by Joseph Malek

Created on: July 24, 2008   Last Updated: April 27, 2009

The wilderness, no matter where that wilderness might be, can be a very dangerous place. If your exposure to the weather doesn't kill you, you can die from starvation or be killed by some kind of animal. When you are out hunting you better have the proper weapon and have a good idea of what you can eat in the wildnerness, beside the animals that you are hunting.

Accidents happen and if your mode of transportation breaks down and leaves you in the middle of nowhere, good luck. If you can't walk back to civilization or you aren't rescued within a few days you will most likely die. Just how long you will stay alive depends on your ability to find food and water and a safe place to sleep and/or shelter you from the elements.

Then again, most people who end up in a situation like that usually die if someone doesn't find them. You see, their lack of knowledge of the area that they now find themselves within, plus their lack of knowledge of how to survive in such an area is the cause of their demise.

It is sad be true that most city people don't have a clue to how to fend for themselves in such an environment. Nor do they have the time to learn how to do so.

If you're on the water without a boat, sooner or later you die from lack of food and water or a creature of the sea will eat you. You might stay alive for only a few minutes before you drown or suffer the effects of very cold water. Such was the case for more than a thousand people who died after the Titanic sank.

Believe it or, some people truly love the wilderness and they regularly seek to become one with Nature. The truth of the matter is that even the best prepared hiker, mountain climber, camper and/or hunter puts themselves at risk when they go to a place that is far away from civilization. You see, even if you know how to fend for yourself, a medical emergency could cause your death if a doctor isn't readily available to save your life.

Like it or not, people break bones, suffer heart attacks and strokes and also require medical attention due to some organ failure or accident. Then again, the animal that you are hunting might get lucky and cause a sever injury to you. For any of those reasons I'm surely not going to put my life at risk in such a manner for just enjoying the wonders of Nature or trying to prove that I went where few have gone before me.

Then again, that experienced adventurer will most likely will be better prepared to survive in the wilderness. This is, if those adventurers are not a complete fools or have equipment malfunctions that cause their death.

The fact of the matter is that such people take their own food supply and have all of the equipment necessary to complete their adventure. That includes a compass, map and/or a GPS navigation system. They also have a sleeping bag and a tent in which to sleep and protect themselves from the weather. The smartest of that group of adventurers do not go alone into the wilderness.
Accidents do happen when you least expect them to happen. As a result, a cell phone is a must if you require medical assistance in a big hurry. The truth is, your plan of action in the case of an emergency is just as important as the place you go to for your desire to be one with Nature.

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