In any survival situation, a will to live becomes your most powerful tool. The U.S. Air Force survival manual (AFR 64-4) recognizes this, and has three chapters dedicated to the “psychological aspects of survival.” It states: “The emotional aspects associated with survival must be completely understood just as survival conditions and equipment are understood. An important factor bearing on success or failure in a survival episode is the individual’s psychological state.”
In other words, the proper gear, knowledge, and training won’t help you if your head isn’t in the right place. We interviewed four recent wilderness survivors to find out what kept them going, against the odds. These are their stories.
One Wrong Step
Alone, severely injured, and 10 miles into Idaho backcountry, elk hunter John Sain had a decision to make: end the suffering or crawl for help
Alone, severely injured, and 10 miles into Idaho backcountry, elk hunter John Sain had a decision to make: end the suffering or crawl for help Vincent Soyez
The Crash
Sixteen-year-old Autumn Veatch, the sole survivor of a remote plane wreck, rescues herself
Eye of the Tiger
Hawaiian spearfisherman Braxton Rocha fights back fear and swims for his life after a shark attack
Torn to Pieces
Greg Matthews’ training as a first-responder saved him from certain death after being mauled by a grizzly in the Alaskan wilderness
Your Brain on Survival
Here’s what happens when the body shifts into survival mode, and how you can stay in control
