Surviving the Great Outdoors

By D. L Sagnes

This book is probably one of the most easiest books to learn about surviving the outdoors.Loads of information from start to finish on your journey surviving the great outdoors. This book is just filled with knowledge from starting your journey, It covers, selecting your equipement, children and pets camping or hiking, leave no trace, safety measures, hypothermia and other medical issues, rescue, edible plants,  cooking and lots more....

An awesome backpackers guide to have. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Debbie Sagnes
• Release date: Oct 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215993446

Book preview

Chapter 1

Trip Planning and Preparing

Before planning a trip into the wilderness or anywhere, it’s always wise to do a little bit of research on the area you want to go to. Here are some tips for you.

Study the area you’re going into and make sure you know your routes in and out.

Get to know the basic geography and make sure you’re fit enough to handle the terrain.

Study the normal weather patterns and pack for that environment.

Get to know the local wildlife and find out what dangers you can expect to encounter. For example: bears, wolves or insects and snakes (there are many others I could add).

Find out where you can find water. Is there a lake or river that you can easily access?

Study the edible plants in the area and learn how to use them in an emergency.

Make sure you know where to get water e.g., a lake or river.

Make sure the gear you pack is suitable to the environment you’re heading into. For example, there is a difference packing for the mountain’s verses rain forest or even the swamp lands.

When hiking/travelling or doing any kind of back country activity, you need to let someone know where you’ll be and when you plan to return.

Just to summarize the points made: Make sure that when you do plan a trip study up and get information on the area you will be going in. You need to know what type of edible plants there are. What kind of animals inhabit there? Are there animals of prey, like bear or mountain lion, or even wolves? Are there snakes, and how many different species, and are they venomous or not? What kind of insects or spiders is there, and are they venomous? Always remember to be safe when you travel, know your area.

When going on an outdoor adventure, hiking, camping, or boating of all sorts, you need to prepare yourselves for everything. Ask yourself this, what would happen if you got hurt and you were miles away from help. You try to use your phone and it is in a no service area. There is no 911 service and now you need to rely on yourself or a friend to get out. Therefore, planning and preparing for your trip is very important.  

What is the difference between an outdoor adventure and a survival trip? I have been asked this question a few times. An outdoor trip is when you plan to be on a path or a trail for a short period of time. It is usually a short journey. You bring your meals; a tent, sleeping bag and other camping equipment. You plan meal prep, portaging canoes, and how many km/miles you will be going etc. You are not living off the land.

A survival trip usually consists of getting off the beaten path where you actually live off the land. It is just like taking a hiking trip, but if you take and live it the hard way and do things that are unnatural like. For example: starting your campfire with two sticks or getting your water from little ponds and creeks and having to boil your water to purify it, and eating things like worms or grub worms, eating berries and mushrooms and so forth, then you’re doing it the hard way.

Finding or building a shelter from Mother Nature instead of pitching a tent is a great experience. Making and setting snares to catch animals like rabbit, squirrel or wild pigs so you can eat is a great experience. Finding certain plants that hold water that you could drink is another good experience.

Chapter 2

About Natural Disasters

Anatural disaster can strike at any time or anywhere. Natural disasters affect all corners of the Earth on a regular basis. There is as much activity above the earth’s crust as there is below it. In many cases, the warnings come too late, and sometimes no warnings at all. Here is a list of the most common types of disasters.

Avalanches and landslides

Earthquakes

Sinkholes

Volcanic eruptions

Floods

Limbic eruptions (rare)

Tsunami

Blizzards

Hurricanes

Take one minute to imagine what life was like a couple of hundred years ago when there was no electricity, mobile phones or no internet. This is a possible outcome that waits on the other side of a global disaster. When everything we know and love is taken from us, it can also lead to huge disorder and lawlessness.

Just think about how quick people are to rob and loot as soon as a disaster strikes. There’s little consideration for the law or consequences of their actions. It’s kind of like watching people rush into electronics stores on a Black Friday. They don’t care who gets trampled in the process! I saw this when I lived in Cancun, after hurricane Wilma. Stores were broken into, windows were smashed, and the looting was just phenomenal. That is when I decided to stay put in my home and wait it out.

This is the kind of each man for himself attitude that survivors need to be prepared for. Everywhere you go, there will be a clear smell of desperation and, apart from the disaster itself, and this is the most dangerous time of all.

My advice is to be always assessing your situation and prioritizing your needs. It will save time and make your situation easier to deal with. Be prepared.

Any of these disasters can happen when you are either at home or on a hiking, adventure or survival trip. Know the area that you are planning to go to and see if it is even possible for any of these to happen.

When you are planning a trip, look at the environment you are going into and prepare a survival kit tailored for that environment. There are so many ways you can prepare yourself. Be prepared, just in case.

Chapter 3

What things should I take

Camping or hiking is a great way to get outside with family and friends or even by yourself. You can go camping in many state and national parks, at private campgrounds, in the backcountry or even in your own backyard.

Most campsites include a picnic table, a place to park your car and a spot to pitch your tent. Many also have shared bathrooms and running water.

Part of the joy of camping is needing very little gear to exist outdoors. But it’s also nice to have a comfortable, convenient, and homey campsite. If it’s your first-time camping, it might be best to borrow or rent some of these things. As you become a more experienced camper, you may find that part of the fun is figuring out what to bring along to meet your needs.

Preparation is essential for any outdoor adventure. Having the necessary supplies and equipment can make a difference in your overall enjoyment and experience. Checklists are a great tool to help with your organization. Your camping list will vary according to the type of camping and activities you have planned, the places you are going, the time of year and the length of your trip.

While you’re packing, use this handy camping checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything important and make sure to stock up on the things you need. This is a comprehensive list, and we don't expect you to bring along every item.

When arranging the stuff in your rucksack, follow these principles:

Heavier stuff should be on top and the lighter ones at the bottom. This will help maintain your balance.

Make sure the backpack is positioned to be on your upper back always. This will allow you to walk freely without your rucksack getting in the way of your legs.

Don’t forget to tighten those straps to prevent stuff from falling off. The wilderness can be full of snags, thanks to branches and bushes.

What is the best food to bring on a camping trip?

Here are the 10 best foods to bring camping.

Dehydrated Foods. A personal favorite of mine is the Mountain House brand. ...

Trail Mix, Nuts, and Bars. PIN IT. ...

Instant Mac & Cheese and Cup Noodles. PIN IT. ...

Chili. PIN IT. ...

Beef Jerky and Dried Fruits. ...

Instant Coffee Packets & Tea Bags. ...

Sandwich-Making Materials. ...

S'mores Ingredients.

Pre-cut frozen fruit

Bagels

Your pack should contain approximately twelve essential systems

Navigation: map, compass, altimeter, GPS device, personal locator beacon (PLB) or A Satellite Emergency Notification Device 

Flashlight: plus, extra batteries

Sun protection: sunglasses, sun-protective clothes, and sunscreen

First aid: including foot care and insect repellent (as needed)

Knife: plus, a gear repair kit

Medication: extra personal medication, pain killers, anti-diarrhea

Fire: matches, lighter, tinder and/or stove

Water filtration: tablets or a small system

Shelter: always carried (tent)

Extra food: Beyond the minimum expectation

Extra water: Beyond the minimum expectation

Extra clothes: Beyond the minimum expectation

Here is a detailed list of other things that can come in handy: This is a over all lists. Depending on where you decide to go, depends on what you bring. There is a big difference camping in Northern Canada (bush) vs Southern USA (desert).

A waterproof container

All kinds of animals can get into your food wherever you camp. Mice and other rodents, not to mention bears, will gnaw right through