The day we set out was simply great, bright and sunny. When we joined the CMC we learnt that they were planning on taking not the established trail but an alternate route. This route was straight up the steep, western side of the mountain. As compared to the others in the club, Carl, my professor and I were much slower in our pace.

By lunch time we reached the peak. Carl and I were exhausted though most of the other half a dozen climbers were experienced and were enjoying the air at 14,000 feet. After lunch, past 1:00, we decided to climb down as thunderstorms were reported between one and two every afternoon.

This high country has killed several people who were struck by lightning. To the west, we saw many thunderheads seeking their prey. We realized the urgency with which we had to get out of the mountain top.

One of the experienced climbers decided to boot ski down the east cirque. Completely snow covered, I did not think this was an option. However, quickly he made it down to the bottom in seconds. I was immediately convinced and thought it was a great idea.

As I prepared to descend down the snowy slope, my partner Carl decided to take no chances and chose to go down the trail. Just three steps into the snow and I slipped and slid on the ice layer. I was soaked in melt water and quickly climbed on to the dry rock above.

I knew there were no other options by the time I was able to come out. I tried to stay flat against the mountain even as I heard the thunderstorm fast approaching. I had to throw away my backpack that contained various essentials such as camera, rock hammer and other metal objects as these could double up as good lightning rods. Lying down on the mountain flat, I waited for the thunderstorm to pass.

The back of the mountains were struck by lightning several times and I knew that thunder was fast approaching. To make matters worse, it started raining and water turned quickly to sleet. Under normal circumstances, this is nothing to be worried about but now, my warm rain jacket was in the backpack I threw thirty feet away. Insult was added to injury by the sleet and high winds to my already soaked body.

I did not dare move even as hypothermia started setting in. bolt after bolt of lightning ripped through the mountain with thunderous explosions. I have never been so scared in my life. When the storm finally moved below where I was, I waited for a while and tried to move on. To my delight, I saw my climbing partner taking shelter below a rock overhang snug and warm. I caught up with him thanking my lucky stars that we survived this terrible disaster.

Exploring mountains and valleys through wild forest makes the moments much more interesting and exciting. The love for nature and pursuit to achieve something unknown attracts hardcore trekkers to go beyond and find the new horizons in valleys, mountains and forest.

They shed their comfort and security to venture out and experience nature’s wilderness. This is the essence of trekking and adventuring which trekker lovers have inside them.

Experiencing such wilderness is undoubtedly splendid activity but it also comes with concern of security and safety.

As people go away from their family members and relative to quest such unknown path it is important to follow certain precautions and norms so that there is no survival issue which can lead to any hazard or accidents. If you want to enjoy every bit of your trip then it is vital that you travel with survival kit.

Today as the community of trekkers is exploding and increasing like anything, numbers of companies have come up with wilderness survival gears and kits which include all the safety gears and survival equipments needed during the time of emergency.

If you need to survive out in wild then survival gear becomes more important during such wilderness adventures.

During the time of crisis survival kits comes handy and it consist of several life sustaining gears like food, water, fire and also first aid kit.

The kit is designed in a way that it will keep you safe and secure while you are on trail at such adventure trips. But today such kits have gone advance and includes number of things like:

• Stove,
• Fire starter,
• Sleeping bags,
• Backpack,
• Tent etc.

Moreover if you lose the track to your destination survival gears also includes GPS, maps and navigation system. With help of survival kit chances of survival and sustaining life becomes better while you are stranded and stuck somewhere.

The packaged kits include survival gears which are tested and proved according to the guidelines and standard created by the governing body. This kit can be purchased online which comes in different packages and according to your requirements.

Medical supplies, emergency first aid kits and other outdoor service included in the kit will increase your survival chances for several days during any emergency.

As you are on wilderness tour going through wild meadows and bushes it is necessary that your kit should be light weight and handy and wilderness survival gear kit is designed exactly according to it. It doesn’t look bulgy n/and heavy.

Hence before planning out any such wilderness trip, make all the arrangements for safety and security so that wilderness adventure becomes more comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Not only that but one should also ensure all the specifications and functionality of survival gears before you leave for such trips.

The largest landslide in the world history was witnessed when the symmetrical, tall volcano’s north face collapsed. Roaring miles down the Toutle River, slabs of ice and earth came gushing into Spirit Lake through a 1,300 feet high ridge.

Rising magma inside was expanding for the past week which was evident with the bulging north western flank. This surging pressurized gas was released on the fateful day. This was a dormant, pristine volcano, an intrinsic part of Washington’s eastern landscape. You can imagine the magnitude of the volcano when we say it was at least five hundred times more powerful than the atom bomb dropped on Nagasaki or Hiroshima.

Trees were toppled and ridges were swept over by turbulent winds that spewed stones and disintegrated practically everything along its way. At least 150 square miles on the northern side of the volcano was flattened and 57 people lost their lives.

Jim Scymanky was one of the lucky survivors of this deadly natural disaster. Luck and endurance played a major role in his survival. On the day disaster struck, Scymanky was above the Toutle River as a part of the four member logging team. Their work was just outside the perimeter of the danger ten mile zone within which Gov. Dixy Lee Ray had ordered for evacuation.

There was no doubt in the minds of the crew that they were safe. They did not anticipate any trouble till the moment one of them started racing downhill saying the volcano is erupting. In just a few seconds, the forest disappeared in front of their eyes.

Trees were scorched by the rock missiles and there was ash all over. Everything was battered to the ground. Scymanky felt suffocated and couldn’t breathe as he had sucked in ash for more than a minute. He couldn’t see either as everything was dark and felt an unbearable pain. He was sure he was being buried alive.

The intense heat melted his cotton gloves. Totally disoriented, the four men’s bodies were scorched. One of them tried to climb the avalanche and the other tried to cross the river and no one knows what became of them.

Jim and one other co-worker almost gave up when the National Guard helicopter rescued them. The other co-worker died later and Scymanky was the only survivor. With severe burns on his arms, legs, neck and back, he vomited ash for several days after. Countryside surrounding Mount St. Helens was changed forever.

Scymanky never logged again. He leads a peaceful life today restoring antique cars. It is clear that his ability to endure and remain aware at all times is the key to his survival. Of course, there is no doubt that luck played a major role here.

For example, if the city itself is in danger and in need of evacuation it is bug out, die, or live through conditions nobody wants to live in (just ask anyone who lived through Hurricane Katrina).

But what about economic collapse or some terrible scenario where civilization takes a step back? In those cases, “bugging out” could pose some significant problems.

Bugging Out Turns You into a Refugee

Refugees never have it easy. In fact, many refugees die as refugees. If your plan is to disappear into the wilderness somewhere you should think about how difficult it would be even for experienced woodsmen to survive or thrive in such a location.

So you’ll either wind up fighting a pitched battle against nature or you’ll wind up in a refugee camp somewhere. Of course, you might have a survival retreat, but you might not get to it at all if it is too far away.

Worse, you could get there to find out someone else has inhabited. Empty, secured, well-stocked spaces will tend to get filled really quickly in a survival situation. You probably won’t have the firepower or the skill to eject the squatters.

You Can’t Carry as Much as You Think

If your bug-out location is more than one tank of gas away you might find yourself having to abandon just about everything you’d planned to bug-out with…or you’ll find yourself needing to survive very close to your now-defunct vehicle.

You won’t survive long on the few supplies you can carry with you. Even commandos who carry wilderness survival equipment are only expected to survive a few days or weeks with that equipment. They’re not expected to build a life on it.

In addition, many people will try to head to the same places you are heading. Highways and roadways are likely to be clogged. Reference the evacuation of Houston, Texas during Hurricane Rita to learn just how miserable this can be.

You Might Guess Wrong

This is it! The big one! Time to get out of dodge! Or…is it? If you guess wrong you could lose your job and your home. You’ll then find yourself in an entirely different survival scenario: one where you have to rebuild a normal life during an uncertain economy.

Since you don’t usually give two-week’s notice while bugging out you’re likely to burn your bridges and make it that much more difficult to get a new job.

The City Has Advantages

Services will get restored in a city first if they’re going to be restored at all. There are always more jobs in a city than in any other location.

If you find yourself in a city you do have to watch out for the increased crime rate, but it is not the automatic death trap that some survivalists make it out to be. If moving to a small town close to your job is not an option you can learn to survive in the city.

Check out Survive in Place by David Morris to find out exactly how to increase your chances of making it in the urban jungle.

Important Items to Be Included in Earthquake Kits

• Water: Water is the most important item to be included in earthquake kits. It is worth storing water for at least 3 days. Keep four liters of water per person per day in air-tight, non breakable containers. Normally, a person needs 2 liters of water daily for drinking. Kids, sick people, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers need more water. If the temperature is extremely hot, the amount of water needed could be doubled. You need to take all these factors into account before storing water. Water stored in containers should be replaced once in every six months. In addition to water, you can keep water purification tablets in the kit.
• Food: You must also keep non-perishable foods in the earthquake kits. Dried foods, canned foods and juices and powdered milk can be kept on hand. Be sure to include food items for at least 72 hours. It is advisable to avoid foods that make you thirsty. Include baby foods and foods for your family members with special dietary needs. Also keep spoons, bowls and necessary kitchen accessories.
• Flashlights And Batteries: Using matches or candles after an earthquake is not advisable. There are chances of gas leaks. So you must avoid using matches until you are certain that there is no leakage. Keep a flashlight and extra batteries in the earthquake kits.
• First Aid Kit: Keep first aid supplies in earthquake kits, so that you can treat minor injuries and reduce the severity of injuries. Hydrogen peroxide to wash and disinfect wounds, aspirin tablets, cotton and antibiotic ointment, bandage strips, rolled gauze, scissors and soap are some of the most crucial items to be included in the kit. If you or your family member is taking prescription medications, remember to pack them in the kit.
• Personal Toiletry Items: Keep personal hygiene items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, toilet tissue and hand wash liquid in the earthquake kit. Keeping baby wipes and feminine supplies makes sense. You can also include zipper seal bags for waste disposal.
• Cash: Following an earthquake, ATMs, Banks and credit card systems may not operate. Keep a copy of ID cards, insurance policies and other important documents on hand. You can also keep $100 cash.
• Other Items: You can keep a pair of gloves, items for babies like bottles, diapers and formula and eyeglasses in the earthquake kits. If there are items unique to your family needs, be sure to include them as well.

Being well prepared can help reduce the impact of an earthquake on your family. Earthquake kits that contain all the essentials could help you and your loved ones survive until necessary help arrives.

Survival kit: An absolute necessity

We live in uncertain times, where we have seen ferocious and sudden disasters. Environmental signals clearly indicate that life can change in no time. Even manmade disasters can put you in an emergency situation. Therefore, you need an emergency survival kit. It is an absolute necessity.

It is true that the most imperative survival tool is between your ears. Yes, you need to stay cool and calm. You need to think wisely and act smartly. With your logic, common sense and survival kit, you need to decide your course of action.

Commercial kits or personalized one: Which one should I choose?

Many online suppliers do offer pre assembled kits. These kits contain some useful items that cannot be found easily around your home. These kits contain emergency supplies that are specially designed for particular needs. Though these kits are slightly expensive, they contain stuff worth its cost.

If you cannot afford, you can go for personalized survival kit. However, there are multiple options in pre-assembled kits and you can find one that fit your needs and pocket too. Here are some basic points that make a good survival kit.

What makes a good survival kit?

• Your survival kit should have enough items to meet requirements in the emergency situation. Water is the prime concern in case of emergency. It is essential to keep yourself hydrated in emergency situation and the kit size should not be constraint for water adequacy. Many kits available online have very little water provision.
• Price is the prime concern while looking for an emergency survival kit. You could go for a cheaper kit; however, if you not really want to be caught in an emergency with flashlights that don’t work, then it is better not to compromise for the quality of kit. If you are one of those who believe that having a low quality survival kit is better than do not having one. Nevertheless, there is no point in spending your money for the kit that does not serve its intended purpose.
• Look for one that will keep you comfortable, safe and warm till help arrives. Your emergency should be good enough to last through emergency. Supplies in your kit should be usable in the worst conditions. Keep worst situation in mind while buying survival supplies. Look for modern technology gadgets and gizmos that come handy, compact, and affordable yet extremely useful.
• Remember, survival supplies should be durable, dependable and sturdy. For example, a manual can opener stored for a year in kit would not be useful in an emergency. Seek for survival equipment protected by or made up of strong and rust resistant materials. Easy to carry and longer-lasting supplies would be the best choice for good survival kit.

So, are you ready to equip yourself with a good survival kit that will help you survive till help comes?

Solid fuel solutions are one of the best options when portability is your prime concern. They are also regarded as backpacking stove. There are various solid fuel solutions available in the market today. Most commonly used are “Sterno” or “Esbit”, “Trioxane” or “Hexamine” which are in the form of tablets. They can be stored for a very long period of time and take very less space. Another advantage of using these solid fuel solutions is that the flames that they make are small, hot and quiet smokeless. This kind of flames is very efficient when you need to heat canned food products or water, or if you just want to warm up a small quantity of food instead of cooking a meal.

The advantage of using the tablets is that if you have wood or charcoal at your disposal and do not want to cook the food entirely on the tablets, you may use the tablet just as a fire starter. So, all you have to do is put the tablet in charcoal or wood and burn it. This will ensure that the charcoal or wood burns easily and you have a proper fire.

Also, these tablets are quiet safe when you want to cook in enclosed spaces. So, if you intend to cook indoors, the tablets are a better choice. Best packing stoves are very portable, can be used with ease and they run for a very long period of time with a very little fuel consumption. They are generally of two types: Liquid fuel stoves and cartridge stoves.

The liquid fuel stoves are those which are powered by a bottle of liquid fuel. This bottle is attached to the stove externally. White gas or kerosene are the most commonly used fuel in these stoves. Some stoves are compatible with more than one type of fuel. If you have a quart bottle of white gas, then you may expect it to last easily for a week.

However, one major disadvantage that they have is that the fuel in these stoves is quiet volatile. So, they would continue to evaporate slowly when the stove is not in use. Also, they are a bit messy and need to be worked upon a lot so that they can be ignited. Also, most of these stoves require “priming” which means that some quantity of the fuel has to be burned on the top of the stop. This will ensure that the stove heats properly when being used.

Cartridge stoves on the other hand have a canister of fuel packed inside it. The fuel is usually compressed gas like butane or propane. They cannot be filled on your own and you need to visit outdoor stores to have them refuelled.

Yong Chun Kim is a 66 year old mountain climber who decided to climb Mt. Rainier in Washington State on that fateful day. He was caught in a blizzard that lasted for two whole days. On his own, he had to laboriously dig a snow tunnel and also burn his dollar bills to keep himself warm.

Thankfully, Kim had a lighter with him among his emergency supplies. To keep himself warm, along with his dollar bills, he burnt supplies such as toothbrush, Band-Aids and extra socks. All is five and one dollar bills from his pocket became fuel for the fire that kept him warm till help reached him.

Evidently relieved to be rescued, Kim told reporters that he was really an extremely lucky man to have survived this deadly and horrific ordeal. It all started when Kim who was leading 16 people from the local hiking club. They were making their way from Tacoma down the mountain when disaster struck for him. He slipped and fell from his group and was soon 150 feet away from them.

Immediately after he landed, he used his walkie-talkie to inform the members of his group that he was OK. He asked them to keep moving towards the parking lot. He was sure that the moment they reached base, they will seek help. Eventually, Kim was completely lost and was moving in circles for two days looking for the way back.

He continued to survive with grit and determination sleeping for a fleeting few minutes, ducking into a snow cave and huddling in tree wells keeping busy singing the Korean version of Amazing Grace. He even dreamt of spending a relaxing time in a hot sauna. He dreamt of his wife and of his wonderful life at home.

Kim recalls that he was completely at a loss and did not even know which were the east, west, north and south directions to move along. He had he presence of mind to realize that it was dangerous to sleep for more than five minutes as he may fall asleep and die of hypothermia. So, he just slept for five to ten minutes at a time.

Due to the blizzard, two and a half feet of snow soon built up in the two days he was stranded. His rescuers found him alive after two days only because of his presence of mind and survival tactics.

This ordeal however was not enough to keep Kim off the mountains. He is a former cancer patient and strongly feels that he remains cancer free only because of the fresh mountain air.

One such awareness that the countless television programs as well as other guides have been doing is to explain to the outdoorsman and survivalists that what precautions they need to take in the event of an emergency or unforeseen survival situation. Channels like National Geographic have been showing programs like “Survivor man and Man vs Wild” for the same.

This awareness is very vital because there are many experts who often neglect to focus on the most important aspect of any survival situation – prevention. In almost every single case, when the individuals are hiking or backpacking, it becomes possible to avoid the most severe consequences or worst case scenarios if proper amount of time and energy is dedicated towards taking preventive measures!

Safety in Numbers

Generally people opt for hiking and back packing for one and only reason – to avoid human contact and to be alone! They really enjoy hiking and backpacking if they are alone! But, going all alone is not always the wisest choice especially when you are dealing with an unfamiliar trail or an isolated location.

You should bring along an additional hiker or may be your pet so that they can become your support if you need it by chance! By taking an additional hiker with you will increase the chances of avoiding a catastrophic event by a great Bringing along an additional hiker, or even a pet, can increase a solo individuals chances of avoiding a catastrophic event by a great percentage.

You can opt for going solo only when you are dealing with a low difficulty trail or when you are operating in a densely traveled location, or when hiking at a location that is close to a populated local.

Make a Plan

People enjoy hiking and back packing as a hobby because of the type of freedom it gives to them without considering anything. But to be safe, it is better to first plan out everything and then carry out the further enjoyment.

However, if you are planning to simply wander around a specific wilderness location, especially the one in which you are not familiar with, is one of the surest ways to invite disaster. If by chance, due to some or the other reason people fail to track the direction and gets lost in the wilderness, then they can come out of this situation only if they have decided a landmark for them.

Thus, holding on to a plan allows a hiker to minimize the chances of such an event. Additionally, to be on much safer side, it is better to notify a friend or providing them with the insights of your plan as it can greatly increase the chances of rescue in the event when something goes wrong.

Survival Gear Selection and Maintenance

The next important thing to be considered is what all will be required by the hikers! Well, most of the hikers are of that opinion that a good pair of shoes and a water bottle is enough to be carried with them as they are just planning to go for a couple of hours.

But again, this does not hold true! With the technology advancement, it is beneficial for you to use these devices that can help you in finding a direction. Just a basic kit that may involve a thermal blanket, a few energy bars, and a couple of water purification tablets is all for the hiking as this can definitely increase the chances of survival!

Survival tools are a must in your backpack when you plan to go out for camping. There are various tools necessary for survival but you can always extend your list according to your requirements and surroundings.

There are various tools that are recommended when you making your own survival kit. A knife is one such tool which a professional would advise you to carry without fail. A knife can be used to perform innumerable tasks survival situations like cutting wood, cuttings materials that will be used for making shelter, hunting for food and many others.

In emergency situations, it is very important that you have a knife with a good blade. A thick blade can help you cut the firewood without any difficulty, so you must choose a good knife before going on camping.

Flashlights are also an important tool for emergency survival. They are used to look through the bumpy and makeshift roads at night especially when you are at an isolated place. It is also useful for sending emergency signals to rescue teams in case you get stuck in an unknown region.

Load your flash lights with extra batteries so that they do not let you down when needed. Solar batteries are more preferable as they will not only work in flashlights but also in other equipments that run on battery. Thus, a solar battery is another survival tool.

Another important tool in the list is a medical kit which you must always carry along and they are handy as well. A good fire starter is also an important tool that serves the purposes of igniting a fire to cook food, for camp fire and also provide a source of heat in cold climate so that you are warm. Thus, it helps you survive in extreme climatic conditions.

You also get handy survival tool kit wherein you have an axe, shovel, saw, blades, knives, etc. All these tools are meant to help you survive through the difficult times. A good survival kit must be multi-purpose and should serve all the requirements of making the survival stress free. You must add all the possible tools to your backpack and must know how to use them.

Training on survival tools can increase your understanding on using the tools. Which tool can be used under what circumstances can be known after you get the required training. Training can increase your survival skills and know-how about the tools. You will risk your life if you don’t know the usage of each tool you carry along. Rather than putting your life at stake, it is preferable that you carry these equipments along.

The knowledge of how to use the survival tools is as important as having them with you in times of emergency situation. With this you will not only be able to save your own life but you will also help your loved ones should they get in some sort of trouble. So equip yourselves with all the essential tools and have a safe camping.