The Five W’s

We are not referring to the 5 w’s of life meaning Who, What, Why, When and Where. We are referring to the 5 w’s of wilderness survival which are Water, Wood, Weather, Wildlife, and Widow Makers. The following serves to outlines what to look for and what to avoid concerning the 5 W’s.

Water:
Look for: Areas with clean water nearby. These areas provide hydration and food, as well as a possible path to civilization.

Avoid: Damp, marshy ground. Camping too close to the shoreline in case of changes in water level. Lowlands, like canyons, that are prone to floods.

Wood:
Look for: An area where fuel is abundant and easy to harvest.

Avoid: Areas where wildfires are likely, or easy to start.

Weather:
Look for: Keep an eye on signs of changing weather, and seek shelter before the weather gets bad.

Avoid: Areas that are open to hazardous weather. Don’t camp out in the open, or on top of hills. Don’t camp in a place where fog settles. Don’t camp in places that act as natural lighting attractors if storms are likely. Avoid areas where avalanches are likely.

Wildlife:
Look for: Areas with abundant sign of small game for hunting and trapping, and there is often edible vegetation and water nearby.

Avoid: Animal dens. Areas with large game trails — you don’t want to startle a moose or bull elk that’s passing by. Areas with sign of dangerous animals, like fresh bear scat or the stripped bark from moose. Areas with active hazardous or nuisance insects around — brush piles for arachnids and centipedes, stagnant water for mosquitoes, and keep an eye out for wasp nests and ant colonies. If you live in a place with venomous snakes, avoid areas where they may sun themselves.

Widow Makers:
Avoid: The most dangerous of the 5 W’s.  Camping beneath large, dead trees and snags with large, high limbs. You don’t want to be in the path of a falling limb or tree that weighs hundreds of pounds. Same for setting up under rock ledges that could become unstable.  Also avoid areas with thick brush, lots of exposed branches, or lots of knotty roots. You don’t want to trip into your fire or put out an eye at night.  Avoid setting up alongside a riverbank or low lying area that could flood.