A Guide to Adventure

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. Wher...

Mid-June in South Carolina is HOT , and   humid , increasing the chance of pop up showers and thunderstorms. Tuesday afternoon was no exception to this, after leaving the falls to prepare for the storm that was rolling in over the mountains, we had plenty to do at camp before it rained. I was scavenging for firewood - the sites are pretty cleared out of the easily accessible wood - I could feel raindrops starting to fall, hearing thunder in the distance I brought Derek the small amount I gathered, and just as a cool breeze blew through the trees and 3 foot tree limb falls on Derek's head! It could have been much worse if the branch had more force, or landed in a different way, he was okay, startled by his near death experience we moved the tent over a few feet, away from the towering pines.  Since our campsite was only a short walking distance from our car, we had some extra pillows, a book I really wanted to finish reading, and a few luxury items. We also ...