A long-term bug out is not out of the question. But let’s be real, the second you step out of your home, you’ve lost control. The comfort, security, and familiarity of your home are no longer available to you.
As preppers, we do our best to make as many plans as possible so we can be as prepared as possible. However, as we should all know by now, even our best-laid plans can go awry.
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Recently, our family of four (myself, husband and two daughters, ages 3 years and 2 months at the time) went on a 30-day road trip. We stayed with family some of that time and were forced to stay in a hotel a couple of times, but we mainly boondocked in a tent.
We thought we had all the gear and all the plans…but we were struck with reality and our lack of preparation several times over. I pride myself on being prepared for any scenario, but you never really know what to expect until it’s put into practice.
We traveled from Texas up to Washington and then back down within 30 days. The reality is, most people won’t be galavanting across the country when it comes to bugging out. But this 30-day road trip was a test of our overall preparedness for bug out camping, skills, plans, locations, and so much more.
Here are some things that we learned during our 30-day road trip.
1. Availability of Gas
Gas is precious when it comes to bugging out by vehicle. How available is gas going to be in a total crisis? It wouldn’t be. If there’s a nationwide crisis, gas either wouldn’t be flowing or it would be secured because of various reasons.
Regardless, you’d be without gas. If you do plan to bug out for a long period of time, regardless if your bug out location is right down the street, you may want to use your vehicle or generator or anything else that may take gas. So be aware that gas won’t last.
2. Cash or Barter
What happens when you can’t use your card but you need some food? Don’t have cash? Well, that’s too bad. At the beginning of a crisis, cash will be king. In fact, I’d even beg to say that cash will always be king, outside of barter items.
We were coming across businesses that don’t accept cards, only cash. So think about in a crisis when EVERYONE will only accept cash or something REALLY good to barter with.
3. Caching
One of the main reasons we plan is so we can be as prepared as possible. We can only carry so much stuff in our vehicle, this includes food and water.
Without caching along our route, we wouldn’t easily be able to re-supply the very basic supplies. Though also be prepared for not being able to reach your cache.
4. Hygiene
30 days without doing any type of hygienic behavior would have been a nightmare. It’s not just about being stinky, it’s about getting sick.
If you don’t cleanse yourself regularly, this will let bad bacteria win, and that bad bacteria can find its way through your nose, mouth, etc., which will make you sick.
5. Boondocking
Ok, you’ve found the perfect place to boondock. And so have about a dozen other people. How secure is your location, really? How many people know about your “secure” bug out location? Always have backups.
6. Mindset
I can’t tell you how many times I had to check myself and change my mindset. Especially with kids who love to challenge you and your resolve. But also just having to change our plans more often than I would like to admit.
Everything unexpected will be thrown at you. Stress will take hold and you won’t be able to properly process and move on from difficult situations. Your mindset and the ability to change your mindset is key to survival.
If you have a family, you need to consider their needs, especially if you plan to camp. You’ll need plenty of comfort items, a smile on your face, a calm mind, and more plans than you know what to do with.
Even if you don’t have a family, a long-term bug out is going to be tough on the mind and body. Do whatever you have to do make it as comfortable as possible.
Comfort is not a luxury, especially when we have the time now to get properly prepared.
Will you be re-evaluating your bug out plans? I know we will be. Thanks for reading!
I’ve run west at least once a year and sometimes several times usually to the far side of those “big hills”Beginning in 72 and ending in 2008. Before the Inter-State Highways were finished and the Arab embargo hit, many small town stations shut down come dark (the town cop usually had a key). Runnin’ on dirt in about ’76 I kicked up a stone and put a hole in my radiator. Runnin’ back from the Canadian Boarder a brake line developed a hole from being run to close to my aux. fuel tank. Some gas stations get excited if you want to pay for $50 gas with a picture of Franklin, I had a serpentine belt’s cords break south of Gillette,WY, on a mountain rd. near Lincoln, MT we came across two young men who put their car on its aide after imbibing and one was deeply in shock (we took them and left their car kitty-campus for the grader operator who was about two miles behind us), on the interstate across southern WY I was struck by the dock “bumper” on an 18 wheeler when the 18 wheeler was hit by a heavy gust if wind- it did in my front fender, rt. wheel, and front qtr panel (the lady trooper was amazed to see a 65 year old man do what he needed to get back on the road,, going over the “big hill” you can see snow any month of the year so a jacket and tossed cap tor everyone is prudent, use your transmission instead of riding your brakes, when Mt. St. Helens blew all local supplies of auto air cleaners dried up. BE PREPARED.
This is why “bugging in” is probably the better option for a lot of people. In a long-term crisis, hordes of unprepared people are going to be “bugging out” whether they know that’s what it’s called or not, and the more unscrupulous ones will be preying on anyone out there who’s perceived to have necessary resources that they don’t. While those who “bug in” might face the (very) occasional raider who’s desperate enough to attempt a home invasion, the vast majority of “squirrels” who “bug in” are likely to find it a lot easier to conceal their resources and their very presence from these desperate and hungry hordes… and to repel those occasional raiders with their guns, since home invaders will be on unfamiliar turf and the “squirrels” won’t.
Basically, your situation’s likely to be like I Am Legend without the electricity and fancy vehicles (because even when stabilized, gasoline will turn into sludge in a couple of years); dangerous people in your general vicinity, but you’ll be all right as long as they don’t find out the specific location where you live, or don’t live long enough to make it known to everyone else.
unless you are some sort of survival expert forget about living in the woods, a few weeks or even months in the summer may be possible but once winter arrives and the colder/wetter/darker months set in you’ll wish you were back home.
if you don’t go back home there and then you’ll probably be dead long before spring arrives.
Those that have a fantasy of bugging out to go live in the woods or some state or national park are delusional. The unknown “X factor” will quickly reveal itself and they will become casualties very rapidly. Unless someone has a secure and isolated BOL with a structure and supplies pre-positioned, along with the ability to beat the hordes out of whatever urban or suburban location they are in – forget it. Reality is a harsh beech sometimes
Howdy! Thanks for your thoughts! Bugging out isn’t all rainbows and sunshine, that’s for sure. I think a lot of planning needs to be done and a lot of mock drills. Lots of eye openers when you get out there and test stuff out.
Dear Morgan,
My name is Jose Martinez, I am from Venezuela, and write for two survival blogs, narrating my experiences.
Responsibly, I must make my point clear. A long-term bug out is not even feasible. In Venezuela, unless you go as far of the civilization as humanly possible, you could not be safe while camping. The only way (and sometimes not even by doing so) was going with tenths of other people.
Without the thin restraining thread that means LEOs presence on the streets…there is no way someone can be safe, especially in an urban environment.
Sorry, but this is my point of view based on my own experience. Maybe I´m wrong and things in more developed countries result to be different in a collapse.
Bugging out should be almost a military mission: to get to our (previously well-stocked) safe location ASAP, and, depending on the severity of the circumstances, to stay put or start to prepare for a long-term stay: orchard, cattle, etc.
Which blogs?
Hi Jose, I’m familiar with your writing. I recently saw an interview you did with The Apartment Prepper. It’s great that we all have different experiences to share. While my experience may not match with yours, it’s fantastic to hear from other perspectives so that we can think about our own prepping and see how we can improve. Thanks for your thoughts. Much appreciated!
Morgan, enjoy your articles some of the best information comes fro women. Guys lean toward the weapons thing. I enjoy consulting with my wife on important masters. Have a great new year and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Hi Wayne! Very much appreciated! That’s fantastic that your wife is involved, love to hear that. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Not a bad article, but very generalized.
As for gas; Yes it will not last long being stored or be available from gas stations very long, which is why you should have extra gas cans (filled to start out with) and a siphon hose for later on.
If your bug out location is more than 200 miles from your home, you are in trouble.You need to find one closer than that, no more than 1 days travel by vehicle at most, preferably less.
One thing that is unclear is the part about caching.
Now if you were walking out, I understand caching things, but if you are driving that would be foolish as you should not be traveling that far.
If you were on foot, the cache should be 15 to 30 miles apart or about a days foot travel.
But in a car a “days travel”, might be 480 miles or more. Now you don’t want to stop the car every 20 to 30 miles to dig up a cache, so there are some big discrepancies here.
In talking about “security”.
No place will be totally secure by itself. Security will be what you make it.
So you will have to set up a perimeter, guards, alarms, etc. to make it “secure”.
As far a “Hygiene” goes, I agree.
Which is why you should have picked a location or backup locations with plenty of water. The proper rule of thumb as used by refugee camps; is 10 to 13 gallons of water per person, per day for all water needs, including personal hygiene, clothes washing, dish washing, etc.
Now if you or one of your party gets sick, this can increase the amount needed.
In addition I would suggest some playing cards,(those with survival tips on them are a good choice).
Plus an inspiration book of some kind (like a Bible), or a book of poems, etc, to help raise your spirits when things are rough, would be a good thing to have around.
I also suggest training and or tools for “lock picking”.
You never know when a locked gate might block your path or you need access to a building to shelter in or to search for resources or just to hide in.
Busting your way in makes noise, is a visible indication of your presence and can be hard to seal up to preserve heat, in winter. So lock picking is a much better choice.
Hi Mic, it was a bit vague on purpose. I appreciate your additional thoughts and elaborations.
I guess I’m one of the lucky ones to be in a location where Bugging out is not necessary because I am already at a great spot to be in an emergency situation. I planned it that way long ago and have continued to the present day. Food, medical including minor surgery, water, defense, communication, fuel, off grid, food prep, waste disposal, pet care and more. One of the most important points I’d like to stress is testing. My wife and I practice frequently. Running generator tests is critical and having the possible needed repair parts for “both” of our whole house generators. Rotating food and fuel stores is also very important. At least twice a year we go into full emergency mode for at least two days and nights in summer and winter. In doing so we have found areas that need work over the years. In the last three years, we haven’t needed to enhance or add to anything. That doesn’t mean that the next time we test we won’t find something we missed previously. It can always happen. So far though, we feel quite confident but, not overly confident, that we have most of the bases covered. Right now by our calculations, we would be fine for at least six to eight months and that’s at normal everyday supply usage. If we were to cut back on daily usage, which could easily be done, we could make that a year with ease. Plan, prepare and practice. That’s what we find to be most comforting. Hope this helps. God bless.
Hi RayM! Planning and practicing are absolutely essential, I totally agree with that. Thank you for your response!