Movement

[afff_667]

Again, thanks for all of the information. I was hesitant to start this thinking it might be a waste of time, but I've picked up a lot of very, very valuable info and suggestions.

I am going to go ahead and pick up a GPS (suggestions welcome for which one) working under the assumption that it will be nice to have as long as the system and orbiting infrastructure remains functional. It seems like GPS will save me time trying to figure out where I am should the need arise and may prevent me from getting too focused on a map/compass and figuring out where I am instead of paying attention to the environment, other people, etc.

The advice about taking the long way around was excellent. My maps (street and topo) covering the area between my job and my wife and home are centered on those areas and don't cover much of the surrounding areas. I basically printed just the parts I felt like I would need and obviously don't have much of the surrounding area. I may need to expand my map coverage a bit, and a GPS will also help there.

Finally, the advice to avoid "get-home-it-is" is important. In my planning and consideration of this subject, I've always had it in the back of my mind that home is where I want to be and that I need to get there as quickly as possible. I'm going to need to adjust the stuff I'd plan to take on this journey a bit to factor in longer travel time. I'll also need to adjust my wife's stash as well as the cached items I have with her.

I ordered several four-way sillcock keys and will incorporate them into my planning. There appears to be a complete subculture in urban exploration, and it deserves much more consideration and research.

Thanks, again, folks. Y'all are great.

[beni]

Is a bicycle an option for you? Given the distance to your wife's work going by bicycle could significantly reduce your travel time while affording your the opportunity to take smaller lesser known paths.

A bike that has tires that are good for speed on pavement and work well on gravel or dirt could be useful. You could also attach saddlebags to store water, spare tubes, and other supplies.

[Moose-Knuckle]

There appears to be a complete subculture in urban exploration, and it deserves much more consideration and research.

Yes there is, Google Don Wildman. He is an urban explorer with shows on History and Travel channels. He got me hooked!

[HansTheHobbit]

Regarding the GPS, I would recommend a used Garmin GPSMAP 60 series. The only thing you really need is the ability to program waypoints from lat/long coordinates. If you can find one with a real compass built in, I believe that's the 60cs if I remember correctly, then it's very helpful. If not, then I recommend getting a small button compass and fixing it to the antenna, which is helpful because you don't have to constantly be changing screens and then waiting for the map to reload. There's nothing like being above treeline in a lightning storm waiting for a map to load, lol. The reason for the compass is that it's somewhat difficult to tell if you're walking towards the next waypoint, as you have to walk about twenty yards for the computer to approximate your heading and change the orientation of the map. If you have a compass, then you can set the map to fixed, then use the compass to get your heading. The map will always tell you your exact heading to the next waypoint, so it's super quick. Just glance at the map, then take a quick compass heading. It sure beats walking around in circles trying to get the map to track up. The reason I recommend the 60 series is that they have a more powerful antenna than other models. This is extremely important in my experience. Even the more powerful antennas are still somewhat effected by clouds and tree cover, so the bigger the antenna the better. They also have some nice features that the lesser models don't, but they also require a little experience to put to good use. Memory is also handy if you're planning on downloading maps and programming lots of routes. For example, you might program different routes that could be used for different scenarios, like a direct one if conditions are safe and a concealed one in case the natives start to get brave.

I would also recommend putting the GPS in foil to harden against EMP. If I remember correctly, GPS satellites are hardened against EMP, so as long as you protect the unit itself you should be good. Out of all the SHTF scenarios people are talking about, I think EMP is the most likely, and it's certainly the kind of thing that could easily make you walk home. Also store the batteries separately in the original packaging, or they might corrode from long term storage. Be sure to pack plenty of batteries. GPSs eat them like crazy.

The bike is an outstanding idea. If you got a mountain bike, then maybe you could use the dirt roads to stay out of sight more. It would extend your distance, but you'd be traveling three times as fast.

Regarding the urban exploration, be careful about what you find on the internet. Most of those people have been arrested at least once for criminal trespassing, including a few young people I know. As long as you don't climb any fences or sneak inside a locked building, then you're in pretty good shape. The property owners can ask you to leave if you're on private property, like in an industrial park, but as long as you didn't bypass anything then you're pretty much safe from any charges. As far as going through fields and private land, I think it's generally fairly safe as long as there aren't any no trespassing signs. This is one of the reasons I recommend getting a GPS. If anyone asks what you're doing, tell them you're geocaching. Lots of geocaches are on private property, so you have a plausible reason to argue that you thought the owner was okay with you being there. The absence of a geocache doesn't mean anything either, as half the geocaches listed on the internet have either been removed or stolen. BTW, you should do some actual geocaching if you have time. It's the best way by far to learn how to use your GPS.

[Wooohah]

I would go through as much undeveloped land as possible, and i would travel at night. Use cover and concealment, move quietly but swiftly.

[afff_667]

I would go through as much undeveloped land as possible, and i would travel at night. Use cover and concealment, move quietly but swiftly.

This is the way I've started thinking...using parks, green belts, creek beds, etc. My biggest concern with these is that they form choke points at some point. I can't believe the amount of time I spend while driving looking at the surrounding area and trying to figure out how I would negotiate it, where I might find shelter or some kind of defensive position in which to rest or sleep.

[Hound]

Great thread


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[Wooohah]

This is the way I've started thinking...using parks, green belts, creek beds, etc. My biggest concern with these is that they form choke points at some point. I can't believe the amount of time I spend while driving looking at the surrounding area and trying to figure out how I would negotiate it, where I might find shelter or some kind of defensive position in which to rest or sleep.

Really tricky, I know. Urban areas are the most difficult to navigate out of in the event of a disaster. You also want to juggle the best time to move. In the initial panic the roads will be clogged with people attempting to flee from whatever. It may be worth it to bug in and wait a few days before moving out if it permits.

My advice is try to not hit as many choke points as possible, if it is inevitable... move through them as quickly and silently as possible. Stick to the outskirts and move away from populated area as quickly as possible.

Oh... and be armed.

[Outlander Systems]

Sit down and develop a plan.

Determine a primary route, and then an alternate should the primary route fail.

Do a couple of dry-runs via vehicle, and then do it on foot.

Generally speaking, instant events leading to total gridlock are rare. Should things decay into rioting looters in the street; there's usually an obvious build-up to those types of events that are very apparent. The best COA would be to not put yourself in the position of entering an area with denied/limited safe access (i.e. Commuting into Ferguson during the riotous peak.)

During "Snowmageddon" in Atlanta, the roads were a parking lot, and one coworker hoofed roughly 15 miles to his house.

YMMV

[tc556guy]

I would go through as much undeveloped land as possible, and i would travel at night. Use cover and concealment, move quietly but swiftly.

Anyone who's done a night land nav course in the military across relatively undeveloped military training land could probably attest to the idea that undetected swift night movement across undeveloped land probably isn't happening for most people.