| The age old axiom "Practice makes perfect" | | | | certain rules clearly in mind. The first is that you will |
| undoubtedly holds true when considering survival | | | | need a fire permit. This is a number one rule of the |
| training. Bugging out is often a time when supplies are | | | | Forest Department personnel. Another is that you will |
| easily overlooked and left behind and unfortunately in | | | | find it necessary to carry your own water into your |
| a situation when the danger is real it can be | | | | camp location or you will be required to purify the |
| downright challenging. | | | | local water obtained from the lakes or streams. You |
| There is an excellent and inexpensive channel by | | | | must setup your retreat at least 100 feet from any |
| which you can rehearse your bug-out routine and | | | | water source. Since you will find no type of toilet |
| skills while providing a realistic type of environment at | | | | facilities in the wild it will be your responsibility to dig a |
| the same time. There are adequate amounts of free | | | | six inch deep hole in which to disposal of your waste. |
| camping often found in the National Forests. This | | | | Remember as we have discussed in a previous article |
| type of encampment is known as dispersed camping. | | | | use the leave no trace rule. Keep it clean for who |
| With dispersed camping we are able to get away | | | | knows we may have to live there for a spell. |
| from the metropolitan environment and realize a | | | | Our country has many varied types of settings |
| setting that more closely matches the bug out | | | | where you can setup camp and test your skills |
| scenario locations which we may be heading to | | | | ranging from the high country areas as found in |
| should a disaster strike. It never hurts us, despite of | | | | Arizona's National Forests to locations that provide |
| how well prepared we may think we are to practice | | | | you with canyon vistas or unbelievably beautiful |
| our survival skills. It allows us to flee our ordinary | | | | sunsets. Nowhere else can you experience the |
| routine and spend some worthy time honing up on | | | | wondrous smell of ponderosa pine or juniper trees |
| our skills that we have learned over the years. | | | | while awaking to the fresh sound of birds and the |
| As Americans we are very fortunate to have before | | | | scamper of the various forest creatures. With no |
| us millions of public acres of lands readily available for | | | | smog you are afforded the opportunity to see a |
| our enjoyment whether that is for recreational or | | | | clear night sky view of the Milky Way as you have |
| research purposes. The primary caretaker for this | | | | never seen before. |
| public land remains in the hands of the Forest Service. | | | | So if you desire to really test your abilities and skills |
| All of our national owned forest land is open for | | | | of the wilderness then you should seriously consider |
| public camping unless posted otherwise. Since these | | | | dispersed camping at our national forests. Each forest |
| lands are so huge and vast they provides the | | | | is a treasure of opportunities and the family may |
| survivalist with a peaceful and solitude location to see | | | | even enjoy the outdoor adventure as well. To locate |
| what they have learned. | | | | and review the various forests and land areas visit |
| If you decide to venture and use dispersed camping | | | | Recreation.gov for a listing. |
| as a means of testing your preparedness keep | | | | |