Useful Wilderness Survival Tips

We often watch movies with plots in which people get stranded on an island or get lost in the middle of the woods. And while these movies are fiction and you may think this could never happen to you, you should always remember that anything is possible. And if you love to go camping and hiking, it is very important that you learn basic wilderness survival skills.

Here are some basic hiking and survival tips you can make use of during your next camping or hiking adventure:

The 3 P's: Plan, Prepare and Prevent

The 3 P's in hiking are plan, prepare and prevent. By careful planning and preparation you'll be able to prevent mishaps and unfortunate incidents.

First, do some researches before you venture into the wild. Research about your hiking trail and destination, its level of difficulty and duration of trek as well as the weather forecast for the day of your hike.

Study survival techniques like how to light up a fire or know what plants are edible. There are many available online resources as well as information from books that you can use to equip yourself with hiking and camping knowledge.

Next thing to do is to prepare the things you need to bring. Create a checklist so that you don't forget necessary camping equipment. Make sure that you only bring the essentials. Remember, a heavier load will make it hard for you to respond immediately to emergency situations. Aside from that, exhaustion due to an overloaded backpack may result to inability to think logically and make right decisions.

What you need to bring

Some of the things you need to bring for the hike are your camping first aid kits, fire starters like lighters and matches that are placed in waterproof film canisters, knife, magnesium stone, cord, compass, whistle, map, pot, Swiss Army knife, and your most important survival tool, a clear and relaxed mind.

What to do in case you get lost

First thing to do is to stay relax and not to panic. It will be harder for you to think when you're in frenzy. Also, it's best that you stay in one place to increase the probability of you being found and for you to preserve the energy that you have.

Make noise by whistling or shouting to signal your location. It's also a good idea to mark your location in a way that can be seen from up above. Light up a small fire to make a smoke signal.

Other wilderness and hiking tips

• Before you leave make sure your family and friends know where you are going and how long the hike will take. Leave contact information for them to reach you. In case you get lost, it wouldn't have to take long for them to realize that you're missing and they can quickly ask for help to find you.


• Take a walking stick with you to mark your path and make it easier for you to retrace your steps.


• Never go hiking alone.


• Insects that measure less than an inch can be eaten raw, those that are longer need to be cooked. Yellow berries are mostly poisonous while black and blue ones are generally safer. Before you eat any berry, have a small taste on it on your lips. If the taste is bitter, it is poisonous.
• Use whistle signals. One blow means you're lost, two blows mean you're coming and three blows mean you need help. Remember that in the wilderness, three is a signal for distress.

Hiking can be dangerous if not practiced with proper precaution and safety. Getting lost in the middle of the woods is a possibility that you should not take for granted. Just remember to keep yourself together and apply the survival skills you've learned.

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