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Winter survival skillsBy applying some winter survival basics you will be safer when traveling in the wilderness during the winter season. Winter weather can be wonderful.... but also harsh and dangerous. Many unexpected things can happen during a winter wilderness trip. Even experienced winter wilderness adventurers can get caught by weather or an equipment failure.
Good preparation is essential for all wilderness travel and especially in winter time. Take special care of your winter clothing. If you are caught out overnight the most important thing is to keep yourself dry and warm. So one of your highest priorities is to find or construct a shelter. Evaluate your situation. Winter Survival Shelters You need a shelter that will turn away the wind and keep snow and rain out. Select a site that is dry and have as little snow as possible. Look for higher ground, a flat location, with lots of tree. Such an area will provide relief from direct wind and snow, as well as an ample supply of material for shelter building. If there’s no chance to reach higher ground, build a floor using dead branches or stones. Don't stay in shelters that get damp or waterlogged. Use available materials to get a roof over your head. Be creative! Maybe you can make use of natural cover? A medium-sized tree may have pockets in the snow beneath a branch. Try digging under any tree with spreading branches in the lee side. If you have the rights tools you can build a shelter constructed from blocks of snow, an igloo. After you've built your shelter, get a fire going. Make something hot to drink to get warmth but also to avoid to get dehydrated. Melt ice and snow to get survival water. Keeping your body warm Don't over-exert yourself while building your shelter, or while doing anything else for that matter. Pace your activity to avoid perspiration. If not, you risk making yourself even colder as your sweat starts to freeze. Beware of frostbite or hypothermia. If it’s raining or snowing, put on an emergency poncho to protect your clothes. Try to keep your boots, socks and feet dry as well. Sharing is caring Share your survival tips for cold weather with others. Your tip or advice can be of great value for other winter wilderness travelers. Do you first want to read what other visitors have said? Either scroll to the bottom or click here click here Tell others your cold weather survival tips
Ready to share your survival tips for cold weather? Before your survival page is published I will review it and make sure it applies to the submission guidelines for the Wilderness Survival Skills website.
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