Bug-Out!
A friend and I recently discussed some of the possible physical difficulties that might be associated with a rapid exfiltration from a devastated area during a major grid-down scenario. We thought it would be interesting to explore the personal effects of increased stress, combined with decreased caloric intake, which might be encountered while “bugging-out.” We wanted to move away from academic knowledge to personal experience, so we created a seven day bug-out “challenge” for ourselves.
Background note: my survivalist friend was a U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam and then spent his career working on computers. I’m a 46-year-old male who exercises daily by running and lifting weights. I’m also a Wilderness EMT-B and I teach wilderness survival and wild plant skills as serious hobbies. We both grew up in rural Utah, and we’ve spent many years backpacking throughout the Rocky Mountains. We also invited another survivalist buddy (lawyer) to participate in the seven day challenge.
The Challenge
- Consume only 1,200 calories daily
- Run 5K or bike 10K each day
- Work manual labor (or) lift weights one hour each day
- Sleep only 6 hours a night on the floor or ground
- Refresh your (heavy) bug-out bag and wear it at least 30 minutes a day
- Capstone: Run 15K or bike 30K with a (light) pack at the end of the challenge
h/t Liberty and Lead
