I DID IT!!

[thedreamers]

Big Congratulations to you.

[ANVIL]

I am happy that your plans are moveing forward. Enjoy.

[Grinnan Barrett]

Really congratulations. we had a ton of land and still do unfortunately I had to go back to work to keep us afloat and our property is nearly seven hours drive time in good conditions. Which means NO WAY if SHTF time comes around. I am looking now to get out of town for many reasons like being able to catch rain water without the water police coming to my house to make me stop. We are in watershed for a lake. We can't put up Solar Panels due to city restrictions (CODE). Your fence has to be done a certain way. If you build a retaining wall it must be concrete or stone block. You have reason to celebrate.

[Bull]

That's great. I'm still working towards mine, because the place I was considering got bought just before I made it out there to see it. That has to be a huge feeling of accomplishment. And it is just in time for winter, so you can go do some camping at the new place, in nice weather. Congrats.

[Fido]

Just spent two weeks at the cabin. Got some projects done, minor stuff like upgrading plumbing (water filter), replaced thermostat, Cut a ton of fire wood, met some neighbors to start a network. Did some hiking and scouting for firearm deer season, stuff like that.

Did try one experiment though. One night while stargazing, I decided to try to see what it would be like to try to walk a path in the woods in the dark (no moon). My plans so far if bugging out on foot have been to move at night through rural areas and rest during the day.
Lessons learned:
1. Even if you know the path you will lose it. The path I was walking is an old (100 years) logging road and well worn. It was surprising how quickly I lost the path and veered one direction or the other.
2. Because of No.1, Night vision equipment is a must for moving at night.
3. The glow of a GPS screen can be seen from a LOOONG way off. Stay covered if checking.
4. Tritium sights are a must on your carry piece.
5. Clear safety glasses should be worn if moving in the woods, who wants a stick in the eye?
6. Distances are very misleading. I thought I was about 50 yards from the cabin at one point. Made a marker I could find in the light, Turned out I was about 125 yards down the path.

Obviously I need some practice with night manuevers.

Will post some lessons learned as I experiment more in the future.

BTW thanks for the congrats guys.

[All Talk]

Congrats indeed. Five acres are yours, abutting a lot of public land. I suppose you are already thinking this, but it seems like you should fill the five acres with the more permanent (and difficult) installations while modern law is still in effect, and have stored supplies to make use of a larger portion of the adjacent public lands after TEOWAKI (for example, if it is cattle country, lots of barbed wire and sstakes, etc, if it is arable the ability to plow and seed a larger demense, etc).

As far as night navigation is concerned, there is still one flawless, untamperable directional indicator -- the North Star. since you say you are a stargazer, I'm sure you know it. We should all practice finding it at the driop of a hat at night.

If you want to get even more serious, having a nautical almanc that would help you identify the direction of the planets at various times and dates might help, too, when the northern skuy is obscured but other directions aren't.

And then there is the compass.

Everything I just said is more relavant to long treks to your BOL. Keeping on a path and not smacking your face into a tree or falling into a ravine are, I realize, more of what you are talking about.

May i suggest a red lense flashlight? Turn is on only sparingly, but the lense cover prevents the light from being as visible or jarringly noticable to unwanteds, and red light doesn't burn out your own eyes' night vision. Never turn on a white light unless you're comfortable keeping it on.