A word of warning to those plan on bugging out if SHTF.

[Sugar Land]

Really??????

 

[M1Garand]

All that putting of the backpack on the ground, I think you're lucky you didn't get fireants, and then wouldn't THAT have been SHTF!

Trust me, not even the ants are in the barren backroads... They'd rather be on my lawn, getting splashed by my sprinkler system. The backroads are nothing but dirt, rocks and two trees.

 

[M1Garand]

Really??????

Yeees, I know how hard it is to keep a straight face when discussing SHTF or bugging out. But try to.

 

[granite]

Um... yeah, have you been to the valley and experienced the over 100 heat and 100% humidity? How long do you want be outdoors in such an uncomfortable environment? I know I sure as hell want to get to my destination asap. Besides, this was just a hiking trip, to me. I want to get it done as fast as possible.

There was no mention of a "destination" or your location in your original post. I guess um...yeah back at you. If I had to bug out I'm not sure I would have a destination, since my home was destroyed or taken for me to leave. My only child/son died 4 years ago so no family to save/help/rescue. If I have to leave I'm in the shrubs and there is no place to be in a hurry. No destination to get to. My area has trees to hide and shade. so my point stands. Whats the rush? Different scenarios. Both valid. One size doesn't fit all.

 

[TX69]

There was no mention of a "destination" or your location in your original post. I guess um...yeah back at you. If I had to bug out I'm not sure I would have a destination, since my home was destroyed or taken for me to leave. My only child/son died 4 years ago so no family to save/help/rescue. If I have to leave I'm in the shrubs and there is no place to be in a hurry. No destination to get to. My area has trees to hide and shade. so my point stands. Whats the rush? Different scenarios. Both valid. One size doesn't fit all.

Sorry for your loss and God Bless

 

[atticus finch]

Where are you going to drive too?

Supulveda pass on I5?

 

[TX69]

Supulveda pass on I5?

I35 Austin

 

[itchin]

Holy shit. This is why I avoid San Antonio and Austin.

 

[Ole Cowboy]

Supulveda pass on I5?

Had to run up to S Dallas area the other day. I go in on I 35 off hwy 46 N of San Antonio in New Braunfels. Took 8 hrs to drive to S side of Dallas on a Fri. Spent 2 hrs in downtown area of Austin on 35, over an hour in Round Rock...came home to Boerne area on Hwy 281.

 

[V-Tach]

If leaving a sprawling urban environment, one possible option (I like the motorcycle idea too) for family and gear is a Deuce and a half....

Either push them out of the way or run over them......

Several here in Texas for sale (auction)
Government Auction

 

[TX69]

If leaving a sprawling urban environment, one possible option (I like the motorcycle idea too) for family and gear is a Deuce and a half....

Either push them out of the way or run over them......

Several here in Texas for sale (auction)
Government Auction

Now were talking! I have talked to the wife about buying a bobbed Deuce for our retirement property. Would add an auxiliary fuel cell and prep it for SHTF.

 

[Texan2]

With few exceptions, bugging in is always preferable to bugging out.

 

[breakingcontact]

With few exceptions, bugging in is always preferable to bugging out.

Agree. Far less check points in your living room.

 

[Texan2]

Agree. Far less check points in your living room.

Plus its easier to prep the place you are at everyday. There are exceptions, (you are a billionare, own a blackhawk helicoptor, have a huge security detail that works for you) but if I am bugging out things have REALLY gone wrong and I am on plan C.

 

[ROGER4314]

This has been an interesting thread it brought back some real distressing memories.

In Oklahoma, I knew some serious, hard core survival types. One had a family farm in Michigan and his plan was to take his specially equipped van, fully automatic weapons and make his way to that farm to ride the turmoil out. It was before IKE and Rita but I still questioned him and pushed him. "Do you REALLY think you'll be able to make it to Michigan in that van?" What about fuel? What about being a target as you roll down the road? People will want what you have and they will stop you! Of course, all of those questions were answered during our hurricanes. Fuel? HA!

I suggest a different approach. Bicycles! I've been a rider all of my life and in 2011, rode 3,414 miles during the hottest, driest summer in history! My typical ride was 17 miles in the morning then 17 more in the late afternoon or evening. Why 17 miles? That was the distance that my two oversize water bottles would sustain me. Any more than 17 miles got me dehydrated as I didn't carry enough water, then. I could RIDE more than 17 miles but I couldn't hydrate more than 17 miles.

As a young man, I raced bicycles in Kansas City and after moving back to Tulsa, my favorite trip was out to Keystone Dam and back, a distance of 26 miles.

On a bicycle (or a motorcycle), you really sweat when you stop. If you keep moving, the sweat evaporates and keeps you cool. Done correctly, the water that you put out will equal the water that evaporates to keep you cool.

It's very easy to dehydrate on two wheels without realizing it. I learned to LICK my skin as I rode ....usually on the biceps or slightly above. As long as the sweat tastes salty or reasonably fresh, hydration was OK. If the sweat became bitter or sour, I was well on the way to dehydration. You can't just fix that by drinking water. Once dehydrated, it is hard to restore your balance and usually it meant the ride needed to end. The trick was to drink enough to keep dehydration at bay. Never get INTO it because it could take a whole day to get OUT of it.

That would be my alternative suggestion. Rig a SHTF bicycle with panniers (carriers) so no fuel is required. Pack food and water, extra tires and tubes and the bike could take you around traffic on or off road.

In Tulsa, a large lady asked me if I would get her into cycling. I agreed but insisted the she NOT know what distance she had covered. She agreed. This lady was PLUS size, had never ridden any distance and was out of shape in every way. Her first ride? 27 miles!

She was pissed! It illustrates that the only thing that keeps us from riding distances is our own mind. We say that we can't do it.......therefore, we can't.

As for me? At 66, I'm not going anywhere. Here's where I make my stand and here's where i die if necessary. Dying right here scares me a LOT less that getting in that gridlock and being at the mercy of the masses.

Flash

 

[kyletxria1911a1]

I make my stand here. Live or die GOD makes the final call
But if prodded i take some with me.

 

[Ole Cowboy]

This has been an interesting thread it brought back some real distressing memories.

In Oklahoma, I knew some serious, hard core survival types. One had a family farm in Michigan and his plan was to take his specially equipped van, fully automatic weapons and make his way to that farm to ride the turmoil out. It was before IKE and Rita but I still questioned him and pushed him. "Do you REALLY think you'll be able to make it to Michigan in that van?" What about fuel? What about being a target as you roll down the road? People will want what you have and they will stop you! Of course, all of those questions were answered during our hurricanes. Fuel? HA!

I suggest a different approach. Bicycles! I've been a rider all of my life and in 2011, rode 3,414 miles during the hottest, driest summer in history! My typical ride was 17 miles in the morning then 17 more in the late afternoon or evening. Why 17 miles? That was the distance that my two oversize water bottles would sustain me. Any more than 17 miles got me dehydrated as I didn't carry enough water, then. I could RIDE more than 17 miles but I couldn't hydrate more than 17 miles.

As a young man, I raced bicycles in Kansas City and after moving back to Tulsa, my favorite trip was out to Keystone Dam and back, a distance of 26 miles.

On a bicycle (or a motorcycle), you really sweat when you stop. If you keep moving, the sweat evaporates and keeps you cool. Done correctly, the water that you put out will equal the water that evaporates to keep you cool.

It's very easy to dehydrate on two wheels without realizing it. I learned to LICK my skin as I rode ....usually on the biceps or slightly above. As long as the sweat tastes salty or reasonably fresh, hydration was OK. If the sweat became bitter or sour, I was well on the way to dehydration. You can't just fix that by drinking water. Once dehydrated, it is hard to restore your balance and usually it meant the ride needed to end. The trick was to drink enough to keep dehydration at bay. Never get INTO it because it could take a whole day to get OUT of it.

That would be my alternative suggestion. Rig a SHTF bicycle with panniers (carriers) so no fuel is required. Pack food and water, extra tires and tubes and the bike could take you around traffic on or off road.

In Tulsa, a large lady asked me if I would get her into cycling. I agreed but insisted the she NOT know what distance she had covered. She agreed. This lady was PLUS size, had never ridden any distance and was out of shape in every way. Her first ride? 27 miles!

She was pissed! It illustrates that the only thing that keeps us from riding distances is our own mind. We say that we can't do it.......therefore, we can't.

As for me? At 66, I'm not going anywhere. Here's where I make my stand, here's where i die if necessary. Dying right here scares me a LOT less that getting in that gridlock and being at the mercy of the masses.

Flash

When it comes to 'bugging out' in a SHTF scenario there is no better solution than shoe sole express. I have been interested in survival since I was just a kid and my dad gave me his AF Manual on Arctic Survival. While I see the utility of a bicycle the reality is you have to move and carry a substantial amount of weight and even mountain bikes which I rode for years are just not off trail travel like you can with your feet. Same goes for motorcycles. And blasting thru the woods with a motorcycle, truck or anything else can get rather noisy which is something you you want to avoid.

I will pose this scenario which may only be applicable to me: If the situation is so bad I have to leave my place and go elsewhere then I will prepare for an extended stay of 6 mos initially. What this means is that when you step across the curb you need to be able to survive for the next 6 mo and assume their is ZERO logistics tail. Logistics support is the single fatal flaw in almost every bug out plan I have ever seen. You can only assume there will be none and build your carry load based upon that. Everything you carry has weight and this includes bicycles, motorcycles, vans and trucks and they too have their own logistics support requirement. If you cannot carry it on your back you are not going to make it otherwise. That said many survivalists brag about their FULL AUTO weapons they are going to carry...the moment I hear someone say they have FA weapons I know they won't make it. They simply cannot carry enough ammo to support it for 3 min let alone months on end. This thinking also tells me they have visions of being Sgt Rock and Rambo in some anticipated fire fight. Bypass these folks, they will only take you down with them when they go.

You are going to need to leave that gun collection behind and only carry enough ammo to meet potential food requirements and to AVOID a hostile engagement by some nut job out there. My number one choice for a weapon would be a 5.56 AR in a carbine config and light weight bullets for killed game. Another weapon to consider would be the Ruger 10/22. In addition I would carry a 9mm with high cap mag (15+ rds) for personal protection and backup.

Enough food to last about 2 weeks to get out there and hopefully somewhat isolated. After than I am on my own, well sorta on my own my travel companion will be with me and his prime job is to hunt food, do the rest. He is a small game specialist and will insure we eat well and often, he is my coon dog.

Like you Rog, I don't plan on having to move from my current location, but if I do I will be prepared.

Travel light it may be a long t rip

 

[Wolfwood]

i always liked the bicycle method. you can pack your stuff and ride it, but if terrain gets rough or stuf gets to heavy you can always load the stuff up on the bike and walk it and save your juice for when you need it.

even better i you have a way to stow stuff on the bike itself instead of hanging your pack on the seat / handlebars.

i also make my dog carry his own water, and in a SHTF crisis he can hold some extra ammo and a BUG.

 

[TX69]

Water. If SHTF some emergency things to do are fill your bath tubs with water. Also, every water heater has 40 gallons in it which includes your neighbors water tank ..... jus' saying. Personally, in our immediate area there are hoards of sheep that will run leaving their goodies behind. Ten homes could net 500 gallons of water without any work. Toilet basins all have 2 gallons of water.

 

[Southpaw]

Water. If SHTF some emergency things to do are fill your bath tubs with water. Also, every water heater has 40 gallons in it which includes your neighbors water tank ..... jus' saying. Personally, in our immediate area there are hoards of sheep that will run leaving their goodies behind. Ten homes could net 500 gallons of water without any work. Toilet basins all have 2 gallons of water.

Realistically you are going to do what you have to do in that situation.