Backpacking on the Move – Wilderness Survival Skills
Finding yourself lost or stranded in the wilderness with limited, or simply without any supplies or tools, can dramatically decrease your chances of survival. A day hike can turn into a nightmare in a matter of minutes. Injuries, unexpected weather events and getting lost can leave you stranded alone for days. Not planning for the unexpected can have dire consequences.
Practically speaking you can only carry a 72-hour supply of water in a backpack. Water weighs 8.5lbs/3.8kg per gallon in its container. Using the one gallon/four liters per day recommendation means your water supply for 72-hours will weigh over 25lbs/11kg. You have to be prepared to collect, filter and purify a water source if you become lost. It is likely you will deplete any food and water you are carrying if you become lost.
The essentials for any backpack must include the means to construct a shelter if you are not carrying one, purify water, and make fire and eventually find food if you are lost for an extended period. You must have shelter and a fire within hours of realizing you are lost.
You should not try to hike out of your predicament in the dark. Predators that include snakes begin hunting at dusk; you can fall in to a gorge or walk off a cliff in the dark as well. You must face reality. When you know you are lost, stop and evaluate your surroundings and begin making a shelter. You need a shelter and fire before it becomes dark.
Generally, it is recommended you shelter in place and let rescue personnel find you. If you knew the way home, you would not be lost and wandering farther afield will only make it more difficult for rescuers. Additionally you will use valuable energy, can be injured blundering around and you will consume more water. If you have to hike out, you will still need to shelter over night and for subsequent nights as you hike back to civilization.
The following is a list of essentials needed for survival. Food and water is purposely left off the list because it is assumed you have packed enough for the time you expected to be gone. The items listed are for long-term survival, long after your traditional supplies have been depleted.
Survival Essentials That Should Be In Every Backpack:
• Nylon Tarp Rolled Tightly and Secured on the Outside of your Pack
• Two Rain Ponchos
• Two Thermal Blankets
• Magnesium Stick
• Ferro Rod
• Cotton Balls and Petroleum Jelly
• Multi-Tool
• Sewing Kit
• Fixed Bladed Knife
• 550 Paracord 50ft (Paracord Can be Unraveled for Fishing Lines, Sewing Thread And So Forth)
• First Aid Kit
• 15-20 Pound Fishing Line with Assorted Tackle and Hooks
• Fishing Net Catch Fish while you Sleep
• Slingshot with Black Band
• Camp Axe/Machete/Folding Saw
• 20-24 Gauge Wire for General Binding and Animal Snares
• Lensatic Compass with Maps of Expected Travel Area and of State (Recommend Contour Maps)
• Insect Repellent/Netting if Applicable
• Coffee Filters for Emergency Water Filtration
• Two Stainless Steel Canteens
• Water Purification Tablets (Iodine/Chlorine Dioxide)
• Work Gloves
If you have room carry a sleeping bag or small nylon tent. However, tarps and ponchos can be used for shelter along with emergency thermal blankets.
Made using a small nylon tarp and you can use forest debris to help fill in the front and small saplings for the support pole. Build your fire so it is reflected into the shelter by making small reflective screen using vegetation and rocks to direct the heat inward. Construct this shelter for single overnights.
Build this type of shelter using available forest debris. This would be considered a more permanent shelter if you plan to stay in place and wait for rescue. The shelter as shown is partially completed. Note the poles on the ground. They will be stood up to make the shelter bigger and when completed the tree will be in the center of the shelter. If you leave an adequate smoke hole, you can have a small fire inside the shelter.
MAKING FIRE USING A MAGNESIUM STICK
Typically, a magnesium stick will have an imbedded flint rod for creating a spark. Matches have been purposely left off the list of essentials because it is important you not rely on them. Matches absorb moisture from the air around them, even body perspiration if you carry them in your pocket. Waterproof matches become useless if submerged in water or exposed to rain or snow. Magnesium is impervious to water and the particles scraped off the stick can be ignited under virtually any condition. To ignite dry tinder use a locked bladed knife or a fixed one as a scraper and scrape the stick over the bundle making sure the particles collect on the dry material. Take the backside of the blade and apply pressure on the flint bar as you push the blade toward the bundle. Striking the flint bar will damage it, so push toward the tinder as pressure is applied. Using the back of a folding knife can cause it to fold on your fingers. In an emergency, you can use the sharpened edge but it will dull the blade. The typical magnesium stick will create between 100 and 125 fires.
Use cotton balls saturated in petroleum jelly to ignite damp tinder. Scrape the magnesium over the cotton ball and spark to ignite. The petroleum will burn up to four minutes allowing you to feed it damp tinder.
A Ferro rod is used to create enough sparks to ignite dry tinder without using magnesium shavings. Once again, striking the rod will damage it, use the included scraper or the backside of a knife blade to create sparks. There are various types and sizes of Ferro rods.
A magnifying glass can be used to start a fire by focusing and intensifying the sun’s rays on dry grasses or pulpy wood. A Lensatic compass will have a magnifying glass included, so do not overlook this valuable fire starting method. You can also use broken headlight glass, bottle glass and even your eyeglasses to focus the sun’s rays.
NOTE THE MAGNIFYING GLASS
Bow and drill used to create fire. You can use cordage from your pack or shoelaces if you don’t have string or rope. The other components are made from forest debris. This method does work but it takes attention to detail and patience. The notch in the fireboard is where the ember that is created from the friction drops. Once you have an ember, move it to the tinder pile. You will notice a piece of bark is used to collect the tinder. However, moving the ember can cause you to lose it by dropping it, and if it is windy, it may blow away. It is recommended that you simply move the fireboard and bring your tinder to the ember.