🐻 Animal Safety
Most wildlife wants nothing to do with you. Our job isn’t to be fearless. It’s to know how to behave so we’re not seen as a threat or prey.
• Make noise when travelling alone so animals can hear you coming. Animals are most afraid when taken by surprise and will usually retreat when they hear you approaching.
• Remember that most animals can smell you from a distance and are only attracted to your campsite if there’s food.
• Don’t run. Remain calm and still. In most cases, wildlife will be more scared of you than you are of it.
• Talk calmly to the animal using a low, steady voice.
• Make yourself look big. Hold hiking poles or your arms above your head. Hold them still rather than waving them around.
• Ensure the animal has a clear escape route.
• Carry bear spray or pepper spray where appropriate.
• Store food properly at your campsite, either in your vehicle, a bear locker, a bear canister, or an Ursack. Some campsites have food hangs, but these are generally less secure than other options.
(Tell bear encounter stories and cougar story.)
🧍 Human Safety
Most people you meet outdoors are wonderful, but it's always worth thinking about your personal safety.
• Choose your campsite carefully. If I’m camping alone, I prefer to be well away from roads on a trail or in a designated camping area.
• Trust your gut without over-questioning it.
• Pay attention to your surroundings. Who's around? Where are the exits?
• Remain sober while camping.
• Take two camp chairs to make it appear there are more people with you.
• Mention your friends if someone comes to chat.
• Carry pepper spray.
• Avoid areas accessible by ATVs or 4WD vehicles that aren't designated camping areas.
• If you don't feel safe, move sites or leave entirely. There is no shame in trusting your instincts.
📡 General Safety
• Tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back.
• Have a simple check-in plan.
• Learn the basics of using a satellite device such as a Garmin InReach if you're heading somewhere without cell service.
🧭 Navigation Basics
You don't need to be a navigation expert. You just need to know how to stay found.
Always know your last known point.
Every time you pass an obvious landmark such as a junction, river crossing, or trail marker, make a mental note of it.
It's also a good idea to turn around occasionally and look behind you. Trails can look surprisingly different on the return journey.
Keep a general sense of direction.
• Where is the sun?
• Which direction are you roughly heading?
If you feel lost, stop early.
Most people get more lost by continuing than by pausing and backtracking to their last known landmark.
Take a photo of the trailhead map.
Better still, carry a printed map or download the map to your phone or GPS device before you leave.
Mark your route if you leave the trail.
Tie something bright or reflective to a tree if you're heading off trail to pee, poop, or collect water. It makes finding your way back much easier.
(Tell the story about Bad Seed and the reflective strip.)
⛺ Camp Setup
An organised campsite makes everything else feel calmer.
Choosing a site:
• Look for flat ground.
• Stay away from hazards such as dead trees or water flow channels.
• Avoid blocking wildlife access to water.
General camp tips:
• Aim to set up while there is still daylight.
• Only unpack what you need.
• Put things away when you're finished with them.
• A tidy campsite is easier to navigate, especially after dark.
🌧️ Stay Dry & Warm
Most outdoor discomfort comes from being cold and wet.
• Always carry a rain shell.
• Consider a lightweight umbrella.
• Keep your sleep clothes in a dry bag and don't take them out until you're in your tent.
• Keep your sleeping bag in a dry bag until you're ready to sleep.
• Eating helps your body generate heat.
☀️ Sun Protection & Hydration
Hypothermia and dehydration are far more likely than a wildlife attack.
• Pack sunscreen, a hat, and clothing that protects your skin from the sun.
• Drink plenty of water and plan your water sources ahead of time.
• If you're thirsty, you're already partially dehydrated.
• If you're not peeing every couple of hours, you're probably not drinking enough water.
My four non-negotiables:
• Stay warm.
• Stay dry.
• Have light.
• Have water.
💧 Water Filtration
There are lots of ways to make water safe to drink:
• Pumps
• SteriPens
• Drops
• Tablets
• Gravity filters
A simple trick is to place a bandana over your bottle before collecting water. It helps remove leaves, bugs, and other floaties before filtration.
🔥 Fire Building
Fire building isn't complicated, but it does require patience.
A fire needs three things:
• Fuel
• Heat
• Oxygen
Tips:
• Look for tinder such as pine needles, birch bark, dry grasses, dry leaves, or moss.
• When it's raining, check the base of large trees and under dense shrubs for dry material.
• Airflow matters more than most people think.
• Start small and build gradually.
• Prepare piles of tinder, kindling, and fuel before you light anything.
The order is:
Tinder → Kindling → Fuel
⭐ Confidence
You don't need to know everything before you head outdoors.
Confidence comes from learning one skill at a time, solving small problems, and proving to yourself that you're more capable than you think.