tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313181442011-04-21T18:54:18.221+01:00Bushcraft and Wilderness Survival Hints and TipsBush Trackernoreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31318144.post-1153335740310198242006-07-19T19:51:00.000+01:002006-07-19T21:15:09.113+01:00OK. To get things moving - let's start an A to Z of Bushcraft and Survival skills.<br /><br />I'll gradually add a new letter and come up with a skill, technique, hint or tip that matches the letter. Hopefully we'll build a good reference as we go along.<br /><br />So let's start with the letter <span style="font-weight: bold;">A</span>...<br /><span lang="EN-GB"><br /><b style="">AWARENESS</b>.<br /><br /></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Awareness in this case means preparation.<span style=""> </span>If you know you’re going into a potentially risky area or situation, then it makes sense to make adequate preparations.<span style=""> </span>If you prepare properly before your journey, then you’ll stand a better chance of surviving if a bad situation hits. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p>How can you do this?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p>A good start is to get some training in basic survival techniques at a good Bushcraft or <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Wilderness</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Survival</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">School</st1:placetype></st1:place>. <span style="font-style: italic;">(Check out the links section on this blog for my personal recommendations). </span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Once you've got some skills under your belt, you'll have a lot more confidence and won't be too daunted about venturing into the wilds.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p>And whenever you’re out in wild places – tune into the environment and what’s going on around you.<span style=""> </span>Get to know and read weather patterns, light levels, wind direction and most importantly – animal behaviour.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p>Animals are acutely aware of everything around them.<span style=""> </span>They know exactly what’s going on.<span style=""> </span>And if they sense any danger – they get the hell out of there.<span style=""> </span>Their whole lives are governed by their inbuilt survival instincts.<span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB">You can learn lessons from them by trusting your own intuition and gut feelings.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p>Your intuition works at a sub-conscious level and is a better indicator of danger than your conscious, analytical mind.<span style=""> </span>So trust your hunches and first impressions – they’re usually right.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p>And if you do get caught out - it’s vitally important that you adapt to your surroundings quickly and make the best of what you’ve got.<span style=""> </span>Studies of disaster survivors have shown time and again that those who are most aware, quickly accept the situation, adapt and make the most of the mess they’re in - survive.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/31318144-115333574031019824?l=bushtracker.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Bush Trackernoreply@blogger.com24