The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide: Review and Giveaway

Posted on May 25, 2013 by aptprepper

I received a review copy of Creek Stewart’s latest book, The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide. I had read his first book, Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag and reviewed it previously. I had great expectations for the second book, and I was pleased to read it.

It is well known that The Hunger Games books and movie had a lot of survival type situations and this book relates how one might actually survive when faced with such difficult circumstances.

First, the Big Question

We might as well get the big question out of the way: Do you need to read The Hunger Games series of books or see the movie before you can appreciate this one? I would say it helps, but it is not absolutely necessary. I admit I have not seen the movie, but I did read the books a couple of years ago. There is a tie-in, as the topics relate to some of the survival issues covered in the book, but if you have not read or seen the movie you will still learn a lot of survival lessons.

What I Thought about The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide

I thought the book was very informative and covered all the necessities for survival.

Some of the topics include:

Finding water and making it safe to drink
Identifying edible plants
Building snares
Building a shelter to protect against heat, cold, wind and rain
Fire-starting
Navigation
First aid
Travel tips for rescue and evasion
Making tools to increase the odds of survival such as a bow, knife from a sharp rock

and a lot more.

I enjoyed the sections that I personally feel deficient in, such as identifying plants that are safe to eat, finding your way using things in nature, natural camouflage, good fire-starting materials etc.

I liked reading the “Survival Quick Tips” that were sprinkled throughout the book, giving helpful advice that is related to the section. The book also includes a lot of photos and illustrations, making it easy for the reader to follow along.

The author gives specific advice on where to look when you need additional information about a subject such as the best guide for foraging plants, references and actual brands of gear that are known to work. As anyone who has researched emergency gear knows, finding out about what works and what doesn’t takes time and money: having concrete advice like this handy eliminates a lot of guesswork and wasted time.

Fortunately for us, we are not faced with life or death survival situations such as those experienced by the characters in The Hunger Games, but you never know when you will be faced with such a predicament. The time to learn these skills is now, not when we’re already deep in the middle of a crisis. As author Creek Stewart says, “Remember, it’s not IF but WHEN.” I recommend The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide to anyone who wants to learn survival skills in an entertaining but illuminating format.

Now for the Giveaway

Two lucky readers will be chosen to win this giveaway of the following:

Autographed copy of The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide
Willow Haven Outdoor Logo Sling Pack,
A 100% cotton Willow Haven Outdoor Survival Bandanna
A Multi-Fuctional Survival Tool with built in lanyard, compass, ferro rod, whistle and water-proof container for storing matches other survival kit items.

To win, please comment below regarding any of the following:

What survival situation in The Hunger Games you were most curious about

What you hope to learn from this book

Entries will be accepted until Sunday, May 26th at 8 pm Central. We will contact the winners via email-please respond within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen. Good luck!

Protect Yourself: www.gotpepperspray.com

What to Do if Your Bug Out Vehicle is Too Small

Posted on February 13, 2013 by aptprepper

Prepping in small spaces is a topic we’ve discussed, but we have not discussed space issues in a bug out vehicle.

Many city dwellers are trying to save on gas, and are downsizing to a smaller vehicle. Several relatives have switched to small economy cars or hybrids after getting tired of high gas prices. If you live in a city, there is always a chance you may need to get out, hopefully you will be able to drive out while you can.

Now is a good time to evaluate your bug out vehicle, before any emergency happens. Here are some considerations:

Number of people riding with you.
Trunk/storage space
Gas mileage
Ability to drive in flooding and rough terrain
Height of the car
Condition of the car

How much supplies you want to take with you? You’ll need to be choosy about what will go into your bug out vehicle. I realize many preppers favor “bugging in” instead of driving out. I can understand it is much easier to shelter in place. But everyone needs a “Plan B” in case you have to flee an immediate danger in the city. You will need essentials such as water, food, shelter (tents etc), your bug out bags. If you have pets you will also need space for them and their supplies. You may also need a gas can or two, depending on the situation.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Clean out your car thoroughly. I know people who carry a lot of clutter in their trunk such as sports equipment, bags of clothes they need to donate or take to the cleaners, even trash. I’m not judging anyone, but if you happen to have junk in your car, get rid of it.
Maintain your car. Are you overdue for an oil change or tune-up? Do your brakes need replacing? Are your tires balding? I have been guilty of all of the above at some point in my life when I kept putting off repairs due to budget constraints. Do your best to get your car serviced. You don’t want your car to break down when you are trying to get your family to safety.

If your car lacks space for emergency supplies, now is the time to look into ways to increase storage space:

Roof luggage rack

Rooftop cargo box or rooftop cargo bag

Cargo carrier

Before you buy, check the specifications carefully to make sure the space extender you are buying will fit your car.

Low budget idea: If you have a built in roof rack, mount items on the rack with rope and a black or brown tarp, but you will will need to practice doing this to make sure everything is secure. Not very attractive, but if you are trying to leave in a hurry then you may not care about appearances, just try to avoid attracting attention.

You could also find these items used. As people change cars, they will not be needing the old rack for the old car.

I’m not an expert on cars, and you may find other solutions work better for you. Space in your car may someday be as critical as the space in your home. The good news is, these space extenders are useful to have even if no emergency ever happens.

For your gold and silver coins, visit:

Compact, Efficient and Lightweight Survival Stove

For beginning preppers

An Ideal Stove for Outdoor Cooking

Posted on December 7, 2012 by aptprepper

Long time readers know I am always on the look-out for lightweight portable stoves to test out, having had less than stellar results in the past. Living in an apartment in the city, we cannot deny the possibility we may have to bug out if there were an extended emergency. In addition, we enjoy camping and backpacking, and a lightweight stove is a must.

I was excited to try out the Solo Stove. It is a small, portable stove that uses biomass (twigs, dried leaves, etc) for fuel. Not needing to bring special fuel is a big advantage: since you can easily find branches and twigs, you are not adding weight to your bug-out bag.

Assembly

The stove is very easy to assemble: just set the cooking ring on top of the stove so that the prongs are on top. That is what your pot will rest on.

Starting the Fire

1. First, collect your fuel: in our case, Mr. Apt Prepper gathered up twigs, dried leaves and a few acorns out in the back of our building. Place the twigs in the stove chamber. The twigs or wood pieces should be roughly two to three inches in length.

2. Make sure the stove is on a level area, away from the wind. We just set it on a paving stone. The Solo Stove’s instructions can be found here.

3. Start the fire. It would have been easier to use firestarter, but we wanted to see how it would perform by just lighting the fuel using matches. The dried leaves caught fire instantly and in a couple of minutes, the rest of the twigs were burning nicely.

4. We set a pan containing two cups of water on the stove. We continued to add twigs to the fire. The water started to boil in about 10 minutes, which is a lot faster than I’ve experienced with a regular campfire.

Cleaning

Once the fire has died down and stove has cooled completely, all you need to do is empty out the ash. Since the fuel is all organic, you don’t need to worry about polluting the area.

A bit of soot may cling to the stove but it is easily wiped off.

Solo Stove recently became our sponsor, but regardless of that, we put the stove through the paces and it performed admirably. Mr Apt Prepper kept an objective eye over the test. If we had to come up with an area of improvement it would be to provide more detailed instructions for the inexperienced portable stove user. One thing that is not obvious to a new user is gauging the amount of fuel that is needed. Using dried twigs, the stove did not give off much smoke at all, which is great for a bug-out stove, when you don’t want to attract a lot of attention with your cooking fire. At the sale price of $69.99, the stove is priced reasonably.

All in all the Solo Stove is a great portable backpacking and survival stove and I highly recommend it.

For beginning preppers

Monday Musings: 10/29/2012 Under the Weather Edition

Posted on October 29, 2012 by aptprepper

Just a quick Monday update as I try to recover from a stuffy head and other miscellaneous miseries that accompany this time of year.

Nature reminds us to be prepared. A monster storm is looming over the East Coast as Hurricane Sandy approaches land. On the other side of the country, Hawaii just got through a tsunami warning, which fortunately did not materialize, due to a huge earthquake off the Canadian coast. The impending East Coast storm predictably caused a mad rush to the stores for last minute emergency supplies.

What happened to Odd Questioner? If you’ve read this blog and other preparedness blogs for a while you would recognize frequent comments from “Odd Questioner” Then he disappeared for a while and what a surprise I got an email from him. He’d been “laying low for awhile, but the reason why is below:”

He recently released a book, available for free or for sale (or both).

The book, Beyond Collapse, by T Joseph Miller, is a complete guide to preparation and survival, but more importantly it is a long-term guide to forming and keeping a post-collapse community. It prints out to 8.5×11 inches, and has 430-some-odd pages in it.

The free version is here: (Please note, the free version is for personal use only and not for distribution. I recommend you print it out for future use.)
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B6e3oH1LuRvzeGZlTHRkeHZQSkk

The paperback can be had here:
http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Collapse-Joseph-Miller-Jr/dp/1480140805/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350953356&sr=8-1&keywords=Beyond+Collapse

From what I have browsed so far, the book looks very thorough and well thought out. I am adding it to my reading list.

ParaVival Paracord Bracelet I received a paracord bracelet sample (pictured above) from ParaVival Gear. They specialize in all things paracord. As you can see from the photo, the bracelets are attractive; what you can’t see is they are softer and more flexible that some other paracord bracelets I’ve seen. In an emergency you can see exactly where you need to start unraveling. Check out Paravival.com, not only do they have neat paracord creations, they also have instructibles for the “do it yourselfers” in the group.

Prepper casting call with expert training opportunity. Do you want to be in a TV show, AND learn from an expert? Not a recommendation, just passing information along. Here’s what the they are looking for:

Seeking apocalypse believers for 2-day training course w/ an EXPERT PREPPER, to be filmed by Emmy-winning production company. Apply to preppercast@gmail.com by Monday, 10/29 to be considered! If you believe that the end is near and are seeking a great opportunity to learn how to prepare, come join us for a 2-day course. The course (normally hundreds of dollars, in this case FREE) will consist of building shelter, procuring food and water, setting up camp, booby traps, learning defense, etc. All levels of expertise welcome. Course will take place for 2 days within November 8-11th (probably over the weekend), so please be available in that time frame. The course will be filmed by a major television production company, but will not air on television. So you must be open to being interviewed and filmed as you participate.

In order to apply, please contact preppercast@gmail.com with:

-Your name
-Your age
-A clear photograph
-The type of apocalypse you believe will occur (global financial crisis, natural disaster, solar flare, plague, zombie attack, etc.)
-Your level of prepper expertise
-Why you want to participate
-A short bio about yourself
-Any video of yourself that you have

Survival Knife Infographic I like a good infographic so I had to share the following with you.

How to Choose the Perfect Survival Knife by Survival-Goods.com

Stay safe everyone!

BioLite CampStove Review

Posted on September 29, 2012 by aptprepper

I received a sample of the BioLite Stove for testing and review. The BioLite Stove is a portable stove that allows you to cook with wood, and charge small electronic gadgets at the same time. As many long time readers know, I am always on the lookout for good portable chargers for emergencies as well as a good backpacking stove.

This is what came in the box:

The box contained the stove within a pouch, USB cable and the firestarter sticks. Inside the pouch was the actual stove, the charging unit (battery) and instructions.

The instructions indicated you have to condition the battery before first using the stove by plugging it into your computer’s USB port or wall plug. In my case, I plugged it into the wall charger for six hours per the instructions. The light on the unit flashes at first then glows a steady orange while charging. It is recommended you charge it every six months if unused.

The next step is to attach the battery to the stove and it is ready to use.

I added a firestarter stick and some tinder (small twigs, wood pieces, acorns etc) to the stove and lit the firestarter with a match.

The fire started up fairly quickly. You turn on the fan on the battery charger, first low, then high. It is the same effect as blowing on the tinder to get it to catch fire. In no time at all, the fire was going nicely.

To keep the fire going I continued to add sticks, twigs, dried leaves and small acorns. There was small amount of smoke generated because some of the twigs were not completely dried out. I placed a small pot with an egg on top of the stove. The water started boiling fully after about 10-15 minutes.

You can start charging on the battery once the light glows green. You will need a good amount of twigs to keep the fire going. The website indicated it should be ready in 10-15 minutes before you can charge, but it took mine a bit longer. However it did work as described. You can charge small devices such as cell or smart phones, GPS units, etc. You just plug the phone via the USB cable into the unit and it will charge.

The BioLite Stove has a very efficient design, is lightweight, weighing only about two pounds. Being a dual purpose item, it saves space as well. It is good to have in your emergency kit in case of a power outage, and would make a good backpacking stove. The instructions are easy to follow and the website has a FAQ section that addresses most concerns. The BioLite Stove worked very well and I highly recommend it.

For more information, visit the BioLite website http://www.biolitestove.com/

ReadyMade Resources is a trusted source for your preparedness supplies:

Check out information and products available at SafeGuard Clothing, or click on the link below.

Don’t Forget Gloves for your Emergency Kit and Bug Out Bag

Posted on September 12, 2012 by aptprepper

I never thought much about gloves until I started preparing. At the most I had a pair of rubber gloves for washing dishes. Now I have several types.

Disposable gloves

Disposable gloves can be used for quick and dirty jobs such as cleaning up messes, pet waste, handling contaminated surfaces to avoid infection etc. However these are generally very flimsy. Thankfully, they are not very expensive. I got a 10 pack at the 99 Cents Only store, but a box from the warehouse store would be a better deal.

Heavy rubber gloves

If you do not want to run the risk of the gloves tearing up, you’ll want a pair of heavy duty rubber gloves. Use these for larger jobs such as hauling trash, digging in the mud etc. You can purchase these at any grocery or discount store.

Work gloves

The first time we went camping, I didn’t even think about bringing work gloves. Mr. Apt. Prepper brought his and I saw how the gloves protect your hands from injury when picking up branches and chopping wood.

The next time we went out to the mountains, I came prepared with my own work gloves:

–I never had to worry about getting splinters and minor cuts.
–They give you a better grip
–Keep your hands warm as the day grows colder.
–Protection from heat as you tend the campfire.
–Keep your hands clean and lower the risk of infection

In the aftermath of a natural disaster or emergency, such as a hurricane or earthquake, you may have to pick up fallen branches, gather firewood, sift through broken glass and other heavy duty chores that will require protection from your hands.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a couple of sets for each member of the family. You can keep one pair with the emergency supplies and one in the bug out bag.

Here are a couple of good ones:

For men: Custom Leathercraft P3214L Workright Flex Grip Work Gloves, Large, 3-Pair

For ladies: Wells Lamont 1124S Work Gloves, Grain/Split Palomino Cowhide

Check out these specials at Emergency Essentials

For more preparedness tips, read my book:

Check out information and products available at SafeGuard Clothing, or click on the link below.

Help your College Student Prepare for Emergencies

Posted on August 20, 2012 by aptprepper

Back to school season is in full swing, and these last few weeks were spent preparing kids for the first day of school.

We have a couple of nieces and nephews who are going away to college in a few weeks. This got me thinking what can be done to at least get them prepared for emergencies. I’ve listed a three layered approach, with the third choice is the most extensive but also the most encompassing. It all depends on your relationship with the teen, the extent of their involvement with prepping, what you want to prepare for and how much you wish to spend.

I. Give a prepping themed “going off to college” gift that will be useful in an emergency or at least get them started to think about being prepared:

personal water filter

solar cell phone charger

multi-tool or Swiss Army Knife

paracord bracelet

emergency preparedness book, such as Prepper’s Pocket Guide (blatant self-promotion) or SAS Survival Handbook

II. Assemble a Power Outage/Earthquake/Hurricane Emergency Kit

Include in a small decorative box or basket, items that they will be able to use for a variety of emergencies such as power outage, earthquake or hurricane. Include the following: at least three days worth of water bottles, water purifier, easy to prepare foods (canned foods with can opener) or food bars such as Mainstay Energy Bar, high energy snacks such as peanuts, flashlight/radio/charger and batteries, and pocket sized First Aid kit. Remember most dorm rooms or off campus apartments are small: everything has to be reasonably sized and efficiently packed. The items have to be simple to use and do not require special preparations. They may be in a panic when the emergency happens, so include a note with some instructions.

III. Assemble a Get Home Bag

In the movie Zombieland, the beginning scene showed one of the main characters getting attacked by a zombie in his dorm room. After this horrible experience, his first instinct initially was to just get home. This is fiction, but in a real emergency, anyone would want to get home as quickly as possible. I think the most efficient way to prepare in a dorm would be to assemble a Get Home bag.

In a backpack, include the following items:

personal water filter or set of Hydropacks
food bars
cash (to be used for transportation)
First Aid kit
a change of clothes and underwear (weather appropriate)
good wool socks
comfortable shoes
rain gear (umbrella and rain poncho)
flashlight/weather radio
solar charger
utility knife (check campus guidelines) or multi-tool
signal mirror
whistle
lighter or matches
tarp
self protection such as pepper spray
small hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, floss, toilet paper (with cardboard removed), liquid hand sanitizer or wipes, contact lens solution etc.

Adjust the items according to the student’s needs and situation. Have a conversation about what is included in the backpack and situations where it may come in handy. Include them in your texting tree and explain how it works as well as plans where the family can meet in case of extreme emergency. As with any emergency preparations, we hope to never have to use them, but good to have just in case.

Please visit LECOR by clicking here:

Paracord to the Rescue

Posted on May 4, 2012 by aptprepper

Today we found a string securing one of our window blinds snapped. The blinds could no longer be raised and lowered, and looked lopsided. It was already fraying from the time we moved to this unit, but since it was not technically broken, it was not repaired before we moved in. As far as property management is concerned, it was working when we moved in.

This is where the string snapped.

Not wanting to get charged for a new set, Mr. Apt Prepper worked on repairing it. Here is what he did:

He measured a piece of paracord, then cut off the desired size.
He then split the small piece of paracord to reveal the inner strings.
He took one of the inner strings, separated it from the outer layer of the paracord. Then he threaded the string through the slots to reattach the broken blind back into place.

The result was good – the blind no longer tilts to one side, and it can once again be raised and lowered.

I always thought paracord is a helpful item to have around, but now I am convinced it is essential not only for emergencies, but for everyday repairs.

What is paracord? Paracord is a lightweight nylon cord that was used for parachutes in World War II. It is also known as 550 cord, as it is rated to hold up to 550 pounds. Paracord is somewhat elastic; it is composed of inner strands and an outer nylon sheath.

Note: When you cut paracord, you will need to make a knot at the end or reseal the main cut by burning it or it will keep fraying.

Here are a few other uses for paracord:

Replace shoelaces.
Make a temporary shelter by stringing tarp or tying branches together.
Attach to collar and use as an animal leash.
Secure gear such as luggage to a roof rack
Secure items to your backpack or go-bag
Use as a clothes line
Hang your food bag when camping to protect from bears
Create bracelets and belts

Inner strings within paracord

The inner strings can be used for:

Dental floss substitute

Fishing line

Use with a needle as a thread replacement to repair tears and holes.

I like being able to use preparedness gear for everyday occurrences. If you have other uses for paracord, please share them in the comments!

ReadyMade Resources is a trusted source for your preparedness supplies:

You’ll find valuable information when you read the Holding Your Ground books. Check out:

Please visit our our friends at http://PreppingGuys.com for gear review and preparedness projects!

Give the Gift of Preparedness

Posted on December 4, 2011 by aptprepper

I was speaking with my Mom the other day and she told me they had a power outage due to a wind storm. The loss of power took them by surprise and lasted for an entire day. They could not find all their backup lighting, and the propane stove was lost in the garage somewhere. We had talked about being prepared for this sort of thing before! She even said, “I know you talk about this in your book.” But sometimes the message does not always get through, or the intent to prepare is there but gets put off. This conversation helped me make up my mind on what to get my parents and my other relatives for Christmas: preparedness themed gifts.

We all have family and friends who are not really into prepping, or who mean to but don’t get around to it. Since we’re giving gifts anyway, might as well give them something to help them prepare for an emergency. Here are a few ideas for various budgets:

Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger

Priced around $30

Fold’n Go 2-Burner Stove

Priced around $80

Solar Watch

Priced around $57

Red Pepper Spray with Dye

Priced around $15

Good Grip Can Opener

Priced around $13

Swiss Army Pocket Knife

Priced around $17

AA and AAA Solar Battery Charger

Priced around $25

Door Stop Alarm

Priced around $9

16 GB Flash Drive

Priced around $17

As you can see, there are preparedness gift for every budget level. Some useful items like my favorite, the can opener, can be essential in an emergency. But wait, it’s not all about giving “stuff.” If you prefer, you can still give the gift of preparedness by helping someone accomplish a chore that eludes them:

Backing up documents and photos for a close relative
Giving a friend free lessons on skills that you already have such as knitting, canning, breadmaking or even a free cooking lesson.
Printing up PDF files for an emergency binder
Making firestarter with household items such as cotton balls and petroleum jelly and packaging a handful in a jar labeled Emergency Fire Starter, with instructions.

Sharing your knowledge and time is just as valuable as giving an item. We all want to help our loved ones prepare and Christmas is a great time to spread the “joy of preparedness” in subtle ways.

For more tips, read my book:

For your emergency supply needs and gifts, please visit:

This is Cool: Solar Water Bottle

Posted on September 17, 2011 by aptprepper

My daughter sent me a link to this YouTube video, since she knows I like sustainable, low-tech ideas like these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBWi3NtND68&feature=related

Made from 1.5 liter Coke bottles, 2 cap-fuls of bleach and tap water, they are able to provide lighting to people who would otherwise live in the dark. They are made from recycled materials, are solar powered, and only need replacing every five years. I think the bleach keeps algae from growing in the tap water, which will eventually cloud the water. The only drawback is they do not work without sunlight, but since the families perpetually live in very dark areas, even in the daytime, having the solar water bottles is a big improvement for them.

This is the nonprofit organization in the Philippines is helping provide families who have no electricity with indoor lighting: http://isanglitrongliwanag.org/.

In the event of a lengthy power grid power failure, it doesn’t hurt to know about a variety of lighting sources such as this one.

For your survival supply needs, please visit:

For your food storage needs, consider:

The Apartment Prepper's Blog

Family Preparedness in an Apartment Setting by Bernie Carr

Category Archives: Survival Gear