One thing that is really great about this tutorial is the lack of condescension when addressing this serious topic. Experienced woodsmen and outdoorsmen can sometimes succumb to faulty assumptions about readiness and capabilities. All it takes is one slip-up, though, and a day hike can go very awry. Below, John from YouTube channel “IntenseAngler”, discusses a short list of some things a person can do with minimal preparations to increase their odds of survival if they get lost in the woods. Who knows what life will bring onto our doorsteps – or what doorsteps we may find ourselves thrust upon? A few simple techniques, however, can mean the difference between a learning mistake and an unfortunate life lesson.
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Communicating Plans Ahead of Time
“Let someone know where you are going and when you prepare to return.” – John, IntenseAngler. This one piece of simple information, relayed by text or a phone call, can mean the difference of life and death. Generally, when someone goes missing, it takes days for their close friends and loved ones to even know if they haven’t been informed in advance.
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Most folks would assume that if someone drops off the face of the earth for a few days, he or she may just be very busy at work, irritable, or any number of other things. The problem is when this realization dawns on those folks come the 48-72 hour mark. And if you are lost in the woods, that time could seem like an eternity.
Leave Behind a Rough Itinerary
The wilderness can be a vast place to randomly search for a lone, lost wanderer.
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Life isn’t always what you prepare for â it’s how you adapt to what happens when those preparations fall through. IntenseAngler and a few other channels are great sou
An easy thing to do is leave behind a rough itinerary of your intended path in a safe but accessible place like your glovebox. When rescuers arrive on the scene, any little detail can help them narrow down their search corridors and hasten your speedy recovery.
Versatile and Adaptable No Matter the Experience
Life isn’t always what you prepare for – it’s how you adapt to what happens when those preparations fall through. IntenseAngler and a few other channels are great sources for quick tips and ideas for how to make do when plans go awry.
Basic Survival Equipment for Day Packers
A lot of times, even experienced hikes will underestimate their needs for a day trip. It’s easy to undervalue certain items or see them as an additional burden to pack or plan. However, as can be shown in videos, with a few simple, lightweight, compact tools – a lot is possible.
These few basic items can instantly prove their worth without straining either a budget or pack weight:
1. Mylar emergency blanket
2. Rain poncho
3. Trash bags
4. Ziploc (or other brand) resealable bags
5. Pocket knife
With these five items, you automatically have a better chance of making an effective emergency shelter, purifying water, and even building primitive fishing hooks to harvest food. While we would all ideally have a greater set of tools like fishing line, sewing needles and thread, and a host of other things – sometimes what you can fit into your pockets is all you’re afforded. All of the above materials can be purchased extremely cheaply – with many dollar stores offering some form of all of these items.
Emergency Survival Mindset – Always Vigilant
The hardest thing to plan is what happens when plans fall through. All experienced hikers undoubtedly know that essentials like water, some amount of food, and some basic means to carry those things is absolutely necessary. However, how many of us are prepared to enter into that scenario when we’re driving down the street? …Or wandering out in our own backyard?
Like this story out of Carver, Massachusetts – an area man got lost in a dense boggy area in early January. With temperatures routinely dipping down in the zero and even subzero range, maintaining body heat and circulation is vital. In this case, the man in question literally got lost near his own backyard. It can happen to anyone. And it’s especially imperative to consider what we think we know about our surroundings versus the potential for getting lost. Thankfully, in many places rescuers can be aided by the use of aerial infrared cameras mounted atop helicopters and even unmanned drones to speed up the recovery process. But certain things, such as a Mylar emergency blanket, can sometimes mask a human being’s IR signature – so it’s important to stay away and stay safe. Ultimately, you can only ever use what you bring with you, so it’s very vital that wherever you wander, you keep at least a minimal kit on you at all times. Even if you never use it, you may be surprised by how many times you can be of assistance to another. Who knows when someone is depending upon you to find his or her way out of the woods?
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