February Newsletter
Survival and Outdoor Safety
"Whatever the mind can conceive, and believe, it can achieve"
Thriving in the Wilderness...
From June of 1984, until August of 1985, at the age of 36, I walked solo from Boise, Idaho to Hackettstown, New Jersey. It was during this walk across the continent that an idea struck me... I didn't want to teach people how to just survive in the wilderness. What I really wanted to teach was thriving in the wilderness. The problem with survival, or the word survival, is what it conjures up in the mind. We don't approach life or business with a survival attitude, why should spending an unexpected night in the wilds be approached any differently? The problem, it seems to me, is that most people, when they think about surviving... do just that. They just get by. Nothing more, nothing less. If luck is on their side, they are found in time.
Survival is about adapting to a new environment. In order to take full advantage of what nature has to offer and to get the creative juices flowing, one has to go beyond thinking about just surviving and adopt a "Thriving" attitude instead. I believe you will discover that the results will be much more productive.
True or False...
A six year old is more likely to be rescued than an experienced adult outdoorsman. (Answer at the bottom of the page)
Hopefully not a trend...
The State of Idaho has just pasted a law that may have some dire consequences to future survival situations.
If you ski "out-of-bound" in any of its ski areas, and, a search and rescue party is called out, you will be charged anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 for their troubles. The reason I am somewhat troubled is this... the lost person, it would seem, would be less likely to stay put (which is the correct thing to do).
Many states are trying to figure out ways to help the over-burdened, under-budgeted SAR units throughout the country by making the victims pay for their services. Stay tuned.
More... on the
Versatile Evergreens
Last month I talked about the survivor-friendly evergreen boughs. In addition to making excellent insulating and comfortable bedding, as well creating highly visible ground-to-air signals in the snow, they also offer the following to assist you in your quest to remain alive: 1) in the early spring the newly forming yellowish tips that protrude from the tips of their branches offers an excellent source of vitamin A and C, and they don't taste bad either; 2) even after death, when the green turns to reddish-brown, these boughs, referred to as Indian kerosene, are highly combustible; 3) when you place a clear-plastic bag over a single limb, they will sweat off life-saving amounts of drinkable water; and, 4)they will produce copious amounts of smoke when placed over a small fire to reach out and touch someone who is miles away.
Little else offers so much when it's all on the line.
Survival and Outdoor Safety Classes coming to LA in April
Last month I said that we would be at the Northridge store offering a two-day survival workshop on the 19th and 20th of April, That is, until we looked at the calendar (that's Easter weekend). REI will not be open on Easter Weekend. So, the date has been set for the following weekend i.e. the 26th and 27th. Those dates have been confirmed. Because there are a lot of hands-on skills taught, the class will be limited to 25 students. REI will be handling the registration through their Northridge Store. They can be reached at: (818) 831-5555.
These classes will run from 10 am - 5 pm Sat. and Sun.and include: responding to a life-threatening wilderness emergency; natural shelter construction; firecraft-including bowdrill instruction (each student will receive a complete set); water procurement; cordage-learn how to make a rope out of plant fibres; knots and lashings; complete map and compass 101, position determination, celestial navigation; food procurement-intro to wild edibles, and primitive hunting and snaring devices; emergency signaling-ground-to-air signal, smoke generators and signal mirrors, and rescue techniques.
The fee is $150/members and $175/non-members. (FYI...by becoming a member you save $10. A lifetime REI membership cost $15) Since there is a class maximum, a small, non-refundable registration fee will be charged,the balance to be paid later. In addition to the bowdrill set, each participant will receive the "clinic special" survival kit.
There is an age restriction of twelve years. Contact me if you wish to enroll someone under that age.
Call or email me with any questions.
The Personal Survival Kits video...
The State of Washington Hunter Safety Program and the State Library System have both order several copies of our first video. Ruth and I are pretty excited about this unexpected use of Personal Survival KIts. Order your own copy at our survival store at www.survivalandoutdoorsafety.com
True
This according to a program called "Storm Stories" on The Weather Channel.
An adult, they suggest, is much more likely to attempt to find his/her own way out of the predicament, whereas a six year old has been taught to stay put until help arrives. Hooray for the Hug-a-Tree programs. Take a lesson from the kids, if you become lost or disoriented, stay put. You will be doing yourself and SAR (Search and Rescue) a favor.
Check out ...our instructional website: http://www.geocities.com/survivorgene/
Survival and Outdoor Safety
"Whatever the mind can conceive, and believe, it can achieve"
Thriving in the Wilderness...
From June of 1984, until August of 1985, at the age of 36, I walked solo from Boise, Idaho to Hackettstown, New Jersey. It was during this walk across the continent that an idea struck me... I didn't want to teach people how to just survive in the wilderness. What I really wanted to teach was thriving in the wilderness. The problem with survival, or the word survival, is what it conjures up in the mind. We don't approach life or business with a survival attitude, why should spending an unexpected night in the wilds be approached any differently? The problem, it seems to me, is that most people, when they think about surviving... do just that. They just get by. Nothing more, nothing less. If luck is on their side, they are found in time.
Survival is about adapting to a new environment. In order to take full advantage of what nature has to offer and to get the creative juices flowing, one has to go beyond thinking about just surviving and adopt a "Thriving" attitude instead. I believe you will discover that the results will be much more productive.
True or False...
A six year old is more likely to be rescued than an experienced adult outdoorsman. (Answer at the bottom of the page)
Hopefully not a trend...
The State of Idaho has just pasted a law that may have some dire consequences to future survival situations.
If you ski "out-of-bound" in any of its ski areas, and, a search and rescue party is called out, you will be charged anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 for their troubles. The reason I am somewhat troubled is this... the lost person, it would seem, would be less likely to stay put (which is the correct thing to do).
Many states are trying to figure out ways to help the over-burdened, under-budgeted SAR units throughout the country by making the victims pay for their services. Stay tuned.
More... on the
Versatile Evergreens
Last month I talked about the survivor-friendly evergreen boughs. In addition to making excellent insulating and comfortable bedding, as well creating highly visible ground-to-air signals in the snow, they also offer the following to assist you in your quest to remain alive: 1) in the early spring the newly forming yellowish tips that protrude from the tips of their branches offers an excellent source of vitamin A and C, and they don't taste bad either; 2) even after death, when the green turns to reddish-brown, these boughs, referred to as Indian kerosene, are highly combustible; 3) when you place a clear-plastic bag over a single limb, they will sweat off life-saving amounts of drinkable water; and, 4)they will produce copious amounts of smoke when placed over a small fire to reach out and touch someone who is miles away.
Little else offers so much when it's all on the line.
Survival and Outdoor Safety Classes coming to LA in April
Last month I said that we would be at the Northridge store offering a two-day survival workshop on the 19th and 20th of April, That is, until we looked at the calendar (that's Easter weekend). REI will not be open on Easter Weekend. So, the date has been set for the following weekend i.e. the 26th and 27th. Those dates have been confirmed. Because there are a lot of hands-on skills taught, the class will be limited to 25 students. REI will be handling the registration through their Northridge Store. They can be reached at: (818) 831-5555.
These classes will run from 10 am - 5 pm Sat. and Sun.and include: responding to a life-threatening wilderness emergency; natural shelter construction; firecraft-including bowdrill instruction (each student will receive a complete set); water procurement; cordage-learn how to make a rope out of plant fibres; knots and lashings; complete map and compass 101, position determination, celestial navigation; food procurement-intro to wild edibles, and primitive hunting and snaring devices; emergency signaling-ground-to-air signal, smoke generators and signal mirrors, and rescue techniques.
The fee is $150/members and $175/non-members. (FYI...by becoming a member you save $10. A lifetime REI membership cost $15) Since there is a class maximum, a small, non-refundable registration fee will be charged,the balance to be paid later. In addition to the bowdrill set, each participant will receive the "clinic special" survival kit.
There is an age restriction of twelve years. Contact me if you wish to enroll someone under that age.
Call or email me with any questions.
The Personal Survival Kits video...
The State of Washington Hunter Safety Program and the State Library System have both order several copies of our first video. Ruth and I are pretty excited about this unexpected use of Personal Survival KIts. Order your own copy at our survival store at www.survivalandoutdoorsafety.com
True
This according to a program called "Storm Stories" on The Weather Channel.
An adult, they suggest, is much more likely to attempt to find his/her own way out of the predicament, whereas a six year old has been taught to stay put until help arrives. Hooray for the Hug-a-Tree programs. Take a lesson from the kids, if you become lost or disoriented, stay put. You will be doing yourself and SAR (Search and Rescue) a favor.
Check out ...our instructional website: http://www.geocities.com/survivorgene/
posted by gene at
9:33 PM
