Cold-Weather Fire Starting: Tested Techniques for Wet, Windy, and Sub-Zero Conditions
The Yukon River Test In the summer of 2005, I was guiding a group of German tourists on a three-day canoe trip along the Yukon River for a local outfitter. We pulled up at a remote campsite on the riverbank — the site of a former small settlement, long abandoned, the kind of place that […]
Wilderness First Aid: Treating Common Outdoor Injuries Without a Kit
How Field-Tested Improvisation Saved Lives—and What Every Backcountry Traveler Must Know Wilderness first aid risk management saved a life one afternoon when a backcountry emergency turned critical. What began as a routine backcountry navigation exercise quickly turned into a real-world test of wilderness first aid risk management. Initially, the skies were clear, the weather stable, […]
Christmas Survival Secrets: A Wilderness Guide from Santa’s Backyard
Living at 68° North in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, I’ve learned that being Santa’s unofficial neighbor comes with its own unique set of survival challenges. While the rest of the world is sipping hot cocoa by the fireplace, I’m out here testing whether my eyelashes will freeze together before I can blink twice. Spoiler alert: they absolutely will. But here’s the thing […]
10 Essential Wilderness Survival Skills Every Beginner Must Learn
I never thought I’d need survival skills until I found myself twenty miles deep in the Rockies with a twisted ankle and an oncoming storm. At first, wilderness survival seemed like something only rugged mountaineers or reality TV stars needed. However, there is an undeniable freedom in knowing you can rely on yourself when you’re […]
Mother’s Day: Honoring Moms with Survival Wisdom
Mother’s Day has never been a big deal in this household. While the holiday is celebrated enthusiastically across North America, our family barely observed it growing up. This year, a plan emerged to mark Mother’s Day with an outdoor excursion – what better way to honor maternal figures than by engaging with Mother Nature herself? […]