You don’t need to buy a book to learn how to survive in the woods. You don’t need to be Bear Grylls either, to make it out of trail hike or camping trip gone wrong. You DO need to know what 6 things to do, and the order to do them in. While it is possible to survive in the wilderness with nothing, it ain’t easy. Having the right gear greatly improves your chances of ‘making it out’. Because surviving harsh environments is tough. But its also basic enough that you can teach yourself – the right mindset, essential survival kit items, and steps – to save your own life if you’re lost in the wilderness, Alone.

So let’s get prepped for your next outdoor adventure!

How to survive in the woods: TL;DR

Surviving harsh environments like the bush or woods depends on your ability to meet your own basic human needs: water, food, shelter, and safety.

These are the four key elements of survival. Your main focus is to address them, some sooner than others.

To look after yourself in the wild, you’ll need these 3 elements:

1. A survival mindset – the real life survival stories of ordinary people all point to a determination to survive above all else. You have this, you’re halfway there already.
2. 10 essential survival kit items – if you’re going hiking, bushwalking, camping or trekking, always carry these with you.
3. Knowledge of the 6 basic survival steps you should take, from most to least urgent.

Next, lets look at what each of these means. So that you can work out whether you have what it takes to save your own life. Before you head out on your next outdoor adventure.

Do you really need to know how to survive in the woods?

Most ‘lost in the woods’ survival stories come about from hiking, trekking, climbing or camping trips. Gone wrong.

Bad weather, wandering off the trail, getting separated from a group, injury – all these things can get you lost and panicked out there.

I once got lost for 3 hours in thick scrub around our campsite near Daily Rivers in the Northern Territory. It was terrifying.

What I remember most was the sense of fear and helplessness. And the wild boar tracks running left and right put a panic in me that had my heart non-stop pounding.

Dumb luck let me stumble across our campsite eventually, but it could have been much worse.

The point I’m making is, ordinary people get lost in the bush or ‘the woods’ all the time. Easily. Just by wandering a little too far. It happened to me. It can happen to you.

In fact, around 2000 Aussies are lost in the wilderness and rescued by search and rescue missions here, each year.

So knowing how to survive in the woods might actually get you out of pickle, if you’re outdoors and in nature a lot. Or even if you’re just prepping for the next season of Alone.

How to stay alive in the woods

If you find yourself lost in a harsh environment like the woods or the bush, the biggest risks you face are hypothermia, dehydration, injury, and wildlife. And staying lost for too long of course.

Hypothermia can set in quickly if you don’t have adequate shelter or clothing to keep you warm.

Dehydration can become a life and death issue within days, if you don’t have access to clean water or know how to filter it.

Injuries can occur from falls, cuts, or bites and stings from wildlife. Especially if you’re in Australia.

Knowing how to survive in the woods requires some basic knowledge about the 4 basic human survival needs. And how to meet them.

So what are they? And which is most urgent, or important to meet first?

Basic human survival needs ain’t complicated

In order of importance to your survival (most urgent to least), these are our most basic needs:

1. Shelter: Hypothermia in the cold or sunstroke in the heat. Both can put you in physical danger within hours. You need to be able to protect yourself from exposure to the natural elements. Building or finding a shelter is crucial for survival as it provides this protection. As is making a fire if it’s cold.
2. Water: We can’t live long without it. A matter of days in hot conditions and we’re done. So finding water is what you do next, after finding shelter.
3. Safety: It’s rough out there. Your safety is inversely proportionate to the time you spend lost. The longer you need to fight to survive in the wilderness, the lower your chances of making it. The next thing to focus on is how to get yourself found again. To make yourself seen, so you can be rescued.
4. Food: Eventually you’re going to need to energy. Surviving is a tough, physical business. Starvation takes a while though, so you have some time to figure this out. That’s why its fourth on our list.

Now we know the immediate risks, let’s talk about the 3 things you’ll need, to survive them.

Do you have a survival mindset?

Stories from people who have survived some of the harshest environments on the planet point to one thing: having a survival mindset is essential to survive in the wilderness.

But what is a survival mindset?

It is a way of thinking and approaching challenges that is focused on overcoming obstacles and adapting to changing conditions. It means having a positive attitude, a clear plan, and the determination to do whatever it takes to stay alive.

Why is a survival mindset so important?

Simply put, it’s the difference between life and death. When you’re lost in the wilderness, the conditions can change quickly, and things can go wrong. It’s essential to be able to adapt and make quick decisions. A survival mindset helps you stay calm and focused, even in the most challenging situations.

It’s the first and arguably most important element to surviving in the woods alone.

5 key attributes to human survival

If you have these 5 key attributes, your chances of surviving in the woods alone are greater than most:

1. Resourcefulness: The ability to think creatively and find solutions to problems using what you have on hand.
2. Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks and keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles you face.
3. Determination: The willpower to push through tough times and keep going, even when you feel like giving up.
4. Optimism: A positive attitude and belief in yourself, even in the face of adversity.
5. Adaptability: The ability to change your approach and strategies as conditions change.

A survival mindset will get you through the discomfort, fear, and often pain that it takes to survive harsh environments.

But eventually, even for the bravest and most determined, our physiological needs still need to be met. And that’s where preparation comes in.

10 things you need to survive in the wilderness

The right tools and equipment can be the difference between life and death in extreme harsh environments. So make sure you proper a proper survival kit for your next trekking, hiking or camping trip.

Here is a list of critical items everyone needs to carry in any camping or hiking survival kit:

1. Knife: A good quality knife is essential for survival. Cutting branches for firewood, killing food, and building shelter are just 3 things you’ll need a knife for out in the wild.
2. Water Bottle: You need to have a metal water bottle to collect, boil and store water.
3. Some kind of signal: Wear bright fluorescent clothes as these are easier to see from the air. Pack flares or a Personal Beacon Locator in your kit.
4. Matches, a bic lighter or ferro rod: Two methods of making fire is best. One for back up. A bic lighter will run out, as will matches. A ferro rod never will but you need to learn how to throw a spark. Just pick which type is best for you.
5. First Aid Kit: A small first aid kit with items like bandages, gauze, antiseptic wipes, slings, immobilisers and pain relievers.
6. Emergency Blanket: Also called a space blanket, you can use one of these to stay warm or reflect heat. Also, to signal for help. Here’s a post on why you need a space blanket in your survival kit.
7. Paracord: Paracord is a strong and versatile rope that can be used for a variety of tasks such as building shelter, and even starting a fire (friction method).
8. Multi-tool: A multi-tool, like a swiss army knife or a multifunctional hatchet are best.
9. Food Rations: Pack non-perishable food items like energy bars or nuts for emergency sustenance.
10. Flashlight: It’s always darker in remote areas than you think. So dark you can’t see your hand in front of your face. A flashlight can both signal for help and stem the fear and panic of being lost.

If you asked us to pick our top 10 bits of survival gear, this list would be it.

Sure, there are other things you can pack that will help. But these are the must haves, the low budget, no-frills items that will best increase your chances if you want to survive in the wilderness alone.

6 steps to survive in the wilderness alone – most to least urgent

Now you have your survival supplies packed, what do you do when you discover you’re lost?

In order of importance here are the 6 practical steps to take, to meet your basic human needs (shelter, water, safety, food), mitigate the dangers of harsh environments, and survive in the wilderness:

1. Build / find shelter: Use your camping gear if you have it. If you’re not prepared with Bug out Bag or bush survival kit, build a shelter using natural materials like branches and leaves. If the terrain is right, you may even find shelter under rocky outcrops or in a cave. If worse comes to worse, you can shelter in a hole in the ground or under fallen tree stumps.

2. Find and purify water: You need to have a reliable source of clean water to survive. You should know how to collect water from natural sources like streams and lakes and how to purify it using methods like boiling or using what you have in your survival kit. You can also find water in moss and on leaves. If you’re fresh out of water and out of luck, drink your own urine.

3. Build a fire: Fire can be used for warmth, cooking, and as a signal for rescue. If you’re in cold weather, it will fend off the cold. You should know how to build a fire using different methods like using friction, or from your kit – a ferro rod or a lighter. If you want to know more about how to make a fire, check out this great post ‘What is a Ferro Rod? 11 MUST KNOW survival tips (camping or emergencies)’

4. Make yourself findable: Once you have a water source and shelter, stay put and signal. Finding a clearing to use is best. Use what’s around you to signal – fire, forming giant ‘SOS’ letters with broken branches – anything you can think of. If you have a survival kit, use your PBL

5. Apply first Aid: You should have basic first aid knowledge and carry a small first aid kit in your survival kit. Knowing how to treat cuts, wounds, and other injuries is crucial in an emergency situation.

6. Foraging, fishing: This one is last because we can go quite a while without food and still live. Lucky, because it also takes the longest to master. Most of us wouldn’t have the first idea what’s edible in nature around us. If you’re unlucky enough to be lost for weeks, you will need to know how to find food in the woods. By fishing, trapping, or gathering wild plants that are safe to eat.

How to survive in the Australian Bush

In the UK and US it’s called the wilderness. Down under, we call it ‘the bush’. It’s hot, harsh, vast, dry and full of dangerous creepy crawlies.

The Aussie bush presents its own threats. And plenty of unprepared punters have lost their lives trying to tackle it.

What makes surviving the Aussie bush different from surviving in the woods?

Severe heat and sun. Dry landscape. The vast distances to human contact. Harsh, scrubby terrain devoid of shelter. Oh and the dangerous wildlife such as snakes, spiders, dingos, and crocodiles.

There’s more fighting to do, to survive.

The answer if you do want to make it out? Be better prepared. Forewarned is forearmed they say.

1. BYO water: Carry extra water (3L per person per day). Finding water in the Aussie bush can be like. You can’t rely on a water source being nearby. You also need to be cautious of collecting water from them as they may contain harmful bacteria or parasites. Or crocodiles.
2. Wear the right clothing and headwear: Light-colored, bright and loose-fitting clothing and a wide-brimmed hat will protect you from the sun and keep you cool.
3. Know how to avoid the wildlife: Stomp for snakes. Stay away from the water edge for crocodiles. Watch where you put your hands and feet. This kind of basic awareness will keep you safe from bites, stings or worse in the Aussie bush.
4. Have a means of staying warm and signaling for help that doesn’t involve fire: Staring a fire in the Aussie bush can put you in more danger than going without one. It’s best to carry an alternate form a signalling with you. A whistle, a flare, or a mirror for instance. The same with warmth at night. Because it can get cold inland. Bring thermal gear so you’re not relying on a fire unless you really have to.
5. Register your trip and check the weather forecast. Our Parks and Wildlife services often have online portals where you can register your trip before you go. So if you don’t make it back, the SAR knows where to start looking.

Conclusion

Surviving in harsh environments means meeting four basic human needs: water, food, shelter, and safety. To do this, you need: a survival mindset, 10 essential survival kit items, and knowledge of 6 basic survival steps. These 6 steps aim to mitigate the biggest risks to your life, which are hypothermia/heat, dehydration, injury, wildlife, and time spent lost. By following them and prioritizing shelter, followed by water, safety, and finally food you’ll have a better chance of making it out alive. And on to your next adventure!