Published

Do you have to grow up hunting and fishing in order to live off of the land? Tmy Boise, Idaho

How can you prevent getting lost if you're bushwhacking without a GPS? Do you recommend some type of hi-visibility flagging, or is that not low impact enough? Teeka Van Riper Washington

In the movie Rambo, Sly heats up a metal rod and uses it to cauterize a bullet wound. Is this effective? LCPL Michael Barnes Cp Pendleton, California

I went to a school and was promised I would be able to track a mouse across a cement floor after a week. I couldn't. Is it possible to get that good, that fast?

Who has the greater chance of survival, a person alone, or a group? Chris British Columbia

I'm snowboarding with some friends in the backcountry. We get split up ong the trees and I wake up with a bloody, broken leg. What should be my course of action? David Centennial, Colorado

Do you know how early cultures preserved meat and fish by hanging thin strips on racks out in the sun and wind? Is this method effective? How do you know when food has had enough exposure time? Richard Budd Arlington, Massachusetts

I'm going on a yurt-to-yurt ski/snowshoe trip in the Porcupine Mountains of Northern Michigan in March. What do I need to take with me? Jeanne Bergstrom Rockford, Illinois

Are there beaches in Northern California that are virtually shark-free? I would love to learn to surf but do not want to run into a shark! Wannabe Surfer San Francisco, California

I a trail runner. Keeping in mind the weight and bulk, what should I carry with me if I running on a mix of urban roads and wilderness trails? Andrew Guthrie Edmond, Oklahoma

If I'm out hiking in the woods with no matches, what's the best way to start a fire? Glenn Edelschein Maryland

If I fall through the ice into a lake, what should I do? And what should I do after I get out? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico

What would be the smartest thing to do if you are lost in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota? Ryan Lucas Overland Park, Kansas

If I go off the beaten path at a ski resort and get lost, what should I do? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico

What are the best guides to edible plants? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico

What are the 10 things I should always have in my pack? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico

What's the most reliable tool for starting fires? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico

What survival gear should I pack in my car? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico

What is the best way to get water if I'm lost in the desert? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico

My 12-year-old daughter gets very cold at night when we’re camping. We are backpackers and tend to camp just under treeline between May and October. She currently uses a junior polyfill bag with an inflatable pad and some good long underwear. What could we do to keep her warm and give us a peaceful night’s sleep?