by Eithni ní Sgathach
Let me just start by saying I'm not an expert on this ---I've done a bit on occasion and I did a class at Tracker School, Inc. a while back. But I've neither had the time to put in nor am I old enough to have done enough to be anywhere close to an expert.
So why am I writing this? Well, since I decided I was getting into the Pictish stuff, I finally read "the book" ---the Pecti-Witan one that seems to be so popular with other NeoPagans looking for a Pictish path. In it there is a large and dangerously misinformed section on "survival camping"/initiation. While I'm not an expert, I do have more experience that this writer obviously has had......and I'm also offering links where you can find more information.
Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink
The one thing that that book does not ever mention is WATER! And water is the first concern in a wilderness situation. The very first. You can go days even weeks without food, you can survive in many climates without shelter, but you can die in days ----even hours in some climates and health conditions -without water. And in almost every part of the world, water you find might be worse than not having any at all.
Water is a very tricky item --we look at a running stream and it appears to be wonderfully clean. But the reality is that it undoubtedly contains dangerous bacteria like giardia and even hepatitis from contamination from both humans and animals. All above ground water must be cleaned ---usually this is by boiling in a survival situation (or filters in regular camping). This is not an option ---if you drink giardia contaminated water you will get diarrhea and become even more dehydrated ---in a wilderness situation this will likely mean death. It might take some time for giardia to develop, but in a true survival situation you may not know how long you will be out there.
Boiling, of course, doesn't help in regards to most chemical contaminations and that is an issue too. While pure ---knife and the clothing on my back situations-- may be romantic and ideal, if you know you're going into the woods taking a water filter might be your best option. Unfortunately there is little to no water in the world untouched by some degree of human poisoning.
Going to some of the books in the booklist and the links on this page will give you a plethora of more information on this.
Shelter
Shelter is vital in many situations ---unless the climate is perfect. Again
the book that prompted this page is majorly lacking --all "shelters" shown
are great if you have a holofill sleeping bag or the temperature and weather
is such that you don't actually need a shelter.
The ultimate survival shelter is what Brown calls a debris hut --it is made
with a ridgepole against a stump or a crook of a tree with branches interwoven
over it --sized to fit the person staying it fairly snugly. Yes this sounds
like one of the shelters in the book, but with the sizing being a difference
plus the most important difference: A debris hut is filled with debris -leaves,
grasses, moss, tree boughs. This and the snugness will keep in heat ---in
fact you will likely want to sleep in this naked or you'll find your clothing
drenched in sweat in almost all weather. (Looking this material over I will
say that there are things in the book that indicate this is where the information
was acquired ---with very important factors left out!!! and no accreditation)
Fire
Fire is not as vital as water and shelter for survival ---unless of course your only way of cleaning water is boiling. It is perhaps the most difficult to acquire without technology. Making a friction fire is a chore in any situation.
A bow drill is perhaps the easiest --and again, the instructions in the book leave out some very important points.
A bow drill consists of a base, a spindle, a handhold, and of course a bow. To try to give directions here would be impossible --I'm sure I'd leave something out too and I'd want pictures I don't presently have to demonstrate ---so please get a good quality book with instructions the best in my opinion being Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival. I will say that the biggest things left out of the other book is that the hand hold must be greased in some way (nose sweat ---oily not watery sweat--being the best option unless you've killed an animal for food and have animal fat) or you're wasting energy heating that up as much as the base. And the base must have a good size notch in the depression for tinder to be placed ---otherwise you have a hot large piece of wood and no spark.
Making a bow drill fire is tough ---and should be practiced diligently for
months before depending on it in a survival situation. I don't even want
to discuss my success rate, even when I've been working with others to take
over when one gets tired. I may well be one of the only non-smokers I've
ever met who tries to always have a good quality, wet proof lighter on hand.
Food
Food is the least concern, for the body can do well for sometime without eating. Of course, for how long and how well depends on physical condition and some illnesses, such as diabetes are severely affected by lack of food. Again all I can really do is recommend that you get Brown's books and if possible take a class to learn how to make snares use a throwing stick and identify plants.
I will note that you should of course never eat a plant you can't positively identify ----so learn to do so before you try going into the woods alone. Also remember that some fish are poisonous or have poisonous parts.
And I just have to add ---the statement in that hares are easy to catch because they always look over their shoulders could only be made by someone who never hunted one or learned anything about them. Yes, hares always look over their shoulders when they run ---at the same time they look ahead of themselves and out to both sides. Like many prey animals they have eyes precisely on the side of their heads so they can see in all directions at once. I still haven't completely stopped laughing over that one.
The information presented here came from taking the workshop and from The books below. And a wee bit from my own experiences, limited though they may be . However, the presentation is my own and any mistakes I have made are my own and no one else's ---do not depend on this in any way, read Brown's books, get field guides, take classes
Books
Tom Brown, Jr. Field Guide to Wilderness Survival
Tom Brown, Jr. Field Guide to Living with the Earth
Tom Brown, Jr. Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants
Tom Brown, Jr. Field Guide to Nature Observance
Brown also has several books on his life that may be of interest.
Richard Graves Bushcraft My first book on the subject ---not as good
as Brown's stuff but informative and a good supplement
Wayne Merry The Wilderness First-Aide Guide a course is always better
than just a book --but short of that this is vital. I wouldn't go into the
woods for anything more than a few hours (or even that) alone or with others
without some background in handling emergency situations.
Peterson's Field Guides a great number of them are available --very
good for identification.
Stokes Nature Guides not as good for identification but goes more
into details of things than Petersons' I recommend getting several of both.
Links to Wilderness survival sites can be found on the Main
Page
I am not mentioning the other book by name, as I do not want to seem to
be attacking it ---I'm sure that those who have read it will recognize it.
I'm also sure that many have gotten some spiritual worth from it ---it's
just that misinformation on this is potentially life threatening. Please
understand that I'm simply trying to offer better sources of information.
Text is copyright 1998 © Eithni ní Sgathach