Home > Shelter from the Storm - Hiker's Survival Skills for the Great Outdoors >

Shelter from the Storm - Hiker's Survival Skills for the Great Outdoors

Since the advent of technology, people have forgotten their primitive abilities to survive in the wild. In a corporate society, humans have become dependent on modern vehicles, convenience stores, telephones, computers, and even the Internet. Survivalists, a small group of people concentrated on restoring the internal drive to living in the wild, have fine-tuned techniques that everybody can use in case of an emergency. For instance, the majority of the population remains clueless on what steps to take during the wake of a natural disaster to save themselves or their neighbors. Even people who have become accustomed to a sedentary lifestyle can benefit from learning basic these skills to help gather the basic necessities for human survival, such as water, food, and shelter. In addition, most people can benefit from learning first aid, identifying different plants and animals, and applying navigational skill safely to avoid getting lost in unfamiliar territory. Survivalists regain conscious awareness of basic ideas and abilities of ancient human civilization. Most survivalists have experience with hiking, horseback riding, backpacking, fishing, hunting, and an assortment of other outdoor activities. Extreme survivalists have engaged in bushcraft and primitive living, wherein they literally exercise their wilderness survival skills on a day-to-day basis.

First Aid

Ordinary civilians should learn basic first aid and CPR skills, even if they never intend to set foot in a wooded area. Even in today's society, people may need to help somebody if they have developed an injury or illness. People trained in first aid can help individuals survive and function with injuries and illnesses that would otherwise incapacitate the afflicted in the wilderness. The wilderness offers clear and present danger, such as bites, bone fractures, heart attack, hemorrhage, hypothermia, headache, burns, infection, poisoning, sprains, and various wounds. The trained survivor will understand how to apply the contents within a first aid kit during a real-life situation that requires immediate attention. Advanced survivalists will understand how to use medicinal plants to help treat injuries and illnesses. In addition, they will understand how to immobilize injured limbs, and even transport incapacitated victims to the nearest hospital with minimal hassle.

Shelter

Humans evolved to survive in the wild by finding adequate shelter to protect them from predators, the elements, and other natural dangers. In the wilderness, survivalists can find various forms of natural shelter, such as a cave or hollow tree. Other survivalists may attempt to build their own intermediate forms of shelter, such as a debris hut, snow cave, or a tree pit. Modern survivalists prefer a form of man-made shelter, such as a tarp, ten, or longhouse.

Predators

The wilderness can pose several risks to human life, including the occasional encounter with a viscous predator. Predator encounters become life-threatening as darkness settles. A lot of predatory animals come out at times where it becomes increasingly difficult to see the environment’s surroundings, especially during peak sleeping hours. In order to survive predatory attacks, people should have a weapon to help fend off viscous animals. In addition, people should bring at least one additional individual if purposely venturing into the wilderness. Survivalists know that each person should alternate between sleep schedules to achieve maximum protection against predators. When traveling during the day, survivalists should look for paw prints, broken tree limbs, and listen for awkward noises. Learning signaling techniques will help pairs of survivalists communicate to each other if one happens to spot predators in their path. Survivalists should also beware of predatory humans who may have no reservations for taking human life.

Food and Water

Perhaps the most important point of survival is locating a fresh water source. On average, humans can survive between three and five days without sufficient water intake, which varies according to the temperature of the environment. Survivalists should understand how to avoid the unnecessary loss of water by perspiration, which means removing heavy clothing and minimizing arduous exercise activity. In fact, the average individual loses a minimum of four liters of water per day in normal situations. In the wilderness, people usually require between four and six liters of water to remain hydrated and keep the body functioning without failure. Survivalists may employ the various water consumption strategies in the wilderness; however, most agree that finding a fresh water source is the first step in survival. A dehydrated person will feel lethargic, dizzy, confused, and may experience headaches. Survivalists must learn how to purify water after finding it. The most common methods of water purification include boiling, filtering, and using chemicals to kill off existing bacteria.

Survivalists must also have a food source. A mentally prepared survivalist can identify wild, edible plants to eat in the wilderness, such as fruit, edible mushrooms, nuts, beans, cereals, leaves, moss, cacti, and algae. Experienced survivalists may know how to hunt using a knife or carved weapon. Others may be well versed in animal trapping and fishing. Beginner survivalists may bring dehydrated foods and cook them over a campfire.

Fire-making

Survivalists realize that their ancestors sought shelter to find a place for warmth during the cold winter months. In order to remain warm, survivalists must learn to build a fire without using a lighter or matches. Survivalists usually carry a natural flint and steel with tinder to create a fire. Fire also provides the ability to cook food in the wilderness. Most survivalist experts recommend learning how to make a fire before venturing into the wilderness for the first time.

Navigation

Survival situations may require finding a way to safety before incorporating sustainable skills. Finding a highly trafficked or suitable path may help individuals who need immediate rescue relief. Experienced survivalists understand how to navigate from one place to the other without using modern electronic devices, such as GPS receivers. In fact, they learn how to find their way around by identifying natural terrain features, such as the direction of a tree trunk and its moss growth. Other survivalists rely on using the sun and night sky to determine each cardinal direction on their course of travel. Campers may use maps and compasses to find their way around wooded areas. A small portion fling their navigation by determining their location based on previous positions, a process known as dead reckoning.