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Careful survival
preparedness planning
Survival preparedness is essential for all wilderness travelers. Hiking in Nepal, river to be safe and successful rafting the Yukon River or backpacking in Alaska all require careful preparation and planning.
Always expect the unexpected
The most common cause of death in the wilderness is unpreparedness. Death from e.g hypothermia can actually be attributed to not being prepared for what might happen in the wild. People don't die of hypothermia, they die from not expecting an extremely cold situation.
Follow the adage, "Prepare for the worse and hope for the best" and always try to avoid placing your, or your partner’s life or health in danger.
Pack the right gear
Don't rush. Spend time to get the right outdoor gear. Your
outdoor gear
and
outdoor apparel
can be the difference between failure and success... and don't forget your wilderness
emergency preparedness kits.
Make sure you pack the food you will need. Plan your meals and enjoy your wilderness travel.
Know your route well
Survival preparedness also mean knowing your intended route of travel and familiarizing yourself with the area.
Study your maps carefully. Get a feel for the land even before you see it. Gain as much knowledge of the terrain as possible. What kind of vegetation can you expect? What temperature fluctuations can you expect?
Need to refresh your
wilderness navigation
skills? No one should venture into the wilderness without the skills to use a compass and to interpret and understand a map.
Most important - where are you going?
Before heading out for a hike, inform someone about your route, destination and when you can be expected back. Tracking a person or a group will be much easier for the rescue team if they know where you are headed and your proposed route. Call that person when you return.
Tip: Use the service from
SendAnSOS.com.
Leave a note in your vehicle as well! Leave the note where it can be read easily through the window. Write with bold lettering your route and when you expect to be back.
Check weather forecast
Harsh weather conditions can turn a wilderness travel into a tragedy. Check weather forecasts before heading out in the wilderness. During your trip use your knowledge to
predict weather.
Snow and cold
Winter is a season of extremes and if you are heading for the wilderness in wintertime take special precaution. Be prepared and learn basic
winter survival skills.
Hot and sunny
As a wilderness traveler in hot and sunny weather you are vulnerable to
heat casualties,
especially when water is scarce.
Keep practicing
Continue to read and learn more about wilderness
survival preparedness and preparation.
Remember to keep practicing the survival skills you have learned. Take a
wilderness survival training course.
Remember the 5 P's:
Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.
and by the way, remember to take the
Wilderness Survival Quiz!
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