Introduction

Hello everyone! I'm a blogger who's incredibly passionate about outdoor activities. Over the past decade, I've explored almost every major outdoor destination in the country. Honestly, each outdoor adventure leaves me wanting more, but they've also taught me that even the smallest oversight in the wilderness can lead to serious consequences. Today, I'd like to share my years of outdoor survival experience with you, hoping to help fellow outdoor enthusiasts avoid common pitfalls.

Preparation

When it comes to outdoor activity preparation, it's absolutely crucial! I remember my embarrassing first hiking trip to Changbai Mountain - looking back, I was incredibly naive. I thought a tent and sleeping bag would be enough, but I nearly broke down. I hadn't even prepared adequate cold weather gear, and I spent the night shivering. This experience really drove home the importance of proper preparation.

Speaking of plant research, this is no joke. Last year while leading a team in Sichuan, we encountered a terrible incident. A team member who knew nothing about local plants touched a Chinese tallow tree out of curiosity, resulting in a severe allergic reaction that caused their entire body to swell up and almost derailed the whole trip. That's why I strongly recommend buying a reliable plant guide and studying the common plants at your destination beforehand, especially those that are poisonous or likely to cause allergic reactions.

I want to particularly emphasize the importance of sharing your route. My experience at Mount Gongga in 2019 really scared me. I thought I was experienced enough and didn't share my specific route with my family. When I got to the mountains, there was no cell signal for three whole days, which worried my mother sick. Since then, I've made it an iron rule: before departing, share your detailed itinerary with at least two reliable people, including your planned route, rest stops, and expected return time. This way, if something goes wrong, at least someone knows where to look for you.

Now I have a complete system for trip preparation. First is checking the weather - not just a casual glance at the forecast, but studying the week's weather patterns, including temperature variations, precipitation probability, and wind force details. Then comes terrain analysis, where I study satellite and topographic maps together, marking all potentially dangerous sections.

There's another point many people overlook: physical preparation. I've seen too many people who rarely exercise suddenly decide to climb a mountain, only to become exhausted shortly after starting. I recommend that if you're planning a high-intensity outdoor activity, start targeted training at least a month in advance. For example, if you're going mountain climbing, do more stair climber training and weight training; if you're going hiking, schedule several long-distance walks each week.

Core Equipment

When it comes to equipment, there's a lot to learn. Let's start with the backpack, which is essential gear.

A good outdoor backpack needs to be waterproof and durable, but more importantly, it needs to be ergonomic. The backpack I use now has been tested countless times, and its key feature is the scientifically designed shoulder and waist straps that effectively distribute weight. However, even the best backpack is useless if not packed properly. I now always use waterproof garbage bags to wrap different sections inside the backpack. This technique saved me during my Mount Wugong trip in 2020. We encountered a massive downpour that day, and if it weren't for this waterproof protection, my expensive camera would have been completely ruined.

Packing a backpack requires strategy. My principle is: the more frequently used items should be placed in easily accessible locations. For example, water and dry food go in the side pockets, phone and maps in the top pocket, while sleeping bags and other nighttime gear can be packed at the bottom. Also, heavy items should be placed as close to your back as possible, which helps maintain a stable center of gravity and reduces fatigue while walking.

Let's talk about the magic of duct tape. Honestly, in my outdoor equipment list, duct tape might be the most unassuming yet practical item. I remember that time cycling on the Duku Highway in Xinjiang when my tire got a huge gash from a roadside rock. If I hadn't brought duct tape, I might have had to push my bike for dozens of kilometers to find a repair shop. So now I've made it a habit to wrap a strip of wide duct tape around my water bottle. It doesn't take up space, it's convenient to use, and it can literally be a lifesaver in critical moments.

Speaking of equipment, I must emphasize the importance of warm gear. Many people think a thick jacket is enough, but that's too simplistic. In the wilderness, layering is key for staying warm. I usually prepare three layers: moisture-wicking base layer, middle insulating layer (preferably fleece or wool), and an outer layer that's windproof and waterproof. This combination can handle various weather changes.

Lighting tools are also essential. Besides the regular headlamp, I now always carry a backup flashlight, and these two lighting devices use different types of batteries to maximize the chance of having working lights. There was one time in the mountains where if it weren't for this backup flashlight, we might have had to spend the night in complete darkness.

Essential Skills

When it comes to wilderness survival skills, honestly, just watching videos and reading articles isn't enough - you must practice in the field.

Let's start with shelter building skills. My experience in Qinghai's Hoh Xil gave me a completely new appreciation for the importance of this skill. We were conducting a field survey when the weather suddenly turned bad, with hail coming out of nowhere. In this situation, there was no time to set up a tent, so I quickly built a simple A-frame shelter using the waterproof tarp and some branches I had with me. Though basic, it helped us survive that terrible night.

Since then, I've particularly focused on practicing various temporary shelter construction methods. For example, the basic A-frame structure: stretch a main rope between two trees, then drape a waterproof tarp over it, securing the sides with rocks or branches. This structure is quick and simple to build, yet surprisingly stable. There's also the lean-to shelter built against rock walls, which is particularly useful in windy areas as it uses the terrain for wind protection.

Let's talk about fire-making skills, which are crucial for wilderness survival. Many young people nowadays just bring a lighter and think they're all set - that's incredibly naive. I remember during my 2021 survey in the Altun Mountains, at over 4000 meters elevation, the air pressure was so low that regular lighters wouldn't work. We finally solved the problem using a fire steel. That's why I now strongly recommend mastering at least three different fire-starting methods: lighter, fire steel, and the most primitive friction method.

There are many details to consider when making fire. First is location selection - you must find a wind-sheltered spot away from flammable materials. Then prepare tinder - I usually carry cotton balls soaked in paraffin, which work great even in wet weather. Wood selection is also important - you need different sizes of firewood, from pencil-thin to wrist-thick, to maintain a stable and lasting fire.

Survival Strategies

When it comes to wilderness survival strategies, mindset management is most important. I've seen too many people panic in emergency situations, making things worse and turning simple problems into complex ones.

Last year's incident at Mount Siguniang is a typical example. A climbing team got lost when weather conditions suddenly changed and visibility dropped dramatically. In such situations, the correct approach is to stay put, as this makes it easier for rescue teams to find you based on your last known location. But they panicked and kept moving around, getting increasingly lost and making the rescue much more difficult.

My advice for emergency situations in the wilderness is: first stop, take deep breaths, and give yourself a minute to calm down. Then act in this order: "first aid, call for help, wait for rescue." If someone's injured, immediate first aid is the priority. Then try various ways to seek help, like using cell phones, rescue whistles, or signal flags. If none of these work, learn to wait calmly for rescue.

Another important strategy is location awareness. Although we have various navigation apps now, I still recommend learning basic terrain reading skills. For example, determining direction by sun position and identifying your approximate location on a map through terrain features. These skills become crucial when your phone dies or has no signal.

Practical Tips

When it comes to practical tips, there are so many, and I think each one is important.

Let's start with equipment maintenance. Many people's first reaction when their shoes get wet in the wilderness is to dry them by the fire - this is absolutely wrong. Fire drying not only damages the shoe material but can also cause deformation. My method is to stuff them with dirty clothes or newspaper, which quickly absorbs water without damaging the shoes. It's also best to bring two pairs of shoes to alternate between, so you have a backup if one pair gets wet.

Navigation is also crucial. Everyone relies on phone navigation nowadays, but phones can fail in the wilderness for various reasons. So now I always carry a compass besides my phone, and I've learned to navigate using the sun and stars. During that experience in the Altai Mountains, it was by observing the North Star's position that we determined the correct direction. These traditional navigation methods can really save lives in critical moments.

There are many food and drink tips too. For example, I always carry some high-calorie compressed biscuits and chocolate - these foods are small and light but very energy-dense. As for water, I carry purification tablets so I can ensure safe drinking water even when the water source isn't clean.

Sleep quality is also particularly important in the wilderness. My experience is that you should choose good quality sleeping bags and pads - it's worth spending more money on quality items. Because in the wilderness, good sleep keeps you energetic the next day, while poor sleep makes the next day's journey miserable.

Conclusion

Honestly, we could talk about wilderness survival for a very long time. I'm constantly learning new knowledge and skills, and continuously summarizing new experiences. Once you master these basic skills and knowledge, outdoor activities really become safer and more interesting.

Remember, the ultimate goal of outdoor activities isn't to challenge limits, but to learn how to safely enjoy nature. Experiencing nature's charm while ensuring safety - that's the true essence of outdoor activities. I hope these experiences I've shared can help everyone, and I hope more people will fall in love with outdoor activities and experience the beauty that nature brings us.