I learned something about Bugging-out today...

[mbabulldog]

Evening, all:

Made an appointment today to get some front-end work done on the Ford, and get new tires put on. It was a nice day weather-wise, so I figured I would drop off the truck, and walk home. How hard could it be, right???

Well, my eyes were opened a little bit, for sure. The walk from the service center to my front door was 6.25 miles. It took me just a shade over 2 hours to walk, at a pretty good clip, and conditions were sunny/cool, with flat roads the entire hike.

So, here I am, re-thinking the logistics of walking home from work, along little known roads (not the most direct way home), with a BOB that weighs about 15 pounds. The 35 miles from door-to-door is not very realistic to do in one day/leg, in my opinion. I'm realize that an overnight stay outdoors before I'm able to get home will be inevitable.

Something for everyone who plans on walking home to think about. For those of you who have already realized this, feel free to have a grin at my expense.

 

[NBCsurvivor]

Evening, all:

Made an appointment today to get some front-end work done on the Ford, and get new tires put on. It was a nice day weather-wise, so I figured I would drop off the truck, and walk home. How hard could it be, right???

Well, my eyes were opened a little bit, for sure. The walk from the service center to my front door was 6.25 miles. It took me just a shade over 2 hours to walk, at a pretty good clip, and conditions were sunny/cool, with flat roads the entire hike.

So, here I am, re-thinking the logistics of walking home from work, along little known roads (not the most direct way home), with a BOB that weighs about 15 pounds. The 35 miles from door-to-door is not very realistic to do in one day/leg, in my opinion. I'm realize that an overnight stay outdoors before I'm able to get home will be inevitable.

Something for everyone who plans on walking home to think about. For those of you who have already realized this, feel free to have a grin at my expense.

so, how did you fare? Do you feel like you need to get in better shape, or did you do alright?

 

[Ohmmmm]

No reason to grin. I think walking at a normal clip is at about 2.5 miles per hour. Last year when I started thinking about all this I decided to buy a bicycle. That could be an option. I think I'll be buying some extra tires and inner tubes. A good lock too.. Its good you shared your experience so that we all can learn....thank you...

 

[pandora]

Roughly 6 miles is a good trek. Last spring/summer I was walking 4 miles a day pushing a 3 year old in a stroller on level terrain at a pace of about 1 hour. Not as easy as one might think. What you've brought up is definitely something to consider.

 

[eXe]

Yeah once you really walk the distance if you are not used to it, you get real insight into just how hard it CAN be..

That said.. thats the main reason why I try to run either one mile or more on my treadmill every day. I get a good workout during my day just normally but that extra run helps every little bit.

Gets you used to how hard it could be.

 

[Jeanne51]

It's a good idea to start walking now. I used to walk about 8 miles a day when I read meters. My legs got used to it and never hurt. If you are not used to walking your legs are going to hurt, and you will probably get heel blisters, I got plenty of them.

 

[north runner]

I have one of those lightweight two wheel colllapsible luggage carts in the trunk - 6 inch wheels I'm sure I could drag 40-50 lbs fairly easily. I'd rather have my off road bike, 35 miles would be slow but manageable in say 4-5 hours. More hills in this part of upstate Ny.

 

[Grantbo]

This is Grantbo
Get a bike. A small folding one maybe?

 

[Satanta]

iiec...the average days travel a hundred fifty years ago was 20 miles...

 

[horse and hammer]

I have been thinking on how I could get into better shape running wise lately. I've been working with my horse teaching them to drive with a harness while I walk/jog/run behind them. Boy I'm not young anymore. Anyhow, someone told me to start a program that seems to be usefull to get in shape and I can also make my horse exercise along with me. They enjoy it.

Walk for 5 minutes then jog/run for 1 minute for a week or until it becomes easy. Repeat for as long as you can.
Walk for 4 minutes then jog/run for 2 minutes
Walk for 3 minutes then jog/run for 3 minutes ect

 

[okie medicvet]

sounds like a pretty good regimen. I think I will adopt it. ty.

 

[Jumpy Frog]

You guys have flat terrain? I've seen that once or twice when I lived in NV.

Here at work I hike on average of 2-3 miles a night up and down hills. The campus is 600 acres, covered in pines and oaks with a lake in the middle. It is a good workout.

 

[Christian for Israel]

for short distances and without a pack, 3 miles an hour or so is about standard. but for long distances (20+ miles) that is greatly reduced, especially if one is not used to it and will be carrying a pack. 1 mile per hour is all that should be planned on, considering all the breaks you'll be taking those first few days. therefore, if you plan to walk 30 miles i'd advise preparing for at least 3 days on the road (then double that for redundancy).

 

[Phil Ca]

I would need to sneak up on a walk in order to accomplish much distance.

As for using a bike.....maybe Vlad can chime in about the tires that require no air. Probably a lot better than getting a bunch of titres and tubes.

When our van broke down recently and was in the shop my wife and I had to take the city bus down to pay a utility bill. We had to walk about six blocks to the bus and another four blocks to the place we wanted to visit. we were very glad that our daughter was in town and when we called on the cell phone she was able to bring us back home. we have become to dependant on our usual mode of transport.

 

[It'sJustMe]

Walking is no piece of cake, that's for sure. A bike makes sense. But some of us might not be able to even do a bike, any distance. Being in your personal best shape is the #1 option. Then getting home however you can, you would find some way, if fit. It's Just Me

 

[vlad]

www.airfreetires.com carefully read this site. tires are rim specific.

I use only airfree tires since OCt '01. We have five bikes with airfreetires. :- )

Teton 26x2.0 rim 19 - 22mm ID, 10+ mm deep
Unidrectional HR +30% 26x1.9 rim 21 - 24mm ID, 13+ mm deep
Ocelot HR +30% 26x1.9 ...rim 23 - 27mm ID, 8+mm deep

I have used all these tires on my Schwinn Impact. rims marked 559-22

NOTA BENE Teton is not HIgh Resilient. It is suitable for rider 160lb or lighter. too soft for my 270 lbs or for my pal who is 225..

Ocelot HR +30%, and Unidrectional HR +30% are high resilient compound. When I weighed 300 they gave a ncie ride.

 

[vlad]

got bicycles? got small child?

http://www.trail-gator.com/

you might rig a trail-gator type tow bar to a second fullsize bicycle. use that as trailer/packhorse. when you get there, you thave two functioning fullszie bikes.

(got airfree tries? )

 

[BUBBAHOTEPT]

http://www.junglehammock.com/tropicfeatures.php
Always carry one of these in your BOB.....................

 

[A.T.Hagan]

Here in Florida - year round - I've always assumed twenty miles a day assuming not having to duck and dodge. If I've got to do E&E then all bets are off. Might make twenty miles a day, might be lucky to get two miles. One good reason to go just as soon as you think the situation warrants it so that you can get the most miles between you and whatever it is you are fleeing from before things really start to get dicey.

If I've got my family with me on foot then I'm going to assume a mere ten miles a day of unharrassed walking and be pleasantly surprised if we are able to do better.

.....Alan.

 

[rryan]

Having walked 1000+ miles last summer in high heat/humidity carrying a 20# pack and soemtimes an additional 10#'s of food, all I can say is work up to it. Walk a few miles every day and keep adding to the distance.

Wife and I can move with light loads (15# each) at 3 miles an hour all day in the mountains which is pretty intense----but it took us both time to work up to it.

One thing that seems to help---for twenty years I have done toe raises every morning in the shower or making breakfast----stand on one leg and raise up to your toes onthe other ALL the way slowly at least a hundred times each and after a couple months you'll realise just how much you can walk without really using your thighs (which is what seems to tire out on most of us first) and how much faster you can go---

Exercise and good shoes are paramount.

I plan on joining these folks before I turn 40

http://www.ultrawalk.com/Centurion/US Centurions.htm

Look at the ages of soem of these folks and know it can be done.

 

[mbabulldog]

so, how did you fare? Do you feel like you need to get in better shape, or did you do alright?

Can always be in better shape, for sure. I wasn't out of breath, or falling down exhausted, but I really didn't think it would take 2 hours to walk 6 miles! I woke up a tad stiff the next morning, that was all.

For sure, it has opened my eyes to get out and do some serious hiking with a pack ASAP.

 

[mbabulldog]

You guys have flat terrain? I've seen that once or twice when I lived in NV.

In the lower Hudson Valley (about 35 miles outside of Manhattan) the majority of major roads are pretty flat. Now, if you want to find hills, or take side roads, all bets are off, and you better be ready for some serious walking, at least on the roads.

 

[Onebyone]

When I was a junior girl scout our troop hiked the trail the boyscouts made. It went up a mountain, down it and up a smaller mtn. down it and then more level ground. The distance was 10 miles and we walked it in a day. None of us trained for it but all of us and our scout leader made it fine. The worse part was eating lunch because my pineapple sandwiches my mother made for my lunch were so soggy I couldn't hardly eat them. I was hungry by the end of the day. We also had to stop at a house along the way and get fresh water as ours was gone.

So make sure you have plenty of water and decent food, good shoes and socks and you shouldn't have any problem.

 

[Mongo]

Guys and gals - "step away from the computer!"

Having a "plan" to walk (or bike) is just one very small (and insufficient) step.

You must TEST your plan.

Preferably along the route and at the times you anticipate using.

If this is impossible - select the best facsimilie you can and test yourself on that.

If you "plan" on doing something and have not done it in the last year at a minimum - I submit to you you are planning to fail.

Talk is cheap. And when you actually go test yourself - you will realize that.

This board is great for info - but that only goes so far. Please, please get out and DO.

EDIT: Good post mbabulldog!

 

[momof23goats]

iwould carry protien bars, for food. and plenty of water, and maybe a space blanket or two, , but 35 miles, is a long walk for the average person, now facter in you are going to be walking and probably ducking, and dodging at the same time.
I would think that 3 days, is much more realistic. barring any problems, like shoes, socks, finding shelter at night, not freezing to death, in the winter. or dying from heat and humidity in summer.
there are many things to factor in. so IOf you want some week end try it, and see if you can make it.
you might want to think about a bike, but you would have to take it with you daily. just incase some thing happened before you got to work, or after you left. never know when it is going to happen.

 

[johdan]

I backpack and if you ARE in shape I think 20 + miles a day with a 15 lb pack is alot, specially if you have to go off road for a while. A 15lb. pack isn't much for the first mile or two but it will take a toll after awhile, if you don't train with one.

I would get a cheap 26" bike, take off the wheels and loosen the handle bars and stow it in your trunk compactly (add tool kit, spare tubes, tube repair kit, add that stop leak goop stuff to the tiretubes on the bike and don't for get a small bike pump!!!).

Plus I would get out walking or running for 30 minutes twice a week!
Adrenaline will do the rest?!!!

 

[narnia4]

Well, for the rest of us here, I'm proud of you guys.

Most of us spend 20 mins. walking from the TV to the refrigerator and back, unless we can get someone to do it for us.

Really though, you all make good points. I occasionally do walk to town and back (5 miles total) and its not a joke.

If TSHTF it'll be a significant conssideration for all of us, especially those of us not in great shape --- even if we CAN do it, its something to deal with .... when you're physically wore out you can't just wish it away.

As mongo and others said, we need to just DO IT (walk) now, and get into somekind of decent shape.

 

[rryan]

Well, for the rest of us here, I'm proud of you guys.

Most of us spend 20 mins. walking from the TV to the refrigerator and back, unless we can get someone to do it for us.

Really though, you all make good points. I occasionally do walk to town and back (5 miles total) and its not a joke.

If TSHTF it'll be a significant conssideration for all of us, especially those of us not in great shape --- even if we CAN do it, its something to deal with .... when you're physically wore out you can't just wish it away.

As mongo and others said, we need to just DO IT (walk) now, and get into somekind of decent shape.

Good points

The best first step in my opinion is GET RID OF THE TV.