What skill do you value the most

[tarmix101]

How many survival situations start out with people getting lost. Without getting lost they get back to their car and drive home, no need to build a shelter. IMO, navigation is number 1 -- stay found.

Ras you have a very good point. The ability to stay found is a good one. However there are many instances of even the best woodsmen getting himself turned around from time to time. Or weather coming in that makes navigation very hard, or impossible.

There was a story on the Learning Channel some time ago about two guys that shot an elk in the back country. It started to snow heavily with a foot of snow on the ground already. They ignored one very important rule, don't get all sweaty. They were trying to pull the elk out, had no fire, didn't stop to make shelter, and died 500 yards from their truck.

For the most part I totally agree with you however.

 

[skammer]

Most times Shelter is the priority but not always (situational dependant).

A fire does little for you in nasty conditions.

That said, both fire and shelter are equally important to master not in ideal conditions but nasty ones.

Primary skill to have #1: The ability to know you are in the s hit and not panic, think logic and make good choices under stress.

Not a skill everyone has even though they think they do.

Skam

 

[Fiddleback]

I voted boiling your shoes into hooch. LOL.

All of those skills are important. Which one is most important is symantics to me. Go ahead, build your fire, you don't have shelter, and water, and you're a goner. These skills are complimentary. LEARN THEM ALL.

Now, somebody demonstrate this Shoe Hooch method.


GREAT thread, btw.

 

[David Schott]

Its tough,

If you can navigate but cant make shelter, youre dead in many situations. if you can make shelter but not a fire, same deal. Water is one thing, but food is a luxury since you can usually survive on no food long enough for rescue but not water.

All this is trumped by the ability to not be a total moron. 99% of survival situations are avoidable by simple common sense. I feel less and less pity every day for people who trek out alone, unprepared, and tell no one where they are going, then cause 15 days of searches to find their bodies when they dont come back.

 

[Bumppo]

First skill is common sense.

 

[mr_wilson]

The one you forgot to list:

TRACKING

 

[Rescue Mike]

Guys.. If you have good NAV skills, you may never use those fire craft skills. That's not to say that firecraft isn't important, but if you think, you may realize that we use the map and compass everytime we are out in the woods. (Unless it's an area like your backyard!) This skill above all others is taught to our Military Men and Women in almost every branch, and every MOS.

If people didn't have those NAV skills, I believe we'd have alot more people LOST in the wilderness areas!!

 

[tarmix101]

The one you forgot to list:

TRACKING

That is a good one that I missed.

 

[troutfisher13111]

Another vote for fire. You can stay warm, purify water, signal, cook, and it boost your self confidence.

 

[jag-engr]

How many survival situations start out with people getting lost. Without getting lost they get back to their car and drive home, no need to build a shelter. IMO, navigation is number 1 -- stay found. As for the times when a survival situation comes up and getting lost isn't an issue, then shelter is first followed closely by an ability to make fire. $.02 FWIW

I'm going to have to agree with this one. Finishing the hike/outting as planned is the best way to prevent a survival situation.

Once you get lost, though, you've got to think about staying alive. If you don't want to die of exposure the first night, shelter comes first. Your own body heat can keep you warm enough without a fire if you can build a viable shelter (and assuming you are reasonably dressed for the enviroment that you are in).

Water comes next, but you can get by for a couple of days without it unless you are in an arid environment. If you are in an arid environment, don't get lost without water in the first place!

Even if you can get all the basics without it, though, A major benefit of fire is signalling ability, so I'm not discounting it.

In short:

1. Navigation

2. Shelter

3. Water

4. Fire (may not even be important in some environments).

 

[Thomas Linton]

You all have me convinced.

You are hanging by a chain over the Bottomless Pit.
Which link in the chain is most important? Explain in 200 words or less. You must use the words "critical" and "impact."

(Seriously, I change my vote to the "cool head" school. Folks have died from the stupids or from panic with packs full of gear - like gasoline stoves' tents, Satphones, GPS sets, etc.)



Oh, and while most wilderness survival situations do not involve being lost, if you're a good tracker you can find me. :thumbup: (Or the matches I dropped. :thumbup: :thumbup: )

 

[bowdriller]

Shelter can not be underestimated, especially under trying circumstances. Exposed to the elements, the body reacts instinctivley for the procurement of shelter. I think it is wired into the fabric of our existance. When its windy, cold, and wet the soul doesn't look for firemaking material, it looks for cover. Fire can not be instinctive, it must be taught, and you can survive without cooking or boiling anything, however dangerous that may be. For me, its shelter first and fire IMMEDIATLEY after. Thoughts on my logic? Much love to everyone.

 

[tarmix101]

Oh, and while most wilderness survival situations do not involve being lost, if you're a good tracker you can find me. :thumbup: (Or the matches I dropped. :thumbup: :thumbup: )

Did you happen to drop a K&M match case I have been eying one of those.

 

[Kyp Degal]

First and foremost, the most important skill isn't on that list. This is the skill to think, to use your brain, especially when under pressure/stress. The skill to keep your wits about you in a crisis, maintain common sense and an attachment to reality, and just think things through. To plan ahead as much as may be possible in the given situation. To remember to be careful, to know what to do next, to use your other skills, such as fire-building, shelter building and such properly.

After that, though, the most important skill could, according to the situation, be any of these, as has been said by posters before me. If you're just out on a hike and get turned around somehow, navigation would be #1, to get back to your vehicle. On the other hand, if you get washed up on the shore of a deserted island in the middle of the Pacific, procuring water and food, as well as building a fire to boil said water and/or cook food and make a signal fire would be #1. Of course, if you know where you are, the weather is good, you aren't staying out overnight, and you're not hungry, knowing how to make hooch from a shoe could be mighty handy.

This is just my two cents, from a Southern boy's point of view. I've learned a lot on this forum, and perhaps the most important bit of wisdom I've picked up is that your mind is your most valuable tool in any situation, much less a survival situation.

Josh

 

[Pritch]

Guys.. If you have good NAV skills, you may never use those fire craft skills. That's not to say that firecraft isn't important, but if you think, you may realize that we use the map and compass everytime we are out in the woods. (Unless it's an area like your backyard!) This skill above all others is taught to our Military Men and Women in almost every branch, and every MOS.

If people didn't have those NAV skills, I believe we'd have alot more people LOST in the wilderness areas!!

Thought a poll would be kinda cool. What do you you think the most important skill is when out in the woods. Of course I mean survival skill. If lost, and you have a good PSK kit with axe (or large blade) 4" belt knife and standard PSK kit what skill is best to have mastered. Me, fire. Fire is the one that has the most variables to it (many different way so make it).

Mike, the question established that you were already lost, so I said fire. This is a tough question because different senarios would cause different individual skills to be most important. I agree with others who have named sound judgment or levelheadedness as more important than any other individual skill, but I'm sure they would agree that levelheadedness alone is insufficient.

-- FLIX

 

[tarmix101]

First and foremost, the most important skill isn't on that list. This is the skill to think, to use your brain, especially when under pressure/stress. The skill to keep your wits about you in a crisis, maintain common sense and an attachment to reality, and just think things through.
Josh

Agreed. Lets do just that. A very smart person who has little skill in the woods, back country, whatever you want to call it, is hunting. He knows where his truck is (about 2 miles or so off ) and weather sets in. Been hiking a little to hard and has become very sweaty. Bad weather. Wind, and snow comes in hard. Hard to see, landmarks are unrecognizable, and it's damn cold.

Our "newby" has a good kit but very little experience to use it. Goes to light a fire with matches and all his kindling is to big. (Remember he is smart, cool, and considers himself ready for anything) Now what. Shelter. Fingers are numb. Nothing is working as well as it should. All of a sudden "where in the hell is my truck"! Off he goes to find it.

My bet is the outcome is not good. Lets go from the start. What would be best for our "newby"??????



BTW I think all the differences in opinion are great. nothing better than a different perspective to gain a little knowledge. Keep it coming!!

 

[Fonly]

Yea know, I agree that fire making is high on the list. BUT, if you dont know how to use a compass or gps, or dont have an understanding for where you are, you shouldn't be in the woods. Thats what should come first, but after that, fire making

 

[Jamesh Bond]

I wonder if firemaking ranked the highest because people would choose their most proficient skill as their favorite. I would consider finding food and water and shelter equally, if not more, important. Firemaking is easy to practice, but how many of us could realistically find the time and situations neccassary to become that proficient in other areas.
just a thought. . .

 

[Kyp Degal]

A couple of things I should have put in my last post: A.) I'm just a beginner at this. I'm still learning, in fact I've learned from this topic.

B.) I didn't mean to imply that intelligence/common sense alone, without any other skills, could be more important than those skills. I edited my last post to be a tad clearer on that front, sorry if I gave the wrong impression.

C.) Fiddleback made a very good point, in that every one of those skills is pretty much of equal importance; just because one may come before the other in a sequence, (Such as: Our lost, wet, hungry hero thinks to himself, "Well, let's see, I think I'll build a shelter first, then I'll build a fire, then later I'll go looking for some water and food, and maybe after I get a good night's rest, I'll try and navigate my way out of here. Hey, I wonder if I could boil my shoe down to make some hooch..." ) that doesn't necessarily make it of any less importance.

D.) Great topic, Tarmix. I too find the difference in opinion interesting. :thumbup:

Now if I can get my fire-building abilities up to snuff, I'll be a lot better off. Still practicing every chance I get, though I dread having to attempt start a fire via friction methods. That's next on my list, though. :barf:

 

[EmsRescueGuy]

Thought a poll would be kinda cool. What do you you think the most important skill is when out in the woods. Of course I mean survival skill. If lost, and you have a good PSK kit with axe (or large blade) 4" belt knife and standard PSK kit what skill is best to have mastered. Me, fire. Fire is the one that has the most variables to it (many different way so make it).

Just thought it wold be different.

Hey guys He said "IF LOST" of course it goes wihtout saying that navigation and avoiding the situation is the best bet but we are talking about scenarios where that may have already failed or is not an option.

Keeping a cool head and thinking things though isnt so much a skill as it is a developed personality trait, and a behavior.


I cast my vote for fire making, for the following reasons in no particular order.

1. Morale boost
2. purify water
3. warmth
4.cook food
5. make tools
6. signal
7. insect/ predator repellant.
8. Its Cool And Chicks Dig IT