During the winter, the condition is more extreme, and it requires strong stamina. But, can you deal with the survival skills? Here are survival skills for winter adventures worth taking note of.
Winter will make more extreme situations. Plus, it requires a whole lot of determination and stamina. It will also require you to deal with the essential survival skills you will greatly need. So, you have to know about locating edible wild plants, navigation, and water sources. You also have to recognize how to avoid hypothermia and dehydration.
Unfortunately, survival circumstances may become too usual during the cold season. You will need to cope with the survival situation, especially when there is a threat to your life. Also, it is your instinct to grab the chance to make it out alive in the woods.
When you decide to camp, hike, or trek during the winter season, you must prepare for the unknown. You will never believe it until it finally happens! But when it does, you want to become knowledgeable and skilled about survival. Thus, when everything goes out of hand, you need to follow our survival skills for winter adventures.
1.- Making a Shelter for the Cold
The very first thing you have to do during the winter is to create a shelter. You will not survive with just your camping tent and hammock, especially when the snow is very thick. It will allow you to make a barrier between the cold and yourself. You see, the cold wind and the snow will cause you hypothermia. If you are out in the open, and your group can move, you need to go under a treeline.
In fact, research studies have reported that during winter accidents, people often survive below the treeline. The trees in the woods will help you protect yourself from the wind. Also, it will also become a good source of fuel to make fire. You may build your shelter with any available items. You can use leaves, rocks, moss, and even large sticks, or branches.
2- Build a Fire
If you are still cold or even wet, you have to make a fire. It will most likely enhance your opportunity to survive. A camping stove will be ideal for melting snow, and even make hot drinks. Plus, it will also help you dry your wet clothes, and will keep you warm. The smoke from the fire can also help you alert possible rescuers. Also, it will be a great way to locate you during such emergency situation.
However, creating a fire during the winter is much more challenging. It is true especially when the snow covers the whole ground, and the firewoods are all wet. To survive, you need to put some fire starters in your backpack. You may have cotton balls dipped in wax or petroleum jelly. These will make the starting process much easier during the cold season.
Also, you need to remember that the fire does not have to be big. You will just need to keep it small, so you could extend the wood for a longer time. If you have to build a fire on a snowy ground, you have to dig a pit in the snow. It must be two-feet deep. Then, you have to put small logs at the bottom of the hole. Also, you have to gather tinder to begin the fire.
Other than your great boots, camping tent, food, you have to consider bringing a lightweight chain to your survival kit. It will cut larger tree branches from dead trees. The branches will make great fire starters. If the firewood is wet, you may cut them into smaller bits using a sharp survival knife.
3 - Apply First Aid to Injured Members
If some members of your group become injured, you need to stabilize them until rescuers arrive. After you have checked the scene of the accident, you have to make sure to move the victim to a safer place. If you have an insulating sleeping bag, you have to put the injured person on it. It will help him avoid hypothermia. Then, you need to stabilize the victim’s condition. You need to immobilize him so no further damage may occur.
For emergency situations during winter, you must remember to store your first aid kit in a packing cube. By doing so, it will be easier to access the necessary items.
4 - Try to Melt the Snow
During the winter, it is crucial to stay hydrated. For survival purposes, you need to be hydrated to fight against frostbite and hypothermia. Thus, if your water supply runs out, it is ideal to melt the snow. It will help you create a drinking water, especially if running water is not available near you. If a cooking pot or a stove is unavailable, you may place the snow in a water bottle. Then, cover it with your coat until it melts. However, do not do this step until your fire stays to keep you warm. Why? It is because rescuers may take some time to reach you, and you will need water and fire to stay alive.
5 - Get Rescued
Before your trip, you have to leave the camping plan to your trusted friend or family member. They will call the attention of the SAR or Search and Rescue if you go beyond your scheduled trip. But, you need to be aware that the SAR teams will just do the search and rescue during the daylight.
But, if no one knows that you went missing for too long, you have to call for help. So, you need to place wood and leaves on your fire. They will produce smoke that the SAR team will recognize. However, situations may vary from one location to another. Hence, you need to bring some additional communication tools like a personal locator. Although you may not always rely on electronic devices during the winter, they are great additions to your investment.
Conclusion
Now that you have the idea about the essential surviving skills during the winter, do not just write them down! Instead, you need to practice them one by one, or might as well master all of them. You will not have to worry about rethinking the next steps, especially when emergency situations strike. When you prepare for the worst circumstances, then you won’t panic. You will most likely be at ease during climbing, skiing, and hiking during the winter.
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Louise Brown is the founder of TheAdventureLand.com, where sheand her associates blog about Outdoor experiences, tips & tricks that will help you have an exciting adventure. She is also a tour guide of travel company where she learned many things about wilderness. “Let’s pack our bags and explore the world!”