September 30th, 2011 at 10:10 am (survival skills, urban survival, the human path, texas outdoor education, Outdoor Fitness and Self Defense, outdoor survival, scouting, disaster preparedness, readiness, survival scenario)
Part 2:
I neglected to give a time of year for this. Let's say it's December. That doesn't change anything in the discussion for Part 1 though - in fact traveling at night means you can stay warm on top of everything else. This makes it a little easier for us to deal with the water issue too since we can stay cool even during the day.
You are now traveling at night as discussed in part 1. You need to travel south/southwest and know most of the back roads you want to take. However you haven't driven on some of them ever... just know them from maps, and everything always looks different on foot, and especially at night. Even familiar roads. You need to keep track of your general direction. You know the north star, but because there's a half moon out, there's too much light pollution to be able to see it or find it easily. There are a couple of easy things you could look for that you know of, especially in this latitude. You've been walking in the dark for about 5 hours, and when you look up ahead of you, you are walking toward the following constellation:
Question 3: What is the name of this constellation?
Question 4: Are you walking in the general correct direction?
You know another way to tell direction at night time based on the moon at around this time of night. The moon was already in the sky before sunset, you noticed, and you remember that means its illuminated side is pointing to one of the compass directions.
Question 5: What direction does the illuminated side of the moon face if the moon rises before sunset?
Question 6: What direction does the illuminated side of the moon face if it rises after midnight?
The next part of this disaster scenario will be posted next week. Post your comments here and we will reply at the end of the day with feedback.
To see the first part of this disaster scenario, check out Episode 057.
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September 29th, 2011 at 11:41 am (survival skills, urban survival, the human path, texas outdoor education, Outdoor Fitness and Self Defense, outdoor survival, disaster preparedness, readiness, economic collapse, survival scenario)
**This scenario exercise is from a previous Facebook discussion this past summer. However we have many new listeners and fans that we would like to share this sample scenario with.
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Part 1: You are in a southern or southwestern state - let's say central, south or west TX, within a few hundred miles of the Mexican border. There has been a technological and social breakdown to the extent that there is virtually no law and order as far as you know, anywhere in the country. You have had no communication available to you for at least a few days (one-way or two-way) so you're not sure what's going on outside of your region, but there were people looting, killing and dying as you got out of the urban area you were in. |
| You drove your car as far as you dared, but even that was dangerous because of clogged highways and high amounts of violence on and around any high-traffic areas. People moving the opposite way have been talking about heavily armed, Mexican drug lord type convoys moving north to take whatever they need and want as they roll through towns. You're on foot now, with some basic survival gear (no weapon except your survival knife), about 7K calories worth of food and 3 quarts of water and decent hiking clothing that will suffice for the terrain.
You are determined to make it to your sister's house to join up with her & the rest of your family. She lives about 50 miles southwest of where you are now. You know the general area, which is arid, but not completely dry. Sparse desert woodlands, small farms, small, rocky canyons and desert scrub make up the general terrain you will be moving through on foot.
Question 1: What do you consider to be your most critical survival need?
A: Food
B: Water
C: Security
D: Shelter
E: Fire
Question 2: Do you think you should travel during the day or during the night? Why?
You can post your answers here on the podcast comments board. We'll reply with feedback at the end of the day.
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September 28th, 2011 at 5:28 pm (the human path, texas outdoor education, martial arts, Outdoor Fitness and Self Defense, tracking, nature spiritulity, scouting)
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"Awareness" is a term that is used in many different contexts. For instance, "Situational Awareness" is a term used to often describe an awareness that is specific to self-defense. In another context, "Sensory Awareness" refers to an awareness of your outer environment through your 5 (or more) senses.
In this episode, Sam Coffman talks about the importance of awareness in general and demonstrates an exercise to help you become more aware. |
Adaptability and awareness are two of the most important survival concepts you can integrate into your daily life. Adaptability requires skills and knowledge (and practice), whereas awareness really just requires practice, and is something you can do on your own, right now. Plus it doesn't even cost anything! 
One exercise that will help you integrate more awareness into your own life involves a breathing exercise that is based on the concept of "Chi Kung." This breathing & awareness exercise that Sam talks you through will help you:
- Enter a heightened state of relaxed awareness
- Learn to work with your own breathing in order to gain greater sensory awareness of your external world
- Use breathing and relaxation to become more self-aware
This is one of the awareness exercises we work with at the Primitive Core Basic, and is very easy to learn and begin integrating into your own daily routine if you would like to improve your personal awareness levels.
Awareness is a skill or practice that is very important to the Scout specialty. To check out the scout fitness and awareness classes, show up at this first Scout Fitness class of the fall: http://www.meetup.com/san-antonio-wilderness-living-and-survival/events/35366222/
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September 27th, 2011 at 1:35 pm (survival skills, urban survival, the human path, texas outdoor education, herbology, the combat medic, outdoor survival, trauma medicine, field medicine, disaster preparedness, readiness, health and nutrition)
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As part of a comprehensive first aid kit, herbs can play a valuable role either with trauma wounds or with preventative care that is important to keep you in good condition wherever you may be. Human Path Wilderness First Aid instructor Sam Coffman discusses some of the herbs he routinely carries in his own first aid kit, and what he uses them for. |
Today's podcast covers the basic herbal first aid kit:
- how to store your herbs: what kind of container you should use and where to find them online and how to keep the herbs fresh.
- Methods of preserving the herbs to keep them potent for 1 yr to 18 months. Basic methods include: drying, creating a tincture, forming a salve, linament or syrup.
- ***Very important note: always rotate the herbs/goods used in your first aid kit so that they are used either in daily life or as needed for first-aid emergencies. This prevents them from going bad.
Also, a discussion of the herbal contents of Sam's first aid kit and some of his favorite herbs and formulas:
- ***another important note. Herbs are not meant to be taken every single day. The useage should be limited and taken correctly.
- The difference between simples (single herbs) vs. formulas (a complex mixture of supportive herbs)
- Formulas that Sam normally includes: Lymph and Cold/Flu for preventative care; cough syrup that is both stimulating and relaxing for the lungs, a wound and burn powder, salves and spray linaments.
- Herbs that he routinely uses: echinacea, agarita, oregon grape, pleurisy, mullein, horehound, plantain, osha root, yarrow, shepherds purse, ginger and chaparral to name a few.
Want to learn more about working with herbs? The 2012 Herbology courses will be posted soon. Make sure you are on the email list to get class registration times/dates.
Ready to test your skills? What would a natural disaster or structural breakdown be like? How would you respond? Would you know how to help yourself or your loved ones? Find out at the Disaster Relief Scenario on November 17th. Online registration.
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September 26th, 2011 at 2:11 pm (survival skills, texas outdoor education, herbology, outdoor survival, trauma medicine, field medicine, disaster preparedness, readiness, health and nutrition)
Using materials you have available can help you in a first-aid situation. |
Finding yourself in need of medical care far away from the convenience of emergency clinics can be unnerving, but you can make a stressful situation much better if you are prepared. Having a small first aid kit in your car or with you when you are out can be a lifesaver. Human Path Wilderness First Aid instructor Sam Coffman explains what should be in every basic first aid kit. |
- your personal first aid kit should reflect your own skill level and modality. Don't have items you don't know how to use
- The basic first aid kit should be:
- waterproof or water-resistant if possible
- lightweight
- have a protective cover or exterior
- be easy to open up and spread the items out quickly
- The order that you access items from your first aid kit is very important. Make sure items to stop bleeding and clean wounds out is readily accessible
- The components of a basic first aid kit: this list is the most basic for allopathic items. An herbal list will follow in the next podcast. Some basic items should include: band aids, guaze pads, tapes, ace wraps, kravats, needles, latex gloves, scisssors, alcohol wraps, moleskin and more.
The Human Path teaches Wilderness First Aid Certification several times a year. To get the 2012 course calendar, learn more about the WFA program or be notified about upcoming classes, join the email newsletter list here.
Tomorrow's podcast will cover the items that can be included in an herbal first aid kit. Stay tuned!
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September 23rd, 2011 at 12:42 pm (Uncategorized)
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There have been an abundance of recent natural disasters recently, all over the country. How prepared are you to deal with an abrupt disaster or power failure event? When the power goes out, what do you do? Today's 2nd Quick And Prepared podcast is a brief overview on buying generators, by Human Path instructor Sam Coffman. |
This is the conclusion of a two-part discussion on generators. Generators can be an essential and simple way to provide backup power for both short and long-term power disruptions, as long as the correct generator is chosen for your energy needs.This segment covers what you need to know before buying:
- Batteries: car vs. deep well batteries -- how long each is good for and what they are best suited for
- the important things to consider when buying your own generator
- fuel costs
- fuel storage: how long will it last
- noise output: how conspicious will your generator be in a situation where you need to go unnoticed?
- general cost of the generator
- life span of the generator
- most common types of generators along with their pros and cons
- gasoline
- diesel
- propane
- solar
- Pricing of generators and what you should expect
Coming up in November 2011: Disaster relief scenario. A real-life scenario of situations you might have to deal with in a disaster situation like Hurricane Katrina or another natural disaster.
Learn how to take care of yourself and those you love in stressful situations to stay safe, secure and provided for. The 2012 Human Path schedule will be posted soon. Get on our newsletter list to find out about membership, early sign-up discounts and upcoming classes!
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September 22nd, 2011 at 3:28 pm (survival skills, urban survival, the human path, disaster preparedness, readiness, power shortage)
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There have been an abundance of recent natural disasters recently, all over the country. How prepared are you to deal with an abrupt disaster or power failure event? When the power goes out, what do you do? Today's Quick And Prepared podcast is a brief overview on generators, by Human Path instructor Sam Coffman. |
This will be a two-part discussion on generators. Generators can be an essential and simple way to provide backup power for both short and long-term power disruptions, as long as the correct generator is chosen for your energy needs. The first segment will cover wattage needs:
- Generators provide essential power for both communication devices and security needs
- By determining your 'power footprint', or the amount of wattage you need to power your own specific appliances, you can determine what kind of generator you will need
- A quick run-through of appliances and estimated wattage used to run them
- What is surge and how will it affect running more than one appliance from your generator?
- Generators vs. Power Invertors.
The 2nd half of this discussion will conclude with more information on choosing between invertors or generators as well as pricing and what to look for when you buy your own alternative power source.
Coming up in November 2011: Disaster relief scenario. A real-life scenario of situations you might have to deal with in a disaster situation like Hurricane Katrina or another natural disaster.
Learn how to take care of yourself and those you love in stressful situations to stay safe, secure and provided for. The 2012 Human Path schedule will be posted soon. Get on our newsletter list to find out about membership, early sign-up discounts and upcoming classes!
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September 20th, 2011 at 12:34 pm (survival skills, urban survival, the human path, Outdoor Fitness and Self Defense, disaster preparedness, readiness, economic collapse)
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Fernando "FerFAL" Aguirre's book is a Modern Survival Manual based on first hand experience of the 2001 Economic Collapse in Argentina. In it you will find a variety of subjects that I consider essential if a person wants to be prepared for tougher times: -How to prepare your family, yourself, your home and your vehicle, how to prepare your finances so that you don't suffer what millions in my country went through, |
| how to prepare your supplies for food shortages and power failures, how to correctly fight with a chair, gun, knife, pen or choke with your bare hands if required; and most importantly, how to reach a good awareness level so that you can avoid having to do all that. These are just a few examples of what you will find in this book. It's about Attitude, and being a more capable person and get the politically correct wimp out of your system completely.
Today's podcast continues to discuss how to cope with a societal/economic breakdown. Fernando and Sam discuss:
- What are your options at the point that you want to pull away from mainstream society because of economic and social breakdown?
- The importance of attitude in survival and self defense
- The importance of physical conditioning for survival
- The sad truth about the mechanisms of control in the USA and every other society
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September 19th, 2011 at 12:40 pm (survival skills, urban survival, the human path, disaster preparedness, economic collapse)
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Fernando "FerFAL" Aguirre's book is a Modern Survival Manual based on first hand experience of the 2001 Economic Collapse in Argentina. In it you will find a variety of subjects that I consider essential if a person wants to be prepared for tougher times: -How to prepare your family, yourself, your home and your vehicle, how to prepare your finances so that you don't suffer what millions in my country went through, |
| how to prepare your supplies for food shortages and power failures, how to correctly fight with a chair, gun, knife, pen or choke with your bare hands if required; and most importantly, how to reach a good awareness level so that you can avoid having to do all that. These are just a few examples of what you will find in this book. It's about Attitude, and being a more capable person and get the politically correct wimp out of your system completely.
Fernando "FerFAL" Aguirre is a father, husband and survivalist who has lived through the Argentine socio-economic collapse of 2001, and the consequences such collapse had in the years that followed. He's the author of numerous articles found on line and is recognized among the survival and preparedness community for his personal experience and no-nonsense approach to survivalism. He's also the publisher and owner of "Surviving in Argentina", a blog he keep up with updated articles, posts as well as reports of the situation in Argentina.
Sam Coffman and Fernando Aguirre discuss the collapse of the economy and society in Argentina in 2001.
- The reality of an economic collapse (it doesn't just happen overnight)
- What happened to the money and the banks in Argentina and how did that effect the country?
- The importance of preparedness for the basic necessities
- The importance of home and personal defense
- How realistic is it to hide away in a remote bunker?
The 2nd part of this podcast will be released tomorrow and the discussion into one man's real-life survival of his country's economic collapse will continue. Think you're prepared? Perhaps what you're preparing for isn't what you think.
This book can be purchased at Amazon |
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September 16th, 2011 at 7:02 pm (the human path, texas outdoor education, martial arts, wild food sources, parkour, health and nutrition)
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Jonathan Jacob Lifvendahl is a personal trainer and fitness/conditioning coach in the Seattle area. He has an extensive background as a Professional Mixed Martial Artist, an MMA conditioning coach, a Muay Thai champion fighter and nutrition coach.
His website is located at www.dragon-conditioning.com. |
In today's episode, Sam and Johnathon discuss the role that nutrition plays in fitness and health:
- eating for nutrition, not for calories: how to eat as many nutrient-dense foods as possible rather than just calorie counting
- juicing techniques with macro-nutrients
- a primal food diet and forest gardening as a source of dense nutrition
- how making our food our medicine is a step towards getting back to where we should be as healthy humans
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