Coping in Remote Areas

Preparing a Shelter

• Before dark, begin looking for a dry, well-drained site protected from the wind.
• Look for a natural shelter, such as a rock overhang or thicket of evergreens.
• Ideally, the site should be near fresh water and firewood, in case a fire is necessary.
• If no natural site is available, build a lean-to.
  • Lean branches against a horizontal support to form a frame for a roof.
  • Orient the opening of the lean-to away from the wind.
  • Cover the frame with evergreen branches or a tarp to block out the weather.
  • Add side walls, if necessary.

Building a Fire

• If there is snow on the ground, build the fire on a platform of green logs or rocks. If the terrain is dry, clear a patch of bare dirt to avoid starting a grass or forest fire.
• Collect more fuel than you think you can use.
• Pile fine twigs, grass, or bark shavings loosely as a base. If you can't find dry kindling, shave dry wood from the inside of tree bark.
• Place slightly larger sticks on the starter material until you have a pile about 10 inches high.
• Light the kindling in the middle of the base. If there is a breeze, light one end of the kindling so that the flame will be blown toward the rest of the fuel. As the flames spread to the larger twigs, slowly add more wood to the blaze.
• Make sure everyone in your group practices responsible fire safety.
  • Build campfires away from tents and away from heavy fuels such as logs or brush. Consider wind direction in choosing a location for the fire.
  • Never leave a fire unattended.

Putting Out a Fire

• Near the end of the fire, stop adding fuel. Add small, singed bits of wood to the fire to use them up.
• Allow the fire to burn fully to white ash. Then extinguish it with water.
• Carry out a “cold-out” test by using your hands to feel through the cold, wet ash to make certain the fire is out.
• Disperse the ash remains over the area. If necessary to avoid polluting sources of water such as a river, take the ash with you in your trash pack to dispose of when you return home.

Drinking Water

• Everyone needs two to four quarts of water daily.
• You can last only a few days without water.
• Clear water does not mean pure water. Mountain streams often are contaminated by parasites.
• The best way to purify water is by boiling it for five minutes.
• If boiling is impossible, use a chemical purifier or filter.
• Try to avoid complicating survival problems. Never drink unsafe water.

Planning a Fire

Decide whether you really need a fire. Ask yourself the following questions.

• What's the fire danger for this time of year and this area?
• Are there restrictions that make a fire illegal? For instance, is there a fire warning due to wind or drought that could result in wildfires?
• Is there enough wood so that its removal will not damage the immediate area?
• Do you know the appropriate way to build a fire that will leave no impact on the area? (The good rule of thumb is to build fires in existing fire rings.)

A tepee of larger sticks enclosing the kindling is a good way to start a fire.

Signaling for Help

Prepare help signals as soon as possible.

• Use the international emergency sign for distress, three of any signal:
  • Three fires evenly spaced
  • Three blasts on a whistle
  • Three flashes with a mirror
• If you're near an open space, walk a large “X” in the grass, sand, or snow. If possible, outline it with rocks or branches.