Mountain House Review Part 2: Freeze Dried Food

Hello everyone! Here's part 2 of the Mountain House freeze Dried Food Pouch review. Apologies for the delay. The audio track for the original footage I recorded a few weeks ago was barely audible & I havent had the chance to re-record till today. so here goes:

The preparation for this is pretty straightforward. Boil water (3/4 cup for this one), pour in pouch after removing the oxygen pack, stir, and seal back up. Let it sit for about 10 minutes then serve.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this as far as flavor goes but it was surprisingly tasty - not in a stale, been sitting around forever kind of tasty. It was pretty good.

I've tasted three different entrees so far and I like all of them. This kind of food supply would be beneficial for campers / hikers / RVers / Van dwellers / road trippers or just to have around the house for general preparedness reasons. I would even recommend this for people / families that go on road trips. I know with my family, we get sick and tired of eating the same thing when traveling so I think I'm going to have to take a box of these for our next trip.
It definitely wouldn't hurt to have a few of these in your pantry. It doesn't take up much room at all and the price for each pouch is reasonable.

Disclosure: Nitro-Pak did supply a few of these for review but this is not a paid advertisement meaning I did not receive cash compensation to do this review. I try to be fair and objective with any reviews I do because I'm a consumer too. I like to seek out reviews before I commit to a product and I would want bloggers & vloggers out there to do the same that way I know for sure if the product is worth purchasing or not. There, now that's out of the way. =)

Many thanks to Nitro-Pak for the samples.

Mountain House Freeze Dried Food Review - Part 1

 

First off, many thanks to Nitro-Pak for sending over products for review.

Disclaimer: All opinions are 100% mine. For all reviews, I try my best to be objective and honest about my impression of the product.

***

I received a few sample packets to try out so I started with the chili Mac with Beef. Preparation was pretty straightforward. Remove oxygen absorber from the pouch, add hot water, seal the pouch, and leave it alone to cook for a few minutes.
Afterwards, simply stir and serve.

As I've mentioned on the vlog, I was mainly concerned about it being to salty. I watch my sodium intake for health reasons and I don't eat a lot of processed foods so I was expecting this to be way too salty for my palate. On the contrary, this particular flavor was actually pretty tasty and didn't taste too salty for me. So I'm hoping the rest of the pouches will be just as good.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this video review with accompanying blog post where I'll actually record the preparation of one of these pouches and conclude with my final thoughts.

Stay tuned.

First-Aid Remedies: Straight From Your Kitchen

You don’t have to invest in a costly first aid kit to be prepared for a minor emergency. In fact, most people already have a wide variety of food ingredients in their kitchens that double as first aid remedies. Oatmeal, baking soda, vinegar, ice cubes, honey and milk are just a few items from the kitchen that can be used as treat minor ailment, and here's why!

Stop the Itch
Outdoor summer fun or work can lead to an itchy poison ivy or poison oak rash. Stop the itch and soothe the skin with plain oatmeal. Cook a small pot of old-fashioned oatmeal according to directions, adding no flavoring. Allow it to cool, then apply a thin layer of the oatmeal to the skin rash to stop the itch. To sooth all-over dry, itchy skin caused by sunburn or too much time spent in the salt water or chlorinated pool water, pour two cups of old-fashioned oatmeal into a tub of warm water and soak for 15 minutes.

Baking Soda Remedies
Got heartburn? Mix one-half teaspoon of baking soda in a small glass of water and drink to put out the fire. Bee sting or bug bite? Dip the tip of your finger in water, then dip it into baking soda and dab it onto any type of sting or bite to soothe the inflammation and stop the pain.

Vinegar
Vinegar is a disinfectant and will cleanse any minor wound, as well as rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Vinegar also kills nail fungus and promotes healing of minor cuts and scraps. Mix a few drops of white vinegar into baking soda to make a paste (mixture will foam) and spread onto large scraped areas or skin rashes for pain relief and to promote healing.

Ice Cubes
Every cook has (or will) burn their finger while cooking. An ice cube will cool the skin quickly after it has come into contact with a hot pot. Hold an ice cube on the burn for 15 seconds on, then 15 seconds off, until the pain subsides.

Honey
Raw, pure honey contains antibacterial properties and is great to coat, protect and promote healing of minor skin burns and abrasions. Apply a thin layer of honey to injured skin and cover with gauze to keep in place.
Honey also quiets a cough and soothes a sore throat. Swallow a spoonful of honey every hour or so to coat and soothe a sore, irritated throat and kill germs.

Cure Diaper Rash
An irritated baby’s bottom needs some quick first aid to stop the pain and crying. A little cow’s milk will soothe skin, stop the burn and promote healing. Gently wash the area with plain water to remove all urine, then soak a clean soft wash cloth in milk and gently place on the diaper rash area and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and let skin air-dry before re-diapering. Milk is a natural anti-inflammatory and will calm the inflammation on contact and begin to cure the diaper rash pronto.

Milk It!
The next time you get a heel blister from an ill-fitting shoe or a hand blister from a DIY project, soak a cotton ball in milk and hold it on the blister for 15 minutes to relieve the pain, prevent infection and promote healing.

Jose Jimenez writes all about natural health and home remedies. His recent work is on the best rn-bsn online programs in the US.

The Perfect First Aid Kit Suitable for Many Different Purposes

Note: Special thanks to Danielle McAnn for this blog post.


Every home should have a first aid kit, most people know this, but not many people actually have them. Even having the most basic of supplies in a household first aid kit could ward off tragedy, stopping a bad situation from becoming any worse. Situations like a bad cut could lead to drastic blood loss if not treated properly with the right supplies. To avoid this, it’s a good idea to buy a first aid kit or put one together yourself. Here are some of the basics to include in a good, all-purpose first aid kit:

- a first aid manual
- disposable gloves
- various adhesive and non-adhesive dressings
- adhesive tape
- assorted bandages (elastic, crepe, triangular)
- a splint
- antiseptic wipes and cream for burns and cuts
- saline solution
- scissors, tweezers and safety pins
- torch with batteries
- a face mask of some kind

Remember these are just the BASICS for a first aid kit, but there are so many other things you could add to make a more thorough kit, and it’s something to consider if you have young kids or someone in the family who works with dangerous tools as the risks are higher and more varied. In addition to being prepared with a first aid kit, you should also equip yourself with the right first aid knowledge, after all, the first aid kit is a little useless if you have no idea how to treat different injuries. Receiving training in first aid is relatively easy because there are so many places that offer short, concise courses, like First Aid Management. With the knowledge of how to treat allergic reaction, injuries, or even illness, you can reduce your medical costs and have the peace of mind that you know how to respond appropriately to an emergency situation.

CardSharp Credit Card Folding Knife (Budget EDC)

This is a quick look at the Cardshark folding knife. Purchased this for less than $10 on sale.

Some things I like about it:
Lightweight - weighs ~14gms
Fits perfectly in your wallet due to its credit card size dimensions.
Durable (so far) - I've carried this around in my wallet/pocket and so far no damage done to it.
Easy & safe to use - it has a lock for the blade so it doesn't accidentally flip on the open position. It turns into a knife in 4 motions - unlock safety, flip blade, fold smaller portion, fold large portion over that which clicks it into place.
Price (see above) - good for the budget conscious.

Some things I don't like about it:
There's only one actually - The final fold of the large portion to the smaller one doesn't always stay in place. After a couple of times, it pops open so you end up having to readjust your grip on the handle to keep it locked.

Here's a caveat: This knife might be awkward to handle for those who have really big hands.

For what it is, it's not too bad of an investment as far as having a knife with you for general purpose only.

IKEA Cook Set (Budget Camping Gear Under $10)

 

For this video I wanted to share this great find from IKEA - a stainless steel 4-piece of cookset that can easily be integrated into anyone's camping gear. As I've mentioned on the vid, we were originally there to purchase a bookshelf for our ever-growing collection of books (we found one for a great price by the way).

I also picked up a utensil caddy that I've seen in various DIY sites and vids used as a wood stove/ fire pit. Not bad for $5.99. They did have a shorter version of the same caddy but I went with the taller piece.

I've made it a habit to seek out items that may be used or repurposed as camping/outdoors gear whenever I'm at a shop. You just never know where you'll find something useful with a matching low cost to boot.

I'll be testing both items out hopefully soon to see how it holds up and will post the results here and on YouTube, of course.

Safety Survival Hacks (Infographic)

Click here for a larger image

Many thanks to Lee Flynn for the image!

Follow him at Twitter @foodstorage101

Health Benefits of Freeze Drying Food [Infographic]

 

 

Click on the image for an enlarged view

Courtesy of http://www.foodinsurance.com

Dirt Cheap Preps: LED Clip-On Light

Hello everyone. Been awhile since I posted any new prep related vids or blog posts. Here's the latest one.

These LED clip-on lights are less than a couple of bucks a piece. I have several of them in stock. It's small enough to keep in your glove compartment or carry around with you but it's also good to have in stock since it doesn't take up too much space.

As an urban newbie prepper, I always talk about space being very limited. Each addition really has to be multifunctional or doesn't take up too much space.

For such a small little device, this LED clip-on light is not only versatile but also very bright. Usually when you buy clip-on things, the clip part fails because it doesn't have much of a grip.

These lights however are pretty secure once you clip them on to the brim of your hat or your shirt/jacket. The battery for it is just your standard watch batteries. Another positive with this particular item is that it pivots around so it is adjustable which give you a bit more flexibility.

I've used this light as a booklight as well. Although my prepper library is mostly digital, we do have a large collection of print books so on occasion this clips on nicely on a book cover.

It just goes to show you don't have to spend a whole lot of money to have some emergency temp lighting. Always good to diversify what you have.

A lot of my viewers in YouTube are budget conscious (as they should be) so I try to review things that they can easily pick up. Good rule to have for newbie preppers: keep things simple and budget friendly.

***

Site updates:

The tech editions of my YouTube channel have been a nice change of pace but I do have a lot of new articles/vids/reviews I'd like to put up. I have several prep vids already on standby. I actually have more equipment to review, specifically knives. There's also book reviews forthcoming.

As for the site itself: Some additional changes I was planning on implementing is put on hold for now for lack of time.

The site has reached over 50,000 views. Many thanks for all the support!

Prepper Profile Part 2

So here's a low-tech version of a mind mapper tool I often use for sorting out ideas.


You can watch part 1 here that way it makes more sense to you:
http://www.apocalypsehub.com/2012/02/whats-your-prepper-profile-check-out.html

This system helps me visualize my thought process for many things so I wanted to share how it relates to my preparedness efforts.

One of the challenges of being a city prepper is the lack of square footage available that can be dedicated for storage in general. So we have to put in a lot of consideration to what enters our home as far as supplies go. Every little inch of space matters and we have to be smart and creative about our approach.

I solve this issue by minimizing and using virtual space/cloud storage for documents and books.

Minimizing
Get rid of stuff you don't use or need. It's that simple. It's a very liberating thing to do, to have less stuff. When it comes to preparedness gear, generally I like to acquire multipurpose items that don't take up too much space. The pros of minimizing: sell items you don't need or use for extra cash and free up valuable space for things that you do need.

Virtual space
What I mean by this is using portable storage devices for ebooks (great for a digital library) as well as documents. This paperless method is great for when you're a bookworm like me or if you have a lot of files. There's no reason why you can't digitize your most important documents and store them in a an SD card, flash drive, or external hard drive which you can then store in a safe or a similar device. Those things are dirt cheap these days especially the SD cards and flash drives, you just have to know where to look.

The pros of virtual storage: Space saver. Just make sure that you have a back up file for your back ups. Don't place everything in one SD card for example. Ensure that if something happens to that then you'll still have those files stashed elsewhere.

This is great for your digital library as well. Especially in conjunction with a dropbox account. My PC also came with cloud storage access which I use all the time.

You can sign up for a Dropbox account here - http://db.tt/j4WzE4i   (It's FREE)



So I encourage you to use this flow chart type of organizing your projects. It's helped me quite a bit in sorting out my often scattered thoughts.

As always, happy prepping.

Food Preservation in the Event of the Zombie Apocalypse

Note: This is a guest post by Empress of Drac

You just got home from work and turn on the news only to hear the impossible - the zombie apocalypse is upon us and everyone must be ready for the worse. Cities are in despair, and citizens are banding together in order to increase their chances of survival. There is a massive shortage of food as the days go by, and these groups of survivors are looking for anyone who has a steady supply of nourishment. You sit and wait, hoping to see a group of nomads you can join, because you have exactly what they need.

            Thanks to a change in the way you chose to purchase your groceries, you are sitting on a large supply of freeze dried food. Thanks to the research you did; you know that the best food storage is the easiest food storage. Buying freeze dried foods is a great idea to both save money and have a healthy supply of food that will last a long time in an emergency.

While the world reels from the spoiling of huge amounts of food, you and other like-minded individuals have freeze dried foods can last up to 20 years while sealed and for up to 18 months when opened. Once the power went out, you had nourishment that would sustain you for a long time without the need for electricity to prepare it. This made freeze dried better than any other food alternatives. 

You also know that it only takes a little bit of water to reconstitute the freeze dried foods, so it won’t put too much of a dent in the ration of water you have. The foods are also packaged in the prime of their nutritional value, so once they are ready to eat; you are still getting all the vitamins and minerals that the foods would offer if they were fresh. Stocking up on freeze dried foods instead of store bought gives you a much better option to save money and provide comfort in the event of an emergency. Now that the zombie apocalypse has hit, it’s a good thing you made the switch; you can trade access to your food supply for the safety from the roving bands of humans.

Freeze dried foods can provide a healthy, cheaper alternative to purchasing foods in the grocery store. They can also provide the needed currency to save your life in the event of the zombie apocalypse. Either way, freeze dried foods are a good investment.

     

 

Book review: When All Hell Breaks Loose by Cody Lundin

With topics such as starting fires, purifying water, finding/catching/preparing food, first-aid, shelter, hygiene, proper burial among many other covered. It’s a very thorough book, topic-wise. It was almost too overwhelming for a noob to read. It’s my own fault for trying to read it from beginning to end as it were fiction. This is more of a reference book really and should be read as such.

I love that it’s written in a straight-forward manner that any average civilian could understand – you don’t have to be a hard-core survivalist to comprehend any of its content. His overall tone is pretty laid-back and fun which made it a quick and easy read for the most part. It’s peppered with humorous illustrations throughout as well (which was sometimes distracting). The best part about this guide is how it’s not focused on buying cool camping and survival gear. The projects he mentions are usually low-budget or no-budget at all (you may already have the materials in your home).

I came across Cody Lundin’s name after scanning for books to review for this site – he has a survival show (available on Netflix) which I’ve been meaning to watch. If I’m going to learn from someone, it might as well be from an expert who lives, breathes, and teaches this way of life.

Tons of info here for those seeking out a starting point. I actually read the e-book version of this which is perfectly fine, but I think this is one of those books that would be better off sitting in your shelf as a reference.

You’d probably get more enjoyment and use out of this if your preparedness and survivalist skillset is in the beginner or intermediate. Also good for the casual read.

Definitely a great addition to any prepper library. 4 out of 5 stars.

10 Tips to Prepare for a Real Campout

Note: This guest post is brought to you by the fine folks at GuestPostU

A campout can be a lot of fun, but preparing for it is important, this can help make sure you have fun, and avoid being stuck with nothing. If you have a campout and are prepared, you are sure to have a good time.

Tent
Having a tent with no holes that is the right size is key to any campout. Inspect it for holes all around, and make sure everyone can fit in it. Being able to sleep comfortably and safely is the basis for any camping trip.

Food
Having a lot of healthy and nutritious food is important for camping. This can make everyone feel at ease and healthy during the campout. Not only that, but eating enough food is good for the energy levels of everyone.

Water
Going without water too long can certainly be bad for ones health. This is especially true during camping. Make sure to bring enough water for everyone. Not only that, but if the camping is going to involve intense exercise, make sure to bring more than usual.

Weather Check
Make sure to check the weather before camping. If it will be hot, obviously bring enough water, if it will be rainy, make sure to bring protective gear.

Sunblock
Many people neglect taking sunblock when they go camping. This can be a mistake as people generally spend time inside in their day to day life. Getting a sunburn can mess up a camping trip very quickly.

Bug Spray
Avoiding mosquitoes and other bugs is important for a camping trip. Not only can bites make you sick, they can certainly make any camping trip less enjoyable.

Keep Warm
It is important to have adequate sleeping bags and blankets. Many people do not realize, most months of the year it is cold to sleep outside. Even in the summer time, having an extra blanket in the tent can make it more comfortable for sleeping.

Matches or Lighter
Many people neglect to bring this on a camping trip. Anytime food is going to be prepared, or people will relax around a fire, this is important. Though it can be done, it is very difficult to start a fire without this.

Flashlight
It is important to bring a flashlight when camping. We take for granted having lights in the house, but if you wake up in the middle of the night in the tent, having some sort of light is important.

Foam Pad
A camping trip is much more enjoyable when you sleep well. Having a foam pad can help you sleep much more comfortably. It is much easier on the hips on back to sleep on something soft rather than the hard ground.

When camping, bringing the essential items for comfort and safety are important. This will make the trip much more enjoyable for everyone. But it is important not to panic if an item is forgotten. Depending on the time of year and the region, certain items may not be so important. In the end, everyone has their own idea of comfort and security, but there certainly are some basics you should bring.

***


Imogen Schipley writes about the outdoors, adventure & finding affordable boat insurance quotes.

--
Guest Post U
The University of Great Content

Harbor Freight Survival Knife (Gear Review & First Impressions)

Here's another first impressions type of review. This time it's for a survival knife I picked up at Harbor Freight.

It's definitely got the cool factor going on. It's a visually appealing knife, with a handle that has an alternating pattern/texture which improves the grip. I have small hands and it feels pretty comfortable holding on to this. It's a pretty hefty-sized knife with a sharp and serrated edge. the grip has a screw top that has a built in compass. That opens up to reveal a compartment pre-packed with a few basic supplies (fishing line, sewing kit, matchsticks, etc.). I like this feature since this will allow me to customize what's inside.

It also comes in a nylon sheath which looks pretty flimsy but as I've mentioned on the vid, it's better than nothing. All you crafty people out there can probably make your own sheath for this (or buy one).

The pros:
Price - very affordable, under $15
Build - seems solid and durable but I haven't put it through a field test yet so we'll see if it holds up.
Compartment - Nice little extra place to stash additional supplies, plus the cap has a compass

The Cons:
Sheath - flimsy material but for the price it's not bad at all
This product might be suitable to newbies (like me), casual dayhikers / campers.

Modifications I'm planning on doing to this:
I'll have to make a better paracord handle for it and use an O-ring and a carabiner to hook it up to the side. I saw someone who made that mod and I thought it was more functional than the single string paracord loop that it comes with.

A Chance to Win an Underground Shelter - SPIKE TV Casting Call

SPIKE TV IS GIVING YOU THE CHANCE TO WIN AN UNDERGROUND SHELTER FOR YOUR FAMILY

Are you a survivor? Are you prepared?

Nuclear war, terrorism, pole shifting, killer comets and tsunamis all have the potential to cause national or worldwide disaster. Some people think the Mayan Calendar predicts the end of the world on December 21, 2012.

If you've always wanted to secure lifetime access to a well-protected, underground shelter for you and your immediate family in case of a global emergency, then this is your chance.
SPIKE TV and Vivos Shelters (www.terravivos.com) are seeking a handful of lucky people to compete on a new TV show for the chance to own shares in a state-of-the-art, community underground shelter for up to 6 family members.

Producers are looking for outgoing, competitive PAIRS of immediate family members (husband and wife, father and son, siblings...) to represent their family household on national television in a series of fun and exciting challenges. This is your opportunity to PROVE that you have what it takes to join a community of people who can survive global disaster!
APPLY TODAY!

Send an email to LastFamilyCasting@gmail.com with the following:
1. Your name and the name of at least one family member who could be your teammate
2. Your phone numbers
3. Your city/state (same household or neighborhood preferred)
4. Recent photos of each of you
5. A brief explanation of why you want to win this show AND what skills you and your family can offer a community of survivors.

Deadline to apply is JUNE 20, 2012! Producers are waiting to hear from you!
* To compete on the show, you must be a legal U.S. resident and at least 18 years of age. (Note: Family members of any age are eligible for a place in the shelter. Conditions and restrictions for shelter co-ownership apply.) For more information, visit www.pilgrimstudios.com/casting/LastFamilyOnEarth

Budget Mess Kit

I've been on the look out for a basic mess kit for awhile now but I didn't want to spend too much on it. I was at a local store cruising the kitchenware section, and I found the mess kit displayed next to the lunchboxes, thermos, and water bottle section. It looked like a bento box (which I have a thing for - great way to pack your lunch by the way) so I had to check it out. I was surprised to see a dish nested inside the compartment as well as a handle that attaches to the exterior of it. For $5, it was a no-brainer.

What I like about it so far:
Stainless steel
price
the main compartment is deep, even with the dish inside, there's plenty of room to stash additional supplies (fire starter kit, pocket utensil, etc.)

What I didn't like:
It had a large brand sticker on the lid which was a pain to clean up (Goo Gone did the trick).

At the very end of the video, I mentioned that I was going to test this out on a gel chafing fuel with a rack on top of it to see if it works out or if I have to make modifications to the set up. Obviously, I don't plan on cooking elaborate meals with this, just basically warm up precooked food. I'll also test boil time for water just out of curiosity. I'll post the results here of course.

Lesson learned & also a good tip for those of you who are looking to expand your camping or preparedness gear: Don't always go to the obvious places to find what you're looking for. Having a keen eye and learning to see things as having multiple purposes can help you save a few bucks.

Infographic: Healthcare Data Disaster Preparedness

I love infographics - here's a emergency disaster preparedness (healthcare data) related one for all our ApocHubbers (FYI that's what I call our readers) . Some food for thought.

Source: Dell

Thanks for the tip, Nina!

Zombie Survival Map: Map of the Dead

All you zombie fanatics will dig this - Map of the Dead is a new site that uses the Google Maps API and color-coded keys to show you where you can get essential supplies in case the zombie apocalypse goes down.

Relax, it's all in the name of fun and entertainment folks - nobody really thinks a zombie outbreak will happen....Right?!

Cool, anyway...the map divides areas into danger and non-danger zones. (I'm basically SOL due to my location, practically everything around me is a danger zone).

It shows you where the gun stores are located as well as pharmacies, cemeteries, malls, outdoor stores, radio towers, among other things. Plus, it also allows you to print your map.

Go have a look for yourselves.

http://www.mapofthedead.com

Discovery Channel's Out of the Wild: Venezuela - Get your Survivalist Fix

Out of the Wild: Venezuela - The Volunteers

The premise: 9 ordinary people dropped off in Venezuela's southern frontier with basic supplies. The goal is to travel 70 miles through a remote area and make there way back into civilization.

Here's what I liked about this series - while most survival reality tv shows have a handsome reward in the form of monetary gain at the end for those who completes the challenge, this particular show has none. Its reward is the experience in itself. The participants joined for self-exploration / self-improvement / the thrill of the adventure, etc. Not to mention the tremendous bragging rights.

The participants were put through a 3 day crash course on survival skills training. They were allowed to bring the items in the list provided:

1 Pair of good hiking boots
1 Pair of trainers (aka running shoes)
3-5 pairs of socks
1 rain jacket (Gore-Tex or rubber)
1 pair of rain pants (Gore-Tex or rubber)
1 fleece jacket or wool sweater for warmth
3 pairs of underwear (not cotton)
Malarial drugs
 2 pairs of long pants
2 long sleeve shirts
bandannas — suggested
Hat — Wide brimmed or baseball
2 T-shirts
2 pairs of shorts
Bathing Suit

Source: Discovery channel

In addition they were allowed to gather additional supplies near the drop-off point from a supply cache, keeping in mind that they would only be adding to the weight they'd have to haul along.

Supply cache:
2 small metal framed military backpacks
7 Pemon packs
4 bows with real barbed 1 and 2 point arrows
1 flint stone rock
1 spool of bailing wire
1 yucca strainer
1 big fish trap
10 fish hooks
9 GPS Beacon transmitters
1 small dutch oven-style metal pan
1 big dutch oven-style metal pan
1 skillet
1 spool of 1/2" twine approx. 50' in length
2 broad blade hunting knives with leather belt sheaths
1 Pemon big drop basket
4 small gourds
1 large gourd with cork
3 machetes (small Pemon-style)
3 Pemon baskets
1 big flashlight and 4 extra batteries
9 mosquito nets
2 candles
9 whistles
 1 magnifying glass
1 axe with handle
1 axe without handle
1 hatchet
2 military belt-mount canteens
7 round shoulder slung canteens
9 pairs rubber boots
9 hammocks
1 roll of 1/8" parachute cord-style twine
4 pairs of leather gloves
1 oversized metal cooking pot/wash basin
2 maps per leg
300 electrolyte tabs
3 tall baby food jars
2 boxes of tampons
1 compass
1 lb of Pemon ground grain
1 Block of local back salt beef
5 military fleece blankets
1 spool of spare slingshot cord
1 palm hook knife with no handle
1 roll of screen mosquito net
1 file for sharpening
1 small roll of duct tape 

Source: Discovery Channel

I sat down and pretty much watched the 8 episodes of the series in two days. It was an engaging show - interesting people with very different background stories, beautiful and dangerous terrain, of course some conflict (this is inevitable in a group setting, especially under these very stressful conditions). As the show progresses, you can see how much weight the members lose from caloric intake deficiency.

Each participant has a gps locator beacon system that they can use should they choose to leave at any time. All they have to do is press the button and the helicopter extracts them. No spoilers here, you'll have to find out who leaves and who stays.

It took the remaining volunteers twenty six days to reach civilization.

Hands down the best reality tv survival show I've seen so far. 5 out of 5 stars.

Currently available for Instant Play in Netflix (as of April 9, 2012) or you can watch the entire season 3 at Vimeo starting with Episode 1 right below:

Sterno ActionStation Butane Stove: First Impressions

Just posted a vid of  the latest addition to our camping / prepping gear. It's the Sterno ActionStation Butane Stove.

I've been keeping an eye out for something like this for awhile now to use for picnics, camping, and for emergencies. As always, I had to reallly figure out if this was something we needed to add on the gear/supply list.

It had to be compact, easy to use, and durable among other things. It also had to be something we can use in other situations besides emergency (due to limited storage space).
We snagged this for right under $20. The butane canisters ended up being just a little bit over $5 for a pack of 5. Each canister is supposed to last about 2 hours in maximum heat and approximately 4 hours for minimum settings.

My first impressions

The pros:
It came with a hard plastic carrrying case.
It uses piezo ignition.
stainless steel - easy to clean and it looks good
adjustable settings
the price
light and easy to stash in a closet or carry around in the trunk of your car

The cons:
none found

I'm going to test it out and do a proper video review of it (keep an eye out for that).

It's a nice addition to any household and it doesn't take up a lot of space. Having this gives us more options for cooking or heating food during outdoor excursions.