Convenience Store. There, he was picked up by the RCMP, who
were astonished to find him in such good condition. When
asked how he’d managed to survive, Chris responded, “I just
held my composure. I didn’t let fright pull me down.”
When Chris and I spoke after his ordeal, we knew imme
diately there was something in his story, similar to so many of
mine, something that he could only ever share with people who
have had similar experiences. Spending the majority of a cold,
dark night jumping up and down trying not to freeze to death in
the middle of the bush is not something most people can relate
to. But using his wits and a few survival skills he’d seen on my
shows, Chris had made it out of the wilderness . . . alive. with light, airy materials such as leaves or cattail fluff. In essence, you are
creating a downlike layer in your clothes, which will greatly increase their
ability to keep you warm.
Footwear
THE IMPORTANCE OF PACKING AND wearing the right footwear cannot be
overstated. All it takes is the wrong footwear to make walking nearly
impossible. Simply put, if you can’t walk, you may not survive. Blisters,
foot fungus, and swollen feet can often be prevented with the right pair
of shoes, sandals, hikers, or boots. Solid ankle support is important for
rough bushwhacking or hiking. In the jungles, you have to strike a bal
ance: wearing boots to protect yourself from poisonous bites and yet
avoiding foot fungus caused by wearing hiking shoes that are too hot
or constricting. The best thing for cold weather is footwear that is just
slightly too big—big enough to be able to wriggle your toes to help keep
the circulation flowing for warmth.
(^296) | Survive!