Using Abandoned Villages and Hamlets For Survival

For the past few weeks I have been doing a some research into potential sites in the rural areas of the province I reside for long term survival. I been looking into mostly old coal mining towns that are of no interest to anyone, with homes that are still standing most of these structures dating back from early 1900's to the 1950's.

I'm still having some trouble trying to find places that are off the beaten path but with only two major highway's in between my area of choice, the main concern is law enforcement and the RCMP aren't very friendly in that area given the amount of oil and gas activity, logging and tourism. What I'm getting at here is I need advice if anyone can spare it please.

en.wikipedia.org...
First location

en.wikipedia.org...
Second location

en.wikipedia.org...
Third location

National Geographic did a story recently featuring many abandoned places in North Dakota. IDK, may be an idea

reply to post by Big Oil



you should look at some urban exploration sites ill post a few links that I hope will help you on your search.

infiltration

a nice site for beginers and has a few pics of the locations.

urban exp Resource

a great site with tons of pics and gps locations

I hope that this help you a bit. By the By old prisons would make the best place in my mind to hold up in high walls= security or if you can make it an off shore oil rig.

reply to post by SPC_D


thanks bud

reply to post by Big Oil


not an issue I love to explore old closed up places it is wicked fun and it is allways good to know what is close to you incase shtf

reply to post by SPC_D


well I'm pretty lucky to live near the canadian rockies, it's nice asset to have that for sure

reply to post by Big Oil


If shtf you need to pack light like for 72 hr's worth of food and clothes take items to barter with incase it really hits the fan.
I suggest you read up on distilling and get the ranger’s handbook isbn number 097590096X I have one and a military map of my local area and the state next to me as well. I know im ready to split at a moments notice if need be are you?

if you dont want to buy the hand book here is a link for the pdf
rangers handbook PDF I warn you it is a goverment site

and here is a quick how to on water Distillation

water distillation





[edit on 12-7-2009 by SPC_D]

reply to post by SPC_D


I've got an old 90's map of Alberta the area of interest highlighted with all the forestry and mining roads. I got a couple of water purfication systems that I purchased a year ago with solar panels, but overall the water in the area comes right off the rockies so it's fresh. The food situation I got a couple buddies working on that and clothes well I've got plenty of work wear from my days in construction.

reply to post by Big Oil


I suggest that you get a case of MRE's they are not that great to eat but still they will keep you going! And I believe a case is only 50$

reply to post by SPC_D


yeah I found a guy into town that sells military items at a discount, mainly just stuff the forces don't use anymore, the mre's might be a bit old but it's better than nothing until we get ourselves settled. I also got fishing equipment to bring along.

Seeing as I ork in most of the places you asked about here is my two cents worth.


1) Cadomin - Nice, fairly isolated. Not many gas wells near by. Not right on a main highway. A lot of the old houses are still privately owned and a lot of people bought there and fixed them up in the last 2-3 years for use as a summer cabin. The population figures on wikipidea only list full time residents.

2) Coalspur - a little too close to a major road for me. Also the pictures I've seen show very few abandoned buildings in any shape to be used as a shelter.

3) Nordegg - This is my favorite of the three you suggested, lots of strucctures but again people have been buying buildings for use as summer cabins since it was made a canadian heritage site in 2002.


Try out the following
www.ghosttowns.com/canada/alberta/alberta.html

As a side note if you went to Nordegg and too many people started to show up you could always head west on the 11 and sneak into the banff park, then head north on the 93 and take over the collumbia ice fields building. It has heat but no one there in the winter. For 4 months of the year the 93 is closed to traffic and is off the path enough that no one takes it because it hardly gets plowed.

reply to post by Big Oil
I would work out a solid plan and than make 3 back ups in case one goes to crap. know where your going scout the area first you need to ask your self.

1. Is there a water source?
2. Can I get food or will I have to rely on raiding and if I have to raid how will I conduct myself?
3. What can I sacrifice in case I need to break camp and take off at a moments notice?
4. How protected from the elements am I, will I have to bring a tent what will I have to bring to survive with just my self in case you can't get to your friends first.

Think about what your needs first than after you take care of your self you can help your friends because you can't help them if you can't help you’re self.
think about what your needs first than after you take care of your self you can help your friends because you can't help them if you can't help your self.

reply to post by exile1981


I was also looking into the Whitecourt/Grande Cache area and Northern B.C.

Originally posted by Big Oil
reply to post by exile1981

 

I was also looking into the Whitecourt/Grande Cache area and Northern B.C.

After the latest hit on oil infrastructure up there I'd be careful about the RCMP taking a Pro-active stance towards anyone wantering around near wells or pipelines with a backpack.

The area north of Ft. Nelson is bueatiful and has lots of 4 legged food and small rivers full of fish, but you either have to hike in or have a very good 4x4 with more than one spare tire. You'd need to built shelter though, that area gets enough snow that you can get trapped in your cabin for weeks at a time.

The only problem I see with your plan is that most abandoned sites are very remote and tend to be that way for a reason. Usually a lack of water or arable soil. There were plenty of abandoned mines and mine claims down in AZ when I lived there. Even the ones in the mountains would have been tough to survive in for at least the first 5 years until you established some well designed growing areas. The soil was rocky and thin and contained mostly pine needles for decomposing plant matter which made the soil very acidic. Gardens in mountain and desert regions will require some high and strong fencing to keep deer,rabbits and other critters from raiding them. If there no surface water in the area, you could create a reservoirs but they may dry up or become tainted by fecal matter from wild life that will attracted to them during dry spells. Every type of retreat has it's pro's and con's. Some of these played out mines were abandoned simply because the prices of a particular ore dropped to low to remain profitable. They may have copper or silver ore worth working on the small sale. You could trade those for supplies with your neighbors especially if you can draw them into wire.

you might want to go read this story about an old mine before you think its a good plan...
Poisoned Water

I live here in the south west and its common knowledge that run off from tailing's and old mines can kill you. heck they kill everything! EPA have done massive clean ups but its one of those things that just keeps coming back...

Might be nice to have a ready made village but what if its not safe to drink the water?

We'd be screwed over here in the UK, most of the buildings have owner/occupiers, I'm hoping for something that leaves our block of apartments empty and ripe for 'reallocation' ( to me).
It sits on it's own grounds , with 32 flats and 26 garages for storage space, theres 2 hardware shops nearby , and 2 gun shops within a 5 min motorcycle ride.