Posts Tagged ‘wilderness survival’

You Can Master The Art Of Fire Starting

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Fire starting has become somewhat of a lost art. Decades ago, it was an essential skill for survival, but modern technology has made it so simple that most people would be at a loss to start a fire if they were without a cigarette lighter or matches. However, anybody can learn to start fire without either matches or a lighter – rain or shine. Let’s look at the necessary ingredients for starting fire.

Fuel, oxygen and heat are the essential elements for fire. In this article, we’ll especially consider your options for generating sufficient heat to ignite wood, since that is the most likely fuel you would be relying on in a survival situation.

Without a flame from a match or lighter, how can you generate enough heat to start fire? First, you could use an old method the Indians used – rubbing sticks together. Well, it’s a bit more involved than it sounds, but nevertheless, that’s the idea. Friction between pieces of wood can in fact create a coal which can then be used to ignite tinder. The most common way to do this is with a drill or bow and drill combination. We’ll look more closely at this method in a future article. Here’s the bottom line – people who have learned to start a fire this way carry with them another method since they understand just how much work is involved in starting fire this way. So let’s turn to another method – sparks.

By keeping a small fire striker with you at all times, you can assure yourself that you’ll always be able to start fire. Fire strikers consist of a steel piece and a striker which can produce sufficient spark to light tinder. Good quality strikers will actually produce a shower of sparks. There are many on the market, it comes down to which style is most comfortable for you. The great thing about a good fire steel is that it will produce sparks, even when wet.

Keep in mind that you’ll only have consistent results if you light tinder first, and then use that to ignite the wood. Dry grass, bark shavings and dead tree moss make excellent tinder. You might want to carry tinder with you when you’re on your outdoor trips. Whatever method you choose, the only way to be sure you’ll be able to start a fire when you really need to is by practicing. With persistence, you can master the art of fire starting.

Griz Garzo writes about wilderness survival and primitive skills. We hope you enjoyed this article about firestarting.

Why Bushcraft Survival Is Useful Today

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Bushcraft survival, or the creative use of things in nature for survival, is more than just a hobby.Many see it as entertaining, particularly as we think of media survivalists like Ray Mears or Les Hiddins. But why would it be so useful for the average person to know how to build natural shelters, carve with bushcraft knives, make natural cordage and start a fire with sticks? Wasn’t that just something early American mountain men or the ancient Indians needed to know but not those of us living in modern society?

But is there a practical use for these skills today? It turns out that interest is growing in bushcraft survival especially among outdoor enthusiasts such as backpackers, climbers and hunters. A variety of situations can arise in which it could mean the difference between life and death to know some basic wilderness survival skills.

But what about the rest of us? Unfortunately, everyone now faces the very real possibility of disaster scenarios in this new terrorism age when the actions of a few people can put hundreds of thousands or even millions in peril if they don’t know how to survive. A mastery of these skills can actually mean the difference between life and death for you and your family.

While these skills can be learned through books or videos, the internet offers a rich sources of information on the subject as well. However, the bottom line for bushcraft survival is actually mastering the skills for yourself. This means you have to practice the various arts until you can perform them with predictability and with various resources. This is where the men are separated from the boys, as they say.

Bushcraft survival offers a great sense of satisfaction to children as they learn to be creative in problem solving using natural things which are available. It’s also a terrific family activity in that it’s fun and productive and gets everybody out in nature all at the same time. In the future, we’ll take a closer look at specific skills like natural fire starting and water procurement. Hope you can join us!

To find great resources onBushcraft Survival and read more of Griz Garzo’s articles, visit http://www.bushcraftsurvival.net.

The Survivalist’s Guide To Being Prepared

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

One of the most responsible and mature decisions a gentleman might make is creating a emergency checklist. Many know that this is considered a smart idea, but often it can be overwhelming to try to determine how to do this. The following is an overview of what should be included in an emergency preparedness checklist.

The first basic step is to put together what is often termed a disaster supply kit. This kit should have items that would be necessary or beneficial to have on hand while an emergency is taking place. It is important that the item be easy to carry and portable. Some good suggestions might be a larger sized backpack or a container made from plastic with handles.

After the nature of your kit is determined, you need to locate the many things it will require. Information is very important. Putting together a list of your family information, like who your family doctor is and different contact numbers is important. If children live in the home, remember to include their age and names, too.

First aid items and supplies are mandatory. Accidents can and do happen during emergencies, especially drastic ones such as floods, avalanches, or earthquakes. If you or a loved one is taking a prescribed medication, they should be included in the kit as well, along with any additional aid, such as glasses or hearing devices.

Water is a vital part of existence, and it needs to be inside or next to your pack. It is often suggested that you ensure you have a single gallon for each individual in your family per day. Along with other nonperishable foodstuffs, such as granola and protein bars and canned meats, make sure you have a hand-crank can opener in your kit.

An extra change of clothes is a good idea, plus any rain gear and durable footwear, too. Other things, like a blanket, sleeping bag, flashlight, and battery powered radio with extra batteries are all great survival items to have on hand. Two other overlooked things that need to be in the disaster pack are money and a set of car keys. If there is a baby or young child within your home, think about keeping other supplies that are relevant to their care inside the pack.

Escape plans are necessary, for without their use a lot of accidents can happen during disasters, primarily as a result of a lack of communication. To do this, just draw out the basic interior of the house, paying close attention to the fundamental floor plan. Other points of interest, like doors, windows, and stairs should be included in the escape plan, too.

Appliances need to be noted in your plan too. This is primarily because these items, such as refrigerators and stoves, will become hazardous in an emergency. Another important piece of information that should be included in your plan is the location of the emergency kit. A minimum of two escape routes need to be detailed from each room and area of your house. A meeting area also should be agreed on where everyone in your home meets after they are out of the structure.

Having an emergency preparedness checklist and kit is one thing. Knowing how to use the kit is another. Everyone in your home should be well versed as to where this survivalist kit is and how to use its contents. It has the potential of saving the life of your family, and you as well. Regardless what your situation is, it is vital that you know what to do when an emergency happens.

One of the most important things that need to go into your emergency bag is a good Survival knife. You will find more and more uses for it than you ever thought possible if you find ones self in an emergency situation. Even something as small as a pocket knife can be very useful in an emergency.