Nothing is better than real-world tests of a bug out plan. What seems to be a great idea on paper or at the gear store could be tragic or even deadly out in the bush. Never let inexperience or uninformed decisions be your downfall. Back Country Bug Out Lessons is a series of blog post from a 12 day, 2500 mile remote trail trek via Dual Sport Motorcycle following the Continental Divide Trail. The grueling journey stressed the limits of rider, machine, gear, skill, and morale. Some of the conclusions will surprise you!

bug out lessons, continental divide trailThis preview is to help you wrap your mind around the daunting task of a true bug out effort. I did not start out planning my epic adventure as a bug out test but it quickly became clear that it was an excellent opportunity to do just that. History shows us that bugging out rarely consists of one move from one place to a final destination. It is more likely that when SHTF, the survivalist will be tasked with multiple moves to avoid encroaching danger. Your ability to stay aware, stay mobile, and stay unnoticed may mean your long term survival. The smart survivalist always has his next move planned.

bug out lessons, continental divide trail, bennett johnsonThe route: 12 day, 2500 mile tour of the remote, rugged, and beautiful Continental Divide Trail (CDT). The route began at the Mexico/New Mexico border and headed north through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana to the Canadian border. The CDT is a loose patchwork of backroads, fire roads, farm paths, and mountain trails through countless national forests, government managed land, and private ranch land. It traverses multiple 10,000 peaks, several massive desert areas, deep mountain streams, deeply steep, rutted, and rocky paths, rain, sleet, snow, deep sand, heat, rain, and more.

The Bug Out Vehicle: 2009 Kawasaki KLR650 Dual Sport Motorcycle. Why a motorcycle? Nothing else was capable of going as far, as fast, as deep into the wilderness, with less fuel, than the motorcycle. A 4×4 truck would certainly be more comfortable but no 4×4 would make it where I went. It is also much easier to hide a motorcycle. Why the Dual Sport? This type of bike allows for legal and relatively comfortable road travel while maintaining enough off-road capability to get you away from other people. More on the KLR, a full review, in a future blog post and on Dale’s Podcast.

 

bug out lessons, continental divide trailThe Gear: Single person tent, backpacking liquid fuel stove, freeze dried meals, synthetic down sleeping bag, inflatable sleeping pad, flashlight, handgun. Proper gear can make or break your adventure. Great gear keeps you warm, dry, cool, safe, away from bugs, supplies hot meals, and illuminates the darkness. The difference between good and bad gear is sometimes ridiculous details never noticed in the camping store. Those silly details suddenly become massive obstacles after multiple long days of heat, cold, dirt, mud, hunger, thirst, and fatigue. More on the gear, a full review of each item, will be provided in future posts and podcasts.

bug out lessons, continental divide trail, bennett johnsonThe Priceless Lessons: The lessons were endless. A summary includes: running out of fuel, an exploding camp stove, bad tent design, cold sleeping bag, excellent sleeping pad, a good flashlight, a bulky handgun, some foolish fellow motorcyclists, survival partners, and one outstanding motorcycle. All of these will be explored on Dale’s Podcast and in future blog posts.

There is no substitute for doing. No amount of bench testing, blog reading, backyard tinkering compensates for real-world tests. The adventure was epic. The lessons were priceless. Sharing my experience, my mistakes, my struggles, and my triumph may be the best reward of all. Stay tuned for soon to be launched posts and podcasts!

FBPrepperAcademy500About the Rider: Hi, I am Bennett. I am a normal guy with no unique set of survival skills. I’ve never been in the military, never lived off the grid. I have a busy career as a College Professor and Small Business Strategist. I maintain a blog and a podcast for entrepreneurs and folks who want to build their own brand of success. Sometimes I get the urge to test life. The test often consists of something epic like this awesome long distance, back country motorcycle tour. Thanks to Dale for allowing my guest posts on this fun subject.

What questions do you have about the gear, the route, the adventure? Please let us know what you want to know. Dale and I will do our best to share it all.

 

 


Dale
Dale

Survival and being prepared should not only be a passion, it should be a lifestyle. The definition of a prepper is "An individual or group that prepares or makes preparations in advance of, or prior to, any change in normal circumstances, without substantial resources from outside sources" Like the Government, police etc. I don't believe that the end of the world will be the "end of the world" I believe it will be the end of the world as we know it now. You can also find me on Google Plus and Twitter

    8 replies to "Back Country Bug Out Lessons – A Preview"

    • James

      For the time, just tell your story, then we’ll be able to ask questions. Just be specific about everything…brand names, models, size etc…
      Thanks for making the trip.
      James

      • Bennett Johnson

        James, Dale and I will discuss the brands in the podcast and in future posts. Here is a summary of what I packed: Tent: Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1, REI Synthetic 25 degree sleeping bag, REI Trekker 1.75 inflatable sleeping pad, MSR Whisperlite Stove, 09 Kawasaki KLR650 Dual Sport Motorcycle, Mountain House dried meals – some were tasty some were disgusting.

    • tim

      why did you pack a tent and not a camping hammock? i sleep warm,dry and bug free all year in my jungle hammock.

      • Bennett Johnson

        Thanks for that question. I debated this subject as well, when packing. There are no trees in the desert to hang a hammock. There are also no trees in the great basin of Wyoming. While hammocks are awesome, I find it more comfortable to sleep in a tent with a sleeping pad. In heavy wind and rain, it is also easier to get dressed and prep inside the tent. My riding buddy used the ENO Double Nest Hammock with nice results when there was a place to hang it. It is important to note that hammocks can be very cold for sleeping if you do not use proper insulation under your body. A sleeping bag is not enough because the insulation gets packed down and looses its ability to hold in heat. You must used an inflatable or foam pad under your body to keep in the heat.

    • Steve

      Wow, things have really changed since I first visited Antelope Wells, NM, back in 1977. That’s a fancy looking Border Patrol sign you’re standing by. I remember being down there one March and seeing two individuals starting out on the CDT using pack horses. We used to let the Border Patrol in Lordsburg know we would be working down along the “fence” so that when the sensors went off they wouldn’t go flying down the gravel roads attempting to catch people crossing illegally. Looking forward to hearing about the entire trip.

    • Gino Schafer

      What was the destination? Do you have a cabin in the mountains or were you just getting away?

      • Bennett Johnson

        Gino, thanks for that question. I failed to clarify the destination. The path started at the Mexico/New Mexico border and ended at the Canadian/Montana border near Eureka, MT. We tent camped along the way.

    • Momma Kathy

      I’m curious about your crossing private property. How did you gain permission. Also, how was the water situation traveling through the desert.

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