Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Alone Season 4 Pack List

Has Modern Man, with all our ingenuity, lost our ability to survive in the wild? The most lucrative and realistic survival show on TV, Alone, suggests the answer to that question is YES, but.... we can learn valuable lessons from this show that will improve our Wilderness Survival skills and guide us on what survival gear is most effective.

It is obvious that ninety percent of the Alone survivalist drop out in less than 90 days.  This is the top 10 out of over five thousands applicants (Season 3), carrying a pack of gear. If the 10 selected are truly the best, this means that 1 out of 5,000 (0.02%) can survive more than 86 days.

IF our US population depended on Wilderness Survival, disregarding the obvious depletion of resources that would instantly occur, only 6 of our 324 million people would survive more than a few months, which is the population that existed before Europeans began to explore the Americas.  People in cities would have a very dark experience in short order.

The show Naked and Afraid, proves that only a limited number of people can last 21 days in the wild. Granted they have much less in the way of supplies and are in an extreme case scenario since few people would be caught in the woods without any clothes on. Regardless, only a few make it for the 21 or 40 day periods.

Why can we not survive longer?

All their campsites have been stationary, rather than Nomadic, like primitive Homo Sapiens lived. I believe there is a rule dictating this, which leads to their resources being depleted in a short period of time and eventual failure. A  "Wanderer - Gather" plan in small groups would be far more sustainable.  Without being Nomadic, Seeds would need to be one of the items we could carry with us to be sustainable.  Our post on Seeds for Survival and a Preppers Garden can provide more ideas on this.  Water is one of our most important requirements and our link on Emergency Water Supply will tell you most everything you need to know.

Alone Season 4 moved from a competition between single survivalist to groups of 2 family members.  This is a more realistic and sustainable scenario.  On previous seasons, with one person the gear allowed has been fairly been straight forward – 1 person gets to have 10 items on top of the “default” items. Because season four was a team effort, the lists are slightly different.

Here are the restrictions for the teams:
  1. Each Team may select 10 items from the following list (5 items per person).
  2. Participants may only choose up to 2 Food items each.
  3. Non-Hunting Items are limited to 1 of each item listed per teammate.
  4. The Hunting Items are limited to 1 of each item listed per team.
The difference for Season 4 is that it’s 5 items per person but fixed blade knives and ferrous rods are now on the standard list of gear meaning they are getting to carry 2 more items compared to previous seasons where the knife and ferrous rods had to be part of the ten chosen items.

Jim and Ted 

Lets focus on the Season 4 winning team of Jim & Ted; here is their gear list:
  1. Saw – crosscut teeth
  2. Bow and arrows
  3. Gill net
  4. Tarp – 12′ x 12′
  5. Trapping wire
  6. Fishing line and hooks
  7. Pot – titanium
  8. Multi-tool (Leatherman)
  9. Rations – trail mix &/or pemmican
  10. Ax (Fiskars?)




 Now lets compare this with what the other three season Winners packed. A direct comparison is difficult as fixed blade knives and ferrous rods are now on the default list of gear for Season 4 but were chosen items in Seasons 1 - 3. The ferrous rod change is fairly insignificant as all winners elected to carry this. The Season 3 winner, Zachary Fowler, passed on a knife for a Multi-tool.  The net effect is that Season 4 participants got to pick an additional two items, which should enable them to survive for a longer period of time.  Combine this with the fact they are in teams instead of alone and that loneliness is a significant factor, we saw a longer competition, but still nothing near sustainable.

All winners (*) selected:
  1. Saw
  2. Ax 
  3. Fishing line and hooks
  4. Large (no more than 2 quart) pot, includes lid
All but one winner carried:
  1. Multi-season sleeping bag
  2. Hunting knife
  3. Gill net
  4. Leatherman multi-tool
  5. 3.5lb roll of snare wire
Other winner selected items include: 
  1. 550 Para Cord - 20m
  2. 12' x 12' ground tarp
  3. Canteen or water bottle
  4. Small shovel
  5. Slingshot or catapult + 30 steel balls and replacement band
  6. Food items

TEAM ITEMS Which 10 would you pick?
*Each team must choose TEN total items from the following list. Selections are final. Once chosen, no items may be swapped out or replaced. These will be each participant’s unique tools used to survive in the wilderness on camera.  My 10 are indicated in BOLD
 
Shelter
1.     12x12 ground cloth/tarp (grommets approved)
2.     8 mm climbing rope - 10M
3.     550 para cord - 20m
4.     1 hatchet
5.     1 saw
6.     1 ax
Bedding
7.     1 multi-seasonal sleeping bag that fits within provided backpack
8.     1 bivy bag (Gore-Tex sleeping bag cover)
9.     1 sleeping pad
10.   1 hammock
Cooking
11.   1 large (no more than 2 quart) pot, includes lid
12.   1 steel frying pan
13.   1 flint or ferro rod set (Season 4 rule change made this a standard item for all)
14.   1 enamel bowl for eating
15.   1 spoon
16.   1 canteen or water bottle
Hygiene
17.   1 bar soap
18.   1 8 oz tube of toothpaste
19.   1 face flannel
20.   1 40 m roll of dental floss
21.   1 small bottle bio shower soap
22.   1 shaving razor (and 1 blade)
23.   1 towel (30” x 60”)
24.   1 comb
Hunting
25.   1 300-yard roll of nylon single filament fishing line and 25 assorted hooks (No lures)
26.   1 primitive bow with 6 Arrows (must be predominately made of wood)
27.   1 small gauge gill net (12' x 4' with 1.5" mesh)
28.   1 slingshot/Catapult + 30 steel ball bearings + 1 replacement band
29.   1 net foraging bag
30.   1 3.5 lb roll of trapping wire
31  Food

5 lbs of beef jerky (protein)
5 lbs of dried pulses/legumes/lentils mix (starch and carbs)
5 lbs of biltong (protein)
5 lbs of hard tack military biscuits (carbs/sugars)
5 lbs of chocolate (Simple/complex sugars)
5 lbs of pemmican (traditional trail food made from fat and proteins)
5 lbs of gorp (raisins, m&m's and peanuts)
5 lbs of flour (starch/carbs)
2 lbs of rice or sugar and 1 lb of salt

32.  1 pocket knife
33.  1 hunting knife (Season 4 rule change made this a standard item for all)
34.  1 Leatherman multi-tool
35.  1 sharpening stone
36.  1 roll of duct tape or 1 roll of electrical tape
37.  1 small shovel
38.  1 small sewing kit
39.  1 carabineer
40.  1 LED flashlight
41.  1 pair of ice spikes

CLOTHING/APPAREL/PERSONAL EFFECTS (Everyone gets all of these)
*These items do not count towards the 10 special items, but may not exceed the approved quota for each.
·       2 safety tools (may consist of 1 air horn and/or 1 flare)
·       1 rules and regulations guide
·       1 backpack
·       1 camera pack
·       Camera equipment
·       1 emergency flare
·       1 satellite phone
·       1 emergency personal flotation device
·       1 first aid kit (military type – tourniquet, wadding, ace bandage, alcohol, plastic bag, etc)
·       1 small mirror
·       1 10x10ft tarp
·       1 10x10ft tarp (solely for protecting camera and equipment)
·       1 GPS tracking device
·       1 head lamp
·      1 emergency rations pack to include water and food
.      1 flint or ferro rod set - Added as standard for everyone starting in Season 4.
.      1 hunting knife - Added as standard for everyone starting in Season 4.

I'm primarily focused on what the winners carried, but for a list of the other Season 4 participants gear, scroll down, or click HERE for a pdf list and other insight on the show from the inside. Links to the contents for the other Seasons can also be found below.

Once we have our gear selected, we need a plan.  

This would be my Alone Survival Plan  (<- Click blue text).  What would yours be and why?

* Season 2 list not published, but I'm trying to get it.
For additional information, see the following links:

 

 
 
Wilderness Survival TEST
 
Survival Pack (Security Patrol or Bug Out pack)  
Greenbriar (catbriar) 
Survive on a Deserted Island

Top 10 List of Prepper info
Top Rated Prepper Handbook Posts of all time

Top Rated Prepper Website
Top 15 Prepper Movies or Shows

Or click on a label below for similar topics.

Pete and Sam:
 
1 Tarp – 12′ x 12′
2 Fishing line and hooks – 50 yards of 40 lb. test and 250 yards of 20 lb. test
3 Gillnet – 12′ x 4′
4 Trapping wire – 3.5 lb. gauge
5 Rations – Looks like a bunch of Tanka Bars, which are pemmican.
6 Tarp – 12′ x 12′
7 Paracord – 500 lb. Rated, orange
8 Saw – folding saw, 14″ blade – Silky Big Boy
9 Ax – 26″ all-steel ax – appears to be an Estwing Long Handled Camper’s ax
10 Pot – 2 quarts, stainless steel

Brook and Dave:


1 Bow saw
2 Pot – vintage aluminum coffee pot, 2 quarts
3 Tarp – 12′ x 12′, white
4 Bar of Soap
5 Rations – trail mix (peanuts and chocolate)
6 Ax – full-sized felling ax
7 Tarp – 12′ x 12′, white
8 Fishing line and hooks
9 Pan
10 Rations – trail mix

Chris and Brody:


1 Bivy bag – waterproof bivy for sleeping bag – Gortex
2 Ax – medium-sized- Looks like a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
3 Pot – 2-quart bush pot –  stainless steel Self Reliance Outfitters Bush Pot
4 Fishing line and hooks – 50 yards 30 lb. test, 100 yards 100 lb., 150 yards 40 lb. test
5 Tarp – 12′ x 12′, silver
6 Bivy bag – waterproof bivy for sleeping bag – Gortex
7 Pot – 2-quart bush pot – stainless steel Self Reliance Outfitters Bush Pot
8 Tarp – 12′ x 12′, silver
9 Saw – 18″ blade – Looks to be the Corona RS 7500D Razor Tooth Pruning Saw
10 Gill net

Shannon and Jesse:
  
Alone: Shannon and Jesse's 10 Items (Season 4)
1 Gill net
2 Tarp – 12′ x 12′, silver
3 Fishing line and hooks
4 Pot – 2 quarts, cast iron
5 Saw
6 Bow and arrows
7 Multitool – Leatherman it looks like a Wingman or a Sidekick?
8 Canteen – stainless steel
9 Rations – Lentils
10 Rations – Pemmican?

Alex and Logan:

1 Bow and arrows
2 Paracord – 500 lb. Rated
3 Gill net
4 Ax – 24″ – Looks like a Snow and Nealley Hudson Bay Axe
5 Multitool – I think it’s a Leatherman SuperTool
6 Fishing line and hooks – 6 lb. test, 30 lb. test, 60 lb. test
7 Pot – stainless steel, 2 quarts – Zebra brand
8 Tarp – 12′ x 12′
9 Saw – 24″ folding saw – Looks like a Bob Dustrude Quick Buck Saw
10 Rations – Pemmican

Brad and Josh:

1 Saw – collapsible bow saw – Possibly a Sven Bow Saw?
2 Bivy bag
3 Canteen – 64 oz.
4 Ax – mid-sized camp ax – Looks like a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe?
5 Tarp – 12′ x 12′
6 Fishing line and hooks
7 Pot – 2 quarts, stainless steel – looks a lot like the stainless steel Self Reliance Outfitters Bush Pot
8 Saw – crosscut – reportedly a Corona RS 7160 Razor Tooth Raker Saw, 21-Inch
9 Bivy bag (second one)
10 Rations – possibly Jerky

For additional information, see the following links:



 
Survival Pack (Security Patrol or Bug Out pack)  
Greenbriar (catbriar) 
Survive on a Deserted Island

Top 10 List of Prepper info
Top Rated Prepper Handbook Posts of all time

Top Rated Prepper Website
Top 15 Prepper Movies or Shows

Or click on a label below for similar topics.


Sunday, December 10, 2017

TOP 10 LIST

Top Prepper websites
Top Prepper Shows and Movies

Top Prepper Books

Top 5 Rifles
Top 10 ARs

Top 10 Barter Goods

Top Prepper Livestock 
Top Prepper Businesses 

Top 20 Prepper Books
Top 5 Combat Rifles  


For additional information see the following links:
Blog Table of Contents



How to Save on Emergency Supplies

About two-thirds of U.S. residents live in areas where the natural disaster risk level is rated moderate to very high.



Most of Us Are Not Prepared for an Emergency – WHY?

Why don’t we stay ready, just in case the power goes out, the water doesn’t flow from the tap, or the grocery store has to close for a few days?  It’s a perplexing question.

We know disasters happen. We know we’re susceptible. Yet most of us are sorely unprepared.

And if we examine the usual answers to why that is, they all fail in the light of reason:

  1.          I don’t know how to prepare
  2.          We just don’t have time to figure it out
  3.          It hasn’t happened yet, so why worry about it?
  4.          I don’t have the money to get everything I need
  5.          Public services can handle any problem

According to data from the United States Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey only about one-third of American households have developed a communication plan and agreed on an emergency meeting location.

In this emergency preparedness guide, we’ll talk about the preparations you should make and suggest ways to check each item off with a minimum of expense and hassle.

To read the CouponChief.com Preparedness guide, click HERE.


For additional information see the following links:
Blog Table of Contents



Saturday, November 25, 2017

Prepper Savings Plan

Getting ahead in life means saving your money, so here is what I believe is a good plan to be financially prepared.  Note:  A real Prepper is prepared for anything, including losing your job and getting old and retiring. Disclaimer: I am not a Financial Advisor. 

We will have short, medium and long term (retirement) savings.  Many Rich people get/stay rich by acting poor, while many Poor people got/stay poor by acting rich.  So it is important to live within our means, or even better, below.
  1. First save have some Emergency Cash stored at your house. Start with enough to buy a weeks worth of groceries if the power & ATM's are out of service.  This Emergency Cash link can give you some ideas on how much and why.
  2. Then save the equivalent of three months net income (minimum).  Loosing a job is fairly common in today's job market, and this will protect your home, automobile, and more importantly, your family. I would keep about 2/3 of this in the bank, and 1/3 in cash at home in a hidden safe. There are some very affordable fire proof boxes and wall safes.
  3. At the same time, sign up for your company 401K for the maximum that the employer will match. For example, a small (5%) 401K savings deduction costing us $62.50, we will realize a huge savings of $192.31.  This should generally be invested in a mutual fund that is appropriate risk for your age, but there are many options.

  4. Set up a budget and stick with it. Include savings as well as a modest Prepper Budget.  The Beginner Prepper Plan has a starter budget for just over $500.  You should also have several weeks worth of Food and Emergency Water, stored in your home.  These links will assist.
  5. Short term savings for things like a car or down payment on a house are next. Don't buy new cars because they depreciate too much in the first year.  Instead buy a 2+ year old model that will cost much less but should be in good condition for many years to come.  The payments will be less, so take the difference between between the used car payment and the new car payment and save it to apply to your next car. When that savings account reaches a dollar amount sufficient for buying another car, then you can do so, but not before.
  6. When it comes time to buy a house, select one below your means.  If you qualify for a $100,000 home loan (for round numbers and to make it easy to do the math), buy a $50,000 house and make payments as if it was a $100k house.  Within approximately 5 years, you will own this house.  Sell your $50K house, use this to make a down payment on your $100k house.  Make payments as if it was a $100k loan, and again in about 5 years, you will have this $100k house paid for.  Then take these house payments and start saving them, or at least 50%. At this point consider a Prepper Retreat.  Building your own energy efficient solar powered home is worth considering.  At the very least, you should have some Emergency DIY Power Supply for an Extended Power Outage.  
  7. Where your home is located is important. There are Common Home Security elements however City Home Security is different from Country Home Security, and a country home with woods allows some Wilderness Survival potential as well as a Prepper Garden.
  8. In time, you have a paid for house, a car you bought with cash, money being saved for your next car, so now you are ready for investing.  Diversity and regular additions to your investments are the key, but more important is that you start early. Let me explain why. 
  9.  Suppose two twin brothers start saving $2,000 per year.  Brother 1 starts at age 21 and saves for 6 years.  Brother 2 starts saving at age 27 and saves for 36 years.  When they retire at 65 years of age, Brother 1 has more money than Brother 2, because of the magic of compound interest.  This is how the Rich get richer by investing and loaning money to Poor people who borrow money to buy everything and get poorer.
  10. In our home buying example above(#6), IF we had financed a $100,000 house for 30 years and paid 7% compound interest, we would end up paying about $250,000.  This is again, how the Rich get richer and the Poor get poorer.  You want to be earning compound interest, NOT paying it!
  11. Stock Market Mutual Funds,  Real Estate - rental property and about 10% Silver are my favorite investments, but there are many options that you can consider.  You should consult a financial advisor on where to put your money. This should give you a few ideas.
Disclaimer: I am not a Financial Advisor.

For additional information see the following links:
Blog Table of Contents


Urban Survival Plan
Intruder Detection
Sustainable City Survival

 See similar topics by clicking on the labels below