Travel advice: survival techniques when off the beaten path

Travelling where few dare to venture, getting miles away from civilisation and off the beaten track can be exciting, but also can be dangerous...

The natural beauty of the wilderness, the simplicity of life on the trail, the solitude, and the personal challenge of living on the edge attracts hundreds of backcountry enthusiasts. The call of the wild can be seductive.

But occasionally enthusiasm can get in the way of common sense and adequate preparation. Hikers and other nature lovers can easily find themselves lost, unprepared or badly injured if certain common-sense principles are not followed.

Victims can suffer from dehydration, frostbite, shock or trauma. It is not possible to prevent all emergencies, but most can be avoided with a little planning. Poor preparation for travel and lack of judgment can be a dangerous combination that can lead to pure injury or even death.

We recommend you study the 10 rules promoted by The Appalachian Club and the Colorado Mountain Club:

1. Tell Others of Your Plans

Tell members of your family or close friends where you are going and when you intend to return. If relevant fill out a hiker log in the wilderness area that you intend to visit and leave it at the start point. Know who can initiate a search and rescue in the area you are visiting.

2. Inform Yourself

In the wilderness you have to rely on your own abilities to avoid problems, or get yourself out of one. You need to know your own limitations. If you are venturing into a new area study the guidebooks first. Ask around to get as much information you can on the terrain, the type of experience, the topography, and any other features you may need to watch out for. If you are not 100% confident consider the possibility of travelling with an organized group.

3. Be prepared for rapid weather changes

Weather of course can be unpredictable and unforgiving. Seasonal changes can add to the challenges of the weather. Check the weather reports before you head out, and if the forecast is poor postpone your trip.

4. Dress sensibly - prevent the risk of hypothermia

The main cause of people dying in the backcountry is hypothermia or ‘exposure’ – a lowering of core body temperature. Jeans and cotton t-shirts will become a real problem when they are wet becuase they hold moisture next to the skin while drawing heat away from the body. Modern outdoor materials and materials such as polypropylene and silk carry moisture away from the skin and help you to retain body heat. Consider using multiple insulating layers such as synthetic fleece or wool with an outer layer to protect you from wind and moisture. A hat significantlys help preserve body heat. Loose-fitting clothing is better than tight fitting.

5. Plan your packing carefully

The average survival experience lasts three days. In order to cope with a trip of this length you will need some sort of shelter that provides a windbreak to keep you warm and dry, and water to maintain hydration. You also need a fire starter, a back-up fire starter, and a mirror for signalling. Do not be over-confident in the usefulness of flares, strobes and flashlights. Someone may, just maybe, spot them at night, but those searching for you will be searching in daylight. A fire is much more useful. It is also reassuring when you are tired, panicked and cold. It will provide warmth, melt snow to keep you hydrated as well as acting as a signaling device during the day. Remember the power of “3” – three fires in a triangle, three columns of smoke, three whistles and three gunshots, are the international signal for distress.

6. Know how to use your equipment

If you are not sure how to use your compass and topographical map, find the appropriate help before you set off. Maps, compasses, and GPS devices are useless in your pocket. The time to read the instructions on your emergency fire starter is not when it is dark, you’re cold, and your hands are shaking. Using your equipment should be second nature. Survival will be 10% equipment, 10% knowing how to use it, and 80% will be your own intelligence and attitude.

7. Drink plenty of water

Drink a minimum of two quarts of water a day. Hydration is extremely important in preventing hypothermia and in maintaining the ability to think clearly. If you lose two percent of your body’s fluid content through normal sweat and urination, and don’t replenish it, you can begin experiencing headaches, nausea, sleeplessness, increased heart rate and decreased muscle strength. The body cannot generate heat if it’s dehydrated. If you intend to get drinking water from a river or stream bring a water filter or some method of disinfecting or treating it. Some people boil it. In a survival situation, keeping yourself hydrated makes drinking any available water worth the risk. Although water-borne viruses do exist in rivers and streams, you will probably be rescued by the time that virus makes you sick. Staying hydrated is the most critical goal.

8. Eat lots of carbohydrates

Carbohydrates provide quick and sustainable energy. Complex carbohydrates are best, but a mix of simple and complex carbohydrates is perfectly suitable. Bring foods such as fruit and granola bars that provide concentrated energy for the least amount of weight. Proteins, such as beef jerky, are the worst. Your body needs time and energy to break down proteins, and they can require a lot of water.

9. Stay calm in a crisis

Staying calm in an emergency situation will greatly increase the chances of survival - a positive mental attitude is the biggest advantage in a survival situation. This is especially important if you have an injury, a fatality, or someone who is hypothermic or losing hope. These situations will have a debilitating effect on the group. Rescuers report that they have had people run away from them because they’re in a hysterical, threatened mindset. Be cool and calm to help you survive.

10. Stay where you are in an emergency

If you become delayed, don’t set off in a different direction or try a shortcut. Rescuers report that the biggest problem they confront is that people are not where they intended to be. They can be miles from where they said they were going to be. If you become badly lost, stay where you are without moving further away from your route.