Survival Zone Expert: Ross McFadyen (cont'd)

Read survival expert Ross McFadyen's responses to your questions below. Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask him more survival questions now.

Q: I have looked all over the Internet in search of a "natural," deep in the woods remedy of plants or trees that may repel mosquitoes and have come up with nothing more than "products" and things like catnip, lemon oil, DEET, peppermint oil, etc. Basically, things you would never find deep in the woods of North America or Canada that could remedy this problem having no access to all of the store-bought products. My question is, do you have a true and tested list of "real" plants/bark/roots/tree produce that could be exploited in a situation where you were caught out in the North American or Canadian woods and needed a quick mosquito repellent?

I was told once in the military to take pine needles and mash them into a gummy juice and smear that on yourself as a natural repellent ... is this true? If so, are there any more natural remedies that would be found in the bush similar to this? Thanks a lot, a big fan of the show.
- ChessMassacre

A: It's been my experience that nothing works as well as DEET. I've tried several plants that supposedly had repellent effects, including some that you mentioned, but not with much success. There were a few times that I seemed to have some success, especially with sage leaves crushed and rubbed on my skin and clothes. But ultimately the relief was short-lived. Having been in the field several days, however, it did improve my social standing. That was the long answer. The short answer is no, I don't know of any reliable natural remedies. There was another survival instructor I knew very well that ate mounds of garlic before and during every trip to the field. The only things that did get near him were mosquitoes. The thought has crossed my mind that maybe that was his intention ...

Q: Could you give advice on the best way/places to train and gain experience in a wilderness survival situation? I'm looking for instructors/schools that teach wilderness survival, but so far, the ones I find are too far from home or too expensive to afford (I live in Houston, Texas). I currently attend the University of Houston, but they don't offer any courses/programs that deal with wilderness survival, etc. I'd greatly appreciate it if you could give your advice/opinion on the best course of action.
Much thanks,
Dushaun

A: Experience is life's best teacher! Take a look at this Web site — www.equipped.com/srvschol.htm. Due diligence will help you find the school that best fits your needs. Do you want training in just basic survival or something more advanced? What topics would you like to learn — there are many. Some schools will offer one- or two-day courses; some for as low as $150 per day. Save the necessary funds and do it! Believe me, you'll find what you want and get what you pay for. You might also want to whet your appetite by ordering some of the DVDs offered on many of the individual sites. These DVDs offer information by topic and are normally very informative. However, try as you may, you will never gain the education you seek by watching a DVD. I remember learning to start a fire using a bow and drill. I watched someone else do it and couldn't wait to try it myself. I gathered everything the other guy had. I went to work tying the string to the bow, making a socket for the drill/spindle to rest in, etc. I tried and tried to no avail. I even set off a few smoke alarms in the barracks, but no fire! I was physically exhausted and mentally perplexed when I finally gave up. Kind of like the MythBusters episode where they tried and tried and failed to do it. Then I found someone with experience that could work with and teach me until I got it. Without his guidance and hands-on expertise I wouldn't have gained the proper experience to succeed.