[Brewerin]

I live in the northwest and was wondering if any experts had any advice fir my area. I live in the Portland metro Area within a hour are 2 mountain ranges tons of lakes and rivers and plenty of woods. Could I get a pro/con list. I'm trying to out together my bop. Thanks in advance.

 

[fwshooter]

About the only thing I could really see being different for location is maps, clothing, and a book on edible plants for your region.

Also, bags are definitely going to vary from person to person depending on their skill set and how many they are preparing for.

Best way I have found is take the standards: shelter, fire, food, water, clothing, defense, cordage, TP, medical, and lay them out. Now take everything in the backyard and survive a night. Go inside and grab what you forgot.

Now drag this pack out the forest and live a night in it. Go home and what you did not need besides the obvious medical kit remove.

 

[seawind]

Plan for the worst case scenario, in this case bugging out in the middle of winter. Even if you bug out in the summer and are getting by with preps and fishing, winter is coming. How much wood have you been cutting and stocking?. Bugging out for a week or two in any season is doable if you got the right equipment/preps and a plan. Truth is, playing Mt. Man is a fun fantasy that in practice will leave you and your family in dire straights.

If you have a BOL with a good shelter, it then comes down to training, experience, and preps. Knowing the climate I assume you've made plans to deal with it.

For many of us without a BOL/shelter, Bugging Out should really be called Buying Time.

 

[NorIDhunter]

Plan for the worst case scenario, in this case bugging out in the middle of winter. Even if you bug out in the summer and are getting by with preps and fishing, winter is coming. .

Winter is always coming in the mountains. Especially with the way the weather has been changing over the years. We had freezing overnight temps in late June over here. That could put a real hurtin' on "west side" city folks, that high 40's - low 50's is COLD for.

I would drive 1/2 a tank of gas from where you are, minimum, as that's what many may have in their rigs in an emergency situation. You want to be past that point, imo. That's where I would "start" learning the lay of the land, edible plants there, checking any mines/caves/tunnels, finding closed Forest Service roads, thinking where I might want to establish a cache. etc.

 

[Moccasin]

I live in the northwest and was wondering if any experts had any advice fir my area. I live in the Portland metro Area within a hour are 2 mountain ranges tons of lakes and rivers and plenty of woods. Could I get a pro/con list. I'm trying to out together my bop. Thanks in advance.

Pro / con on... what, specifically? Living in Portland, heading for the mountains, trying to survive in the northwest, bugging out and what to carry: Those are broad topics. :

Nothing wrong with Portland. Except Californians fleeing the mess they've made in their state are heading there and to Washington and making the same mistakes that made California what it is today.

Heading for the mountains: Keep in mind, in a disaster, the several million in the Portland area will have the same idea, thinking they can get into the wilderness and support themselves with hunting and fishing. They will flood every park, national forest, timber company property, fire road, and ATV trail there is, kill or scare everything in sight, and probably wind up dying by the hundreds, often taking others with them. You SURE you want to go there?

Surviving the NW: Yeah, good luck with that. :thumb:

Bug out kits: I think Kev is opening a new forum specifically for that...

Any other helpful advice you'd like?

 

[desert]

PNW

Best thing that you can do to be prepped for the PNW is to have wet weather and cold weather gear. outdoors during the winter is brutal. on the plus side there is an abundance of water

 

[rover]

no where is safe anyway,prep the best you can and just be where you want too be to die, odds are 1/2 of everybody will die wherever they go from mistakes, accidents or evil. Problems always present themselves in proportion to how well your prepaired. It's all about Luck. just like in the movies.

 

[Seagoing]

NorIDhunter made a point that I think is brilliant.
The one about 1/2 tank of gas distance away.

I would drive 1/2 a tank of gas from where you are, minimum, as that's what many may have in their rigs in an emergency situation. You want to be past that point, imo. That's where I would "start" learning the lay of the land, edible plants there, checking any mines/caves/tunnels, finding closed Forest Service roads, thinking where I might want to establish a cache. etc.

Charlie

 

[AKpredator]

Have a kit ready to go with the basics x 3. If you are driving, then weight is not the overwhelming issue. However, getting on the move ASAP is extremely important. If you have to leave, then so are lots of other people. Get bogged down in traffic and you will be screwed. Every route will be jammed with people. I would have a secondary vehicle like a dirt bike or 4 wheeler ready to go.

 

[Odessa]

I would check the forest out if you havent already, look for caves or old mines, even call some park rangers and ask them if they know of small caves or mines etc and use the guise that youd like to know the areas they are in for you plan on hiking and want to avoid them so you dont stumble across any animals lair. Nothing like a free shelter right? If this is the case, find one, and hide it the best you can with foliage, medium sized dead trees etc so you got a partially hidden place to go if something does go down.