Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Fundamental Survival Supplies For A Wilderness Trip

By Paul F. Joshua

If you are planning to spend any amount of time in the wilderness then you are going to need a comprehensive list of survival supplies to take with you. These should enable you to cope with any situation or eventuality that may arise. The actual items will vary depending upon the environment you will be in, the time of year and season, as well as your skill level and experience.

Apart from having the best survival supplies it is important to have the right knowledge. This is not something you can buy and put in your rucksack. It may help you greatly if you can learn how to make a shelter, start a fire, know what wilderness food are edible and nutritious, and understand the basics of fishing and catching game.

The most vital supplies are as follows -

1. Knife: A strong sturdy knife is one of the most important survival items. You could use a penknife or a non-folding type. They can be used in food preparation, to gather and fix shelter materials, and also to help make fire.

2. Water Purification: If you have to purify water manually it can take a lot of time. Therefore it makes sense to carry water purification tablets. You should think that any water you come across is contaminated, no matter how clean it may appear by sight.

3. Blanket: Even if you understand how to put together a strong shelter it is likely that you will still need a good blanket to keep warm at night. You should not run the risk of hypothermia. Woollen or metallic emergency blankets do not weigh much.

4. Lighter: Even if you are only going to be outdoors for a few days it is still important to be able to light a fire. Because of this it pays to have a few disposable lighters with you. A fire can keep you warm, dry out wet clothes or other equipment, cook food and prevent animals from straying to close.

5. Matches: Most survivalists will tell you that you need to carry more than one fire lighting device. A lighter may get broken or run out of fuel; therefore it is wise to carry a box of waterproof matches just in case.

6. Compass and Map: Even if you think that you have great navigation skills the weather may become foggy and overcast which will make the task very difficult.

7. First Aid Kit: Any outdoor enthusiast knows that a first aid kit is fundamental. This should include important medications that you take as well as items that can help you if you get sick or have an accident.

8. Flashlight: If you are walking every day, sometimes the sun may set before you have built a fire or made a shelter. Because of this is very important to have a flashlight with a spare bulb and batteries. It can also be used to signal for help.

9. Sealable Bottle/Container: To be able to collect water you will need to carry a metal or plastic bottle. This is also handy for storing smaller items when not being used.

10. Cord: A length of cord can have many uses. It can help to strengthen a shelter or bundle items together.

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