On the move as a nomad in a survival situation

Good day everyone,

This is my first official posting. I’ll try to make it concise and use proper grammar but I’m not very good at it. As the title says, in my personal survival scenario I will be on the move as a nomad to a safe location. Where is that location one might ask? It all depends on the scenario. One scenario I will outline and explain how I will live on the move and what kinda gear I will carry.
The scenario I see playing out will be a cataclysmic shift in our day to day life. There is something brewing on the horizon. Heading to safety far away from people will be the number one priority. If we go to war with China and things go for the worst, I think it will be a much different war we are use to. It will be fought for the long term and it will slowly starve our country out. Sickness and famine will be rampant.
People who have been vaccinated will surely have the upper hand to a certain degree because they will turn on us non vaccinated and place more blame on us. We will be forced to rely on our own skills in a increasingly difficult world to procure common goods like seeds and medicine.

Let me begin my journey and how I will approach this scenario. I have a certain pack that carries all the gear I need to be on the move. I tend to apply the 5 C’s method. Cutting Tool – Combustion Device – Clothing– Container – Cordage.
Cutting Device - American felling axe small enough to pack out but big enough to do a wide variety of jobs. 2 fixed blade knives ranging from 4-7 inches. Folding buck saw. One skinning knife and a good multi tool
Combustion Device - a good quality ferro rod 3 of them to be safe for redundancy.
Clothing- one wool hoody or flannel a set of under garmets. Compression underwear for quick drying (no chaffing while covering lots of ground) a solid set of jeans and I mean solid. A good pair of Carharts or Kuhl jeans. A good leather belt (can also be used for sharpening knives) and a solid set of boots. Thorogood boots are supreme IMO. Of course as far as t shirts and the gear I mentioned preferably under armour due to their drying qualities.
Container containers, I have found a good metal cup that holds at least two cups and one solid pot that’s 1-2 quarts is sufficient. Foraging is gonna be my best friend until I get to my destination.
Cordage a roll of bank line is gonna be my best bet or even a roll of 16 gauge tie wire. Very versatile for building shelters and many other things.

Now we will move onto water. MSR makes a great water purifier but in the long run for space and weight chemical treatments will be the best bet and you can store much more if a filter unit breaks or quits working.
Medical gear- a tourniquet of good quality. Blood clot powder, a set of fishing hooks non barbed and fishing line for stitching wounds. A solid bottle of scotch or whatever you prefer preferably high proof for cleaning and numbing purposes. A few tubes of bacitracin various bandages and gauzes. And some NSAID pain relievers.
Firearms - this is pure personal choice in this area. I don’t want to carry something that has heavy ammo and hard to find. My choice is a Ruger Mini-14 Great all around rifle and ammo is relatively light and well use to be cheap. One slingshot as well (small compact and can find just about anything for ammo) and two extra bands for it.
I will be making my way south to a more stable climate. North America has bountiful food but it runs in yearly cycles. I think my best bet is gonna be to hit South America thought the journey is very dangerous it will pay off in the long run. There will be days sometimes weeks not being able to travel. You will have to be prepared to sit. Pemmican is a great food to add while on the road in case you are stuck somewhere. Disappearing into the mountains in Chile or Peru is a first choice for me due to its abundance of wildlife and food in certain areas. North America is too densely populated for long term survival and Canada is far too cold. Adaptability is a major factor this journey will be a long one if it does happen. This is my own scenario and playbook for my style of living. I’m curious to hear your strategies for long term survival . And of course that scenario is one of many that could play out. I have many others I would be planned for. Let’s discuss strategies and playbooks for our future

Cheers
LiquidIron

a reply to: Liquidiron

Interesting subject with a COVID twist. You ought to think about doing a podcast....

If I have a few hours warning I can get to 2 spots where I should be OK for at least a few months. Otherwise, I got my bug out bag or I'll hunker down at the castle. Pretty sure it will all go to hell, though I got too many family members spread out that will need to be checked on. Think really all you can do is have those basics and be ready to be flexible

a reply to: Liquidiron

I'm in agreement with the strategy. If you can sustain yourself indefinitely in such a scenario you will indeed be hard to kill.

A major factor for me would be weather. If things ever go seriously bad in the winter months...could be bad for a lot of people. I got the gear and MIGHT be able to make it south for greener pastures.

A pedal bike would beat a car on a gridlocked highway. Can even carry it short distances if needed. Motorcycle might be the optimal choice. Again, if there's 10 ft of snow to contend with, it's a different ballgame...a snowmobile would get you out of dodge quick.

a reply to: putnam6

That’s a solid plan, I’m out in eastern Montana with plenty of options for different scenarios. Caves have always been a area of interest for me as far as survival. The mountains are plentiful but winters are very harsh and like I said things run in yearly cycles where game populations can change rapidly year to year. Sticking together with family is the best bet. As far as traveling goes, I have a really good mountain bike that will help me cover ground and stay off the beaten path. I’m big believer in packing for redundancy so everything usually gets packed in 3s

Welcome, nice first post.
Can I suggest modding your fire choice?
Grab a six pack of bigs and throw them in a ziplock. Maybe one ferro rod backup.
No need to go oldschool just to do it.
Starting fires with fires is much easier than building up embers from sparks.
Also. Fiskirs makes a great 36" axe that's composite.
I have 2 of them. They are great for hike ins and will work on a tree. Avoid hatchets imo.
Granfors Bruk if you want the best.

a reply to: Mandroid7

That’s a great call. I usually make my own fire wicks out of kerosene and wax on usually some make up pads for women. I also tend to collect dried up sap and moss when I can it starts fires in the blink of an eye. Usually when I’m on the move I collect a fire starting source right away. I do have a Gransfor Bruk and also one from the Northmen Guild from the mother land. Check out their YouTube channel amazing craftsmen. Axes are very versatile and I agree a hatchet is a waste of space

originally posted by: Liquidiron
a reply to: putnam6

That’s a solid plan, I’m out in eastern Montana with plenty of options for different scenarios. Caves have always been a area of interest for me as far as survival. The mountains are plentiful but winters are very harsh and like I said things run in yearly cycles where game populations can change rapidly year to year. Sticking together with family is the best bet. As far as traveling goes, I have a really good mountain bike that will help me cover ground and stay off the beaten path. I’m big believer in packing for redundancy so everything usually gets packed in 3s

Montana ought to be damn near perfect for months if not years, I'm jealous

I'll be driving through a population of 5 million people unless I get enough warning to bugout early

My preference is the mountains about 2 hours away from me, but who knows getting there may be blocked for some reason.

I live in the U.P. It is one of the best places to be if the SHTF. I am too old to take off looking for a better place on the other side of the fence.

Our biggest concern is being terrorized by people coming from the suburbs and telling us our grass can't be over four inches tall out in the country and that I have to get rid of my hundred plus year old hundred foot high pines and replace them with pines that are pruned to a perfect shape and height. I have three lawnmowers for doing the yard, it costs a lot to feed them carrots and potatoes and homemade organic bread. The two little lawnmowers still drink mostly milk yet. How am I supposed to get the deer to mow it to a perfect four inches tall? They can't read a tapemeasure.

a reply to: Liquidiron

Yes..this one please
axe
Beautiful. That def gives granfors some competition.
I gave my bro a granfors 420 forrest axe. Highly recommend.
It cuts like a laser.
Idk what it is about it. From the handle, head and grind it just kills it.
Thanks for the intro to the new forge. Very nice.

a reply to: Liquidiron`

Good first post!

Don't forget about tools to maintain your tools. Wetstone, file for your axe, etc. Those things make a huge difference.

I took classes in college 45 years ago in suturing and emergency medical. I learned a lot. I like that you carry quikClot. You should also research online how to do simple suturing, and running suture at the very least. You can purchase sutures, needle drivers and proper needles. You could benefit from learning instrument ties, and I would guess you can learn that on youtube. I have heard of people practicing on oranges. Nope. Not even close to the same as suturing skin. Skin is tough. You'd be better trying to suture a pair of pigskin gloves. ;o)

I like that you choose sterilization over filtering; filters will only last so long, and many are not backflushable. If you can carry both, then fine. Iodine crystals are very portable and can sterilize a LOT of water, in addition to providing a wound cleaning solution.

I think if you are choosing to go to South America, you are going to want to make the jump well before the great change. I think that's great as a plan B, but perhaps you could benefit by finding an area in which you can live off the land that is closer to your current home. I mean, you sound as if it's just you one, and not a family. I am defined by society as "elderly", although I don't feel so. In your shoes, I would want to stock up Heirloom seeds, such as can be found from Ready Made Resources. They have been preserving open-pollinated seeds for decades. The mylar packages last for 15 years or more and are still viable. I know that, because I just opened up several packages for my Mom, and she has been growing vegetables. I have ordered another "Garden Can".

Here, I found you a Suturing Video.

In some ways I envy you. I was once in your shoes: young, energetic and full of promise. I spent a lot of time in the wild and every bit of it was a joy, even when I was injured.

Be safe, welcome to ATS, and I wish you well.

a reply to: argentus
Thank you for the warm welcome! I do know quite a bit of ties being a fishermen and ironworker my whole life. I can make do with make shift ones but it doesn’t hurt to learn more! A few years back I purchased some vintage Nicholson files before the Great Depression era of steel. Steel back then was much more pure. Our high carbon steel today is the equivalent of their low quality steel back then. I also like to carry mineral oil for knives and axes since it can be ingested in small quantities if processing food. I also forgot to mention that I carry iodine drops and a fair amount of salt. Iodine drops for a thyroid shield if things get extra nasty.
I once blew my hand open in a garage working on my fourwheeler. Was still pretty young at the time and didn’t have health insurance. Long story short I went to the local pub and came back and took my bandage off and well, could damn near see my knuckle. I had a few .45 caliber shells on me my friend popped the top off one I put my hand in a vice and he poured the gunpowder on it and he lit er on fire! It sealed it shut instantly and it was only painful for a second (I did have a few shots though!
I always have been a nomadic traveler. All my peers said “do it while you’re young!” I took that to heart and have been on the road since I was 18. I come and go as I please and love meeting new people, food, culture and heritage. I would agree that first I would try to live in my current surroundings it would be quite easy to disappear but, in a certain scenario I would go south of the border!

a reply to: argentus
Thank you for the warm welcome! I do know quite a bit of ties being a fishermen and ironworker my whole life. I can make do with make shift ones but it doesn’t hurt to learn more! A few years back I purchased some vintage Nicholson files before the Great Depression era of steel. Steel back then was much more pure. Our high carbon steel today is the equivalent of their low quality steel back then. I also like to carry mineral oil for knives and axes since it can be ingested in small quantities if processing food. I also forgot to mention that I carry iodine drops and a fair amount of salt. Iodine drops for a thyroid shield if things get extra nasty.
I once blew my hand open in a garage working on my fourwheeler. Was still pretty young at the time and didn’t have health insurance. Long story short I went to the local pub and came back and took my bandage off and well, could damn near see my knuckle. I had a few .45 caliber shells on me my friend popped the top off one I put my hand in a vice and he poured the gunpowder on it and he lit er on fire! It sealed it shut instantly and it was only painful for a second (I did have a few shots though!
I always have been a nomadic traveler. All my peers said “do it while you’re young!” I took that to heart and have been on the road since I was 18. I come and go as I please and love meeting new people, food, culture and heritage. I would agree that first I would try to live in my current surroundings it would be quite easy to disappear but, in a certain scenario I would go south of the border!

Not sure why my last post double posted. I have sun-par cell service at best where I live.

a reply to: Liquidiron

It happens. Nobody knows why. Perhaps it is a quantum entanglement.

I like your spirit. I'm old, but I ain't dead. I have had to stitch myself up only twice in my 64 years. I much prefer the professionals do it, but sometimes you can't choose that. Magnesium firestarters are a blessing. Flint and steel a must. Many people focus on learning how to make a bow and arrows, and that's important, but I've been fed more by learning how to identify game patterns and making snares. I am a guitar player, and I think that the small E and B strings are perfect for small game snares, such as the figure 4.

I think you'll survive, because you sound like you're creative. In your shoes, I would incorporate some form of satellite communications. One of the worst things is not knowing what's going on in the world. I once took myself and my dog up into the San Bernardino mountains so I could detox myself from coke. We were up there three months and we both did fine. It was nearly maddening not knowing what was going on. I can't imagine being in a worldwide threat situation and not knowing.

The only problem with this kind of planning/thinking? Is that 90% of everyone, is planning/thinking, the same thing.

When you "bug out" to your "undiscovered location",..or "secret water hole"?.... Don't get all bent that 60% of the community you just left? Will be there! Probably trying to figure out why Joe Biden isn't helping and providing any leadership...

What you need:

1. A brain, with a will to survive.

2. A good pocket knife. Better yet? A folder in a belt carry. Carry it with you, at all times, always.

3. Don't wear shorts, T-shirts, Tank Tops, flip flops, sneakers/running shoes, or anything comforting in 90 degree weather. You just look like an idiot and just like everyone else. Which will confuse people that need leadership.
Nobody worth their salt, wants to die comfortably.
One should always be in a constant state of uncomfortable and miserable, to survive. If you can not do that? You won't survive.

4. A sharp stick, (reference #2.) Will get you just about anything you would need when used right, and legally.

5. Stop planning to run from sh*t. You will only die tired. Because it will fallow you.

6. As far as fire?.. Learn to recognize flint, or combustible materials in the wild and learn how to make a fireboard in your local area. It does require some muscle. So that a "Democrat scientist sitting at your waterhole? Will be gathering firewood, because you can make fire. It's all science and stuff!

7. Reference #1.

a reply to: murphy22
I definitely agree with some of your points, growing up in the wilderness my whole life where my closet neighbors were 15 miles away and in the winter it wasn’t uncommon to get five feet of snow overnight. I agree that bugging out somewhere is most people’s first thought but, things to think about is most people are driving or moving into the rural towns of America and fleeing the big city as we speak. It will be increasingly difficult to truly bug out to a safe location. But, most people 90% or better will not be able to survive long term because they do not have the proper know how. Logical thinking is a great treat to have but being adaptable to any situation is one of the most important traits to have.
Everyone will want to bug out to a location that they think is “far away” and “off the grid” but someone will most likely be there. When you understand how to truly live in the woods it easy pretty easy to avoid people without being noticed. There are some skills you can’t earn by reading a book or watching a video. Sometimes you need to immerse yourself in the wild with absolutely no controls over anything except your own self.
I lived in the Keweenaw of upper Michigan my whole
life in woods. I can get by with just my tools and gear. I can cover an insane amount of ground in a day weather depending. Being in Montana now going out elk hunting 5-10 miles deep and having to pack it out there’s a certain endurance you develop. As the young kids say nowadays “I’m really about that life” I was just simply outlining my plan if a certain scenario played out. There’s hundreds of them that could happen and I would like to think I’m pretty well prepared for them all. I can always learn more and try to be humble. I am comfortable being alone with just my things on me. More comfortable that way than participating in day to day life working 9-5.
I’m just curious to hear what kinda of things people carry on them and how they would strategize for long term survival.

Chance favors the prepared mind.

a reply to: murphy22

The only problem with this kind of planning/thinking? Is that 90% of everyone, is planning/thinking, the same thing.

When you "bug out" to your "undiscovered location",..or "secret water hole"?.... Don't get all bent that 60% of the community you just left? Will be there! Probably trying to figure out why Joe Biden isn't helping and providing any leadership...

Depends on where you live.

As for where I live, we can seal off about 140 miles of road with a few sticks of dynamite... which landowners can purchase from the local store.

Which leaves the "Golden Horde" coming with two options...

Attempt to hike over a mountain range for 90 miles to get here, keeping in mind that it is simply impossible to do in the winter and in the summer you will be dealing with things like wolves and lions and bears... oh my.

OR... come in on foot through the two blocked roads.... through the checkpoints we would put up...

To the south, that would be an 85 mile hike from a town of 70K people through a bunch of farmers and ranchers that have been here for a few generations...

Or 60 miles from the north from a town with a population of 7,000, where you have to go through a place called Heron, Montana.

The home of MOM, or the Militia of Montana.

This little valley has the distinction of having about 40% of its population being US military Vets.

We here will bug in, thank you.

If for some strange reason I have to bug out, the back of my property is LOLO National Park... 1.7 million acres of mountain range that has places that nobody has seen since the Geological Survey 100 years ago.

I don't have over 100,000 people within 100 miles of me.

So if "everybody else" has the same idea, they won't get here anyways.

a reply to: Liquidiron

A great first post, but I would like to offer an alternative to this....

I will be making my way south to a more stable climate. North America has bountiful food but it runs in yearly cycles. I think my best bet is gonna be to hit South America thought the journey is very dangerous it will pay off in the long run.

Just head to Clark Fork Valley to the west of you.

Zone 6 here, so you actually have a growing season.

A whole valley full of Veterans and "gun nuts" who live off of the land more than they do the grocery store.

I think you would fit right in.

a reply to: Lumenari
Lol well put. I’ll walk into the Bob Marshall and well chances are if you can survive out there we can be friends. A lot of people don’t really understand how remote Montana can get with zero cell coverage. Hell, take a ride around hungry horse reservoir 120 miles round trip. With endless roads to go down and disappear. Hell, if something happened most people would still go about their daily business because they probably wouldn’t have gotten the news that something went wrong. I came to Montana for this reason specifically. Montana has been the only place that felt like home soon as I moved here. All the caves and wilderness one can live forever here.

I'm in the process of gearing up for this. About to buy a cabin in a small mountain community. Will finish outfitting soon, and your list is helpful; thanks!

I have a friend and neighbor who has an isolated place way up in the hills and I think he will let us hunker down there or very near. I'm a good hand, can work hard so we can pull together if need be.

The hardest part is going through this process and not freaking out my wife. She is pretty much on board but I don't think she takes it all quite as seriously as I do.
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