What skill do you value the most

[Danno4017]

water where i am is not a big deal lots of creeks around

You will be ok then Forrie, unless it floods.
I have a good source of water near me, I was thinking more if you are out and about, like the Great Sandy Desert.

The Oz Bush is a or can be a hard environment depending on your knowledge as you would know mate.

 

[Ming65]

I dunno Ming.
As I said in this thread earlier, it all depends on where you are.
I agree in 90% of Oz water is first.
In the Desert which is a large part of this continent, shelter from the Sun is critical, more so than Fire.
I think because this forum is mainly US based people think shelter is from the cold and snow.
When I think of shelter its mainly from being fried to death
Fire is handy for sure, but to live for a week or two in these conditions its not critical.
Hydration and conserving energy are the keys

Yeah I suppose I'm biased by my exeriences Danno (as we all are) I was on the Larapinta trail in cenral oz last year and came across a couple of europeans and one tasmanian who were carrying (first day out) only 2 litres of water. For the Tassie guy even this was a lot - he reckoned he rarely carried any when walking in Tassie and just drank straight from the streams, surely one of the last places in the world yoi can do that. My mate and I were carrying 8 litres minumim. We ended up giving half our water away (with a stern lecture) to the folk who were new to central oz.

I agree that shelter from the sun is a huge priority. I guess I was saying as a skill I value the ability to find water higher, as building, or finding shade is relatively easy. Same with fire making - it's relatively easy with all that dry wood.

Different story in the highlands or Tassie - granted.

 

[pinetree]

I voted for making fire. It applies to me and where I live, hunt and hike. If stuck in the woods making fire provides warmth, light and a means to purify water. Most of the time it would be a comfort factor.