Wilderness Survival

Why should you learn wilderness survival skills just for backpacking? Maybe you shouldn't. It's true that such skills could save you life someday, but if you are always close to roads, and with a group of experienced backpackers, you'll probably be fine without any special knowledge.

If you are an ultralight backpacker, however, wilderness survival knowledge can be very useful for two reasons. First, as mentioned, it can save your life. This is especially true if you backpack alone, or go far into the wilderness. Knowing how to stay warm after your down sleeping bag becomes soaked and worthless, for example, can prevent you from falling victim to the number one cause of death in the woods: hypothermia.

The other thing that makes wilderness survival skills so useful, is that they can help you reduce your pack weight. These skills can replace some gear directly. For example, if you know how to start a fire under any circumstances, you could leave the stove behind.

However, the primary way that wilderness survival skills can help you reduce weight is by making it safer to go with lighter options. You might not normally risk using a one-pound sleeping bag rated for 40 degrees Fahrenheit if the temperature might go below freezing. With knowledge of how to stay warm, however, it becomes a safe option.

I'll often go light on the food I pack, because if I need more calories I know which berries I can eat. I might leave behind my walking stick, because I can make one if necessary. I also might go a little light on my clothing, because I know that if there is unexpected cold weather, I can warm up with a fire, or use cattail fluff to better insulate my jacket.

This latter solution (insulating with cattail fluff) isn't something I have had to do. The point is that if you are going to go light, this knowledge makes it safer. With good skills and knowledge, a potential emergency becomes just an inconvenience. I will risk an inconvenience to go lighter and enjoy my hiking more.

Are there any other reasons a backpacker should learn about wilderness survival? Well, I can tell you that it's a good feeling to know you can deal with whatever comes up. It makes the wilderness feel more like a home. It's also just interesting knowledge for some of us.

To learn a lot more about survival, visit the Wilderness Survival Guide on The Ultralight Backpacking Site: http://www.the-ultralight-site.com/wilderness-survival-guide.html. If you aren't sure you want to invest the time to learn much, at least scan the Ultralight Backpacking Quick Tips found throughout this book. They are full of little survival lessons.

Anything you learn is better than nothing (unless it gives you a false sense of confidence). Suppose you just read once and remembered that a pile of dry grass can be as warm as a sleeping bag. This could save a life, right?

Wilderness survival means staying warm and dry, hydrated, uninjured, and finding your way out of the survival situation. Eating can also be nice, but it's not normally crucial if the situation is for a few days (unless you are diabetic). Below are some basics you should concentrate on as you scan the survival guide or quick tips.

Continues here: Staying Warm And Other Skills

Every chapter has tips for lightweight backpacking and wilderness survival.