Another Short Trip

Got some new gear and decided to try it out. Took my new Cabela's Scout Pack and it worked perfectly. I was able to carry everything I needed and still had room to spare. It rode good and was very comfortable. Total weight of my pack was 20 pounds. The high temperature today was 27 degrees, but as usual my Cabela's Berber Fleece kept me nice and toasty. I opted to make a shelter using my new tarp. It's a 4'x8' green tarp I got from Sportsman's and it worked great. Staked the corners and added pine boughs to lay on. I also took a wool blanket and my 20 degree REI sleeping bag, which kept me warm all night. I decided to make fire using a few different methods as well. I used a magnesium bar and then a firesteel. I also used a 12 volt battery with some steel wool to make fire. They all worked very well. This time of year it gets dark around 6:30 so by 8 pm I was sacked out. The sun rose about 9 am so I broke camp and headed out. It was another successful trip in the Alaskan Bush.

Another new item I took was a Pocket Rocket Stove made by Mountain Safety Research. It worked very well for heating up water and let off a surprising amount of heat too.

Sunset over Six Mile Lake

Lower Six Mile Lake

Heading to my camp site

Overlooking the lake

One of two Bald Eagles I seen. They seemed to be following me.

Looking at the Chugach Range.

New Hunting Pack

Finally got my new hunting pack today. It's a Cabela's Elite Scout Pack. They offer it in a regular or large size. Mine is the large and holds 1,500 cubic inches. It is constructed of CT450 Plus material that makes it super quiet. It has 2 outer pockets and 2 inner/main compartments. With the added compression compartment it is easy to shed outer layers and keep them secure. I currently have all my hunting clothes in it, plus all my EDC items. I even strapped my sleeping bag to the bottom. The pack also came with a 2 liter water bladder. The camo pattern I chose was Seclusion 3D Outfitter to match my clothing. I haven't had it long enough to configure it exactly how I want, but so far I'm impressed with it. I hope to take it out soon for a field test.

Buffalo Mine

A friend and I headed out to Buffalo Mine today. We left Anchorage at 10 am and got to the trail head around 11. First mishap happened right after we unloaded the 3-wheelers. The cord on the starter pulled out on my ATV so it had to be pull started all day.

We headed East across Moose Creek. This bridge was a bit hairy but we made it with no problems.

The view from the bridge was awesome.

This was overlooking an old coal mine, about 2 miles down the trail.

Then the real issues started. Both ATV's started cutting out and would continue to do so the rest of the trip. What a pain.

View of Elks Lake

My buddy was able to get a nice grouse. I almost ran it over with my ATV.

Beautiful Country out there.

Taking a short break.

We ended up taking a trail to Jonesville Mine, which was about 10 miles out of the way. There were so many trails out there it was easy to get turned around. I think we zigged when we should have zagged. I hoped to be home around 5, but we were still in the woods at that time. Luckily we found the right trail and found the truck around 5. I ended up flipping my ATV 3 times trying to go up some steep trails. It was a great trip and I had lots of fun, but I bet I'll be sore tomorrow.

Expert Marksmanship

In February 2007 I had to qualify with my M-16 before I redeployed. We shot at an outdoor range in the snow neat Terre Haute Indiana. We shot 10 rounds each in standing, kneeling, prone, prone supported with gas mask on and kneeling supported. It was so cold my gas mask was fogging up so I could barley see the target. It was a fun day of shooting and getting expert was a bonus.

Modified Day Hike Bag

Getting ready for a day trip so I decided to pack accordingly. On this trip I will be heading out to Sutton-Alpine on an ATV trip. The trail is about 40 minutes from the house and we plan on heading 20 miles down the trail. It is supposed rain so I packed my poncho in the front green pouch with extra 550 cord in case I need to make a shelter. I also lashed on my sleeping bag in case we get lost or stranded overnight. I will be wearing my poly-pro top and bottoms as a base layer and then a fleece jacket for a mid layer. My outer layer will be my Gore-Tex pants and jacket. Of course I will carry my .40 cal Sig Sauer with two mags in my drop leg holster. I will also be taking my Smith & Wesson 15-22 for plinking around.

My first deer

It was a cold September morning in 1995. My grandpa was taking me hunting for the first time. It was a family tradition to go Thanksgiving weekend to "the spot" It was in the Hoosier National Forest just outside of Birdseye Indiana. Many deer had been taken from there and I was hoping to get one of my own. It was still dark when we got to the woods. We suited up and loaded our guns then headed in. After getting settled in my tree stand I waited for daylight. It felt like forever, the leaves were rustling all around me but I couldn't see anything. The sun began to peek over the pine thicket and I began to see the beauty of the place. It was cold and my feet were going numb, but just then the forest erupted with gunfire. By this time it was almost 8 am when I heard another shot. When I looked in the direction of the shot I seen a deer 35 yards in front of me. I can still see him standing there eating acorns and wagging his tail. It looked huge to me and I knew I was going to get him. I slowly stood up and brought my dad's 20 gauge single shot shotgun up to my shoulder. I tried to aim at the front shoulder but I was shaking so much it was very difficult. I took the safety off and pulled the trigger. The smoke was so thick I couldn't see if he went down or not. I waited for what seemed like forever before I decided to check it out. I was so excited that i nearly jumped out of my stand. I headed to where I seen him and there he lay. My shot placement was a bit off, severed his spine, but it got the job done. After dragging it out of the woods we took it to the weigh station and it weighed in at 95 pounds. It was just a small button buck, but I was proud of it.

Sleeping Bags

Anyone whose been camping, has probably used a sleeping bag at least once. They sure make things more comfortable when out in the bush. There are several popular styles on the market that all have their advantages and disadvantages. There are your typical "blanket" bags, mummy bags and finally bivy sacks. They are made using either synthetics or natural materials. Synthetics are heavier and bulkier, but still work well when wet. Natural or "down" bags can be compressed easier and are lighter, but don't work so well when wet. It really depends on how you plan to use them. I still remember the sleeping bag I used as a kid. It was warm but man was it bulky. It barely fit in the car. It looked similar to the one below. These types would work well for car camping but not so much if you are backpacking.


This is a bivy sack or "bivouac sack." This is ideal for backpacking and hiking. It provides a waterproof sleeping area and that's about it. These are not to be confused with a bivy shelter/tent.




These are the bags my wife and I use. They are REI Zephyr mummy bags. The top one is my wifes and is rated at +15 degrees and mine is rated at +20 degrees. They are made of synthetic material and only weigh about 3 pounds. They serve us very well in Alaska.

Bags/Packs

Having a good quality pack to carry all your precious gear is a necessity. There are literally hundreds of packs to choose from, all shapes, sizes and designs. Personally I like having several different kinds to choose from. Now I don't keep all of them stocked and ready to go, depending on the situation, I will choose which one I need. These are a few of the packs that I have used. I have several others that are slightly different, but you get the point.





This bag is my old deer hunting pack. It's made by Mad Dog and is made from sturdy material that is fairly quiet. It's nothing fancy, but it held what I needed it to and matched my camo (Advantage Timber) clothing.


My wife and I both have one of these bags. It's a Bug Out Gear Tactical Backpack. They are hydration compatible and can haul 2,436 cubic inches of gear. These can be used for almost everything. Currently we use one of these for the babies BOB that is kept in my wife's Jeep Cherokee.

This is my Military Issue CFP-90 Combat Pack. It has a rugged internal frame and is made of 1000 denier nylon which is heavier than cordura. It can carry 60-70 pounds comfortably and has 3,042 cubic inches of storage space. The main compartment can be split into 2 separate pockets with their own access. Mine also has a separate Patrol Pack that can be attached to the front. This pack is also hydration compatible.

My day hike bag is a Camelbak M.U.L.E. It holds 3 L of water and 540 cubic inches of gear. I have even used this on an overnight trip. It's light and compact, which is very important for rapid movement through the bush.




My wife's hiking bag is a Granite Gear Vapor Ki. It is meant to be a lightweight pack for day hikes, but she uses it for extended hikes as well. It will hold 30 pounds of gear comfortably, and has 3,600 cubic inches of storage space. It is hydration compatible and only weighs 2lbs 5oz.




My hiking bag is a Kelty Coyote 4750. It's an internal frame pack with 4,750 cubic inches of storage space. The pack weighs just over 5 lbs and is very comfortable. The top lid doubles as a separate fanny pack, it's hydration compatible and has front access to the main compartment. I use this in lieu of my Military Issue Combat Pack, depending on the situation.

Short Trip

Got to get out and do some exploring. Headed to the North side of Elmendorf AFB near Six Mile Lake. Hiked about 5 miles along the lower end of the lake, and even made a quick debris shelter. It was pretty cold, 20 degrees, but my Berber Fleece kept me nice and warm. I ended up needing my first aid kit after mistaking my finger for a limb. Took awhile to stop the bleeding, but it's all good now.

Shooting a SAW

I had the chance to fire a SAW or Squad Assault Weapon while deployed to Kuwait. I'm the shooter on the left. Much harder to stay on target than I thought. I have to say it was a blast though.

Shooting a .50 cal

This was probably one of the coolest things I got to while deployed. Nothing better than shooting a .50 caliber machine gun from a moving HMMWV or Humvee.

Types of Shelter

Having shelter is a huge factor in surviving any situation. It keeps you warm, dry and safe. It also helps the morale and makes you feel "human." Depending on the situation you may have to build your own shelter from local materials. There are many variations and techniques in building a "debris" shelter. Here are a few examples of debris shelters.

Using branches and leaves

Using pine boughs

If you have done a bit of preparation than you may be lucky enough to have a more water tight shelter. I have a tarp in my BOB and each vehicle. They come in very handy and make a great shelter. Again there are many different variations, this is just one example. Remember if you are in a situation where you want to be rescued, having a brightly colored tarp where rescuers can see it, well help greatly.

The next step up would be a tent. There are literally hundreds of different sizes, types and styles of tents on the market. Finding one that will fit your needs could be a daunting task. Things to consider when looking for a tent are... how many people will need to fit in it, will it be light enough to carry with you, what type of terrain/weather will you most likely encounter. All of these will dictate what type of tent to get.

This is a small 2 man tent

Now we get into a little more comfort. Having a truck or SUV gives you many more options for shelter. You can throw a few sleeping bags in there and have instant shelter. Of course this is assuming you have your vehicle. This type of shelter is very useful and I have used it many times.

Finally the most comfortable of all, the camper. Nothing beats having a real bed to sleep in. These have all the comforts of home and can make any survival/disaster situation more tolerable.