Surviving in the Wild
When going on a wild camping trip or on a mountain climbing excursion, it is only necessary to prepare yourself physically. You will need to hone your body so that it will withstand the physical exertion that the activity will require of you. You also need to know basic first aid and survival skills in order to make sure that you come out of the wilds alive and healthy.
Many people prepare themselves by running. Start training three weeks before your trip, though it will never hurt to start much earlier. Do some laps and measure the number of kilometres that you run. You should be able to increase the length of your run as you progress. You can also go to the gym in order to exercise your chest, arms and legs, as you will require strength in these areas. You can also find some long, wide stairs or bleachers where you can practice jogging up and down. Note that the most important thing you have to develop is your cardiovascular endurance. You can also do yoga or pilates in order to strengthen your limbs. Remember, though, that you must always do stretching exercises to warm yourself up before beginning a period of training, climbing or camping. You can also load on carbohydrates, which you can get from food like cheese, pasta and rice, before you go on your trip. This is because you cannot bring a lot of food when backpacking. Whether or not you plan to hunt some game for food, do take along a few small canned goods. You can also bring energy bars on your trip. Make sure that you do not pick any unfamiliar fruit or vegetable when in the wilds, no matter how appealing it may look. You can also study about poisonous plants before you go on your trip. Bring bottled water, too, even if you expect to be able to replenish your water supply at a stream or river. Some recommend iodine pills or water purifying gadgets to make water drinkable.
In case something adverse does happen, make sure that you first aid kit is well stocked. Bring bandages, antiseptic, alcohol, allergy medicine and other types of medication as needed. Your group must know if the members have any specific health conditions, such as asthma, before going on the trip.