Hey
Legend Trippers are you prepared for your outdoor adventure? Even it is just a
day hike; you need to be prepared for the worst. You never know what might
happen. Somebody might injury themselves and need to be carried out. Do you
know how to build a stretcher? Do you have the items to build it with? During
my presentations, I like to go over items which I think everybody venturing
into woods should have with them, and explain the importance of them. Well,
here is an item that I swear by and I always have some in my Jeep and in my
backpack. It is called Paracord or 550 cord.
Parachute
cord (Paracord/550 cord) is a lightweight nylon rope originally used in the
suspension lines of US parachutes during World War II. This type of rope is
actually defined as a kernmantle. It consists of two parts. The first part is
the kern which is the interior core fibers and actually provides the tensile
strength of the rope. The second part is the mantle which the outer sheath and
is designed to protect the core from abrasion during use. The braided sheath
has a high number of interwoven strands for its size, giving it a relatively
smooth texture. The all-nylon construction makes paracord fairly elastic;
depending on the application this can be either an asset or a liability. This
two parts work together to optimize strength, durability, and flexibility.
Military
issue paracord is specified by MIL-C-5040H in six types: I, IA, II, IIA, III,
IV.[2] Types IA and IIA are composed solely of a sheath without a core. Type
III, a type commonly found in use in both, military and civilians, and is nominally rated with a minimum breaking
strength of 550 pounds, thus the sobriquet "550 cord". While the U.S.
military has no overall diameter requirements in its specifications, 550 cord
typically measures 5⁄32 inches (4 mm) in diameter.
During
World War 2, Paratroopers and soldiers quickly found this cord useful for many
other tasks. When I was in the US Army, we use to empty the kern out of the,
olive drab in color, mantle and put our dog tag chain (which was a shiny silver
in color) in it. When I was in the 82nd Airborne Division, I would use it to
dummy cord my canteen and pistol to my combat belt, so I wouldn't lose it
during an Airborne jump. Today paracord is used as a general purpose utility
cord by both military personnel and civilians. It can be purchased in any
hardware or outdoor store and it’s not expensive. This versatile cord was even
used by astronauts during STS-82, the eighty-second Space Shuttle mission, to
repair the Hubble Space Telescope. A lot of outdoor and survival experts
consider Paracord and Duct tape the “must have” items in any outdoor survival
kit. Paracord is sold in many different colors.
Solar orange, which is also known as safety orange or drab orange is
popular color with outdoor enthusiasts.
Paracord
recently gained popularity in the construction of “survival bracelets”. I can’t
tell you how many times I've had to use this cord. With legend tripping
(monster hunting) I like to use orange paracord to help mark trees next to
where I put my trail camera out. I always have a cord tied to my knife and to
help secure my tent to the ground or trees. One word of caution; there are fake
versions of paracord, so be careful. Make sure that it is actual 550 paracord.
Jeremy Knauff at
Howtosurviveit.com came up with fifty nine ways to use paracord. Here they are.
I will elaborate on some of them:
1. Construct a bow drill.
2. Improvise pack
straps
3. Tie down
equipment on a vehicle (a common use and it stands up to the weather)
4. Climb/descend
steep terrain (It does work for this but you need to use multiple strands,
otherwise it digs into your hands
5. Build a
stretcher
6. Clean out the
hose on your CamelBak (I never tried this, but I will)
7. Tie plants to
stakes
8. Make a sling to
launch stones for hunting or defense
9. Improvise
fishing line (inner strands)
10. Shred it for
tinder (It does burn well)
11. Mark straight
lines for gardening or construction
12. Tow a vehicle
(requires several strands)
13. Tie bolas for
hunting
14. Hang food out
of reach of predators (I’ve done this)
15. Make a
headband/hair tie
16. Construct
snares (inner strands)
17. Lash logs or
reeds together to make a raft
18. Rescue a
person who fell through ice
19. Melt it to
seal small holes in water containers
20. Follow it to
find your way out of a cave
21. Improvise boot
laces (when I first came into the Army, a lot of SF guys had these in the
jungle boots)
22. Build a
shelter with a tarp (When you don’t have bungee cords)
23. Create a
makeshift sling
24. Tie your
boat/raft to shore or a dock (Again it stands up well, even wet)
25. Rig a
guideline for crossing streams
26. Construct snow
shoes (Dave Canterbury demonstrated this on an episode of “Dual Survival”)
27. Rescue a
person stuck in quicksand
28. Make tent guy
lines (If you purchase the orange colored paracord, it’s easier to see)
29. Wrap an axe
handle to absorb shock
30. String a bow
(Arnold used this in the movie Predator)
31. Lash
poles/logs together to build a teepee
32. Improvise a
fan belt (This does work)
33. Raise or lower
gear on steep terrain
34. Create a
trellis for vines and climbing plants (like tomatoes)
35. Tie an arrow
or spear head to a shaft
36. Hang an animal
for butchering
37. Make a fish
stringer
38. Dummy cord
vital gear to prevent loss (a common use for soldiers walking through the
jungle)
39. Wrap a knife
handle
40. Improvise a
watch strap
41. Climb with a
prussic knot (James Bond demonstrated this, when he had to climb up a rope in
the movie “For Your Eyes Only”)
42. Sew your
pack/clothing (inner strands)
43. Construct a
net
44. Rescue a
drowning person
45. Tie up
intruders
46. Rig a splint
47.
Clean your rifle, pistol, or shotgun barrel
48. Set a tripwire
49. Improvise a
belt
50. Swing a
mirror, chemlight, or flashlight for signaling
51. Construct a
rope ladder
52. Hang a hammock
(I do with my hammock)
53. Lash gear to
your pack
54. Emergency
climbing/rappelling (requires several strands)
55. Improvise a
fuse
56. A guide line
to keep partners together in the dark
57. Construct a
clothes line
58. Improvise a
rifle sling
59. Replace a
broken/missing anchor line
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