Instructions for survival in the wild. How to live in the wild

http://www.litmir.net

"Life in wildlife. Survival Instructions: Tsentrpoligraf; Moscow; 2013

ISBN 978-5-227-04419-8

Annotation

The book by the famous British traveler, TV presenter and writer Bear Grylls is the result of the wealth of experience he gained during expeditions and hikes in various parts of the world. He wandered through jungles and swamps, made his way through dusty deserts and bare rocks, spent the night in tents and trees, in caves, in huts and in the open air, always collected, cool-headed, without losing his sense of humor, ready for the most unexpected obstacles. His “Life in the Wild” is an excellent all-in-one guide for those who, going on a trip, want to know what to put in a backpack and what to wear, how to organize a short stay and a long-term camp, how to master the art of handling fire, mining water where there is no source, arrange a reliable shelter and much, much more. The author devoted a special section to the ability to provide first aid. The book is supplied with explanatory drawings.

Bear Grylls

Life in the wild. Survival Instructions

Never give up - until you die!

Lord Robert Baden-Powell
“We are pilgrims, master:

For that last blue mountain covered with snow,

Or maybe to the other edge of the raging sea.”

These words are taken from J.E. Flecker's book " Golden Journey to Samarkand" are carved on the memorial clock tower of the special forces headquarters in Herford.
I dedicate this book to all the scouts in the world - each of the 28 million. You are part of a worldwide army of goodness and one of the most powerful and most peaceful youth movements of all time. You have something to be proud of. But pride requires modesty and dedication from the scout. Remember that your strength is in the skills you acquire, the support you give to your friends, and the adventures that fill your life.

As a leader of the Scouts of Great Britain, I am constantly amazed by the fortitude that is inherent in Scouts around the world. So may this power never dry up!

Introduction

More than a hundred years ago, Lieutenant General british army organized a week-long camp for twenty boys on Brownsea Island, located off the southern coast of England. His name was Robert Baden-Powell. He called his boys "scouts" after military intelligence officers, who, he said, were "selected for their intelligence and courage so that during combat they would go ahead of the army and find out where the enemy was." And Baden-Powell taught the scouts what he himself had mastered during his impressive military career, – the ability to observe, navigate and survive in nature, as well as build shelters.

Baden-Powell could not have imagined how powerful the scouting movement would become today. Or maybe he did. After all, “intelligence and courage” will never go out of fashion, and this book is dedicated to them. Intelligence and courage are the beating heart of the Scout movement.

Much has changed over the past hundred years. Cities grew, technology improved. But the natural world remained as it was. The stars that help us navigate remain in their places; the sun still rises in the east and sets in the west; the animals leave the same tracks as before, and the fire burns just as brightly. Our scouting duty is to understand and protect nature and all living creatures in it, to be able to withstand the elements and to have the courage to follow where the spirit of adventure given by the Lord calls us, wherever it leads us.

I have written many books about how to survive in the wild and about various fascinating places on Earth. In these books I used my experience gained in expeditions and campaigns in which I had the opportunity to participate. But I wrote almost nothing about the skills I acquired during my service in the special forces. Much of this book focuses on skills that I still use today. The reason for this is simple. There are virtually no differences between the knowledge and skills taught in special forces and those used by scouts. And in this guide I tried to summarize this knowledge and adapt many of the techniques that are used to train special forces soldiers for training scouts. Mastering these skills and assimilating knowledge will help them become well-trained specialists who will make up the elite of the scouting movement.

The Scout motto is “Be Prepared!”, and life, at its core, requires constant readiness to overcome difficulties. The Scout trains and prepares for new adventures, learns to work in a team, understand nature and masters skills that will help him survive in any conditions, in short, he prepares for this life, as well as for the next. We find peace in our souls through faith, and faith gives us the courage to go beyond the comforts of our existence. For everything that a person strives for is precisely achieved by going beyond this comfort, by the desire to take risks; go towards your dream, overcoming difficulties; to love, overcoming pain; hope, brushing aside doubts, and live boldly, despite fear. In my life, I realized that the main thing is to be together, because together we become stronger. And the main thing in the life of a scout and pathfinder is to rejoice, fight, dream and move forward, taking those you love with you on hikes.

So, go ahead, friends! Life is an adventure that you have to plunge into without any fear.

God bless you.
Lieutenant Commander Royal Navy (Honorary)

Bear Grylls, UK Scout Leader

Current page: 1 (book has 16 pages total) [available reading passage: 11 pages]

Bear Grylls
Life in the wild. Survival Instructions

Never give up - until you die!

Lord Robert Baden-Powell

“We are pilgrims, master:

For that last blue mountain covered with snow,

Or maybe to the other edge of the raging sea.”

These words, taken from J. E. Flecker's book The Golden Journey to Samarkand, are carved on the memorial clock tower at Special Forces headquarters in Herford.

I dedicate this book to all the scouts in the world - each of the 28 million. You are part of a worldwide army of goodness and one of the most powerful and most peaceful youth movements of all time. You have something to be proud of. But pride requires modesty and dedication from the scout. Remember that your strength is in the skills you acquire, the support you give to your friends, and the adventures that fill your life.

As a leader of the Scouts of Great Britain, I am constantly amazed by the fortitude that is inherent in Scouts around the world. So may this power never dry up!

Bear Grylls, UK Scout Leader

Introduction

More than a hundred years ago, a lieutenant general of the British army organized a week-long camp for twenty boys on Brownsea Island, located off the southern coast of England. His name was Robert Baden-Powell. He called his boys "scouts" after military intelligence officers, who, he said, were "selected for their intelligence and courage so that during combat they would go ahead of the army and find out where the enemy was." And Baden-Powell taught the Scouts what he himself had mastered during his impressive military career - the ability to observe, navigate and survive in nature, and build shelters.

Baden-Powell could not have imagined how powerful the scouting movement would become today. Or maybe he did. After all, “intelligence and courage” will never go out of fashion, and this book is dedicated to them. Intelligence and courage are the beating heart of the Scout movement.

Much has changed over the past hundred years. Cities grew, technology improved. But the natural world remained as it was. The stars that help us navigate remain in their places; the sun still rises in the east and sets in the west; the animals leave the same tracks as before, and the fire burns just as brightly. Our scouting duty is to understand and protect nature and all living creatures in it, to be able to withstand the elements and to have the courage to follow where the spirit of adventure given by the Lord calls us, wherever it leads us.

I have written many books about how to survive in the wild and about various fascinating places on Earth. In these books I used my experience gained in expeditions and campaigns in which I had the opportunity to participate. But I wrote almost nothing about the skills I acquired during my service in the special forces. Much of this book focuses on skills that I still use today. The reason for this is simple. There are virtually no differences between the knowledge and skills taught in special forces and those used by scouts. And in this guide I tried to summarize this knowledge and adapt many of the techniques that are used to train special forces soldiers for training scouts. Mastering these skills and assimilating knowledge will help them become well-trained specialists who will make up the elite of the scouting movement.

The Scout motto is “Be Prepared!”, and life, at its core, requires constant readiness to overcome difficulties. The Scout trains and prepares for new adventures, learns to work in a team, understand nature and masters skills that will help him survive in any conditions, in short, he prepares for this life, as well as for the next. We find peace in our souls through faith, and faith gives us the courage to go beyond the comforts of our existence. For everything that a person strives for is precisely achieved by going beyond this comfort, by the desire to take risks; go towards your dream, overcoming difficulties; to love, overcoming pain; hope, brushing aside doubts, and live boldly, despite fear. In my life, I realized that the main thing is to be together, because together we become stronger. And the main thing in the life of a scout and pathfinder is to rejoice, fight, dream and move forward, taking those you love with you on hikes.

So, go ahead, friends! Life is an adventure that you have to plunge into without any fear.

God bless you.

Lieutenant Commander Royal Navy (Honorary)

Bear Grylls, UK Scout Leader

Chapter 1
EQUIPMENT
What equipment do professionals use? What You Really Need and What You Don't

Trouble awaits only those who are poorly prepared.

Roald Amundsen, polar explorer

Protection from wind, rain, cold and sun - “deadly” weather factors

Underestimate climatic conditions very dangerous. They can destroy you anywhere - you don’t have to go to the Sahara or Antarctica to do this. Respect the weather, learn to understand it - and you will always be able to survive.

To understand how the deadly combination of wind, rain, cold, heat and sun can affect you, you need to know how the human body reacts to temperature. Humans are “homeothermic” creatures. This means that their body temperature is constant. Allows you to support it various mechanisms. For example, if we are hot, we sweat - this is how our body cools down; if we are cold, then we tremble - this is a reflex reaction that forces the muscles to move. At the same time, heat is released, which warms us.

Thanks to mechanisms for maintaining a constant temperature, we do not freeze in the cold and do not die from overheating. Our body consists of a hot inner core (which contains the vital organs: brain, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys) surrounded by a cooler protective shell (muscle, skin and fat). The core temperature usually stays around 36.8°C. Even in very cold climates, this temperature should not vary more than two degrees in either direction. If the core temperature rises above 42.7° or falls below 28.8°, then in the first case the person will die from overheating, and in the second - from hypothermia.

But even with smaller temperature contrasts, too high or, conversely, too low temperature has a very harmful effect on our body. Frostbite and hypothermia outdoors in freezing weather or passing out from dehydration in extreme heat is much easier than you think. Below I will discuss how to deal with these problems if you encounter them. But it’s better to try to avoid them - that’s why you need to clearly know how to protect yourself from cold or heat. And by protection I mean not only tents and sleeping bags, but also clothes and shoes. Because they are your first line of defense against the vagaries of the weather.

Choosing shoes and caring for them

“It’s the legs that make the soldier,” says the old saying. This is true. Ask any soldier who fought in Southern Afghanistan about this. The main battles took place in the green zone - along the banks of rivers, covered with lush vegetation and fertile soils. The ground here was so swampy that the soldiers’ feet did not dry out for hours, and sometimes even days, regardless of the quality of their shoes. And when they finally managed to dry their feet, the skin would crack and hurt. Infection penetrated into the cracks. If the same thing happens to you, your trip will turn into torture.

It is unlikely that you will ever get into the green zone. However, you will be hiking in the most different types terrain, so you need to ensure that your shoes don't let you down. Long treks are taxing on your legs and you need to take care of them.

Bring only the most comfortable shoes with you. In the army, sunburn is considered to be an injury caused by the soldier himself, and can result in court martial. In peaceful life, you also have to take care of the condition of your feet. Therefore, take every opportunity to dry your shoes and constantly check for calluses and scuffs. In a word, take care of your legs like the apple of your eye, because it is very difficult to live without them - however, you know this even without me.

BOOTS

Regular sneakers seem very comfortable (and look cool), but they are completely unsuitable for hiking and expeditions. Sneakers absorb moisture and rub your feet, which also get very cold in them. In addition, sneakers wear out quickly. I took them with me on an expedition only once - when I had to climb a mountain for a very long time in very moderate temperatures and I needed shoes in which my feet would retain their flexibility. But, as I already said, sneakers quickly become damp and then take a very long time to dry.

A pair of quality, durable boots will last you much longer, and your feet will be more comfortable in them. Ideally, you would have specific boots for each type of terrain, but this is impossible to achieve. It is better to choose boots that are suitable for all occasions.

Buy boots half a size larger. This will allow you to wear two pairs of thick socks (your feet will be warm and your shoes will not rub your skin). Also, remember that the foot lengthens in the heat and loose boots will never become tight. For uneven surfaces, high boots with ankle support are needed. Boots should be strong but light, since every extra gram of weight during a day's trek results in additional energy loss. And when you have to lace them with frost-numb hands, you'll be glad that they have hooks and rings.

Traditionally, boots are made of leather. The skin, up to a certain limit, is waterproof (and if it is rubbed with fat, this limit increases) and allows sweat to evaporate. Some leather boots are lined with waterproof material, which, however, makes the leather stop breathing. And during a whole day of walking, this can become a real torment for you.

Break in your shoes before you go hiking. To do this, put on the socks that you will take with you on a hike, put your feet in your boots, lace them up and stand for a minute or two in a basin of water. Then walk around in them until they are dry. During this procedure, the leather of the boots will soften, they themselves will take the shape of your feet, and you will feel comfortable wearing them.

I will never forget my first day training as part of the French foreign legion V North Africa. We were given uniforms and, without even being shown the place where we would sleep, they ordered us to make a forced march. And we walked in our new, shiny heavy boots, put on with very thin socks, and measured mile after mile across the rocky and sandy desert. But after a few miles our legs began to bleed, and this whole pack of former prisoners and mercenaries, among whom I was, tiptoed through the desert, like a crowd of ancient crones. Some of my friends took several weeks to heal their legs and walk again without pain. And I learned one rule well: wear your boots yourself, without hoping that the legion will do it for you.

SOCKS

The best socks are wool ones. Wool absorbs sweat and, unlike other materials, allows moisture to evaporate. Always have a pair of spare socks in your backpack. Never wear socks with holes. And not at all because mom will swear, but because the wool around the hole, soaked in sweat, rolls up and forms hard growths that will rub the foot to calluses. (Once I saw a soldier who was wrung out his socks, and blood was flowing from them. He knocked his feet until they bled. So it’s better not to joke with socks.)

TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET AND SHOES

The British Royal Marines, as well as most special forces around the world, including the English one where I served, are trained to cover long distances on foot. They developed rules for caring for boots and feet.

If, when taking off your shoes, you see that they are wet, stuff them with newspaper. Dry them in a warm, well-ventilated place, but not over an open fire or where it is very hot, as this will cause the leather to lose its natural lubrication and crack.

To prevent the laces from freezing in the cold, rub them with wax, fat or softener.

If your socks (or boots) are too tight, this prevents free blood circulation and your feet quickly become cold. To prevent this from happening, there should be a small layer between the shoe and your foot. warm air. And believe me, no one needs frostbitten feet. (See p. 269, section, dedicated to that, how not to get frostbite.)

Always have several pairs of clean socks with you. If your feet get wet - and in some places you can't help but get wet - change your socks as soon as possible. If conditions permit, dry your boots before putting them back on. If you can't change your socks, simply wring them out and put on dry ones at the end of the day. (If you're traveling in cold, wet areas, it's a good idea to have waterproof socks made from a material that your feet can breathe in.)

To avoid chafing your feet during a long hike, wear two pairs of socks - in this case, the sweaty skin of your feet will not rub against your boots.

Clothing for different environmental conditions

Nothing better clothes will not protect us from conditions environment. In extreme climates, life itself depends on the right clothing. But even in temperate climates, the success of your expedition largely depends on how you dress.

Obviously, the clothes you should bring will depend on the conditions you'll be hiking in, but no matter what you wear, you should take care of your clothes. This is why the Army, as well as the US Air Force, trains soldiers to follow these rules. They will be useful not only to the military, but also to civilians.

Make sure your clothes are always clean. In summer, this is necessary to maintain hygiene rules and for your convenience. In winter, clean clothes will keep you warmer. Dirty and greasy clothes lose their ability to retain heat.

Avoid overheating. In extreme heat, a person sweats - this is a natural way of cooling. But if you sweat a lot while hiking, your clothes will become wet and lose their ability to protect your skin from overheating. Additionally, as sweat evaporates, the body cools down. Therefore, if you overheat, you can then become very cold. To prevent this from happening, wear clothes in hot weather that can be unbuttoned or open to reduce sweating.

Wear loose, layered clothing. The best way to protect yourself from overheating or hypothermia is to create “air pockets.” Wearing a few loose t-shirts will create layers of what the pros call “dead air.” These T-shirts will keep you warmer than a thick sweater that doesn't have layers of dead air. If you wear layers, you can remove the layers on top if you feel like you're starting to overheat. Always wear loose clothing, because tight clothing impedes blood circulation and makes you feel cold. different parts bodies and even their numbness.

Make sure your clothes are always dry. Wet clothing absorbs your body heat, so if you're staying overnight, don't go to bed without drying what's wet—both the outside (snow, rain, or cold) and the inside (soaked in sweat). It is often difficult to stay dry while hiking. If you're going to a place where it's going to rain or snow, wear a waterproof jacket and pants over it.

Carefully inspect your clothing to see if it is torn or dirty.

Your clothes will be under a lot of stress, so pay close attention to the condition they are in.

Mend your clothes. Sew up holes as soon as they appear. It's amazing how quickly small holes turn into big ones! And if your clothes become thin, they will no longer effectively fulfill their purpose, and you will become defenseless against environmental conditions.

Having learned all these rules, think about what clothes you need to take with you on a hike.

UNDERWEAR

Let's start from the very beginning - carefully consider what kind of underwear you take with you. If you wear underwear that is too warm, you will overheat and chafe your skin. If your underwear is too thin, you will freeze.

When you go somewhere where it's very cold, consider thermal underwear that covers your legs and arms. Be sure to make sure that it is not too tight, otherwise the blood will circulate poorly and will not be able to fulfill its task - to deliver oxygen to the cells of the body and carry away metabolic products. Don't bring cotton underwear - it's comfortable in dry climates, but if it gets wet (from rain or sweat), it will lose its insulating properties. It is better to take linens made of wool or synthetics - they dry faster.

Don't wear thermal underwear just because you like it - it will be very uncomfortable in hot weather.

SHIRTS

Again, do not bring cotton shirts. Wool retains heat even when wet (this is their advantage over artificial fibers), but now there are many synthetic materials that dry quickly, warm well and, in some cases, are waterproof and windproof. One of my favorite pieces of clothing is a very thin, lightweight, windproof jumper that I layer over a brushed shirt under my jacket. It holds heat well, is windproof, and is easy to put on and take off. You can roll it up and put it in your backpack - it weighs almost nothing.

TROUSERS

Hiking trousers must be chosen very carefully. They should be strong, but light and dry quickly. The regular trousers of the British Army are very good, not least because they have ten pockets in which you can carry various sharp and piercing objects. Bring a pair of waterproof pants as well. They are worn over regular trousers and should be loose so your feet won't sweat and you can pull your trousers over your boots.

JACKETS

The jacket is your protective shell, or shell. It must be waterproof and windproof. In addition, there are a number of other requirements that should not be forgotten. The jacket should be large enough to accommodate several shirts or sweaters under it in cold weather. In warm weather, air should circulate underneath it. A hidden zipper keeps wind and rainwater out. The jacket should have a waterproof hood that can be worn over a hat. The hood and cuffs should be elasticated or have Velcro fasteners so that water does not get under them, the wind does not blow, and a layer of air is retained inside. Choose a jacket with a large pocket on the outside for a map.

Many people like to wear camouflage jackets. What if you get lost and people start looking for you? It is much easier to find a person wearing a jacket in bright colors. In such situations, the color of the jacket becomes a matter of life or death.

Protection for head, arms and legs

GLOVES

It’s not for me to tell you how terrible it is when your hands are cold. Hands, like feet, are the most difficult to keep warm. We've already talked about how important it is to choose good socks. In cold weather, good gloves are equally important.

Mittens are the best at keeping you warm, but they are uncomfortable if you have to work with your fingers - and you will have to work with them a lot. It is best to wear a pair of thin gloves under the mittens - then, taking them off, you will not get cold hands. Just watch your mittens and gloves - they can easily be dropped and lost. To avoid this, sew them to the cord and pass it through the sleeves of the jacket. This is what our mothers did when we were little, but I still use this method now – when I climb the mountains. If you drop your glove while climbing a mountain in cold weather, you can consider your expedition over.

I always keep a couple of spare gloves in my backpack, just in case. Many times I loaned them to my comrades when they lost theirs.

CAPS AND HATS

Caps and hats perform two tasks: they protect the head from the cold and from the sun's rays in hot weather.

In cold weather, your head loses a huge amount of heat - at a temperature of 4 ° C, up to 50% of your entire body heat is lost. The best headdress for cold weather is a woolen knitted helmet, which can cover your entire head during frost, and in warmer weather you can roll up its edges and turn it into a regular woolen hat. Of course, it lets water through, but you have a jacket with a waterproof hood.

Remember also: if you walk around with your head open during the heat, you risk overheating and dehydration. sunstroke. A wide-brimmed hat will protect you from all this. Don't be a fool - wear hats in the heat!

OTHER PROTECTIONS

To protect from heat and wind, you can use hoods in the form of a fabric tube that is worn over the head, scarves, wind masks, padding for helmets, and even homemade double mittens. All these items weigh almost nothing and are very comfortable to wear.

GAITERS

Gaiters may seem too old-fashioned to you, but they are very comfortable. Made from waterproof canvas materials, they cover the space between boots and trousers. If you attach them to your boots, they will protect your feet from lumps of earth and branches, and also keep snow out of your shoes. If your hike takes place through snowdrifts, tall wet grass or marshy areas, you cannot do without gaiters. I always include them in my list of essentials.

Decide how you will act. The skills required for life in the High North will be different from those required in mid-Europe or the desert. Consider the following factors:

• What time of year will be easiest for you to start?
• How many things will you need to get started?
• How will you maintain contact with civilization? How far will she be from you? How will this affect your situation?
• Do you have the skills necessary to live in the climate of the region you have chosen?
• Do you need time for your body to adapt to new conditions (for example, very cold or hot weather)?

Practice doing the things you'll need to do in the wild before you move there. It all depends on where you're going, but whatever the conditions, you'll need to be in good physical shape (so start exercising now) and have all the useful skills that are typically required when hiking. Learn everything you need and don't forget first aid techniques!

• Think of some unusual skills, such as eating insects and roots. If you find yourself in difficult situation, this may help you out.

Make a list of things you need. You don't go camping in the forest for three days - you live there long time. A backpack with a few energy bars and a warm sweater won't be enough. Here is a list of the main things you will need:

• Household items (rope, knives, nets, etc.)
• Shotgun (weapons collect condensation in the cold and need to be looked after)
• Flashlights or flashlights (oil or battery powered)
• Dry foods (oats, beans, beans, rice, coffee)
• Source of vitamin C (for example, special dried seaweed)
• Water filter
• Compass
• Blankets
• Flint, matches
• Axe
• Torch, mirrors, whistle and other items
• Radio
• Sewing kit and tool set

Bring suitable clothing. There are three rules: 1. cotton kills; 2. friends don't let friends wear cotton; 3. cotton deteriorates. You should take clothes with you that will keep you warm even after they get wet. You need durable items that will last a long time and won't tear. Cotton is light and comfortable, but it won't suit you. Take with you things that are made for lumberjacks, surveyors and commercial fishermen. These clothes will be heavy, but they will last you a long time.

Sign up for special courses before you go into the wild. Survival in such conditions will not be easy. It is better to learn everything you need before you go to live in nature. Contact people who often live in these conditions and learn about their experiences. The more you know, the easier it will be for you.

• Learn to recognize poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and other poisonous plants and stay away from them. There are plants (for example, hogweed) whose sap makes the skin very sensitive to light. Because of this, the sun will cause painful burns on the skin. You should know the surrounding nature very well.
• This will also allow you to remain calm, which is extremely important. If you've dealt with something before, you'll know what to do. If you are nervous and don't know how to behave, you can make a fatal mistake. Possession the necessary knowledge will allow you to prevent mistakes in the future.

Pack all your essentials into a backpack that is easy to carry. Life in the wild involves constant exploration of the environment and obtaining food. You will need to store a lot of things in your home, but you will also need to decide what items you will carry with you. Buy a reliable hiking backpack and take it with you on every trip.

• Fold your backpack in advance to get an idea of ​​how much weight you can carry. Learn to pack your backpack as much as possible while still being able to carry it. Even your backpack folding skills will come in handy in the wild.

Know how you can signal for help if you need it. It depends on what you have with you and where you are. Be prepared for at least the basic methods:

• Learn to build a signal fire
• Learn to use a mirror or similar mirrored object to project light onto the horizon line
• Learn to send an SOS signal
• Learn to use warning lights

Part 2

Camp setup

1. Choose a safe and secure location. Try to settle near water, but so as not to attract animals that also gather near water bodies, and protect yourself from river or lake floods.

   • Camp should be set up on a stable surface. Avoid hilly areas, steep slopes or areas located in close proximity to water. All these places are unsafe.

2. Light a fire. Warmth will help you live in nature. However, knowing how to start a fire is not enough - you also need to know when to do it and with what materials. Here are some useful tips:

   • Make a fire away from valuables and food in case something goes wrong (including animal attacks).
   • If you're going to cook, don't do it over a freshly lit fire - let it burn. You need to make a fire in advance. Gradually, coals form in the fire, and you need to cook on them, and not on an open flame, which will instantly burn the food.
   • Look for birch logs. Both wet and dry birch burns well. It is great for starting a fire in the cold and rain.
   • Hemlock will repel flies and mosquitoes.

3. Build a shelter. The easiest way is to lean something against a tree or stone, although such a shelter will not last long. For the first week or two, build a simple structure for you to sleep under. Live in it while you build something more durable. The longer you expect to live in your new home, the better quality it should be.

   • It is not recommended to sleep on the ground. Cover the floor of your home with hemlock branches, leaves and hay. If you don't do this, you will freeze at night.

4. Remember the importance of water. You can live without food for a whole month, but without water you won't last long. Find a water source that you can use regularly. If possible, bring it with you large number water so you don't have to constantly run after it.

   • You can collect morning dew from grass and leaves using a clean cloth and squeeze the water into a container. It won't be the purest, but it will be enough for your body.

Part 3

Basic Needs

1. Learn to hunt, set traps and gather. Again, it all depends on your region. If you need to forage for food, learn how to do it. Use all the methods: catch fish in the river, catch animals in the sky and on the ground, collect plants. The more you can do, the easier it will be for you to survive if the weather changes or if some food sources disappear.

   • Eat something only if you are sure it is edible. Try to take with you a book describing the local flora and fauna.
   • Consider your storage system. Animals and insects can pose a threat to your food supply.

2. Drink purified water. This will protect you from diseases caused by dirty water. You can't be sure of the purity of the water (for example, there may be a dead animal upriver), so treat all water.

   • The easiest way is to boil water. This will take you 10 minutes.
   • You can use iodine tablets (but not liquid iodine!). Store the tablets according to the instructions.
   • You can also make a water filter. Filter the water using a bandana or other cloth and then run it through a special water filter. The filter should block particles no larger than 1-2 microns. The lower this value, the better the filter and the slower the water will flow through the filter.
     • You can use a sump tank or take a filter from home. Pour in the water, start doing your thing, and after an hour or two, return to the filter and you will find clean water there.

3. Keep clean and dirty water in separate containers. Never pour clean water into a container that has dirty water. To become infected with anything, one uncleaned drop will be enough.

   • To sterilize the container, boil it for 10 minutes. Make sure all parts of the container are in contact with the boiling water.

4. Decide how you will go to the toilet. You will need to locate the toilet away from water, shelter and food. You can dig a hole in the ground or build a more secure toilet.

   • If you decide to build a toilet, be aware that in winter the skin will freeze to the wood. Secure foam to the makeshift toilet seat to prevent this from happening.

5. Learn to walk in a straight line. This is not a joke: the ability to navigate in space will greatly help you. Oddly enough, a person cannot walk in a straight line - he unintentionally begins to walk in circles. To prevent this, learn to set visual landmarks in front of you and behind you (if you turn around, the landmark should be directly behind you).

6. When making a foray, take stew with you. Stew is canned meat with fat. Prepare them at home in large quantities if you know that you will be traveling to the nearest city. You will thank yourself for this later.

   • The stew does not require cooking, and if there is enough fat in it, this food will last you for a long time. You can live with stewed meat for months in any situation, even at home.

Part 4

Long stay in nature

1. Treat yourself. Living in the wild means you will be your own healer. You will replace all specialists at once. If you cut yourself, you will need to treat the wound immediately or it will become infected. You need to learn how to give yourself any first aid, from disinfection to splinting.

   • You should have a way to call for help by radio, telephone, or otherwise in case you break your leg (or if something equally bad happens to you). This will allow you not to worry about such situations.

2. Try making a vegetable garden. Since you'll be living alone for a while, why not take up some gardening? You will have your own source of food that you can count on, and it will not require much effort (except initial stage). This will also keep your morale up and allow you to take charge of your life in the wild.

   • Protect your garden from wild animals. Build a fence, use deterrent devices, and mark the area.

3. Stock up for the winter. If you plan to live in an area where it's cold most of the year, you'll need to stock up on supplies before the cold weather hits. Animals will be more difficult to find, walking will also be more difficult. Even keeping warm will not be so easy. When winter comes, you should have everything you need with you.

   • Stock up on food for several months if possible.
   • This also applies to logs. Place them under a canopy.
   • The water will freeze, so keep it warm.

4. Fortify your home. A dilapidated structure will not last long in snow or heavy rain, so build a house that will protect you from bad weather and wild animals. It will also make you feel at home.

   • If possible, move the toilet closer to you. Place it near the house, but not inside.

5. Find a source of vitamin C. You don't want to get scurvy. You're not a sailor from the 1700s, so don't let your teeth get soft and your body ache. If you don't have a source of vitamin C (such as dried seaweed), rose hips are an option. These are not the most delicious fruits, but they will be enough.

   • Nutrition is an essential element of survival. The more balanced the diet, the better. Try to eat all the necessary food groups to stay strong and healthy. If you don't do this, your immune system will be seriously harmed, and your body will not be able to fight even the most benign bacteria and viruses.

6. Learn to predict the weather. Let's say you're running out of provisions and you need to go to the nearest store, which is almost a week's walk. If you don't know how to predict the weather, you will set off on the first day that seems right to you. But if you know how to recognize the signs, you can recognize that a hurricane is coming and wait it out or go to the store very quickly.

   • You should be able to detect changes in pressure, recognize clouds, and even notice minute changes, such as the way smoke rises from a fire (if the smoke swirls, that's a bad sign). Animals can also give you clues.

7. Understand that it will not be easy for you to return to civilized life. If you give up money, status, and a 9-to-5 job, getting back may feel like a feat. Some people will not be able to bear it psychologically. If you're considering living outdoors, consider your options carefully.

   • Try to do everything gradually. To begin with, it may be useful to return to life in a rural area rather than straight to the city. Do not expose your body to unnecessary stress if it is not ready for it. Small steps will make the process easier.

• Try not to attract the attention of animals with your actions. Do not leave leftover animal food, dirty socks or underwear near your camp, because wild animals have a very good sense of smell for such things.
• Always carry a weapon with you in case of attack.
• Choose a place near the water, but not too close to it. It is not uncommon for people to wake up in water because the level in a river or lake has risen, so be aware of this danger. Set up camp high above the water. Do not settle in the bed of a dry river.
• If you want to be found, build a signal fire. If possible, find copper and throw it into the fire in small parts. It will color the fire green and make it look different from a forest fire. If you throw leaves or twigs into the fire, you will be able to signal with smoke.
• Don't sleep on bare ground. Lie down on the leaves. This will prevent body heat from escaping into the ground at night.
• When you go out into the wild, tell someone where you are going. Anything can happen. You may need emergency help from others.
• Always keep a source of fire with you: flint, matches, lighter - choose what suits you. If you move far from your home, you can get and cook food right there. Even sparks from an empty lighter can set a cotton pad on fire.
• Learn to survive in the wild. Try living some distance from the shore. Ancient settlements did this for many years from summer to winter. Learn to make bows from natural materials. Use branches and reeds to make arrows. Make arrowheads from flint, volcanic glass, and broken bottle bottoms found on the side of the road. Use all parts of the killed animal. Provide yourself with all the resources.
• Always have everything you need with you. Take a bottle of water, a knife, a box of matches and some food with you.
• When setting up a toilet, move at least 30 meters away from the water. You don't want to drink water that you yourself have polluted.
• Store food as high as possible to prevent bears from reaching it. If you smoke the meat, it will last longer. Most animals are afraid of smoke, so only large predators will be able to get close.
• Learn more about the ability to travel and live in the bush with a minimum of equipment and without anyone's help. This will prepare you for life in nature.

Warnings

• Don't eat mushrooms - 80% of all mushrooms are poisonous. Eat mushrooms only if you know what you are eating.
• Don't eat ferns - some species are also poisonous. But if you get worms, the poisonous substances of the fern will help you get rid of them.
• Black bears are afraid of loud noises, and brown and polar bears love noise, so it's important to know which bears live in your area.
• Keep calm and keep yourself busy all the time. Confidence will help you survive.
• Don't sleep in the clothes you used to cook the food. The smell will remain on the body and attract bears and other animals.
• Do not eat plants whose juice resembles milk. Exceptions are dandelions and milkweed - when prepared correctly, they can be used to make a delicious dish.
• Do not approach baby animals, especially bear cubs, lynx cubs and lion cubs.
• If you go into the forest, be prepared for insect bites and the inevitability of encounters with them. Be aware that insects usually swarm at dusk and dawn.
• Avoid touching plants with shiny leaves and be careful with plants with three petals.
• If you drink water purified with iodine tablets for more than five weeks, you may experience an upset stomach. If you have quite a lot of tablets, try boiling water as well.
• Avoid touching bushes with red stems.

Bear Grylls

Life in the wild. Survival Instructions

Never give up - until you die!

Lord Robert Baden-Powell

“We are pilgrims, master:

For that last blue mountain covered with snow,

Or maybe to the other edge of the raging sea.”

These words, taken from J.E. Flecker's book The Golden Journey to Samarkand, are carved on the memorial clock tower at Special Forces headquarters in Herford.

I dedicate this book to all the scouts in the world - each of the 28 million. You are part of a worldwide army of goodness and one of the most powerful and most peaceful youth movements of all time. You have something to be proud of. But pride requires modesty and dedication from the scout. Remember that your strength is in the skills you acquire, the support you give to your friends, and the adventures that fill your life.

As a leader of the Scouts of Great Britain, I am constantly amazed by the fortitude that is inherent in Scouts around the world. So may this power never dry up!

Bear Grylls, UK Scout Leader

Introduction

More than a hundred years ago, a lieutenant general of the British army organized a week-long camp for twenty boys on Brownsea Island, located off the southern coast of England. His name was Robert Baden-Powell. He called his boys "scouts" after military intelligence officers, who, he said, were "selected for their intelligence and courage so that during combat they would go ahead of the army and find out where the enemy was." And Baden-Powell taught the Scouts what he himself had mastered during his impressive military career - the ability to observe, navigate and survive in nature, and build shelters.

Baden-Powell could not have imagined how powerful the scouting movement would become today. Or maybe he did. After all, “intelligence and courage” will never go out of fashion, and this book is dedicated to them. Intelligence and courage are the beating heart of the Scout movement.

Much has changed over the past hundred years. Cities grew, technology improved. But the natural world remained as it was. The stars that help us navigate remain in their places; the sun still rises in the east and sets in the west; the animals leave the same tracks as before, and the fire burns just as brightly. Our scouting duty is to understand and protect nature and all living creatures in it, to be able to withstand the elements and to have the courage to follow where the spirit of adventure given by the Lord calls us, wherever it leads us.

I have written many books about how to survive in the wild and about various fascinating places on Earth. In these books I used my experience gained in expeditions and campaigns in which I had the opportunity to participate. But I wrote almost nothing about the skills I acquired during my service in the special forces. Much of this book focuses on skills that I still use today. The reason for this is simple. There are virtually no differences between the knowledge and skills taught in special forces and those used by scouts. And in this guide I tried to summarize this knowledge and adapt many of the techniques that are used to train special forces soldiers for training scouts. Mastering these skills and assimilating knowledge will help them become well-trained specialists who will make up the elite of the scouting movement.

The Scout motto is “Be Prepared!”, and life, at its core, requires constant readiness to overcome difficulties. The Scout trains and prepares for new adventures, learns to work in a team, understand nature and masters skills that will help him survive in any conditions, in short, he prepares for this life, as well as for the next. We find peace in our souls through faith, and faith gives us the courage to go beyond the comforts of our existence. For everything that a person strives for is precisely achieved by going beyond this comfort, by the desire to take risks; go towards your dream, overcoming difficulties; to love, overcoming pain; hope, brushing aside doubts, and live boldly, despite fear. In my life, I realized that the main thing is to be together, because together we become stronger. And the main thing in the life of a scout and pathfinder is to rejoice, fight, dream and move forward, taking those you love with you on hikes.

So, go ahead, friends! Life is an adventure that you have to plunge into without any fear.

God bless you.

Lieutenant Commander Royal Navy (Honorary)

Bear Grylls, UK Scout Leader

EQUIPMENT

What equipment do professionals use? What You Really Need and What You Don't

Trouble awaits only those who are poorly prepared.

Roald Amundsen, polar explorer

Protection from wind, rain, cold and sun - “deadly” weather factors

It is very dangerous to underestimate climatic conditions. They can destroy you anywhere - you don’t have to go to the Sahara or Antarctica to do this. Respect the weather, learn to understand it - and you will always be able to survive.

To understand how the deadly combination of wind, rain, cold, heat and sun can affect you, you need to know how the human body reacts to temperature. Humans are “homeothermal” creatures. This means that their body temperature is constant. Various mechanisms allow it to be maintained. For example, if we are hot, we sweat - this is how our body cools down; if we are cold, then we tremble - this is a reflex reaction that forces the muscles to move. At the same time, heat is released, which warms us.

Thanks to mechanisms for maintaining a constant temperature, we do not freeze in the cold and do not die from overheating. Our body consists of a hot inner core (which contains the vital organs: brain, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys) surrounded by a cooler protective shell (muscle, skin and fat). The core temperature usually stays around 36.8°C. Even in very cold climates, this temperature should not vary more than two degrees in either direction. If the core temperature rises above 42.7° or falls below 28.8°, then in the first case the person will die from overheating, and in the second - from hypothermia.

But even with smaller temperature contrasts, too high or, conversely, too low a temperature has a very harmful effect on our body. Getting frostbite and hypothermia outdoors in freezing weather or passing out from dehydration in extreme heat is much easier than you think. Below I will discuss how to deal with these problems if you encounter them. But it’s better to try to avoid them - that’s why you need to clearly know how to protect yourself from cold or heat. And by protection I mean not only tents and sleeping bags, but also clothes and shoes. Because they are your first line of defense against the vagaries of the weather.