
Let’s take a look at each of the necessities for surviving in the woods in more detail.
#WAY TO THE WOODS HOW TO#
Those four items should be your first priorities when planning how to survive in the woods and luckily, in many temperate climates, these can be met with ease as long as you know the signs. Without water, fire, shelter, or food you won’t make it very long, even less if conditions are adverse or you have underlying medical conditions that need attention. Regardless of the climate or area, there are some basic needs that need to be met in order for you to survive in the woods. Prepping months in advance and identifying natural resources at key times of the year are your paths to success. Keeping yourself grounded and ready for the changing seasons is how you’ll navigate this new landscape of living. Instead of the fear of not being able to provide for yourself in the short term, yours becomes a long-term battle. If you are planning to live out in the woods then your mental battle will be a little different. This includes things such as food, water, extra clothing, heat and light sources, cutting tools, and first aid equipment. Once you have come to terms with your situation, it is ideal to take stock of the inventory you have on hand.

This allows your brain to start thinking in a rational sense instead of in fear and panic that you initially felt. Taking a few minutes to gather your racing thoughts allows your body to relax, and muscles to unclench. The important thing to do in this scenario is to sit down and breathe. This is because we are not accustomed to not knowing where we are.Ĭouple this with a reliance on the current societal systems and you could think you are in big trouble. In the circumstance of getting lost in the woods, the fight or flight mechanic is strong. This can be managed with a few practices and the realization that humans have been doing this since the beginning of time and that the natural world has an abundance of resources that we can use to keep us well. We have certain mechanisms within us, usually driven by instinct, that our nervous system will fall back on in times of crisis. Whether incidental or planned, surviving in the woods is always a mental battle along with the physical. The Power of Your Fight or Flight Instincts Places To Avoid When Setting Up A Shelter.High-Quality Tinder Makes Starting Fires Easy.What Types of Wood Are the Best For Fires?.The Power of Your Fight or Flight Instincts.It’s a good idea to have a small emergency kit with some essentials to help support you while you establish your tactics, and an inventory of what you have and need to survive for an undetermined amount of time. Deciding to sell everything and live off-grid.Vehicular breakdown in the middle of nowhere.A backcountry trip where you’ve lost your way.An errant hiker getting turned around and eventually getting lost.Some of the situations in which people have to survive in the woods include:

While having beneficial items and tools will help your survivability rate in the woods, sometimes you have to use the natural resources around you to supplement or replace an existing tool.Ī good thought to keep in your mind is that a lot of the tools we use today were modeled after natural tools, as thus, you can recreate almost anything you use today (primitively, of course).ĭifferent scenarios call for different strategies when it comes to surviving in the wilderness. Individuals from other climates will be able to use the majority of this knowledge as well. These would include trees such as maples, oaks, beeches, pines, and spruce trees.ĭepending on the time of year and your location you will have to make adjustments to your strategy and gear. The comforts of home may have dulled our understanding of what it is like to survive in the woods.Ī lot of the information in this guide will work year-round however, it is geared towards surviving in woods that fall into the Carolinian and boreal forest zones.
