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9. Failure to file a trip plan — or deviating from a plan that was filed
One of the most common mistakes made by novices and experienced outdoor enthusiasts alike is the failure to prepare a trip plan and leave it with friends and loved ones back home. Those with little outdoor experience probably neglect this out of ignorance, and veteran outdoorsmen probably think they don’t need to go to all the trouble, because they are experts.
The reason to file a trip plan is to let people know where to begin a search operation, if you fail to show up on schedule back home or at work. When people notice that you’re not where you’re supposed to be, they can take a look at the trip plan and begin searching for you where you said you were going to be traveling.
After filing the trip plan, serious problems can develop if you deviate from the plan without notifying the folks to whom you gave the original itinerary. That can throw a search and rescue operation into confusion, as search teams begin the search in the wrong place, based on information in the trip plan.
When creating your trip plan, include the following information: your name, address, phone number; next of kin; where you’re going; the intended route of travel; whom you intend to meet up with or travel with, and their phone numbers and addresses; vehicle description; a description of your clothing and outdoor gear (including colors); pertinent medical needs (so searchers can bring necessary medications).
If you change your plans, always notify everyone who has been given your trip plan.
10. Not stopping to make camp when lost
A dangerous and potentially deadly mistake is to not stop and make camp as soon as you realize that you’re lost, thinking that if you just keep going you’ll get out of the survival situation sooner. The reality is that, when you’re lost you don’t know where you are. And that means you don’t know where anything else is, either. You have no idea which direction to go to reach safety, because you don’t know where you are in relation to that safe haven. So if you keep moving, you might inadvertently be traveling away from your hoped-for safe place. If a search team is on the ground looking for you, you might also be moving away from them, which prolongs and confuses the search. The rule is: when you realize that you’re lost, stop. Make camp and establish some signaling methods in an open clearing where they will be more easily spotted by searchers.
Even if you’re not lost, there is a closely related mistake that gets some folks in trouble. It is the error of not stopping early enough in the day to be able to set up camp before being overtaken by darkness. This leaves you stumbling around in the dark, which risks injury and/or confusion about location. By mid-afternoon, start looking for a good site to make camp on level ground, out of the wind, with an adequate firewood supply and water supply nearby. Get your shelter put together, then spend time gathering enough firewood to see you through the night. Collect and purify enough water for that evening and the next morning. Get a fire started, and then settle down for the night. If you give yourself enough daylight to accomplish all this at a casual pace, you’ll not only avoid injury caused by rushing around in a panic trying to get it all done as darkness is closing in around you, but you’ll also protect your internal energy supply and feel more relaxed.
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Comments (18)
Very good article, well spoken. It also addresses my major gripe with TV UN "reality" shows. People who think they can benefit from "knowledge" from those shows when out in the wilds will have a high probability of being found dead by a SAR team because of the very things mentioned in this article. Keep up the good work!
I certainly enjoy the needed criticism of Bear Grylls in Man vs Wild. Should be Hollywood vs. Wild. I disagree somewhat with Bo as I have enjoyed watching Survivorman with Les Stroud who provides the same sound advice of this article with a realistic view of what we could encounter in the woods.
good article. Thanks for the practical reminders. Especailly for reminding us grey haired "experts" that real "experience" includes refreshing what we've learned over the years and practicing the skills that we may think are still second nature. It also helps to remember that at 60 most of us arn't quite the same tireless bush bunnies we were when we were twenty and humped 70 pound rucks all over God's Green Acres day after day .
Thanks for the good advice...and the constructive criticism or evaluation of the the TV survivalists from prior commentors. Being a 'grey hair' its nice to remember what one has learned over the years.
Rich really knows his stuff. This is invaluable information for anyone who spends anytime at all in the outdoors. Surviving in the wild comes down to who can remember and do the simple things and avoid panic.
Good article with sound advice for anyone to follow
To gslshaw,
Of all the things we called it when I was overseas humping those hills, I don't remember it being called God's Green Acres.;)
I, too, have found my body won't cash the checks my mind tries to write.
I don't watch that much TV and so I haven't seen Les Stroud and cannot comment on that show. I have seen parts of several others and was thoroughly disgusted with the Hollywood hype and misinformation . Dangerous, scares me to think that some people get their entire concept of Survival from shows like "Survivor", et al.
Very enjoyable. Rich is spot-on, as always.
I agree, some of the survival shows on TV seem aimed more at entertainment than survival education. But just to be fair, when the hosts do crazy stuff, they often provide some type of preface such as "This would be a worse-case scenario, tumbling down a hill like this," or something like that. They don't usually advocate the really dangerous stunts as authentic survival education. Reckless, yes. But usually they acknowledge that they're about to attempt something out-of-the-ordinary, even for a situation of survival.
Great advice! I missed out on a full day of hunting this year because my partner left his pack, cell phone, water and compass in the truck when he walked into a dense frozen swamp for a "quick push". He never showed up at the island where I was waiting for him and when I got back to the truck I found all his gear there. 4 1/2 hours later just as I had decided to call for SAR he came walking down the road completely dehydrated with muscle cramps. He made a wrong turn at the trailhead, wandered in circles for hours and was forced to cross a frozen lake of uncertain ice. All on a parcel of land less that 200 acres. We joke about it now but in deeper wilderness or uncertain weather (60 degree temp turn around that night with blizzard conditions the next day) it could have been a deadly situation. The 10 rules are based on tragedies that were often avoidable. Follow them and live to enjoy another day!
Quick question: Has Survivorman EVER caught a damn fish?
Great tips, as always. I'd like one of those water purification bottles for Xmas this year!
Bear Grylls is an idiot. I saw him jump into a hole in the desert because he thought it could be the beginning of a river, but did so with no way out. He then proceeded to swim in water he had just warned was extremely dangerous due to parasites. In the same episode, he swam under a log jam hoping their was a way out on the other side. Any normal person would be in serious danger and probably die. He is teaching people the exact wrong thing to do in order to make a TV show.
First of thanks for the article it's good. Secondley Bear is not an idiot, if u pay attention he is showing u how to escape the worst of situations, not how to survice Vs. Wild. N if you are taking advise from tv go ahead keep doing it, I know I'll be hear tomorrow.
Excellent observations and sound advice.
I was living in Northwestern Oregon when that family took a turn up the road that should have been closed and became stranded. The father eventually decided to go for help and was found "dead of exposure" after leaving a road to follow a stream in the hopes of this leading to help. I couldn't help but wonder if this poor soul confused some of the real advice that a stream or river may eventually lead to civilization, with some of the daredevil antics depicted in the "un-reality show", and left a ROAD that surely leads to help. That cost him his life and could have easily cost his family's lives as well. Don't look to Hollywood for survival advice. Or any advice for that matter! Survivorman, on the other hand is a decent show. Despite Les Stroud emphasising he would never hurt an animal except in a case of survival. Most of us utilize the animals we hunt and therefore thwy become part of our survival.
Great article! I agree with Bo on the issue of "reality shows." I would rather watch paint dry than one of those shows.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
This article is well presented. It shows some of the mistakes i have made in the past when i became disoriented while hunting in the past. I do believe that what was said in this article will help me resolve an issue if one happens in the future.
I think it is important to PRACTICE these skills as well before you find you HAVE to have them!
Very good advice !! I have been hunting and fishing in the "wild"
FOR 50+ YEARS (I am 70 this year) I have had a few "exciting" mouments. but have managed to keep whole and afloat. If everyone keeps to the advice of this article, and just watch t.v. and laugh, ya'all will be O.K. !! p.s. I am going to colorado again this year, for elk and deer.
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Very good article, well spoken. It also addresses my major gripe with TV UN "reality" shows. People who think they can benefit from "knowledge" from those shows when out in the wilds will have a high probability of being found dead by a SAR team because of the very things mentioned in this article. Keep up the good work!
To gslshaw,
Of all the things we called it when I was overseas humping those hills, I don't remember it being called God's Green Acres.;)
I, too, have found my body won't cash the checks my mind tries to write.
I don't watch that much TV and so I haven't seen Les Stroud and cannot comment on that show. I have seen parts of several others and was thoroughly disgusted with the Hollywood hype and misinformation . Dangerous, scares me to think that some people get their entire concept of Survival from shows like "Survivor", et al.
Great article! I agree with Bo on the issue of "reality shows." I would rather watch paint dry than one of those shows.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
good article. Thanks for the practical reminders. Especailly for reminding us grey haired "experts" that real "experience" includes refreshing what we've learned over the years and practicing the skills that we may think are still second nature. It also helps to remember that at 60 most of us arn't quite the same tireless bush bunnies we were when we were twenty and humped 70 pound rucks all over God's Green Acres day after day .
Excellent observations and sound advice.
I was living in Northwestern Oregon when that family took a turn up the road that should have been closed and became stranded. The father eventually decided to go for help and was found "dead of exposure" after leaving a road to follow a stream in the hopes of this leading to help. I couldn't help but wonder if this poor soul confused some of the real advice that a stream or river may eventually lead to civilization, with some of the daredevil antics depicted in the "un-reality show", and left a ROAD that surely leads to help. That cost him his life and could have easily cost his family's lives as well. Don't look to Hollywood for survival advice. Or any advice for that matter! Survivorman, on the other hand is a decent show. Despite Les Stroud emphasising he would never hurt an animal except in a case of survival. Most of us utilize the animals we hunt and therefore thwy become part of our survival.
I certainly enjoy the needed criticism of Bear Grylls in Man vs Wild. Should be Hollywood vs. Wild. I disagree somewhat with Bo as I have enjoyed watching Survivorman with Les Stroud who provides the same sound advice of this article with a realistic view of what we could encounter in the woods.
Great advice! I missed out on a full day of hunting this year because my partner left his pack, cell phone, water and compass in the truck when he walked into a dense frozen swamp for a "quick push". He never showed up at the island where I was waiting for him and when I got back to the truck I found all his gear there. 4 1/2 hours later just as I had decided to call for SAR he came walking down the road completely dehydrated with muscle cramps. He made a wrong turn at the trailhead, wandered in circles for hours and was forced to cross a frozen lake of uncertain ice. All on a parcel of land less that 200 acres. We joke about it now but in deeper wilderness or uncertain weather (60 degree temp turn around that night with blizzard conditions the next day) it could have been a deadly situation. The 10 rules are based on tragedies that were often avoidable. Follow them and live to enjoy another day!
Great tips, as always. I'd like one of those water purification bottles for Xmas this year!
This article is well presented. It shows some of the mistakes i have made in the past when i became disoriented while hunting in the past. I do believe that what was said in this article will help me resolve an issue if one happens in the future.
Very good advice !! I have been hunting and fishing in the "wild"
FOR 50+ YEARS (I am 70 this year) I have had a few "exciting" mouments. but have managed to keep whole and afloat. If everyone keeps to the advice of this article, and just watch t.v. and laugh, ya'all will be O.K. !! p.s. I am going to colorado again this year, for elk and deer.
Thanks for the good advice...and the constructive criticism or evaluation of the the TV survivalists from prior commentors. Being a 'grey hair' its nice to remember what one has learned over the years.
Rich really knows his stuff. This is invaluable information for anyone who spends anytime at all in the outdoors. Surviving in the wild comes down to who can remember and do the simple things and avoid panic.
Good article with sound advice for anyone to follow
Very enjoyable. Rich is spot-on, as always.
I agree, some of the survival shows on TV seem aimed more at entertainment than survival education. But just to be fair, when the hosts do crazy stuff, they often provide some type of preface such as "This would be a worse-case scenario, tumbling down a hill like this," or something like that. They don't usually advocate the really dangerous stunts as authentic survival education. Reckless, yes. But usually they acknowledge that they're about to attempt something out-of-the-ordinary, even for a situation of survival.
Bear Grylls is an idiot. I saw him jump into a hole in the desert because he thought it could be the beginning of a river, but did so with no way out. He then proceeded to swim in water he had just warned was extremely dangerous due to parasites. In the same episode, he swam under a log jam hoping their was a way out on the other side. Any normal person would be in serious danger and probably die. He is teaching people the exact wrong thing to do in order to make a TV show.
First of thanks for the article it's good. Secondley Bear is not an idiot, if u pay attention he is showing u how to escape the worst of situations, not how to survice Vs. Wild. N if you are taking advise from tv go ahead keep doing it, I know I'll be hear tomorrow.
I think it is important to PRACTICE these skills as well before you find you HAVE to have them!
Quick question: Has Survivorman EVER caught a damn fish?
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)