Preface

As a post-95s generation outdoor enthusiast, I've been deeply drawn to wilderness survival skills. Whenever I see friends posting camping photos on social media, the comments are always filled with voices saying "I want to try but it seems so difficult." Actually, wilderness survival isn't as scary as people imagine. Starting from zero experience myself, I can now independently survive in the wild for short periods. Today I'd like to share my beginner's insights, hoping to help more people who want to try wilderness survival.

Essential Preparations

First, we need to have a clear understanding: the wilderness environment is completely different from the city, and various accidents can happen at any time. Once when camping with several good friends, we weren't well prepared and ended up getting soaked like drowned rats in a midnight downpour, with our tent nearly blown away by strong winds - an unforgettably embarrassing experience. Since then, I've become extremely careful about preparations.

Preparation work mainly falls into two categories: supplies and knowledge. For supplies, water and food are absolutely the most important. Prepare at least 2 liters of water per person per day - it may seem like a lot, but you'll find it's not excessive at all during outdoor activities. I recommend bringing several portable water containers, preferably foldable water bags that are both lightweight and space-efficient.

For food choices, my experience is to definitely bring high energy density foods. Energy bars, chocolate, nuts, and compressed biscuits are all magical items. I remember the first time I prepared food, I brought a bunch of instant noodles, only to find there were no suitable conditions to cook them in the wild, and their weight and volume were too large - it was just asking for trouble. Now I basically always bring chocolate - not only is it high in energy, but it can quickly replenish strength when needed, and who doesn't love chocolate?

For tools, my backpack always includes a roll of duct tape. This thing is absolutely the ultimate multi-purpose tool for wilderness survival! Once when my tent was accidentally torn by a tree branch, I temporarily repaired it with duct tape. Another time when a teammate twisted their ankle, we made a simple splint using duct tape and trekking poles. Additionally, I always carry a multi-tool, a small folding knife, lighter, flashlight, and compass as basic equipment.

Speaking of equipment, many beginners fall into the trap of blindly pursuing high-end gear. Actually, for beginners, value for money is king. I've seen people buy a bunch of professional equipment for their first camping trip, only to find they couldn't use it at all - pure waste of money. I suggest starting with basic equipment and gradually upgrading as you gain experience.

Core Points

In wilderness survival, what's most crucial isn't how much equipment you bring, but your mindset. I'll never forget my first solo camping experience. That night, I got nervous at every little sound, fearing it might be some wild animal. I stayed highly tense all night, only to discover the next day that those sounds were just wind in the leaves and small animals. This experience taught me how important it is to maintain a calm mindset.

Many people might ask: what should you pay most attention to in the wild? Here I want to share a super practical "321" principle: 3 minutes without air means death, 3 days without water means death, 21 days without food means death. So in the wild, ensuring clear airways and finding water sources are most important.

For finding water sources, I have several practical tips. First, following the mountain slope downward makes it easier to find water sources, as water always flows downhill. Second, observe the terrain - if you find obvious depressions or places with particularly lush vegetation, there's likely a water source nearby. Once I found a small stream by observing an area where ferns were particularly dense.

But water sources in the wild can't be drunk directly - they must be purified. The simplest method is boiling, which is what I use most often. If you don't have containers, you can collect dew using leaves. I once faced a water shortage during an outdoor activity and solved it by collecting dew from leaves. The specific method is to find some large leaves in the evening, arrange them in a funnel shape, and collect dew the next morning. Though the amount isn't much, it can be a big help in emergencies.

Practical Tips

When encountering danger in the wild and needing rescue, knowing the correct distress signals is very important. The international distress signal follows the "rule of three" - it can be three whistle blasts, three bonfires, three gunshots, or "SOS" spelled out on the ground with rocks. I once got lost in the mountains and was discovered and rescued by a nearby climbing team after blowing three consecutive whistle blasts.

Knot-tying skills are also essential in wilderness survival. You need to master three basic knots: figure-eight knot, square knot, and bowline knot. The figure-eight knot is mainly used for securing, like when setting up tents or securing equipment; the square knot is used to connect two ropes when you need to extend them; the bowline knot is a rescue knot that can be made into a slip knot for safety.

Speaking of knots, I suggest practicing regularly at home. I bought a climbing rope and practice tying knots whenever I have free time. It might seem difficult at first, but after practicing several times, you'll find it's not actually complex. Now I can tie these basic knots with my eyes closed.

Improvisation

In the wild, you often encounter unexpected situations, and that's when you need to be creative and learn to make the best use of what you have. For example, an empty can can be very useful. I once made a simple stove using a can by cutting it horizontally - one half for holding alcohol as fuel, the other half as a pot stand, and it worked surprisingly well.

Speaking of insect prevention, this is a major challenge in wilderness survival. Besides using regular mosquito repellent spray, many plants actually have natural mosquito-repelling effects. For instance, mugwort leaves, when placed around the campsite, can effectively reduce mosquito harassment. I've also found that mint leaves have a good mosquito-repelling effect, plus they smell particularly fresh.

Staying warm is also an important issue in the wild. What if the weather suddenly turns cold and you don't have enough warm clothing? My experience is that you can use leaves or dry grass to make temporary insulation layers. The specific method is to stuff a layer of dry leaves or grass inside your clothes to form a natural insulation layer. Though it might look a bit silly, it really works.

Conclusion

Looking back on my wilderness survival learning journey, my biggest realization is: this skill isn't as difficult as imagined - the key is having the right method and continuously summarizing experiences through practice. Everyone starts as a beginner, and anyone can become a qualified wilderness survivor with dedication.

[Article incomplete due to length limitations. Would you like me to continue?]