The sun rises in the ____ and sets in the ____.
east, west
Knowing the directions east and west, one can determine where north and south is without a compass.
What’s the first thing you should do with your GPS-capable phone before going on a long hike?
Check for phone coverage areas
This helps you find a signal to contact emergency services, if needed.
Use a search engine to look up ‘phone provider area map’.
The True North is located at the ____ ____ while the Magnetic North is currently located in ____ ________.
North Pole, Northern Canada
True north is a fixed point on the globe, corresponding to the Earth’s axis.
Magnetic north is not a fixed point because it aligns with the Earth’s magnetic field, which changes over time in response to changes in the Earth’s magnetic core (a.k.a. magnetic variation).
Does a compass point toward magnetic north or true north?
magnetic north
The magnetic needle in a compass shifts according to the magnetism of the Earth, and therefore always points to the constantly shifting magnetic North Pole.
A standard compass thus becomes less accurate as you get further north on the globe.
If lost and out of water, one of the easiest ways to collect water from vegetation is by collecting ____.
dew
Because dew gathers on leaves, you can collect it using a piece of cloth and squeezing it into a container.
The best time to find dew (in a humid climate) is in the very early morning, after the cool night air has condensed the humidity into water droplets on leaves and grass.
You can tie a ____ ____ around a leafy branch to collect water from vegetation over time.
plastic bag
Plants “sweat”, just like humans. By tying a plastic bag around a leafy branch you can collect the moisture they produce through respiration, especially if you are lost for many days.
A safe way to kill off any pathogens (“germs”) in water is to ____ the water.
boil
All you need is a few minutes. Boiling can be helpful if you ever need to use rainwater or snow as a source of drinking water during a shortage.
If you are lost in the cold wilderness and risking hypothermia, how can you protect yourself (in addition to wearing warm, dry clothing)?
Build a small shelter just big enough for your own body.
Small spaces conserve heat more easily and also require fewer materials. You can use twigs, leaves, and even snow to build the shelter.
If you’re with other people who are also dangerously freezing, consider enlacing your bodies together within your small shelter, to share and conserve body heat by decreasing your collective exposed surface area that is exposed to the cold air.
A ________ knot gets tighter as you pull on it and is often used to attach something to a rope via a loop.
bowline
A bowline knot can help with hauling heavy items, or connecting to another rope.
What should you do to attract the attention of a rescue party when you are lost and lack a phone signal?
- Prepare a giant fire pit and light it;
- Spell out SOS or HELP with big rocks;
- Use a shiny metal object or a mirror to reflect light.
Your main goal, alongside surviving, should be to get rescued. Do not forget that people will be looking for you. Even if you don’t see an airplane or helicopter, nowadays there may be rescue drones or other such equipment.
If you have hunted a wild animal and would like to preserve a large quantity of its meat, what should be your first step for preservation?
Dry it in the sun using a makeshift drying rack.
Cut the meat into thinner strips (1/8”) and place it on the drying rack for 8 to 16 hours.
This may seem unintuitive as we’re used to refrigerating meat to preserve it. But in fresh meat’s early hours, the extra moisture is the bigger contributor to rotting and needs to be promptly evaporated.
A human being can survive for ____ days without water.
three
Early symptoms of dehydration can develop in as early as one day.
Meanwhile, as long as the body is hydrated, a person can survive without food for up to a month or even longer.
A ____ ____ ____ knot is used to attach one end of a rope around an object.
double half hitch
This is a useful knot to build a shelter with, as it can connect two items together.
What part of a train is the safest in the event of a crash?
the middle
Most train crashes are caused by front-end or rear-end collisions and damage is greater at those locations.
What should you do when confronted with an enraged grizzly or brown bear?
Back away quietly and avoid direct eye contact.
(if it decides to attack, play dead)
Brown bears and grizzlies get bored with prey that doesn’t struggle. Unlike with black bears, do NOT challenge the bear by shouting at it.
Make sure to remain ‘dead’ even after the bear leaves. Their initial departure is often a test to see if their prey is still willing to fight.
What should you do if you encounter an alligator (or crocodile?)
Run away in a straight line as far and fast as you can
Alligators and crocodiles are fast but only in short bursts. You can outrun them easily if you keep running.
True or false:
After being bitten by a snake, you should ice the bite site and use a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
FALSE
Avoid restricting blood flow at a snake bite site, as the added inflammation can lead to an amputation.
Also refrain from cutting or slicing the bite site. Call poison control or 911 right away, and try to keep your heartbeat as low as possible.
What should you do when confronted with an enraged black bear?
Make yourself as large as possible and shout at the top of your lungs.
(or use bear spray if you have it)
If it decides to attack, use any kind of weapon to fight back. Aim for the eyes and snout.
Unlike brown bears, black bears usually give up when they see their prey willing to fight to the death.
What type of venomous snake is this?
rattlesnake
Important: rattlesnakes do not always produce a rattle when threatened. You might be standing next to a rattlesnake and not even know it.
When hiking in North America, especially California, always wear boots and long pants to block any rattlesnake venom.
What type of venomous spider is this?
black widow
Black widow spider bites are dangerous, but fatal bites are rare. A black widow bite usually results in muscle cramps and severe pain. Anti-venom is often not needed.
What type of venomous ant is this?
fire ant
Fire ant stings can cause significant swelling, burning, and stinging in the skin. Most people end up with a little bump, while some people don’t react at all. The danger lies in multiple stings.
Which of these two scorpions is the most venomous?
Scorpions with small claws and a thicker tail carry stronger venom. Be careful with handling these types of scorpions.
How many people should you notify when leaving for a camping trip or hike?
three people
Make sure they are people who will notice your absence if they don’t hear from you within a few days.
How many drops of bleach does it take to purify one quart (four cups) of water?
four drops
It takes 16 drops of bleach to treat one gallon or 3.8 liters of water
At what altitude do people typically start experiencing altitude sickness?
8,000 feet or 2,400 meters
Symptoms of altitude sickness include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath.
What 10 essentials should you take on every hike?
even day hikes
- Navigation (compass / GPS)
- Headlamp
- Sun protection
- First aid kit
- Knife or multi-tool
- Fire lighter
- Shelter (foil blanket)
- Food
- Water (incl. purification tablets)
- Warm clothing
All of these items are essential for survival in a situation where you may become stranded or lost. As such, it is recommended that—in addition to notifying three people of your planned hiking or camping trip—you include all 10 items in your backpack.
Shop for ultra lightweight options, like a foil blanket instead of a tent and a mini-first aid rather than a paramedic kit, and you’ll hardly notice the “extra baggage”!
