The Damage Has Been Done And The Consequences Will Be Suffered: “Have a Healthy Storage of Food, Precious Metals and Necessary Supplies”

by | Dec 31, 2015 | Headline News | 218 comments

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    While the band plays on and Americans celebrate New Year’s many have no idea what may be in store in 2016. Mainstream financial pundits like to paint a rosy picture of the current economic conditions, suggesting that the government’s green shoots of yesteryear have now turned to full blown money trees, wherein consumers are spending, businesses are selling and everyone has an unlimited flow of cash.

    But as noted by analysts at CrushTheStreet.com in their latest video report, “what we have become accustomed to in terms of normal is rapidly coming to an end.”

    Indeed, with the Federal Reserve recently having raised interest rates, corporate bond markets starting to crack, and abysmal sales numbers over the holiday season, 2016 could very well spell disaster for financial markets, including government bonds.

    So serious is the potential destruction to come that, according to the report, you’d better be ready with an alternate monetary mechanism of exchange such as gold or silver, as well as food and other stockpiles to mitigate supply disruptions and shortages.

    Watch Perfect Storm Market Collapse courtesy of Crush The Street:

    What we have become accustomed to in terms of normal is rapidly coming to an end… the global monetary experiment is literally bursting at the seams. 

    The economy is more dependent now than ever on the circulation of increasing systemic leverage.

    The damage has been done and the consequences will be suffered… A loss of faith in the dollar will be a loss of faith in credit… and when perceived value in credit is lost, prices in the bond markets will collapse… Already we are seeing bonds outside of government debt implode.

    Just like in the 2008 financial crisis in real estate when we saw the sub-prime market collapse first and then followed by the rest, so will we see here with junk bonds and the rest of the bond market. With interest rates on the rise we will likely see a major correction in stocks which conventionally helps bonds… however this time we believe the next market crash will drain all confidence the world perceives in credit markets and ultimately the fiat currencies.

    The markets will not react in a conventional manner after the chips settle.

    The scenario is unsustainable… either they default directly on the bonds and prices plummet… or they pay back the bonds with devalued hyperinflated currencies which will both destroy the bond markets, where trillions of dollars of perceived wealth is being stored. Much of this wealth will vanish.

    Be sure to have a healthy storage of precious metals, food and necessary supplies. And be sure you are carefully exposed to financial markets as they pose great risks otherwise.


    If you found this information helpful visit Crush The Street and download their FREE 2016 Financial Survival Guide including forecasts and predictions of things to come. 

    URGENT ON GOLD… as in URGENT

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    Gold has been the right asset with which to save your funds in this millennium that began 23 years ago.

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      218 Comments

      1. I really don’t think a crashing stock market is a good measure of the coming collapse.

        The stock market is falsely inflated by the Government giving trillions to the banks at ZERO percent interest rate. The greedy banks then put it into the stock market for quick profit.

        When the market collapses the banks don’t care. It is not their money. The government will just issue another round of Quantitative Easing and give the banks more money.

        Now for the true measure of collapse and hyper inflation:

        I call it the Big Mac Index. A measure of the price of a Big Mac at McDonalds is the true measure of inflation. When you see the price of a Big Mac go up, then pucker up.

        • Don’t waste your money on PMs unless you are a rich man looking for a medium to store his wealth.

          Spend it on supplies instead.

          • Agreed…..that is sound advice IMO.

            • Hey “DEO” >>>

              ..binary / hex!!! What’s the next clue?

              • For some of us there are concerns that are at least as important as Mammon.

                https://youtu.be/uv0Ko2OU4Ec

                This video connects some important dots: banksters, warmongers, “solar radiation management,” UV, Fukushima, power mad “elite,” and why tuna fishing has been so lousy. It was worth my 40 minutes, hopefully the same for you.

                May God have mercy on all of us in 2016.

                • JQP:

                  This was the best 40 minutes I spent today.

                  To all of you who question chemtrails this utube article leaves nothing to wonder about.

                  Great info JQP. And after viewing it I also said “may God have mercy on us all”.

                • This is the best on what is going on. I have expected a virus but this is worse. What earth do they expect to inherit when they get done?

              • Binary. Next clue? Convert to base 10.

                • 1776

                  • We have a winner!

          • PM’s will have practical value for a period of time, who knows how long, till outright pandemonium kicks in. It’s smart to have some stacked but don’t over do it. Think basic needs.

            • Jack, gold has had value for at least 6,000 years. That is a pretty good damned track record.

          • I have my supplies and preps. I’m adding to my PM’s.

            • F1: same here. PMs are for when all of your other preps are in order. Out of debt, cash reserves, food reserves, weapon and ammo reserves are all stocked up. PMs are insurance. No one likes buying insurance. But if your house burns down or your car is totaled you look back and are happy you bought insurance. Just in case.

          • Sound advice, Acid, however, once those supplies are filled out. Once you have the 7Gs taken care of and you still have money to spend, don’t stack it in the bank. They WILL steal it eventually. Now that you’re a “stakeholder” and not a depositor. So, my suggestion is invest it in something sound that is more durable than “supplies”. You can only store so much food and fuel. Eventually it will go bad. When your shelves and tanks are full, pay off your debts (strategically) then buy:

            More land.
            More ammo.
            More silver.
            More gold.
            More guns.

            None of this ever degrades. Ammo and guns require some proper storage and a very occasional cleaning, but will last for generations. I have powder, primers, bullets and ammo that were made in the 40s. Still good. I have guns made in the late 1800s (an old ’88 Mauser made in like 1890) that still looks and shoots like a dream. I have silver coins over a century old. The 7Gs. Get them.

            • I’ve heard of the seven P’s : Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. But what are the seven G’s?

            • Harden the house, it takes a lot of jack, and any other weak spot. The leaking roof? There may not be materials to repair it with down the road.

            • Interesting about the ammo. We had some bought or reloaded in early 90’s. we sold our mac-90s that used 7.62 x 39 some time back, and sold the ammo that was bought in ’91 along w/ older reloaded pistol ammo, and bought ammo to match the new m 4 type rifles. We store ammo in the house (never in a storage shed or garage)so it was probably still good anyway. Other ammo like .22lr, etc. will be used for barter. I would Q keeping ammo much more than 25 yrs old even if stored properly. I would sell it and freshen the supply. Ditto for old food storage from pre y2k. Canned meats, salmon, etc. from grocery is rotated stuff we eat all the time. Ammo from the 40’s may be ok, just not for me.

          • Acid, silver is under $14 an ounce. There is going to be a point in time where one ounce silver bullion is going to be worth far more than a $20 FRN.

            • By what standards?

              When they outlaw PM’s and they can and will, how will folks turn thousands of invested dollars into electronic funds?

              The few banks that operate openly, will only be handing out ETF cards, and will be forbidden from accepting anything into personal/business accounts except electronic transfers.

              No business will accept physical gold or silver. If it were so great and the end all for future trades and wealth, the puppet masters would have already tied it all up. It is available in bulk now, but they will only let you make a few bucks off trading it, before they pull the plug.

              In a world of such uncertainty, why hasn’t the price gone through the roof, while they say supplies are short?

              But, hey, if it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy and secure, by all means keep stacking. At some point it may come in useful to melt down and cast as bullets.

              Wake up people, the system has been rigged way before SHTFplan became a reality. The Chinese may still buy PMs after shtf, but it will probably get lost in the mail, or they will only pay Renminbi for it.

              A man I know keeps investing in guns and small amounts of ammo.
              What good is a firearm, if you run out of ammo? Well, it may be worth more at some point than a bucket full of PMs. But, if you can’t get correct burning powder, you are screwed from the get go, even if you have reloading equipment. Then there is the issue of correct primers.

              BTW, “more land” equals more taxes.

              However, at some point, copper may become valuable; preferably in 4×4 sheets/rolls.

              • How do you know? Do you have a crystal ball? Are you and Ms. Cleo friends on Facebook? Gold and silver are money. Their spots are manipulated so governments can buy bulk. Don’t hate on stackers just cause you can’t. You have no clue what the he’ll you’re talking about.

              • So, C2G, I don’t intend to personally attack you. Educate you? Defend my position? Wise people up? Whatever. Its not personal. I thank you for the chance to defend my position. Frankly, you sound like someone who thinks that during a collapse the government will be more active in our lives than they are now. I believe the opposite. As such, the following diatribe defends my positions on that premise: it will be a YOYO situation.

                ——————————————————

                It is hard to outlaw what they don’t know you have. The value of gold and silver cannot be determined by fools behind government microphones. They can only determine the worth (lessness) of the paper containing the pictures of dead presidents.

                You say gold and silver won’t be accepted by any business? Oh, wow! Shocking! What ever will I do? Oh, wait, its not accepted now. Hmmm. Yet, the coin shops are selling it like crazy and several states have declared it as money. Everyplace I go they’re sold out they get it in and sellout quickly. In fact, our modern currency, FRNs and treasury issued coinage, fail in the definition of money. FRNs are debt instruments and do not represent a store of value. While they fake a store of value, they are not valuable. Coinage is the same way. While its not debt, the value it represents is a mere shadow of what it lawfully should (see coinflation.com for details).

                Idea: incorrect. Gold and silver are accepted many places by many people even if not “officially”.

                More land equals more taxes? Uh, yes, but, not so fast. I said “land” not “real estate”. Land is ground, land. Many confuse that with “real estate” which is land with improvements (I use “improvements” in a lax manner!) I owned 2 acres of prime building land. This land was not very valuable for survival because it had few trees, no water, etc. But, it cost me $14 a year in taxes. Once I built my house on it and registered it with the government my taxes went from $14 a year to $900 a year. Hmm. More land = little more taxes. Owning property is a right, while they tax you a little on it, its not much. Its the fancy real-estate that eat your wallet. What if I had just dug a hole and properly buried a shipping container or two? I’d still be paying $14 a year and have almost zero cost in heating and be impervious to weather.

                Now I own 32 acres. Most of it surrounding my 2 original acres. My tax bill? Less than 100 dollars or all of it. And now that my house is older the $900 a year tax bill has decreased to $700 a year even with the additional 30 acres. If I burnt my house down and started living in a travel trailer (which I can do, no local restrictions) I’d only be spending $100 or so on taxes. I don’t know how it is in other states but typically, the tax on land is not very high if its just scrub, unimproved. Buy land. Install underground “storage” or a “shed” then turn it into livable space and don’t tell the government lackeys.

                Another story on taxes: my neighbor bought 5 acres of prime building land from me for $25,000. He then put a 1500 sq/ft modular on it with a large garage/shed/workshop. Total tax bill is now $112 a year. He thought it was a mistake and had them re-assess it. Down to $110 a year. No, taxes are not really that high if you stay out of the zombie pasture.

                Idea: Fail. While unwise purchases or acquisition of land can cost you a lot more, in reality, wise purchases cost you very little more in taxes.

                As far as guns and ammo, people push buying 10s of thousands of rounds of ammo. Why? How many times do you think you’re going to need to shoot it? I mean, a conservative practice schedule (using dry fire and other techniques) could have you using 100 rounds per month. You don’t need all that much ammo. Primers are easy. Just buy a bunch. You can buy them by the by the thousand for $40 just about anywhere. I keep four thousand of each of the four types: Small Pistol, Large Pistol, Small Rifle, Large Rifle. In many applications the rifle and pistol primers can be substituted if you understand what you are doing. Also, you only need about 4 powders. On this I am the authority. Nearly any load of any power/pressure can be produced in any cartridge with these four powders:

                Bullseye (rifle/pistol low power or squib loads, pistol full power loads)

                Every think of using a 30-06 for hunting squirrels? I have. 30 cal round ball, 3gr of bullseye. Prep full pressure fired cases by resizing the first 1/8th inch of the neck. Reprime, charge and “thumb” in a .308 ball. POP! Amazingly accurate to 50 yds if done right.

                Designed for the 45ACP. Works great in everything from 25ACP to 38 special. I use it almost exclusively for 9mm loads for any weight bullet.

                Unique

                Very stable for medium loads in everything from 22hornet (be careful – 40k/lb/sqin is the limit!) to 44magnum. Great for subsonic jacket loads in 223! Excellent for medium loads in 357 and 44 magnums. Works good for hot loads in 9mm and 38 special.

                IMR4198

                Great for smaller caliber bottleneck cases and light bullets.

                IMR3031/HR4895/IMR4895 (all really close)

                Full power loads in 223, 30-06, 308, 243, etc. Its a little faster than needed for heavier bullets in larger calibers. Can be used but with caution in magnums (300WM, 300WSM, 22WSM, 22-250, 220 swift). Watch your pressure. 1/2 grain increments at top levels. Gas in your face is no fun especially for a lefty shooting righty bolt guns, so I’m told.

                Of course improvements can be made, but, these will work for anything. My father had pounds of nearly every powder you can imagine (and some you’ve never heard of) and I used them all. But, in reality, standard loading can be covered by those four. There are others. Keep them in dry, cool, stable temps and they too will keep FOREVER. Roll them around gently every few years to keep them from “clumping” and you’ll have powder for at least a century. (I still have some 4831 that was made over 80 years ago. Works just like it did 40 years ago.)

                Those reloading supplies are good to invest in too.

                Idea: fail. Ammo and Reloading supplies are good investments if wisely acquired and properly stored.

                I can go to many places and there are people that will buy my silver and gold. I cannot imagine pulling out a roll of copper sheeting and selling/trading it for sometime. Really? Oh, sure, I can take it to the salvage yard and get something for it. Were I to invest in copper I would invest in old copper plumbing. People would probably give it to you and yet it would be worth several dollars per pound at the salvage yard. But, in a collapse, there will be no salvage yard.

                Idea: fail. Nobody wants copper sheeting unless they’re re-coppering the courthouse. You might be able to get pennies on the dollar but thats not the definition of a good investment.

                And who in the world will be worried about “electronic transfers”? When it all goes to shit there will be no electronic transfers. Without a job and without SNAP and other PWTPs (Productive Worker Theft Programs) electronic transfers will be shoveling old computer and electronic circuit boards out of your pickup or cart into the salvage yard (until they are gone) to get a few “credits” for something. Maybe they’ll take your copper sheeting for a few dollars too.

                Idea: fail. Electronic transfers are for the welfare state. Offgrid survivors don’t really care.

                Your narratives are either incorrect or intentionally false. I’m sorry but I’ve done all these things. 4×4 copper sheeting? really? No. Please find a better argument.

                God – Without it, why continue?
                Guts – No courage and you lose everything.
                Guns – Because you need to protect what you have.
                Groceries – You will get hungry.
                Garden – This helps with groceries.
                Gas – Fuel. Energy. Heat.
                Gold – Gold, Silver and other precious metals.When all the above are taken care of, you can use it to barter. I t is a store of wealth that cannot be devalued. (Copper is OK too, by the way, just not as hight sought after.)

                • Thank you, NR. Excellent post, and why I come here: to get informed, encouraged and get educated. EXCELLENT post. Thank you.

                • NetRanger: I just learned more from your post than I have from watching the financial news media my entire life. Brilliant. Thank you and Happy New Year!

              • Yes. I invest in copper, zinc, tin and Lead. Not for guns but for manufacturing. Its not likely people would steal it because who wants to haul away 300lb ingots? and most poeople dont know its value either.

              • What? And they are going to go door to door confiscating PMs? I don’t think so.

              • I was living in the 80’s and got to experience a banking, debt and currency collapse all rolled into one. The first and foremost advice I give is it takes much longer to play out than one would expect.. MUCH longer.
                Storing guns for the revolution in my opinion is a waist of energy, a few weapons for protection? wise. A weapons cache? you just became a target for what remains of the government (usually the military) and trust me when things get crazy the military get brutal.
                When the banks close it can take months before anything happens- it’s strange to live through, the quiet tension (as the vehicles of ordinary people run out of gas) it can drive you mad or set you free- and yes some prospered, the ones that quickly started bartering, had their house set up for 1900’s styled living (“long drop” outhouse toilet, garden, knowledge of how to do it). Drugs and alcohol also did well as barter.. nearly as well as silver. Gold not so much unless you are buying big items- think drug cartels or government (best to keep a distance from these quite similar organizations).
                I was insulated from it with foreign currency (USD) and foreign bank accounts so was able to look after the people looking after me and I did fine.
                Summary:
                Takes much LONGER than you think
                Think about what you can BARTER
                SILVER GOOD
                NETWORKING GOOD

                “How many centuries do we have to wait for someone else to set us free?”
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzgBD2wysuI

                • Enki, you didn’t say where you lived when SHTF but I am gonna take a guess it was Argentina. I agree with your equating the government to a drug cartel. Gold is always good for a bribe. You can’t track it and it is between you and the receiver.

                  What is that old saying? It isn’t what you know it is who you know. Networking and skills are priceless. How did you keep on the down low from traitors and spies or was that just a risk of daily life?

                  • An interesting observation: when the shit hits the perverbial fan keep in mind that it does for government too- their pay stops as well so most of them head home to try and deal with the same problems as you. All that is left is a poorly paid core of phyco’s that you do your best to stay away from.
                    Advice- BE AFRAID OF CHECK POINTS. That is where they supplement their terrible wage, I always had cash on me in case I came upon one and I saw people dragged off many times.
                    Otherwise they mostly leave you alone if you keep your head down.
                    Spy’s? maybe local gangs are worth worrying about, be careful to not pay them too much if the time comes to ask them to leave, otherwise they come back at night. If you are popular with the neighbors those guys stay away too, numbers scare them.

                • Whoops typo at the start, I was in South America in the 1980’s

                  • I was in Mexico when they stole everyone’s dollar accounts and devalued the peso to nothing. It was scary. I had no dollar accounts, kept my money in the US. Scary times. Police would stop you to extort money. I also had locals help me and I helped them too. Poor people starved. I was so glad I was an American. Little did I know.

                    • And military everywhere, machine guns on every corner.

              • “… When they outlaw PM’s and they can and will, how will folks turn thousands of invested dollars into electronic funds? …”
                When U.S. fiat fails and fail it will no one knows, including you – what will be accepted as money? History of 2000 years of fiat failure shows supply and demand will determine what becomes money.
                For example after the Weimar Republic hyperinflation period of three years in the fiat failure, food water and agricultural goods were money. Once the mark started to stabilize after hyperinlation period gold and silver where then the retainers of value that allowed people to reestablish their wealth.

              • I agree on the issues with pm’s. The powers that be will make the fiat digital, and likely outlaw pm’s early on. They will have their place, but it will be in the early short run. A reasonably small amount may pay big dividends for many, but those who buy pounds of gold will never realize a return, unless they take the mark of the beast, maybe…….

                I agree with the concept that lead and powder will always have an ever increasing value, and likely be easier to cash in on then pm’s.

                Gonna be a whole new set of rules to live by, prepare for the insane, thoroughly.

                • I knew the “idol” worshipers would come out of the gate swinging with everything they got, because of my comments.

                  Most of those that hate me for saying what is more likely the scenario, than their making huge profits from stacking gold and silver, in a collapse; are just gambling with their earning/savings.

                  As the good book says, why gain the world, just to lose your soul.

                  See, many here are like my friend, he put Biblical values away, not just to the back burner, but under the oven, in favor of more stuff that he believes will benefit “him” and him alone when shtf.

                  I think it is stupid and is detrimental to the soul and salvation. There is nothing wrong with stacking a few pieces of silver, or even gold, as I even have some. But to put so much value on it that you see it as a precursor to stockpiles of food and security, is thinking like a fool.

                  I love it that people show their true colors, when someone steps on their little toes, and then they become like a little stompy-pants toddler.

                  It will all prove out in time, and we will see how far all those safes full of PMs go to saving their loved ones. The nwo powers have other ideas about what will happen with those “stacked” PMs. And, btw, I don’t hate stackers, I hate slackers.

            • The Government will confiscate all personal P.M.’s prior to P.M.’s substantial rice in price ! Just as the 1930’s !

          • Acid, damn good advice. The only metals I invest in are “lead and brass.” BTW, Happy New Year to you.

            • Kyle Bass, the famed investor (man is VERY smart, and appears to be an honest guy as well) took, if I recall, $20mm in nickels a few years ago. Why? Because if there is deflation, they are still worth a nickel. If inflation, while it is illegal to melt them down (under the fascist left, picking your nose is now illegal too… apparently it, too, causes faux global warming), they will still rise in street value. Finally, how is someone going to rob you? Run down the street with 1,000 pounds of nickels? The police going to go around confiscating nickels (well… don’t put it past the fascist left!)

              Food for thought?

              • Test: that guy with $20 Million to invest in Nickels probably resides within a suburban gated area that will be top target of hoards of savages like inner city ghetttos are filled with, once those savages go wild.

                While maybe a band of savages wont be able to cart off 1000LBS coins worth $20 Million…Neither will Kyle Bass be able to Run away to escape troubles and take it with him eh?…and savage hoards just one example he may need exit his place.

                Bottom line most likley scenario is going to be regardless WHAT folks stores todays or future wealth in or with…any form cash, coins, gold etc etc will be useless or close to usless unless they agree to accept the Mark aka 666 number spoken of.

                Nobody can Buy Nor Sell ANYTHING period.

                Barter only lasts so long and only works within walking distance at such a point in time probably. Maybe a bit farther via bicycle perhaps? But without any phone or form of contact due to can’t pay phone bill without that 666 mark, only person to person contact remains.

                so Back to square one eh…Limited distance for barter and limited to only can do with like minded folks.

                Sounds to me as if ALL current mindset ideas for survivals are going to Fail big once that 666 mark happens. And only question then is how much stored foods etc will last how long before you die off?

                Assuming of course NO cops or agents of the evil ruler types are going to confiscate whatever items folks stored.

                It could be similar to 1917 Russia, since the same type kommies are now hosted by america. And back in russia 1917 the main thing done to folks was, Folks got taken outside homes so no interior blood/brains mess etc and shot in back of skull…Then the CHEKA squad called it in to kommie soviet HQ and had HQ send out a NEW family of approved kommie jewdeosoviets to then Occupy that home and take ownership of all it contained.

                Kinda like a fast-Track to a sort of tribal wealth the fastest and least labor intensive way eh?…Just Whack all current White Christian members of home and Take it for self and tribe. Welcome to the new improved USSA replacement soviet state of russia prior.

                One solution may be for a “Help Make America #110-and Never Again” nation.

          • Not rich, but we did both

          • Supplies are always a worthy investment and are probably a better store of wealth than most “stores of wealth” anyway!

          • No one can argue, logically, with that AE. PMs are no good during an economic collapse as people are looking for food and supplies. Who wants a 1/10 of gold when they need to eat? Stock up on food, toilet paper, medical supplies, etc.

          • Not so easy to do on SSDI/V.A.. Especially after being raided/robbed by the local junkies. *sigh* The last few times I needed to go shopping, three not-very-full plastic shopping bags came to about $200, too! It’s almost hard to say which one felt more like robbery…

        • “abysmal sales numbers over the holiday season, 2016 could very well spell disaster for financial markets”
          I work in retail and we were slammed this Christmas!!
          I work in a gun shop 😉

          • LOL!

            I walked into our local gun shop the week before Christmas and promptly walked out after learning the wait time to speak with someone was 2 hours! Things have slowed down now, but that was truly a wonderful sight to see!

            • I’m not surprised! Hubby’s cousin works at a large gunship nearby and he said they’ve been slammed since before Thanksgiving. ( and he gave us ammo for Christmas). He thinks like we do, after 35 years of law enforcement, he’s retired and prepping as fast as he can!

            • We had walk outs as well because we simply couldn’t keep up and the phones rang off the hook. The gun shop also carries hunting and hiking clothing (North Face, Under Armor, Browning. Mossy Oak. Patagonia, exc.) but it was almost untouched compared to prior years. I’m glad guns and ammunition sold super well because we would have been in trouble if we depended on just clothing. Customers confide in me everyday and they are very uneasy now about the direction our country is going.

        • JS, anything in my preps beats a stinkin big mac any day of the week. I just took another year’s food supply to the BOL Christmas Eve. I already had 2 years worth stored there and now it’s 3 years. I’ll be going back in march on another run, but it could happen sooner the way things are shaping up. In the meantime, I’m still stacking and praying. everyone else needs to do the same. If you don’t prep, you’re inept. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

          • at least you’ll have hope and change to look forward to in 2017, if we can make it through the elections…which i HIGHLY DOUBT.

            • BCOD, the only CHANGE I HOPE for is to take our country back.

        • That’s an interesting concept. I’ve been in the trucking industry for a very long time. I have never seen a year quite like this one. You use the Big Mac theory, I guage the economy by the rail container flow. For the past month the rail yards have filling up with empty containers and they’re not moving. Normally, that doesn’t begin until mid January. Being that it happened before the holidays leads me to believe that the situation is much worse than most think, maybe even some on here. Also, a huge TL carrier, Triple Crown, just folded. They were probably the biggest truck load carrier in the country, if not then one of the biggest. There has been a lot of damage done and it’s been deliberate. Do not think for one minute that those responsible will allow it to be fixed.

          • Jackknife,

            I look at rail traffic as an indicator also. But, more traffic shows worse economy. I work in a town with tracks coming in from all four courners: southwest, northwest, southeast, northeast. In 2008 I saw the rail business boom. I often have to go to different sites to perform my job and I would get railroaded 2 or 3 times any given day if I had to leave the office in late 2008 / early 2009. After that, it was better. I would only get railroaded a couple times a week. Lately its been nuts. I’d get railroaded 4 or 5 times every day that I would leave the office for remote sites. NUTS! So, yeah, it looks like its bad. Shipping by train is ultra inconvenient but much cheaper than other means. Businesses will do what they have to do. So, what I’m saying here is more rail traffic is an indicator that businesses are doing their best to cut back on shipping costs.

          • Baltic Dry Index is at record lows as well, just to corroborate your story

          • I’ve been trying to TELL PEOPLE that all this is deliberate! Not one person around me believes it, though. What OTHER results could sending our businesses overseas have?? These days I pay a LOT of attention to where food comes from, and if it’s NOT American (and a lot of places here aren’t that trustworthy!), I have nothing to do with it. You still can’t keep nano-aluminum out of anything, or a lot of other chemtrail ingredients. But it’s really nuts: send raw ingredients from here to China, they screw ’em up (“sanitary” apparently doesn’t translate at ALL into Chinese) and send ’em back, and we buy it, eat it or whatever. Well, not THIS American. At least I can check out places here; not in China. I’m afraid I trust food they’ve handled about as far as I can spit into a gale… Apparently the word “sanitary” doesn’t translate into Chinese. I understand that we have Killery to thank for that. Anyone care to bet that she doesn’t have a list of ALL foods that went to China before it hit our shelves? Landfill.

            • I watched the Chem trail film someone attached. So I started looking at Aluminum toxicity on plants and humans and there is a huge amount of research being paid for on this. 80% of people tested show high levels of aluminum. It causes many types of illnesses that appear unrelated. Many plants have ways they chelate aluminum to keep them out of their cells. Trees and woody plants more than crop plants. Acidic soil is worse to kill plants if Aluminum is present, you might dose your gardens with gypsum. Plant trees. Redbuds are everywhere and have edible seeds. Cook like lentils. I add to soups. For humans, the outlook is craziness, dumbing down, and death. I read various ways to chelate these out. Medical chelation is quick. Vitamin C helps. Hot baths with Epsom salts. Eating cilantro and chlorella.

              • And check personal care products… full of Aluminum. Regular salt has aluminum, but rock salt does not. And so it goes.

        • There is a McDonald’s down the road from my neighborhood that had a fire and was closed down for several months. I had read that McDonald’s has been struggling and that the chain was planning on closing down a hefty number of their restaurants nation wide – so, I kind of figured that maybe this one would be demolished and not reopen, due to the cost of repairs.

          I was wrong. They spent about 6 months repairing and remodeling the place and its back open again. I drove past it yesterday and was amazed at the line of cars that were stacked up in the two drive through lanes.

          I thought to myself: How can people eat that crap? When I was in my early 20s, I admit that I used to grab a big mac or a fish sandwich at Mickey D’s – but, I can chalk that up to youthful indiscretion and a lack of awareness of proper nutrition. Traits which I rather quickly adopted by my late 20s and which have guided my eating habits ever since.

          Today – I cannot think of a single item on the menu at McDonald’s that is fit to eat. In fact, about 8 months ago – I found myself remembering how I used to enjoy a big mac hamburger in my 20s, so I stopped to get one to see if they still tasted good.

          I wondered how in the heck did I ever think those burgers were good to eat. The best hamburger or turkey burgers in the world are the ones you cook at home on your barbecue grill.

          • Tucker, McDonald’s could go belly up and I wouldn’t miss them at all. In my area, the lines are longer at McD’s than at any other fast food joint. Anything in my preps beats McD’s hands down any day. Sheeple don’t “get it” and never will.

          • That “sauce” has a LOT of flavor – so you can’t taste the “meat”. The last time I read, some regs have been changed so that the Fast Food franchises now all use (or so I read) meat that WAS marked as “Unfit for human consumption”. I have a better gauge: my cats won’t have anything to do with it, and one tried to bury a piece of a burger a grandchild had cleaned the sauce off of… That’s good enough for me!

        • The Federal Government will protect All the too big to fail banks even if it means these Banks take every last penny you & everyone else owns to survive.

        • Wishing all SHTF plan readers a Happy New Year in prepping for 2016!!!

        • we will not be worrying about the price of a BIg Mac where I live, they closed for good on the last day of Dec15, they said they could pay the rent and cost with the wage price hike, a dunkin donut is comming

      2. First and foremost know Jesus.
        May God bless you and yours.

        • A report worth reading as a reminder of greed and corruption.

          Just think, Mary Lincoln was taken to task for purchasing China for the White House during the Civil War.
          And Mamie Eisenhower had to shell out the salary for her personal secretary from her husband’s salary.

          Total Personal Staff members for other first ladies paid by taxpayers
          —————————————————————————–
          Mamie Eisenhower:— One– paid for personally out of President’s salary.

          Total number of Personal Staff Members paid by Tax Payers.

          Jackie Kennedy: ——-One
          Lady Bird Johnson___One
          Pat Nixon —————One
          Betty Ford—————One
          Rosaline Carter: —— One
          Barbara Bush: ———One
          Hilary Clinton: ——– Seven
          Laura Bush: ———– One
          Michele Obama: —– Twenty-two

          How things have changed! If you’re one of the tens of millions of Americans facing certain destitution, earning less than subsistence wages stocking the shelves at Wal-Mart or serving up McDonald cheeseburgers, prepare to scream and then come to realize that the benefit package for these servants of MS Michelle are the same as members of the national security and defense departments and the bill for these assorted lackeys is paid by YOU, John Q. Public:
          Note: Look out for Hillery if she gets elected

          Michele Obama’s personal staff:
          One.. $192,200 – Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)

          Two.. $160,000 – Frye, Jocelyn C. (Director of Policy And Projects For The First Lady)

          Three.. $133,000 – Rogers, Desiree G. (White House Social Secretary for Mrs. Obama)

          Four.. $122,000 – Johnston, Camille Y. (Director of
          Communications for the First Lady)

          Five.. $120,000 – Winter, Melissa (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)

          Six.. $110,000 Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)

          Seven.. $104,000 – Lilyveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)

          Eight.. $95,000 – Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)

          Nine.. $90,000 – Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Project for the First Lady)

          Ten.. $85,000 – Burnough, Erinn (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)

          Eleven.. $84,000 – Reinstein, Joseph B.(Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)

          Twelve.. $82,000 – Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator For The First Lady)

          Thirteen.. $80,000 Fitz, Alan O.(Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)

          Fourteen.. $77,500 – Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)

          Fifteen.. $72,500 – Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary To The First Lady)

          Sixteen.. $70,000 – Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide To The First Lady)

          Seventeen.. $65,000 – Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady)

          Eighteen.. $63,000 – Tubman, Samantha a (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)

          Nineteen.. $60,000 – Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)

          Twenty.. $56,000 – Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)

          Twenty-One.. $55,000 – Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)

          Twenty-Two.. $55,000 – Jackson, Deilia A. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)

          Total $2,075,200 in annual salaries – all for someone we did not vote for and apparently have no control over and
          5 are Muslim and 13 are African-American

          There has NEVER been anyone in the White House at any time who has created such an army of staffers whose sole duties are the facilitation of the First Lady’s social life. One wonders why she needs so much help, at taxpayer expense. (I’m wondering why there are no guidelines or restraints for this and other activities concerning our government officials and their kin.)

          Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and “First Hairstylist” Johnny Wright, 31, both of whom traveled aboard Air Force One on all ALL Trips, Europe included.
          Michele usually gets dropped off in another City along with her Mother and 2 Daughters
          Note: As of 11/15.2015 the Obama Family has spent over 1.3 Billion dollars on personal family trips. They were personal not political or Government related.
          Copyright 2009 Canada Free Press:

          Yes, I know, The Canadian Free Press had to publish this, perhaps because America no longer has a free press and the USA media is too scared that they might be considered racist or suffer at the hands of Obama.

          • Hey the Queen needs her staff.

          • Starve the beast,,,,

            On a positive note
            Happy New Year all!

          • Ill be damned if I will pay one more dime to fund the corrupt government.
            Rather starve,

            • REPUBLICANS GIVE OBAMA A BLANK CHECK

              By Chuck Baldwin
              December 31, 2015
              NewsWithViews dot com

              Here is a partial list of what Obama requested and received from this so-called Republican congress:

              1. Funding for Obama’s executive amnesty program
              2. Funding for “Sanctuary” cities
              3. Funding for all of Obama’s refugee programs
              4. Funding for all of Obama’s immigration programs
              5. Funding for Obama’s illegal alien resettlement programs
              6. Funding for the release of criminal illegal aliens imprisoned in the United States
              7. Funding for tax credits for illegal aliens
              8. Eliminates spending caps
              9. Funding for Planned Parenthood abortion services
              10. Funding for ALL of Obama’s climate change programs
              11. Funding for Obamacare
              12. Funding for INCREASED government spying on U.S. citizens
              13. Funding for ALL of the U.S. wars around the world
              14. Funding for the increased militarization of American police agencies and the growing federal Police State
              The list goes on and on.

              NOTE: Top House Repub and Tea Party Darling Paul Ryan…Another huge FAIL!

          • “This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and ‘First Hairstylist’…”

            It hasn’t helped. Michael still hurts my eyeballs.

            • Hairstylist guy has #1 Best job!! For last I saw Her head sported a very Short Brush-Cut “style” similar to whats called a Jar head look eh aka marines type brush cut haircut…Styliest gets Paid weekly and does zero!

              Unless his job has a Dual job duty like maybe during prolonged NO cut needed times he instead Picks Lice out of her Brillo Noggin?

              If so there is a better method to rid lice via use of Zykon-B in gasseous form.

          • Ms. Obullshit is a slave owner. She has 22 of them.
            Sgt.

          • Nice post. Passed on to others.

          • JS: Interesting numbers! This woman has more retainers than royalty (real royalty) in Europe. I doubt the Queen of England herself has this many people that are paid hangers-on. Absolutely disgusting. I remember when the news media had a fit about Nancy Reagan and how much she spent on “designer dresses.”

          • Once again well deserving WHITE people are screwed over for fucking blacks and terrorist muslim cunts! Just shoot me now for fucks sake.

        • 100% spot on, Truth

      3. You know what? fuck all this bad news. we know the score.
        Keep doing what you’re doing folks. Fight the good fight, have no worries, and..
        HAVE A HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE NEW YEAR.

        • Exactly. Piss on football and all the other distractions that are constantly put up. Focus on you and yours.

          I started using my “entertainment” money to teach myself firearm refinishing. Way more fun working in bringing back an old walnut stock or doing a slow rust blue job than wasting my money in a sports bar. Hasn’t hurt my ability to stack silver and other preps either.. 😉

          • MARCUS and JOHNNY–HOORAY! Somebody else thinks like I do. To HELL with all these moronic distractions today. Talking about some multi-millionaire cry-baby sports jock or why some alleged Hollywood starlet has a pimple on her behind wastes valuable time and rots your brain!

            Our fight is going to be won first with a wholesome, freedom-loving and clear MIND SET. Not the puke being spewed out daily by TPTB and their stooges, the MSM. I’d say 80% of America has been so dumbed down, they are hopeless. Write ’em off.

            Don’t waste your valuable time and don’t let your mind get polluted with chicken-poop stuff being sold as entertainment or diversions today.

            We got a lot of work to do Brothers, now and when all the smoke clears.

            CHEERS!

            • Thumbs up, Citizen! Here’s to a productive year!

          • Hey talk to me about bluing… Is there a way to get a decent blue job at home that won’t just wipe off without going the full hot blue in a tank route? I’d like to refinish my grandfathers winchester 12ga

            • Then Do It. Don’t rush or cut corners, try your very best to leave the marks of a time gone bye as they are.
              You’ll be adding to its history with your own owenership.
              Good luck.

            • This talk of refinishing the tools of our soon-to-be trade of protecting our ass-et-s warms the cockles of my heart. That is, if I still have one.

              But seriously, I was in contact with of all companies, Rust-o-leum. Their epoxy appliance paint, if properly applied to an equally properly prepared surface will work very well for your non-blue finish needs Mr. Marcus. I have been told that they are seriously considering adding to their existing line of white or black only finishes to include a possible gun-blue version. As is, black is the only option for the most part (unless those in the frozen tundra need a nice winter coating). Having actually used the product now available over the counter, I can report that it works very nicely. Allow more than normal drying time, sand between light coats, some guys state that oven ‘baking’ will harden the finish even further; but, I’ve found it not necessary.

            • Marcus.

              Something about a Hot Bath in the process of reblueing. I don’t remember what the solution or the temperature.

              • Brownell’s has all of the equipment necessary to do firearm Blueing.

            • I put a cold blue on a 1881 WRA 12 gauge lever action several years ago that still looks good.

            • “M”
              When I blue my guns I follow the instructions on the bottle and then I put it in the oven at 250 degrees is hot to the touch. Then I repeat. Works for me.
              Sgt.

          • Leather work here,,,,
            Much more enjoyable, and the forums are informative and pleasant to boot!

            • Kulafarmer

              Grommets, Snaps kits for tent and tarp repair.

              • Been buying hides, threads, canvas, fasteners, oils etc,,,
                Will have many uses

          • Wait, Johnny! Do you mean to say I won’t be able to find out want Kim Kardoooshian is doing with her sleazy sex life? That I can’t turn on Lady Kaka or Learjet leftist Mahdoona and their formulaic schlock? That I can’t take in DWTS or the latest rap music where each of the 10,000 songs put out all sound identical????

            Gee, whatever will I do??

            Lewis and Clark, mountain man Jedidiah Smith, the men who waded ashore at Guadalcanal, Saipan, Iwo or Normandy, heck even our Vietnam veterans would be, and are DISGUSTED with these ignorant, whining “micro-aggression* 18th C. Belgian Lesbian Musicology majors and other assorted weenies.

      4. Are you ready?

        • Slingshot,
          YUP as ready as we can be and of course does not mean you should ever stop prepping, just means you have a chance to get through the times coming and who knows how hard or long it will be and how far reaching it might get! so always ready just never stop!

          • Apache54

            As the thumb screws are being tightened we will find ourselves with fewer options. Most of them will be aggravated as the truth comes to light. Even more frustration will turn to anger. I believe the damage is already done as the article states. I am ready but I do prep adjustments.

            My final prep will be to go down to the liquor store when things start heating up and maybe buy a thousand dollars worth of whiskey. Or fill the truck bed up with as many cases as possible. Go home and see what life dishes out. Throw in a case of smokes. If I don’t get it, that will be fine too. It will be interesting what he might take as payment.

            • sling, you can make a still and whiskey a HELL of a lot cheaper and buy bulk pipe tobacco for dimes on the dollar. Make that 1000.00 dollar investment count! With a still you are IN DEMAND! lol. Store bought whiskey sucks and gives you a hangover from hell, home made is clean and no hangover! That is why people pay the price for the GOOD stuff 🙂

      5. There has never been a real recovery since 2007. The stock market rising on QE printed cash and mergers and acquisitions pulled off with zero interest money so a false recovery.

        The Obama recovery is smoke and mirrors.

        The market is only going down from here.

        None of the original systemic economic problems have been corrected or fixed, a mega crash is still in the cards.

        • PTPO – you are 100% spot on about nothing structural having been fixed. Not sure when the next crash will be, but there always is one.

      6. Stocking up is fine but growing your own food is the best way to avoid starvation over time. I buy avocados and the seeds put toothpicks in and set in the top of a glass of water. Lately even some from farmers markets don’t root and grow indicating that they are genetically modified. Test your avocados. If they grow in a water you can plant them in your yard. I am thinking that nonGMO trees will be the gold of the coming year and beyond. Money does grow on trees.

        • All commercial avocado trees are grown on grafts. The tree is the same genetically as the first one grown. The first Bacon avocado tree still grows in Buena Park near Medeviel Times at the Courtyard Hotel which also had the largest California Pepper tree on the grounds until heart rot required it to be removed a few years ago. Huge tree.. Growing avocado from seeds is a waste as they either will not bear or are inferior. It is fun to do however.

      7. The bill always comes due. You either pay up or default. I really do not think that anyone planned to pay.

        • There are three and ONLY three options for the $222 (last I looked, per Dr. Lawrence Kotlikoff, Boston Univ (also served under Reagan) trillion in total unfunded liabilities (please google Kotlikoff for most recent data). By unfunded liabilities I mean EVERYTHING – fed, municipal, pensions, the whole shmeer. Now, you can combine if you wish, but here they are:

          a) You can print money
          b.) You can raise taxes (kills the economy)
          c.) You can cut services.

          Unless you have 10% growth a year, there ARE no other options. So, what will it be? Take your choice. (We know they will combine, but what will the main one be?)

          Jim Rickards, whom I think is good to review, thinks we will either go to a modified gold standard of some sort, or more likely, go to using SDRs, which will be inflationary in USD.

          And HOW did we come to this mess, which is going to hurt the poor, the weak, the mentally handicapped, the elderly? Think the socialist War on Poverty, which has now spent $20 trillion – and we have more poverty than ever. Think the sister programme of this, the Model Cities Programme, whose first MAJOR city adoptee was Detroit. You know, Detroit – the only city you can walk 12 blocks and STILL be at the scene of the crime.

          The point is, that socialism ALWAYS destroys, and always STEALS. It always generates cronies who live off the theft (think banksters, Hollywierd Learjet leftists, limousine liberals, Obama buddy Jon Corzine, Solyndra, carbon billionaire Al Gore, leftist sleazeball George Soreass, etc.

          “Socialism (lit. ‘govt’ in the French) is the great fiction, whereby everybody endeavours to live off of everybody else” said Frederic Bastiat, 1801-1850. Still true today

      8. There never was, is, nor ever gonna be any Obama recovery. The patient has been riding around in the ambulance circling the hospital parking lot for years while the attendants keep hitting the near dead patient with the paddles hollering ‘CLEAR”. They will continue to circle the parking lot even after the patient succumbs and begins to stink. Finally when everybody starts noticing the odor and there’s no more hiding it that’ll be when they’ll lie and say they did all they could. Then we can have our war.

        • Well thats a good way to put it! But its war before they remove the stinking body from the ambulance, so no one will look and say, why is the body so stinky and stiff?? Just how long have you been driving around in the parking lot??

        • That’s why I own land in Nova Scotia. I am a dual citizen, but Americans can buy with ZERO problem. Upside?

          a.) If there ever were an EMP attack, the whole province is the only state or province outside of any effect from what would result from an attack over the central part of the US (most likely)

          b.) Someone wants to sue you? They likely aren’t going to know you have the property outside of country.

          c.) Bail ins? What are they going to do? Dig up the dirt and repatriate it to the banksters (I wouldn’t put it past them, but probably not)

          d.) Canada has seen a massive housing boom – but NOT the Maritimes. Prices still low there.

          e.) And before you whiners tell me it’s too cold, Nova Scotia is on the Gulf Stream, keeping it relatively moderate. Halifax is just slightly colder than Boston in winter, and very pleasant in summer. I bought through http://www.dignam.com, who has been selling rural properties for 100 years in Canada. Worth checking out. And besides, there is no poor weather – only poor clothing!

          f.) I am in Cape Breton, but land on the mainland of NS is fertile. Halifax has an international airport, two universities, and at half a million, a reasonable set of restaurants, night life, etc. BUT if there is a massive melt down or war, what? Will zombie hordes be marching to Nova Scotia looking for food? Will ANYONE in the US, or for that matter Toronto or Montreal, look that direction? Clearly not.

          Just some thoughts. For you guys. Plus, Cape Breton where I”m at, near St. Peters, is beautiful, one travel magazine calling it one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world.

      9. You come up to me with a 1/10 ounce Gold Eagle, it has a face value of $5. I’ll trade you two gallons of fuel for it.
        What all these doom sayers miss is the difference between real wealth, and paper wealth. I’d rather own an oil well and refinery than all of Microsoft. I’d rather own a 1000 section corn farm than Disney. I’d rather own Boeing, than HSBC bank.
        Produce something useful. Diesel, food, transportation. These things are a lot more useful than money flow through an artificial construct.

        • rellik

          One ounce silver for 5 gal gas.

          • 5 gallons of gas is 10 bucks. I’ll pay 1/2 oz of Ag.

        • Funny, you compare “real wealth” to $5 paper money….Its all an illusion….Gold is just a shiny rock…Ive seen monkeys that like shiny stuff too….

          • Sorry Arf, but people are not monkeys, and virtually all cultures at all times have used PMs as a medium exchange. What you utterly do not understand is that PMs are *fungible.* And the fact that you don’t understand what that word means shows why your post is not very well reasoned. The rest of you, think: Why don’t we trade a half a cow for 10 bushels of wheat? A whole LOT of issues why: Cows are not equal. One cow might be skinny, sick or half dead. The wheat might be moldy. Might have been a bumper crop of wheat that year. In contrast, one ounce of .999 gold is always equal to another ounce of .999 gold. It doesn’t spoil. It doesn’t get rust or get hoof and mouth. It doesn’t die like a cow. It is divisible (sorry, your 10 bushels of wheat is only worth half a cow, so here, let me get a chainsaw and hack it in half).

            In my opinion, your post shows a lack of depth of understanding of financial history, human psychology and all of history. With all due respect, in my opinion, I would say you need to think again, and more deeply.

        • No problem. Send him to me, and I’ll sell him 4 gallons for that coin…and somebody else may go 10. That’s how market economics works. Just because you don’t think something has value doesn’t mean the rest of the world doesn’t.

      10. Happy New Year to all here.

      11. Happy New Year.

        • Same to you A.
          God bless and protect you.

      12. Off topic- 57 minutes and open carry is legal in Texas

        • Open carry has always been lawful, legal is another matter.

      13. I’m still waiting for the crash of 2008,9,10,11,12,13,14,15.
        Oh ya now it’s 2016.

        • and what will happen with you when it DOES arrive?….are YOU ready?

        • How did you miss the crash of 2008? Were you passed out drunk? It gave us Obama.

        • Did you miss GM going bankrupt in 2008, except for bailouts? Same with AIG? Did you miss those on food stamps going from 30mm to 50mm? Did you miss the real unemployment rate going above 20%, as calculated by pre-Clinton measures? Did you not know that there are over $222 TRILLION now in unfunded liabilities?

          Truly, some of you people need to turn off the TV and check out basic economics.

          But even granting your economic lack of knowledge, it is better to be a year too early than a day too late. Ask your great grandfather who lived through 1929.

          • Mac, Happy New Year. That chart scares the hell out of me.

            • Thanks Philospher! Happy New Year right back atcha (and to everyone else!)

              Sadly, I don’t see this chart improving going forward… 2016 might be a rough year, especially for those who have no idea wtf is going on in the world.

              Take care all!
              -mac

              • both mac and test have very good commentary here…hooboy! it’s gonna be EPIC…or, i should say…it’s gettin’ EPIC!

          • No, I don’t think they are waiting. Half a million Americans are living on the street. Nope, not waiting.

        • You left out Y2K,

          That was supposed to be the TEOTWAWKI one.

          (Although I understand it did causes a few minor problems here and there on outdated equipment, just that nobody really noticed them since they didn’t affect very much.)

      14. They be laying down the guns first. All the “laws” will be in place before this engineered chaos event happens. Peace to all.

      15. Be sure to eat some black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Years Day for some good luck and some FRNs to trade for supplies.

        Collards are better warmed over, so my wife cooked them on the 31st.

        As soon as the ground dries out, I’ll start back working in the yard. I’ve got to trim the grape vines, cut back the fig bushes, trim the blueberry bushes, mow the grass one more time, and start preparing for the coming spring with more garden areas.

        In another month it will be time to broadcast a little fertilizer around the pecan trees. They didn’t bear well last fall so I think the soil is deficient.

        • Archivist,

          What will you be putting on your trees?

          I got 2 of them about 5 years ago for the misses and they have struggled to get going. One is about 10 feet and the other is about 6 feet tall now. We put the Zinc stuff and this past fall, I put down some Holly Tone around the drip line (broadcast) I have been using the area around the base now as a dumping ground for all our scraps (veggies and coffee grounds)

          Yea, yea… I know that we should have a compost place seperate. Maybe in the future. 🙂

          Would really like to hear how you have cared for your trees.

          Thanks,

          hillbilly SC

          Y’all play nice this year. 🙂

          • 10-10-10 fertilizer and maybe a few bags of lime. Just broadcast it on top of the ground beneath the edge of the canopy of the tree.

            • Thanks Archivist!!!

              I was a Lil’ concerned about the 10-10-10.
              I put some on momma’s hydrangea’s and azaleas and it killed one. Did not think it was that heavy when applied???

              That is why I switched to the Holly-Tone. 🙂

              I did not have time yesterday to check in.
              Mrs. hillbilly wanted to go to Wally World and stock up on the Christmas craft stuff at 75% off.

              Happy wife = Happy life. 😉

              I did pick up some candy canes to try another storage round of Mylar/02. Kids ’round here might like a treat in 10 years or so. 🙂

              Hell the best by date is 2018 on the boxes just sitting in the closet. Should be still good with additional measures. Every things a learnin’ experience. 😮

              Happy New year, y’all be safe. 🙂

          • Also, our trees are very old. A pecan tree won’t bear until it’s 7 years old.

        • @Archivist

          How about Mustard Greens and Crawfish Pie, will that count?

          • You can keep the mustard greens (too bitter for me), but I would try the crawfish pie. We get crawfish in our yard here in eastern NC sometimes, but not enough to cook. They are mean bastards. If you get too close, they run at you.

      16. If there is a crash do you think you will be allowed to keep your food? No, and there is nothing you will be able to do to stop it from being confiscated. Resist and you will be dead.

        • Die one way or another, either be killed by the authorities or die of starvation. I’ll go the quick way.

          Happy New Years.

          BigB

        • Stan

          Do you have anything constructive to contribute to the forum?

          • Sling, I hear the ‘crickets chirping’ real loud from stan. No, he was just sputtering BS.

        • I have spent a lot of time and money making this place self sufficient, so I don’t have to worry about the future. In the end, I may be dead, but no one else will eat it either. The last thing I will do is torch this place and everything in it. My philosophy is I bought it, or grew it and no one is taking it. I will kill to defend my family’s lively hood and destroy it as a last resort.

        • And just who is going to confiscate our food? You live in a dream world if you think this inept administration with their gay muslim leader has that ability.

        • So… they are going to go to EVERY house in America, collecting 300 mm guns, dig up everyone’s back yard looking for gold, and take very can of tuna? And who is going to do that? I know there are a lot of idiots in the military and police, but there are a LOT of Sgt Dales here, too, who will have nothing to do with it, and will probably FIGHT the oppressors. I have several friends who are recently retired police, and they would have NOTHING do to with something like that. A nephew in the Marines would not leave his barracks to do something like that.

          I read a lengthy article by a senior cop who said in a SHTF situation, his police buddies said they would all go home to protect their families.

          Could something lesser like what you suggest happen? Maybe. But probably it would be a mish-mash of things, varying by state and county.

      17. September has come and went, October has come and went, November has come and gone, as well as December, and we still are fearing collapse any day now, waiting will baited breath. January will kick off the National Election process in earnest. With that process there will come so much total BS and will consume so many minds that things will happen fast, unnoticed. The election is a scam to the highest level, the so called elected are appointed and have been already picked. Government and Civics are no longer taught in our glories public school system. Back in my day you had to pass a test on the Constitution and Government before passing into High School. The economy will without a doubt continues like it has and will never miss a beat, because there is way too much money out here for TPTB to leave in our hands. GREED is what controls everything, the love of wealth, just look at some comments here; stock PM’s now to preserve your wealth, put back money so when it’s over and started back you will be wealthy. One thing must not be forgotten you must live to the other side in the first place and that has to be first and foremost in your thinking. Remember if it is of this world it will parish there is no changing that and yes that means everything including you. So live wisely and to its fullest extent, store your wealth in heaven then you will have it forever.

        HAPPY NEW YEAR???????

      18. As we cross over Into 2016, the sh…..t..has now hit the fan. 2016 the year that the laughing stops… whitin..1 week from now s stand off is comensing with the Hammonds.. what happens next is what all Christians and patriots are waiting on.. does it now men’s revolutionary war.. nature will take its course in a bad way.

        Aka,

        HCKS

        The sh….t just hit the fan

        • Crappy New Year HCKS. lol.

          • HCKS, Happy New Year.

        • HCKS…

          I have heard several reference “the Hammonds”. I am unaware of this situation, googled it, but can’t find anything. It sounds like another Bundy Ranch situation. Where can I get more info?

          Hilldweller

        • Hicks and all you “patriots”:

          Any of you who cant/wont travel to Burns, Oregon this Saturday, January 2, to stand tall against the feds, you still can contribute by signing the Notice of Redress that is on the Bundy Ranch BlogSpot concerning the Hammond Ranch/Family.

          Stand up and be counted. You may just be the next person on the ‘hit list’ of one of the alphabet agencies.

          Pity this whole fiasco hasn’t been a topic at shtf.

      19. Not worrying about PMs at all, Got a young Grand daughter and her Mum when the time comes, there will be more than enough PMS for the whole family lol
        Have been doing this for a while, latest gear we purchased was fish nets (not stockings) and ways to catch fresh prawns in our Estuary and Ocean, ideal local in WA (Aust), only concern we have is thugs, snakes and mozzies, in a real SHTF time, PM will serve no purpose for us, can’t eat drink them, then of no use, we have Bees and they will be our mainstay for bartering
        We trust in the Lord always, but even in the Old days, they had preppers, starting with Noah and Joseph, no guns though, but then again most around here don’t have them either, and anyone that does, we will tell jokes, sing songs and they will die of laughter anyway. Have a Blessed yr everyone, hopefully this time next yr we will all still be here and wishing each other Happy New yrs

        • Many have argued against PMs, but need to put on their ‘history’ hats. I am not arguing that growing food, having guns, etc is more important during a SHTF scenario – but rather ‘what about before and after’?

          Think of the before part – the dollar crashes – everything you buy goes up in price – savings of dollars lose value – what are you going to use to buy those last minute preps, pay those last medical bills – or especially pay skyrocketing TAXES on your BoL, cornfield, bee farm, etc. Just when the SHTF the government gets your property because you can’t pay taxes. History is full of such examples.

          Think of the need to flee – you might want to hold out in your bunker – but what about your adult children and grandkids? Would they be better off in Ireland? Or Peru? (or pick a country not in a SHTF status)? You can’t give them bees to carry and no one wants dollars. How do they get a start in the new country with only what they can carry? PMs are a universal currency. Refugees – either voluntary or forced out – are a big part of history.

          During a SHTF scenario, you wouldn’t trade a gold coin for a quart of whiskey – but what happens if the government starts rounding people and supplies up? You cannot take your rifle or vegetable garden into a FEMA camp. You might be willing to die in a hail of bullets defending your bunker, but what about your grandkids? And maybe a gold coin given to the correct official or guard might keep you and your family out of a FEMA camp. It saved many a Jew in WWII.

          And after the SHTF, when survivors start putting together a new country and new currency – FRNs will be shredded for cat litter, and there will not be any new currency that is not backed by a real asset like PMs. You will be able to trade your old PMs for that new currency. That is why PMs have retained value regardless of which empire or country collapses.

          So I agree with not putting your life savings into PMs, but a couple gold coins and a couple rolls of junk silver should be part of your ‘before and after SHTF preps’.

          • NM, you always write great stuff. Thanks

        • Man I really hope your not serious. Otherwise I see in your future you passed out in a ditch, rear up, with a tweeker having his way with you. Just watched the Hangover, seriously though cowboy up and buy a gun, you said there are women in your group, it’s going to be on you to protect them.

      20. I hate cancer more than sirens.

        • How is mom?

          • Not good at all.
            I know she’s dying.
            She knows she’s dying but we avoid the subject.
            She smothers me with kisses and tells me she loves me… She’s never done that before.
            It breaks my heart.
            Thank you very much grandee for remembering and asking. xXx

            • May God’s grace and mercy attend you through these days.
              May He be especially close to your mom.
              May He bring His comfort to both of you.

              Cherish her love AGENT.

            • Agent Skinhead.

              You are there beside her and that is the best you or anybody can do.

      21. In the coming collapse, the only precious metal will be lead. That food,water and medical supplies will be the currency. When money is worthless,the meek,farmers and peppers,will inherit the world. The rich who are unprepared will die quickly.

        Happy New Year!!!

        • Just remember the rich don’t have to prepare. Look at any country that has collapsed and you see the rich hiring and arming the thugs to protect them and take what they want from the rest of society. You basically will have four types of people. The rich, who will make the rules. The criminal element that will be authorized by the rich to do as they will as long as they protect and provide to the rich. The people like us who are prepared and become the rebels and then a very large mass of people that don’t see any reason to prepare. This last group will be the ones that the criminal elements will lord over, rape and pillage on a daily basis, all under the authority of the rich and the claim that they are upholding the law.

      22. If I remember things rightly, Jan 5th was the day most everyone would return from ‘military leave’ (2 weeks vaca). So, I am of ‘half-a-mind’ that 5JAN1016 will be Day One of Obama’s ‘fast-attack’ agenda (on us). On the other hand, all of this could be introduced so very slowly it may be hard to detect when and where changes take place. (And we can’t depend on ANY news outlet to ‘spill the beans’ on big stories …even if it meant THEIR deaths. News Teams are fixated on being ‘led’ …The Feds “Front Line” for controlling Sheeples. Amazing. (We don’t have a TV and never will).

      23. I believe that The Feds are going to be going apeshit, especially The Anus (I mean POTUS) just as soon as ‘vaca is over’. Expect the same as ‘he’ did last time, which is to just start ‘dumping shit’ at an overwhelming rate which in effect leads to complete confusion. When the air clears, we’ll be a bit lighter on our rights than before, and then he’ll do it again, and again …and he’ll always focus on “public safety” as the reason to take away all guns/weapons/sticks/knives/awls,icepicks,pitchforks, vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, training-wheels,BB guns/Airsoft stuff,archery stuff,bullet-proof vests of all kinds …wow, just virtually ANYTHING that might prevent THEM from taking YOUR life. And I stand amazed that anyone would think such a thing could actually be pulled off without one hell of a long war? Obviously, The USA has “gone lawless” already. (We have cops shooting civilians in all major cities …NOT on any national news media either, on a daily basis). THAT could (an moment) turn into a ‘war that will sweep up the nation’ they are saying …and that WOULD be a LOT OF PISSED OFF PEOPLE seeking justice – – and (seemingly) that will never come until the present and ‘seated’ leaders are ousted forever.
        It’s a funny thing. When money suddenly becomes in short supply, so do human emotions (like caring, sharing, helping). Could it be we’ll have war at ever damned level of American living? Neighbor against neighbor? All of that? ONLY IF YOU LET “THEM” COERCE YOU INTO DOING IT. WE STICK TOGETHER LIKE A CONCRETE BLOCK MADE OF THE CONSTITUTION AND AMENDMENTS AND BILL OF RIGHTS.
        That’s all we need to turn it all back around legally (and they can’t say we were not patient enough with them).
        “They” are even seeking to sneak through laws this year that will make “them” untouchable as to what they do and the legality of it. “They” won’t be able to be held accountable for absolutely anything they do to The American Populace in the least. That scares hell out of me and also tells me where the greater threat is truly stemming from. The terrorists are the frigging government and funded by the same ..that much has been openly admitted to.
        Happy New Year everyone …now, please get busy doing something that may save you down the road! Via Condios!

        • EQUORIAL

          You got it, Brother.

        • They cant have my awl,,,,

        • Equorial:

          Love your posts; keep them coming.

          I see that, at last, there is at least one preacher in America that has opened his eyes. Chuck Baldwin (news with views) from Montana had this to say:

          “First I believe the biggest threat to liberty we face have NOTHING to do with Islamic terrorism. We have far more to fear from the miscreants in Washington DC, and from the international bankers at the Federal Reserve than any radical Muslim. Hence all the fearmongering about Muslim jihad and Sharia Law in America only plays into the hands of the globalists who are orchestrating all this madness.”

          __________________

          Any of you attending a 501C3 church hear anything like this out of your bought and paid for preacher/teacher stooge?

          Posters here don’t trust the MSM parrots yet for some reason they have bought into the “mooslem” rhetoric lock stock and barrel. And if need be, a false flag of enormous proportion is coming down the pike to be blamed on Muslims to send our national treasure (our kids) to fight for their longed for WW3, meant to usher in the One World Order.

          A great place to check out how the Muslim world will be used in the coming world war: 3 world wars dot com. There you will see how and why America has been guided into these wars and how you have been deceived about every one of them.

          Yes, the Rabbit Hole just gets deeper and darker for all that wish to know the truth. Find it for yourself before it gets scrubbed.

          • Just wait till jihad is full tilt in USA. The mantra of “Muslims are not the problem”, will not be heard and Chuck Baldwin will be hiding away at his MT retreat….with silence.

      24. Don’t know if any of you follow the daily Sheeple, I just read where the Iraqi military leaders in Ramadi are accusing the US military of evacuating ISIS leaders out of the city before they started their push to regain control. Sure as hell hope it isn’t true! Never know what our military has been ordered to do with the present regime.

        • Don’t believe everything you read. Oh, yeah, ISIS leaders getting along well with our military to be escorted…?

          • Propaganda,,,
            Its much much easier these days with the floods of media,
            Who knows what is accurate,

      25. On Precious Metals.

        How can you people come out and say that Precious Metals will have no Value at all in a collapse.

        You are going to need 999.% fine silver to make that antibiotic solution call Colloidal Silver. Or can you make it lead or brass? Everything has value. You have to find the right time to use it.

        Now I will tell you straight up. I am going to charge GOLD AND SILVER for some items that I will willing to barter. I will hammer and chisel down the coins or bars to the require amount for trade and weigh it on scales.

        This is also where I get a case of the ass when those that say the scripture to cast your gold and silver into the streets. Yeah I get the meaning but are you going to cast them in the street before time. How about dumping your metals out the window right now.

        For you Newbies. YOU decide if you want Precious Metals or not. Do your due diligence first.

        • Everything has value,
          And different items have different values to different people,
          A can of beans is worth more to a starving man than a piece of silver, but the guy who is sitting on a mountain of canned foods might be on the opposite side of that, just as the person with no guns will be thrilled with that old single shot 22 and box of shells ttraded for a mountain of silver coins

        • Keep a balance. Water, food, gardening, heat, defense all play a part. So does money in some form other than paper.

      26. Once the RESET goes down you can bet that Nothing will be FREE. There will be an exchange of material, labor, knowledge or skill.

        That is going to piss off plenty of people.

        • right on, much agreed.

        • Or skin!
          Sad thought but so true

      27. The USA will continue to prosper. Sure there will be ups and downs – but our liberty and freedoms will continue under the ultimate leadership of our lord who is king of the universe. Sure it’s a good idea to have some new crisp ten dollar federal reserve notes in a # 10 can for some minor rough spots in the economy. As far as PM’s – they are simply relics from ancient times when people lacked the knowledge that our wonderful federal reserve enacts daily. I don’t understand how so many fools can exist who continue to project all this gloom and doom. I’m beginning to think they are pinko commie agents who profit from PM sales.

        My advice to you gloomers is to straighten up and sell all your violent assets and use the money to buy Fords and Chevrolets. Trust in your elected politicians and all will continue to be OKay…

        • pvt. mushroom

          You said,

          “I don’t understand how so many fools can exist who continue to project all this gloom and doom.”

          @@@@@@@@@@@@

          I was wondering the same thing. Hmmmmmm.

        • And politicians always tell the truth as well as government employees always are looking out for the people first

        • And the tooth fairy is real too

        • mushroom, it’s clear to ME you been fed a LOT of shit….and kept in the dark….hey…you really ARE a mushroom….or did yuh mean maroon? either way, if the foo shits, WEAR IT! let me know when you see some PM’s on firesale, so i can buy MORE…and any of that OTHER “shit” you tell ’em to get rid of…i’m yer huckleberry…backin’ up the truck!…man, i’m gettin’ TIRED of bein’ civil to simps….is it just ME that feels a need to call out these dimwits?

        • Thank you for the laugh this morning!

      28. Obama is already planning to use EOs to change gun laws. I keep telling my friends that if they want an assault weapon and ammo, they had better get it because he will ban the sale of them before the year is out. If he can’t get congress to do his will, then he will just bypass them, legal or not. God, I hope we get someone in the white house to reverse all of his EOs as soon as they get in. My money is all going towards extra ammo and parts from now on.

      29. To the Newbies.

        If you are just starting to read here at SHTF you might find yourself stressing out. Don’t worry. That’s Normal. There are ways to overcome it.
        A New Year and a New Beginning an how in the world am I going to get all the stuff I need on a budget. There are going to be items you have to buy Brand New. Can’t get around it but there are ways to save.

        I am a Big Time Flea Marketeer. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure and you would be surprised how much New Stuff still in the Box is sold for almost nothing. The drawback is that you have to put the Leg Time into it. A little gas money and perseverance too.
        Time after time the items have showed up. You also have to know what you are looking at for it is a final sale and BUYER BEWARE. I have been burned a few times. Nature of the Beast. If you are willing to purchase used equipment and forego the new sparkley stuff you can save a bunch. Knowing the value of items by looking on line. Going to Army/Navy stores. Putting your hands on the item. Look them over good. Check the pricing to achieve a courter offer to barter.

        So if you have a good flea market near go out and take a look. A Treasure hunt and good exercise.
        The world is your oyster.

        Garage sales can be good also. ;0)

        • Great advice. I always keep a few $10 bills tucked away in my wallet for just that reason. Last summer while out walking I picked up a brand new coleman stove at a garage sale. $10 and the burners still had the cardboard covers on them. I always stop and ask if they have any camping or other outdoor equipment for sale. Sometimes they will stop and think and go get something they had not put out previously. Around tax time, people start looking for quick cash, so keep your eyes open for great buys.

          • JAS

            I have found the same stove. Wal-Mart wants $99.99 each
            Two burner dual fuel. Lanterns also. It’s a gold mine I tell you.

            Survival Knives. How about a Vietnam issue Connetta Fighting Knife. Issued two years 1967 to 1969. With the tool marks on the blade to prove it. Had the original Ox Blood sheath. Eight bucks. Value is way higher to a collector. Good K-Bars, machete’s, all sorts of stuff out there. How about an Argentina Model 1909 short sword for $25.00.

            • JAS/sling; I too love yard sales/flea markets. Problem I had with Coleman stoves & lanterns is that I’ve got ‘Colemanitus’ now. Especially like the old lanterns but I’m a bit of a ‘stovie’ too. Have about 25 lanterns and 6 stoves.

              Great fun to clean & polish them up and get working again after decades of neglect. My oldest lantern is from 4/48 and don’t collect much past 1970.

              So there, I made prepper mistake #1: “Don’t overdo it” 🙂

              Parts and tech info avaiable at oldcolemanparts.com and colmancollectorsforum.com.

              Michelle

              • Michelle in NB

                Same here. Lots of Globes, pumps and mantles. Hoses and Lantern masts and adapters you can get cheaply. Have obtained two free propane cookers that worked that people put out in the trash.

            • Sling, spot on about flea markets and also thrift stores. I go into them on occasion myself and sometimes some useful item for survival. You just never know what you’ll find. Garage/yard sales are also good to go to.

        • good one slingshot.

        • I have been shopping thrift stores and garage sales for years. One next to my library I stop in every week. I found a book on how to dress out meat for a quarter. I bought a beautiful wool jacket for work for $1, and 4 pairs of jeans for a quarter each. I bought a pressure cooker for canning for $5. My Igloo dog house for $5. Piles of fabric for $8. I got boxes of canning jars for pennies. My iron for $2, my electric water pot $3 ($49 at Chinamart) and so on. Persistence pays off, just stop by regularly. If I save money on one item, I have more for another. Hotels sell furniture for nothing, I bought 4 dining chairs pretty and well made for $5 each. I only buy what I can use, but know a gal who buys and resells on Craigslist. When I have to go into Albuquerque I hit their thrift stores on my way home. Once in a while I pick up original southwest art. I am now collecting jeans for a quilt. My son picked up a 3 basin cast iron sink with a fancy faucet for $25 and replaced his stainless steel builder’s model that he sold for $10. Saved him several hundred. Seattle had great deals… NM rarely does. We try!

      30. The Great Crash occurred in 1929. The Great Depression came in full swing in 1932. .gov has stated that our economic downturn will be done in two steps. The first one was the ’08 crash. We haven’t recovered from that one. IMHO,a few months back something snapped. Lot’s of people being laid off etc….

        History repeats itself. Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Reading through the articles about the Great Depression you’ll find the exact same issues going on in 1932 as today. Amazing.
        ht tp://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/depression/section3.rhtml

      31. I think I have everything. Now just adding to stuff. I’m smart enough to know that when or if it does happen things will change and I’m sure I forgot something. I just hope some of the members of the group remembered it.

        For the New Ones, there are list of things you need all you have to do is look it up. Also talk to the great people here they will answer any and all of your questions.

        Sgt.

        • here’s a list of stuff to print out for the class on preparedness that i’m teaching next thursday.
          it’s a list I made for my boy scout troop recently of things to have when we go out of town for more than a day…
          boy scout manual…there’s some GREAT information in there!
          water
          food
          plates/ eating utensils…(mess kit)
          backpack
          boots
          bivy cover/sleep syst…… sleeping bag good for 0*…-30 degree
          military sleep systems can be had for around 75$
          fire starter
          knives
          T/P
          compass
          clothes
          thermals
          toothbrush/soap
          matches
          mattress pad/cot/bed
          cooking oil
          chair
          granola bars
          poncho/raincoat/goretex(best)
          coats/cold weather bag w/hats scarfs gloves longjohns, shemagh
          tent
          flashlights

          optional stuff…………………………………..
          550 cord
          dutch oven
          camera
          firewood
          firstaid book like “where there is no doctor”
          mutitool
          e-tool(shovel)
          extra glasses
          tarps
          hatchet or axe
          adult stuff……………………………
          jumper cables and brillo pad(fire starter)
          sawyer mini filter
          batteries
          magnifying glass
          painkillers/antibiotics
          maps
          clorox
          tool bag
          sandpaper
          file
          hammer
          vicegrips
          digging bar
          tow strap and chain
          IFAK
          food …i aint pickin’ FOR you.

          • That’s a good list

          • Nice post, BCD

          • BCD: I love the Boy Scout Manual! Thanks for the reminder. I always have a compass with me. I have a mini compass / thermometer on a keychain. I always keep a worn-in pair of hiking shoes / boots in my car with socks and a blanket.

            There are some things you only learn after screwing up and living to tell about it. Hiking in an unfamiliar area years ago I trusted “an old friend” who thought it was okay to hike in the Bitterroots, in July, up to the 9000 foot level with no gear. I mistakenly trusted that person. I was not familiar with hiking above the tree line and that turned out to be the problem. Also going up is easier than coming down. I was used to hiking in the woods with a trail that was easy to see. Once you get above the tree-line and into rocks the trail isn’t easy to find and it surely does not look the same way coming down as when you went up!

            So we lost the trail. It was fun being up in the snow in July and drinking from fresh snowmelt streams. Very fun. This was supposed to be a day hike. A few hours up and a few hours down, no big deal. It should have been a clue when we passed people going up that had huge packs on and lots of gear. A few asked us about our plans and seemed surprised that we were doing this as a “day hike.” Everything going up went well. Not a problem. The problems started when we were coming down and couldn’t find the trail. My friend didn’t have a rope so we didn’t even have a rope to get down some really vertical areas except by sitting on our butts and sliding down. I remember this hike for a lot of reasons. I remember saying “this is way too f-ing vertical dude!” (If you are sliding down on your butt that is a clue). The main reason I remember that hike is because it was the one time in my life where I came close to psychologically shutting down or freezing. Of course you never think that is going to happen to you! I certainly did not. I came very close to telling my friend that this is it, I am not moving one more inch. We either find a place and camp for the night or you leave and get help. I kept moving and once we reached the treeline and I was back in my comfort zone I remember being so angry that kept me moving down the trail. Of course it was getting dark, too. Plus it was getting colder as the heat of the day faded. We made it to the parking area by dusk and by that point I wasn’t speaking to my “old friend.” It wasn’t funny. The fun day turned into an ordeal. I was quite a lot younger and in excellent shape at that time. This was someone I had known for years and trusted. That day everything I thought I knew, flipped. Some locals that were letting us stay with them laughed later on that night. Apparently it was fairly common for folks, like my friend and myself, to get stuck and have to be rescued via helicopters after sleeping up on the mountain for a night or two. They laughed and everyone thought it was funny. I didn’t laugh back then and I am still not laughing. I never went on a hike with that person again.

            • EVERYTHING you need to know to survive is in that boy scout manual, is what we tell our scouts…and for kids, it’s pretty much true…
              what a VERY valuable lesson for YOU….and all those who have never been in that position that are reading this… even if you KNOW the trail, what if you sprain an ankle or get terrible blisters(i get them often), and end up unable to walk out…without at least a poncho(it MIGHT save yer life!)…my list for a day hike includes
              poncho
              compass
              electrical tape…makes a sling, bandage, tape up blisters, and myriad other things
              napkins/TP(to make a bandage)
              GOOD knife
              water(PLENTY for overnight)
              paracord
              multi-tool
              flashlight(with LED, so batteries last a long time)
              matches(two means to start a fire)
              painkiller(tylenol, motrin, and possibly benadryl for allergic reactions)
              this is all ABSOLUTE minimum for a 3 hour hike!…even in summer….MORE stuff if it’s anticipated to be cold

              • BCOD: Thanks for not being too hard on me. (Obviously I was not in the Boy Scouts).

                I learned a lot about myself that day. I am still learning, and thinking about that day hike from hell years later. It was supposed to be a 3-hour hike in the summer with perfect weather and I was in excellent physcial condition. You are right about being ready to sleep outside for a few nights! Have some type of covering in case the weather changes, have some type of light source, be able to make a fire, have a container for water, and some type of food/snack and I would add something you can add to hot water and boil (like tea or bullion cubes) to make you feel better. The main thing I learned that day was I will never go on a hike again without a pack of essentials. If someone laughs at you or says you have “too much stuff” don’t go on a hike with them! Walk away. I hope you share my story with your kids so they learn from my errors.

                The biggest surprise of that day was the power of emotions, specifically fear and anger. I was almost paralyzed by fear when going downhill meant scooting down on our arses with no ropes, with nothing. The other emotion that came into play was anger, once I was back in an area that I felt safe.

                I have had wicked blisters from a pair of Ariats that I finally just threw away because they were impossible to break in. Blisters or a sprain or a broken leg can stop you. Right there. You can’t move any further. Plan on being stuck and having to stay overnight. Plan on needing to call for emergency rescue. You and a hiking buddy may not be hurt. But what if they reach that psychological breaking point and just stop? Say they cannot or will not go one more step? Yelling at them or bullying them into moving may make the situation worse.

                In a SHTF scenario, if you are not alone, you will have to deal with the the psychology of other people in your group. Until someone is tested it is difficult to predict how they will react. Until I had that experience I would have laughed at you if you had told me I was going to have that type of reaction to going down a mountain.

                • PFFT! i aint no expert…i was just thankfull that you put that story out here so we can ALL learn a little more…you’ve helped many here..i still make LOTS of mistakes.it gives me great pride in helping others, and that’s what you did, you enabled US to do that…thank you for your contributions to shtfplan, YOU should be proud too..that’s why i’m here!

            • I went on an “easy” day hike with a native plant group. I did take a backpack. It was a grueling hike in and out of a canyon… twice… with lots of butt sliding. The last hike out was the worst, steep and narrow for a mountain goat. Looking down, free fall 500 feet with barely a slope to lean into the rock. One guy nearly went over because his rock step came off over our heads. At the end our “guide” admitted he had never hiked the trail before. Once we got up, we were walking on a very narrow ridge line, about 18 inches with a shear drop both sides! I discovered I have vertigo… I covered my view to one side and managed it. Didn’t say a word on the trip or afterwards, why make it harder, but still can’t believe that guy called it an easy hike. At 59 I was the youngest on the hike. I never went back to that group… no trust. I love being outdoors and hoped to have a group to go with that knows this area.

              • well, i suppose the lesson here for us all is to keep an open mind, and when it starts looking too dangerous….you should turn around and go home.

        • if you forgot stuff, you can trade for it…for a minute..but sooner or later, you won’t want to be outside your house to trade sumthin’. according to selco, you shouldn’t rely on trading for anything…if it gets bad, you won’t want ANYone to know what yuh got!

      32. Keep some construction materials on hand. I was getting free sheets of plywood from my work brought them home and put them away. Bought a box of exterior decking screws. Got tons of nails from leftover projects. Grab a couple bundles of roofing shingles just in case you get damage in a storm or want to build a shed or chicken coop. Some corrugated pvc sheets or steel roof sheets. Big roll of 4 mil plastic. Good quality skill saw square chalk line 30 ft tape measure. Heavy duty corded drill and a couple hammers. some gate hardware is good to have hinges hasp for gates. Get some chicken wire and some bailing wire and some good pliers too. Hacksaw and files to sharpen tools. Not saying to homestead your property if you don’t have time now. But keeping things on hand if you need to is smart. I’ve been to 3rd world countries and they don’t have a Home Depot to get materials. This is all different than the usual survival supplies people talk about. But valuable stuff. Another gun is a waste if you already have that covered. Get a pair of rubber muck boots for chores to keep your other boots clean. Gloves safety glasses knee pads will keep you from the emergency room crowds after Shtf. I got enough stuff to build a rain barrel system and gonna do it this spring. I grew up around old timers watched and learned from the best do it yourselfers. Red neck ingenuity will rule the day. These people truly are folk heros. One more thing if it seems like a bad idea don’t do it till you talk with someone who knows what to do. Advise is free in most cases if you know how to talk to people. Be patient and inquisitive you ll make it fine. Measure 3 times cut once.

        • great post, you asshat(i always wanted to say that!) thanks for contributing!

      33. Get yourself a pair of Muscovy Ducks (M/F), and you’ll have a forever source of eggs and meat. Easy to maintain, hardy, breed like rabbits, great egg layers, good eating!

      34. Any ideas about staying warm in the winter, already know kerosene heater, wood stove.

        • army extreme cold weather clothing system is something i’ve tested extensively…went for a 3 mile walk yesterday in 24 degree cold…it’s good stuff, and if you live near a military base it can be had VERY reasonable…it’s all about layering and top layer must be windproof…i collect/sell this stuff, so i know it works(not trying to sell it to YOU, i just believe in it)

      35. Wait til serial liar Hilary gets in. Forgot if I posted this before, but just in case I didnt:

        25 THINGS I TRUST MORE THAN HILLARY

        • Mexican tap water
        • A wolverine with a ‘pet me’ sign
        • A mixed drink made by Bill Cosby
        • A straight edge shave from Jodi Arias
        • An elevator ride with Ray Rice
        • A night out with Aaron Hernandez
        • Brian Williams memory
        • Michelle Obama staying at a Motel 8
        • Visiting the capitals of all 57 states Obama thinks exists
        • Pinocchio
        • The Boy that cried Wolf
        • The Cleveland Browns going to the Super Bowl
        • A Nigerian inheritance email
        • An unconscious pilot alone in the cockpit
        • Harry Reid’s exercise equipment
        • An IM from Anthony Weiner
        • Anything Nancy Pelosi has ever uttered
        • A factory packed parachute
        • A kiss from Judas
        • An Afghan wearing a backpack
        • Whatever Bill Clinton’s definition of “is” is
        • If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep your healthcare plan
        • A North Korean trial
        • A BIC pen that doesn’t leak
        • A tuna fish sandwich left on a city bus for three days

        • That made me laugh outloud!! Good stuff!!

      36. … and

        THE WRECK OF THE HIL’RAY FITZGERALD (Sung to the tune of… oh, never mind!)

        The legend lives on, from the Chippewa on down, of the big fake they call Hil’ray Gumi;
        Hil’ray’s emails, it is said, were a-bound to be shred, when transparency turns tot’lly gloomy.

        With her load of BS ore, 26 thousand emails or more, the Hil’ray server was emptied;
        The public and the truth were a bone to be chewed, when the lies of November came early;

        Hil’ray’s server was the pride of the of the Communist side, coming back from fund raisers in Wisconsin;
        As big liars go, she was bigger than most, with her fibs and deceits well-seasoned.

        Including some terms shaking down firms, for money from LA to Cleveland;
        then later that night when the BS bells rang outta sight, could it be yet more lies we’d been feelin’?

        Her lies in the newswires made a tattle-tale sound, as her techs did their email a-slashin’;
        When afternoon came, Hil’ray was fibbing again, with the force of a hurricane west wind.

        When suppertime came the IT guy came on deck, sayin’ fellas there’s more lies to feed ya;
        at 7 PM Hil’ray’s main campaign caved in, he said fellas is been good to know ya.

        Hil’ray’s spin meisters wired in, they had water comin’ in, and her tissue of lies was in peril.
        And later that night, when her lights went out of sight, came the wreck of the Hil’ray Fitzgerald.

        Does anyone know where the love of truth goes, when her lies turn our faces so dour? The bloggers all say, Hil’ray’d be raking in political hay, if she’dput 15 more bald lies behind her.

        Th’server might have split up or it might have capsized; but it sure rolled deep and took water;
        And all that remains are the blank emails and the games of Hil’ray and her Wall Streeter bankers
        Old Bill Clinton rolls and Hil’ray flings, in the rooms of her ice water mansions. Harry Reid steams an old liars dreams, and Pelosi’s pronouncements ring hollow;

        And further below, the lamestream media all know, they take in what the leftists can send them.
        But as the big liars go, the public now knows, Hil’ray will lie in November.

        In a musty old hall in DC we prayed, for the restoration of the Constitution;
        the church bell chimed, it rang 29,000 times for each email “lost” on the Hil’ray Fitzgerald

      37. Survivalist rule #1; One is none and two is one!

        Personally I have been prepping since 1991 and I still don’t have everything I would like to have.

        This is just My opinion; Make sure you are running a 5-10 program.

        If you have never heard of a 5-10 program then please do a web search.

        I’m not trying to be an alarmist but I keep hearing about a muslim day of rage occurring in the USA in 2016 from Pastor Rick Wiles.

        • Does he say how he knows? Is he a Muslim? Is he connected with them?

      38. Humankind has always had it’s needs and wants… for centuries.

        For centuries man has coveted gold and silver. I don’t see that ever changing.

        If the USA has a SHTF, all items and services will have a value negotiated upon between interested parties. Not just stuff one can eat or drink.

        There will always be a market for food, water, booze, firearms and ammo, cannabis, drugs, gold, and sex.
        Prep accordingly, and Always Be Armed.

        Happy New Year.

        • Ben, spot on. Perhaps a little too honest for some people, but the truth.

          • I am learning to make hooch even though I don’t drink much. Ya never know. As for this being the year… 2008 was the year it was over. This is the time period when some people still think they will get through. Every year more find out they will not.

            • It will eat our life savings.

      39. Once currency collapses, all the ten dollar bills you stashed won’t be clean enough to wipe your butt.

      40. I’ve heard this same $h1T for 10 years in a row. At the beginning of a new year we hear “this year is the year” “this is the year that the economy will collapse” blah blah blah. Nobody knows. I know there a bunch of you hoping that it will happen just like the zombi uprising although I will agree a societal collapse is an actual possibility.

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