I would consider myself to be very outdoorsy person and spend a lot of time in the mountains and back-country. I always thought, what if an unexpected event were to happen. Would I be able to survive in the wilderness with no rescue in sight? And for how long?
My cousin recently came across a Wilderness Survival class offered by SOLO Southeast and The Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, North Carolina. It's a two day, hands on course spent in the woods with survivalists who have 30+ years of experience. Going into this course I had no idea what I was getting myself into. All I knew was that we would be learning how to survive with the bare necessities.
After 2 long days spent over the weekend I had learned how to make a fire using several different methods such as flint and steel, how to locate a clean water source, multiple ways to make water drinkable, how to build a shelter from leaves and sticks, all kinds of knots, how to make rope, and the list goes on and on!
The skills learned in 2 days are of the utmost importance to help you survive in a serious situation. I highly recommend taking this course if you go hiking and/or back country camping. Any any situation, always remember...Be prepared.