A simple one-day hike into the Grand Canyon turned into a 20-day survival ordeal for a young woman who decided to follow the trail to the bottom of the canyon to visit an Indian village that is a popular attraction for tourists. Park rangers said the survivor missed a turn in the trail and ended up in a side canyon 15 miles away.

             Just outside of Salt Lake City, a cross-country skier went for a brief schuss in the hills and canyons near his home. A sudden snowstorm blanketed the area with a heavy layer of fresh snow, and the young man became disoriented in the blizzard conditions. That night, he died of hypothermia. When he was found, the recovery team said that if he had topped just one more ridge he would have been able to see the city lights.

            In the Palomar Mountains, a 44-year-old man headed into the backcounty in search of his lost godson, and became lost himself. Five days later, the man was rescued, 18 pounds lighter after surviving on acorns and freezing through the nights in a rain-soaked parka. The 9-year-old boy who was the original object of the search had become separated from his brothers during a day hike in the Palomar Mountain State Park. His body was recovered after a 5-day search.

            If someone were to ask you how most survival situations happen, would you say that the highest percentage of people who get into trouble are adventurers on expeditions to exotic and dangerous places? Or would you say that most survival incidents happen during day hikes or short outings in familiar surroundings? If you chose door number two, you would be correct.

            Most survival situations arise out of a simple outing in relatively safe surroundings that feel comfortable and non-threatening to the participants. The perception of a safe and easy outing leads to what is known as day-hike mentality — a condition in which people fail to prepare to survive the night (or several nights) in the wilderness because they don’t think they’ll need to. The rationale is: “Hey, I’m only going on a short hike (or bike ride, or canoe trip — pick your poison) and I’ll be back in a couple of hours, so why go to all the trouble to pack a bunch of gear with me?”

            Day-hike mentality is a killer. And for those who don’t actually die as a result of this sort of thinking, day-hike mentality leads to a lot of misery and anxiety; both on the part of the survivor and on friends and loved-ones who have to sit and fret and hope and pray and wonder about the outcome.

            Every survival incident comes as a surprise to those involved, and each situation is unique. The survivors have their own set of issues to deal with, whether they are physical, psychological, emotional, or medical. Weather conditions, elevation, latitude, topography, local plant and animal life all play a role in defining the mix of elements that must be factored into the equation. And then there’s the question of equipment, available natural resources, and the experience level and skill of the people that are caught up in the situation. All of these things have an impact on the outcome — who lives, who dies, how much privation and suffering there will be.

            This book will help you prepare to handle outdoor survival situations with less adversity. The key to success is to learn the broad concepts and then adapt them to your own individual needs. Although I’ve made every effort to present the best information available on the subject matter covered in this book, the elements of a survival situation are constantly in a state of flux and you must learn to use what works and discard what doesn’t.

            To be safe and confident in the outdoors, fill your head with the best information, fill your hands with skill, and fill your life with experience. Let wisdom be your guide and common sense your pattern. Do all of that and wilderness survival will become instinctive.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction — Our Story

CHAPTER ONE — SURVIVAL STRATEGY

It’s All In Your Head — the psychology of survival

Assessing the Situation — how to set priorities

Survival is in the Details — small problems add up

Basic Survival Strategies — fundamental concepts

Stay or Go? — deciding to stay put or try for self-rescue

CHAPTER TWO — SHELTER

Emergency Shelter — when you don’t have a tent

Snow Shelters — strategies for winter survival

Dress To Live — clothing; your first line of defense

Tents — considerations for choosing the right tent

Sleeping Bags — a well-chosen bag is an excellent shelter

How to Stay Cool — strategies for survival in hot weather

Stay Warm, Stay Alive — building a hot rock bed

Wet Weather — all about staying dry

CHAPTER THREE — FIRE

Basic Fire Building — the fundamental techniques

Fire Without Matches

Campfire Lessons — personal experiences with various fires

Fire Starters —accelerants to help ensure success

CHAPTER FOUR — WATER

Water Purification — thermal, chemical, filtration techniques

Solar Still — sucking water out of the ground, and other tricks

CHAPTER FIVE — FOOD

Stoking Your Inner Fire — keep your energy up

Becoming a Hunter/Gatherer — foraging wild foods

Trail Snacks — favorite trail foods / survival foods

Food Safety — bears, bacteria and more

CHAPTER SIX — SIGNALING

Call For Help — audible and visual signaling techniques

CHAPTER SEVEN — MEDICAL PROBLEMS

Hypothermia — death from the inside

Frostbite — death on the outside

Surviving Cold Water Immersion — only seconds to live

Hot Weather Injury — avoidance / symptoms / treatment

Stop The Bleeding — keep life from oozing away

Sprains and Breaks —know the difference and what to do

Altitude Sickness — for those who like the high places

Heart Attack — how to recognize and strategies for field treatment

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning — the silent killer

CHAPTER EIGHT — NAVIGATION

Staying Found — avoid getting lost

Direction Finding Without a Compass — navigating by nature

Map & Compass — use these important tools

GPS — the eye in the sky

Rules of Land Navigation — travel afoot without problems

Crossing The Water — make safe stream crossings

CHAPTER NINE — EQUIPMENT

Survival Kits — choosing what goes into the kit

Survival Knives — selection and maintenance

Ropes & Knots — knots that can save your life

Stoves — considerations for stove selection

CHAPTER TEN — WILDLIFE

Wildlife Encounters — avoid problems with animals

Rattlesnakes — how to avoid the danger / what to do if bitten

CHAPTER ELEVEN — WEATHER

Keeping a Weather Eye — read the weather signs

Lightning Safety — staying alive in thunderstorm country

Flash Flood — avoid getting washed away

EPILOGUE

A Final Word — situational awareness

Index