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Riverwalker’s Book Review Getting Home

An excellent book for the beginning prepper is Alex Smith’s Getting Home. This book isn’t about a survivalist battling zombies to get to his family. It is a decent non-fiction guide to putting a plan of action into motion that will allow you to get home safely in a crisis. In his book he covers EDC (everyday carry) items and how to choose a GHB (get home bag). He makes excellent points on EDC items you should have and covers options for items needed both at your work environment and things you should keep in your vehicle.

Alex also stresses the importance of redundancy (two is one and one is none) in your EDC and your GHB. He also has some excellent tips on choosing the right type of pack to fit your physical profile. This is extremely vital information for those who have done relatively little hiking or backpacking, which is completely different from the “car camping” many persons utilize in their outdoor endeavors. The information about choosing the proper type of pack is worth the cost of the book itself.

He also gives tips on firearms for EDC. While decent recommendations, most seemed to be based on his personal experience and preferences when it comes to firearms. The book also includes several helpful tips in regards to your transportation that the beginning prepper may not think of or may not be familiar with in their experience. Several of these tips are found throughout his book and you need to read it carefully so as not to miss them.

Alex’s book is well written and would make a good addition to your survival library. Several of his tips would also make it worthwhile to the more experienced prepper. I even found a few tips that will be useful to me. RW gives Getting Home a thumbs up!

Got GHB?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker’s Book Review Getting Home

Getting Lost in the Woods Prevention and Resolution

Got that big backpacking trip coming up? Take a second to read this and learn how to help prevent getting lost in the woods and what to do if you get lost.

Don’t pull an “Into the Wild”

Have you ever read Into the Wild? I wouldnt recommend doing anything that kid did. It is your life and safety at risk. Use your resources and think smart. If you choose not to prepare (please prepare) then look for help. If that kid had checked out the terrain, like any smart camper or explore should do, he would have found his salvation about a mile away down the river from the broken down bus he was found in.

Get on the move

Don’t stay in one spot. Staying in one spot will, literally, not get you anywhere. Only by moving are you going to get yourself back to where you want to be.

Track yourself

Chances are you werent on a trail. There should be signs that you have been through there. Footprints, disturbed terrain, snapped branches, etc. On a prevention note, take a leaf out of Hansel and Gretel’s book and leave a trail. Not of bread crumbs or garbage but just occasionally take the time to mark your way. Roll a rock into an open area on at an odd angle or lay a thick stick against a tree.

Get to a high spot

If there is an elevated point available, get to higher ground so that you can better see your surroundings. This will allow you to see whether or not there are barriers in any particular direction, land marks, or perhaps even your destination.

Get Loud

If you are separated from your group, get loud. If you are concerned about wild life, put your worries at rest. Animals are deterred by noise. This can do nothing but help your situation.

Check the map

Bring a topographic map and a good compass with you. Be sure to mark your vehicles location on it, your camp site and the location of any roads if they are not on there already.

GPS

Use a GPS or even a light weight mini GPS tracker. A GPS will give you an overview of your surrounding area. A GPS tracker can attach to whatever you want. Attach it to your truck or something in your campsite. If you get lost switch on your GPS tracker and it will guide you straight back to your vehicle.

Follow a river

Depending on how serious your situation is, if you are very far out and need to find civilization, follow a river. There is always life along a river and a road (or even town) will eventually meet up with it. If we are looking at a potentially long haul, it has the means to sustain you. If you get desperate, it has water and food, whether it is fish or plants or whatever critters that go to the river.

Thanks go out to Dave for an excellent guest post.

Dave Burr is a freelance writer for Spyville. In his free time, he enjoys backpacking in the Seven Devils with his kids or reading in his backyard.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Getting Lost in the Woods Prevention and Resolution