The-Atlantic-thefemalesurvivalist

This website has tons of other do-it-yourself projects.

I've made and used hard tack before. Its very easy to do, cheap and packable. Vary the flavors with spices or sweetner for some varitey.

Its also fun to read the comments below. It will give you other ideas and insight.

It's been said there are two immutables, death and taxes.

I'm hoping for reincarnation.

We all know rich bastards who know all the loopholes and pay no taxes.

John Boswell's book, What to Say to Get Your Way

is full of handy little phrases to soften your first line in conversations. Especially where a difference of opinion can escalate, where a business deal could be messed up, or job related performance reviews, saying the wrong thing can loose your audience.

Published in 2010, the mood of the book is reconciliation, compromise, and a tad wimpy.

Its a fast read, some of the 146 pages simply contain two phrases, like:

"Don't say: "I hope I've helped." Say: "I'm sorry I can't be more helpful."

or

"Don't say: "I feel your pain." Say: "I can't imagine how you must feel."

Really?

Please. Sometimes we just need to talk. Others phrases make sense, like

"Don't Say: "Stop being so critical." Say: "I feel like I'm being attacked."

I can handle that. It says, never tell your interviewer to hire you, they won't regret it. That works.

But as Ecclesiastes writes: to every thing there is a season.

May I add,

A time to back down, a time to assert.

A time to repair, a time to throw it the hell away.

A time to buy local, a time to buy online.

Successful survivalists are quick to anticipate and adapt. We know there are no rules, every thing can change with a single breath or lack of breath.

A new version of Windows could come out tomorrow, a new Ipad, Ipod or or other Icontraption.

My new mantra:

There are no rules, just owner's manuals. If you get stuck, read.

I've been asked, "Why do this to yourself"

Why would anyone force themselves to get out daily, rain or shine, snow and ice, enthused or not, and hike in the mountains?

There's a bunch of reasons, the prevailing one: so I don't turn into a stick of butter.

We all have heard the adage, if you don't use it you lose it.

I don't want to loose any bone mass, any muscle mass, any will to survive.

If anything, I quest for more strength in all areas.

Fresh air is good for moods. Some people become seasonally depressed when there is less sunlight. Combat this syndrome, whether it's real or not, with a good hour jaunt in the woods. I firmly believe many people are diagnosed with syndromes they don't possess just to get them on medication. Fresh air and exercise is a cure worth trying.

I have my most profound thoughts while hiking. Why that is I couldn't tell you. My trail friend, Alexa, on the Pacific Crest Trail used to carry a little notebook with her. Suddenly, she'd stop, pull out the pocket notebook and scribble away.

I tried that. Once my brain saw the lined paper, all genius left me.

My solution is to mull the thoughts, and memorize key points.

As soon as I walk in the door, I recall and write down anything with true depth. Or, more likely, whatever I can remember.

Virgin snow is fun. A lot of that around here. I learn to track, reason out why some splots go just tree to tree, tire tracks backing into the neighbor's yard, rare human print.

If you ever wonder about this blog, maybe a temporary lull, perhaps I had a town day and all brain matter was used up surviving traffic, lines at Walmart, Thrift store bantering, and librarians.

Last night we watched two episodes of this thought provoking series.

The first involved a man who decided to take a really decent inflatable raft down the Colorado River, into the Grand Canyon. He equipped his boat with all the essentials, wore a wet suit and life vest. He put in at Lee's ferry, and told his friend to call for help if he didn't make the destination by the appointed date.

He went solo, which is not an issue if you're experienced and take the river seriously.

He did so well, that after passing Lava Flow without incident, he took off the wet suit and relaxed. Little did he know, his adventure had just begun.

One thing led to another and he finds himself on the bank, drenched, without any gear (flipped and lost it to the river ).

Its winter. As the reenactment continues, we see the big white man fire, no signage for helicopters to sight, and growing depression.

This would be a good time for the two fire survival technique, and creating a huge S.O.S out of rocks. He stayed next to the river, a smart, important decision.

After a week, he is found. His raft ended up 20 miles down stream, alerting rangers of someone in need of rescue.

The second episode dealt with two mountain climbers who fall into a crevasse while descending Mt. Rainier. Seems they did everything right. I was impressed by the strength and ingenuity of the less experienced mountaineer who survived. Sadly, his best friend did not, but his body was recovered.

While our survivor climbs out of a 80 foot crevasse, he admits his inexperience, yet continously makes safe, cautious decisions. He feels his dead friend is coaching him all the way. I learned a lot about mountaineering watching this reinactment, among them the value of the ice anchoring systems, or ice screws, the value of ropes and various slings, of partnering and chosing north facing slopes when possible for descents.

Not that I am going winter mountain climbing any time soon!

I don't criticize or judge any "mistakes" adventurers make in these true stories. Instead, learning and filing away these lessons, I think of alternative actions which might come in handy.

"Children, like chickens, deserve a life outside the cage. The overprotected life is stunting and stifling, not to mention boring for all concerned."

From http://freerangekids.wordpress.com

Interesting views on raising kids in today's crazy world.

Maybe its just all the crazy getting a lot of media coverage.

A group of hikers met Cobweb and Me near Muir Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail and took this photo. They recognized my trail name, Brawny. I had my packless system, complete with ice ax strapped to the outside. This stretch was 192 miles without a resupply because I left Kennedy Meadows, summitted Mt. Whitney, returned to Crab Tree Meadows, and lived off the supplies in my pack until I reached Vermilion Valley Resort.

Trudging through snow, cooking on a soda can stove, and layering all my clothing, I learned many things. My journal can be read at

Proactive people anticipate need and take charge of the situation. The are change oriented, and make things happen. This really comes in handy when things are going downhill. They are the heroes that step up to the plate, invent, leave legacies,and build the life of their dreams. If their ship doesn't come in, they pirate one.

Reactive people react to things around them. Its a victim's role, a defensive position, blaming other people and circumstances for the chosen course of reaction. Wikipedia says a reactive response is due to stressful stimulus or emotional upset. To turn this around, a person has to start taking responsibility for their life, safety, and well being.

Interactive people compromise and try to involve others in decision making, believing in majority rule. They're good adapters, and productive. This is good for communities, but the independent thinker can be left out entirely.

Inactive people do nothing.

I read about Michael Sherwood, a retired dentist in Nelson County, Virginia who initiated a dental clinic, volunteering his time to make life better for those around him. Others began pitching in, donating money, time, space, an old trailer for office space. The Interactive people of the community are so important in making the world a better place.

The reactive people may take advantage of the resource. Maybe they will complain about possible loss of income for other dentists. Maybe they will worry about bad outcomes and legal obstacles. They will voice an opinion.

Then there's the inactive. They just plain don't do anything.

A huge thanks to all the proactive people who are trying to make the world a better place. They are proactive for their families, planning ahead for disasters, proactive in business, creating jobs and finding better ways to do things, proactive at work, initiating change when necessary.

Independent thinkers are proactive.

A big thanks to Dr. Michael Sherwood.