Have you ever been forced to fend for yourself in the wilderness? What did you do? How did you survive? Do you have a good tip for starting a fire or building a shelter?
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A friend and I used to go backpacking in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York state in February — our favorite time since there were no biting bugs. We decided to camp in a steep valley, slightly above a stream. Although the weather was well below freezing, during the night a warm rain started. We didn't get flooded out by the rising stream, but we were afraid that we were going to be crushed by numerous large rocks that began falling off the cliffs high above our campsite.
The moral is: Always be concerned about the potential for rapidly rising water. Also be aware of the possibility of rock falls during a late-night rainstorm or even a sudden wind gust that can sway trees and loosen rocks high above a campsite.
Leo Zugner
This series has definitely brought a "new vibe" to the documentary/reality show arena. GREAT JOB!
I grew up in rural North Carolina, Wisconsin and Arizona, and have been through some very similar situations documented in the series (not intentionally — often while I was exploring and/or hunting). One survival technique that is often overlooked is the consumption of roots and tubers for sustenance.
I watched the "Sonoran Desert" episode and saw several plants that could have been dug up and consumed (not including endangered species). Anyway, great job on the show. I hope it will inspire more outdoor enthusiasts and help show that the wilderness is not such a bad place after all.
Adam Knight
The old net gym bags that hold dirty jocks and other sports gear from local high-school locker rooms are a great survival tool. You know, the ones that have the huge safety pin.
First, they can be used as a backpack organizational tool for separating socks, coats, etc. Second, they are perfect for putting foodstuffs in and raising them over a branch in bear country. Third, they make excellent fish traps.
In a pinch, you can use them as rope if you cut them up. Also, if you cut them up, they are great netting for catching birds and bats. In cold weather or in mosquito country, put them over your head and shove leaves around. Also, they’re good to use as booties.
Mike Meservy
Potassium permanganate stored in a waterproof container is a great multipurpose survivor tool. It has a number of uses.
A couple of grains added to water will purify it, and a few more grains will turn the water to antiseptic. Mixed with sugar, it is an excellent fire-starter or smoke signal. A few grains can be placed on a sheet of old newsprint and dowsed with a little antifreeze. If the paper is quickly balled up, it will burst into flames. Finally, a few grains can be used in a solution to stain wood or to stain snow as an emergency marker.
When Hurricane Katrina hit, many people were left without drinking water. When the sun returned, contaminated water dominated the environment.
In an urban environment, a clear plastic sheet can be useful for making drinking water. Some kind of tub, or basin, or even black plastic sheeting can hold a gallon of contaminated water. Set a cup in the middle with the clear plastic as a lid. Put a rock over the cup so it is poking the plastic down into the empty cup.
Use dirt, mud or tape to seal the plastic lid. Use sunlight to evaporate the contaminated water into the airspace under the plastic lid, leaving behind the contaminants on top. Pure water condenses out of the vapor onto the underside of the plastic and drips down into the empty cup.
Les' ever-present multi-tool should be mandatory for outdoor travel. When hiking and backpacking, even for short trips or day hikes, I have a small pouch attached to my belt. Everything fits in a couple of Ziploc bags to stay dry.
The pouch contains: three adhesive bandages, three butterfly closures, two needles, a tiny spool of thread, six safety pins, pain reliever, diarrhea/nausea medication, storm-proof matches, magnesium fire-starter, 6 feet of toilet paper, 2 feet of duct tape, a 6-foot light cord, a small knife, a combo compass/whistle/magnifying glass/thermometer, an LED headlamp, a reflective emergency blanket, a light, plastic rain poncho, a spoon, a toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm and an energy bar.
Enjoy the outdoors! Michael Honza
I too am a survivor. I was lost in the mountains of the Ozarks in Arkansas when I was only 12 (1980). It was in 100 percent humidity. I had no water and, of course, I was only 12. A trail that was only supposed to be a maximum of 5 miles turned out to be no trail with 15-plus miles marked by frayed ribbons on trees. If you’re Grizzly Adams, great. The park ranger told us that it was 2 miles — 5 if we took the long trail. She was wrong.
To start things off, we walked onto a tick nest/mound and were covered. We were sweating so much that none of us knew. I remember my dad telling me, "I have your brother and sister (10 and 11 at the time), and I know you can run. Find the way out and come back with help (they were really bad off). Take this bottle of water and run to find help." Four ounces of water does not go far in 95-degree heat with almost 100 percent humidity while running at age 12. I ran for hours with no trail. I did finally find a road, and followed it to camp. If only I had had a camera like you do…
Today I am dedicated to knowing everything I can to save me and my family. I am also living by the FM21-76 U.S. Army Survival Manual. I am now a nurse manager in trauma and not only support all of my nurses, but support any of their family.
Patrick Olsen, R.N. B.S.N.
It’s fascinating how you are able to deal with shooting the scenes as well as survive in the harshest conditions. Your show is now my top favorite, perhaps because I often think about such scenarios myself. Such as yourself, I am a outdoorsman (and a trained medic, biological scientist and engineer).
Perhaps unlike yourself, my reason for being in the outdoors is not so much to enjoy nature as to appreciate civilization. There’s nothing like living out in nature to help a man appreciate technology and home.
The Asian McGyver, Shin Lee
I first want to say that I love the show; I think it’s awesome. I’ve watched the same one a few times to get great information and survivor tips.
I love the Rocky Mountains — it's a great place to take photos of the plants and animals. The view is breathtaking, and from time to time if you’re out there, you get stuck out there.
Myself, I’ve been stuck more than once. Mostly through trial and error, I’ve found that a good shelter will make things so much easier. If you happen to have one of those survival blankets — I think they’re made of Mylar and look like foil — don't use it to keep warm. You’ll be miserable and cold all night long.
I never go out alone. I always take someone reliable that I can count on. I can’t stress how dangerous it is to go alone. Sometimes you may get separated. One of the things I found useful was being able to make a decent shelter.
What I usually do for a shelter if there is snow or the ground is cold is to dig an area a few inches deep in the dirt or just below all the crud. Dig to where the dirt is not so cold. Line an area just big enough for you to fit in with pine branches. Using rocks, pine branches and whatever is available, build a tight little mound. Don't just pile on, try to make it so you can get into the mound when done. Then insulate with pine — it tends to look like a woodpile when you’re done. Use the blanket or your jacket to close the hole you just crawled into. I assure you it’s warm — not comfortable, but warm.
Ann
The cedar bark Les used to start a fire also would have done well to make rope.
A simple piece of steel will start many fires, or a flint rock or two. White rocks will also spark. The camera lens was a smart idea to make a flame, but with all the river rock available, I probably could have had a fire going about 45 minutes sooner than Les.
In the Arctic my best advice would have been to rub seal blubber into the mukluks — the oil and fat seal them. This should be done every night to keep the mukluks waterproof. If you are lucky enough to catch a seal, sinew can be used as string for sewing and repairs and bones can be used to make needles and tools.
Dana Atchison
The best primitive method (in my opinion) to produce a fire in all weather conditions is the bow-and-drill method. It’s simple and quick once you learn the proper technique. I have produced fire by bow and drill with over 200 different types of wood (including poison ivy and poison oak) in all types of weather in many different countries.
tomahawk