Category: Wilderness Survival

Travelling in the raw wilderness is not like a walk in the park. Nature, despite what movies like to portray as scenic and beautiful, can be very unforgiving and harsh. Therefore preparation and conditioning is a must before embarking on a travel into the wild.

Below listed are some essential tips for travelling in the wilderness:

1. Get yourself prepared.

Make a thorough list of what need to be bought along.

One must be physically conditioned for a pro-longed hike in the wild. There must be sufficients sustanance of food and water. To be caught without having enough of water and food WILL be very hellish, traumatic and dangerous! Never underestimate the time that is needed for the trip if you do not want to get into unpleasant experiences. Prepared protections from small animals and insect bites with neccesities such as medicine and insect repellent.

Make plans for weather changes. What must be done in the event of bad weather. Think and document all the possibilities and have some preparations and plannings for each one before going on the trip.

2. Bring along navigation equipments. Carry a map and compass.

You must learn about topography. Very importantly, Know how to read the map correctly. Know have to align the map correctly with the help of a compass. Know how to interprete distance on the map. Know how to interprete the symbols and terrains on the map. If you have a Global Position System(GPS) device, bring it along.

Getting lost in a jungle is no laughing matter. Without the ability to read a map and navigate, we can be moving in the wrong direction and become MORE lost! Always practice navigating with a map first and be reasonable comfortable with the technique, before attempting to take on the wilderness. Remember, in the wild, there may not have any roads as markers and this can make navigation much more challenging than in an urban environment.

3. Acquire other types of navigation skills.

It is alway good to learn other methods of navigation, in case the compass or map gets lost or damaged.

• Learn to tell the direction by looking at the shadow casted by the Sun on a vertical stick.
• Learn to determine the direction using the sun and a watch.

Before starting, it is important to note the direction that is most likely to take you out of the wilderness. Remember prominent landmarks, long roads and installation. If you remember that a highway runs along the entire north side of the area that you are in, you will know which direction to move in the event of an emergency.

4. Acquire wilderness survival skills.

Survival skill can saved life. Things that you might want to learn are:

1. How to collect and treat drinkable water. Learn the various methods of collecting water such as from rain, condensation, streams and plants. Learn how to purify the water to make them drinkable.

2. How to recognised and source for edible plants and food. Learn how to recognised edible fruits, berries and other plants.

3. How to build a shelter. Learn the various method of making a shelter. Learn how to keep warm and conserve heat.

4. How to start and maintain a fire. What to bring to help start a fire. A magnesium fire starter is an interesting tool that allows you to start a fire and will outlast matches and lighters. Once a fire has started, maintaining it can also be quite challenging. Learn how to keep the fire going.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but is a good start.

5. Learn where and how to get help from other people

Before going for the trip, inform someone else and give them your travelling plan and itinerary. Bring along a mobile phone or some other communication devices. The point is, make plans for others to come and find you if the situation do arise.

Well, these are some of tips and preparation essential for travelling in the great wilderness. Experience is important. Therefore it is good to go beyond merely reading about these tips.

Thank you for reading.