How to build a Trebuchet (Catapult) – Part 2

A Trebuchet (pronounced treb-oo-shay) is a medieval siege engine that transfers gravitational energy into kinetic energy – similar to a playground see-saw. In ancient times, it was used to launch (throw) projectiles including boulders, dead horses, and diseased bodies into or over castle walls to soften the defenses in preparation for invasion. On one end…

In a lot of ways, those ancient guys were pretty smart and the trebuchet is the perfect example their old time ingenuity. A Trebuchet (pronounced treb-oo-shay) is a medieval siege engine that transfers gravitational energy into kinetic energy – similar to a playground see-saw. In ancient times, it was used to launch (throw) projectiles including…

This little device really took off in New York when Hurricane Sandy survivors discovered it provided heat, boiled water, and allowed them to jack in to its USB port to charge their smartphone devices. The Biolite CampStove sells for $129 and runs off of any renewable biomass such as twigs, wood scraps, even pinecones -…

How to survive a mass public (“active”) shooting – tips for avoiding the shooter’s sights and getting out alive

Despite what many believe, random mass public shootings are not uncommon occurrences. In October 2014, Harvard Research showed the rate of mass shootings has tripled since 2012. In the event that you are caught in or near a public shooting rampage, there are steps you can take to survive a mass public shooting.

About Geek Slop and Survival

Your interest in survival may derive from several sources or concerns – general safety preparedness, camping, hiking, and backpacking, self-defense, religious beliefs, ecological concerns and beliefs, natural disaster, bio-chemical warfare, overpopulation concerns, collapse of the financial system, or maybe you just enjoy the challenge of surviving in the wild. Regardless of the reason, Geek…

Extreme Weather Conditions Whether global warming or a natural cycle of atmospheric change, the worldwide weather patterns have worsened substantially. Global average surface temperature has increased steadily since 1970. Precipitation patterns have changed around the world and after 2,000 years of little change, sea levels have risen by 8 inches with levels rising at a rate…

Mountain lion dangers - an alert cougar stalking its prey

Mountain lions can be dangerous and their attacks are often predatory, but there are a few things you can do to skirt mountain lion danger and deter them from attacking.

Forget the generic bear defense tips you read on other sites. Although there are many common defense strategies, how you defend yourself against a bear attack depends on the species of bear. In addition, poor wilderness etiquette can increase bear dangers for your fellow outdoorsmen so you must be aware of the extraneous factors that…

Carabiner Brake Introduction Rappelling typically makes use of specialized equipment, such as brake racks and other lowering devices, but in an emergency situation, you can make a rappelling rig using carabiners and rope. Called a “carabiner brake”, it offers the benefits of not twisting the rope and providing more even friction than other brake methods…

All about belaying - how to apply friction to a rope to arrest a stranded climber

Belaying is a method of applying friction to the rope to control the amount of rope that is paid out or taken in. It is also used to arrest a climber that has fallen or to control the rate of descent of a load from a higher elevation to a lower elevation. The belay man…