Your biggest obstacle to getting home...

12 hours with a full load and breaks is about right for someone in average condition with an average stride carrying a reasonable load...and perfectly doable for practice purposes, even factoring in Murphy. Obviously when SHTF your time will be at least doubled if for no other reason than being cautious...but the point of doing it now, in normal conditions, is to get a practical check of your conditioning, route, gear, etc...not the mention the confidence in the same...and in yourself that you can do it. Preparation without practice is no preparation at all.

 

See, despite popular opinion; engineers are good for something.

The problem, making one's way home after SHTF may not be in a straight line.

Potentially, night travel may be the wisest. It is an acquired skill and recommended to be an acquired skill.

 

Practice using a red lens on your flashlight and map and compass .
Expect to take your time ,and watch ahead for predators and traps.
Predators are attracted to movement ,the swifter the greater the attraction.

How long it takes to get some where, only works well on the rail road, even then there are exceptions.
On foot and during an event ,all that speculation is pointless, and ideally,
that is what good communications are good for.

Though I may have to do some travel by road , depending on the terrain, I may do more cross country, in revenes and ditches rivers and culverts .

 

Gave a copperhead a good flogging yesterday by the railroad tracks
Be careful where you step!

 

There are reason's it a 72hr bag.
It's only 30 miles, up and down hills in a straight line. Or closer to 45 if I want to keep to the woodland edge.
but mostly up hill first 3 miles is 400 ft elevation rise.
water available at 1, 4 - 6 miles, then at 11, 18-22 and then 29.
farm land with berries along the field edges most of the walk.
fish, frogs, crayfish at water locations.

 

Ok let's play something .
So your on the bug out, and walking down the road; you see at a distance evidence of smoke/people ,not moving ,just camped out on the side of the road, what are your going to do ?

 

Ease off the road, glass 'em, learn what I can, and divert wide around them, quietly.

 

This again is where good communications are important.
Planned key words and code words your group are identified with.
Sounds silly, but it's not so silly, if things go south, with out having some prepared communications.

 

One of the reasons I keep binoculars in my EDC bag .

 

I'm wearing snake boots, Which could be another thread?
I have and sometimes will walk thru the woods in the dark with no light on, Test you self's doing that!

 

Answer me this, What's the difference between Brats, Brots, or Sausage?

 

Price....

 

If I've not been spotted ,then going a long way around seems the best move ,not knowing the nature of the group.
Be they good or bad ,it seems best not to leave a record of one's passing by, unless your looking for some one or want a record of your contact.
Every eye will be examining you and all your carrying .

Crossing bridges will be tough ,if they are intact , it's a choke point .
Personally I'd float my way across any water way in stead.
Familiar with swift water rescue ,I know the risks .

 

I am just thankful that there are basically no poisonous snakes in Michigan.
In the southern mitten about all we have to worry about is humans, dogs, skunks and cornering a raccoon.