Prepping Buried Treasure

Prepping Buried Treasure

(SurvivalDaily.com) – You’ve likely thought of an area to bug-out to, if your plan is to bug-out in an emergency. How will you get there? How long will it take? What will you take? These are all questions you should be asking.

Mapping out a route and walking it will help you determine where you’re going when the time comes, and how long it’ll take you to reach your destination. The only problem is that while your timing may be accurate, adding the weight of your bug-out bag to the equation changes the outcome, sometimes drastically. This is where having a cache comes in handy.

What is a Cache?

A cache is something you hide near your route that has extra supplies in it. Some people hide their caches near their bug-out location as well. The three biggest things to think about when creating a cache:

  • What will you use?
  • Where will you hide it?
  • What will you put in it?

Creating a cache is relatively simple, you need to find a container of some sort, one that’s big enough to place whatever you’re looking to store inside of it. Make sure you use something that’s going to last, and at least needs to be waterproof. Metal containers are good, but if there is a scratch or dent it will start to rust, sometimes quickly.

Plastic is really the best option, providing waterproof qualities while not being susceptible to rust. Ammo cans come as both metal or plastic, most of them are waterproof as well, the only problem is their size. If you’re looking to store food and water in there, which you should, there’s simply not enough room. Just remember the bigger the container, the harder it will be to hide.

How to Hide Your Cache

After you have an idea of what you want in your cache, and know what you’re going to use for the container, you’ll need to hide it. You don’t want it directly on your trail, or right next to your bug-out location.

Instead, hide it off of your path or away from your bug-out location about a quarter-mile. Make sure there is no direct line of sight from your cache to your location, whether you’re camping for the night, or you plan to stay there.

Your cache should be hidden in an area that is inconspicuous yet distinctive to you. After all, you don’t want to go through the trouble of creating the cache to have someone else take it. Typically a good way to hide your cache is by simply burying it. No you’re not digging a grave, there’s no need to dig six-feet down, unless your cache container is that large.

Think about it though, if you bury your cache too deep you’ll need a shovel to recover it, that adds more weight to your pack, if you use a foldable shovel. Instead, you should bury it just enough to where people won’t notice, but you’re still able to get it out with a knife or stick.

An area that is too distinctive isn’t good either. Like say there is a tree in a field, that’s going to be a common area for people to want to hide something, simply because it’s convenient and easy to remember.

What to Put in the Cache

You should think about what you want to be in your cache; this can vary depending on its application. If you’re placing it along your route to your bug-out location, you’ll likely want to stock it full of food, water, and potentially medical supplies. You can carry some of these items with you, but only in certain amounts. In some cases you might want to place ammo in your cache as well, chances are if you didn’t get a clean getaway, you’re going to need to restock.

When it comes to food, be sure to put high-energy and long-life foods in the cache, such as: jerky, granola, and dried fruit. Water is a must no matter what; put at least two days worth of food and water in your cache. Medical supplies are a good idea as well, it’s unlikely you’ll make it to your cache completely unscathed. Bandages, rubbing alcohol, and possibly even a sewing kit. If you can fit an entire first-aid kit in your cache and have ample room, go for it.

Ultimately, where you put your cache and what you put in it are up to you. You’re the only one that’s going to know what you need for your plan to survive. A cache can be a literal life-saver, especially if your base gets raided and you needed supplies. It’s probably best to keep where your cache is on the down-low, there are exceptions to this of course. If you truly trust someone, and can’t make it there yourself, or are telling them where it is because you’re dying, then you can.

~Copyright 2021, SurvivalDaily.com