Cabin Break In - Lessons Learned

The general protection plan for the cabin was twofold. The first layer of protection was to blend into the background...not stand out. And secondly the close proximity to neighbors would be enough to dissuade most thieves. The doors and windows are always locked. Naively I thought this would be enough, and it was for nearly seven years.

What Happened

Sometime between Christmas of 2007 and February 2nd 2008 some people broke into my cabin and made off with roughly two thousand dollars worth of stuff. Although most of the stuff taken was used-up or completely non-working crap, the thought that my “survival retreat” was so easily breached and looted was very discomforting.

I think I had grown complacent in my approach to safety outside of my sightline. Fortunately, this unfortunate event happened now when all they wanted was some crap to sell off rather than later when my life supplies would be at stake. In March I had planned on installing an upgraded power supply system complete with new solar panels and wind generator, luckily this incident did not take place in April!

The odd part is what they took and the strange desperation involved in the act itself. Here are some of the items…try to profile the culprits.

What they took: six of nine solar panels, charge controller, generator, air compressor, gundig crank radio, alarm clock, telescope, two pair of binoculars, shot gun, 22 rifle, first generation night vision scope, and booze.

Now everything they took had to be carried to their vehicle at the roadside, about one hundred and twenty feet away, through two feet of snow. They drank the booze on site…and there was a lot of booze. There were near full bottles of whiskey, vodka, rum and some beer. All the pictures were taken off the walls and they pretty much trashed the place but didn’t do any structural damage. They started to remove all the copper wire but I found it in a pile. My guess is they gained entry by forcing the door; it was open and still locked but not broken.

The solar panels were weak and going to be moved onto a solar water heater circulation pump this summer after they were replaced. The generator was dead and the air compressor on its last leg. The night scope, telescope and binoculars were all cheap and for star watching not military grade.

What they left: framing nail gun, roofing nail gun, finishing nail gun, twenty thousand btu kerosene heater, ten thousand btu kerosene heater, water pumps, portable water heater, brand new outback stove and oven, two burner camp stove, hidden good generator, battery powered chainsaw, all of the DVD’s, a blackberry handheld which I hadn’t used in ages, all the hand tools and all the food.

The nail guns were placed by the door like they wanted them but didn’t take. They didn’t touch any of the other items listed above.

Empty Cabin Protection

I need four four layers of defense for my uninhabited retreat cabin:

The first layer is strategic location, it should not be easy to find. Your cabin should be unassuming; you want to look like you don’t have anything they would want. Also, know your neighbors they are the best deterrent.

The second is an unwelcoming approach, make visitors uncomfortable as they get near your cabin. You should have wilderness cameras installed in a way that covers the cabin and the approach. Make sure the flash goes off at night, this will freak the trespassers out. Lot of signs warning people that they are being recorded and that they will be shot. Also some tire shredders installed in the driveway would be helpful be sure you have battery powered motion activated lights to illuminate the dark at night.

The third is secured entry; windows and doors should be locked and not easily breached. Windows need to be covered with metal shutters and doors should be of a solid construction. Always lock.

The fourth is dissuasive comfort; if they get inside make them want to leave immediately. A powerful alarm system that triggers when the door is opened and doesn’t shut off for an hour or so will deter most would be thieves it also alerts the neighbors. Additionally, motioned activated pepper spray can ruin a wonderful evening of robbery if they decide to come in through a window (I love this product).

I am now using a storage unit in a nearby town so there is nothing of value in the cabin until I live on site. This should reduce the temptation.

Occupied Cabin Protection

When I am there all the protection for an empty cabin should be in place with an additional three things.

One, get a large outdoor dog possibly a German Sheppard for protection. I have two small dogs that are great for alerting me to danger but not the best at driving away trespassers.

Two, install motion sensors that will notify you when someone is approaching. These are wireless, battery operated and invisible to a trespasser. I will place at least one on the road approaching my cabin and a couple of other on the trails through the land. You also need a method to communicate with your neighbors to let them know what is going on, I would recommend a GMRS two way radio.

Lastly, get a very big gun and have the ability to use it. Signs should be posted throughout the site warning that trespassers will be shot without warning. Earn a reputation as someone not to be messed with in whatever method necessary.

There are other things but I will not elaborate on them in an open forum.

Never Again!

Gun Ownership

The collapse of America's socio/economic infrastructure, our regression into fascism, will not be in a blaze of bullets and glory where the strongest survives, our societies death will be a lingering cancer which slowly strips us of our life and dignity leaving a husk, an empty shell begging to die, endlessly searching for a path home.

The collapse is planned and controlled, we will not see a starving hoard moving across the countryside killing and eating everything in its path. America, as well as the world, will be slowly starved, given just enough to keep them under control and producing for the elite. The mechanisms for this slow bleeding have been put in place over the last seven years, they are effective and absolute.

If you think your guns will protect you from starvation or incarceration you are lethally mistaken. Pull your gun, and your end will be another Waco, another Ruby Ridge. Pull your gun and your neighbor will kill you, don't rock the boat, don't draw attention to us. This is America after all, everyone has guns, you are neither special nor protected by owning firearms. It just mean you move to the front of the line when it comes to rounding up the malcontents.

As Americans we were give the right to bear arms in the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Our Founding Fathers included this amendment for one reason. Government should fear the citizens, citizens should not fear the government.

Unfortunately, this inherent right is often trampled in a crisis situation, when weapons for protection are needed most. As we saw during hurricane Katrina the first thing law enforcement was interested in was confiscating weapons.

Superintendent Compass managed to round up some police officers and National Guardsmen to go door to door, confiscating guns from law-abiding citizens, leaving them helpless against the depredations of armed criminals and over zealous law enforcement personnel.

During an emergency you should expect a visit from the local civilian authority asking you to hand over your guns. If you are a registered gun owner it is very likely you will be asked to surrender your firearms before you can receive any food or medical assistance. Evacuees should be aware that weapons confiscation could happen at checkpoints established along escape routes.

Be warned, in an emergency situation the governments first goal is not to provide for your defense, it is to disarm you. Be sure you can survive without your guns.

By the way, I personally think every person in America should own and understand how to use firearms. If I were president, gun ownership would be mandatory.

Survival Priorities

Sustenance, Shelter, Security, Scarcity and Sustainability

Survival preparation is a never ending process requiring time and considerable amounts of money. Depending on your end planning goals count on spending anywhere from several thousand dollars to several hundred thousand dollars. The cost will vary and always grow as you reevaluate your needs and deploy your infrastructure.

One of the more difficult issues surrounding the planning process is determining and prioritizing needs. Sustenance, Shelter, Security, Scarcity and Sustainability are the five S’s that will help you plan and allocate your resources. In an ideal world you would make a list of needs, purchase your supplies and wait for the inevitable. But we do not live in an ideal world.

The other area that needs addressing is exactly what type of socio/economic distress are you planning for. Planning for a Yellow Stone super eruption is different than planning for an ice storm. Planning for the complete collapse of our economic structure is a little more involved than planning for a few months of unemployment. Regardless of the type of disaster there are two thing that any survivalist demands,

The family must have their basic needs met

The family must not rely on external support to attain those needs

The point of the survivalist movement is not only to survive but to do so independently, free from institutional help. Institutional assistance carries the restrictions implemented by the “giving” organization. These can included forced labor, mandatory meetings, registrations of assets, forfeiture of firearms and enforced relocation. If you want the handout you must play by their rules. So preparation should be geared towards guarantying independence from institutionalized support.

Sustenance

The first thing you need to address, hands down, is food and water. Without these nothing else matters. In any emergency situation the first people on the scene after the rescue workers is the Red Cross. They set up a tent and you get in line, for what? Food and Water. If it is a remote disaster the first thing airlifted to the site is food and water.

Without these two base items you are immediately forced into the institutional system of handouts, waiting for hours to secure the basics to simply keep your family alive. You become fully dependent on the welfare system, you have lost your freedom. You are no longer in charge of yourself or your family, the man with the food and water now owns you.

You can live in a tent, you can not live in a tent with out basic sustenance. During an ice storm it does not matter what kind of gun you have or how fancy your crank radio is you and your family are going to die without food and water.

Don’t think you are going to be able to hunt for food, this is what everyone else is thinking and the local game will be depleted very quickly. It does not matter if your retreat shelter is in your house or in a distant cabin it needs to be fully stocked with food and water. This is the first, this is the top priority. Everything else falls into place behind basic sustenance.

Shelter

Shelter is the place or thing that protects you from the elements and can continue protecting you and your family in a emergency situation. Now, this goes far beyond simply a roof over your head. Your shelter needs to provide warmth, power and waste disposal. The shelter can be your apartment, home that you own, retreat cabin or even a travel trailer.

Wherever you are your basic shelter requirements need to be met. In other words, if you have a retreat cabin two hours from town, the cabin and your place in town need to be able to shelter you. Having a nice solar power system, a wood stove with plenty of wood and a composting toilet at your cabin does you no good if you are stuck in town.

When looking at homes or apartments, try to find one that has either a real wood burning fireplace or a large southern exposure with windows, ideally both. It is worth spending a little more money monthly for these items. Everything in your home is grid attached. If something happens and you no longer have heat, water for the toilets or power your nice house becomes nothing more than an cold stinky cave.

But if you have a southern exposure or fireplace your home or apartment will stay nice and relatively warm. Additionally a simple sawdust toilet stored in the closet or under the sink can saves you from squatting in an undignified manner under a tree. Purchase some blankets or plastic sheeting to place over the doorways and windows.

Be careful when choosing a backup heating source. Although kerosene and propane heaters are great for temporary off grid heating they become a useless expense in a prolonged crisis situation when fuel is no longer available or priced out of your range.

An independent power source is another matter entirely. If you can swing solar for your house or trailer do so but don’t invest the money if you are in an apartment. Small backup generators are great for power tools at your cabin site but like petroleum based heaters become a liability when fuel starts to run out. They can also make a lot of noise bringing unwanted guests looking for warmth and bright lights. Wind generators should only be used away from jealous neighbors at your cabin. If you are in the city more than likely you will have to do without power for lighting and such. Stock up on candles and solar lanterns.

You don’t want to freeze to death in a power down situation. A good shelter will protect you from the elements, store your sustenance items and hide your families life from unnecessary scrutiny. Remember a survivalist without proper shelter is a refugee.

Security

After you have secured food, water and appropriate shelter you need to address some security and safety issues with your family. How will your family communicate with each other in a crisis situation? If necessary how will you move your family out of the critical zone? Are you comfortable with your family owning and using guns?

You should do research into communication methods that work best in your area. GMRS two way radios are recommended for family communications but this is a decision that you must make with your family. Possibly look into CB radios. Remember that cell phone are not a reliable communications method in an emergency and phone locations are traceable.

Also a large, powerful, reliable vehicle is necessary. You will need something that can haul the family as well as a considerable about of survival supplies. A older model four wheel drive full size truck would be ideal for this, a topper can be placed over the bed protecting critical supplies. These trucks can be purchased for under two thousand. Be sure to keep the tank full.

Personally I think every person in America should be required to own guns, but this is a personal decision. Gun ownership, gun selection and ammo amounts are not addressed in this article. I would only say that base supplies need to be acquired before you invest terrible amounts of money into your arsenal.

Scarcity

What will you need that will not be readily available in a crisis situation? What about a long term collapse? Some of these items might include wicks for your heater, nails for your nail gun, rechargeable flashlight batteries, solar charger for batteries, propane cans for your stove and extra blankets. Anything that will make life easier, but not necessarily critical for that life.

Sustainability

Whats next? How do you and your family recover from the crisis? What will life look like after the collapse? What is your plan for when the supplies run out? Do you have skills that will be necessary in a post collapse society? Planning now for your niche in the new world will help guarantee your families continued survival.

We are heading towards a great socio/economic collapse, you can pretend all is well or you can responsibly prepare for the fall.

Gun Nuts at Rampart Range

Normally target practice takes place on Bear Ridge with a water jug on a stick. This years elk season has forced us to visit our local firing range. The elk take refuge in the private properties that surround Bear Ridge and I really hate disturbing them with unnecessary gun fire. Plus the gun fire brings truck loads of hunter in your direction apparently attracted by the sharp staccato of the powerful 22 rifle. There is nothing quite as disturbing as four business men dressed in well pressed camouflage suits tearing up the road towards you with huge guns bristling from their fifty thousand dollar penis truck.

This was our first trip to an actual shooting range. The Rampart Range Gun Park is located about five miles into the foothills above Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs. It is an unsupervised firing range, meaning that there are no officials or structure for that matter, to get in the way of your shooting pleasure. A gun nuts paradise to be sure. There were three distinct shooting areas. The first was a shotgun range, the second clearing apparently for rifles and small artillery and a tiny third area with green targets that faintly resemble cutouts of little people or fat aliens, not sure which, for hand guns.

I have two 22 rifles one a bolt action the other a semi automatic, an old nine shot 22 revolver and a 12 gauge pump shotgun used exclusively to defend against zombies. The 22 bullets can be used in any of the guns except the shotgun of course. This arrangement is very economical with 22 LR bullets costing about ten dollars for a case of five hundred. This is an efficient collection that can kill anything that needs killed. Though I must say that my guns feel rather anemic after viewing the arsenal assembled on the mountainside Saturday afternoon.

We arrived around two and decided to spend some time on the shotgun range. Now I love shooting a shotgun the gun is heavy and has just the right amount of kick. One of the goals for the day was to get my partner comfortable with the loading and firing of the manly weapon. Remember the zombies can come at any time. He did great and it was much fun. He had some trouble with hitting any targets but that will come.

After switching guns we moved to the rifle range. Everyone watched as we walked to the end of the shooting stations and eyed us as we open our case. I swear I heard a few snickers as we pulled our 22’s out and prepared to fire. Apparently we were not showing the proper reverence to the larger guns around us as we kept getting bad looks even though we hit what we shot.

A gentleman standing directly to our left had what can best be described as a large machine gun with legs. I didn’t know that you could really buy those things. He was having some trouble balancing it and kept shooting the ground about thirty feet from the table which sprayed everyone with dirt. But it was a very big gun so everyone just looked in awe as he finally righted himself and emptied the magazine into the distant hillside while screaming Yeahhhhhhhhh. As the last bullet left the barrel he said “Thank you Jesus”.

Now not being one easy shaken let me tell you that I found it very difficult to concentrate well enough during the firing rampage to reload my small insignificant bullets. We shot a few more rounds under the scornful eyes of the true gun nuts and started packing up.

Glancing towards the handgun range I saw a man with a very large pistol on his hip. He was nursing a cannon like device mounted on a tripod. There appeared to be some loving talk between him and his strange gun although I could not make out the words over the ringing in my ears. He proceeded to shoot the small green alien standing about twenty feet from the end of his muzzle. The innocent visitor fell to the ground with a hole in its center. The nutter then pulled the gun from his hip and emptied the clip into our fatally wounded friend. Apparently aliens are as big a threat as zombies.

I noticed a couple of important things this Saturday afternoon. First a bullet kills equally well weather it comes from a 22 or a small cannon. So choose the weapon you want and are comfortable with. Secondly our founding fathers knew what they were doing. As long as these wonderful gun nuts are armed as enthusiastically as they are we will never fall under tyranny at the end of a gun. There are many other ways to oppress a population but in the United States it will not be by the end of a gun.

Bread, Beans, Bullets and Booze

As the American economy and the dollar continue their downward spiral and mass inflation and unemployment loom on the horizon skills will be needed that are not based on current monetary methodologies. After reviewing problems encountered during my stays at Bear Ridge, I have come up with a list of four basic skill sets necessary to survive in a trade-based economy.

The Four Basics are Bread, Beans, Bullets, and Booze.

Bread is pretty evident. The ability to make various breads from scratch is a valuable commodity. Freshly baked bread are sold at farmers markets or traded for goods and services. Everyone should stockpile several five gallon buckets of flour and as much yeast as possible. The flour will keep for several years in a sealed bucket and most yeast has at least a 3-year shelf life. Learn how to bake bread in a propane, solar and wood-fired oven. A great additional skill is building solar and wood-fired ovens.

Beans are actually meant to represent all gardening and vegetables. Learn how to grow various plants under different conditions. A large diverse garden planted in the summer will give you plenty of nutritious food for trading or canning. Buy a large canning pressure cooker with jars and preserve your vegetables for winter. Seeds should be purchased now and stored in a cool dry container, buy a lot of them. Try planting a few of your favorites each week over the fall and winter and grow them in a south facing window. You will gain experience growing the plants and have fresh vegetables every week. Additionally decide on a few beans you like and buy them dry from your local store. Fill several five-gallon buckets with these and throw in a couple of buckets of dried rice. This reserve of food holds you over until the garden is producing.

Bullets are for hunting and protection. At minimum, every household should have a 22 rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun. The rifle can be used on small game and for target practice. The 22 is not a large gun and the bullets are incredibly cheap and can be purchased in bulk cans. Nothing beats a shotgun for protection, great accuracy is not needed and the weapon itself is very intimidating. Buy plenty of shotgun shells and a reloading kit. The reloading kit saves money and gives you a valuable skill useful in trade.

Booze is certainly the most valuable commodity know to man. The ability to brew a fine beer or vint a robust wine gives the artisan a distinct advantage. Alcohol based beverages are easy to produce and can be sold or traded for just about anything. Learn and understand the fermenting process. Stockpile malt, sugar, brewers yeast, hops and bottles. Home brew beer usually is made in 5-gallon quantities; purchase a brew kit if possible. People in a depressed society look for an escape. The person furnishing that escape becomes invaluable to that society.

This certainly does not cover everything but it is my starting point. This journal is dedicated to developing the above skill and sharing lessons learned. Let me know what you think or anything I should add.