 | | This scene seems to be common throughout the country this week! |
It seems as if the only area not getting snow, ice and cold weather is Central Oregon! And we need the snow in the mountains!
But that didn't stop about 150 Boy Scouts from enjoying a great camping weekend at the annual Fremont District Freezoree.
As I was hanging out around camp, teaching firemaking, observing knife sharpening instruction and helping build an igloo, I couldn't help thinking: These kids (and adults) are having a great time and learning critical wilderness survival skills!
How can this type of experience be made available to more people...
This week's update has several topics of interest to the pepper/survivalist:
- How to choose a sleeping bag.
- SurvivalCommonSense.com Radio: Listen to the Jan. 28 interview with Search and Rescue volunteer and land navigation expert Blake Miller.
- Keep the Family Safe in the Outdoors
- Survival Food: Swiss Steak
- Boy Scout Freezoree photos
And here is what is going on this week at SurvivalCommonSense.com:
- New specialized blogs: Check out Survival Recipes and Cooking blog. and Survival Knives. These are SurvivalCommonSense.com blogs, but per request, have been broken out to emphasize specific topics. On Facebook, there is a new cooking page. Be a "Friend" and take a look, and we hope you also "Like" it!
- This Friday's guests on SurvivalCommonSense.com Radio will include Freeze Dry Guy JR, who will be talking about the Freeze Dry Guy's charity programs and Blake Miller, land navigation guru and Search and Rescue volunteer. Blake and I will finish talking about Ten Essentials for winter backcountry travel. The program will air at 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on the Preparedness Radio Network. Click here for the link to the show. You can also download it, and listen at a more convenient time.
- Please remember to "friend" SurvivalCommonSense.com on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Digg!
And if you're in one of those stormy, snowy areas: Relax, the winter weather will break soon, and spring is coming. For now, go outside and play! - Leon
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| Ten Essentials on BlogTalk Radio | | Everybody should know what the Ten Essentials are: The collection of gear and equipment that go on every outing. On Friday, Jan. 28, land navigation expert Blake Miller and I discussed what you really need to survive in the backcountry. Listen to the entire interview on SurvivalCommonSense.com Radio. |
| Keep The Family Safe in the Outdoors |
 | | Blake Miller |
What better family activity is there than getting everybody together, loading up the daypacks and heading out on some outdoor adventure? Veteran Search and Rescue volunteer and wilderness survival instructor Blake Miller has some suggestions to make before you head out to the trailhead, that will help assure everyone gets back safely!
To read the story, click here.
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| Scouts Learn Survival Skills at Freezoree |
 | | Building an igloo |
The annual Fremont District of the Boy Scouts of America "Freezoree" was held last weekend, and I had a ball participating. Some of the most fun was watching the scouts build an igloo out of virtually no snow.
There was a lot of good fun, survival cooking using campfires and lighted charcoal, and fellowship. I thought you might enjoy seeing the photos!
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| Survival Food: Swiss Steak |
 | | Ann Gawith |
Off Grid cooking expert Ann Gawith shares one of her favorite one-pot Dutch oven dishes: Swiss Steak. And this can be cooked outside on a campfire!
Ann's Swiss Steak is a particularly good thrifty recipe, since it's easy to make and you probably have most of the ingredients on hand.
"The most important thing is to buy the most inexpensive beef you can find," Ann says. "Any bargin cut of beef, about 1/2-inch thick will work...but don't waste your money on anything expensive, because the cooking makes it super tender and tasty!
To read Ann's recipe, click here.
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| Emergency Lighting When the Power Goes Out |
 | | Emergency lighting systems should be easily accessible. |
One of the more important aspects of urban survival during winter storms is interior lighting.
Without a lighting plan, you could end up in the dark from when the sun sets at around 5:30 p.m. until dawn at about 7 a.m.
The right lighting supplies can make this situation more bearable.
Here are some lighting tips that might to help you get through some long, dark nights! |
 | | Leon Pantenburg |
I don't claim to be a survival expert.
But I am an experienced reporter, interviewer and writer, and I know many experts in their respective survival fields. I have the experience of decades of knocking around wilderness areas throughout the United States. I'm not a newcomer to this survival idea. (To learn more, click on bio)
The content of SurvivalCommon Sense.com is reader-driven. To provide the information and education you want, I need your continued feedback and interaction.
Toward that end, there is now a special email address (survivalcommonsense.com@gmail.com) for specific radio show questions. I intend to always be learning more about wilderness and urban survival, and appreciate your input!
Sincerely,
Leon Pantenburg
SurvivalCommonSense.com
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| Featured Article |  | |
How to Choose a Sleeping Bag
You don't want to scrimp on some survival items Boots, compass and knife come to mind and a good sleeping bag! But sleeping bags are specialized items, and here are some considerations to help you choose the best one to fit your needs.
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| Featured Article |  | |
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