Wilderness survival

It is vital for survival in the wilderness that you see the situation for what is really are and not for what you would like it to be. It is advised that you keep all your hope and expectations grounded in reality. When you put yourself into a survival situation with expectations and hopes that are unrealistic you are leaving yourself open for disappointment and failure.

It may take a number of skills to survive in the wilderness, but your most important skill and tool is your attitude. If you believe in yourself, keep your feet firmly grounded in reality and have faith in your skills, your chances of surviving in the wilderness are much greater.

  The most important factor in anticipating stress when surviving in the wild is, know yourself as to your strengths and weaknesses. Size up your situation. Always take a deep breath and determine your condition, what tools you have available to help you and your immediate surroundings. Are you hurt do you need to get medical help.

How much should ultra light backpacking tents weigh? The pup tents I used as a child was about three pounds. Based on this, I figure - with all the new materials available - it should be possible to make one-man and even two-man tents under three pounds without all the interior condensation problems of the old tents.

  There are a few backpacking tents that meet my standards, as well as tarps, Here are some of the specific design features, and their advantages and disadvantages.

- Single wall waterproof-breathable tents. These tend to be as heavy as the the ones with rain-flies. Some users report that they still have condensation problems too. They may be simpler to erect, though.

- Single wall waterproof tents. The newest designs are not like the old pup-tents. They deal with the interior condensation problem by having lots of ventilation. A forward sloping front, for example can be a screened opening to allow air flow, while still keeping rain out in all but the windiest storms.

- Floor-less tents. The advantage here is usually quick set-up, in addition to the weight savings. Some designs let you use trekking poles instead of carrying the extra weight of tent poles. You need a groundsheet, of course, but these can be light (and disposable) plastic to keep the weight down.

- Hanging tents. Some designs let the tent be hung from a tree limb, so you can save the weight of tent poles. It can sometimes be difficult to find a good branch for this, so you may want to be sure you can use a stick or trekking pole as an alternative.

- One-man versus two-man tents. Of course a one-man tent will usually be lighter. On the other hand, if you will mostly be backpacking with a friend, a two-man tent should weigh less per-person. Also consider how much time you will spend in the tent - space matters if you'll be waiting out the rain for hours on end.

- Aircraft aluminum poles. These are some of the lighter tent poles out there - certainly lighter than the shock-corded fiberglass ones.

- Four-season versus three-season tents. This is a somewhat artificial distinction unless you are going to do some extremely cold backpacking. I have even tarp-camped when it snowed. Just be sure that you can use the tent for the conditions you expect to be in.

- Lamp hangers, interior pockets, and other features. While I generally don't like to pay in dollars or in extra weight for special features, sometimes they are worth it. If you like to read in the tent, a loop at the top to hang a flashlight from is a real advantage.

A good fungus for starting fires grows on birch trees. Look for black, lumpy growths on the trees and break off a piece. The inside is orange to brown. What makes this particularly useful is that it can be ignited from a spark, to create a coal that can be blown into a fire. You can also use this fungus to carry a coal with you, for quick fire making at the next stop.

Sore throat or cough? Tea made from the boiled new needles and/or sap of spruces is used to treat both. It also contains a significant amount of vitamin C.

Breath through your nose when hiking. It involves your diaphragm more (you'll notice your abdomen expands more than with mouth-breathing), meaning more air makes it to the bottom of your lungs for better efficiency. Less body moisture is lost when breathing through the nose as well, which is important if you have limited water to drink.

Maybe you can get by with a tarp or a bivy sack. It depends on the type of trips you take, the terrain and climate you'll be in, and your own needs for comfort. What you need is a lightweight backpacking shelter that you enjoy using and works for you. This may mean owning a couple different shelters for different purposes.

Even some of us who primarily use tarps like to use a good backpacking tent from time to time. Tents have obvious advantages. They usually keep you out of the weather more effectively. They give you more protection from insects. They give you more privacy. It will usually be warmer in a tent than under a tarp, because it is harder for the wind to blow away your body heat.

That last advantage can become a disadvantage when it is a hot summer nigh, of course. They can also take some time to set up. The primary disadvantage, though, is that the lightest backpacking tent is heavier than either tarps or bivy sacks.

So should you carry a tent or something else for a shelter? It's a matter of place, season and personal preference. I happen to love the open feeling of life under a tarp - at least until the mosquitoes come out. If it buggy and windy and rainy, I would prefer any of the good ultra light backpacking tents.

1. A good ultra light backpacking tent should weigh three pounds or less (one-man tent).

2. You need to carefully consider how you use a tent in order to buy the right one for you.

3. You need to think about the climate where you'll be using the tent before buying one.

4. There are other shelter options besides a backpacking tent.

Lost in the woods with no food? The inner bark (the soft white part) of pine trees is edible. Palatability is another matter, and varies from species to species. I have found white pine to be tolerable. Strip some bark off the tree, scrape the inner bark from the rougher outer layer, and boil it for best digestion.

In cold weather, coat your feet with antiperspirant for several days before a backpacking trip. This will stop them from sweating too much. This means drier, and therefore warmer feet.

Mosquitoes may be the biggest reason many ultra light backpackers refuse to use a tarp. Using insect repellent is only a partial solution. Another solution is to use the tarp only in areas that aren't too buggy, and bring a tent otherwise. A head net weighs just an ounce, but you still need to keep the rest of your body covered - not pleasant when it's warm. Pitching camp where the bugs are blown away (up high, for example) has worked well for me.

There is one other solution. There are mesh "tents" you can pitch under your tarp. I have seen one with a floor built in that weighs 1 pound 7 ounces. In combination with a 7-ounce tarp, you're still under 2 pounds for a shelter, and you don't have to bring a head net or groundsheet. This way you also have the option to just bring the tarp when there are no bugs.

Ultra light backpacking tarps, by the way, weigh less than 20 ounces. This is my own standard, but it seems reasonable.

There are rain ponchos that are designed to be used as a backpacking tarp as well. Some of these are relatively light (under a pound). It is always worth looking into any dual-purpose items to save weight when backpacking.

Tarps can also be made from plastic painter's drop cloths, if you are just going out for an "overnighter" in an area without much wind.

Use silicone spray to keep tents dry and use it on equipment to help keep them dry.

Key Points

1. Tarps are lighter and sometimes simpler to use than tents.

2. You need to use an appropriate-sized groundsheet with a tarp.

3. You should practice setting up your tarp before going too far into the wilderness.

4. A good lightweight backpacking tarp weighs less than 20 ounces.

5. The problem of mosquitoes has some solutions, but a tent is sometimes the best answer.

Knowing a few wild berries you can eat can isn't just about potential survival situations. It also means you can have delicious healthy snacks and a good excuse for a break when hiking. Here are some of the wild foods we ate on one day hike in Glacier National Park: Blueberries... Service Berries... Rose Hips... Blackberries... High Bush Cranberries... Strawberries... Raspberries... Thimbleberries... Currants.

Pitching your tent in the right place can mean staying much warmer. Cold settles into valleys and cold winds blow up on the hilltops and mountain tundra. The best locations then, are often somewhere in between - as long as you can find a level spot to camp.

A small piece of plastic can make a nice lightweight mat outside your tent door. It makes it easier to put on shoes without getting dirt in the tent, and provides a place to cook if you are careful.Avoid making fires on soils that aren't mostly minerals. Roots have been known to catch fire from simple campfires, and burn underground for days. Under the right conditions, the fire can then resurface and start forest fire.

Hiking in the arctic? Here's a quick survival tip to keep in mind: In all the stories of arctic survival I have read, bird eggs seem to be one of the most common saviors of people lost in the arctic. There are no trees for the birds to nest in, so collecting eggs isn't usually too difficult. Of course, you have to be there at the right time of the year.

UV radiation from sunlight destroys nylon over time. Don't leave your tent set up in the yard for days. If you spend a lot of time camping at high altitude (where UV rays are strongest) you may want to coat the tent's rainfly with a UV blocking treatment.

Weather: In the Rocky Mountains you can see the clouds forming just before the afternoon storms. Being able to read the sky can keep you out of trouble. Lightning kills hikers in Colorado regularly.

 

Sunburn - Precautions and Remedies

Apply Aloe Vera gel to the affected areas - it is very effective home remedies for sunburn. Aloe Vera cream is also good herbal treatment for sunburn.

- Tea without sugar helps to sooth and relief some of the discomfort of sunburned skin. It is one of the best home remedies for sunburn.

- Drink more water when exposed to the sun, because your body loses water and essential salt in the sunlight. To prevent this, take more fluid to ensure your skin health.

- Lavender oil and yogurt also help in treating the sunburn. It is simple and easy home remedies for sunburn available all the time at your home.

If the grommets break on your tarp, or if you are using a piece of plastic or nylon that doesn't have any, you can still tie lines to it. Take a small rock and push it against the plastic, grabbing it from the other side. Tie the cord around this and it should hold just fine. In fact, done right, this is more reliable than a grommet in my experience.

For emergency night travel, you can make a simple torch. Use the pitch from pine trees wrapped around the top of a stick with strips of cloth, or just smeared on it. Wounded pines often have large gooey masses of pitch on their trunks. Hot pitch will drip, so hold the torch away from you. This sap is also a good fire starter.

Most tents don't need a ground cloth. If you use one, it should be slightly smaller than the tent bottom, or it will catch rain and hold it against the tent. If it is too large, use the ground cloth inside the tent instead.

1..always keep batteries

2..be able to move for long periods of time in a moments notice.

3..have a solar panel and battery for it

4..coleman fuel,lanterns and tents..

5..forget those big generators..get use to no gasoline

6..don't rely on the government for shit..

7..guns..this is very important as the coons will steal your shit..

8..don't blame the electric company for an act of mother nature..

9..throw your portable tv away after feb because the converter box will weigh as much as a freezer full of bad meat..

10..plan on the long haul as this may just be a test...

11..don't rely on your neighbor as he will be heading for the woods to..

12..don't plan on comming back...look at galveston...gone...

13..just a matter of time..don't freak out by any means..

14 Keep a fresh supply of water

Key Points

1. The best way to learn how to start a fire is to practice.

2. A fire requires tinder, kindling and fuel.

3. A balance of air, heat and fuel is necessary for a fire to burn well.

4. Fire starting without matches or a lighter is very difficult - bring a lighter and matches.

The most important factor in anticipating stress when surviving in the wild is, know yourself as to your strengths and weaknesses. Concentrate on your strongest qualities and before going into the wild, develop those qualities you think you are lacking. Never pretend you are fearless. When you face up to your fears you can work on the skills that will enable you to become confident. Training and learning skills that relate to a particular fear will allow you to become more secure and better able to handle a situation should one arise.

Knowing how to start a fire can make the difference between living and dying. The primary benefit of a fire to a backpacker is as a way to stay warm in an emergency situation. You can also cook over a fire, protect yourself from animals with it, and use it to signal rescuers, among the many other uses.

The three basics of a fire are fuel, air and heat. You need all three to start a fire and you need to keep them in proper ratios to keep it burning well. This is something you learn primarily by experience. For example, if you put logs or sticks too close together, air can't get in, so they won't burn well. Too far apart and they won't provide the heat to each other to burn well either. You have to practice to really have a "feel" for fire making.

There are also three basic materials you need. They are: tinder, kindling, and fuel. For examples, think paper, sticks and logs, but don't limit your thinking to these.Bring A Map

Even a highway map with little detail is better than nothing. It has highways and roads you can aim for if you get lost. It may even show a mountain or two, so you can identify a landmark and figure out where you are. To avoid excess condensation in your tent, open the rain fly's on any screened windows or doors any time you can. Good airflow will prevent most condensation. You can always close them again if it starts to rain.Gear makers continue to roll out products designed specifically for women, which makes perfect sense since women's participation in outdoor sports continues to grow as well.

The narrowest point in a stream may be the most tempting but is probably the most dangerous point to cross because the current is more powerful there. The widest part is probably the safest. At any rate, going for the slow and deep is usually safer than shallow and fast.

Always release your hip belt before crossing a stream in case you are knocked off your feet. This way you can easily rid yourself of the pack if you are washed downstream. This could save you from drowning, and it is better to lose your pack than your life.

If you are trying to cross a snow-fed river near the end of the day, consider waiting until morning. Pitch camp and spend the night there. The stream's flow will be reduced during the cool evening, and it will be easier to cross the stream before things heat up during the day.

Long pants have more drag on you than shorts. Cross in shorts or even nude or in underwear. Once across, you can warm up by redonning your clothes.

Some crossings are safe enough to do barefoot, but why take chances? Wear your boots or camp shoes, if you have them. A number of companies make water socks- scrunchable shoes with a rough sole made for gripping rocks and stream beds.

When crossing rapids, face upstream and move sideways like a crab. Using a hiking stick or pole will help you maintain your balance.Hands-on, real-world training in environments that closely approximate actual severe conditions in the wilderness is the best guarantee of surviving in a remote location.

For example, a really comprehensive and effective winter survival program that would give students a high degree of survival potential might include: cold weather survival tactics; land navigation including use of GPS, maps and compass; first aid; shelter finding and building; fire skills; hypothermia, frostbite and altitude issues (prevention, recognition and treatment); avalanche training; snowcat, snowmobile, ATV and 4X4 training; and training with handling chainsaws and winches. Packed into, say a five-day program, with 20 percent classroom and 80 percent real-world field training, this type of program would produce graduates that could very competently take care of themselves in a remote winter environment.

Natural Tinder

Natural tinder comes in many forms, depending on the geographic region. In the eastern half of the United States, the leaves of deciduous trees can be used. In the American West, pine needles and the bark from juniper trees may be more popular. Some common forms of natural tinder include:

Pine needles

Leaves

Grasses

Bark

Avoid gathering material from live trees or plants to avoid creating an eyesore and impact. Besides, tinder burns better when it is dry and has no moisture content.

There are different types of material that are man-made and perform the same function as natural timber. Some can be easily found around in the backpack, others can be purchased from an outdoor retailer. Some common items that can be brought from home are:

Paper

Cardboard

Cotton balls

Lint from the dryer.

Newspaper

Keep these items in a resealable plastic bag to keep them dry.

Next to planning having a survival kit is probably one of the most important parts to surviving in just about any situation.It is a good idea to put together a couple survival kits. One kit to keep in your pocket at all times and others that can be placed at home, at work, and in your vehicle.

Preparing and carrying a survival kit is an essential part of survival. Even the smallest survival kit, when properly prepared, is invaluable in a survival situation..

Knowing your environment is important when picking the types of items you will need in your survival kit. The amount of gear in your kit will depend on how you will carry the kit. A kit carried in your pocket is going to be a lot smaller than one that is stored in a vehicle. A good pocket survival kit should be about the size of an Altoids mints tin. In fact, my favorite kit is one that I made with an altoids tin.

For the case, you can use anything from a metal Band-Aid box, a first aid case, an altoids tin, an ammunition pouch, or another suitable case. Your case should be:

Waterproof. or Water-repellent (or vacuum sealed in air tight plastic)

Easy to carry .

Durable.

The contents of your case will depend on your location, but here is a list of the basics.

Lighter (In a survival situation you will be very thankful for this one, remember your not trying to be mister outdoors your trying to survive! It is much easier to light a fire with a lighter than trying with a match or other fire starting techniques.)

Backup Matches ( These should be the wooden stick type. Break the stick in half to fit more matches in your case, dip them in wax to waterproof, tear off the striker from the box, then wrap in plastic wrap.)

Small Locking Pocket Knife

String & Wire ( I would recommend some fishing line or another good alternative is to break open a cheap case of floss and put the whole spool of floss in there.)

Tweezers

Needle ( can be used with the floss or fishing string to sew)

Fishing hooks and a few small weights.

Tinder (shove cotton in to all the loose space in your case, this can be a big help when trying to start a fire.)

Scalpel Blades

Finger Nail Clipper

Flint

Whistle

Small Signal Mirror

Laminated Survival guide

A Bug Out Bag can get you through those rough times. It's even possible to be comfy during some disasters with the right gear. Let me tell you basically what a Bug Out Bag is.

A Bug Out Bag is a backpack or shoulder bag that you have ready to go at a moment's notice. But this isn't any regular bag. It's packed full of emergency gear to get you through those tough times.

In a well-packed Bug Out Bag you'll find stuff like...

Food

Water

Warm Clothing

Basic Tools

When you have some of the comforts of home, that hurricane doesn't seem so bad. The same goes for earthquakes, tornadoes, riots, war, and anything else nature or man throws at you.

When disaster strikes, you won't have time to pack supplies. You'll have to get out - and move fast! There won't be any time to pack a bag. But there will be time to grab one you already have ready to go.

Select a suitable backpack

Pack your Bug Out Bag to meet your particular needs

Make shelter using basic supplies

Pack tools you may need in the wild (or in the city)

Make your Bug Out Bag the ultimate tool to get you through tough times.

Hypothermia

Defined as the body's failure to maintain a temperature of 36 degrees C (97 degrees F). Exposure to cool or cold temperature over a short or long time can cause hypothermia. Dehydration and lack of food and rest predispose the survivor to hypothermia.

Unlike heatstroke, you must gradually warm the hypothermia victim. Get the victim into dry clothing. Replace lost fluids, and warm him. A survival knife is one which usually has a hollow handle filled with equipment. The best types of hollow-handled knives are those in which both blade and handle are cut from a single piece of steel. The end usually has an O-ring seal on the pommel cap to keep water out of the handle.

Ways for Signaling for Help

• Smoke and fire - If you are stuck without a way to signal your rescuers, smoke and fire is one of the best options available. Fresh Greenery, oil, and rubber make thick visible clouds of smoke that can be seen for miles.

• Whistles - Whistles are great for short range signaling, whistles are also useful for scaring off large animals and bears.

• Flashlights - A flashlight can be very effective at night. Just make sure to conserve your batteries by using the flashlight when you are certain rescue is near.

• Flares - There are a couple different types of flares. Day flares produce a bright color smoke that can be seen from the air, and night flares produce an extremely bright light that can be seen from far away.

• Bright Reflective materials. Tinfoil, mirrors, metal or anything that can reflect the sunlight can be used to attract attention.

• Cell Phone - Even in the most unlikely places you may be able to get a cell signal.

• Ham Radio - A hand held ham radio will work anywhere in the world. They are lightweight and can be powered with a couple AA Batteries.

 The worst thing you can do is to pretend that you have no fears. Fear is not bad, how you respond to fear is what gets you into trouble. Think about what fears you have when it comes to survival. What scares you? What would cause the most anxiety if you were forced to survive alone?  Figure out why these things scare you.  Is it that you are not prepared? Do you lack certain skills to deal with the situation?  Take those things that scare you and train yourself to eliminate the fear. For instance, if one of your fears is that you would not be able to get a fire going in an emergency, start practicing your fire making skills. Or maybe your scared of how you would handle being alone in the wilderness. In that case, start taking some hikes by yourself.  Slowly start to extend your time in the wilderness until you have control over your fear.  Managing your fears requires you to do the things you fear the most. Training yourself will give you the confidence you need in a real world survival situation.