THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF WILDERNESS SURVIVAL

Knight’s practical guide instructs readers how to stay alive when things go wrong in nature.

Technological innovations of the smartphone era have made it easier than ever to wander off the beaten path. Even so, apps like Instagram and Google Maps can sometimes give hikers and campers a false sense of security, leading the unprepared and/or unlucky into potentially dangerous situations where a change in the weather—or a failure of technology—can leave them stranded. With this guide, the author, who co-founded the Alderleaf Wilderness College, offers “a tried, true, and tested approach to each of the core priorities that must be addressed in wilderness survival situations. It is a cohesive system for taking care of the most pressing survival needs both with and without modern gear.” Applicable to natural disasters in addition to wilderness misadventures, Knight’s system covers the basics—shelter, water, fire, food—readers would need to survive temporary, unplanned crises (as opposed to planned, long-term periods outdoors). Just as important, Knight helps prepare readers psychologically to meet the unexpected and to avoid panic, set priorities, assess danger, and recognize signs of exposure, dehydration, starvation, and other serious conditions. From knowing what plants are edible to boiling water with hot rocks to constructing one’s own debris tipi (with a roof angle slope of 45 degrees), Knight gives key advice for getting through the hours and days one might have to survive before being rescued. Knight writes with a practiced economy, making even the least appealing activities feel manageable: “Bullfrogs, for example, can be found all over North America and are considered an invasive species in many areas of the country. They also happen to be a reliable source of meat.” The book comes with numerous photographs and illustrations, which are especially helpful for precise tasks, like crafting a bow drill set to start a fire. It’s a slim guide—truly no more than necessary. But that only adds to the sense that these are need-to-know skills.

A cleareyed fundamentals manual that makes the wilderness feel survivable.