Nature is a phenomenal thing which our planet has to offer for us. The beauty and the endless possibilities for adventure, while also our exposure to nature, improves our health and mental state. Sometimes though, nature switches on us, and where it could improve our health and well being, it could turn on us and you will have to be prepared to survive if something went wrong, and a disaster hit your area. There are 10 of the most important survival skills you will need to learn in order to win the wild.
10 Most Important Survival Skills for Wilderness Living
1. Food: Your body requires nutritional sustenance in order to survive. Food provides your body with the water, energy, and focus it needs in order to properly function. When you are aware of edible plants and insects then you will have the upper hand. A general rule when it comes to wilderness plant cultivation is to avoid munching on plants that appear milky, hairy, bulbous, or have three leaves, or pink spurs – these are sure signs that the plant is poisonous. Wild plants like clovers, dandelion, and sorrel are common and edible. However, your body will not survive on greens alone. You require protein and fat in order to thrive. Nearly all common insects are edible – from ants, to grasshoppers, to worms, to even bees, insects are your go-to source for protein in the wilderness. Or, try your hand at survival hunting. A simple snare requires just a noose, which can be crafted from rope or wire. Simply tie the noose to a tree near an animal’s den, and wait for your next meal.
2. Water: You can’t survive without water. So to survive in the wilderness, you must know how to collect and purify water. This can be done in a number of ways. One way is to collect rainwater in tarps or pots. Another way water can be obtained is by digging a foot deep hole in a muddy area, and waiting for water to surface. Once you’ve collected your water, you must purify it. You can do so by boiling your water over a fire in a tin or aluminum can, a glass jar, or a plastic bottle.
3. First Aid: Start learning about how to build a first aid kit to ensure your survival in the wild. Knowing how to properly dress wounds and fashion splints and slings could be the difference between life and death in the wilderness.
4. How to Start and Maintain a Fire: fire is your heat, and your purification system for your water. You should learn how to build a fire and keep it going in both wet and dry environments.
5. Self Defense: When forced into wilderness survival, you might find your self in a situation to where you are required to defend yourself or lose your life. Taking the time to learn self defense and remembering to pack a pocket-knife when leaving on an adventure are two ways that can help you protect yourself in the wilderness.
6. Learn How to Repair Your Clothes: Learning how to sew your clothes will again give you the upper hand in warmth and having the right protection.
7. Grooming: Keep yourself clean using basic grooming skills is essential to your health and to keep you alive.
8. Expect the Unexpected: Train your mind to expect the unexpected, and accept the unexpected. Your mental outlook greatly affects your morale, and your morale greatly affects your ability to survive.
9. Worldly Awareness: Be aware of your surroundings, and the dangers and advantages they have to offer. Awareness can help you to be a more proficient and successful survivor.
10. Practice Makes Perfect: At the end of the day, no matter how many precautions you take, preparations you make, or intelligence you cultivate, surviving in the wild poses an undeniable challenge. Continue to cultivate a survivalist mentality – see the possibilities objects in nature offer you, learn the art of scrounging, and develop your resourcefulness. Push on, no matter the direness of the circumstances, and you will be well on your way to being a true survivalist.
in Detroit by 