A Lamp of Oils- Use Your Houshold Oil to Create Light.

                                                   
                                                                                                                              There is something so attractive about fire.  There is that orange glow that can sway like snakes to the gyrations of music.  But setting all sentimental feelings aside, fire is a wonderful means for heat and light.  The oil lamp satisfies man's need to see.  Used for hundred of years the oil lamp is still sold in the local WalMart.  But what kinds of oil can the usual oil lamp or lantern burn?  After some research I found that my lantern can burn the following fuels.

   Lamp oil-
   Baby oil-
   Homemade oil-isopropyl alcohol 91% and higher, with a bit of distilled water

    So far I have used store bought lamp oil mixed with baby oil and the lantern burns just fine. But what about the other common oils?  Olive oil apparently is so dense a Biblical style lamp needs to be used.  A balled up cotton gauze ball can suffice as a wick with olive oil.  Vegetable oil also can be rigged up to burn in a glass jar with a piece of denim as a wick.  These oils need thinner wicks that can utilize the oils quicker.  Next time the lights go out don't panic!  Just grab some oil and with a little creativity you can have a light that burns for hours.















                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

The Survival Black Belt - Dissecting Survival Kit II

    The survival black belt is a progression toward a condensed yet enhanced survival kit.  The survival lanyard previously discussed is truly bare bone basics.  This second kit has many more great survival goodies without breaking your back.  Ready?  Let's start dissecting this survival tool left to right.

1. Belt.
    The belt itself is a leather Bianchi 2 inch duty belt.  It comes with the Sam Brown buckle.  Believe me, police belts like this are really odd to the normal civilian.  Maybe I'm a bit dense, but I had to youtube police belts to find that the buckle fits on the opposite side normal buckles sit on.  Overall the belt seems very tough and durable enough to last many years.  In the past I have always used military web belts, so this is a new venture.  The duty belts are too wide to accept ALICE pouches but MOLLE pouches will work, just probably will hang rather loose. 

2. Mag Pouch.
    I love this mag pouch foremost because instead of a belt loop it has clips like the M-9 holster, that make removing and installing it on the belt so much easier and more secure.  The pouch has two snap positions and also is just right to fit in an Altoid metal tin container snug inside.  This mini survival kit packs a lot so I will probably cover that in depth later.

3. Flashlight Loop.
     This flashlight loop is also handy since an axe can also slip into the ring.  Currently I have my mace to combat bears and my streamlight flashlight snapped on the oval plastic ring.

4. Baton Pouch.
     In the Baton pouch I currently use it to hold a light stick.  The pouch seemed sort of useless but it is big enough to stick in a slim flashlight or maybe some tall skinny container of hand sanitizer.  I'm still not set on what this pouch will eventually hold in the end. 

5. Camera Case.
    I was recently at a thrift store when I happened to see this nifty camera case.  I had never really considered how useful such a case could be.  This is now my first aid kit.  In the back pouch are my band aids, alchohol pads, and antibacterial packs.  In the small front section I crammed in a roll of gauze.  This case also snaps off easily.

6. Glove Pouch.
   In here we have a lighter and a hand sanitizer container.   Of course both these items combine to make a nice fire starter kit.  Hand sanitizer is one of my most used survival items.  Thankfully I have never needed my wire saw in my survival tin, but I have used the sanitizer.  Also a lighter is pretty much a must.  It's so compact and can literally be a life saver. 

7. Utility Pouch.
   In here I stashed my Kobalt multi-tool.  I already discussed this nifty tool in another post so I won't bore you with all its functions. 

8. Handcuff Pouch.
    Bringing up the end of the line is this circular pouch in which we can just fit a compass and a candle.  A compass of course helps avoid the need to survive by helping you, "unlost," yourself!  The candle is not for nice, fuzzy, euphoric, romantic, wood lore nostalgia.  Rather the candle helps multiply the burn time of your lighter.  It gives you those few extra minutes that might save your life, while your numb fingers strive to build a fire. 

     There you have it, the black belt of the survivalist!
  

Survival Kit 1-The Grab and Go

   Often a hike can be a very simple affair.  A rush through the brush and then back home again.  So this nifty kit fits in perfectly for this scenario. 

1. The Cord.
    I found it made sense to just use the 550pd parachute cord to make the survival necklace.  It seemed a simple easy solution to store some of the cord.  Perhaps in the future I will weave three strands together to store more cord but for now at least I've got some.

2. The knife.
    As I've stated before I find utility knives, like the one pictured above, most useful.  You can find these miniture knives at hardware stores or online.  Their blades are easy swapped out for a brand new razor sharp edge.  they are also fairly heavy duty unlike cheap miniature imitation swiss knives.    

3. The Light.
   The light pictured above is a Dollar Tree special.  In the future I would like to swap it out for a Nite Ize keychain light I have seen,  A small light like this can be extremely handy for those situations that just need a little light.

4. The Striker Rod.
    Usually called flint, this rod above is actually called a ferrocerium  rod.  This can create hundreds of strikes using sharp objects like the utility knife.  I fitted the rod into the end of a led light end cap and secured it with duct tape.  The rod now is easily secured to the rope. 

5. The Whistle.
     I chose to add the whistle because it has more range than your voice.  A whistle is also just a neat trinket.  Whistles come in so many styles and colors.  This one above I bought for under two dollars on ebay. 

   A survival necklace is one of the easiest kits to assemble.  On our rope we have covered some of the areas of fire, signaling, tools, and light.  Make your own kit and be creative.  Survival kits should fit your personal needs and be something you will actually use.  I found just the essentials make hiking easier than when one is all cluttered with useless gear.  Keep the gear minimal!

The Black Ops Sniper Air Rifle-Another Useful Way To Waste Money!

                               
      It weighs in at 10 pounds.  It stands 45 inches tall and spits lead, (literally), at 1200fps.  This is the Black Ops Sniper Air Rifle.  And of course for the poor among us there is the most important burning question, price!  Well at your local Wal-Mart for a hundred and a half this heavy monster can be yours.
   But why?  Why do grown men haul around air guns?  There are so many other weapons to chose from.  Knives, clubs, crossbows, bows, darts, javelins, slingshots, cannons, rockets, flares, and the list seems endless.  Of course guns, real powder propelled projectile guns, are as varied as the canines that grace America.  So why would any adult purchase an airgun?

1. Ammunition Availability, Affordability, and Ease to Carry
    Today I went to Walt-Mart and a sign proclaimed that rim fire ammunition is not available.  For months it seems ammunition has been in short supply.  Pellets for air rifles are having no problem.  Pellets are also extremely cheap just for pinking around. For 500 .177Crossman pellets you only pay $6.82.  Also there is a nice variety of pellets for the more serious enthusiast.  Gamo offers my current favorite pellet, the red fire pack of 150 count at $7.83.  This pellet has received excellent reviews for bringing down small game.  Of course these pellets are extremely light.  A 500 count pack of pellets is not even a pound.  For long hikes pellets will be no problem to tote around.

2. Air is Abundant and Powerful
     Today's air rifles are gaining a new respect and admiration.  Years ago little daisy rifles occasionally could prove fatal or dangerous at point blank range.  But who really is afraid of a BB gun.  Today air rifles are spitting pellets out at a speed faster than some .22 rimfire cartridges.  I understand the rimfire .22 is far more powerful due to its bullet weight and size.  Yet an air rifle shooting at even 1200 fps is impressive.  Many articles point out that back in 1800 on the Lewis and Clarke expedition they carried an air rifle that awed the Indians.  Today modern air rifles, costing thousands of dollars, can be purchased that can knock down even big game.  Although .177 and .22 caliber pellets are the most popular far larger caliber pellets are produced for the high end air rifle.   It is well to point out that for a survivalist an air rifle is handy due to its ability to need only air to function.  Equipped with the right pellet squirrels and rabbits can be taken down easily.  Obviously the current brand of air rifles will never be assault rifles or work well for self defense, but perhaps in the future a whole new line of affordable air rifles will arm America.  Oh, and another nice thing is that the air rifle is not a gun!  That means you need no license or concealed carry permit. 
   Increasingly Americans are presented with better choices in design and aesthetic appeal in the air rifle market.  Presented with a shortage of pinking ammo, an air rifle might just be the temporary fit you need.

Modernizing A Classic -LED Magic!

The Fulton MX-991 angle head flashlight has been in the military stock for years.  I have picked up several over my life.  A rubber ring waterproofs the head by the bulb.  In the bottom under the batteries, about three different lenses are stored for different uses.  Red, blue etc. lenses make this flashlight more versatile.  This military surplus light is tough.  It is made of thick plastic unlike the replica versions.  Two D batteries power this light.  A neat feature I just found out about, is that the on/off switch has a middle setting called signal. When you push another button on the switch you are able signal flash in Morse code.  This light has been around since the Vietnam war.  The big drawback come from the fact that this light still feels old.  It uses those ancient dim bulbs and weighs in at a hefty weight.  Recently I sought to remedy at least one of these problems.  After some research I found to my delight what probably everyone else knows, Wal-Mart sells led replacement bulbs for about $4.  I bought a bulb brought it home and after the second try my veteran flashlight flared to life much brighter.  The upgraded bulb is only 30 lumens.  For more money one could purchase a far brighter bulb. 
   Now even though my olive drab veteran flashlight shall remain comfortably stashed at home it is far more useful than it once was.

The Perfect Survival Gun!!!--Or A Cheap Arm Small Enough To Move

                                          
                                     
                                                 Three Contenders One Favorite                                                             For days now I have been staring bleary eyed for minutes at a time steeped in research.  Pouring over web pages, I have scoured online wisdom for the perfect survival gun.  I even trudged on tiptoe into the sanctum of the local library, where elderly women stand guard with grim tart like faces, over their treasured books.  I smuggled out a book cataloging the many guns available new and used.  I felt like a five year old delving into a gigantic Websters Dictionary.  In short there are guns galore and more added every day.  So I started with some parameters to thin out my options. 
                                    What Am I Looking For In A Survival Gun?
1. It must be affordable.
2. I would like it to be inconspicuous-not a Mosin-Nagant flag pole.
3. I would like it to be in .22 calibur so ammunition is light and abundant.
   
   I can almost hear snorts of disgust at the mention of the tiny, kid sized, but most popular caliber the .22.  Yes, I understand rimfire cartridges are less potent.I understand that in a deadly firefight with a .22 I will be the first to perish in throes of agony.  However, I am choosing a survival gun for normal outings, not a special ops assault rifle.  With the above three things in mind I was able to rule out both .22 rifles and normal pistols.  The .22 rifle by law must be at its shortest around 26 inches long.  this length is just a little to long for me.  The .22 pistols I felt gave up to much practicality because of their short range.  For the normal person the pistol will only be accurate out to an extremely short distance.  So I was now left with guns like the Ruger 10/22 breakaway, and the Henry Survival rifle type of guns.  The Ruger 10/22 while nice, still packs into a large case.  The Henry seems a bit frail. So I wanted something a little different.  When I found the .22 carbine pistol type of guns I was overjoyed. 
   Pictured above is the Ruger Charger.  Sadly it is discontinued.  The Charger is a scaled down 10/22 rifle with a 10 inch barrel and bipod transfigured into a pistol.  While I hate the swirly odd grained factory stock, a nice tactical type pistol stock is available.  Semiautomatic, with a fantastic heritage little is left not to like except its high price even used.

    Now we come to the Berretta ARX 160 .22 pistol.  At $302.00 on Bud's Gun Shop online, this handy pistol with a 9 inch barrel looks ready for war.  Yet maybe that's the problem.  I'm not going to war.  I just need a long pistol brush gun.  Many people see this pistol as ugly.  I'm not worried about its comeliness so much as I am its girth.  Somehow it reminds me of a steak and potato chip feed commando at four hundred  pounds trying to squash himself into my little four cylinder car.  So we'll leave this as a latter option.

 Enter the Kel-Tec PLR .22.  At $291.00 this is the kind of gun I've been looking for.  It has the no nonsense air of a combat rifle.  It's almost as if its mother and father were the Ar-15 and the AK-47.  Understandably this is still a baby gun but it's older brother the PLR 16 shares some similar parts.  For those of you who must have tactical lights and bayonets hanging all over your gun there is a kit that will add the option for about a $100.  I guess you've realized this is my favorite gun.  At 18.5 inches overall, it's pretty compact.  It sports a 10.1 inch barrel.  It can hold 26 rounds. 
    The survival gun like any tool, should be comfortable enough to actually carry.  That's why for me I chose a .22 that's short enough to just tag along!

Making Useless Useful-The Cheap Canteen!

                                                  
 
                                                        A New Use for Uselessness 

     One of the reasons this blog contains the word Minimalist is to highlight the idea of taking less on a hike.  Another good reason to identify as a wilderness minimalist is to spend less for a hike.   Take the quandary of water for instance.  A couple of times I took out my hydration pack, (I still have one), and for several hours grimaced as all that water sloshed around on my back.  For some reason I enjoyed far more the primeval like habit, of attaching two quart army canteens to a waist belt. Chugging down water from them when the need arose was refreshingly simple. To modernize I recently experimented with using the leg pockets on cargo pants to carry a water bottle, but alas the bottle was to large and it felt like the whole hike I had a wet cast glued to my leg. 
   Yet, not disheartened I have been searching for a solution.  I thought first a metal flask would be fine, but alas it carries only some 12 oz of water.  Compare this to my quart canteen 32oz, or my water bottle 24oz.  I even drained out a vanilla extract plastic bottle, but alas it was small, smelled strongly of vanilla, and leaked!  I stalked the grocery store aisles looking at mayonnaise bottles, ketchup, and barbeque bottles.  I finally ended up at Dollar Tree.  I had settled on two Chinese Tupperware reproduction, small 10.5 oz bottles, when I saw it.  There it sat in all of its sugary aloofness.  It was a 1 dollar, squeezable, grape jelly container.  Holding almost 20oz this plastic jug fits nicely into my lower cargo pocket.  Yes the head may protrude.  On the trail I might get a question why I'm drinking grape jelly.  But the satisfaction of finding a solution to my difficult quandary is so much more rewarding.
   Now, I need not spend 5 dollars for a military surplus pilots plastic flask. I don't have to pack a hydration pack or even canteens for a small hike.  Just hand me a couple grape jelly bottles. Empty them out and fill them with water. Then lets head for the mountains.  Yes, trash can easily become a treasure!
  

Death's Frozen Fingers.-A Past Winter Story

                                              

                                                           Tools For Winter

     It seemed like one of those crisp winter days when life stirs, and you joy in even the lightest ruffle of a decrepit leaf.   One of winter's joys is back country driving. Through our hills snake a network of dirt roads, government funded roads.  Men with aching backs in the 30's and 40's, blazed roads through our native jungles in an effort to provide food for their hungry families at home.  This was welfare in yesteryear.
   I thrust my 96 Ford Taurus straight at the y, taking the dirt road instead of the paved mountain pass.  The trees stood like Serbian sentries, weighted down in winters white wool.  A couple birds blinked under the sun's hazy frown.  The road was narrow but it seemed fairly clear.  For months the sun had been lapping up most of the snow from the road.  The car rumbled slowly along at about twenty miles an hour.  Five miles later the scene changed. 
   Suddenly as I turned at a sharp turn my breath seemed frozen.  In front of me yards away stood the graveyard of winter.  A van had careened off to the side, ending up sprawled in a ditch.  Cars and trucks stood silent, stuck in various odd positions.  A Ford 250 had slid straight over the hill almost on the verge of tumbling over.  But for the moment it sat on its haunches a machine hung in the balance of nature's grip.
   I felt sweat breaking out.  Shaking hands clung to the steering wheel.  Slowly the car crawled by these lonely abandoned machines.  Then it happened, the tires lost traction.  The car swung like a pendulum and bumped straight into the craggy hillside. 
   I tried in vain to back up, but the bumper was stuck in such a way that the wheels were spinning on nothing over a ditch.  I finally bundled up ready for a five mile hike out of the woods.  In a couple minutes, I meet men coming back to rescue their vehicles.  Like angels in mechanics greasy clothes, they agreed to help me first.  In a couple minutes they had a plan.  We jacked up the front of the car and put stones under the front wheels.  I clambered inside and with a trembling apprehension I inched the car back onto the road.  Thanking the men profusely, I managed to creep at about five miles an hour down that mountain road with hidden black ice.
   I learned that day that in the winter the sun clears some back roads, but others shaded by trees can still become traps for disaster.  I also learned something many people talk about in reference to survival.  You can only use what you have.  I also learned it's even more important to learn how to actually use what you have.

Edible Plants-Another Weed Treasure!

                            
                                                    Chicory Another Valuable Weed.
   Carl Linnaeus the famous botanist is said to have used Chicory as a natural clock.  On sunny days the bright blue flowers of the Chicory plant open at five in the morning and close at noon.  During the Civil War and even the World Wars, when Americans were scrambling to feed armies that gobbled up supplies; chicory became a primary weed used as a coffee substitute.  Apparently in Louisianan and the surrounding areas, their coffee of choice was the ground up Chicory root.  Be careful if you try to make Chicory coffee yourself.  Although it is caffeine-free it has an even stronger flavor than the coffee bean!  make sure to add a bit more water than usual.
   While all parts of the chicory are edible it's leaves are commonly used with Dandelion to make wild salad. Boiled the Chicory provides another green vegetable for the wondering traveler.  Bacon, vinegar, and eggs, are part of the ingredients needed to make your own Wilted Greens Salad.
     The more I learn about nature, I become acutely aware of the hand of God.  Far from chance, our Creator made an amazing world where even weeds can be used in times of need.

Elias, Thomas S., and Peter A. Dykeman. Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants. New  

    York: Outdoor Life, 1982. Print. 

Medve, Richard J., and Mary Lee. Medve. Edible Wild Plants of Pennsylvania and Neighboring States. 

    University Park: Pennsylvania State UP, 1990. Print. 

Survival. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Dept. of the Army, 1987. Print.

    

Edible Plants- Pancakes from my lawn?

                                                                                             
     You are chocking, fumbling, to gasp in a gulp of fresh air.  Through a grimy haze you stumble away from the gyrating wicked orange flames. A dull pounding pain seems to be hammering in your head.  As you reach up you shakily look at your hand in horror.  The sight of crimson blood curls your stomach. No, you are not dreaming this is reality.
   While most of us shrug off the idea that we may ever be destined to crawl back in time due to some tragic circumstances; current events make this scenario all to realistic.  Jets fall out of the sky never to be found again.  Countries are suddenly invaded while civilians scatter in terror.  Now deadly diseases stalk our globe like a morbid Ichabod Crane.  So it seems prudent to learn the basic skills of survival our pioneer forefathers knew years ago.
   Among the most common edible plants in the U.S. is the Broad leaf lawn plantain. I found many of these in my lawn still stubbornly rooted among the grass, even in these chilly days of October.  This common weed used to be called "Englishman's foot," since they originated in Europe.  The plantain's young leaves can be used as a lettuce in a salad.  Cook the leaves for five minutes in boiling water for a sort of wild spinach vegetable.  Leaves boiled for a half hour can form a natural tea for the thirsty traveler.  But the most interesting use is the budded stalk.  Take these seeds and make sure they are dried.  Then they can be ground into a flour.  Two cups of plantain flour mixed with three tsp. baking powder, one-half tsp. salt, three tsp. sugar, two eggs, three tsp. cooking oil, and one cup milk produces your own weed pancakes!
   As a medicine, plantain has been used to cure poison ivy. Soldiers would use the plant as an antiseptic, an astringent to stop bleeding, and also as a poultice.  Plantain tea is also used to stop diarrhea.
   For more information on the many uses of your common weed out front, look up the recipes for Cream of Plantain Soup or Plantain-Broccoli Salad!                                                            

     

Elias, Thomas S., and Peter A. Dykeman. Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants. New  

    York: Outdoor Life, 1982. Print. 

Medve, Richard J., and Mary Lee. Medve. Edible Wild Plants of Pennsylvania and Neighboring States. 

    University Park: Pennsylvania State UP, 1990. Print. 

Survival. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Dept. of the Army, 1987. Print.

Snow Dog

                                                       

                                                                                                               

   The air snapped with the frozen breath of winter.  Trees were stooped together like an elderly reunion.  A layer of caked snow filled with remnants of green grass showed where my brother and I had been sledding. We launched off the hill meandered across the lawn and then slid into the open field below.  The air was still except for the soft patter of snowflake feet.  Occasionally a car would crawl by, its engine a low snarl while its wheels swished snow like a mixer. Our shouts mirrored the excitement of country winter.  Then a new sound filled the air.  It was the chugging thumping sound of a country icon.  Soon it came into view, the medium sized tractor, its chains thumping as it bit through winters lace.  Beside the neighbor's tractor romped the faithful German Shepherd Pasha.  She would sniff through the snow her breath exhaling trails of steam.  Then she caught sight of us.  We were back up at the top of the hill again and sliding down.  she came bounding, her legs seeming to cannonade her forward.  We were midway down the hill when she reached us and lept over and above us in a graceful arc.  Her tongue hanging out contentedly, she romped with us some more.  Apparently pleased with her success as a gymnast she repeated her stunt again.  

    As Winter draws closer wrapping us in her cool arms, I think back with fondness to winter memories.  My neighbor is gone now, as is probably his faithful dog.  I wish once again I could walk up the steps to the two story house and walk over to the right edge of the porch where the dog house stood.  Pasha would stand regal her tail slightly wagging.  Once more I would sink my fingers into her course hair and caress her ears.  I wish I could hear the tractor again and watch as master and devoted dog would slowly make their way down to the pond below the field, under the sun's friendly smile.  But at least we have our memories.  Maybe this winter, new memories will bring another smile to our lips.  Simple things in life usually bring the greatest joy!

Are You Ready To Eat Your Lawn? - Edible Plants II-The Dandelion

                       Take two faltering steps beyond the gated castle you call home, and you will probably see one or more of our edible friends pictured above.  Who can mistake the vibrant yellow weed each of us disparages of ridding from our lawns?  It has been railed at, ostracized, and become a general subject of hate speech.  Yet the lowly dandelion provides an entire edible plant, a rare quality.  Dandelion roots roasted and ground are purported to be a substitute for coffee.   Squeeze the stem of the flower and the white gooish, (my new word),substance can be used as glue. The dandelion was originally imported to be used as a medicinal plant.  Apothecaries sold these renegade weeds.  In Maine W.S. Wells and Son used to at one time commercially raise the dandelion.  It inherited part of its name due to its leaves reminding some poetic soul of the fangs of a lion.  Calcium, potassium, vitamin A, thiamine, and riboflavin all reside in the dandelion in large amounts.  But be careful! Dandelion has some medicinal characteristics that make it unsuitable for consumption at night or for use on a  long trip.  Some people suggest eating dandelion blossoms dipped in fritter batter, fried, and then topped off with syrup or garlic salt.  However you ingest these healthy weeds, you're doing both your body and the lawn a favor!      

     

Elias, Thomas S., and Peter A. Dykeman. Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants. New York: Outdoor Life, 1982. Print.

Medve, Richard J., and Mary Lee. Medve. Edible Wild Plants of Pennsylvania and Neighboring States. University Park: Pennsylvania State UP, 1990. Print.

Survival. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Dept. of the Army, 1987. Print.