What Is Next- A Story Of Survival

Sir @BTPost may be able to provide some suggestions. I know that many of us have portable ham radios for just this sort of contingency.

 

You have to rule out radios that were not stored in a Faraday cage for the posed scenario.

 

You are absolutely correct on this.... maybe a work place cache in the nearby with a Faraday cage would have been prudent....!!! Guess that rules out use of my radio in my GHB......

 

Going to get hungry at mile 20 I suspect....... and probably thirsty as there was no mention if a means to purify water....

 

Strictly, a Faraday cage does NOT need to be grounded during the pulse itself. But you better ground it out before opening, there's apt to be a static charge built up that could fry something. This (in an office setting) would be as easy as putting a wire into the ground of a normal outlet and touching the other end to the box. Well, assuming the building ground was still intact anyway. Outside, set the box on the ground for a while.
Now then, you are facing a hike of unknown length (in terms of time, if not distance.)

 

Okay, so I have dug up my cache outside of the office and secured a working radio... but it will only get me about 7 miles or so in my terrain till I get to the other side of the pass. I have my camel back filled, pulled my GHB out of the truck, secured my secondary weapon (as I normally CC) and strap a knife to the hip. I also have pulled out a map I placed in the GHB some time ago with details of multiple routes and caches along each route. I have also changed into a more neutral but outdoors type of clothing.... grey man is still in effect.... I am not cammo'd out, but I am wearing appropriate clothing for the weather and stuff that is tried and capable for the task at hand. I don't have a bike so I am on foot for now.... guess I better change into the spare pair of boots in the truck that are broke in and ready for the trek.

Should I worry about my co-workers or get headed out into the darkeness.... it is about 6:30 PM now? Would I want to stay the night and wait till daylight to see if things are better.... and with more light? Or do I want to get down the road as I have three days or so to get home... and the better to get out of the area before things start to fall apart.... hmmmm?

 

The weather is a moot point in my opinion. If you move out right away you have the cover of darkness and whatever else the weather provides. If it is raining or snowing.... most will sit tight which will give you better safety along your route. with less folks to encounter trying to get home as well. You do have a GHB with the seasonal gear in it to get through what you may expect for the time of year.... right.

 

And that is a a very good point Tac... do you know your route... have you hiked it, have you checked out the options along the way if you have to deviate from the primary route. In my case I have and I know two routes up the same pass and many side tracks that will keep me on the same SE route. Once I am passed that 2,500 obstacle, I have many routes I have traversed either driving, running or walking......... that is the key right, know Your routes?!

 

It is fortunate that this route is also a minor pathway and not a funnel kill zone. At least initially into the SHTF!!!!

 

@Yard Dart Actually you do NOT need to go "over" that pass, as there is an Old Railroad Right of Way, that takes you OFF, the Freeway, and has a tunnel "Under the Pass".... that you could use, with your Collapsable Bicycle, and bypass all the other Traffic going over that Pass.... It is still there and was supposed to be turned into a "Bike Pass" but I haven't heard that that was done. I do know that all the Trackage was pulled up, a few years back. All the Rail Traffic that used to use that route, now goes over Stampede Pass....

 

There are several old trails and a couple of abandoned railroad lines getting from here to there...most of them are on my map highlighted as options.... Going that direction though would put me right into a large town vs skirting it to the East. One of the considerations is the volume of foot traffic expected to be doing the same thing as I am. While I could take the flatter run on the west side as @BTPost suggested..... there will be a lot more folks going that route exiting the metro area. My route over the "hill" would dissuade many, with them opting for an easier route. Plus that little park at the top of the hill has an expansive trail network that ties directly in with my route... which will keep me off of the highway and moving in the right direction.

 

Taking the route I think you are talking about....on the East side of the area, the trail was only extended so far and dead ends at a water crossing. When they pulled the tracks, they also removed the old trestle and never placed a foot bridge for the crossing. I am not familiar with a tunnel... will take a look see into that.
The mountain sure does not look like this anymore