New to prepping? Try Camping to get started

[@K6ARK]

I do zero training for the purpose of prepping, but the majority of the activities I do for fun are useful skills from a preparedness and generally taking care of yourself and others in the outdoors. When people try new stuff in the outdoors - be it car-camping or climbing a remote backcountry peak - is to build skills gradually in a low-commitment environment when you're trying out a new skill in which you have limited or no experience. So, for example, I would not encourage someone new to car-camping and off-roading to off-road a difficult trail, far into the backcountry to go car-camping for the first time. Choose one aspect to challenge yourself on at s time if you're new to all of this. For you, this trip was only a new challenge of figuring out your optimum strategy for car-camping. You're comfortable off-roading, and you're comfortable in the backcountry on foot - an excellent, solid foundation for this adventure. Nice work on the video, and I love that you're encouraging learning through doing. There truly is no substitute.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Adam, you make an excellent point about easing into it. Maybe starting with a designated camp site with facilities may have been a better recommendation. 60 miles off road is something I don't recommend for a newbie. I appreciate the assist and recommendation. Maybe I'm disconnected from reality. 😂

[@K6ARK]

@@TheTechPrepper nah, I think what you did fit your mold and your experience level. I just want to caution others to increase the odds of success and decrease the chance of problems. A fun trip will spawn more fun trips, especially if you're bringing family members along who may be less into the philosophy that it doesn't have to be fun to be fun. 😆

[@TheTechPrepper]

I appreciate you bringing your SAR perspective to the table.

[@KM4ACK]

Great video. When weight isn’t an issue, cast iron is hard to beat for cookware.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Now you're talking. I am new to the car camping scene. We're doing cinnamon rolls in a dutch oven next time. It's always fun to test the radios in new locations, too. 73

[@TheDigitalPrepper]

Good tips and info! 100% agree that camping is a great exercise for beginner prepping in that kind of setting. It's always good to see other preppers out there! Stay safe and prepared!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Cheers to another prepper! It's fun to get out there and film a video versus doing a bag dump on the kitchen table. Take it easy. Great nickname!

[@AD6DMDennis]

Great way to ease into the prepping mindset. It's true, camping got me thinking about this stuff.

[@TheTechPrepper]

It's a great way to unplug and enjoy nature, too.

[@kb6lcw99]

DEET is required for bug out situations. In the military we treat our clothing with our bug spray. You shared great info and for the “new” Prepper, I would say to start my using your back yard and work up! As the 1st few times people will forget major important items. Keep sharing my brother. 73

[@TheTechPrepper]

Excellent tip to perform a dry run at home. What a great way to ease into it. I have a new ultra light sleep system design I'm working on for use an emergency bivouac. I was caught out once with just my day hiking gear over night. It was a rough night. Stay tuned for a 12 hour+ bivy with just trail running gear. DEET for the win!

[@bthemedia]

Always great advice, and practice preparedness by having FUN out of desire rather than survival out of necessity!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Great comment. I may have to quote you on that. It's relaxing, too.

[@tjs2909]

Great video! I HATE mosquitoes! A couple of years ago my wife bought a battery operated Thermacell mosquito repellent. I was skeptical using camping. It worked great. So great that I bought their backpacker version that uses isopropane cartridges from a backpacking stove for hiking and backpacking. I’ve gotta say they work great on Oregon mosquitoes when you’re stationary.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Hey, I'll try anything at this point. It would safe two days of scratching. Thanks for the tip. I'll check out the Thermacell repellent system. Thanks.

[@sldsnk3]

This video made me think back to one of the camping trips with my friend's family. His brother ended making the comment about my friend and I's preparedness for the trip that we had the best survival team, and seeing the video really send that idea home. Definitely sharing!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Glad I could help you recall that memory. There's a bit of a survival element on these excursions...and good memories. Thanks for sharing the video.

[@backcountryamateurradio]

A lot of great points here. I like how you present the essential camp skills and how it transfers to a preparation process. Like having a lightweight camp stove, a life saver in situations requiring you to cook or boil water. Great example. We have a load of butane and propane canisters for that reason. Just another reason to get out and camp (practice, practice!)! Thanks for making this one. 73

[@TheTechPrepper]

Glad you enjoyed it. Camping is essentially bugging out. It's usually for fun and relaxation, though. But, the gear and skills have elements that can be applied to any number emergency situations.

[@backcountryamateurradio]

@@TheTechPrepper Fully agreed!

[@neubert500]

Another excellently laid out logical video. Awesome training for both yourself and your son! Many Thanks for your efforts in making these informative videos

[@TheTechPrepper]

Glad you enjoyed it. I had originally filmed this while in Crown King, but the GoPro garbled a ton of the content, so I had to re-record from home today. There were so many other gems on this topic, but 30 minutes was long enough. Happy to produce the content as long as there is interest. I appreciate the channels support.

[@TangoOscarMikeN3WS]

All the gear can really help out in an emergency even at home. I can recommend the sea to summit bug hood. You are lucky to have public land you can camp on freely. All camping in PA is pretty much regulated and you can only camp in designated areas, usually that is your standard campground. Camping isn't the same when you are surrounded by tons of other people. We have millions of acres of state game land, but they are very heavily regulated, no camping allowed. That is one thing I envy about you guys out west.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks for the bug hood tip. Mosquitos are not something we typically need to deal with out here. That's interesting about the camp restrictions in PA. Are you allowed to camp on land that falls under BLM?

[@TangoOscarMikeN3WS]

@@TheTechPrepper That is just it. No BLM land here. It's mostly in the western half of the US. We have public lands, but really restrictive.

[@averageguysradio]

Gaston, nice after action report. You had some good advice/recommendations for people just starting out and IMHO a good reminder for those with some level of experience. Well done sir...☕😎👍

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks, Jose. As someone who backpacks regularly, it was nice to have some luxury items when car camping. The food is better for one thing. 😁

[@birthoftime]

Gaston: This is a great conversation starter with my family. We would be in a bug in situation, but the principals are the same. I put off several phone calls to watch this. Regards, 8P6RC

[@TheTechPrepper]

Glad you found it useful. Camping is basically off grid living and making the outing work with the gear you have. Best of luck!

[@josempantaleon]

Thanks for another great video Gaston

[@TheTechPrepper]

No problem. Thanks for watching. I recorded a land navigation exercise this past weekend to find water, but wasn't happy with it. So, you'll have to wait another week for another video. I appreciate your continued support. Stay tuned.

[@blankreganon5395]

Another great video. As for license free comms you might want to check out MURS. Since it is VHF it might work better I'm the woods. Also you can use a vehicle mounted antenna. Check out the Wouxun KG-805M. It also can receive the weather channels.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks! Great timing on this comment. I have been looking into MURS the last few weeks. The KG-805M is exactly the radio that I have on my list of radios to purchase. I was drawn to MURS because it is license free and allows for encryption. While you're limited to two watts, I like that there are no restrictions on adding an antenna (unlike FRS).

[@DK5ONV]

Gaston you're a genius! Yup, Wrangler or Renegade Jeeps are the best vehicles for Trips like that. Land Rover Defender is a very fine ride for the as well. I used to have an old Suzuki SJ413 with some pimp ups on hp and fat tires to cruising thru the Canyons and Peaks. That was a fun ride that lil japanese rice burner on wheels. Keep up good work. 73's de Your Friend Uncle Guenter from the German Frontier

[@TheTechPrepper]

Well, I don't know about genius, but if you can pack a vehicle, move to another location, and support yourself for a few days, I'd say you're ready for anything. The Land Rover's are great work horses, too. Out here a few people have modified their Suzuki to be pretty trail ready. My next exercise looks like an attempt to spend 24 hours in the desert with just my trail running gear (hydration belt, chest rig and hydration pack). Take care, Uncle Guenter.

[@DK5ONV]

@@TheTechPrepper Adventuering in the Wilderness where you live at is more dangerous than where I live. Specially if it comes to meeting wild animals. You got Bears, Mountain Lions, Rattlesnakes and Scorpions out there. And you got fire ants too. The worst thing here can happen is meeting a cross adder snake which are rarely showing but we have hordes of wild hogs around and you can't just buying a shotgun at any gun store and having on you everywhere you go like people can do that in the US to protect themselves. This year we had a huge invasion of moskitos like never before as long as I am able to remember. I counted 280 bites on my body from beginning of july til like good 1 week ago. I have never seen them acting this agressive ever before in my whole life. And hornets have been lots of them around this year. I know about the Desert Areas where you use to hang out to play very well myself. And ou need to be, like already mentioned it before "prepaired for the worst case" to happen. Protecting from the Sun and having enough drinking water on you if you far off from community areas is major important than anything else. You can survive a couple days without food but running out of water can end up deadly to pretty much every human. All in all I had a fun year 2021 being outside portable playing radio. I learned so much new things about mother nature, HAM Radio and about myself. (ageing and getting wrinkled 1st priority) and to handle things with arthtritis. I fee la lil sad that my portable season stopps soon wx wise taking a break over the winter month. But hey...there will be 2022 be soon a new year with new chances to do what I love to do most" HAM Radio in the Fields" Happy wednesday evening to you and yours. 73's from Uncle Guenter, DK5ONV

[@malenve6vid]

I can't believe I missed this one. Great info here. Even for someone with sound skills, a simple camping trip can be humbling. FRS radios, 21 miles?? S2S maybe.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Glad you enjoyed it! I haven't watched this one in awhile. If I recall, we were using FRS radios between the Jeeps. The actual usable range is about 1mi/1600m.

[@JohnTarbox]

Another excellent video!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thank you for hanging in there. It was a long one. ;-)

[@michaelsanderson7328]

Excellent info and great video as always!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks, Michael. The next field exercise will be right up your alley. I'm going to go ultra minimal and shoot for a 24-hour outing with only the gear I carry every day on my trails runs (hydration belt, small chest rig and hydration flat pack).

[@michaelsanderson7328]

@@TheTechPrepper will look forward to seeing your video! And your new 5k sub!! Keep going!

[@DonaldChapman]

Can you do a video on APRS message to SMS? I saw that on this video and it looks incredible!

[@TheTechPrepper]

I made a few APRS videos early on while I was learning, but it's time for an update. Here's the current APRS playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLZpc6PnzmzmFzrGGowVFXd7ahp0FQSUlu

[@DonaldChapman]

@@TheTechPrepper Thank you ! I will check it out.

[@DonaldChapman]

@@TheTechPrepper Thank you. I think I found what I was looking for. I love the D710 s much I purchased a second one for my shack dual-band. The Kenwood TH-D74 is nice, but not as nice as the 710! 73!

[@TheTechPrepper]

The price has skyrocketed on the D710 since I purchased mine last year. The D74 is a nice HT with tons of great features. I just wish they made it a bit more rugged. Good luck exploring APRS.

[@Littrell1966]

Maybe go ahead and get your GMRS licence to add to comms for your family, up to 50 watts and still able to communicate with the FRS radios.

[@TheTechPrepper]

I hear the test is really hard. :-) I've been pushing our neighbors to get their GMRS license for that very reason--more power!

[@March94Hare]

I’m way later to your video than normal, do you have a link to the water bricks? I like the concept!

[@TheTechPrepper]

They're difficult to decant with the optional spout once you hit the half way point, but they are great for storage. I bought these years ago from the manufacturer: www.waterbrick.org/ I appreciate you being fashionably late.

[@aaronakiyama]

I was about to order some water bricks before I made an observation. The spigot is in the middle of the container so the bottom half won't flow out if it's sitting flat. Since you seem to have some time with them, how annoying is that? I'm also looking at the reliance armadillo. I currently use a 7 gallon Jerry style can from reliance but that's too much water for one person for most of the trips I do and I want something smaller and easier to pack.

[@TheTechPrepper]

It's very annoying. The spigot feels like an after thought. It's terrible for decanting water, but great for long term water storage in tight spaces. I'm looking into jerry-can style water containers myself as there will be an LoD bumper install on the Jeep early next year. It has all the goodies and attachment points for water and gas. Thanks for the comment. Take care.

[@ivanmendoza2704]

Question, why do you bother with FRS radios when you can just use a UV-5R? I constantly go camping (on foot) with my daughters (12 and 14) as training.

[@TheTechPrepper]

It's a legal thing with FCC, but my VX-6R is technically unlocked on the FRS, GMRS and MURS bands. Wink. Wink.

[@jameslee522]

Green screen?

[@TheTechPrepper]

Not sure what you mean? I don't have a green screen.

[@edleeko4lkk837]

try the copper Penny mine near Prescot sometime!! KO4LKK Ed

[@TheTechPrepper]

Will do. It's on the list now. Always looking for good spots. 73, KT1RUN

[@MrPOPSZILLA]

nevermind, you lost me at "non-alchoholic beer"...

[@вечная_мерзлота]

u were first American who said he ever drank non-alcoholic bear. u must be not a 100% American. 😄

[@TheTechPrepper]

You're probably right. It's probably not the best idea to drive up a mountain after a couple of beers. I waited until camp. ;-)

[@вечная_мерзлота]

@@TheTechPrepper dude, it's non-alcoholic. drink all u want. I was just saying that real American wouldn't ever drink non-alcoholic bear. so be real! 😄