The Stupendous Crisis Survival Thread

[calfoxwc]

and some good stuff on tying knots:

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/how-to-tie-a-fishing-lure-3-knots-thatll-do-the-trick/?utm_source=wideopen&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wos_daily&utm_content={{EXTERNAL+`https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wideopenmediagroup.com%2Fgetresponse%2F%3Fsite=wos%26articlenumber=1%26type=title`}}

[TexasAg1969]

On 8/22/2020 at 6:38 PM, calfoxwc said:

and, if your power ever goes seriously out -

best survival candles for camping/lights out situations.

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/10-emergency-candles/?utm_source=wideopen&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wos_daily&utm_content={{EXTERNAL+`https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wideopenmediagroup.com%2Fgetresponse%2F%3Fsite=wos%26articlenumber=1%26type=title`}}

Hmmm I'll have to check my survival backpack my younger brother sent me several years ago to see if something that was included. 

Meanwhile I got the LaserMax in the mail for my Ruger LC9s 9mm and it was simple to put on and at 10 yds. gives a nice powerful 3-4 in. diameter red splotch that is easy to see even in broad daylight. It snapped right around the trigger guard which it fit like an O.J. glove😁. Just had to drop in the two small securing screws so the two parts stay snapped in place. The whole process took all of about a minute or two to get on and then a couple more minutes to use the small Allen wrench included to adjust windage and elevation so the laser splotch sits right on the spot where the sights align at that 10 yd distance recommended. After I take it out to my friend's range (he lets me use it for free), I'll let you know how well it stays in place over a few dozen rounds including a few of the Cor-Bon +p's.

[TexasAg1969]

20 hours ago, calfoxwc said:

I have a laser on my Walther - it's great, not a bigger 3/4 inch though. But you can see it in daylight. BTW, CCW licenses are being backlogged - folks should check into the expiration date. Our country says they aren't taking any appts til Feb.

I'm glad I got mine renewed before all the covid crap started.

I took it outside during the sunniest part of a sunny day yesterday and could easily see it on objects 60-70 feet away. I will be testing it later this week once I confirm a time with my friend who has his own shooting range out in the countryside about 30 minutes away.

[calfoxwc]

2 hours ago, TexasAg1969 said:

I took it outside during the sunniest part of a sunny day yesterday and could easily see it on objects 60-70 feet away. I will be testing it later this week once I confirm a time with my friend who has his own shooting range out in the countryside about 30 minutes away.

wow.

[TexasAg1969]

4 hours ago, calfoxwc said:

wow.

Yep, pretty much my reaction too. Very unexpected.😱 I could see it flash across any tree or stone pillar in my back fence out there and settle in on any one of them in not time flat. I don't worry about the two neighbors wondering what I was doing. One is an Iraq Vet just retired from the service and the other owns his own gun shop. They're both shooters too. 

EDIT:

Speaking of survival again, my old hometown of Beaumont has been ordered to evacuate before the arrival of Hurricane Laura, which is expected to be at  least a category 3 or higher at landfall. Harvey put several feet of water in both homes I had lived in back in the 40s and 50s. In fact there was a railroad track between the two areas where they were located and i watch a live video of people coming out of those areas to few feet higher RR track to be rescued by helicopter. They are now very poor areas of Beaumont and likely those folks have no place to evacuate to in order to get away from the storm. We went though the edge of Hurricane Audrey when I lived there and hearing the "whomp" of falling pine trees is not something that is fun at all when you know they can come right through your home. I hope this thing does not give them another hit like the Harvey rain producer did. I doubt many have insurance to cover any damage from wind or flood.

https://news.yahoo.com/laura-now-hurricane-forecast-hit-124645771.html

[calfoxwc]

I suppose after a hurricane down south and flooding....

well, this is an article about a huge copperhead some homeowners in Georgia killed...

copperheads probably head for higher ground, too. Getting bit by one of these out hiking...really not good.

https://www.mailing.wideopenmediagroup.com/click.html?x=a62e&lc=1kL&mc=d&s=u34g&u=u&z=O9gGgwZ&

[calfoxwc]

Just a note - our friends clued us in on beef - available in our local Walmarts. It's Keystone All Natural Beef. Think pot roast in a can.

We tried it, and it was excellent. Already cooked. The quality was outstanding - I'm going to stock up on some cans over time. Made a pot roast with potatoes and carrots.... made a wide noodles with beef casserole with it....

makes an excellent addition to the prep stocks we have. Doesn't cost much at all to try a can of it, would be priceless

if a depression/crises happen where food disappears from shelves like it did for just a bit during the covid panic rush.

[calfoxwc]

sad to note - I hope they figure out who did this double murder.

Just hiking and ....

murdered.

Stay safe hikers.

and drivers.

and everybody else that cares about themselves and their families.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/colorado-missing-couple-colorado-springs-hiking-trail-gunshot-wounds-edmundson-trail-head

[calfoxwc]

ever watch the snake capturing folks on TV ?

record python caught in Florida. Just another reason to conceal carry.

18...and 9 1/4 inches.

watch the video.

egad.

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/new-florida-state-record-python/?utm_source=wideopen&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wos_daily&utm_content={{EXTERNAL+`https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wideopenmediagroup.com%2Fgetresponse%2F%3Fsite=wos%26articlenumber=1%26type=title`}}

[calfoxwc]

how to skin a copperhead for food and skin.

also, at the end,

how to cook up snapping turtle and rattlesnake.

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/learn-the-right-way-to-skin-gut-and-cook-a-copperhead-snake/?utm_source=wideopen&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wos_daily&utm_content={{EXTERNAL+`https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wideopenmediagroup.com%2Fgetresponse%2F%3Fsite=wos%26articlenumber=1%26type=title`}}

[calfoxwc]

an excellent addition to any first aid kit. I'm going to order some.

another item I wish I had invented.....

OOPS.

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/zipstitch-makes-it-a-cinch-to-close-wounds-in-the-field/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=20201129&utm_campaign=WOS&tp=i-1NHD-Il-56-2dcy-1c-2up-1c-iN-1Gmr-l5OtbTFj2s-fOkwj&submeta=WOMSPACES

 

[calfoxwc]

in  the past, I've talked about cattail roots. Very much like a poor man's potatoes.

Well, you can also eat the roots of the common burdock. and make medicines with it.

Amazing.

[calfoxwc]

EXCELLENT bear video - full of information that could someday save your life....

 

[DieHardBrownsFan]

On 11/29/2020 at 10:37 AM, calfoxwc said:

an excellent addition to any first aid kit. I'm going to order some.

another item I wish I had invented.....

OOPS.

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/zipstitch-makes-it-a-cinch-to-close-wounds-in-the-field/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=20201129&utm_campaign=WOS&tp=i-1NHD-Il-56-2dcy-1c-2up-1c-iN-1Gmr-l5OtbTFj2s-fOkwj&submeta=WOMSPACES

 

Also known as butterfly stitches.  You can do the same thing with strips of medical tape.

[calfoxwc]

 

[calfoxwc]

 

[calfoxwc]

so... been studying plant medicine. It's fascinating. Been studying foraging. Starting to work on a new book. We've been doing crossword puzzles - I'm getting better at it.

  Been dehydrating foods. did a few packages of carrots. and another big carton of the nice bigger blueberries. Did more cabbage.

and for the first time, I did a whole three pounds of large green grapes. They were kinda "eh" - so I took all of them, washed them all, and cut each one in half.

   They turned out to be the biggest, most outstanding tasting raisins? I've ever tried. They put raisins you buy in the store on the "eh" list.

    I checked out my dried mango slices from the summer last year. They are EXCELLENT. Btw, I blanched the grapes for about 30 secs, because they take so long to dry. I didn't log the hrs, I will next time. But it's over two days.

  I also dehydrated some sweet potato and red potato slices. Now, generally, you have to blanch vegetables. I tried blanching the blueberries, it isn't necessary, and kinda dumb because they get so soft in only a few seconds. Won't do that again - not necessary.

  American Indian tribes knew a LOT about how to use plants. Reading the science behind why they do work - is amazing.

I'm worried about our country. I have some liberal friends who are, too - they've asked me for advice on buying a bunch of seed and how to start a garden. That's a very bad sign.

   globalism devastated the EU - Britain bailed. China is failing/flailing, giant storms have wiped out a huge amount of wheat and corn crops (and soybean...) from floods and tornadoes. The new age utopian globalist green deal will skyrocket electricity and gas prices - and all hell will break loose economically. I say, it WILL HAPPEN if they actually persist. Does anybody think they won't?

    Every long once in a while, I try to get the old farmer friend across the way...to start raising buffalo, moose or elk so we can buy meat from him. I do it just to make him laugh.

   a lot of folks are going to be out of work. I hope not, but I fear so. 

  The leftwing socialist/globalists/communists want to sell out America to the global economy - they will get big money in return.

They have been doing ANYTHING to get all the power. It looks like they will have done it - only a fool will refuse to think they won't do whatever is necessary to never lose total power. Or they would have to start all over again, trying to take over permanently again.

   It's just a recipe for disaster that has been proven to happen historically in other countries for centuries.

and the left is going to try to bake America into their globalist poison cake.

Agenda 21/30. Look it up, folks.

  And check out dehydrators - they don't cost all that much. 

 

[TexasAg1969]

4 hours ago, calfoxwc said:

so... been studying plant medicine. It's fascinating. Been studying foraging. Starting to work on a new book. We've been doing crossword puzzles - I'm getting better at it.

  Been dehydrating foods. did a few packages of carrots. and another big carton of the nice bigger blueberries. Did more cabbage.

and for the first time, I did a whole three pounds of large green grapes. They were kinda "eh" - so I took all of them, washed them all, and cut each one in half.

   They turned out to be the biggest, most outstanding tasting raisins? I've ever tried. They put raisins you buy in the store on the "eh" list.

    I checked out my dried mango slices from the summer last year. They are EXCELLENT. Btw, I blanched the grapes for about 30 secs, because they take so long to dry. I didn't log the hrs, I will next time. But it's over two days.

  I also dehydrated some sweet potato and red potato slices. Now, generally, you have to blanch vegetables. I tried blanching the blueberries, it isn't necessary, and kinda dumb because they get so soft in only a few seconds. Won't do that again - not necessary.

  American Indian tribes knew a LOT about how to use plants. Reading the science behind why they do work - is amazing.

  And check out dehydrators - they don't cost all that much.

I'm surprised at you cal. You usually don't mix politics on this thread, so I'll take out where it started to deviate and respond to the rest plus a prior discussion.

I think the one thing I would like to learn more about is the creation of jerky. I don't deer hunt anymore, but it would be nice to know how you make beef jerky from

store bought beef. It was a common knowledge kind of thing back in the wilderness days of this country for those who lived in or on the edge of the true wilderness.

I did find this youtube on making it with a dehydrator. Have you tried that? And what brand of dehydrator did you get. BTW you won't find me making raisins. Just never

liked the taste.

As to prior discussion my friend with the range was out of the state and did not return until I had gone to Colorado already. So since we are both back now I arranged to

go out there and sight in my new laser sight on my Ruger 9mm this coming Tuesday. Also going to do some shooting with my ancient classic (I know it's ancient because I

 bought it the year after I returned from Vietnam) .357 Mag Ruger Blackhawk. I rarely shoot it but I have some ammo for it I bought just before the run on ammo made it hard

to find, so may as well bring out the ole six-shooter. 🤠

Anyway here's the youtube. Let me know if it works if you try it with your dehydrator. 

 

[TexasAg1969]

On 12/8/2020 at 7:01 AM, calfoxwc said:

 

And for a real backup I notice he puts my Blackhawk at #2. I like this guy's takes on weapons-have watched many of them over the years.

 

[DieHardBrownsFan]

[calfoxwc]

  Sorry, Tex, but it seems to fit. and I was in a rambling mood.

We have friends to want us to go to Yellowstone with them, they love to hike.

They don't camp though, and it was to be this year.

right. Two more people we know, one a close friend in NC have tested positive for covid. No time to get careless yet.

Our other friends want us to go several places out west, etc and go camping, they have a cool small trailer, we love tent camping. Every so often, I watch some show or read a story about how some family, person, friends go into the outdoors for a day hike, or a drive through mountain road in winter, and have tragedy, near tragedy strike. And I keep remembering how it took only maybe one second to two seconds of carelessness that caused me to have slipped into that spring in dangerous winter conditions.

    So, for years I've studied wilderness survival. Funny though, I never get to go out into the wild and practice all the stuff I know. I really could go out into our woods and "survive" for three days, but I know our woods, all 18 acres.

   We have a Nesco American Heritage dehydrator and jerky maker. Although, I've never used it to make jerky - always used the oven at the lowest setting for that, I might try it though eventually. I bought a dozen extra trays - I can really stack it up. The dehydrated onion rings were really good, too. A little sweeter than the sweet onion itself. I will watch the video later, maybe try it. But I try to make jerky without the sodium nitrate crap. Not good for ya. So I end up keeping it frozen or in the fridge for a few months.

   I don't care much for the raisins in the stores. I do at first, but the taste starts to get to me. But the dehydrated grapes are fantastic - no weird taste. I don't know yet how they make them, but mine are outstanding, I could munch on them all day.

  Back in the depression days, I've often been told about it in my life - my parents lived on farms - they did fine. They pretty much had anything they needed. So many stories. But obviously- those in towns/cities were devastated. Sometimes families on the move would stop in and ask if they could work for a little food to get them further on their way - they always helped them.

For years I've just wanted to learn to be self-sufficient in case something country wide caused serious grief supply wise/health wise... in the past, we have bailed out other countries. What would happen if we had to go through a devastating crop/economic crash/whatever? What would happen if 4 or six of us went on a car day trip while on vacation, and hiked 5 miles to a great fishing lake? and late in the day, hike back to the car, but the car is gone? Fifteen miles back? Weather goes bad? What would we do with no way to start a fire or build a shelter or filter water?

    What would happen if we go canoeing and a big storm comes in and blows us to the far side of a big wilderness lake and we're stuck on some shore? It's like the family who took a wrong turn on a winter trip, and ended up stranded in a blizzard, miles from being found, and nobody knows they are there...that actually did happen to us, four of us in a big rowboat when I was a kid...we were drenched, badly chilled, but luckily the storm passed after while, and we got back to our car before dark.

   Anyways, we've already had store shelves be empty due ti the rush of panic ? buying from the covid shutdown.

A good friend moved to Colorado they want us to come visit. My ccw instructor friend says he will lend me the perfect rifle for big game hunting. That would be awesome. You can bet I would ship steaks etc back home.

[TexasAg1969]

Your story about the rowboat is one which unfortunately an acquaintance of mine had that turned out very badly. He was a scuba diving instructor and an excellent swimmer as was his teenage son. They were out fishing with another friend and his son during a warm spell in winter on Granger Lake near here when a bad norther blew in quickly dropping the temps well below freezing and with such a blow that it swamped their boat spilling them all. The other man and his son likely drowned immediately and their bodies were not found until the winter lake waters warmed up in the spring. My new friend and his son were able to get a rope over the now upside down boat and tied themselves to either end to keep each other as close to the middle as possible and in the hopes that if either could no longer function, the other would still have him in tow.  But the wind took them all the way across the lake and they both died of exposure. The bodies were found that way still tied together on either side of the hull against the opposite shore. It was a real tragedy in the small town of Taylor where they all lived and knew everyone. 

So you are very lucky to have survived that incident. More often than not it just doesn't work out well.

[calfoxwc]

2 hours ago, TexasAg1969 said:

Your story about the rowboat is one which unfortunately an acquaintance of mine had that turned out very badly. He was a scuba diving instructor and an excellent swimmer as was his teenage son. They were out fishing with another friend and his son during a warm spell in winter on Granger Lake near here when a bad norther blew in quickly dropping the temps well below freezing and with such a blow that it swamped their boat spilling them all. The other man and his son likely drowned immediately and their bodies were not found until the winter lake waters warmed up in the spring. My new friend and his son were able to get a rope over the now upside down boat and tied themselves to either end to keep each other as close to the middle as possible and in the hopes that if either could no longer function, the other would still have him in tow.  But the wind took them all the way across the lake and they both died of exposure. The bodies were found that way still tied together on either side of the hull against the opposite shore. It was a real tragedy in the small town of Taylor where they all lived and knew everyone. 

So you are very lucky to have survived that incident. More often than not it just doesn't work out well.

Sorry to hear, so tragic - exposure is so dangerous - hypo and hyper thermia. That is sad. Back in the day, we bought a lake erie boat, a bayliner cabin cruiser, twin inboard v-6's. Very cool. One day, we had great weather, and went with my Dad up to the lake, and the stupid lake had 1-2 whitecaps. They said it was because of a big storm over in Canada..... we were out a good ways, '

   We didn't go out all that far... on the way out, we saw a rowboat. Yes, a rowboat going off in a different direction. We were fishing, caught a few smallmouth, it got windier and the white caps started to grow, we decided to go in.........and I saw a distress flare go up, and with my binoculars, well further out on the lake...sometimes I could see that same rowboat, swamped. I got on the radio as we headed out to rescue them, and just before I got to call the Coast Guard, I saw a Coast Guard vessel high speeding their direction.

   A rowboat. Well out on Lake Erie. what in the......... they were lucky. Looked like three teenage guys when we saw them early on.

Over the years, we've taught kids how to shoot, ride a four wheeler, took kids camping for the first time, and there have been times when I took friends' kids hiking in our woods, and taught them some small stuff about outdoor stuff. That is great fun. I may volunteer to teach a survival class to kids at an activity farm. It's a ways away, but it would be fun to do. So many kids don't know about the outdoors. Our friends' kids - their family never, ever went outdoors camping, fishing, nothing. So, they loved going with us. And their son is a serious avid outdoorsman - winter camping, hunting/fishing, hiking.....

[DieHardBrownsFan]

Lake Erie has killed many a fool.

[TexasAg1969]

I learned from the unfortunate experience of my friend who died not to go out on my small sailing kayak during the winter months. Even though I have never turned it over because of it's two outriggers, I know destiny could choose the first time to be during a northerly gale with below freezing temps that would that would end this fool's life. 😇

One of the things I have enjoyed about COVID is taking my wife on long walks and helping her learn all about the various birds we see, the feathers that come from them and the calls they make. Of course the mockingbirds still fool her because they have such varied and individual songs, plus they love to imitate other birds. I wish she had been on my long hike with me this morning down the Good Water Trail on the west side of Lake Georgetown. I hiked to an area called Crockett Garden Falls which feeds an underground stream out of the side of a limestone cliff and on down into the lake. But in the lake part as I walked back a different way to get back on the trail, there as a flock of about 20-25 Wood Ducks which I think are the most beautiful bird in our part of the U.S. They rival McCaws as far as being the prettiest I've ever seen. I just stood and admired for the longest time what nature places before us. I did not take this picture, but just wanted to show their beauty.

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-symantec-ext_onb&hsimp=yhs-ext_onb&hspart=symantec&p=crockett+gardens+and+falls+georgetown+tx#id=4&vid=231e06fcb5df2e8ec0b1c7cb31608cef&action=view   And a more professional video on the falls themselves. https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-symantec-ext_onb&hsimp=yhs-ext_onb&hspart=symantec&p=crockett+gardens+and+falls+georgetown+tx#id=5&vid=b08375ff8b57095a8bdeaf657a02627d&action=view

[calfoxwc]

Oh, man. There are so many gorgeous parts of America we want to see....

[TexasAg1969]

Ron White discussing Grizzly country. 😂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzusOg66rCQ

[calfoxwc]

so...I've spent this winter studying wild plant edibles and herbal medicine. Really fascinating.

I've made dandelion jelly, which drew raves from friends - it's like a slightly apple-apricot? great taste.

pine needle tea is really good. Forgot to try dandelion or chicory coffee...

been dehydrating grapes and potatoes, sweet, white and red. The grapes turn out like flat raisins, only far

better tasting that the raisins you buy in a store. I've made scalloped potatoes with dehydrated potatoes and it turns out excellent.

I have dried mango slices that are outstanding a year later. I plan to try making acorn flour...a lot of things. It's just important to study to know some look-alikes that are poisonous, like wild grapes. Make sure they have multiple small seeds.

going to plant a "survival garden", add more vegetables to dehydrate, and are easier to store and cook up.

maybe plant a few acres of barley for flour. I'm shopping for a grain grinder to make my own flour out of wild seeds and that barley.... So much to do.

  Economic experts are saying we are headed for a crash. Be prepared folks.

[TexasAg1969]

4 hours ago, calfoxwc said:

so...I've spent this winter studying wild plant edibles and herbal medicine. Really fascinating.

I've made dandelion jelly, which drew raves from friends - it's like a slightly apple-apricot? great taste.

pine needle tea is really good. Forgot to try dandelion or chicory coffee...

been dehydrating grapes and potatoes, sweet, white and red. The grapes turn out like flat raisins, only far

better tasting that the raisins you buy in a store. I've made scalloped potatoes with dehydrated potatoes and it turns out excellent.

I have dried mango slices that are outstanding a year later. I plan to try making acorn flour...a lot of things. It's just important to study to know some look-alikes that are poisonous, like wild grapes. Make sure they have multiple small seeds.

going to plant a "survival garden", add more vegetables to dehydrate, and are easier to store and cook up.

maybe plant a few acres of barley for flour. I'm shopping for a grain grinder to make my own flour out of wild seeds and that barley.... So much to do.

  Economic experts are saying we are headed for a crash. Be prepared folks.

My grandmother with the place in the country had wild Mustang Grapes growing all along one of their fences between the woods and the Bermuda hay fields and made the best Mustang Grape jam. There was also a place near her I would go pick a bunch of wild dewberries for her to make jam from those as well. I now regret I was just a young pre-teen with not enough sense to see how she made it since the recipe likely came from their old homestead she was raised on that her grandfather had settled in the 1840s on the edge of Comancheria. BTW that thing on Crockett Gardens I posted above is a spring that was used by both Comanches and later settlers in the area since the water is pure from being filtered through the limestone. Under where the lake is now their are old areas where both had lived over the centuries. Anyway in looking up Mustang grapes I found this website I thought you'd like cal.

https://texaspreppersnetwork.blogspot.com/2010/04/wild-grapes-in-texas-mustang-grapes.html#:~:text=Wild Grapes in Texas - Mustang Grapes. There,and the Winter Grape (Vitis cinerea var. helleri).

EDIT: Oh, it was used by the Tonkawas before the Comanches moved in and ran 'em off. You can still find arrowheads from both in that area if you get lucky.

[calfoxwc]

I'll keep it in mind - we may still go to Texas and visit close friends in McKinney.

There is a new show on the weather channel - "Could You Survive".

One of the dire situations - a hiker went to Estes Park and fell over the side of the mountain...

maybe Long's Peak? but he told friends he was going to the other side from where he fell.

Broke his hip etc, lucky to get found. Really a great show. You hike a lot - I hope you have a survival

backpack. Fire, shelter, water...first aid....don't be the only one who knows where you went etc.

FYI, I have had a ferro striker for years - got it out, and tried it - didn't throw sparks much at all. cheap kmart thing. Now I have a few quality ones, they flash sparks so it could save your life.

   So many folks walk into unknown disaster because they figure nothing happens, so they are fine.

Until it does. I bought my first book on survival in the sixth grade after a close call. I still have it today. Dad and I loved that old

Herter's catalog.