Primitive survival skills training
The rising interest in primitive survival skills can be attributed to popular television shows such as Naked and Afraid, Primal Survivor, and Alone. However, these skills are not merely entertaining—they can also prove vital in life-threatening situations.
Engaging in multi-day hiking or biking excursions without adequate preparation can lead to perilous circumstances. Unpredictable weather conditions, injuries, or an inability to navigate effectively can easily result in distressing scenarios. Nonetheless, the prospect of these challenges should not discourage outdoor exploration; instead, it underscores the necessity of preparation and education. Acquiring even a handful of essential survival skills can be transformative in critical situations.
Understanding Wilderness Survival Skills Courses
A wilderness survival skills course encompasses a broad spectrum of training designed to equip individuals with strategies and techniques necessary for surviving in adverse conditions.
It is not necessarily a way of living for a year in the woods, though you could do that. What it is, is a way to survive until you can be rescued.
Exploring Various Types of Survival Skills Courses
Indeed, numerous types of survival skills courses exist. For instance, I participated in a basic three-day survival skills course to determine if it would resonate with me before committing more resources.
This initial experience deepened my enthusiasm for survival training, but that personal insight often requires on-site experience prior to belief.
Other courses under this umbrella might focus on advanced skills, navigation, wilderness medicine, or primitive tool-making, offering a broad array of learning opportunities.
With countless course options available, it is essential to align your choice with your specific needs and activities planned in the outdoors. For those regularly exploring wilderness settings, I recommend foundational survival training, navigation education, and wilderness medicine certification.
Understanding Course Costs
The cost of survival skills courses varies significantly based on factors such as the specific curriculum, the organization, and the duration of the course.
The three-day survival course I undertook through the Northwest Survival School was priced at just under $500, at which time they offered discounts for future courses attended.
Wilderness survival skills
A hybrid wilderness medicine certification course offered by NOLS is approximately $800. As courses increase in duration and complexity, so too does their price. Advanced courses, particularly those focusing on wilderness medicine in extreme environments such as the Himalayas, may range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the inclusions offered.
Course Length Variations
The duration of these courses varies widely. Selecting the right course for you may hinge upon location and timeframe. A three-day local weekend course offers a more manageable commitment than a two-week program overseas.
While adventurous individuals may opt for more intensive experiences, it is practical to start with shorter duration options to gauge interest and skill alignment.
Learning Outcomes from Survival Skills Courses
In a basic three-day survival skills course, participants can anticipate learning fundamental techniques such as:
Building a shelter
Basic navigation
Setting snares for small game
Smoke signaling for rescue
Water filtration methods
Spear making
Basic fire-starting techniques
I also found it helpful in determining my gear needs, surprising me with which items were essential for specific tasks.
The Importance of Survival Skills
Regardless of an individual’s fitness level or hiking experience, the unpredictability of nature makes survival skills indispensable. If unforeseen events occur—like getting lost or losing gear to wildlife or sustaining an injury—having a basic repertoire of survival skills can mean the difference between life and death.
You need not possess the prowess of Bear Grylls or Hazen Audel; understanding how to secure shelter, purify water, and procure food can significantly enhance your chances of survival in the wild. Moreover, for those aspiring to cultivate more advanced skills, an array of additional classes are accessible.
Preparing for Outdoor Survival Situations
The foundation for effective outdoor survival begins with ensuring adequate gear, surpassing just the essentials required for a typical hike. Consider the possibility that a bear may encounter your pack and make off with it—if that were to occur, what would remain at your disposal?
It is advisable to prepare a compact survival kit to carry on your person, containing vital items in case your primary gear is compromised. You can create one or purchase a ready-made option, such as the Sirius Survival Kit. This is just a starting point, as the contents align with essential survival items.
A well-vetted survival kit should include a knife, extra flints, a thermal blanket, a compass, paracord, a whistle, and practical lighting tools like flashlights or headlamps.
In Conclusion
My enduring interest in exploration and primitive survival was the catalyst for embarking on my journey into survival skills education. More importantly, it was driven by the desire to ensure that I could confidently navigate worst-case scenarios.
Which courses have you taken? What do you recommend?
Are you interested in incorporating yoga and stretching into your hiking preparation to help prevent injuries? Explore my additional resources to effectively integrate a yoga practice into your training regimen, enhancing your adventures.
