If you must travel during a winter storm, store an emergency kit in your vehicle that includes: blankets, a flashlight and portable radio with extra batteries for each, a first aid kit, battery booster cables and flares, a road map, a sack of cat litter (for tire traction), a tow rope, bottled water and non-perishable high-energy foods such as granola bars, extra clothing to keep dry, emergency candles and a windshield scraper and brush. If you slide into a ditch where the snow is deep you may not be able to open the car so have all survival gear in the passenger compartment and not in the trunk. In these situations, with the car being snow bound, carbon monoxide can wind up in the passenger compartment so consider instead using a candle inside of a tin can which will provide both heat and light. Of course, a cell phone can be invaluable in obtaining help in the time of any emergency, so make sure that it is charged before departure, and equip your car with the appropriate charger for extended operation.
Fire pistons use a centuries old technology that capitalizes on a physics law, that rapidly compressed air generates heat… enough heat to ignite certain tinders. Fire pistons were discovered over 200 years ago in South East Asia and were brought to Europe where they were demonstrated among the scientific community, eventually leading Rudolph Diesel to invent the Diesel Engine.
Fire pistons were originally made out of bamboo, bone, and horn. The gasket was made of string fiber and lubricated with dog fat. Different tinders include true tinder fungus, mullein pith, milkweed pod ovum, milkweed down, cattail fluff, poplar cotton, and wood punk. The tinder is placed in the end of the piston which in turn is inserted into the cylinder. By striking the piston down briskly, the tinder is ignited by the heat of compression, instantly becoming a glowing ember. The ember is then transferred to a waiting bundle of tinder which is coaxed into a flame.
I bought my first fire piston about 8 years ago and had fun until the wood grain separated, thus creating a leak - causing a lack of compression. As a reproduction of a centuries old fire making device, the string gasket fire piston is a treasure. But for unequaled performance, the 2nd Generation fire piston is now being produced that consists of a brass cylinder and piston that are incorporated into the traditional wood materials so that the look and feel are the same, but the durability is unlimited. It also uses a rubber “O”-ring that is consistent and replaceable. In addition, it has a patent-pending pressure-relief valve that allows easy stowage of the piston within the cylinder.
The fire pistons in the photo illustrate the difference in construction between the old and new technologies. I have enjoyed using both of them. You can order your own fire piston from the Survivaltek Store. Each kit comes with charcloth and instructions.
Tags: 2nd Generation, Ember, Fire, Fire Piston, Firecraft, Tinder
Just over a week ago I had the opportunity to be a guest speaker at a Cub Scout Patrol Meeting (Pack 399). This was a new experience for me as the main audience’s age was 9-11 years old. Rather than plunging into conventional skills that I normally demonstrate, I chose to review the “Hug-A-Tree” program which was developed to teach children on how not to get lost, how to stay comfortable if they do get lost, and how to be spotted and found. I demonstrated how to use the trash bag and whistle that the program suggests to take on a picnic, hike, or camping trip.
But what would a survivaltek class be without some fire? At the request of the Cub Scout Master, I cooked an egg using hand sanitizer as fuel, and demonstrated how to make fire with flint and steel. But don’t worry, an impressive amount of parents were on hand and we all had fun together. It’s great having the opportunity to prepare the next generation for outdoor living and developing survival skills for the future.
Tags: Class, Cooking, Cub Scouts, Fire, Flint, Hug-A-Tree
I’ve come to realize that there is quite a diversity in climates throughout North America. My roots in the Bay Area on the West Coast rarely saw snow, contrasted to my current location in the foothills on the East Coast where there can be seasonal snow. Of course, the folks up North are very well acquainted with long term snow and ice. Well, for snow beginners, and a reminder for snow veterans, one of the delights of fresh snow is the amount of activity it exposes by the various critters that surround you. The best conditions for viewing tracks is when the sun shines with clear skies, thus creating the highest contrast for revealing details. Not only can you see the foot tracks, but the walking and running patterns of the animal. Sometimes, you can see evidence of encounters between different animals such as predator and prey. You can also find the local animal trails and their respective dwelling places. The fresh white blanket is pretty much inescapable for mammals, but even the birds land on the snow to feed. So, next time you have a fresh snow, step outside and follow the tracks. It’s a refreshing adventure.
Historically, bannock was introduced to America by European fur traders. Using basic simple ingredients, it was easy to prepare and became the food staple for Settlers and subsequently Native American Indians. It consists of these basic ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, water, and some type of fat. It can be baked, fried in a pan or even grilled. It is so generic that a variety of ingredients can be used and many variations have been made over the centuries.
A typical recipe would be:
3 cups of flour
1 1/3 cup water
1 tsp baker powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbs bacon grease
optional: Fruits, nuts, bacon or whatever
When mixing with water, start with a cup and add just enough to make a stiff dough. Flatten the dough to a thickness of between 1/4 and 1/2 inches. “Thinner” cooks quicker, and frying is faster than baking. Best results come from slow, even heat. An alternative cooking method is to form a long finger sized piece of dough and wrap it around the end of a stick and hold it over a fire to roast.
I favor wheat flour because it has gluten and holds together very well. I’ve also used corn masa flour however the water-to-flour ratio is closer to 1:1 and breaks easily. Either way, these ingredients can last a long time without spoiling and lend themselves to travel or camping, and could be very strategic in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
What are Astragalus Bones? They are bones that are located in the rear legs of four legged animals (in this case, deer) located at the heel. They are part of an articulating hind limb at the joint that connects the calcaneum and tibia which we see as the rear most angular joint of the hind leg.
These bones have been traditionally used for a socket in the bow and spindle fire method, and are very durable. They are prized for their authentic part of traditional primitive fire kits, as well as great performance. Sockets are not so easy to come by naturally. You can find some rocks, shells, etc., and you can just use another block of hard wood with a hollowed pivot point, but the socket depth and durability of these materials may make it difficult or limited in their use.
Once removed from the leg, they can be boiled to harden and any connective tissue is more easily removed from the bone.
A friend from Alaska brought a unique gift - a Ulu (pronounced oo’loo) knife. The design was crafted by Native Alaskan People over 5000 years ago. Originally the blades were fashioned from polished slate and given bone handles. They were used primarily for skinning and cleaning fish and sea mammals. As time has progressed, the slate has been replaced by metal and most recently with stainless steel. The design allows for more pressure to be placed on the blade directly above the object to be cut, thus becoming very effective. This tool can be seen used in the movie “The Snow Walker” which I highly recommend. It shows the simplicity of primitive living skills used by indigenous people that are still used today. In the adjacent photo I am using my Ulu on a deer skin during the tanning process.
A juniper berry is not a true berry but rather a fleshy female seed cone with merged scales with an approximate size of a 1/4 inch in diameter. All juniper species grow berries, but a few are toxic and some are considered too bitter to eat and are not recommended for eating in volume. Most folks describe the taste as piney or resinous but the taste varies within the over 40 species. While photographing the adjacent photo, I sampled some berries and found them to be slightly sweet. They are ripe for harvest when dark in appearance and they are often covered with a whitish wax. They can be eaten raw or brewed to make a tea. It is a good source of vitamin C. Historically, juniper berries have been used as cooking spices and are used in some alcoholic beverages. Medicinally, juniper berries are used as a diuretic and is effective for dissolving kidney stones. A note of caution: juniper berries may be harmful to people with kidney problems, or for those who are pregnant.
Recently I was visiting family and friends out-of-town and wanted to show them my signal mirror that I carry in my “bug-out bag” (an emergency travel bag supplied for 3+ days sustainably). They live in town so I didn’t have a field to demonstrate the mirror’s effect from afar. However, the city street did offer unique features that illustrated the effectiveness of my mirror. At the end of the street was a reflective stop sign, a school crossing sign, and various cars with reflective license plates and tail lights. Each reflective surface would “light up”, confirming that I had accurately targeted the light reflected from my mirror. Each person enjoyed lighting up items close and far away. A word of caution… when trying this, be careful not to blind drivers that may be approaching or crossing the street. Even if your mirror shines from behind the car, the light reflected in their mirrors is mighty bright. You may also want to try using a CD disc to familiarize yourself with it’s capabilities. You can use the hole in the middle as a sighting hole while holding your finger out in front upon which you place the reflected light, thus creating in effect a peep-sight. Then swing your arms toward your target. Check out my “CD Signal Mirror In Emergency” video which illustrates this method.
As an empty one gallon milk jug looms before me, I am reminded that a one gallon container is worth roughly 8 pounds of flotation. More precisely, 7.7 pounds. This becomes significant when you need to build a raft with salvaged containers in the aftermath of flooding or for emergency travel by waterways. Of course, it’s ideal to used sealed containers. When using a gallon jug, a screw-on lid works best, but duct tape can be used to help secure any “iffy” lids or caps. Other containers might include gas cans, 50 gallon drums, water bottles, etc.. You’ll need to decide whether you want to ride above water level to stay dry, or whether adding just enough buoyancy for you to sit in the water and ride the flotation device is adequate. Consider collecting the containers in a net or tarp, or, you can tie them together which could take significant cordage. Staying topside also suggests the need for a framework to place on top of the floating material. In any case, don’t forget paddles for propulsion or steering, although paddling with your arms and legs will work. Don’t forget to include the combined weight of other passengers, equipment and framework when calculating the necessary buoyancy.
