A trek into the wilderness is a great way to unwind and get away from the pressures at work and the hustle and bustle of urban living.
Taking a trek in the wilderness, however, requires more than purchasing camping gear from your favorite sports shop, particularly in case of emergency. There are a number of important skills you will need to learn before going out into wild to ensure that you will not only enjoy your trip, but also that you will come back in one piece to relate your adventure!The five most important things you have to learn are:
- How to Build a Shelter
- How to Make a Fire
- How to Find Water
- How to Find Food
- How to Signal for Help
Build a Shelter
You probably did not leave home without a solid camping tent, but in the event that it was blown away by h2 winds, or even torn to pieces by a bear, you may need to construct your own shelter.
Look for a site that is flat, dry, and well drained. Choose a place where there is wood for both building the shelter and firewood. In addition, the place should be visible so rescuers can see you but at the same time, it should be protected from h2 winds. Further, try to stay close to a source of water, but if it is a large river and there is a possibility of rain, stay at a safe distance. Also, look for natural formations that can provide shelter such as caves, crevices, or tall trees. If none are available, build your own using tree branches.
Make a Fire
While you should always carry a match or lighter when in the woods, it pays to know how to create fire using only wood or flint. But be careful when choosing a place to build your fire. Be sure it is far from materials that could unintentionally kindle and get out of control.
There are three types of fire materials – tinder, kindling, and fuel— and you need all three to build a fire. Tinder can be dry leaves, grass, bark, and resin. These catch fire easily and should be the first things you light up. Resin also has the advantage of catching fire even when wet. Look for it in spruce and pine trees.
Once the tinder begins to burn, add your kindling. Use small twigs and sticks that are dry to build the flame. Bigger pieces of firewood can then be added to fuel the fire.
Find Water
Even without food, you can survive for weeks if you have water. This is why it is imperative that you know where to find water if your bottle runs out.
The most likely places to find water include valleys and low areas where it drains naturally. Rock crevices and depressions may also hold rainwater. Further, damp ground may indicate that water is close by. In addition, animals often converge on – or frequent – water sources. Lookout for their tracks and follow them. Insects may also stay close to water and birds often hover and circle water sources.
Find Food
Almost always, you can find natural food in the wilderness. The easiest source is wild edible plants. Dandelions and sour grass can be on the menu. Insects can be a good source of protein and fat. Bird’s eggs are another alternative. Some birds lay their eggs on the ground so you do not have to climb trees to get to their nests.
Signal for Help
If you have lost all your electronic communications gear, you will have to rely on visual signals to get help. You can use fire and smoke, signal mirror, or flares and flashlight. When sending out a signal, stay close to your shelter but look for the most visible location.
As you are probably aware, the international distress signal is SOS which, in code, is transmitted with three short, three long, and three short signals. You can transmit this signal using smoke, mirror, or flashlight.
Signal fires, on the other hand, are built in threes, either in a straight line or triangle, about 100 meters apart.
Knowledge of survival techniques is of course important if you want to make it back home alive. Equally important is your will to survive. You need to keep cool, keep thinking straight, and avoid panicking.
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