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Camping Trips as Training for WTSHTF, by DPM

In the times that may soon be upon us, we may need to live in a way we are not accustomed to or prepared for. I suggest camping as a method of acclimatization to those circumstances. My brother and I are avid campers. Usually getting up to higher elevations, at least 25 times a year. These are often not just overnighters but from two days to up to a week. My personal best year was 32 camping trips from mid February to as late as November, including a full week as a vacation. I have gotten too much sun on Saturday and snowed on, on Sunday of the same weekend. I have seen weekends when it rained the entire time, which limited some activities, to temps that were higher than average or expected. We reside in a desert valley, so I am conditioned to it.

On each of these occasions, I have been prepared with what I brought along. On several occasions we have invited friends, stating beforehand that they need to be prepared and put some thought into what they might need. It never fails that someone doesn't bring something that they needed. This was the case one very rainy weekend, when my brother and I fashioned ponchos out of large trash bags that I always have in my pack and in my truck. They can be used for a multitude of purposes, including (among others) caching water, distilling, as slings, for shelter and the aforementioned ponchos. Live and learn. I hope it was a learning experience for my friends. Although neither has asked to come along again.

We do what I call vehicle camping, meaning we carry and have everything we need in our vehicles.
My vehicle is a 1981 Bronco, and my brother's vehicle is a 1989 Bronco II . Both have V-6 engines and have manual transmissions. The vehicles are used as the base for our camp, sleeping, hygiene, cooking and entertainment centers. The only thing we don't use our vehicles for is sanitation. We set this up away from camp and always dispose of waste properly.

I have everything [needed for camping] in my vehicle at all times and is not excessive. It includes tools, camp equipment, some recovery equipment that doubles as camp tools and some spare parts. The spar parts includes a spare battery that also provides the juice for watching television on Saturday night. (Hey, you have to have something to do when the sun goes down.) With practice and trial and error you will decide what you need, what you don’t and what is excess weight. It is all packed and squared away safely and is easy to get out and repack. I try to always have the gas tank and propane as full as possible, and my vehicle stocked with food and water, and for the most part is ready to go at all times.

We use the excuse to camp to actually practice living in situations when you may not have all the conveniences of home. We especially use the chance to practice our skills. You would be surprised how difficult it can be to start and maintain a fire in inclement weather. Not to mention that you have to find wood , drag it back to camp and chop it. I don’t mean with a chainsaw, I mean chop it into reasonable size logs for the fire, with an axe. Enough to maintain a fire for your stay (fire cautions notwithstanding) , may it be week or a month or longer. Whether it is for ambience, cooking or to heat water for those dirty dishes and for washing oneself. You also get to appreciate how they used to do it. Too big a fire and you consume too much wood, not stoked enough and it goes out, requiring extra effort to restart it. As an aside, I have completely covered my fire with dirt and returned five days later and used the coals underneath to restart my fire.

As well as having fun, we incorporate some skill building into our outings. My brother and I will pick features from the map and navigate to and from them using the map and compass. In the beginning , I will admit having to break out the GPS to return to camp. But it was a learning experience, and has not been used since. During these day hikes, we take our day packs with water and the other 10 essentials, as well as other items that might be needed just in case. And of course a weapon.

During these hikes , you will find out about your physical condition, if your boots will hold up and how important the right pair of socks can be. In hiking in the snow, you can see if your boots are really water resistant or waterproof and how important keeping your feet warm and dry is. Also you will find out how difficult it is to hike in snow at altitude. How to dress in layers and learn to pace yourself to prevent perspiring, which can have detrimental effects if allowed to cool and you are not at your destination.

On other occasions we have practiced camouflage and concealment, and built lean tos, using the features found around us, rocks branches, crevices and ravines, depending on weather outlook.
While on hikes we observe and take note of natural features, wildlife, practice tracking, finding small game, finding water sources and identifying plants. On other occasions have hunted small game, which is in season. On a couple of occasions , we have even played an “adult “version of hide and seek Something , a couple of friends didn’t entirely understand. The purpose was to learn to track and locate and observe others, while avoiding detection. It might come in handy.

If the hunting of small game was successful, we have cleaned and prepared the animal for consumption, when returning to camp.
Rabbits, squirrels and birds all require different preparation, with some similarities. Knowing how to dress and prepare game is a very useful skill. It is something I have done frequently. In all of these outings, we have never gotten ill or sick from these activities. Camp sanitation is a mandatory practice.

During your outings, you will get to know your equipment , how to keep the knives and axes and hatchets sharp, how lanterns and stoves work and light, which is why I now use propane . Nothing is more frustrating than trying to work with an uncooperative kerosene stove or lantern, which has led to a new game, “the camp equipment toss” which is an accumulation of points for height and distance. All in fun, we retrieve the discarded item and dispose of it properly. But the underlying theme is to know that your equipment works, and what can go wrong. Just have a backup plan, remember the fire?

In all of our outings we have practiced maintaining a sanitary camp, such as digging a waste pit, washing up after “going for a walk” after breakfast. Washing dishes in hot water. Using caution when preparing small game or cooking, to prevent cross contamination. Discarding of trash in bags brought with us, I don’t like burning trash, but in an extended stay or emergency , I would . We have never gotten ill or spread anything despite of our primitive conditions.

We also practice safety, being careful while using and sharpening knives, axes and even can openers, a cut can easily get infected in primitive conditions. Other things such as keeping the camp uncluttered, not consuming to much alcohol and watching where you step at night, past the illumination of the camp lantern.

For the most part , we sleep in our vehicles, even having the comfort of an air mattress and a 0 degree [Fahrenheit] sleeping bag. It cuts down on having to carry around the weight of a tent.

I have a system of tarps and bungees which I fasten over my truck for sealing up at night. One for closing up the rear of the vehicle and one for making a canopy with a couple of discarded three-section poles from another canopy, and rope & stakes. This keeps me and the kitchen area out of the elements, and has been tested in the wind and rain with success.

I have camped at 9,000 feet and as low as 4,000 feet elevation. I am prepared for and have dealt with many weather conditions. We mostly stay at higher elevations in the summer and lower elevations in the winter depending on road closures and access.

It is always an enjoyable experience and makes us really appreciate the amenities of running water, electricity, and of course flushing toilets. For the most part , these trips are for pleasure, but have also been preparation and training courses. Each time , we learn something new or brush up on existing knowledge and skills.

There was also an occasion recently when a transformer in a local substation let go and placed the neighborhood in darkness. You could see the occasional flashlight bouncing around as neighbors checked to see what happened, but I went to my truck and broke out the camping lantern and lit up the whole back yard and patio. It was a pleasant evening and I was on the patio anyway.

I am sure I did not touch on some activities that others would deem necessary, just what I have done on past outings. The important thing is to have fun and enjoy the outdoors and use it as preparation and familiarization with conditions you will encounter in most places outside the city lights, and possibly conditions likely to happen if TSHTF.

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