How Do You Practice Survival and Use You Survival Kits?

[Tokwan]

I always think that there is no point in one having survival kits when he/she does not know how to use the survival kit, let alone know if he has the correct tools in the kits. Some people think that the survival kit is a trendy item, makes you look cool having one in your pocket. That is something good because at least, you are carrying one. But it would be best and a life saver if you know how to use one,. You may look cool if you show one around, but you look like a fool, if you do not actually know how to use one in a real survival situation with eyes looking at you.

Now...how do you practice using your survival kits?

You can practice them anywhere. At home, on your lawn, in your backyard. Initially, when I was a teenager, I would spend nights in the back yard, learning how to put up shelters, imagining that Malaysia is at war, some foreign country had bombarded Malaysia with lots of 2000 tons bombs, or under attack by some foreign power. I remember those old army "take apart" beds...hehe..

When I came to age, (and that is not so long ago), I realized that the best place and where to practice survival, is at the actual site. So I decided to go camping. I do bring all the necessity, comfort, food that a modern day camper would bring. But I would not use most of the item. I would put my hammock up but then, practice on making shelters, sleeping in them, learn to be comfortable in them. I would look for water and food ( I have enough supply, but only use them when I could not any). I would practice making shelters in the trees, between the trees. I would tie one of arms or legs, and learn to do things with just one arm or leg (to get used to a situation where I would be hurt).

I would try to make fire with bamboo or bow drill, usually resulting in sore arms...I would test which product works best.

Doing this, allows me to know what are needed, what items do I need in a survival kit, what possible dangers that I might face, and what kind of injuries that I might be prone to.

So, in other words, practice makes perfect. Its practice today, practice tomorrow and practice when you can. Practice at the worst place you can imagine. Practice in the rain, practice when you are soaking wet and when you are tired. Practice in a storm if you can. Make fire in the rain. Learn how to protect the fire as the fire will protect you too. You need each other.

Check out are all you items necessary, do you need all of them? This is how I reduce some of the heavier and useless items. Sometimes, I do not carry any cooking utensils or any water carrying utensils, as I want to practice using what nature have, being bamboo.

Utilize the sacred 4 letter word in survival, being S>T>O>P. Then carry out your Plan (P).

So why don't you share how do you practice and use the survival kit?

[hunter63]

Speaking for myself only....Practice with anything make it second nature when needed.

I don't practice surviving, if I can help it....I do practice with different gear, techniques, methods......mostly low key these days.

When one starts as a very young man finding all the stuff that doesn't work, and learns enough not to do "That whatever, again" if it was a fail....the chances are much better to get by comfortably.
....and will help temper those time when everything goes to crap.....as it does from time to time.

[Batch]

I try to learn something new every trip. We camp year round in the everglades region. Different camp types and ecosystems through out the year.

I am lucky that even during the wet season, I can acquire dry material to start my fires. We get rains at various times. It might be a rainy morning. Then get into the 90's for a few hours and then let the storms roll for a couple of hours in the afternoon.

I'll take palm fronds and lay them on the ground and then after a morning hunt or before our first ride I gather dry tinder. I use the dander or fluff in cabbage palms or saw palmetto. I gather dry grasses from tufts. I just lightly run my fingers through and that way you get some real combustive stuff. If you have these dry and with enough grass you will get a good base that will even dry wet kindling.

But, kindling from from live trees is always available even in busy camps. I prefer oak. But there are plenty of others and small oaks provide as well as large oaks. The large oaks in some areas have the bad habit of co-existing with lime prickle ash. Which also gives good kindling just with thorns. LOL

The dander off of our pines can always be found dry in some parts of the tree. What type of wild palms do you have there? Palm dander is a little courser than jute twine and that is pretty good tinder.

I practice wild edibles, navigating by nature, tracking and anything else that he woods provide. Most of all, I don't take it too serious. We have fun.

[Tokwan]

Wild palms? We have a few. The utility coconut and Bertam tree. The Coconut and Bertam and also the acrea plam allows us to make roofs for walls for shelters once you thatched them. Of coconuts has water and flesh for food. We also have another utility plant such as rattan. You will have to remove the thorns though. Rattan twines make good bindings and the rattan trunk is very very tough. I attache my spear head to the rattan trunks. If you get to marsh or swamp, we have more palms that bears fedible fruit such as Nipah. The fruit is quite abundance, juicy and fleshy. Google up Buah Nipah.
Unfortunately we do not have oak or pine in our forests.

[RandyRhoads]

My survival trips are usually very limited and more practicing the psychological aspect of learning to be filthy,hungry, thirst, and miserable. I may take a kit but only ever use it if necessary, such as freezing to death at night and no luck starting a fire without a lighter.

[Adventure Wolf]

I never really "practiced" survival growing up, more learned it through my outdoor activities. I went to summer camps during middle school, and spent a lot of time outdoors with my dad and my best friend's family. I've been camping at least 30 times, I've hiked tens of thousands of times, climbed a half dozen tall mountains, fished at least three times a week from spring to fall since I was old enough to walk to the lake (1.5 miles) alone, and have hunted the past six(?) hunting seasons.

Time and experience has been an ally when it comes to the wilderness.

I read a lot of books and try stuff out if that's what you mean by practice. I live on a few acres north of Raleigh. Not a bad spread, so I have a lot of room. I like to read books and watch YouTube videos. I found an old Boy Scout manual when I was in elementary. After that I have Everyone's Outdoor Survival Guide (Christmas present from my Brother). Followed that up with Everyone's Outdoor Survival Guide, and then got hooked on a few books by Don Paul (Everyone's Outdoor Survival Guide, Knife Bible, Great Living In Grubby Times and Green Beret's Compass Course), later I realized that the Don Paul series of books, while has some good material, is commercial written crap compared to Outdoor Survival Skills by Larry Olsen, Naked Into the Wilderness by the McPersons, or Colin Tolwell's The Survival Handbook.

...Have I ever mentioned how much I love being outdoors? Love it, love it, love it!

[Batch]

I try to learn something new every trip. We camp year round in the everglades region. Different camp types and ecosystems through out the year.

I am lucky that even during the wet season, I can acquire dry material to start my fires. We get rains at various times. It might be a rainy morning. Then get into the 90's for a few hours and then let the storms roll for a couple of hours in the afternoon.

I'll take palm fronds and lay them on the ground and then after a morning hunt or before our first ride I gather dry tinder. I use the dander or fluff in cabbage palms or saw palmetto. I gather dry grasses from tufts. I just lightly run my fingers through and that way you get some real combustive stuff. If you have these dry and with enough grass you will get a good base that will even dry wet kindling.

But, kindling from from live trees is always available even in busy camps. I prefer oak. But there are plenty of others and small oaks provide as well as large oaks. The large oaks in some areas have the bad habit of co-existing with lime prickle ash. Which also gives good kindling just with thorns. LOL

The dander off of our pines can always be found dry in some parts of the tree. What type of wild palms do you have there? Palm dander is a little courser than jute twine and that is pretty good tinder.

I practice wild edibles, navigating by nature, tracking and anything else that he woods provide. Most of all, I don't take it too serious. We have fun.

That should have read the dander off of our palms... Sorry

[hunter63]

My survival trips are usually very limited and more practicing the psychological aspect of learning to be filthy,hungry, thirst, and miserable. I may take a kit but only ever use it if necessary, such as freezing to death at night and no luck starting a fire without a lighter.

That's why I don't try to "survive".....I try to rather "thrive"......all that stuff happens to you when things are going badly, ...so hopefully things improve with experience and practice.

Suffering is good for you and a motional tool.

[RandyRhoads]

That's why I don't try to "survive".....I try to rather "thrive"......all that stuff happens to you when things are going badly, ...so hopefully things improve with experience and practice.

Suffering is good for you and a motional tool.



Indeed. A big turning point for me was learning the difference between "wilderness survival" and "wilderness thrive-ival(?)"

Wilderness survival is not fun. At all.

[MrFixIt]

I'll practice in the back yard or when camping, but mainly to test new gear in the back yard.
I've only been in one actual "survival" incident which I will not speak of, but during my military service we often found ourselves "out in the bush" for extended periods. Of course we were equipped to succeed...

[hunter63]

..............Of course we were equipped to succeed...
Key words............

[Tokwan]

Wouldn't it be better if "we are equipped and trained to succeed"?

[MrFixIt]

Wouldn't it be better if "we are equipped and trained to succeed"?

My entire unit were all successful SERE candidates, might have been prudent to mention that...:(

[Tokwan]

SERE? I am not from USA...so please bear with me..

[crashdive123]

SERE is training provided to some in the military (depending on their job). It stands for survival, resistance, evasion and escape. Other countries that have similar training may call it something a little different.

[Batch]

SERE is training provided to some in the military (depending on their job). It stands for Survival, Resistance, Evasion and Escape. Other countries that have similar training may call it something a little different.


Though not necessarily in that order... ;)

[crashdive123]

Oopsy.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii67/crashdive123/Forum%20Fun/mega2.gif (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/crashdive123/media/Forum%20Fun/mega2.gif.html)

[hunter63]

"Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract"

[Tokwan]

Thanks guys....hmmmmm...nice!

[MrFixIt]

SERE is training provided to some in the military (depending on their job). It stands for survival, resistance, evasion and escape. Other countries that have similar training may call it something a little different.

Thanks crash for answering Tokwan's question.
This type of training is prevalent in Bear Grylls show. I do not advocate this style of survival unless you are in a hostile environment.

[FSR]

I "practice Survival" on a daily basis. I use my "survival equipment" on a regular basis. This means a lifestyle few are willing to embrace. I use not just the Automobile but my Bicycle and I walk as well. I cook from the food I store meaning I use the meats, vegetables and fruits I can up on a daily basis. I eat the critters I hunt and trap and the fish I catch. I take regular camping trips equipment is repaired or replaced as needed. I make most of my own gear. Instead of spending several hundred dollars for panniers for the bicycle I made two pair from discarded square plastic cat litter buckets. My bike came from a junk pile it just needed a couple of cables and some clean up. This has saved me a lot money and enables me to spend more time in the bush.

[Brooks Range]

I am not bringing any food but will rely on foraging, hunting and fishing.

It won't let me post a link for some reason. (see Rick's comment, below)

I hope to post updates to my journal if I can find places where there is coverage.

[Rick]

1. You aren't allowed to post a link to any site you have an interest in. 2. You can't post links or pics until you have 10 posts and 3. Good luck with that. Just don't jeopardize any SAR personnel in the process.

[hunter63]

I am not bringing any food but will rely on foraging, hunting and fishing.

It won't let me post a link for some reason. You can find it on the following page if anyone cares to post a clickable link for it.

I hope to post updates to my journal if I can find places where there is coverage.

Let use know how it is going when you can.
Good luck.

[Brooks Range]

Fair enough. I guess if people are interested someone can post a link.

Wilderness adventure invariably involves some risk but I've done a lot of planning and have wilderness experience. Barring bad luck I hope to avoid SAR. :)

[1stimestar]

Hm. Hope you have fishing and hunting license. What exactly are you going to be foraging? Since we are still in early summer, nothing is ripe yet. What will you be hunting and in which Game Management Unit since I believe there are no openings right now.

[Brooks Range]

Hm. Hope you have fishing and hunting license. What exactly are you going to be foraging? Since we are still in early summer, nothing is ripe yet. What will you be hunting and in which Game Management Unit since I believe there are no openings right now.

I have a hunting and fishing license, harvest tickets, duck stamp, copy of the fishing and hunting regulations etc. I've got a page listing what I'm taking and my preparations but...

Initially I won't be hunting anything because no hunting seasons are open yet as you know. At first I'll be primarily eating fish, I'm sure. Salmon berries should be ripening already. I'll be setting a crab trap as well. I think grouse, ptarmigan and deer season opens August 1 and waterfowl season September 1 although the duck regs aren't out yet.

As for plants, I don't know that ecosystem so I'll be largely be winging it with the help of guidebooks, except for berries I already know.

[1stimestar]

I have a hunting and fishing license, harvest tickets, duck stamp, copy of the fishing and hunting regulations etc. I've got a page listing what I'm taking and my preparations but...

Initially I won't be hunting anything because no hunting seasons are open yet as you know. At first I'll be primarily eating fish, I'm sure. Salmon berries should be ripening already. I'll be setting a crab trap as well. I think grouse, ptarmigan and deer season opens August 1 and waterfowl season September 1 although the duck regs aren't out yet.

As for plants, I don't know that ecosystem so I'll be largely be winging it with the help of guidebooks, except for berries I already know.

Where are you going? I had just assumed from your name and stated location you were going to be here in the Interior or in the Brooks Range.

[crashdive123]

Good luck - have fun - stay safe.

[Brooks Range]

1stimestar, I'll be in the Admiralty Island area.

crashdive123, I appreciate that, thanks!

[1stimestar]

Ah ok. Cool. Have fun, take pictures.

[1stimestar]

Yep forgive me for my original skepticism. I'm sure you understand, we get lots of "running off to the wilderness" post but people in general who posts those, don't actually do it.

I remember you from the Alaska Outdoors Directory from when you did your Brooks Range trip. I think that's where I know you from anyways. So impressive.

Here is the link to Buck's trip plan.
http://bucktrack.com/Alaska_Survival_Trip.html

Looking forward to following your journey Buck. Will you have a Spot for us to follow? If anyone can do it, you can!

[Winter]

Sounds like a fun trip. I've lived in SEAK for 25 yrs or so. If you have any specific questions, ask away. I sent you a friend request on Facebook.

[Brooks Range]

Thanks 1stimestar. I don't have a Spot. I was going to buy a card for my Iridium sat. phone but it looks like there will be cell coverage at certain spots so I'm going to go that route.

Hey Winter, what foods would you try to collect at low tide? I guess paralytic shellfish poisoning can be an issue which is something I had to research being an inlander. Any other SEAK specific advice I should know?

[1stimestar]

Yea there was just an outbreak of paralytic shellfish poisoning last week.

[1stimestar]

If you want to read one of the best trip reports of all times, here it is lol.

http://sectionhiker.com/alone-across-alaska-1000-miles-of-wilderness-by-buck-nelson/

[Rick]

You couldn't know but that's his post.

http://www.Bucktrack.com

[Winter]

Hey Winter, what foods would you try to collect at low tide? I guess paralytic shellfish poisoning can be an issue which is something I had to research being an inlander. Any other SEAK specific advice I should know?

Well, I can tell ya this. The bear on Admiralty are known to be fairly aggressive. It's probably not the greatest place to solo camp.

Best thing is avoid bivalves and eat snails and sea cucumbers.
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/showthread.php?13088-Beach-vittles
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/showthread.php?15787-Mission-Cucumbers

I am eating salmonberries in the yard already so you are gonna have them all summer long and 2 harvests. Blueberries in late July.

For crabbing shallow water it is best to find more brackish type waters such as lagoons and inlets and off either side of larger creek and river outlet to the ocean.

This stuff, when you find it, is pretty amazing. It salts your foods for you.
http://www.seaweedsofalaska.com/species.asp?SeaweedID=156

Chicken of the woods and a few chantrels are around.

[Brooks Range]

Hey Winter that's some great information. Really good to hear from a local person with real-world experience.

Are there similar species of snails/limpets in tidal pools in SEAK and if so, are they all edible and relatively safe from PSP?

I'll have to look for sea cucumbers and that sea asparagus. I was hoping salmonberries were ripening already, it's good to get a confirmation of it.

Thanks again for your expertise.

[Winter]

There are so many china hats that you won't need another snail source. There are other species but I'm not really sure if they are snails of bivalves.

You can load up on cukes from your kayak. Matter of fact, cukes and beach asparagus would go great together. Cukes are really tasty slightly browned over the fire.

Of course, Labrador tea is everywhere and patches of peppermint and spearmint are around.

I did a 14 day trip last November to Etolin Island (4 islands South of Admiralty) and there were porcupines. We don't have any down here in Ketchikan. I understand they are a good eating. Open season all year and no limit, but they are cute. We did not kill them.

Camp close to the beach, like less than 50 ft off of it and you will have a lot fewer no-see-um's.

Sorry if you already know some of this, but I don't know what you know.

It's gonna rain so bring a container that you can rig up as a cistern and save all the hassle of water collecting and purification.

[Tokwan]

Great! I can see that a lot here do practice in their own ways, a a few live it.!

[hunter63]

Great! I can see that a lot here do practice in their own ways, a a few live it.!

LOL....Looks like your thread did kinda go down the trail....but it was a good one and interesting.

[Winter]

Sorry about the derail Tokwan.

To answer your original question. I practice things like primitive snares, shelters, and fire starting when I'm camping or exploring. My main gear is my survival kit. I do have a mini kit but I don't get in it often.

[Tokwan]

Hey hey hey..since when is there a need for an apology? This is the fun part..it either got derailed or hijack no matter what..it will come back on the right track sooner or later...we are here for a good time..!

[Batch]

Hey, Winter. Any idea why the no-see-ums are less vicious that close to the shore? Last time I tried to camp on the beach was on Dania beach 29 years ago and they were vicious. I grew up on skin-so-soft and no-see-um nets on the tents. We'd get lit up at Jonathan Dickinson and Sebastian Inlet.

[Tokwan]

What do you mean when you the no see ums are less vicious?

[Tokwan]

Sorry about the derail Tokwan.

To answer your original question. I practice things like primitive snares, shelters, and fire starting when I'm camping or exploring. My main gear is my survival kit. I do have a mini kit but I don't get in it often.

Our practices are almost alike

[Winter]

Hey, Winter. Any idea why the no-see-ums are less vicious that close to the shore? Last time I tried to camp on the beach was on Dania beach 29 years ago and they were vicious. I grew up on skin-so-soft and no-see-um nets on the tents. We'd get lit up at Jonathan Dickinson and Sebastian Inlet.

Not sure. I'm sure wind has something to do with it. Maybe the salt air?

You and I may have different species of tiny flying gnats with varied habitat preferences.

[Farley]

I tend to try out things while out for a hike or while camping. I've also tried new toys or techniques at home. I'd hate to "test" something for the first time when I need it the most.

[Brooks Range]

I'm leaving for a 2 1/2 month Alaska survival trip Monday.


... 3. Good luck with that. Just don't jeopardize any SAR personnel in the process.

No SAR was needed.

[Rick]

There is much to be said for good luck and skill.

[fjrmurph]

I think this guy qualifies as having completed his practice session . PRETTY AWESOME !!http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/norwegian-adventurer-alone-in-remote-nwt-1.3365743

[hunter63]

Interesting, thanks for posting......