Trail Sense

1 - Overview

This guide covers essential survival skills needed to return safely from a survival situation. It is not a substitute for professional training or experience and should only be used as a reference. This guide is intended to be practical and to the point, with the sole purpose of getting you out of a survival situation. Therefore, most bushcraft and impractical techniques for the average hiker have been left out.

If you are in a survival situation, try to stay calm and start with this chapter's "What to Do in a Survival Situation" section.

Be prepared

Before entering the wilderness, you should be as prepared as possible. This means you should plan your route and alternative routes, pack the proper gear, learn the necessary skills, and tell someone your plans.

Gear

Necessities:

• Cell phone
• Money
• Whistle
• Spare batteries (for flashlight) and a battery pack for your phone
• Assorted bandages
• Gauze
• Surgical tape
• Safety pin or needle
• Tweezers
• Antibiotic ointment
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Prescription medications, contact lenses, and glasses
• Pain relievers (aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen)
• Hand sanitizer
• Epinephrine auto-injector (if you have severe allergies)
• Asthma inhaler (if you have asthma)
• Water (enough for the duration of your trip, plus a bit extra)
• Bring a water purification method for longer trips and plan your route to include water sources.
• Water containers (ensure you have a container that you can boil water in)
• Food (enough for the duration of your trip, plus a bit extra). Some good options include:
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Dried fruit
• Jerky
• Energy bars
• Dehydrated meals (with extra water)
• Canned food (with a can opener if needed)
• Knife or multi-tool
• Bear bag or canister
• Emergency space blanket
• Poncho
• Change of clothing
• Extra socks
• Boots or sturdy shoes
• Sunglasses
• Cordage (paracord)
• Sewing kit (needle and thread)
• In colder climates:
• Insulating layers (jacket, pants, hat, gloves)
• Waterproof outer layer
• Waterproof or insulated boots
• Thermal underlayers
• Hand warmers
• For overnight stays:
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Tent
• Tarp
• Map
• Compass
• Flashlight or headlamp
• 7-day weather forecast

Optional:

• Signal mirror

See each chapter for additional gear recommendations.

Knowledge and skills

Start by learning how to do the following:

• Follow local laws and regulations
• Act in a survival situation
• Signal for help
• Plan a trip

See each chapter for additional knowledge and skills recommendations.

Additional reading

This guide only covers a small portion of the vast knowledge of survival and bushcraft. If you want to learn about more skills, then I recommend the following books (not affiliated):

• Bushcraft 101 by Dave Canterbury
• SAS Survival Handbook by John 'Lofty' Wiseman
• Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival by Tom Brown Jr., with Brandt Morgan
• Wilderness & Travel Medicine by Eric A. Weiss, MD

What to do in a survival situation

If you are in a survival situation, don't panic and follow these steps.

Stop

The first and most important thing to do when lost is to stop moving. If you are in immediate danger in your current position, you can move, but otherwise, stay where you are. Use this time to calm down with deep breaths; you will get home.

Think

Take a moment to think about your situation. Answer the following questions:

• What are your immediate needs?
• What resources do you have available?
• Did you tell someone your plans before you left? If so, when are they expecting you back?
• Which way did you come from?

Observe

Next, observe your surroundings and assess your situation. The first thing to do is check your smartphone or GPS receiver for your location. If you have a maps app, open it and check if a map is available. You can also check for a signal to call for help. If you have no luck there, then look around and listen for signs of people, vehicles, or trails. Lastly, observe where you are and look for potential hazards or resources.

Plan

Make a plan for your next steps. First, try to put in a call or text for help if you are not in immediate danger. What you do next is going to depend on your current situation. Here's some general advice for actions you can take, ordered by importance:

• If you are badly injured, treat your injuries.
• If it is cold, get warm through insulation, shelter, and then fire (if easily started).
• If the weather is bad, take shelter.
• If it is hot, find shade and drink water.
• If it is close to dark, set up a shelter and maybe a fire.
• Start conserving food and water, but don't let yourself get thirsty.
• If you have a minor injury, treat it.
• Record your current location in your phone or GPS; if you have a bright piece of clothing, tie it to a tree where you can see it.
• If you are out of water or just about to run out, find a water source and purify it.
• Signal for help using the techniques later in this chapter. Do this often for the best odds of being found.
• Try to determine your location using a map.
• Check for signs of the trail nearby, but always keep your initial location in sight.
• Identify nearby points of interest that you might be able to find on a map or hike to later if needed.
• If you are out of food, start thinking about how you will forage or catch something to eat. You can survive for a while without food but will weaken over time.
• If you have been out for several days to a week, you may need to consider hiking out. Leave a sign that you were here and in which direction you went, such as something tied to a tree and an arrow made of natural materials.

In summary, the priority is to treat severe injuries, seek shelter, signal for help, find water, build a fire (to stay warm and boil water), determine your location, check for ways out, find food, and last and only if you've been out there for a long time, hike out.

Your plan should adapt to your situation as it changes. Reevaluate often and stay hopeful that you will be found.

Act

Once you have a plan, act on it. If at any point you feel unsafe, nervous, unsure, or your situation changes, then stop and reassess.

Planning a trip

Before going into the wilderness, have a plan that you can stick to. Research the terrain, weather conditions, wildlife, and plants you might encounter. Check local regulations and any permits you may need. Use an up-to-date map to plan your route and some alternative routes if the trails are impassable. Also, look up trail conditions and the weather forecast for your trip.

Once you have a trip planned out, pack the necessary gear and supplies and check all of it to ensure it is functional. You should share your plan with a trusted person, including the routes, who you are going with, when you will be back, and when you will contact them. If you don't have someone to whom you can tell these plans, leave a note with this information in a very visible place in your home. While you are hiking, stick to your route and avoid unnecessary risks.

Signaling for help

Signaling for help will increase your odds of being found. You should do this often, even if you don't think anyone is nearby or can hear you.

Cell phone

Many phones can call emergency services even without a signal from your carrier. If you can't make a call, try sending a text message. Check your phone periodically to see if you have a signal, but otherwise, keep it off or in airplane mode to conserve battery. You may get a better signal by moving to higher ground or an open area.

Whistle

Three short blasts are the universal signal for help. You may want to cover your ears when using the whistle at full volume.

Signal mirror

Hold the mirror with one hand and extend your other arm in front of you with your fingers in a V-shape and the target between your fingers. Reflect sunlight onto your fingers and slowly move the mirror up and down to flash sunlight at the potential rescuers. You can use a phone screen as a signal mirror, but it will be nowhere near as effective as an actual mirror and should be combined with another signal, such as smoke or a ground-to-air signal.

Smoke

Smoke can attract attention during the day. Burning green vegetation can create a lot of smoke, but be sure to do this safely. A fire at night can also be used to attract attention.

Flares

Flares are best seen at night or in low-visibility conditions. Follow the instructions on the flare packaging and be aware of any legal restrictions on their use.

Flashlight

At night, a flashlight can be used to signal for help. Use the international distress signal, SOS, which is three short flashes, three long flashes, and three short flashes. If you don't remember the SOS signal, flash the light repeatedly in groups of three. Aim it in the direction of aircraft or other potential rescuers.

Ground-to-air signals

Ground-to-air signals are large markers you create on the ground to communicate with aircraft. Use rocks, logs, or other materials to create a large "V" (means you require assistance) or an "X" (means you require medical assistance). Use contrasting or artificial colors to make the signal more visible.

Disclaimer

This guide is provided for informational purposes only, and neither the author, publisher, nor any contributors guarantee its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. By using this guide, you acknowledge that outdoor activities involve risks, and you do so at your own risk, agreeing to hold harmless and indemnify the author, publisher, and any contributors from any claims or damages arising from your use of this guide. Always consult professionals for advice specific to your situation, as this guide does not substitute for professional guidance. Furthermore, be aware that local laws and regulations may affect the legal use of the techniques described herein, and compliance is your responsibility.