[Sago]

Most studied observers have declared the "Bug out" principle useless unless it is done well before the crisis.

Link?

You will be turned away by armed military force at the bridge, just like in Katrina

And that is why I have topo maps, GPS fully programmed with way points in order I have chosen in preference. A compass and a normal street map.
If you think you can seal off a mid sized American city completely you are very mistaken. Will they seal the main points depending on the situation yes they may. Will they be able to seal every goat path backwoods shortcut and watch every inch of river? Not in a million years. If you know the area you can find out where the holes are. And how you can move through them.

and the friendly rural farmers will shoot you for "gathering" as you pass through their land. Don't kid yourself, most rural types are better armed than you might think and they do more shooting than the average urbanite. Those rocks along the driveway are range markers.

Who said anything about stealing from farmers? I will have food in my pack when and if I have to stop to eat. Given my preference no one would even know I was there at all. I am not going to be trapped in a Katrina type situation. If you are not threatening someone a guardsman is very unlikely to shoot you. So the worst thing that is going to happen is you get turned around. No correction the worst thing that could happen is that you get detained and placed in a shelter. But I don’t think that they are going to spend a lot of time or energy trying to chase someone that is not threatening anyone down. The only real advantages they have is mobility. And in the case of helicopters and UAVs elevation. So stay small don’t threaten people and your odds are very good indeed of being able to get home or to your bug out point. No one is likely to bother someone that is in travel mode unless they are criminals. (Badge or not, not withstanding)
Katrina is indeed a perfect example. All the chaos and attention was focused on the north exits from town. Yet if you went south you can find over land routes out of the area. The thing is that everyone is thinking north and east. Not south and west. Do this in a city that is land locked and you are going to need 10s of thousands of troops and your own dang satellite to stop motivated and prepared individuals from bugging out. As for it not being possible to go out on foot. I would refer you to almost every modern war. Millions of people have fled wars on foot. Sometimes it is the only choice. It can be done and it has been done in every disaster and war in modern history. But preparing for it can mean the difference between an arduous trek home and a decent into Hades.
The option is yours.
I would put forward that where you are headed to is more important then where you are coming from. You need to not be “Just getting away.†You need to have someplace that you are heading to. Again the people that live out in the sticks or have family that does is better then just getting out of the war zone. And having a stocked retreat or home is the best yet.

 

[Sago]

Link?

Here is a link to a great article about backpack fever...

http://www.alpharubicon.com/prepinfo/backpackfever.htm

The Rube has many good points. But go but that was not the point of my post. The point(s) were that

(A) what exactly is a surival expert.? As the world as we know it does not end on a regular bases most of what you here on the net is from self proclaimed experts (who are usually selling a book or equipment) or people that are or have lived through a local economic implosion. And they are rarely selling anything. And they are rarely easy to find.

(B) I am not advocating running off to a national forest. I am of the bug IN crowd. BUT how often are you at home? There is a very good and real chance that the fecal matter will impact the rotating blades when you are no where near your expensively maintained and meticulously planned home. And for people that live in large citys? If you don't have someplace to go life would be real hard if the trucks stopped rolling and the electricity stopped. In fact your odds of making it in a city are very remote indeed. Post SHTF big city living is as unrealistic as running off to a national forest. Assuming that you can keep warm (or cool) and that you have access to water, your greatest danger would be the people that live around you. You can not stay awake forever. And a modern house has about zero chance of protecting you from gunfire or firebombs.
And as I said on the old board how are your going to protect what little you can grow on a city lot? You plan to live in a big city after the SHTF get used to the taste of dog.
All the preps and supplies in the world won't do you won't do you any good if it is burned to ashes. If for what ever reason you can not live in a more rural setting or have family that does having a *stocked* retreat is mandatory. Even if it is a hunting cabin or a small place on a lake or whatever. And by stocked I am referring to everything you need for a year or even better two. Or as close as you can get to it. The idea is that if you do have to bug out from home you have someplace to go.
That is NOT "backpack survivalism. It is being realistic.
And unless you can guarantee that you will be within a days walk at all times of your retreat or home not having a BOB or a get home bag is foolish.
One year after an event is different some estimates say about 20% of the population will be left one year later. there will be plenty of space to grow things then.

 

[Sago]

I believe our local Fortress plan (although obviously untested) combines the best of all theories. Unfortunately, it's heavily dependent on your location, your relationships with those around you, and being generally unselfish. Laugh if you want, I still think it'll work.

-'bridge

Sir I would never laugh at another man doing his damnedest to protect himself and his own. I may not agree that citys are viable but hey how many times have I lived through the end of the world? LOL
You might have something viable there that people have over looked.
By all means start a thread I would love to read it. Who knows you could save a lot of lives!

 

[Sago]

See there, I just wanted to know how much peoples' backpacks weigh and here I am saving the world again. Work, work, work.

-'bridge

Oh yeah and before I forget to answer your question 80lbs fully loaded tad more then winter. Yes I know how much that is and yes I am aware of how long that pack makes the miles seem as I hike with it every year to make sure I can haul my own freight. Three days walking with it and I find my self going over the lists saying I have to be able to get rid of something.....

But I never seem to find anything I want to do with out and it is less then 40% of my body weight so I should have no problem moving with it.
And you would be surprised how many people just hashing things through stuff changes peoples games. I have learned a lot on the web enought for me to keep at it for 8 years now.