10 rules for survival in the forest in winter

We have all seen exciting adventure films from the category of “Robinson”, when a person has to survive in the harsh conditions of nature, relying solely on his experience, ingenuity and a bit of luck. The result of such films is always predictable – after a series of takes, the actor calmly returns to his trailer, eats and drinks, thinking about future fees. In life, nature does not turn out to be so favorable to a hiker or a simple traveler.

Winter, forest all around, snow crunches under your feet, and you are all alone. Romance? Not at all, because it is very easy to get lost in the snow-white landscape, the paths and landmarks of which are constantly covered with snow. Watching an adventure movie will not save you, high technology will not help you out (GPS or mobile communication may simply not work in the regions where you are lost). And what to do if, with a successful combination of circumstances, a few days’ journey to the nearest settlement? How do people who have fallen into emergency conditions survive (for example, those who have crashed or strayed from a group of hikers)? And the school of life and special training before going to the forest helps them.

We insist that if you are planning an “excursion” to the winter forest, you should familiarize yourself with the 10 rules for surviving in it.

10 Don’t get cold

This is the very first, important and true advice that can be given to a lost traveler. Hypothermia leads to a loss of energy (the body spends it on internal heating of its systems), which weakens a person, leads to a decrease in immunity and a deterioration in general well-being. Going to the forest in winter, you should have at least two sets of clothes. The first is intended for parking, should include insulated and well-protected clothing from bad weather and precipitation. The second is used during transitions and should be lightened. While moving with a backpack, the frost is slightly felt, and from the feeling of comfort and warmth, you may want to take off your hat and scarf, mittens for a while. It is categorically impossible to do this, because the risk of latent hypothermia, a violation of heat transfer in the body, increases.

9. Don’t waste your energy

Energy is your main resource that will help you survive and get to the settlement. A person can live without firewood, food and water for several days, but if he does not move from his place and head towards the exit from the forest, he risks simply freezing or being attacked by predators. Having parked, learn to save valuable forces. For example, for a fire pit, do not take thick logs that need to be chopped intensively. When crossing, do not break through ravines, hills, ridges and other “bulges” of the area – leave this extreme for summer hikes in the company of other tourists. Overcoming obstacles takes a lot of energy.

8. Don’t deviate from the wide path into the narrow one.

Even in fairy tales, we are warned that changing the main path is fraught with trouble and dangerous obstacles. If you find a wide path while moving, then try to stick to it at all costs, not being tempted to go to adjacent clearings and narrow paths, even if they can supposedly shorten your path. In a crisis situation, a rescue team will be able to find you faster along large and trodden paths.

7. Analyze your path

If you are lost in the woods, lost your way or lagged behind the group, then do not rush to immediately set up a parking lot and wait for help – this is a lost path that can lead to severe hypothermia, frostbite, and the rapid expiration of valuable resources. The first thing to do is to follow your own footsteps back to the place where you started the “wrong” path. Moving like in a maze (for example, only on the right turns), or only moving forward without knowing the terrain can get you even more lost and complicate the work of the rescue expedition. Along the way, mark landmarks along the way that theoretically can lead you to an open area from the forest (lakes, rivers, railroad tracks, etc.). Always mark your movement in relation to the moon and sun. Listen to the sounds – the roar of a tractor can be heard 3 km before the settlement, the noise of trains – 10 km, barking – a couple of km.

6. Can’t do without protein

The berry-herbal diet romanticized by films in life practice does not make any sense and will lead to the death of a person. If you get lost, and help is in no hurry for a long time, then it is vital for you to get proteins at any cost. Protein contains the meat of any animals (including small rodents), birds, fish. Before a winter trip, learn from specialized literature to set at least elementary snares and traps for catching game. Wounded animals may well be observed in the forest. In the most extreme case, in the absence of food for several days, even fresh animal corpses will do – frost slows down decomposition, so it is quite possible to find pieces more or less suitable for food. What won’t you do to survive!

5. Plague type shelter

You are unlikely to catch rain in winter, so an ordinary screen (reflector) will not work as a shelter. From strong wind squalls and snowstorms, you should be able to form a shelter like a “plague”. Or at least put 4 classic reflectors in a square, in the center of which you can wait for help for several days. At the same time, do not forget to prepare enough firewood in advance so that the night darkness and frost do not catch you without a fire.

4. Don’t Eat Berries Unless You’re Sure About Them

And yet, with a complete protein diet, complex carbohydrates should not be ignored. They contribute to the slow breakdown of glucose and the portioned release of energy into the body, which is valuable for maintaining life in a critical situation. You can’t count on vegetables and fruits in the winter forest, but it’s quite possible to find some berries. But before the trip, do not forget to read or grab a page with information about berries growing in local regions. Poisoned or unripe fruits can at best cause indigestion, and at worst severe intoxication leading to vomiting (loss of nutrients), dehydration (loss of fluid) and weakening of the body (loss of energy and time to rescue).

3. Do not sit on the snow, even if you want to sleep

Tiredness from a long walk and a desire to sleep can tempt the traveler to sit down (lie down) on the snow. This cannot be done, as the risk of total hypothermia and frostbite increases sharply. And if you really fall asleep in the snow, then your chances of escaping in the winter forest will tend to zero. If fatigue takes over, and there is no strength to form a fire and shelter, then force yourself to have a strong-willed attitude. Come up with any motivation – fight for your life.

2. Have spare gloves and socks

In addition to an extra set of clothes that takes up a lot of space in your backpack, you can pack a few pairs of gloves and socks. They are important insulators for your main work areas – the arms that make shelter and feed, as well as the legs that lead you out of the forest. Do not forget that in conditions of high humidity and the need to touch the snow, gloves get wet quickly, and it will take some time to dry them even over a fire. Wet feet at low temperatures is a high chance of severe freezing and colds, which will take away the strength and resources necessary for survival.

1. Do not drink cold water or eat snow

The extraction of drinking water in the forest at low temperatures is a difficult task. It is strictly forbidden to drink ice water or eat snow – diseases of the throat and upper respiratory tract are guaranteed to you, followed by fever and freezing. Before going to the winter forest, read a series of articles on how to properly find, collect, purify and heat drinking water.

Surviving in the forest in winter is a very difficult and dangerous task, especially if you do not have successful experience in low-temperature tourism, hunting in the taiga or other similar activities. Proper preparation, mastering some tricks and acquiring the right skills for survival are essential before you start your winter trip.