Unconventional Athletes Issue 11

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www.unconventionalathletes.com SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR THE OUTDOOR ATHLETE Disclaimer: UnconventionalAthletes.com ltd is a publication/magazine. UnconventionalAthletes.com ltd is an online publication/ magazine and makes no representation, endorsement, portrayal, warranty or guarantee with regards to safety or the efficacy of the products or the techniques of training methods that are spoken about, debated, or are conversed either by writing or pictures/videos that represent the articles or any advertisements present in this magazine. UnconventionalAthletes.com ltd makes no warranty, guarantee representation regarding the use of the techniques, equipment/products, purchase of services that are in the United Kingdom or elsewhere in the world. It is mandatory that By John “Razor” Watson you discuss with a health care professional your physical health before or if you decide to try the techniques/exercises and equipment featured and discussed both literally and visually in this magazine. UnconventionalAthletes.com ltd takes no liability in your participation from the information received in the magazine and thus any participation is considered voluntary thus cannot hold responsible either UnconventionalAthletes.com ltd or its partners, contributors or anybody or products featured in this online publication from any harm or injury that may result from participation. For athletes who regularly trek through the wilderness - like rock and mountain climbers, BASE jumpers and wingsuit enthusiasts - along with those who take to the woods to run, hike, bike or workout, remember that Mother Nature isn’t the nurturing type. John “Razor” Watson, a survival camp leader and experienced outdoorsman, offers some advice for those who plan to workout in the wild or unexpectedly face a very apocalyptic situation.
www.unconventionalathletes.com Shelter. Fire. Water. Food. Survival needs do not change due to any particular scenario, only the priority of these 4 basic needs. As the lead instructor of Zombie Apocalypse Survival Camp, we prepare people to survive the worst case scenario, so a lesser scenario should be easier to take on. We teach based on the law of threes, or “3’s” as we call them: You can live 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without proper shelter depending on your immediate environment, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food. The 3’s law allows you to prioritize your survival needs. Each disaster or situation will require you to decide which is more important, so let’s break it down into the 4 basic needs and decide what your situation may require you to do. Shelter. If it’s 75 degrees and sunny, obviously shelter will most likely be the least of your worries. On the other hand it is easy to get hypothermia without proper shelter when the air temperature is freezing and there is a bad wind ripping at your body. Now it becomes a basic life-need to stop losing body heat. Your first “shelter” will always be the clothing you are wearing. It important to always dress according to the worst case weather you expect to be outside in, and if not dressed for it at least have the proper clothing at hand. A simple rain suit will keep you dry. It may not seem that important, but more people succumb to hypothermia in mild temp’s 45-60 degrees than they do in subfreezing climates. Generally once the temperature is below freezing then rain is not an issue and people dress warmer. There is cold, and then there is cold and wet. Water maximizes heat loss through evaporation, cooling and wind doubles it with convection, multiplying how rapidly you lose body heat. So stay dry! It is always a good idea to have a tarp, some cordage and a few cheap tent stakes stashed in your gear. It’s the simplest and lightest shelter system you can carry with you. It can be set up solely as a wind break to prevent heat convection loss or as a stand-alone shelter against rain or sun. A tarp can be set up in many configurations, so if you have multiple members in your group with tarps you can combine them for serious shelter possibilities. You can carry tents also, which are great especially in high mosquito areas. Keeping the bugs away can be a life saver in itself. The only downfall of tents is that they are heavier and can take up more space. With a little practice and some skills, a person can construct a decent shelter out of just what they find laying on the forest floor. These are known as a debris hut. These shelters block wind and rain, help trap body heat and are quick and easy to build without tools. Basically a framework of sticks just large enough to fit one or two people inside covered with leaves, pine boughs and other forest litter in layers. Layering sticks, leaves, sticks, leaves, sticks, leaves, etc. until the walls are at least 24 to 36 inches deep. This will prevent water from seeping through while it rains. Shelters can be simple, or elaborate. Always let your situation dictate the size, style and complicity of your shelter. Fire. Why did I put fire next rather than water, after all a person can die in 3 days without water, right? Fire can be more important, not only for its uses but for its psychological affect. We consider fire to be one of the most important skills to develop because with fire you can keep warm, cook food, signal, preserve meat, keep wild animals away and purify the all-soimportant water you need to survive. Fire is a primal need; it plays on our psyche far more than we think. It can keep panic at bay and having good fire skills boosts confidence and gives you a center, a focal point to focus on your next need. Once you have fire you feel like everything will be ok now. It truly is an important skill to acquire. We believe a person should be able to start a fire with at least three methods. Some people can’t get a fire going with a can of petrol and some logs because they don’t understand how fire works, so let’s discuss what it takes to build a fire. We will start with tinder. Tinder is generally a light, dry, fluffy substance that will take a spark, a match or even refracted light from a lens and ignite fairly easily. Some good tinder would be birds’ nests, inner bark from some trees fluffed with the hands by rolling it back and forth (cedar bark is one of the best), some plant stalks like stinging nettle and milkweed which yield excellent fibrous tinder and you Issue 11 - Volume 1
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Unconventional Athletes Issue 11

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