Wilderness Survival Information

Wilderness travel gives you an opportunity to experience the outdoors in a new and exciting way. However, it does not come without risks. The farther you travel into the wilderness, the more vital your skills become. A 2010 study published in the journal Wilderness and Environmental Medicine found that less than 2 percent of Denali National Park visitors required search and rescue operations by the National Park Service between 1990 and 2008. Your survivalist training is for that 2 percent of the cases.

Attitude

The most critical asset for wilderness survival is having the proper attitude. In survival conditions, you must keep a clear head in order to assess the circumstances and decide on a course of action. You need the mental capacity to remain calm. You need to know your limitations and how to best use your resources. To prepare yourself psychologically, you might want to consider learning stress management techniques to give you a clearer focus, recommends WildernessSurvival.net.

Gear

The gear you take to the backcountry provides you with the tools to face adverse situations and to make travel easier and more efficient. At the minimum, Backpacker Magazine recommends taking along a signaling device, whistle and safety matches. A first aid kit will allow you to treat minor injuries on the trail. Depending upon where you are traveling, a cell phone can be an essential addition to your survival gear.

Skills

Your skills will help you draw upon the necessary knowledge to react and make good decisions in the wilderness. They will also help prevent life-threatening situations. WildernessSurivalSkills.com urges you to develop basic skills such as navigation, first aid and fire-making. The best way to develop these abilities is through practice. Your goal is to be comfortable using these skills before the time becomes necessary when you have to use them.

Avoiding Danger

A key element of wilderness survival is avoiding dangerous conditions. Learn to identify poisonous plants or animals. Likewise, you should know the recommended ways of responding should a bear or other animal threaten you. Hazards can also come from above. Basic knowledge of weather prediction will help you prepare for inclement weather and give you time to locate a safe place.

Survival Techniques

Sometimes avoiding threats is not possible. Wilderness survival skills must also include ways to cope during and after a hazardous situation. Learn the symptoms and triage techniques for responding to medical conditions such as hypothermia or heat exhaustion. Wilderness travel means that your response in the field is vital. You are the first source of help.