A Survival Tips and Techniques Blog | UrbanWoodsman.com

You could probably just buy a commercial survival hiking pack but if you want to bring a pack that caters to your own specific needs, consider putting together one yourself.  Here’s how:

Have enough water to keep you hydrated
Human beings can survive for some time without food but going without water for extended periods of time can be lethal.  Probably the most important component of your survival hiking pack is your supply of water.  Ideally, you should keep a gallon for every day you are out.  Carry as much as you can.  Before you run out, be sure to find an alternative source in the area where you are.  That way, you will never have to suffer from the effects of dehydration.

Bring sufficient supply of food
Bring enough food that will allow you to survive for at least three days.  While that may seem too much, the extra food will serve you well in case you get stranded or lost.  Some of the best choices you might want to include in your survival hiking pack are:

-    Instant coffee or chocolate
-    Juice or pre-mixed drinks, especially those that contain vitamins and sugar
-    Energy bars
-    Dried foods
-    Packed meals
-    Small canned goods

When putting together a survival hiking pack, consider function over taste.  The food must be easy to store, won’t spoil easily, convenient to eat and provide enough nutrition to help you survive. 

Make sure your first aid kit is complete
A basic first aid kit is another important component of your survival hiking pack.  It should contain medications and supplies to treat, disinfect and protect wounds, abrasions, cuts and insect bites.  It should also contain medications such as antiseptics, anti-histamines, antibiotics and repellants against insects.

Bring only the basic gear and equipment
There are dozens of gears you can bring but there only a few basic ones can ensure your survival.  These include:

A survival knife
A knife is important for cutting, slicing and piercing.  Pack a knife with you, preferably one that has multiple uses. 

Mirror
Always bring a small compact mirror if you’re going for long travels.  Mirrors can be used to signal for help and attract the attention of rescuers.

Whistle
A whistle will help bring attention to you and can be especially helpful if you’re stranded or injured.

Water container
A small tin or metal coffee cup has multiple uses, not just for making coffee.  You can also use it to collect and boil water and to cook and store food.  For a multi-purpose material, you can bring aluminum foil instead.  It’s light, can be heated or frozen and folds easily to pack.

Shelter and bedding
Bring a small tent, a light emergency blanket and a foldable canvas, nylon or plastic sheet you can use as bedding.  The plastic sheet will also be helpful for keeping the contents of your survival hiking pack clean and dry.

A good thing to remember when putting together your own survival hiking pack is customization.  Put together a pack that contains things you will find useful and leave behind those that you don’t need or don’t know how to use.  Remember that what you’re bringing with you is for your own survival, so keep that in mind.

Learn how to avoid or how to treat hypothermia in this free wilderness survival video. Expert: Karl Jensen Bio: Karl Jensen has been hiking for seven years in the New England area. Karl is currently interning in the adventure program at Smith College to gain more knowledge about hiking. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso

As backpacking and hiking equipment has become more sophisticated, people have gotten more daring, and at times even reckless. Humans, it seems, have an inherent need to prove they can survive in the wilderness. More and more hikers and rock climbers are backpacking deeper and deeper into the unknown wilds. These are not your weekend campers. Rather, these are serious nature lovers who look and find there own truth, each time they venture outdoors. There is obvious gear and equipment they utilize, both traditional and futuristic. This article will attempt to verify some of the accepted items to pack, as well as some new options to think about.

When packing, it doesn’t matter what type of activity you are going to undertake, there several unwritten rules one has to abide by. First, you must pack  light, and include the basics of food, water and a way to purify it, first aid kit, and some kind of fire starter. A map and compass, so you have an idea on where you’re going and how to get there. Include some type of multipurpose knife or tool that can perform a number of tasks, from cutting branches to removing splinters. Don’t forget your sunglasses and some sun screen. A flashlight and extra batteries, even if you are taking some type of lamp. Now, this is very important. Even though you are trying to keep it light, you must take extra food, as well as rain wear and extra clothing, including a hat.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to the use of futuristic equipment. I’m referring of course to GPS and beacon technology. Purists don’t want anything electronic, and the other camp feels they should take advantage of anything that will get them home safely. The current expense of these devices does make them cost prohibitive. Also, in the case of an injury, these units don’t give the precise location of a victim, so you will still need some sort of signaling device, like a mirror or whistle.

I don’t feel that the future must all be electronic. I have come up with a patent pending concept that will satisfy both camps, and is so cost effective, anyone that backpacks, hikes, rock climbs, and camps, will be able to afford. In this day and age of electronics, I have devised something that is completely mechanical. There are no batteries or bad reception to worry about. Surviving in the wilderness should never come to mean survival. In this day and age, someone who is lost should only be thinking about being rescued.That is why we needThe LifeTracker.

The LifeTracker makes it possible for people to be found before panic on both sides will ever set in. It not only will save lives, but millions of dollars in search and rescue man hours. The LifeTracker is a device that in case of an emergency will, with the pull of a cord, jettisons a heavy  gauge red balloon attached to a 1000 ft fishing line up high enough for searchers or a rescue plane to see. The LifeTracker is a series of 3 different products designed to locate anyone lost in the wilderness, in hours rather than days.

The LifeTracker Belt is…4″ wide with pockets on the outside to store a thermal blanket and other survival supplies.

The LifeTracker Vest…Using the same concept as the “Belt” the vest inner side unzips to release a folded lean-to tent complete with telescopic 3 ft poles. Some people will prefer a vest and are willing to pay extra for the complete survival package. This offers a great option, and like the “Belt”, is very marketable.

The LifeTracker Flare Gun…Flare guns are very expensive and, of course, the flare only has a short life. With a small adjustment to the LifeTracker Device, it can easily be kept in a lightweight pistol, that can be stored in any backpack, vehicle, boat or plane.  It might even have military use.

The LifeTracker Series can be manufactured and sold inexpensively enough so that anyone who camps, hikes, rock climbs, or just ventures into the wilderness, will want to include it as part of their gear. Even if the rescue device is never activated, the gear becomes part of  everyday wilderness attire.
Please help my dream come true. Go to:  The LifeTracker
and click on Contact and let me know what you think.

Learn how to find materials for a camp fire in this free wilderness survival video. Expert: Karl Jensen Bio: Karl Jensen has been hiking for seven years in the New England area. Karl is currently interning in the adventure program at Smith College to gain more knowledge about hiking. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso

Learn how to identify and avoid dangerous plants when hiking in this free wilderness survival video. Expert: Karl Jensen Bio: Karl Jensen has been hiking for seven years in the New England area. Karl is currently interning in the adventure program at Smith College to gain more knowledge about hiking. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso

Learn how to identify and avoid dangerous plants when hiking in thisfree wilderness survival video. Expert: Karl Jensen Bio: Karl Jensen has been hiking for seven years in the New England area. Karl is currently interning in the adventure program at Smith College to gain more knowledge about hiking. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso

Learn how to pack a hiking survival kit in thisfree wilderness survival video. Expert: Karl Jensen Bio: Karl Jensen has been hiking for seven years in the New England area. Karl is currently interning in the adventure program at Smith College to gain more knowledge about hiking. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso