of those preparedness items that people often neglect. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to get the same attention that things like survival knives, guns and bugout bags get. But when you think about it, a first aid kit is something that’s probably going to get more use than any other item in your survival stash. To read the article click here.

6. Stay Warm on your Bug Out: Fleece Liner

A fleece liner is a great addition to your survival sleeping bag. Courtesy of Dad vs Wild

The idea behind these liners is that you use them inside your existing bag to add around 10 degrees to your bag’s temperature rating. I think it’s a brilliant idea for those that already have a reasonable bag and just need a couple extra degrees to feel comfortable during cold weather. If anyone has some first hand experience using this sort of thing please chime in on the comments with how it worked! Read more.

7. Winter Bug Out Essentials: Food

You simply cannot survive in the cold without food. Via campingroadtrip.com

Three days’ supply of food minimum, (I carry more) to be determined by size and age of family and personal needs.

Suggested items

• MRE’s (meals ready to eat) or LRPs (long range patrol rations)

• Canned food – meats, tuna, sardine, fruits, vegetables chili etc, (I avoid these as to heavy) .

• Hard candy dried fruit, etc.

• Granola Bars or Power Bars

• Fruit bar or fruit rolls

• Mountain House or similar freeze dried of dehydrated foods

• Jerky or pemmican

• Home dried fruits

• Beans or pasta

Click here for more.

8. Bug Out but Stay Warm: Gloves

Winter outdoor gloves help you survive the cold by protecting your hands and fingers. Courtesy of Preppercentral 

Keep your hands warm (and useful)

As far as gloves go, we like the Glacier Gloves for their sheer cold and moisture-repelling power, and the Dots Gloves for their ability to operate your cellphone’s touchscreen while your fingers stay encased in comfort. If you’re not looking to fork over $50 or $30 when you’ve got perfectly functional gloves, though, you can throw together some rice-powered, microwave-able mitten warmers. Or, if you’re feeling evil-scientist-y, you can make any pair of gloves work with touchscreens with just a bit of conductive thread. Read more.

 9. Bug Out Visibility: Snow Goggles/glasses

Snow goggles ensure your survival in winter by keeping the cold from burning your eyes. Via Discovery.com

Goggles and glasses: Always protect your eyes from sun and wind. There are different lens tints for various weather conditions. Click here to see more.

10. Keep the Cold Out on your Bug Out: Head gear

Winter survival hats shield your head from the freezing cold. Courtesy of beargryllstore.com

For those of you who may not be as familiar with winter survival, you may not realize that a very large percentage of your body heat escapes through your head. Something as simple as having a warm hat will also help to keep your core body temperature up. Many people might make the mistake of thinking that they can get by with something as simple as a stocking hat or beanie. This would be fine if you were sure that it wouldn’t snow but you can never be sure of that.

What we prefer is a specially designed waterproof hat that has a brim to keep the snow off our faces and necks. The hats that we purchased also have fleece ear coverings and a drawstring to keep the fleece ear warmers tight against our ears and prevent the hats from blowing off in the wind. Read the whole story here.

11. Stay Hydrated on your Bug Out: Insulated Water Bottles

To watch on YouTube click here.

Tip: You may not feel thirsty in cold weather, but staying hydrated is just as important in winter as it is in summer. Drink water (warm or cold), hot tea, or hot chocolate—the latter also provides high-calorie fuel for your outdoor adventure. See more…

12. Winter Bug Out Essential: Jacket

Keep the heat in your core with an arctic jacket. Courtesy of outsideonline

Arc’teryx stuffed its expedition-grade Ceres with lofty 850-fill down and cleverly substituted synthetic insulation in key moisture-prone areas like the cuffs and collar and around the zippers. It’s a puffy that’s ready for the elements and still holds its loft even after hundreds of days cramming it into a pack. Add to that water-resistant Windstopper fabric to ward off slop and this is the coat you want for crawling into a snow cave or belaying at the bottom of an icy canyon. Click here to learn more.

13. See in the Dark: Bug Out Lighting and Batteries

Lighting instruments and energy sources help you survive in the dark. Via Amazon

Winter nights are long, so make sure your headlamp and flashlight batteries are new or fully charged before an excursion and always take extras. Lithium batteries perform well in cold weather, but they can overpower some devices like headlamps. Check your product’s manual for compatibility. Alkaline batteries are inexpensive and should work in any device, but they drain at a faster rate.

Tip: Cold temperatures decrease battery life. Store your batteries and battery-operated devices inside your sleeping bag to keep them warm. Click here for the full article.

 14. Retain Body Heat as you Bug Out: Mylar Blankets

Survive extreme cold by adding a mylar blanket to your kit. Courtesy: Opsdeck.com

These hi-tech lightweight blankets can be a life saver. They help your body retain its heat. They take up very little space and though they are really hard to refold, they are inexpensive enough to have a few on hand. These would help in the car situation as well. I actually carry a few of these, tucked in my spare, because I don’t want to get caught in the cold without them. Even if it’s just a case of running out of gas or car troubles in winter. Learn more…

 15. Bug Out but Know Where You Are: Navigation/Maps

Find your way through the snow and survive with navigation/maps. Via Dan’s Depot

Everyone says you have to have maps of your area in your gear. That’s true, but how much time did you spend deciding exactly what kind of maps to take. If you just stuck a state road map in your Bug Out Bag, then you should reconsider and take the 3 types of maps that should be in your survival gear. Click here to see more.

Here is a tutorial on maps and compasses.

16. Polyethylene Foam lets you Bug Out in Comfort

Survive in the ice and snow by using polyethylene foam as padding. Courtesy of Foam by Mail

This is something that’s used to pack things and comes in large rolls. Lightweight, it’s a great insulation to use under your bivvy sack or when sitting down in the cold. I’ve folded 6’ long pieces for each adult family member and a 5’ long pieces for each of the children in half and then rolled them tightly, securing them with 2 rubber bands. I have them wedged under the top flap of the bug out bags. The full story.

17. Winter Bug Out Essential Tool: Shovel

Dig yourself out of the snow to survival with a shovel. Via cheaperthandirt.com

Finally, always include a small shovel in your bag. If you prefer a larger one, just keep it in the trunk of your car. Having a small shovel means you’ll be able to shovel through snow, but even if you aren’t caught in a storm, it will help with setting up a shelter. To read the full post, click here.

18. Fight the Cold when you Bug Out: Ski Mask

Ski masks ensure your survival by shielding your face from the cold. Courtesy: Survivalkit.com

I chose this mask because you can wear it three ways: cover the neck, cover the face or cover your whole head. It’s high quality and comfortable so it’s the mask I recommend to my friends. Read more.

19. Winter Bug Out Sled

Survive a winter bug out with a little help from a sled. Via Krabach

The last item on our list might leave some a little baffled, but the truth is it comes in incredibly handy for hauling large amounts of gear, firewood or whatever else you pick up along the way. Now by sled Winter Sled I’m not talking about the giant wooden thing children use at Christmas time. Click here to read the whole article.

20. Cold Weather Sleeping Bag: Because You Need Rest When You Bug Out

Seal the warmth and survive the cold winter with a sleeping bag. Courtesy of Modern Survival Blog

In order to get the painful part over first let’s talk about your sleep system. This is probably more essential than any other piece of kit in your bag. Now I’m no expert on sleeping bags but I do know the biggest difference in price between most bags is weight.You’ll probably be able to find a bag rated to below freezing for around $100.

What you’ll have a hard time finding is one that weighs below 5lbs.

When it comes to sleeping bags down filling is king as it provides great warmth while also being incredibly light. Other types of synthetic bags (the kinds for around $100) can match the warmth but don’t hold a candle to weight. In fact most down bags rated for freezing or below weigh on or under 2lbs. The issue however is that many of these bags go for $300 or more. To read the full story, click here.

21. Winter Bug Out Essentials: Snow Gaiters

Survive the cold winter by keeping the ice and snow from your feet and legs with gaiters. Via sectionhikers.com

Dating back to at least the 18th century, gaiters provide a bridge of protection between the wearer’s shoe and their leg. They are an often overlooked piece of outdoor clothing, but benefit the wearer in a number of ways. Read more

22. Winter Bug Out Socks

Socks play a critical role in helping you survive a winter bug out. Via Offgridsurvival

During the winter, socks are an even more important part of your bag. You can use them on your feet, of course, but they can double as gloves or towels in a pinch. Keep at least a couple of warm pairs in your bag. Click here to read the full post.

23. Winter Bug Out Essentials: Tent

To survive a winter bug out, you will need a tent for shelter. Courtesy of Confessions of a Prepper

A true winter shelter should have: wider-diameter poles for stability in wind and snow; lots of vents to limit condensation; and numerous loops on the rainfly for anchoring guylines in storms. Also consider that external pole clips make for faster setup in harsh weather than sleeves or internal poles. Size Two travelers need at least 30 square feet of interior space to fit bulky winter gear, plus vestibules big enough for two packs. Pile into a new tent with all of your gear to make sure it fits. Claustrophobic? If living space matters more than low weight, a three-person tent provides ample room for two plus winter gear.

See more at: http://www.backpacker.com/gear/backpacks/winter-camping-gear-clothing/5/#sthash.iaTW51m7.dpuf

24. Winter Bug Out Essentials: Tinder

Fire is essential for surviving a winter bug out. Via Preppers Network

Searching tree wells for dead wood and tinder is all fine and good, but even then, much of what you collect will have soaked up at least some condensation. You need to pack tinder that burns extra hot, or extra long, to compensate for this. The most effective tinder we used included cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly, small firestarter bricks (pieces can be shaved off as needed), strike-a-fire tinder (tinder sticks that light like matches), and magnesium shavings (collect shavings into rolling paper and add a chunk of firestarter). Water proof matches and flint are a must, obviously. To see more, click here.

25. Winter Bug Out Essentials: Wool Pants

Protect your legs from the winter cold with winter survival wool pants. Courtesy of American Preppers Network

There is no better option for pants then wool in both a fall and winter environment. Wool is warm, durable, lasts a long time, and is resistant to flame (so you can be close to the campfire). The only downside to wool is that it is very easy to get dirty, but that’s a small sacrifice to make for pants that will keep you both dry and warm. Read more…