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big river wild adventures

Big River Wild Adventures: Learn wilderness skills at this Mississippi River outdoors school

 600 300 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

Want a totally unique eco-vacation, but one that is affordable and nearby?

Want to learn basic wilderness survival skills while canoeing on America’s largest river, through some 300 miles of Wilderness? Big River Wild Adventures combines wilderness, canoe cruising and learning.

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knivesshipfree.com, best knife store, best knives

Survival Knives

Mini Tundra and Tundra

First impressions of the Bark River Mini Tundra

 600 313 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

I’ve been singing the praises of the Ambush Tundra since it came out several years ago. The latest verse may need to include the most recent incarnation – the Mini Tundra.

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Hunting and Fishing

This pocket-sized box holds all the lures I need for a day of smallmouth bass fishing on Oregon's John Day River.

Should you include fishing gear in a pocket survival kit?

 600 400 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

Many commercial personal survival kits include hooks, sinkers and fishing line. I don’t see much value in fishing equipment as part of an emergency survival tool. Here’s why.

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Make Fire

Modify Zippo lighter for survival fire making

Five tips to modify a Zippo lighter for survival fire making

 600 300 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

Modify a Zippo lighter to be a more reliable source of fire in your survival kit. Learn why a Zippo is better than matches and a Bic lighter when needing to start a fire in an emergency. Pimp your Zippo to up your survival game.

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Clothing

BioScarf, winter hat

BioScarf™ provides air filtration with warmth and protection

 600 372 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

Think a scarf is just a fashion accessory? Most probably are. But when the Shinola Hits The Fan, this BioScarf™ might also be a survival tool

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Survival Skills

Andersonville, August, 1864 ( Library of congress photo)

Civil War Andersonville Diary provides modern survival guide

 500 400 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness
2

What are the rules of survival in an emergency situation? Most experts will point out that the psychological aspect is more important than anything else. Here are some thoughts on the subject from the Civil War.

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Survival Gear

Hillsound Trail Crampons can be used successfully in urban setting as well as in the mountains.

Hillsound Trail Crampons | Try these so you won’t slip on icy surfaces

 600 338 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

More of us will shovel driveways and sidewalks than traverse glaciers and Himalayan trails. These crampons can help you do both safely.

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Camp Cooking | Storage Food

squirrel hunting, squirrel recipes

Recipe: Squirrel and rabbit jambalaya

 600 342 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

Jambalaya is a Cajun dish that originated in the bayous of southern Louisiana. It uses a variety of meats and is great for serving large groups of people.

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Emergency Shelter

build snow cave, how to build snow shelters

Try this practical method to build a survival snow cave

 600 300 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

Just about every survival manual shows how to build a snow cave. But the reality is that most people don’t have the skill, tools or time to effectively use this technique. These young scouts did it and you can, too.

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VIDEOS | TIPS & HOW TO's

Snow accumulation on roofs can present hazards.
Should you remove the snow off your roof?
 600 400 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

More winter storms and blizzards are on the way. Do you need to shovel the snow on your roof?

A survival situation can start with a vehicle sliding off the road in bad weather. (Pantenburg photo)
Video: Prepare to survive in your car during a winter storm
 600 400 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

A routine drive to visit the family can turn into a nightmare. Here are some survival tools to take along in your vehicle.

Survival fire making videos: What ignition system should you carry?
 448 325 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

Your ability to start a fire can save your life! The inability can cost it! Here are some common methods, and how well they work!

RECENTLY FEATURED POSTS

For Wilderness and Urban Safety: Attach a whistle to your child
 600 400 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

You can only yell for help as long as your voice lasts. Here’s why you need to carry a whistle.

Crappie are a prolific panfish, widely distributed and fun to catch and eat! (ODFW photo)
Recipe: Crappie chowder, a tasty way to cook panfish with storage foods
 289 174 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

A great comfort food on a cold night, or in camp after a successful day of fishing is chowder. If you can use some of the catch to make dinner that night, that is an added bonus.

D Day, D Day Omaha Beach
La Pine, Oregon veteran recalls Omaha Beach landing on D Day
 600 300 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

On this 74th anniversary of D Day, I hope to honor my friend, the late Bob Shotwell, by posting his recollections of the D Day amphibious assault.

Leon Pantenburg writes a survival skills blog with tips and techniques to help average people survive an unexpected urban or wilderness emergency, using their common sense and emergency preparedness training. Topics include survival knives, survival clothing and camp cooking, making a fire, emergency shelter, hunting and fishing, competent survival skills and survival gear reviews.