The-Atlantic-thefemalesurvivalist

I watched this series all the way through for the first time. The challenge takes place in a Panama jungle.

At first the two couples meet, unaware there's another couple heading to the same target zone. The couples have no problem stripping and hugging each other. It doesn't take long before they're snapping at each other, fighting over the work load and life style.

Eventually the couples meet, shake hands and we have a foursome working towards the same goal of survival.
A co-worker watched it with me, both of us calling out suggestions when the four naked people seemed clueless. What I couldn't understand was how you could be walking through crystal clear stream in the swamp and be dying of dehydration. Finally they come to a waterfall and drink freely.

Manu suffered from a virus three days later and will suffer for the rest of her life. They lost many pounds, up to 16. The food situation proved to be the most surprising because vegetation was abundant. I figured some of that greenery would be edible and easy to access.

One thing we all can take away from this is its way harder than one can imagine. Each was allowed to bring one item. Both women brought machetes. One guy brought a flint. One guy brought plastic goggles.

I would definitely watch this series again. It helps a survivalist think about scenarios and possible outcomes.

The weather has definitely improved here near Bozeman. Last week we suffered negative temperatures, as low as 23 below. Cars started reluctantly, we eased over ice, through long narrow roads, peering through frosty windshields.

The blue skies are still here in big sky country, but its warmed up to the single digits. Still, one can't drive too fast. Yesterday a blizzard closed the Interstate for awhile.

Snowshoe rabbits and deer grazing in the fields are common sights. People get off work and hunker down. Not enough snow here to cross country ski. I'm loving the blue skies after working in Girdwood, Alaska for 3 1/5 months. There are two more hours of daylight than when I left Alaska, and soon the days will be getting longer.

Just remembered this short footage I took at the Howling Dog Saloon in Fairbanks Alaska. The place was very interesting. There were bras hung on a rafter. The owner told me I could have a free t-shirt if I wanted to add mine. I laughed and said, "Maybe if I have enough beers."



Some were in costume that night. It was a Saturday end of October, not quite Halloween. Paul, the Policeman sang first, then Burnt Orange warmed up, playing until 3 a.m.

We celebrated my new friend's birthday party. Thanks, Georganne, for letting me share your home and adventures for three days.

There's a strange story coming out of Fairbanks and Denali right now as rangers search for the culprit who bought several animals from a pet store then took them out to Denali, made an illegal campfire and ate part of them.

Check it out at http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/identify-of-man-who-bought-pets-found-roasted-eaten-in/article_a3ede16e-41bb-11e3-919c-001a4bcf6878.html

But, here's my thought....why would you not eat all of it, or why wouldn't you just buy a couple burgers and fries. Don't even tell me a python would be cheaper, or the guinea pig and mouse, plus then he let the turtle live.

Do we have a random survivalist making pet eating youtube videos on the loose?

It will be interesting to see what happens. The pet store remembers some character, seemingly in a hurry.

Maybe its a Halloween prank? Maybe a satanic ritual.

time will tell!

While surfing, I found this blog and one of the first things he says is Be Yourself, don't try to be me.


http://ghostskamo.blogspot.com/


I like that because in the end each person has different needs, although they do boil down to the four basics he describes as food, water, shelter and rest.

Many times we don't think of rest as a need, but without it, we loose strength, health and the ability to reason.

One of his posts deal with the 12 Cs of survival. Ghost also has many videos on youtube, a great resource, especially in the winter when getting out is much more difficult due to roads and work.

Of course, practice your skills, don't just read and watch. The mark of a true survivalist is patience and adaptability. The more you know and are exposed to intellectually, the greater your field of reference becomes, should you ever get in one of those tough spots.

The Yukon Quest 1,000 mile Race  begins February 1st. The Iditarod Trail Sleddog Race is the well known race which involves sled dogs, men or women and brutal weather over a period of 9 days.

These dogs are a key component to success. They run, eat and sleep to please their masters. The connection is amazing, especially for those of us who have never really owned a dog.

I was privileged to get an interview with owner and trainer, Eric Cosmutto from Muzzy's Place Sleddog Adventures today. Its obvious he knows and loves each one of his dogs. As we walked around, petting and viewing the well kept dogs, Eric explained the nature of each one, how old they were and key signs of health race organizers look for.



You can enjoy a tour, a sled dog ride, attend mushing school or enjoy an overnight tour.
Their phone number is 907-378-7620 or 907-347-8427.

I admit, the longer I was on location, the more I could visualize living in the yurt, feeding the dogs, being part of the support team.

A two-part video series of Mountainman Mike setting up his solar panels at his three acre retreat in southern Wyoming is finally done. From pulling the components from the box to connecting the last cables, Mike very patiently describes the process.

I was very impressed with his inexpensive basic power system. It allowed both of us to maintain our batteries on our laptops. He was able to keep his cell phone charged as well, enabling to touch base with his parents living in Colorado.

Mike understood my work, both the filming and writing aspects dealing with survival techniques and off the grid living.

Just read this article and scoped out the 3.2 ton truck, Romania's all purpose Vehicle for the end of the world.

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/romania-answer-hummer-prepares-end-world-204815032.html

There's a video too, and several awe inspiring photos.
No doubt a line is forming. Better get in it before production ceases.

If there's enough fuel, this thing can go anywhere, flood, land, masses of angry militants.

I liked the paint. Red. Looking good, Romania!

I just finished watching Assault on Wall Street, a 2013 film staring Dominic Purcell and Erin Karpluk.

Its on Netflix, if you get that, and is 98 minutes long.

The story revolves around a man whose wife becomes ill and the insurance company quits paying because they've reached the "cap". Its 2008, Wall Street dumps useless paper on the markets, everyone is loosing all their life savings.

A person can't help but take pleasure in the hero's desperate revenge.
I won't spoil the story, but it gets a very satisfying 5 stars from me. The twist at the end begs for a sequel.

See it if you get a chance. Its fast pace takes you through many themes and soul searching ideas, heavy with emotional impact.

Yesterday I was privileged to spend the day with a renown Alaskan Guide. For the sake of his privacy, I'll call him Sourdough, his online name.


He knows all the back trails, history and valuable survival skills, including where the game is and how to utilize the land. I really appreciate the honesty and openness of this man.
He obviously knows what he's talking about.




The footage in part two is complete with off the wall commentary. Hope you like it.

Its ready! My second book is now available, for the first time ever, in paperback. Be one of the first to have this Second Edition sitting on your nightstand. Please write a review, if you could. I would really appreciate it.

An Ultralighters-True-Trail-Stories-Beyond the Journey

I came across this link for a site called Hyperbole and a Half. Its very well written. What drew me there was a link from Wilderness Survival Forum site with a new take on the hospital "pain" charts. Seems we all need to see pictures of things to adequately attach a number to how much pain we are experiencing.

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/02/boyfriend-doesnt-have-ebola-probably.html

I have some understanding of the pain assessment process. The nurse comes in and asks you to tell her on a scale of one to ten how much pain you're in.

If you say a one, she leaves. If you say a two, she might show concern. If you want to take something to relieve the pain, other than some ibuprophen you got stashed in your purse or jean pocket, you'll say five or more, and please.

Pain is no laughing matter. If it gets out of control, its hard to catch up to it. Panic is the enemy pain management. Tense muscles and fear do nothing to encourage slow steady breathing.

But, if you're trying to get the doctor's attention, you really got to let it out, respectfully,of course.

Check out her rendition of facial pain markers. Her corresponding text is hilarious, too.

Ok, I'm not going to kid you. I'm baffled and angry about this whole Medical Insurance thing. Don't get me wrong, I have coverage, good coverage on a individual plan. Medical emergencies are the number one cause of bankruptcy.

But its a fallacy, this whole affordable care act.
Yesterday we received three pages of printed material drawing our attention to the pending mandate. YOU MUST buy something, now, or be fined.

Some of us are at that nebulous point....we make a living, but barely. I looked at the website listed on the page. Looks like my premium, for a non-smoker is like....like, no, this can't be right, $700 bucks...is that a YEAR...no, no, its per month.

Wait a minute, can't be right.
Thankfully, I already have coverage.
But, wait a minute, says here because of the new laws, my coverage, the current plan, may actually go up.


Groan. I did some online research. The government page explaining all this would not load. Humm, says in another place, some news story, its been unudated with traffic. Plus, the government has shut down. Great, that's great.

Further research produced this valuable resource. Its run by the Kaiser Family. Seems legit. I don't know.

http://kff.org/

After going through the various links and calculators, I'm left wondering if its better to just say, forget it...I'm broke. I'm not working anymore. I'm going to apply for medicare, or Medicaid or what ever the government expects us regular cooks to do.

This isn't going to be easy.
Part of the problem is greed. Greedy insurance companies. Out of control medical costs. Unhealthy life styles resulting in a sick population.


Please, anyone got some good ideas or help for the common man?

While there are several possible routes through Canada, I can recommend this one because of the ease of travel, frequent camps or RV parks, pull overs for rest stops and gas stations.  

Start north on I-84, continue to I-82, total of 237 miles. Then,get onto US 395, take that until to hit Washington 17, total miles on trip ometer is 300.

Take 17 until US 97, which will go into Canada. You'll stay on 97 until it merges with 97c. It will merge with HWY 5 in 65 miles. Take that until Hwy 97 shows up again, the Trans Canada Hwy, towards Cache Creek and Prince George.

In 45 miles, you turn right onto Hwy 97, the Caribou Hwy. Stay on that, towards Prince George, Hwy 97. Follow that until Hwy 16, where you take a left. After nearly 300 miles, you turn right onto Hwy 37. If you're using the data from Milepost, it was accurate.

Watch for signs telling you how far to the next gas. While you can't count on all resorts being open in the fall, I only saw a few closed. Once my tank was on half, I got gas, unless I knew I would be going through a big town like Prince George. Still, I watched for gas before that specific town, in case my road bypassed it and I'd have to detour into the main drag of a busy town. Kamloops was such a town. The rout actually turned (Hwy 5) just before you get to town. If I'd needed gas bad, I'd have to go there, out of the way by a few miles.


  Back to the route. Follow 3, the Stewart-Cassiar highway for about 450 miles. Then, turn left onto Alaska 1. Its at a T intersection, so you can't miss it. You'll stay on that until you cross the border where the name changes to Hwy 2....no worries, it does change back to Alaska 1 in Tok.

That's where you decide to go to Fairbanks or Anchorage.

No one seemed to worry about who was sleeping in their cars or parked along the highway pull offs. I think the motels are very pricey for what they looked like on the outside, so I never stayed in one. I only spent three nights in Canada.

I didn't use any credit cards while in Canada, but had several with me, just in case. Bring small bills to avoid carrying around a lot of Canadian coins. Everything below a $5 bill is in coin.

I actually divided the footage for the road trip into three parts. It was fun taking the film. Hope you enjoy it.

Its been booked, its been decided, its now underway!

In one week I shall fly back to Idaho, get my little car and drive it back up here.

A short video taken on a clear day, believe it or not!

I'm beginning to realize that rain is the constant, sunshine the exception. Its amazing how inspiring a little blue sky can be.

Give yourself some time, my daughter said. She's brilliant, as always. I've been in Alaska now for 13 days and things are beginning to feel more comfortable. Its all about the adventure. No one said you had to do this forever. That is, unless you want to.
Well, you can't beat the beauty, the warmth of the people, or the nearly daily discoveries.

Four-fifteen a.m comes pretty early in the morning. Its only a five minute walk to work and its not even cold. But, for the last five days its been raining. All day, all night. Its ok. Well, I keep saying that, but this morning, it started to get to me.

I arrive with my pant legs wet, my socks wet, my mind asking, DOES the Sun Ever Shine in August?

Well, I finally asked Emmerson, one of the chefs, and he looked at me, asked, "Didn't anyone mention this is a rain forest?"

"What?" I asked, perplexed. I mean, we're nearly at the NORTH frickin' pole....

"This is a rain forest, the northernmost rain forest in the world."

I'm sure he's pulling my leg. Come on...but his face says he's serious as he quips, "You have to have the sun inside." And then he walks away to finish getting the kitchen in order for an onslaught of breakfast eating guests.

Its ok, I figure. At some point it has to get cold enough to snow and then we'll go skiing.

Leaving work just after 2 p.m I walked outside to a beautiful view. The sun was out, the clouds were puffy, the sky was blue. Marvelous. Thank you, trail gods! Ask and you shall receive.

I came across the actual blog for Alyeska Resort. This should be a fun site to read.



http://blog.alyeskaresort.com/mountain-news/meet-monty-the-newest-member-of-the-alyeska-ski-patrol/

I arrived last Tuesday night in Alaska. It was almost surreal, like I couldn't quite believe I was really on the Last Frontier. Anchorage seemed like it could be in the lower 48.

Jason International Hostel had some interesting characters. I think some of the people actually were residents. Many heavy accents, too, from around the world: China, Israel, India, New York.

After working a few days, I spent my first day off hiking the Winner Creek Trail. It's been raining a lot, so it makes keeping the camera dry a little challenging.



I clip my bear spray on my belt loop, just in case I meet trouble. So far, nothing dangerous has happened. When I got to the hand tram, I thought maybe the basket was on the opposite side and all I had to do was pull on the rope until it came back to my side.

Not so. Another hiker arrived and gave me the scoop. He'd used the tram in 2009 and immediately saw the basket was gone and the equipment on lock down.

Youtube sends a suggested videos of interest group to me on about a weekly basis. This one makes large group underground bunkers sound like a condo situation in the Caribbean.

I felt like I was hearing a sales pitch for a silo converted multilevel five year plan. Its only a couple million dollars. Not bad: Well appointed living in preparation for an apocalyptic survival shelter.



What do you think? Would you sign up to live in one?

I posted a thread over at a survivalist forum, asking for advice
Moving to Alaska Survival Thread There's been a lot of great replies. Everyone has been supportive of this life decision. Just feels like its time for some big change. Another thread over at Wilderness Survival forum, Alaska

Check out this great link http://alaskaslist.com/ It looks great, much like craigslist for Alaska, with over 172 million page views so far.




Its always great to touch base and get real information from those who have and are there, done that.

I'm not often shocked by rising costs of health care. I know with the "affordable" health care bill moving through the American system of implementation, every one with a hand in the pie wants their chunk. I mean, if you're going to set the standard for emergency resuscitation, you better get a price on it now, before any ceilings are set.

What should a normal childbirth cost? What should a "check up cost"? And, now that everyone is going to be walking around with some form of card that says we get to see a doctor now and again, what does a check up entail? We're finding out maybe guys don't NEED the prostate exam as often as we thought, or, maybe mammograms are over rated and over used...and maybe
NO ONE wants to pay for it...especially some random clients who were forced to buy health insurance anyways.

Sometimes a person doesn't have a choice, though. Its pretty obvious you need help. I read this article and shook my head. God help us all if our insurance ever lapses. Hospital Bill of 55k for snake bite treatment is outrageous. How can 18 hours and anti venom treatment for a healthy woman cost more than a pick up truck. I know, I know. There's the cost of diagnosis. The milking of snakes to get the venom (you mean this hasn't been automated yet?) Are you kidding me? We can send a man to the moon but we can't automate getting some of this fantastic miracle stuff. As Americans were pretty used to getting what we want. Maybe I should say, used to be that way. Some of us are downsizing. Keeping the same old car for years, wearing the same coat season after season.

But, How do you downsize emergency care?

In less than two weeks I'll be living and working at a fantastic resort in Alaska, near Girdwood. Part of me says, time to start a new blog.

 The Femalesurvivalist deals with wilderness survival, not the biggest, wildest, most romantic place in the United States. Now, before I get hit with lovers of Hawaii and Florida, I know the Last Frontier is cold and has long dark nights in winter.

And, just in case you wondered, I never did nor would vote for Sarah Palin. Her venture into running for the vice-presidential seat was a joke. But, politics aside, I'm looking forward to meeting the fiercely independent people that are said to live in this place.


I've been doing a little research and found a great book called, Frommer's Alaska The publish date on this fantastic thrift store find is 2008. Not too old to be of use. There are tons of maps and insiders tips from the author, Charles Wohlforth. I plan to take tons of footage and learn more about winter survival skills.


My backcountry skis are packed in a custom sewn carrying case. The matching duffle bag was sewn using upholstery cloth. A long zipper was sewn along the top edge. All told, I'll have a carry on (laptop in daypack), one large duffle with clothes, shoes, etc, and one tall carry case with skis, boots, poles, and ultralight backpacking gear. I'll take photos of this custom sewn gear at the airport and share them here.

Every once in awhile a person runs out of paper or just wants to utilize natural resources instead of man made products.
Keeping debris to a minimum increases enjoyment for everyone traveling through the area. I've never understood why anyone wouldn't want to cover up the discarded toilet paper. 





If you don't know what poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac looks like, remember the adage: leaves of three, let them be. Photos here