"Preppers"? are you one?

Don't worry, we (well the huge majority of us) have tens of thousands of extra calories waiting to be tapped for energy around our waistlines. This isn't vacation, this is survival. You can walk for weeks without eating but you must drink. The rule of three applies to survival situations such as this. Not to say that you should purposely skip food but it's not the highest priority when planning for this get-home situation. I'd rather have a weapon than a snickers bar.

I'll walk the same route that I would have driven unless I know of a short cut. If I start suspecting road blocks or seeing dangerous crowds I will walk parallel to the roads but off in the woods as much as possible to avoid confrontation. Get home quick.

 

Definitely a weapon, and mags, and plenty to go in it. But I think a few good snacks, or an mre or two, would be easy, small enough and beneficial to have in the bag.

 

This is work. No weapons. Well, at least of the klic-pau variety.
Maintaining permits in multiple states would be more trouble than it's worth.

There are various easy to pack foods to throw in:
protein bars (comprised of sawdust, burlap, twine, newspaper to be sure).
powdered electrolyte drink thingies
packets of honey
electrolyte gels (look in the sports section)
I would absolutely NOT leave for an extended walk (well, more than a day or two) without some of those things. The first day or two might be ok, but after that... Look up warnings of extended water fasting for more. Then experiment.

the hangry meter becomes obsolete after a few practice runs. If you fast for spiritual breakthrough, or intermittent fast on a regulr basis, the hangry meter breaks.

 

So I keep a fair amount of stuff. I don't wait for home or car to charge phones, needle and thread has saved the day, pain meds, nail clippers, extra clothing, toothbrush, pooper paper....the like.

At work, many guys use duffel bags, and various ruck sacks. I like hands free mostly for climbing equipment hands free, but also for walking any distance which happens from time to time. I don't envy the guys who carry a big goofy cooler and big duffels, and walk on uneven graveled surfaces.
I have an internal frame pack. It's a Gregory Zulu 55. Best pack I've ever laid hands on. https://www.gregorypacks.com/packs-bags/backpacking-packs/zulu-55-1115ZUL55.html
I think I brought all my junk in my old pack with me to EMS, and tried on a dozen packs. The last bag I tried I packed with most of my stuff, right there in the store.
It has plenty of space for day to day use, as well as additional (unused) space for taking extra gear. It has a camel-bak type bladder.

More or less, it stays with me. If I got stuck or travel away from home, my needs would be met. Needs for a multi-day time away could be met fairly quickly. If I travel intentionally, it becomes my main travel bag. Retreats for a couple days... yup, add a little clothing...sleeping bag will strap on if the retreat cabin is not near parking.

I work in dozens of towns in multiple states. I'm kinda hoping I can find those laminated state maps somewhere.

As for our short ruck, there are rail-trails nearby. I can climb ladders and walk on graveled/uneven surfaces with 20# of work gear all day, but with a 40# pack will be a different animal. My friend has some sorta mil-spec bag that I think will be very uncomfortable for a long walk. a 15 mile ruck might be a lot to ask, even on rail trails. But, I want to find fail-points in mild conditions.

 

Have you ever considered using digital maps? I like paper myself but an offline map, be it highways or topographical seems to be a good way to go? I don't know I haven't decided yet.

 

That's an option, but if phone is broke, battery dead, emp etc....

 

Curious as to the advantage of digital maps. Like the idea.

I was driving in strange territory a week back, and had the phone GPS on and off for a couple hours. I almost killed the battery trying to get there. I also wouldn't want the light (or the noise of a fool ring tone) from my phone catching anyone's attention on a walk home.

I've seen hand held GPS devices though. Load the maps you like. Maritime travel uses the similar. interesting thought. till the lights go out.

 

Used to have a milk crate of road and city map.

most were worthless after two years because of construction

 

Looking at DIY Faraday Cage builds.
And what reasonably could stay in one.

 

"Weapon" was left purposely vague. A reasonable knife is better than a snickers bar too. A knife and a snickers is even better! How about bear spray or tazer? There's a lot to be said for nonlethal weapons like that.

I can't have klickpaus at work either.

 

A recent event at home made me think of this post. I lost my well pump last week, and with two months of rain/flooding issues in the region (in addition to living in the boonies), trying to find someone to work on it is difficult. With all the rains, floods, etc., a lot of plumbers aren't taking any new customers at the moment, and some have gone to other parts of the state (and Vermont) to help hard hit areas. Most people would probably move into a hotel/motel until they have running water again, however aside from it being an inconvenience, I was already prepared for an event like this. And I'm looking on the positive side as it's giving me a chance to dust off some of my 'living off the grid' skills.

I already have a stockpile of bottled water for drinking/cooking, and I can use grey water from the dehumidifiers for flushing the toilets. There is a spot not far from me where I can park right next to one of our mountain rivers, so water access is easy. I have a battery-powered/solar-heated camp shower, and I'm boiling river water for doing the dishes and other things I need clean water for. I have three 6-gallon and two 5-gallon water jugs, so have plenty of water on hand. I also have a portable washing machine, so even that is not an issue.

Inconvenient, sure, but I've dealt with much worse in my life and lived in much more austere environments, so life goes on. It's real-world events like this that I prepare for, not the 'zombie apocalypse' garbage. The good news is that I have an acquaintance, who is a career plumber that lives local, who said he would take a look at everything once he gets back from vacation later this week. Everything in the 'well system' is at or past the lifespan of the equipment so I'm just going to get an estimate to replace everything while they're at it (pump, pressure tank, switch, filter system, etc.) and also finally get a water softener installed.

The average person doesn't prepare for things like this, and then goes into a tailspin when something interrupts their day-to-day life. Other than a few simple changes, losing running water hasn't been a major impact thanks to being prepared. (Although I'll be glad when everything is fixed!)

 

EODMSgt I had similar thing happen June 27 2 years ago pump went bad. My pump was 150 feet deep. Luckily for me got great friends one is a plumber.. determined it was pump. Welded 1.5 inch BIP 7 foot in length to un lock. Water comes in under slab. Hooked pipe to Kubota bucket. I backed up slowly as buddy pulled pipe up 3 feet at time. webbs had pump black water line and electrical. Up and running in 6 hours 2 of which where calling sos! I left underground line and electric til next year when got excavator for month.

It got replaced as hit it digging new water line to out buildings about $1250 during Covid

 

Okay so to me, it's that average unprepared person you describe and 10 of his friends that become the "zombie apocolypse" when they smell your food cooking.

A self contained RV like many of us have can make life with a broken well pretty normal so long as you can keep filling the on board tank. I have a full RV water tank plus several refills to keep us going for short to medium length water stoppages.

 

“Prepping “

takes many forms. An illness, medical emergency, loss of job, weather event, vehicle or industrial accident….

 

Or in my world all of the above in a week

 

Yes, it is chlorinated. Same as my other water storage tanks. As it gets older it certainly won't be as delicious as when new but it's 56 gallons of life giving liquid. Pressurized, heated, and plumbed to the shower, sinks, and toilet.

My RV is stored in a closed garage. It's actually an important part of my prepping strategy.

 

Makes for a wonderful BOV

 

Not many reasons I would leave but that rv is ready to go with full supply tanks, empty waste tanks, and fresh bearings. Maybe a toxic train fire, volcano eruption, or riots.