But this brings up an issue. I am not always at the bug out location. Often I am some miles away with highways, streets and dirt roads to traverse. Even during the best of times roads can be closed or traffic jammed. All it takes is one car or tree and it's game over. So I have plans which involve traveling on foot. It beats sitting in the truck waiting to die.
However in a disaster why would things be going your way. Why would the weather be nice. It seems trouble travels in packs. One can expect things to suck. Maybe it's just entropy. Who knows but considerations should be taken for safe walking. Slips, trips and falls are not action packed like being attacked by a bear, zombies or looters but far more likely IMO.
The gear.
1. You are your best gear item. Consider this. What makes someone think they can walk out into a professional baseball game and compete. Why do people think they can play goalie in the NHL without training and practice? No. You will get beaten.... badly... The same applies to traveling with a BOB over snow, slush and mud for miles. If the first time you do this is on game day you are going to get beat. You need to be physically able to do it. This more than anything will help mitigate the risks of mechanical injury. Get at least 10,000 steps a day even if not training with a pack. For this conditioning outing I did more.
People do even more all the time. It's not all that hard with training but naturally consult a doctor etc etc etc.
2. Gear.
I always try to pack a PSK, knives, light, extra garments etc etc etc.
But that's not what I am depending on to get me through the snow, slush and mud. Every often conditions can change within less than a mile. One area might be relatively dry and the other not so much. Just depends on elevation, exposure to sun and time of year. Here is what I use to keep from failing when the snow isn't deep enough for snow shoes. The micro spikes can be seen on my feet. They're lots of versions including yak tracks etc etc etc. Worth having when dealing with snow and ice.
Gaiters turn even marginal boots into something more. They keep snow and muck from going into boots and shoes. Very often the lower areas of the legs are subject to getting the wettest. Gaiters help greatly in that regard. They also take up very little pack room.
They're easy to put on or off.
Trekking/hiking poles. If yea don't have a set even a field expedited hiking staff helps in challenging conditions. 3 points of contact tends to be better than two. These have saved me more than a few times.
The blow down on the trail got worse in this area so that was a good excuse to stop and cook some food.
Had plenty of tinder nearby.
Enough wood.
That's good enough for a day camp.
Fire!
Time to go.
Trail was hard becasue of a few storms. Imagine this was a road during an ER. Odds are it would not be passable by car. Odds are no one would be doing anything about it in a bug out situation.
Get out of my way!
Bottom line.
If bugging out on foot is part of your plans physical training helps. Also gear to reduce the risk of falling. It's easy to concentrate on what's in the pack rather than what's on your person.
. I live in the south so snowy winter survival is thankfully not that big an issue but it's good to see what others would do.
