When you’re lost in the wilderness or navigating unfamiliar terrain, survival is about more than just finding your way out. As you move, you must adopt what I call the “possum mentality”—keeping your senses alert for everything that could be essential to your survival. It’s not just about finding food; it’s about staying aware of your surroundings for potential fire-starting materials, water sources, and safe places to shelter and rest. These two areas, navigating and foraging, while separate skills, must work in harmony for you to stay ahead of the challenges.
1. Navigation: Finding Your Bearings in Unknown Terrain
The ability to navigate is one of the most critical skills in survival. Without a clear sense of direction, you risk going in circles, wasting precious energy and resources. Whether you’re using modern tools like a compass or simply relying on nature’s cues, staying on course is vital to survival.
Natural Navigation Techniques
When you don’t have a compass, you can still find your way by using natural navigation cues. These methods require awareness and patience but are effective.
- The Sun and Shadows: During the day, the sun is one of the most reliable navigation tools. In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, which can help orient your path. Additionally, you can use a stick-and-shadow method: place a stick vertically in the ground, mark the tip of the shadow, and after 15 minutes, mark the new position of the shadow’s tip. Draw a line between the two marks to establish an east-west direction.
- The Stars: At night, the stars offer reliable guidance. The North Star, or Polaris, is a fixed point in the Northern Hemisphere that helps determine direction. You can find it by locating the Big Dipper and following the line formed by the two stars at the edge of the “bowl” to Polaris.
- Landmarks: Always take note of distinctive landmarks like hills, rivers, or rock formations. These can help guide you back to a known point or help keep your bearings as you move through the landscape.
Modern Tools for Navigation
Even if you’re using modern tools like a compass or GPS, you still need to know how to use them effectively. Here’s a quick guide:
- Compass Skills: A compass can help you maintain a steady course even when visibility is poor. Always align the compass needle to the north and use the direction of travel arrow to guide your movements. Remember to adjust for declination (the difference between magnetic north and true north) based on your location.
- Maps and Terrain Features: If you have a map, match terrain features like rivers and mountains to your surroundings. This helps you understand not only where you are but also where resources like water or shelter might be found.
- Pace Counting: To measure the distance you’ve traveled, count your paces. On average, 60-70 paces equal about 100 meters for most people. This helps you estimate how far you’ve gone when moving toward a known destination.
2. Foraging: Finding Food and Resources Along the Way
In survival situations, there’s a commonly known guideline called the Rule of Threes: you can survive 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. This emphasizes the critical priorities in survival. While food may not be your most immediate concern, finding it is still essential, especially as your body starts to lose energy. Alongside navigation, foraging for food and other resources like fire-starting materials and water should always be on your mind.
Edible Plants and Insects
Foraging for food can be daunting if you don’t know what to look for, but many natural food sources can sustain you if you know how to identify them.
- Berries and Plants: Some common wild berries, such as blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries, are safe to eat. Other plants like dandelions, cattails, and clover can be nutritious and easy to find. Always follow the rule of avoiding unfamiliar plants unless you’re absolutely certain they’re safe. For more certainty, learn to identify edible trees and leaves, such as pine needles or birch bark, which can be brewed into tea or used for energy.
- Insects: High in protein, many insects are safe to eat and can be a reliable food source. Crickets, grasshoppers, and ants are relatively easy to find and prepare. Make sure to remove legs and wings, and cook them if possible, to reduce the risk of parasites.
Gathering Fire-Starting Materials
As you forage, don’t forget to collect materials for starting a fire. Dry leaves, bark, and pine needles can be gathered along the way and stored in your pack for future use.
- Natural Tinder: Look for dry, fibrous materials like birch bark, cattail fluff, or dry grass. These catch a spark easily and can be lifesavers in wet conditions.
- Fatwood and Pine Resin: Pine resin and fatwood are excellent fire-starting aids. They burn hot and are easy to ignite, even in damp conditions.
Locating Water Sources
Navigating toward water is crucial, especially in hot environments where dehydration sets in quickly. Pay attention to:
- Animal Tracks: Animal trails often lead to water sources. Birds tend to flock near water, and insect activity (like swarms of mosquitoes) can indicate nearby moisture.
- Vegetation: Lush, green vegetation in an otherwise dry area is a sign of water. Digging near plants like cattails or willows may uncover groundwater.
- Morning Dew: In arid environments, morning dew can be collected on absorbent fabric like bandanas or even plastic sheets. While it won’t provide large quantities of water, it can be an important source of hydration.
Combining Navigation and Foraging
As you move through unfamiliar terrain, balancing navigation with foraging is crucial for survival. Your first goal may be to find your way out, but along the way, you need to stay mindful of your immediate needs—water, food, fire, and shelter. Every step is an opportunity to secure resources that can keep you alive longer.
- Mental Awareness: Navigating through survival situations requires constant mental awareness. Don’t focus solely on your destination; pay attention to the resources around you. Collect what you need along the way, and always be prepared to stop and set up a temporary shelter if the situation demands it.
- Planning for the Next Move: Survival is about maintaining energy and keeping your wits. If you don’t find a way out immediately, knowing that you have food, fire, and water can keep you calm and focused, giving you the strength to plan your next move.
What’s Coming Next Week: Building Your Ultimate Survival Kit
Next week, we’ll dive into one of the most important aspects of survival—building your ultimate survival kit. We’ll break down the essential tools, equipment, and supplies you need to have on hand to be prepared for any situation. From fire-starting materials to first-aid items, we’ll guide you through creating a well-rounded kit that will give you the confidence to handle whatever the wilderness—or urban survival—throws your way. Stay tuned to ensure your survival kit is complete and ready when you need it most!