“Survival skills can serve you in any environment,” be it the wilderness of Alaska or the local park. Once you find yourself in the wilderness, survival mode switches on. So, what do you need to know to get out of the wilderness safe and sound?

First, your attitude plays a vital role. While panic leads to poor decisions and wasted energy, staying calm and focused is of greater use than any piece of gear. The second thing you need to secure is shelter. Surprisingly, it’s even more critical than food. Your best bet is a debris hut, like a giant nest. Built with sticks and leaves, it can keep you alive even in harsh, cold weather without fire. Make a shelter that hugs your body tightly, stuffing it with around a meter of leaves so the air inside heats up from your warmth.

The third crucial thing for survival is water. Everybody knows that a person can last three days without it. Yet, the lack of water affects your thinking and movement. If your urine becomes dark and has a strong smell, this means you are dehydrated. However, even if you are dead thirsty, look only for clean water. Springs, seeps, and fast-flowing streams are safe choices. In spring, tree sap from maple, birch, or walnut can serve as a source for hydration.

The fourth element to get through the wilderness is fire. Obviously, it brings warmth, but also you can purify water, cook food, and make tools with it. Besides, fire boosts morale. The best shape for a fire is a tipi-style fire. Gather dry sticks and lean them into a cone over tinder. This kind of fire burns steadily and collapses inward. Learn to use a bow drill to make fire in any weather without matches. Simply put, you need to rapidly rotate a spindle against a fireboard using a bow and string, creating enough heat to ignite a small pile of wood dust.

The fifth pillar of survival is food. People can last longer without food than without water, but the more you starve, the more quickly your strength fades. Try finding high-energy options, like nuts, fish, small animals, and plants like burdock root. Remember, you don’t have to chase a rabbit if you can find mushrooms or nuts. Also, follow the buffer zone principle with resources. It means looking for them further from your shelter, keeping resources right around your shelter for emergencies.