Category: outdoor camping

Outdoor survival skills are extremely important if you should become lost or stranded out in the wilderness. Finding water is one of the greatest survival skills you can learn, but what happens if the water is dirty and unfit for consumption? It is important to learn how to filter water.

It is important to know that filtering water is not the same as purifying water making it safe for drinking, but in an emergency, this outdoor survival skill can be extremely useful.

When the best water available is muddy water, you will need a filter to clean the water. Filtering water removes all visible dirt particles making it safer for drinking. This does not remove microbes and bacteria from the water, but often it can make the water taste better.

To filter water, you must begin with a container. A bottle will work well. Cut the bottom off of the jug and use similarly to a funnel. Using a can will work, too. Poke several holes in the bottom of the can with your pocket knife, for best results. Then let the water fall through the holes and into a separate clean container.

There are several methods to filter water in the wilderness. Here is another option for you to consider during an emergency. Strain the water through a cloth or piece of clothing over a container. This may remove some particles.

Use what nature provides. If you have rocks and sand, alternate these in layers to make a filter. The more layers you have, the better.

Make a cone from bark if you can’t find some other type of container. Layer the rocks and sand inside the cone. Tie the bottom of the cone together with string, Placing small rocks on the bottom of the cone as the last layer will help hold the bark together.

Use both fine and coarse layers in the filter, alternating between the two. At the bottom of the cone, you will need to stop the sand from pouring through. This isn’t difficult. Use grass that is not poisonous, several pebbles, or a piece of cotton material.

Pour collected water through the filter. Catch the water in a container after it has gone through the filter. If the water is not clear, pass it through the filter again. Repeat until the water runs clear.

Again, it is important to know that just because the water is clear, does not make the water completely safe to drink. The water still needs to be purified. The water may contain tiny bacteria that can pass through the filter.

Knowing how to filter water is a vital outdoor survival skill. Keep yourself alive by making sure water is safe for consumption and staying hydrated until you can get the help you need. Even if filtering water isn’t as healthy as purification, it can be a step closer to water that is safer for drinking. Practice this valuable skill before you actually need it. It could really save your life.

Outdoor survival is possible for weeks, without food, as long as you have clean, healthy water to drink, but knowing what to eat could certainly be helpful along the way. There are numerous edible plants in the wild. Learn how to identify these edible plants to ensure safety. Discovering the value of edible plants for nutrition is also a good idea.

You can learn about edible plants in the region where you will be traveling. There are so many edible plants in the world that it would be nearly impossible to memorize them all. Familiarize yourself with some basic varieties that are most likely to be abundant in your area. This will make your task simpler and less tedious.

Research edible plants by reading books or taking a course about edible plants in the wild. Be cautious because some plants are edible and safe for many individuals, but can bring about allergic reactions for others. Fiddlehead ferns are a great example of such a plant. This plant is available in health food stores, but for certain people, the plant can be dangerous. Before ingesting any new plant, experiment and study it. Do your best to determine if you are susceptible to a reaction from the plant before ingesting it into your system.

Some parts of a plant may be safe to eat while others are not. Remember that not all parts of the same plant are edible. Do not assume that just because the flower is safe, this does not directly indicate that the roots and leaves are edible, as well.

Slowly examine the plant. Do you have a reaction to the plant by touching it to your skin, wrist, or lip? Learning what plants, and parts of plants, are safe and edible, takes time.

You may want to take a hike with an experienced guide. Let him or her teach you the ins and outs of edible plants in the area. Learn from their experiences rather than simply from your own. No book or internet site, for instance, can compare to an actual trek through the wilderness. Enjoy a gathering hike with an experienced guide to examine first-hand the plants in their natural environment.

Trying new edible plants will allow you to quickly learn what you are willing to ingest, and what you must stay away from. If you are flying solo in this endeavor, practice your survival skill on a day hike, close to home. To be on the safe side, you will want to be near help in the event of a negative reactionto a plant.

Do not take chances with your health and your life. If you are unsure of the safety of a plant, do not eat it. A human can survive without food for weeks. Staying hydrated in an outdoor survival situation is most important. Although the outdoors is filled with numerous edible plants, there are also several varieties of dangerous plants in the wild. Way the risks and the benefits of plants to your survival before consuming any new plant.