DON’T MISS: CRITICAL ITEMS FOR YOUR BUG OUT BAG

HOW TO
TRACK SOMEONE
THROUGH THE WILD

IN THIS ISSUE: OCTOBER 2017

LUXURIES TO GET CAN I SHOOT AN

FOR YOUR BUG-OUT INTRUDER IN MY
LOCATION HOME?

STAY WARM START A FIRE

WHEN BUGGING OUT NO MATTER WHAT

A GUN CLEANING SHOULD YOU

KIT YOU CAN INVEST IN BODY
MAKE AT HOME ARMOR?

and more…
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017

A' . . .
.

Contents .
,
B

HOW TO TRACK SOMEONE THROUGH THE WILD

FEATURED I want to arm you with the information you need to effectively track another person through the
wild, and second, provide an insight into how you will be tracked yourself, so you can…

CAN I SHOOT AN INTRUDER IN MY HOME?

page 4 It's a good question. You hear a bump in the night and armed with your gun and flashlight head
downstairs to investigate. But you need to be wary. Pulling the trigger on someone who is not…

SHOULD YOU INVEST IN BODY ARMOR?

page 5 When a crisis hits, things are going to head south quick. In a matter of days your friendly
neighbors are now competing for the scarce resources in your local area, and once their…

LUXURIES TO GET FOR YOUR BUG-OUT LOCATION

page 6 When I first told my wife about my plan to relocate our family “off-the-grid,” she wasn’t
particularly impressed. Speaking about it later, it was because she imagined with our new life…

A GUN CLEANING KIT YOU CAN MAKE AT HOME

page 8 If you plan rely on your firearms no matter what, you've got to ensure to keep them clean and
well-maintained. But you don't need to resort to store-bought kits to get the job done…

STAY WARM WHEN BUGGING OUT IN WINTER

page 9 As the nights start getting colder we're soon to be in one of my favorite times of year. Winter.
For all my fellow survivalists out there, it doesn't mean it's time to stop camping….

CRITICAL ITEMS FOR YOUR BUG OUT BAG

page 10 I've lost time of the amount of times I've packed and re-packed my bug-out-bag. It's difficult
because with every change of season you need to ensure you're fully equipped…

HOW TO START A FIRE NO MATTER WHAT

page 11 After watching a friend syphon off a little petrol to get a fire started, I knew it wouldn't end well.
The whoosh as the fire sparked into life was more than enough to send us all running…

DIAPERS FOR YOUR LITTLE ONES ONCE THE SHTF

page 13 I'm all about living sustainably, and as we welcomed our second kid into our family we were
struck with the same question that most parents have asked themselves over the years…

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017

HOW TO TRACK SOMEONE THROUGH THE WILD

In today's article, I have two goals.
First, I want to arm you with the
information you need to effectively
track another person through the wild,
and second, provide an insight into
how you will be tracked yourself, so you
can take steps to avoid it.
And this is where it gets difficult.
Tracking people means you're after
someone who is just as smart as you
are, and they may also be taking steps
to cover their tracks. These skills are
derived from the techniques the native
Americans used hundreds of years ago,
and retain their usefulness to this day.
Once a footprint is found, I sketch it
out in my notebook, to give me a basis
of the person I am after. Women have a
smaller step than men, and if they have
been running or sprinting their
footprints may be heavily distorted. But
you can always follow the direction
they're headed from the force of the
prints.
If your target is running fast, they will
have taken little care to cover their
tracks. You may see broken branches,
flattened grass, overturned rocks, and if
they are injured you can even look for
their blood trail.
Depending on how thick the
undergrowth is, your target may have
left scuff marks from scrambling over
whatever is in their path. Look for rubs
where they might have stumbled into a
tree, or scraped the mud from the soles
of their shoes.
IF YOU GET OFF-TRACK
It happens to the best of us, especially
if your target is trying to conceal their
spoor. There's a couple of ways to see
if you can pick up their tracks again.

At its most simple explanation, tracking HOW TO STAY ON THE TRAIL

someone through the wild relies on
your ability to spot disturbances in
nature, from footprints to broken
branches, and continue following these
signs of human activity until you reach
the source.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR FIRST
The easiest way to start tracking
someone is to look for spoor. This is a
word we use to describe the traces a
person has left in their path.
Find somewhere the ground is muddy
or soft, and see if you can spot any
prints. You may need to widen your
search to progressively drier areas until
you find your first print.
The key to being a successful tracker is
to keep your head up, and pay attention
to what's around you. I like to look “lose your
about 15 yards ahead, as this also gives
me the ability to see if my intended trackers by
target has laid a trap for me and is
waiting on the track in front. sticking to
When you do spot some spoor, don't
be hesitant in getting down close to the hard
ground to take a look. Often, you'll be
able to see ridges and shadows far
easier, to confirm if you're still
surfaces
following your intended target. I also
pay attention to anything that's out of
like roads…
the ordinary. People often litter, leaving
food trash in their wake, or cleaning out
particular fruits or berries in their path.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017

cont.

Use a sweep pattern to comb through

the surrounding area.

From the last known trace, you've

found, walk about 100 yards in one
direction. If you find no trace, move
about 5 to 10 yards to the left, and walk
back to the last spoor you spotted.
Then turn, and head out at a slightly
different angle. Eventually you should
find their direction of travel.

If this doesn't work, the circle method

is next.

This is very time consuming, as you

start walking in an ever-increasing circle
leading out from where the last spoor
was found. As the circles get bigger it
can take hours to pick up the trail again.

HOW TO STOP YOURSELF

FROM BEING TRACKED

When you're being followed the lessons

you've learned tracking should give you
an idea what tactics are being used to
track you down.

In its simplest form, you want to do

everything you can to conceal your
spoor. You don't want to leave any
trace that you passed through a certain
area.

Imagine you're being followed. Where

are you going to be leaving signs?

My advice would be to try to lose your

trackers by sticking to hard surfaces like
roads, railway lines, or any trails with a
hard surface that doesn't leave a
footprint.

But don't just head in one direction.

Use the road and exit at a stream, then
walk through the water for a mile or
two until you reach another road you
can use to throw the followers off
track.

If you're headed through an area where

it's simply not possible to follow a road,
you need to do everything possible to
conceal your tracks. Walk as lightly as
possible, and take care to avoid
disturbing the grass and branches in
your path. I'd also carry a stick to put
things back in their place, and use a
fresh branch from a sapling to brush
out any tracks you leave.
If you've got dogs following you, the
best chance you have is to go on the
offensive.
Use pepper spray in your tracks to
disturb their sense of smell. I'd also
recommend setting an ambush trap to
take out the dog handler and his dogs
first. They'll usually be up front leading
the pursuit, which makes them easier to
take out. Just ensure you leave yourself
enough time to escape the rest of the
group following you.
Every time you venture into the wild
you're leaving a trace.
From footprints to the objects knocked
out of your path, once you learn how
to read these signs, you'll be much
better armed to conceal your own
tracks, and to follow anyone who is
careless enough to leave a trail.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017
CAN I SHOOT AN
INTRUDER
IN MY
HOME?
It's a good question. You hear a bump
in the night and armed with your gun
and flashlight head downstairs to
investigate. But you need to be wary.
Pulling the trigger on someone who is
not armed, even if they've broken into
your home, can get you in serious
trouble.
I respect our right to bear arms. I've
mentioned on a number of posts about
my preference to concealed carry, and
that I've taken steps to ensure I'm able
to defend my loved ones, my home, and
my possessions from anyone who seeks
to take these. But I still pray to God it
never comes to this.
I truly hope none of our readers are
ever in a situation where they need to
defend their home with lethal force.
Pulling the trigger on an intruder will
lead to tragedy. Especially if you're in
the wrong.
It's important that every gun owner
understands how these laws work, so
you're not pleading ignorance if you've
needed to shoot someone. The
moment you've bought a gun, you need
to ensure you understand the complex
laws and issues surrounding its use.
THE BASICS OF SELF DEFENSE
Taken at the most basic level, when
you're defending yourself you must
ensure you use a reasonable amount of
force. But that's not the scary part. You
need to prove your actions were
justified.
Imagine this scenario.
Two thugs break into your home,
intending to do your family real harm.
They're armed to the teeth, and have
already opened fire. You've responded,
using your training to return fire, and
manage to kill them both. In this
situation, you're probably going to be
fine, as you've used a reasonable
amount of force to tackle the threat
facing your family.
But this isn't always as clear as it seems.
Using the same example, the thugs are
still intent on hurting you and your
family, but they're unarmed. When you
confront them with your firearm, they
give themselves up. In this situation,
you're definitely not going to be able to
justify shooting either of them. Because
you'd already eliminated the threat, and
your family were no longer in imminent
danger.
HOW IT ACTUALLY WORKS
Defending yourself with deadly force is
not something to be taken lightly. You
will need to live with the consequences U N D E R S TA N D I N G T H E
of taking a life, and I would only ever CASTLE DOCTRINE
recommend using this level of force if
there was no other option. You're When it comes to defending your
backed into a corner and there is no home, one of the most important legal
escape. Your attackers are armed, and concepts to understand is the Castle
are threatening your very life. Fight Doctrine. It differs from state to state,
back in this instance and you're but it's critical you understand what this
probably going to be fine. means for you. It's also known as the
"Stand Your Ground" law.
What is important to understand
though is the precedent in the state you Under these laws, it outlines your duties
live. Some states are far more lenient on as a home owner.
homeowners defending themselves
with lethal force. Scour the news and Depending on your state, it could be
find out the types of situations that get expected that you:
punished, and ensure you understand
what's what. A little knowledge #1. Retreat to safety
beforehand can save you from getting #2. Stand your ground
into a potentially life-altering
altercation. If you're in a state where you're
expected to look for safety first, it's
THE DANGERS OF A PRE- your obligation to prove that you did
MEDITATED SHOOTING this first and you tried to escape.
Now here is where it gets tricky. If you It’s on you to prove that you only
have shot someone in your home, for fought back against the intruders as
self-defense, the biggest argument that your last resort, and that your life was
you'll face is whether or not you in immediate danger.
planned it. I get it. Someone broke into
your home, intending to do you harm. But it's tricky. Even when your local
Of course, you didn't plan to shoot laws allow you to stand your ground,
them. But you need to be wary of you will need to prove that you were in
giving the appearance that you did. fact in mortal danger, and your only
option was to use lethal force.
Signs saying "Trespassers Will Be Shot"
are not a good idea. Despite being There isn't a simple way to know what
funny, it gives the opposing lawyer a will happen if you do shoot an intruder
chance to argue that you were simply in your home.
looking for an excuse to shoot
someone. If there is even the slightest My advice is simple. Only ever use your
hint you planted a trap for the firearm to defend yourself, if the
intruders, you can get in serious following holds true. You're not able to
trouble. escape your home and run to a safe
haven, and the life of a loved one, or
In a recent case in Minnesota. Burglars your own, is in immediate danger.
were repeatedly breaking into a man's
home. He set a trap, and shot them
when they returned. Despite his home
being broken into, he was charged with
first degree murder, and is currently
serving life in prison.
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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017
SHOULD YOU INVEST IN BODY ARMOR?
When a crisis hits, things are going to
head south quick. In a matter of days
your friendly neighbors are now
competing for the scarce resources in
your local area, and once their family's
start to starve there's no telling what
they will do. An investment into body
armor could be your ticket to staying
alive. I definitely recommend every
survivalist invest in body armor.
Just remember. In your local state, you
may not legally be able to wear or own
body armor. Unless you work in law
enforcement or are a member of the
military. My advice here would be to
move. It's not worth breaking the law
over, but in my opinion you want to
give yourself the best possible chance
to survive, and body armor will help
you.
THE MISTAKES PREPPERS
MAKE WITH BODY ARMOR
Unless there has been a complete
collapse of society, you will probably
never need a full plate set of body
armor. It's too impractical. You also run
the risk of breaching your own OPSEC
when you're wearing what's obviously
military-level gear. It may get a
neighbor wondering, just what else you
have in your stockpile, because it's
pretty obvious that someone who has
body armor is going to have a whole
range of other "goodies" at home.
DO YOU NEED A HELMET?
One thing that too many survivalists
forget is the importance of a helmet.
When the SHTF you've got to
remember head protection, because
your head is one of the most fragile
parts of your body. A blow from a
blunt object will take you down. Get a
mid-cut ballistic helmet. It's a good
balance between protection while
staying light weight, and you can always
attach additional accessories like
flashlights.
WHAT ABOUT GLOVES?
If you're in a combat situation, it's
important to protect your hands. The
barrel of your gun will get extremely
hot, and if you mistakenly grab it you
don't want to burn yourself. Find a pair
of tactical gloves that aren't too
expensive. You will thank me if you're
ever in a real fight for your life. Look
for a pair with a protective over your
knuckles to guard your hands from any
shrapnel or other injuries.
DO I REALLY NEED IT?
THE BEST BODY ARMOR
Once you start buying body armor, it
becomes an expensive endeavor. I fully
You can't get better protection than
believe it's worth every cent you spend,
SAPI plates. SAPI stands for Small
but there are a few items that aren't
Arms Protective Insert. They're ceramic
really worth it. Too much makes you
body armor plates used by the United
look ridiculous, and you'll also be
States military, and remain both light
weighing yourself down with too much
and tough as nails. They work by
gear. Which is critical if you've got a
absorbing the impact of the bullet, so
decent trek to your bug out location,
the plates will crack if you are hit. This
any unnecessary weight is going to be a
disperses the force of the bullet,
killer. So, forget silly items like knee and
allowing you to continue fighting. You
elbow pads, or the extended Kevlar
will need to replace these once they've
protection for your groin and neck. The
taken a round, which is a downside to
key is to find the right balance between
their steel counterparts, though this is
protection and usability. In addition to
the only one. SAPI plates are light, and
the body armor, I'd recommend
you can comfortably wear this body
ensuring you've got adequate eye and
armor all day.
ear protection. You just need a pair of
cheap earplugs, and put your money
HOW TO WEAR BODY ARMOR
into ballistic glasses that will stop any
shrapnel getting to your eyes.
To wear body armor what you need is
known as a plate carry, and it functions
Finally, I want to make one last point
exactly as you can imagine. It's a rugged
clear. Body armor is important for
vest that allows you to strap the plates
preppers, but it is an expensive
to yourself. My advice is to spend a
endeavor. I'd only recommend you
little more buying a high-quality vest, as
purchase this when you've got most of
you will wear out the cheap ones rather
your other preps sorted. It should be
quickly. Look for a vest that has straps
one of the last things on your list. In a
and the ability to add in side plates. The
full collapse of society, you're going to
downside is this will get heavy fast, so
be grateful you invested in body armor.
ensure you're taking the time to practice
It could just be what keeps you alive.
walking long distances with your armor
on, and also test it at the shooting
range. The bulk will change your stance
slightly when you're shooting, so you
need to learn how to adjust.
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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017

LUXURIES TO GET FOR YOUR BUG-OUT LOCATION

When I first told my wife about my
plan to relocate our family “off-the-
grid,” she wasn’t particularly impressed.
Speaking about it later, it was because
she imagined that with our new life
we’d have to give up many of the
luxuries we had gotten used to, because
we’d be limited with the electricity we
could use. Now I get that off-grid could
mean this, but not if you’re smart.
With the right preparations, you can
definitely afford a few luxuries in your
home.
But first you need an ample supply of
power.
Here’s what we bought.
A DISHWASHER
I hate doing the dishes, and running the
water pump in the evening to wash up
was burning through our batteries. So,
we made a plan. Well, I did.
Buy a dishwasher, load it in the nights,
then let it run during the daytime when
it wouldn’t be a drain on the batteries.
Once we come in for lunch, I stack in
any other dishes we’ve used, and set it
going. It’s easy. Returning home in the
evening we’ve always got a clean set of
dishes, along with a fully charged
battery pack. That’s a win in my book.
MORE HOT WATER
During winter, we struggled with
enough hot water to go around. Using
an idea read about on a homesteading
forum, we went with a normal electric
water heater that is activated once the
batteries are full.
Changing some settings on our charge
station, it now feeds any extra electricity
generated into the water heater. It
worked great, until winter. When there
wasn’t really that much extra electricity
being generated.

In our homestead, we’ve got two AN AIR CONDITIONER

proper sources of electricity. Well three
if you count my project building a
water turbine in the creek, but it’s the
professionally installed kits that deliver
90% of our electricity. We’ve got a
series of solar panels, and a small wind
turbine.
Just with these, we’ve got plenty of
electricity to go around, often with
many hours of wasted sunshine in the
afternoon once our batteries are fully
charged. It took about a month before
we started investing in luxuries. And life
off-grid has gotten remarkably better.
It’s amazing how the little things make
all the difference.
It seems unnecessary, but it gets rather “you can
warm at our property during the
summer months, and we had all this definitely
extra electricity being generated that
wasn’t being used. And that’s really
when you need the cool air, when the
afford a few
summer sun is beating down during the
middle of the day. luxuries in
I usually set our airconditioner to
operate on its timer during summer, so
your
that it comes on and cools for just a
couple of hours during the peak of a
home…
day’s heat. That way it’s nice and cool
when we return home, and the batteries
are still fully charged for the night.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017

cont.

So I modified the heating system in the

floor. It uses a traditional wood boiler
that looks about a hundred years old,
and with a little extra piping this now
acts as a second way to heat our water
tank.

Even after a couple of days of clouds

and rain, we’re able to have a nice
steamy shower.

AN OUTDOOR BATHTUB

One of my fantasies about our

property was building an outdoor
Jacuzzi.

There was a nice little alcove behind

our home that I’ve worked hard to
convert to an outdoor area over the
past summer.

Installing a whirlpool bathtub was

definitely unnecessary, but being able to
soak away a full day’s labor around the
property in the tub is a fantastic way to
spend a summer’s evening.

We’ve got it connected to the hot water

supply from our home, and we use the
surplus electricity generated during the
day to power the bubble jets into the
night. It’s glorious.

AN OUTDOOR KITCHEN

Along with the Jacuzzi, I built an entire

outdoor section of our home to
surround it, which we call the patio.

In addition to the dining table, sink and

bench, there’s a couple of electrical
outlets we use to power our portable
cooking gear. All we need to do is bring
it outside and plug it in.

During the middle of the day you’ll

hardly notice a drop in your electrical
output, and it’s perfect during summer
when you don’t want to be heating up
your home unnecessarily with cooking.
We’ve got an electric oven for roasts, a
couple of electric hot plates (I wasn’t a
fan of induction), a slow cooker, and
my wife’s bread-maker. It adds a nice
change from being cooped up inside all
winter.
HIGH SPEED INTERNET
Without the internet, I’d not be able to
work, and support our lifestyle we’ve
chosen to live, so it’s important we
remain connected.
In addition to satellite internet (as a
pure last resort), we make use of our
wind turbine as an antenna to connect
into our local radio internet.
It’s plenty fast enough to allow us to
work, and even stream the odd movie
on Netflix when we’re feeling like a
night in.
Just because you’re living off-the-grid, it
doesn’t mean you’re forced to live
without the necessities that make life
great. In our instance, we definitely
over-invested in power generation,
but that enables us to live a much more
comfortable life, without needing to
worry about our batteries getting
drained if you’re watching a little too
much television, or spending an
evening in the hot tub.
To me, that’s the right way to plan your
homestead, ensuring you’ve got
everything you need to be comfortable
and enjoy your life with your family.
Because that’s what’s most important.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017

A GUN CLEANING
KIT YOU CAN MAKE
AT HOME

If you plan rely on your firearms no matter what, you've got to ensure to keep them clean and well-maintained. But you don't need
to resort to store-bought kits to get the job done. Because a dirty gun is an unsafe one. But first, realize that cleaning your guns is a
messy job. Oil and grime does get everywhere, so it's important you're using old materials that you're comfortable getting messy
and stained. I've got an old shirt I always wear when cleaning my guns, and I keep all of my gear in a large plastic tub in the garage.

#1. GARBAGE BAGS AND NEWSPAPER

Always put down a garbage bag laid out flat, and cover it with bunch of newspaper before cleaning your gun. It'll soak up any
mess, and the plastic will stop the oils soaking through. Then you can roll the mess up and toss it in the trash when you're done.

#2. A HEADLAMP

I love being able to see exactly what I'm doing, and you need a good light in order to check the thoroughness of your cleaning job.
A desk lamp could also work, but I prefer a headlamp so I can always see exactly what I need to while I'm cleaning.

#3. THE ROD

Find a strong piece of string you can thread through the barrel. You can tie in the patches to pull these through for a good clean,
and so long as you don't let too much residue buildup, this will work great.

#4. THE BRUSH

Cleaning the outside of your gun is also important, but I'd recommend using an old toothbrush for this. The bristles are strong
enough to get into the grooves and ridges of your gun, and you could always use a saw to trim the toothbrush down if need be.

#5. THE PATCHES

Cotton works best for the patches, just be sure that whatever material you're using doesn't leave any material residue after cleaning.
I simply cut up an old t-shirt when I need more patches.

#6. THE BORE CLEANER

Take a sturdy piece of nylon cord, and tie a knot in the center that only just fits inside the bore. Make a loop on either end, and pull
it in and out of the bore, in a similar motion to flossing your teeth. Dragging the knot through will remove any residue that's stuck.

#7. THE SOLVENT

To start cleaning you need to use a solvent to break down the residue so it's easier to clean. Without a store-bought version (which
I recommend), in a pinch you could also use WD-40, mineral spirits and kerosene also works.

#8. THE OIL

What you want to use is a motor oil, or even automatic transmission fluid. Just ensure you keep it in a small can which allows you
to drip out a drop of the solvent at a time.

#9. COTTON SWABS AND PIPE CLEANERS

Raid your bathroom and grab a bunch of cotton swabs. They're really good for removing the oil and any residue in spots that the
toothbrush can't get to, along with the pipe cleaners that are probably found in your kid’s craft box. They’re perfect for getting into
any hard to reach places inside the mechanics of your gun.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017
STAY WARM BUGGING OUT IN WINTER
As the nights start getting colder we're
soon to be in one of my favorite times
of year. Winter. For all my fellow
survivalists out there, it doesn't mean
it's time to stop camping. Not at all.
Winter is one of the most beautiful
seasons to spend in the outdoors. The
mornings are crisp, the days are cooler,
and you won't get bitten to death by
bugs when you're trying to sleep.
But it also presents a danger. You need
to ensure you're protected from the
cold if you want to stay alive, and in
today's post I want to cover a few
tactics to help you stay warm when
you're bugging out in winter.
RESPECT THE WEATHER
The first rule when it comes to a winter
survival situation is to respect the
weather. If you allow yourself to get
cold, hypothermia will set in. And it
doesn't take long. Once your core drops
from 98.6 degrees to just 95, you're in
big trouble. Now what usually happens
in hypothermia cases is the victim has
gotten wet. Perhaps it was raining, they
slipped and fell into a stream, or they've
been over-exerting themselves and
worked up a sweat. In cold weather,
having wet clothing press against your
skin leeches the warmth from your
body and you’ll get hypothermic.
You've got to be aware of the dangers
of getting wet.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT
CLOTHING
To combat the cold, you need the right
clothing. And there's a simple rule I like
to follow. If it's cotton, don't buy it. As
soon as cotton clothing gets wet, it
loses its ability to insulate your body.
Pick clothing that's been specifically
designed for the outdoors. You want a
base layer that's a polyester blend to
better wick away any moisture from
your skin. Follow this up with a wool
layer that will keep you warm even if
you do get wet. And cover it all with a
protective shell casing that's completely
waterproof. This way, you can remove
layers as needed, and you won't have to
fight the elements to stay warm.
I shouldn't have to say this here but it's
also quite important. The waterproof
principle also applies to your boots.
You've got to have waterproof boots if
you're spending any amount of time
outdoors in winter. Once hypothermia
sets in frostbite comes next, and
without the right protection for your
feet, extremities like your toes will be
the first to go. Oh, and cover up your
hands and face too. You're losing body
heat through every piece of skin that's
not covered. I've got a wool beanie that
I wear, along with a round little scarf
that sits comfortably around my neck.
9
P R E PA R E F O R A G O O D
NIGHT'S SLEEP
If you know you're going to be sleeping
outdoors during winter, you need a
high-quality sleeping bag that's rated for
the temperatures you'll be facing. I like
to stay warm and cozy, so I'm usually
sporting a 10-degree sleeping bag,
along with a waterproof bivy sack.
I've been told its overkill, especially
where I camp, but I find it's much
easier to vent an overheated sleeping
bag than it is to get warm once you're
cold during the night. When it comes to
the stuffing in your sleeping bag, I'm a
fan of synthetic insulation, as the down
alternatives are more expensive, and
tend to suck once they get wet.
Oh, and don't forget to insulate
yourself from the ground. The cold
ground leeches away your body heat,
even if you're using a sleeping bag, so
prepare for this. You need insulation.
Pine boughs are good in a pinch if
you've not brought your own sleeping
pad (or hammock).
BE ABLE TO CREATE WARMTH
For many this means fire, and it's
important you've got not only a way to
create a flame, but a way to get a fire
started in cold and wet conditions. I
take extra fire starters when I'm
camping in the cold, as it can often be a
challenge to find dry kindling when you
really need a fire. Once it's going you
can slowly add water-soaked branches
as the heat from the flames will dry
these out.
I'd also recommend having a couple of
mylar space blankets in your bug-out
kit. In a pinch these can be used to
keep your body heat from escaping if
you've gotten yourself wet. Simply strip
down and roll yourself up in the
blanket. It's amazing how well these
work. You can also use them inside
your shelter to reflect heat from the fire
onto you, or as part of the walls or
roofing to keep the rain and wind out.
Of course, these are only two items in
your kit, and your ability to stay warm
while bugging out in winter also relies
on your common sense. Have the right
clothing and gear, and don't get
yourself in a situation where you allow
yourself to get cold or wet. I get that
this isn't always possible, but with the
right approach, you'll be able to stay
warm and dry, no matter what time of
year you're bugging out in.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017
CRITICAL ITEMS
FOR YOUR
BUG OUT BAG
I've lost time of the amount of times
I've packed and re-packed my bug-out-
bag. It's difficult because with every
change of season you need to ensure
you're fully equipped. Plus, you may
have changing needs if you're needing
to take care of a larger family or if it's
you alone. Essentially, what's in your
bug-out bag should be the supplies you
need to live for 3 days.
A WATERPROOF TARP
I've not carried a tent in my bug-out
bag for years, because it's simply too
heavy, and it wastes space. Instead,
ensure you've got a high-quality
waterproof tarp, and the means to
string it up when you setup camp. I've
got about 100 meters of paracord in
my bug-out-bag that I can cut and use
as I need. Exposure is one of the
biggest threats you'll face to your
immediate survival, so it's critical you're
able to keep the rain off, and stay dry.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
The best way to combat hypothermia is
warm and protective clothing. Dress in
layers so you can remove pieces as you
need, and if you're in an area that gets
particularly cold I'd also pack a sleeping
bag. It's bulky, but it'll make a big
difference when you bed down for the
night. Oh, and throw in a change of
underwear and a new pair of socks.
You’ll thank me when they get wet.
“It’s not
safe to
drink from
most water
sources in
the wild…
A FIRE-STARTING KIT
A fire boosts morale, keeps predators
away from your camp, and gives you a
way to purify water and cook any meals
you have. Have at least 3 different ways
of getting a flame, I usually pack a
cigarette lighter, a flint-steel, and a
small box of waterproof matches. I've
also got a tinder kit, which contains a
little char-cloth and some homemade
fire-starters (petroleum jelly mixed with
cotton buds), to help.
A FLASHLIGHT
Pack one into your bug-out-bag, along
with some spare batteries. Being able to
see at night can help you cover more
ground, establish a better perimeter
around your camp, or just give you a
means to see.
A WAY TO PURIFY WATER
It's not safe to drink from most water
sources you find in the wild, so you
need to ensure your bug-out bag has a
way of making any water you collect
safe to drink. I've got a pack of water-
purification tablets in mine, along with
a water bottle that has a built-in
filtration system.
THREE DAYS OF FOOD
Without fuel for your body you're not
going to last long, so ensure you've got
enough food packed without weighing
your pack down too much. Choose
high-calorie meals, and snacks like
protein bars, chocolate, and dried fruit
and nuts that will keep your energy
levels up while you're evacuating. At a
minimum, ensure you've got at least
2,000 calories per day in your bag.
A LARGE KNIFE
You want a knife that's sturdy enough
to use it to split kindling for your fire,
yet comfortable enough when you're
skinning or cleaning an animal. I prefer
a fixed blade, with a knife that has a
decent amount of "heft" in it.
YOUR I.D. DOCUMENTS
Being able to identify yourself is
important, and I'd recommend making
a quick file with some of your most
important documents inside. Like your
birth certificate, driver's license, and a
page outlining your blood type,
allergies, and contact details of those
most important to you.
10
A WAY TO COMMUNICATE
Get a crank radio so you can at least
listen to any local updates being
broadcast. A pair of walkie-talkies can
help members of your group stay in
touch if you've got more than one in
your party, and I'd also recommend that
everyone you care about also knows
your bug-out plans, so they can meet
you along the way if need be.
BASIC FIRST AID SUPPLIES
There's a few basics that will certainly
come in handy. Painkillers, along with
any blister kits you may need after
walking all day. Bandages just in case,
along with something for the bug bites.
I'd also throw in some sunscreen, anti-
diarrhea medication and a couple of
series of antibiotics.
YOUR TOILETRIES
It's important you have sanitation
supplies in your bug out kit. A
toothbrush and toothpaste make a big
difference at the end of a day. So does a
roll of toilet paper or some wet wipes.
I'd also throw in hand sanitizer, and a
bar of soap.
A WAY TO DEFEND YOURSELF
For me, this is my handgun, but I've
met other survivalists who prefer to
rely on their knife. But please consider
at least consider getting a gun. In a full-
scale crisis, the people who cross your
path are going to be hungry and
desperate, which is a recipe for disaster
if they decide they want what you have.
Being able to defend yourself is critical.
Packing your bug-out bag isn't rocket
science, but it does require you to put a
little thought into each item in your kit.
With the right gear, you'll have no
trouble spending a couple of nights on
the run, and safely making it to your
bug-out location to ride out the crisis.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017
HOW TO START A FIRE NO MATTER WHAT
After watching a friend syphon off a
little petrol to get a fire started, I knew
it wouldn't end well. The whoosh as the
fire sparked into life was more than
enough to send us all running, and
burn the leg hair off of my unfortunate
friend. Needless to say, I've been a little
more careful when it comes to using
accelerants in fire making, but I still do.
Some may call it cheating, but I believe
there's no such thing when it comes to
survival. If you need a fire, or are in a
bad situation, you need to get a fire
started as fast as possible. That's all
there is to it.
But this hinges on a key principle.
You need to know how to get a fire
started in the first place. There's far too
many people today who have never
spent any time outdoors, and they lack
key skills, like how to actually get the
fire going. I can't believe this. If you
ever hope to survive in the wild, you
need to understand fundamentals
wilderness survival skills like fire
making. You won’t make it otherwise.
The trappings of modern society are
great, but it's important you know how
to make a fire.
11
It’s not rocket science, but you’ve got to
think about it if you want your fire to
be successful. You need a plan.
The real trick is to understand what it
takes to get a fire started. You need to
build a base of tinder, that contains
enough fast-burning material to get the
larger sticks and kindling above
burning, before the tinder burns out.
I usually aim for around two thirds
tinder to one thirds kindling, with a
nearby stack I can add to any areas that
are burning particularly well.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017

THE BASICS OF A CAMPFIRE

To get a fire going you need three things. A source of fuel. Enough oxygen to feed the flames.
And of course, a source of ignition. The first two are rather easy to come by, but the ignition
source can be tricky.
Of course, a cheap lighter will do the trick, and you could also try:
#1. A bow drill
#2. A bamboo saw
#3. A magnifying glass
#4. A battery and steel wool
#5. A book of matches
What you're trying to do is create a flame, or an ember that allows your tinder to ignite into a
flame. Personally, I never go anywhere in the wild without my flint steel. It's on a lanyard I wear
around my neck. Because I know that whatever happens, I'll be able to create a spark and get a
fire going. It won't matter if it gets wet, and it'll not run out of gas.

I’ve also got a nifty pair of laces in my
boots that have ferrocerium tips, and a
steel striker plate. So I've always got a
backup firestarter, no matter what.
TESTING YOUR FIRE-MAKING
SKILLS
Now, how well you've built the fire can
be tested with a simple exercise. Take a
single match, and light the fire. If it
takes off, you've got it right. If not,
adjust and try again.
You may also need to revisit the
building blocks of a fire.
It's pretty simple. The tinder on the
bottom, which consists of thinly
shaved bark, dry leaves and grasses, and
other quick burning materials. Above
this, is a bed of tiny sticks thinner than
your smallest finger, and of course
some larger material for once the fire
gets going. The looser you can stack
these the better, as it'll allow more
oxygen to feed the flames and get your
tinder to the point of combustion. Pack
it too tight and the fire will struggle to
get started.
WHERE TO FIND NATURAL
TINDER
Now there's going to be times you
struggle to get a fire started. In the rain,
and areas where it's cold and wet,
having a fire is rather important in
keeping you alive. But it can be a
bugger to get started in the first place.
Because wet tinder won't hold a spark. I
always carry my homemade fire-starters
with me, which is simply an altoids tin
that contains cotton balls soaked in
petroleum jelly. But there's also ways to
find fire-starters in the wild.
Birch Bark. It contains a high
concentration of oils, and I've found
that it'll sometimes even hold a spark
when it's wet. Just scrape the bark into
a coin-sized pile of thin shavings, and
send your sparks into the middle.
Tinder fungus. You'll also find this
under the branches on a birch tree, you
want to look under the charred, shell-
like birch bark for this corky, brown
fungus. You can send sparks straight
into it and they will hold until you blow
into a flame with your tinder.
Old Man's Beard. On a damp day, it's
going to absorb the moisture in the air,
so pick it and put it under your shirt so
it'll dry. Just make sure you don't squish
it, and it stays in its natural, fluffy state.
You'll find it growing in spruce thickets.
Conifer resin. Basically, any resinous
pine tree is going to have a hard, sticky
sap that burns well. You just need to
find a spot on a tree where a branch has
broken or the tree has been injured.
Take the hard sap and wrap it in your
tinder bundle. It takes a bit to light it,
but once it catches it will burn for a
long time.
There's no "trick" when it comes to
starting a fire in the wild.
All it requires is a good understanding
of the fundamentals of fire building,
and using the materials around you to
ensure you've got the materials you
need to get the flames roaring. In the
wet, always look for natural accelerants
like pine resin or birch bark, if you
want to stand a chance to get your fire
going.

12
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017

DIAPERS FOR YOUR LITTLE ONES ONCE THE SHTF

I'm all about living sustainably, and as
we welcomed our second kid into our
family we were struck with the same
question that most parents have asked
themselves over the years. Should we be
using cloth diapers?
Or disposable ones?
There's good arguments for both sides.
But essentially it comes down to
sustainability v. convenience.
But not these days.
OPTIONS FOR CLOTH DIAPERS
Overall, you're going to spend far less
on cloth diapers than you would if you
choose disposable. It's just far more
practical to buy something and use it
again and again, than to dispose of it.
And when your kid is going through
anywhere from 4-8 diapers a day, this
cost can add up quick.
With disposable, there's no rinsing,
washing or stain removing to be done.
You don't need to constantly be
hanging them out to dry, folding and
putting them away.
It's fine if you've got the time on your
hands to do this, but it can get time
consuming, especially as your kids
won't start potty training until they're at
least two.

Now we're on our homestead, we try to
reduce our waste as much as possible.
There's no a garbage collector dropping
by twice a week to get rid of our trash.
We've got to bag it up and drop it off
in bulk. For us, it seemed a logical
choice to go with cloth. So we didn't
have a massive pile of landfill diapers
building up, using cloth helps keep our
environmental impact down. Plus once
a diaper is more than a day or two old,
you're going to want them gone. Trust
me.
But after doing this a few months I
have to tell you. It's not for the faint of
heart. Using cloth diapers, and washing
them yourself requires you to be
committed. It's a chore to constantly be
cleaning these, one that we blissfully
ignored with our first child in the city.
We had a diapering service cleaning
these for us, so it was simply out of
sight and out of mind.
Second-hand sets are a great way to get That's two years of washing diapers
cloth diapers cheap, just make sure to almost daily so they're dry and ready to
give them a good wash before using go again.
them on your own kids. I've seen sets
for just a couple of hundred dollars in
my local classifieds, whereas you can
spend anywhere from $400 to $800
bucks on these new. Even though this
seems expensive, if you add up what it
costs for disposable diapers, cloth is “it seemed
always going to be cheaper in the long
run. a logical
WHY CHOOSE DISPOSABLE choice to
Ultimately it comes down to
convenience. go with
Being able to take the mess your kid
has made, roll it up and toss it straight
cloth…
into the trash is convenient. Satisfying.
And often what you actually want to do
if you're changing a particularly bad
diaper.

13
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2017
cont.
Of course, you can always get a
cleaning service for cloth diapers, but in
a crisis, you can imagine that no
b u s i n e s s i s g o i n g t o c o n t i nu e
operations as normal. So, you've got to
make a choice. Do you wash these
yourself, or do you buy disposable just
in case?
WHAT ABOUT DURING A SHTF
SCENARIO?
When a crisis hits, you can never really
imagine just how bad it's going to be.
Despite my insistence for using cloth
diapers, during a disaster, it makes sense
to go with disposable.
If not for the convenience, you need to
think about a thousand and one
different things that could go wrong.
Being able to eliminate one concern,
that is, how to keep your baby in a
clean diaper, is one less thing you need
to wor r y about. And if you're
particularly concerned about the
environment, there are now a large
number of manufacturers offering
compostable diapers that break down
to reduce the environmental impact.
In our stockpile, I've already come to
terms with the fact that disposable
diapers take up a huge amount of
space. We've got a single shelf that
contains about a year's worth, as my
plan is to use cloth diapers if at all
possible on our homestead. But there
will be times where cloth is completely
impractical. Like if you need to bug out
or evacuate your home. That's when
disposable diapers will really come in
handy.
Do yourself a favor. If you've got kids,
or see a chance of kids coming along,
ensure you've got disposable diapers in
your stockpile.
When stuffed into your bug out bag
disposable diapers take up less space
than their cloth counterparts, but that's
not the best part. You can simply throw
away a disposable diaper once its
dirtied. You won't need to worry about
carting around extra water and cleaning
supplies, or worrying about how you're
actually going to have the time to wash
these.
It's just not practical to have cloth
diapers in a bug-out situation.
14
Just make sure you do a couple of test
runs first.
You'll find some brands are far better
than others at preventing leaks, and
your baby may even have an allergic
reaction to them if they've been on
cloth their entire life. Oh, and don't
forget to rotate your stock. Your baby
will quickly outgrow the infant sizes,
and remember that you'll also need the
wet-wipes, creams, and all the other
necessities in your bug-out kit for your
kid. It's more to carry, but thinking
ahead will ensure you're not weighed
down with too much gear. Just make
sure you get a great backpack to keep it
all organized.
For me, I'm trying hard to make cloth
diapers work in our daily life and I
believe that in a long-term grid-down
situation, we'll be fine with these. We've
got running water on our homestead,
and keeping these clean and washed
won't be a problem. But should we ever
need to evacuate and head to our bug
out location, I'm only ever going to
have disposable diapers in my pack.