Category: New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s Deadliest Bugs Don’t Like People At All

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn New HampshireLeave a comment

When people think about survival scenarios, their minds usually go straight to food shortages, power grid failure, extreme weather, or civil unrest. Very few people stop to consider one of the oldest threats to human survival on Earth: insects.

The Most Dangerous Insects in the State of New Hampshire: Deadliest Bugs and How a Survival Prepper Prepares to Survive Them

Introduction: Small Creatures, Big Threats in a SHTF World

In the state of New Hampshire, we don’t have poisonous snakes, massive predators, or tropical diseases crawling through the streets. What we do have are insects and insect-like pests capable of spreading disease, causing severe allergic reactions, contaminating food supplies, destroying morale, and slowly breaking down even the most prepared individual during a prolonged SHTF or end-of-times scenario.

As a survival prepper, I want to be very clear about something: bugs kill more humans globally than any other animal on the planet. Not bears. Not sharks. Not wolves. Bugs.

In a modern society with hospitals, antibiotics, pest control, and emergency services, we barely notice them. But when systems collapse, when medical care becomes scarce, and when sanitation breaks down, insects go from annoying to deadly—fast.

This article is designed to help you:

  • Identify the most dangerous insects and insect-like pests in New Hampshire
  • Understand why they are dangerous
  • Learn how preppers can defend against them
  • Build long-term insect survival strategies for grid-down or societal collapse scenarios

This is not fear-mongering. This is preparedness. Because survival isn’t just about firearms and food storage—it’s about defending yourself against the smallest threats that can quietly end your life when help is no longer coming.

A Quick Reality Check: What Counts as an “Insect”?

Before we go further, it’s important to clarify something.

Technically speaking:

  • Insects have six legs (mosquitoes, flies, wasps)
  • Arachnids (ticks, spiders) have eight legs

However, in survival and public health discussions, ticks and spiders are often grouped with insects because they pose similar risks: disease transmission, venom, and infestation.

For practical survival purposes, we will include:

  • Insects
  • Arachnids
  • Stinging and biting pests

Because when SHTF, biology textbooks don’t matter—survival does.

Why Insects Become Deadly When Society Collapses

In a grid-down or end-of-time scenario, insects become more dangerous for five major reasons:

1. Medical Care Disappears

A simple infected bite can become life-threatening without antibiotics or professional treatment.

2. Sanitation Breaks Down

Garbage, waste, standing water, and decomposing material create perfect breeding grounds.

3. Increased Exposure

Survival often means spending more time outdoors, in shelters, or in poorly sealed structures.

4. Malnutrition Weakens Immunity

A weakened immune system struggles to fight off infections transmitted by insects.

5. Psychological Wear-Down

Constant bites, itching, sleep deprivation, and stress slowly erode morale—a silent killer in survival situations.

The Most Dangerous Insects and Pests in New Hampshire

1. Ticks: New Hampshire’s Silent Killers

If there is one pest every New Hampshire prepper must take seriously, it is ticks.

Why Ticks Are Dangerous

Ticks are responsible for transmitting several serious diseases, including:

  • Lyme disease
  • Anaplasmosis
  • Babesiosis
  • Powassan virus (rare but severe)

New Hampshire consistently ranks among the highest states for tick-borne illnesses.

Survival Risks in a SHTF Scenario

  • No access to antibiotics
  • Long-term joint damage and neurological symptoms
  • Fatigue and cognitive impairment affecting survival decisions

Prepper Defense Strategy

  • Permethrin-treated clothing
  • Daily tick checks (mandatory survival routine)
  • Light-colored clothing for visibility
  • Proper shelter sealing
  • Tick removal tools stored in med kits
  • Knowledge of early symptoms

Ticks don’t kill quickly—but they cripple slowly, which is often worse in survival conditions.

2. Mosquitoes: Disease Vectors of the Apocalypse

Mosquitoes are not just annoying—they are one of the deadliest creatures in human history.

Diseases Carried in New Hampshire

  • Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
  • West Nile Virus

While rare, outbreaks do occur, and survival scenarios increase exposure dramatically.

Why Mosquitoes Are a SHTF Threat

  • Standing water becomes unavoidable
  • Repellent shortages
  • Increased outdoor living
  • Sleep deprivation from constant biting

Prepper Defense Strategy

  • Mosquito netting for beds and shelters
  • Long sleeves and pants
  • Smoke control (fire smoke deters mosquitoes)
  • Elimination of standing water near camps
  • Essential oil repellents as backups
  • Battery-free traps and physical barriers

In a collapsed world, mosquitoes don’t need to kill you directly. They just need to weaken you.

3. Bald-Faced Hornets: Aggressive Defenders

Often mistaken for large black wasps, bald-faced hornets are actually aerial yellowjackets—and they are extremely aggressive.

Why They Are Dangerous

  • Attack in groups
  • Will chase perceived threats
  • Can sting repeatedly
  • Nests often hidden in trees and structures

Survival Scenario Risk

  • Severe pain and swelling
  • Risk of anaphylaxis without medical help
  • Forced abandonment of shelter locations

Prepper Defense Strategy

  • Always scan trees and eaves
  • Avoid loud vibrations near nests
  • Protective clothing
  • Night-time nest avoidance
  • Relocation rather than confrontation when possible

In survival situations, avoiding conflict is smarter than fighting, even with insects.

4. Yellowjackets: Ground-Nest Nightmares

Yellowjackets are responsible for more emergency room visits than almost any other stinging insect.

Why They Are Dangerous

  • Ground nests are easy to step on
  • Highly aggressive
  • Swarm attackers
  • Attracted to food and protein sources

Survival Impact

  • Food contamination
  • Camp disruption
  • High sting count injuries
  • Risk of fatal allergic reactions

Prepper Defense Strategy

  • Keep food sealed
  • Avoid sweet smells
  • Mark known nest areas
  • Wear boots in tall grass
  • Understand seasonal behavior patterns

In a world without epinephrine, multiple stings can be life-threatening.

5. Deer Flies and Horse Flies: Blood Loss and Infection

These large biting flies are common in New Hampshire’s woods and wetlands.

Why They Matter

  • Painful bites
  • Open wounds
  • Persistent attackers
  • Potential for secondary infection

Survival Consequences

  • Increased risk of wound infection
  • Reduced ability to hunt or work
  • Mental fatigue from constant harassment

Prepper Defense Strategy

  • Head nets
  • Light-colored hats
  • Sticky traps
  • Timing activities outside peak hours

They won’t kill you outright—but they wear you down.

6. Black Widow Spiders (Rare but Present)

While not common, black widows do exist in parts of New England.

Risk Factors

  • Venomous bite
  • Severe pain
  • Muscle spasms
  • Dangerous for children and elderly

Survival Strategy

  • Glove use
  • Shelter inspections
  • Shake out clothing and boots
  • Keep living areas clean

In a medical vacuum, venom becomes a serious problem.

How Survival Preppers Defend Against Insects Long-Term

Layered Defense Philosophy

A prepper never relies on one solution.

Layer 1: Knowledge

  • Know what insects are active by season
  • Learn nesting behaviors
  • Understand disease symptoms

Layer 2: Clothing

  • Treated fabrics
  • Full coverage
  • Durable boots

Layer 3: Shelter Control

  • Sealed cracks
  • Screens
  • Smoke use
  • Elevated sleeping areas

Layer 4: Environmental Control

  • Water management
  • Waste disposal
  • Camp cleanliness

Layer 5: Medical Preparedness

  • Antihistamines
  • Wound care
  • Infection prevention supplies
  • Tick tools

Psychological Survival: Bugs Break People

One thing rarely discussed in prepper circles is how insects destroy morale.

Constant buzzing.
Itching you can’t scratch.
Pain that never quite goes away.
Sleep deprivation night after night.

In long-term collapse scenarios, insects contribute to:

  • Poor decision-making
  • Increased conflict
  • Mental exhaustion
  • Lower survival odds

Preparing mentally for this reality is just as important as preparing physically.

Final Thoughts: Surviving the Smallest Threats

In New Hampshire, you don’t need jungles or deserts to face deadly insects. You just need time, exposure, and the absence of modern convenience.

Insects don’t care about your gear, your training, or your beliefs. They exploit weakness, negligence, and complacency.

A true survival prepper understands that the end of the world won’t arrive with explosions—it will arrive with small problems that stack up until people can’t cope anymore.

Prepare for the bugs.
Prepare for the bites.
Prepare for the infections.
Prepare for the long fight.

Because survival isn’t about winning—it’s about lasting longer than the threats around you.

New Hampshire’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn New Hampshire, New Hampshire's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

New Hampshire’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster: A Survivalist’s Guide to Driving Out Alive

I’ve been around the globe, traversing jungles, deserts, mountains, and urban jungles alike. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the terrain and road conditions during a disaster dictate your survival chances behind the wheel. New Hampshire, with its rugged landscapes, winding roads, and unpredictable weather, poses unique challenges when disaster strikes.

From flash floods washing out highways to ice-covered mountain passes, the Granite State’s roads can turn from familiar routes to survival trials in moments. When everything’s at stake, your ability to drive smart and resourceful is a life-saving skill. Here’s my rundown on the worst roads to navigate in New Hampshire during a disaster—and how to survive them, including survival driving skills and some off-the-grid hacks to keep you rolling.

The Worst Roads to Drive in New Hampshire During a Disaster

1. Kancamagus Highway (NH-112):
This scenic byway is stunning in good weather but deadly when disaster hits. Narrow, winding, and surrounded by dense forest, this road is prone to landslides, fallen trees, and flash flooding during storms. Snow and ice in winter only add to the peril.

2. Route 302 through Crawford Notch:
A vital corridor through the White Mountains, Route 302 is a rocky, narrow path with steep cliffs. Rockslides, avalanches, and ice can turn this route into a nightmare, cutting off escape routes.

3. Route 16 in the Ossipee Mountains:
Often used as a major north-south artery, this highway gets slick and treacherous with heavy rain or snow. Flooding can easily wash out sections, stranding drivers.

4. Bear Notch Road:
A steep, unpaved, and narrow mountain road often used for hiking access. It’s the kind of place that’s beautiful but unforgiving if you get caught during a disaster—mudslides and falling rocks are common.

5. Mount Washington Auto Road:
Though mostly for tourists, this road is the epitome of danger in bad weather—extreme weather can come fast, and the road has sheer drops with no guardrails in many spots.

Survival Driving Skills to Drive Your Way Out of Disaster

You might think just knowing how to drive is enough. It isn’t. You’ve got to be adaptable, calm, and technically skilled. Here are 15 survival driving skills I rely on:

1. Situational Awareness: Constantly scan the road, weather, and surroundings for hazards like falling rocks, sudden flooding, or stranded vehicles.

2. Controlled Braking: Avoid sudden stops. Use gentle, consistent pressure on brakes to maintain control, especially on slippery roads.

3. Threshold Braking: When emergency stopping, brake just before the wheels lock, maximizing stopping power without losing traction.

4. Off-Road Maneuvering: Know how to safely drive through mud, gravel, or dirt if roads are washed out or blocked.

5. Controlled Skid Recovery: When you lose traction, steer into the skid to regain control rather than overcorrecting.

6. Defensive Driving: Anticipate what other drivers or obstacles might do and plan escape routes.

7. Hill Climbing and Descending: Use low gears to control speed on steep inclines or declines, avoiding brake overheating or loss of control.

8. Tire Pressure Management: Lowering tire pressure slightly can increase traction in mud or snow but be cautious not to go too low.

9. Emergency Lane Usage: Be prepared to use shoulders or off-road areas to bypass blockages.

10. Night Driving in Poor Visibility: Use fog lights and low beams, avoid high beams in fog, and reduce speed.

11. Water Hazard Navigation: Know how to cross shallow floodwaters safely; avoid fast-moving water deeper than six inches.

12. Vehicle Weight Distribution: Understand how cargo placement affects handling, especially on slippery or uneven terrain.

13. Maintaining Momentum: When stuck in mud or snow, avoid spinning tires; gentle, consistent throttle helps keep traction.

14. Manual Transmission Mastery: Knowing how to control your vehicle without relying on automatic transmission aids in tricky spots.

15. Emergency Evacuation Route Planning: Always have alternate routes mapped out and avoid relying on GPS alone, which can fail or reroute dangerously during disasters.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

Getting stranded without fuel is a worst-case scenario. In a disaster, help might be hours or days away. Here’s how to keep moving:

1. Use a DIY Gravity Fuel Feed:
If you have any extra gasoline in a container, you can rig a gravity feed line from the container to your fuel tank filler neck. Elevate the container above your car’s gas tank and use a flexible tube (like a cleaned-out garden hose). Open the fuel cap, insert the tube, and let gravity slowly feed the fuel into your tank. This is a slow process but can give you enough to limp to safety.

2. Create a Charcoal Briquette Starter for Emergency Heat:
When stuck and cold, keep charcoal briquettes in a small metal container inside your car, along with a small amount of dry kindling. This can be ignited carefully (outside the vehicle, with ventilation) to provide heat or help you start a small fire to melt snow for water, which could indirectly help you survive until rescue.

3. Convert Household Alcohol to Emergency Fuel (With Extreme Caution):
If you’re desperate and have access to high-proof alcohol (like ethanol-based hand sanitizer or spirits), it can be used as a fuel additive or emergency fuel in some vehicles. This requires careful mixing and knowledge of your engine type. Not ideal, but in a pinch, this can keep a vehicle running enough to escape immediate danger.

Additional Survival Tips for Driving New Hampshire’s Disaster-Prone Roads

  • Keep a Comprehensive Survival Kit in Your Vehicle: Include extra fuel, food, water, first aid, flares, a multi-tool, tire repair kit, and a portable air compressor.
  • Use All-Wheel or Four-Wheel Drive if Possible: New Hampshire’s roads during disaster demand the traction these provide.
  • Practice Off-Road Driving: Before disaster hits, get familiar with how your vehicle handles off-road conditions; many escape routes won’t be paved.
  • Learn Basic Vehicle Repairs: Knowing how to change a tire, fix a broken belt, or jump-start your battery can be the difference between life and death.
  • Stay Informed: Use weather radios and disaster apps to stay ahead of road closures or hazards.
  • Travel During Daylight: Visibility is critical; avoid night driving when possible.
  • Drive with a Buddy: If possible, travel with another vehicle for mutual aid.

Final Thoughts

New Hampshire’s natural beauty can quickly turn into a survival gauntlet during disasters. The roads that twist through the White Mountains and winding byways demand more than just a steady hand—they require knowledge, skill, and preparation. Driving yourself to safety isn’t just about having a reliable vehicle; it’s about mastering survival driving techniques and being resourceful when things go sideways.

I’ve driven in deserts where sand swallowed cars, jungles where mud dragged tires, and mountains where ice shattered vehicles. What’s common everywhere is this: preparation plus skill equals survival. Equip yourself, train yourself, and respect the roads—because in a disaster, your vehicle might just be your last lifeline.

New Hampshire Homestead Lifestyle

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn New Hampshire, New Hampshire Homestead LifestyleLeave a comment

New Hampshire Homestead Lifestyle: A Hard Truth From a Gritty Homesteader

Listen up, city slickers and wannabe weekend warriors, because I’m about to give you a real slice of the New Hampshire homestead lifestyle. It ain’t pretty, it ain’t easy, and it sure as hell ain’t for the faint-hearted. You think you’re going to just pack your bags, slap on a pair of boots, and suddenly be a master of the land? Hell no. This life will chew you up and spit you out if you don’t come prepared and willing to fight for every damn inch of self-reliance.

First off, let me say this: the terrain in New Hampshire is rugged and relentless. The granite hills, thick woods, and unpredictable weather will break your spirit if you don’t have the grit to push through. But if you do, if you stick it out and get your hands dirty, there’s no sweeter freedom than calling your homestead your fortress.

Homestead Skill #1: Firewood Processing
You better learn to fell, split, and stack your own firewood before the snow piles up. Nothing’s more soul-crushing than waking up freezing because you ran out of heat. Chainsaw, axe, and muscle—that’s your holy trinity here.

Homestead Skill #2: Garden Planning and Crop Rotation
If you want food on your table, you need to master the art of growing it. That means planning your garden to avoid exhausting your soil. I’m talking potatoes, beans, kale, carrots—whatever you can grow in New Hampshire’s short but intense growing season.

Homestead Skill #3: Seed Saving
Stop buying seeds every year if you want to save money and keep your garden resilient. Learn to save and store seeds from your best plants. It’s a skill that’ll make you laugh at the fancy garden centers.

Homestead Skill #4: Animal Husbandry
Whether it’s chickens, goats, or pigs, knowing how to raise and care for livestock is non-negotiable. Sick animals don’t wait for a vet to show up; you better know your basics—feeding, shelter, and health checks.

Homestead Skill #5: Basic Carpentry
Your homestead is going to need constant repairs. From fixing a fence to building a chicken coop, knowing how to handle tools and wood is essential. If you can’t swing a hammer, you’re just dead weight.

Homestead Skill #6: Foraging
New Hampshire’s forests are full of wild edibles, but if you don’t know what’s safe, you’re asking for trouble. Learn to identify mushrooms, berries, and herbs that can supplement your food stores.

Homestead Skill #7: Canning and Preserving
When your garden bursts in summer, you better be ready to put up those fruits and veggies for winter. Canning, drying, fermenting—these skills keep you fed when snow’s knee-deep and stores are closed.

Homestead Skill #8: Water Management
You need clean water every day, and you better know how to collect, filter, and store it. Whether it’s from a spring, rainwater catchment, or a well, water is life, and you can’t afford to mess this up.

Homestead Skill #9: Basic First Aid
Out here, the nearest hospital might be miles away, so you better know how to patch wounds, treat infections, and stabilize injuries. This ain’t just a nice skill; it’s a damn necessity.

Homestead Skill #10: Blacksmithing or Basic Metalwork
Fixing tools and making your own hooks, nails, or hinges saves money and time. If you can’t bend metal or at least maintain your tools, you’re going to be out of luck when something breaks.

Homestead Skill #11: Soap Making
You think soap just magically appears? No. You make your own from lye and fats, or you go dirty. Cleanliness is crucial, but it takes work to keep hygiene up here.

Homestead Skill #12: Beekeeping
If you want honey and pollination for your garden, you gotta work with bees. Beekeeping isn’t for the timid—these little buggers can sting, but they’re worth the trouble.

Homestead Skill #13: Solar or Alternative Energy Maintenance
If you want to reduce your reliance on the grid, you better know how to install and keep your solar panels or wind turbines working. Electricity doesn’t just happen on a homestead.

Homestead Skill #14: Hunting and Trapping
For many of us, hunting deer or small game supplements our food supply. Knowing how to track, hunt, and process game is a skill passed down for survival.

Homestead Skill #15: Composting and Soil Health
If you don’t feed your soil, your plants won’t thrive. Composting kitchen scraps, manure, and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil is the backbone of a productive garden.

Now that I’ve laid down those basics, here’s the part where I get real about how to get ahead on your homestead with a few hacks that’ll save you blood, sweat, and tears.

DIY Homestead Hack #1: Repurposed Pallet Garden Beds
Don’t buy fancy raised beds when pallets are everywhere and free. Strip the pallets down, arrange them into beds, and fill them with your soil mix. They’re cheap, durable, and keep your garden neat while saving your back from bending into the dirt.

DIY Homestead Hack #2: Rainwater Barrel Setup with Screened Tops
Water is gold. Set up rain barrels under your roof runoff with screens on top to keep out mosquitoes and debris. This gives you a steady water source for your garden without hauling buckets back and forth.

DIY Homestead Hack #3: DIY Solar Food Dehydrator
Save your surplus produce by building a solar food dehydrator out of scrap wood, some fine mesh screens, and clear plastic or glass. It uses the sun’s heat to dry fruits and vegetables for long-term storage without electricity.

Let me tell you something else: this lifestyle isn’t about comfort or convenience. It’s about grit and grinding through winters where the snowdrifts tower over your head and summer droughts that parch your crops to dust. It’s about waking up before dawn and working until the stars come out, day in, day out, because if you don’t, you don’t eat.

The media will romanticize homesteading — all fresh eggs and homemade bread — but they leave out the freezing nights, the busted water pumps, the chiggers in your boots, and the damn raccoons that tear apart your chicken coop at two in the morning. That’s life here. If you’re not ready to fight for it, stay in your city apartment and keep paying for your lettuce from the store.

But if you are ready? Then welcome. Learn these skills. Fix your fences. Plant your seeds. Raise your animals. Harvest your wood. Preserve your food. Because New Hampshire’s wilderness will test you every step of the way, but it will also give you a life worth living—raw, honest, and free.

And one last thing — don’t come whining about the bugs, the cold, or the hard work. This land belongs to those who respect it and earn their keep. Get out there and prove you’re one of them.

Is New Hampshire’s Drinking Water Safe

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn New Hampshire, New Hampshire Survival Prepper, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Let me lay it down for you, raw and unfiltered—because unlike the water coming out of some taps in New Hampshire, this is clean truth. If you’re still operating under the soft, delusional fantasy that your state or local water utility has your best interest at heart, wake up. This isn’t Mayberry. This is 2025. And while the powers-that-be smile and issue glossy PDFs about “acceptable levels” of PFAS and “minimal risk” of lead contamination, real survivalists know the only person responsible for keeping your water safe—is you.

Let’s talk New Hampshire. Granite State. Rugged, resilient, “Live Free or Die” territory, right? Well, tell that to the folks in Merrimack, Litchfield, and other parts of southern NH, where PFAS—those forever chemicals that don’t break down, mess with your hormones, and spike your cancer risks—have leeched into the water table. Ever heard of Saint-Gobain? That’s the industrial giant whose operations poisoned the groundwater and then shrugged when families started getting sick.

And it’s not just PFAS. You’ve got old infrastructure in small towns all over the state, corroding pipes leaching lead, and ineffective testing that might catch contamination weeks or months too late. Arsenic in well water in northern New Hampshire? Yeah, that’s real. Over 40% of private wells in NH exceed the EPA’s safety limit for arsenic. And don’t count on anyone telling you that unless you’re reading the fine print buried in some obscure environmental health report.

So no, New Hampshire’s drinking water isn’t safe—not by a long shot. If you’re relying on tap water without backup systems, filtration strategies, or emergency know-how, you’re not just unprepared. You’re endangering yourself and your family.

Time to get educated. Here’s your crash course in real water survival. I’m giving you 15 Water Filtration Survival Skills every free-thinking person in New Hampshire (or anywhere) needs to master, and 3 DIY hacks that’ll keep you alive when the system collapses—or just screws you over again.

15 Water Filtration Survival Skills Every Granite Stater Must Know

1. Identify local water sources.
If you can’t name five drinkable natural water sources within a 10-mile radius of your home, you’re already losing.

2. Learn to use a portable water filter.
LifeStraw, Sawyer Mini, Katadyn—get one, test it, and carry it with you. Knowing how it actually works in field conditions matters.

3. Build a DIY slow sand filter.
Layer gravel, sand, and charcoal in a barrel. It’s slow but removes bacteria and particles when done right.

4. Boil like your life depends on it—because it does.
Rolling boil for a full minute (three at altitude). Don’t cut corners. Giardia and cryptosporidium don’t forgive ignorance.

5. Purify with bleach.
Use unscented household bleach—eight drops per gallon, stir and wait 30 minutes. Too little, it’s useless. Too much, you poison yourself.

6. Know your charcoal.
Activated charcoal absorbs organic contaminants, pesticides, and some chemicals. Learn how to make your own from hardwood, bake it, crush it.

7. Use UV light to kill pathogens.
Solar disinfection (SODIS) with clear PET bottles and six hours of direct sunlight? Not perfect, but better than raw lake water.

8. Master iodine purification.
Two percent tincture, five drops per quart. Wait at least 30 minutes. Works in emergencies—especially on viral contaminants.

9. Build a solar still.
Dig a hole, add wet vegetation, a container, and cover with plastic sheeting. Evaporation will save your life in dry zones.

10. Distill rainwater.
Catch it, boil it, collect the steam. Keeps most metals and chemicals out—especially arsenic from old well pipes.

11. Know how to read a water test strip.
Don’t guess. Carry strips to test for lead, bacteria, nitrates, and more. Don’t trust clear water—it can still be deadly.

12. Use a ceramic filter.
These slow-flow filters trap bacteria and sediment. Pair with charcoal for chemical filtration. Clean regularly to prevent clogging.

13. DIY biosand filter for long-term setups.
Effective, reusable, and sustainable—if you layer it right and clean it correctly. Can last for years if maintained.

14. Pre-filter with cloth.
Before you boil or chemically treat, filter out sediment with a bandana or old T-shirt. Reduces clogging and improves clarity.

15. Understand the limitations.
No filter is perfect. Know what your filter removes—and what it doesn’t. PFAS? Most commercial filters don’t touch it. Don’t be lazy—do the research.

3 DIY Survival Drinking Water Hacks That Work When All Else Fails

Hack #1: Emergency Charcoal-Filter Bottle
Take a plastic bottle, cut off the bottom, fill with layers—cloth, charcoal (crushed), sand, then gravel. Pour water in top, collect clean water at the bottom. It won’t remove all chemicals, but it’ll get rid of most particulates and microbes.

Hack #2: Pine Tree Water Collector
Wrap a plastic bag around a leafy pine branch in the sun. The tree releases moisture via transpiration. After a few hours, you’ll have drinkable water condensed in the bag. Slow, but pure. Perfect for the NH woods.

Hack #3: Boil Water in a Leaf or Bark Container
No metal pot? No problem. Use thick bark or large green leaves to hold water over a fire’s coals—not flames—and bring it to a boil. It takes finesse, but it’ll purify water without high-tech gear.

So is New Hampshire’s drinking water safe?

You already know the answer. No, it’s not. Not by any standard a sane, cautious, prepared person should accept. And if the day comes when the grid fails, the trucks stop running, or your utility fails to notify you (again) of some mysterious contaminant in your pipes, you’ll be the one standing between sickness and survival. Not your mayor. Not DES. Not the EPA.

Be angry. Be informed. But above all—be ready.

Because clean water isn’t a right in the world we live in today. It’s a skill. And you better treat it like your life depends on it—because it does.

Survival in the Wild: New Hampshire’s Most Dangerous Hiking Trails Could Be Your Last Hike

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn New Hampshire, New Hampshire Survival Prepper, New Hampshire’s Best Hiking TrailsLeave a comment

Survival in the Wild: New Hampshire’s Most Dangerous Hiking Trails Could Be Your Last Hike

Let me tell you something, friend—when you lace up your boots and step onto a trail in the White Mountains, you’re not just going for a walk in the woods. You’re entering a living, breathing wilderness that doesn’t care how many miles you logged last summer, how new your pack is, or how many freeze-dried meals you packed. It’s beautiful, yes. It’s humbling, absolutely. But above all—it’s unforgiving.

I’ve spent decades roaming these trails, training myself in bushcraft, emergency medicine, weather prediction, and the mental grit it takes to come out of a tough situation alive. You don’t survive out here by chance. You survive because you prepared for the worst. And in New Hampshire’s backcountry, the “worst” can come at you fast—storms, injuries, wild animals, exhaustion, hypothermia. Hell, even the trail itself can turn on you.

Today, I’m giving you two things: a wake-up call and a list. A wake-up call to remind you that nature is not your playground—it’s your proving ground. And a list of the Top 20 Most Dangerous (and awe-inspiring) Hiking Trails in New Hampshire, because knowledge is the first step to survival.

⚠️ A Word to the Wise

Every year, hikers are rescued—some barely alive—from these very trails. Others aren’t so lucky. Don’t be one of them.

Take this seriously. Pack the Ten Essentials. Study topographic maps. Check your ego at the trailhead. Monitor the weather like your life depends on it—because out here, it does.

🔥 Top 20 Dangerous Hiking Trails in New Hampshire (for the Brave and Prepared)

Hiking Trails: New Hampshire Hiking

These trails aren’t for casual hikers with a granola bar and a cell phone. They’re for seasoned trekkers and survivalists who understand the risks and respect the mountains.

1. Huntington Ravine Trail (Mt. Washington)

Technical climbing. Loose rock. Sheer drop-offs. A misstep can be fatal. Not for the faint of heart—or the ill-equipped.

2. Knife Edge – Mt. Lafayette via Franconia Ridge

Exposed, narrow, and windy. You’re walking a tightrope with incredible views and serious danger on both sides.

3. Great Gulf Trail (Mt. Washington)

It’s the least traveled but most treacherous approach to Washington. Steep, remote, and often washed out. True wilderness.

4. Bonds Traverse

A grueling 20+ mile hike with multiple peaks and few bailout options. Be ready to camp or suffer the consequences.

5. Mt. Adams via King Ravine

Steep boulder fields and remote terrain. This is where gear gets tested—and so does your will to finish.

6. Wildcat Ridge Trail

Unrelenting ups and downs with exposed ledges. In winter? It becomes a death trap for the unprepared.

7. Mahoosuc Notch

Known as the most difficult mile on the Appalachian Trail. It’s not an exaggeration—think rock scrambling with a pack and no room for error.

8. Carter-Moriah Range

Beautiful, sure, but long and brutal with difficult footing. Easy to lose daylight, and the ridge offers little protection.

9. Kinsman Ridge Trail

Slippery when wet, snow-covered in October, and riddled with false summits. It eats energy and morale fast.

10. Presidential Traverse

Over 20 miles of exposed alpine terrain, often above treeline. A sudden storm here is not just inconvenient—it can be deadly.

11. Mt. Isolation via Rocky Branch Trail

Isolation is right—this one’s remote, wet, and muddy. Creek crossings can turn treacherous with rainfall.

12. Mount Chocorua via Liberty Trail

Iconic peak, brutal exposure. Fast weather shifts can turn your summit shot into a survival situation.

13. Osceola via Tripoli Road

A winter challenge that’s often underestimated. Snowshoes, microspikes, and navigation skills mandatory.

14. Mt. Jefferson via Caps Ridge Trail

Scrambling required, often with exposure. Rain and wind make this a no-go for anyone with common sense.

15. Mount Madison via Watson Path

Poorly marked, wicked steep, and dangerous when wet or icy. The summit can trick you into thinking you’re close—don’t fall for it.

16. Cannon Mountain via Hi-Cannon Trail

Steep ladders, narrow ledges, and loose rock. Technical and risky, especially with a heavy pack.

17. Mt. Moosilauke via Beaver Brook Trail

Waterfalls make for slick rocks and steep climbing. One slip, and you’re in for more than just a bruised ego.

18. South Twin via Galehead

A backbreaker with long stretches between water sources. Remote and energy-sapping.

19. Mount Passaconaway via Dicey’s Mill

Quiet but deceptive. The steepest parts hit when you’re tired. And winter turns it into a vertical ice luge.

20. Mt. Carrigain via Signal Ridge

One of the most beautiful summits, but the ridge gets blasted by wind and fog. Easy to lose bearings near the top.

🎒 Survivalist’s Packing List for New Hampshire’s Backcountry

You want to hit these trails? Then pack like your life depends on it. Because it does.

  • Map & Compass (and know how to use them)
  • Satellite communicator or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)
  • Layered clothing for sudden weather shifts (no cotton—ever)
  • Firestarter & waterproof matches
  • Knife and multitool
  • Emergency bivvy or shelter
  • Headlamp with extra batteries
  • High-calorie food & backup rations
  • Water purification (tablets AND a filter)
  • First-aid kit with trauma supplies
  • Microspikes, crampons, or snowshoes (season-dependent)
  • Rope or paracord
  • Whistle and signaling mirror

🧭 Final Thoughts from a Lifelong Prepper

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Man, that sounds extreme,” then maybe these trails aren’t for you—yet. And that’s okay. Work your way up. Learn the land. Respect the terrain. Because hiking in New Hampshire isn’t just about the miles—it’s about the mindset.

The wilderness out here wants to test you. It doesn’t care about your intentions. It only respects preparation, grit, and humility. Don’t confuse your enthusiasm for ability. Be smart. Be ready. And if you do decide to take on one of these trails—make sure someone knows where you’re going. Always.

Because the mountain doesn’t give second chances.

Now go prep, train, and hike hard. But hike smart. The Granite State doesn’t forgive mistakes.