Outdoor Survival

Survival in the Great Outdoors with family and friends

I love to camp! Maybe you do too? But what happens when you get lost and you're forced to spend a few unexpected nights in the forest? No, this isn't Blair With 3, it's your life. And I'm going to give you a few tips on how to survive!

Practice makes perfect!!! Taking a simple camping trip May be all it takes to bone up on your outdoor survival skills. Ask a few friends who are interested as well so you don't go alone. Pack what you think are the bare essentials, food, water, tent, sleeping bag, sunscreen, first aid, clothes, matches, knife etc. And see how much of it you end up using. Chance are you will bring along things you thought you needed but won't use in the end, therefore whittling away your pack weight before you know it! Improvising will save you time, money and pack weight along the way. Instead of falling back on a lighter learn how to make a fire by hand with sticks. Simple things like this can lead to your survival in the end when in case you don't have a lighter to use!

You shouldn't be waiting for a real emergency to gain the knowhow of surviving the emergency. Keep your eyes and ears open to new opportunities that present themselves. Once you've set your camp take an exploring trip in search of different things. If in the event your pack was lost or stolen what would you use to take shelter in? What would you eat? What would you cook in? Where will you get water from?
Before you set a foot into the outdoors though you should learn how to read a compass and a map. Both are key items in the outdoors. Being more familiar with the outdoors on each trip you take will greatly increase your levels of comfort. The more comfortable you are with your surroundings the more you will be able to test or invent. However, no matter how brave or smart you think you are never leave home without your essential items. If in the event you weren't as smart as you thought you were, by leaving the your items at home you are only endangering yourself. Don't push yourself too hard, you May be sorry in the end.

The best advice I can offer are the ones that make the most sense. If you run out of water but find a creek, I'm hoping you're all smart enough to know not to just go hog wild and start drinking that water. You must boil it first. Against some myths bringing the water to a simple boil will make it safe enough to drink.
Find places, such as trees or rocks, that would make good shelter. Be wary of caves for who knows what lives in there at night. Large pine trees and large rocks you can stack wood against make good shelters in a pinch. Try to get a place on the south side of any large mass. It will get the most sunshine throughout the day.

Never eat any plants! Most of them can be harmless but in the event you eat one that isn't it can be a serious health problem that might end in death. Stick to fish & insects. I hear they all taste like chicken anyway!

Tie your food up in trees. Yes, maybe dorky but it's true. Bears and other animals follow food scents. If you've tied your food up high there is a greater chance the scent will be lost and in the event they DO find the scent, and your campsite the food will at least be safe. Don't ever tempt a bear, just stay calm. Talk to the bear in a low calm voice and back away slowly with your head down. Bears use a scare tactic called a bluff charge. This is to try to get you to stand down. Do it. I don't think in the situation of a bear I'd climb a tree since they can climb too but in some case you'll be able to out climb a bear. Don't ever run, they will catch you.

What's better than an army knife? A Gerber tool (or Leatherman.) Basically, like the Army knife these tools are multi- tools. It's got pliers, knives, can opener and a lot of other tools that come in very handy when camping that an army knife does not have. I actually have one of these that I use all the time around my home. Not just for outdoor survival these are handy lil' guys! Invest in one soon!

All in all, what do I always say? Be Prepared to expect the worst! IF you use common sense and a little brain power you'll survive the night and hopefully won't have to deal with any bears or witches.