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Vermont’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

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

Vermont’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster — And How to Survive Them Behind the Wheel

By: A Well-Traveled Survivalist

Let me be clear—when disaster strikes, roads become more than routes. They become lifelines, battlegrounds, and bottlenecks. I’ve driven through hurricanes in Florida, wildfire evacuations in California, and flash floods in Texas. But Vermont? Vermont’s got a whole different beast when it comes to bad roads during bad times.

Between its winding mountain passes, frost-heaved asphalt, and dense tree cover, the Green Mountain State turns into a trap when the lights go out or the weather gets mean. Whether it’s a Nor’easter burying Route 100 under three feet of snow or a flash flood taking out bridges in Windham County, if you’re not prepared to drive like your life depends on it—you’re already a victim.

Let me walk you through the worst roads to avoid (or conquer) and then arm you with 15 crucial survival driving skills. And for those who really find themselves neck-deep in trouble, I’ve got three DIY hacks to keep you moving even when the tank runs dry.

Vermont’s Worst Roads During a Disaster

Here’s a short list of Vermont roads that’ll break your spirit (or your axle) in a disaster:

  1. Route 100 (from Killington to Waterbury) – Winding, narrow, and one rockslide away from being impassable. Gorgeous in fall, deathtrap in winter.
  2. Route 9 (Bennington to Brattleboro) – Prone to flooding, steep inclines, and black ice. This one gets shut down regularly in Nor’easters.
  3. Interstate 89 (Montpelier to Burlington) – The main artery in and out of Central Vermont. In a mass exodus, this becomes a clogged mess.
  4. Route 107 (Stockbridge area) – Mountain passes and not enough guardrails. One good rainstorm and you’re on mud.
  5. Route 17 (App Gap) – Twists like a snake and climbs fast. A driver’s nightmare in snow or fog.
  6. Kelly Stand Road (Searsburg) – Dirt and isolation. You’ll lose cell service and possibly your undercarriage.
  7. Route 108 (Smugglers’ Notch) – Seasonally closed, but people still try to push through. Don’t be one of them.
  8. Lincoln Gap Road – Just avoid it. It’s basically a hiking trail someone paved.
  9. Route 15 (Hardwick to Morristown) – Flooding danger, especially during late spring thaw.
  10. Danby Mountain Road – Off-grid and often washed out. The sort of place AAA won’t find you.

15 Survival Driving Skills for Disaster Conditions

You can have the best 4×4 on the market, but without the skills to match, you’re still a target. Here’s what every survivalist driver needs to master:

  1. Off-Road Navigation – Learn to read terrain and use topographic maps. GPS is unreliable in power outages or remote terrain.
  2. Throttle Feathering – Control your gas pedal in slippery conditions. Over-acceleration leads to spinning out or getting stuck.
  3. Tire Patching and Plugging – Know how to plug a tire on the fly. Keep a kit in your glove box, and practice before it matters.
  4. Field Tire Inflation – A hand pump or portable compressor can save your ride. Drop PSI on snow; boost it back for gravel.
  5. Braking in Skid Conditions – Don’t slam the brakes. Learn threshold braking and cadence braking for older vehicles without ABS.
  6. River and Flood Crossing Judgment – Never guess depth. A 12-inch current can float most vehicles. Know when to turn back.
  7. Spotting Hazards Ahead – Train your eyes to read the road 15 seconds ahead. It buys you time to react or reroute.
  8. Driving in Reverse at Speed – Sounds crazy? Try navigating a narrow escape route in reverse without stalling or crashing.
  9. Using Mirrors Like a Pro – Your mirrors are your sixth sense. Check every 10 seconds. Blind spots kill in disasters.
  10. Utilizing Low Gears – Downshift for better control in snow, mud, or downhill slopes. Don’t burn your brakes.
  11. Driving in Convoy Formation – Stick to 3-second gaps, signal intentions, and never bunch up. Panic leads to pileups.
  12. Navigating Without Lights – Cover tail lights with tape if you’re bugging out at night. Stay under the radar.
  13. Knowing When to Ditch – If your car’s stuck and burning gas, abandon it and hike. Your life is worth more than your ride.
  14. Distraction-Free Driving – Silence the phone. Every second counts. Your focus is your strongest survival tool.
  15. Fuel Conservation Techniques – Coast when you can. Idle as little as possible. Draft behind large vehicles (safely) to reduce drag.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You’re Out of Gas

When the needle’s on E and there’s no gas station for 50 miles, ingenuity keeps you moving. Here are three tricks I’ve used or witnessed in the field:

  1. Siphon and Filter
    If you’re in a pinch and spot an abandoned vehicle, you can siphon gas with a tube and gravity. Just make sure to filter it through a shirt, coffee filter, or even moss to catch debris before pouring it into your tank.
  2. Alcohol-Based Emergency Burn
    In a gasoline shortfall, denatured alcohol or isopropyl (91% or higher) can be used sparingly in older engines. This is for carbureted engines only—fuel-injected systems may not tolerate it well. It’s risky, but it can get you a few extra miles.
  3. Pressurized Bottle Fuel Pump
    Repurpose a soda bottle with a tire valve stem and a bit of hose. Pressurize the bottle with a bike pump and gravity-feed fuel into your engine. This works best with lawn equipment fuel tanks but can keep an old ATV alive in a pinch.

Final Thoughts From the Road

Survival is about preparation, skill, and knowing when to go and when to stay put. Vermont’s roads don’t forgive ignorance or indecision. In a disaster, they get slick, jammed, or vanish altogether. I’ve seen Subarus stranded and lifted trucks washed out. It’s not about what you drive—it’s how you drive it.

Know your routes. Scout secondary options. Keep maps printed and waterproofed. Fuel up before a storm, not after. And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t trust your GPS when the sky’s falling—it doesn’t know that the bridge on Route 9 washed out last night.

Disasters favor the prepared and punish the reckless. Be the first, not the second.

Pennsylvania’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Survival Preppers, Pennsylvania's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

I’ve seen roads that chew tires like stale jerky, highways that turn into parking lots during hurricanes, and backroads where GPS gets you killed. But nowhere quite matches the unpredictable cocktail of terrain, weather, and infrastructure decay you’ll find on Pennsylvania’s worst roads during a disaster.

I’ve been up and down this state more times than I can count—bugging out from Philly riots, cutting across the Alleghenies during winter blackouts, even towing a broke-down Ford out of a Susquehanna flood zone. So when I say Pennsylvania’s roads can kill you if you’re not prepared, I mean it literally.

Let’s break down the worst offenders, give you some hard-earned survival driving skills, and toss in a few gas hacks you’ll thank me for when the pumps run dry.

The Worst Roads in PA During a Disaster

1. I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway – Philly)

Locals call it the “Surekill” for a reason. During any major disaster—be it a snowstorm, protest, or chemical spill—you’re crawling at 5 mph. Collisions are common, and escape routes are limited. The shoulder? Nonexistent in some areas.

2. I-78 Through Berks and Lehigh Counties

When the snow hits, this becomes a graveyard of jackknifed semis. With poor visibility and heavy freight traffic, you better know how to maneuver or you’ll end up part of the wreckage.

3. Route 222 (Lancaster to Reading)

Rural traffic meets sudden urban congestion. This road gets slick fast and is prone to flash flooding in low-lying farmland areas. When farmers bug out, they bring big machines—and they’ll clog up these narrow lanes.

4. PA Turnpike (Especially the Tunnel Sections)

Tunnels like Allegheny and Tuscarora can become traps during earthquakes, fire, or even just a multi-car pile-up. And let’s not forget the cash-only exits—ever try bartering jerky for a toll? Doesn’t work.

5. Route 22 (Central PA near Altoona)

This road is a mess in winter. Ice, fog, and steep curves make for lethal conditions. If you’re not ready for low visibility and tight maneuvering, stay off.

6. I-95 in Delaware County

Gridlock heaven, even on a good day. One overturned truck and you’re stuck with nowhere to go. Add panic evac traffic? Forget it.

7. Route 33 near Wind Gap

When winds scream down the mountains, semis start dancing. I’ve seen campers rolled like dice on this stretch.

8. I-81 Through Scranton

Trucker central and full of steep grades. One fuel shortage and the whole artery clogs with stalled rigs and desperate drivers.

9. Route 30 Through the Appalachian Foothills

Beautiful, sure—but it’ll get you killed if you’re not paying attention. Fallen trees, rockslides, and zero cell signal in spots.

10. Kelly Drive – Philadelphia

Scenic and suicidal during flooding. This road turns into a river every other big storm. Locals sometimes risk it, and they often regret it.

15 Survival Driving Skills to Master Now

  1. Throttle Control on Ice
    Ease into the gas. Hammering it just spins tires. Survival driving is about finesse, not force.
  2. Threshold Braking
    Master this on wet asphalt. It’s that fine line between locked wheels and total stop. Crucial during fast-developing pile-ups.
  3. Handbrake Turning
    Sometimes a 3-point turn gets you killed. A handbrake pivot can swing you 180 in seconds on gravel or ice.
  4. Engine Braking on Descents
    In mountainous terrain like the Laurel Highlands, use low gear. Don’t ride the brakes—you’ll cook ’em before you reach the valley.
  5. Spotting Escape Routes
    Constantly scan for drainage ditches, medians, and off-road paths. Sometimes you go through a field, not around it.
  6. Driving in Convoys
    Keep radio contact. Maintain enough space to swerve if the lead car gets ambushed—or crashes.
  7. Navigating Without GPS
    Old-school maps never run out of batteries. Know the stars, know the sun, and read the land.
  8. Reverse Maneuvers Under Stress
    Practice backing up full speed, around bends. You’ll need it in alleys or tunnel retreats.
  9. Driving With a Trailer
    Evac with a bug-out trailer? Learn how to reverse it properly—especially in tight spots.
  10. Night Driving Without Lights
    Use night vision if you got it. Otherwise, drive under starlight to avoid detection.
  11. Spotting Road Hazards
    Sinkholes, black ice, and fallen power lines are all over PA. Keep your eyes moving, and trust your gut.
  12. Wading Across Flooded Roads
    Know your vehicle’s fording depth. When in doubt, don’t. Most cars get swept in less than 2 feet of water.
  13. Changing a Tire Fast, in the Dark
    Practice this blindfolded. One flare or flashlight gives away your position. Silence and speed are life-saving.
  14. Driving with Broken Windows or No Windshield
    A shattered front glass can blind you. Keep goggles in your kit and know how to clear glass safely.
  15. Reading Tire Tracks
    You can tell what passed before you—how recently, how heavy, and how fast. Useful for tracking—or avoiding—others.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

  1. Siphon the Smart Way
    Carry a hand-pump siphon. Look for stranded vehicles (RV parks are goldmines). Newer cars have anti-siphon valves, so know where to puncture the fuel line if needed—just don’t light a smoke while doing it.
  2. DIY Alcohol Fuel
    You can burn high-proof alcohol (like Everclear) in small quantities in older engines or multi-fuel vehicles. Filter it through a rag and pour small amounts mixed with regular gas. Not ideal—but it’ll get you moving.
  3. Gravity Feed System
    If your fuel pump dies, mount a gas can on your roof or roof rack and gravity-feed it to your carburetor (won’t work with fuel injection unless modified). Emergency-level stuff, but it’s saved my bacon once in West Virginia.

Final Word from the Road

Pennsylvania isn’t the easiest state to drive through on a sunny day—let alone when the sky’s falling, the roads are crumbling, and people are panicking. But survival isn’t about convenience. It’s about being ready when others freeze, flee, or fail.

Your vehicle is your lifeline—but only if you treat it like your rifle or your firestarter: with knowledge, respect, and readiness. Know the terrain, master the skills, and for the love of all things diesel, keep your tank half-full at all times.

Whether you’re dodging a storm, a riot, or just plain bad luck, remember: roads don’t kill people. Unprepared drivers do.

Oregon’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Oregon, Oregon Emergency Preparedness, Oregon's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Let me tell you something—Oregon is a beautiful place, but when the world starts to fall apart, beauty becomes a liability. Towering Douglas firs turn into roadblocks, winding coastal highways become landslide alleyways, and mountain passes? Death traps wrapped in ice and fog. I’ve driven through everything from flash floods in Mississippi to sandstorms in the Mojave, and if there’s one state where road conditions can shift faster than a rattlesnake’s mood—it’s Oregon.

When disaster strikes—whether it’s the Cascadia Subduction Zone finally letting loose, a wildfire tearing through the forest, or even just a good old-fashioned storm—you better know the lay of the land and how to drive your way out of it. That means knowing which roads to avoid, what skills to have under your belt, and what tricks you can pull when gas stations are out, GPS is dead, and the only thing keeping you alive is your vehicle and your grit.

Oregon’s Most Dangerous Roads During a Disaster

Let’s start with the roads. I’ve driven ‘em. I’ve cursed ‘em. And I sure as hell don’t want to be caught on them when the SHTF.

  1. U.S. Route 101 – Oregon Coast Highway
    Beautiful? Sure. But come a tsunami warning or a landslide, and you’re boxed in between cliffs and ocean. Frequent landslides, narrow lanes, and no quick inland access make this road a death trap.
  2. Highway 242 – McKenzie Highway
    It winds through lava fields like some kind of Tolkien nightmare. It’s closed in winter and often blocked by downed trees during storms. One wrong turn and you’re driving into Mordor.
  3. Highway 58 – Willamette Pass
    Ice, fog, and remote as hell. The Willamette Pass is a long, lonely drive that becomes impassable during snowstorms or if a wildfire jumps the road.
  4. I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge
    Winds strong enough to tip a semi. Rockslides? Regular. If you’re lucky, you’ll just get stalled behind a wreck. If you’re not, you’re under a pile of basalt.
  5. Forest Service Roads in the Mount Hood National Forest
    Beautiful and off-grid—but that’s a double-edged sword. No cell service, no rescue, and all it takes is a fallen tree or flood to strand you for days.
  6. Lolo Pass Road
    Tight turns, steep grades, and limited visibility. During winter, it’s a skating rink. During fire season, it’s your one-way ticket to toastville.
  7. US-26 through Warm Springs Reservation
    Long stretches without services. Fires here move fast. And when evacuations start, this road gets choked up quickly with traffic and poor visibility from smoke.
  8. Highway 138 through Umpqua National Forest
    Narrow, winding, and isolated. Perfect for getting lost or trapped by a fire moving faster than your vehicle can escape.
  9. Crater Lake Rim Drive
    Don’t even think about it in winter. Volcanic terrain, snowfall measured in feet, and sheer drop-offs. This is the kind of place helicopters rescue you from—if they can find you.
  10. OR-66 – Ashland to Klamath Falls
    It’s called the Green Springs Highway, but in a wildfire it’s just a green hell. Sharp curves, little shoulder space, and too many blind corners.

15 Survival Driving Skills You Better Master

You can have the best bug-out vehicle in the world, but if you can’t drive like your life depends on it—well, it won’t matter. These are survival skills I’ve used in hurricanes, riots, and wildfire zones, and if you want a chance of making it out alive, learn them.

  1. Situational Awareness Driving – Don’t just drive—scan. Watch every mirror, road shoulder, and overpass. Know what’s around and what’s behind.
  2. Evasive Maneuvering – Learn how to swerve safely at high speed. Practice J-turns and quick braking in controlled environments.
  3. Driving Without GPS – Learn to read paper maps, landmarks, and follow the sun if needed.
  4. High-Clearance Navigation – Know how to handle boulders, logs, and debris. Don’t get your oil pan torn open miles from help.
  5. Throttle and Brake Control on Slippery Surfaces – Whether it’s ice or mud, smoothness is survival. Slam on the brakes and you’re spinning.
  6. Water Crossing Techniques – Don’t charge through water unless you’ve judged its depth and current. Use a stick or walk it first if needed.
  7. Off-Road Trail Recovery – Know how to winch, tow, and use traction boards. When stuck, you need to be your own tow truck.
  8. Driving with Blown Tires or Limited Visibility – Practice limping on a flat. Tape the side mirror if it’s busted. Improvise and move.
  9. Engine Overheat Management – Know how to manage a temp gauge climbing fast. Turn on the heater, ease the throttle, and coast downhill.
  10. Fuel Management and Efficiency Driving – Coasting, idling wisely, and using gravity when you can will stretch every drop.
  11. Driving in a Smoke or Dust Cloud – Windows up, lights on low beam, stay to the right, and sound your horn regularly.
  12. Silent Night Driving – At times, noise discipline matters. Learn how to coast and minimize your engine sound during covert escapes.
  13. Manual Transmission Know-How – If you can’t drive stick, you’re cutting your options in half. Many old rigs and military surplus vehicles are manual.
  14. Changing a Tire Under Pressure – Practice doing it in the dark, in the rain, fast. Because that’s how it’ll happen.
  15. Using a Car as a Shield or Tool – In riots or ambushes, your vehicle is cover and battering ram. Know its limits and use it accordingly.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

Gas stations? In a disaster, they’re either bone dry or burned to the ground. Here are three field-tested tricks to stretch what you’ve got or go without.

  1. Siphon Like a Pro
    Get a clear plastic tube (6-8 feet). Gravity is your friend. Find abandoned vehicles, lawnmowers, even boats—many have usable fuel. Always filter through a coffee filter or sock to catch debris. Gas can degrade, but in a pinch, even old stuff can be better than nothing.
  2. Alcohol-Based Emergency Fuel
    Camp stove alcohol, isopropyl alcohol (90%+), and even Everclear can burn in small engines or mixed carefully with gasoline. Don’t try this in modern fuel-injected vehicles without research. But old carbureted engines? You’d be surprised.
  3. Fuel-Saving Mod: Remove Roof Rack and Excess Gear
    That roof rack might look cool with your gear, but it’s tanking your fuel economy by up to 15%. Ditch it and stash gear inside if possible. Also, reduce weight. Every 100 pounds means fewer miles per gallon. Tighten tire pressure to the high end of safe range to reduce rolling resistance.

Closing Thoughts from the Road

Disaster doesn’t wait. When the earth shakes or flames come down the mountain, you’ve got one chance to get it right. That means knowing your routes, keeping your ride in top shape, and having the skills to keep moving no matter what’s in your way.

The roads I’ve mentioned aren’t just dangerous because of terrain—they’re dangerous because they isolate you. Because they can trap you in a box canyon of fire, water, or rock. Avoid them if you can. And if you have to use them? Go prepared, drive smart, and trust your instincts.

The rule of thumb? When in doubt, get out. Early. Delay by an hour, and you might be stuck for a week—or worse, not make it out at all. Practice your escape. Pack your rig. And when that siren wails or that first tremor hits, remember: survival favors the prepared.

Montana’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Montana, Montana Survival Preppers, Montana's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Montana’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster: Lessons from a Well-Traveled Survivalist

I’ve driven through nearly every rugged corner of the continental United States, from Arizona’s sunbaked deserts to Alaska’s icebound highways. But when it comes to raw, untamed terrain—and unpredictable weather—Montana takes a special kind of grit. Under normal conditions, Big Sky Country already challenges most drivers. Add a disaster scenario, and you’ve got yourself a real test of survival skills.

Whether it’s a wildfire racing down a valley, a blizzard burying entire routes, or infrastructure collapse from earthquakes or floods, your vehicle becomes your lifeline. Knowing how—and where—to drive during a crisis in Montana is the kind of knowledge that can mean the difference between escape and entrapment.

Let me take you through Montana’s worst roads during a disaster, then arm you with 15 critical survival driving skills and 3 DIY hacks for when you’ve run out of gas, but not out of options.

The Worst Montana Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

  1. Beartooth Highway (US-212)
    Beautiful? Yes. Deadly in a disaster? Absolutely. This high-altitude road climbs over 10,000 feet, with steep switchbacks and few guardrails. In a snowstorm or wildfire, it’s a death trap. Rockslides and zero visibility make it one of the first roads to avoid.
  2. Going-to-the-Sun Road (Glacier National Park)
    Spectacular views, but it hugs cliff edges like a drunken mountain goat. It’s often closed by landslides or snow, and it’s far too narrow for panicked evacuations. In any kind of emergency, steer clear.
  3. Montana Highway 200
    This is the state’s longest road, stretching over 700 miles through isolated terrain. Flooding, forest fires, or infrastructure failure out here could strand you hours from help. Not a place to get caught without a backup plan.
  4. I-90 Through Homestake Pass
    One of the busiest and most mountainous sections of I-90, this pass near Butte is treacherous in winter. Pileups, black ice, and poor visibility are common. During a mass evacuation, this would quickly bottleneck.
  5. MT-38 (Skalkaho Highway)
    This dirt-and-gravel back road over the Sapphire Mountains is gorgeous in summer but closed in winter. In an emergency, it can easily become impassable from downed trees or mudslides.
  6. US-93 Through the Bitterroot Valley
    Often the only north-south option in western Montana. In a regional disaster, this could become a traffic-clogged artery with few alternative routes.
  7. US-191 in the Gallatin Canyon
    Between Bozeman and West Yellowstone, this road runs alongside a river and between cliffs. Avalanches, falling rocks, and flooding are all hazards, especially in spring.
  8. Montana Highway 35 Around Flathead Lake
    This narrow, curvy route hugs the eastern edge of Flathead Lake. Accidents and landslides are common, and there are few escape routes.
  9. US-287 Between Three Forks and Helena
    Wind-swept plains and long, empty stretches. In a fuel shortage or snowstorm, you’re very exposed here.
  10. Pintler Scenic Route (MT-1)
    This detour from I-90 between Anaconda and Drummond winds through thick forests—prime wildfire country. It’s beautiful but risky in fire season with limited cell coverage and few exits.

15 Survival Driving Skills That Could Save Your Life in Montana

  1. Off-Road Navigation
    Know how to read a topographic map and drive without GPS. Trust me, satellites fail in disasters.
  2. Manual Transmission Mastery
    Stick-shift vehicles offer more control on slick, steep, or icy terrain.
  3. Engine Braking
    On Montana’s mountain roads, knowing how to downshift to slow down saves brakes and control.
  4. Water Crossing Techniques
    Learn how to assess depth and current before attempting to drive through floodwaters. Most vehicles float—and stall—after just 6 inches of water.
  5. Tire Patching on the Fly
    Sharp shale, debris, or fire-damaged roads can chew tires. Know how to plug a leak quickly.
  6. Understanding Your Drive System
    Know if you’ve got AWD, 4WD, or 2WD. Use it properly—or risk getting stuck.
  7. Fuel Efficiency Driving
    In a crisis, every drop counts. Ease off the gas, coast downhill, and avoid idling.
  8. Driving Without Headlights
    In certain disaster zones, stealth is key. Practice low-visibility or night-vision-compatible driving.
  9. Quick Egress Techniques
    Practice getting your vehicle turned around fast—without a 3-point turn.
  10. Emergency Repairs
    Jury-rigging a fan belt with paracord, fixing a coolant leak with epoxy—small tricks, big payoff.
  11. High-Centered Recovery
    Know how to get unstuck when you bottom out in deep ruts or snow.
  12. Defensive Maneuvering
    Avoid panicked drivers, animals, or debris. Quick reflexes and awareness save lives.
  13. Winch and Tow Strap Use
    Even a compact SUV can haul itself free with the right gear and technique.
  14. Driving in Whiteout Conditions
    Slow, steady, and watch for snowbanks. Follow reflective markers or natural road edges.
  15. Reading the Road Ahead
    From flash flood signs to frost heaves, learn to scan for danger like a hawk.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You’re Out of Gas

1. The Alcohol Trick
If you’ve stored isopropyl alcohol (91% or higher) or even certain spirits like Everclear in your survival kit, a small amount can be mixed with gas or used in portable alcohol-burning stoves for cooking—and very carefully, even to heat an engine block in winter. Don’t run your engine on it, but it can help warm components or clear fuel lines frozen in deep winter.

2. Gravity Siphon from Abandoned Vehicles
Carry a siphon pump and hose in your kit. In a grid-down disaster, siphoning fuel from other vehicles might be your only option. Choose trucks, RVs, or old farm vehicles—they’re less likely to be tamper-proof.

3. DIY Solar Still for Emergency Fuel
If you have small amounts of contaminated gas, a makeshift solar still using clear plastic sheeting, a container, and sunlight can help you distill usable vapors back into liquid. It’s slow, but when you’re desperate, it’s better than hoofing it 50 miles.

Final Word From the Road

Montana doesn’t mess around. Its breathtaking beauty hides real danger, and the state’s remoteness can turn minor problems into life-threatening crises fast. You can’t count on cell towers, gas stations, or AAA. What you can count on is your preparedness, your skills, and your attitude.

The old-timers and ranchers out here know the truth: if you don’t bring it, you won’t have it. If you don’t learn it, you can’t use it. Every time I set out into Montana’s backcountry—whether it’s for a weekend or to test a new bug-out route—I remind myself: Plan like everything will go wrong. Drive like your life depends on it. Because one day, it just might.

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

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn New Mexico, New Mexico Survival Prepper, New Mexico's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

New Mexico’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster – A Survivalist’s Guide

I’ve driven through hell and back—flood zones, wildfire-razed highways, sand-covered backroads, and snow-packed mountain passes that eat city sedans for breakfast. But no state has tested my survival driving like New Mexico. When disaster strikes—be it wildfire, blizzard, flash flood, or civil unrest—the Land of Enchantment can quickly turn into the Land of Entrapment if you don’t know how to drive your way out.

I’ve scouted, survived, and charted the most dangerous routes in New Mexico under pressure. If you find yourself behind the wheel during a crisis, these roads can become deathtraps—unless you’ve got the skill, grit, and the know-how to adapt on the fly.

Let’s break it down.

The 5 Worst Roads in New Mexico to Drive on During a Disaster

  1. U.S. Route 550 (Between Bernalillo and Bloomfield)
    Nicknamed “The Death Highway,” this stretch turns deadly during rain. Flash floods from surrounding mesas can submerge sections within minutes. Its isolated layout and sparse cell coverage make it a nightmare for evac routes.
  2. NM-152 (Emory Pass through the Black Range)
    During a wildfire or snowstorm, this winding mountain road becomes a gauntlet. With sheer drop-offs and narrow switchbacks, a single wrong move means a plunge into oblivion.
  3. I-40 Eastbound near Moriarty during Winter Storms
    Black ice is the hidden enemy here. In whiteout conditions, this wide interstate turns into a twisted wreckage pile-up waiting to happen.
  4. NM-128 (Jal to Carlsbad)
    Oil truck traffic dominates this narrow, two-lane highway. Add a chemical spill or sandstorm, and you’ve got one of the most claustrophobic and hostile drives in the state.
  5. NM-4 through Jemez Mountains
    Gorgeous during fall—lethal during forest fires. One road in, one road out. Get caught here with fire behind you, and you’re boxed in.

15 Survival Driving Skills for Disaster Scenarios

You can’t rely on GPS, cell towers, or good luck out here. What you need is practiced skill. Here are 15 survival driving techniques I’ve used more than once to keep rubber on road and soul intact:

  1. Throttle Control on Loose Terrain – Sand, snow, and mud all demand delicate gas pedal handling. Slam it, and you spin. Ease in, and you crawl your way to freedom.
  2. Handbrake Steering – Learn to use your e-brake to make sharp, controlled turns in tight quarters—like mountain passes or urban chaos.
  3. Situational Awareness Scanning – Always look beyond the car ahead. Watch terrain, smoke columns, animal behavior. Everything tells a story.
  4. Brake Feathering Downhill – Avoid overheating brakes on steep slopes. Pulse them instead of constant pressure.
  5. Reverse Navigation – Practice driving backwards in a straight line and around curves. Might save your life in a blocked canyon road.
  6. Underbody Clearance Assessment – Learn to eyeball what your car can straddle versus what’ll rip your oil pan off.
  7. Off-Road Tire Pressure Adjustment – Lower PSI to 18–22 for sand or snow traction. Bring a portable compressor to re-inflate later.
  8. Driving Without Headlights – Use parking lights or fogs if stealth is needed. Don’t silhouette yourself at night.
  9. River Crossing Techniques – Walk it first if you can’t see the bottom. Enter downstream at an angle and don’t stop moving.
  10. Using a Tow Strap Alone – Learn how to anchor and ratchet yourself out with trees, rocks, or even fence posts.
  11. Quick U-Turn Maneuvering – Know your car’s minimum turn radius in crisis—especially useful when you’re boxed in.
  12. Driving with Broken Windshield Visibility – Keep a squeegee and water bottle with vinegar. In sandstorms, it’s a godsend.
  13. Dealing with Road Rage or Looters – Never engage. Keep calm, move methodically. Use evasive turns into alleys, service roads, or dry washes.
  14. Mapping Your Exit Without Tech – Keep a paper topo map in your rig. Fold it. Annotate it. Love it. GPS dies, paper doesn’t.
  15. One-Handed Drive + Weapon Readiness – If you’re in a truly bad spot, practice steering with one hand while the other is…let’s just say, busy managing security.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

So you’re in the middle of NM-128, out of gas, and the next station is 70 miles behind you—burnt down in the last wildfire. Here’s how to get creative:

1. Alcohol-based Emergency Fuel Substitute

If you’ve got access to high-proof spirits (think 151+ proof or denatured alcohol), you can use small amounts mixed with gas in carbureted engines (not modern fuel-injected). It’s dirty, short-term, and hard on the engine—but it’ll buy you a few desperate miles.

2. Siphon with a Paracord Tube

Most vehicles are siphon-proof now—but not all. Use paracord tubing (inner strands removed) to siphon fuel from abandoned ATVs, generators, or lawn equipment. Practice the siphon technique beforehand, because if you mess it up in the field, you’ll drink gas.

3. Solar Heat Vapor Trick (Emergency Only)

In blazing sun, fuel vapors build up in tanks. Create a pressure system using black tubing and a heat chamber (a black bag filled with water). Use it to push vapors into a sealed container and then directly into a small engine. This is very experimental and dangerous. Use at your own risk and only when every other option’s gone.

Final Thoughts from the Road

New Mexico’s beauty is raw, powerful, and absolutely unforgiving. I’ve seen RVs melt into the desert floor, pickups swept away in bone-dry riverbeds that turned to whitewater in ten minutes, and motorists freeze to death just outside Taos when their apps said “mostly cloudy.”

When disaster hits, the roads don’t care about your comfort—they care about your competence. The terrain will test your instincts, and the silence will test your mental game. But with skill, calm nerves, and a vehicle prepped for the fight, you can turn the tide.

Don’t be the person who trusted traffic apps during a solar flare, or the one who believed a rental sedan could “handle it just fine.” Be the one who drives out when others stall. Be the one who lives.

Now, pack extra fuel, top off your water, and learn your roads—not when you need them, but before.

Idaho’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Idaho, Idaho Natural Disasters, Idaho preppers, Idaho's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Idaho’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster – And How to Survive Them

By: A Well-Traveled Survivalist

I’ve spent the better part of three decades navigating the world’s toughest terrains, from the Andes to the Australian Outback. But I’ll tell you what—Idaho can be just as brutal when things go south. Between its mountainous topography, narrow two-lanes that snake through canyons, and high desert dust bowls, the Gem State becomes downright hostile in a disaster. If you’re unprepared, these roads won’t just delay you—they’ll swallow you whole.

In a natural disaster—whether it’s a wildfire roaring through the Sawtooths, a sudden snowstorm dumping three feet overnight, or a 6.5-magnitude earthquake cracking the highways—the road becomes your greatest adversary. Knowing which roads to avoid and how to survive the drive out can make all the difference.

The Five Worst Roads in Idaho During a Disaster

1. Highway 75 (Sawtooth Scenic Byway)
This picturesque road turns deadly fast. Rockslides, falling trees, and limited escape routes through Stanley and over Galena Summit make this a nightmare in a wildfire or earthquake.

2. U.S. Route 95 through the Salmon River Canyon
This stretch north of Riggins hugs cliffs, with only a guardrail between you and a sheer drop to the river below. In winter or during a landslide, it’s impassable.

3. Idaho State Highway 21 (Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway)
Beautiful? Yes. Reliable? Never. Known for avalanches and being cut off by snowstorms. In a disaster, this road becomes a one-way ticket to isolation.

4. Lolo Pass (U.S. 12)
Twisting through the Bitterroots, this route can be snowed in or blocked by fallen trees for days. Poor cell reception and little traffic means if you’re stranded, you’re on your own.

5. Interstate 84 near the Snake River Canyon
You’d think an interstate would be safe, but I-84 floods, suffers from black ice, and backs up quickly near Twin Falls. Gridlock here during a mass evacuation is guaranteed.

15 Survival Driving Skills That Can Save Your Life

Now, if you’re caught out on one of these hellish stretches when disaster strikes, you need more than just a full tank and good intentions. You need driving skills that’ll get you out alive.

1. Situational Awareness
Scan constantly—rearview, sides, road conditions, skies. Don’t focus on what’s directly in front of you alone.

2. Low-Visibility Driving
Dust storm? Blizzard? Learn to follow road edge lines, use fog lights (not high beams), and drive by feel—not speed.

3. Reverse Navigation
Sometimes, going backward is safer. Learn to backtrack efficiently through narrow paths or trails using your mirrors.

4. Braking Without Skidding
Practice controlled braking on loose gravel, snow, or wet pavement. ABS helps, but know how to pump manually if it fails.

5. Off-Road Handling
Get off the pavement and know how to drive through mud, sand, and rocky terrain without getting stuck or damaging your undercarriage.

6. Steep Incline Control
Climbing a mountain pass in bad weather requires gear control and throttle modulation. Don’t burn out your engine—or your nerves.

7. Controlled Descent
Descending steep grades with cargo or passengers? Use engine braking, low gears, and avoid riding your brakes.

8. Escape Turn Maneuvers
Practice J-turns, three-point turns in tight spaces, and u-turns on steep inclines. Sometimes the road ahead isn’t worth taking.

9. Tire Repair Under Pressure
Know how to plug a tire, swap a flat, or re-inflate using a portable air compressor. Keep a can of Fix-a-Flat for emergencies.

10. Engine Cooling Tricks
In a jam, turn on your heater to siphon heat from your engine. Puddle nearby? Splash water on the radiator grill.

11. Fuel Conservation Driving
Ease off the pedal. Use the highest gear possible at the lowest RPM to extend mileage. Coast downhill when safe.

12. Battery Smart Starts
If your car’s battery dies, know how to bump start a manual, or use solar chargers or power banks on an automatic.

13. Makeshift Winching
Strap + tree + physics. If stuck, use tow straps, tree trunks, and basic pulleys (even a jack) to free your ride.

14. Urban Evac Driving
Navigate traffic jams, shoulder lanes, sidewalks—whatever gets you out. Practice map reading when GPS fails.

15. Situational Vehicle Abandonment
Know when to walk. If your vehicle becomes a liability, stash gear, mark your location, and hoof it out.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

Even seasoned preppers get caught empty. If you run out of gas miles from nowhere, here are three hacks that might just save your hide.

1. Alcohol-Based Fuel Substitute
If you’re carrying high-proof liquor or hand sanitizer (must be at least 70% alcohol), some small engines can be coaxed to run off diluted ethanol. It’s not good for your engine long-term, but in a disaster? It’ll get you a few miles.

2. Fuel Scavenging from Abandoned Vehicles
Always carry a siphon hose. Pop the gas cap off any disabled car or truck—especially older ones without anti-siphon mesh. Be discreet, and remember: desperation isn’t theft during collapse.

3. Solar-Powered Vehicle Charging
For hybrids and EVs, a solar panel array (foldable mats or a rooftop rig) paired with a battery bank can recharge you just enough for short-range escapes. Keep this in your bug-out kit if you’re relying on electric.

Final Thoughts

Disaster doesn’t come with a warning label. It sneaks in on ash clouds, hidden fault lines, and sudden cloudbursts. And Idaho’s geography doesn’t care if you’ve got kids in the back or groceries in the trunk.

Survival on the road starts long before you turn the key. It begins with understanding the terrain, mastering your vehicle, and preparing for failure. Your ride can be a lifeline—or a coffin—depending on your mindset.

Pack like it’s the last time you’ll see a gas station. Drive like every second counts. And for the love of grit, respect the road. Because out here, nature always plays for keeps.

Utah’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

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

Driving Through Hell: Survivalist Tactics for Navigating Utah’s Worst Roads in a Disaster

I’ve crossed deserts with a leaking radiator, powered a truck with cooking oil, and once drove 60 miles with no brakes through war-torn terrain. I’ve learned one thing: survival favors the prepared, and nowhere is that truer than the remote, rugged, and often unforgiving roads of Utah. When disaster strikes—be it quake, flood, fire, or civil unrest—knowing how to drive your way out can mean the difference between life and death.

Utah is a stunning land, but don’t let the red rock beauty fool you. It can turn deadly fast. With fault lines under Salt Lake City, wildfire risks in the Wasatch, and flash floods in the canyons of Southern Utah, you need more than four-wheel drive. You need grit, knowledge, and a rig that won’t quit.

Let me walk you through the worst roads to be caught on when hell breaks loose, and the skills you’ll need to escape.

Utah’s Worst Roads in a Natural Disaster

  1. Interstate 15 through the Wasatch Front
    It’s the main artery, but that’s the problem. One quake or crash and it’s a parking lot from Ogden to Provo. Urban gridlock + panic = chaos.
  2. SR-9 into Zion National Park
    Gorgeous, but it turns into a deathtrap in flash flood season. Narrow, winding, and boxed in by canyon walls. No way out if water comes.
  3. Highway 6 through Spanish Fork Canyon
    Rockslides, poor visibility, and sudden weather shifts make this one a gamble on the best of days. In a quake or storm, you’re done.
  4. Mirror Lake Highway (SR-150)
    High-altitude and scenic, but it’s often snowbound even in early summer. Cell signal? Forget it. Landslides are common after storms.
  5. US-89 through Southern Utah
    Desolate and wide open, but prone to washouts and debris flows. If your tank’s not full or your rig’s not ready, you won’t make it.
  6. Parley’s Canyon on I-80
    Major route out of Salt Lake City, but slick in winter and vulnerable to truck crashes. A backup here can trap you for hours.
  7. La Sal Mountain Loop Road
    Remote, steep, and nearly impassable after rains or fire. Gorgeous views, but you’d be better off with wings if disaster hits.
  8. Capitol Reef’s Notom-Bullfrog Road
    Remote dirt track with clay-rich soil. When wet, it becomes pure sludge. People get stuck here on purpose trying to test themselves. Bad idea in a crisis.
  9. Kolob Terrace Road
    Twists and elevation changes make it beautiful but treacherous. Add a wildfire or landslide and you’re driving blind.
  10. Little Cottonwood Canyon Road (SR-210)
    Avalanche central in winter, and crowded with tourists year-round. One accident, and you’re locked in with nowhere to turn.

15 Survival Driving Skills That Might Save Your Life

  1. Driving Without Headlights (Night Stealth)
    Know how to navigate by moonlight or use just your running lights. Light draws attention in post-disaster chaos.
  2. Manual Transmission Mastery
    You’d be shocked how many people can’t drive stick. When automatics fail or you need to jump into an abandoned vehicle, this saves your hide.
  3. Off-Road Recovery Techniques
    Know how to rock your vehicle free, use traction boards, or build ramps from logs. Getting stuck can be fatal.
  4. Reading the Land
    Learn to read water drainage, slope lines, and road crown. It’ll help avoid flash floods, soft shoulders, or terrain that will swallow your wheels.
  5. Engine Cooling Tricks
    You may be crawling in 100-degree heat. Learn tricks like turning on the heater to bleed engine heat, or carrying aluminum foil for makeshift heat shields.
  6. Improvised Tire Repair
    Know how to use tire plugs, fix a bead break, or use duct tape and zip ties to limp on a shredded sidewall.
  7. Gas Can Handling and Fuel Transfer
    Carry a siphon kit and know how to use it. Stealing gas may be the only option when stations are empty.
  8. Driving in Reverse for Distance
    Sounds ridiculous, but if a road is blocked and turning around isn’t an option, you might need to back out a quarter mile or more.
  9. Braking with a Failed System
    Learn engine braking techniques and how to use terrain to slow down—like uphills or embankments.
  10. Vehicle Camouflage
    Paint mud on reflective surfaces, cover shiny parts, and learn how to park in shadow or brush to stay hidden.
  11. Escape Driving Under Gunfire
    Zig-zag driving, suppressing speed, using terrain like boulders or buildings for cover—this isn’t just for movies.
  12. Fuel Efficiency Tactics
    Kill A/C, slow down, coast when possible, and avoid hard acceleration. Fuel stretches longer than you think if you’re smart.
  13. Water Fording Techniques
    Know how to gauge depth and current. Enter slow, steady, and don’t stop. Know where your air intake is.
  14. Using Maps Without GPS
    Old-school paper maps and a compass never run out of batteries. Know how to read topo lines and mileage charts.
  15. Towing and Pushing Vehicles
    Chains, winches, or even using your rig to shove a dead vehicle off the road can be the difference between being trapped or getting out.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You’re Out of Gas

  1. Alcohol-Based Fuel Substitute (in an Emergency Only)
    Everclear, high-proof liquor, or rubbing alcohol can sometimes be used in small doses in older engines—especially carbureted ones. Not ideal, but enough to maybe get a few miles closer to safety.
  2. DIY Solar Oven Gasifier (Advanced)
    With metal cans, some tubing, and organic material, you can build a crude gasifier to generate burnable vapors for small engines. It’s slow and inefficient, but in the boonies, it can save you.
  3. Fuel Scavenging Rig
    Build a simple siphon setup with food-grade tubing and a primer bulb. Keep it clean, coiled, and stored in a side panel. In a pinch, you can draw from lawn equipment, boats, or other stranded vehicles.

The Survivalist’s Take

Surviving a disaster in Utah isn’t just about having the right gear—it’s about knowing the land and being mentally and mechanically ready to improvise. The desert will eat you alive if you think cell service and Google Maps are a plan. I’ve pulled families out of canyons and found hikers who were days from dying of dehydration. The consistent factor in who survives isn’t strength—it’s preparation.

You don’t need a $90,000 overlanding rig. But you do need a well-maintained vehicle, fuel on hand, food and water in your cab, and the will to do whatever it takes.

If you’re heading into the wild, or even just commuting across the Wasatch in winter, think like it’s a war zone—because sometimes, it is.

Drive smart. Drive prepared. Drive like your life depends on it—because one day, it just might.

Wyoming’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Wyoming, Wyoming's Worst Roads to Drive on During a DisasterLeave a comment

Driving Through Disaster: Survival Tactics for Navigating Wyoming’s Worst Roads

When the sky turns black and the land starts to rumble, there’s only one thing on a survivalist’s mind: movement. You get caught sitting still during a natural disaster—be it wildfire, flood, blizzard, or quake—and you’re as good as part of the wreckage. Wyoming, beautiful and vast as she is, has some of the worst roads you could imagine driving when Mother Nature’s wrath descends. I’ve driven through it all—dust storms in the high plains, snow squalls near Togwotee Pass, even a landslide outside of Jackson that buried half a two-lane mountain road. And I’m still here to tell you what works—and what damn sure doesn’t.

Now, I’ve broken down in Bighorn Canyon in winter and blown a radiator going downhill on Highway 22 when the brakes cooked out. I know every rattle and groan a vehicle makes when it’s begging you to stop. But survival? That’s about going forward when everything else is falling apart.

Wyoming’s Most Treacherous Roads in a Natural Disaster

Some roads here seem like they were designed with disaster in mind—twisting, narrow, unforgiving. If a major event hits—earthquake, wildfire, blizzard—these are the roads you want to avoid or be prepared to conquer:

  1. Togwotee Pass (US 26/287) – Altitude, avalanche zones, and whiteout blizzards make this a death trap.
  2. Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296) – Gorgeous in summer, but in winter or fire season, it’s a one-way ticket to stuck.
  3. I-80 through Elk Mountain Pass – Infamous for sudden blizzards and 80-mph wind gusts. Trucks jackknife here regularly.
  4. Beartooth Highway – Known as one of the most dangerous roads in America; beautiful, but cliffs and snowstorms will kill you.
  5. WY-22 over Teton Pass – Hairpin turns, rockslides, and no room for error.
  6. Wind River Canyon (US 20) – Landslides, flooding, and ice take this scenic drive and turn it into a trap.
  7. WY-130 (Snowy Range Scenic Byway) – Closed most of the year for good reason. In a disaster? Forget it.
  8. Casper Mountain Road – Steep, unguarded, and a magnet for ice and landslides.
  9. South Pass (WY-28) – Historic, yes—but treacherous in high winds and with poor visibility.
  10. Medicine Bow Mountains routes – Remote, often unmaintained, and the first to close in bad weather.

15 Survival Driving Skills to Get You Through Hell

When disaster hits and the roads go to hell, here’s what you better know before you even turn the key.

  1. Threshold Braking – Learn to brake just before your tires lock. Especially useful on icy or gravel roads.
  2. Clutch Control (Manual Transmissions) – Use low gears to descend steep grades safely or to power through debris.
  3. Off-Road Line Picking – Know how to visually choose the safest path over rocks, through mud, or across fallen branches.
  4. High-Centered Escape – Know how to rock your vehicle out when it’s stuck on a crest (like snowbanks or debris piles).
  5. Skid Recovery – Steer into the skid, don’t panic, and throttle lightly to regain control.
  6. Water Fording Techniques – Know how to test water depth, use low gear, and maintain a slow, steady bow wave.
  7. Reading Road Shoulders – In Wyoming, shoulders are often soft, crumbly. Know what’s drivable—and what’s a trap.
  8. Using Reverse Strategically – Sometimes backtracking 50 feet is safer than pushing ahead into chaos.
  9. Downhill Descent Control – Use engine braking (low gears) instead of cooking your brake pads.
  10. Navigating Without GPS – Natural disasters knock out cell towers. Know how to read a topographical map and use a compass.
  11. Night Vision Preservation – Keep your cabin lights off, dash dimmed. Let your eyes adjust; use red filters if needed.
  12. Quick Tire Change Under Duress – Practice doing this in under 10 minutes. Time is life when you’re being chased by wildfire.
  13. Improvised Traction Aids – Floor mats, branches, even clothing can give you grip on snow or mud.
  14. Evacuation Convoy Driving – Know how to follow closely without tailgating and communicate with lights or hand signals.
  15. Stealth Movement – Sometimes survival means not being seen. Turn off lights, coast in neutral, stay low and slow.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

Even the best laid plans meet the bottom of a gas tank. If you’re deep in Wyoming’s backcountry when the needle drops to E, here’s what can keep you moving:

  1. Fuel Siphoning (If It’s Legal and Safe)
    Carry a hand siphon or rubber hose. Abandoned vehicles or machines in remote farms may have usable fuel. Use a filter (like a cloth or even a coffee filter) to screen debris as you transfer.
  2. DIY Wood Gasifier (Advanced Hack)
    Old-school tech: with metal cans, piping, and a heat source, you can build a wood gasifier. Burns wood to create gas vapor usable by older carbureted engines. Doesn’t work on modern fuel-injected cars without major modding—but for that 1980s pickup? Maybe your only option.
  3. Alcohol-Based Fuel Substitute (Short Range Only)
    If you’ve got isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, or even high-proof liquor, you can mix it in with leftover gas in emergencies. You’ll burn hotter and dirtier, and it’s not good long-term—but in a disaster, range matters more than emissions.

A Survivalist’s Advice for Wyoming Disasters

Wyoming isn’t forgiving. With towns separated by dozens of empty miles and weather that can turn in a heartbeat, you have to drive like your life depends on it—because out here, it does. Keep your rig ready at all times: full tank, spare fuel cans (stabilized), tools, jack, patch kit, compressor, food, and water for three days minimum. I keep a bugout bag in the cab and a collapsible shovel in the bed. I also travel with tire chains—even in summer—because snow can hit in August up near Beartooth.

In winter, I preheat my diesel with a generator or plug-in timer, and I’ve learned the hard way that synthetic oil is mandatory when the mercury drops below -20°F. Got stranded once near Rawlins for 28 hours in a whiteout—thank God I had insulated boots, a zero-degree bag, and a Hi-Lift jack to lift the truck out of a drift when it all cleared.

Also, know how to communicate without a cell. A CB radio, handheld ham (with a license if you’re being legal), or even a signal mirror can mean the difference between rescue and rotting. Don’t expect anyone to come for you fast—not here.

And never drive into the unknown without logging your route with someone. Even if it’s just a buddy over text. If you vanish in Wyoming’s backroads, it can be weeks before anyone finds you—if at all.

Final Thoughts

Driving in disaster is not about speed—it’s about control. Knowing your machine. Reading the land. Making decisions in seconds that mean life or death. That’s survival driving. And in a place like Wyoming, where the sky can fall on you in more ways than one, that knowledge isn’t just a skill.

It’s your salvation.

Hawaii’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Hawaii's Worst Roads to Drive on During a DisasterLeave a comment

Driving Out of Disaster: Survivalist Secrets for Navigating Hawaii’s Worst Roads in a Crisis

Let me tell you something I’ve learned the hard way—wilderness survival skills are worth their weight in gold, but if you can’t drive your way out of hell when the ground starts shaking or the sea comes crashing in, all that bushcraft won’t do you a lick of good.

I’ve driven across lands scarred by wildfires, through hurricane-ravaged coastlines, and dodged falling ash from volcanic eruptions. And nowhere else are the stakes higher—or the roads rougher—than in Hawaii when nature turns mean. Paradise, yes. But when Pele gets restless or the sky splits open with rain, even a short drive can feel like an exodus through chaos.

So here’s what you need to know.

Hawaii’s Worst Roads in a Disaster

You need to respect the terrain. Hawaii isn’t like the mainland. Each island has its own personality—and its own deathtraps when disaster strikes.

  1. Highway 11 (Big Island) – Cuts across lava fields. A major eruption and this artery gets buried in fire and stone. During the 2018 Kilauea eruption, whole chunks of this road turned to rubble.
  2. Piilani Highway (Maui) – Scenic as hell, but remote. One landslide and you’re boxed in by cliffs and ocean.
  3. Kahekili Highway (Maui) – Narrow, winding, and crumbling in places. Try maneuvering through here with other panicked drivers. Good luck.
  4. Mauna Kea Access Road (Big Island) – If you think driving up a volcano during a storm is smart, think again. Ice, fog, lava, and altitude will gang up on you.
  5. Farrington Highway (Oahu) – Known for washouts, rockslides, and flash flooding. Get stuck here and you might not see another car for hours.
  6. Hana Highway (Maui) – 600+ hairpin turns. A gorgeous trap if blocked by landslides.
  7. Saddle Road (Daniel K. Inouye Highway, Big Island) – Offers an inland escape, but high elevation, fog, and wild weather can make it treacherous.
  8. Likelike Highway (Oahu) – One of the few roads through the Koʻolau Range. Block that, and Honolulu locks up fast.
  9. Tantalus/Round Top Drive (Oahu) – Landslides, sharp turns, zero visibility at night. You don’t want to be here when it gets slick.
  10. Kalanianaole Highway (Oahu) – Hugs the coast. When the sea rises, so do your chances of getting swept off the road.

Now, imagine being stuck on one of these during an earthquake, tsunami warning, or lava flow. That’s not the time to figure things out. That’s why you prepare now.

15 Survival Driving Skills to Master Before SHTF

  1. Off-road navigation – Not all roads go where you need to be. Learn how to read terrain and improvise your own route.
  2. Driving without GPS – Assume satellites fail. Get good with paper maps and landmarks.
  3. Using momentum – In low traction or uphill scenarios, use your vehicle’s weight and speed wisely to avoid getting bogged.
  4. Brake modulation – In wet or gravel terrain, slamming your brakes is suicide. Learn to pulse brake and control your stops.
  5. Tire repair on the fly – A flat in disaster country? If you can’t plug it, patch it, or swap it, you’re stuck.
  6. High-water crossing techniques – Know the depth limit of your vehicle and how to create a wake. Never rush water deeper than your axles.
  7. Escape from mud/sand traps – Use branches, floor mats, or even clothing to create traction. A shovel in the trunk goes a long way.
  8. Driving with broken windows or no windshield – Clear goggles and duct tape will keep the wind and ash out of your eyes and lungs.
  9. Manual override knowledge – Know how to manually shift your auto trans vehicle, disable electric locks, and pop the fuel door.
  10. Stealth driving at night – Tape your brake lights and use only side markers or a red lens flashlight. When avoiding detection is key, blackout mode matters.
  11. Controlled skids – Understand understeer vs. oversteer. Practicing skid recovery on a dirt lot can save your life.
  12. Conserving fuel with coasting – Coast downhill in neutral (manuals preferred) and cut the engine when not in motion.
  13. Evading roadblocks – Turnarounds, backtracking, and finding alternative routes with minimal delay. Don’t commit to a blocked road.
  14. Driving in ash – Keep the engine air filter clean and use a wet cloth over the intake if possible. Go slow to avoid clogging up critical systems.
  15. Towing and recovery – Learn how to use tow straps, winches, and chains without snapping them like a whip.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

Let’s face it—when everyone’s fleeing, fuel disappears fast. Here’s how you stretch or make do when the tank’s dry:

  1. Siphon from abandoned vehicles
    Keep a siphon pump in your trunk. Modern cars make this harder, but it’s not impossible. A clear hose, gravity, and some patience can net you a few gallons from cars left behind.
  2. DIY alcohol fuel
    If you’re really desperate and your car can handle it (older engines preferred), you can mix ethanol or high-proof alcohol (like grain alcohol or moonshine) with gasoline in small amounts. Never exceed 10-15% unless your vehicle is flex-fuel rated.
  3. Fuel cache with stabilizer
    This is prepper 101: stash a 5-gallon can with fuel stabilizer hidden somewhere along your bug-out route. Rotate it every 6 months. Not a hack in the moment, but a lifesaver when it counts.

Mindset, Not Metal, Gets You Through

No vehicle is disaster-proof, and no road is ever truly safe. But your knowledge and instincts are what turn your 4×4, sedan, or motorcycle into a survival tool. Think ahead. Scan the terrain. Stay calm. A driver in control is a survivor in motion.

Remember: in Hawaii, a lot can go wrong fast—tsunamis, landslides, volcanic activity, flash floods. When the sirens blare or the ground rumbles, you don’t want to be stuck behind someone fumbling with Google Maps or trying to reverse through a rockfall.

Be the one with the spare tire, full tank, laminated map, and eyes on the next move.

Final Thoughts

Hawaii’s roads offer some of the most stunning drives in the world—but in a disaster, they become choke points, traps, and dead ends. If you live there, or even plan to visit during hurricane or eruption season, treat driving like a survival skill. Practice. Prepare. Preload your routes. And remember—disaster favors the unprepared.

I’ve made it out of more messes than I can count because I drove smart, stayed calm, and never relied on luck. With these skills and hacks, you can do the same.

Built to Survive: Shelter Tactics Using Nature and Know-How

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn SurvivalistLeave a comment

You think that store-bought tent is gonna save your sorry butt when the grid crashes? Think again. When the world turns upside-down—and trust me, it will—you better have more than a nylon cocoon and YouTube tutorials to protect you from Mother Nature’s full-blown wrath. If you’re not learning how to build your shelter from dirt, sticks, and brains, you’re not surviving—you’re delaying your expiration date.

Let me be blunt: your comfort zone is a kill zone. The wild doesn’t care about your feelings. The cold will strip the warmth from your bones like a butcher skinning a deer, and the rain will seep into your soul. Shelter isn’t optional—it’s survival Priority Number One right after you can breathe and not bleed out.

So listen up. You want to live? You better start learning like your life depends on it—because it does.

10 Survival Skills for Building Natural Shelters

1. Terrain Scouting

Don’t just plop down in a pretty clearing like some clueless city hiker. Learn to read the land. Avoid valleys where cold air pools and floods form. Stay clear of ridgelines where wind turns your tarp into a damn parachute. Pick elevated, flat ground near resources—but not too near water, unless you’re asking to be eaten alive by mosquitoes or flash-flooded into the afterlife.

2. Natural Windbreaks

Wind will suck the heat out of you faster than a thief in the night. Find natural windbreaks—thick brush, rock walls, or tree lines—or build your own using stacked logs, woven branches, or even your backpack if you’re desperate.

3. Insulation Gathering

Don’t build a shelter and sleep on bare earth like a fool. You need insulation—pine needles, leaves, moss, bark. Pile it thick—at least six inches—to keep ground chill from eating you alive. Better itchy than dead.

4. Framework Building

If you can’t build a solid frame, you’re gonna wake up with the roof on your chest or, worse, hypothermic. Learn to latch, lash, and lean. Use a basic A-frame or lean-to. No nails? No excuses. Use paracord, vines, inner bark strips—whatever it takes.

5. Water Runoff Management

Ever slept in a puddle? It’s a bad time. Angle your roof steep and make a trench around your shelter. Don’t be lazy unless you want rainwater spooning you at 2 a.m.

6. Camouflage Construction

Not every threat in the wild walks on four legs. Sometimes it walks on two—and it’s armed. Blend in. Use mud, foliage, bark. Don’t light up your shelter like a Vegas sign. Stay hidden, stay alive.

7. Fire Integration

Learn how to build a reflector wall to bounce fire heat into your shelter. And yeah, don’t set the damn place on fire. Keep flames at a safe distance, use a fire pit, and always have your fire on the windward side.

8. Moisture Barrier Creation

You want to stay dry? Layer bark and large leaves to create a water-resistant roof. Hell, you can even line the outside with trash bags if you’re lucky enough to find one. Smart survivors repurpose everything.

9. Emergency Cordage

Cordage isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline. If you didn’t bring paracord, shame on you. But you can make rope from inner tree bark (like basswood), dry grasses, or even plastic trash. Twist, braid, tie—it better hold your weight, or your broken leg will be the least of your problems.

10. Structural Adaptability

No two scenarios are the same. Snow cave in winter. Debris hut in the fall. Jungle platform in the wet season. Desert rock shelter when the sun’s trying to kill you. If you can’t adapt, nature’s going to crush you like a bug.

3 DIY Survival Hacks from a Realist, Not a Blogger

1. The Trash Tarp Trick

You ever find an old plastic sheet or trash bags in the woods? Jackpot. Stitch them together with thorny branches or tie with bark cordage to make a waterproof tarp. Reinforce the corners with stones or folded sticks. It’s ugly, but it keeps you dry—and that keeps you alive.

2. Pine Sap Glue

Need to stick something? Make glue. Heat pine sap over fire till it bubbles, mix with crushed charcoal and a bit of animal dung or powdered bark. Let it cool, and boom—you’ve got nature’s epoxy. Use it to patch holes, fix tools, even seal cracks in your shelter roof.

3. Bark Paneling

Got trees? You’ve got shelter walls. Use a sharp rock or knife to peel large bark sheets off dead trees (don’t kill healthy ones—you’re not a moron). Stack them like shingles, lash to your frame, and you’ve got windproof, semi-waterproof walls. Way better than freezing behind a blue tarp some weekend warrior left behind.

Hard Truth: You’re Not Ready

If your plan for “bugging out” includes a REI shopping spree and wishful thinking, you’re already dead. Gear fails. Batteries die. Comfort ends. You need knowledge that lives in your hands—not in your gear bag.

Start now. Practice in the woods. Sleep without your tent. Build with your hands, bleed a little, screw up, and fix it. Get your body and mind used to discomfort, cold, and exhaustion. Shelter building is dirty, it’s hard, and it’s necessary.

Don’t be the idiot who panics because their zipper broke or their app didn’t load. You want to survive? Learn to fight the cold, the rain, the wind—and your own softness.

Final Word

Shelter is more than a roof—it’s your battle line against the wild. If you can master nature’s tools, if you can build with sticks and instinct, you can endure damn near anything. But if you’re waiting for someone to come rescue you, you’re already part of the forest floor.

Get smart. Get skilled. Get angry enough to outlast anything. Because when it all goes down, it won’t be the richest, the strongest, or the best equipped who survive—it’ll be the ones who refused to die stupid.

So build like your life depends on it. Because one day, it just might.