The Group Dynamics of Buggin' Out

In preparation for this weekend's bug-out, I have started to walk myself though the weekend mentally. And I must stress the "mentally" as I am doing zero physical training before this 30-odd kilometer hike.

As I have got my bug-out bag figured out, and I'm no stranger to distances, my mind began to turn to the loads that other people will be carrying, and what their bug-out experience might be like. My concern is that beginners may overpack and be unable to finish the hike. So I started to brainstorm how I could help others, and make sure everyone got to our destination as a team.

Here are some tips, when considering buggin' out as a group, and making sure you all get there before the zombies do: 1) Weigh your bags and write the weight on everyone's hand. This make it easy to keep track of everyone's diverse loads. If you don't have a scale, mark in numerical order from heaviest to lightest. People will forget what everyone else is carrying, so this is a good system to keep track of those with heavier loads. 2) Put the slowest people at the front. The people walking behind them will motivate them to perform, and prevent the staggering "slinky" effect of the slowest members falling to the rear. 3) If someone falls behind consistently from exhaustion, give them a choice: either they give you some of their gear to carry, or they keep up with the group. Most people don't want to feel like a liability by giving up their gear, but you have to stress that it is for the group's benefit - not yours 4) For the snails that do fall back - fall back with them and keep pace with them. Start up a conversation, and you will find that they naturally fall back in to the front. Once their mind is distracted, they are able to push their body further. 5) Faster is always better. The faster you move, the less time you have a weight on your back, and the less painful the experience will be. Anyone who says their legs are failing is a fool. Their mind failed. The only time the body fails is when you die or get bit. Everything else is a result of general weakness.

Empower the weak by using these tips. As more experienced buggin-outers, it is our duty to now shift our attention to the needs of others. The herd is only as fast as the slowest buffalo.