Outdoor Adventurer’s Basic Survival Guide

Living as an outdoor adventurer for over 40 years and being an avid outdoorsman has taught me many things about surviving an emergency in the wilderness. Whether you are hiking in warmer climates or colder climates, there are a few things that never change as far as what you need to survive an emergency situation. In the following text I am going to give you a crash course on the necessities of survival in MOST situations. This is simply a personal opinion based on my experiences and by no means am I the utmost authority on the subject but the things I list will certainly aid in your survival if faced with survival challenges in the outdoors.

First Things First …..

When heading out into the back country there are a few things that are of great importance when you prepare. Whether you are going snowmobiling in the winter or taking an ATV trip in the summer, or just heading out into the woods on foot, a few things are standard equipment.

Always remember, there is no such thing as a “quick” trip anywhere when headed out into the backwoods. Plenty of people die within a short distance of their departure and return location due to poor planning and preparation. Even on “short trips” you always need to plan on being stuck for a while for whatever reason. Anything from equipment breakdown to a fast moving weather front can leave you stranded for a period of time long enough for hypothermia or heat stroke to set in if you are not prepared.

Remember, a ten minute ride on a snowmobiling or ATV can mean several miles and hours of walking back through waste deep snow or knee deep swamp. The following is a guide of the minimal gear I would carry even on a “short trip” and listed in order of importance. The list is already assuming you are wearing proper clothing and have a first aid kit for the adventure and have told someone RELIABLE your destination and route . . .

Failing To Plan Is Planning to Fail ….

1)      The single most important thing you can carry (and I NEVER go anywhere without) is FIRE! (UNLESS YOU ARE IN A VERY DRY LOCATION, THEN WATER IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT).

In MOST survival situations FIRE by far is the number one life saving device you can have.  I know some of you are thinking water, but anybody that travels the back country knows that water can usually be found within a few hundred yards of where you are. In certain areas of dry terrain, bringing water along is a must as well.

Waterproof matches are your best source of FIRE. Disposable lighters and regular matches can get too damp to light, even if they are kept in a sealed bag.  Many are unaware that condensation forms in the bag due to elements and other factors.

Waterproof matches in a waterproof container are always your best bet. In a wet survival situation it is always best to carry some type of accelerant to get a fire going. Although it is a sin to waste it, that bottle of hooch you’re hiding from your wife will make short work of starting a fire; the higher octane the better.

In regards to tender, in most parts of the outdoor world you can usually find a dry shrub or tree branch to base your fire with. Many types of tree bark pulls off in what looks like thin sheets and makes quick work of getting a roaring blaze going.

If the weather has been wet or exceptionally damp, I would strongly recommend packing along a candle.  The flame from the candle is much more forgiving when attempting to ignite damp tender than a waterproof match that seems to burn at an accelerated rate when one is desperate.

2)     Second must have, is a good knife.

A knife can save your butt in many reasons. With a good knife you can:

         cut limbs for a fire or shelter

         affix it to the end of a pole for hunting small game

         clean game, etc.

Although not as important as FIRE, a good knife is essential for surviving without having to re-invent the wheel. As stupid as it may seem to some people, a standard “survival” knife is not as “Rambo-ish” as you may think.

There are several options available on the market, and you can spend anywhere from $10 (at your local discount store) to $200 (at your name brand outdoor store).  What you’re looking for is a knife that has a hollow handle which is also a waterproof compartment.  In this nifty hideaway you will want to ensure you have SEVERAL waterproof matches (nervous, cold hands OFTEN require more than 3 matches!), needle, thread, fishing line and a few hooks.  Most of the knives I’ve described come standard with a handy compass as well, and the bonus?  Sometimes that compass even works!

3)      Although water itself is usually abundant in the backwoods, you will still need something to put it in.

A metal can of some sorts usually works the best so you can boil the water after you get a FIRE going so you do not get Giardia (aka Beaver Fever) and wish you had forgotten the fire and knife and just brought a case of toilet paper!  No matter HOW CLEAR the stream looks DON’T TRUST IT!  Intestinal parasites can leave you dehydrated from “Oh, Sweet Jesus” explosive diarrhea and lead to your demise.  Nothing else on this list will be of any benefit to you if you forget this golden nugget of wisdom!

If possible, leave the food contents of the can in it until an emergency situation so you not only have a water container, you can enjoy your potentially last decent meal for a while.  You might be surprised how good a can of green beans will taste after a couple days of eating fire pit shrew surprise.  Your QUALITY knife comes in handy when opening your campfire cuisine, and I would strongly recommend practicing the fine art of opening a can with a knife in the comfort of your own home, where you are close to emergency services if necessary until you get the hang of it!

4)     A gun is next on my list of necessities.

Although not a mandatory survival tool, a small .22 caliber handgun takes up very little space and can make all the difference between eating roasted rabbit or grouse and eating something disgusting and too slow to outrun your starving butt like a Porcupine or Possum. Something a little larger is recommended in case you become the hunted. If you do go with a .22 caliber and encounter a bear, large cat or whatever is tougher than you, do not attempt to defend yourself with it unless no other options are available. Try firing in the air or into the ground at a safe distance or find a tree to climb to safety.(unless it’s a big cat after you then the tree probably isn’t such a great plan!)J If you do plan on defending yourself against one of these large predators with it, make sure you file the sites off so it doesn’t hurt so bad when the bear shoves it up your ass.

Always carry a revolver or single shot if you have an option. Automatics tend to fail when stored for a long time due to corrosion from sitting. If your squeamish about carrying a firearm, just keep it unloaded and stored somewhere on your machine or in your pack just for emergency situations. Believe me, if you break down or get stranded a few hours from civilization, you will wish you had a gun.

5)     Now a word about grub.

In a survival situation, if you have the above supplies with you and the weather is not extreme, you should be able to survive for a few days awaiting rescue or better weather to escape your situation. However, it doesn’t take much room or effort to insure a few comforts if you find yourself in a survival situation.

In most areas of the wilderness you are pretty much guaranteed you will have water. Dried soup mix is a great way to ensure a little nourishment in case your hunting skills lack success. It doesn’t take up hardly any room on your machine or pack and even if you get some game it makes great seasoning.

Although water is usually readily available in most areas of the outdoors, I recommend throwing in a bottle or two of water just in case, and throw in some Emergen-C packets. Emergen-C packs take up no room and they are great nourishment in a crunch. I get the part about having enough room for beer and hooch but sacrifice some space for these necessities just in case!

6)      ELECTRONICS!

I know you are all thinking that a GPS, a CELL PHONE, a RADIO and all the cool gadgets should be at the top of the list but you are WRONG! If you have these things with you and they work, that is AMAZING! Here is the problem with relying on electronic devices . . . THEY FAIL!

Batteries die, signals get lost or are too weak, and transmitters go down. NEVER rely on electronics to save your butt! I’m not saying don’t bring them if you have them, but NEVER rely on them.

7)      Shelter materials are of high importance as well but without the above items, especially FIRE, it is usually a band-aid on a crater.

A good tarp and a roll of cord is at the top of the list for shelter needs. You can typically find some trees or shrubs to tie the tarp to so you can get out of the rain or snow. A small pup tent is a better idea and can be rolled up in a very small ball and stowed easily somewhere on your machine or pack as well. There are a lot of good choices for emergency blankets that do not take up much room as well. In an emergency situation in the back country, the number one killer is the COLD! If you are in a high heat area, it still gets cold at night and you still need a place to lay down out of the dirt and bugs if you get stuck out there.

8)     If you are adventuring in a warmer climate that has lots of sneaky critters like venomous snakes and spiders, ALWAYS bring along a snake bite kit and “EPI” shot in your first aid kit in case you get bit.

So, Let’s Review . . .

In summary, again, the number top keys to surviving being stuck somewhere in the sticks of the outdoors is keeping warm, watered and fed.

         ALWAYS plan on being stuck out there when you leave and you will ALWAYS be ready.

         Always over dress (in layers) and try to take additional clothes with you in case you get wet or cold. Your feet are what are potentially going to carry you out of a bad situation. Warm, comfortable boots and warm socks are a great place to start. Your head loses and/or sucks up a tremendous amount of heat so make sure you have proper head gear. Wool clothing is always a good in the cold outdoors due to its warmth and fast drying if it gets wet. In the event you are stranded due to snowmobile or ATV breakdown, never rule out igniting the machine itself on fire to stay warm or signal aircraft or search parties.

         A good noise maker such as a whistle or air horn is a bonus.

This is just a basic description of how I, as an outdoor adventurer myself, prepare to head out into the woods (even for a day trip).  By no means have I listed all things necessary for a ‘comfortable stay’ in the outdoors in a survival situation, it is simply enough to potentially save your life long enough to get out of the situation you are in.

Again, this is merely a reference guide as how I handle these situations and has kept me alive for many years in the wild outdoors. It is up to you whether you follow it. Good luck and be safe.

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Table of Contents

First Things First …..

Failing To Plan Is Planning to Fail ….

So, Let’s Review . . .