Few things could be more frightening to a parent than to look around and discover their child is missing in the wilderness. This book, “Jace Gets Lost, Jace Gets Found” can help you train your child so this doesn’t happen.

by Leon Pantenburg

Though warmly dressed, this youngster would be hard to find, and is ill-prepared for being in the winter woods.

I lived that “lost child in the wilderness” scenario briefly many years ago when my toddler son wandered off from our backpacking camp. We were in the backcountry of Idaho, it was in the days before cell phones, and the situation was terrifying! (To read the complete story, click here.)

Subsequently, I am always on the lookout for books and publications designed to educate kids and parents on what to do in these situations. Judging from the number of requests  from readers about this subject, I’m not alone.

Recently, I read “Jace Gets Lost, Jace Gets Found” by Gaye Grabill, and I think this book can be a tremendous training tool for parents and children who venture off the pavement and into the wilderness  together.

Grabill is a volunteer with the  North Oregon Search and Rescue, based in Clackamas, OR.  According to Craig McClure, president of the NOSAR, the biggest factor in finding a lost person depends on what they do in those first few hours after they realize they are lost.

Generally, the rule of thumb for a lost person is to stay put, and wait to be rescued. But how can you convey that philosophy to a small child? How do you teach your child how to differentiate between SAR members, and other strangers? Aren’t there some “stranger danger” rules that can be confusing to a lost, frightened child?

Probably the best idea is to work on the child’s training long before you leave the trailhead. The text for “Jace Gets Lost” is written at a kindergarten to second grade level, with simple phrasing and terms that a youngster in that age group can understand.

Expertly photographed by Brenda Somes, the book has page-size photographs on the left-hand side of the book. On the right is the text. Clearly, this book was designed to be read aloud, with the photos displayed at the end of each page, or as questions arise.

The story starts with Jace, age about seven, wandering off from his house. Soon he is lost, but Jace knows what to do. He stays put, builds a nest near the base of a tree and rescue dog Koen finds him. The story has a happy ending, with Jace reunited with his parents.

While kids will be captivated with the narration, they will also learn some important survival techniques. Most importantly, they need to learn and understand why they should stay in one location. Then, they need to know what the SAR people look like, and that a search dog may sound big and have bright eyes that glow in the darkness.

If these simple things can be taught, then a child has a much better chance of  being found quickly.

This would be a great book to sit around the campfire with, reading to a group of small children and showing the pictures. At the end of the book, questions should be a natural.

If you take youngsters into the wilderness, they should be trained on staying put and getting found. This book can be a very useful tool for that.

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Whenever I have a land navigation question, I ask expert Blake Miller of OutdoorQuest. A common question when it comes to GPS systems is which is the best choice for the individual and which receiver is the best.

Here is a post from Blake regarding the top 10 choices:

Visit GPStracklog to find out what are the top ten receivers on the market.

“It’s that time again, when we look back at our reader’s favorite reviews for the previous month, which is indicative of what many folks are researching as potential purchases.

And what a month it’s been, as we have two new number ones!

On the auto side, the Nuvi 2595LMT knocked out the 1450LMT, which had held the number one spot since April 2011. In handhelds, the eTrex 20 is the new reigning champ, after an incredible 13 month run for the Oregon 450. All told there are nine models on the charts that weren’t there last month. ”

To read the complete list, click here.
Blake Miller has made a career out of staying found and knowing where he is at all times. His formal navigation training began when he joined the U.S. Navy in 1973. He served as an officer aboard several Navy ships over his

Blake Miller

twenty-year career; many of those tours included the duty of Navigator. Blake began working with satellite navigation systems at sea in 1976, culminating with the then-new satellite positioning systems aboard the Battleship WISCONSIN in early 1990.

In 1998 Blake started Outdoor Quest, a business dedicated to backcountry navigation and wilderness survival. Blake has taught classes to wild land firefighters, state agency staffs, Search and Rescue team members, hunters, hikers, skiers, fishermen and equestrians. He regularly teaches classes through the Community Education programs at Central Oregon (Bend) and Chemeketa (Salem, OR) Community Colleges.

As a volunteer, Blake teaches navigation and survival classes to students in the local school districts, and conservation groups. He is a member of a Search and Rescue team.

If you have any questions about land navigation or wilderness survival, you can contact Blake through SurvivalCommonSense.com@gmail.com, or you can go to his website.

To hear the Blake Miller interview about choosing a magnetic compass and GPS on SurvivalCommonSense.com Radio, click here.

For more navigation information, click here

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com

I have helped build snow caves as emergency shelters in the past, and didn’t think they were particularly effective. But that was before I read “Snow Caves For Fun and Survival” and tried out the book’s techniques.

by Leon Pantenburg

A group of Boy Scouts and volunteers were on our annual winter survival skills training day in the foothills of the Cascades in Central Oregon. When it comes to snow caves, the conventional wisdom from most survival manuals, is that the builder tunnels sideways and up into a snow bank, shoveling the snow out through the entrance hole.

Naturally skeptical (because of my newspaper training) I asked my 17-year-old son, Dan, to construct one such shelter by himself, using  a small shovel and trowel. More than two hours later, his cave was finished, but Dan was wet, tired and cold. Despite working hard, his cave was not a particularly effective survival shelter. Dan would have had a rough night ahead of him if he had to stay in that cave.

Taking a break from making a snow cave. I had to try out Wilkinson's techniques!

Based on that and other experiences, my opinion of snow caves as emergency shelters was lukewarm at best. Then a friend recommended “Snow Caves For Fun and Survival” by Ernest Wilkinson, and I’ve changed my mind. (Read my story on building a snow cave using Wilkinson’s techniques by clicking here.)

Most people with some basic tools, and using the techniques Wilkinson writes about, could successfully make a snow cave survival shelter.

Author Wilkinson is a former Search and Rescue member, and an  experienced Colorado mountain guide, specializing in snowshoe treks and winter camping, according to the book liner notes. This backcountry experience lead Wilkinson to develop his own shelter-making techniques that save time and energy and increase comfort and safety.

Wilkinson’s snow cave technique is simple: cut out blocks from the front of the drift to the width of the cave. Excavate.  Dig a cold well, and carve out benches on the sides for sleeping. When all this work is done, use the removed snow blocks to create a front wall.

There is plenty of room for two people to work simultaneously, and you don’t need to get wet during construction. Best of all, the cave is quick to make, which places it in the effective survival shelter category.

This simple technique is just one of the practical winter camping/survival tips you’ll get from reading “Snow Caves.” Igloo and lean-to construction are also discussed, as well as avalanche danger and how to avoid it.

While the book’s main focus is shelters, there is a wealth of information on all aspects of  winter camping in deep snow. Other sections deal with the proper clothing to wear, what kind of insulation a winter sleeping bag should have; firestarting tips; and equipment to take along for added comfort.

If you recreate in areas that have deep snow, or are looking for a winter camping reference book,  “Snow Caves” would be a top choice. If you don’t know anything about deep snow survival techniques, reading this book would be a great place to start. Then, check out your local community college, or parks and recreation district, and see if someone offers classes in winter survival.

Ready, study, and then, practice what you’ve learned.

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com

Whether you hunt small game, or raise rabbits for food, knowing how to cook the meat of these animals could be  a very important survival skill.

by Leon Pantenburg

The U.S. Department of Agriculture circular #549 calls rabbit: “The most nutritious meat available.” Rabbit has 795 calories per pound, according to the USDA, compared to chicken with 810; veal, 840; turkey, 1,190; lamb, 1,420; beef, 1,440 and pork 2,050. Also, rabbit is lower in the percentage of fat per pound than any of these meats.

Wild or domestic rabbits can be a great source of protein.

If you are looking for efficient food production, consider this: rabbits will produce six pounds of meat on the same amount of food and water as it takes one cow to produce one pound. Rabbits can be raised in small areas, with a minimum of effort, and produce top quality protein. Unlike chickens, they’re quiet and produce very little odor.

And rabbits are notoriously prolific. A doe rabbit that weighs 10 pounds can have eight litters of eight rabbits each, and produce 320 pounds of meat in a year.  In 1859, a single pair of rabbits was released in Victoria, Australia, and in 30 years gave rise to an estimated 20 million rabbits.

When it comes to wild game hunting, rabbits are at the top when it comes to numbers of animals harvested each year by hunters. They are easy to hunt and field dress, and the taste can’t be beaten.

This recipe, from “Linda Stephenson’s Wild Game Dutch Oven Cooking: From the Hunt to Your Table” combines off grid cooking techniques with fine eating!

Rabbit N’ Gravy

2 rabbits, cut into serving pieces

1 large onion, sliced

1 Tbs dry mustard

1-1/2 c cider vinegar

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Learn how to cook wild game outside with this book!

1/2 c flour

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp sugar

4 Tbs bacon drippings

2 c milk

In a large glass bowl, combine onion, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper.

Add rabbit pieces to liquid mixture; cover completely. Let stand for one hour, turning rabbit occasionally.

Pre-heat Dutch oven and add bacon drippings.

In a paper bag, mix flour, nutmeg and sugar. Remove rabbit from liquid mixture: Dredge rabbit in flour mixture and then add to9 hot drippings in Dutch oven. Brown rabbit pieces on all sides.

Remove meat from pot and keep warm.

Stir in flour and cook until it starts to brown.

Reduce heat to a simmer and gradually add milk, stirring constantly until it thickens.

Add rabbit pieces into the gravy, cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours.

Linda Stephenson at a Dutch oven cookoff.

Linda Stephenson is a past president of the Central Oregon Dutch Oven Society, one of the largest IDOS clubs in the nation; a former IDOS regional director and she has sponsored several Dutch Oven cookoffs. Linda is also active as a Dutch oven teacher and judge, and is the author of several other gardening and cooking books.

Linda grew up in Central Oregon, hunting with her dad in the high desert. At age 12, Linda began preparing the evening meals at hunting camp, often using the wild game they had brought home. While camping the woods, Linda perfected her cooking skills over a campfire. Linda’s favorite recipes, and family favorites, are the basis for her dutch oven wild game cookbook.

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The ability to start a fire under survival conditions can save your life. The inability can cost your life.

by Leon Pantenburg

There is an interesting firemaking paradox where I live in Central Oregon. In the summer, it can be very hard to keep from making a fire in the woods. During the winter, it is probably going to be very hard to get a fire going.

Can you find dry firemaking materials during inclimate weather?

But Murphy’s Law states that the more desperately you need a fire, the harder it will be to get one started. If you get wet during a sleet storm, fall in a stream or need a fire to fight off hypothermia, you need a fire ASAP, and you need to know where to find dry tinder and small sticks.

Assuming you have a trustworthy fire ignition system, and some reliable firestarter, you are ready to get started. But the missing component may be the small DRY tinder, twigs and bark to take your survival fire from the ignition stage to where the flame is big enough to start burning intermediate sticks.

Here is how to find and where to look for those materials during a snow/sleet storm.

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Survival/prepper websites are a dime a dozen. To set up a survival website, all you have to do  is buy a domain name and start posting. That’s what I did. But how do you, the reader, tell if a survival site is providing valid information? Can you trust what you read or view?

by Leon Pantenburg

Can anyone verify the authenticity of  a website? What about websites that rate other websites? How important are Google rating? How can you tell if a website is providing practical information or  just plain BS?

I'm the author of SurvivalCommonSense.com. and responsible for the content published on it. My credentials are at the bottom of the story.

You gotta wonder…so it was with great interest that I sat in recently on a journalism research class at Central Oregon Community College, in Bend, OR. The instructor was COCC Emerging Technologies Librarian Michele DeSilva, and the topic was how to verify web source information.

The problem, DeSilva said, is people assume that since something is on an internet website, that information has validity. But popularity does not mean quality, she commented, and publication is no guarantee of truth.

“A high Google rating does not mean a site provides good information,” she said. “It just means it’s popular and gets a lot of hits. ”

Some of the most popular Google-rated sites, she added, don’t have anything to do with truth, accuracy or verifiable knowledge.

Wikipedia is another source that should be avoided, she said, because there is no consistent overview or editing of the materials for sourcing or accuracy.

YouTube posts should be suspect, too, IMHO, because shooting angles, staging and carefully-timed camera angle cuts can cover up a multitude of inadequacies and lack of skill.

DeSilva recommends applying the following criteria to ANY website or source of  information before you decide to trust it:

• Who is responsible for the website? What are the author or organization’s credentials? (Hint: if you have trouble determining who is responsible for the website, it’s probably not that credible!)
• Don’t rely on a site’s domain alone for determining a website’s credibility! Anyone can register an .org site, for any reason. .Edu sites can have student projects or really out-of-­date pages. Many .com sites are excellent sources of information.
• One exception: .gov sites are reserved solely for U.S. government sites and are generally pretty credible (unless they are out of date, so be sure you know when the site was created and updated.)
• Look for an “about” page (or a “mission” or “purpose” page). What’s the purpose for this website? Is there a particular point of view that informs the Website?
•  Is the website’s content up to date? When was content last posted? Where is content coming from? Is the author creating it or collecting content from other sites/sources? If the content is coming from other places, what, if any, value is added by the website you’re looking at?
• Some sites exist just to generate advertising revenue! They copy content from Wikipedia or other free, online sources just to drive traffic to their sites.
• Does the author cite his or her sources? Is his or her information verifiable?
• If the author is presenting something as his or her original research, what gives the author credentials, or expertise, in this area?
• Are there lots of spelling and grammatical errors on the website? Any obvious factual inaccuracies?
• How many ads are on the page? Are there lots of links to commercial sites that have little or no relation to the topic the website is about?
• A good site can have ads, of course; but, again, watch out for those sites that exist just for commercial purposes.

My journalism career has been based on accurate information. In the news world, information that can’t be verified can lead to a lawsuit. Publishing  inaccurate info or passing off opinion as fact destroys your reputation and creditability, and can get you sued.

But in the survival/preparedness world, bad websites can be dangerous,and potentially life-threatening. What happens if you get some bad advice about a survival technique, for example, or buy equipment you can’t personally use, based on some charlatan’s recommendations?

You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to know better. Apply the above test to any website before you trust your safety and welfare to the information that may come from it.

And since you should be wondering, here are my credentials for writing this blog.

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com

Part of the fun of  being a prepper/survivalist is that there is always some piece of equipment that needs to be bought or upgraded. But if you’re just getting started in the process, you will need a lot of stuff, and your budget may be stretched.

So what better gift to give someone at Christmas than an effective, inexpensive piece of survival gear?

by Leon Pantenburg

Several years ago, my daughter Mary started her own family Christmas tradition. Starting in October, she began making presents for family members. Since she paints, we all got acrylic images of things we like. My painting of the intersection of Highways 69 and 41 in Clarksdale, MS, hangs in my office. (For people unfamiliar with the Blues, that is where the legendary Robert Johnson allegedly sold his soul to the devil in return for becoming a better guitar player.)

I replaced all my boot laces with paracord. Many useful gifts are also great do-it-yourself projects.

Here are 10 suggestions for do-it-yourself prepper/survivalist gifts that are easily made and incredibly effective. Several would make unique stocking-stuffers. Best of all, in my frugal mind, is that these items are very inexpensive, or recycled. All of them  cost under $10.

Cotton balls and petroleum jelly: This is one of the best survival firestarters available. It is quick, effective and cheap. All you need is an old prescription bottle, or some other sealed container, several cotton balls and some petroleum jelly. Infuse the cotton balls with the jelly, and place them in the container. When it’s time to use the firestarter, fluff the cotton and use. (Here’s how.)

Waxed Firestarter: This is another incredibly effective firestarter. You can use old cotton rags, some candle wax mixed with paraffin, and create an easy-to-carry firestarter. (To read the recipe, click here.)

Mop handle walking stick: A walking stick doesn’t need to be expensive. Go to the local hardware store, and buy a five to six- foot-long hardwood mop handle. Then get a rubber end, such as is used on chair legs, and slip it on the tapered end. The walking stick will serve you well at a cost of between $5 to $8.

Bic Lighter Wrapped With Duct tape:I don’t smoke, but I carry a small BIC lighter everywhere. Affix a poptop, so it can

Butane lighters work fine as long as they are warm and dry.

be secured to a lanyard, and wrap the lighter a couple feet of duct tape. You’ll be surprised how often you use the tape!

Notebook and pencil: As a journalist, a notebook and writing implement are part of my wardrobe. The internet is full of suggestions on making notebooks from recycled paper. Make a pocket-sized notebook, and carry a pencil (they write upside down, and don’t freeze). You will use your notebook every day.

Paracord shoelaces: One of the most useful ways to carry several feet of paracord  is to substitute it for shoelaces in your boots. Just check out the length of the shoelaces,  cut the paracord to fit, and fuse the ends with a match or lighter. Not only do the laces last almost forever, but in an emergency, you have several feet of cordage available.

Mora Knife: If you watch the  sales, you can get one of these fantastic, small fixed blade knives for under $10. I carry a Mora in my Bug Out Bag, daypack and briefcase. Here’s a good deal.

Charcloth: Charcloth is a material that will catch a spark, develop into an ember, and allow you to blow that heat source into a flame. All you need to make charlcloth is a heat source, an Altoids tin and some old 100 percent cotton cloth. Here is how to make it.

Trash bag for an emergency shelter: In our Boy Scout troop, we carry large plastic bags to use as emergency shelters. While you can buy the larger bags at any hardware store, a good source is your local tire store. Chances are the manager will give you one if you ask. I carry at least one shelter bag in all my survival kits. Here is how to use them.

Credit Card Sized Signal Mirror: Several years ago, I was researching materials to include in a wallet survival kit. I went to the local car parts store and found some flexible plastic mirror material. I used a utility knife to cut it to size, and drilled a hole in the center. The mirror is flexible, and fits in the credit card part of a wallet. It can be used for signaling, of course, but it you get something in your eye, or need to adjust a contact lens, the mirror proves its worth. Cost per mirror is about a buck.

For more info on making survival kits, click here.

 Learn what fabrics to wear in the outdoors to stay warm and dry.

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com

The fertilizer hits the fan and you may have to evacuate your area.

What is your plan if an immediate evacuation is needed? Is your vehicle ready?

Immediately, the roads and highways will be jammed with unprepared refugees.

So what is your plan, to get your family to safety, and do you have a vehicle you can depend on?

In his latest book: Bug Out Vehicles and Shelters; Build and Outfit Your Life-Saving Escape” author Scott B. Williams gives some educated insight.

And you can win your own, free copy by entering this November giveaway. Entering is easy – just sign up for the free, weekly SurvivalCommonSense.com update. There is no obligation, and you can unsubscribe at any time. If you’re already on the mailing list (THANK YOU!) just drop me a line at: survivalcommonsense.com@gmail.com and I’ll put you into the drawing!

Click here to read the book review.

For more survival book reviews, click here. For more  info on making survival kits, click here

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I started my newspaper career working for the Vicksburg evening Post in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Floods were common, and one area, Hamilton Heights in Vicksburg was where I covered my first flash floods.

This cartoon started the Teddy Bear Craze in 1902.

by Leon Pantenburg

The flood plains along the Mississippi offer superb deer hunting. I was fortunate to be invited several times to hunt at Tennessee Bar, along the Mississippi River. Somewhere in those swamps and forests was the site where the Teddy Bear was born.

In 1902 President Theodore Roosevelt was on a hunting trip in Mississippi. As reported in the Washington Post, the presidential hunting party trailed and lassoed a small black bear, then tied it to a tree. The president was summoned, but he refused to shoot the tied bear, considering it to be unsportsmanlike.

The following day, November 16, Clifford Barryman, Washington Post editorial cartoonist, immortalized the incident as part of a front-page cartoon montage. Barryman pictured Roosevelt, his gun before him with the butt resting on the ground and his back to the animal, gesturing his refusal to take the  shot. Written across the lower part of the cartoon were the words “Drawing the Line in Mississippi,” which coupled the hunting incident to a political dispute.

The cartoon drew immediate attention. In Brooklyn, NY, shopkeeper Morris Michtom displayed two toy bears in the window of his Stationary and Novelty store. Michtom recognized the immediate popularity of the new toy, requested and received permission from Roosevelt himself to call them “Teddy’s Bears.” (information from “The History of the Teddy Bear.”)

The cartoon on this page is a later version of the Barryman cartoon as it appeared in The Washington Star.

Here are some photos that show the high water levels today in the Vicksburg area. This link was posted by a reader – thanks Thom!

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A 68-year-old man died in a sleeping bag in his truck after he got stuck in the snow while camping in February and kept a log of nearly 70 days spent apparently stranded in east Linn County’s high country, authorities said today. To read the complete story, click here.

Let’s hope we can all learn from tragedies.

In this case, apparently nobody knew the victim was missing. Here’s a video about leaving a note before you go anywhere to make sure something like this doesn’t happen to you!

For more related SurvivalCommonSense.com tips and stories, click on the highlighted words:

• STOP: Use this exercise to reduce stress and focus your thoughts.
• Take your Ten Essentials on every outing.
• Dress with the right fabrics.
• Have a plan to make a tarp shelter.
• Carry lightweight, compact firestarter.
• Find the most effective fire ignition system.
• How to make charcloth, a material that can catch a spark from any source.
• Use charcloth as an effective method of catching a spark to make a fire.
• It can kill you: Hypothermia
• Hardtack: A great emergency food
• About Leon Pantenburg

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