bark cleanly only in the spring; try to peel bark from dead trees, when they
are rotting but hopefully not too far gone.
If you are a skilled hunter or trapper, or are fortunate enough to catch
an animal, you can use the animal skin as a primitive form of clothing. The
skin of a snowshoe hare peels easily off the carcass. Cut only along the bot-
tom end, from foot to foot, and then roll it back like you are pulling off a wet
sock. With the fur on the inside, you can use the skin as a mitt or a sock. If
you have the skin of a larger animal such as a deer, you can cut a head hole
and slip the skin on like a poncho, with the fur facing in toward your body.
Before doing that, though, remember that most animals also carry
pests such as ticks, lice, and fleas. If you have enough water available, wash
the skin or even smoke it over a fire; if not, just give it a good shake. Try
to remove as much of the fat and meat as possible, and dry it out before
you wear it.
Another thing you can quite easily do using natural materials is boost
the insulation abilities of your existing clothing. If you have loose-fitting
clothing and have remembered to layer, you can stuff the various layers
When using leaves or other plant matter for insulation, look for the driest materials you
can find. These natural materials will increase the insulating abilities of whatever you are
wearing.(^294) | Survive!