Hiking Trip @ El Yunque

   Do you have a place that you always wanted to go but never had the chance to? Well I had that place here on the island it’s called Pico del Este in the Caribbean National Forest better known as El Yunque. At more than 3,000 feet it’s an impressive site. Since I was a little kid I watch those radar towers wondering about them. A couple of weeks ago while searching about them I learned that they were abandon and somewhat accessible (well not really accessible one of them still working). So I decided to try to get to that famous mountaintop with the help of a couple of friends. It took about an hour and a half to get to the radar installation from the parking spot. The hike is insanely beautiful and amazing. Technically we were not supposed to go there and all the time we were expecting someone to just tell us to turn around. Well let me tell you I never expected to be there it is like a small city complete with housing facilities and all. The structure is rapidly deteriorating and at midday we couldn’t see 30 feet in front of us due to the intense fog. The real purpose for the trip was to place a Geocache for others to find but finally we decided to place it outside of the limits of the base. For more information about this cache click here. Here are some pictures of our trip to the radar site in El Yunque.

Arriving at the base entrance.

The Road leading to Pico del Este.

Entrance of the Military Installation@ El Yunque.

Old Sign

With Elias I'm the one on the left.

One of the radars

 Believe me this was shot at midday.

   Some info I found about Pico del Este. Pico del Este is located in the Caribbean National Forest, Naguabo, Puerto Rico. Pico del Este, one of the rainforest's peaks, houses a JSS (Joint Surveillance System) radar and communications site attached to the Roosevelt Roads Naval Base. Installations on Mt. Pico Del Este include the AN/FPS-67 and AN/SPS-48Cradarsites.

  I took my Maxpedition Falcon II backpack with the Maxpedition 10”x4” Bottle holder with a full Nalgene bottle in order to test them. I carried it for more than four hours that day and let me tell you they are great the backpack felt great and the 32oz Nalgene bottle provided enough water for the entire trip. I highly recommend them.

Quote

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
— Robert A. Heinlein

Geocaching GC216K5 Jacuzzi @Yabucoa

What a better way to get out and explore new places that Geocaching. If you don't know what is Geocaching click here. We went to look for this new cache on a Sunday afternoon with my wife and a friend. Again for those of you who like being outdoors there nothing better than Geocaching. 

On we go!

Finding Ground Zero using our GPS units.

Found it!

Captain Morgan was here!

Nice view

Interesting Quote

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.


Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu

Emergency Water Sources at Home.

   If you have an electric water heater in your house you have at least 50 gallons of water already store. Just make sure to close the main water valve in your house so that the store water doesn't get contaminated after an emergency.

   Electric water heaters have a valve that you can open to get the water. Just make sure you boil it before drinking.

                                                                                                                                      

Current Ukraine Flu outbreak (Update 2)

New numbers from the flu outbreak in Ukraine

Total infections:478,456
Total hospitalizations:24,003
Total deaths:81

Click here for the latest numbers.

____________________________________

Recombinomics Info

Recombinomics Commentary 14:34
November 4, 2009

478,456 Influenza/ARI
24,003 Hospitalized
60 Ventilators
81 Deaths


Reported Cases in Ukraine Double in Two Days

From 255,000 to 478,000 in just two days? Wao! It's really spreading fast.

Interesting Quote

Not all those who wander are lost!

-JRR Tolkien

Ukraine Says 67 People Die From Unspecified Flu Virus (Update1)

By Kateryna Choursina and Halia Pavliva

Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- At least 67 people have died in an epidemic of flu in Ukraine that has infected 255,000, the country’s first deputy health minister Vasyl Lazoryshynets said.
A total of 15,000 people are being treated at hospitals, Lazoryshynets said at a press conference in Kiev today. The country has sent suspected swine flu samples to the U.K. for testing, he said, declining to say when results are expected.

Read the full article here.

This is all in less than two weeks. 255,000 people sick with the flu. 15,000 in hospitals.
Some parts of the country are in quarantine and schools are close for at least three weeks. A couple of days ago only 30 people were dead now it's 67 and this virus has not been confirmed to be H1N1 virus. Let just hope it has not mutated into something more deadly.

Unknown Influenza Kills Seven In Ukraine

Unknown Influenza Kills Seven In Ukraine
October 28, 2009

TERNOPIL, Ukraine -- Seven people in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil have died from an unknown flu virus, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports.

Bohdan Oniskiv, the chief of the health department in Ternopil Oblast, told journalists on October 27 that none of the flu victims had other health problems.

About 6,000 people were referred to medical centers and clinics with flu symptoms last week. 

Radio Free Europe

Could this be a new strain of H1N1?

Earthquake and Tsunami History of Puerto Rico

Two links with good information on past Earthquakes and Tsunamis.

USGS Earthquake History of Puerto Rico

USC Tsunami Research Group

Tsunami Maps Puerto Rico

Guld Refinery Explosion: If this happen in Yabucoa!

   October 24, 2009 a massive explosion at the Gulf refinery in Bayamon Puerto Rico destroyed 21 of the 40 storage tanks sending a huge plume of smoke to that air and causing a 2.8 temblor in the metro area. The earthquake was felt across San Juan as well as Guaynabo, Bayamon and two other communities. The explosion broke windows and more thank 1,500 people had to be evacuated. The inferno lasted for three days before it was extinguish.

   That got me thinking about the possibility of a similar accident here in my home town. The similarity of the installation is what got my attention. Both are old installations that function as holding facilities of oil related products. Here is a picture of the Shell Refinery in Yabucoa and the usual wind direction, now imagine those tanks exploding.

   An immediate evacuation would be ordered as the black smoke engulfs the town. Now there are two possibilities here either you evacuate to Humacao to the north or to Maunabo to the south. The main road to Yabucoa is the Expresso Jose Celso Barbosa which would be closed immediately due to it’s proximity to the tanks. Now imagine thousand’s of people trying to get out at the same time using the PR 3 road. Either north to Humacao or south to Maunabo it would be a mess. Imagine thousands of cars trying to get out of the town at the same time using one lane roads which by the way are in very bad shape. How much time would you have to get everything that you need in your car and just go? Most people would not be prepared to leave at a moment notice. Make a Bug out Bag now and get prepare because you don’t know when you will need it.

Recommendations for Emergency Communications: Family Radio Service

   A couple of months ago a friend of mine asked me about a certain radio he wanted to buy for his kids. He asked me to recommend a set of radios that could be used for everyday communications and in case of an emergency. He was talking about the Family Radio Service and he wanted to know if they were really as good as Amateur Radio in case of an emergency. So I explain to him the basic differences between radio services and the advantages and disadvantages of both. His questions also got me thinking in case of an emergency what is the first thing to go? Yes communications! Telephone and Cellular communications get overloaded pretty easy during emergencies and some can go down for days.
  
   I have decided to write about all the options you have to keep yourselves inform in time of an emergency. Let’s begin with the Family Radio Service.

FAMILY RADIO SERVICE

Since its introduction in 1996 this service has been able to help families and business stay in touch without the need of licenses and expensive equipment. First proposed by Radio Shack in 1994 and tough as a replacement for the CB Radio Service has proved more reliable and efficient that the CB Band. It operates on 14 channels using only 500 milliwatts.

Channel Frequency (MHz) Notes

1    462.5625 Shared with GMRS.
2    462.5875 Shared with GMRS.
3    462.6125 Shared with GMRS.
4    462.6375 Shared with GMRS.
5    462.6625 Shared with GMRS.
6    462.6875 Shared with GMRS.
7    462.7125 Shared with GMRS.
8    467.5625 FRS use only
9    467.5875 FRS use only
10  467.6125 FRS use only
11  467.6375 FRS use only
12  467.6625 FRS use only
13  467.6875 FRS use only
14  467.7125 FRS use only

Manufacturers exaggerate the range in these radios and some claim ranges of more than 20 miles but in fact a range of 1/2 mile is usually achieved. They offer what is known as CTCSS tones to help cut interference on busy channels. Best of all they are cheap, easy to use and practical for everyday use.


Next post GMRS radios…….

Jamboree on the Air 2009

JOTA 2009 was held October 17, 2009 in Luquillo with the 110 and 622 troops.

What is JOTA?
The Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, is an annual Scouting and amateur radio event sponsored by the World Scout Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Thousands of amateur radio stations around the world participate.

This year the propagation was terrible so we decided to use the 2 Meter band to make the contacts.
This is the antenna in it's Improvised location.

Here are some pictures of the activity.

Special thanks to Felipe Wp4nst and to Javier Np4ja for helping me so much in this special activity.

FEMA Video: Emergency Preparedness

Prepare a kit for you and your family.

National Strike Oct 15, 2009

    Labor Unions from across the island are getting ready for the strike which aims to paralyze the country for one day. I just hope nothing bad happens and that people participating in the strike behave like civilize people not like the apes! In my honest opinion there is no need to paralyze the already weaken economy of the island it will only make things worst. If they wanted to protest they should have done it before anyone was fired not after. I just hope that basic utilities like water and electricity are not affected and that of peace and common sense prevail.
Tommorow I will be monitoring the Police and emergency services frequencies to stay inform on what is happening.

That is all!

50 Million dead! The 1918 Pandemic Flu.

What Is the 1918 Flu?


The 1918 flu, or "Spanish flu," caused the highest number of known influenza deaths. More than 500,000 people died in the United States, and up to 50 million people may have died worldwide. Many people died within the first few days after infection with the 1918 flu, and others died of complications. Nearly half of those who died were young, healthy adults.
 
Med TV 1918 Flu Pandemic
 
Click the Link below for more information on the Great Pandemic of 1918.
 
Pandemicflu.gov

Swine flu still spreading; blamed for 76 child deaths

By Steve Sternberg, USA TODAY

Swine flu is believed to have killed 19 children the week ending Oct. 3, bringing the number of pediatric deaths to 76 since the pandemic began in April, health officials reported Friday.

Sixteen of the children were confirmed to have H1N1 flu; three were believed to have died of the disease. Over the past three flu seasons, total pediatric deaths ranged from 46 to 88, says Anne Schuchat, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

BACKPACKER First Aid Center

Found this information very interesting. Enjoy

Backpacker Magazine First Aid Center

Urban Survivalist

I hope I never get this extreme but this is a great video. Enjoy!

Review of the VX-7R by QST Magazine

This is my choice of radio when dealing with emergency communication. This is a review by QST magazine on the Yaesu VX-7R.
VX-7R Review

Cumbre Vieja Tsunami

La Palma is a volcanic ocean island. It is currently the most volcanically active of the Canary Isles.

Cumbre Vieja Volcano

Future threat

  Scienttist hypothesize that during a future unascertained eruption, the western half of the Cumbre Vieja - approximately 500 km3 (5 x 1011 m3) with an estimated mass 1.5 x 1015 kg, will catastrophically fail in a massive gravitational landslide and enter the Atlantic Ocean generating a so called "mega-tsunami." The debris will continue to travel - as a debris flow, along the ocean floor. Computer modelling indicates that the resulting initial wave may attain a local amplitude (height) in excess of 600 metres (1,969 ft) and an initial peak to peak height that approximates to 2 kilometres (1 mi), and travel at about 1,000 kilometres per hour (621 mph) (approximately the speed of a jet aircraft), inundating the African coast in about 1 hour, the southern coast of England in about 3.5 hours, and the eastern seaboard of North America in about 6 hours

Puerto Rico's Food Dependency

   Do you know Less than 10% of the total amount of food locally consumed is produced in the island. There is no doubt - a food dependency over 90% is alarming.

 
  The Asociación de Agricultores de P.R.,said recently that our food supply would be exhausted in as little as ten days (fresh food) to four week(canned food) if imports were to stop. Think about it we will run out of food in four weeks. Then what? But of course this will never happen because this is imposible. Or is it? If in September 10, 2001 I would have told you that the Twin Towers were going to collapse you would have told me I was crazy.

Peak Oil Production

   Food prices depend mostly on gas prices now imgine oil at $200 a barrel. How much would food cost then? Oil production has been in decline since 2005 and every year less oil is discover. This mean we have reach peak oil production and every year oil will be more scarce. Think about it!

Funny Video: The Ultimate Zombie Survival Guide

Amateur Radio

What is Amateur Radio?

   Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called "hams," use various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public service, recreation and self-training.
 
Amateur radio operators enjoy personal (and often worldwide) wireless communications with each other and are able to support their communities with emergency and disaster communications if necessary, while increasing their personal knowledge of electronics and radio theory. An estimated six million people throughout the world are regularly involved with amateur radio.

A Hobby
   For me Ham radio is a way of making friends all over the world. In a world where information is power being able to know what is happening in your town or in the island is priceless. Many of the things we are enjoying now were used years in advance by Amateur Radio Operators. I have been active providing emergency communication during the last two major hurricanes for the Red Cross.

Hurricane George 1998

Public Service

  Amateur Radio was the only form of communication after hurricane george struck the island in 1998. I spend two days passing emergency messages. For more information about what is Amateur Radio visit the Arrl.org web page

Geocaching

   Since I started almost a year ago it has become an obsession. Geocaching is a modern game of treasure hunt using GPS technology. All you need is a GPS receiver and the love of adventure. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

One of the many caches here in Puerto Rico

Geocaching.com is the official webpage of this innovative game and membership is free. I invite you to go to their web page and start exploring but be careful this game is addictive.
 

Micro size cache container

Swine flu

Why is the world goverments so worried about this flu? Regular flu kills thousands of more people.

"CDC estimated that about 36,000 people died of flu-related causes each year, on average, during the 1990s in the United States. This figure includes people dying from complications of flu. During these years, the number of estimated deaths ranged from 17,000 to 52,000."

So far H1N1 has killed 3917 people worldwide. Is there something they are not telling us?

BOB - Bug Out Bag

   Are you prepared to leave your house at a moment notice? In September, 2008 I had to do just that, and guess what I was not prepare. I found myself in the middle of the biggest flooding in the recent history of the island. That day it rained for more than twenty four hours for a total of 23''. I had more than a foot of water inside of my house and I could not even find a flashlight. There were people looting some of the houses and I was alone in the street so I needed to protect myself in case something like this happens again. In the months after the flood I decided to get better prepare. I knew about the Bug out Bag but never even think that I would need one. And so I begin the never ending task of being prepare.

What is a BOB?

   A bug-out bag is a portable kit that contains the items one would require to survive for seventy two hours when evacuating from a disaster. It is also known as a 72-hour kit. The focus is on evacuation, rather than long-term survival, distinguishing the bug-out bag from a survival kit, a boating or aviation emergency kit, or a fixed-site disaster supplies kit.

   The primary purpose of a bug-out bag is to allow one to evacuate quickly if a disaster should strike. It is therefore prudent to gather all of the materials and supplies that might be required to do this into a single place, such as a bag or a few storage containers. The recommendation that a bug-out bag should contain enough supplies for seventy two hours arises from advice from organizations responsible for disaster relief and management that it may take them up to seventy two hours to reach people affected by a disaster and offer help.

    It has taken months to get everything that I wanted in my bag but it is still not a finished. I still need to include food, medicines and a couple of more things.

Maxpedition Falcon II Backpack

CP-L Radio Pouch on the side.

Contents of the Bug Out Bag

                                 

1. Yaesu VX-7R Handheld Radio.

2. Shortwave Radio

3. Small First Aid kit

4. Mosquito Repellent

5. KA-Bar Short Serrated Knife

6. Small Knife with fire starting Rod

7. Acer One Laptop with six hour battery

8. Rothco LED Flashlight

9. Rayovac LED Flashlight

10. SAS Survival Guide

11. Poncho

12. Compass

13. Lightsticks

14. Water purification tablets

15. Small Altoids Survival Kit

16. Garmin Oregon 200 Handheld GPS (not shown)

17. Aquamira portable water purifier straw (not shown)

18. IPod I touch 16Gb (not shown)