Hiking Backpack Zone

Posts Tagged ‘wilderness survival’

Fire starting has become somewhat of a lost art. Decades ago, it was an essential skill for survival, but modern technology has made it so simple that most people would be at a loss to start a fire if they were without a cigarette lighter or matches. However, anybody can learn to start fire without either matches or a lighter - rain or shine. Let’s look at the necessary ingredients for starting fire.

The three basic ingredients are fuel, oxygen and heat. We’re going to assume, for this discussion that the fuel is wood. Oxygen is a given as long as you’re alive, so let’s look at your heat source. You’ve got to have sufficient heat to ignite your fuel, or at least your tinder so that it can in turn ignite your fuel, or wood. Let’s consider how to get that heat source.

There are three basic sources for heat to start your fire - first is a flame which can come from a match or lighter. But what if you don’t have either of those on hand? There are really only two other heat sources for starting fires and that would be either a coal or a spark. Coals can be generated by creating friction between two wood objects. This can be achieved by a drill or bow and drill combination. Friction between the wood materials can actually create a coal which can then be used to ignite tinder. In a future article, we’ll explain just how to do this in detail. For now, suffice it to say that this involves a significant amount of work. For those who have learned to start a fire this way, the universal lesson taught is that it is prudent to have another more efficient method on hand. That’s where spark comes in.

The right kind of steel can be useful to create enough sparks to light tinder. It can be a very small piece making it convenient to carry with you, ready for use at any time. One real benefit in the use of a fire steel is that if it’s good quality, it will work even if it’s wet. There are all kinds of them on the market, it just depends upon your favorite style.

When it comes to tinder, there are numerous natural materials that work well. Dead moss, bark shavings and dead grass are just a few of the possibilities. Those that are really serious about fire starting might want to consider carrying some tinder with them, just to be prepared. Whatever method you use, practice makes perfect. Develop your skill enough so that you’ll be able to get the results you want under any circumstances.

This article was written by Griz Garzo, who is passionate about wilderness survival and primitive skills, including firestarting.

What do you call the creative use of natural things to provide for your survival? Bushcraft survival. The phrase has been made popular by TV survivalist Ray Mears and Les Hiddins (The bush Tucker Man). It involves using natural cordage, bushcraft knives, building natural shelters, eating wild edible plants, starting fires without matches or cigarette lighters, and obtaining and purifying water in primitive situations. Although early American mountain men and the Indians were masters of these skills, they have been pretty much forgotten these days.

But is there a practical use for these skills today? It turns out that interest is growing in bushcraft survival especially among outdoor enthusiasts such as backpackers, climbers and hunters. A variety of situations can arise in which it could mean the difference between life and death to know some basic wilderness survival skills.

However, in the new age of man made disaster scenarios, especially related to terrorism, these skills are not only useful for everyone, but they could mean the difference for an individual’s or even family’s ability to survive a catastrophic event.

There are a variety of ways to learn these skills, from books and videos. While many videos are available on youtube, there are also websites devoted to the development of bushcraft survival skills. But really, the bottom line is to try out the various techniques yourself after reading about them or watching them demonstrated in a video. It’s one thing to know about them, and quite another to know, by experience, how to do them. With practice, you can become very proficient in the art.

One of the best ways to learn Bushcraft survival is by doing it together as a family. Children enjoy developing these skills plus, it helps them to become more confident in problem solving using only what is at hand - a skill that could really pay off later in life. That’s all for now. We’ll have more to say later about specific survival skills and equipment that could make all the difference. See you then.

To find great resources onBushcraft Survival and read more of Griz Garzo’s articles, visit http://www.bushcraftsurvival.net.

It is considered a responsible decision for families and singles to create a disaster checklist. Many know this is a good idea, but very rarely is it done. This is largely because it can be a bit overwhelming in trying to understand how to do this and what needs to be put in an emergency preparedness kit and checklist.

The first basic step is to put together what is often termed a survivalist supply kit. This kit should have items that would be necessary or beneficial to have on hand while an emergency is taking place. It is important that the item be easy to carry and portable. Some good suggestions might be a larger sized backpack or a container made from plastic with handles.

Once you have determined the nature of the container for your kit, you must then gather together the various items it needs. The first item you should have deals with information. Having a written list of your family’s basic information, such as your family doctor and contact numbers, is necessary as well. If there are any children in your family it is a good idea to have their names and ages included, as well.

First aid items and supplies are mandatory. Accidents can and do happen during emergencies, especially drastic ones such as floods, avalanches, or earthquakes. If you or a loved one is taking a prescribed medication, they should be included in the kit as well, along with any additional aid, such as glasses or hearing devices.

Water is a necessary part of life, and as such should be included in either your kit, or within easy reach of the pack. It is recommended you have one gallon for one person per day. Aside from nonperishable foods, like canned meats and granola or protein bars, it can also be a good idea that you have a hand operated can opener included, too.

Aside from rain gear and good footwear, extra or backup clothes need to be with your pack, too. Other items, like a flashlight, sleeping bag, blanket, and battery powered radio and extra batteries are important, as well. Two other items often overlooked in a emergency preparedness bag are duplicate car and house keys, as well as a moderate supply of money. Both these items need to be in your emergency kit. If young children or infants reside in the home, think about having their required necessities in the kit, as well.

An escape plan is very important, for a lot of the time an accident in a disaster will occur without them. In order to create this plan, just draw and map out the essential floor plan of your home, paying close attention to basic areas of interest. These can include doors, windows, and staircases.

Try to reference other appliances, too, that could become dangerous in a disaster, such as stoves or refrigerators. Your emergency kit must be noted in this escape plan, too. There also needs to be a minimum of two different escape routes from every room in your home. A meeting zone should also be established for all members of your household to meet at once they have safely existed the building.

Adhering to an survivalist checklist can be very advantageous for your family, and even possibly save their lives. No matter if you live alone or have a big family, it is very important that you follow the above suggestions so that you can be more prepared if a disaster occurs.

If you should ever find yourself in an emergency, you may have to depend on a survival gun or survival knife in order to make it through the emergency. That is why knowing how to choose one and using one is so important. Get these survival skills if you don’t already know them!