Few hikers or backpackers want to ponder the possibility of getting lost or the need for acquiring skills for survival in the wilderness. But, as in many endeavors in life, there lurks behind the pleasure of this sport the possibility of an unforeseen emergency. And, it is always in your best interest to be prepared for an emergency that you hope will never materialize. (Photo Author: nicholsphotos)
AN ILLUSTRATION FROM AVIATION
Let me illustrate. I was a bush pilot in Central Africa for a number of years. As such, I needed to – indeed I was required to – have the skills to make an emergency landing if the need arose. In fact, a frequent feature of my training was to practice these anomalous landings.
My flight instructor would, with no warning, pull back the throttle and tell me to make an emergency landing. I had to find a suitable open field, check for wind direction, look for obstacles, set up an approach and glide without power to an appropriate landing spot. Just a few feet from touchdown the instructor would push the throttle in and tell me to climb back to altitude. Even though I hoped I would never need to use these skills, it gave me more confidence in my piloting to know that I had a good chance of making an emergency landing in a real situation.
SURVIVAL KNOWLEDGE IS A CONFIDENCE BUILDER
Likewise, as a hiker, backpacker and wilderness visitor, your confidence that you will be able to survive in a wilderness emergency will increase when you acquire survival skills, through study, practice or both.
It’s a well-known fact that one of the most important factors, a psychological factor, in successful wilderness survival is the will to live or the will to not give up. And, in my view of things, right up there in importance is having survival knowledge and skills. In fact, as I think about it, the two probably go together and reinforce each other.
If you have survival knowledge and skills, you will undoubtedly be less likely to relinquish your will to live. You will have more hope because you will know that the skills that you possess will greatly increase your chances of survival. Looking at it the other way around, if you have a strong will to live, you will be more psychologically prepared to put into practice the survival skills that you have developed.
RECOMMENDATIONS
My recommendation is that you, as a regular visitor to the wilderness, start learning and mastering survival skills now. You don’t need to know everything on the subject before you embark on your next foray into the wilderness. Just get a good start and keep on adding to your survival knowledge as time goes by. It can actually be a fun endeavor.
Wilderness Survival For Dummies
I plan to post more on this blog on the subject of survival in the wilderness along with other topics on hiking and backacking. So, come back often.
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Learn. Know. Survive.
by Richard Davidian, Ph.D.
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I am on a trek to learn more and more about survival and survival related issues.
Gearing up for cooler weather here in Florida and looking forward to spending more time hiking, etc. outdoors with our family.
and, prepping for trips to mountains as well!
Thank you for the great information.