Hello, my friend and welcome back! After the SHTF, there will still be times you may need to travel. Whether it’s to the local bartering group or to check on loved ones, the path you take will be very important if you want to remain safe, In today’s post, we are going to look at a few rules for deciding which is the path of least resistance, so grab a cup of coffee my friend and have a seat while we visit.
As we have discussed in some of my latest post, traveling on foot isn’t always the best choice, but it may be the only option you have. If you do have another way to travel, you’re still going to have to be careful.
Regardless of when you travel in a post SHTF world, there will be Bandits and murderers just waiting for someone to walk into their traps. They may want your supplies, or transportation, or maybe even you women and children. One thing that is for certain, there will also be those who are looking for slaves to work their fields and do their chores and if you’re not careful, it could wind up being you.
So how do you know what to look for? That will be a tricky one and you could walk into one before you even know it. Now, if you have served in the Military as an Infantryman or such, you already to know the basics of spotting a trap. Unfortunately, most people haven’t, so I’m going to try to give them an idea of what to watch for.
The first things you will want to watch for are natural points where the trail or road narrows forcing you to go straight through. It’s what the Military calls a choke point. In some cases they are a sharp bend in the road, where you can’t see what’s around the corner till it is too late. These are going to be the ideal points for those types of people to use.
So how do you avoid it? The safest way is to approach it from a direction they may not expect and do it very quietly and use as much concealment as possible. By sneaking up on them, you will know if there is a trap set there or not. Now just because you have traveled it many times before and found nothing does not mean that there will never be anyone there.
Natural choke points are to be avoided at all cost if possible and should never be attempted without first scouting it to be sure it’s safe. Places to watch for are:
- Highway Overpasses.
- trailheads
- Roads that are flanked by high buildings.
- Paths which pass between two steep embankments.
- If you’re traveling by water, then a Dam becomes a choke point as well.
So, what else should you look out for when traveling in a post SHTF world? Always keep an eye out for anyone new in the area, especially if they just seem to be watching local people. If you attend a bartering get together, then you should be especially weary of anyone who just walks around looking and never trying to barter for anything. These may well be the people who are waiting for you to take your newly purchased goods and head home. Then they will be waiting to relieve you of your goods only to ride off and probably never be seen again.
Another thing to be weary of are people who make deals that are too good to be true. They could be setting you up as well. Just remember that bandits will always take the path of least resistance and they will be betting that you will be doing the same. Always keep your guard up and be aware of your surroundings because, in a post SHTF world, you never know where trouble will strike.
I guess that is it for today my friend, so, until next time, stay safe, stay strong and stay prepared. God Bless America!
-Sarge-
Bandits will be attracted to anywhere there people who have desirable goods, whether that be food, money or tradable items. The border region of the Southwest deserts have an abundance of ‘Rip Crews’ who prey on illegal alien groups and drug smugglers, even though these areas are very sparsely populated. In my experience, tracking and observing smugglers, they rarely take the path of “least resistance,” preferring instead the use of trails that provide maximum cover. Eventually, however, these groups have to break out into more or less open terrain. Rip Crews will use the advantage of elevation to spot smuggling groups and radio their location ahead, where the bandits are waiting at a choke point.
My point is that bandits are most likely to focus on areas where there is enough traffic to make it worth the effort to set up an ambush. I agree with MorrisB that travelling in armed groups would probably afford the best protection in a post-SHTF situation. Regardless, if you are in bug out mode, get as far away from main routes and population centers as possible.
Great article for everyone.
Move caravan style? In number there is strength.