Survival demands the ability to set aside the known

For more information on how to survive the wilderness, there are a number of comprehensive books, written by survival experts, who have spent years in survival situations.

First of all what is meant by “wilderness”?

For some people it could be their backyard or the gang-controlled streets of their urban neighborhood. For the purposes of this article it’s the great outdoors, the woods, the mountains…anywhere away from civilization. Since there are a wide variety of “wildernesses” such as hardwood forests, coniferous forests, desert, rain forest, swampland, snow-capped mountains, the suggestions given here will apply to any situation.

"Adapt or perish, now as ever, is Nature's inexorable imperative." - H.G. Wells

Once you realize you are in the wilderness, and that there is no 7-11 on the other side of that tree, then your initial reaction may be to panic. That is the last thing you should do! Of course, that’s easier said than done, so if you must, sit on a log or rock, take exactly two minutes to panic, worry, look around wildly, jumping at every sound, and if you must even shed a tear.

After that, suck it up, straighten your shoulders and realize that your survival is going to depend a great deal on your ability to think clearly and remain calm.

Don't Leave Your Vehicle

If you are in your vehicle, then stay there. Since you came in on a road of some sort don’t go wandering off the road. The car will provide shelter and protection from weather and wildlife. And since you used that road, hopefully someone else will get the same urge and you’ll eventually be found.

If you find yourself lost while hiking, then hopefully you will have had the good sense to carry a few items in a backpack. Even a pack for a day hike should contain: water, a couple of high energy food bars, a lock-back knife, waterproof matches, a solar blanket, first aid kit and compass.

If you don’t have the bare minimum in your pack, then you should never have left the comfort of your livingroom sofa!

There are a few skills that you can learn now on how to survive the wilderness; skills such as fire building, hunger survival and building a wilderness shelter. This knowledge and the right mind-set will make a big difference in your survival.

"This is the law of the Yukon, that only the strong shall thrive; That surely the weak shall perish, and only the fit survive." - Robert W. Service

Learn other wilderness survival tips

Wilderness Survival Kit - If you are planning a trip out in the forest, you are going to want to take along a wilderness survival kit.

Best Wilderness Survival Knife - One knife that people find to be the best wilderness survival knife is the multifunction knife

Wilderness Survival Knife - The best wilderness survival knife should have all the desired features you want to have in case of an emergency.

Wilderness Survival Equipment List - To be properly ready to venture out into the great outdoors, you should follow a wilderness survival equipment list.

Outdoor Survival Equipment List - Every good outdoor survival equipment list is as unique as the person creating it

Wilderness Survival Shelter - The wilderness survival shelter does more than just protect from the elements, it can also be a great comfort, second only to a fire.