Best Prepper Retreat

When it is time to bugout, what is the Best Prepper Retreat? Underground shelter is good against storms, radioactive fallout and is hidden, but when found, you are trapped. A nuclear missile shelter will have substantial security and while a candidate for the Best ranking, there are not many for sale.  This might be the best shelter in many scenarios, especially against a nuclear attack, but it could also be a primary target.

Before gun powder, a good Fort was ideal location for defending against a much larger enemy.  But with the invention of canons, being stationary meant death in a Fort. This leads to a more Nomadic Prepper Strategy.

While having an isolated  island would certainly add an element of security, you are trapped in one location.  Imagine if you could have an island you could hide or relocate.

https://www.foxnews.com/real-estate/private-island-manhattan-for-sale

Enter the Solar Powered Sail Boat, an island on the move.

https://www.soundingsonline.com/features/one-cool-cat

Imagine powering the fridges, the freezer, the ice maker, the fresh water maker, the water heater and the air conditioning without hearing a generator. Then, imagine taking hot showers, lighting up the boat from the masthead to well below the waterline, and never worrying about energy consumption. This can be done on the Voyage Electric 480 Electrified. Built by Voyage Yachts in Cape Town, South Africa, the 48-footer has a 48-volt, 35-kWh lithium-ion battery bank that is recharged by 16 solar panels, propeller-generated energy and a virtually silent 22-kW diesel generator.

https://www.cruisingworld.com/adding-solar-power/

Think of the extended isolation that a family could achieve.  This makes a sail boat type water craft like this the best Bug Out Retreat, but additional preparations are necessary. 

Fishing is a great way to obtain food, so add a fish finder, fishing poles, trot lines, small commercial fishing net, a small shrimp net, a cast net and lots of rope to tie the fish nets to the boat. 

Because much of the diet will be fish & sea weed, having high protein foods like beans, beef jerky and beef/chicken bouillon.  Mountain House freeze dried foods with a 40 year shelf life will help supplement your fish diet.  It might be good to have a small potted plant Garden.

You should also have some form of land transportation like a bicycle, that will fit in a life boat, so you can anchor at sea, take a small boat ashore and then ride a bicycle around while on land. You should have long and short range types of communication, on the main boat, the small boat, on the land transportation, and short range on the hip of security personnel.

For Security, each adult should have an AR-15 with at least 5,000 rounds of Ammo each. Have at least one of them (preferably 2) with a thermal scope, one with a rechargeable battery. Having two allows you to have one charged at all times.  Also have at lease one really long range Rifle like a 308, a 6.5 Creedmoor or a 338 Lapua with a long range scope sighted at a distance of at least 500 yards, preferably at 1,000 yards.

Each Adult should also be wearing a Glock 17 and have 1,000 rounds available for it and have a well stocked Back Pack.  Have some Glocks strategically cached around the boat. A high powered telescope and several pairs of high powered binoculars should also be available for a full time 24-7 Security Watch. 

Ok, maybe this is not affordable for most people, it is still the best bugout retreat, and an old sailboat restored could be just as valuable in a serious SHTF scenario.

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https://sailingbritican.com/solar-power-installation-on-a-sailboat/

Primitive Shelter

There are many forms of primitive shelter.  First is a survival shelter, which is temporary vs a Sustainable shelter which is long term with more comfort.

The best advise is usually to stay put so that you don't wander too far away and are easier to find. In that case start with a temporary shelter and improve it over time. 

In a wilderness survival situation, a quick, easy structure is the goal, especially if you are on the move; the more natural your shelter, the better.

A natural overhang, or a large healthy tree can be a good starting point but avoid widow makers (trees likely to fall). Instead of cutting trees down, bend some saplings over to serve as a frame. Use brush and leaves as cover and insulation.  In cold weather, make your survival shelter small as it takes less to insulate it and keep it warm; make your sustainable shelter large enough to safely burn a fire and store fire wood so they can stay dry.

If you are building a longer term shelter, the Native American Tipi is an excellent choice, that will support a small (uses less wood) inside fire. The Native Americans moved frequently, but had regular places they lived during the different seasons.  While nomadic, this still permitted primitive gardening.

The Tipi is very functional with many good design features.

Plus it is not overly hard to build, especially if you have a tarp.  It is also portable, which is important for a Nomadic live style, which is essential to primitive living. Imagine a similar stationary shelter using live tree saplings, bent over to form your structure, covered with branches and leaves.

Ben Hunt, author of some good books drafted this detailed design below.

 

For additional information see the following links:
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Best Camp Sight Selection Criteria 

Complete Sustainable Living Plan
Naked & Afraid Survival Plan

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DIY Solar System

There are some good power systems like the enCube (left), with a 100 ah battery, and 150 watt solar panels, which are nicely packaged.  You can also build your own system with fewer bells and whistles but with more power for your money.  A Do It Yourself (DIY) system allows you to tailor it to your needs and it serves as good training too.

The first step is to determine your needs.  What do you want to power, and for how long?  The answer could range from powering a single outlet for a few hours to powering your entire house for ever.

Lower temperature settings on heating and cooling appliances will reduce energy consumption.

There are simple tools like the Kill-a-watt ($20) that will help you determine exactly what load you will need, or can run.  This is a wise investment to avoid building a system that doesn't meet your needs.

In this case, the small fan above is using 9.6 watts on its low setting and used 21 watts on its high setting.

So after we determine our power requirements, let's suppose that we need 2,000 watts per day under two scenarios.

1. The first scenario is to have only enough power to last for 1 day; 
2. The second scenario is to be sustainable at this level indefinitely. 

The first scenario (1 day) can be achieved with sufficient battery capacity, charged by your household electricity.  This is shown below.  Note that this includes using only 50% of the battery capacity which will extend the life. An alternative would be to have 6 of the enCube's ($1,000 each) above strategically located around your home to achieve the same results but at a much higher cost.

This is 126% of our daily needs.

The second scenario (indefinitely) will require the addition of power generating solar panels capable of generating the daily needs of electricity.

Here is the math: 4 - 100 watt solar panels ($600) with 8 hours of sun delivers  the following wattage/day:

Power generated (theoretical) = 4 X 100 X 8 = 3,200 watts.

At a realistic 70% efficiency (3,200 X 0.7 = 2,240 watts/day) the actual watts/day generated is 112% of our daily needs which would allow an additional safety factor.

Our 4 solar panels will generate 100% of our 2000 watt daily power needs plus 12% extra per day.  The battery will handle our daily needs (using only 50% of the battery capacity to extend its life) and hold an extra 26%.  This Solar Power Kit sells for $1,500.

It will take the extra solar generation capacity two days to charge our battery's extra storage capacity.  This extra will deliver 3 hours of extra power per day, or 6 hours (1/4 day) of extra power every other day. Any extra power generated beyond two days will be lost as there is no more battery storage capacity.
 
So suppose we add additional battery capacity.  This gives us 168% of our daily storage needs or an extra 16 hours.  However, it will take our extra solar generating capacity about 5-6 days to charge this extra battery storage.

Supposed we add two additional batteries. This gives us 210% of our daily storage needs or an extra 26 hours.  However, it will take our extra solar generating capacity about 9-10 days to charge this extra battery storage.

Our next step would be to add additional solar power generation, providing that our electrical infrastructure can handle it.  This may include our wiring, charge controller and 12 VDC to 120 VAC inverter.  With this (below), it would only take 3 average days or 24 hours to charge the extra battery power.

Below is a rough example of what a simple standby system would look like.  Buying a Solar Power Kit will make your first solar project much easier. 

In most cases, home solar systems require a licensed installer, but small stand-alone systems are something most handy men can do, but do NOT try to integrate them into your home wiring unless you are an electrician. 

E-mail us with questions; good luck.


Continue to watch this blog and for additional information see the following links:

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$5 Solar Battery Charger
Solar Powered Home Design  

Sustainable Living System
Sustainable Lighting

Power Outage Preps
Power Outage Heater
DIY Solar System 
The SHTF Day One
Survive a 2 week Power Outage

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Best Camp Sight Selection Criteria

What makes the best camp sight? Have you ever seen a camp get flooded by rising water levels or runoff down a hill? Clearly that is not a good sight. Start searching for your site well before dark. Water access is an important factor. Look at your topo map; open circles indicate flat land, while stacked lines ringing a site can be good windbreaks. Cold air flows downhill, so higher land will be warmer at night. Anticipate how terrain could intensify weather. Could a long valley become a wind tunnel? Where will the runoff flow in a storm? What will attract lightning? Use natural advantages, seek shady forests in the summer, maximize southern exposure on cold days, and "choose a dry, sunlit spot with a steady breeze in mosquito country. Think, Anticipate. Here is some good information inspired by BackCountry.com, a growing provider of quality camping gear.

Ground Surface

Where you choose to sleep will be an important decision when picking a campsite. It’s crucial to pick a spot with flat, well drained ground to pitch a tent.

Making sure that your flat ground is even is also important. Even ground with no sharp protrusions will help you sleep soundly. Flat areas covered in grass or sand are two prime choices, if available.

Shade

After flat ground, shade is the second most important factor when choosing a campsite. Having permanent shade throughout the day isn’t necessarily mandatory. But shade in the at the right time of day is nice. Being awoken at 7 a.m. by a blazing hot sun broiling your tent is unpleasant in hot weather. At the same time, morning sun will dry tents and warm you up on cold mornings.

In the desert, shade throughout the day is a plus. Just make sure you pick an open area to set it up, and be cautious of the infamous desert winds.

What’s Above You

For the sake of your own safety, always be aware of what’s looming above you. Don’t choose to set up beneath a dead tree branch with the reasoning that ‘it’s still standing, so it’s probably safe.’ Same goes for rock slide and avalanche paths, as well as pitching a tent beneath a loose rock ledge. Always be cautious of these sorts of hazards, because Mother Nature isn’t always forgiving.

What’s Around You

Not only is it important to think about what’s above you, it’s also smart to note what’s surrounding you. You may not want to be camped right on the water’s edge due to bugs, thirsty animals, and flooding risk. But if you’re out there hauling your own water, it sure does help to be relatively close to a water source so you’re not breaking your back lugging precious water about. (*JR note: Rising water levels can be a hazard and running water noise can impair hearing things that you may need to hear.  So within 100 yards of  fresh water for convenience, but not too close.*)

If your forecast notes high winds, consider settling down behind a windbreak such as large boulders or a stand of trees. Don’t be caught on the flat open ground during a windstorm—it’s not a pleasant experience.

Privacy

Although neighbors can be a good thing, you don’t always want another party 20 feet away from you. Finding yourself a little bit of privacy makes your camping experience all that much more enjoyable, and really highlights the excitement of getting out into the wilderness. This doesn’t mean you have to backpack in 10 miles, or four-wheel in for hours just to get away from everyone else (although this kind of privacy sometimes can’t be beat). It’s easy enough to get off the beaten path without overexerting yourself or your vehicle. So don’t settle for the first spot you see if it’s surrounded by other folks or too close to the trail. Go out and find yourself a new—and better—spot!

Space

With ground surface, shade, and privacy settled on, it’s now time to discuss ample camping space. If you’re out backpacking and pitching a sole tent, there’s not as much of a need for a ton of space. Alternatively, if you’re with a larger party and lots of gear, you’ll need to find yourself a bigger spot. Tent space and kitchen space are obviously two of the most important spatial factors. But don’t cut corners if there’s fun and games to be had. Be sure to choose areas which allow for any activities you may have brought along. After all, just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice all the comforts of home.

When choosing your own area for a campsite, it’s important to just keep in mind what exactly it is that you’re looking for. The number of people, dogs or no dogs, activities, trail access, nearby water sources—all of these will play into your perfect camping spot. So go out there and find yourself in nature—just be sure to be safe, have fun, and always leave the area just as clean as you found it.

Security

In a SHTF scenario, you want a camp sight that offers concealment and cover yet provides a look out point or points with the ability to see and hear what is coming from a distance.  For large groups, set up camp in concentric rings, with the command post in the center.  Have three (or more) outposts in a triangle (symmetric) shape that can see and provide cover fire for each other.  An additional layer of outer security is good if you have the numbers to provide early engagement of intruders before they get to your camp, or to be behind them if they get through. A Scout or Patrol Team that is on the move provides an extra element of unpredictable security.  The use of Night Vision and Intruder Detectors are recommended.


Inspired by BoysLife.org: How to build a survival shelter

BAD PLACES TO BUILD A SHELTER

1. Anywhere the ground is damp.
2. On mountaintops and open ridges where you are exposed to cold wind.
3. In the bottom of narrow valleys where cold collects at night.
4. Ravines or washes where water runs when it rains or near water that might rise.
5. Near dead trees or ones with dead limbs that can fall in high winds.
6. By a single tree that towers above the rest that could serve as a lightning rod.
7. Rocky ledges or below loose, boulder-strewn slopes where falling rocks or even a full-blown landslide, mudslide or avalanche could wipe you out.

For additional information see the following links:  
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Ozark Prepper Homestead

 Preppers are self-reliant and like doing things on their own.  But have you given thought to being part of a Prepper Homestead?  The authors of this blog have their group, with a few openings, but the My Ozark Homestead group has lots of room for people wanting a Prepper or summer retreat in the remote mountains. Click the link above to see what they have to offer... things like a green house, garden, live stock and underground bunker.

http://myozarkhomestead.com/

 

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How to Build a Mortgage-free Small House for $5,900

This article will show you how one couple built their very own mortgage-free small house for $5,900 and how you might be able to do the same using reclaimed materials that are inexpensive and many times completely free. All it takes is your dedication and labor. 

To read more, click HERE.



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Concrete Bunker Plans

Starter Solar Power System 

$5 Solar Battery Charger

Solar Powered Home Design  

Sustainable Living System
Sustainable Lighting   

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Off Grid Lighting

This is perhaps the most versatile off grid lighting I've seen.

It provides solar powered lighting for the outside AND inside of your home.  In addition, these can be used as a solar battery charger and make great stealth Prepper gifts for family members.  With a package of extra rechargeable batteries, these will provide lighting for years.

Here are a few good passive lights that are solar powered and use common AA so they can double as solar battery chargers:

1)  LED version

2)  Economy version


For more information:
Blog Table of Contents

Power Outage Preps
Power Outage Heater
EMP Survival

Starter Solar Power System 

$5 Solar Battery Charger
 

Solar Powered Home Design  

Sustainable Living System

Sustainable Lighting

DIY Solar System

Rechargable Batteries 

 
The SHTF Day One
Survive a 2 week Power Outage
Complete Sustainable Living Plan
Backup Power Supply
Backup Electricity for under $50
 

List of Top 10 Lists 

Top 10 Prepper Websites 

Top 10 Posts

 

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