You're lost...and alone in the woods. Somehow, you've gotten turned around and can't find the trail back to your car. Do you panic? Do you start to imagine those telltale crunching noises signaling the arrival of a bear or mountain lion? Do you fixate on the setting sun, fearing a night spent alone in the forest?
Even the most prudent of we adventurers have been here at one time or another in the outdoors, whether going it alone or with others. Adding fuel to the fear are the sensational headlines of misplaced adventurers around the globe—such as the teenaged Brit who was found freezing and dehydrated after spending 12 wintry days in Oz's Blue Mountains last week after heading out for a hike with two bread rolls, one water bottle, and no cell phone.
How can you side-step such outdoor ordeals? Plan ahead by packing enough gear to survive a night in the wild if need be—bare minimums would be a weather-appropriate jacket, cell phone, adequate food and water, and an emergency blanket.
To soothe your psyche, our recommended reading includes a new book that aims to quell our fears and equip us with the right psychological skills for survival. Outdoor Survival Guide (Human Kinetics, 2009) was penned by Randy Gerke, a survival expert who has been a technical advisor to the television programs Rescue 911 and Worst-Case Scenario and a former captain and a member of the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team in Ouray, Colorado.
In his book, Gerke points to three key mental attributes of survivors:
1. Survivors maintain a positive attitude. He says successful survivors are stubborn, determined, and even fanatical about staying alive. "A positive attitude and persistence can lead to survival, but apathy and negative attitudes can lead to death," he says.
2. Survivors set an action plan. Gerke recommends setting a series of obtainable goals directly related to immediate survival. "This approach is critical to a successful outcome. First, you are completing tasks that are important for physical survival, such as building shelter or collecting water. Second, you are channeling thoughts and feelings in a positive direction."
3. Survivors stay determined. To stay focused, he says individuals must find an internal motivator. "You may suffer situational depression, but you must replace negativity with positive motion. Get up, get busy, and stay busy by doing something that contributes to your survival. You must believe you will survive."
1. Survivors maintain a positive attitude. He says successful survivors are stubborn, determined, and even fanatical about staying alive. "A positive attitude and persistence can lead to survival, but apathy and negative attitudes can lead to death," he says.
2. Survivors set an action plan. Gerke recommends setting a series of obtainable goals directly related to immediate survival. "This approach is critical to a successful outcome. First, you are completing tasks that are important for physical survival, such as building shelter or collecting water. Second, you are channeling thoughts and feelings in a positive direction."
3. Survivors stay determined. To stay focused, he says individuals must find an internal motivator. "You may suffer situational depression, but you must replace negativity with positive motion. Get up, get busy, and stay busy by doing something that contributes to your survival. You must believe you will survive."
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