II. General
- Sleep when you can, Eat whatever you can
- Tasks take 3-4 times as long in the cold
III. Preparation
- Acclimatization requires 3 days minimum
- Train for aerobic fitness and upper body strength
- Train for mental conditioning for difficult treks
- Learn to swim
- Learn basic knots (e.g. Bowline)
- Learn to relax and maintain a sense of humor
- Review the use of Map and compass
- Review landmarks and key terrain of travel area
IV. Management: In the case of being lost
- STOP Mnemonic
- Stop
- Think
- Orient
- Plan
- Can survive for:
- Three minutes without air
- First secure ventilation
- Three hours without warmth
- Establish shelter, clothing, fire
- Rest
- Signal for help
- Mirror, flashlight, whistle or smoke
- Create geometric patterns on the ground
- Three days without water
- Establish a water source
- Three weeks without food
- Secure food last
- Three minutes without air
V. Management: Clothing for temperate wilderness travel
-
General
- Keep clothes dry: Protect in water-proof stuff sack
- Keep most of skin covered with long sleeves and pants
- Layered approach to wilderness clothing
- Layer 1: Polypropylene
- Layer 2: Cotton, wool, or pile
- Layer 3: Synthetic or wool
- Layer 4: Gore-Tex
- Protect high risk areas from Frostbite
- Preparation
- Bring 3 sets of gloves, socks, and hats
- Head Protection
- Wide brim hat or balaclava (wool mask)
- Hand Protection
- Shell: Gore-Tex
- Liner: Poly or wool
- Foot Protection
- Leather, waterproof footwear above the ankle
- Preparation
VI. Management: Survival kit
- See First Aid Wilderness Kit
-
General rules
- Keep it with you at all times
- Use quality, multi-use items
- Improvise with items at hand
- Example: tear car apart for rugs
- Replace and repair as needed
- Example kit
- Start with waterproof match container
- Wrap with duct tape
- Wrap with rope, string or wire
- Wrap with aluminum foil (signal mirror, cooking)
- Place strike anywhere matches inside
- Glue small round compass inside lid
- Other items to include
- Penlight
- Compass
- Lifesavers
- Canteen
- Knife (10 cm)
- Signal mirror
- Start with waterproof match container
VII. Management: Shelter Options
-
General
- Goal Temperature for comfort: 32 degrees Fahrenheit
- Tent
- Experiment with tent before trip
- No tent better than another for winter camping
- Tarp
- Lay over level ground
- Trench
- Dig rectangular trench, the size of a sleeping bag
- Lay sleeping bag within trench
- Cover the sleeping bag with available clothing
- Dead spruce tree
- Gut the inside to create an insulated bed
- Quonset Hut (Snow shelter) construction tools
- Scoop shovel with short handle
- Edged sheet of metal for scooping snow
- Snow saw (or wood saw)
- Knife
- Lean-To
VIII. Management: Water
- See Water Disinfection
- Daily water requirement: 4-6 liters per day
- Replace normal losses and sweat
- Metabolism
- Humidify inspired air
- Try to warm fluids before intake
- Drains energy to heat water
- Drink considerable water in the morning
- Carry at least 4 liters in backpack
- Keep a large bag of snow by the fire
- Water supply constantly replenished as it melts
IX. Management: Food
- See Nutrition for Athletes
- Daily Caloric Needs in cold: 4000-5000 Kcals/day
- Carbohydrates are initially important
- Fats gain increased importance the longer in wilderness
- Important for thermogenesis
- Warm food before eating (reduces Energy Expenditure)
X. Resources
- Craighead (2016) How to Survive on Land and Sea, Navy Institute Press