Staying in the wild, more so if you are somewhere inside a forest can be very exciting and at the same time scary. Having the knowledge and planning for the unknown elements of nature is crucial. In this piece, we are going to go through key tips that if followed properly can dramatically improve your chances of surviving in the forest.
Know your Surroundings
To cut through a forest, you need to know the trees. Crucially, you have to tell which are the edible plants and others you should never touch. For instance, stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) to the newly initiated can be an excellent source of food if boiled but unripe wild berries like Elderberry (Sambucus sp.) are toxic. The type of animal tracks or other signs that the author sees can also help indicate specific food sources, but they might also indicate dangers.
Water Procurement
One of the first things that people think about when they consider a survival scenario is water. Fresh water is abundant in the form of highly portable fresh stream water, but this can be downright annoying to find among all those forests… Look for :
Streams and Rivers with Running Water (generally safer than stagnant sources)
Rainwater: Rain water can be saved with simple methods like using a tarp or container to save the rain water.
Dew: Dew is collected from leaves early in the morning.
Always boil or use purification tablets in the water before drinking.
Shelter Construction
If you are in a forest, the first thing that should come to your mind is shelter. It insulates you from the elements and temperature swings.
Lean-To: A basic shelter made using branches supported on a tree.
Debris Hut — Using twigs, leaves and pine needles of the forest allows more thermal mass in between you and the ground.
Make sure your shelter is not close to any falling branches or flooding water assets.
Fire Making Techniques
A common multi-use tool in the wild is fire. Knowing and mastering several ways of starting fire can save your life:
Drawbacks: Some work better than others (practicing with methods such as the bow drill is necessary).
Flint and Steel: Which works even when the weather is damp.
Firestarter Kits — A fire starter bought from the store that is designed to be carried for emergencies.
Use only dry materials for tinder, and always have a campfire far away from anything that can catch fire.
Navigation Skills
In thick forest, it’s easy to get mixed up. Use his navigational ability to prevent you from getting lost.
Known Features: Employ visible features such as mountains and rivers to situate oneself.
Solar Position: The rising and setting sun creates directional reference.
Compasses: This is your first step if you have a compass.
Knowledge of map reading will be beneficial, though GPS systems are not always reliable in the more remote locations
First Aid Readiness
Accidents happen and you never know when an injury can leave us the only resort is a bit of geological knowledge. Own a basic first aid kit and know how to treat:
Cuts and scrapes: cleaning wounds to prevent infection
Recognize and Treat Hypothermia: symptoms include shivering, confusion; warm the person slowly.
Herbal remedies are a great addition to your knowledge set as well. For example: plantain leaves are good for insect/dog bites or minor wounds
Mental Fortitude
What better way to survive, than with a positive mental attitude? The stress and panic can confuse judgment and lead to impaired decision-making. Practicing breath-work, remaining purpose-oriented and rejoicing in the little victories can boost mood.
Conclusion
Living in woods is tough and with right knowledge, which we will be sharing here you can overcome anything. When you are in the wilderness, your most important characteristics would be preparedness / adaptability and mental resilience.