How to Survive in the Mountains

Pre-Trip Preparations

Extensive preparation is essential before setting foot on a mountain. Start by researching the specific mountain or range you plan to visit. Understand its climate, wildlife, potential hazards, and any challenges it may present.

Print out a map and draw out the route you intend to take. Be as detailed as possible and add any extra areas you may explore if you have the time. This will not only help you plan out your journey; it may help you find some interesting spots and even some problems you may run into.

Physical conditioning cannot be overstated; the better your physical state, the higher your chances of successfully dealing with the demands of mountain survival.

Write down the time you will leave and the approximate time you expect to return. Give a friend or family member a copy of your plan and tell them you will call or text them once you return.

They will know where to start looking if they don’t hear from you.

Essential gear and supplies checklist:

• Navigation tools (map, compass, GPS)
• Multi-purpose tool or knife
• First aid kit
• Shelter (tent or emergency bivouac)
• Fire-starting materials
• Water purification system
• High-energy food supplies
• Appropriate clothing (layered and weather-appropriate)
• Signaling devices (whistle, mirror)

Start a Fire

Above all, the ability to create fire cannot be overlooked. A fire serves multiple survival purposes: it provides warmth, a means to cook food, and a method for signaling help. Being able to start a fire is paramount when it is safe. Not only does it sustain physical warmth, but it also offers psychological comfort, boosting morale in challenging survival scenarios.

Collect as much dry firewood as possible during the daylight hours so you won’t have to search for it in the dead of night. It’s better to have too much than not enough. Circle and surround the fire with rocks; they will absorb, store, and radiate heat to help keep you warm as temperatures drop.

Mastering the skill of fire-making is essential for anyone facing the challenges of mountain survival. A fire goes beyond providing warmth; it’s a versatile survival tool crucial for:

• Cooking: Preparing food to sustain energy and nourishment.
• Signaling for Help: Using smoke and light to attract rescuers.
• Psychological Comfort: Boost morale and provide security in challenging situations.
• Water Purification: Melting snow or boiling stream water for safe consumption.

Water Sources and Purification

Water is a critical survival necessity. Mountain streams and springs can provide water, but always purify it to avoid waterborne diseases. Boiling is the most effective method, but chemical purifiers or filters can be used if you’ve brought them along.

Where you may find water sources in a mountain survival scenario:

• Mountain Streams: Look for streams flowing down the mountain, often found in valleys or along natural depressions.
• Snow and Ice: Melt snow or ice for water. Ensure it’s clean and purify it if possible.
• Rainwater: Collect rainwater using any available containers or tarps.
• Natural Springs: Springs may emerge at specific points on a mountain, providing fresh water.
• Morning Dew: Collect dew from vegetation in the early morning using a cloth or sponge.
• Rock Depressions: After rainfall, water may collect in natural depressions or hollows in rocks.
• River Headwaters: The origins of rivers, often found in mountainous areas, can be good water sources.
• Glacial Melt: Water from melting glaciers can be found at higher elevations but should be treated before consumption.
• Vegetation: Some plants can store water in their leaves or stems. Knowledge of local flora is crucial for this method.

Food: Foraging and Hunting in a Mountain Survival Situation

While securing water and shelter are paramount in survival, finding food is essential for maintaining energy and health. Here are detailed tips on foraging and hunting that can help you sustain yourself in the wilderness:

Foraging for Edible Plants:

• Educate Yourself Beforehand: Learn about the local flora of the mountain area you’re exploring. Knowing which plants are edible and which are toxic is crucial.
• Use Field Guides: Carry a lightweight, waterproof field guide to edible plants specific to your region.
• Look for Common Edible Plants: Dandelions, clovers, and wild onions are edible plants widely found in many mountain regions.
• Test Plants for Edibility: If you’re unsure about a plant, use the Universal Edibility Test to minimize the risk of poisoning.
• Avoid Plants with Warning Signs: Avoid plants with milky sap, thorns, fine hairs, or a bitter almond smell, as these can be indicators of toxicity.

Hunting and Trapping Small Animals:

• Set Simple Snares: Learn to set up snares on animal trails. These can catch small animals like rabbits and squirrels.
• Fish in Mountain Streams: If accessible, fishing can provide a valuable protein source. Improvise fishing gear with lines and hooks or make spears from branches.
• Look for Insects and Bugs: Insects like grasshoppers, ants, and larvae are rich in protein. Ensure they’re cooked to kill any parasites.

General Tips for Finding Food:

• Conserve Energy: Opt for food sources that require minimal energy to obtain. Foraging nearby or setting traps can be more energy-efficient than hunting.
• Stay Safe: Always prioritize your safety. Avoid hunting dangerous animals or venturing into risky areas for foraging.
• Use All Parts of an Animal: If you succeed in hunting or trapping, use as much of the animal as possible, including bones for broth, to maximize the nutritional value.
• Practice Sustainable Foraging: Only take what you need and leave enough for the ecosystem to remain balanced.

Remember: While finding food is essential, it should never compromise your safety or the need for clean water and secure shelter. Prioritize your energy and focus on the most efficient and safe ways to source food.

Signaling for Help in Mountain Survival Situations

Getting rescued becomes a top priority when you find yourself in a survival scenario on a mountain.

Effectively signaling for help can make all the difference between being found quickly and enduring prolonged hardship. Let’s explore how to create visible signals from the air and the ground and leverage technology to alert rescuers to your location.

Here are some expert tips and strategies to ensure your SOS messages are seen and understood:

Creating Visible Signals:

• Use Bright Colors: Brightly colored clothing or materials can stand out against the natural background. Lay out or wear these items in open areas to increase visibility.
• Make Ground Symbols: Use rocks, logs, or snow to spell out SOS or other distress signals in large letters. These are easily spotted in the air.
• Mirror Signals: A mirror or any reflective surface can catch sunlight and create flashes. Aim these flashes toward airplanes or distant search teams.
• Smoke Signals: If safe, fire and add green vegetation to produce smoke. Thick, white smoke is visible from far away, and three puffs of smoke in a row is a universally recognized distress signal.
• Flashlights and Strobes: At night, use flashlights, strobe lights, or even your phone’s flashlight in a pattern (three short, three long, three short) to signal Morse code for SOS.

Using Technology to Alert Rescuers:

• Cell Phones: Even with limited service, attempt to text emergency services or family/friends with your location and situation. Texts can sometimes go through when calls cannot.
• GPS Devices: If you have a GPS device, use its SOS feature to send a distress signal with your exact coordinates.
• Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs): PLBs can be activated to send a distress signal directly to search and rescue satellites. Always carry one if you’re heading into remote or risky terrain.
• Satellite Messengers: Similar to PLBs, satellite messengers allow two-way communication with rescuers and send out location data.

General Tips:

• Stay in Place Once You’ve Signaled: Once you’ve sent out a distress signal, stay in the area to increase your chances of being found. Moving around can make it more difficult for rescuers to locate you.
• Repeat Signals Regularly: Continuous signaling increases visibility and the likelihood of detection. If using fires or electronic signals, keep them going as long as possible.
• Use Natural Landmarks: If possible, position your signals near distinctive features such as clearings, lakes, or hilltops that are readily identifiable from above.
• Conserve Battery Life: If relying on electronic devices for signaling, conserve battery life by using them sparingly and only when rescuers are most likely to be searching (e.g., during daylight hours).

Remember, the key is to make yourself as visible and detectable as possible, both from the air and on the ground, while ensuring you remain safe once you’ve signaled for help. With the right approach, you can maximize your chances of a swift and successful rescue.

Advanced Mountain Survival Techniques

Navigating the unpredictable terrain of a mountain and ensuring your survival requires more than just basic knowledge; it demands advanced skills that can significantly increase your odds of enduring and thriving in harsh conditions.

Mastering the art of creating improvised tools and equipment and adopting advanced navigation and signaling methods are critical components of this expertise.

Improvised Tools and Equipment:

• Stone Tools: Rocks with sharp edges can serve as cutting tools or be shaped into more complex tools like axes or arrowheads with effort and knowledge.
• Wooden Implements: From spears for fishing to bows for hunting, wood found in your environment can be carved and shaped into various valuable tools.
• Rope and Cordage: Learn how to create cordage from plant fibers or bark, which can be invaluable for building shelters, creating traps, or climbing.
• Container Creation: Use natural materials such as large leaves or bark to create containers for holding water or cooking food over a fire.

Advanced Navigation Techniques:

• Astronavigation: Familiarize yourself with using the stars and celestial bodies to determine direction when navigating at night.
• Topographic Map Mastery: Beyond essential map reading, understand how to utilize topographic maps to identify your elevation and the terrain around you for better navigation.
• Natural Landmarks: Use natural landmarks and changes in the environment to maintain your orientation and avoid getting lost.

Advanced Signaling Methods:

• Morse Code with Flashlights or Sounds: Knowing Morse code allows you to send detailed distress signals using a flashlight or even banging on metal or wood.
• High-Contrast Signals: Create signals that stand out against the natural background. Snow, for example, can be used to contrast with dark materials or vice versa.
• Improvised Flares: While risky and requiring careful handling, creating a makeshift flare from available materials can draw attention in emergencies.

General Advanced Tips:

• Stay Calm and Resourceful: The key to employing advanced survival techniques is not just knowledge but the ability to stay calm, think creatively, and use the resources available to you innovatively.
• Continuous Learning: The wilderness is the ultimate teacher. Practice these skills regularly, and always be open to learning from your environment and experiences.
• Mental Resilience: Advanced survival tests your physical capabilities and mental fortitude. Keeping a positive mindset and a problem-solving attitude is essential.

Weather and Environmental Hazards in Mountain Survival

Navigating the unpredictable conditions of mountain terrain requires an acute awareness of weather changes and a keen understanding of how to avoid natural hazards like avalanches and storms.

Here are key strategies for staying safe:

Predicting Weather Changes

• Observe Natural Indicators: Pay attention to cloud formations, wind direction, and wildlife behavior, as they can hint at incoming weather changes.
• Use Technology Wisely: Employ weather forecasting apps and tools, but do not rely solely on them. Backup knowledge of natural signs is essential.

Navigating Natural Hazards

• Avalanche Awareness: Educate yourself on recognizing potential avalanche zones and understand what triggers avalanches to minimize risk.
• Storm Safety: Know how to quickly find or create a shelter to protect against lightning, heavy snowfall, or rain during sudden mountain storms.
• Route Planning: Always consider the current weather forecast and terrain when planning your path, and be ready to adjust based on conditions.

First Aid and Dealing with Injuries

In the unpredictable and often harsh conditions of the wilderness, foundational knowledge of first aid is not just beneficial—it’s essential.

Whether trekking through dense forests, scaling rugged mountains, or exploring remote trails, effectively addressing common injuries can be a lifesaver.

Treating Common Injuries

• Cuts and Abrasions: Learn how to clean wounds properly to prevent infection. Use clean water or antiseptic wipes, apply antibiotic ointment, and cover with a sterile bandage.
• Fractures: Stabilize the affected area using splints made from available materials, such as sticks or padding. Immobilization is crucial in preventing further injury until professional medical help can be sought.
• Burns: For minor burns, cool the area with cold water or a clean, wet cloth. Cover the burn with a sterile dressing, and avoid using ice, which can cause further damage to the skin.

Altitude Sickness

• Recognizing the symptoms of altitude sickness is vital in mountain environments. Symptoms can include headache, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
• To treat mild altitude sickness, it’s essential to rest, hydrate, and, if possible, descend to a lower altitude. Acclimatization by gradually ascending over several days can help prevent altitude sickness.

Additional Considerations

• Hypothermia and Heat Exhaustion: It is crucial to recognize and treat these conditions. Hypothermia requires slowly rewarming the body, while heat exhaustion requires moving to a cooler environment and rehydration.
• Snake Bites and Wildlife Encounters: Knowledge of minimizing harm and treating bites or stings from wildlife is essential. Remain calm and immobilize the affected area, but avoid sucking out the venom or applying ice from a snake bite.
• CPR and Emergency Response: Basic CPR knowledge can be lifesaving when medical help is delayed. Familiarize yourself with the latest CPR and other emergency response techniques guidelines.

Preparation and Education: Investing time in a comprehensive first aid course designed for outdoor adventurers can dramatically increase your preparedness for dealing with injuries and health emergencies in the wilderness. Carrying a well-stocked first aid kit tailored to the specific challenges of your adventure is also critical. Beyond the basics, consider including blister care supplies, insect repellent, and sun protection to address the full spectrum of outdoor hazards.

Ultimately, the ability to administer first aid and manage injuries in the wilderness extends beyond treating immediate concerns—it’s about ensuring a safer and more confident adventure experience for everyone involved.

Leave No Trace Ethics

Adhering to the principles of “Leave No Trace” is more than an act of respect towards nature—it’s a commitment to preserving the pristine beauty and ecological balance of the wilderness for those who follow in our footsteps.

When we venture into the great outdoors, we’re visitors in a habitat that sustains a complex web of life.

By minimizing our impact on these environments, we contribute to conserving these invaluable natural resources.

Critical Principles of Leave No Trace

• Plan and Prepare: Proper planning can minimize waste and damage to natural resources. Research and follow regulations and guidelines for the area you will visit.
• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Stick to established trails and campsites to avoid damaging undergrowth and soil.
• Dispose of Waste Properly: Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter. Use established toilet facilities or bury human waste properly away from water sources, trails, and campsites.
• Leave What You Find: Preserve the past and the natural environment. Avoid picking plants, disturbing wildlife, or taking rocks and other natural objects.
• Minimize Campfire Impacts: Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light. Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, keep fires small, and burn all wood to ash.
• Respect Wildlife: Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow, approach, or feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
• Be Considerate of Other Visitors: Respect other trail users and protect the quality of their experience. Be courteous, yield to other users on the trail, and minimize noise.

Let’s commit to being stewards of the earth, leaving no trace of our passage except for the memories we create and the footprints we leave on established paths.

Gleaning Wisdom from Real-Life Survival Stories

Something is compelling about learning from those who’ve faced the raw, unfiltered challenges of survival and lived to tell the tale.

Real-life survival stories are not just thrilling narratives; they’re reservoirs of knowledge, offering critical lessons that can shape our approach to wilderness survival.

These stories can inform and refine our survival strategies, ensuring we’re better prepared for whatever the wilderness throws.

Extracting Lessons from Survival Stories:

• Identify Key Survival Skills: Pay attention to the skills that repeatedly play a crucial role in survival tales, such as fire-making, shelter building, and water sourcing. These are the skills you’ll want to master.
• Understand the Importance of Mental Resilience: Many survivors cite mental strength, the will to live, and the ability to stay calm under pressure as decisive factors in their survival. Cultivating a resilient mindset is as important as any physical skill.
• Learn from Mistakes: Note any errors or oversights made by survivors and consider how you would handle the situation differently. Learning from others’ mistakes can prevent you from repeating them.
• Innovative Problem-Solving: Survival stories often feature creative uses of materials or unexpected solutions to problems. Think about how you can apply similar ingenuity to your survival toolkit.

Applying Lessons to Your Survival Strategy:

• Practice Skills Regularly: Inspired by the stories you’ve read, practice essential survival skills in a controlled environment. This will build confidence and competence.
• Mental Preparedness Exercises: Engage in mental preparedness exercises like visualization and stress management techniques to strengthen your psychological resilience.
• Scenario Planning: Use survival stories to create hypothetical scenarios and plan how you would navigate those situations. This can help you think critically and prepare for various possibilities.
• Equipment Checks: Many stories highlight the importance of reliable equipment. Regularly review and test your gear to ensure it’s in good condition and you know how to use it effectively.

Ten Incredible Mountain Survival Stories

These stories, each remarkable in their own right, not only recount the survivors’ physical and psychological trials but offer profound insights into the human spirit’s capacity to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

• “Touching the Void” by Joe Simpson: A harrowing account of Simpson and his climbing partner, Simon Yates, who faced near-death experiences while descending the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes.
• “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer: Krakauer’s personal narrative of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, detailing the deadly storm and the survival efforts of climbers.
• “Miracle in the Andes” by Nando Parrado: The story of the 1972 Andes plane crash survivors who endured 72 days in the mountains before Parrado and Roberto Canessa trekked to find help.
• “Alive” by Piers Paul Read: Another account of the 1972 Andes survivors, focusing on the group’s struggle to stay alive by resorting to cannibalism, among other survival tactics.
• “Annapurna” by Maurice Herzog: The first successful ascent of Annapurna, the world’s 10th highest mountain, by Herzog and his team in 1950, including their survival against severe frostbite and harsh conditions.
• “Between a Rock and a Hard Place” by Aron Ralston: Ralston’s extraordinary survival after a boulder trapped his arm in a remote canyon in Utah, leading to his desperate measure of amputating his arm to escape.
• “127 Hours” by Aron Ralston: The film adaptation of Ralston’s survival story, capturing his ordeal and the life-or-death decision he made to free himself.
• “The White Spider” by Heinrich Harrer: Harrer narrates the first successful ascent of the Eiger North Face and the numerous attempts and tragedies that preceded it.
• “No Way Down” by Graham Bowley: An account of the 2008 K2 disaster, where 11 climbers lost their lives, and the survival of those who made it back.
• “Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest” by Beck Weathers: The story of Weathers’ survival during the 1996 Everest disaster, despite being left for dead and suffering severe frostbite.