How to live in the wild. Living in the wild. Survival instruction

Living in the wild. Survival instruction

Never give up - until you die!

Lord Robert Baden-Powell

“We are pilgrims, master:

For that last blue mountain covered with snow

Or maybe to the other side of the raging sea. "

These words, taken from JE Flecker's book The Golden Journey to Samarkand, are carved on the memorial clock tower of the special forces headquarters in Herford.

I dedicate this book to all the scouts in the world - each of the 28 million. You are part of a worldwide army of good and one of the most powerful and most peaceful youth movements of all time. You have a lot to be proud of. But pride requires humility and dedication from the scout. Remember, your strength lies in the skills you acquire, the support you give to friends, and the adventures that fill your life.

As the leader of the UK Scouts, I never tire of admiring the fortitude that scouts all over the world have. So may this power never run out!

Bear Grylls, UK Scout Leader

Introduction

More than a hundred years ago, a British Army Lieutenant General organized a week-long camp for twenty boys on Brownsea Island, off the southern coast of England. His name was Robert Baden-Powell. He named his guys "scouts" (scouts) in honor of the military intelligence officers, who, according to him, "were selected for their intelligence and courage, so that during hostilities they would go ahead of the army and find out where the enemy is." And Baden-Powell taught the scouts what he himself had mastered during his impressive military career, - the ability to observe, navigate and survive in nature, as well as build shelters.

Baden-Powell had no idea how powerful the scout movement would become today. Or maybe he did. After all, "intelligence and courage" will never go out of fashion, and this book is dedicated to them. Intelligence and courage are the beating heart of the scout movement.

Much has changed over the past hundred years. Cities have grown, technology has improved. But the natural world remained as it was. The stars that help us navigate stayed where they were; the sun still rises in the east and sets in the west; the animals leave the same tracks as before, and the fire burns just as brightly. Our scout duty is to understand and protect nature and all living creatures in it, to be able to resist the elements and have the courage to follow where the spirit of adventure, given by the Lord, calls us, wherever it takes us.

I have written many books on how to survive in the wild and many fascinating places on earth. In these books, I used my experience gained on expeditions and campaigns in which I had the opportunity to participate. But I wrote almost nothing about the skills that I received during my service in the special forces. Much of this book focuses on the skills that I use to this day. The reason is simple. There is practically no difference between the knowledge and skills taught in the special forces and those used by scouts. And I tried in this guide to summarize this knowledge and adapt many of the techniques that are used to train special forces fighters for training scouts. Mastering these skills and assimilating knowledge will help them become well-trained specialists who will make up the elite of the scout movement.

The scouts' motto is “Be ready!” And life, in essence, requires constant readiness to overcome difficulties. The scout trains and prepares for new adventures, learns to work in a team, understand nature and master the skills that will help him survive in any conditions, in a word, he is preparing for this and another life. We find peace in our souls with the help of faith, and faith instills in us courage that helps us go beyond the comfortable conditions of existence. For everything that a person strives for is precisely achieved by going beyond this comfort, by the desire to take risks; go to your dream, overcoming difficulties; to love, overcoming pain; hope without doubts and live boldly in spite of fear. In my life, I realized that the main thing is to be together, because together we become stronger. And the main thing in the life of a scout and a pathfinder is to rejoice, fight, dream and go forward, taking those you love with you on hikes.

So, go ahead, friends! Life is an adventure to be thrown into without any fear.

God bless you.

Lieutenant Commander of the Royal Navy (Honorary)

Bear Grylls, UK Scout Leader

EQUIPMENT

What kind of equipment do professionals use? What you really need and what you don’t need

Trouble awaits only those who are poorly prepared.

Roald Amundsen, polar explorer

Protection from wind, rain, cold and sun - "deadly" weather factors

It is very dangerous to underestimate climatic conditions. They can destroy you anywhere - you do not need to go to the Sahara or Antarctica for this. Respect the weather, learn to understand it - and you will always be able to survive.

To understand how a killer combination of factors - wind, rain, cold, heat and sun - can affect you, you need to know how the human body reacts to temperature. Humans are "homothermal" creatures. This means that their body temperature is constant. Various mechanisms allow it to be maintained. For example, if we are hot, we sweat - this is how our body cools; if we are freezing, then we tremble - this is a reflex reaction that makes the muscles move. At the same time, heat is released, which also warms us.

Thanks to the mechanisms for maintaining a constant temperature, we do not freeze in frost and do not die from overheating. Our body is made up of an inner hot core (which contains the vital organs: brain, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys) surrounded by a colder protective shell (muscle, skin and fat). The core temperature is usually around 36.8 ° C. Even in very cold climates, this temperature should not change by more than two degrees in either direction. If the core temperature rises above 42.7 ° or falls below 28.8 °, then in the first case the person will die from overheating, and in the second from hypothermia.

But even with lower temperature contrasts, too high or, conversely, too low a temperature has a very harmful effect on our body. Getting frostbitten and hypothermic outdoors in freezing weather or passing out from dehydration in extreme heat is much easier than you might think. Below I will discuss how to deal with these problems if you run into them. But it's better to try to avoid them - that's why you need to know exactly how to protect yourself from cold or heat. And by protection, I mean not only tents and sleeping bags, but also clothes and shoes. For they are your first line of defense against the vagaries of the weather.

Never give up - until you die!

Lord Robert Baden-Powell

“We are pilgrims, master:

For that last blue mountain covered with snow

Or maybe to the other side of the raging sea. "

These words, taken from JE Flecker's book The Golden Journey to Samarkand, are carved on the memorial clock tower of the special forces headquarters in Herford.

As the leader of the UK Scouts, I never tire of admiring the fortitude that scouts all over the world have. So may this power never run out!

Bear Grylls, scout leader of Great Britain

Introduction

More than a hundred years ago, a British Army Lieutenant General organized a week-long camp for twenty boys on Brownsea Island, off the southern coast of England. His name was Robert Baden-Powell. He named his guys "scouts" (scouts) in honor of the military intelligence officers, who, according to him, "were selected for their intelligence and courage, so that during hostilities they would go ahead of the army and find out where the enemy is." And Baden-Powell taught scouts what he himself had learned during his impressive military career - the ability to observe, navigate and survive in nature, as well as build shelters.

So, go ahead, friends! Life is an adventure to be thrown into without any fear.

God bless you.

Lieutenant Commander of the Royal Navy (Honorary)

Bear Grylls, UK Scout Leader

EQUIPMENT

What kind of equipment do professionals use? What you really need and what you don’t need

Trouble awaits only those who are poorly prepared.

Roald Amundsen, polar explorer

Protection from wind, rain, cold and sun - "deadly" weather factors

Choosing and caring for shoes

"A soldier's feet are made," says the old saying. This is indeed the case. Ask any soldier who has fought in southern Afghanistan about this. The main battles took place in the green zone - along the banks of rivers covered with lush vegetation and fertile soils. The ground here was so swampy that the soldiers' feet did not dry out for hours, and sometimes even days, regardless of the quality of the shoes. And when, finally, they managed to dry their feet, the skin cracked and ached. Infection penetrated the cracks. If the same thing happens to you, your trip will turn into torture.

Decide how you will proceed. The skills required to live in the High North will differ from those required in Central Europe or in the desert. Think about the following factors:

What is the easiest time of year for you to start?
How many things do you need to get started?
How will you keep in touch with civilization? How far from you will she be? How will this affect your situation?
Do you have the skills needed to live in the climate of the region you have chosen?
Do you need time for your body to adapt to new conditions (for example, very cold or hot weather)?

Practice doing what you need to do in the wild before moving there. It all depends on where you are going, but under any conditions you need to be in good physical shape (so start exercising right now) and you need to have all the useful skills that are usually in demand on hikes. Learn everything you need to know and don't forget first aid techniques!

Think of some unusual skills, such as eating insects and roots. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, it can help you out.

Make a list of the things you need. You do not go hiking in the forest for three days - you will live there for a long time. A backpack with a few energy bars and a warm sweater won't be enough. Here's a list of the basic things you'll need:

Household items (rope, knives, nets, etc.)
Shotgun (the weapon collects condensation in the cold and needs to be looked after)
Flashlights or pocket torches (oil or battery operated)
Dry foods (oats, beans, beans, rice, coffee)
A source of vitamin C (such as special dried seaweed)
Water filter
Compass
Blankets
Flame, matches
Axe
Torch, mirrors, whistle and other items
Radio
Sewing kit and tool kit

Take suitable clothing with you. There are three rules: 1. cotton kills; 2. Friends do not allow friends to wear cotton; 3. Cotton deteriorates. You should take with you clothing that retains heat even after it gets wet. You need durable items that will wear for a long time and will not tear. Cotton is lightweight and comfortable, but won't work for you. Take with you things that are sewn for lumberjacks, surveyors and industrial fishermen. These clothes will be heavy, but they will last you a long time.

Sign up for special courses before getting into the wild. Survival in such conditions will not be easy. It is better to learn everything you need before you leave to live in nature. Connect with people who often live in these conditions and learn about their experiences. The more you know, the easier it will be for you.

Learn to recognize poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and other poisonous plants and stay away from them. There are plants (for example, hogweed) whose sap makes the skin very sensitive to light. Because of this, the sun will cause painful burns to the skin. You should know the surrounding nature very well.
It will also keep you calm, which is extremely important. If you've come across something before, you'll know what to do. If you are nervous and do not know how to behave, you may commit fatal mistake... Having the right knowledge will allow you to avoid mistakes in the future.

Store all the essentials in a backpack that's easy to carry. Living in the wild involves constant exploration environment and getting food. You will need to store a lot of things in your home, but you will also need to decide what items you will carry with you. Buy a reliable hiking backpack and take it with you on every outing.

Fold your backpack in advance to see how much weight you can carry. Learn to pack your backpack as much as possible while retaining the ability to carry it. Even the skills of folding a backpack will come in handy in the wild.

Know how you can signal help if you need it. It depends on what you have with you and where you are. Be prepared for at least the main ways:

Learn to light a signal fire
Learn to use a mirror or similar mirrored object to project light onto the horizon.
Learn to send a SOS signal
Learn to use signal lights

Part 2

Camp arrangement

Choose a safe and secure location. Try to settle near water, but so as not to attract animals that also congregate near water bodies, and to protect yourself from the flooding of a river or lake.
- Camp should be set up on a stable surface. Avoid hilly areas, steep slopes, or areas in close proximity to water. All of these places are unsafe.
Make a fire. The warmth will help you live in nature. However, knowing how to build a fire is not enough - you also need to know when and what materials to use. Here are some helpful tips:
- Make a fire away from valuables and food in case something goes wrong (including animal attacks).
- If you are going to cook food, do not do it on a freshly built fire - let it burn. You need to make a fire in advance. Coals are gradually formed in the fire, and you need to cook on them, and not on an open flame, which will instantly burn food.
- Look for birch logs. Both wet and dry birch burn well. It is great for making a fire in cold weather and rain.
- Hemlock will keep flies and mosquitoes away.
Build a shelter. The easiest way is to lean something against a tree or stone, although such a shelter will not last long. For the first week or two, build a simple structure under which you can sleep. Live in it while you build something more reliable. The longer you expect to live in a new home, the better quality the home should be.
- It is not recommended to sleep on the ground. Line the floor with hemlock branches, leaves, and hay. If you don't, you will freeze at night.
Remember the importance of water. You can live a whole month without food, but you won't last long without water. Find a water source that you can use regularly. If possible, bring plenty of water with you so you don't have to run after it all the time.
- You can collect morning dew from grass and leaves with a clean rag and squeeze the water into a container. It will not be the cleanest, but it will be enough for your body.

Part 3

Basic needs

Learn to hunt, set traps, and gather. Again, it all depends on your region. If you need to get food, learn it. Use all methods: fish in the river, animals in the sky and on the ground, collect plants. The more skill you have, the easier it will be for you to survive if the weather changes or if some food sources disappear.
- Eat something only if you are confident in edibility. Try to bring a book describing the local flora and fauna with you.
- Consider a storage system. Animals and insects can pose a threat to your food supplies.
Drink purified water. This will protect you from illnesses caused by dirty water. You cannot be sure of the purity of the water (for example, there may be a dead animal lying higher up the river), so purify all the water.
- The easiest way is to boil water. This will take you 10 minutes.
- Iodine tablets can be used (but not liquid iodine!). Store tablets as directed.
- You can also make a water filter. Filter the water with a bandana or other cloth and then pass it through a dedicated water filter. The filter should block particles no larger than 1-2 microns. The lower the value, the better the filter and the slower the water will pass through the filter.
  - You can use a sump or take a filter from your home. Pour in water, start doing your own thing, and after an hour or two go back to the filter and you will find clean water there.
Keep clean and dirty water in separate containers. Never pour clean water into a container that contains dirty water. One untreated drop will be enough to get infected with something.
- To sterilize the container, boil it for 10 minutes. Make sure all parts of the container are in contact with the boiling water.
Decide how you will go to the bathroom. You will need to set up a toilet away from water, home, and food. You can dig a hole in the ground or build a more reliable toilet.
- If you decide to build a toilet, be aware that in winter the skin will freeze to the tree. Secure the styrofoam to the makeshift toilet seat to prevent this from happening.
Learn to walk in a straight line. This is no joke: the ability to navigate in space will help you a lot. Oddly enough, a person cannot walk in a straight line - he unintentionally begins to walk in circles. To prevent this, learn to set visual reference points in front of you and behind you (if you turn around, the reference point should be directly behind you).
When making a sortie, take your stew with you. Stew is canned meat with fat. Cook them at home in large quantities if you know you are traveling to the nearest city. Afterwards, you will thank yourself for that.
- Stew does not require cooking, and if there is enough fat in it, this nutrition will be enough for you for a long time. You can live with stewed meat for months in any situation, even at home.

Part 4

Long stay in nature

Treat yourself on your own. Living in the wild means you will heal yourself. You will replace all specialists at once. If you cut yourself, you will need to clean the wound right away or it will get infected. You need to learn how to give yourself any first aid, from disinfection to splint.
- You need to have a way to call for help by radio, phone, or whatever in case you break your leg (or if something similarly unpleasant happens to you). This will allow you not to worry about such situations.
Try to build a vegetable garden. Since you will be living alone for a while, why not take up gardening and horticulture? You will have your own food source that you can count on, and it does not require much effort (apart from the initial stage). It will also keep your morale going and allow you to manage your own life in the wild.
- Protect your garden from wild animals. Build a fence, use deterrents and mark the area.
Stock up for the winter. If you plan to live in an area where it is cold most of the year, you will need to stock up on supplies before the severe frosts. The animals will be harder to find, and walking will be harder. Even getting warm will not be so easy. With the onset of winter, you should have everything you need with you.
- Stock up on food for several months if possible.
- This also applies to logs. Fold them under the canopy.
- The water will freeze, so keep warm.
Strengthen your home. A dilapidated structure will not last long in the snow or pouring rain, so build a house that would protect you from bad weather and wild animals. It will also make you feel at home.
- Move the toilet closer to you if possible. Place it near your home, but not inside.
Find a source of vitamin C. You don't want to get scurvy. You are not a sailor from the 1700s, so don't let your teeth soften and your body hurt. If you don't have a source of vitamin C (such as dried seaweed), rose hips are good for you. These are not the tastiest fruits, but they will suffice.
- Nutrition is essential to survival. The more balanced the diet, the better. Try to eat all the food groups you need to stay strong and healthy. If you do not do this, your immunity will be seriously damaged, and your body will not be able to fight even the most harmless bacteria and viruses.
Learn to predict the weather. Let's say you're running out of provisions and need to go to the nearest store, which is almost a week's walk. If you can't predict the weather, you will hit the road on the first day that seems right for you. But if you know how to recognize the signs, you can understand that a hurricane is coming and wait it out or go to the store very quickly.
- You should be able to spot pressure drops, recognize clouds, and even notice the smallest changes, such as how the smoke rises above the fire (if the smoke swirls, this is a bad sign). Animals can also give you hints.
Understand that it will be difficult for you to return to civilized life. If you give up money, status, and work from 9 to 18, going back may seem like a feat to you. Some will not be able to bear it psychologically. If you are thinking about living in nature, carefully consider all your options.
- Try to do everything gradually. For a start, it can be helpful to return to life in the countryside rather than heading straight for the city. Do not overload your body if it is not ready for it. Small steps will make the process easier.

Try not to attract the attention of animals with your actions. Don't leave leftover animal food, dirty socks or underwear near your camp, because wild animals have a very good nose for such things.
Always carry a weapon with you in case of an attack.
Choose a location near the water, but not too close to it. Often people wake up in the water due to the fact that its level in a river or lake has increased, so be aware of this danger. Make camp high above the water. Do not settle in the bed of a dry river.
If you want to be found, light a signal fire. If possible, find copper and throw it into the fire in small pieces. This will color the fire in green color and make it look like a wildfire. Throwing leaves or twigs into the fire will give you a smoke signal.
Don't sleep on bare ground. Lie on the leaves. This will prevent the heat from the body from going into the ground at night.
When leaving to live in the wild, tell someone where you are going. Anything can happen. You may need emergency help other people.
Keep a fire source with you at all times: flint, matches, lighter - choose what works for you. If you move far from your home, you can get and cook food right there. Even sparks from an empty lighter can ignite a cotton ball.
Learn to survive in the wild. Try to live some distance from the coast. Ancient settlements did this for many years, from summer to winter. Learn to make bows from natural materials. Use twigs and reeds to craft arrows. Make arrowheads from flint, volcanic glass, broken bottle bottoms found on the side of the road. Use all parts of the killed animal. Provide yourself with all the resources.
Always have everything you need with you. Bring a water bottle, a knife, a box of matches and some food with you.
When arranging a toilet, move away from the water at least 30 meters. You don't want to drink water that you yourself have polluted.
Store food as high as possible to keep bears out of reach. Smoked meat will last longer. Most animals are afraid of smoke, so only large predators can get close.
Learn more about being able to travel and live in the bush with a minimum of gear and no help. This will prepare you for life in nature.

Warnings

Don't eat mushrooms - 80% of all mushrooms are poisonous. Only eat mushrooms if you know what you are eating.
Don't eat ferns - some species are also poisonous. But if you get worms, the fern's toxic substances will help you get rid of them.
Black bears are afraid of loud sounds, while brown and polar bears love noise, so it's important to know which bears live in your area.
Remain calm and keep yourself occupied at all times. Confidence will help you survive.
Don't sleep in the clothes you used to cook your food. The smell will remain on the body and attract bears and other animals.
Do not eat plants whose sap resembles milk. The exceptions are dandelions and euphorbia - if cooked correctly, they can be used to make a delicious dish.
Stay away from baby animals, especially cubs, lynxes and lion cubs.
If you go to the forest, be prepared for insect bites and the inevitability of encounters with them. Be aware that insects usually swarm at dusk and dawn.
Do not touch plants with shiny leaves and be careful with plants with three petals.
If you drink water purified with iodine tablets for more than five weeks, stomach upset is possible. If you have quite a few pills, try boiling water as well.
Do not touch bushes with red stems.

Bear Grylls

Living in the wild. Survival instruction

Never give up - until you die!

Lord Robert Baden-Powell

“We are pilgrims, master:

For that last blue mountain covered with snow

Or maybe to the other side of the raging sea. "

These words, taken from JE Flecker's book The Golden Journey to Samarkand, are carved on the memorial clock tower of the special forces headquarters in Herford.

As the leader of the UK Scouts, I never tire of admiring the fortitude that scouts all over the world have. So may this power never run out!

Introduction

More than a hundred years ago, a British Army Lieutenant General organized a week-long camp for twenty boys on Brownsea Island, off the southern coast of England. His name was Robert Baden-Powell. He named his guys "scouts" (scouts) in honor of the military intelligence officers, who, according to him, "were selected for their intelligence and courage, so that during hostilities they would go ahead of the army and find out where the enemy is." And Baden-Powell taught scouts what he himself had learned during his impressive military career - the ability to observe, navigate and survive in nature, as well as build shelters.

So, go ahead, friends! Life is an adventure to be thrown into without any fear.

God bless you.

Lieutenant Commander of the Royal Navy (Honorary)

Bear Grylls, UK Scout Leader

EQUIPMENT

What kind of equipment do professionals use? What you really need and what you don’t need

Trouble awaits only those who are poorly prepared.

Roald Amundsen, polar explorer

Protection from wind, rain, cold and sun - "deadly" weather factors

Thanks to the mechanisms for maintaining a constant temperature, we do not freeze in frost and do not die from overheating. Our body consists of an inner hot core (which contains the vital organs: brain, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys) surrounded by a colder protective shell

http://www.litmir.net

“Life in the wild. Survival instruction ": Centerpolygraph; Moscow; 2013

ISBN 978-5-227-04419-8

annotation

The book of the famous British traveler, TV presenter and writer Bear Grylls is the result of the richest experience he gained during expeditions and campaigns in various parts of the world. He wandered through the jungle and swamps, made his way through dusty deserts and bare rocks, spent the night in tents and trees, in caves, in huts and under open air always collected, cold-blooded, not losing his sense of humor, ready for the most unexpected obstacles. His Life in the Wild is an excellent one-stop guide for travelers looking to know what to pack and wear, how to set up a short camp and long-term camp, how to master the art of fire, water where there is not a single source, to arrange a safe shelter and much, much more. The author devoted a special section to the ability to provide first aid. The book is supplied with explanatory figures.

Bear Grylls

Living in the wild. Survival instruction

Never give up - until you die!

Lord Robert Baden-Powell
“We are pilgrims, master:

For that last blue mountain covered with snow

Or maybe to the other side of the raging sea. "

These words, taken from JE Flecker's book The Golden Journey to Samarkand, are carved on the memorial clock tower of the special forces headquarters in Herford.
I dedicate this book to all the scouts in the world - each of the 28 million. You are part of a worldwide army of good and one of the most powerful and most peaceful youth movements of all time. You have a lot to be proud of. But pride requires humility and dedication from the scout. Remember, your strength lies in the skills you acquire, the support you give to friends, and the adventures that fill your life.

As the leader of the UK Scouts, I never tire of admiring the fortitude that scouts all over the world have. So may this power never run out!

Introduction

More than a hundred years ago, a British Army Lieutenant General organized a week-long camp for twenty boys on Brownsea Island, off the southern coast of England. His name was Robert Baden-Powell. He named his guys "scouts" (scouts) in honor of the military intelligence officers, who, according to him, "were selected for their intelligence and courage, so that during hostilities they would go ahead of the army and find out where the enemy is." And Baden-Powell taught scouts what he himself had learned during his impressive military career - the ability to observe, navigate and survive in nature, as well as build shelters.

So, go ahead, friends! Life is an adventure to be thrown into without any fear.

God bless you.
Lieutenant Commander of the Royal Navy (Honorary)

Bear Grylls, UK Scout Leader