Survival in the Wilderness: What to Do, What You Need

Summer is for picnics, hikes, outdoor concerts, barbeques ... and enjoying the wilderness.

Camping with family or friends can be a great way to spend a weekend or a week. But unlike picnics, outdoor concerts or barbeques, camping or hiking in wilderness areas can turn from a fun outing into a very scary experience in just a few hours or even minutes.

As long as you stay within a recognized campground, you have very little to worry about. You can get rained or hailed on or wake up and find the temperature has dropped 20 degrees, but none of these is a life-threatening issue. Sure, you might get cold or wet but there's always a fresh change of clothes waiting in your camper or tent.

When in the wilderness, the most important thing to remember is that nature is not always a kind, gentle mother. The morning can be warm and sunshiny with not a cloud in the sky. But that doesn't mean that by early afternoon, conditions won't have changed dramatically.

How can you forecast bad weather? Wind is always a good indicator. You can determine wind direction by dropping a few leaves or blades of grass or by watching the tops of trees. Once you determine wind direction, you can predict the type of weather that is on its way. Rapidly shifting winds indicate an unsettled atmosphere and a likely change in the weather. Also, birds and insects fly lower to the ground than normal in heavy, moisture-laden air. This indicates that rain is likely. Most insect activity increases before a storm.

The first thing you need to do if bad weather strikes is size up your surroundings. Is there any shelter nearby ? a cave or rock overhang -- where you could take refuge from rain or lightning? Probably you already know this, but never use a tree as a lightning shelter. If you can't find decent shelter, it's better to be out in the open than under a tree. Just make as small a target of yourself as possible and wait for the lightning to go away.

Next, remember that haste makes waste. Don't do anything quickly and without first thinking it out. The most tempting thing might be to hurry back to your campsite as fast as you can. But that might not be the best alternative.

Consider all aspects of your situation before taking action. Is it snowing or hailing? How hard is the wind blowing? Do you have streams you must cross to get back to camp? Were there gullies along the way that rain could have turned into roaring little streams? If you move too quickly, you might become disoriented and not know which way to go. Plan what you intend to do before you do it. In some cases, the best answer might be to wait for the weather to clear, especially if you can find good shelter. If it looks as if you will have to spend the night where you are, start working on a fire and campsite well before it gets dark.

What should you take with you? First, make sure you have a good supply of water. If you're in severe conditions such as very hot weather or are at a high elevation, increase your fluids intake. Dehydration can occur very quickly under these conditions. To treat dehydration, you need to replace the body fluids that are lost. You can do this with water, juice, soft drinks, tea and so forth.

Second, make sure you take a waterproof jacket with a hood. I like the kind made of a breathable fabric as it can both keep you dry and wick moisture away from your body.

Another good investment is a daypack. You can use one of these small, lightweight backpacks to carry your waterproof jacket, if necessary, and to hold the contents of a survival kit.

Even though you think you may be hiking for just a few hours, it's also a good idea to carry a couple of energy bars and some other food packets. A good alternative to energy bars is a product usually called trail gorp. Gorp, which tastes much better than it sounds, consists of a mixture of nuts, raisins, and some other protein-rich ingredients such as those chocolate bits that don't melt in your hands.

It's always good to have a pocketknife and some wooden matches in a waterproof matchbox. If by some unfortunate turn of events, you end up having to spend the night in the wilderness, matches can be a real life saver, literally.

Taking a compass is also a good idea. Watch your directions as you follow a trail into the wilderness. That way, you'll always be able to find you way back to camp simply by reversing directions. I also suggest sun block, sunglasses and by all means, a hat to protect you from the sun and to keep your head dry in the event of rain or hail.

Surviving bad weather doesn't have to be a panic-inducing experience ? if you just think and plan ahead.

Article by Douglas Hanna. Douglas is a retired advertising and marketing executive, a long-time resident of Colorado, and author of the book "198 Tips & Tricks to Save Money and live Better." He is the webmaster of http://www.all-in-one-info.com, a free resource for information on a variety of subjects. Please visit his site to subscribe to his free newsletter, "Tips & Tricks to Save Money & Live Better."

---

Highpointing: It?s Not Just For Mountaineers

Mount Sunflower, Kansas. Ebright Azimuth, Delaware. Hawkeye Point, Iowa. Hoosier... Read More

Old Barney -- A Visit to Barnegat Light, New Jersey

Barnegat Light, NJ is the home to "Old Barney" a... Read More

Tamil Nadu ? A potpourri of culture and festivity

Tamil Nadu is a delightful anachronism. With a rich culture... Read More

Japanese Garden of Monaco

Have you ever seen an authentic Japanese garden? Well, I... Read More

Discover Knotts Berry Farm

Of course you know about Southern California's premier attraction, Disneyland... Read More

Boondocking America

Boondocking is fun! Boondockers go anywhere they want, at any... Read More

Mystic Seaport Captured ? Links to Our Past Guide, Part 3

Mystic Seaport celebrates the seafaring past of New England. Known... Read More

Improving Your Aim

If your aim is not good, or is not quite... Read More

The Pyramids of Giza

The most famous Egyptian pyramids to be built are the... Read More

Lightweight Backpacking: How Light?

You aren't lightweight backpacking if you are carrying twenty-five pounds... Read More

River Rafting on the Salmon River

The beautiful Salmon River stretches through over 400 miles of... Read More

How Are Minerals Formed?

HOW ARE MINERALS FORMED?MINERALS are naturally occuring, inorganic solids, with... Read More

San Francisco Beaches

When you are planning a vacation to Maui or Rio... Read More

Boston Vacations: Four Ways To Experience Beantown

Boston is a great destination city for a vacation. There's... Read More

Mammoth Cave: One of the Most Beautiful in Our National Park System

Directly south of Louisville, just off Interstate 65 and not... Read More

Your Horses Back May Not Be the Same Next Month

A saddle is a static object, but your horse is... Read More

Beach Vacation Photo Tips ? Make Your Vacation AND Photos Memorable

Most people, who go on a family beach vacation, take... Read More

Whale Watching ? The Biggest Show on Earth

Whale watching is a spellbinding, entertaining, and thought-provoking adventure trip.... Read More

Unforgettable White Mountains Vacations ? The Most Scenic 100 Miles in New England

This amazing drive through the White Mountains of New Hampshire... Read More

Creative Camp Cooking

For most people, outdoor cooking is synonymous with barbeque, but... Read More

Santa Cruz Church ? the Portuguese Legacy in Bangkok

Santa Cruz Church, the church of the holy cross, was... Read More

Top Five Honeymoon Safari Destinations In Africa

An African honeymoon safari is the perfect way to celebrate... Read More

The Benefits of Inflatable Fishing Boats

Inflatable fishing boats are great yacht tenders/camping boats that are... Read More

Hawaii Snorkeling - An Underwater Paradise

Hawaii snorkeling is a fun activity available to almost any... Read More

Scuba diving in South Africa

This truly beautiful country at the southern tip of dark... Read More

Kerala Backwaters - Gently Down the Stream

The quaint little balcony was large enough to accommodate two... Read More

Zambia Safari Top Five National Parks

Zambia is Africa's best kept secret as far as safaris... Read More

Backyard Camping Trip

Are your kids begging you to take them camping, but... Read More

Greek Food

A meal in Greece is highlighted with a selection of... Read More

Find a Camping Gear Outlet Near You

When you search online for a camping gear outlet you... Read More

Camping Stove Performance: Ease of Use & What to Avoid

Important information about camping stoves...What type of camping, hiking, or... Read More

African Safari Gear Packing List - What To Take Along

The last thing you want on an African safari is... Read More

Campsite Meal Planning and Recipe

Hello Again,Today we will be talking about meal planning. Meals... Read More