Basic Guide to Survival in the Outdoors

Survival is all about staying alive. It is a skill that can be learned but knowledge alone is not enough. Your mind is your most important tool and first you must have the will to survive.

Knowledge comes second and you need to be able to use whatever you have with you and the surroundings for shelter, signalling, navigation and more.

Your survival knowledge will help with your confidence and keep your fears at bay. But you also need to practice what you know so that it becomes a skill, which needs to be maintained by regular training or by applying them regularly.

Having the right equipment will increase your chances of survival but the lack of it should not render you useless. Use your skill and knowledge to find a way to compensate for the lack of equipment.

Being prepared involves getting yourself physically and mentally fit as well as packing the appropriate gear for the trip. You need to know how long you will be away, how much food you will need to carry, what kind of clothing and footwear you need to have, what special equipment you need if any and what specific medical kit do you require or what might you need.

Before going on a  hiking trip, be sure that you get a thorough medical and dental check up and ensure that you get all the necessary vaccinations for the territories through which you intend to travel.

Make sure you know the abilities of each member of the group to deal with the challenges ahead. You might want to consider dropping unfit members if your trip is going to be difficult.

Hold meetings and discuss plans and nominate someone to either be the cook, medic, navigator, etc. Make sure everyones knows how to use their camping gear and be sure to carry spares.

You increase your chances of survival the more detailed your knowledge of the place you’re going.

Before you go, study the maps carefully and gain the knowledge of the terrain as much as possible as well as the climate including weather conditions, river directions and speed of flow. In fact every single bit of detail helps.

Try to figure out any scenario where things and go wrong and prepare for it. Think of what you would do in case someone gets injure or ill, the weather is worse than anticipated or if you are in a group, what would you do if you get separated (it does happen even when you decide to stick together in the first place.)

In cold climates, wearing clothes in layers is the best. It gives you the flexibility to adjust to your body temperature by adding or removing layers.

In general, clothes should fit well but not restrictive and you should have something to protect you from the cold and rain while keeping your body ventilated. I always carry a hooded windbreaker with me at all times.

If you are using new boots, they should be slowly broken in at least 2 weeks prior to the trip.

If you can afford it, carry a down sleeping bag with you. They’re lighter than synthetic bags and keeps you warm even better. However, the problem with down bags is that they lose their insulation when wet and drying them on the field is close to impossible.

Dome tents are popular but they may be too heavy for backpacking. If you’re alone you can either carry a 2 person tent for comfort or if you prefer hiking light, use a bivvy sack (also known as bivouac sack). Choose a bivvy that’s made of waterproof breatheable material if you want to stay dry.

Some argue that internal frame backpacks are the best but external frame backpacks allows you to carry heavier loads, even an injured person. This is the type of backpack that most militaries use.

It’s also important that you keep your gear dry. Use a waterproof stuff sack or layers or plastic bags to keep your clothes, electronics, food, etc.