Sponsor

This is turning out to be a great day...despite being sick. No Joke! Survival got a new sponsor.  Chuck Summers is a professional photographer specializing in southwest landscapes.  Check out his work..it really is amazing!  We thank you for your sponsoring us and appreciate it!

Images of New Mexico

sickness

Yes indeed, whatever is going around decided to camp at my house.  I really hate being sick. It's tough to focus and get anything done, and I like to get stuff done.  The only consolation is that things could always be worse. I am thankful for everything I have.  Have a groovy day people!

..in the works...

Howdy all.  Today I was feeling a bit under the weather. But that is life, can't be 100% all of the time.   I do have a number of projects in the works though.  I am starting to storyboard our next episode of nojokesurvival.com  which I think is going to be the best yet!  We have some very special guest actors who will be bringing some sexy to our videos.  I also may be working so some survival episodes for a local public channel.  It keeps me busy, but I like to try to help people.  We uploaded some new videos to our website, so go check them out at  http://nojokesurvival.com/videos.htm 

Thanks for stopping by,
Java

Volunteer

Today was a great day. I was one of many volunteers at the 'Souper Bowl', an event where restaurants give out samples of soup and desserts to raise money for the Roadrunner Food Bank.  The event was well organized and had a huge turnout.  I love being a part of something bigger, especially when the cause is feeding hungry children. 

After a short nap, I took 'Nicki' (border collie) for a hike along the Bosque. There were a lot of newly fallen dead trees and some of the paths had disappeared. This was fine for us, we crawled under, over and through fallen trees and brush...it was a blast.  The entire time it was lightly raining and the sun was setting which made the clouds orange in color. 

Tonight me and my boy are going to watch a Parkour competition. This has become my weekly workout and it is a blast. 

We also uploaded a new video to our youtube channel and our facebook page. Go check it out and enjoy your weekend!

Snakes

I like snakes...

Transpiration

You’re out hiking when you come across a neat looking trail. You follow it for a while, taking pictures, when you realize the trail is gone and you do not know where you are. You’re frantically trying to find you way out of the woods, walking hard and workind up a sweat, and you are really thirsty. Your short hike has now turned into a survival situation. This scenario plays out in National Parks and trails frequently.
There are numerous ways to find and collect water in a survival situation. When in survival mode, you want to do as little as possible to preserve fluids and energy. Transpiration is a very easy method which requires minimal materials and minimal effort.
What is Transpiration? Transpiration, in generic terms, is when plants ‘sweat’ the moisture inside them. The amount of water shed will depend on heat, humidity, sunlight and the amount of water inside the plant. The way that we can harness is this wonderful and natural occurrence is with the use of a plastic bag and the rays of that burning mass of gas called the ‘Sun’.

Transpiration Steps

1. Find a tree or bush with as many green leaves possible. Avoid plants like poison oak, etc…
2. Use a plastic bag you find or one you brought with you, because you’re prepared, and place it around a big bunch of leaves.
3. Bundle up the open end of the bag against the main branch and tie off with rope, shoestring or whatever you have available.
4. If the bag is not naturally hanging low, tie a string to the branch and tie it to something low to the ground. This will allow the water collecting to pool in a corner of the bag.
5. Allow the bag to be exposed to as much sunlight as possible. This will heat up the plastic bag, the plants will ‘sweat’, and the water will condense on the inside of the bag and eventually drip and collect in the corner.
6. Enjoy clean fresh drinkable water that needs no filtration or purification!

 

 

Transpiration in Winter

We say find leafy trees – this can be hard in the winter. The good news is acquiring water through transpiration can be achieved through coniferous evergreen trees, and depending on the region you’re in, Holly and Magnolias, etc. Basically, you can benefit from transpiration anytime, anywhere. Keep in mind that the process of transpiration is slowed in the winter which will result in smaller amounts or drinking water acquired.

Go and Hydrate

Transpiration is a wonderful survival tool – and should you ever need it, it will save your life. If you can avoid needing it, even better! Always remember to pack plenty of water for your trip, and keep a line of communication available at all times. Also, when traveling into the wilderness, always inform someone back home where you’ll be, and how long you’ll be – then they can be ready to send in the cavalry.

Solar Compass

I was out in my yard and was looking at my shadow when I decided to do a quick lesson on Solar Compass.  Basically, you can get a general direction of North by using a stick and the sun. 

Step 1 -   Insert a stick into the ground. One to two feet in length should suffice. The straighter the stick, the better.

Step 2 -  Place a rock where the shadow ends.



 

 

Step 3 -  Wait at least 15 minutes...around 30 is better.

 

Step 4 -  There will be a shadow in a new position now. Place a rock at the tip of that shadow.

 

 

Step 5 -  Place a stick, or something straight, across the two rocks.

Step 6 -  Place another stick, or something straight, perpendicular to this first stick at the middle point between the rocks.

Step 7 -  Now the point farthest from the original stick (used to make the shadows) will be the direction of North.  This works for people in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, it is opposite. 

This is just a quick way to get a general idea of your direction if you have a day with sunlight. 

Happy Hiking!



 

 

 

 

Lego Lone Ranger Toys

I just stumbled across this and thought it was too cool not to share. Since I was fortunate to be part of the cast in this movie..I am really excited about both the film and now the toys! 

Cold Weather Clothing Guide

This is an article i wrote for Geared Magazine on cold weather clothing. Having the correct clothing in a cold weather environment is very important. I hope this information is useful.  For other articles and videos visit my site at http://nojokesurvival.com/index.html

Thanks

Your cold weather clothing plan:

Proper cold weather clothing materials and layering are important for survival. The wrong material may feel warm at first, but after time and exertion can fail on you, leading to frost bite, trench foot, hypothermia and even death. Here I’ve listed some important details to keep in mind:

1. Cotton Kills! What it actually does is trap moisture, and it is very poor at insulating.
2. Heat is lost from the body through exposed skin. This can be your head, neck and hands (or your legs if your one of those Viking types that wears shorts in the winter). Cover all exposed areas to maintain warmth.
3. Loose clothing in layers is good because it allows warm air to be trapped between the layers.
4. Stay dry! Although some materials will maintain a certain amount of insulating properties…your body will cool quicker when it is wet…up to 25 times quicker than dry.
5. In order for the body to be able to properly regulate temperature…you must be hydrated and fueled. This means you must drink plenty of water and eat snacks, even in a cold environment.

Layering

The key to appropriate winter wear is layering. Layering provides adequate insulation while offering ease of ventilation. If you’re exerting yourself in the cold you don’t want to get so hot you begin sweating, and layering also gives you the ability to remove some insulation without becoming cold.
The necessary layers for winter survival are as follow:

Base Layer

A base layer is designed to ‘wick’ moisture away from the body where it can then evaporate. The base layer should be close fitting to allow proper wicking of moisture.

• Polyester, Polypropylene, and wool (merino)

Middle Layer

The middle layer should be an insulating layer. It can also be multiple layers of insulating materials depending on the weather conditions. They should be somewhat loose fitting to allow pockets of air to be trapped.

• Wool and Fleece are the most common insulating middle layers.

Outer Layer

This layer should be windproof and waterproof. The function of this layer is to protect you from the elements such as wind, rain and snow. This layer is designed to keep you and your other layers DRY.

• Waterproof, Waterproof Breathable (Gore-Tex)

Foot Layer

This is the most often overlooked layer of protection and possibly the most important. In a cold/wet weather environment you want to have a waterproof boot. If your feet get wet..its hell trying to get them dry again. I personally invest in a quality waterproof boot that is also insulated…because I don’t like me feet being cold.

Extremities Layer

A hat for your head. Choose one that will block the wind. A hat may look warm until a 20 mph wind is blowing cold air on your ears. Buy something of quality that is windproof and preferably insulated. Gloves- Different activities demand different products, but as a rule I like a waterproof insulated glove. Cold and wet hands are a major bummer. Socks – Polyester/Polypropylene for a base layer, wool for the outer layer. This not only wicks moisture away from your foot but the inner layer of sock will move inside the outer layer and helps prevent blisters while hiking. Scarf- protect your neck from the cold/wind.

Materials

• Fleece – good insulator…even wet, dries quickly, absorbs little moisture, similar to wool…but lighter
• Wool – good insulator when wet, transfers moisture well, feels warm even when significantly wet
• Down – great warmth to weight ratio, can pack very small, very lightweight, loses insulating ability when wet, dries slowly, expensive
• Synthetic – (Thinsulate, Primaloft) not as good warmth to weight ratio, absorbs little moisture, dries quickly, good insulator when wet, typically less expensive than down
• Cotton – inexpensive, poor insulator…especially when wet, poor moisture transfer
• Silk – is soft against the skin, good insulator, good moisture transfer. It is a natural product and can be a little expensive.
• Waterproof – (plastic) typically used for raincoats, completely wind and waterproof, allows no moisture in or out. Some items have zippered underarms to allow release of moisture or condensation.
• Waterproof Breathable – (Gore-Tex) also known as ‘Hard-Shell’ This material has a porous membrane that repels liquid water but allows water vapor to escape. Typically expensive.
• Water Resistant – also known as ‘Soft-Shell’ This material typically has a water repellent coating. It is not completely waterproof. Soft shell jackets breathe well, are softer and more comfortable and typically much cheaper.

New products and technologies are constantly coming into the marketplace. Newer coatings and materials are making jackets more waterproof, more breathable, lighter and less expensive.

Bear Grylls 'Get Out Alive'

I am doing this post to send good energy and positive thoughts out to the universe! I am still waiting to hear if I am selected for +Bear Grylls new Adventure Show.  I think it would be an awesome experience and I am looking forward to the phone call I want to receive!

This is insane!

'What is?' you ask.  'How beautiful it was outside today.' I respond. Yes, today was warm and sunny and enjoyable. I got to go fight the crowds at Costco and buy lots of bulk items that will take me a while to use.  I jest, but actually, with our family we go through stuff pretty quick. Now that I think about it, we got through the line really quick.

The chickens started laying again recently and egg production is getting back to where it should be. Nothing beats having fresh eggs every day. 

We had a Snowshoe Race at the top of Sandia Peak yesterday. I went and set up a table to hand out information about Cibola Search & Rescue. The race was a huge success with people of all ages participating. One woman was recent cancer survivor. I also got to meet one of the founders of our team.

All in all, things are going well and I am very thankful.  If you are actually stopping by and reading these posts, please repost, retweet, visit my website and check out my videos. All the interactions help to get my survival information out to more people.  Thank you!

SASQUATCH!!

We were filming some of our videos today when we had this wild encounter.  It was definitely a tense situation.

Fri...fri...fri...friday!

Ummmm....not much to say today. No Joke! Survival did get a new sponsor and I will be getting them up on the website sometime this weekend!  Here's a hint:

 Me and James plan to film an episode or two, although I havn't pinned down the exact topics yet. I have a lot of ideas and I'm really thinking that these newer episodes will be more entertaining than my last ones. I'm also representing Cibola Search & Rescue at a Snowshoe race this weekend. Have a great weekend folks!

Passport

Howdy again. My buddy James had to get a passport so that we could apply for Bear Grylls new Adventure show 'Get Out Alive'. That got me thinking about where the contestants could possibly be going. Too me, it's kind of exciting because there are so many different terrains and areas that we could potentially get to be exposed to. Although I have some survival skills, I wonder how that would translate from basic wilderness and semi-desert to something like jungles, high elevation mountains, etc...  If I was in a torrential rain and freezing cold, would I be able to be resourceful enough to find dry items and get a fire started? Would my navigation skills help at all in the middle of a jungle with no topographical reference points? Would common sense prevail or would I forget everything I've learned and panic?  The bottom line is...I'd love to find out!  It is at times when we are challenged and broken that we discover who we are and what we are made of.  I have had a few of these moments in my life, and I hope to have at least one more if i make it on the show. 

Waiting...

Again, I say that waiting and not knowing sucks!  I am sure the casting people have lots of work ahead of them, but since we are awesome, you would think they would just contact us right away.  Alas, we have heard nothing yet on the status of our application for the show. We will probably be shooting a couple of new survival videos this weekend which I hope will be more entertaining than our last ventures.  Please keep checking back and tell your friends about us so we can become super popular! 

Get Out Alive!

Here is an update on our audition for Bear Grylls 'Get Out Alive'. We were in contact with the casting personnel and chose to make a video instead of driving 400 miles to Phoenix.  We had very short time constraints as we did not find out about this whole deal until very close to the end of the casting. We shot some video from the top of Sandia Peak at over 10,000 feet in elevation.  We had a couple other locations but after editing we cut some of those out. There was so much more that we wanted to put in the video but damn, does 10 minutes go by fast. We are now in that uncomfortable time of not knowing what is going on. It's the same for every actor after an audition.  You wonder, 'Did I do a good enough job?'. You think about the things you could have done better and wonder if you made a good impression or not.  Well, regardless, it is in the hands of the Universe...and the casting people.  If we don't get contacted in a week or so, we will edit the footage we took and upload it to the website.  We had a blast filming it and there were a few funny parts that didn't make it into the submitted video.   

Reality TV

Today I was contacted by my good buddy James. There is a Bear Grylls reality TV show that is looking for people. If everything plays out, we will be driving to Mesa, AZ this weekend for the audition. We will probably find a place nearby to camp and go from there. Regardless, we are going to document our road trip and the journey...so even if we do not get picked...we will upload a video when we get back. Thanks for stopping by.  

This is day one of my blog.

 I am finally catching up with the times. Stay tuned for more information on survival topics.