10 Tips for Surviving in the Wilderness

As a regular camper/hiker I have quickly learned how to not take for granted how easy life is a home. Fresh water, a warm bed, showers, and a kitchen full of food. The further I trek into the wild, the more I realize how easy it would be to get lost, have limited to no cell service, and only have the items in my pack. Here are some important things you need to know in order to survive if you get lost or injured on your adventure, and return home safely!

Know what S.T.O.P means
Don't panic if you’re lost. Panic is more dangerous than almost anything else, because it interferes with the operation of your single best, most useful and versatile survival tool: your mind. The moment you realize that you are lost, before you do anything else, stop. Take a deep breath and stay calm. Before you act, follow the tenets of the acronym STOP:
S = sit down
T = think
O = observe your surroundings
P = prepare for survival by gathering materials

X Marks Your Spot

Get oriented. Wherever you are will become your "point zero." Find a way to mark it using a spare easily visible from apiece of clothing, a pile of rocks, a sheet of paper, or anything else distance. Learn your basic directions -- the sun rises in the East and sets in the West. Use this to tell directions as on a compass (in a clockwise direction starting at the top 12:00) North, East, South, West.

• For example, if it is late afternoon and the sun is on your right you must be facing South.

• Learning how to spot the North Star at night in your backyard beforehand will also prove invaluable.

Stay Where You Are
Stay in one place. This not only increases your chances of being found, but also reduces the energy your body expends and the amount of water and food you will need. Hunker down and stay put. Chances are that someone will be looking for you, especially if you let someone know your plans. Also, if you're with someone else, do not separate. Having strength in numbers will help you survive.

• Also seeking nearby shade if it is hot out which greatly decreases your risk of dehydration and sunburn. Don't be tempted to remove clothing as this only increases these risks.

Get A Fire Going

Build a fire. Build a good-sized fire with sufficient coals to stay hot for many hours, and make sure that you have plenty of extra dry wood. Start the fire before you think you need it, even if the weather is warm; fires are easier to make under easy conditions than in a panic as the sun sets – to say nothing of the fact that having a fire nearby will give you a sense of comfort and safety as you get your bearings.

• A good rule of thumb is to gather wood until you think you have enough to last the night, then gather three more piles of the same size, after which you might have enough to get through the night.

• You should have access to dry wood in the under story of the forest. You can also use bark or dried dung. If you build a fire that is hot enough, you can also burn green wood, brush, or tree boughs to make a signaling fire that creates a lot of smoke.

• The best wood for maintaining a fire is dead wood that you pull off a standing tree. Regardless of what type of woods you are in, there will certainly be some dry wood available.

• Remember that a small fire is easier to keep burning than a big fire, though, because it requires less fuel. Once you have sufficient embers, keep the fire to a manageable size so you don't spend too much time looking for fuel. Don't build a fire in an area where it is unsafe to do so.

• Your fire should be well away from flammable trees and brush, preferably in a clearing. Be careful with your fire. While you want to feed it, you shouldn't overdo it. Consider the weather and other factors and remember, a forest fire is a lot harder to survive than just being lost!

Let Your Presence Be Known

Signal your location. Make noise by whistling, shouting, singing, or banging rocks together. If you can, mark your location in such a way that it's visible from the air. If you're in a mountain meadow, make three piles of dark leaves or branches in a triangle. In sandy areas, make a large triangle in the sand. Three of anything in the wilderness is a standard distress signal.

• You can use the fire to send a distress signal. The universal distress signal is created by three fires in a straight line, or three fires that form a triangle.

• You can also blow a whistle three times shoot three shots of a rifle in the air, if you have one, or shine a mirror that catches the light three times.

Water, Water, and More Water

Find a good source of water. In a survival situation, you can last up to three days without water, but by the end of the second day you're not going to be in very good shape; find water before then. The best source of water is a spring, but the chances of finding them are slim. You should also look out for nearby birds, because they like to fly around fresh water. Drink your remaining water -- you should ration it, but not so much that you're thirsty right away. Always boil water if you have the means to do so. Getting sick while being stranded could mean the difference between life and death.

• A running stream is your next best bet; the movement of the water reduces sediment. Be advised that drinking water from streams can lead to some sicknesses, but when you're in a life-or-death situation, the risk of illness is a secondary consideration and anything you may get can be treated when you return.

• If there’s dew and you’re desperate, you can gather it in your clothes and then suck the moisture out of the fabric.

• You may also be able to find water in the crevices of a rock.

• If you are near a lake or river and cannot boil water, digging a small hole near the water will create a natural well. After it fills up let it sit for thirty minutes, the sediment will settle on the bottom, and the water on top is safer to drink.

Get Out of the Elements 

Find or create shelter. Without adequate shelter, you will be fully exposed to the elements and will risk hypothermia or heatstroke, depending on the weather. If you are not properly dressed for the conditions, finding shelter is all the more important. Luckily, the woods are filled with tools and resources to make both shelters and fires (for warmth, safety, and signaling purposes). Here are some things you can use:

• Look for a fallen or leaning tree. You can build an A-frame shelter by by stacking branches along both sides a fallen tree, then over the branches with brush, palm fronds, leaves, or other plants.

• Use brush or green branches (boughs) from trees to repel water, block wind, keep out snow, or create shade. Close in your shelter on as many sides as possible.

• Caves can be great, but be sure the cave is not already occupied by bears, large cats, snakes or other unfriendly animals; they know caves are good too, and they've been looking for good shelter for longer than you have.

• If there’s snow, build a snow cave. Snow is a superb insulator and will keep you very cozy.

• Just make sure that your shelter is not so hidden that you spend all your time in it and prevent anyone from finding you.

• Don't exert too much energy in building the perfect shelter or you'll exhaust yourself.

Dinner Time is still Important

Find safe food. Know that most healthy adults can survive up to three weeks without food unless it's cold. It's better to be hungry and healthy than ill. Make sure that you know food is safe before eating it. If there is anything that will lessen your ability to survive, it is being both lost and deathly ill. Starvation won't be a big problem.

• Don't be afraid to eat insects and other bugs. While it may be disgusting to eat a few grasshoppers, they do provide useful nutrition. All insects should be cooked as they can harbor parasites that can kill you. Do not eat any caterpillars, brightly colored insects, or any insect that can bite or sting you. Remove the legs, head and wings of any insect before eating.

• If you are near water, fish are a good choice. Minnows can be eaten whole.

• Avoid eating any mushrooms or berries you see, no matter how hungry you are. It's better to be hungry than to eat something poisonous. Many berries in the forest, especially white berries, are poisonous.