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Survival will be everyone's concern. It may be physical survival or it may be the mental kind. The first is needed when one combats the elements, but the later is also necessary to combat a six week period in a potentially hostile environment away from family, friends and "normal" living conditions.
You will be visiting a true wilderness area of the world, hopefully we will see few people, just trees, wildlife and superb scenery. The area has a variety of local residents who variously carry on subsistence activities critical for their life-style, others may be hostile or over-inquisitive about our activities and belongings, and others could be dangerous – bear, moose, wolf, and caribou. NB Grizzlies can be as tall as 11 feet , weigh half a ton and run as fast as 30 mph!
Local conditions may make it potentially difficult, for example giardiasis (a water borne disease), biting and stinging insects of all kinds of which mosquito is king, and frequent and necessary river crossings. However the Expedition is prepared for all these problems of survival, and this in part will overcome one of the greatest problems of survival – Fear. Fear of the unknown, the fear of discomfort, and the fear of personal weaknesses.
In emergency situations when survival is necessary, your body will need rest, just as it needs air, shelter and water. Rest will allow the body to refuel its muscles and to combat the mental stresses resulting from the frustration and anxieties of an emergency. Therefore, for a brief moment stop and look about you. There can be wonder and beauty all around you if you can only see it, "enjoy" the rushing cloud, the storm, the drenching rain and tile company of your companions, you will never quite be in that same situation again (you hope) so savour it.
In an emergency you will be frightened. The more experienced you are, the better fitted you will be to solve the problems of survival (the reason for training!) and the better you will be able to cope. Fear can be the greatest obstacle to problem solving and self-control as it stimulates the flow of adrenaline which uses tremendous amounts of energy. With each successive fright more energy is used and this can leave a person weak and drained, both physically and mentally. The best way to survive an emergency is to know how to:
Avoid the situation by carrying out the correct practice Extricate oneself from a serious situation, and "weather, the storm" if the situation cannot be avoided.
Fitness, stamina, spirit and morale are as important as the basic technical skills of navigation and First Aid. The correct clothing and "sense" of the environment are essential and will improve your chances of survival. If you are caught in a "survival situation" get out of the wind, remove any wet clothing, replace with dry (or drier) and bivy down to weather out the storm.
The Expedition goes to a potentially dangerous environment with dangers of two kinds: objective dangers over which we have a little control and subjective dangers which are brought about by our own actions over which we do have control. The Expedition will undoubtedly experience the following objective dangers: loose rock, dangers associated with movement on steep ground and rafting/canoeing, the general hazards of mountaineering and the risks of crossing rivers.
The subjective dangers are those which will affect every member of the Expedition. By training and the use of common sense these can be largely minimised and examples are summarised below:
Be prepared – Be conversant with the techniques and advice given in this booklet and practise these during the training periods when under supervision
Recognise the Dangers – Do not forget exposure, the rapid changes of weather and your personal limitations which hopefully will improve during the Expedition.
Be Careful – When lighting stoves, lifting heavy objects, tying onto ropes, with personal hygiene and medical treatment.
Take time it is often well worthwhile.
Concentrate – Especially at the end of a long day, do not take unnecessary risks, or "act the fool".
Always take basic overnight equipment food and colleagues with you on any trip. Do not wander away from the camp site unless you have informed a leader of your intentions, and s/he has agreed.
Never go out of sight on your own – even to the loo – Bears will not respect your privacy!
You may not have been away from home for such a lengthy period before and this too implies a survival situation necessitating appropriate coping strategies. Again prior knowledge of the difficulties will greatly enhance the likelihood of easily overcoming them. The most susceptible period of homesickness is likely to be half way into the Expedition, when your personal supply of luxuries has run out, your clothes are all wet and dirty and you have been identified to dig the toilets…again. Even hardened explorers are homesick and everyone goes through it, it is the mature way YEs cope that is an important feature of a six week BSES Expedition.
Ways to cope with homesickness:
Plan only short term and have short termed aims
Write but do not expect or plan to receive mail
Force yourself to be happy and helpful when feeling depressed
Eat a luxury item, or share it with a friend
Help others in obviously greater need than yourself
Volunteer for a physically taxing activity
Invent new recipes
Take time out to plan your future
Do not ask for examination results to be sent
Have a leisurely day
Read an outrageously funny book
Many have survived a BSES six week Expedition, seek out those who have and ask their advice.
Do not wander away from the camp site unless you have informed a leader of your intentions, and s/he has agreed. Never go out of sight on your own – even to the loo – Bears will not respect your privacy!