Survival Common Sense - Wilderness or Urban Emergency Preparedness and Safety Guide

Blake Miller Biography

Leon — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:41:18 +0000

Blake Miller has made a career out of staying found and knowing where he is at all times. His formal navigation training began when he joined the U.S.

Blake Miller

Navy in 1973. He served as an officer aboard several Navy ships over his twenty-year career; many of those tours included the duty of Navigator. Blake began working with satellite navigation systems at sea in 1976, culminating with the then-new Global Positioning Systems aboard the Battleship WISCONSIN in early 1990.

In 1998 Blake started Outdoor Quest, a business dedicated to backcountry navigation and wilderness survival. Blake has taught classes to wild land firefighters, state agency staffs, Search and Rescue team members, hunters, hikers, skiers, fishermen and equestrians. He regularly teaches classes through the Community Education programs at Central Oregon (Bend) and Chemeketa (Salem, OR) Community Colleges.

As a volunteer, Blake teaches navigation and survival classes through the Becoming an Outdoor Woman (B0W) program, to students in the local school district, and conservation groups. He is a member of a Search and Rescue team.

Contact Information:

Website: www.outdoorquest.biz

Phone: 541 280 0573

Email: outdrquest@aol.com

The Colony: Where Could They Find Drinking Water?

Leon — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:53:17 +0000

Their only water supply was polluted with dead fish and animals, apparent chemical spills and debris. What could the cast members of “The Colony” do to find drinking water? Their response was to build a cistern and pray for rain. Here are three easier, quicker ways, from survival expert Peter Kummerfeldt, to gather potable water in “The Colony” situation.

The Colony provides many teaching moments!

by Leon Pantenburg

“The Colony” is the latest reality(?) survival soap opera. The scenerio is that there has been a pandemic catastrophe, and these survivors must make-do with whatever stuff they can find or salvage. The cast members are confined to a 10-acre, abandoned neighborhood.

So far, they’ve never missed an opportunity to take the long, ardous, complicated path. (To see the water episode, click on The Colony water situation)

My wife quit watching in disgust during the episode when a colony member was kidnapped and held for ransom.

Bekka Adams was kidnapped in one episode and ransomed for several canned food items and some gasoline.

“This is so predictable! Of course, it will be the hot chick model who gets kidnapped and traumatized,” she said. “Who is going to identify with an abducted middle-aged man who looks like he could be a Republican?”

But “The Colony” is providing a lot of teaching moments, and here is one:

What can you do to gather water in an urban survival situation when the only water source – in this case, a drainage canal – has been badly polluted?

Here are three proven methods, suggested by survival expert Peter Kummerfeldt, that could produce drinking water quickly in “The Colony” scenario:

Water from vines: Talk about immediate gratification – I checked this technique out in Mississippi, and it works for a quick drink!

Look for vines as a source of water. Know your local flora, and test the moisture from the vines before drinking it.

Water-producing vines, varying in size from pencil thickness up to the thickness of an adult man’s forearm, can be found throughout much of the southeastern United States.

When selecting a vine as a water source, look for those with a larger diameter. The greater the thickness of the vine, Kummerfeldt says, the more water it is capable of producing. A sharp knife, or machete, will be needed to sever the tough, woody vine. Start by cutting into the vine.

Vines that exude a white latex sap, or those that produce a colored or foul smelling sap, should be avoided.

If no sap is noticed, or if the sap that is observed is clear and without aroma, remove a 24-inch inch section by severing the higher end first and then the lower end.

Once removed, the section of vine is held vertically and the water contained within it will drain into a container.

Set up transpiration Bags: This method will probably take a few hours to work. But transpiration is an ongoing process.

Transpiration bags use the condensation principle to gather water. (Peter Kummerfeldt photo)

During transpiration, trees absorb moisture through their roots, and evaporate water through openings in their leaves. This water vapor can be collected by enclosing as much living, leafy vegetation as possible within a clear plastic bag, Kummerfeldt says, and sealing the opening shut with a cord or duct tape.

Within a short period of time, water will begin to condense on the inner surface of the bag, collect into water droplets and drain to the lowest point of the bag.

Water quantity depends on the amount of moisture in the ground, and vegetation type. Other factors affecting water production include the amount of sunlight available, (it doesn’t work at night) the clarity of the plastic bag and the length of time the process is allowed to work.

The amount of water produced in a transpiration bag will depend on many environmental factors. (Peter Kummerfeldt photo)

“It is not uncommon to find two or three cups of water, and sometimes much more, has been gathered,” Kummerfeldt said.

Dig a Well: Standing water in the polluted canal indicates that the water table is low, and could be reached by digging. If the colonists got back a good distance from the canal’s edge, and dug down, they would probably hit water at about six to eight feet down. I’m guessing this, based on the apparent height of the canal bank.

The water from the well should be comparatively safe, depending, of course on the other potential pollutants that might already be in the aquifer.

“I wouldn’t call this a disinfecting process, because a lot depends on the consistency of the soil, how polluted the canal water is, and other potential contaminants in the aquifer,” Kummerfeldt commented. “But the movement of water through some sort of matrix would probably improve the situation.”

Using Kummerfeldt’s suggestions could reduce a lot of the stress associated with gathering water, and would buy the colonists time to come up with a long term water solution.

But using common sense, and some rudimentary training before hand, would eliminate much of the stress and trial-and-error. That would mean the survival situation wouldn’t be that interesting to watch; it wouldn’t be a good TV show without drama and bickering, and we wouldn’t get to see the personality clashes and interactions develop.

And we would never know: Is Bekka going to fall for the big, strong construction guy? Is a romance developing in the aftermath of the abduction?

Stay tuned next week!

STOP: Use this exercise to reduce stress and focus your thoughts.
The importance of water to survival.
Make a practical hydration system part of your survival kit.
Product test: the Sport Berkey Water bottle.
Effective methods of carrying water.
Keep your water bladder storage system smelling and tasting great.
Where to find water in the desert.
Find water in vines.
About Leon Pantenburg

Use Desert Survival Skills to Get Drinking Water During Floods

Leon — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:16:44 +0000

An irony of floods is that muddy, filthy water inundates everything, but there is generally a shortage of anything to drink! If you are stranded in an area surrounded by standing water, you may be able to adapt a desert survival skill to gather potable water.

Flood Waters at the north steps of Hilton Coliseum. (photo by Bob Elbert/Iowa State University).

by Leon Pantenburg

A drinking water shortage situation happened in my hometown of Ames, Iowa in August. Heavy rains caused the Skunk River and Squaw Creek to flood parts of the city, including my Alma mater, Iowa State University.

To add to the flood problems, several water mains broke. This left many parts of Ames without any potable water whatsoever.

Because the disaster was localized, emergency agencies were able to truck in water quickly.

But what would happen in a Hurricane Katrina situation, where people were stranded by flood waters for long periods of time? In those situations, staying hydrated in the heat becomes incredibly important.

Transpiration bags use the condensation principle to gather water. (Peter Kummerfeldt photo)

“In priority order, after shelter and the need to defend your body temperature, preventing dehydration is the survivor’s next most important necessity,” says survival expert Peter Kummerfeldt.

In some areas, drinking water can be found in vines. Another way to gather drinking water during a flood might be to set up transpiration bags, a method typically considered a desert survival technique.

“Using clear plastic bags to enclose living vegetation and capture the moisture transpired by the leaves can be an effective method of collecting water,” Kummerfeldt says. “Any time you have a plastic bag and living vegetation it should work.”

This survival technique relies on a process called transpiration, which goes on constantly during the daylight, in deserts and swamps alike.

During transpiration, trees absorb moisture through their roots, and evaporate water

Condensation from the vegetation will be caught in the plastic bag. (Peter Kummerfeldt photo)

through openings in their leaves, according to USGS Science for a Changing World. Trees tend to transpire more with increased temperatures, sunlight intensity, water supply, and size. When it gets too hot, though, transpiration will shut down.

This water vapor can be collected by enclosing as much living, leafy vegetation as possible within a clear plastic bag, Kummerfeldt says, and sealing the opening shut with a cord or duct tape.

“The vegetation should be given a vigorous shake before placing it in the plastic bag,” Kummerfeldt advises. “This is to remove any insects, bird droppings or other materials that might contaminate the water.”

Within a short period of time, water will begin to condense on the inner surface of the bag, collect into water droplets and drain to the lowest point of the bag.

“It is not uncommon to find two or three cups of water, and sometimes much more, has

The amount of water produced in a transpiration bag will depend on many environmental factors. (Peter Kummerfeldt photo)

accumulated over a six-to-eight hour daylight period,” Kummerfeldt said.

The best way to remove the water without disturbing the bag, he added, is to insert a length of vinyl aquarium hose through the neck of the bag down to the lowest point where water will collect. (This should be done during assembly of the apparatus) The water can then be sucked out or possibly siphoned into a container.

“When enclosing vegetation in the plastic bag it is advisable to place chicken egg sized stone in the lower corner where the water will collect” Kummerfeldt said. “The weight of the stone creates a separation between the enclosed plant life and the water and keeps plant saps from contaminating the water.”

“You can’t count on large quantities of water being produced in individual transpiration bags,” Kummerfeldt cautions. “But you must do everything you can to stay hydrated.”

STOP: Use this exercise to reduce stress and focus your thoughts.
The importance of water to survival.
Make a practical hydration system part of your survival kit.
Product test: the Sport Berkey Water bottle.
Effective methods of carrying water.
Keep your water bladder storage system smelling and tasting great.
Where to find water in the desert.
Find water in vines.
About Leon Pantenburg

Be Prepared!

How to Make a Quick, Safe Knife Sheath

Leon — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:40:08 +0000

Some of the most useful camping, survival and meat-cutting knives don’t come with sheaths. Here’s how to make a quick, safe edge guard/sheath out of a cardboard roll and duct tape.

This butcher knife is one of a dozen I bought for $2 each. The sheath came from a barrel full of knife items at a gunshow.

by Leon Pantenburg

My knives are working tools, and the ones used in the kitchen frequently get double duty on camping trips or for meat processing. Some of these knives started out in a commercial cutlery catalog, were sold at a butcher supply store or were good deals at a gunshow.

One memorable score was at a gunshow, when a vendor was selling used boning knives Victorinox Cutlery 6-Inch Curved Boning Knife, Black Fibrox Handle for about $3 each. I bought several, and reshaped the blades to different lengths so I could experiment with the best length. (Turns out, I like a five-inch best!)

My best cutlery deal came from a butcher supply store in Nampa, Idaho. On a whim, I stopped in to look around, and found new, six-inch butcher knives being sold for $2 each. Mundial 5619-6 6-Inch Skinning Knife, Black The handles were wood, and had recently been outlawed by the health department. I bought a dozen, (and still regret not buying another dozen!) and presented them to my hunting buddies. Many of those knives ended up in hunting camp wearing the cardboard tube/duct tape sheaths!

A prepper and/or survivalist can see the advantage of a knife that is usable for a variety of outdoor tasks. So suppose you get a good deal on a one-piece knife and want to take it to hunting camp. For safety sake, that blade needs to be securely covered. Here’s how to make a quick, safe sheath that will last until you come up with a permanent replacement.

Materials needed are the cardboard tube from inside a roll of paper towels; duct tape, a six-to-eight-inch piece of paracord

These three different models of lamb skinner knives all have different styles of sheaths. The wooden-handled knife gets the most use.and a piece of leather or webbing about one inch wide and eight-inches long.

Here’s what you do:

Measure the blade length against the tube, and make sure that every part of the sharp edge will be covered.
Flatten the tube under a pile of books or something heavy, until the cardboard remains semi-flat. Then, take a piece of duct tape and tape across one end, to help hold the shape.
Wrap the length of the tube once with duct tape.
Double over the webbing or leather to form a belt loop, then tape it securely to the back of the tube.
Wrap the sheath with duct tape again to secure the belt loop. (I carry duct tape on my knife sheaths anyway, so put on a few extra feet!)
Take the paracord, run it through the belt loop and use it as a safety tie for the handle.

Of course, you could always buy a knife blade protector, but preppers and survivalist-types tend to be hardcore recyclers and do-it-yourselfers. Besides, the cardboard tube project takes so little time and is so cheap , you can soon make a sheath for all your knives! LamsonSharp KnifeSafes Knife Blade Protectors, Set of 4

I made this knife and cardboard sheath 44 years ago. Despite extensive carry and use, the sheath still does its job quite well!

My practice is to keep an eye out at gunshows, and buy any leather sheaths that might fit something I own. Over the years, all but one of my hasty sheaths has been replaced with solid, well-fitting leather or nylon sheaths.

My best score in that area was when I bought a leather Bowie knife sheath for a couple of bucks. One of my elk hunting partners, Phil Walker, carries a real Bowie knife elk hunting, and his knife carrier showed the wear and hard use. That scavenged sheath fit his knife like it was made to order.

One knife I own, though will never have a sheath replacement. I made my first knife as a 14-year-old, grinding the blade to

shape on an antique pedal-powered grinder. The handle is made of wood, and lacking the right leather at the time, I made the sheath out of cardboard and tape. I used the same technique as mentioned above, except I used an old leather belt for the loop. I always intended to make a real sheath out of leather, but never got around to it.

I carried that knife for years in that cardboard sheath , and it worked just fine. So, I guess there is probably no reason to replace it now!

STOP: Use this exercise to reduce stress and focus your thoughts.
Write a note to let people know where you went, before you left.
Take your Ten Essentials on every outing.
Dress with the right fabrics.
Have a plan to make a tarp shelter.
Carry lightweight, compact firestarter.
Find the most effective fire ignition system.
How to make charcloth, a material that can catch a spark from any source.
Use charcloth as an effective method of catching a spark to make a fire.
It can kill you: Hypothermia
Hardtack: A great emergency food
About Leon Pantenburg

Be Prepared!

Win Free Firestarter: Where was this Photo taken?

Leon — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:54:47 +0000

Here’s a chance to win a FREE sample of SurvivalCommonSense.com wallet-sized waxed firestarter. All you have to do is participate in the weekly contest and guess where this photo was taken. Even if you don’t have a clue, guess anyway!

Where was this summer scene shot? (Pete Erickson photo)

This week’s photo contest features professional photographer Pete Erickson of Bend, Oregon. Pete specializes in weddings, portraits and scenics. (Check out his website.)

If you have a favorite wilderness spot, or a great outdoor photo you’d like to see featured here, send it in by email for consideration.

Contributors of selected photos will be published on this post, receive a byline and a free sample of firestarter!

A photo from Kodachrome Basin State Park in Utah, taken by Pete Erickson, was last week’s featured photograph.

According to Pete: the area had the only camping site on the north side of Escalante with a bathroom and a shower!

Kodachrome Basin State Park, Utah (Pete Erickson Photo)

“It was a lifesaver the one night I was there and I highly recommend it for people driving through southern Utah or going backpacking in Escalante as a great stopover,” he said. “There’s some nice hikes through there as well and would be a great place for a family to visit.”

This photo contest is all about having fun and getting a free tool to add to your pocket survival kit. But if you don’t need or want the prize, guess anyway! I’ll send your prize to an active duty servicemember serving overseas!

But, let’s also remember that making a survival kit is serious business. During a disaster or emergency you may be literally be staking your life on whatever survival equipment you have on your person.

Think about these survival tips:

Don’t let a survival kit give you a false sense of security!
The best survival knife in the world, or any survival item, is useless without the skills to use it.
No piece of equipment will ever be able to replace a survival mindset. Mental preparation is paramount!
No collection of gear can replace knowledge and practical survival skills. Get the gear, then practice with it.
NEVER think your pocket survival kit can replace a full-blown Ten Essentials kit.

To participate in the weekly photo contest, send your guess to: survivalsenselp@gmail.com. Winners will be notified by email.

STOP: Use this exercise to reduce stress and focus your thoughts.
Write a note to let people know where you went, before you left.
Take your Ten Essentials on every outing.
Dress with the right fabrics.
Have a plan to make a tarp shelter.
Carry lightweight, compact firestarter.
Find the most effective fire ignition system.
How to make charcloth, a material that can catch a spark from any source.
Use charcloth as an effective method of catching a spark to make a fire.
It can kill you: Hypothermia
Hardtack: A great emergency food
About Leon Pantenburg

Featured Photographer: Pete Erickson. Contact Pete at petee@me.com, or on his website: peteericksonphotography.com

Connor Doran Brings a New High to ‘America’s Got Talent’

Leon — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 19:51:43 +0000

This SurvivalCommonSense.com site is about urban and wilderness survival, survival knives, survival kits etc.

Connor Doran

So, mentioning “America’s Got Talent” here, and an act that made it to the semi-finals, would seem quite a stretch!

But in the past few weeks, a young man named Connor Doran has taken his indoor kite flying act to new heights, literally!

I’ve known Connor and his parents since the family moved to Bend, Oregon several years ago. Tim Doran, Connor’s dad, is a friend and co-worker at the Bulletin in Bend. As parents do, we talked about our kids, and I knew Connor, like everyone, has challenges ahead of him.

This bio came off the “America’s Got Talent” website :

“Originally from Michigan, Connor moved to Oregon at age five. Connor Doran is 17 years old and is a senior from Bend, Oregon. He has been flying both outdoor and indoor kites for two years now, and enjoys competition all over the Great Northwest. Connor was first inspired after watching kite teams performing at festivals and decided to try his hand at kiting. Since the time he picked up the handles, it was apparent he had found his gift. He won two Northwest Championships in Experienced Indoor Kiting in his first two years of competition.

Connor enjoys a wide range of music, which was instilled by his Grandpa from day one. He chooses his own music and choreographs his flying. A skill often called “soul flying” is something some fliers are gifted with.

Diagnosed with a seizure disorder at age four, Connor found that flying kites has brought him relaxation and joy, both on the beach and in the gym. He enjoys sharing his skills with new fliers and hopes to share the joys of kiting with the world.”

Like most people, I didn’t know you could fly a kite indoors! So when we heard Connor was on “America’s Got Talent,” flying kites,we had to watch.

I was awe-struck and you should see it too!

So Connor, if you read this: I am very, very proud of you! It doesn’t matter how your act ended up in the competition – YOU ARE A WINNER!!!!

Make A Practical Water Purification System Part of Your Survival Kit

Leon — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:02:44 +0000

In a disaster, no single item or piece of gear can absolutely guarantee your ability to purify water for drinking. But several carefully-chosen pieces of water purification equipment might give you a fighting chance!

by Leon Pantenburg

Lots of water, none to drink! (FEMA photo)

As a newspaper reporter covering various natural disasters, including tornadoes, floods and forest fires, I noticed a common aspect among all of them: Drinking water was always in short supply.

My first flood taught me that. I was working for the Vicksburg Evening Post and was sent to photograph the high water in Chickasaw Bayou, north of Vicksburg, MS. The nearby Mississippi River had reclaimed some of its flood plain, sending high water into a subdivision and forcing residents to leave.

I rode in a jonboat with a sheriff’s deputy, and we cruised the flooded streets. It

A drainage ditch might be the only source of water you can find.

was Mississippi summer hot, the heat reflected off the muddy, nasty water and the bottom of the metal boat, and the deputy and I baked in the sunshine.

Though there were miles and miles of water, there was not one drop to drink (to update and steal a cliche from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner). I would have gotten really thirsty, except the deputy was prepared with extra water and willing to share!

I’m not sure anything could have made that vile floodwater stew after Katrina potable! But regardless of where you

The Sport Berkey Portable Water Purifier can be a valuable addition to any urban and/or wilderness survival kit.

are, staying hydrated is one of your first priorities.

Where I live in Central Oregon, I am within striking distance of high desert, mountains, temperate rain forests, the Pacific coast and beautiful deciduous forests. I love to roam all these areas, and frequently, during hunting season, may end up miles from the vehicle and my backup water supply. But these areas all require different variations of hydration gear, and here’s how to decide what will work best for your region.

Here’s an important consideration before choosing hydration gear: How long will it take to work? Some sport bottle systems work instantaneously – you fill them up, prime the filter and drink. This can invaluable if you need to quickly re-hydrate a child or someone who is dehydrated to the point of medical emergency.

The chemical treatments, such as the Polar Pure, can require upward of 30 minutes to work, depending on the water temperature. Some filters just take a long time to work. Generally speaking, boiling is not a particularly quick operation. The time it takes to boil water varies, depending on altitude, heat source, shape of container etc.

Here’s what I carry as part of my hydration system, and so far, everything has served me well. (Many of these items are multi-use):

Water Containers: You must have durable, large capacity water containers available. If you’re out all day in the desert or a flood, for example,

The Nalgene in the center is what I drink from and the Platypus flexible bottles on either side are backups.

there probably won’t be a place or chance to replenish your drinking water, and all you’ll have is what you carry. Also, you might find someone without any water at all. You don’t want to give away your backup!

Nalgene bottle: I like the wide-mouth model, and modify mine with a paracord loop and duct tape. The loop is designed so the bottle can be carried on my belt, or tied to a cord to lower into a stock tank, depression or water source that is hard to get to. Don’t think you can just tie something onto the lid retainer – chances are it will break at some point, and as these things go, probably when you need it the most. Nalgene BPA Free Tritan Wide Mouth Water Bottle, 32 Oz, Gray with Black Lid.

Duct tape is useful for everything, and around the water bottle is a convienent place to carry it!

Platypus flexible water containers: These collapsible water containers are available in various sizes as water storage units and they roll up into a small, lightweight pack when empty. I generally carry two or three large-sized extras, rolled up and empty, in my daypack, since they weigh next to nothing and don’t take up much space. Platypus PlusBottle, 1 Liter with Push-Pull Cap Then, if you need to carry water from a spring or other water source, you won’t have to improve. (Tip: Since you will probably need a minimum of a gallon of water per day, it makes sense to take enough flexible water containers to haul a gallon!)

Tin or metal cup for boiling or dipping water out of hard-to-reach places. Boiling water is probably the safest, most effective method of water purification available, providing you have a heat source, and a tin cup works great and is incredibly useful. Metal Camping Cups

I usually carry a large (about 24-ounce capacity), metal cup for several tasks. My trusty, large blue enamel cup and a spoon comprised my mess kit for nine days in the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. I never needed anything else. I have brewed countless cups of tea or coffee over various heat sources with that piece of gear, and I don’t leave home without one!

How long should you boil the water to purify it? Bring the water to a boil, and that should kill anything that boiling will

This Central Oregon high desert spring is the only water source for miles. The water will require purification before using.

kill. Water boils at 212 degrees, then vaporizes. Extended boiling will not make the water hotter or kill more nasties, but it will use up more of your fuel!

Polar Pure or Potable Agua: These are chemical purifiers, and require a certain time period for them to work. I used the Polar Pure system exclusively on a nine-day canoe trip in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters and the system worked really well. Polar Pure Water Disinfectant With Iodine Crystals Potable Agua comes in capsules and is easy to carry and use. Either Polar Pure of Potable Aqua goes on every outing. Potable Aqua Water Treatment Tablets

Six-foot piece of aquarium tubing: I got this tip from survival expert Peter Kummerfeldt. Peter recommends including the tubing in case you find water in a crack or crevice and can’t get to it. Just stick the tube in the water and suck it out.

Coffee filter and bandanna: If you can filter the mud and debris out of the water, it will make any filter last that much longer. In especially turbid, muddy water, wrap the coffee filter around the bottom of any filter and attach it with a rubber band. It will help! The bandanna has many uses, including serving as a water filter. A clean one, that you haven’t used to wipe your nose, is preferable!

Large garbage bag: Another multi-use item. Use this to catch rain or dew, or as a reservoir for holding water.

Water filter: Some lightweight method of filtering and purifying water can be incredibly useful. I recently field-tested the Berkey Portable Water Filter, and I like it. Several companies make similar products.

“The bottle’s filter is designed to remove and/or dramatically reduce a vast array of health-threatening contaminants from questionable sources of water,” according to Berkey, ”including remote lakes and streams, stagnant ponds and water supplies in foreign countries where regulations may be sub-standard at best.”

If the water is really nasty, the Berkey folks recommend two drops of plain chlorinated bleach or iodine be added to each refill before filtering. This will kill minute pathogens such as viruses, according to the brochure, and the disinfectant will then be filtered from the water entirely removing its odor, color and taste.

So, these items work for me. My hydration system is set up with the idea that there is a piece of equipment that should be able to handle any situation. Do your research, select your equipment carefully and include an integrated hydration system in every survival kit.

And make sure to use your common sense to stay hydrated in the first place!

For more information on Berkey water filtration systems contact: directive21@directive21.com

STOP: Use this exercise to reduce stress and focus your thoughts.
Write a note to let people know where you went, before you left.
Take your Ten Essentials on every outing.
Dress with the right fabrics.
Have a plan to make a tarp shelter.
Carry lightweight, compact firestarter.
Find the most effective fire ignition system.
How to make charcloth, a material that can catch a spark from any source.
Use charcloth as an effective method of catching a spark to make a fire.
It can kill you: Hypothermia
Hardtack: A great emergency food
About Leon Pantenburg

The Boundary Waters: A Special Place You Gotta Go!

Leon — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:18:46 +0000

“This is the most beautiful lake country on the continent. We can afford to cherish and protect it.”
- Sigurd F. Olson

Sunset somewhere in the Boundary Waters (All photos by Bob Patterson)

by Leon Pantenburg

There are some wilderness areas that have “It.” And I’m not really sure what that “It” is. But these special places have some sort of undefinable combination of stunning scenic beauty, wildness and a natural connection I feel with nature.

I have felt “It” in such completely-diverse places as Death Valley, Campbell’s Swamp in Warren County, MS, and the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia. “It” draws you back.

The Boundary Waters on the northern Minnesota border is one of those special places.

The Boundary Waters — also called the Quetico-Superior country — is a wilderness region on the Canada–United States border between Ontario and Minnesota, in the region west of Lake Superior. This area is part of the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota, and in Canada it includes La Verendrye and Quetico Provincial Parks in Ontario.

The name “Boundary Waters” is often used in the U.S. to refer specifically to the U.S. Wilderness Area protecting its southern extent, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

In 2004, members of Boy Scout Troop 18 took a nine-day canoe excursion. Three different crews went their various ways on different routes, and reunited at the Boy Scouts’ Northern Tier High Adventure Camp at Moose Lake at the end of their voyages. All the experiences were different, and all were magnificent. Everybody felt “It.”

I was on that adventure with my oldest, Dan, and my friend Pat Simning was there with his oldest son, Eric. Pat and I also had younger sons, who were coming up in scouts.

“We will do this trip again,” we vowed, before we even left the parking lot at the scout base near Ely, Minn. So in 2009, members of Troop 18 again traveled from Oregon to the Boundary Waters.

If you haven’t been to the Boundary Waters, you’re missing one of those trips of a lifetime. If you love canoeing, a Boundary Waters trip should be on your bucket list.

Bob Patterson

Luckily for me, my old college roommate, Bob Patterson of Mankato, Minn., makes multiple trips to that general Boundary Waters area every year and he always sends me photos. (Bob, my brother Mike Pantenburg and I will be hunting for elk in Idaho in October!) Bob’s superb photography skills allow me to vicariously enjoy his Boundary Waters experience, and remember my excursion to the area. I particularly love sunsets – there’s something about watching the light show as another day comes to an end…

Here are some images from Bob’s last Boundary Waters trip earlier this year. I’ll write about wilderness survival or emergency preparedness later. And it goes without saying that you should never go into the wilderness unprepared.

For now, just enjoy the photos!

Paddling through an aquatic plant bed in the Boundary Waters.

Aquatic plants.

Sunset

STOP: Use this exercise to reduce stress and focus your thoughts.
Write a note to let people know where you went, before you left.
Take your Ten Essentials on every outing.
Dress with the right fabrics.
Have a plan to make a tarp shelter.
Carry lightweight, compact firestarter.
Find the most effective fire ignition system.
How to make charcloth, a material that can catch a spark from any source.
Use charcloth as an effective method of catching a spark to make a fire.
It can kill you: Hypothermia
Hardtack: A great emergency food
About Leon Pantenburg

Be Prepared!

Don’t Let Electronic Gadgets Get You in Trouble in the Wilderness!

Leon — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 01:50:15 +0000

By Leon Pantenburg

The buffalo herd wandered into the parking lot like they owned the place. My

The triad of wilderness travel is the GPS, map and compass. Don't take a GPS without a map and compass, and make sure you have the right map along.

brother Mike Pantenburg, John Nerness and I

were in Yellowstone National Park, and headed back to our car after taking in one of the sights.

We quickly retreated back to the relative safety of a bridge over a creek to watch and enjoy the sight of the magnificent animals. One huge bull stood well over six feet at the shoulder, probably weighed in at about a ton and scared me to look at him!

But another tourist saw the scene as a photo op. He walked out toward the largest bull, telling his companion to take a photo.

“Hey, Mister!” I yelled from the bridge. “That bull could kill you!

The tourist gave me one of those “Consider-Yourself -Flipped-Off” looks, continued on and posed within about 15 feet of the bull. The bull was eying the intruder in his space, but the tourist was oblivious to the danger. He stuck his arms out in a goofy pose, the shutter clicked and he turned his back and sauntered back.

Thankfully, nothing else happened! But had the bull gored that fool, both John and I were poised to photograph the carnage!

The wilderness is not something out of Disneyland, folks, and no electronic gadget can keep you out of trouble.

Just because you have a cell phone, GPS, SPOT locator, beacon or whatever doesn’t mean you are going to be safe. This article, published Sunday proves that a lot of people just don’t get it, and subsequently, get in trouble in the wilderness areas of our national parks. The story underscores the need for skills and common sense over electronic gee-wizardry: http://www.topix.com/us/national-parks/2010/08/gadgets-lead-more-park-visitors-into-trouble

And don’t forget: The most advanced electronic device in the world is useless without a reliable power source, so always check your batteries before going anywhere and carry spares!

For related SurvivalCommonSense.com stories read:

How to Select a Magnetic Compass

How to Choose Your First GPS

Product Review: Bushnell Backtrack GPS

Improve Your GPS Skills Now

GPS Made Easy (GPS Made Easy: Using Global Positioning Systems in the Outdoors)

Staying Found: The Complete Map and Compass Handbook

Be Prepared!

Choose the Best Wilderness Survival/Hunting Knife

Leon — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 14:16:02 +0000

by Leon Pantenburg

Every prepper, survivalist and big game hunter needs a selection of knives for processing the meat of large animals. At some point, you may need to reduce a steer, hog, sheep, goat or large game animal into neatly-wrapped packages of

The Forshner boning knife, top and Cold Steel SRK are good choices for backcountry hunting.

meat for the freezer. Or, you might get a great deal on a half or quarter of beef or pork, and want to save the meat cutting and wrapping fees.

At home, you may have all the tools and accessories needed to make this job do-able. But what knives should you carry when hunting the backcountry? What if you’re on your own, with no outfitter to haul in meatcutting tools and take the meat out on a pack horse? Even if the big game carcass will be taken to a commercial meat cutter later for processing, you’ll still have to gut, skin and possibly quarter the animal.

In a backcountry hunting situation, every ounce in your daypack counts. But! (DANGER! DANGER! SURVIVALCOMMONSENSE.COM WARNING!!! Under no circumstances should you ever leave your Ten Essentials and survival gear behind to lighten the load! )

After hunting the west, parts of the midwest and the eastern United States for several decades, my backcountry knife selection has been refined to three.

Now, the conversation about what knife, or knives, are best should be held around a blazing hunting camp fire, (And what fun would it be if everyone agreed?) So first, let me state my biases:

No Folders: I love, own and use many folding knives. Buck 110 Folding Hunter, Lockback Folding Knife
I carry a pocketknife every day and feel naked without one. But I don’t carry a folding hunting knife in the backcountry. The weak point of any folder is the hinge. Break that part, and you end up with two pieces. And, the hinge will attract hair, dirt and other stuff that will gum it up and make it harder to use.
No guthooks. In my opinion, the hook is only good for a couple of cuts, such as the initial incision to open up the body cavity. Otherwise, the guthook looks terrible on a knife blade, can hook on the sheath or your clothing and serves no other purpose. (Guaranteed arguments from these comments!)
Safe Handle: My backcountry knife must also have a non-slip handle. Inevitably, the knife will get
This Mora knife handle was still safe to use after cleaning a limit of trout.

covered with blood and body fluids during a gutting operation and a slippery handle is dangerous. Reluctantly, I must suggest the beautiful wood, bone and/or other slick, georgeous composite-handled knives be left behind!
Long-enough blade length: A blade between four to six inches is my preference. Now, don’t write in and tell me how you’ve field-dressed all sorts of big game with your pocketknife! Sure, it’s possible! For years, I used a Schrade folding hunter with a three-inch clip-point blade for whitetail deer hunting. But for what I need in the backcountry, a longer blade works better and is more efficient.
Easily sharpened: It doesn’t matter what wonder componant the blade may be made of. At some point, the blade will need sharpening, and I must be able to do it easily. Using a dull knife is dangerous!

The elk hunting technique method my brother, Mike, and I use to hunt elk or deer in the mountains can be pretty hardcore. We’ve hunted together since he was 12 (decades ago!), and our usual routine is to work together as a team, but hunt separately. Before we take off from the base camp, a morning hunt is planned, and we know the area each other is hunting. We’ll pick a rendezvous site to meet for lunch. If an animal is down, we go take care of it. If not, the afternoon hunt is planned.

This style of hunting involves a lot of walking and glassing, and every ounce counts. Nothing is taken along that hasn’t been carefully weighed, discussed and considered.

So, based on that criteria and my prejudices, here’s my choices for what knives to take along on a backcountry backpack elk or deer hunt:

Cold Steel SRK: If I only had one knife for field dressing and skinning a big game animal, the SRK would be it. The

My Cold Steel SRK has had hard use for nearly 20 years and is still my first knife choice for the backcountry.

initials stand for “Search and Rescue Knife” and it would be a great choice for that. I bought my SRK in 1991, when I moved to Idaho. The knife’s performance is so impressive that two of my elk-hunter friends bought SRKs.

The SRK blade is 3/16″ thick and 6″ long; the Kraton handle is 4-3/4 inches long; overall length is 10-3/4 inches. My SRK, without sheath, weighs eight ounces, and 10.5 with the sheath wrapped in duct tape. Cold Steel 38CK SRK Survival Knife

My first action upon getting the SRK was to take the black “tactical” paint off the blade, and mark the handle with bright tape. The SRK has field-dressed well over 50 whitetails, been used on several elk, and is a very practical survival knife. In one instance, I quartered three deer without the SRK needing sharpening.

The SRK’s handle never gets too slick to hold safely, no matter how messy the gutting job gets. I have split a deer pelvis by pounding the SRK through it with a rock. Several times, the SRK has been used alone to split ribcages on big whitetails.

The clip point is a good choice for making the initial slit down the belly when gutting an animal, and the SRK works passably well for skinning.

Another good choice is the Cold Steel Master Hunter. For folks who want a little less blade, but the same none-slip handle and good design, the Master Hunter might be a better option. The four-inch blade design works particularly well for skinning. Master Hunter, Kraton Hndl, Stainless, Plain, Concealex

The next two knife choices I learned about in college. I worked my way through Iowa State at the Hy-Vee #1 grocery store in Ames, Iowa. Always a cutlery enthusiast, I quizzed the meatcutters about their favorite knives and why they used them.

The guys in the clean white coats and hats did more meat cutting and processing in a day, than the rest of us do during a

These lamb skinner knives all work well to skin any sized big game animal.

very successful hunting season. They could order any knife they wanted from a variety of commercial knife catalogues.

The meatcutters didn’t agree on the best overall knife, naturally, but I made my choices for skinning and boning knives based on their input. Here’s what I came up with:

Victorinox or Forshner Lamb Skinner: The name refers to a style originally used, I imagine, for skinning sheep

somewhere. The style features a five-inch upswept blade, and a large handle. A standard sheep skinner comes with a blunt tip, which I filed down from the top edge into a point. Lamb Skinning, Black Fibrox, 5 in.

If you’re going to enjoy the meat you harvested, it must be cooled as soon as possible, and that means getting the hide off ASAP. A good skinning knife makes this critical job easier, and subsequently faster.

I’ve experimented with a standard six-inch butcher knife, but find I like the sheep skinner better. Mundial 5619-6 6-Inch Skinning Knife, Black

I experimented with various boning knife blade lengths. The winner in this category is the five-inch.

Five-to-six inch Victorinox or Forshner Boning Knife: This knife also works well for filleting fish, and should have a thin, flexible blade. Mike and I usually carry one boning knife between us. The boning knife can be considered a specialized tool, but when you need one, it’s worth that extra weight! Victorinox Cutlery 6-Inch Curved Boning Knife, Black Fibrox Handle

Swiss Army Knife Classic: Yeah, you read right. The Classic is the smallest Swiss Army knife, it fits on a keyring, and that’s why I carry it. My keyring survival kit goes with me everywhere, including hunting. While I carry a complete Ten Essentials kit and survival gear with me, redundancy in some areas is a great thing!

The Classic is a folder that weighs one ounce and has a tiny blade that is virtually useless for hunting. But it also has a

The tiny Swiss Army Classic may end up being one of the most useful knives in the backcountry!

scissors, nail file (with the tip modified to fit the hinge on my glasses), toothpick and most importantly, a tweezers. This little knife could be a godsend if you get a splinter in your hand.Victorinox Swiss Army Tinker and Classic Knife Combo

But the glasses screwdriver could literally save the hunt. If you’re like me, you can’t see without your glasses, and if you can’t see you can’t hunt. The modified Classic could end up being your most important knife!

So there’s my suggestions for the minimum backcountry hunting knives. Here are some other contenders that get an honorable mentions:

Folding Buck Hunter: I’ve used and carried a Shrade lock blade and a Buck double-bladed hunter. They were disqualified because they were folders. Buck Knives 110 Folder

Case Folding Double-Bladed Hunter: Another disqualification because of the hinge. But I’ll admit, having two sharp blades available reduces sharpening during the field-dressing operations. New Case Cutlery 6265 SS Folding Hunter Knife Working with Leather Sheath Impact-resistant Rosewood

Wyoming knife: One of my elk-hunting buddies, Phil Walker, carried a Wyoming knife for years for gutting and skinning. It works very well for this purpose, but I don’t like because it looks like something out of Star Wars. (Prejudice, I’ll admit!) Wyoming 5″ 3/4 Knife With Skinner/Gut Hook Blade & Nylon Camoflauge Case Md: WKBIG.

The replaceable blades are great when you’re in the middle of a carcass and need a sharp blade. Phil also carried an 8-inch butcher knife Victorinox Cutlery 8-Inch Granton Edge Butcher Knife, Black Fibrox Handle
and an honest-to-God Bowie, and hunts elk with a Ruger Number One in .338 Winchester.

Using these tools on opening day 1993, near Dworshack Reservoir in central Idaho Phil killed, gutted, quartered and packed out a six-by-six bull elk by himself. He got done in time to come pick me up in the boat across the lake!

The Mora knife is a good all-around camping and outdoor knife.

Mora: I love my Moras, and carry one most of time when I’m outdoors. The small Scandinavian knives are great for about 90 percent of what I need a knife for. A Mora is my choice for cleaning fish, processing small game and a Mora rides in my vest when I’m hunting birds. Frosts Carbon Clipper Utility Knife. But I prefer a larger knife for bigger game animals.

But survival expert and former big game guide Peter Kummerfeldt has carried and used a Mora for years. He has used the small knife on bighorn sheep, deer and elk, and I bought my first Mora on his advice. In the case of any expert, skill always trumps equipment!

Leatherman Wave: My favorite multi-tool is the Leatherman Wave. I got a Wave for Christmas several years ago, and so far, it has done everything I ever needed it for. In addition to pulling barbed wire from abandoned fences, the Leatherman has also been used to remove hooks from a toothy fish, repair a radiator hose, saw wood etc. Leatherman 830040 New Wave Multi-Tool with Nylon Sheath

But the Leatherman is not a hunting/survival knife. And while none of my survival knives could replace the pliers, knife, screwdrivers etc. the Wave features, weight in the backpack is the issue. You can be sure there is a Wave back at camp!

Gerber Model 46904 Gator : The looks of this knife so impressed me that I bought one just to test. So far, the knife

This Gerber Gator, left of scissors, is undergoing field testing. It must first make it out of the kitchen!

is passing all tests with flying colors. This fall, I hope to use it on a deer and/or elk, and then it might make the finalist list! Gerber 46904 Gator Fixed, Fine Edge Knife with Drop Point

When all the discussion is over, you decide what knives become part of your backcountry hunting gear. Think about your choices, and know how to use them. Then, when you stand over that fallen big game animal in the backcountry, take a moment to be thankful before you get to work. You are doing something many people can only dream about!

STOP: Use this exercise to reduce stress and focus your thoughts.
Write a note to let people know where you went, before you left.
Take your Ten Essentials on every outing.
Dress with the right fabrics.
Have a plan to make a tarp shelter.
Carry lightweight, compact firestarter.
Find the most effective fire ignition system.
How to make charcloth, a material that can catch a spark from any source.
Use charcloth as an effective method of catching a spark to make a fire.
It can kill you: Hypothermia
Hardtack: A great emergency food
About Leon Pantenburg

Be Prepared!