+17
Preacherman, thank you; another great thread.
Everyone: awesome thread. Fantastic information. I'd have preferred to have ended my life comfortably without having to take threads like this too seriously (even if planning for such scenarios always carried a sense of adventure that appealed to the camper in me anyway), but I guess down deep, we all knew it could eventually come down to having to think seriously about this, eh? But all this Katrina stuff, plus these threads on bug out, have stimulated me to update my check lists, jetison stuff i don't need, replace out dated supplies, etc.
Guns-and-labs: my rig most resembles yours; very similar strategy: modular, layered.
My system has evolved over several decades of serious, backcountry travel ranging from 1 - 2 weeks in wilderness from CO, AZ, NM, WA & OR, much of it above 9000', in all seasons. When out there, with all you need to survive on your back (often 60#+), you learn what's really important. (With all due respect - we all carry what we feel is important - my photo albums are not on my list.
)
{PS: I had to laugh at myself this morning after rereading that comment about photos. I'm betting that there are lot's of people who will laugh at me for including books in my bugout wagon. (see below) Such is the life of a (recovering) academic.
}
Here's a bare outline of my basic strategy, from "base camps" to last ditch bo:
1)
Base camp alpha: a warehouse that houses my business, which includes all the gear listed in #2, plus a real bathroom, kitchen sink, experimental refuge shower (70-gallon Rubbermaid stock tank ("tub"), 5-gallon hot water heater, 10' water hose with shower head; shower curtain, kayak bilge pump to pump bath water into toilet); I'd like to add a solar hot water tank to the trailer roof and use this shower system in camp.
2)
Base camp beta: if we can no longer stay in base camp alpha, and need to bug out to beta camp, ideally we'll be able to pull a 24' tandem-axel
cargo trailer pulled by a diesel truck with 37 gallons (plus 10), stocked with everything needed (for 2 or more) to survive (not live cush, but survive) for 1 month in any conditions from January in western OR to August in northern Nevada: packs from day to expedition; 3 himilayan-worthy pack tents (Garuda & Moss); down sleeping bags (from 25* to - 25*) & pads; 50 gallons water; water filtration system (PUR); 3 sets each of clothing for hot dry, hot wet, cold dry & cold wet, including light weight cotton, polypro, hats, bandanas, underwear, rain gear, fleece, vests, gloves, balaclavas, socks (dozens), mountaineering boots, approach shoes, sandals and other footwear; snowshoes; crampons; ice ax; multiple hats; two folding tables, one plastic; wooden camp "coffee table"; camp chairs; canopy system for trailer custom designed with truckers tarp (stakes out with rebar; bombproof in 60 mph sustained winds); basic shop tools (hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, saws, shovels, axes, crow bar); 3 5-gallon buckets and plunger (the laundry system); light trailer/truck repair gear (e.g. belts, extra bearings for trailer, grease); backpacking stove (MSR whisperlight) with white gas; mountaineering-level first aid; basic hygene needs (soap, towels, razor, brushes, dental care...), assorted ropes, cords, slings, biners (great for hanging things in camp), simple fishing gear, lanterns (coleman & candle), ... among other things...
Cooking is via propane mobile (on casters) camp stove in custom-built kitchen box (
back right corner of photo; top is up); it contains a counter top, two kitchen drawers with "necessary" utensils; cooking knives, can open, cork screw (of course), metal plates & bowls, pots, pans, mixing bowls, popcorn pot. We have a sizable ice chest also, assuming there was time to get ice and perishables. More importantly, several hundred pounds of dry staples (rice, beans, oatmeal, polenta, popcorn, noodles, 7-grain cereal, granola, dried fruit...), canned goods (esp. tomatoes, fish, meat), salt, herbs & spices, oils, candies, and of course as much beer & wine as GVWR allows.
Also, a modified road Trek 520
bicycle outfitted with large, puncture resistent tires, rear paniers (if fuel runs out for truck, easier to pedal than walk). I plan to purchase a
BOB trailer soon. (Dig the name?)
In addtion, I have outfitted the trailer with my most valued and enjoyable reading material - about 90 of my most important personal & professional books - housed on a rolling, custom-made bookshelf (
on the wall at left in image). (Hey, i'm a teacher; books are both tools and entertainment for me. and, in case of SHTF and TEOTWAWKI, i've got my preferred library for a post-catastrophe school i'd want to be part of, including volumes on mountaineering, survival, &
medical instruction books.
We own a Honda 6500 W genie that we've used on occasion. The trailer is completely wired for 110 with a 30 A shoreline. But on last summer's camp retreats with students & colleagues, we left the genie behind and opted for coleman lamp, flaslights, candles. The genie makes so much noise, that i'd rather just listen to the wind with candle light. And in a SHTF, I think i'd rather just be quiet and unobtrusive as possible so as not to attract the attention of passing land pirates. (makes mental note: rent Mel Gibson's Road Warrior series soon.)
Oh, yeah, this is a gun forum: Rem 870P {to be added as soon as that overdue IRS refund gets here
) with several hundred rounds #1 buck, and a few boxes of slugs (mostly for deer but ya never know), plus some bird shot for rabbits, squirrels and birds. Kahr K9 with several hundred rounds of 125 gr. JHP's (and some FMJ's just because....)
3)
Base camp gamma: If diesel runs out with no option for replenishing, and if - for some ungodly reason - we have to abandon the trailer to base camp gamma, far off the paved road, into some forbidding canyon where water is almost impossible to find for the unexperienced (that would mean things are very, very bad), i hope to transport
basic survival gear to gamma base camp via either bicycle + BOB trailer or on foot with an expedition pack (mines a 15 year old Gregory Atlas (it's hanging near the
the red climbing helmet at the back of the trailer near the open door); I've carried 70 # in it into CO backcountry many times).
That's about it. I'm sure there will be other things that i'll add by edit later for the archives. If I come up with a good, compact list, I'll post it here.
PS: a note on basic hygiene: my camp strategy for keeping clean, even in situation where water is very short (this can be done with a liter of water if necessary, heated is a luxury) is "pits, parts & peds". That is, if one washes the body parts that get smelly most quickly, arm pits, personal parts (you know the ones) and feet (peds), the rest can wait for days. Of course, handwashing before preparing meals or eating should be standard protocol with NO exceptions unless drinking water is dangerously low.