Post collapse survival strategies

[Wintrup]

Filling my motorbike up the other day, I watched ruefully as the the litre and pound counters almost synchronised. It could be seen as a fittingly, symbolic indication that peak oil may now be here. If it is, then the world as we know it may change rapidly.

I can't help but think these days, about how I'd survive if there is sudden economic collapse. After all, I live in flat in the middle of London and would not be able to grow my own food. And I would imagine that cities, especially ethnically splintered London, will become lawless and dangerous places for the vulnerable.

So, my best choice would be to get out of town and head for a far less populated area on my bike. I'd have to travel with the minimum of kit, as eventually I would need to abandon the bike for shank's pony. I envisage I'd have to live by hunting and foraging, so I'd best head for an area of relative abundance, possibly near the sea.

My question is what would be essential kit for such a scenario, bearing in mind that the kit you'd take may have to last you for the rest of your days?

 

[jojo]

I am not very experienced in Bushcraft/survival by any means, but I would say that the most necessary "tool" would be experience. Experience in as many skills as possible, deep knowledge of the environment in which you would hope to be able to live. The more I think about it the more pessimistic I become regarding the longer term ability of our society to survive. As to protect it's citizen, I would forget about that entirely.

 

[commandocal]

i would take weapons water and more weapons, in a lawless society on the brink of collapse you could get anything with violence(just like you could now), but many on here wont believe me so i would take my grab bag, I.e 120 liter bergen already packed(GRAB BAG), in it has EVERYTHING you could think of water puri straw,puri tabs,water holders,3 liters of water, then for food we have 14 days nicely packed down rat packs and thats just in the side pockets, in the top lid i have wet weather gear, and in the main compartment in dry bags i have my knifes/axes sleepin bag basha/tarp all sorts of clothes and a little dried food, metal mugs,survival tin/paracord you know the works, in the front pocket is my mess tins full of hexi blocks and eating utensils and thats it basically, its not really there for an economic breakdown type of thing its just i go camping alot and cant be bothered to take it all out

 

[baggins]

Hi Wintrup,
seeing as this is the Bushcraft forum, the answers are all here.
My kit would be; A good knife, axe, saw. A good quality cooking pot or two. A container for water, good quality clothing (mainly wool, ventile etc as they last longer than manmade fibres) and a good, warm sleeping bag and blanket.
with this list, all other things can be made, foraged, caught and trapped. The most important thing is the knowledge to carry them out. Shelter, food, warmth. They are all here for the finding and practicing.
Baggins

 

[weaver]

You wouldn't make it out of town before someone would knock you off and take your bike and gear.

Better to move out to a better place while you still can. Learn the skills you will need while you are free and safe to do it in comfort. Start a garden while you can still get groceries if you need them. Learn to hunt and fish before your life depends on it. Acquire the tools and learn to use them. Make friends you can depend on to help and support each other.

 

[Wintrup]

i would take weapons water and more weapons, in a lawless society on the brink of collapse you could get anything with violence(just like you could now), but many on here wont believe me so i would take my grab bag, I.e 120 liter bergen already packed(GRAB BAG), in it has EVERYTHING you could think of water puri straw,puri tabs,water holders,3 liters of water, then for food we have 14 days nicely packed down rat packs and thats just in the side pockets, in the top lid i have wet weather gear, and in the main compartment in dry bags i have my knifes/axes sleepin bag basha/tarp all sorts of clothes and a little dried food, metal mugs,survival tin/paracord you know the works, in the front pocket is my mess tins full of hexi blocks and eating utensils and thats it basically, its not really there for an economic breakdown type of thing its just i go camping alot and cant be bothered to take it all out

I've thought about weapons, but mainly for hunting. As an individual, if a gang had designs on robbing me and harming me, I'd be at their mercy. Even a handgun would not be much of a deterrent for a ruthless gang. The best survival strategy for a lone person would be to solitude or join a gang.

My only hunting weapon I have at present is a homemade catapult Not very accurate, but I might get a roosting bird or two.

 

[Wintrup]

Hi Wintrup,
seeing as this is the Bushcraft forum, the answers are all here.
My kit would be; A good knife, axe, saw. A good quality cooking pot or two. A container for water, good quality clothing (mainly wool, ventile etc as they last longer than manmade fibres) and a good, warm sleeping bag and blanket.
with this list, all other things can be made, foraged, caught and trapped. The most important thing is the knowledge to carry them out. Shelter, food, warmth. They are all here for the finding and practicing.
Baggins

I've a good collection of merino wool base layers. They'd go straight in the kit bag. Let's see my list at present would look something like this:

Hex3 shelter
Down sleeping bag
Exped down mat
Merino wool base layers
Wool shirt
Wool socks
Wool Jumper
Down vest
Gortex jacket
Opinel knives and diamond sharpener
Stainless steel pots
Catapult
Led lights and AA rechargeable batteries
Portable solar charger
Drinkwise water filter
string and duck tape
Fishing line and hooks
Blastmatch and gas lighters
Sabre saw

Not exhaustive, but I've run out of steam. What it does tell me is that my 75litre pack is probably too small.

 

[pibbleb]

Maybe the answer is regional BCUK rally points where we can meet, form communities and survive!

Oh I've just scared myself now!

The below thread talks about grab bags in a bit more details, may be of interest.

Hiding a survival kit sensible idea or parania

Pib

 

[Wintrup]

Maybe the answer is regional BCUK rally points where we can meet, form communities and survive!
Pib

I've been following this project for a while: http://www.dylan.org.uk/utopia/
It didn't exactly go to plan as Mr Dylan seemed to abdicate leadership and left the experiment to be run by a small hardcore of members. Some of the people involved seemed very clued up and are certainly very interesting. They can be found posting here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/utopia_experiment/

Although I get out camping every year, I've not really fully immersed myself in bushcraft, so you're idea of forming local communities makes good sense. I'd be really interested in getting out to some meetings in or out of London.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Oh no not this TEOTWAWKI stuff again

The lists of what to take and what not, how the society would react and whether bushcraft would be any use have been discussed ad infinitum.

Please bear in mind that this forum is about bushcraft. Not about surviving a Mad Max style social meltdown. There are plenty of forums for that elsewhere.

 

[pibbleb]

There's a wealth of info and experience here and everybody is happy to share.

Whilst I was partly joking there is certainly a value to sharing that experience in such an event, a commune if you will. After all we all have something to bring to the table no matter what experience.

Meets or moots are great. I've not personally been on any big ones but I've met a few guys in the woods and for sure there's nothing better than getting out.

Check these links out about meets etc! The first one is being organised by Wayne. Genuine good guy. I've been in his woods for a first aid course, very nice just watch out for the hidden well!

Wayne's meet

This may be of interest as well

Pib

 

[Treeclipper]

To be honest about this, I don't have a grab bag or certain kit set aside. Me & my missus have talked about this, if we had an 1hrs notice or in an absolute emergency we can clear our house of survive-ables in 25mins.

Hook up trailer, then throw every bit of bushcraft/camping/hunting/fishing kit & spare blankets & sleeping bags, grab my bag of manuals( all in same room)into trailer and car. Next would be to clear our kitchen of every scrap of food that would last & fill the big 10l bottles of water(we always have a few lying around).I think clothing would be what was grabbed on the way out.(All our warm stuff is always behind front door)

Then off to an undisclosed sea loch,got 2 routes planned for this just in case, then settle in for the duration with my family & a few friends that share the plan with us.

lol like I said we have talked about it, but if it really happens , I dont know if the plan would hold together.

If we have warning its easy to prepare, it's when we don't , things get scary!

Tree

lol Im also quite happy for nothing to go wrong so I can just potter about in the local woods

 

[Wintrup]

Oh no not this TEOTWAWKI stuff again

The lists of what to take and what not, how the society would react and whether bushcraft would be any use have been discussed ad infinitum.

Please bear in mind that this forum is about bushcraft. Not about surviving a Mad Max style social meltdown. There are plenty of forums for that elsewhere.

Just ignore it then. Simple really

 

[lottie.lou]

The public's reaction to the flooding this summer I thought was a real example of this countries ability to cope in adversity. Peoples water was cut off yet it was raining, rather then collect the water and boil it people squabbled over the empty water bowsers.

 

[lottie.lou]

Oh no not this TEOTWAWKI stuff again

The lists of what to take and what not, how the society would react and whether bushcraft would be any use have been discussed ad infinitum.

Please bear in mind that this forum is about bushcraft. Not about surviving a Mad Max style social meltdown. There are plenty of forums for that elsewhere.

I've only just joined the forum so I haven't seen a post like this yet. You don't have to read the thread if you dont like it

 

[Wintrup]

The public's reaction to the flooding this summer I thought was a real example of this countries ability to cope in adversity. Peoples water was cut off yet it was raining, rather then collect the water and boil it people squabbled over the empty water bowsers.

I got the same feeling when we had the fuel blockades. The supermarkets were stripped bare of the essentials as people went into panic buying mode. I remember thinking if that's all it takes to get people in a panic, what will happen should we have a real crisis. I've been collecting essentials and kit gradually ever since.

 

[pibbleb]

Guys these kinds of threads often bring a lot of diverse responses and that in it's self can be interesting.

Whilst I thought Claycombs comments were a little sharp, the Mods do a tough job so go with the flow and taken on board their comments. We get a lot of slack here and I'd like to keep it that way.

Perhaps threads like this, IMHO, would be better in other chatter.

No offence intended but I'd hate for your thread to turn into a snipe match!

Back to topic, give some thought to a grab bag if you are concerned, but really consider what you would need. First aid, water, tinned or dry foods!

It would be good to see you guys at a meet!

Pib

 

[Wintrup]

Whilst I thought Claycombs comments were a little sharp, the Mods do a tough job so go with the flow and taken on board their comments. We get a lot of slack here and I'd like to keep it that way.
Pib

I didn't actually notice that Claycomb was a mod

If it's not deemed appropriate here, then move it by all means. But isn't bushcraft, in essence, about surviving in difficult to extreme situations, without society's safety net to break our fall?

Anyway, thinking about a future where access to kit retailers is severely limited, cuts out the frivolity and gets down to the basics: what is essential and what is superfluous. And also how practical are the items people would chose in terms of use, weight, quality/longevity. I find it helpful to hear the differing opinions on this.

Threads that don't interest, as long as they are not way off topic or offensive, are easily passed over. At least that's what I do, unless I'm feeling argumentative

 

[garbo]

I like your idea that WT**** you will come to the country, but I kind of suspect that it may be a bit like standing under a tree when its raining ,thinking that when you start getting wet you will move to another tree, and if you think that the towns will be pretty lawless then I think you will find the country will be even worse

just my 2p worth

 

[Eric_Methven]

I wasn't going to respond to this post because it's been done a thousand times, and it always generates arguments and gets locked down eventually. But think on this. If you think there's a chance of breakdown, do some planning now. Go to your chosen location regularly, camping or whatever. Let yourself be seen around, let the locals get to know you, involve yourself in their community as best you can. If you turn up somewhere on a motorbike immediately after a collapse of society unannounced and unknown, you'll most likely be met with lethal force. The country folks will be dreading the townies coming to stay in such a scenario. Act now and it could save your life, wait till it's happened and you might as well stay in the smoke.

Eric