35 years of Alaska packs and Survival

Thought I would share with you the most comfortable day/expedition pack I have ever used. $70.00

http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/k...ngpacks002.jpg

Sportsmans Guide has been carrying a lot of Fox tactical packs for sale for a while. The expedition pack on the right has become my bugout pack and is ready for 5 days gone as it sets. Though I did not buy the pack through Sportsmans it did cause me to go to their website. SInce they do not sell to the general public I was extremely happy to find that at least one mistake was made and I ended up with this incredible pack.
1. Note the orange handle of my Gerber machete. There is nothing but a stiffening board for the pack untill I put a boat type cutting board and my machette in this zippered slot.
2. The wood balls which are going to be replaced shortly are to keep slung guns from sliding off the shoulders all day. Hands free on the gun unless one takes a forward dive.
3. The pack has two side pounches that are easily accessed and a front pouch which I modified for my needs. Initually that front pouch dropped and made a extention back from the pack allowing one to put sleeping bags,pads, etc on the front of the pack. I actually cut all straps and attachment hardware off so I could access the pocket without removing the pack and turning it upside down. I then used beaners to reattach the front pouch to the molle strap systm,. note; There are molle straps everywhere.
4. Not visible in this picture. This day pack has a separate compartment in which the bottom circumferance of the pack unzips and the entire bottom drops 6-8 inches allowing for a separate zip compartment for more storage!!
5. Currently I did not want to unpack the pack, so shown on the floor is what was in another pack. But is also contained in the day pack. The 48" sleeping pad weighs 2 pounds. The sleeping bag though a summer 40 degree bag also 2 pounds works awesome getting the wife warm in the winter when used along with a poncho over clothing. -35 windchill and she can smile has to be a good thing. Now if you take our two ponchos and velcro them together and each has either the poncho liners or the sleeping bag pictured this setup works great for an accidental overnight sheep camp.

6. The stove pictured works fair in freezing temperatures and will cook a meal but I like my Wisperlite white gas or any type of fuel stoves when the temps get cold. When it is above freezing this Jetboil has no peers for rapid boiling of water. It flat out gets-r-done. Friends that use to have various cooking stoves stopped using their other stoves after seeing I was eating and done before they had water boilig in many cases used my stove. They now own their own jetboil system. What is neat with this system is the top container and the stove slot together so heat doesn't escape and this system is hard to tip over. My jetboil fork,spoon,spatula,handle and frying pan along with the stove all fit in one tight packed kit like pictured.

Currently the pack on the right is the most comfortable up to 35 pounds pack I have ever had on my body. As pictured the pack is not full and I am walking with this pack at 35 pounds getting ready for an August sheep hunt. I have carried this pack most of the winter and was a wonderful addition to my winter snowshoeing. To date I can not say enough good about this pack. It is somewaht heavy in my opinion empty but the material,zippers and workmanship appear to be quite good. If it starts to fray I have an awl and the needed stuff in the pack to fix anything. SO far I have carried a lot of weight for several hundred miles without sign of coming apart. The other two packs have been on this old body for 35 years and are my go to heavy load meat and or hide packs. I have also modified them to my frame and needs as well.

If there is any interest I would be happy to take the different items contained in this pack apart and show what is actually inside. SO let me know if there is interest. This day pack as stated is my grab and gone pack. The entire thing is a survival kit.

Neal

Nice one Neal, Now if i could still carrie one i would be happy.
Thanks Larry

Which one of these is it?

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/s...actical&eMode=

Lets see how this link posts smokey.

Definitely the one.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/c....aspx?a=609164

Neal

Neal,

I had a chance to handle the Fox tactical products at the SHOT show this year and they felt pretty substantial for the price-point they are being offered at. People need to understand the reason these are being offered for the low price is because of where they are made - China IIRC.

I have been curious as to how they would hold up to serious use - as compared to the Maxpedition & Voodoo Tactical products..

How long have you had your pack and have you used it for general camping/packing?

Winter started in November so pretty much 5 months of stead every week several times a week use.

I concurred about China and would not have purchased the pack if I would have realized it was made in China. Now that this pack has got my attention I would buy it again! However I had to choose what I wanted or be disappointed by yet another day pack that fell apart because of who made it or the price I was unwilling to pay.

This pack is used and hard. 35 pound loads are a lot for a typical day pack and I have a number that have come apart. We have been going out of our way to make sure to try everything out regardless of the weather and it was a huge miserable winter that will have killed another 80% of our game once more. I did use a great water proof/repel spray that for the most part I never had stuff inside get wet. There are drain grommets inside the pockets however to let the water out. Indicating to me that it isn't suppose to be waterproof.

This does day and weekend camps with plenty of room to spare. I do vacuum seal and make my own meals so my stuff takes up less room than canned or packet freeze dried or MRE's. I am positive that I can do a 5 day backpack trip and have room for everything including my Sierra Design
4 season backpacker tent. However I like my externals for 50+ pound packs because they disperse the load better and I can add another 60 pounds of boned sheep meat.. This last statement hasn't been tried with this new pack, but other lessor packs have come apart with lighter loads.

http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/k...over/001-9.jpg

My raingear go under and behind the beaner pouch on the front so I do not have to get into the pack or put wet gear inside of a dry compartment.
There are loops for bags or what have you on the bottom of the pack. I made straps from the buckles and straps I cut off the front bag for carrying anything I want on the outside. On the left shoulder strap I carry a mounted watch and compass. As one can see, I can put a lot on the outside.

Neal
Neal

Greatly appreciate the feedback and glad to hear it's positive.

For the pricepoint I believe I will pick it up.

The areas I live and travel around on the MS Gulf Coast & the MS River don't get the extreme weather AK does, but the temps can get down to quite uncomfortable levels ;D and the rain can sit in for a while.

As I get closer to retirement I am looking for things to do that will get me out of the house and stay active (when the second career will allow). I am looking at buying a fishing kayak and doing some camping.

I need a pack that can carry what I need for a couple days. Waterproof is not absolutely necessary as I have drybags if needed. I tend to pack my clothes in gallon ziplock bags to ensure they stay dry and pack smaller (learned that from touring on a motorcycle).

I figure with hunting season winding down and snow on the ground it time to visit this as it is time to start our fun time of the year. Many start thinking about Christmas and gaining a bit of weight and basically hibernating for the winter.

A number of years ago I decided it wasn't good to gain that weight and a real pain to get rid of it now.

That day or 3 night pack mentioned is still going strong. As of yet we haven't changed any of our habits so to speak except it is my idea that when the blizzard is coming Lisa and I hopefully will take off and set up camp somewhere in the heart of the storm just to challenge ourselves. in searching for some information on stuff I accidentally found some video's that someone really did some nice work showing how we live in Alaska.
At least for those of us who actually go out into the wilds.

Enjoy
Neal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-ldQ...endscreen&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfRovJ1KcCg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ksyivTxZzw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGIFS3EI1KY

Very interesting info.

Most things take practice and time.

Like the meal pictured below. This is home made venison hash with potatoes/onions and ground flax seeds with 12 grain biscuits (ground myself)that I have made a number of times at home. A cup of the hash will last me six hours of hiking/hunting.

My new fox call should be here tomorrow and I am headed out to set up camp Friday.

http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/k...dKodiak003.jpg

Neal

Neal,

That looks like one fine meal right there!!! And I just had lunch!

I've always wanted to try living like you are, use to read everything I could get my hands on about it as a kid. It's good to know there are those among us who are living the dream and sharing it with us wanna be's.

Jim you are welcome to come anytime. I just checked out a place that is only 15 miles from my house. It is a penninsula 200 yards out into the ocean. Hidden in behind military property with a big do not enter. It is a steep climb down to it but I can canoe around if I wish. I also know of a long wet flat walk to this spot as well. SInce there is nothing but serious brush,deer and rabbits there not many people will ever go there.

200 yard range with awesome backstop and not a soul around! Oh nearly forgot that on the other side of that big rock is very deep ocean which should hold plenty of supper fun!

I am picking up drift wood and building a wood pile in anticipation of me going back tomorrow and putting up my lean-to frame and digging my fire pit.
Neal

http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/k...ampsite006.jpg

That is ocean behind me and to the right of the big rock outcropping.

That's just beautiful! I may just take you up on that visit sometime in the next couple of years.

I'm still getting over an injury from work from over a year ago. Slow recovery but hopefully I fully recover by this time next year anyway.

From around 8 years old into my late teens, I had always dreamed about homesteading in the Yukon or coastal Alaska. Jack London's Call of The Wild started it.

Got out of school and started making some pretty good money for non-college grad. That job lasted 9 1/2 years during which time I got married and started a family of 5 kids......needless to say where all the money went after that. :o

I can't really complain but the older I get, the more I often wonder what a life up there would have been like.

There was a buddy of mine on these forums a while back named Outlawkyote.........lived on the Wyoming Montana border....nearly moved up there around him a couple of years ago but family issues (kids maturing, marrying and getting out totally on their own and wife's retirement) got in the way of that.

Perhaps the closest I'll get is a nice vacation up there at some point. I enjoy reading your stuff about living up there. It certainly beats the crap they put on TV shows about it. Everything I've ever read about it says those TV shows are full of BS for the most part!

BTW..post the results of your fox hunts!

October is the latest I have experienced Alaska. I've missed the last two years because of health issues, but I usually go visit family at Eagle River in mid August. In the years I've been visiting Alaska, I've been everywhere you can drive from Anchorage on paved highways and a few non paved ones as well. Someday before I die, I am going to make it to Nome and pan for gold on the beach. Alaska gets in your blood for sure.. Jim

In the past 6 weeks we have had 4 weeks of 40-42 degree temps. When the last picture was taken the temp was below freezing. We actually had a couple weeks of single digit weather.
I picked up a baby Rocket stove to add to my collection of things at the above campsite. Type in Rocket stove and watch all the different video's on rocket stove. It works exactly like indicated in the video's. I have to see if I can find an old coleman oven to go with my stoves now and I will be completely independant and able to do anything at the campsite. The only tracks I have seen in this area are rabbit,fox and deer. Large flocks of ducks and geese are in this small cove every time we show up. With the warm weather I am very hesitant in taking fox as I am afraid of seeing that the hide is not prime.

We are going to the camp site today though it is raining and blowing 60 MPH. Must experience all the different weather outlooks and see what can be improved upon if needed.

This is a picture of a full sized rocket stove. It heats water in my canner to boiling as fast as a propane cook stove. It is called a rocket stove because of the rocket sound it makes when burning..( Extremely efficient) My packer stove is 12" High and the feed/air tube is 12" as well.

http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps19c8cfbe.jpg

http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps3bc79baa.jpg

Neal

Now that's some tuff weather to be outdoors in!!! Windchill would be unreal!

Did you buy that stove or make it? If you get a chance, post a side view of it also.

I've seen those made/used in 3rd world countries out of fire brick or pottery....

You are right on Jim. The concept came from the indians in the Dakotas. They dug a large and small hole in the hardpan then connected the two holes underground.
1. It stopped above ground fires during windy times.
2. No flame to be seen by their enemies.
3. Cook food rapidly as it is like a blow torch

Fortunately this little oasis only gets wind from one direction and it never blows from that direction for the most part. Kind of brightened up with light fog and drizzle about the time my wife took the picture. It is 39 degrees and light fog with no wind here. The Rocket Stove is actually boiling water on the left side of the fire pit. Water is actually running across the ground on top of the ice under my feet.

With this spot looking like one would not want to walk the mile from the car through the brush and down a very steep hill no one goes here. SO all game already knows this so we watched about a 100 ducks from the fire pit and bunches of geese hide from the hunters several miles away around the corner in another easy access bay. Deer, fox and hare sign everywhere including right in camp.

This morning its 38 degrees blowing 40 mph!

http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps58ee7968.jpg

Neal

On the picture above one can see water standing on the ground under where I am sitting.

It got worse.

Had to do something better than pictured with the rocket stove. The stove boiled water in the light drizzle well But the following two days that same wind with heavy rain found all wood saturated.

So I dropped a couple self- lighting briquettes in the bottom of the stove and got them going which in turn dried out the fire material.
It also made the fire much hotter when it finally did take off and the fire lasted a lot longer!

Since I have a couple tents with vestibules I figure I can leave the door on the back packer tent open to the vestibule. The rocket stoves does not burn with spark so I just put a pot on the vented top of the rocket as seen in the picture. I think that Briquettes and twigs will literally drive one out of our 4 season back pack tent.

Check out the enclosed link and watch the video. Boil water and cook a steak at the same time and still burns on the same principle as the rocket stove sure has my attention. No buying fire material (petroleum) unless you are living in a really wet climate like me. A baggy of charcoal is quite cheap fire starter to carry in the pack.

http://kellykettle.com/

That Kelly kettle in SS would make a dandy setup! Aluminum may get hot enough to melt....If I'm reading right there is a base camp model that has cosmetic defects for around $100 USD......very interesting!

If you decide to get one, do a review on it here.

Found a USA website for orders here:

http://www.kellykettleusa.com/

If you're camp fire is hot enough to melt aluminum you've got way too big of a camp fire! LOL

My preferred solo camp cookware is the GSI Outdoors Halulite Ketlist for around $35. http://www.gsioutdoors.com/products/...lite_ketalist/

http://www.gsioutdoors.com/resources..._g-486x376.jpg

Good product Jim: I went to the skirted jetboil type pots because I can boil water in 1/2 or less time. The fins around the bottom of the pan really make a difference in high winds. I do like the kettle you show here for 4-wheeler or vehicle camps. Really enjoy my tea when I get back to camp.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=ut...20system&type=

Apache: Three of us are ordering the Kelly Kettle- getting away from petroleum products is it for me. Saves weight in my backpack hunts and airlines have become a giant pain with empty fuel cells and actually take my fuel bottles and the canisters used for my jetboils can not be taken on a plane period. Aluminum melts at 825 to 1240 F depending on composition. I am thinking Jim with all the aluminum pots and pans it should be a safe from melting product.

Now that you mention it, you're right about the aluminum......but I would prefer the stainless for durability if weight isn't a big issue. I think I'm gonna get the ss base camp model by the end of this month.

I saw this pack and it looks nice, but is quite expensive.

Come now Apache, with all that shrimp money you Louisianian's have you can easily afford the uber-lightweight Titanium camping cookware. LOL

:p Choot 'em Jim !!! AAAAAeeeeeee!



Sorry Neal!




:focus:

Getting things back on topic...I needed a new multi-day pack a little over a year ago and try as I might I had a real hard time finding anything with an external frame. For some strange reason all the manufacturers have gone to these new-fangled internal frame packs. Don't they know such monstrosities don't give you anywhere to strap on extra gear, plus they don't give you that space between your back and the pack so it doesn't get all hot and sweaty and uncomfortable? Took me awhile, but I did finally manage to track down the Alpine Mountaineering Zion 3900 for around $100. Really wanted something in the 4500+ cubic inch range, but they simply don't exist now in an external frame pack.

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/s...1073/cat100855

I found the following pack 10-12 years ago at a garage sale here for $25. for Lisa. It is tough- light-plus she can get into everything without removing anything. Initually I could never find anything like Jim that would fit her slight frame so had Kelty modify a nice internal frame to fit her. That was 17 years ago and it is still going strong. Like Jim I don't like the internals because they cause me to sweat and aweful lot. For extended packs of 1-3 weeks I have to deal with sore spots from being wet even though its not raining.

The site below has bunches of external frame packs.
http://www.amazon.com/JanSport-Scout...Frame+Backpack

35 years ago I bought my first Camp Trails Freighter and have never looked back. Actually I have 4 of them as they were being sold at a couple yard sales for $10. and I just could not pass them up. One was actually a small frame external that kind of fit my wife. I took one of the mesh back supports off one pack and attached it on my main freighter along with the one that is already there. Lots of air movement now.

http://www.outdoorreview.com/cat/pro...9_2958crx.aspx

Had the following link sent to me last night by a friend in New Mexico who is buying a Kelly Kettle. I was not aware that someone had made a small wood gas stove. Looks like it should be another worth trying out. One that also has a large for pot size burn area where I could put some type of burn tinder for my ultra wet climate.

Neal
http://www.solostove.com/solo-stove/

Ut oh....You're going to be the cause of me spending more money Neal as I'm really liking the Alpz Outdoorz Commander Pack at the Amazon link. It's a little heavy though at 7lb - 5oz. compared to my current pack's 4lb - 15oz. I do like the larger (5200ci) size and fold-down tray to support heavier loads though. Hmmm....

http://www.amazon.com/ALPS-OutdoorZ-...ref=pd_sbs_a_2

Manufacturer's Page:
http://www.alpsoutdoorz.com/outdoorz...g#.UOYMV3fseAk

Jim did you get that pack ordered?
I ordered that solo stove and it should be here tomorrow.

Been really terrible weather since Christmas, raining off most of our lower elevation snow. While everyone was watching football or generally hanging out looking at the ice covered everything Lisa and I went out and worked at building a fire with ice covered wood. Brickets started the show and after 30 minutes we droped some ice wood on the fire. ANother 30 minutes and we spooned red hot brickets into the rocket stove and added wood to cook potatoes and veggies with our sausages. No petroleum but it did take a bit to dry wood out.

You just never know what you will see in the wilds. We saw easily 500 ducks in our little hidden cove along with these swans. Note the ice on the vegitation.
http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/k...pse479031b.jpg


http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/k...pscc515f2a.jpg

Jim, pls share with us how the alps pack works with a rifle, I like it how they have the rifle is on the side.

Well, I didn't order the Alps pack - I ended up finding a very lightly used Eberlestock Skycrane II on Ebay for less than half the price of a new one and couldn't pass it up. My thinking is that with it's versatility and expandability it will serve all my needs, be it for a day hike or a week-long jaunt along the Appalachian Trail.

The Fanny Pack/Go-Bag offers 300ci of space which is perfect for a couple energy bars, my cell and/or GPS, and a 1-liter water bladder for an afternoon hike.
The Little Brother pack has a 1,800ci capacity and will work great for a full day or overnight pack.
The main chassis/bag offers 2,375ci of space which when combined with the above two packs (4,475ci total) should be about right for a 3-5 excursion.
The Super Spike Duffel can add an additional 2,900ci of space if/when needed for a total of 7,375ci

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...h_DSC00749.jpg - http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...h_DSC00750.jpg

Looks great Jim-

We have added to our do-it-yourself kit "without" petroleum products some weeks back with the solo stove. Kind of the same principle as the rocket stove but weighs 9 oz! Remember that we live in a very wet climate and many times windy so being able to start this thing is only half the battle as the wood is wet or damp year round here. However the Briquette in a plastic bag weighs virtually nothing for a gallon bag of them. Starting them with vasoline soaked cotton balls was easy. Three briquettes will dry out all soaked wood and cooks food or boils water just fine. 3 briquettes at a time and our 10 pound bag of them will last a very long time. A gallon bag of them wil last 7-10 days and weighs virtually nothing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=C7-TqfYT6Co

The last few weeks I have been using various types of alcohol products as well and all work including "Gasline Antifreeze". The gasline works the best.

Conclusion: I have a super-light burn most anything cook stove and when using the titanium wind sheld with jetboil finned base pot it cooks rapidly and efficiently.

In the past we have just put our normal packs into the canoe when we are taking water trips on the ocean or rivers. The problem in the past with this method is the packs always seem to get wet from me switching sides with the paddle.
Recently I added a dry bag concept pack to the family. If it posts this is a picture of a 65 liter dry bag with padded shoulder and waste straps. This has turned out to be awesome in that each bag will float a lot of gear as well as me if the unthinkable happens. The dry bag is absolutely dry and waterproof under every condition I have found. I would have to put cloth between it and I or something for air movement for longer portages in the summer.


http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/k...psc2f8d019.jpg Retail $60. www.bridgeoutdoors.com

I use an Wolfman Luggage Expedition Dry Duffel to haul my camping gear on the motorcycle. I got the small size which is just long enough for my Eureka Apex II tent to fit in length-wise. It's the only thing I've been able to find thus far that has kept my stuff 100% dry in the nastiest rain while running 60-90mph down the interstate.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...4/Worlman2.jpg

This meal sure looks good Neal! Looks like it would stick to your ribs good to. Thanks.

Thank you it was!
Just finished smoking 40 salmon fillets. Using the new back packing equipment, canoeing and 4-wheeling. To date the inside of the camo daypack has had all the waterproofing peel off.
The waterproof bags are doing great and are still waterproof.

What I especially like about the shoulder/waste belt dry bags is they stay packed and are easy to move from 4-wheeler to canoe. Two large 3000 inch cube dry bags. One goes on Lisa's bike and one on mine and we are set for weeks of fun and never have to open the bag unless we are washing dirty cloths or replacing food stuff.

I have a 8' X 8" tee pee that we have been camping in at only 8 pounds I think. It sure doesn't take up much room and with a flue hole we can have a toasty place to kick back if we want. Sure like being able to stand and dress and there is plenty of room to sleep, Lisa to do her knitting and me my rope work.

I am really liking my rocket stove and its light weight version for the dry bags. I am so happy with it I am going to make a rocket stove version on the back side of my fire pit here at home. I will be doing my canning and much cooking out on a larger version rocket stove. Why: is so economical and much faster than my electric stove in getting the canned goods up to temperature.
http://www.bridgeoutdoors.com/
Neal

My wife and I are really happy for you. You keep having a great time my friend. We hope our paths cross sometime down the road. Be safe.

Your Bio-lite wood burning stove charging your cell phone!

Not only does it charge your cell phone it actually has its own mini fan which turbo charges the flames inside making an awesome quick cooking fire. It starts with a basis like the rocket stove of burning anything. Hot and cold generates electricity which runs the little fan and with the grill it blows heat and smoke through the little grill top as well.
http://www.biolitestove.com/

Kind of spendy but it is awesome!

Neal

388Hammer, I too am interested in the "rocket stove" you have pictured on post #15. Can you tell us where you bought it. I have a very heavy, clay/metal rocket stove and it works fantastic but the one pictured there would be a great back packing tool.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wildcat hunter

388Hammer, I too am interested in the "rocket stove" you have pictured on post #15. Can you tell us where you bought it. I have a very heavy, clay/metal rocket stove and it works fantastic but the one pictured there would be a great back packing tool.

---

The picture on # 15 is home made and I do not know where to purchase one. I do know that the stove weighs in well past camping weight. Like maybe 10 pounds. I have sampled different designs and have concluded that square tubing cut to one's desired length and welded together top and bottom is really all one needs. Review the first rocket stove post/the little one. There is a cross bar, used as a foot and it is removable. That is all one needs. At another permanent camp sight I cut/split and covered a bunch of wood for cooking use and indoor heating. I am in the process of making one of these stoves to fit inside my 12' X 12' Teepee so I can heat and cook year around.
A lot has changed since I last spoke. The pack originally posted is still sound but the waterproofing flacked off do to Chinese quality. We went to the Osprey series of packs because of the awesome evaporation setup. On a hot day or a hard day of packing everyone sweats. The Osprey comes in different sizes and demands. Mine is a model 58 and my wife's is a model 46. Because of the design I can really feel the air/wind passing between me and the pack do to the ventilated suspension system shown.
The # 2 reason I like the Osprey setup is because I never ever during the course of a trip have to get into the main compartment to get into the extra food, sleeping system or the tent. There are external pockets everywhere and the only difference between those two packs pictured is the 46 does not have one of the two vertical external side pockets that my 58 has. My pack is on the left and has the bonnet open so you can better see what is up. I would have to write pages to tell you all the nooks and crannies of storage including the waste belt storage of my 2500degreelighter and fire starting material.

http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps8f410cde.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...410_em_1p_7_ti Everything this says is absolutely true! The only down side to this is it crinkles. But, a sleeping system that equals a med weight sleeping bag is way past cool.

There are a number of liners that we are putting inside of the above sleeping system like the SOL ultra to add a margin of warmth for winter camping. These two systems together with clothing will and has kept us warm for 5 hours at 22 degrees and a 25 mph wind!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SOL-Escape-L...p2054897.l4276

Got to run for now. Welding shops if you do not weld should not want much to make a simple circumference weld.

Neal

Very interesting thread!
I was a Boy Scout for 11 years(ages7-18) and learned a lot about cold weather camping and general backpacking. I have several related Merit Badges pertaining to everything you've talked about. My skills were tested several times over the years, we were above and beyond a Boy Scout Troop having trips planned at least twice a month. I've been rock climbing/repelling more times than people who live on mountains, rafted more than the Rivermen, and camped more than Mr. Kelty himself. Not fluffing up or blowing smoke, just a fact. We were EXTREMELY ACTIVE!!! The leader had his own canoes, rafts, climbing gear, and tents available for our use. A huge thanks to him!!!
But what I'm concerned with is your weight and items dealing with survival and Bug-Out scenarios. I've got a Kelty frame pack I had ordered from years ago when I first became a Scout(didn't do long term hikes in Cub and Weblow ranks), and it's going to be my BOB, it's held a weeks worth of gear and then some several occasions. It seems like what you deal with/do, weight isn't too much an issue.
My bag is more planned toward being the last time I leave behind the material things I don't need to survive the rest of my life.

I haven't weighed this or acquired all the items and the list is subject to change, but here goes:

Cold Steel G.I. Tanto knife
Stainless Mess Kit, skillet, 'plate', small pot w/ lid
1 Fork
Water Purification Tabs
Fleece Sleeping bag
Mil. Issue Green foam pad
2 Nalgene bottles
1 Mil. Issue plastic canteen
"Emergency" blanket
Ammo/Firearms
Survival Life fire starter/BIC lighter
Paracord, as much as I can tie onto anything and everything, hopefully a full 1,000ft

I don't carry a tent: I know how to make shelter in the woods or disaster landscapes
I don't carry raingear: see above
I don't carry food: I'll kill/gather/grow that
I don't carry water: I'll find that

Open to any suggestions for additions/removals of items and agreements/disagreements.

.
My bag is more planned toward being the last time I leave behind the material things I don't need to survive the rest of my life.

I haven't weighed this or acquired all the items and the list is subject to change, but here goes:

Cold Steel G.I. Tanto knife
Stainless Mess Kit, skillet, 'plate', small pot w/ lid
1 Fork
Water Purification Tabs
Fleece Sleeping bag
Mil. Issue Green foam pad
2 Nalgene bottles
1 Mil. Issue plastic canteen
"Emergency" blanket
Ammo/Firearms
Survival Life fire starter/BIC lighter


Paracord, as much as I can tie onto anything and everything, hopefully a full 1,000ft

I don't carry a tent: I know how to make shelter in the woods or disaster landscapes
I don't carry raingear: see above
I don't carry food: I'll kill/gather/grow that
I don't carry water: I'll find that

Open to any suggestions for additions/removals of items and agreements/disagreements.[/QUOTE]
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I do not quite understand the first sentence above. All my packs have a specific purpose. My external freighter packs have been my work horses since arriving in Alaska in 1974. My day packers are just that, day packers that double as whim overnighters. Jan- Dec
2013 found me walking 850 miles. October alone I walked 121 miles with the 30-35 pound Osprey pack. I have had up to 50 pounds of salmon in that pack.
I have been out in the wilds with the temperature below zero and by the end of the day it was forty degrees. In the old days of search and rescue we had to be prepared to survive every conceivable situation when dropped of to find a lost hunter or a down aircraft. This included the fact that one MUST be prepared that your ride out might be grounded (Helicopter) until the weather improved. So we have a standard 5 day survival scenario in our packs. I myself have 7-10daysworth of gear in mine and they run from 25-35 pounds.

Odwalla Meal bars and supplements added very little weight, just in case my Bear creek soups and stews ran out. When out on searches one does not have time to hunt or scavenge for food when a life is concerned so we are contained for all weather types and I have literally been out in 100 mph winds gusting to a high of 124mph long before cable news was around. I learned so much and incorporated that learning into the things I do today. I was out one day where they predicted 6-8 inches of snow. When the storm was over there was 8-12 foot drifts. We lost 90% of our deer population that year. I had to snow shoe to my wife's work at the hospital to take her snow shoes so she could get home. Snow equipment did not come out till the next day.

All areas of the world require different things to survive. But the basics are pretty much the same. If you are wet you must dry and be able to get out of a winter breeze. All of my outdoor clothing is some type of wool head to foot. I do not chaff and when climbing and packing I dry rapidly when the exertion changes. My # 1 item used is my steripen for purifying lowland or uncertain waters.

#2 Item are tampons: History- tampons were created a long time ago for the military to plug wound holes. They are in my med-surgical kit everywhere I go because they are contained in a sterol environment and are fantastic for wound care. They are also fantastic for removing material from my water. Steripen kills through microwave as I recall and the tampon removes debris.

There is a reason why we have an arctic Navy Seal training center here. Everything is evolving and what use to be state of the art in most cases even five years ago has something new and better today. EXCEPTION: Wool in my opinion has not been improved upon. I would be lost without my smart wool hoodies and hooded wool vests.

If there is any interest in this stuff maybe I will share spending 45 minutes in 38 degree water ( boating accident)when my friend was all but dead while wearing cotton.

Neal

The sentence you didn't understand means: I'm making a Bug Out Bag for when crap hits the fan, society collapses, apocalyptic catastrophe, global/US disaster situation, that kind of thing. I.E. 'prepping'

Your mind set is for Search and Rescue, or for Alaska/cold weather camping conditions specifically.

I'm asking for ideas and suggestions that have nothing to do with those things, directly.

I felt you seemed experienced in what I was asking, but maybe this isn't the right thread...