Learn How To Stay Warm

Staying Warm - Some Tricks - Have a cup of hot tea just before going to sleep. - Exercise a bit just before going to sleep - but not enough to sweat. - Cover your sleeping bag liner or sleeping bag with extra clothes for more insulation. - Sleep with your head slightly downhill. This takes some getting used to, but it really works. - Go to sleep earlier or later - experiment to see which works best for you. - If you are warm when you get into your sleeping bag, you are much more likely to stay warm through the night. It is just plain difficult to get warm - especially in a thin bag - if you start out shivering.

The number one cause of death in wilderness survival situations is hypothermia. How to stay warm, then, is the first thing you should study. This includes the following skills:

- Staying dry.

- Starting a fire.

- Making shelters.

Learn How To Find Water

Water far more important than food. People have gone months without food, while few have survived more than a few days without water. Simple skills you can learn to obtain potable water include:

- Making a simple solar still.

- Reading the terrain to locate water sources.

- Filtering and decontaminating water.

Learn How To Find Food

This will not be your top priority in a survival situation. However, once you have shelter and water, you will fell much more motivated with food in your stomach. You should learn about:

- Simple animal traps.

- Survival fishing techniques.

- The most abundant wild edible plants.

Learn How To Treat Injuries

Injuries in a wilderness emergency can range from cuts to burns, and broken bones to concussions. Learn a little bit about how to:

- Save lives with CPR.

- Treat shock.

- Treat common cuts and burns using a few common plants.

Learn How To Navigate

Someday you may be lost and need to find your way out of the wilderness. You may have lost or broken your compass. You should know how to:

- Navigate using stars.

- Navigate using the sun.

- Maintain a heading in rough terrain.

Key Points

1. Learning wilderness survival skills makes wilderness travel safer.

2. Survival knowledge can be used to reduce pack weight.

3. There are basic skills, like how to stay warm, that can be learned quickly.

4. Learning even a little about wilderness survival is better than nothing.

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The Ultralight Backpacking Site | Staying Warm