Don’t be fooled, taking on this off-grid lifestyle without preparation can be fatal. We all hear about stories of campers and wilderness explorers being found dead after being deemed missing. Well, the same tragic stories have happened to those who left everything to live off the grid. There are several programs on TV about those living off-grid in Alaska. While these conditions may be harsher than something you’re planning, just watch the show and see how prepped these people are for the unexpected, off-grid.
In fact just recently a family of two sisters and a 14 year old son passed away tragically in Colorado, you can read more here. They decided to move off grid due to world conditions and fear things are getting worse. However, unfortunately they didn’t have the experience to handle what they encountered.
Off-grid living comes with its set of challenges, as highlighted by a recent tragic incident in Colorado involving a family who moved off-grid due to world conditions and fears that things were getting worse. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the experience to handle what they encountered while living off-grid.
To prep fully for off-grid living, take your time, spending a good 6 months to a year learning several DIY techniques specific to off-grid setups. For a good start, let’s discuss the top 5 fatal mistakes you can avoid before your journey into off-grid living.
In order to prep fully for off-grid living take your time, spend a good 6 months to a year learning several DIY techniques. For a good start, let’s discuss the top 5 fatal mistakes you can avoid before your journey.
1. Fully Understand Your Weather Conditions
Weather conditions can seriously impact off-grid living, and being prepared is crucial for survival. Off-grid homes are often located in remote areas where roads are not regularly maintained, making access difficult during extreme weather events. Very few places offer perfect weather year-round, so it’s essential to plan for more extreme conditions than you might normally expect — including unexpected storms.
Snow and Cold Weather:
Living off-grid in snow-prone areas means preparing for the possibility of being snowed in. Even regions accustomed to light snowfall can experience heavy snow seasons that make roads impassable and leave you landlocked.
You must have a large supply of canned or frozen food, ensure your water source or well is reliable, and protect pipes from freezing. Know how to melt snow for water if necessary. Stockpile a significant amount of firewood for heating, and expect limited solar electricity during snowy periods. Having a gas generator and extra fuel can be a lifesaver. In extreme emergencies, a snowmobile could provide critical mobility if vehicles cannot get through. Remember: freezing temperatures and starvation are real risks without proper preparation.
Heavy Rains and Flash Flooding:
While rain may seem less threatening, heavy storms can lead to flash flooding — even if your home itself is not directly affected. Washed-out roads can isolate you from town or supplies. As with snow, it’s vital to keep enough food, water, and essentials on hand to sustain you until roads are repaired and help becomes available.
Extreme Heat and Drought:
Extreme heat can be just as dangerous. In desert areas, people have died from dehydration and exposure. Never fully rely on your well; during severe droughts, the water table can drop unexpectedly, leaving you without water. Always store a large backup supply of water. If a car is your primary escape plan, be aware that mechanical failures can happen — especially in harsh conditions. Always expect the unexpected when living off-grid.
2. Supplies Are Essential From the Start
From the start, your car, camper, truck needs to be loaded with enough supplies to last you a long time. While the plan is to get set up and gather things along the way, it will take a while to get to that level. Also, should you get stuck out there for a while before setting up, you need the means to live till the situation is resolved.
In basic here are some key items, there are many more things but we would say these are quite essential. Be sure to compile a list from several sources while you gather things for your journey
1. Clean Water
2. Food
3. Shelter
4. Survival Kit
5. Clothing and Personal Items
6. Communication and Navigation Devices
7. Survival Gear
8. Energy Sources
9. Hunting and Fishing Equipment
10. Cooking Supplies
11. Emergency Shelter Building Materials
12. Knowledge and Skills
13. Firewood and Fire Safety
14. Entertainment and Mental Health
15. Positive Attitude
When considering off-grid living, survival skills are crucial. They ensure your ability to navigate and adapt to unpredictable environments while living off-grid. These skills empower you to find food and water, which is essential for successful off-grid living. Here is a great video about survival skills and supplies
While living off-grid, emergencies can happen. Relying solely on cellular signals is risky when off-grid. Always have several alternatives for communication during your off-grid adventures.
3. Survival Skills:
Survival skills are crucial before venturing into remote areas as they ensure one’s ability to navigate and adapt in unpredictable and challenging environments. These skills empower individuals to find water, shelter, and food, as well as build fires and signal for help in emergencies. The wilderness presents numerous natural hazards, such as extreme weather, wild animals, and rugged terrain, where having survival knowledge can mean the difference between life and death. Being equipped with these skills fosters self-reliance, boosts confidence, and enhances decision-making under pressure, enabling adventurers to explore the great outdoors with a higher level of preparedness and safety. While you can’t learn everything, be sure to bring several survival books to take with you.
4. Limited Access to Help:
Understanding wildlife encounters is vital when living off-grid. Being equipped with knowledge can help you avoid dangerous situations in remote areas.
Emergencies do happen, depending on a cellular signal alone is a risk. You could lose access to power to charge your phone rendering it useless. Also, cell towers in remote areas do go out and they are rarely fixed quickly like a city one would. At the same time your phone could have other issues, even not paying your bill can leave you without communication for emergencies. Consider several alternatives to take with you.
-Give your exact location to friends and family. Have contact times where if they don’t hear from you for a certain period they will know something is wrong.
In conclusion, embracing off-grid living can be extremely rewarding when done right. Often free from the burden of mortgages, living off-grid can provide a sense of self-sustainability in a chaotic world.
-Consider satellite connected phones plans
-PLBs, a personal locator beacon as a last resort for emergency help
-Ham/CB radio in your car
5. Wildlife Encounters
Depending on the area you should know how to deal with wildlife. Being comfortable in areas with bears and not knowing how to store food properly can end up in an altercation or having your supplies wiped out. At the same time something as simple as a rattlesnake bite in a far remote area can be fatal. Bring a first aid kid, snake kit and consider some firearm protection or at least bear spray.
In conclusion
Living off grid can be extremely rewarding when done right. Often free from the burden of a mortgage and the comfort of being self sustainable in such a world of chaos is a big plus. Just be smart and stay safe from the start. If you are interested in some land to live off-grid on, consider our affordable land below
© 2025, LandZero
