11 lessons for survival in the wild

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

A tourist trip is not just an exciting journey, in a fun company with guitars and tents. Any hike, even a short and uncomplicated one, is, first of all, a test. Testing yourself, your physical and spiritual strength.

If you love hiking, then this article is for you. From it you will learn 11 psychological survival lessons in nature.

1. Don't isolate yourself

You are not a superhero. You are human. And man is a social being. On a hike, the most important thing is a friend's shoulder. In nature, without an urban "bulletproof vest", everyone understands how vulnerable he is. And this is what helps to establish truly strong spiritual ties. Even if you, like Christopher Johnson McCandless, decided to test yourself and went to the forest alone, remember that no one will help you if something goes wrong.

2. Take care of nature

When you are in nature, remember: you are not at home, you are visiting. Any of your actions, to one degree or another, cause damage to the environment. But all you can do is minimize it. First of all, learn to handle fire. Do not make fires near trees, bushes, or in areas with dry grass. Before building a fireplace, remove the top layer of sod, and after the firewood burns out, carefully put it in place.

3. Help yourself

You have a responsibility to take care of yourself. Is always. Under any circumstances. Are you tired? Are you hungry? Are you wet? Spit! If you put up a tent, then do it conscientiously - otherwise even a light breeze will blow it away. If you are a water tourist, then always carefully check whether the catamaran is well tied - otherwise you will go further on foot. And don't expect someone else to do the job for you - your comrades have their own marching responsibilities.

4. Don't be a sissy

In the forest and in the mountains, no one has made showers for you or installed dry closets. You may not be able to wash properly for days or even weeks. Toilet paper may run out. Hot water will not always be available. Chances are, you (and all your friends) will smell bad. And that's okay. Everyone "stinks" sometimes. But if this is unacceptable for you, then the camping life is too tough for you.

5. Take facts as they are

If you get caught in the rain and get wet to the skin, just accept this fact. It has already happened, there is nothing to be done. Moreover, accept the fact that you may not be able to dry things for a long time. Just take such cases for granted. And always remember: sooner or later you will dry out. And also the "facts" can always be outsmarted - always wrap clothes and other things in plastic bags.

6. Be light

Heavy backpack = severe physical and emotional overwork. Don't take unnecessary things with you. After all, a hike is not forever. Of course, everyone loves comfort, but only take care of the essentials. If you want your journey to be enjoyable, hit the road light.

7. Play

A hike is not only a test of your strength, it is also an adventure. So take every opportunity to play. Throw your backpack and dive into the river that suddenly opened over the hill. Play hide and seek. Eat blackberries. Positive emotions are necessary to continue the difficult path. BUT! Don't forget about safety for a minute. For example, swim in the river only if you are familiar with it and you are sure that the water is clean, there are no dangerous funnels and too strong a current. In other words, play if you are sure that it will not harm you and your comrades.

8. Be grateful

Everything is relative. At home, you will never eat poorly cooked food, and after a 12-hour hike, even half-baked rice will seem like a delicacy to you. Be grateful for what you have on the hike, and also remember to say "Thank you" to your comrades who share this with you.

9. Be able to do everything

To survive in the wild, you have to be able to do a lot. You have to be a bit of a carpenter, a bit of a cook, a bit of a doctor, and a bit of a psychologist. It is especially important to be able to provide first aid: stop the blood, apply a splint, do artificial respiration. Including, without special devices and medicines.

10. Believe in yourself

Your mind and body can do more than you think. If it seems to you that your strength is at the limit, then remember - it seems to you. Always, even when you are sick and deadly tired, look for the strength in yourself to continue on the path.

11. Be brave

During the hike, you will be scared more than once. While crossing the river, climbing a wobbly cliff, just at night in the woods. This is fine. Fear is the body's natural response to extreme conditions. Being brave does not mean not feeling fear, it means being able to overcome it.

What tips can you give to people going on a hike?