Nature's survival tips
-
Feel free to share the tips you have, but your tips must be related to nature.
Kind of like physical geography, etc.
Pg 1 Index:
#1 About clouds
#2 In the grasp of a crocodile
#3 Using leaves in the wilderness
#4 Being chased by a wild boar
#5 Pitching tent - choosing the right spot
#6 Packing a First-Aid kit
#7 Field-Expedient Direction Finding - Using the sun & shadows -
Clouds: Foretellers of weather
About 200 years ago an Englishman classified clouds according to what they looked like to a person seeing them from the ground. He grouped them into three classes and gave them Latin names: cirrus, cumulus, and stratus. These three names, alone and combined with other Latin words, are still used to identify different cloud formations.
By being familiar with the different cloud formation and what weather they portend, you can take appropriate action for your protection.
Cirrus clouds
Cirrus clouds are the very high clouds that look like thin streaks or curls. They are usually 6 kilometers or more above the earth and are usually a sign of fair weather. In cold climates, however, cirrus clouds that begin to multiply and are accompanied by increasing winds blowing steadily from a northerly direction indicate an oncoming blizzard.
Cumulus clouds
Cumulus clouds are fluffy, white, heaped-up clouds. These clouds, which are much lower than cirrus clouds, are often fair weather clouds. They are apt to appear around midday on a sunny day, looking like large cotton balls with flat bottoms. As the day advances, they may become bigger and push higher into the atmosphere. Piling up to appear like a mountain of clouds. These can turn into storm clouds.
Stratus clouds
Stratus clouds are very low, gray clouds, often making an even gray layer over the whole sky. These clouds generally mean rain.
Nimbus clouds
Nimbus clouds are ram clouds of uniform grayness that extend over the entire sky
Cumulonimbus clouds
Cumulonimbus is the cloud formation resulting from a cumulus cloud building up, extending to great heights, and forming in the shape of an anvil. You can expect a thunderstorm if this cloud is moving in your direction.
Cirrostratus clouds
Cirrostratus is a fairly uniform layer of high stratus clouds that are darker than cirrus clouds. Cirrostratus clouds indicate good weather.
Cirrocumulus clouds
Cirrocumulus is a small, white, round cloud at a high altitude. Cirrocumulus clouds indicate good weather.
Scuds
A loose, vapory cloud (scud) driven before the wind is a sign of continuing bad weather.
Based on 'U.S. Army Survival Manual', a public domain work published by the U.S. Department of Defense that is available for sale at Amazon.com -
worst case scenario handbooks?
-
That book will teach you how to wrestle out of the jaws of a crocodile (the 4-legged type)....too scary, I dare not read yet.Originally posted by poon cho tang:worst case scenario handbooks?
ps: altho' I rem it says to poke it in the eye....if you can still remember while in that scenario.
-
i think learning it from the late steve irwin is betterOriginally posted by Wanda:That book will teach you how to wrestle out of the jaws of a crocodile (the 4-legged type)....too scary, I dare not read yet.
ps: altho' I rem it says to poke it in the eye....if you can still remember while in that scenario. -
when you have to shit in the wilderness ....
1.) use at least two pieces of leaves, else your fingers may poke through ....
2.) check that the leaves are "okie" ... i.e. not ferns with spores underneath ....
-
always run zig-zag wen u see wild boar
-
why ar?Originally posted by monkeybusiness:always run zig-zag wen u see wild boar -
i oso dunnoOriginally posted by shinta:why ar?
my sergeant teach us
he say wild boars only know how to run straight -
LOLs...Originally posted by monkeybusiness:i oso dunno
my sergeant teach us
he say wild boars only know how to run straight -
I have a recce trooper friend who actually speared and killed a wild boar during CST in tekong, with one of those dinky little spears they teach you to make during the course ... -
Originally posted by monkeybusiness:i oso dunno
my sergeant teach us
he say wild boars only know how to run straight
ask porky -
I've done this in China....at the Heavenly Lake....we used tissues...Originally posted by Fatum:when you have to shit in the wilderness ....
1.) use at least two pieces of leaves, else your fingers may poke through ....
2.) check that the leaves are "okie" ... i.e. not ferns with spores underneath ....
Luckily there's someone who goes around the woods in the morning to clear the rubbish. -
I found those out the hard way too .....Originally posted by Wanda:I've done this in China....at the Heavenly Lake....we used tissues...
Luckily there's someone who goes around the woods in the morning to clear the rubbish.
I ended up with blisters around my .. *ahem ... rear hole for two weeks afterwards ... -
oei, cannot poke mi eyes lahOriginally posted by Wanda:That book will teach you how to wrestle out of the jaws of a crocodile (the 4-legged type)....too scary, I dare not read yet.
ps: altho' I rem it says to poke it in the eye....if you can still remember while in that scenario. -
another tip:
learn how to evaluate the terrain when you pitch your tent ....
choose the wrong spot, and it'll "rain" in your tent or you'll find yourself in a "swamp" the next morning ....
check for non low grounds and drainage ... -
Oops....2 weeks?Originally posted by Fatum:I found those out the hard way too .....
I ended up with blisters around my .. *ahem ... rear hole for two weeks afterwards ... 
-
Yep, yep...boy scout/ girl guide tip.Originally posted by Fatum:another tip:
learn how to evaluate the terrain when you pitch your tent ....
choose the wrong spot, and it'll "rain" in your tent or you'll find yourself in a "swamp" the next morning ....
check for non low grounds and drainage ...
Once, it rained at night at camp, and we found a dog sharing our tent the next morning....so cute. -
and hurt to take a dump too ...Originally posted by Wanda:Oops....2 weeks?
another tip:
taking a dump in a river is a good (and self-cleaning) idea, but check that your fellow campers are not happily frolicking downstream first ..... -
luckily its a dogOriginally posted by Wanda:Yep, yep...boy scout/ girl guide tip.
Once, it rained at night at camp, and we found a dog sharing our tent the next morning....so cute.
i cant imagine if its something else -
Hmm...i wouldn't do this in say, Chiang Mai...the tribes there do all things in the river... just a sip is enough to cause LS for days, which happened to my SO's cousin.Originally posted by Fatum:and hurt to take a dump too ...
another tip:
taking a dump in a river is a good (and self-cleaning) idea, but check that your fellow campers are not happily frolicking downstream first ..... 
I suppose the rivers in ang mo national parks are clean? -
yes, cos you're only allowed to camp at designated campsites, and at those places, there are chemical toilets for you to take dumps at ...Originally posted by Wanda:Hmm...i wouldn't do this in say, Chiang Mai...the tribes there do all things in the river... just a sip is enough to cause LS for days, which happened to my SO's cousin.
I suppose the rivers in ang mo national parks are clean?
at more remote ones, you'll have to take a shovel along ....
by and large most people follow the rules ... that's why most spots appear virgin even though many people pass through them in the summer months ... i'm pretty impressed, people actually follow the rules .... when it says "fires prohibited" or "Bag limit 2 Lake trout, none below 50cm" , people actually follow them .... -
and here's something VERY VERY VERY IMPORTANT !!!!
PACK A FIRST AID KIT !!!!!
it's amazing how often people simply forget about this ....
I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS pack a first aid kit with me when i'm out playing ....
it goes either into my day pack or my knapsack ....
here's what it contains to give everyone a basic idea
1. first aid and burn ointment
2. antiseptic swabs
3. large antiseptic toilette wipes for larger wounds
4. alcohol hand wipes
5. mopiko
6. insect sting relief (bees and such)
7. instand cold pack for cold compress
8. abdominal pad
9. 12 ply gauze pads
10. gauze bandage
12. dressing rolls
13. assorted adhensive bandages
13. elastic bandages
14 large triangular bandage
15. adhensive tape
16. disposable medical gloves
17 assorted safety pins
18. splinter forceps
19. two different scissors
20. panadol
21. aspirin
22. charcoal tablets
23. poh chay pills
24. salt tablets
and make sure you know how to use them ! ...
this is as important as your survival kit if you ask me, considering how prone to injuries some Singaporeans are ... -
FIELD-EXPEDIENT DIRECTION FINDING
In a survival situation, you will be extremely fortunate if you happen to have a map and compass. If you do have these two pieces of equipment, you will most likely be able to move toward help. If you are not proficient in using a map and compass, you must take the steps to gain this skill.
There are several methods by which you can determine direction by using the sun and the stars. These methods, however, will give you only a general direction. You can come up with a more nearly true direction if you know the terrain of the territory or country.
You must learn all you can about the terrain of the country or territory to which you or your unit may be sent, especially any prominent features or landmarks. This knowledge of the terrain together with using the methods explained below will let you come up with fairly true directions to help you navigate.
Field-expedient direction finding:
- Using the sun and shadows
- Using the moon
- Using the stars
- Making improvised compasses
- Other means of determining direction
Based on 'U.S. Army Survival Manual', a public domain work published by the U.S. Department of Defense.
-
FIELD-EXPEDIENT DIRECTION FINDING
USING THE SUN & SHADOWS
The earth's relationship to the sun can help you to determine direction on earth. The sun always rises in the east and sets in the west, but not exactly due east or due west. There is also some seasonal variation. In the northern hemisphere, the sun will be due south when at its highest point in the sky, or when an object casts no appreciable shadow. In the southern hemisphere, this same noonday sun will mark due north. In the northern hemisphere, shadows will move clockwise. Shadows will move counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere. With practice, you can use shadows to determine both direction and time of day. The shadow methods used for direction finding are the shadow-tip and watch methods.
Shadow-Tip Methods
In the first shadow-tip method, find a straight stick 1 meter long, and a level spot free of brush on which the stick will cast a definite shadow. This method is simple and accurate and consists of four steps:
Step 1. Place the stick or branch into the ground at a level spot where it will cast a distinctive shadow. Mark the shadow's tip with a stone, twig, or other means. This first shadow mark is always west--everywhere on earth.
Step 2. Wait 10 to 15 minutes until the shadow tip moves a few centimeters. Mark the shadow tip's new position in the same way as the first.
Step 3. Draw a straight line through the two marks to obtain an approximate east-west line.
Step 4. Stand with the first mark (west) to your left and the second mark to your right--you are now facing north. This fact is true everywhere on earth.
An alternate method is more accurate but requires more time. Set up your shadow stick and mark the first shadow in the morning. Use a piece of string to draw a clean arc through this mark and around the stick. At midday, the shadow will shrink and disappear. In the afternoon, it will lengthen again and at the point where it touches the arc, make a second mark. Draw a line through the two marks to get an accurate east-west line.
The Watch Method
You can also determine direction using a common or analog watch--one that has hands. The direction will be accurate if you are using true local time, without any changes for daylight savings time. Remember, the further you are from the equator, the more accurate this method will be. If you only have a digital watch, you can overcome this obstacle. Quickly draw a watch on a circle of paper with the correct time on it and use it to determine your direction at that time.
In the northern hemisphere, hold the watch horizontal and point the hour hand at the sun. Bisect the angle between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark to get the north-south line (Figure 18-2). If there is any doubt as to which end of the line is north, remember that the sun rises in the east, sets in the west, and is due south at noon. The sun is in the east before noon and in the west after noon.
Note: If your watch is set on daylight savings time, use the midway point between the hour hand and 1 o'clock to determine the north-south line.
In the southern hemisphere, point the watch's 12 o'clock mark toward the sun and a midpoint halfway between 12 and the hour hand will give you the north-south line.