Nice article. Having some years of experience in outdoor activities (first sailing, then many solo week-long hikes in the mountains, mostly french Alps but also

Nice article. Having some years of experience in outdoor activities (first sailing, then many solo week-long hikes in the mountains, mostly french Alps but also once in a caribbean tropical rainforest) I got to learn some vital lessons and guess I could share some of it. Obviously everyone has its own level of resilience in the face of harsh conditions but once you're in, you have to deal with what you have. > “Clothing or equipment is the first line of defense, shelter is second and third is fire,” Preparation is key, for hiking I try to minimize my backpack weight while keeping gear for all kind of weather. During one summer hike with nice weather forecast for the week, I indeed had hot and sunny days but also rain, wind, cold temperatures and even a sudden snowstorm. - Staying dry really matters, once wet you get cold much faster. - Sleep really matters. If you can't find a reasonable place or shelter to rest after an exhausting day, your ability to carry on the next day sharply decreases. Learned that on my caribbean trip where I got stuck above a waterfall one evening, was raining, got wet, cold, no place to lie down and rest and had to admit I wouldn't have the strength to climb back the next day. - When stuck or in a tough spot, remember that under stress you might not think as straight as you could. Do an inventory of your equipment. My first sleepless night in the rain I used my emergency blanket: such a mild protection, took me a day to realize a had a bigger tarp that proved much more useful as a protection against the elements. - A bright colored jacket helps rescue teams to locate you. (like a red / orange one) - Have a map of the terrain, learn to orient / situate yourself. Being lost is not the same as facing a difficult position, better not combine those issues ;) - Better have some way of communication and people aware of your whereabouts. - When cold, cover your head, you lose up to half your heat there. Extremities (hands, feet) get cold first, waterproof gloves and shoes can really help.