10 Interesting Websites You Should Know About

Semi-related, semi-not related to the purposes of this blog:

1. AllTop Survival Aggregator (great list of survival links)
2. CrowdMed (interesting way to crowd source medical mysteries)
3. Class Action Rebates (you may qualify for some of these)
4. Namus (fascinating)
5. CodeAcademy (learn to code for free)
6. NukeMap (wow)
7. r/InternetIsBeautiful (interesting links)
8. Ninite (fastest way to set up a new computer)
9. GeoGuesser (fun game)
10. Neatorama (neat info)

Bug Out Tech

Say you need to bug out.  It might be because of a flood or fire or it may be because someone calls you for a quick weekend trip and you need to leave now.  No matter the situation, it's a good idea to have your bug-out tech ready to go.  Here's what I carry for both bug-out and travel situations:

• A smartphone and charger (my Galaxy Note 3 is simply amazing).
• An unlocked quad-band cell phone (a cheaper, less attractive cell to use for international travel. At this point I use an old Samsung smartphone).
• A laptop and charger (I currently use a 14" HP laptop at home and have a 10" Asus transformer for travel.  I am now looking for a 13" UltraBook to replace both of these).
• A USB drive with all of my files backed up on it.
• A spare USB drive for transferring files, etc.
• Earbuds.
• A mini travel mouse.
• Spare memory cards (one for the cell phone, one for the laptop).
• Electrical adapter/converter/surge protector.
• Solar charger (Goal Zero, useful in a disaster when other electricity sources aren't available).
• Spot 3 (satellite messenger, useful for solo outdoor travel and during a disaster).
• AC/DC car power inverter (always carry this in my vehicle for emergency charging purposes).

What I no longer carry with me:

• A digital camera (my phone takes great pictures)
• A Kindle (ditto)
• An MP3 player (ditto)
• A digital video camera (ditto)
• GPS device (ditto)
• Mobile WiFi (my phone works as a hot spot).
• A tablet (had one, didn't use it)

PPEs

PPEs, or personal protective equipment, is a topic that is hardly ever covered by survivalists but it is pretty important when it comes to protecting yourself from everything from viruses to lung infections.

What they are: Personal protective equipment can range from the hearing and eye protection you wear at the shooting range to the gloves that healthcare workers use to the hard hats and respirators that are used in the construction industry.  The personal protective equipment you choose has much to do with the types of situations you may find yourself in.  Basically you want to use PPE gears to protect yourself from anything that could cause you harm (this could range from loud noise when shooting to preventing contamination during a disease outbreak).  The basic PPEs that everyone should have on hand include rubber gloves, dust masks, N95 masks if possible, goggles, life jackets, hearing protection (ear plugs as well as shooting ear muffs), leather gloves, and high visibility safety vests.

Where to buy them:  Most of these are common items which can be found quite cheaply at Walmart and Home Depot.  For more specialized gear (like Tyvek coveralls) you can easily find these items online.

When to use them:  Many people don't give much thought to using PPEs unless they work in healthcare, construction, or other fields where such items are required by OSHA.  However, everyone should use PPEs when they find themselves in situations where they could be harmed or contaminated.  When shooting, eye and ear protection should always be used.  When boating a life jacket should always be worn.  When cleaning up after a disaster, gloves and masks are a minimum of what should be worn to prevent contamination and infection.  When painting or doing major contaminant clean up, coveralls, gloves, goggles, and a respirator can save your health and in some cases your life.  Should there be a major disease outbreak (a la ebola) complete PPEs should be warn when taking care of the sick.

So along with your preps and stockpiles, be sure to keep some personal protective equipment on hand for use during a disaster (and for use in everyday life when needed).

20 Good Subreddits to Check Out

I can waste an inordinate amount of time on reddit.  When I am in the mood to find useful information on this site, however, I go to these subreddits:

1. Bug Out
2. Physic Garden
3. DIY
4. Guns
5. Collapse
6. Post Collapse
7. Frugal
8. Gardening
9. Survival
10. Financial Independence
11. Preppers
12. LifeProTips
13. Minimalism
14. MakeYourOwnGear
15. EDC
16. Homestead
17. Van Dwellers
18. Shoestring
19. Simple Living
20. Dumpster Diving

20 Reasons to Become a Survivalist

In my opinion everyone should be a survivalist to some degree.  Here's why:

1. Rising sea levels.
2. Ebola and other deadly diseases.
3. Social unrest.
4. Water shortages.
5. Rising food prices.
6. Rising temperatures.
7. Wars.
8. Solar flares and CMEs.
9. Increasing natural disasters.
10. Global food shortages.
11. Toxic water.
12. Toxic air.
13. EMP attack.
14. Biological warfare.
15. Asteroid threat.
16. Mass extinction.
17. Nanotech disaster.
18. Poisoning of the food supply.
19. Drugs that no longer work.
20. Economic collapse.

20 Tips to Prevent a Home Invasion

We've had a string of shootings over the past couple weeks including two home invasions here in Las Vegas.  One of the home invasions was by a person who knew the family in the house; there are no details yet on the shooter in the second home invasion.  Needless to say, such occurrences lead the news and freak out the neighbors and make everyone else wonder if such a thing could happen to them.  Here are some home invasion prevention tips:

1. Most home invasion robberies happen in bad neighborhoods.  Occasionally a high value target (aka a home in a very nice neighborhood) is burglarized or robbed but most crime happens in (duh) high crime areas.
2. Make it a habit to always lock your doors anytime you enter or leave your home.  Many crimes are crimes of opportunity and an unlocked door can be an irresistible opportunity to a criminal.
3. Keep your garage door and outbuilding doors locked unless you are immediately accessing them.
4. Make sure your windows are kept locked and make sure they are in good repair (not broken) as well as of good quality (low e double-pane windows as opposed to thin single pane windows).
5. Make sure your garage door and the doors to your home (front door, back door) are solid (ie sold wood or steel doors) with no windows and include dead bolt locks.
6. Have a fenced yard and make sure the fence is locked after you enter or leave your property.  This is another layer of deterrent for opportunistic criminals. 
7. Have a dog.  Even a small, yappy thing will be useful as an alarm when a stranger comes near your home.  A bigger dog is a bigger deterrent.
8. Install a security system (these are getting cheaper to buy and easier to install as each year passes).
9. Have a panic alarm system in your house that is both audible and alerts the police when pushed.
10. Keep anything of value out of sight unless you are using it.  A safe, cash, jewelry, electronics and other small and attractive items should not be left laying around where the kid's friends and/or service people who come to your house can see/grab them or decided to come back at night and steal them.
11. Don't brag about what you have and instill this in your children as well.  If people think you have a safe full of cash and gold, word will get around and someone will decide they should come and relieve you of your valuable stuff, sometimes at gun point.
12. Have flood lights that can illuminate all parts of your property.  Have these and other exterior lights on a motion sensor as well so they will light up if someone enters your property.
13. Keep your property in good condition (no overgrown bushes, no stacks of flyers on the front stoop, etc).  You want your property to look well cared for and obviously lived in.
14. Look at your landscaping as another line of defense.  You don't want to have a trellis or tall, easily climbable tree that will allow easy access to the second floor of your home.  You do want to have roses or other thorny shrubs under the lower level windows of your home to make entry more difficult.
15. Don't leave your keys, cell phone, and wallet where they can be seen from the front door or through a window.
16. Keep your blinds closed at night (if you don't do this, with the lights on at night, anyone walking by can clearly see what you and your family are doing).
17. Be aware of what is happening around your neighborhood.  Know who your neighbors are, notice anyone who doesn't belong in your neighborhood, notice cars that drive by and people who walk by, videotape anything unusual, etc.
18. Always do a check when leaving your home and before going to bed.  Check all doors and windows to make sure they are locked, set the alarm, make sure the stove is turned off and security lights are on, etc.
19. If someone knocks on your door, you don't have to open it.  Yell through the door and tell the person you aren't interested in what they have to sell.  This way, they know someone is home but they don't have an easy entry into the home if their purpose is robbery.
20. Have a stash of firearms and know how to use them.  Unfortunately, when it comes down to it, if someone is coming after you with a gun, your only defense is a gun of your own.  At this point the police will be too far away and the assailant will probably be beyond reasoning with.

More good tips here.

A Quick Weekend Trip

I took a quick, unexpected trip this weekend but all was well, in large part due to these basic travel tips:

1. As I posted previously, everything I need for travel is in one spot so I can be packed and on the road within about ten minutes if necessary.
2. I pack my one bag (a 30l backpack) the same way every time.  I can find anything I need, even in the dark, if necessary.
3. I unpack that one bag at my hotel the exact same way as well so that, you guessed it, I can find anything I need, even in the dark if necessary.
4. I keep enough cash on hand that I can leave for a weekend trip without having to go to the bank or find an ATM (although I nearly always use credit cards to pay for things when I travel, it is still a good idea to have cash on hand when you travel).
5. When I arrive at my destination I do a quick inspection (check the fire exits, walk around the perimeter of the property where I will be staying, etc) and make a few friends (tipping well but not excessively at the valet, front desk, restaurants, etc).
6. I have general travel apps on my phone (Google maps, Waze, XE, Kindle) then add others as needed (local transit apps, etc).
7. I keep my eating habits (I eat similarly to what I do at home, rarely splurging on fancy restaurants) and exercise habits (walking six to ten miles a day) basically the same when I am on the road.
8. These days I don't do the tourist stuff or buy souvenirs.  If there are hoards of tourists I happily head the other way (if I absolutely need to visit a tourist attraction I try to get there very early).  And souvenir crap is pretty much the same the world over so my only "souvenirs" are things I want/need that I buy at my destination (quality shoes or clothing, etc).
9. Unlike 30 or 40 years ago, everything you need to do can be done from wherever you are (banking, bill paying, shopping via Amazon, even working).
10. Most importantly, pack light.  I see people schlepping their crap (at 50+ pounds per suitcase and multiple suitcases) and have to shake my head.  With a single, carry-on sized backpack, I can be in and out anywhere (airplanes, rental cars, hotels, shops) with a minimum of effort and fuss while other people are still trying to get the wheels on their suitcase to point in the right direction. 

Medical Concerns During a Disaster

It would be nice to be in optimal physical condition when a disaster strikes but as the population continues to get older, fatter, and sicker, the reality, for many people, is that they will have to deal with any disaster that arises in less than stellar condition.  Not only will this impact their ability to respond to said disaster but all of the things that go along with being old, fat, and sick will also come into play after a disaster.  Here are some things to consider, and prepare for now, if you fall into any of these categories or care for someone who does:

• If someone has any sort of in-home life support equipment (ventilator, CPAP, etc), what would happen if the power is out for an extended period of time?  
• If someone relies on regular oxygen delivery, what would happen if these deliveries couldn't be made?
• If someone needs regular prescription medication, what would happen if they couldn't get this medication for weeks or longer?
• If someone relies on glasses or contacts to see, hearing aids to hear, or dentures to eat, what would happen if these items were lost or destroyed?
• If someone is wheelchair-bound, how would they be able to escape from a damaged building after an earthquake or other disaster that impeded their ability to be mobile?
• If someone uses adult diapers or liquid nutrition such as Ensure, what would happen if they couldn't purchase these items for an extended period of time?
• If someone were quite obese, how would they be able to evacuate a disaster area or destroyed home if the roads were closed?
• If an elderly or ill person relies on home healthcare, what would they do if their care provider couldn't get to their home for an extended period of time?

...you get the idea.

In the event of a major disaster, like a Hurricane Katrina which wipes out all infrastructure/medical facilities/pharmacies/stores or an earthquake which levels an entire city, the above situations will happen to a percentage of the population,  It is up to each person who sees themselves or their loved ones in these scenarios to plan now for such an eventuality.

Besides discussing these concerns with your healthcare provider who may have some ideas to help, consider a range of alternatives.  In the case of the examples above:

• Have a generator for emergency electricity and have an early evacuation plan in place.
• Stockpile additional oxygen or have a portable oxygen concentrator.
• Stockpile as much prescription medication possible (doctors will often provide a prescription for a 90 day supply if asked).
• Keep old glasses, hearing aids, and/or dentures for emergency use when you get new items.
• Someone who is wheelchair-bound may want to consider early evacuation if possible as well as have neighbors who could check on them after a disaster and offer assistance if needed.
• For necessary supplies, buying a bit extra each week with the regular shopping can equal a significant stockpile eventually.
• The simple answer for those who are obese is to lose weight although that isn't always so simple.  Even walking every day starting with twenty feet at a time can make a difference when disaster strikes.
• For those who rely on home healthcare, this concern should be brought up with the healthcare agency as many have disaster plans in place.  Also, if possible, family members should learn the basic skills to care for the person if possible.

My (Non Existent) BOB

For years and years I had a BOB (bug out bag) at the ready.  In fact I had multiple BOBs including one in my home, one in my office, and one in each vehicle we owned (sometimes up to four or five cars at the same time).  Needless to say that was A LOT of redundancy.

Since retiring and minimizing all that we own, I have also minimized my BOBs.  To the point of non-existence.  Of course I have a small emergency kit in my vehicle as well as food and water (it's a desert here after all), but as for having a BOB in my closet...it isn't there any more.

Instead, I have a closet (not the giant master bedroom closet as the spouse claimed that one...and two closets downstairs but I digress...).  The closet in one of our spare bedrooms is now the hub of my (much minimized) packing center.  From this closet I can be packed for everything from an overnight trip to a distant city to a week of backpacking, a day's long distance walk, or an immediate bug out, all in under five minutes.

In the middle is a stacked row of backpacks from a 65l Gregory Z 65 to a 19l REI Stoke with a half dozen choices in between.  On the far left are shoes, where I can pick one pair or multiple pairs (one on my feet, a pair of flip flops and/or Tevas in the bag). Next to the shoes are clothes.  Daily use clothes are on the shelves in the middle, up above are outdoor clothes, and below are (a few) dress clothes.  Since I travel often I can grab a complete wardrobe for any occasion in minutes.

To the right of the backpacks is a set of drawers that hold a range of travel items.  Among these is a case containing toiletries, a first aid kit, a day walking bag, and an "office" bag which contains my passport, travel scissors, sewing kit, mini Sharpie, etc.  There is also an assortment of outdoor gear (tent, Jet Boil, Sawyer Squeeze, etc) in the lower drawers and a sleeping bag sits on the shelf above this case.

On top of the case is where I put my daily carry items each evening when I return home (wallet, cell phone, keys, tablet, etc).

I can grab the above items in minutes, take another couple minutes to grab some food and bottled water in the pantry (outdoor food has its own shelf) as well as a firearm and ammo on the way out the door and be on my way to "bugging out" in less than ten minutes.

While this may seem unconventional to hard core preppers, it works for me.  There isn't the massive amount of redundancy and everything I need can be packed together in minutes.  This also allows for configuring exactly what I need for any occasion.

5 Important News Items

In no particular order...

1. This guy needs to be found.  While I am a fan of survivalists, people who ambush cops (or anyone else for that matter) deserve to be taken out at rapidly as possible.
2. If you live in the Southwest, the flash floods are coming.  Be prepared.
3. Troops are being sent to West Africa to help fight Ebola.  Sounds like a pretty bad idea to me.  Sending troops into a war zone is one thing, sending them into a viral hot zone is quite another.
4. This was a surprise.
5. This is a travesty.  Someone breaks into my house in the middle of the night and I too would shoot first and ask questions later.

10 Reasons to Have a Passport

I've had a passport since I was a teenager and am always surprised at how many people don't have one.  Here's ten reasons why you should have one:

1. It is definitive identification.  A license shows you exist and that you can drive a car but a passport shows your citizenship.
2. You never know when you will need to bug out to another country.
3. It is a good type of ID to use when you don't want to show your address (good for privacy).
4. They last for ten years and are easily renewed.
5. More than half of Americans don't have a passport.  In this case it is good to be in the minority.
6. It's better than a passport card (which allows you to travel by land or sea to neighboring countries but not air which means if you drive to Mexico but need to be medivac-ed out you will be out of luck).
7. If you are applying for a job that requires international travel you will be all set (instead of the hassle and fees of getting an expedited passport).
8. Passport fees keep going up so get one now and save money.
9. It is one way to prove citizenship for children who fall under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (INA 320/322).
10. World travel should be required of everyone just for the education you receive when doing so. 

10 (Cheap) Places to Acquire Your Survival Gear

Some of my favorite places to shop online...

1. REI Outlet
2. Steep and Cheap
3. Sierra Trading Post
4. Backcountry Outlet
5. Moosejaw
6. Amazon
7. Campmor
8. Minimus
9. Cheaper Than Dirt
10. Bargain Outfitters

Fueling Yourself for an Emergency

It's interesting how people worry about fuel--in the literal sense of the word--when it comes to a disaster (they keep extra fuel for their cars, camp stoves, and generators) yet the most important type of fuel--that which powers their body--is generally an afterthought.

When I ask someone what kind of emergency food they have on hand, I am occasionally surprised to learn that some people think a case of ramen and a case of beer will tide them over until they can get some "real food" after a disaster.  While ramen is cheap and in some cases (mostly for broke college students) it is considered a staple, the massive physical effort it takes to recover from a disaster warrants much better sources of fuel for your body.

Regardless of what you eat now (high fat, low fat, paleo, keto, vegan, etc), after a disaster you will need two things.  #1 a stockpile of food since grocery stores will either be empty or closed or both, and #2 a variety of food that covers the fats/proteins/carbs spectrum.  Note: if you want to see what the human body can consume after days and months of strenuous physical activity just hit up a buffet restaurant near the end of the Appalachian Trail in the fall during which "calorie deficit" meets all you can eat.  It's rather quite a spectacle.

So if all you can afford to stock up on now is a case of ramen, that's better than nothing, but your goal should be to stockpile a range of quality foods that will meet your (possibly excessive) calorie needs that you are likely to experience during the rescue and recovery aspects of a disaster. Note: if you think you can hunt and fish your way to daily meals after TSHTF, forgeddaboutit.  Game is particularly uncooperative when you most need to eat.

Here's what you want to stockpile (note that most of these items can easily be rotated into your regular food supply, be used as a generous donation at your local food bank, or thrown together to feed an unexpected crowd at the last minute.  Note also that you want to stockpile food you actually like to eat because after a disaster, food serves not only to nourish your body but also lends some comfort to your soul).

--MREs and backpacker style freeze-dried foods (not my first choice of stuff to eat but these items have a very long shelf life and can be reasonably well rounded...and filled with a ton of sodium but I digress...)
--canned stuff you like to eat (soup, chili, tuna, salmon, spam, vegetables, fruits, beans, pasta sauce)
--dried stuff (instant soups, jerky, dried fruit, powdered milk, powdered eggs, powdered butter, dried mushrooms, instant rice, pasta like couscous, instant potatoes, instant oatmeal)
--quick eating stuff (nuts, seeds, granola bars, candy, cookies and crackers, cereals)
--fats (peanut butter, olive oil)
--spices (salt, pepper, garlic, chili powder, any spices you usually use)
--staples (flour, sugar, corn meal, lard or shortening, Bisquick, baking soda, baking powder, yeast, honey)
--beverages (instant coffee, tea, whiskey, Gatorade powder)
--exotic stuff (dried seaweed, canned coconut milk, dried tofu, fish flakes)

The bottom line: after a disaster you won't be making elaborate "home cooked" meals.  You will want things that are simple to prepare and simple to eat.  Even boiling water may be too much to do sometimes so eating something right out of the can will be preferable.  Should a disaster last a longer time then you may get all "old timey" with your cooking but while the camp cook out looked rather romantic in old movies (and can be rather tasty on a well-stocked camping trip) such elaborate preparations will be the exception rather than the rule.

25 Fall Tasks

I was reminded that for many people in the US it is now fall, not by looking out my window (it's still 100 degrees in Vegas) but because I saw the first snowfall in Denver on the news.  I guess it is about that time again...

Here are 25 fall tasks to prepare you and your family for fall:

1. Get your house ready for winter.  Add weatherstripping and insulation, clean out gutters, clear the downspouts, get the fireplace/wood stove ready for use, have the chimney cleaned, check the roof and fix any problem areas, etc.
2. Get your yard and garden ready for winter.  Clean up your garden and add a cover crop, clean up the yard and get rid of debris, bring the outdoor furniture in, do maintenance on your tools and yard equipment, cut down trees in danger of falling during a storm, etc.
3. Have your heating system serviced and change all HVAC filters in your home.
4. Change the batteries in all fire detectors when you change the clocks back in October.
5. Hold a fire drill with the family, an earthquake drill, and a lock down drill.
6. Rotate your emergency water stockpile.
7. Rotate and bulk up your emergency food stockpile.
8. Get your car ready for winter (change the oil, replace wiper blades, check your tires, get your snow tires or chains ready to use, make sure the emergency kit in your car is stocked, check the anti-freeze, etc).
9. Make sure all of your home emergency supplies are ready to go (fuel for gas cook stove, replace batteries in all flashlights, make sure battery-operated radios have fresh batteries, candles and matches are stocked, you have fuel for your alternative heat source, you have a fully stocked first aid kit, etc).
10. If you participate in hunting season, make sure your hunting rifles are cleaned and in good working order and that they are sighted in.  Get a current hunting license and plan your fall hunting trips.
11. If you use firewood, cut your own or buy more then rotate your seasoned wood for winter use.
12. Review you and your family's winter clothing; make sure all are in good condition and fit properly.
13. Winterize outdoor faucets and/or irrigation systems.
14. Be sure to have cash on hand in case the power goes out for an extended period of time and you can't use an ATM to get cash.
15. Stockpile emergency items in case the power goes out and you can't get to the store (toilet paper, diapers and formula, dog food, medication, etc).
16. Keep a supply of disaster repair items on hand: duct tape, tarps, rope, plastic sheeting, heavy duty garbage bags, 5 gallon buckets, work gloves, etc.
17. Make a "sick kit".  Include a thermometer, canned soup, tea bags, TheraFlu or similar medication, cough drops, boxes of tissue, lip balm, Gatorade or Pedialite, etc.
18. Put together a kit of things to do when the power goes out.  Include books, board games, coloring books and crayons for the kids, and other activities that don't require electricity.
19. Stock up now as food items go on sale for items needed during the holiday: baking items, Thanksgiving dinner items, Halloween candy, Christmas dinner items, etc.
20. Start Christmas shopping (starting early makes the financial impact less painful than doing all of your shopping the week before Christmas).
21. Make a plan to keep up your fitness activities into the fall and winter (join a gym or YMCA if you can't exercise outside, buy proper clothing to allow you to continue outdoor fitness activities in cold and wet weather, prep for winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding).
22. Be sure your home has a carbon monoxide detector and be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, especially during the winter.
23. Consider taking a couple of fall and winter camping trips to expand your survival skills.
24. Be prepared for: a fire in your home (do you have a fire extinguisher?), iced over walkways and driveways (do you have sand or salt on hand?), high snowfall (do you have a snow shovel? chains for your vehicle?), an extended power outage (do you have an alternative heat source? no-cook food on hand?).
25. Be prepared for the most common weather emergencies specific to your area.  Is it flooding?  Snow and ice storms?  Hurricanes?

Remembering 9/11

Take a minute today to remember those lost 13 years ago on September 11, 2001.  Nearly 3,000 people were killed in four coordinated terrorist attacks on American soil.  The attacks also killed more than 400 firefighters and law enforcement officers.  I know I will never forget waking up to the news of the attack during the early morning of September 11th and watching the second pane crash into the World Trade Center.  Since that time, American life has changed drastically--from the limitations imposed at airports to the overarching surveillance programs put into place.  It definitely culminated into a loss of a number of freedoms for Americans.

5 Things To Be Concerned About This Week

In no particular order...

1. Thursday is Patriot's Day (aka 9/11).  There are unconfirmed rumors of possible terrorist attacks to mark the occasion.
2. Enterovirus.  And other public health concerns (like Ebola, the upcoming flu season, etc).
3. The weather.  As usual...
4. The knock out game.  Which doesn't seem very "game" like and should be immediately terminated at the business end of your favorite concealed carry weapon.
5. Internet Slow Down Day and net neutrality.  It's today.

Are You Prepared for These Unexpected Financial Emergencies?

Aside from being a very busy summer, I also ran into quite a few unexpected situations where my emergency fund did/may in the future come in handy.  Many of these things are situations that I hadn't even considered or planned for:

• My brother, after years of hard living, ended up in the hospital multiple times this summer.  While I am glad that he appears to be on the mend now, a thought that hadn't previously crossed my mind is “what would happen if he were to die?”  Obviously an unpleasant thought which I hope doesn't happen for quite a while but it dawned on me that he never has two nickels to rub together (ditto for all of my siblings and relatives on that side of the family) so it would probably fall to me to pay for his funeral/burial/cremation/etc.  If your immediate family member (parent, sibling, child, etc) were to suddenly die would they be able to afford the cost of a funeral/burial or would this responsibility fall on you and your emergency fund?
• If you or your spouse were to die suddenly, do you have enough money in your emergency fund to cover the cost of funeral/burial expenses?  This though quickly went through my mind as I was sliding over a boulder at Blood Mountain on the AT wondering if I was going to careen over the edge and die or just break some important part of my anatomy.  Fortunately neither happened.
• If you were suddenly to become injured, could your emergency fund support you through recuperation and rehab in case you couldn't work?  I am hoping you have disability insurance but many people don’t and with more and more people working hourly jobs that don’t even pay sick leave or annual leave, one broken limb or extended illness could sink one into destitution.  This thought crossed my mind as my hiking buddy was covering a particularly treacherous stretch of trail and I realized he would be starting a new contract job the following week and wasn't covered by any sort of sick leave.  No work would equal no pay which is when a person would be mighty glad to have an emergency fund to fall back on.  Fortunately this possible tragedy didn't happen either.
• What happens if travel plans change?  Whether you travel for work or pleasure, on a family vacation or for a family emergency, it is always possible that travel plans can change and with many tickets (air/train/hotel/bus) being non-refundable these days, do you have the extra cash in your emergency fund to cover such contingencies?  This thought came to mind when I had the great idea to take a Greyhound bus thorough the South in order to see the sights (bad idea on a number of levels) and was looking at spending the night in the downtown Atlanta bus station due to a delayed bus (again, a bad idea on a number of levels).  Fortunately I had left padding in my budget for this trip that would have allowed me to take a cab to the airport and fly to my final destination and even if I hadn't done this I would still have had an emergency fund to fall back on which many other stranded passengers apparently didn't have.  Again, things worked out in the end but it was nice to have the reassurance that money could have bought me out of a tight situation.
• When a weather disaster happens, do you have the emergency funds to see you through the crisis?  There have been all kinds of weather challenges this summer from storms to flooding (lots of flooding) to heatwaves that knock out power—and thus cooling—for days.  Many people simply suffer in silence when these things happen and depend on the Red Cross for particularly serious situations.  However, with a fat and fluffy emergency fund, you can, again, buy your way into, if not a full recovery, at least a more comfortable existence while you wait to get back on track (like a hotel stay instead of camping in your yard, a nice restaurant meal instead of what you can scrounge at the local 7-11, a portable air conditioner while yours is shut down, etc).
• What happens if your exquisitely planned and tightly budgeted epic adventure of a lifetime doesn't work out as expected?  When you hike by Neels Gap on the Appalachian Trail you will see boots and more boots hanging from trees in front of the hostel/store.  The reason?  According to the guys who work at the store, this is about the point in the trail when thru hikers (who usually start their 2000+ mile walk in April) start tossing gear and rebuying stuff to replace everything they had carried since the start of the trail that didn't work.  So the folks who barely have enough funds to cover the entire trip are left to suffer with heavy , useless gear while those with emergency funds can easily (but not cheaply—have you seen the price of new gear these days???) replace what doesn't work with items that do and be on their way again.
• And then there is Mexico.  I spent a bit of the summer in Mexico and didn't even need to bribe anyone this time which was nice.  Of course, as an American, you are going to end up paying more than the locals for many things but that’s just how it is.  More importantly (and not only pertaining to Mexico) is the fact that an emergency fund is almost a necessity in countries where bribery, corruption, and serious legal problems are the rule instead of the exception.  Money talks and penniless tourists usually get the short end of the stick when things get complicated.
• How’s your food stockpile?  I haven’t shopped for regular groceries in months but as soon as we got back home it was time to hit the stores.  And the prices on everything from dairy products to meat and even dry goods has indeed increased in only a few months, some exponentially so.  While I am hoping your usual food budget will stretch to cover the increase in food prices, having an emergency fund can come in handy when a food item that you usually eat comes up as a loss leader or at a great sale price at which time it just makes sense to spend the extra money and stockpile as much as you can reasonably store and eat in the foreseeable future.

Backpacking in the Summer Heat AND Humidity

Well I think my travels are finished for a while and with a busy summer of hiking and outdoor activities behind me, I offer these tips gleaned from a stint on the Appalachian Trail (as well as the promise of more regular blogging in the future):

1. Don't think popular trails like the AT are "easy".  I had heard from a number of people that the AT was pretty easy compared to the PCT due to the lack of significant elevation gain.  It isn't true.  While there aren't huge mountains to conquer, the terrain is quite challenging in its own right (lots of rocks, lots of boulders, lots of partially buried roots on the trail, climbing over and under downed trees, and sections deemed "pretty rugged" in journals kept at many shelters.
2. Break in your boots (and improve your physical fitness) ahead of time.  Blisters suck and so does the big purple toenail that I will probably lose due to wearing lightweight trail runners over a particularly difficult patch of trail that would have been better done with heavier boots (although trail runners work on most trails I hike on but live and learn I guess...).  Darn Tough socks, however, have my everlasting appreciation.
3. Use trekking poles!  I would probably be waiting in line for an orthopedic surgeon to replace both knees if I hadn't used good quality trekking poles.
4. There's bears.  We could smell them at various places along the trail and hear them occasionally as well but no actual sightings.  Not being the chattery sort of hiker, I am assuming the constant clicking of my trekking poles gave them enough warning of my eventual presence.  Bear spray is a good idea, bear bagging your food and toiletries is imperative. 
5. High heat and high humidity can lead to dehydration and exhaustion just as easily as hiking in dry desert environs.  Drink copious amounts of water, travel in the early morning or early evening, keep some re-hydration salts in your pack, use sunscreen, and wear cotton.
6. Pack light.  The Mountain Crossing store at Neels Gap had a suitably impressive collection of ultra lightweight hiking gear seemingly in the middle of nowhere (similar to well stocked REI stores that you would find in urban areas).  When I asked about this, the guy working the desk said it was at about this point in the trail that hikers were paring gear down from what they thought they would need (read ultra heavy packs full of all kinds of crap) to the very basics of lightweight gear.  Start light and both your back and your legs will thank you.
7. Pace yourself.  I was pretty shocked that while I can easily walk 20+ miles over even terrain in a day, the difficult and at times steep trail slowed me down considerably.  And then I saw this blog post from a guy I know who is in ultra-fit condition and didn't feel so bad about my abilities or lack thereof.
8. Be aware of the weather.  Cell reception was pretty good on many parts of the trail and while it is only considerate to turn the volume off on your cell to keep from annoying everyone else on the trail, having (and using) some weather apps is a very good idea as the combination of high heat and high humidity often leads to storms in the afternoon (and thus the necessity to take cover).
9. Know the danger signs of heat illness and what to do about them.  When it is really hot and really humid, your body will have a difficult time keeping itself cool often resulting in dehydration, heat stroke, and other heat-related illnesses (even death!) so learn how to cure/prevent these problems before you head out and, if possible, hike with others who can help gauge each others symptoms which may not be readily apparent to the victim.
10. Finally, knowing basic hiking skills is a necessity.  Have first aid skills, map and compass skills (even though the trail is blazed pretty well), water purification skills, fire starting skills, etc.