SURVIVALHACKS
OVER 200 WAYS TO USE EVERYDAY ITEMS
FORWILDERNESSSURVIVAL
WILDOZ ADV,authorofBuild thePerfect BugOut Bag
Contents
Introduction
CHAPTER1
ShelterHacks
CHAPTER2
WaterHacks
CHAPTER3
FireHacks
CHAPTER4
FoodHacks
CHAPTER5
StayingHealthy
CHAPTER6
GearHacks
CHAPTER7
ForwardMovement
CHAPTER8
EverydayCarry(EDC)KitsonaBudget
ConclusionAcknowledgments
Introduction
sur-VIV-alHACK-ingverb
Theactofusingwhatyouhavetogetwhatyouneedtostayaliveinanysituation.
“Hacking”ismakingdowithwhatyou’vegot.Ithasthreeaspects:
Usingknowledgeofbasicsurvivalprinciples
Innovativethinking
Exploitingavailableresources
KNOWLEDGE OFBASICSURVIVALPRINCIPLES
Knowledgeisthebasisforalmosteverysuccessfulsurvivalskill.Youcangetitfrom reading books, listening to the advice and stories of others, and watchingtheactionsofothers.However,themostimportantwaytogaintrueknowledgeofsurvivalprinciplesistrialanderrorwithyourowntwohands.Nomethodoflearning takes the place of hands-on, personal experience. Your options in asurvivalscenariowillultimatelydependonyourunderstandingofbasicsurvivalprinciplesthatsurroundshelter,water,fire,andfood.
INNOVATIVE THINKING
I’ve often said that innovation is the most important survival skill. Innovationcan be defined in survival as creatively using available resources to execute aplanformulatedusingpre-existingsurvivalknowledge.Attheendoftheday,theapplicationofsurvivalprinciplesisonlylimitedbyyourabilitytocreativelyusethem.
EXPLOITING AVAILABLERESOURCES
Availableresourcesareanythingnaturalormanmade,fromleavesandstickstotrashbottlesandwindshieldwipers.Everythingispotentiallyasurvivalresourcethatyoucanexploit,withknowledgeandcreativity,togetwhatyouneed.Inthisbook,weexplorehundredsofeverydayitemsthatcanbemodified,repurposed,reused,reshaped,rebuilt,orrecycledtomeetsomekindofbasichumansurvivalneed.
THREETHOUSANDFAILURES
Some of the hacks featured in this book are tips and tricks I’ve absorbedthroughoutmylifelongstudyofsurvival;Ilearnedthemfromotherpeopleandfromwatchingothersinthefield.I’vepickedupallsortsofhacksfromfriends,family,students,andothersurvivalenthusiasts.I’malwaysonthelookoutforafun,new,andcreativesurvivalhack.
However,manyofthefollowing200-plussurvivalhacksarealsotheresultofmorethan3,000failedattempts.Some,suchastheMakeaFirePipehackinChapter3,tookmorethan20triestogetright.IfIhadquitworkingonahackideaatthefirstfailedattempt,thisbookwouldbeaboutfivepageslong.
The 200-plus hacks listed in the following pages are proven to work. I’vesuccessfullypracticedthemall.Eachofthemisanactionablelessoninsurvival;you can go into your backyard and practice them right now. Many can beexecutedinthecomfortofyourhomeorgarage,andcertainlyyoucanusethem
onyournextcampingtrip.
THE MOREYOUHACK
As you study, practice, and use these 200-plus hacks from everyday objects,you’reboundtolearnmoreaboutsurvivalprinciplesandhowtocreativelymeetbasic survival needs. This knowledge will lead to new “hack” ideas that I wanttohearabout!E-mailyourhackideastocreek@creekstewart.com.Whoknows,yourhackcouldmakeitintothenextvolumeofSurvivalHacks.
Chapter1ShelterHacks
CLOTHINGHACKS
A Belt with TractionPantyhosePrevention
LipBalmZipperWaterprooferHandy Tool/Gear GripsRoycroftPack
TumplineforHeavyLoadsSockHalfGloves
FOOTWEARHACKS
SealYourSeamswithToiletRingsNewspaperMukluks
RacketSnowshoesScrapRubberHuaraches
ThisInsoleNeverFeltSoGood
UseIcetoMakeYourShoesMoreComfortableDuctTapeSnowshoes
SockGaiters
CANOPYHACKS
TrashBagShelterHackTarpBoat
PopCanSnow/SandAnchor
PopTabTensioner
TwoSimpleGrommetSaversDIY Canopy on a BudgetShockBandHack
Bug Out Bicycle ShelterGlow-in-the-DarkGuylines6"TensioningStick
SHELTERANDHEATINGHACKS
PalletShelter
FrameworkCollarConnector
A$1SleepingPadorFireReflectorA Quick and Dirty Camp TableHoboCandleHeater
MetalBucketStorageHeater
ASimpleBlackoutAirConditioner
SEATINGANDBEDDINGHACKS
BlanketChair
BedSheetHammockFeedSackCot
TireStool
The3-OunceCampChair
In extreme conditions, you can survive as few as 3 hours without shelter.Exposure to the elements is almost always your number one survival priority.Keeping warm, cool, dry, or protected from the rain, snow, and wind is easiersaidthandonewhenyou’reworkingwithlimitedresources.Youmayneedsomecreativehackinginordertobeeffective.
I’llneverforgetthewordsofawiseScoutmasterwhenIwasakid:“Boys,theabilitytodressyourselvesisthefirstofallgreatsurvivallessons.”Hewas
right.Shelterstartswithclothingandfootwear.Itendswithmorecomplicatedprinciples such as windbreaks, insulation, bedding, roofing materials, firereflection,andwaterproofing.
This chapter’s hacks are all designed to help offer protection for you andyour gear from your biggest survival adversary—the weather. Withoutprotectionfromtheelements,fewothersurvivalprioritiesmatter.Theabilitytocope with what the weather throws at you is what keeps you alive long enoughinordertoevenexecuteothersurvivalskillsdirectedtowardwater,fire,orfood.We’ll start this chapter of shelter hacks in the spirit of my old Scoutmaster—withclothing.
CLOTHINGHACKS
ABELTWITHTRACTION
Abrokenbeltinthefieldcanbeadevastatingsetback,especiallyifyou’reusingyourbelttocarrygearsuchasaknife,youreverydaycarry(EDC)kit,andsaw.Asurprisinglysimpleandverydurablehackbeltcanbemadefromthetreadofan old bicycle tire. When the walls are trimmed away until just the face treadremains,itbecomestheperfectbeltwidth.Staple,rivet,orlashoneendtoyourbuckle,punchholesintheotherendforadjusting,andyou’vegotabeltthatwilllast a lifetime. You can also use bicycle tire treads as suspenders, pack straps,replacementhandles,andrifleslings.Sliversfromtherubbertreadcanevenbeusedasharsh-weatherfirestarters.
PANTYHOSEPREVENTION
An old hunting buddy introduced me to this unique hack, and I’ve neverforgottenit.Asmanlyashewas,heworepantyhoseeverytimehehunted—bothinsummerandwinter.Duringhotsummermonths,hesworethatthepantyhosebarrier made it impossible for ticks to latch onto the skin. In cold temps,pantyhose make a very effective base layer. It’s all about layering in coldweather, and the addition of a few pairs of pantyhose to your cold-weather carkit is a great idea that’s easy on the wallet. If you’re using a new pair of boots,pantyhosecanalsohelppreventblistersbyreducingthefrictionfromyourshoe.Simplytrimoffthefeetandwearthemasasockliner.
LIPBALMZIPPERWATERPROOFER
In extreme weather, even the slightest nonwaterproofed area or seam canbecome a huge setback and source of frustration. Many zippers are waterrepellentbecauseoftheirconstruction,buttheyarenotwaterproof.Onewaytohelp waterproof jacket and backpack zippers is to run lip balm with firmpressurealongthelengthofthezipper.Waxfromthelipbalmwillpressintothecracks and prevent water from seeping in. This will also help to lubricate thezippers(especiallymetalones)andmakethemeasiertouse.Otherproductsthatcan work for this in a pinch are crayons, candles, some hair pomades, andbeeswax. The wax will wear off with use, but is a great temporary fix whenMotherNatureprovestobeunmerciful.
HANDYTOOL/GEARGRIPS
Places and ways to secure gear and tools should be a part of every survivalwardrobe.Hereisaquickhackusingbicycleinnertubestosecureavarietyoftoolsandgeartobelts,backpackstraps,knifesheaths,andevenwalkingsticks.
Crosscut sections of bicycle inner tubes are widely known within the survivalcommunity as Ranger bands. When these sections of inner tubes are threadedonto belts or backpack shoulder straps, they make secure grips for a variety ofsmall gear that you wish to quickly access. I keep a multitool right on mybackpackstrap,usingRangerbandgeargripstoholditsecurelyinplace.Thesegripsareweatherproof,inexpensive,andverystrong.Theycanalsobeusedasaneffectivefiretinderinbadweather.
ROYCROFTPACK
Canadian survival instructor Tom Roycroft was tasked by the CanadianDepartment of National Defence to come up with improvised backpack ideasthat soldiers could construct with limited resources in the field. He ultimatelyinvented what is known as the Roycroft pack. Lash a simple triangle of limbstogetherasshown.Theleftandrightsidesarethelengthofyourarmpittoyourfingertip. The bottom is the length of your elbow to fingertip. Lay any kind offabric, sheeting, or jacket on top of the frame and place your supplies in themiddle.Foldtheremainingfabricinward;acrisscrosslashingholdseverythinginplace.Finally,tiealark’sheadknotontopandrunthe2ropeendsaroundthebottomcornersandtiethematyourwaist.Youcanmakethispackinjustafewminuteswithhardlyanyresources.
TUMPLINEFORHEAVYLOADS
Hereisanoldhackforcarryingheavyloadsthatyoumaynothaveseenbefore.I first learned of this trick when studying the mountain men fur traders of the1800s.Mountainmenwouldhavetocarryheavyloadsoffurpeltsalonghikingpaths and canoe portages. They did this almost exclusively using a tumpline, astrapthatrunsovertheshouldersandaroundthetopofthehead.Theendsofthetumpline are attached to the sides of the basket or pack you’re carrying. Itsounds very awkward, but in fact it allows you to carry a lot of cargo with lesseffort. The tumpline aligns the weight along your spine rather than weighingdown your shoulders like a traditional backpack. It is important to note that thetumplineshouldwrapacrossthetopofyourheadwithyouleaningforward
ratherthanacrosstheforehead.
SOCKHALFGLOVES
Awisewoodsmanwearsascarfaroundhisneckincoldweather.Muchofyourheat is lost through the thinly insulated veins and arteries that run through theneck.Thesameistrueforthewrist.Heatislostthroughthebloodbeingclosetotheskinasitworksitswaytoandfromthefingers.Forthisreason,halfgloves(also called wrist gloves) that insulate the wrist can make a huge difference inkeepingyourfingerswarmincoldweather.Youcanmakeaveryeffectivepairofhalfglovesfromthelegandcuffportionofapairofoldwoolhikingsocks.
Cutthesockoffabovetheankle,trimaholeforyourthumb,andpulliton.This
halfglovewillinsulatemuchofthepalm,theexposedveinsonthebackofthehand,andyourwrist.
FOOTWEARHACKS
SEALYOURSEAMSWITHTOILETRINGS
I’m a huge fan of leather boots. However, they require a lot of maintenance.During extended periods in wet environments, many leather boots will leak attheseams.Ihaveaquickandeasyhackforthat,anditusesaninexpensivewaxtoiletbowlsealring.Beforeheadingoutside,heattheseamsofyourbootswithacandle. Don’t burn them or catch them on fire, just heat them up. While theseamsarestillhot,useaclothtorubsomewaxfromthetoiletringalongthem.
The wax will melt and draw into the seam, making it nearly impermeable towater. Even in a bug out or survival scenario, wax toilet rings are alwaysavailable.Youcanalsousethismethodtowaterprooftheentireboot.Justwarmthebootsfirstbylettingthemsitinthesunornearafire.
NEWSPAPERMUKLUKS
Mukluksaretraditionalsoft-soledbootsoriginatingintheArctic.Thedesignismost functional in extreme cold conditions when the snow is soft and powderyas opposed to wet and slushy. Mukluks allow the feet to breathe through thicklayersofinsulationand,liketheirmoccasincousins,offerveryquiettravel.Youcan make a hack pair of mukluks by laying out 20–30 sheets of newspaper flaton the floor with a corner facing forward. Place your foot in the middle withyourtoespointingtowardtheoutsidecornerandthenfoldeachofthe4cornersin on top and across your foot. Tape or lash this layer into place. Next, fold atowelinhalf,placeitonthefloor,andwrapitaroundthefootintheexactsamefashionusingropeortape.Afinallayeroftarp,scrapjacketmaterial,orcanvas
canbelayeredontheoutsideforaddedweatherprotection.Addmorelayersofnewspaperformoreinsulation.
RACKETSNOWSHOES
Deep snow can be a devastating setback to a traveling survivor. Luckily,necessity is the mother of invention, and you can make snowshoes from manydifferent items. One of the quickest snowshoe hacks that I’ve used is a pair oftennis rackets. Loop leather or rope foot straps around the strings of a tennisracketandlashthemaroundyourbootforaverycomfortablefit.Theheelofthebootshouldbelefttomovefreelyforeaseofwalking.Thelashingsshouldforman X pattern across the top of the boot with at least 1 line wrapping around thebackofyourboottoholdthefootfirmlyinplace.
SCRAPRUBBERHUARACHES
TheTarahumarapeopleofMexicoareworldrenownedfortheirabilitytorunlong distances. What’s even more interesting is that they often run thesedistances in improvised minimalist sandals called huaraches. You can makehuarachesfromapieceofcordandscraprubbertakenfromacarmatorevenatire.
First, trace your foot on the rubber and make a mark between your big toeand second toe where the toe thong will go. Next, cut the traced soles from therubberandpunchaholeoneachsidejustnearthebackofthearchofyourfoot.Thenpunchanotheroneonyourmarkforthetoethong.Cuta6'lengthofcordand feed it through the toe thong hole with a knot on the other end to hold it inplace.Feedtheworkingendthroughtheoutsidehole,aroundyourheel,throughthe other hole, around the string on the top of your foot, and then retrace thelashingtolacethesandalinplace.
THISINSOLENEVERFELTSOGOOD
If you follow my work at all, then you already know that I love wool. It’samazing in cold weather, and there’s nothing like a good pair of wool socks tokeepyourfeetwarmandtoastywhenthetemperatureplummets.Onequickandeasy footwear hack that I’ve used over the years to give me that extra edge ofwarmthandcomfortistocustomcutmyownbootinsolesfromwoolfelt.Feltisafabricmadebymattingandcompressingwoolfibersuntiltheybecomeasolidpiece of material. You can buy wool felt at almost any fabric store. Trace yourexistingshoeinsolesonthefelttogettherightsize,cutthefeltoutwithscissors,and insert them into your hiking boots. Not only will they add an extra layer ofcomfort, but the wool will also provide much-needed insulation for the bottomofyourfeetagainstthecoldground.
USEICETOMAKEYOURSHOESMORECOMFORTABLE
There are many reasons why your boots can feel smaller than usual. Maybeyou’veputonweight.Maybeyou’vedecidedtowearthickersocks.Maybeyourboots got soaked and shrank when they dried. For whatever reason, there is aquick and easy way to stretch them out a little bit. Fill resealable freezer bagsabout three-quarters full with water. Stuff those water bags into your boots andput them in the freezer. As the bags of water freeze they will expand and forceyourboottostretch.Freezingwaterhasthepowertoburstconcrete;thishackisa great way to use that power to do something that is very difficult to do—stretchyourboots!
DUCTTAPESNOWSHOES
Ifapairoftennisracketsaren’thandy,hereisanothergreatsnowshoehackthatonly takes a few minutes longer to hack into existence. Cut and bend a 1⁄2"diameterflexiblegreensaplingintoateardropshape,approximately2'×1'.Useducttapeattheintersectiontoholdittogether.Usemoreofthetapetocreateaweb-likenettingthatspansthewidthandlengthofthewoodenframe’sinteriorspace.Thiswillresembleacrudewoodandducttapeversionofatennisrackethead.Next,duct-tape2bracesacrossthetopthatspanthedistancefromtheballof your foot to your heel. These should be 1" in diameter and cut from greenwood.Finally,useducttapetosecurethefrontofyourboottothefrontwooden
crossbrace.Yourheelshouldliftfreelyupwardbutrestsecurelyontherearbracewhensteppingdown.
SOCKGAITERS
This hack isn’t as much about shoes as it is stopping things from getting insidethemwhileyou’reonthemove.Irarelyspendtimeinthewoods(especiallythedesert)withoutapairofgaiterslashedaroundmyshins.Gaitersareaprotectivegarment designed to keep mud, snow, thorns, sand, forest debris, and insectsfrom getting into your boots while hiking. They also protect your shins againstthorns,somekindsofsnakebites,branchslaps,andmoisture.Somegoodfriendsof mine went on a mission trip to Belize. While watching a video of theirexperienceInoticedthattheirguideswerewearingmakeshiftsockgaiters.
They’dtuckedtheirpantlegsintheirboots.Thentheytookthecut-offportionsofthelegsfromthickhuntingsocksandpulledthatupandaroundtheankleoftheir boot. Several of them even had a front section of a 2-liter bottle cut andtuckedinsidethegaiterforaddedprotection.
CANOPYHACKS
TRASHBAGSHELTER
You’veprobablyheardofusingatrashbagasaponcho.However,notonlycana trash bag be an incredible poncho, but it can serve as a surprisingly effectiveone-personshelteraswell.AsakidIwastaughttocutaheadholeinthemiddleof the bottom of the bag and poke my arms out of 2 more holes cut at thecorners. Wow, was this wrong! You only want to make a 2" cut about 1' downthefoldfromoneofthebottomcorners.Whenyoumakethiscutacrossthefolditendsupbeingdoublethatlengthwhenyouopenitup.Thisisyourfacehole.Pull the bag over your head and stretch the hole over your face and under yourchin. Tuck your legs inside and sit against a downwind side of a big tree to getsomerest.
HACKTARPBOAT
Thishackisn’taboutmakingshelterbutratherusingasheltertarptomakeanimprovisedboat.
Layyourtarpflatontheground.Iuseda9'×12'tarp.
Pilepineboughsorleafybranchesinacircleabout12"high.Thiswillbethe diameter of your boat. Leave at least 1'–2' of tarp around theperimeter.
Layagridofsturdysticks,1"–2"indiameter,ontopofthecircle.
Pileanother12"ofgreenboughsontop,againinacircularpattern.
Wrapthetarparoundthecircleandtieittothegridofsticks.
Crossyourfingers.
Seethecompletephotoseriesofstepsat
http://willowhavenoutdoor.com/hack-tarp-boat/.
POPCANSNOW/SANDANCHOR
Securing tent or canopy stakes in snow or sand can be very difficult, if notimpossible. You can make a very simple and easy snow/sand anchor from aflattenedsodacan.Startbyflatteningthecansideways,notfromtoptobottom.Next, punch a hole in the middle of the flattened can. Feed your tent guylinethrough the hole and place a knot on the other side to hold it secure. Finally,burytheflattenedcaninthesandorsnow.Theflatfaceoftheburiedcanwillactasananchortoholdyourlinesecure.Almostanythingflatandsturdywillwork,
butaflattenedpopcanisaneasyhack.
POPTABTENSIONER
One of the first skills I teach in all of my survival courses is how to tie up aneffectivecanopyshelter.Notonlydoesthisportionofthecourseinvolvecanopyconfigurations,butIalsoteachtensioningknotssuchasthetaut-linehitch.Ifthewrong tensioning knots are used, a canopy shelter can come crashing downwhenyouleastexpectit.Onegreathackfortighteningguylinesistouseaplainold aluminum pop can tab. Once you remove it from the can, break off the tinylittle metal ring that holds it to the can. This will expose a jagged edge that’scriticalforthishacktowork.Nowfeedyourlinethroughthetabasshown,anditcanbeusedtotightenorloosenguylinesasneededwithouthavingtofusswithknots.
TWOSIMPLEGROMMETSAVERS
Grommetsonthecornersoftarpsarenotoriousfortearingoutinhighwindsandstorms. A simple hack to help prevent this from happening is to thread yourguylinethroughthegrommetandthenaroundasmall,stoutstick.Tyingaroundthis stick distributes the stress on the grommet to a larger surface area andappliesdownwardpressureonthegrommetratherthanadirectpullagainstit.Ametalbottlecapalsoworksverywellasreinforcement.Punchaholethroughthemiddle and tie a knot on the other side to hold it. This acts as a button stopperagainst the grommet and relieves stress on the grommet and tarp. Note: Thegrommets of a tightly stretched tarp are less likely to fail due to reduced windflap.
DIYCANOPYONABUDGET
If you’re a do-it-yourself type of survivalist (most of us are), you may beinterested in hacking your own lightweight canopy shelter. One of the bestmakeshiftcanopymaterialsI’veeverworkedwithisTyvekhousewrap.Thisisawaterproofandtear-resistantfabricusedasamoisturebarrierbeneaththebrickand/or siding on homes. Often, contractors will happily give scrap pieces ofTyvek material to those who ask. It is also available by the roll from homeimprovement hardware stores. The edges do not fray, and it is incrediblylightweight. The addition of strategically placed grommets (also available athardware stores) will create a survival tarp canopy as good as any store-boughtvariety.Note:AdyesolutionmadefromwaterandblackwalnuthuskswillcolorTyvektoaveryproperwoodsmantannishbrowncolor.
SHOCKBANDHACK
Highwindscanbedevastatingtoeventhebestofcanopyshelters.Suchsheltersare like sails in high winds, and if you don’t use really strong guylines (such asparacord),thelinescaneasilysnapinsurgingwindgusts.Whenusingless-than-preferred-strength guylines for canopy shelters, consider implementing a shockband along the guyline. This is a piece of rubber or bungee cord strategicallyplaced along your guyline. In high winds, the shock band will take the brunt ofthestressandkeepyoursheltersafelyinplace.Overhandloopscanbetiedalongtheguylinetoallowamodernbungeecordwithhooksoneachendtobequicklyand easily installed. Strips of tire inner tube, slingshot bands, surgical tubing,andevenexercisebandscanbeusedaswell.
BUGOUTBICYCLESHELTER
Bugging out on a bicycle has certain advantages. It can weave in and out ofcongested traffic jams, and it can’t run out of gas. It can also act as anindependentcanopyshelterframeintheabsenceoftreesoranchorpoints.Whilemany different configurations are possible, this illustration shows a classicarrangement,usingthetiresasfrontpillarswithguylinesstretchingtothefront.A smaller canopy strung from the handlebars makes a convenient gear storagevestibuleoradryspotforfirewood.SeetheBicycle-PoweredSlingshothackinChapter 4 to find out how to convert the front fork of a bicycle into a powerfulsmall-gameslingshot.
GLOW-IN-THE-DARKGUYLINES
I’veseeneventhemostexperiencedwoodsmantripoverhiscanopyguylinesduring a late-night trip to the latrine. A careless fall over guylines can havedevastatingconsequencesinasurvivalscenario,includingeyegouges,brokenbones,sprainedwristsorankles,andpulledmuscles.Averysimplegear
exchangecanhelppreventsuchanevent:Replacedarkorearth-tonedguylineswith glow-in-the-dark paracord. Dark guylines can be difficult to see at nightevenwiththeuseofaheadlamporflashlight,butglow-in-the-darklinesarenotonlymuchmorevisible,buttheyglowevenbrighterwhenstruckbyabeamoflight.Bonushack:Replacebackpackzipperpullsandgearlanyardswithglow-in-the-dark paracord as well to eliminate unnecessary guesswork in low-lightconditions.
6"TENSIONINGSTICK
Thisisacooltrickthatreplacesatensioningknotwhenstretchingaridgelineforacanopyshelter,rainfly,diningfly,orclothesline.Itallowsforquickandeasytightening(orloosening)ofaropestretchedbetween2treesoranchorpoints.
Start by cutting a 6" stick about 1" in diameter. A wooden dowel or oldbroomstickworksperfectlyforthis.Next,drillaholethrougheachendaboutthesame diameter as your rope. Thread the working end of your rope through theright-handholeandthencircletheropearoundthetreeoranchorpoint.Finally,thread the rope through the other hole on the opposite end of the stick and tie asimple overhand knot on the other side to act as a stopper. This configurationallowsyoutoslidethestickupanddowntheridgelinetotension.
SHELTERANDHEATINGHACKS
PALLETSHELTER
You can find discarded wooden pallets around almost every industrial park,dumpster area, dockyard, or retail establishment. Their durability, size, andshape make them perfect for an infinite number of shelter configurations. ThequickesttoerectisasimpleA-frameshelter.Placealayer(ortwo)ofpalletsonthegroundasabedframe.Thisnotonlygetsyouoffthegroundandawayfrommoisture, but it also creates dead air space that can be stuffed with insulationmaterials such as leaves, hay, or newspapers. Once the bed frame is finished,lean pallets on each side to meet in the middle above the bed in an A-frameshape. You can cover this structure in debris or a tarp, or even stuff the hollowinteriorspacesofthepalletswithinsulationtoformsemi-solidwalls.Becauseoftheir panel-based construction, pallet shelters can be completed in a fraction ofthetimeitwouldtaketoconstructnormalprimitiveshelters.
SeethePalletBowhackinChapter4forhowtomakeahuntingbowusingapallet.
FRAMEWORKCOLLARCONNECTOR
If you need a long pole, you’ll have to lash together 2 limbs or saplings for therightlength.Thisisthecasewhenmakingadomeframeworkforwigwam-styleshelters. If cordage is in short supply, a hack using an energy bottle from yourtrashmaybethesolution.
After slicing off the top and bottom of the bottle, a very strong cylindricaltube remains. You can use this tube as a collar for connecting the ends of 2limbs.Tapertheendssotheyslideintothetubeoppositeeachotherandformasnugfitwhenwedgedtogether.Thiscollarwillholdthemtogethersurprisinglywellandwillnotstretchwithmoistureasmanylashingswill.Ifthecollar’sabitloose,heatitovercoalsoraflameanditwillshrinkandtightenthefit.
A$1SLEEPINGPADORFIREREFLECTOR
Available at most dollar stores, a reflective vehicle dashboard protector can beeasilyrepurposedintoasleepingmatwiththeadditionofafewinchesofleavesor grass underneath. It isn’t thick enough to be an insulator, so the additionalnatural or manmade insulating materials underneath are necessary. Itsconstruction makes it much more durable than an average emergency survivalblanket, so it is also reusable and repackable. The shiny silver Mylar (designedto reflect sun rays away from a car dash) is equally effective in reflecting andrecyclingbodyheat.Itcanalsobeusedasawindblockandtoreflectheatfromafirewhenhungfromthebackofashelter.Whenfoldedandrolled,thisproductisaboutthesizeofapopcan.
AQUICKANDDIRTYCAMPTABLE
Thisisn’tasmuchashelterhackasitisacampfurniturehack.Survivalcampscan be crude, and the need for furniture often arises. One of the easiest tablehacksI’veeverusedstartswitherectingaquadpodframework.Lash4stickstogetheratthetop,usingatripod-stylelashing.Thiscreatesaquadpodwith4
legs. Now lash 2 horizontal sticks to each side to create a very nice tabletopframe. Then lay either individual sticks, found boards, or flat plastic or metalscrapsacrossthehorizontalframetoformatabletop.Thistableisquicktoerect,requires few materials (only rope and sticks), and can be broken down totransportifnecessary.Itcanserveasakitchenprepareaorasatabletogetgearandtoolsofftheground.
HOBOCANDLEHEATER
Even the heat from a small candle can raise the inside temperature of a smallspace several degrees. You can make a very simple hobo heater to capture andradiatethatheatevenfurther.Place2terracottaflowerpotsupsidedownontopofeachother.Makesurethebottompotisabitsmallersothatthereisaninchorso of space between it and the other pot. These should then be elevated slightlyaboveacandle.Straddlingthemacross2bricksisaperfectwaytosupportthem.Thecandleheatsthefirstterracottapotaswellastheairspacebetweenthepots.The warm air rises through the hole in the top of the second pot. The terra cottacaptures, holds, and radiates the heat longer than if the candle was just burninginopenair.
METALBUCKETSTORAGEHEATER
A storage heater is a heating system that uses electrical current to heat upceramic bricks; these can hold and radiate the heat into a room for hours. Youcan make a hack storage heater from a metal bucket, sand, and some rocks orbricks.Beforebeddingdownatnight,heatsomesoftball-sizedrocksorbricksinthefire.Oncepipinghot,placethemintoametalbucketandsurroundthemwithsand. Put the lid on the metal bucket and place it inside your shelter on a fire-resistant surface and away from the walls and bedding material. This storageheaterwillputoffheatallnightlong.Aheaterlikethisismorethansufficienttocutthecoldinasmallshelter,andyou’llbesurprisedatitseffectiveness.
ASIMPLEBLACKOUTAIRCONDITIONER
Apoweroutageduringswelteringhotsummermonthscanbedownrightdeadly,especiallytoinfantsandtheelderly.Inadisasterscenario,travelisn’talwaysanoption,sosometimesyouhavetohunkerdownandwaitthingsoutuntilutilitiescomebackonline.HereisaquickandeasyhackusinganoldStyrofoamcoolerandsomefrozenfoodfromthefreezertomakeagreatlittletemporaryblackoutair conditioner. This is a hack best taught by video, so I’ve filmed a tutorialshowing exactly how to build it. Watch the video atwww.willowhavenoutdoor.com/makeshift-emergency-air-conditioner.
SEATINGANDBEDDINGHACKS
BLANKETCHAIR
Finding a good place to sit in an improvised survival camp can be veryfrustrating—especiallywhenthegroundiswetorsnowcovered.Hereisahackto improvise a very comfortable seat in just a few minutes. The only parts youneed are 4 sturdy poles and a blanket or scrap piece of durable fabric. Cut 2poles that are 6'–8' long by 11⁄2"–2" thick and then cut a third that is the samethickness and 4' long. Lash the 2 long poles together at one end using a bipodlashing.Foldtheblanketorfabricinhalf,bunchtheendtogether,andsuspendthis end with rope from the cross at the bipod lashing. Insert the 4' pole at theunsecuredfoldoftheblanketsothatitsticksoutatbothends,andrestitagainstthe longer poles. Finally, kick back the center long pole as a chair support andleanbacktorelax.
BEDSHEETHAMMOCK
You can construct an incredibly lightweight, packable, and durable survivalhammockfromabedsheetandrope.Thetrickisinhowtotietheendssotheydon’tripoutinthemiddleofthenight.Startbyaccordion-foldingtheendsofthebedsheetoneachsidetomeetinthemiddle.Atthispointthesheetshould
beinashaperesemblingabanana.Now,tieamainlinetotheendusing2halfhitchesandleaveatleast8"ofsheetstickingout.Foldthisremaining8"downand lash to the main sheet body using a whip knot. This creates a very strong“loop”ofbedsheetmaterialthatcanbearaveryheavyloadwithouttearingorripping. See a photo series of this hack atwww.practicalprimitive.com/skillofthemonth/hammock.html.
FEEDSACKCOT
Feedsacksandburlapbagsareverystronganddurable.Theirtubularshapealsomakes them very useful when configuring a survival cot. Start by erecting 2large tripods from 5' saplings. Next, unravel the hem along the bottom of thefeedsacks(you’llneedatleast2sacks).Thiswillcreateatubularpieceoffabricabout 24" wide, the perfect width for a fine woodsman sleeping cot. Slide thetubular sacks over 2 7'-long sturdy saplings that have been cleared of all limbsand branches. This will create a hammock-style cot that can be stretchedbetween the legs of the large tripods erected earlier. The front 2 legs of thetripods will support the cot on each side while pulling the feed sacks taut in themiddleforcomfortable“off-the-ground”sleeping.
TIRESTOOL
A stack of 3 tires makes an excellent camp stool with one very simplemodification.Punchholeswithyourknifeevery3"aroundtheinsiderimofthetop tire. Weave paracord (or any strong cordage) from a hole on one side to aholeontheoppositesideandcreateastar-shapedpattern,hoppingfromsidetoside.Bythetimeeachholeisthreaded,thiswovenropechairseatwillbestrongenoughtoholdanaverageadultmanandisamuchmorecomfortableplaceto
sit than any log or stump dragged from the forest. If rope is unavailable, placepineboughsinacrisscrosspatternatopthetireuntil3"thick.Thesewillprovideenoughstrengthtomakeaseatthatwilllastmanydays.
THE3-OUNCECAMPCHAIR
Youcanmakeafantastichammock-stylecampchairfromjusta3'×1'pieceofripstop nylon fabric (available at any fabric store) and some 550 paracord. Ifyou’re lucky enough to camp near a tree with a stout horizontal branch, thischair style could be the perfect piece of camp furniture for you, and it all fitseasilyinjustajacketpocket.
Throw2strandsofparacordoverthehorizontalbranchandtiethemtoeachside of the ripstop nylon. The fabric opens up and makes a perfect hammock-style seat. A similar arrangement can be made by placing a strong crossbeamacrossthetopof2largetripodsandhangingthechairfromthisbeam.
Chapter2WaterHacks
CONTAINERHACKS
CondomCanteen
Coal-Burned ContainerPillowcase Water CarryHappy Birthday ContainerMouthSpreaderCanteenBail
AnAluminumFoilContainerThatIsActuallyUseful
PURIFYINGANDFILTERINGHACKS
KillItwithHouseholdBleachTrash Bottle Solar DistillerBoilWaterinaLargeLeaf
GATHERINGHACKS
Sink Filler HackDrinkwithaBandana2-LiterRainCollector
Umbrella Water FunnelMakeaSolarWaterBlanket
Inextremeconditions,humanscansurviveapproximately3dayswithoutwater.Inasurvivalscenariotheneedforwaterissecondonlytoregulatingcorebodytemperature. Nothing else matters if you can’t supply your brain, organs, andmuscleswiththehydrationnecessarytomakedecisionsandkeeppressing
forward.Thehumanbodyis50–65percentwaterandishighlydependentonregularreplenishments.
Thereismoretowaterinsurvivalconditionsthanmanypeoplerealize.First,you must find water. In some environments, like the desert, this can be anincrediblechallenge.Second,youmustgatherandcontainavailablewater.Thiscanbedifficultwithlimitedresources.Third,youmustpurifyandfilterwatersothat it is safe to drink. Shortcomings in any of these categories can leave youstaggering and stumbling with the effects of dehydration. Let’s explore severalsurvival water hacks using everyday items that could mean the differencebetweenlifeordeath.
CONTAINERHACKS
CONDOMCANTEEN
Manysurvivalists,includingmyself,suggestpackingnonlubricatedcondomsinsurvival kits. They are small, compact, and inexpensive and have a plethora ofsurvival uses. One noteworthy function is as a compact emergency watercontainer. However, few people have ever actually tried carrying water in one.HereareacoupletipsI’velearnedfromexperience.Fillthecondominasocktoprotectitduringtravel.Useanyrigidhollowtubesuchasaninkpen,elderberrybranch,orbamboosectionasaspoutandsecurethebaseofthecondomaroundit using duct tape or paracord. Carve a spout stopper from any dry branch andadd a sling and you’re ready to make tracks with more than 1 liter of drinkingwater.
COAL-BURNEDCONTAINER
Containers are a luxury in the wild. Without one, it can be very difficult togather, contain, or boil water. The lack of metal arts didn’t prevent primitivecultures from making containers. In fact, some of the first containers were“hacked”byusingred-hotcoalsfromthefiretoburndepressionsintochunksofwood. You can do this as well. Carefully place a coal in a small carved grooveand then blow on it, using a hollow reed. The intense heat will slowly burn ahole into the wood. Our ancestors used wet sand along with the direction ofairflowthroughthereedtocontroltheshapeanddepthofthebowl.Coal-burned
containerscanbeusedforallkindsofwaterchores.Toboilwaterinyourcontainer,addred-hotrocksfromthefire.
PILLOWCASEWATERCARRY
Itmaybenecessaryinasurvivalscenariotocarrylargequantitiesofwater(5+gallons,whichwithwaterweighingaround8poundspergallonmeanscarrying40pounds).Whethertravelinginbarrenlandsorhydratingalargegroupseveralhundred yards from a water source, you should know a few water-carryingtechniques.
Lineapillowcase(burlapbagsorfeedsacksalsowork)withathickplastictrashbag.Youcanthenpourseveralgallonsofwaterinsideit.Theclothlininghelps not only to stabilize the load but also to protect the lining from rips andtearsduringtravel.Tocarry,folditoverthetopandtieitclosedtocreateaseal,thenlashthetopknotofthisbagtothetopknotofanotherequallyfullbag.
Thesebagscannowbesafelyandsecurelycarriedoveryourshoulderwithmuchlesseffortthanhaulingwaterbyhandinbuckets.
HAPPYBIRTHDAYCONTAINER
I’llneverforgetwalkingthroughthewoodsonedaywhenIwasakidandseeinga cluster of shiny silver deflated helium birthday balloons hanging from a treebranch.AfterretrievingthemwithastickIwassurprisedtofindanotethathadbeenwrittenfromagirl3statesawayandtiedtothebottombeforeshereleasedthem on her birthday. It was like a modern-day note in a bottle. Since that timeI’vefounddeflatedheliumballoonsinthewildernessonseveraloccasions.TheirMylarsurfacecanbeusedforavarietyofpurposes,includingareflectiveshelterback wall and even solar fire starting. They also make excellent watercontainers. Trim the filler neck off, fill with a liter or so of water, and tie on aspoutsimilartotheonedescribedintheCondomCanteenhackinthischapter.
Voilà —instantbotabag.
MOUTHSPREADERCANTEENBAIL
A pot handle, called a bail, makes hanging a pot over a fire very convenient.Manymetalcanteensdon’tcomewithbailsand,consequently,arecumbersomewhen it comes to boiling and purifying wild water. An outstanding and little-knownhacksolutiontothisfrustrationcanbefoundinthefishingdepartmentatalmost any big-box outdoor retailer. A fish mouth spreader, when openedentirely, fits perfectly and securely inside the mouth of many different-sizedmetalcanteens.Thiscanbeusedtonotonlyliftthevesselinandoutofhotcoalsbut also as a bail for hanging it above the fire when desired. This tool costs lessthan $2 and weighs virtually nothing. It is a great addition to any metal canteenwaterkit.ThishackworksespeciallywellwithKleanKanteenbrandcontainers.
ANALUMINUMFOILCONTAINERTHATISACTUALLY USEFUL
Manypeopleadvocatepackingaluminumfoilintosmalleverydaycarry(EDC)survival kits. Often, you’ll hear them say, “Aluminum foil can make a greatcontainer.” In reality, this is easier said than done. It requires a bit of skill toshapeapieceofaluminumfoilintoausablecontainer.It’ssomethingthatmostpeopledon’tthinkaboutuntilit’stoolate.Thisisahackbesttaughtbyvideo.Click on the following link to watch as a few folds turn a square piece ofaluminum foil into a very useful survival bowl that can be used to boil water,cook stews and broths, or even fry meat and vegetables.www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2nC6T4muso.
PURIFYINGANDFILTERINGHACKS
KILLITWITHHOUSEHOLDBLEACH
Manycitiespurifytheirmunicipalwatersupplywithchlorine.Youcandothesameinasurvivalscenariousinghouseholdbleach.Mosthomes,businesses,andretailestablishmentskeepabottleofbleachonhand,andmemorizingthepurificationdosagescouldkeepyoufromagastrointestinalnightmare.
Household bleach is sold as a 6–8 percent concentration of active sodiumhypochlorite.ThisisoftenmarketedasExtraConcentrated.TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)recommendsusing2dropsofthisconcentrationper1quart or liter of water. Make sure the water is clear to begin with and that youwaitafull30minutesafteraddingthebleachbeforeusingit.Cloudyormurkywaterdrasticallyaffectstheeffectivenessofalmostallchemicalpurifiers.Also,onlyuseregularunscentedbleach.
TRASHBOTTLESOLARDISTILLER
Distillationistheprocessofevaporatingwaterandthencondensingitagaininacontainer.Thisprocessremovesimpurities,chemicals,salt,andevenwaterbornepathogens. All life raft survival kits include a solar distiller to desalinate saltyocean water in a survival scenario. You can easily hack a mini distiller from aclear trash bottle, such as a 2-liter bottle, in just a few minutes. Cut the bottomoffthebottleandfoldthebottom2"ofedgeupunderandinsidethebottle.I’vefoundithelpfultoheatthebottomedgeoverafiretomakeitmorepliable.Placethis bottle in a mud puddle, on wet sand, on a wet rag, or over a cup filled withdirtywaterandletthesungotowork.Clean,drinkablewaterwillevaporateand
condenseontheinsideofthebottle.Itwillthenrundowntheinsideofthebottleand collect in the folded lip that you created. Then it can be drunk from thebottle without further purification. Note: Full sun is required for the distillationprocesstowork.
BOILWATERINALARGELEAF
Boilingishandsdownthemosteffectiveprimitivesurvivalmethodofwaterpurification.Iteffectivelykillsallviruses,protozoancysts,andbacteria.
However, a metal pot or canteen isn’t always available in a survival scenario.Believeitornot,youcanstillboilwaterinplasticbottles,papercups,andeven
leaves!Toboilwaterinaleaf,shapeitintoacup,placeitintothecoalsofafire,andquicklyfillitwithwater.Youhavetofillitwithwaterfastbecauseit’sonlythe water that prevents the leaf (or plastic and paper) from burning. This ispossible because of conduction; the heat from the fire is conducted away fromtheleafandintothewater.Theedgeoftheleafmayburnbutthepartstouchingwater will not. Primitive cultures have been boiling in leaf containers forcenturies!Hint:Practicethisathomeusingalargecabbageleaf.
GATHERINGHACKS
SINKFILLERHACK
If you’re on the move and have to fill up canteens or containers from publicrestrooms, you may find it difficult to fit them under the sink faucet for filling.Onequickhackistocutasmallholeinthebottomsideofanemptywaterbottleandplaceitunderthefaucetstream.Thewaterwillgointothebottlethroughthehole and then drain out the mouth, which can be directed over the sink lip intoyour container. A dustpan (cleaned first of course) can be used as a quickdiverter as well. Allow the stream to fall onto the pan and it will flow throughthegutter-likehandleintoyourcontainer.
DRINKWITHABANDANA
Manypeoplecompletelyoverlookoneofthebestsourcesofwaterinasurvivalscenario—dew. The dew that collects on grass, rocks, and leaves is 100 percentsafe to drink without purification. The trick is collecting it. I’ve experimentedwithmanywaysandhavefoundthebestcollectionmethodistomopitupwithabandana or T-shirt and wring it out every few mops into a container. I havecollected more than 2 gallons of water in under 1 hour using this method in asmall meadow near Willow Haven (my survival training facility). Grasses arenot poisonous so there is no general risk with mopping dew from meadows,fields, or transition areas that lead into forests. If you’re wearing clothing, thenyouhaveameansofcollectingdew.
2-LITERRAINCOLLECTOR
The ability to collect rainwater, especially if stranded on an ocean island, iscritical. Here’s a great hack about how to turn plastic water bottles intopowerhouseraincollectors.Startbycuttingoffthebottomofthebottle(besureit has a cap to seal the mouth). Next, cut vertical slices down the side of thebottle about halfway down starting at the bottom. Make the slices 1"–2" apart.Foldthesectionsout,givingthebottleaflower-likeappearance.Heatingupthisbend to make it more pliable speeds up the process and helps keep the petals inplace.Finally,securethecapofthebottleacoupleinchesinthegroundandwaitforrain.Thisismodeledafternatureitself.Theleavesonmanyplantsandtreeshelp funnel rainwater toward the main trunk. These plastic “petals” help tofunnel rainwater into the central reservoir. The water can then be drunk with astraworpieceofhollowreedgrass.
UMBRELLAWATERFUNNEL
Most people think of umbrellas as a tool to keep them dry. In this hack, we flipan umbrella’s function on its head—literally! Rain is one of the best sources ofsurvivalwater.Itisoneofthefewnaturalsourcesofwaterthatcanbeconsumedwithoutfiltrationorpurification.Collectingit,however,canbeachallengewithlimitedresources.Gatheringrainisallaboutonecriticaldetail:surfacearea.
Thelargeryourcollectionarea,themorerainyouwillgather.Youcancreateaveryeffectiveraincollectorbyflippinganumbrellaupsidedownandplacingitontopofabucket.Then,pokeacoupleholesinthemiddle.Now,you’veturnedanumbrellaintoagiantfunnel.Inmytests,a3'-diameterumbrellacanharvest
around3gallonsofrainwaterper1"ofrain.That’senoughfor3daysforonepersoninasurvivalscenario!
MAKEASOLARWATERBLANKET
Water vapor evaporates from plant and tree leaves through a process calledtranspiration. It’s very similar to perspiration for humans. This process isaccelerated when a plant or leaf is covered in clear plastic sheeting in full sun.Aneasywaytogathertranspiredplantwateristolayasheetofclearplasticonapatchofgrassasifitwereablanket.Theremustbefullsunortheprocessdoesnotwork.Afteracoupleofhourstheundersideoftheplasticwillbecoveredinsmalldropletsofdrinkablewater.Carefullyturnovertheplasticsheetandmopthe water with a bandana or T-shirt and wring it directly into your mouth or acontainerfortravel.
Chapter3FireHacks
MAKINGTHEMOSTOFMATCHESANDDISPOSABLELIGHTERSHACKS
Make“TheBeast”Match
APerfectlyMintyLighterBoxCardboardTripleThreat
P,B,&F(ire)
SalvationforWetMatchesMatchFeatherStick
IGNITIONHACKS
CottonFireCigar
Make a Striking SurfaceJumperCable+Pencil=Fire
MakeFirefromaBustedCigaretteLighter3Bow-DrillBearing-BlockHacks
9-VoltRazorHackAntennaBellows
GiveYourBowDrillMoreEnergy
SOLARFIREHACKS
LightYourFirewithaLightBulbPOMPyro
FirefromIce
AMylarEmergencySurvivalBlanketLensMakeaFirePipe
Bad Eyes = Good FireFrom Flashlight toFlameRomanticHouseFire
FIRETINDERHACKS
PET BallsTheFirePick
Make Tinder from a Busted LighterUseaPopCantoPlanforFutureFiresGumWrapperFire
MakeupAisletoFireTinderWallet-SizedFireSquares
MakeYourOwnLintforTinder
AmpUpYourSolarFireStartingwithCaffeineWindproofCandles
RottenWood=FireGold
MoosePoopCouldSaveYourLifeWhen Your Zippo Goes BlippoSavedbytheQ-Tips
SnackFoodCouldSaveYourLifeFireFeathers
TinderParmigiano
Fireisdirectlyrelatedtoeveryothersurvivalpriority.Ithelpsregulatecorebodytemperature as well as makes up for a lack of proper sheltering knowledge ormaterials. It can boil and purify water, cook food, signal for rescue, and evenhelpmaketoolssuchascontainersandspears.
Knowinghowtolightafireisoneofthesurvivalskillsthattakesthemostpracticetounderstandandmaster.Thereisalottolearn,includingbasic
principles about tinder properties, ignition tools and strategies, friction dos anddon’ts,fueltypes,carryingmethods,andmore.Fireisalsothesurvivalcategorythatallowsforthemostcreativehacking,whichiswhyIloveitsomuch.
Creatingfireiswithoutquestionmyfavoritesurvivalskilltopracticeandteach.Thenumberofhacksinthischapterisnotonlyinfluencedbytheprevioustwostatementsbutalsobytheimportanceoffireingeneral.
Thischapteristheculminationofalmost20yearsoffirehacking.Initwe’llexplore some of the craziest and unique ways of making fire using random,everydayobjectsyou’veeverseen.Enjoy!
MAKINGTHEMOSTOFMATCHESANDDISPOSABLELIGHTERSHACKS
MAKE“THEBEAST”MATCH
WhenIwasakid,thedadofafriendofmineusedtomakeslow-burningfusesforourmodelrocketsoutofcottonyarnandmatchheads.Hewouldtakeaboxof wooden matches, pinch off the match heads, and crush them up to a finepowderusingamortarandpestle.Thenhewouldaddsomewatertothepowderand make a paste into which he would dip the cotton thread and let dry. Whenlit, it would burn like a slow fuse. You can make your own beast match in asimilarway.
Grindupthematchheadsfromabunchofwoodenmatchestoafinepowderandmixinsomewatertomakeapaste.Thentakesmallmatchsticksmadefromsplit fatwood (resin-rich pinewood) and dollop a big glob of match-head pasteabout1⁄4"aroundby1"longontotheendandletdryforatleastaday.Youcanstrikethesejustlikeregularmatches,exceptnowyouhaveabeastmatch.
APERFECTLYMINTYLIGHTERBOX
Asconvenientasdisposablecigarettelightersareforstartingfires,theycertainlyhave drawbacks. First, if the fuel lever is accidentally depressed in your pack,it’sverypossibleyourlightercanemptyitselfduringtravel.Second,disposablelightersdonotworkwell(orsometimesnotatall)whenwet.Onequickdunkina river or pond could mean no chance of success. Lastly, at very coldtemperatures, disposable lighters are very unreliable because the butane fuel islesslikelytovaporize.Onesimplehackforprotecting(andeveninsulating)your
disposable lighter is to pack it inside a Mentos brand gum container. Thiscontainermakesaperfectlittlelighterboxbecauseit’swater-resistantandalsoprotects the fuel lever from being depressed. There is also just enough extraspace for some good fire tinder like steel wool or cotton balls. This makes aperfectminihacksurvivalkitcontainer,whichI’vefeaturedinChapter8ofthisbook.
CARDBOARDTRIPLETHREAT
Corrugated cardboard has small channels that fit wooden matches perfectlywhenit’scuttotherightsize.Cutapieceofcardboardwith3verticalchannelsjustlongenoughtofitwoodenstrike-anywherematches.Dipthisentiretriple-threatmatchinmeltedwax3timestowaterproofthecardboardandthematchheads. When ready to use, scratch the wax off the match heads and strike on arockorotherabrasivesurface.Onematchwilllighttheother2,whichwillthenlight the cardboard. This is a great hack to make a match that is not onlywaterproof but also a very good fire starter. The cardboard will burn like acandle wick and will be very difficult to extinguish even in light drizzle andheavywind.
P,B,&F(IRE)
Jars of all shapes and sizes, such as peanut butter and jelly containers, makeawesomewaterprooffirekits.MakeaP,B,&F(ire)jarbypackinganemptyjarwith strike-anywhere matches and cotton balls. I prefer plastic jars becausethey’remoredurable.Justincaseyoudon’thaveasuitablestrikingsurface,glueacircleof220-gritsandpapertotheinsideofthejarlid.
Bonushack:Mixyourcottonballswithpetroleumjellyforafirestarterthatwillburn100timesaslongasaregularcottonball.Preventamessbypackingthese inside a resealable bag before putting them in your fire jar. With thisprepared kit, you now have a grab-and-go fire jar with everything you need togetafiregoing—fast!
SALVATIONFORWETMATCHES
Even wet matches can be saved if you know how. Many outdoorsmen andoutdoorswomentravelincold-weatherclimateswithHotHandsHandWarmers.These air-activated warmers not only can be used to warm and ready hands forfire making, but they can also dry out wet matches. Place wet matches alongwith1or2activatedHotHandswarmersintoanydrypocketandwaitatleast45minutes. The dry, radiant heat from the warmers should dry the matches outenough to allow ignition. Don’t give up if your first attempt at striking isn’tsuccessful.Verywetmatchesmaytakelongertodry,butyoucandoit!
MATCHFEATHERSTICK
If you’ve studied survival or bushcraft very long, chances are you’ve heard of“feathersticks.”Withasharpknife,shavelongwoodsliversdownthesideofastick.Justbeforethesliverisshavedoff,stopandbeginanothersliverfromthetop. After several minutes’ work, you’ll have a stick covered in feather-likewood shavings. These shavings catch fire much quicker and easier than thelargersolidstick.Consequently,feathersticksareanexcellentfire-startinghack.However,let’stakethatconceptastepfurtherandapplyittowoodenmatches.
Inextremelydifficultconditionswhenyoumightneedadditionalhelpstartingafire, use your knife to shave small wooden slivers just above the match head,creatingaminifeatherstick.Whenthematchignitesitwillveryquicklycatchtheseshavingsonfire,whichwillcreateastrongerandbiggerflame.
IGNITIONHACKS
COTTONFIRECIGAR
Thisisafrictionfirestartthatwillblowyourmind.Startbypullingapartcottonballs (or tampons) and flatten the pieces onto a board so that you make a flatrectangleabout3"×8".Sprinklealineofwoodashaboutthesizeapencilalongoneend.Next,rolltheashupinsideofthecottonlikeacigar.Continuetopackand roll it with your hands so that it’s fairly compacted. Finally, place thecotton/ashcigarbetween2boardsandmovethetopboardbackandforthsothatthecotton/ashcigarrollsbeneathitontheotherboard.Continuetodothisveryfast with medium pressure for about 1 minute. The friction of the carbonparticlesintheashcombinedwiththepressurewillcauseasmallembertoforminthecottonfibers.Thecottoncanbepulledapart,andyoucanblowtheemberintoflame!
MAKEASTRIKINGSURFACE
If no striking surface is available for a wooden match, hack your own with alittle bit of sweat equity. You’ll need 2 dry pieces of wood to get the job done.Withyourmatchattheready,rub1pieceofwoodagainsttheotheruntilitgetsvery hot and starts to smoke and char a little bit. When it does this, strike yourwooden match on that hot surface. The heat from the friction will be enough toignite the volatile phosphorus on the head of the match. This method worksbetterifyoucarvethepieceofwoodyou’rerubbingwithintoachiselshapeandpushitbackandforthacrosstheotherdrystick.Thismethodtakesalittleeffortbutmaybethemissinglinkyouneedtogetafiregoing!
JUMPERCABLE+PENCIL=FIRE
Usingabatterypowersourceisaverypopularfire-startingmethod.Therearemany different ways to do it using many different power sources. This oneinvolvesusingacarbattery,jumpercables,andaregularNo.2pencil.
Startbyshavingdownanareaoneachendofthepencilaboutaswideasthejumper cable alligator clamps. Make sure that the pencil lead is exposed. Thenclamp on the positive and negative jumper cable clamps, one on each shavedarea. Be sure the clamps are touching the pencil lead. Place the clamps andpencil on top of your tinder bundle and turn on the car engine. The electricityfrom the cables will turn the pencil lead into a red-hot ember and the woodenpencil will erupt into flame in about 2 minutes’ time. Use the flame to igniteyourtinderbundle.
MAKEFIREFROMABUSTEDCIGARETTELIGHTER
I’vefounddiscardedcigarettelightersinthemostunlikelyplaces:onthesideofthe road, on hiking trails, washed up on beaches, and even in a cave. Althoughtheyarealmostoutoffuelorbustedaltogether,youcanstillusethemtostartafireifyouknowhow.Abrokenoremptylighterwillproduceaspark,andthatsparkcanbeusedtoignitetinder.
One of my favorite tricks is to use a broken lighter to ignite a Q-Tips earcleaner. Fuzz up the cotton tip by pulling at the cotton fiber, and strike thelighterintothefibers.Thesamecanbedonewithcottonbandages,cottonballs,
dryer lint, and even the dried seedheads from many grasses, cattail, andmilkweed.SeetheMakeYourOwnLintforTinderhacklaterinthischapterforhowtomakeyourownlintinasurvivalscenario.
3BOW-DRILLBEARING-BLOCKHACKS
Therearemanyfactorstoconsiderwhenbuildingandsuccessfullyusingabow-drillfrictionfireset.Fromavailablewoodtypestocordageresources,therearemanyvariablesthatyoumustcontrol.Youcangreatlyincreasethechancesofafastemberbymaximizingfrictionbetweenthebottomportionofthespindleandhearth board and minimizing it at the top between the spindle and the bearingblock. Three low-friction bearing-block hacks you can try include a skateboardwheel (the bearing in the middle provides nearly frictionless spinning), a shotglass,andapennythathasbeenpoundedintoaconcaveshapeusingaball-peenhammer or metal punch (glue this into a depression carved into a woodenhandhold).
9-VOLTRAZORHACK
Batteries,asIsaidbefore,canbeusedinallkindsofdifferentwaystomakefire.Forinstance,youcanusea9-voltbatteryandgrade#0000steelwool.Steelwoolwillignitewhenit’sconnectedtothepositiveandnegativeterminalsofa9-voltbattery. Similarly, you can use the very thin blades from a disposable razor toshort-circuit a 9-volt battery. A tiny spark will fly when a blade touching thepositive terminal is crossed with a blade touching the negative terminal. Thecorrect tinder at this intersection, such as char cloth or thin shreds of tinderfungus,canbeignitedwithlittleeffort.Themetalorwireusedtoshort-circuitalow-voltagebatterysuchastheoneyou’reusingforthishackmustbeextremelythin in order to deliver positive results. Note: Keep in mind that repeatedattemptscandrainthechargefromyourbatterysource.
ANTENNABELLOWS
A bellows is any device used to blow oxygen into a fire to increase the rate ofcombustion. The more oxygen a fire gets, the stronger and hotter it will burn.Thisiswhyblowingonafirehelpskeepitgoing.Theabilitytoconcentratethisstreamofoxygenintotheheartofafirecangrowitexponentially.
One great bellows hack is a car or radio antenna—or rather the metalhousingthatprotectstheantennawire.Whetherretractableorofafixedlength,thesemetalcasingsarehollowandmakeanexcellentfire-resistant,lightweightbellows.Simplyplaceoneendoftheantennaintotheheartofastrugglingfireandblowthroughtheotherendtoinjectmuch-neededoxygen.Theretractableantennafromanoldradiomakesagreatcompactadditiontoanyfirekit!
GIVEYOURBOWDRILLMOREENERGY
As I said earlier, when building a bow-drill kit, you want to reduce the amountof friction in the handhold portion of the spindle and increase it at the hearthboard. I’ve seen many different attempts to reduce friction at the bearing blockthatsitsontopofthespindle,includingoil,greenleaves,andevenamechanicalbearing. In a pinch, you can hack a mini energy drink bottle into a low-frictionbearingblock.Cutthebottomfromthebottle.Placeitoveraspindle,holdingithammer-grip style to apply pressure. The top of the spindle must be carvedlargerthannormalandmoreroundedontopsothatitdoesnotdriveintothecapportion of the bottle. A round, bulbous top on the spindle will allow it to spinwithincrediblylowfrictionwhilenestedwithinthetopwallsofthebottle.
SOLARFIREHACKS
LIGHTYOURFIREWITHALIGHTBULB
A traditional incandescent household light bulb filled with water makes anincredible solar fire-starting lens (modern compact fluorescent energy-efficientbulbs will not work). It is the perfect spherical shape. However, there are somehackstomakeitwork!First,wrapthebulbinanoldragorT-shirtandgentlytapthe very bottom electrical contact point with a hammer or knife handle. After afew solid hits it will loosen and you can pull it out. Then gently break out thestem and filament, work it out through the hole, and discard it. The inside ofmost light bulbs are coated with silica. Rinse this out with water because youwanttouseaclearbulb.Now,turnthebulbupsidedown,fillitwithclearwater,and use it as an incredible solar lens. This is one of the most effective firestartersI’veeverused.
POMPYRO
Trash water bottles can be found in every urban location and even in the mostremote wilderness locations. With a little knowledge, these trash bottles can befilled with water and used as a solar magnifier to start a fire. My favorite bottleto use is the double-sphere POM juice bottle. When that bottle is filled withwater I can smolder tinder in less than 3 seconds on a sunny day. Many bottlesareeffectivefirestarters.Placethebottle1"fromthetinderandthenslowlypullbackthebottletowardthesununtilyouseeawispofsmoke.My6favoritesolartinders are chaga (tinder fungus), char cloth, milkweed ovum, charcoal,rabbit/deerpoop,andpunkywood(soft,rottingwoodusuallyfromthecenterof
atreeorlog—seetheRottenWood=FireGoldhacklaterinthischapterformoreonpunkywood).
FIREFROMICE
Ifyoucanusewatertomakefire,thencanyouuseice?Ofcourseyoucan.Thetrick is carving a chunk of ice into a perfect sphere for magnifying the sun’srays.Thisiswherethehackcomesintoplay.Startbysawingaroughglobefroma chunk of ice. I’ve found this is much easier with a saw than carving it with aknife. Then use the mouth of your water bottle as a shaving tool (metal bottleswork best). If you press the mouth of the bottle against the roughly shaped iceball and begin to work it round and round, it will eventually turn the ice into aperfect circle. The circular shape of the bottle mouth makes the ice ball into asphere.Usethisclearspheretofocusthesun’sraysontinder.
AMYLAREMERGENCYSURVIVALBLANKETLENS
You can start a solar fire with the sun's rays using a Mylar blanket, a containerwithaplasticsnap-onlip,andahollowtubeorinkpen.First,trimouttheinsideof the plastic lid so that it is just the rim that snaps onto the container. ThiscircularrimwilltightlyholdapieceofMylarplacedoverthetop.Pierceaholeinthesideofthecontainerandinsertahollowtubeorinkpen.Thisallowsyouto suck the sealed Mylar into a convex parabolic shape that can create a solaremberindirectsunlightonsuitabletinderssuchaspunkywood,agavepith,deerpoo,charcloth,andtinderfungus(chaga).
MAKEAFIREPIPE
ManysmallsnackcupsandcoffeecontainersaresealedwithaMylarcovering.Although you may be tempted to gobble down these snacks in a survivalscenario,beforeyoubreaktheMylarsealuseapackagelikethisasasolarfire-startingtool.Byinsertingahollowtube,sectionofbamboo,orinkpenthroughthe side of the snack cup, you can suck and draw the reflective Mylar sealinwardtoformaparaboliclens.Aparabolic,orconvex,lensworkstoconvergethesun’sraystoafocalpointthatcanbeusedtogenerateasmolderingember.Rubbergrippensworkverywellbecausetheycreateabettersealwheninsertedthrough the plastic wall of the container. Great solar ember tinders are chaga,char cloth, deer or rabbit poop, punky wood, the tea from inside tea bags, anddriedgroundcoffee.
BADEYES=GOODFIRE
In the eyeglass section at almost any pharmacy store you will find a display ofcredit-card-sizedmagnifyingglassesintendedtoaidreadingbythosewithpooreyesight. To the well-informed student of survival, this small lens is one of thebestfirestartersavailable.Thisinexpensivewallet-sizedmagnifiercancreateanember on punky wood, char cloth, dry deer poop, tinder fungus, sage, and avarietyofdriedleavesinjustafewsecondsonabrightsunnyday.Ialwayshaveoneinmywallet,andIconsideritoneofthemostreliablefirestartersI’veeverused. In fact, here is a video I filmed to explain exactly how to use it for firestarting:www.willowhavenoutdoor.com/punky-wood-video.
FROMFLASHLIGHTTOFLAME
The convex reflector that surrounds the bulb of a flashlight reflects the lightfromthebulbintoastrongandfocusedbeam.Ifremovedfromthecase,itcan
also be positioned to create a solar ember on tinder held in the proper position.First,removethereflectorfromtheflashlightcase.Thisoftenrequiresremovingthe bulb and plastic/glass lens cover. Stab your small piece of solar tinder ontotheendofathinstickorwireandfeeditupthroughtheholeinthebottomofthereflector.Facethereflectordirectlyintothesunandcarefullypositionthetindersothatitrestsinthespotwiththetightestfocalpointofconvergedsunlight.
Onceitignites,placeitintoatinderbundleandblowitintoflame.Besttindersarecharcloth,deerorrabbitpoo,chagafungus,punkywood,milkweedovum,andcharcoal.Note:Thereflectorsinvehicleheadlightsalsoworkverywellforthis.
ROMANTICHOUSEFIRE
I’ll never forget a news clip I saw years ago about how a homeowner poured aglassofwhitewine,relaxedinherchair,andfellasleeponlytowakeupandfindherhouseonfire.Howdidithappen?Sheplacedherglassofwhitewine(nearlyclearincolor)onthecoffeetablenexttothechairandrightbythewindow.Thesunwasshiningbrightlythroughthewindowthatday,andthecircularshapeofher wine glass converged the sun’s rays to focus on a box of tissues sittingnearby. The focal point was so hot that the tissues caught fire, and the rest ishistory. As survivalists, we can learn a lot from this mistake. A clear bulboussphere-likevesselfilledwithwater(oranyclearliquid)canbeusedtoestablishasolaremberwhenpositionedproperly.
FIRETINDERHACKS
PETBALLS
I’mgoingtostartthishacksectionwithoneofthebest(andmostpopular)firehacksinthebusiness—PETballs.Thesearecottonballsmixedwithpetroleumjelly; one of these will burn upward of 100 times longer than the same cottonball without petroleum. The cotton ball behaves as a wick that burns thepetroleumjellyfuel.
Manyproductsarepetroleumjelly–based,includingsomehairpomades,lipbalms,first-aidointments,andmakeups.Anycanbeused.APETballthathasbeen pulled apart to expose the tiny cotton fibers can ignite with just the smallsparkfromabrokenlighterorferroceriumrod.Aferroceriumrodisamanmademetal that produces hot sparks when scraped against a sharp surface. To makemixingeasier,Iprefertomicrowavethejarofpetroleumjellyforafewsecondstoliquefyit.Ithenpouritoverabowlofcottonballs.
THEFIREPICK
Didyouknowthatguitarpicksmakeincrediblefiretinder?Theyaremadefroma material called celluloid, which happens to be extremely flammable. For thisreasonIalwayskeepacoupleinmywalletasemergencyfire-startingtinder.
Theywillignitewhenexposedtoanopenflamesuchasthatfromadisposablelighterormatch.However,youcanalsousethemwithjustasparkifyouknowhow.Startbydrillingasmalldivotinastick.Then,splitthestickintheendallthewayintothedivot.Next,usingyourknife,fillthedivotwithshavingsfromtheguitarpick.Makethesebyscrapingyourknifeata90-degreeangleagainst
the pick. Finally, slide the pick into the split until the edge of it is buried in theshaving-filled divot. Now you can ignite the small shavings using a spark fromtheferrorod,andtheywillinturnignitethepick.Voilà —firewithaguitarpick!
MAKETINDERFROMABUSTEDLIGHTER
As you learned previously in the Ignition Hacks section, even a busted lightercan be used to ignite cotton fibers and dried seed pods. Did you know you canalso make an incredible tinder from a broken lighter? Each time you turn thewheelagainstthelighter’sminiferrorod,itscrapesoffasmallamountofmetaldust. This ferrocerium dust is extremely flammable. With the lighter turnedupsidedown,turnthelighterwheelslowlyabout50timesoveranapkinand
watchasthedustslowlycollectsinalittlepile.Then,sparkthelighterwheelinto that dust pile for a short burst of flame. The small flame will ignite thenapkin.
USEAPOPCANTOPLANFORFUTUREFIRES
Planningforfuturefiresisabigpartofsurvival.Oneofthebestwaystodothisis to make char cloth. It is a natural-fiber fabric (such as a 100 percent cottonbandana)thathasbeenburnedintheabsenceofoxygen.Cutanemptypopcaninhalf,placeseveralsquaresofnatural-fiberfabricinside,andthenpressurefitthetophalfoverthebottomhalf.Next,closethethinmetalsealtothedrinkinghole so that there is just a sliver of opening. Finally, place this container in thecoals or a small fire for several minutes. You will see smoke and flames shootoutoftheslitatthemouthhole.Whenthesmokestopsyourcharclothisdone.Aftercooling,igniteitwithasparkorlens,andplaceitinatinderbundletobeblownintoflame.
GUMWRAPPERFIRE
A foil-backed gum wrapper (or any foil-backed paper candy wrapper) can beused to start a fire if you have a battery source such as a AA battery from aflashlight or remote control. Start by trimming the wrapper to an hourglassshape.Touchthepositiveandnegativeterminalsofthebatterywiththefoilsideof the wrapper simultaneously. The electrical current will converge on thethinnest part of the hourglass shape and ignite the wrapper to flame. If thebattery is too weak to bring the wrapper to flame, consider adding a secondbattery for more electrical current. Be sure to have a good tinder bundle readybecauseyou’llonlyhaveabout3secondsofflame!
MAKEUPAISLETOFIRETINDER
Many female readers will be familiar with the flat, round cotton pads sold asmakeup removers. These also happen to be one of my favorite ingredients in afantastic do-it-yourself fire tinder. I call them fire discs. When candles in myhouseburndowntonothingItosstheminanoldshoeboxtorepurpose.WhenIgatherenough,Imeltthemdowninanoldsaucepanuntiltheyareliquid.ThenIfill that saucepan up with the flat cotton makeup removal pads and wait untiltheyaresaturatedthroughwithwax.Usingtongs,Iplacethemonebyoneonaboardtocoolandharden.Thesecanbepackedintooldcandytinsorresealablebags and make for one of the best fire starters I’ve ever used. Pull apart toexpose the tiny cotton fiber and light with a spark or flame. Burn time: 5–10minutes.
WALLET-SIZEDFIRESQUARES
I had a friend in college who needed to give himself regular injections ofmedicine.Eachtimehewouldreachintohisdeskdrawerandpulloutalittlefoilpacket that contained a 1" × 1" square alcohol prep pad, which he’d use todisinfect the injection site before and afterward. I remembered this many yearslaterwhenpreppingforasurvival-kit-buildingcourse.Ineededasmall,reliablefire tinder to pack into tiny candy-tin survival kits, and the alcohol prep padswere just the ticket. They work so well in fact that I keep a couple in my walletjustincase.Theydon’tburnlong,buttheywillgiveyouanopenflamewithjusta spark; you can use them to ignite a tinder bundle. You can purchase boxes of100atanypharmacyforunder$5.
MAKEYOUROWNLINTFORTINDER
Mostpeopleknowthatdryerlintmakesawesomefiretinder.It’sdry,fibrous,andalmostalwayscontainscottonfibers,whichareincrediblyflammable.
However,therearenodryerlinttreesinthewilderness,oratleastnonethatI’vefound. If you have an ignition source that will create a spark, such as a bustedcigarettelighteroraferrorod,hereisalittletricktomakeyourownlinttinder.Scrapeanycottongarmentata90-degreeanglewithaknifeorsharptool(evenrock). You will slowly reveal a small pile of cotton fibers. Collect enough ofthem to create a tinder bundle large enough to ignite with just a spark. Note:Don’t pack your lint too tight when trying to ignite it. Pull the fibers apart toexpose more surface area and you’ll increase the chances that a spark will takehold.
AMPUPYOURSOLARFIRESTARTINGWITHCAFFEINE
Thereareveryfewitemsthatwillsmolderlikeyouneedthemtowhenstartingafirebymagnifyingthesun’srays.Driedcoffeegroundsandteabagsjusthappentowork.Thekeyisthattheymustbedry.Onceanemberhasstartedtosmolderusing a solar lens, begin to make slow, steady circles with your focal pointaround that ember. This will grow and strengthen your ember into somethingthat can then be transferred into a prepared tinder bundle. Dried tea or coffeewon’tburstintoflameontheirown.Theresultingembersmustblowninatinderbundletocreateflame.
WINDPROOFCANDLES
Ifyou’veeverstruckamatchonlytohaveitblownoutbyaroguegustofwind,thenyouwillappreciatethishack.SeveralyearsagoIwasatabirthdaypartyforthe son of a friend of mine. The cake was delivered with much anticipation andtopped with 10 brightly burning birthday candles. I’ll never forget the look onhis face when the candles magically relit themselves just seconds after hethoughthisbirthdaywishesweresuretocometrue.OnmywayhomethatdayIstopped by the local grocery store and picked up some relighting birthdaycandles.Theymakeagreatadditiontofirekitsandcanbeyourbestfriendinthefieldwhentryingtostartfiresininclementweather.AsyousawintheClothingHacks and Footwear Hacks sections in Chapter 1, wax is also a great seamwaterproofer.
ROTTENWOOD=FIREGOLD
Who would’ve ever thought that old rotting wood could save your life? Dry,rotting wood, called punky wood, is one of my all-time favorite survival fire-starting resources. It is the perfect medium for solar embers. Often, whenstartingfireusingasolarlensyouhavetofirstdevelopasmolderingember,thenplacethatemberintoatinderbundleandblowitintoflame.Punkywoodmakesagreatemberthatisnotonlyself-sustainingbutcaneasilybegrownbycrushingand sprinkling on more punk. The consistency of punky wood that you’relooking for is dry, rotting wood that can easily be crushed and powderedbetween your fingertips. This wood can often be found in the form of deadbranchesontheforestfloor,insideofhollowrottingtrees,oronold,drystumps.Bonustip:Youcanalsogrowabow-drillemberusingpowderedpunkywood.
MOOSEPOOPCOULDSAVEYOURLIFE
Anothersolarfiretinderhackispoop!Iknow,itsoundscrazybutit’strue.Thedry vegetable matter–based poop from deer, moose, rabbits, goats, and cowsmakes excellent solar fire ember material. It smolders very well and is self-sustaining. I’ve found it best to pulverize it into a little pile on a dry woodshaving, a piece of bark, or right in the middle of your tinder bundle. Dry pooppelletsfromdeer,rabbits,andmoosealsotravelandstoreverywell.Theycanbecollectedalongthetrailandkeptinacontainertouseforfuturefires.Iftheyarefresh,placethemnexttoanexistingfiretodryoutorletthemsitinfullsunonadark-coloredrock.Therockwillabsorbtheheatfromthesunandhelpthemdryfrombeneath.
WHENYOURZIPPOGOESBLIPPO
Disposablecigarettelightersaren’ttheonlyonesthatarestillusefulevenwhenempty.Here’saZippolighterhacktokeepinyourbackpocketjustincase.
Manypeopledon’tknowthatthefuelchamberofaZippolighterispackedwithcottonbatting.AsIsaidinthePETBallshackearlierinthischapter,cottonballsmixed with petroleum jelly is one of the most effective fire-starting tinders Ihaveeverusedinmylife.Thefuel-infusedcottonbattinginsideaZippoisverysimilar. You can easily pull it from the chamber, process it into a small fibroustinder bundle, and then bring it to flame with the spark from the lighter’ssparking wheel. An empty Zippo may not have fuel, but it certainly has tinderandcanmakefire!
SAVEDBYTHEQ-TIPS
AsIsaidearlier,cottonballsmixedwithpetroleumjellymakesomeofthebestfirestartersonearth.Ifyoudidn’tknowthisbefore,nowyoudo!Sometimesin
survival you have to think outside the box, and that often includes looking ateverydayobjectsinadifferentway.Q-Tips,smallcardboardstickstippedwithcotton, are a prime example of this. Even though it’s not much cotton, it’senough to get a fire going in a pinch. It will also burst into flame with just asmallspark,suchasthatfromaferrorodorbrokenlighter.Thetrickistopullthe cotton fibers apart and make a wispy tuft of cotton on the end of the stick.Thiscreatesmoresurfaceareaforthesparktolatchontoandalmostguaranteesyouanopenflame.
SNACKFOODCOULDSAVEYOURLIFE
You’vebeentoldyourentirelifethatsnackfoodwillkillyou.WhatifItoldyouit could save your life—and it has nothing to do with eating? When it comes tofire,snackchipsaresomeofthebestkindlingI’veeverused.Manysnackchipsarefriedincookingoil,whichhappenstobeveryflammable.Indampormoistconditions when tinder is scarce, rip open a bag of oily chips and light them onfire. You’ll have to use an open flame such as a lighter or match to get themgoing,butonceablazetheywillburnlongandstrongevenininclementweather.Snack chips are also conveniently packed in waterproof packaging. Note: Theinside shiny Mylar lining of most snack-food bags also has several survivalfunctions,asyou’llfindinotherhacksthroughoutthisbook.
FIREFEATHERS
Yourfeatherdown–filledsleepingbag,vest,orjacketmaybeabletokeepyouwarm in more ways than one in a cold-weather survival situation. Feathers(especiallythelight,fluffy,downyones)makeimpressivefiretinder.Thesilverlining is that many down jackets and sleeping bag shells are water-resistant,whichhelpstokeepthefeathersdryinside.Ahandfulofdrydownfeatherswillignite into flame with just a spark from a ferro rod or broken lighter. Warning:Feathers are what I call a flash tinder. This means they burn up in a flash andprovideasurvivorwithlittletimetoreact.Besuretohaveagoodtinderbundlepreparedbeforeignitingyourfeathertinder.
TINDERPARMIGIANO
HaveyoueverbeentoafancyItalianrestaurantwherethewaiter/waitressoffers
to grate fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese on your piping-hot dish of pasta?Believe it or not, that cheese grater they are using is also really good atproducing fire tinder from dry wood. Softwood shavings from trees such aswillow,cottonwood,andtulippoplarmakeexcellentfiretinderforthebeginningstages of a fire, just after your tinder bundle catches to flame. A steel cheesegrater can make a quick pile of tinder shavings that’s very similar ineffectiveness to a traditional feather stick. The best use of this tool isn’t in thefield but rather in advance when preparing for an adventure. I like to fill smallreusable bags of fine wood shavings and throw a few in my pack before I headout for an overnight camp. You never know when dry wood tinder may bedifficulttosecure.
Chapter4FoodHacks
STOVEANDCOOKINGHACKS
Ramen Noodle StoveCardboard Fire RollBrickStackCookingSpitWok Solar CookerSatellite Solar CookerPop Can Alcohol StoveEggCartonBBQ
Toilet Paper StoveTuna Can BurnerJunk StoveNewspaper OvenInvertedCanOven
ImprovisedSwedishTorchShelfBracketStove
Brick Rocket StoveMakeaWalkingOven
FISHINGHACKS
TheFisherman’sBraceletCreditCardLure
PopCanFishingKitSpiderWebNet
5-GallonBucketAquaLensParacordFishingFly
AnEnergeticFishingHook
UseWalnutstoGetFishingBait
HUNTINGANDFORAGINGHACKS
PalletBow
Figure-8 Sling BowSpoonBroadheadFromToytoTakedownLoadsofLarvae
Orange Sack Ghillie HoodBicycle-Powered SlingshotCross-CountryTakedownBowNickelforYourDinner
8" Pipe BowTweezersGig
Slingshot Whisker BiscuitDavid’sSlingfromYourShoesImprovised Arrow FletchingKey to Eating Wild GameCarpetQuiver
BalloonBottleSling
TRAPPINGHACKS
A Better Mousetrap25-Cent MousetrapDeadfallTrigger
Toilet Lid Live Bird CaptureBuildaBirdBottleNoose-apult
POTS,PANS,ANDUTENSILHACKS
The 2-Liter SpoonLoopStickPotHangerShovelItIn
ANew“Rind”ofCooking
NaturalAlternativetoAluminumFoilForkHandleHack
BottleCapScalerPotHangers
PRESERVATIONHACKS
DashboardDehydratorClayPotCooler
MiniSolarDehydrator
Inextremeconditions,humanscansurviveforaslongas3weekswithoutfood.While food may be on the bottom of the survival priority list, it can bring asurvivor or group of survivors much joy. A meal in the wilderness not onlyprovidesneededcaloriesandenergy,butitcanupliftspiritsandboostmorale.Just one meal may provide the hope necessary to make it through a difficultsituation.Remember,survivalis90percentmentaland10percentphysical.Afullbellyhasjustasmuchimpactonattitudeasitdoesonenergylevels.
Fromcookingandpreparationtohunting,fishing,andtrapping,thischaptercovers all kinds of incredible food-and eating-related hacks. These hacks mayuse random everyday objects, but they are based soundly on field-and time-testedsurvivalprinciples.Manyoftheitemsusedcanbeeasilyfoundorsourcedinasuddenandunexpectedsurvivalscenario,oftenintheformoftrash.
Securingfoodisusuallythemosttime-consuminganddifficultaspectofsurvival.Tryingtooutsmartanimalswhileusingimprovisedtoolsisnoteasy.Havingavastarsenalofoptionsisahugebonus.Ihopethischapterprovidesyouwithafewmoreoptionstoaddtoyourexistinglist.
STOVEANDCOOKINGHACKS
RAMENNOODLESTOVE
Iloveitemsthatdodoubleduty.Ramennoodlesarenotonlyalightweightpackfood, but they can also serve as a great little cooking stove in a pinch. All youhave to do is saturate the dried brick of ramen with a flammable liquid such asalcoholorHEETbrandgas-lineantifreeze(yellowbottle)anditwillburnlikeasolid fuel puck for up to 20 minutes per side. The dried ramen noodles help tocontrol the rate of fuel vaporization. It helps to soak the ramen brick in one ofthefuelsmentionedaboveforawhilebeforeuse,butitisn’tnecessary.Buildamakeshift frame to balance a pot and cook away! Hint: A standard yellowkitchen sponge also works the same way and makes a handy little impromptustovewhensoakedwithalcoholorHEET.
CARDBOARDFIREROLL
Ifyou’relookingforaquickanddirtywaytocookamealusingapanorskillet,the cardboard fire roll could be just what you need to get the job done. Rollpieces of cardboard into a tight log-like shape that is approximately 2' × 8' indiameter. Twist scrap wire around the cardboard log in 2 places to hold ittogether(oldclothinghangersworkgreatforthis).Standtherolluprightatop2bricksspaced6"apartsothataircandrawthroughtheholeupthecenteroftherolledlog.Stuffthebottominterioroftherollwithdry,combustibletindersuchas leaves, grasses, newspaper, wood shavings, and twigs. Once ignited, thecardboardwillcontinuetoburnlikearocketstoveuntilgone.
BRICKSTACKCOOKINGSPIT
Twostacksofbricks,eachonoppositesidesofthefire,makeanexcellentframeforacookingspit.Stackthebricksdirectlyononeanotherwiththeholesalignedupanddown.Oncestackedtoyourpreferredcookingheight,insert2sticksintotheholesofeachstackofbricks.Thesestickscreateaframeontopofeachstackofbrickswherearotatingcookingspitcanbesecurelyplaced.Skeweryourmeator vegetables on the spit and lay across the bricks in between the 2 stick guidesoneachstack.Thisstacked-bricktechniqueworksreallywellonextremelyhard
surfaces(likeconcrete)whereforkedsupportscannotbehammeredintothedirt.In cold weather, you can place the fire-heated bricks inside a shelter or under araisedbedtoradiateheatthroughoutthenight.
WOKSOLARCOOKER
Awokcanbeusedtocookfoodinmorewaysthanoneifyouunderstandhowtoharness the power of the sun. A wok, unlike most other pots and pans, has aconsistentparabolicshape.Whencoveredinareflectivematerial,thisparabolicshape can be used to focus the sun’s rays. A television satellite dish works inmuchthesamewaytoconvergeelectromagneticsignalsintoareceiver.Youcanuse reflective aluminum tape, available at most hardware stores, to cover thewok’s surface. Aim it at the sun and position it so as to cast a very hot focalpointoflightonahangingpotorpan.Theheatfromthislightwillbeenoughtocook food and boil water. You can use this same setup to start a fire by placingtindermaterialatthefocalpointoflight.
SATELLITESOLARCOOKER
Smallparabolicsatellitedishescanbefoundanywheretherearehouses.Theirshape enables them to converge and concentrate the television signal into areceiver.Theyarealsoperfecttoolsforconvergingandconcentratingthesun’sraysforsolarcooking.Theinsideofthedishmustbecoveredwithareflectivematerial. Reflective aluminum tape, available at most hardware stores, worksbest. However, you can adhere a Mylar blanket to the surface if you coat thesatellitewithpetroleumjelly,lard,butter,orsomethingsimilarfirst.Becarefulbecausethefocalpointproducedfromthislensisincrediblypowerfulandcancausethird-degreeburnsonhumanskininjustafewseconds.Whenreadyto
cook,suspendapot(withthebottomspray-paintedblacktoabsorbheat)directlyinthefocalpoint.Thedishmustbefacingdirectlytowardthesun.
POPCANALCOHOLSTOVE
Youcanmakeaveryefficientlittlecookingstoveinjustafewminutesfrom2aluminum pop cans. Cut the lower third from both cans and pressure fit themtogethertomakeaclosedcontainer.Then,usingaknifeorspike,poke6holesaroundthetoprimspacedequallyapartandthenalso2or3inthemiddleofthebowl. Pour in an ounce or so of fuel and light with a match for an even, steadyburn.Thebestfuelstouseareavailableatnearlyeverygrocerystore,hardwarestore,orgasstation.The3I’vehadsuccesswitharerubbingalcohol,denaturedalcohol,andHEETbrandgas-lineantifreeze(yellowbottle).Onceyourstoveis
lityou’llneedtocreateastandtosuspendyourcuporpotabovethestove.Acouplebricksworkreallywellforthis.
EGGCARTONBBQ
Starting charcoal briquettes can sometimes be a real challenge, and this littletrick could make you the hero at your next family BBQ. Before heading out ofthe house, fill each space of an empty compressed paper (not Styrofoam) eggcartonwithasinglecharcoalbriquette.About15minutesbeforeyou’rereadytogrill,lightthe4cornersofthepapereggcartonandwatchasthepaperburnsandignites the charcoal briquettes. This gives you a chance to reuse something thatyou’dnormallythrowawayandalsonothavetousethatnastylighterfluidto
gettheBBQgoing.Bonushack:Papereggcartonsalsomake12greatindividualbiodegradableseedstarters.
TOILETPAPERSTOVE
Theingredientslistforthishackissimple:acanaboutthesizeofarolloftoiletpaper (a 1-quart paint can works great), a roll of toilet paper, and a bottle ofrubbing alcohol (denatured alcohol and HEET brand gas-line antifreeze alsowork). To start, crush the roll of toilet paper and cram it into the can. Next,slowly pour the bottle of rubbing alcohol into the can and let it completelysaturatethetoiletpaper.Tousethestove,ignitethetopofthetoiletpaperwithamatch or lighter and you’re ready to cook. When you notice the edges of thetoiletpaperarestartingtoburn,thatmeansyouaregettinglowonfuel.Snuffouttheflame,addmorealcohol,andrelight.Note:Ifusingindoors,besuretocrackawindowbecauseofcarbonmonoxideemissions.
TUNACANBURNER
Here’s a cool little hack to not only heat your meal but also make a hot drink.You’llneedacanoftunapackedinoilandacouplepapernapkins.Removethetuna lid and fold the napkins so they fit over the can opening with not muchoverlap except for the 4 corners. Give the oil a couple minutes to soak throughthe napkins. Once they are saturated with oil, light each corner on fire. Thenapkinswillburnasurprisinglylongtime,creatingastove-likeeffect.Theheatfrom the burning napkins will not only heat the tuna for a warm meal but canalsobeusedtomakeacupofhotteaintheprocess.Justbuildacouplesupportsoneachsideofthecantoplaceamugonandyou’llbeallset!
JUNKSTOVE
You can make a very efficient little junk stove from an empty tuna can, somecardboard,andavarietyoffuels.Cut1"×4"stripsofcardboardandrolltheminto the empty can. Next, it’s time to add fuel. Pour melted wax on top of thecardboard and light it; you can also use any kind of cooking oil to saturate thecardboard.Thecardboardactsasawick,andI’vehadjunkstoveslikethisburnfor as long as 30 minutes. What I love about this stove design is that it can bemade from so many different “junk” pieces. Tin cans and cardboard areavailablealmostanywhere.
NEWSPAPEROVEN
Believeitornot,youcancookfishinwetnewspaper.Aftercleaningandguttingthefish,wrapitin4or5sheetsofwetnewspaperandplacerightintothecoalsof a fire. The fish will cook and steam inside, but the wet newspaper will notfail.Theouterlayermayscorchabit,butthewaterpreventsitfromburning.
Fifteenminutesshouldbesufficienttocookmostfishaslongasitiscompletelysurroundedbycoals.Youcanusepapergrocerybagsinplaceofnewspaper.Ifyou find it necessary to fry food on a sheet of aluminum foil in the coals of afire, place sheets of wet newspaper underneath to help control the heat andpreventburning.
INVERTEDCANOVEN
One of my favorite hacked survival ovens is made with just an inverted metalcan. In fact, when I’m lucky enough to trap, hunt, or catch a bird in the wild Iwillalwaystrytocookitthiswayifthematerialsareavailable.Afterplucking,gutting,anddressingthebird,skeweritonastakethathasbeendrivenstraightintotheground.Next,placeametalcanorcontaineroverthetopofthebirdandstake so that it covers them completely. Build a fire around the metal can andgatherhotcoalsaroundit.Agoodcoalbedwillbenecessarytocookthebirdina timely manner (typically 1 hour). I have also cooked fish using the samemethod;skewerthefishheaddownonthestake.Someofmyfinestwildernessmeals have been cooked with this method. This is a very energy-efficientcooking method, allowing you to work on other camp chores while dinner iscooking.
IMPROVISEDSWEDISHTORCH
This is a great hack to make a small-footprint wilderness cooking stove usingjust 3 sections of log. First, cut 3 24"-long lengths of seasoned wood. Thediameterofeachshouldbeatleast6".Next,useyouraxeorknifetomakecutsand chips all up one side of each of these logs. This exposes the wood inside,andtheresultingsliverswillmoreeasilycatchfire.Arrangethelogsstandingupinatrianglesothatthechippedareasareallfacinginwardtowardeachother.
There should be less than 2" of space between them. Finally, fill the centercavity with fire tinder such as pine needles, twigs, bark, and leaves. Onlyminutesafterthistinderisignited,thelogsthemselveswillbegintoburnlikearocketstove.Placeaskilletontopandcookasifyouwereinfrontofarangeathome!
SHELFBRACKETSTOVE
Beingabletoefficientlysupportorhangacookingpotoverafireissometimeseasier said than done. One of my favorite quickie stove hacks involves 3 metalshelfbracketsthatcostunder$5.Theyarealsoverylightweightandpackableifyouneedtotakethemonthemove.Onceyou’vegotagoodbedofcoalsgoing,stab the metal L-shaped brackets into the ground as shown in the image andscoop the coals underneath. This makes for a very sturdy surface on which tocook stews, fry meats and wild veggies, or boil water. You can stab the shortendsdeeperinthegroundtocreateasurfaceclosertothecoalsifnecessary.Use4bracketstomakealarger,squareraisedplatform.
BRICKROCKETSTOVE
In a survival scenario you may need a stove for cooking that is both efficient(uses as little fuel as possible) and discreet (puts off little to no smoke). Animprovisedbrickrocketstoveisyouranswertothisneed.Tobuildonelikethatin the illustration you’ll need to use 1 half brick for both the first and secondlayer. Layers 3, 4, and 5 will each use 4 full-sized bricks. A thin metal grillshould be placed between layers 1 and 2 to keep the sticks and twigs off thegroundandallowformaximumairflow.Stovesofthisdesignburnatalmost100percentefficiencyandhaveverylittleleftoverashorsmoke.Thedesignshownrequires20bricks,2ofthemsplitinhalf.
MAKEAWALKINGOVEN
A very effective traveling stove for cooking fish and meats can be made fromalmost any tin can or metal container. First, pack the bottom 2"–3" of the stovewithdry,punky(semi-rotted)wood.Next,addalayerofhotcoalsfromthefirepit. Place your meat or fish (wrapped in aluminum foil, green nonpoisonousleaves, or wet newspaper) on top of the coals and cover it with another layer ofcoals. Finally, pile on another 2"–3"-thick layer of punky wood. The wood willallow the coals to smolder around the meat. Tie a rope or wire handle to thecontainerforeasytraveling.Asmallwalkingovensuchasthisonecancookfishin15–20minutes.Itsobviousadvantageisthatyoucancarryitwithyou.
FISHINGHACKS
THEFISHERMAN’SBRACELET
Survival hacking sometimes involves preplanning. This is a simple and easyproject that ensures you always have fishing tools. String and tie off 25' offishinglinebetweentheeyeletsof2fishingswivelssothatthetotallengthfromswivel tip to swivel tip will wrap around your wrist. This forms a bracelet andthe swivel clips act as the clasp. I keep 3 different-sized fish hooks under thesole inserts of all my shoes. Making a usable hook in the wild is not easy, andthey’re not nearly as effective as modern hooks. Now, with a hook, line, andoptional swivel, you have everything you need to effectively make a hackfishingpoleandcatchfish.
CREDITCARDLURE
Let’s face it, a credit card will do you little good in a survival scenario. Or willit? A rigid PVC credit card can be hacked into several useful items. One of myfavoritesisafishinglure.Youcancutaminifish-shapedlurefromacreditcard(or loyalty card or hotel key) with a knife or pair of scissors. At the tail end oftheminifish,carve2hook-shapedcurls,oneontopandoneonbottom.Thoughthese little plastic hooks aren’t as effective as their metal counterparts, they arerigid enough to get a stubborn fish to shore. Many credit cards are colorful andhavesmallreflectiveholograms,whichhelptogettheattentionofahungryfish.Note:Thereflectivehologramscanalsobeusedasasignalmirrortoreflectthesun’sraysandflashasignaltorescuecrews.
POPCANFISHINGKIT
Justwhenyouthinkyou’vereachedalocationwherenootherhumanhasbeen,youseeabeerorsodacan.Althoughit’snotwhatyouwanttoseeonapleasantday hike, in a survival scenario you can transform it into an effective hackfishing kit. The can itself makes a great tackle box for live bait. Just carve awoodenplugfortheholetokeepthecrittersinside.Twosimplecutstothepoptabusingyourmultitoolmakeaveryeffectivefishinghook—evenwithalittlebarbifyoumakeyourcutswisely(noticehowthecutsectionofthetabformsasmall barb in the illustration). Scoring with your knife and then bend-breakingthepoptabwillalsoworkinapinchifyoudon’thaveamultitool.Finally,the
drinkingholesealflapmakesagreatflashyspoonluretodrawattentiontoyourlivebait.Punchaholeandthreaditonyourlinejustabovethehook.
SPIDERWEBNET
Duringcertaintimesoftheyear(typicallyspringandfall)theforestisfilledwithdew-soakedspiderwebsinthemornings.Thisistheperfectopportunitytomakea spider web fishing net. Cut a 48" flexible green branch from any live tree. Itshould be less than 1⁄4" in diameter. After trimming the leaves and branches,bendthetopdowntoformanovalnetframe.Tieitinplacewithasmallpieceoftwine or bark cordage. Next, walk through the forest and sweep 20–30 spiderwebs onto the frame. As you sweep them up you will see the net grow strongerandstronger.Onceitisstrongenoughtocatchasmallpebbleitisreadyto
sweepthroughshallowpoolsandalongthebanksofpondsandstreamstocatchbait minnows and tadpoles. These can then be used to catch larger fish forcooking.
5-GALLONBUCKETAQUALENS
Ponds,rivers,lakes,andstreamscanbeasurvivalbuffetoffood.Wildediblessuchascrayfish,clams,fish,turtles,andfrogscanoftenbelessthan2'beneaththewater’ssurfacebutaredifficulttoseebecauseofsunglare,ripples,orpoorlighting.Youcanquicklymakeanincredibleaqualenstoseealmostperfectlybeneath the water’s surface. Cut the bottom from a 5-gallon bucket (or anybucket),tapeawaterproofflashlighttotheinsidenearthebottom,andplungeit
intothewater.Thebucketprovidesabarrierthateliminateswavesandripplesthatdisruptyourview,andtheflashlightcanlightupthedarkandshadowedareas.
PARACORDFISHINGFLY
One of my students showed me this hack several years ago, and I’ve tested ittime and time again in the fishing pond at Willow Haven. Slide a 1" section ofparacordoverabarefishinghooktomakeaveryappealingfishingflylure.Fluffup the end over the hook for disguise and then heat the other end with an openflametomeltandwelditjustbelowtheeyewherethelineattaches.Livebaitisalways best, but when live bait isn’t available you’ll never miss an inch ofparacord from your shoelaces or bracelet. This improvised fly lure also floatsverywellfortop-waterbluegillandbreamfishing.
ANENERGETICFISHINGHOOK
Makinganimprovisedfishinghookfromnaturalmaterialsinthefieldcanbevery difficult. Hacking one from manmade materials is still hard but notimpossible.Togeteitherright,prepareforanexerciseinpatience.It’shardto
manufactureahook-shapedobjectthatisrigidenoughandsharpenoughtoholdafish.Youcancarveonethatmeetsthesecriteriafromthebottomcircularrimofaminienergydrinkbottle.It’sverystrongandhasanaturalcircularshape.
Usingacombinationofcuttingandabrading,fashionastrong,sharphook.Itisn’tsharpenoughtoholdafightingfishforlong,butitwillgetthejobdone.Haveyourcluborgigready!
USEWALNUTSTOGETFISHINGBAIT
My grandfather showed me this hack many moons ago, and it never ceases toamaze me and my students. Do the hack in fall when the walnuts are stillwrapped in their green husks. I can guarantee you all the big red nightcrawlersforfishingyou’lleverneed.Filla5-gallonbucketabouthalffullofwater.Thensmash about 30 green walnuts with a rock and throw them one by one into thebucket of water. Next, stir this mixture vigorously for 5 minutes. Finally, clearthe leaves and woodland duff from a 3' × 3' section of moist forest floor, andpourtherancidmixtureevenlythroughout.Likemagic,redwormsofalltypesandsizeswillbegintowrithetothesurfacetoescapethenoxiouspoison.Greenwalnut husks have a high concentration of the compound juglone, which, inadditiontoannoyingearthworms,canbeusedtoparalyzefishinsmallpools.
HUNTINGANDFORAGINGHACKS
PALLETBOW
Pallets can be used for more than just shelter (see the Pallet Shelter hack inChapter 1). Believe it or not, one of the most incredible improvised bows I’veeverusedismadefromjust1palletboard.Startbyremovingoneoftheboardsfromthetopofashippingpallet.Theyaretypicallyabout3"wideandabout1⁄2"thick. After removing the nails, either saw or split the board lengthwise. Taperthe end of each length with your knife, one end being more tapered than theother.Carve2notchesalongtheleftandrightedgesoftheless-taperedendsandlash them together, one board sandwiched on top of the other. Finally, carveyourbow-stringnotchesandstringyourbowforshooting.Thishackisfrommyfriends Hank Gevedon and Dave Mead of Reptile Toolworks and online atKentuckyRiverTradingCompany(www.kyrivertradingco.com).
FIGURE-8SLINGBOW
I keep several climbing tools, including a climber’s figure 8 and a couple ofcarabiners, in my bug out bag just in case I ever need them for rappelling overledges, hoisting gear into trees, etc. What many people don’t know is that aclimber’sfigure-8belaydevicedoublesasanamazingslingbowwiththesimpleadditionofasetofhigh-powerslingshotbands(whichIalsocarryinmybugoutbag).Youcanlashalmostanysetofbands,usingdentalflossorevenzipties,toeithersideofthelargeopeningofthefigure-8device.Oncedone,thelargeopenringactsasanarrowguideforlaunchingfull-sizedhuntingarrows.It’seasyandsafetouseandisalsoveryaccurate.Iusea40-poundslingshotbandset,which
ismorethancapableoftakingalmostanygameanimalintheEasternWoodlands. Extra band sets can be found atwww.notifbutwhensurvivalstore.com.
SPOONBROADHEAD
Whetheryou’rehuntingwithbowandarroworaspear,it’salwaysbetterforitto be tipped with a sharp metal broadhead. Believe it or not, you can usesomethingtokillyourfoodthatmostpeopleusetoeattheirfood—aspoon!Asyoucanseeinthisillustrationseries,theevolutionofaregularspoontoakillerbroadheadisasimpleprocess.Poundthespoonflatwitharockorhammer.
Next,filetheedgesdowntoapoint,usingastandardmetalfilethatcanbefoundinalmostanyautorepairshoporgarage.Finally,snapoffthehandleatthebasewith repeated bending and lash the finished point into a split at the end of anarrow with dental floss. This hack is from my friends Hank Gevedon and DaveMead of Reptile Toolworks and online at Kentucky River Trading Company(www.kyrivertradingco.com).
FROMTOYTOTAKEDOWN
Oneofmyfavoritechildhoodpastimeswasbattlingwithmybrother,bothofusrunning around in the woods, shooting each other with Nerf guns loaded withsponge-tipped darts. I recently picked one up for nostalgia and was surprised atthe force with which the modern Nerf guns blast their ammo. In fact, the one Ipurchased shot at a velocity similar to the blowguns I use. After modifying anammoroundtogiveitasharpenedpoint,Icouldgetittostickinatreefrom10yardsaway.Infact,Icouldcreateagroupingofarrowsaboutthesizeofadinner
plate. This is a weapon capable of taking song birds in a survival scenario forsmallrotisseriemeals.Clipoff2"lengthsofawireclotheshanger,sharpenoneend by abrading it on concrete, and stab it in the end of a Nerf dart. Voilà —instantdartgun.
LOADSOFLARVAE
Most insects are edible. In fact, most people in the world eat insects. The bigproblemwithinsectsisthatyouhavetohavealotofthemtomakeanykindofacaloricdifference.Findingenoughofthemcanbeahugechallenge.However,ifyoustumbleuponananthill,here’sahackthatcanscoreyouloadsofedibleantlarvae.Ants’naturalinstinctistoprotecttheirlarvaefromthesunandopenair.They want to get them under cover as fast as possible. First, lay a tarp on thegroundnexttoanantmoundandfoldoveronecornertocreateaprotectedarea.Next, shovel ants and larvae from the mound on top of the tarp near the foldedcorner. The ants will carry the exposed larvae to any area of the tarp where anedge or corner is folded over to provide shelter. Let the ants work for a fewminutes, then scoop the larvae out by the handful. They can then be fried oraddedtowildernessstews.
ORANGESACKGHILLIEHOOD
As many hunters will tell you, good camouflage makes a big difference whentryingtoavoidbeingdetectedbywildgame.Themeshbagsthatorangescomepackaged in can be hacked to make a nearly perfect hood for a ghillie suit (acamouflage outfit that resembles heavy foliage). The base layer of most goodghillie suits is a mesh fabric in which different types of yarns, fibers, burlapstrands,andnaturalmaterialsarewoven.Thismixofmaterialsnotonlycreates
anincrediblebreak-uppattern,whichbreaksupthehumanoutlinesoyouaren’teasily spotted, but it makes it easy to mix in natural vegetation from anylocation.Meshorangebagscanbeusedinaverysimilarway.Startbyweavingearth-tone strands of yarn or strips of fabric in and out of the mesh to create a“wig-like”effect.Startwith12"stripsthat,whenattachedinthemiddle,create26" strands. Complete the look by mixing in natural grasses from theenvironment.
BICYCLE-POWEREDSLINGSHOT
A bicycle has everything you need to make a very powerful slingshot. Start byremovingthefronttireandforkfromthebicycle.Thisforkturnedupsidedownwill serve as your slingshot fork. Next, remove the inner tube from the bicycletireandcut2stripsthatare15"×1".Theseareyourslingshotbands.Cuta2"×3"vinylorleatherpatchfromthebicycleseatandtieoneendofeachbandtoaholeyoupunchoneachsideofthepatch.Thebestwaytodothisistoinserttheband through the hole and lash it back on itself with twine. This will hold verywellevenunderextremepressure.Finally,lashtheotherendofeachbandtothemetalforkandyou’rereadytolaunchanythingfromrocksandpebblestopiecesofscrapmetal.
CROSS-COUNTRYTAKEDOWNBOW
I heard about a guy who used cross-country skis to make a takedown archerybow.Hiswascomplicated,withquiteabitofwoodneededforthecentralwoodriser. With some experimentation, I found that you can make a very powerfultakedown bow from just a single pair of cross-country skis and some duct tape.First,measure36"fromthetipoftheskisandsawofftheends.These2sectionswillbethelimbstoyourbow.Stackthebuttendsontopofeachotherwitha12"overlapandtapetogetherfirmlywithducttape.Thegripcanbecontouredtobemorecomfortablebutisn’tnecessary.Yourgrip-handthumbservesasthearrowrest.Finally,carveorabradenotchesoneachsideofthetips3"downandstringwithparacord.Thisbowisbeststrungrecurve-stylewiththecurvedtipsofthe
skisfacingforwardtowardyourtarget.
NICKELFORYOURDINNER
You’veheardthephrase“Apennyforyourthoughts?”Howabout“anickelforyour dinner”? Check out this very cool hack using a nickel, which could verywell help you bag some dinner in a survival scenario. Similar to the SpoonBroadhead hack I talked about earlier in this chapter, a nickel is soft enough tobe pounded and filed into a deadly arrow point. Pound the top and bottom outfirst to create the point and the top lashing portion. The middle can be poundedout left and right to broaden the width of the head. Lastly, use a file to quicklysharpentheedgesandabradelashingpoints.Apocketfullofchangecanprovideenoughbroadheadsforanarsenalofarrows.ThishackisfrommyfriendsHankGevedon and Dave Mead of Reptile Toolworks and online at Kentucky RiverTradingCompany(www.kyrivertradingco.com).
8"PIPEBOW
You can fashion an incredibly powerful bow from a short section of PVC pipe,surgicaltubing,andasmallsquareofleather.First,cut210"sectionsofsurgicaltubing(orexercisebands).Lashoneendofeachtubethroughaholeintheleft
and right side of the leather patch. This will make a slingshot band set. Finally,wrap-lashortapetheotherendsofthetubingalongthelowersidesofthepipeasshowninthepicture.Youcanloadanarrowordart,draw(asshown),andfireitwith incredible force. This makes a suitable low-profile hunting or self-defensebow for a survival scenario. You can also shorten the tubing on a bow of thisstyletolaunchmuchshorterdartarrowsforsmallergameandbirds.
TWEEZERSGIG
AlmosteverywomanIknowhasapairoftweezersinherpurse.Notonlyaretheygoodforremovingsplinters,butyoucanalsousethemtocatchafrog!
Bullfrogsareanamazingsurvivalfoodsourceinspringandsummermonths,butcatchingthemcanbequiteachallenge.Traditionally,frogsarehuntedwith
barb-pointedtridentgigs.Whenpairedwithaflashlighttomomentarilyblindthefrog,thisisanextremelyeffectivemethod.Lashapairoftweezerstotheendofathin,strongsticktomakeaveryeffectivetwo-prongedfroggig.Tweezersaresharpandpointedtobeginwithsonosharpeningisnecessary.Becausetweezersdon’thavebarbs,youhavetostabandholdthefroginplaceandreachdownandgrabitwithyourhand.Itwillslipoffyourtweezersgigifyoutrytopullitup
fromthepondorriverbank.
SLINGSHOTWHISKERBISCUIT
Anyslingshotcanquicklybeconvertedintoanarrow-shootingslingbowwithone very simple addition—a paintbrush. Cut a 1⁄2"-wide depression from thebristles of a 2"-wide paintbrush to create a perfect whisker biscuit cradle for afull-sizedhuntingarrow.Thecutnotchinthepaintbrushbristleswillcreateanarrow rest, and the arrow fletching will slide through the bristles withouthesitation.Pinchthearrownockintheslingshotpouch,pullback,aim,andfire.Althoughthebrushcaneasilybetapedinplace,aVelcrostrapmakesputtingiton and taking it back off a breeze in the field. A hunter can switch from steelshot to hunting arrows in a matter of seconds without having to carry a roll ofduct tape. This hack is from my friends Hank Gevedon and Dave Mead ofReptile Toolworks and online at Kentucky River Trading Company(www.kyrivertradingco.com).
DAVID’SSLINGFROMYOURSHOES
Your 2 shoestrings and 1 of your shoe tongues can make a sling powerfulenough to bring down a giant (or small game for dinner). Cut your shoe tonguein an eye shape; about 4" long, tapered on each end and 2" wide in the middle.Punch a hole in the left and right side. Tie a 36" piece of shoelace to each side.Tie a loop using a bowline knot (www.willowhavenoutdoor.com/bowline-knot)on one end of one of the laces and an overhand knot (first knot when you tieyourshoes)ontheendoftheother.Placethelooparoundtheringfingeronyourthrowing hand and pinch the overhand knot between your thumb and indexfinger. Load the pouch with a smooth rock, sling above your head, and releasethe knot when you want to launch the projectile. This hunting tool can be veryeffective,butyou’llneedatonofpracticetobecomeaccuratewithit.
IMPROVISEDARROWFLETCHING
Almostanylightweightstraightwoodenshaftcanbefashionedintoanarrowforhunting. The ones shown have been split and shaped out of a board from ashippingpallet.Aftersmoothingitandnockingitattheendwithasaw,it’stimeto add the fletching. The fletching is the feathers on the arrow that stabilize itand help it to fly straight. A fletching is critical to the accuracy of anyimprovisedhuntingarrow.Iknowofthreeoutstandingfletchinghacks.
Cardboard, shown first, can be trimmed and glued into place as shown. Ducttape can also be applied as shown to make a great arrow fletching. Finally,almost any thin rope or ribbon can be tied on as shown to help stabilize anarrow.ThishackisfrommyfriendsHankGevedonandDaveMeadofReptileToolworks and online at Kentucky River Trading Company(www.kyrivertradingco.com).
KEYTOEATINGWILDGAME
You may not have nice store-bought, razor-sharp broadhead arrow tips in asurvival scenario, but chances are you’ll have your house keys in your pocket.Believeitornot,thekeytoyourhousecanalsobeyourkeytodinner.Allthat’srequired is a regular run-of-the-mill metal file. The key can be shortened by 1⁄2"to reduce bulk and weight and the tip sharpened. Then, file the left and rightsidestoarazoredge.Lashingpointscanbefiledaroundtheedgeofthebaseandthenyoucanlashthekeyintotheendofawoodenshafttomakeaveryeffectivemetal-tipped hunting arrow. This hack is from my friends Hank Gevedon andDave Mead of Reptile Toolworks and online at Kentucky River TradingCompany(www.kyrivertradingco.com).
CARPETQUIVER
Afteryou’vemadearrowsusingsomeofthehackspreviouslymentioned,you’llnow need a quiver to put them in. A water bottle, a scrap piece of carpet, and aroll of duct tape can make a very durable and functional quiver. Roll a waterbottle(atthebottom)andarollofducttape(atthetop)inascrappieceofcarpetor even an old welcome mat and wrap it with cord to hold everything togetherandtoprovideashouldersling.Therollofducttapemakesforasolidopening,andthewaterbottle(withthetopcutoff)makesagoodpuncture-proofbottom.This quiver is lightweight, easy to make, and will safely hold up to 10 arrowswith no problem. This hack is from my friends Hank Gevedon and Dave Meadof Reptile Toolworks and online at Kentucky River Trading Company(www.kyrivertradingco.com).
BALLOONBOTTLESLING
The most basic of dart or rock slings can be manufactured from a balloon andthe neck of a trash plastic bottle. First, cut the neck off the bottle a few inchesbelowthemouth.Itshouldresembleasmallfunnel.Removethecapandstretchthe mouth of the balloon over the threaded bottle opening and wrap cordagearound the balloon to hold it tightly over the grooved threads where the capwouldtwist.Placeadartorballbearingthroughthelargeendofthebottleandpinch it between your index finger and thumb inside of the balloon. Hold theneckofthebottlewithonehandandretracttheprojectilebackasfarasyoucanpull.Whenreleased,theelasticityoftheballoonwillfirethedartorballbearingwithenoughforcetokillsmallbirdsordistractastalkingmanorbeast.
TRAPPINGHACKS
ABETTERMOUSETRAP
Althoughmicearen’tachoicewild-gamemeat,theycanmakegoodbait(liveordead) for a variety of larger game. You can make a very effective mousetrapfrom a 5-gallon bucket, a straight rod (either metal or wood), a water bottle orwheel, and some peanut butter (or other bait). Thread the wheel or water bottleover the straight rod so that it freely rotates with just a touch. Drill a hole oneachsideofthebucketwithyourknifesothattherodandspinningwheel/bottleis suspended in the center. Smear some peanut butter on the wheel/bottle andplace a stick or board ramp to the edge of the bucket. When a mouse climbs uptherampandjumpstoeatthepeanutbutterthewheel/bottlewillspinanddumpthemouseintothebucket,wherehewillremainuntilyoucomebacktoretrievehim.
25-CENTMOUSETRAP
I’ve used mice to catch everything from fish and opossums to snakes andraccoons. Nearly everything in the forest will feed on mice when given theopportunity.Oneofthesimplestmousetrapseverhackedinvolvesjustaquarter,a glass, and some bait such as peanut butter. Turn a wide-mouth drinking glassupside down with its front lip propped on the top of a quarter standing on itsside.Itmaybetrickytobalanceatfirst,butthis“hairtrigger”isnecessary.Withbait placed under the glass, a mouse must scurry inside and past the quarter totake it. The slightest bump of either the quarter or the glass and the trapcollapses,enclosingthemouseinsideaglasscage.Peanutbuttersmearedontheinsideoftheglasswillensureaquickcapture.Slideastiffpieceofpaperor
cardboardundertheglassandmouse,andyoucantransporthimwithease.
DEADFALLTRIGGER
A No. 2 lead pencil makes one of my all-time favorite deadfall trap triggers. Icallitthebreak-notchtrigger.Startbysawinganotchinthemiddleofthepencilthatgoesexactlyhalfwaythroughit.Now,turnthepenciloverandsawanothernotchhalfwaythrough;thissecondnotchshouldbeabout1"aboveorbelowthefirstnotchontheotherside.Now,withyourthumbononenotch,snapthepencilinto 2 pieces. It will almost always snap to create a perfectly mated trigger thatmakesaverysensitivedeadfalltrigger.TheToiletLidLiveBirdCapturehackinthischapterdescribesagreatlivecapturetrapusingthistrigger.
TOILETLIDLIVEBIRDCAPTURE
Yes, a toilet lid can catch you dinner! Using bricks or wooden blocks, build anoval frame the same size as the toilet that is anywhere from 2" to 4" tall. Whenyou place the toilet lid on top there should be no major gaps or escape routes.The bricks/blocks will provide a support for the lid. Using the Deadfall TriggerhackinthischapterwiththeNo.2pencil,propupthelidandtie2linesofdentalfloss(orthread)tothebottomhalfofthetriggerstickandthento2separatepegsin the ground toward the back of the interior space. Finally, sprinkle seeds orbread inside the trap. When a bird goes into the trap for the bait it will trip thelines,whichwillcollapsethetriggerstickandcausethelidtodrop,capturingthebird(s)inside.
BUILDABIRDBOTTLENOOSE-APULT
Here’s a cool hack based on an old bird snare. This cool little trap uses thebottomofaplasticbottle(intheoriginalplanforthetrap,itwashalfacoconutshell) and 2 flexible twigs to launch a noose around a bird’s neck. It’s a veryinventivedesignthatistriggeredbyabird’snaturalpeckingbehavior.
Startbycuttingoffthebottom2"ofanormalplasticwaterbottle(anythingup to about 4" in diameter will work). Bury this so that it’s flush with theground.Nextbend2flexibletwigsinanXpatternsotheymakeacrossedarchovertheopeningofthebottle.(Seeillustrationfordetails.)Finally,layanopennooseovertheflexedtwigsaroundtherimofthebottleandplacebait(typicallyseeds)inthebottomofthebottle.Whenabirdpecksfortheseedsitdisturbsthebent twigs, which cast the noose upward around the bird’s neck. The bird willjumpwhenthetwigsrelease,andthisactionwillcinchthenoosetight.
POTS,PANS,ANDUTENSILHACKS
THE2-LITERSPOON
Did you know a 2-liter pop bottle can yield 5 spoons? If you look closely youwill see several spoon bowl shapes along the bottom. Cut out one of thoseextrusions along with an extended piece as a handle to extract a nearly perfectspoonforwildsoupsandstewsorscavengedurbancannedgoods.Theleftovertopofthe2-literbottlemakesanexcellentbowlwiththecaponorafunnelwiththe cap removed. Did you know the mouth of a 2-liter bottle fits perfectly intothefueltankofacarortruckforanemergencyrefuelingfunnel?
LOOPSTICKPOTHANGER
A long, flexible tree branch can be quickly converted into a pot-hanging tool.Start by cutting off a branch less than 1⁄2" in diameter just below a Y junction.TrimtheshorterofthetwoYbranchestoonly2"long.Bendtheother,longerYbranchintoaloopandlashitbackonitself,usingawhipknot.Thisloopcanbeslid over a traditional spit stick, and a pot can be hung from the 2" Y hook thatdanglesbelow.Multiplehangerscanbemadeatdifferentheightsforavarietyofcookingtemperaturesorpots.Note:Basswood,mulberry,maple,beech,and
willowallmakeexcellentloopstickpothangers.Inspring,youcanusethebarkofthebasswood,mulberry,orwillowasthelashingcordage.
SHOVELITIN
Have you ever heard the phrase “shoveling it in” referring to someone who iseating ravenously? This hack gives a new meaning to that expression. In theabsence of a good skillet or griddle to use for survival cooking, several farmtoolswillworkquitenicelyassubstitutes.Manybelievethattheterm“hoecake”
gotthenamebecauseworkersbakedlittlecorncakesonthebladesoftheirhoeswhileonbreakfromtendingthefields.Ametalshovelmakesafantasticcookinggriddle for meats, vegetables, and breads. The long handle is also veryconvenient for maneuvering a meal in and around the fire. I’ve cooked many ameal in the bush on my foldable pack shovel. A rake and pitchfork also makeexcellentskewersforroastingmeats.
ANEW“RIND”OFCOOKING
Ifyou’reluckyenoughtofindapumpkin,squash,orediblegourdinasurvivalscenario,don’tsliceituptoeattoofast.Youcansimmerafinewoodsmanstewinside the hollowed cavity. Meats, root vegetables, greens, and of course theflesh inside the container itself can all be boiled and stewed inside the caldronrind.Afteryou’veeatenthisfinestewandinnerflesh,usetherindseveralmoretimestoboilandpurifywaterortomakeadditionalwildstews.Note:Pumpkinseeds can be roasted on a hot rock and make a nutritious trail snack for asurvivoronthemove.
NATURALALTERNATIVETOALUMINUMFOIL
OneofmyfavoritechildhoodmealswaswhatmymomcalledaHoboDinner.Itwas hamburger, potatoes, carrots, and onions wrapped in aluminum foil andbaked in the coals of a fire. Tin foil is a perfect medium for baking meats androotvegetablesinahotcoalbed.Thistypeofcookingalsolendsitselfverywellto a survival scenario because you can do other chores while the food cooks. Anatural hack to replace aluminum foil is leaves. They have to be green andnonpoisonous. My favorites are basswood, burdock, cattail, and maple. Wrapyourfoodin3–4layersofleavesandtielikeabirthdaypackagewithstripsof
greenwillow,mulberry,orbasswoodbark.Yourfoodwillbakeinsideexactlylikeinaluminumfoil.
FORKHANDLEHACK
FromtunacanstoChristmascookietins,improvisedcookingpansandpotscanbe made from all different shapes and sizes of metals tins. However, none ofthem come with convenient handles. You can make a quick and sturdy handlefrom a regular kitchen fork. Poke 4 holes in the top rim of the tin with yourknife, insert the fork tines into those holes, and bend them in an alternatingpattern. This provides a safe, sturdy handle for adjusting and lifting the pot inandoutofthecookingarea.Placingthetinoverastumporlogendallowsyoutopoketheholesthroughthetinandintothewoodwithease.
BOTTLECAPSCALER
Whenprocessingseveralfishforalargegroupofsurvivors,it’salwaysbettertosplit the task up to save time and energy. If there’s only one knife available forgutting and cleaning, a team can save time by scaling the fish first using animprovisedbottlecapscaler.Thesharp,ribbedtextureofthebottomofabottlecapistheperfecttoolforthejob.Nailthecap(bottomout)toastickorpieceofwoodandworkitagainstthescalestoquicklyremovethem.Thefirstpersonintheprocessinglinecanscale,andthesecondcangutandclean.Thismakesforaveryquickandefficientfish-cleaningarrangement.
POTHANGERS
Here’s a hack that requires almost no product modifications. If you’re aninexperienced camper and need to learn knife skills, it can be a little tricky tohangapotofsteworwateroverthefiretoboilwithoutsomecarefullynotchedsticks. Sometimes, creativity can trump skill in survival, and this is a primeexample.Hangarun-of-the-millwirehangerupsidedownoveratripodwiththehookwrappedaroundthepotbail.Itmaynotbethebushcraftiestpothangerinthe world, but it sure is one of the fastest hacks I’ve ever used. In survival, itdoesn’tmatterhowitlooks;itonlymattershowitworks.
PRESERVATIONHACKS
DASHBOARDDEHYDRATOR
Onsunnydays,thedashboardbeneaththebigfrontwindshieldofacarcangetseriouslyhot.Infact,it’splentyhotenoughtodehydratemeatandvegetables.Dehydrating anything requires some ventilation, so you’ll have to crack thewindowsalittlebit.Iffliesareanissue,besuretocoverthecrackedwindowswithsomemeshorscreen.
Cutmeat,fruits,andvegetablesinthin1⁄4"stripsandthenplaceonthedashonraiseddryingracksthathaveatleast2"ofclearanceforairflow.Anytypeofmesh or grid trays will work when propped up on small blocks. On an averagesunny day meat can be ready to eat in 6–8 hours. Fruits and vegetables candehydrate even sooner. The addition of a solar-powered fan on the dash canexpeditetheprocess.Evenwhentheoutsidetemperatureisinthesixties,vehicleinteriortemperaturescanexceed115°F.
CLAYPOTCOOLER
Althoughthereisnohacksubstituteforagoodrefrigerator,Icanshowyouhowto make a very effective evaporative cooler that can extend the shelf life offruits, vegetables, and other perishable foods. It all starts with 2 porous flowerpots,oneslightlylargerthantheother.Standardterracottapotsworkgreat.
First,plugtheholeatthebottomofthelargepotandfillthebottomwithenoughsand to raise the top rim of the smaller pot level with the top rim of the largerpot. Second, fill the space in between the pots with sand, then pour in water sothatthesandiscompletelysaturated.Theevaporationofthewaterthroughthe
outerpotdrawsheatfromtheinsideofthesmallercontainer,coolingwhateverisinside. It helps to place the cooler in a breeze to increase convection. A damptoweloverthetopofthecoolerservesastheperfectlid.
MINISOLARDEHYDRATOR
Dehydrating meat to make jerky is a preservation method that everyoutdoorsman or outdoorswoman should be familiar with. Meat can last formonthswhenthemoisturehasbeenremovedandthemeathasbeenmadeintojerky.YoucanfashionaverysimpleminidehydratorfromanemptyPringlessnack container. The inside of these cylindrical tubes is coated with a silverreflectivefoil,whichisperfectformakingaminisolardehydrator.First,cuta
section about 2" × 8" out of the side of the container. Cover the resulting holewithasectionofmeshfromanoldscreenwindowordoortopreventfliesfromcominginside.Thisalsoallowsforgoodairflow,whichisveryimportantwhenmakingjerky.Putyourmeatonaskewerandsuspenditfrom2holespunchedinthe lid and in the bottom of the Pringles tube. One day in full sun should be allyou need to make a skewer of jerky. This hack solar dehydrator is capable ofreaching the ideal dehydrating temperatures of 130°F–170°F. Your jerky isreadywhenitcrackswhenbentinhalf.
Chapter5StayingHealthy
FIRST-AIDHACKS
DuctTapeSnowGogglesPlasticBottleSplint
HeelDriving—AWalkingHack2-JacketStretcher
HackYourTemperaturewithaWetBandanaBraCupDebrisMask
CharcoalTummyAidCotter Pin TweezersOrbitGoggles
MakeshiftButterflyBandage
ABetter-Than-NothingSoupCanGasMaskSurvivalEyeblack
2-LiterSafetyGoggles
TheBestNaturalMosquitoRepellentA Not-So-StrAWEful Tick PullerHorseflyShotgun
HYGIENEHACKS
BBQ Spit BathUltralightClothespins
SELF-DEFENSEHACKS
RiotMask
TwistedParacordPerimeterAlarmSmokeAlarmPerimeterGuard
55-Gallon Battle ShieldCardboard Body ArmorTheSportofSelf-Defense
FromPlumbBobtoRopeDart
Nothingelsematterswhenyoudon’thaveyourhealth.Thisiscertainlytrueinasurvival scenario. Even the simplest injury to a hand or eye can be devastatingwhenyou’refightingtoprovideyourselfwithshelter,water,fire,andfood.
Fromsunburntobrokenbones,muchinthischapterisdedicatedtohackingyourselfbacktogetherintheeventofanincidentrequiringfirstaid.
As many a doctor will say, “The best cure is prevention.” This is certainlytrueinasurvivalscenariowhenaccesstomedicalfacilitiesandsuppliesmaybelimited,ornonexistentaltogether.
Some scenarios are more dangerous than others. Certainly, large-scalenaturaldisasterandcivilunresttopthelist.It’snothardtoimagineaneventthatmight call for some degree of self-defense. This chapter concludes with hacksusing everyday objects that can be used to protect you from nature, beasts, andyourfellowhumans.
FIRST-AIDHACKS
DUCTTAPESNOWGOGGLES
Snow blindness (photokeratitis) is a very real phenomenon. Imagine sunburn-likesymptomsexcepttheyoccuronyourcornea.It’snotonlypainfulbutitcanliterallyblindyouuntilithealsseveraldayslater.HackinganInuit-inspiredpairof snow goggles is the best solution. First, tear off 2 6" strips of duct tape andstickthemtogether,stickysidein.Thencut2slitswheretheeyeswillbe.
Lastly,attachaheadstrapbypokingholesoneachendoftheducttapegoggles.Theslitreducestheeyes’exposuretosunlightandthushelpstopreventaburnon the eyeballs. Dark fabric, leather, and bark can also be used instead of ducttape.
PLASTICBOTTLESPLINT
Ifyouknowmuchaboutconstruction,thenyoumayknowthatcurvesareverystrong.EventhinmaterialsbecomeverystrongandrigidwhenshapedintoaCtroughshape.Forthisreason,manyoftheworld’sbestsellingsplintsforbrokenand fractured limbs are in the form of a C. Almost all round plastic bottles canquicklybeconvertedintothisshape.Trimoffthetopandbottomofthebottle,thensmashandforcetheupperhalfintothelowerhalf’scurve.Thiswillmakefor a very sturdy trough-style splint. If you want to make the splint even morerigidorlonger,sandwichseveralbottlestogether.Placethissplintoverthe
extremityandlashitintoplacetoreducemovementandprotecttheinjuryduringtravel.
HEELDRIVING—AWALKINGHACK
Althoughthistipdoesn’tuseaneverydayobject,it’swhatIwillcallawalkinghack. Over the years I’ve seen too many people fall while descending a steepgrade,someinjuringthemselves.Thereisaneffectivemethodofwalkingdownvery steep hills that many do not know. I learned this as a small child from aman in the logging industry who spent most of his life wrangling trees onKentucky’ssteepridges.
Most people walk sideways down a steep grade, which feels safer but isactually very dangerous. It’s almost always more difficult to recover from asideways fall, and knee, hip, and ankle joints prefer not to bend sideways. Theproper way is to drive the heel in the ground while stepping down the hill faceforward.Theheelcreatesasmallstairstepandpreventsthefootfromslippingonforestduffatasteepangle.Thisworksverywellwithandwithoutsnow.
2-JACKETSTRETCHER
Hauling an unconscious or injured survivor out of the woods is no easy task. Incertain cases (especially with a broken neck or back) using a stretcher is thesafestandmoreeffectivemethod.Intheabsenceofastrongtarpthatcanbeusedfor the body of the stretcher, 2 jackets will work just fine. First build arectangularframeworkusing4saplingsandtyingasquarelashingatthecorners.Next, slide the jackets over the length of the framework, end to end, with thezippersorbuttonsclosed.Oncethejacketsareinplace,tiethearmstogetheronthebacksidetopullthefrontofthejacketstautacrosstheframe.This
arrangementshouldbestrongenoughtocarryevenanadultmaletosafety.
HACKYOURTEMPERATUREWITHAWETBANDANA
Thebodyisaradiator,andbloodisthecoolant.Duringtimesofextremeheatoroverexertion,awisewoodsmancantrickthebodyintocoolingdownbywettingandexposingtheareaswherebloodrunsclosetotheskin,calledpulsepoints.Acool,wetbandanaappliedtothetemples(temporal),neck(carotid),frontsideofthe elbow (brachial), wrists (radial), inner thigh (femoral), back of the knee(popliteal),andinnerankle(posteriortibial)cancoolthebloodrunningclosetothe surface in those areas and therefore help to cool the entire body. In coolclimates,insulatingthepulsepointscanhaveawarmingeffect.Yourfingersareoftencoldnotbecauseofpoorcirculationbutbecauseyourwristisexposedandthebloodisnotprovidingnecessarywarmthtothefingers.
BRACUPDEBRISMASK
Toxic ash and debris can be a serious problem during natural or manmadedisasters.Breathinginash,pulverizedconcrete,anddebrisparticlescanslowyoudownaswellasresultinseverelong-termconditionssuchasasthmaand
lungcancer.Mostwomencarry2hackdebrismasksontheirpersonatalltimes
—abra!Thepaddedcupsofmostbrasfitperfectlyoverthemouthandnoseandcan act as a crude debris filter in an emergency. The combination of foam,padding,and2layersoffabricismuchbetterthanmoststore-boughtmasks.
Youcanreworkbrastrapsandtiestoholdthemasksecurelyonyourfaceforhands-freetravel.
CHARCOALTUMMYAID
Activated charcoal is an effective treatment in the emergency room for poisonvictims.Activatedcharcoaltabletscanbepurchasedatalmostanypharmacyandareknowntoabsorbtoxins,poisons,chemicals,andthelikeinyoursystem.
Charcoal has the unique ability to “attach” to these elements and carry themthrough your system. The chemical makeup of charcoal is such that it has anincredibleamountofattachmentpoints.Thisiswhycharcoalisaningredientinalmosteverywaterfilteronthemarket.Ifyou’reinasurvivalscenarioandhavea severe stomachache, chances are you won’t have fancy activated charcoaltablets. However, a next best solution is to crush hardwood charcoal (the blackstuff, not white ash) from the fire and make a drink. Mix about 2 teaspoons ofcrushedcharcoalwith1cupofwaterforanaturalstomachpainreliever.
COTTERPINTWEEZERS
This is another hack from the days of my grandfather. Cotter pins are split pinsfound on all types of machinery, designed to be used as fasteners. The end of acotter pin can be filed to a razor-sharp point either with a metal file or anabrasiverock.Becauseacotterpinissplitinto2halves,itcanbeusedasaveryeffective pair of tweezers. By spreading the tines and inserting a dowel, thesharpworkingendscanbebentinwardandusedexactlylikeatraditionalpairoftweezers. Cotter pins can be found in every hardware store as well as on farmequipment and lawnmowers. They are often used to hold the tires in place ongardenwagonsandwheelbarrows.
ORBITGOGGLES
Severalyearsago,Orbitchewinggumintroducedacup-stylepackagethatfitsperfectly in most vehicle cup holders. As I was about to throw one away theotherdayInoticedhowtheclearlidresembledapairofweldinggoggles.AftersourcinganotherlidandexperimentingwithsomecordIwasabletofashiona
very suitable pair of protective goggles. The little flap door for popping out apieceofgumservesdoubledutyasaventtopreventfoggingincoldweather.I’lladmit that they resemble the wardrobe from Mad Max, but I have no doubtthey’llprotecttheeyesfromflyingdebris,branchslaps,dust,andsand.AfteraninjurytomyeyeseveralyearsagowhilecampingIwillneverunderestimatetheimportanceofeyeprotectionagain.
MAKESHIFTBUTTERFLYBANDAGE
Here’saquickandeasyfirst-aidhackyoumayneverhaveseen.Ilearnedthis
one from an Army field medic while taking a wilderness first-aid class a fewyears back and thought it was great. As you know, bandages are a luxury in asurvival scenario and you want to make the best possible use of them whennecessary. Often, especially on the hands, fingers, and knuckles, traditionalbandagesjustdon’tworkthatwell.Tomakethemmoreflexibleandadaptable,cutacenterslicethrougheachoftheadhesivestripslong-waysfromtheendsuptothebandageportion.Now,with4adhesivestripsinsteadof2,youcanapplythebandageeffectivelytostubbornbodyparts.
ABETTER-THAN-NOTHINGSOUPCANGAS
MASK
Many do-it-yourself gas masks have 2 main ingredients that help to filter outharmful chemicals/gases: activated charcoal and soda lime. The activatedcharcoal helps to trap particles as they pass through the breathing element, andthe soda lime helps to neutralize acid gases. Equip yourself with a better-than-nothing gas mask in a pinch by packing an empty soup can with half crushedcharcoal from a fire and half baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Neither willperform as well as activated charcoal and soda lime, but both are better thannothing. Take one end completely off of the soup can. Cut a hole and insert aplasticpipe1"intotheotherend.Duct-tapeitinplacesotherearenoleaks.Packsomepapertowelsoraragfirmlyinthesoupcanagainstthepipeopening.
Looselypacktherestofthecanwithhalfcrushedcharcoalandhalfbakingsodaandtapeanotherragonthetoptoholditallinplace.Breatheinthroughthepipeandexhalethroughyournose.
SURVIVALEYEBLACK
AsmentionedintheDuctTapeSnowGoggleshackinthischapter,takingstepsto prevent eye burn from the sun or snow can be critical to survival. A veryeffectivewaytohackyourownsurvivaleyeblackinthefieldistomixsomelipbalmwithcrushedcharcoal.Althoughthewax-basedbalmwillwork,petroleumjelly–based products work even better. Smear the greasy “paint” beneath youreyes to prevent sun glare and also improve visibility in both desert and Arcticconditions.
2-LITERSAFETYGOGGLES
I consider safety goggles a necessity in any disaster survival scenario. Theability to quickly make a pair from trash is a great skill to have. A trash 2-literbottle is the perfect hack for this. The curved contour of the bottle makes a pairoflight-dutysafetygogglesthatnaturallycurlaroundyoureyesandfacewithoutthe use of a tie or elastic strap. Using a knife or scissors, cut a 2" section fromthe center of a 2-liter bottle. Next, make a top-to-bottom slice through one sideso that you can open up the circle. Carve a groove for the bridge of your nose,andlinetheedgeswithtapeforacomfortablefit.Theendscanbetaperedlikeapairofsunglassesifyoufindthatmorecomfortable.Aheadstrapisoptionalbutrecommended.
THEBESTNATURALMOSQUITOREPELLENT
Mosquitoes are arguably worse in the North Woods. Many woodsmen fromMichiganorAlaskawilltellyouthatthemosquitoistheirstatebird.Ironically,oneofthebestnaturalmosquitorepellentsisonlyfoundintheNorthWoods—birch oil. The trick is extracting birch oil from the white, papery bark of thebirchtree.Todoit,you’llneed2cans.Oneshouldbeapproximatelythesizeofa1-gallonpaintcanwithalidandtheotheraboutthesizeofasmallsoupcan.Fill the large paint can with birch bark, put on the metal lid, and then punch aholeinthecenterbottom.Burythesmallcaninthegroundsothattheopentopisflushwiththegroundandplacethelargerbark-filledcandirectlyontopofitsothattheholeisoverthesmallercan.Finally,buildafirearoundthelargecanandletitburnforabout30minutes.Theheatwillextracttheoilfromthebark,whichwilldripintothesmallercanbelow.Smearthisoilonyourskintorepelmosquitoes.
ANOT-SO-STRAWEFULTICKPULLER
Ticks are nasty critters and the bane of many a woodsman. The best way to ridyourselfofticksistopinchtheheadwithtweezersandpullupwardwithsteady,even pressure. In the absence of suitable tweezers, make a tick puller from aplasticdrinkingstraw.Usingaknifeorscissors,cutaneye-shapedholetowardthe end of the straw large enough to fit over the tick’s body. The outside tip oftheeyecut(thesideclosesttotheedgeofthestraw)shouldcometoaveryfinepoint.Slidetheeyeoverthetickandpullfromtheside,wedgingthetick’sheadandneckinthecornerofthisfine-cutpoint.Steadilypulluntilthetickdetaches,andthenwashtheaffectedareawithsoapandwater.
HORSEFLYSHOTGUN
Blackfliesandhorsefliescanbeaforcetobereckonedwithduringhotsummermonths.WhenIwasaboy,Ilearnedasimpleandfuntricktoquicklyandeasilykillthem.Ithappenedbyaccidentatthebeach.WheneverwewenttothebeachIwouldbringmyslingshotsothatIcouldlaunchdogfoodkibblesintothewaterfor fish to eat. While I was playing in the sand, the black flies and horseflieswere driving me crazy. I noticed a big horsefly that landed on my sand castle,and having run out of dog food kibble ammunition, I filled my slingshot pouchwith a pinch of beach sand and blasted him from nearly 5' away. The sanddispersed in a shotgun effect when launched from the slingshot, and I quicklydiscovered that I could kill any black fly or horsefly within a 10' radius—evenflying!
HYGIENEHACKS
BBQSPITBATH
This hack comes from one of my favorite movies of all time—The Book of Eli.Prepackaged wet naps that you’ll often find at BBQ restaurants make perfectminispitbathtowelettes.Ikeepacoupleinmostofmysurvivalkitsforjustthatpurpose.Theyaretypicallyfree,weighalmostnothing,anddonotexpireasfarasI’venoticed.Twowetnapsmakeforaprettydecentspitbath.Thereisabitofa science to mini towelette spit bathing. Use the first one for your face, neck,armpits,andfeet,inthatorder.Usethesecondforyourunmentionables,fronttoback. If you wish to reuse, boil to sterilize in a small cup or can of water andrepeat.
ULTRALIGHTCLOTHESPINS
Allclothingbecomeslessefficientwhenthefibersarecloggedwithdirt,grime,and oils. They lose breathability and insulating properties, which are bothimportant features to warm-and cold-weather survival. Washing clothing maybecome a necessity in order to maintain good field hygiene. Drying your wetclothes on a line in the sun or by the fire can be a little tricky if the wind picksup. I recently discovered the coolest little lightweight clothespins while I wasmakingapeanutbutterandjellysandwichofallthings.Plasticbreadbagclipsare the perfect shape for clipping a garment onto a paracord drying line. Therigidhooksholdthegarmenttightlyandsecurelyevenduringwindgusts.I’veaddedafewtomybugoutbagjustincase!Note:Abreadbagclipcanalso
preventthetoethongfrompullingthroughonyourcampsandals.Justslideitbetweenthebottomoftheshoeandthebuttonontheendofthetoethong.
SELF-DEFENSEHACKS
RIOTMASK
Whether you find yourself in the middle of a riot, terrorist attack, or severenaturaldisaster,theabilitytomakeaquickandeffectiveimprovisedprotectiveface mask is an invaluable skill. A really impressive mask can be made fromalmostanylargeclearplasticwaterbottleorgallonjug,someducttape,string,andaT-shirt.
Cut off the bottom of the container and then the back side as shown in theillustration. Foam weather stripping works great to seal the edges around yourface, but duct tape is a good next-best solution. Stuff a T-shirt into the neck ofthebottletoactasafilterandremovethecap.Finally,pierce4holes(2oneachside)inthemaskandusestringtotieittightlyagainstyourface.Thisnotonlyhelpstoprotectyoureyesandfacefromflyingdebrisbutalsohelpstopreventtheinhalationofsmokeandtoxicash.
TWISTEDPARACORDPERIMETERALARM
Paracord can be wound and twisted to make very effective trigger systems forboth traps and perimeter alarms. This hack will demonstrate how it can beattached to a tripwire to alarm you when someone is approaching your camp.Start by tying 2 pieces of paracord between 2 small trees. The ideal distancebetweentreesislessthan2'.Insertastickbetweenthe2piecesofparacordandtwist until the line develops enough pressure to spin when you let it go. Placeyourtripwireacrossthetrailandattachtheendofthelinetothelowerportionofthistriggerstickwithaloopwhileitiswoundverytightly.Thetauttripwireand
loopwillholdthetriggerstickinplace.Finally,hangaclusterofemptycanssothey dangle in the path of the spinning trigger stick. When the line is disturbedtheloopwillbepulledfromthebottomandreleasethespinningtriggerstickintotheclusterofcans,soundingthealarm.
SMOKEALARMPERIMETERGUARD
Beddingdownatnightcangiveeventhebravestoutdoorsmanavulnerablefeeling. Setting a perimeter alarm around camp is one way to outsmart anintruder,eithermanorbeast.Youcanhackasmokealarmandclothespintomakeastartlingperimeteralarm.
Removethebuzzer(includingwires),battery,andbatterytray(including
wires) from a smoke alarm. The buzzer and battery tray should each have ablack and red wire. Extend the red wire of both the alarm and battery tray withsome additional scrap wire and wrap the other end of one wire around the toppincher of the clothespin and the other wire around the bottom pincher. Whenthepincherclosesthewiresshouldtouch.Now,connecttheblackwiresfromthealarm to the battery tray. When the battery is attached and the clothespin isclosed, the alarm should sound. It should stop when the clothespin is open. Toset, place a piece of cardboard or wood scrap in the clothespin and attach to atripwire.Whenthissliverofmaterialispulledout,thewireswillconnectandthealarmwillsound.
55-GALLONBATTLESHIELD
With luck, you’ll never be involved in a situation when you need to navigatethrough a dangerous city or riot. However, if it happens, you may considerpackingashieldmadefromeitherthefrontorbackhalfofanemptyplastic55-gallondrum.Oncethedrumissawedinhalf,youcandrillholestoattachropehandles for maneuvering and stabilizing. A 55-gallon drum shield can deflectarrows, rocks, slingshots, debris, and even small-arms fire. It may provide theprotectionnecessarytomovethroughhostilestreets.Theseshieldscanalsobeused as urban camouflage to temporarily hide from threats. A lighter but lessdurableversionofthisshieldcanbemadefromstandard5-gallonbuckets.
CARDBOARDBODYARMOR
Cardboard is a resource available in almost every urban survival environment.Cardboardsandwichedtoathicknessof1"–2"willreducetheeffectsofviolentattacks,flyingdebris,andevensmall-armsfire.Atemplateoftheneckandchest
canquicklybemadetoprotectyourvitalsandthentiedintoplacewithavailablerope. Wear this under an overcoat for discretion. Other areas to protect includetheback,groin,andthighs.Cutortiesmaller,moremanageablepiecestotheseareas as well or wear them under clothing and hold by compression with tight-fittingclothing.
THESPORTOFSELF-DEFENSE
AlmosteverypieceofsportingequipmentthatIcanthinkof,fromhockeysticksandbaseballbatstofacemasksandfootballpads,canbeusedinself-defense.A
triptoyournearestsportsstorecanoutfityoufortheworstscenarios.I’veoftencalledsportsequipment“thepoorman’sriotgear.”Afreshcoatofearth-toneorblack spray paint can convert a hodgepodge of bright sports colors into acamouflaged outfit ready for the wilderness or streets. In my tests I’ve seenfootball pads stop arrows, thrown bricks, slingshot projectiles, and small-armsfire. Add a 5-pound weight tied to a length of rope in one hand and a climber’siceaxeintheotherandnopersoninhisrightmindwouldcomecharginginyourdirection.
FROMPLUMBBOBTOROPEDART
Handymenorwomenwillrecognizewhataplumbbobis.Itisapointedweightattachedtoaropethatisusedasaverticalreferenceline.Idoubt,however,thatmanyhaveheardofaropedart.ItisanancientChineseweaponthatconsistsofalongrope(approximately10')withametaldartattachedtotheend.Ausercanthrow the dart at an opponent and then draw it back for another attack. Whenswungaroundincircles,aropedartcanbehurledwithincredibleforce.Alooptiedaroundtheuser’swristkeepstheropeinhandatalltimes.Whileahardwarestoreplumbbobmakesaready-maderopedart(whenattachedtoastrongerropelike 550 paracord), you can use almost any dart-like object as a substitute. Tobecomeproficientwithropedartstakesquiteabitofpractice.Youcanalsousethem as improvised grappling hooks to climb trees or scale walls. Note: Arailroadspikewithaholedrilledattheheadalsomakesagreatropedart.
Chapter6GearHacks
TOOLHACKS
MakeaGlassFileSoupCanLidUlu
AnAMAIZEingFileHandleVikingClamps
TOOLANDGEARMAINTENANCEHACKS
DVDCaseKnifeSheathCopper Wire RivetsRopeVise
Knife-SharpeningSurfacesPlasticBagToolSheath
PlasticBottleReplacementKnifeHandleImprovisedNeedleAwl
Ski KnifeCharcoalEpoxy
CORDAGEHACKS
2-Liter CordageDog Treat CordageBottle Cap PulleyShoppingBagRope
GEARSTORAGEHACKS
USPSWater-ResistantStuffSacksSkivvyRoll
Gearisnecessaryforsurvival.Whethertheybemodern,natural,orimprovisedfrom found materials, tools make survival possible. Even primitive man usedgearextensively.Fromflintbladestoplant-fibercordageandclaypots,avarietyof improvised accoutrements made life in the wilderness not only easier butpossible.
Thischapterisallaboutusingrandomeverydayitemstoimprovisetoolsandgear that may be used in some way to facilitate survival. Gear is a generic termincluding containers, cordage, knives, saws, and a variety of hand tools. Incertaininstances,thelackofgear(ortheinabilitytoimproviseit)canmakethedifferencebetweenlifeanddeath.
Somewouldarguethatmaintainingthegearyoudohaveisjustasimportantas the gear itself. For this reason you will also find a section about gear repairand maintenance. Whether replacing a knife handle or waterproofing boots,thesehackshelptoensureyourgearperformswhenandhowyouneedit.
TOOLHACKS
MAKEAGLASSFILE
Iuseafileallthetimefortoolmaintenanceandsharpening.It’soneofthetoolsI can never do without. A surprisingly effective file for soft metals, wood, andplastic can be made from a glass bottle and some epoxy. Start by crushing theglass bottle with a rock in between several layers of fabric. Try to crush it asfinely as possible until it looks like tiny grains of sand. Next, sift out all of thelarge and irregular pieces through a piece of screen mesh. At this point youshouldbeleftwithglass“sand”ofaroundthesameconsistency.Applyalayerof epoxy to a clean, dry stick or small file-shaped board and press it into theglass dust so that it is fully coated. Once the epoxy has dried, your glass file isfinishedandreadyforaction.
SOUPCANLIDULU
An ulu is a knife traditionally used by the Inuit and Yupik people of the Arctic.The crescent-shaped blade is specific to that region. It is a blade adapted to thechoresofthatregion,whichincludeskinninggame(sealsprimarily)andcookingand working with caribou hides. The need for carving and chopping isunnecessary due to the scarcity of wood in that part of the world. You canfashion a very solid ulu blade from the tin lid of a standard soup can. Fold 1⁄3 ofthelidovertocreateaflat,foldededge.Sharpentheexposedroundededgeonasmooth stone. You can use it as is or insert it and lash it into a split stick for atraditionalulu-stylegrip,asshowninthediagram.
ANAMAIZEINGFILEHANDLE
ThisisahackIpickedupfrommygrandpainKentucky.AsachildIusedto
loverummagingthroughmygrandpa’stobaccobarn.Itwasfilledwithtonsofhand tools that had stories to tell, I’m sure. I’ll never forget my grandpa’s bigwoodencrateoffiles.Heusedthemforsharpeningaxes,machetes,knives,andfarmequipment.Ratherthanfancywoodenhandlesaffixedtotherat-tailendofthe files, grandpa had shoved the files into 5" sections of dried corncob. Theymade the perfect file handle. The dense inner pith held the file firmly in placeandtheroughcobmadeforanawesomegrip,evenwithwetormuddyhands.
Driedcorncobsmakegreathandlesforallkindsoftoolsincludingknives,files,andfirepokers.
VIKINGCLAMPS
One of the main reasons I carry a multitool as a part of my everyday carry(EDC)isforthepliers.I’velearnedthehardwaythatthereisnosubstitutefor
pliersinthewilderness.Thishack,however,ishowtheVikingsusedingenuityandsimpletoolstomakesomeverycleverclampsthatactedasvisegripswhenbuildingboats.Itssimplicitywillamazeyou.
Sandwich what you need held between 2 boards. Tie a rope around the 2boards a few inches back from where they are to grip. Then from the oppositeendofthegrippingend,driveanotherboardorwedgeinbetweenthe2boards.Theropeactsasahingepoint,andthegrippingendisforcedtightertogetherasthe opposite ends are wedged more open. Vikings used this technique to buildthe hulls of their massive wooden ships, and you can use it too as a makeshiftclampingsysteminasurvivalscenario.
TOOLANDGEARMAINTENANCEHACKS
DVDCASEKNIFESHEATH
There’s nothing worse (or more dangerous) than carrying a knife that doesn’thave a sheath. As many of you know, Kydex—a thermoplastic that can beheated and molded into almost any shape imaginable—is a very popular sheathmaterial. Black DVD cases can be used as a hack Kydex material. These casesare made from polypropylene and can be heated and molded in a very similarway.Cutthefrontandbackpaneloffofthecase.Heatthemoverafireortoasteror in an oven for a few minutes until pliable. When they’re nice and soft,sandwichtheknifebetweenthemandpressfirmlybetween2foldedtowels(1ontop and 1 on bottom). Use a book to press the top towel, and do this on a hardsurface such as a wood floor. Finally, trim the excess around the sheath with asawanddrillholesforlacingthesheathtightlytogetherwithparacord.
COPPERWIRERIVETS
I learned this hack during a pioneer-living workshop when I was a boy. Whilefittingaknifeblankwithawoodendowelhandle,theblacksmithcutshortpiecesofcopperwireandstuckthemthroughonesideofthehandle,throughaholeintheknifehandle,andthenthroughtheothersideofthewoodhandle.Hecutthewire pieces long enough so that they stuck out about 1⁄4" on each side of thehandle.Hethenslowlypoundedthecopperwireoneachside,whichcausedittomushroomoutandholdthehandletightlyinplace,justlikearivet.Thismethodof crude riveting can be used in the field to repair a broken knife handle or toreplacerivetsinanothertoolthatmayhaveworkedlooseorfailedaltogether.
Metalnailswouldworkaswell,butthesoftnatureofcoppermakesitaprimecandidateforthistechnique.
ROPEVISE
Sometimes there is no substitute for a good vise when repairing gear orsharpeningtools.Youcanhackasimplefoot-poweredropevise.Allyouneedisa picnic table, some rope, and a wooden foot pedal (any old board or stick willdo).Thepicnictablewillserveasyourworkbench.
Start by folding your rope in half, and pull the folded loop up between theboards at the end of the picnic table. Now tie the other 2 ends of the ropetogether, using a simple granny knot. Make sure that this knot is suspendedabout 6" off the ground. Complete the vise by placing your pedal stick throughtheropeloop.Placeyourknifeortoolundertheropeloopstickingoutthetopofyour workbench and depress the foot pedal. This will hold your tool firmly inplace.Thegreaterthepedalpressure,thetighterthehold.
KNIFE-SHARPENINGSURFACES
Keepingyourbladehonedtoarazoredgeisimportant.Asharpknifeissafertouse and requires less energy. In survival, every calorie counts. You may notknowthat2excellentsharpenersexistalmostrightunderyournose.Firstisthebottom of a ceramic coffee mug. The bottom ring of most ceramic mugs isalmost always unglazed, and unglazed ceramic is a perfect knife-sharpeningsurface.Theundersideoftoilettankcoversarealsounglazed.Thenthereistheabrasiveupperedgeofacarwindow.Thisedgeissufficientforsharpeningmost
carbon-steelblades.Slidethebladefromhilttotipalongtheupperedgejustasyouwoulduseasharpeningrod.
PLASTICBAGTOOLSHEATH
Scrapplasticgrocerybagscanberepurposedintodurableplasticsheetsthatcanbe molded, folded, and sewn into a variety of different pouches, including toolsheaths.Startbycuttingthefrontandbackpanelsfrom10–20plasticbagsandlaythemflatontopofeachotherinapile.Ithelpstocutoutsimilarrectangularshapesandjustthrowawaythesides,handles,andbottoms.Sandwichthispileofplasticbagsheetsbetween2flatrocks.Iuselarge,flatpaverstones.Finally,placethesestonesonthecoalsofafiretoheatup.Asthestonesheat,theplasticsheeting welds together into one solid piece of durable plastic that can then befoldedandstitchedintoaverysuitableknifesheath.I’vealsousedoneoftheseweldedplasticbagchunksasanimprovisedcuttingboardwithgreatsuccess.
Note:Youcanuseahomeirontoweldthesheetstogether.Settomediumheatandplaceapieceofcraftpaperontopofandbelowthestackofsheets.
PLASTICBOTTLEREPLACEMENTKNIFEHANDLE
This hack involves using plastic high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles tomakeoneofthebestknifehandlesI’veeverseen.HDPEplasticismarkedbyanumber 2 inside of the recycle sign. Be sure to use bottles/caps labeled withHDPEorwiththe2asitsresinidentificationcodebecausethefumesfromotherbottlescanmakeyousick.
First, find a metal tube that is about the diameter that you want your knifehandle.Cutuptheplasticsothatthepieceswillfitinsideofthetube.Fillitfull
andplacenearthefire(orintheovenat350°F)untiltheplasticmelts.Continuetomeltpiecesuntilthetubeisfull.Oncethetubeisfullandtheplasticisstillinasoftstate,pressitdownusingawoodendowelorplungertocompressoutallthe air bubbles. Finally, press the knife handle into the tube and let the plasticcool. HDPE shrinks as it cools, allowing you to remove it from the tube whenfinished.Now,simplycarveorfilethehandletotheshapeyouwant.
IMPROVISEDNEEDLEAWL
A sail maker’s needle is a good item to keep in survival kits. These are large,thick needles that can be used to make repairs on durable goods such as packs,shoes,canvaspants,andleatheritems.Sometimes,however,youneedanawltopunch through especially thick materials. A good sail needle can be reworkedinto a great awl by hammering the point 1⁄2" into a solid wood handle that youcancarvefromanyhardwoodlimb.Theeyeoftheneedlecannowbefileddownto a sharp point with a smooth stone or file. The result is a sharp needle with ahole at the tip, which is exactly what an awl is. Thread the eye, push the needleandthreadthroughthematerials,andbeginyourlockstitchpattern.
SKIKNIFE
Ski pole grips are very comfortable, rugged, and durable. They also handleextremeconditionsverywell.Thesearealldesirableattributesforaknifeortoolhandle.Theprocessissimple:Slidethehandlefromtheskipoleandfillitwithepoxy (it could also be pine resin epoxy made with charcoal—see the CharcoalEpoxyhackinthischapter)andinserttheknifeortool.Whencured,you’venowgotaknifeortoolwithahandlebetterthanmost.Youcanfindnicequalityrat-tail tang blades (Mora blades are my favorite) online for very affordable prices,and this also makes a fun weekend knife project. You can also use old bicyclehandlegrips.
CHARCOALEPOXY
Iftheneedforastronggluearisesandnomodernoptionsexist,hackyourownusing crushed charcoal and pine sap. Start by sourcing pine sap from the pinetree.Oftenyoucanfindthissapintheformofdriedclustersontheexteriorofthe tree. Look for wounds the tree may have suffered and collect the sap thatoozesforththere.Next,meltthepinesapovertheheatofafireinasmallmetalcontainerorinadepressiononahotrock.Whilethesapismelting,crushblackcharcoalfromthefirepit(theblackchunks,notwhiteash)intoafinepowder.Mixthepowderedcharcoalintothemeltedpinesap—1partcharcoalto3partspine sap. As this sticky mixture cools it will harden into a very strong naturalepoxythatcanbeusedasagluesubstitute.Theleftoverdriedglueinthemetaltincanbereheatedlatertobemadepliableonceagainandusedindefinitely.
CORDAGEHACKS
2-LITERCORDAGE
Isawavideoonetimeabouthow2-literbottlescouldberecycledtomakeropethatwasultimatelywovenintobaskets.Theprocessusedfancyequipmentandelectric motors. After seeing it I was determined to figure out a hack way ofmakingcordagefroma2-literbottle,usingonlylimitedtools.Aftermanyfailedattempts I finally figured out that I could make a few choice cuts in a saplingstump(seediagram)andcouldthenfeeda2-literbottlethroughthisimprovisedjig. The result is that I can strip the bottle into cordage that is strong, rot-resistant, and moisture-resistant. To see the full effect of this amazing hack,watch the skills video here: www.willowhavenoutdoor.com/two-liter-bottle-cordage.
DOGTREATCORDAGE
Primitive man used rawhide for all kinds of bindings. It was excellent forsecuring axe and adze heads. Other uses included sewing, bowstrings, shoebindings, knife sheaths, arrow quivers, shields, drums, furniture, and baskets.Rawhide can also be boiled down to make an excellent glue and is still aningredient in many modern glues today. Working with rawhide takes practice,but it’s not a material that’s readily available . . . to a nonhacker. To a creative“hack-minded” survivalist, rawhide practice material is in almost every singlegrocerystoreintheformofdogchewsandbones.Soaktheserawhidechewtoysinwateruntilsoftandthencutthemintocordageorbindingsforprimitiveskillspractice.Thisisahackthatfewpeopleconsider.
BOTTLECAPPULLEY
HDPEplasticbottlecaps(markedbyanumber2insideoftherecyclesymbol)can be found all over the place. You can fuse 2 of them to make a veryimpressivelittlegearpulley,pairedwithparacord.
Start by taking 2 equal-sized bottle caps and heat the flat tops until they aregooeyenoughtobefusedtogether.Placingthemupsidedownonahotrockforafew minutes should be plenty to do the trick. Press them together and let themcool. The top edge of each cap is slightly rounded, which creates an indentedseamaroundthemiddleofthefusedcaps.Thiswillactasyourpulleychannel.
Drill or carve a hole through the middle of the caps to inset an axle, climbingcarabiner,orropeloop,andyou’vegotaperfectlyfunctionalgearpulleytohoistlarge game for dressing or send a 5-gallon bucket into a well or over a cliff forwater. Using little pulleys like this you can also create some unique cookingcranes.
SHOPPINGBAGROPE
Usable rope can be twisted and woven from practically any thin, fibrousmaterial,includingplasticshoppingbags,ribbons,hair,andplantfibers.Infact,the Incans built grass and natural-fiber bridges that spanned massive rivers andgorges. These bridges supported the weight not only of people but of wheeledcarts and livestock. Like most survival skills, the devil is in the details when itcomes to improvised cordage. The process of twisting, pinching, and weavingnatural(ormanmade)fibersintocordageiscalledthereversewrap,andthisisahackinventednotbymyself,butbyprimitivemanmanythousandsofyearsago.I have filmed a video to teach you this skill:www.willowhavenoutdoor.com/reverse-wrap-video.
GEARSTORAGEHACKS
USPSWATER-RESISTANTSTUFFSACKS
Tyvek is a synthetic waterproof material made from polyethylene fiberstraditionallyusedintheconstructionindustryasamoisturebarrierhousewrap.Many shipping envelopes, including the ones used for Priority and Expressservices of the USPS, are also made of Tyvek to protect documents andmerchandise from the weather. These envelopes also make great littlewaterproofstuffsacks.Theycanbeusedasisandsealedwiththepeel-n-stickadhesive strip to protect moisture-sensitive materials, or you can sew a handydrawstringchannelaroundthetopedgetomakegreatwaterproofgearsackforextendedtravel.Tyvekisalsoincrediblylight!Thisisagreatwaytorepurposeusedpackaging.
SKIVVYROLL
Packing smart can allow more room in a backpack for important survival gear,soit’salwayswisetosavespacewheneverandwhereverpossible.Acleansetofunderwear,T-shirt,andsockscangoalongwayinmaintainingpersonalhygienewhen normal facilities for washing aren’t available. A great hack for packingthese3itemsiscalledtheskivvyroll.Packedaccordingtothediagrams,these3items are barely larger than just one roll of socks. It really is a genius way topack,whethergoingonvacationorarrangingyourbugoutbag.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5
STEP6
STEP7
Chapter7
ForwardMovement
LIGHTINGHACKS
Pop Can LanternHeadlampCampLanternFlashlightDiffuserLadleSlushLamp
T-ShirtTorchCrayndle
OrangeYouGonnaUseThatPeel?CriscoCandle
NAVIGATION
WristwatchCompassFingerClock
AirGoggles
ShadowsLeadtheWay
SIGNALINGANDRESCUEHACKS
BulletCasingWhistle
BustedCellPhonetotheRescueGlowStickBuzzSaw
RearviewRescue
HanselandGretelSurvival
Stayingputcanbeagoodsurvivalstrategyincertaininstances,suchaswhen
you’relost.However,nothavingtheoptiontomoveonwardcanbedownrightdeadly. This chapter is filled with hacks that provide more options to keepmovingforward.Sometimesinsurvival,movementislife.
Two elements that can stop a survivor dead in his or her tracks are lightingandnavigation.Inlow-light,nighttime,orsubterraneanenvironments,thelackofalightingtoolmeanszeroforwardmovement.Choosingtotravelindarknesswithout a lighting tool can be dangerous and deadly. Without a tool to provideinsight into direction, you can walk in circles or, worse yet, in the oppositedirectionofresources.Insurvival,everystepforwardshouldbewithpurpose.
The ultimate goal of every survival scenario is to make it out alive. Formany, this involves being rescued. This chapter concludes with a small sectiondedicatedtoimprovisedrescueandsignalinghacks.Whetherduringtheday,atnight,oralongatrail,communicatingtowould-berescuepartiesisacriticalandvaluablesurvivalskillset.
LIGHTINGHACKS
POPCANLANTERN
The functionality of a modern lantern is very difficult to replicate usingmakeshiftsupplies.However,you’dbesurprisedathowmuchyoucanlightupasmall space with just a candle and a soda can (or any type of aluminum can forthat matter). Carefully make 3 cuts in the can using your pocketknife as can beseenintheillustration.Thenfoldopenthe“wings”andplaceacandleinside.
The shiny interior surface of the aluminum can reflects and projects thecandlelight,creatingalanterneffectinadarkroomorcave.Thiscanbeusedtonotonlynavigateadarkbuildingortrailbutalsotolightupafoodpreparea.Ifyou’retraveling,holdthelanternbythebottomwherethemetaldoesnotgethotorsuspendwithahandlefromtheconvenientpoptabbail.
HEADLAMPCAMPLANTERN
Aheadlampcanbequicklyhackedintoanoutstandingcamplanternbyplacingit around a water-filled bottle using the head strap and with the light shiningtoward the center. The water diffuses and diverts the light, making a verycomfortable camp lantern that can be much more pleasing to the eyes thanblinding headlamps around the dinner table. It is also a slightly more discreetway of using a headlamp in the event that you are setting up a stealth camp ortryingtoremainundetected.
FLASHLIGHTDIFFUSER
SimilartotheHeadlampCampLanternhack,anemptyenergydrinkbottlewiththe shrink-wrapping removed can be fitted atop a bright flashlight to make averyfunctionallittlecamplantern.Aflashlightisdesignedtoprojectlightinonedirection in a focused beam. This isn’t always the best way to light a survivalcamporshelter.Cutthetopoffofaminienergydrinkbottlesothatitfitssnuglyonto the face of a small flashlight. This solid, white plastic body acts like alampshadetodiffuseandspreadthelightinamuchbroaderarea.
LADLESLUSHLAMP
The term “slush lamp” has dropped from most modern dictionaries—lost inhistory like so many other important survival skills. It is a crude lamp thattypically burns on grease or animal fat. Eskimos used this style of lamp to burnseal blubber. However, the concept and principles can be applied to manydifferent objects and fuels in a survival scenario. This hack uses the slush lampmodel and 3 items found in almost any kitchen or grocery store—a ladle, someolive oil, and a strip of cotton fabric. Fill a ladle with olive oil and lay in thecottonstrip(acutpieceofT-shirtworksgreat)sothatallbut1⁄2"issubmergedinthe oil. The lamp can be lit just like a candle once the 1⁄2" of protruding cotton“wick” absorbs the “fuel.” A slush lamp of this variety will burn very brightlyandforasurprisinglylongtime.
T-SHIRTTORCH
Whenthesungoesdowninthewildernessit’sgameoverwithoutsomekindoflighting tool. No flashlight means no work, no movement, and no progress—unless you know how to hack a good torch! It all starts with a fresh-cut greenstick 1"–2" in diameter. It must be green because a dead one will catch on fire.NexttearaT-shirt(oranycottonfabric)into1"stripsandwrapthosearoundtheendofthesticklikeagiantQ-Tip.Soakthestripswithalow-flashpointcookingoil such as olive oil. Many cooking oils, including melted butter, margarine, orlard,willworkforthis.Baconfatandpinesaparealsosuitablesubstitutions.
Oncethefabrictorchheadissoakedthrough,placeitinthefireuntilitcatches,andyou’regoodtogo.Asoftball-sizedwrapwillburnformorethananhour.
CRAYNDLE
What do you get when you light the top of a crayon on fire? A crayndle, ofcourse.Crayonsaremadeupmainlyofwaxandburnverywell.Leavethepaperlabelonbecauseitactsasthecrayndlewick.Anaveragecrayndlewillburnfor30 minutes. To keep them from falling over, melt the pointed writing tip into asmallpoolonahard,fireproofsurfaceandplacethebottomofthecrayoninthemelted wax until it cools and hardens. This will prevent the crayndle fromtippingorfallingover.Needabiggerflameformorelightorevencooking?
Wrapseveralcrayonstogetherusingwire.Thiswillnotonlyproducemorelight,but it creates a larger flame, which can be used to heat a small space if othertypesoffuelarelimited.
ORANGEYOUGONNAUSETHATPEEL?
I love oranges. Did you know dried orange peels make great fire starters?However,thishackgoesbeyondusingjustthepeel.Anorangepeelcanactuallybeusedtomakeaveryimpressivesurvivallamp.Peeltheorangesothathalfthepeel is intact and that the pithy central column is still attached. At this point theorange should look like a half-hollowed-out orange peel with the pithy corestickingupoutofthecenter.Placetheorangeonasturdy,hard,fireproofsurfaceandfillwithalmostanykindofcookingoilsuchasoliveoilorvegetableoil.
Theoilwillslowlyabsorbintothepithycentercolumn.Afterafewminutes,thispithycorecanbelitjustlikealampwickandwillcontinuetoburnforseveral
hours.Bonushack:Oneofmyfavoritecampbreakfastsistobakeinstantrollsinsidehalfroundsofhollowedorangepeelsrightinthecoalsofafire.
CRISCOCANDLE
If your childhood was anything like mine, then you grew up with a big can ofCrisco in the pantry. My mom used Crisco for frying and homemade biscuits,but it wasn’t until recently that she learned a new use for Crisco: a 30-daycandle.Criscoisasolid-statevegetableoilthatalsohappenstoburnincrediblywell.ACriscocandleisbestmadewiththelongstrandsofacottonmophead.Cut 1 strand off and cram it down into the can of Crisco using a thin, forkedstick.Cuttheendthatsticksouttoabout1"abovethetopandslatheritwithalittle Crisco before lighting. One can of Crisco can burn up to 30 days. You’llhave to replace the wick several times, but it works as an amazing emergencycandle.Burn3wicksatonceformorelightandheat.Insertthemseveralinchesapart.
NAVIGATION
WRISTWATCHCOMPASS
Ifyouknowthetime,youcandeterminedirection.Usingananalogwatch,pointthehourhandatthesun.Then,bisectthedistancebetweenthehourhandand12o’clock. That line, pointing away from the center of the watch, is south. If yourwatchisdigital,justdrawaclockwithhandsonthegroundsothatthehourhandis pointing toward the sun and do the same thing only on the ground instead ofonyourwrist.
Whatifyoucan’tseethesun?Evenoncloudydaysthesunwillstillcastashadowfromastickplacedintheground.Alignyourhourhandperfectlywiththatshadowanditwillbepointingtowardthesun.Continueasjustdescribed.Onceyouknowsouth,theotherthreedirectionsfallintoplace.
FINGERCLOCK
This hack isn’t so much about finding direction as it is knowing when to stophikingandstartmakingbasecampforthenight.Manysurvivorsunderestimatehow long it can take to set up a proper base camp, and then find themselvesrushingaroundinlow-lightconditions.Areliablewayofestimatingtheamountof time left until sunset is by using your fingers. Hold your hand up sidewayswith the bottom of the sun resting on top of your index finger. Now, count thenumber of fingers going down until they connect with land. Each fingerrepresentsapproximatelyfifteenminutesofsunlightavailable.
AIRGOGGLES
I’ve placed this hack under the navigation heading because it’s related tonavigating underwater. Seeing underwater is blurry at best without swimminggoggles. Air goggles are simple to make. This is done by creating a tight sealacrossyourforeheadandtotheoutsideofeacheyealongyourtempleswithyourhandsbypressingthemtightlyagainsttheseareas.Whenyouslowlyloweryourface into the water, a pocket of air will collect around your eyes and up againstthewallthatyourhandscreate.Ifthereisasmallairleakinyourhands,theseairpocketscanbereplenished(orincreasedinsize)bysimplyexhalingunderwaterandaddingbubblestothegoggles.Youreyesarenowbehindapocketofairandcanseeinwaterjustasifyouwerewearinggoggles.Thisisaperfecttechniqueforgettingaclearviewofthebottomofanyshallowpoolorbodyofwater.
SHADOWSLEADTHEWAY
Youcanimproviseafairlyaccuratecompassusingjustastick.Evenwithcloudcover,thesunwillcastashadow.Stabastraight36"stickintotheground.Marktheendofitsshadowwitharock.Waitacouplehoursasthesunmovesacrossthesky.Thenmarktheendoftheshadowagainwithasecondrock.Now,drawa line from the first rock to the second rock. This line is the east/west line; thesecond rock points east. As the sun moves from east to west it casts a shadowfromwesttoeast.Fromthisyoucanthendeterminenorthandsouth.
SIGNALINGANDRESCUEHACKS
BULLETCASINGWHISTLE
Using just an empty bullet casing, a file (or sharp corner of concrete), and abranch, you can make one of the best hack rescue whistles in the world. File agroove1⁄2"fromtheopeningofthebulletcasingasshownintheillustration.Besure the flat 90-degree portion is toward the open end. Next, carve off the topfifth of a branch that is the same diameter as the inside diameter of the bulletcasing. Cut this piece so that it is the exact length from the opening to the 90-degree, flat-filed edge and insert it into the end of the casing as shown. Thisbulletwillnowproduceapiercingwhistletosignalforrecue.
BUSTEDCELLPHONETOTHERESCUE
Let’s face it: A cell phone is about the best survival tool you can have—if it’sworking!Everyoneknowsthattechnologyfailsyouwhenyouneeditmost,andcell phones are no exception. Whether waterlogged or broken during a fall, abustedcellphonecouldstillhelpyousignalforrescue.Behindeverycellphonescreenareseverallayersofahighlyreflectivemirror-finishmaterialthatcanbeused to flash the sun’s rays in the direction of a rescue party. This works best ifyou adhere them side by side to bark or a flat rock, using sticky pine sap (wetmudwillworktemporarily).Increasingthesurfaceareaandnumberofreflectivesurfaces helps ensure a successful signaling attempt. The best method ofaccessingthesereflectivepiecesistocrushthephonewitharockfromtheside,whichwillsplitmostphonesinhalfwithlittleeffort.
GLOWSTICKBUZZSAW
Whenmostpeoplethinkofaglowsticknowadayswhatcomestomindarerollerrinks,sportingevents,orravedanceparties.AlthoughI’mnotabigfanofglowsticks for survival lighting, there is a hack way to use one that makes anexcellent (and really simple) rescue signal. Tie a 3' length of rope to one end ofthe glow stick and spin it as fast as you can in a circle facing the direction ofyour rescue party. At night, this will create a glowing orb, 6' in diameter, thatforms an effective visual rescue signal—a big out-of-place moving object. Arescue signal like this one can be seen for miles by a ship or plane. To learnmoreaboutthishack,visitwww.willowhavenoutdoor.com/general-survival/the-buzz-saw-nighttime-survival-signaling-technique.
REARVIEWRESCUE
I’ll never forget the story of a family lost and stuck in their car in the middle ofwinter on a snowy logging road. On several occasions, rescue planes flewoverheadbutthesnow-coveredcarcouldn’tbeseenonthethinroadinthedenseforest. Survival signal mirrors are a staple recue tool in almost every singlesurvivalkit.Thereflectionofthesun’sraysfromasignalmirrorcanbeseenformilesbyaplaneorboat.Eventhereflectionfromabrightmoonhasbeenknowntosavelives.Anymirrororreflectivesurfacewillworkjustfine.Asimplehack,ifstrandedinyourvehicle,istoyanktherearviewmirroroffthewindow(it’s
justgluedon)anduseittoreflectthesun.Vanitymirrorsonthevisorsalsoworkverywell.
HANSELANDGRETELSURVIVAL
Ifyou’reonthemove,markingyourpathoftravelhastwoadvantages.First,itallowsyoutoretraceyourstepsifnecessary.Second,itallowsarescuecrewtofollowyourroute.Agoodtrailmarkershouldincorporatethreeelements:
Itshouldappeartobemanmade.Trynottomakeamarkerthatcouldhappenatrandominnature.
Itshouldhavemovementifpossible.Stripsofmaterialhangingfrombranchesthatblowinthewindareaprimeexample.
Itshouldindicateyourdirectionoftravel.
Twotrailmarkerhacksincludeatubeoflipstickandanemergencysurvivalblanket.Youcanshaveawaythebarkoftreestothewhitecambiumlayeranddraw a lipstick arrow as a marker. An emergency survival blanket can bestripped into hundreds of 1" × 4" strips and hung from branches as glitteringsignsoftravel.
Chapter8
EverydayCarry(EDC)KitsonaBudget
EDCONABUDGETKIT#1
TheMentosContainerPocketKit
EDCONABUDGETKIT#2
TheM&M’sMinisContainerPocketStrawKit
EDCONABUDGETKIT#3
The$3Kit
EDCONABUDGETKIT#4
TheKeychainKit
EDCONABUDGETKIT#5
TheParacordBraceletKit
EDCONABUDGETKIT#6
TheShoeSoleKit
EDCONABUDGETKIT#7
TheCellPhoneBeltPouchKit
In general, survival hacking becomes necessary due to a lack of preparation,planning,orboth.Thereisnohackingsubstituteforpropergear,solidplans,andtestedknowledge.Oneofthebestwaystopreventhavingtohackyourwayout
ofasuddenandunexpectedsurvivalscenarioistocarrysometestedsurvivalgearonyourperson.Thisisknownasaneverydaycarry(EDC)kit.
Ataminimum,youshouldconsiderthecorefourcategoriesofsurvivalwhenbuildingapersonalEDCkit:
Shelter
Water
Fire
Food
Manysurvivalistsincludefirstaid,tools,andself-defenseascorecategoriesaswell.
AnEDCkitisnondescript,oftenfittinginpockets,onakeyring,inapurse,on a belt, or in a combination of places. Larger EDC kits can include fannypacksorevenbackpacks.
AnEDCkitcangetexpensiveifyouletit.Inkeepingwiththethemeofthisbook,I’vedecidedtodedicatethischaptertoEDConabudget.LookatitasthehackversionofanEDCkit.Following,Ioutline7differentkitstoillustratethatthere is no right or wrong EDC build. I hope these spark your own creativeideas,andyoucansharethosewithmeviae-mailatcreek@creekstewart.com.Whoknows,ImayaskifIcanfeatureyourideainalatereditionofthisbook!
EDCONABUDGETKIT#1
EDCONABUDGETKIT#1:THEMENTOSCONTAINER POCKETKIT
AsmentionedinAPerfectlyMintyLighterBoxhackinChapter3,anemptyMentosgumcontainermakesanexcellentdisposablelighterbox.Itookthisastepfurtherandturnedoneintoafull-onsurvivalpocketkit.
CONTAINER:EMPTYMENTOSGUMCONTAINER
At31⁄2"×11⁄2"×1",thiscontainerisrigid,nearlycrushproof,andwaterproof.Iteasily fits in a jacket pocket, glove box, or purse. It’s lightweight, durable,cheap, and can be opened with one hand. With the label left on, it’s alsodisguisedasacontainerofgumduringanunexpectedpocketdump.
CONTENTS
13'ducttape.Wrappedaroundtheoutsideofthecontaineris36"inchesof
ducttape.Thiscanbestrippedandusedascordageandalsomakesverygoodfiretinder.
2Rangerband.StretchedaroundtheoutsideofthecontainerisaRanger
band.ARangerbandissimplyacrosscutpieceofbicycleinnertube.Thiscanbeusedasweatherprooffiretinderortoholdadditionalitemstotheoutsideofthecontainer.
3MiniBicdisposablelighter.Thisisoneofthemostreliablefire-startingtoolsavailable.Itwillworkinnearlyeverysurvivalconditionexceptextreme
coldandveryhighaltitudes.Eventhenit’snotcompletelyuselessbecauseyoucanstillstrikesparksintotinderfromthestrikingwheel.
4Foldingrazorknife.Youcanusethislittle2"knifetoprocesscordage,cleanwildgame,gatherwildedibleplants,andcarvetrapsets.
5Smallspoolnylonthread.Thiswasgiventomebyafriendwhoworksatan
automotive manufacturing factory. This is the thread used to sew dashboardstogether.It’ssomeseriouslystrongstuffandfitsperfectlyintothekit.Itcanbeusedforfishinglineaswellasforshelterlashingsandguylines.
63fishinghooks.Sandwichedbetween2piecesofpackingtape,I’veincluded
3fishinghooksofdifferentsizes.Becomecomfortablewithsourcinglivebait,naturalbobbers,androcksinkers.Improvisedhooksareverydifficulttomakeandarenoteffective.
7Waterpurificationtablet.Stuffedinacrackis1waterpurificationtablet
capableofpurifying1literofwildwater.Thisissealedinawaterprooffoilcasingbythemanufacturer(Aquamira).
86"cottonwick.Icut16"lengthofcottonlampwickinhalftomake23"
sections.Theseoff-the-shelfcottonlampwicksmakeexcellentfiretinderwhenshredded. It will ignite with just sparks from a ferro rod or broken lighter. Ofcourse, it can also be used to make a crude slush lamp (see the Ladle SlushLamphackinChapter7).
9Sewingneedle.Thislargesewingneedlecanbeusedinconjunctionwiththestrongnylonthreadforgearorclothingrepairs.
10Grade#0000steelwool.Thisveryfinelyshreddedsteelwoolmakesan
incredible fire starter. Whether with a spark from a busted lighter or short-circuitedwithabattery,itburnsredhotandcanbeplacedintoatinderbundleandblownintoflame.
11Huntingarrowhead.Thissmall-orlarge-game-huntingarrowheadcanbe
usedasanarrowpoint,aspearpoint,orevenafrog/fishgig.Theedgesaresosharpthatitcanalsobeusedasaknifeifnecessary.
EDCONABUDGETKIT#2
EDCONABUDGETKIT#2:THEM&M’SMINISCONTAINERPOCKETSTRAWKIT
This kit is unique in that every item inside (except three) is contained withinsealed plastic straws. I’ve mentioned using candy tins in previous hacks (seeMakeupAisletoFireTinderandWallet-SizedFireSquares,bothinChapter3),but here I’ve taken it a step further and used straws to contain every survivalitemexceptforthewaterbag,magnifyinglens,andminiceramicknife.
CONTAINER:EMPTYM&M’SMINISCANDYCONTAINER
LiketheMentoscontainer,thisoneisrigid,nearlycrushproof,andwaterproof.Iteasily fits in a jacket pocket, glove box, or purse. It’s lightweight, durable,cheap,andcanbeopenedwithonehand.Itmeasures4"×1"indiameter.
CONTENTS
12firestraws.Theseareplasticstrawsfilledwithpetroleumjelly–soaked
cotton balls. The straws are then welded at the end by heating the plastic andthensqueezingwithapairofpliers.Theycanbecutopenandusedastinderandwillignitewitheventhesparkfromabrokenlighter.
2Fishingstraw.Thissealedstrawkitwasgiventomeasagiftandcontainsspiderwire,hooks,asinker,andevenalittlebobber.It’sthemostcompactlittle
fishingkitI’veeverseenandfitsperfectlyinthiskit.
3 Mini ceramic knife blade. This mini ceramic knife blade is rust-andcorrosion-resistantandcanbeusedforavarietyofsmallsurvivalcuttingchores.
43matchstraws.Threesealedstrawcontainerswith1matcheach.Ihavegluedamatch-strikingsurfacetotheundersideofthecontainerlid.
5Waterpurifierstraws.Twostrawswith21-literwaterpurificationtabletseach.
61-literwaterbag.Thiswaterbagcanbeusedinconjunctionwiththewaterpurificationtabletstosourceandpurifyfreshdrinkingwater.
7Fresnellens.Eventhoughmatchesareincludedinthiskit,aplasticFresnel
magnifyinglensslidesperfectlyalongtheinsidewallofthisplasticcontainer.Ittakes up hardly any space and makes an excellent fire-starting tool on sunnydays.
8Seasoningsstraw.Onestrawfilledwithamixofsaltandpepper.Everywildmealtastesbetterwithsaltandpepper.
9Bouillonstraw.Onestrawfilledwithacrushedchickenbouilloncubeto
makeawildstew,whichcanalsobepreparedinthe1-literwaterbag.Youcaneven hang the water-filled plastic bag over a fire and heat it (even boil in it ifyou’recareful).
EDCONABUDGETKIT#3
EDCONABUDGETKIT#3:THE$3KIT
ThisisabouttheleastexpensiveEDCsurvivalkityoucanmake.Itusesseveralrepurposedpiecesinordertosavemoney.
CONTAINER:1-QUARTRESEALABLEFREEZERBAG
Onequartequalsalmostexactly1liter(.94).Thisbagisplentylargetocontainavariety of survival necessities. Even when stuffed with the following items iteasilyfitsinajacketpocket,briefcase,orvehicleglovebox.
CONTENTS
1Papermatches.Youcanstillgetpapermatchesforfreeatfairs,festivals,
andmanyrestaurants.Althoughtheyaren’tmytopchoiceforafire-startingtool,theyworkfineaslongasyoukeepthemdry.
2HotHandsHandWarmers.Notonlycanoneoftheselittlechemically
activatedhandwarmershelpkeepyouwarminacold-weatherenvironment,butitcanalsobeusedtodryoutwetmatchesinapinch(seetheSalvationforWetMatcheshackinChapter3).
3Half-usedspoolofdentalfloss.Toreducebulk,aspoolofdentalflosswasremovedfromtheplastichousing.Dentalflosshasabreakingstrengthofaround
25poundsandcanbeusedasfishingline,gearrepairthread,orevenaslashingcordageforcampcraftandshelters.
42alcoholpreppads.AsmentionedintheWallet-SizedFireSquareshackin
Chapter3,theselittlealcoholpreppadsmakegreatfirestarters.Theycouldalsobeusedtosanitizeminorcutsandscrapes.
1EmergenCpacket.Thisdrinkmixpacketispackedwithvitaminsand
minerals—allofwhichhelpkeepyouhealthyinasurvivalscenario.Itcanalsobeusedtoflavornasty-tastingwildwaterafterit’sbeenfilteredorpurified.
6BBQwetwipes.AsmentionedintheBBQSpitBathhackinChapter5,you
cantakeanentirespitbathwith2wetwipes.IgrabbedacoupleextraduringmylastvisittoBuffaloWildWings.
7Emergencysurvivalblanket.Thisisthemostexpensiveiteminthekitat
approximately $1. It is a multipurpose item and can be used for a variety ofsurvival functions. It makes a suitable shelter canopy but serves best as a firereflector when attached to the inside back wall of a lean-to. Because it reflects80percentofradiantheat,youcanwrapupinittoconserveandreusebodyheat.Followingisalistofotheruses:
Ground-to-air rescue signalParaboliclensforfirestartingPoncho
Waterproofgearcover
Emergencyfiretinder.Yes,itburnslikecrazy.
Cordage.Ioncereverse-wrappedstrippedpiecesofemergencyblankettoholdtheweightofa200-poundadultmale.
8Repurposedsmallloafbakingtin.Nexttimeyou’reatyourgrandma’sforThanksgivingdinner,snagoneofthesmallaluminumfoilbananaloaftins
beforeitgetsthrowninthetrash.Theycanbefoldedflatandmakeagreatcontainerforboiling(purifying)water,fryingmeats,ormakingstewsinthewild.Evenbrandnewyoucanbuy3foracoupledollars.Besidesasheetofaluminumfoil,thesearethemostcompactmetalcontainersI’veeverseen.
9Homemadeenergybars.Youcanmakesomereallycheaphomemadeenergybarswith4simpleingredientsthatworkperfectlyforEDCkits.Mixthe
following together and smash into the bottom of a small baking pan: 3⁄4 cuprolled oats, 1 cup small chopped dried fruits, 1⁄3 cup peanut butter, and 1⁄4 cuphoney. Once in the pan, freeze until solid enough to cut into small bar shapes. Ipackage mine in sandwich bags. They only store at room temp for a few days,but I recommend eating them before that anyway. I make mine on Sunday andkeeptheminmyEDCbackpacktoeatthroughouttheweek.Ifyoudon’twanttospendthetimemakingthese,youcanbuyCLIFBars,buttheywillblowyour$3kitbudget.
10Hacksawknife.Agreatlittleknifecanberepurposedfromanold
hacksaw blade. First, break, saw, or cut the blade in half. Then, using a file,sharpenthebackedge(oppositethesawside)untilsharp.Lastly,wrapahandlewithducttape.Apieceofcardboardmakesasuitablesheathforstorage.You’llbesurprisedatwhatthis“free”knifecando!Ofcourse,thebackisasmallwoodandmetalsawtoo.
EDCONABUDGETKIT#4
EDCONABUDGETKIT#4:THEKEYCHAINKIT
This is a kit for the person who truly loves micro kits. It doesn’t get muchsmaller than a survival kit on a keychain. With this kit, every ounce andcentimetercounts.Lookatthiskitastheultralightbackpacker’sversionofasurvivalkit.
CONTAINER:CARABINER+PILLCONTAINER+
ACCESSORIES
Thiskitisdesignedtogoonyourkeyringandissmallenoughtobeclippedonabeltlooportuckedinapocket.Becauseofaddedbulk,I’vefounditeasiertouse a climbing carabiner and clip it right on a belt. This also prevents it frombeinglost,stolen,orsnaggedoffbyaroguebranch.Thekeychainpillcontainercanbepurchasedforjustafewbucksatanylocalpharmacy.Theyaredesignedto carry medication but are perfect for a variety of small water-sensitivematerials, including water purification tablets. They come in a huge variety ofcolors(bothplasticandmetal)andareverydurable.
CONTENTS
1Keychainpillcapsule.Ikeep2itemsinthiswaterproofcapsule.First,a
package of 2 Aquamira water purification tablets capable of purifying up to 1liter of water each. Second, 2 Baddest Bee Fire Fuses. These are cotton firestartersinfusedwithnaturalbeeswax.Theycanbetornapartandlitwithjustthesparkfromaferrorodorbrokenlighter(seenextitem).
2Brokenlighterstriker.Agreatlittlekeychainsparkstrikercanbemadefromabrokenoremptydisposablecigarettelighter.Adefunctlightermakesa
goodlittlestriker.Withtherighttinderyoucangetafire10timesoutof10.Theempty lighter on this keychain has been modified so it’s not only a striker butalso a container for wax-infused cotton fire starters. Follow the photo series tomakeyourown.ARangerbandhasbeenusedtoprotectthestrikingwheelandalsocoverthebottomandholdinthetinder.
3Swiss+Techkeychainmultitool.Swiss+Techhasdoneafantasticjobof
establishingthemselvesasakeychainmultitoolcompany.Theymakegreatlittletoolsataffordableprices.TheoneIincludedinthiskitcostsonly$5.Itincludespliers,wirecutter,wirestripper,sheetshear,flatheadscrewdriver,andaPhillipsscrewdriver.
4Paracord-wrappedfishingkit.Thisminiparacord-wrappedkitincludes
fishingline,hooks,sinkers,swivels,bobbers,miniknife,cottonfiretinder,andaferro rod. Similar kits are very easy to make at home. The weave used for theparacordiscalledthecobraweave.IfyousearchitonYouTube,thereareplentyofinstructionalvideos.
5Paracordmonkey’sfist.Youcanneverhaveenough7-strandparacord.
Thiswovenkeychaincontainsabout6'ofadditionalparacord.Inparacordlanguage,that’s6'×8strands,whichequals48'ofusablecordage.
6LEDkeychainlight.Thesesmall,lightweightLEDflashlightsarethe
perfectadditiontokeychainsurvivalkits.It’samazinghowmuchlighttheselittleguysthrowout.
EDCONABUDGETKIT#5
EDCONABUDGETKIT#5:THEPARACORDBRACELET KIT
Ihaveseenmanyparacordbraceletsurvivalkitsovertheyears,andIamconstantlyamazedathowmanyresourcescanbepackedintothem.
CONTAINER:WOVENPARACORDBRACELET
Allofthetoolsandresourcesinthiskitareeitherwoveninsideorattachedtotheexteriorofastandardparacordsurvivalbracelet.Similartotheparacordfishingkit mentioned in the Keychain Kit in this chapter, most paracord bracelets arewovenusingthecobraweave.
CONTENTS
1Paracord.Theaverageparacordbracelethas8'–10'of7-strandparacord.
The outer sheath plus the 7 inner strands totals 64'–80' of survival cordage,whichcanbeusedforallkindsofsurvivalfunctionsfromfishinglineandsnaresetstoshelterlashingsandgearrepairs.
2Ferrorodwithstriker.Thebuckleofthisbraceletincludesasmallferrorodandstriker,whichcanbeusedtostartafireineventheworstenvironments.
3Whistle.Thebuckleofthisbraceletalsoincorporatesawhistle,whichcanbeusedasasignalingtool.
4P-38.Thisisasmallmilitarycanopener.Openingcansoffoodwithoutacan
openerisn’taseasyasyoumightimagine.Thisisattachedtotheoutsideofthebracelet,usingRangerbands.
2Rangerbands.Rangerbandsarecrosscutsectionsofbicycleinnertube.
TheseareusedonthisbracelettoattachtheP-38canopener.Thesecanalsobeused as a fire starter. Inner tube rubber burns very well when started with anopenflame.Itwillnotignitewithsparks.
6Snarewire.Woveninsidethebraceletis18"ofsnarewire.Thiscanbeusedtomakeasmall-gamesnare.
7Wax-coatedjutetwine.Woveninsidethebraceletare26"strandsofwax-
coatedjutetwine.Jutetwineisanamazingplant-fiberfirestarter.Thewaxcoatinghelpswaterproofitandalsomakesitburnlongerandstronger.
8Needle.Woveninsidethebraceletisalargesailneedle.Thisismainlyfor
gear repair and can be hacked and used as an awl as shown in the ImprovisedNeedleAwlhackinChapter6.Usewiththeinnerstrandsofparacordasthread.
9Bandages.Twosmallbandagesarewoveninsideofthebracelet.Thesecanbeusedforminorfirst-aidemergencies.
10Waterpurificationtablets.Woveninsidethebraceletare2water
purificationtablets.Thesecanbeusedwithscavengedcontainerstochemicallypurifywildwater.
112knifeblades.Woveninsidethebraceletare2smallhobbyknifeblades.
Thesecanbeusedforsmallcarving/cuttingtasksbutalsomakesuitablesmall-gamearrowheads.
123fishhooks.Woveninsidethebraceletare3different-sizedfishhooks.
Thesecanbeusedinconjunctionwiththeparacordinnerstrandstocatchfish,turtles,birds,orsmallgame.Note:Insurvival,fishhooksaren’tjustforfish.
132zipties.Ziptieshaveallkindsofuses.Fromgearrepairstosurvival
trapping,they’rejusttoolightweightandlowprofilenottoincludeinaparacordbraceletweavingproject.
EDCONABUDGETKIT#6
EDCONABUDGETKIT#6:THESHOESOLEKIT
Thisisanotherminimalistcollectionofitems,withthecaveatthateverythinghastobeflatenoughtofitunderthesolesofapairofhikingboots.
CONTAINER:SHOES—UNDER-THE-SOLEINSERTS
Inmyexperience,thesoleinsertsofmosthikingbootsarethickenoughtomaskall of the items listed below. In fact, I’ve had most of them in my shoes for thepast several years and often forget they’re there. Every item in this kit must becompletely(orreallycloseto)flat.
CONTENTS
16'fishingline.Itooka6"×2"pieceofducttapeandmeticulouslycurled6'
offishinglineinaspiralpatternonthestickyside.ThenIappliedthistotheundersideofmyshoesole.Thiskeepsthelineinplace,andIalsohave6"ofducttape,whichhasmanysurvivalusesonitsown.
2Fresnellens.Thispaper-thinmagnifyingcardcanbeusedtocreateasolar
emberthatcanbeplacedintoatinderbundleandblownintoflame.Theseareavailableforjustacouplebucksatanypharmacy.Here’savideoofme
demonstratinghowtouseone:www.willowhavenoutdoor.com/punky-wood-video.
3Fishhooks.Similartothefishingline,Iduct-taped3different-sizedfishing
hookstothebottomofmyshoesole.Thiskeepstheminplace,andyou’llneverevenknowthey’rethere.
4$20.Youjustneverknowwhenyoumightneedafewextrabucks.
5Razorblade.Again,therazorbladeisduct-tapedtothebottomoftheshoe
sole. This prevents it from moving. Leave the cardboard sleeve on for addedprotection, both for the blade and for your shoe. The blade can be used for avarietyofsmall-scalesurvivalcuttingfunctions,fromtrimmingfishinglinetocleaningsmallgameandevencarvingsmalltraporfirekits.
62waterpurificationtablets.Averythin,prepackagedenvelopeof2water
purificationtabletscanbeeasilytapedtothebottomofyourshoesolewithnoissuesatall.Thepackagingissealed,whichpreventsmoisturedamage.
EDCONABUDGETKIT#7
EDCONABUDGETKIT#7:THECELLPHONEBELT POUCH KIT
Inaworldwhereeveryonehasacellphone,averynondescriptsurvivalkitcaneasily be disguised. When people see a cell phone pouch, they automaticallyassumethatacellphoneisinside.Thiswillbeourlittlesecret.
CONTAINER:ANYKINDOFCELLPHONEBELTPOUCH
Cellphonebeltpouchescomeinaninfinitenumberofshapesandsizes.Theyalsomaketheperfectcontainerforasmalltravel-sizedsurvivalkit.
CONTENTS
150"ducttape.Imeticulouslyrolled50"ofducttapeintoasmall2"×3⁄4"log.Thesurvivalapplicationsareendless.
2Slingshotbands.Asetofsmall-game-huntingslingshotbandsavailableforjustafewbucksatalmostalloutdoorsportsretailersareincludedinthiskit.
From squirrels and rabbits to pigeons and rats, the slingshot will always be oneofmyfavoritesurvivalsmall-game-huntingtools.Anaturaltreeforkandsmoothrockscanbeusedtocompletetheensemble.
3UrsaMajorEssentialFaceWipe.ThiswetwipebyUrsaMajorwasgiven
tomebyafriendandmakesaperfecthygieneadditiontoatravel-beltkit.Useittowashhands,takeaspitbath,orcleangear.
4Whistle.Awhistletravelsfarther,islouder,andrequireslessenergythanusingyourvoicetosignalforrescue.
5Nonlubricatedcondom.Youcanfillthiswith1literofdrinkingwater.Use
itinconjunctionwithwaterpurificationtablets(mentionednext)topurifywildwater.Itcanalsobefilledwithwater,formedintoasphere,andusedtomagnifythesun’sraystostartafire.
62waterpurificationtablets.Eachtabletisgoodfor1literofwater.Thesecanbeusedwiththecondomtopurifywater.
7Forevermatch.Thisforevermatchisfueledwithlighterfluid,butevenifthatrunsoutyoucanusetheminiferrorodstrikertostartafireindrytinder.
8Safetypin.Safetypinsaregreatforavarietyofgearrepairsinthefield.
9Cottontampon.Aplastic-wrapped,organiccottontamponmakestheperfectcompactsupplyoffiretinder.
10Dogtagsignalmirror.Thisminisignalmirrorcanbeusedtoreflectthesun’sraysandsignalforrescueifnecessary.
11Foldingknife.Acellphonecaseislargeenoughtosupportanice-sized
foldingknifethathasaninfinitenumberofusesforeverydaytasksorsurvivalfunctions.
Conclusion
These7hackkitsjustscratchthesurfaceofwhatispossibleintherealmofEDCsurvivalkithacking.Yourimaginationisyouronlylimit.Iamamazedeverydayat the creative survival solutions and ideas that I see from friends, students,survival enthusiasts, and fellow instructors. It confirms what I’ve been sayingthe past 20 years—Innovation is the most important survival skill! May yourskillsbesolidandyourhacksbemany.
Remember,it’snotifbutwhen.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank my Father in heaven for loving me despite my flaws and forforgiving me when I fail him and others. I deserve neither. I’d like to thank thecountlessindividualswhohavesupportedmycareerintheself-relianceindustryby training with me at willowhavenoutdoor.com and escapethewoods.com,purchasingmybooks,orderingfromnotifbutwhensurvivalstore.com,subscribingto myapocabox.com, and watching Fat Guys in the Woods on the WeatherChannel. If you are one of these individuals, my sincerest thank you. I’d alsoliketothanktheBoyScoutsofAmericaforteachingmeearlyinlifethataScoutis trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful,thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. I will continue to aspire to be all of thesethings;“aspire”beingthekeywordinthissentence.
©wildozAdv2021
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