Survival in the Outback
What would you do if you ever found yourself lost in the wild? To find out, you can join a weekend survival course in Australia's Outback Desert. This vast area is famous for its harsh desert climate.
To survive, your first task will be to find water, a rare commodity in the desert. Animals such as ants and seed-eating birds are strong indicators of water. You can also cut and suck moisture from the roots and leaves of plants. Trees like the desert oak have roots near the surface. But be careful, the branches of gum trees are a rich source of water, but the leaves are poisonous, so don't eat them.
The best place to build a shelter is in an area with the least amount of sunlight, like between sand dunes or in a trench, To make a trench, dig a hole big enough to lie down in and use the extra sand to create a barrier or wall on each side. This can help to shield you from the glare and scorching heat of the sun.
Nights can be cold, so knowing how to make a fire is essential. One way to build a fire is to use the hand drill method. This is one of the oldest and simplest ways to start a fire. It involves rolling a stick between your hands while pressing it onto a notched piece of wood with dry tinder below. The idea is to use the friction to create enough heat to ignite the tinder. This can be a lot of work.
As for food, you'll have to be open-minded. Some forms of life can be ugly to look at but can provide you with enough protein to survive. They may even taste good, like scrambled eggs!
(One way to prepare yourself to survive in the wilderness is to take a weekend survival course.)
