How to Survive in the Wilderness

Wilderness survival is an essential skill set if one becomes stranded in nature with nothing but the clothes on your back and a few objects. Finding yourself alone in the wilderness is easier than one might think. All that must happen is a plane crash, a yacht overturning, a parachuting expedition going far off-course, or even a bit of hiking that strays slightly from the path. If you are put in such a situation, will you know what to do? Here are a few general tips for wilderness survival that could set you back on track and keep you alive.

Keep your wits about you and your willpower strong
In any adrenaline-packed scenario, it is easy to lose control of mental faculties. In the face of harsh conditions and unbeatable odds, your mind is the best tool you have. Escaping will require incredible willpower- the urge to keep trekking on, to keep the body moving towards your goals, and to keep yourself creatively evaluating situations. Remember your brain; wilderness survival begins with taming your apprehensions and delusions and recognizing your cognitive capabilities. To survive, one must never give up. When one thing fails, you must try another until rescued. In wilderness survival, quitters truly never win.

Remember the essentials
Wilderness survival relies on first keeping the human body alive and then finding rescue. Thus, remember the essentials for keeping your body alive: food, water, and shelter. With these, wilderness survival is possible for even the least-trained person in a dire scenario. Depending on the environment that one becomes stranded in, water is often the first priority. In a hot locale, dehydration and heat stroke must be prevented by liquid intake. Shelter is paramount in harsh conditions to remove the human body from abrasive weather and climate. Wilderness survival must be focused on these three areas. Survive first, escape second.

Water
The human body is mostly composed of water and can survive only a short while without it. Therefore, fresh, drinkable water is an early priority for wilderness survival. Remember the charts you memorized as a child in school: water flows downward with gravity, leading to rivers and eventually the ocean. To find water, simply look for the lowest ground or a depression in terrain for likely possibilities. The presence of green plants denotes nearby water in barren landscapes. In areas with liquid precipitation, wilderness survival can depend on collecting rainfall. Once water is acquired, one must determine if it is safe for human consumption. In most cases, with few tools, this can be tricky. Stagnant water, feces, or rotting animal remains are an indication that the water may be unsafe. The presence of trout, which only persist in most favorable conditions, shows relative safety. If there's no surefire way to assure safety, boil your water for at least five minutes. One of the greatest lessons of wilderness survival is to remember that one should not drink salt water. The salt in the water is extremely detrimental to the body and will cause a regression of mental faculties into lunacy. Not even in desperation should you consume brine water. Bring water with you in a container whenever possible, or else do not tarry far from a stream.

Food
Nearly anything will suffice for food. In wilderness survival, food is not about taste; rather, the goal of eating is to produce energy and keep the body moving and well. Care should be taken when consuming plants, since many contain poisons or oils that will be detrimental. However, one can eat certain berries for sustenance. Also, pine roots (look for saplings, not fully developed trees) can provide nourishment. The yield from most foods found in the midst of wilderness survival will not be great with regard to energy, but can keep you alive. Animals and insects are the best choices for food. Insects provide low amounts of protein, but any bit helps in wilderness survival. Maggots (found near dead animals) are useful, both for bait and food. While this all sounds unappetizing, wilderness survival is your only option when you are alone and stranded. With animals, there are several options. If a stream is found, fishing is a wonderful option. Simple makeshift spears work quit effectively. Find a branch and tie a knife to the end to make a spear. Or, lacking a knife, sharpen the end of your wood spear on a rock. Fishing poles are also possible, using worms or maggots for bait and whatever metal or bone is available for a hook. Hunting larger game is nearly impossible without acute hunting prowess. Instead, if one can follow birds or predators to a recent kill, one can scare the animals away and claim the kill. A fire is useful in preparing the food. Fire will kill bacteria and disease, while adding crucial energy to the foodstuffs. Thus, wilderness survival also depends heavily on food acquisition.

Shelter/Fire
Civilization's abundance of housing should inform anyone of the importance of shelter to wilderness survival. In the wild, one must shelter the human body from biting cold, harsh sun, torrential rain, or blustery winds. Otherwise, extended wilderness survival will be impossible. Depending on the environment, shelter varies. In most terrain, caves provide ample shelter, but be wary of dangerous animals within. In snowy climates, simple snow shelters will suffice, but be wary of the shelter collapsing and remember to create ventilation for fires and fresh oxygen. In other conditions, wilderness survival will require more effort. To create a structure, keep it simple. A lean-to is your best best. These elementary shelters merely require two vertical joists (from branches or thinner trees), two angled supports, and vegetation over the angled supports to create a roof. The shelter will resemble a right triangle, with the angled roof offering rain protection. Use bark or vines for lashing the pieces together. A fire is crucial to wilderness survival and shelter creation. Making fire is a topic unto itself, but remember the process of spinning a vertical twig against a flat horizontal piece. The heat created will make embers, which can be transferred to kindling. Wilderness survival is difficult, but far from impossible.

Finding Civilization
After the basics are secured, one can seek rescue. In wilderness survival, remember a few pointers about navigation. Height equals observation ability. Make sure that you do not stray from the path of travel. Avoid clinging to roots or vines for fear of snakes. Be cognizant of animals and topographic threats. Most importantly, where there's water, there's people. Human settlement originated along water for wilderness survival reasons and the settlements remain there to this day. To travel via water, create a raft in the manner of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer by lashing logs together. Otherwise, walk through shallow water. Be cognizant of rocks or dangers in the water. There are so many threats in wilderness survival, but common sense usually dictates the correct response.

Getting rescued is also a lengthy topic. In short, you must seek humans or aid them in seeking you. In occasions in which no one knows you are missing, or will not know in sufficient time, you must seek help by traveling towards humans, usually by following water. In instances in which a rescue is likely to be sent, create signs to show your captors from a distance or from flight. Rocks can be useful in writing visible messages on a clear area. White smoke, created by burning fresh vegetation, can be seen from a long distance, as well as fire. Signaling with a bright metallic object, like a watch face, knife blade, or mirror, can be extremely efficient since the reflected rays can be seen for miles.

With such dire situations, it is easy to give up or become delusional in wilderness survival situations, yet people survive out there every year. Use your brain, remember the basics, and get rescued. I hope no one is in such a situation, and this guide is far from comprehensive, but perhaps it will help in a wilderness survival situation.

DISCLAIMER: These techniques and processes are merely an informal reference from a non-professional. If something happens to you following these techniques, I am in no way responsible. Survive at your own risk.