W

hen you’re struggling to survive, most of your decisions
revolve around prioritizing your immediate needs: should you
search for water, food, or shelter? Should you make a signal or a
fire? All are vital to your well-being; the only decision to make is which
one should come first, and the answer usually becomes obvious when
you take into account your circumstances, the region, and the weather
in which you find yourself. But perhaps the single most important (and
difficult) decision you will face in the wilderness is whether you should
move or stay put.
There may be instances, for example, in which you have to move at
least a short distance to escape an immediate hazard, such as a rockfall or
an avalanche. Barring that, however, the choice to stay or go is never an
easy one. There are pros and cons to each.

Should You Stay or Should You Go?

MANY PEOPLE—PARTICUL ARLY THOSE who have attended survival classes—
have had it drummed into their heads by their instructors that they should
stay put no matter what the circumstances. Unfortunately, this is not always
the best advice.

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