Tips for Safety and Survival in the Backcountry

Getting lost can be a frightening experience, even for a seasonal hiker or backpacker. By following these tips, you can have the confidence and knowledge needed to survive in the wilderness until you’re found by rescuers.

Tip #1 – ALWAYS tell two or three people where you are going, and when you expect to return. That way, if you don’t return by the scheduled time, the authorities can be quickly notified, and the faster a search party will be assembled.

Tip #2 – Never hike alone. Ever. Even though you may be experienced in the outdoors, don’t take the risk. It takes just one unlucky thing to happen for you to be in a bad spot. Plus, not only is it safer, but it’s more fun being outdoors with others anyway.

Stop – At the beginning of a wilderness survival emergency, the most important thing you can do is stop. Once you have taken care of your immediate safety and anyone else that is with you. Next, relax as best you can. Drink some water. Eat a snack. Even if it’s getting close to dark, you have time. You have resources. Survival is 85% mental and only 15% physical. You have a good mind. Now is the time to start using it. Stop.

Think – Assemble the group. Use your brain to figure out what is really going on. If you think you are lost, study your map and try to determine where you are. Look around for landmarks. Note the contours of hills, ridges, or mountains and where you are in relation to streams or lakes. If you don’t have a map, try to remember where you could have gotten off course. What was the last landmark you positively identified? In what direction did you travel from there? If you are on a trail or a road, can you follow it back to your starting point? If you have left footprints in the snow, can you retrace your tracks? Don’t go anywhere yet. There is no rush. Stop and Think.

Observe – Assess the immediate situation. What are the weather conditions? Where is a good place to take shelter? Inventory everything you have in your pack and pockets, and look around to get a sense of the natural resources nearby. What clothing do you have? How can you improvise with what is available to make it suit your needs? Don’t go anywhere yet. There is no rush. Stop, Think, and Observe.

Plan – When you have figured out what your situation really is, the group can put together a plan for what to do next. Build your plan on what you have observed, what you have in the way of equipment, what you can improvise from native materials, and how you can keep yourself safe. Put into practice the survival steps you have learned, and wait as calmly as you can for help to arrive. Plan carefully and cautiously; don’t make your situation worse by acting hastily. Most people are found within the first 24 hours of becoming lost or encountering difficulties in the backcountry. You could, if necessary, survive much longer.

Some things to have in your hiking/camping backpack:

Essential
Pocketknife
Flashlight
Headlamp
Fire Starter
Matches
First Aid kit
50 feet of rope
30 feet of rope
Spare batteries
Compass
Poncho
Dry bag
Emergency Blanket
Whistle
Water purification tablets
GPS
Map of hiking area
Watch

Optional
Toilet paper
Two-way radios
Candles
Sunscreen
Chewing Gum
Aluminum can
Bug Spray
Hand Sanitizer

Building a Shelter
Take time to select a safe spot for a shelter. For example, don’t build one on the top of a hill or in a dry river bed. Look and make sure that there are not any dead trees nearby that could fall over in a storm or strong winds. When building a shelter, the smaller the better. Many individuals try and build a bigger shelter than they need. A smaller shelter traps your body heat better than a big shelter, and it takes less time. If selecting a natural shelter like a cave, make sure it is not a home to a wild animal. Throw rocks inside, etc. Look for signs of wildlife in and around the cave before entering.  Avoid building a shelter right next to a lake or game trail.

Building a Fire
Fire is essential in a survival situation. It increases morale. It provides heat at night and protection from wildlife. Fire boils your water to make it safer to drink. Keep in mind what is the purpose of your fire. Cooking? Heat? Signaling? There are different types of fires you can build depending on your need. Build a reflector on the opposite side of the fire from where you are so you can take full advantage of the heat produced by the fire.

Purifying Water
There are several techniques that one can use to purify water, but I would recommend a combination of boiling and chemical treatment. Boil water for at least five minutes just to be safe. Typically one minute at a rolling boil is sufficient unless you’re a mile above sea-level, then boil for five minutes. Read and follow instructions carefully when using chemicals to purify water. It has been said that water straight from a spring, or moving water is safe to drink without any type of purification, but I would still recommend boiling water.