I figured I’d stir the pot a bit today since it’s Friday and I’ve got most of my “honey do” list done for the week. Plus, I haven’t been freeze-drying anything either with the garden having wound down weeks ago (we also had a hail storm devastate the area) so here goes nothing…
What got me to thinking about this topic was a video I watched recently, titled, Bugging Out to Nowhere: A SHTF Fantasy. And I thought, “Yeah, I agree completely!” If you’d like to watch the video, it’s below. Just be aware that there’s a bit more cursing than I’d prefer, but it is what it is.
Assuming you watched the video, the man essentially outlines a few reasons why attempting to bug out into the wilderness for an extended period of time is going to end badly. I’ll share my thoughts below.
Personally, I believe that nearly everyone who thinks they can survive for months on end with only what they have on their back or can source from the wild is delusional. Granted, I’m neither suggesting that you shouldn’t have a plan for bugging out during times of crisis–I did write a book the topic–nor am I saying that bugging out into the wilderness is impossible. It’s just not a realistic long-term plan. A week or two? Yeah, sure. Why not. But months? Highly unlikely.
The problems are many, but one of the first concerns he brings up are the need to survive off the land at some point; I’d say that’s fairly soon given very limited supplies in your bag. To be sure, I’m no wilderness expert. I don’t hunt or forage, and I rarely fish. For those who do, you’ll certainly have a better chance than me, but I do wonder just how much success you’ll have when survival truly matters. That is, you’re not merely taking a week off work to go hunting with your buddies in a backwoods cabin. If you bag something in that situation, then great. But what if you don’t when your life is on the line? After all, it doesn’t take long for the body to shut down (or at least revolt) without food. Try watching Survivorman and see how he does after a week of not eating.
As an example, my son occasionally watches the television show Alone. For the uninitiated, ten people try to survive in some wilderness location by themselves for as long as possible with almost nothing. They have to find find food, build shelter, and otherwise try not to die due to the elements or bears or whatever. Whoever is the last one standing wins a lot of money. Most folks, from what I gather, don’t last more than a month or two, with only a few making it multiple months. Realize that these are people who are supposed to know what they’re doing! And if they’re so-called survival experts, then what chance does the average person have?
The next major point he discusses is actually getting to somewhere truly remote, which could be next to impossible in certain scenarios. I’d say this problem shouldn’t be overlooked because, unless you can get to your chosen destination by vehicle, you’re probably not going to be able to walk far enough to get away from other people (which is the entire point of a remote bug out) that you won’t encounter somebody at some point. And if it won’t be terribly difficult to get away from others right from the start, then odds are good that you already live well away from trouble. For the rest of us, any “remote” but out will likely be closer to people than we’d prefer.
Back to food. He spends three or four minutes discussing the topic around the six minute mark, and I suggest you take the time to listen to his arguments. Basically, we humans just don’t understand how many calories we need to not only survive, but to function properly. Sure, you can look up charts, do math, multiply by a certain factor because you expect to be busier than normal…none of that matters when you’re starting with almost nothing and trying to find enough food to function for months on end. There’s a good reason why we’ve grown accustomed to calorie-dense foods; and that’s to say nothing of our ability to store such foods for the long-term, including canning, smoking, refrigeration, and so on. In short, acquiring enough food for you (not to mention others who may be with you) strictly from the wilderness on a routine basis is going to be nearly impossible.
He then discusses all of the extra necessary and purportedly non-critical items you may need or want, such as medical supplies, batteries, water filters, spare clothing, hygiene supplies, backup gear, and so on. The list can be truly endless here, but the point is that even the non-critical items, whatever you decide those are, may become truly useful, or at least very welcome, as time goes on. And even if you were able to stockpile these items in a bug out vehicle, there’s only so much room; you will run out at some point. (Yes, you could run out of these items at home as well, but you can probably store a lot more of such supplies in your home than a vehicle.)
He then ends the video discussing how tight survival margins are in such a scenario. But I think it’s important to discuss just how taxing dependents can and will be. This might be children, the elderly, somebody with a chronic health condition, or really anyone who isn’t a fit and healthy twenty to thirty year old capable male with Navy Seal-like skills. And that’s to say nothing about major injuries that may befall even these people, like a broken bone, that will surely hinder their usefulness for months. Really, it’s a mess out there for most of us!
Ultimately, the point in bringing all of this up is my way of grounding you if you’re still contemplating such a move when times get dire. Like I said, I’d say you’re delusional if you expect to survive for months on end in the middle of nowhere. Yes, it’s possible, but not probable.
This is why, I believe, it’s crucial to be prepared as best as you can where you live now. Sure, a well-stocked bug out retreat is great, and I recommend that, too, but most of your gear and supplies are probably at home. The people you trust and love are there. You know the area. You, I assume, know who belongs and who doesn’t. You understand local nuances and culture. It’s your home. Granted, if your home is currently a major city center, then I strongly recommend bugging out…just not to the middle of nowhere with nothing but a bag on your back. 🙂
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