Bug Out
Recently I received a copy of the new book by Scott B. Williams. (You may remember my mentioning of Williams in a previous post or two) The book is titled Bug Out: The Complete Plan for Escaping a Catastrophic Disaster Before It’s Too Late. From the title, one might think this is a handbook for paranoid survivalists. Bug Out is far from it. Early on Williams states that this book is not for the “lost hiker”, but more for someone who would voluntarily remove oneself from society. With furrowed brow I became intrigued and read on. I had not really considered a voluntary “bug out” before. I just assumed I would get my dumb self lost in some type of accidental survival situation and rely on information nuggets from the random episodes of Man vs. Wild that I had accidentally seen and spend my dying days wishing I had paid more attention in Scouts. (“Be prepared” and something about red skies at night. Then there was something else about liquor before beer, but I don’t really recall if that was scouts or not)
Williams manages to speak to the novice as well as the seasoned survivalist. Bug Out is divided into two parts: Basics and Locations. It begins with what kind of bag you should consider and builds from there; encompassing clothing, food, shelter, gear, vehicles, and more. Part two divides the continental U.S. into eight regions and offers bug out locations as well as region specific weather, resources, hazards, and recommended equipment. Technical information along with his personal experience is expertly woven with basic information so that this book builds on itself.
It wraps up with appendices that feature template checklists, sources for maps and equipment, and finally recommended reading. I suggest this book for the mildly interested novice, the experienced outdoorsman, and anyone in between who either likes to play outside or has considered living off the land for a few days.
Check it out here:
Lure of the Horizon is not only the title of this blog, it is a strong force in my life. As both a blessing and a curse, the restless soul has an affinity for the horizon; for something more, something new. I cannot change it, I can merely attempt to control it. ~Scott