Thomas Coyne is the founder of Thomas Coyne Survival School. I interviewed him for our latest print issue and was inspired by his passion to encourage people to explore the outdoors. However, I was also surprised to learn that casual day hikers are the most likely to be involved in outdoor emergencies. When you have little or no gear, getting lost and common injuries can quickly turn into survival situations. Oftentimes, help may not just be hours but days away, which is why it’s so important to have the proper skills and tools to survive. Adam Mayfield was our field instructor during our 1-day course on critical survival skills. He gave us the lowdown on what you need to bring with you when hiking. Leatherman is an essential tool you should have with you at all times. Beyond that, here’s what they recommend.
For Fire Building:
It is important to know how to start a campfire. It will keep you warm, signal your rescuer, boil your water, and cook your food—not to mention prove a sense of safety and security. Instead of relying on the bow method which even experienced survivalists may have trouble…
