Knowing your environmemt and thriving in adverse conditions

stewey1

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2010
Messages
397
Hey Guys, firstly merry Xmas and a happy new year to all of you, I wish you and your families the best for 2013!!!!!!:)

I got out for a day hike today even tho the weather was miserable to explore a new area so I thought I would share some pics with you and a couple of thoughts that occured to me while in the woods.

Ive noticed alot of us share the basic mentality that the more you know the less you need. We like to focus on skills and good simple gear to enjoy the outdoors safely and comfortably . I personally dont focus on survival, I prefer to focus on enjoying myself but I believe its wise to think about possible reasonable worst case senarios and plan accordingly. With this in mind Ive decided Im going to get rid of all my gear I dont use. I want to essentially go back to basics.;)

Along with having a good skill set and the right gear, today I reflected on how important it is to get to know your environment and how by doing this you can gain all you need to be comfortable from it. Its just a matter of knowing what to look for, how to get it and how to prepare it. I know the environment varies greatly wherever you are in the world but if you know what to look for Im sure theres many useful things you can make, gather or improvise in order to sustain your life in an emergency or just to have fun and learn/try new things on an outing. I dont know something to ponder anyway.:rolleyes:

Today on my walk it rained steadily, it wasnt heavey under the canopy tho. I tried to time my walk for a break in the weather, there was a very cold wind and everything in the bush was soaking wet. My goal was focus on fire, shelter and water. The senario in my mind was I had become lost and disorientad and had to stay the night.

I hope you enjoy the pics.:cool:

Starting the climb.
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Starting to wonder if staying at home was a better idea as the gorse looms in front of me.

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Although this is alpine country it reminds me of the jungle

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The paper tree, this tree sheds a fine paper like bark. On the underside I managed to find some dry bark

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A dryish handfull

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In the pocket it goes

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After a hard climb I reached a plateau 100m deep and maybe stretching 1 km around the side of the mountain, strange because you cant see it till your on it

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I headed around the side of the hill along the plateau untill I got out of the wind and rain, I then set about finding a dry source of twigs.

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Found it!!!

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And in the pocket it goes.

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The final part I need for fire.

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Because of the heavey rain, I came across this beautiful waterfall on my mission to procure water

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Although it looks clean the waterfall water is dirty, time to have a clean drink

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Drinking through the straw off the moss, the moss filters the water as all the dirt sticks to it

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I was just about to head back the way I had come as I had past some small caves but just past the waterfall I came to find a sheltered spot I could potentially spend the night.

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Its dry and almost big enough to sit up in.

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Everything Ive gathered and everything I have on me all laid out in my new man cave.

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Now to make some tinder.

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Now Ive got a fire.

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Well, Ive had a drink, found shelter and got a small fire going, time well spent.

thanks for looking
 
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Very cool. You're right on about knowing your environment. Keeping your eyes open, even in a new environment, will also make you more comfortable. If you keep a checklist in the back of your head for the things you need to watch for, like kindling, fresh water etc. you can very often find them while en route to your destination. Your hike proves that point. Neat photos. Where in the world is that?
 
Along with having a good skill set and the right gear, today I reflected on how important it is to get to know your environment and how by doing this you can gain all you need to be comfortable from it. Its just a matter of knowing what to look for, how to get it and how to prepare it. I know the environment varies greatly wherever you are in the world but if you know what to look for Im sure theres many useful things you can make, gather or improvise in order to sustain your life in an emergency or just to have fun and learn/try new things on an outing. I dont know something to ponder anyway.:rolleyes:

Today on my walk it rained steadily, it wasnt heavey under the canopy tho. I tried to time my walk for a break in the weather, there was a very cold wind and everything in the bush was soaking wet. My goal was focus on fire, shelter and water. The senario in my mind was I had become lost and disorientad and had to stay the night.
..........
I was just about to head back the way I had come as I had past some small caves but just past the waterfall I came to find a sheltered spot I could potentially spend the night.
Its dry and almost big enough to sit up in.
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Good stuff.
I like how you refer to the environment you are in deciding the plausible survival scenarios, and the one you envision, along with being stuck there due to injury, is very realistic.
Also like, LOVE, the use of a natural feature for shelter. I see a lot of "survival shelters" that people spend lots of time building, yet offer minimal protection. Have even seen, in the past, video of a shelter being built using a deadfall for materials, when the deadfall itself offered better shelter than the finished product that required a lot of work. I haven't collected or organized them, but scattered throughout the stored pics of practically all of my hikes are ones of shelter that nature affords, from rock overhangs, small caves and cracks, deadfalls and the base of uprooted trees, etc. To me, that is what a real survival shelter is-nothing fancy, just something you can fit into that protects from wind and rain, and retains heat from a fire if necessary.
IMO, your post is a good example of the mentality that skills can only complement, and are of little value without:thumbup:
 
It looks like a fun time out. Sitting next to a fire when it is raining out is so fun. Nice little over hang you found. Great place to shelter and have a fire and just plain enjoy being out side.

Bryan
 
William M, thankyou for the kind words.

AIG, Im in the Central Lakes District located in the South Island of NZ, its outdoor heaven down here!!!

OwenM, Thankyou for the comment, it seems we share the same sentiments. I think we're all guilty of day dreaming about being stranded in a remote wilderness with nothing but a tin kit and knife and thriving for an extended period of time before being rescued and going home triumphant. The reality tho unless your a bush pilot or guide, it probably isnt going to happen, possible but unlikely. Realistically your on your day or multi day hike, you become injured or lost and youve got to stay longer than anticipated. For me letting people know my plans, hiring a emergency locator beacon is the major part of my survival plans. Youve have absolutly nailed my thoughts on shelters too, couldnt have put it better myself!!!
 
Fantastic pics. I really liked the shelter. I keep an eye out for areas like that here when I hike. Just a ready made slice of heaven. A nice little fire in the rain is one of the most enjoyable times you can have IMO. GOOD STUFF.
 
It looks like a fun time out. Sitting next to a fire when it is raining out is so fun. Nice little over hang you found. Great place to shelter and have a fire and just plain enjoy being out side.

Bryan

Its what its all about for me nowadays. just getting out there and relaxing!!
 
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