Survive! Read online

  in survival kit, 26

  taking bearings with, 234

  taking bearings without, 231–32

  topographic, 229, 233

  matches, 23, 114–15

  Maunyi, 145–46

  Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), 35

  medication, 24

  mental and psychological attitude, 343

  mental fitness, testing your, 10–11

  mental keys to surviving, 44

  “mess kit” See cook set

  metal, making knives from, 330

  mirrors, signal. See signal mirrors

  money, 26

  moon, as navigation tool, 241

  moose, 217–18, 261

  moss, 239

  moss cups, 78

  mountainous areas

  food in, 210–11

  hazards in, 273–74

  shelter in, 177

  travel and navigation in, 248

  water considerations on, 93–94

  weather in, 284

  multi-tool, 26–27

  mushrooms, 264–65

  natural disasters close to home, 343–48

  nature

  “becoming one” with, 51, 52

  vs. man, 51–52

  navigation. See also specific topics

  basic survival, 228–29

  natural disasters and, 346

  region-specific, 245–48

  using natural features for, 239–42

  needles, for compass

  magnetized, 231, 236

  magnetizing, 27

  nighttime travel, 224

  noose, 195

  notebook, 28

  Ontario, 144, 217

  packs, making, 337–38

  painkillers, 24

  Paiute deadfall, 200, 201

  panic, 46–47

  parachute cord, 27–28

  parasites, 70

  pencil, 28

  Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), 27, 63

  physical fitness, 9–10

  planning and preparation, 3, 4

  informing others of your plans, 13–14

  natural disasters and, 344

  for survival, 3–5, 45

  for survival travel, 218

  for the worst situation, 11, 18, 45

  plants. See also edibles, wild

  healing, 302

  water from, 82–83

  plastic bottle, purifying water with a, 334

  “playing dead,” 256

  poisonous animals, 186, 272–73

  poisonous plants, 264–66. See also edibles, wild

  polar regions

  food in, 209

  hazards in, 271

  shelter in, 171

  survival kit for, 32

  travel and navigation in, 246–47

  water considerations in, 90–91

  weather in, 283

  potassium permanganate, used to make

  fire, 132, 133

  predators and dangerous animals, 253, 261

  accidental predators, 253–56

  creating an early warning system for, 260

  securing your shelter from, 259–60

  tips on dealing with, 260–61

  true predators, 256–59

  prescription medicine, 24

  prioritizing, 41–43, 45

  quinzee, making a, 171, 174–75

  quuliit (seal oil lamp), 108, 109

  rabbit snare, 196

  rafts, making, 226

  rags signals, 61

  rain, 25–26

  rainwater, collecting and drinking, 77, 91–92

  Ralston, Aron, 39–40

  rapids, swimming in, 227

  rawhide, 324

  rescuers, 64–65

  research, doing your, 4–8, 10–11. See also specific topics

  rivers, rising, 272. See also water

  Robertson, Dougal and Linda, 91

  rock(s)

  making knives from, 330

  splitting, to make an edge, 331

  water from, 85

  root bed, 169–70

  rope

  as part of safety kit, 27–28

  making, 324, 326, 335

  twisting, 325

  route, knowing your, 5–6

  safety pins, 28

  salt, as preservative, 206

  sandstorms, 283

  sanitizer, hand, 335

  satellite phones, 64

  saw, folding, 28

  sawdust, 107

  scissors, 26–27

  scorpions, 187

  sea and open water

  clothing for, 298

  food in, 209

  hazards in, 271

  survival kit for, 32

  travel and navigation in, 248

  water considerations on, 91–92

  sea ice, old vs. new, 91

  seasickness, 271

  self-reliance, 8

  sendansos.com, 14

  shadow stick, 237

  sharks, 258–59, 272

  sharpening stone, 22

  shelter construction basics

  bed, 147–49

  frame, 150

  wind-and waterproofing, 151

  shelters, 141–43

  creating, 32

  fire in, 152–53

  frame, 150

  heated ground, 153

  importance of site selection, 144–46

  long-term, 154, 156–65

  natural disasters and, 345

  region-specific considerations, 166–78

  short-term, 154–58

  shingling a shelter, 151

  shock, 307

  shoulder dislocation, 310, 311

  sickness, 312–13

  signal fires, 59. See also fires, size of

  making, 60–61

  signaling for rescue, 45, 55, 344

  signal mirrors, 28, 56, 57–58

  signals, 55. See also SOS messages

  making your own, 58–59, 335

  ready-to-use, 56–58

  simple, 61

  targeted, 55–63

  technological, 55, 63–64

  simplicity, thinking, 322

  skinning game, 204

  sky, watching, 75, 281

  sleep, 157, 168, 266

  slush, eating, 76–77, 90

  smoke, 59. See also signal fires

  smoking food, 205–6

  snakebites, 314

  snakes, 248. See also creepy crawlies

  snares, 194–97

  snare wire, 29

  snow. See also avalanches

  eating, 76–77, 90, 91

  sheltering with, 171

  snowblindness, 246, 271

  snow cave, making a, 172–73

  snowshoes, 337–38, 339

  snow shovel, 36

  solar blanket, 247

  solar still, making a, 80–81

  Sonoran Desert of Arizona, 136

  SOS messages, 14. See also signals

  sound. See audio signals

  spears, making, 335–37

  spiders. See creepy crawlies

  splints, 308–9

  SPOT satellite messenger, 29, 63–64

  sprains, 310

  squirrel snare, 197

  stars as navigation tools, 240

  starvation, 266–67. See also food

  steel wool, 132

  stings, 313–14

  Stolpa, Jennifer and James, 13–14, 33–34

  streams. See water

  stress and stressors, 41. See also calm

  stretcher, makeshift, 222, 223

  sunglasses, 247, 337

  surgical blades, 25

  survival, vi, 18. See also specific topics

  survival guilt, 51

  survival kits, vi, 17

  carrying case, 21, 34

  complete, 21–30, 354

  disadvantages of prefab, 18–19

  home, 357–58

  making it yourself, 18–19

  natural disasters and, 344

  personal, 19–21,
353

  tailoring them to your destination, 31–33

  top five items in, 32

  vehicle, 33–36, 355

  survival situations, reacting to, 46–51

  survival skills. See also specific topics

  essential, 348

  getting over the squeamishness of destruction, 323

  thinking like a sculptor, 321–22

  thinking simplicity, 322

  Survivorman (TV show), v

  survivors, characteristics of, 40

  swamp areas

  food in, 211

  shelter in, 178

  water considerations in, 93

  sweating, 290, 291, 295

  tape

  duct, 22

  marker or “surveyor’s,” 26

  tarp, 36

  tarp shelters, 165

  text messaging, 29, 34

  thirst, 73

  thread, 27

  three, as number signaling distress, 59, 63

  throwing sticks, 203–4, 335

  thunderstorms, 282

  tidal waves. See tsunamis

  tinder. See fire-starting tinder

  tipi, 164

  toilet paper, 36

  tools, 36, 323–24. See also specific tools

  torches, making, 338

  tracking insects, 76

  tracks, animal, 202. See also animal trails

  trailblazing, 242–44

  traps, 193, 198

  bottle, 200

  Doug’s deadfall, 199–200

  figure-four deadfall, 198

  Paiute deadfall, 200, 201

  where to set, 194–97

  travel, survival, 64–65, 346. See also specific topics

  natural disasters and, 346

  at night, 224

  planning and preparing for, 218

  rate of travel, 222

  region-specific, 245–48

  by water, 225–28

  whether to stay or leave, 215–21

  traveling in a straight line, 244

  travel partners/group, 9. See also group vs. solo survival

  Traverse, Chris, vi, 295–96

  trees

  for navigation, 239, 242–44

  water from, 82, 83

  tree torch, 61

  “tree wells,” 160–61

  triangle, three signal fires in shape of, 59

  tsunamis, 273

  underwear, as hunting tool, 334

  ungulates, angry, 261

  urine, 86

  vegetation, observing changes in, 75

  vegetation still, making a, 78–79

  vehicle survival kit, 33–36, 355

  vehicle wreckage signals, 62

  vines, as source of water, 82

  Wabakimi, Ontario, 144

  watch, used as makeshift compass, 238

  water

  crossing, 226–28

  rationing and preserving it in your body, 72

  traveling by, 225

  untreated, 70, 71

  water, drinking, 34, 69–71, 182

  filtering, 89

  finding and collecting, 74–86

  natural disasters and, 344

  physiology and, 73–74

  region-specific considerations, 89–94

  shelter’s distance from, 145

  water, open. See sea and open water

  waterproofing, 26

  waterproof matches, 115

  water purification, 32, 86–89, 334

  water purification tablets, 29

  water purifying straw, 29–30

  water sources, 74–79

  wax-and-cotton fuel wads, 23–24

  weather, 146, 220, 252–53, 277. See also specific weather conditions

  vs. climate, 278–79

  dangerous, 281–83

  natural disasters and, 347

  preparing to stay alive in dangerous, 277–78

  region-specific dangers hazards, 283–84

  ways to interpret signs and predict, 279–81

  websites, 14

  well water, 83–84

  whistle, 30

  widowmakers, 145

  wiki-up, 164

  will to live, vi, 39–40

  wind, 146, 280

  wind chill, 282

  wind patterns, 280

  windproofing shelter, 151

  “wind tunnel” shelter, 144

  wires

  and electrical fires, 347

  snare, 29

  wood, 146

  choose, 146

  as fuel for fire, 108, 135–36

  knives from, 333

  splitting, 32, 135–36

  for water collection, 78

  wounds, 316

  Ziploc bags, 30

  About the Author

  Les Stroud, expert survivalist, is also a filmmaker, singer-songwriter, and creator of the television show Survivorman. A member of the prestigious Explorers Club, Les has produced, hosted, and appeared in many television specials, including Shark Week, Surviving Alaska, and Off the Grid with Les Stroud. He has been guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Larry King Live, The Late Late Show, The Hour, and been featured in Men’s Journal, Entertainment Weekly, and numerous other publications. Visit him at www.lesstroudonline.com.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

  Credits

  Illustrations by Beverley Hawksley.

  Cover design: Luke Despatie & The Design Firm

  Cover photography: Laura Bombier

  Copyright

  SURVIVE!. Copyright © 2008 by Les Stroud Productions Inc. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  Mobipocket Reader October 2008 ISBN 978-0-06-171684-3

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