Guides - Wilderness Survival 

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Expect The Unexpected

(A Crash Course in Survival)

   Do you have what it takes to survive? Do you know what you need to take with you when you head out for the wilderness? Do you know what to do when you find yourself in a life-or-death situation? Here are the basic facts about survival. 

 The most common cause of death in the wilderness is unpreparedness. Death from a fall, a snakebite, a sudden storm, hypothermia, or an avalanche, can actually be attributed to not being prepared for what might happen in the wild. Always expect the unexpected. Be prepared by carrying a map and compass, checking the weather forecast, getting acquainted with the terrain and native flora and fauna, and packing an adequate and reliable gear. In other words, people don't die of hypothermia, they die from not expecting an extremely cold situation. 

 In a survival situation, water is more important than food. Hiking in moderate weather, you can die without water in three days. Hiking in hot weather, you die in 36 hours. The minimum amount of water one must drink in a day's hike in the wild is one gallon. More in hot areas. There are cases when people can survive a month without food. After oxygen, water is the most essential requirement for survival. Next is warmth. 

 Rain and a cold river can cause hypothermia. Hypothermia is the cooling down of the body's core temperature to below normal. Hypothermia can happen not only in cold places but also in wet situations. Exposure to rain or dipping in a cold river and not getting warm fast enough can lead to hypothermia. The symptoms are uncontrollable shivering, stuttering, inability to stand up and walk, lack of coordination becoming irrational. The immediate action to take is to get the person out of the wet and into dry clothing. Put him inside a sleeping bag with another person. Give him warm drinks and put hot water bottles near his hands, feet, and neck. Build a fire to warm his face. In severe cases where he continues to lapse into unconsciousness, evacuate him to the nearest medical center. 

 In a survival situation, common sense is more important than physical toughness and high-tech equipment. Brian Horner, a former US Air Force survival instructor says, "The ability to use common sense - staying calm and collected - is paramount. However, they aren't the same. Staying calm is holding your fear in check. Being collected is accurately assessing what the real hazards are." In other words, stop, sit down, size it up. 

 A first aid course is a pre-requisite to an adventure in the backcountry. Experts advise that no one should dare hike in the forest or go on a camping trip without the basic knowledge of how to treat insect bites, dress open wounds, and handle fractures, allergies and shock. Go out of your way to get some first aid training before you go on an outdoor expedition. 

 The three items you should always carry with you in the mountains are: a knife, a lighter, and a trash bag. A basic Swiss knife, a plastic cigarette lighter (instead of matches), and yes, a garbage bag. No, not just for the garbage. Gary Kibbee, a Navy SEALs veteran says, "You can use it as a bivy sack for an unplanned bivouac. You can use it as a rain jacket when you're caught in a storm. You can use it as an insulating layer by putting it on, then stuffing it with leaves or grass. It also works well for carrying water." 

 The other essentials you should have in your backpack are: full water bottles, a map and compass, high-energy food, rain gear, extra warm clothes, whistle, mirror, first aid kit, flashlight, and water treatment pills. 

 In a survival hiking situation, never move so fast that you sweat profusely. There is risk of dehydration and hypothermia. Move at a moderate pace and take a 5 to 10 minute break every hour. If you rest longer, lactic acid build-up in the muscles will make it harder to get going. Never pass up water. Fill up your stomach and your water bottles at every opportunity. If you are reasonably fit and not injured or ill, and have water but no food, you can cover 5 to 8 miles a day for a week. 

 You can find your way even without a map and compass. How? By looking at your watch. In reasonable weather, you can determine direction by holding your watch level with the hour hand pointing directly at the sun. South is approximately halfway between the hour hand and noon. Or you can use a "sundial". Shove a stick into the ground and mark the tip of its shadow. After an hour, mark the tip of the new shadow. If you draw an arrow from the first mark to the second mark, that arrow points to the west. 

 In a survival situation, the physically fit have a better chance of coming out alive. Nature can be harsh. It is recommended that mountaineers, hikers, and campers honestly assess their physical fitness before engaging in potentially hazardous activities. 

 Further Reading: The Test of Your Life, by Mark Jenkins; Outdoor Survival Skills, by Larry Dean Olsen; Mountaineering, The Freedom of the Hills, edited by Don Graydon. 

• Start Young
• Two Mountains - Insights on mountaineering
• Mt. Pulag Chronicles

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