My most dangerous survival moment occured in the Kalahari Des
ert. Two days of drinking hot water and having the sun and wind suck
the moisture out of me brought me frighteningly close to heat stroke. It
was 117 ̊F (47 ̊C) in the shade and 142 ̊F (61 ̊C) in the sun. By midnight
I actually had the sensation that I was getting hotter, though the sun had
long since disappeared. Only careful attention to staying immobile and
constantly wiping my neck and head with a damp bandana kept me alive.
Heat stroke can hit you fast and can kill.
Dehydration is another risk in these regions, particularly when there’s
wind. The combination of heat and wind will suck the moisture right out
of your body. Seek protection from the wind as well as the sun.
The most significant weather event you’ll encounter in the des
ert is a sandstorm. If you have the misfortune of being caught in one,
try to get downwind of a shelter. Cover your mouth and nose, and wait.
Sand in some deserts can be alkaline and irritating if it finds its way into
your many orifices. Breathing in the salty air that blows up from the salt
“pans” in a place like the Kalahari Desert can cause serious sinus and
lung irritation.
Finally, remember that mirages can and do occur in these regions
and they present a hazard (they’ve also been known to occur in the Arc
tic). The greatest risk is that a mirage will create optical illusions of what
seems to be water in the distance. These illusions can entice you to travel
in a direction you otherwise wouldn’t or shouldn’t go. Be skeptical of the
big lake you see in the distance.
Boreal and Other Temperate Forests
Forest fires have become more frequent in the last few decades. The upside
of finding yourself close to one is that fires attract firefighters, increas
ing your chance of rescue. The downside is that you may die. Move in the
opposite direction from the fire by determining the prevailing wind. If
possible, make your way to a lake. Remember that fire travels faster uphill
than downhill.
Underestimating the difficulty of travel in a forest can be a real threat
as well. It might seem like your destination is only a mile away, but a mile
through some types of thick forest can be hours of pure hell.
(^270) | Survive!