Anyone using the Zombie Survival Guide Daily Calendar?

[technovapir]

Happy St Patrick's Day!

ZSG March 17th

Today the calendar describes a recorded Attack believed to have happened approx 329BC in Afghanistan. According to this there was found a small bronze vase with inlaid pictures depicting 1) one man biting another 2) the victim lying on his deathbed & 3) the victim rising up again, and back to 1)biting another man.
These pictures lead the author to believe this vase could be evidence of an undead outbreak.

Now, for tidbit number 2 from the Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook;
regarding water purification - I didn't know this, but you're supposed to boil water for at least 1 minute PLUS 1 minute of boiling time for each 1,000 feet above sea level. It says that boiling for 10 minutes is optimal if fuel source is available.

If you have time, be sure to read Mutt's links about paracord in the preceeding post. Very interesting & useful!!

 

[technovapir]

ZSG for March 18th
Calendar's topic today is "Defense Strategies for 2-story Homes"
Tips include: Stock your upstairs refuge, and catalog what you have. Fill sinks & other receptacles with water, prepare for a long wait.
Stay out of sight. Listen to radio at a minimum volume, do not go near windows, do not turn on lights at night.
Try to make it seem as if the house is abandoned.
These steps may not stop a random zombie intrusion, but can help discourage a mass hoard.

Now for today's tip #2 from the Worst Case Scenario book...
If you're lost without a compass, look at the clouds. Often, weather moves West to East and can help to orient you. This may not be true in Mountain regions.
My personal tip; The sun also moves in a distinct fashion, so perhaps while you're looking at the clouds, take a peek at it...

 

[technovapir]

ZSG for March 19th

Today's topic is Public Spaces (Best & Worst) concerning Churches.
Many religious buildings are built to withstand forced entry. High windows & heavy doors can provide some protection. Zombies are attracted to them not because of their spirituality, but because that's where the food is.
So, if everyone runs in terror screaming to their gods at the first sight of zombies, these places crammed with people loudly praying for their soul may serve as beacons for the undead to come & eat.

 

[FreakyStylie]

Yeah, I'd really prefer a tent. The masses (of zombies) will typically follow the masses (of people). That's just the law of everything in nature. I'd rather get outside of it as quickly as possible, to lower population areas, and have less to defend against.

 

[muttSRT]

Yeah, I'd really prefer a tent. The masses (of zombies) will typically follow the masses (of people). That's just the law of everything in nature. I'd rather get outside of it as quickly as possible, to lower population areas, and have less to defend against.

Exactly why my first go-to plan is to hit the mountains. Few people = few zombies. Plus in a natural environment, theres plenty of food and water and ways to make shelter. I am looking into elevated shelters, for peace of mind sleeping. Theres a hammock made by Hennessey ( HENNESSY HAMMOCKS.com: ultra-light line of jungle hammocks, ultra-comfortable camping hammock /chair/ tent combo ) that can be installed higher in trees out of reach of any wandering un-dead, but thats not whats it made for. It only takes a minute to set-up, especially if you are pre-pared like this guy: YouTube - Hennessy Hammock 101, the definitive guide, all the tips you need to know for setup and use.

I havent bought one yet, because i am still researching what exactly I want, but this is the product in the lead.

 

[technovapir]

I was just looking at those hammocks yesterday as I perused the internet ! I think that we should keep Hammocks in the Trees in mind for a plan of the week.

 

[CES]

I like hammocks- but aren't they a bit difficult to get out of in a hurry?

 

[muttSRT]

I like hammocks- but aren't they a bit difficult to get out of in a hurry?

They are, but i am hoping that being up in the air will buy a little time. The downside to the Hennessey Hammock is that you have to get in and out through the bottom and I havent figured out yet how to suspend it high and get into it. I am thinking, and this is without having it on hand to try, that if you suspend it over a branch, you could use the branch as footing to get to the underside. Or you can always keep the K.I.S.S. principle and just set it as normal and run yourself a tin can alarm system around the camp.

Before I go out and buy the hammock, I am trying to come up with a pro/con sheet to see if its a worthwhile purchase.

PRO's:

easy set up-less than 1 minute

easy tear down- about a minute

lightweight

multi-use- its a hammock, its a tent, its a chair, it comes with a tarp which is also multi-use

can be used on any terrain provided there is something to tie it to- over rocks, unlevel ground, etc

Sleeping off the ground- no worries with ant piles, or other creepy crawlies as my wife says

Chances of waking up with a snake in your sleeping bag? almost 0%...never says never

CON's:

Only good for 1 person, so each person has to carry their own (no midnight relations unless the combined weight of you and your partner is less than 300 pounds or your girlfriends name is Jill, http://media.funlol.com/content/img/girlfriend-jill.jpg )

Cant stand up in it, and sitting up your head hits the top- would suck to be laying down all day on a rainy day

entry/exit is not quick or quiet- bad for defense

Cant set up a table for a lantern, glasses, handgun etc

Not ideal for long term living


Those are just some that I keep kicking around. Feel free to add to the pro/con list. Might help me make a decision. I think that the hammock would be great to have for camping, or to have for your BOB as a just in case, or for recon where you have to come off the mountain and it will take a couple days to go scavenge, but for long term living, you are going to want a larger area to live in.

 

[FreakyStylie]

I think I would get rather frustrated with one of those hammocks. I was looking at the stuff you posted, but then I realized I have this annoying frustration level. If something simple doesn't work, I lose my mind. I don't mind solving difficult problems, but I could foresee some personal issues with that. This would definitely be something that I would have to use often to be thoroughly practiced at. You really got me thinking about a packable sleeping structure though.

I found this, and am searching for smaller options. Climbers/hikers tend to carry giant packs that would not work so well in a survival situation. Extreme Design « Jonathan Olivares Design Research

 

[whynotvap]

My thoughts on the CONS: I don't think the entry/exit would be that slow, but yeah, it's going to be noisy. In fact, I'd be worried more about an involuntary exit if you were way up in a tree! As far as setting up a table inside, obviously, no. But why couldn't you have a table strapped to the exit side tree if you were 'up there'? Lanterns could be easily hung onto the line with a carabiner too. Gun, hmm, that's a tough one depending on it's safeties. Standing up? You can't stand up in any of them! Long term living, best I've seen if you have to keep moving, but not my first choice if I can find something with shingles. Certainly safer than an 'unknown' building though. My biggest concern with putting that hammock up in a tree is getting the side guy lines attached to something for both it and the rain tarp. Something could be rigged to keep the tarp relative to the hammock I guess... and cost. It's not exactly cheap enough to get 'just in case I'll need it someday... maybe' for everyone in the family.

My thoughts on PRO's: Add compact to the list, along with: rain water/dew collection attachment available to replenish drinking water, easiest compact, re-usable shelter you can carry. But you have to remove snake/crawly 'proof'. There are snakes that live in trees and others that 'visit' (like water moccasins!) and when was the last time you saw a tree that didn't have an ant crawling up/down it? The snakes might not be able to get into the hammock but they'll be attracted to the heat... I guess on your sleeping bag is better than in, but not by much! There has to be some way to modify a cone into a snake barrier for the ropes though.

 

[muttSRT]

Thats some good points. As far as the involuntary exit, they do make a version of the hammock that has zippers instead of velcro, so that should eliminate that worry.

I am not 100% sold on the high up in a tree method yet, so setting up items in camp, like normal, should be easy. I figured I could either weave a paracord net, or find one at a store to store small items in, such as the handgun and lantern/light. I was also thinking that a couple "s" hooks hung for the gun sling to hang on would eliminate the rifle problem or maybe even sew in 2 velcro loops that hold the rifle. The hard part with the planning is because I dont have one in front of me to see how much actual room is in the tent. Its easier for me to come up with ideas if I can see what I have to work with.

I am still not sold on the hammock idea yet, but its really high on the list to consider for me. The hammock would also be used during hunting season, so the cost is kind of justified because its an item that will see some actual use vs an item i buy just in case.

 

[whynotvap]

Carabiners over s-hooks every day of the week if there's a firearm involved there. I wouldn't want to risk the rifle falling due to the line bouncing, gust of wind, or whatever. I'm paranoid like that .

I think that hammock would work great as a tree stand/blind if you could shoot out of the 'entry point'. Even more so if you can make some sort of a forward suspension rest to go with it.

 

[muttSRT]

how about the best of both? Nite Ize S-Biner Plastic Clip Sizes 2, 4 and 10. SBP4-09-16, SBP2-03-01, SBP2-03-10, SBP2-03-03, SBP2-03-08, SBP2-03-16, SBP2-03-12, SBP2-03-24, SBP2-03-25, SBP2-03-27, SBP2-03-01BG, SBP2-03-26BG, SBP2-03-28BG,

 

[whynotvap]

Total victory! I've never seen one of those before but they have a lot of potential uses.

 

[muttSRT]

I never seen them either but took a shot in the dark on the internet. Gotta love the search button.

 

[technovapir]

ZSG for March 21st

Today's topic is Zombie Attributes; Sound

Zombies have excellent hearing. They can detect sound, and determine it's direction. They seem to have the same high & low frequency range as humans, but will notice sounds ignored by humans.

The guide says that humans are sight-oriented, depending on their other senses only if eye sight is lost, but perhaps zombies do not share this, since all of their senses seem to be strong & they can hunt, feed & fight in total darkness.

 

[FreakyStylie]

OK, you can call me a nerd/freak/whatever, but when I was a kid, I would practice doing things with my left hand even though I'm right handed. My mom would ask me why I did this and other things like walking through the house with my eyes closed. My answer was always, "What if I lost my right hand?", or "What if I went blind? It would be harder to learn when I had to." She thought I as weird. My wife likes it because I can triangulate the optimum spot in a toilet in complete darkness without making any messes.

It would be good to give our other senses a workout for when they are needed. The better you can see in that dark means less need for a light that will give you away. Being able to hear birds being spooked vs just flying can clue you in to something approaching.

 

[muttSRT]

OK, you can call me a nerd/freak/whatever, but when I was a kid, I would practice doing things with my left hand even though I'm right handed. My mom would ask me why I did this and other things like walking through the house with my eyes closed. My answer was always, "What if I lost my right hand?", or "What if I went blind? It would be harder to learn when I had to." She thought I as weird. My wife likes it because I can triangulate the optimum spot in a toilet in complete darkness without making any messes.

It would be good to give our other senses a workout for when they are needed. The better you can see in that dark means less need for a light that will give you away. Being able to hear birds being spooked vs just flying can clue you in to something approaching.

Great suggestions. You never know when something is going to happen.

An example is my dad. Where he could once shoot a compound bow, he now has to use a crossbow because of his left hand. Pump shotguns are no good, and he had to go to an automatic. Bolts actions are hard for him as well, but he does pretty good with the lever action for some reason. He also now has to use a sight stick vs just throwing the gun to his shoulder and shooting. And all of his shooting is done sitting in a chair now.

 

[FreakyStylie]

Yeah, as we change with age, those changes are gradual, so we adapt easier. With sudden tragedies like your dad's, life changes very quickly and starts to suck for a while. I'm sorry you guys are having to go through that, but I'm glad to see that instead of just stopping, he is adapting instead!

 

[technovapir]

ZSG for March 22nd

Topic for today's calendar entry is .22-Caliber Rimfire Weapons

These weapons (rifle or pistol) fire a round no wider than a few millimeters and no longer than an inch. In an attack by the undead .22 rimfire stands proudly alongside its heavier cousins. The small size of its rounds allows you to carry three times as much ammunition. This also makes the weapon itself lighter, a godsend on long treks through ghoul=infested territory. Two disadvantages present themselves, however, when the use of a .22 is considered.
The small round has zero stopping power. A ghoul taking a round to the chest would not even be slowed. Another problem is the lack of skull penetration at longer ranges. But do not discount this small & efficient firearm.