Contents
* 1. Animals and Insects
The Basics of Tracking Animals
Common North American Mammals: Tracks, Behavior, and Ranges
Calls of the Wild: Sounds of Common Mammals
Mammals to Avoid
Bats
Birds
Frogs
Turtles
Poisonous Snakes
Dangerous Lizards
Dangerous Fish and Mollsks
Dangerous Insects and Arachnids
Sounds of Common Night Insects
* 2. Flowers, Trees, Other Plants, and Mushrooms
Getting Acquainted with Flowers
Identifying Wildflowers
Why Plants Have Scientific Names
The Study of Trees
Identifying Trees in Winter: A Brief Guide
Ferns: An Introduction
Plants as Food
A Selection of Edible Plants
Plants for Medicine
A Selection of Medicinal Plants
Poisonous Plants
Mushrooms
Edible Fungi
* 3. Food: Packing, Cooking, and Finding It
Ration Planning
Sample Shopping List
Packaging Food
Equipment and Stoves
Cooking on Fires
Winter Food, Nutrition, and Cooking
Favorite Outdoor Recipes from NOLS
Home-Dried One-Pot Meals
More Recipes from the Backpack Gourmet – No Dehydration Required
Outdoor Kitchen Cleanup
Food Storage on the Trail
Animals as Potential Food Sources
Animal Food Sources: Arctic and Subarctic Regions
Animal Food Sources: The Seashore
Food at Sea
Cooking and Preserving Wild Meat
Cooking Fish
Improvised Cooking and Eating Utensils
* 4. Drinking Water
The Importance of Water
Finding Water in the Wild
Water Sources and Procurement
Is Wild Water Safe?
Treating Water: Comparing Methods
Drinking Water at Sea
Water Needs in High-Temperature Areas
Desert Water Sources
Water in the Jungle
Mountain Water Supply
Water Sources in Arctic and Subarctic Regions
Water in Cold Weather and Cold Regions
Winter Water Sources
Water Storage and Conservation
Finding Water and Making It Potable
* 5. Hunting and Fishing
Trapping and Snaring Animals for Food
Types of Traps and Snares
Hand-Crafting Hunting Tools
Hand-Crafting Handheld Weapons
Hunting Basics
Indian Hunting Secrets
Trailing Wounded Animals
Methods for Preparing Game
Improvised Fishing Devices
When to Fish
Where to Fish
How to Rig Live Bait
Fishing from a Life Raft
Landing Your Catch
Cleaning Fish: Step by Step
* 6. Fire
The Essentials of Fire
Firecraft
Cutting Firewood
“Leave No Trace” Campfires
The Campfire
Lamps, Stoves, and Torches
* 7. Shelter
Shelter Site Selection
Building Natural Shelters
Wickiups and Wigwams
Shelter Construction Tips
Other Shelter Types
Desert Shelters
Expedient Cold-Weather Shelters
Snow Walls and Snow Holes
Emergency Winter Shelters
Digloos and Quinzhees
Guidelines for Winter Shelters
Choosing a Campsite
Tents and Bivouac Bags
Other Shelter Gear
Winter Tent Camping
“Leave No Trace” Campsite Selection
Log Cabins and Sod Shelters
* 8. Travel on Land
Desert Climates
Desert Terrains, Environment, and Hazards
Desert Travel
Dressing for the Desert
Rain Forest Climate
Travel in Tropical and Jungle Areas
Mountain Terrain and Hazards
Mountain Walking Techniques
Climbing
Basic Bouldering Moves
Snow and Ice Climates
A Snow Primer
Snow and Terrain
Cold-Weather Gear
Dressing for Cold Weather
Basic Snow and Ice Travel
Movement Over Snow and Ice
Using an Ice Ax
Use of Ice Ax and Crampons
Ice-Climbing Ratings
Movement on Glaciers
Snowshoe Travel
Choosing Cross-Country Skis
Waxing and Caring for Skis
Cross-Country Ski Travel
Basic Principles of Cold-Weather Survival
Avalanches
Water Crossings
“Leave No Trace” Back-Country Travel
Knives, Packs, and Other Back-Country Travel Gear
* 9. Travel on the Water
Entering, Exiting, and Carrying Kayaks
Kayak River Launch
Sea Kayak Travel
Posture and Body Movement in Kayaks
Basic Kayak Strokes and Maneuvers
The Verring Problem
When the Kayak Capsizes
Rolls
Kayak Safety Equipment
Launching, Landing, and Trimming a Canoe
Basic Canoe Strokes
Tandem Canoe Maneuvering
Brace Strokes: Keep Your Canoe Upright
Portaging and Lining
Canoe Safety Equipment
Reading a River
The International Scale of Whitewater Difficulty
Eddy Turns, Peel-Outs, and Ferries for Kayaks
Ferries and Eddies for Canoes
Tackling Other River Hazards: Kayaks and Canoes
River Safety and Rescue
Life Jackets/PFDs
Clothing at Sea
Sea Gear
Tides
Sea Safety Markers
Man Overboard Procedures
Abandon Ship Procedures
Abandoning Ship in Cold Water
Sea Survival
Travel in a Life Raft
Finding Land and Coming Ashore
Rescue at Sea
* 10. Weather and Climate
Clouds
Stormy Weather: Disturbances
Understanding and Predicting the Weather
Weather Forecasting
Nature’s Weather Forecasters
Marine Weather Terminology
Mountain Weather
Signs of Weather Changes in Cold Climates
Windchill
Weather Effects on Human Health
* 11. Navigation
Before Entering the Wilderness
Survival Tips: Navigation
Seeing Stars
Winter Constellations
Navigating without a Map and Compass
Basic Directions
The Compass
Marine Compasses
Parts of a Compass
Compass Features
Navigating with a Compass Only
Finding the Right Map
Reading and Using a Topographic Map
Navigating with Map Only
Reading Nautical Charts
Magnetic Variation, Longitude, and Latitude
Declination
Orienting Your Map
Orienting Your Map without a Compass
Determining General Direction
Triangulating to Determine Your Position
Establishing a Field Bearing
Using Line of Position to Determine Your Location
Determining Your Position by Resection
Checking Your Position
Staying on Course
Finding Your Position with Marine Chart and Compass
Using GPS Receivers
What to Do If You Get Lost
Staying Found
Searching for a Lost Person
Lost at Sea
Rules for Signaling
Types of Signals
Sea-Specific Signals
Codes and Signals
* 12. First Aid
Immediate First Aid Steps for Survival Situations
Preventing and Treating Shock
Patient Assessment
Injuries to the Head, Spine, Abdomen, and Chest
Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
Chest Injuries
Fractures and Dislocations
Athletic Injuries
Wound Care
Treatment of Wounds and Skin Ailments
Care for Common Conditions
Treating Common Camping Injuries
Allergies and Anaphylaxis
Respiratory and Cardiac Emergencies
Abdominal Illness
Diabetes, Seizures, and Unresponsive States
Bites and Stings
Leeches
Human or Animal Bites
How to Extract Porcupine Quills
Poison Oak/Ivy/Sumac Rashes
Heat Injuries
High-Altitude Illnesses
Cold Injuries
Hypothermia
Frostbite and Nonfreezing Cold Injury
Medical Problems Associated with Sea Survival
Injuries from Marine Animals
Maintaining Health in Survival Situations
Survival Stress
The Psychology of Survival
Survival and Medical Kits
Survival Planning
Three Steps to Wilderness Survival
* 13. Miscellaneous
Ways to Improve Night Vision
Wilderness Waste Disposal
Bone-Collecting
Crafting Stone and Bone Tools
Improvising
Improvised Cordage
Improvised Backpacks
Common Knots
Fishing Knots
Improvised Conainers
Making Glues and Soap
Bibliography
Index