Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reaper
I have never been to Wasila, but I would imagine that once you leave the city limits, you are not likely to encounter anyone else on your 100-200 mile trek to your retreat destination. OTOH, I would imagine the odds of an encounter with large game or predators to be significantly higher. For that reason, since there are two people packing the gear and hardware, I would consider dropping one of the M-4s for either a 12 gauge shotgun with slugs, a heavy lever action rifle like a .45-70, or a heavy bolt action rifle (.308 or larger). If you are attacked by anyone, they are most likely to be in pistol range, the second M-4 seems to me to be overkill, unless you are being pursued by a platoon or a zombie army.
|
My primary hunting rifle is a Puma 92 (lever action), chambered in 454 Casull. It'd be going with us. Just need a sling put on it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reaper
Secondary to vehicle mobility is foot mobility. I would say that in your location, cross-country skis or snowshoes may be a necessity. You will need to be sure that you have good boots available at all times as well and maintain yourselves in top physical condition.
Next is going to be shelter. Hopefully, there is some sort of stocked cabin or facility at your destination, For the movement phase, if your vehicle becomes immobilized, and you have to hoof it, you are going to be spending some nights out in the boonies in what could be a pretty inhospitable area, depending on METT-TC. That will require a tent and some good bags, not a space blanket or woobie.
Fire is normally included in shelter, but if you are worried about pursuers, you may not want to be lighting up any large blazes. You seem to have covered several alternative firemaking methods, that is good. Hope there is ample combustible fuel when you need it. I would feel better with a good multi-fuel cooking stove.
If you are planning on building field expedient shelters or harvesting large game, a small axe would be pretty close to a necessity, and a folding saw would be handy as well.
You are looking at several days of hard rucking, possibly on skis or snowshoes to move 100-200 miles on foot, possibly as much as 2 weeks, even if the weather is clear throughout the period for daylight movement. 3600 calories each is not going to be enough, especially if you are hoofing it. You should develop a feeding plan with a couple of weeks of freeze dried rations and cooking gear. That way, if you can supplement your rations with wild game, you can at least prepare it in some manner other than roasting everything. Baked fish, for the 10th day, is probably going to get old.
There are a number of other equipment issues, but I would say that you are prepared, if you are going to move during the few months when the weather is warm and conditions are optimal. In general, I think you are thinking too much like a soldier and not enough like a camper or Boy Scout. As I am sure you are aware, the weather and terrain can kill you as thoroughly as an enemy with a weapon.
Hope that addresses some of your questions, best of luck.
TR
|
Some of what you bring up here is on the packing lists for the rucks, like snow shoes, tents, sleeping bags, things for digging in more. The vests would be bare minimum to survive, rucks for living/thriving.
Up here, we have earthquakes everyday, volcanoes that have spread ash and such on Anchorage, missile defense sites (if the world got to poo), and tsunamis have hit here. We live on a road about 10 miles from a sea inlet. Lots of things can go wrong, and we'd like to be prepared. It's not like the lower 48, we can be cut off easily from help. Most services besides police here are volunteer. Police where we live are State Troopers only, local city does not respond out here.
There is already discourse being heard/felt up here from what the incoming President has said will happen in new policy. People hunt to survive here, tax ammo 300-500% and take away guns won't go over well. I/we hope to never have to use a bug out kit, but better to be prepared than not. If it comes to the point of leaving our house, jobs don't matter, as Anchorage has gone to shit.
I'm sure my husband will add more, but I hope that gives you more of an idea of what we are looking at/for.