13' Lucky for some?

This post might actually be about survival!

This week it is the 13th September 2013 on Friday. 

Things keep appearing to relate to '13', for instance:

• I watched a documentary about kids filmed just before they turned 13.

• I looked at the clock yesterday and it read 13:31, the same backwards in a palindrome kind of fashion. 

• My hotel room number this week is 13.

I'm not that superstitious but this has got me a bit scared, should I do the Lottery?, dig an air raid shelter?, drive the family up into the mountains?, or even just simply stay in bed all day on Friday the 13th?!

The one and only saving grace is that my Wife's lucky number is 13, the day in which she entered this lovely planet of ours :), oh, just to add, my favourite metal band's 13th album is called THIRTEEN...

Compact survival kit.

When looking for kit to take with you for a trek or a weekend in the woods, I think the main things to consider are the size, weight and efficiency of the kit you are using. I have been looking around for a small survival kit for some time and have purchased one which was very cost effective, lightweight, doesn't take up much room at all and has a good deal of items contained including;

 

1. Adhesive bandages
 

2. Button compass
 

3. Candle
 

4. Cotton wool
 

5. Dressing
 

6. Salt Sachet
 

7. Snare wire
 

8. Vinyl tape
 

9. Sewing kit
 

10. Zip lock water bag carrier
 

11. Fishing hook
 

12. Flint and steel fire lighter
 

13. Whistle ( containing emergency details)
 

14. Mirror
 

15. Small multi tool
 

16. Pencil
 

17. Razor blade
 

18. Safety pins
 

19. Wire saw
 

All contained in a vacuum sealed aluminium tin.

 I may not need to use all the items, i.e the sewing kit, but you never know. There are some very useful items contained within, some of which I will demonstrate the use of.

 

This kit obviously doesn't contain everything you will need, i.e hand sanitizer, bug spray, sun cream etc. It will however go a long way in helping you to have all of the right kit which will fit into the side pocket of your bag.

Basic Shelter.

When finding a nice spot to take/ make a shelter you have to take into consideration a number of thought processes. At it's most basic, you can erect a tarpaulin (if you have one) between two trees and sleep/rest underneath to keep dry and warm enough perhaps only in the space of April to September in this country. 

The first thing to consider when choosing two trees to tie the tarp to is to look up, to make sure no branches can fall and impale you while you're sleeping. Then you look at the ground to see if it's flat and there are no game trails or ants nests where your head is going to be :). In our country, our weather systems and wind come from a south westerly direction. So your tarp wants to be at least within a 45 degree angle with the back facing toward the wind. Erect the tarp at a nice angle and the wind should flow right over it and the rain slide down it. 
 

I think that if you have a tarp then it can be used as a quick fix resting spot in the right conditions. I will be using, investigating and making alternative types of shelter and writing on blog about the processes used for each one.
 

     Here's one I made earlier.. :)
 

 

Flat ground and good canopy above made this possible.
 

 

I utilised this axe bench as a bit of protection which also doubled up as a hanger :)

Back to Basics

Now, I have been going off on a tangent writing about spoons and sticks so we are going to go back to basics.

In principal, survival will consist of finding or making shelter, making fire, finding and purifying water and getting food. Clothing, tools, any equipment and any sort of training will help you in most situations. Obviously the location, weather conditions and state of health will all come into play in varied situations, i.e, if you find yourself in a desert, finding water will not help if you have no shelter to retain bodily fluids.
 

I was told to remember 'The Rule Of Threes'.
 

• In the first three hours, you need shelter.
• In the first three days, you need water.
• In the first three weeks, you need food.

Fire will come to play in and around these  principles. Fire keeps you warm, keeps insects at bay, heats your water and cooks your food. Not to mention, be a signal from the smoke it creates if you find yourself to be stranded on a desert island ( laughs uncontrollably ).

At it's most basic, Survival means;
 

To satisfy the human body's requirements for life.

If you are in a survival predicament, conserving your energy is most important. There is no point in taking on a strenuous task of building a shelter when there is a nice warm cave nearby.( providing there are no bears around). :)
 

In the coming weeks, I will be taking time to take on some of these tasks, implementing my existing knowledge and learning new tricks along the way :).
 

Enjoy, I know I will ..