Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2019 i American Outdoor Guide

World Gone Silent, founded by Chandler Friedman and based in Los Angeles, specializes in emergency communications. Every kit includes an expertly written instruction booklet to create an easy-to-use, rapidly deployable solution for most any emergency communications scenario. Chandler also assists individuals in developing customized communications plans. Chandler, W2NP, is Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) certified and has been involved with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) in Los Angeles. Before moving to the West Coast, he was the emergency coordinator for ARES in Atlanta. The knowledge and experience he has gained by being an active member in emergency communications means he knows what works and what doesn’t during a disaster. Whether you are just starting out, or wishing to add a new layer of capabilities, WGS has the gear and…

After several major world events in the last few decades, it seems like more people are becoming aware of the need for a survival plan. Hurricanes, tsunamis, fires, and even civil unrest all remain likely possibilities in nearly every part of the world. However, urban environments offer unique and daunting challenges when it comes to survival. The idea of being trapped is not something that anyone enjoys thinking about. However, catastrophic disasters can trap even the best-prepared person in a hostile and treacherous environment. Anyone could devote years preparing the perfect bug-out plan only to squeeze everything in their car and get trapped in never-ending traffic after an earthquake. Bugging out is not always a possibility. DANGERS OF AN URBAN CLIMATE Cities experience a unique set of issues that make…

The story goes that there were two cousins, a town mouse and a country mouse. The details change with the telling but essentially the town mouse goes to visit his rural cousin and finds the lifestyle there isn’t to his liking. He doesn’t much care for the food and the quiet, Spartan existence. He implores his country cousin to come with him to the city. His country counterpart soon comes to visit and, wouldn’t you know it, he finds that the fast-paced urban environment isn’t for him. Far too much going on that could lead to his demise and he prefers his simpler existence. The fable’s moral is usually said to be that it is better to be poor but secure than rich but living in fear. However, there’s another…

Name: Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) Stinging nettle is a member of the Nettle family, which includes about 700 species found worldwide. The genus Urtica has 45 members, and most are very similar to the stinging nettle described here. Description This annual plant typically arises in the spring after the rains and as the snow thaws. It produces a single stalk that can reach up to several feet tall. The leaves are oblong with toothed margins and taper to a point. The entire plant, leaves and stalk, are covered with hairs that will cause a stinging irritation if you brush up against them. The tops of the leaves have a shiny appearance. Areas Found Though this European native does best around wet and riparian areas, it can be commonly…

Never have there been more options for the wide variety of high-quality outdoor and survival gear. With new companies forming to address gaps in the market and established companies innovating new products, it is nearly impossible to keep up to date with everything that is available. Fortunately, we here at American Survival Guide are always on the lookout for interesting, useful, high-quality products, and this group includes some new items that meet all of those criteria. We hope that you will find something useful. 1 Outdoor Vitals Dominion 1P Ultralight Tent Outdoor Vitals is no stranger to innovation, and they constantly try to push the boundaries by creating unique products using premium materials and bringing them direct to the consumer. The new Dominion 1 one-person tent takes the design…

As preppers, when considering a scenario where all hell has broken loose and life at home as we have known it is over, we all have some sort of plan to bug out to a safer location. This is one of the fundamental tenets of anyone who considers themselves to be a prepper. If you really think about it, the spectrum of types of preppers is small unless you are looking at it from the perspective of “why” they are prepping. Other than the threats being prepared for, preppers have far more in common than not. The fact is, the “why” really isn’t very important in the large view. Sure, if the scenario involves things such as nuclear radiation or war, for example, there will be certain special precautions and…

Amateur radio (ham) operators have many modes of operation available to them: voice is the most common, followed by several digital types that encode voice and data, and finally Morse code. They just need the right gear to match the mode. Hams generally are restricted to conversing only with other licensed operators on amateur frequencies. This can present a problem when you need to communicate with family or group members who are not licensed or don’t have access to their radio and, due to the situation, all you have available is your amateur radio. Although FCC regulations prohibit non-licensed persons from transmitting on amateur frequencies (except in life-or-death emergencies), reaching those you need using ham radio is as easy as sending an email. Hams have been sending and receiving email…

If popular culture had any truth to it, you might think that there was no fate worse than that of being “stranded” on an isolated island or remote coastal shoreline. Well, contrary to popular belief, anyplace where the ocean and land make contact in this world, with the possible exception of resort areas, tends to be teeming with life and natural resources; making them an ideal location to find everything that you could possibly need to stay alive, so long as you know where to find it. FOOD In most of the coastal areas on Earth, food should be abundant and readily available to catch or forage so long as you know where to look and what to look for. Fish, crustaceans, and a plethora of other plant and animal…

Smith’s has been a trusted name in the sharpening business since 1886. Throughout their history, they’ve been focused on a single mission: provide customers with the best value in easy-to-use, effective sharpening and specialty tool products. Smith’s continued focus on this mission has led them to be one of the leaders in the manufacture and distribution of manual sharpening products. I frequently visit with Smith’s at trade shows whenever I can get to them. They always seem to set the tone among their peers, mixing sharpening tools with survival implements. Their iconic Pocket Pal and Pocket Pal X2 have, in my opinion, changed the game for those who carry a variety of knives and want to keep them sharp with one sharpener. Sticking with their tradition of being responsive to…

Survival expert, check! Primitive skills instructor, check! Rock climber and triathlete, check! These are all true statements without a doubt, but what truly exemplifies Matt Graham as “exceptional” is his ability to make even the most difficult challenges when deep within the wild appear as a Sunday stroll through a neighborhood park. While some outdoorsmen perceive their time out in nature as a challenge or a virtual “Mother Nature against me,” Matt’s philosophy is quite different. Since a very young age, he has developed a bond—or even more accurately, a relationship—with the outdoors that few people can emulate, let alone, fully understand. Matt’s unique approach to surviving in diverse environments originates from his love of primitive skills, ancient weaponmaking and proficiency, and his ability to use little or no modern…

“WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING A KNIFE THAT MIGHT HAVE TO HANDLE CRITICAL SURVIVAL TASKS BEYOND SIMPLE, EVERYDAY CUTTING CHORES, THE LIMITS ARE DEFINED BY WHAT YOU’RE WILLING TO CARRY.” How strong is too strong? How tough is too tough? How capable is too capable? When it comes to choosing a knife that might have to handle critical survival tasks beyond simple, everyday cutting chores, the limits are defined by what you’re willing to carry. Many of us opt for a folding knife for everyday carry as a matter of convenience. But we don’t want to give up too much in the way of performance. The GTI Delta Lock Folder is a knife with a wide, thick blade paired with an innovative, super-strong locking system. It’s a strong, tough, capable…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) cites the total length of the U.S. shoreline as 95,471 miles. Of the 23 states that have ocean coastlines, there are more than 15 with coastlines exceeding 1,000 miles. Options increase and travel times dramatically decrease if the coasts of the eight states that border the Great Lakes are included. With almost half of the states in the U.S. bordering the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico, bugging out to one of America’s coastal regions, before bad situations seriously impede travel, is never more than a few days’ drive.…

• Amount of time needed to conduct test: About 25 hours • Prior to conducting this test, abstain from eating any food for at least 8 hours. • Divide the plant into like parts. - Leaves - Stems - Roots - Buds - Flowers • You MUST only test one part at a time, and the results of the test will only apply to the part of the plant that you tested. • If the sample passes a test step, move on to the next. 1. SMELL Smell the potential food source. If you notice a strong, foul or acidic odor, discontinue the test and assume the item to be unsafe for humans. 2. FEEL Place the potential food item on a sensitive area of your skin, such as the…

Bushcraft. For me, the word conjures images of Ray Mears setting up camp in the forests of England, on the lake shores of Canada or along the fjords of Norway. I see visions of canoes laden with canvas packs and an elaborately built bush camp, with axes and knives shimmering in the light of a campfire. I can almost smell the wood smoke as I type these words... The word bushcraft has become heavily romanticized and is often associated with expensive gear and skills that can, to some, seem mystical and, to many, seem unattainable. However, bushcraft is not about expensive gear or exotic locations. Bushcraft is using and making tools to create the things needed to live comfortably in a natural environment. Knowledge is the most important thing to…