9781422287798

10 SURVIVal IN THE WILDERNESS

your operation before you set out. By doing this, you will not find out the hard way that your clothing is totally unsuitable for the wilderness. Gore-Tex ® is an excellent material for outdoor clothing. It is a “breathable” material. This means that it lets tiny drops of sweat exit but prevents water from entering. Such amazing material is not cheap, but what price do you put on your life? Of course, just wearing a Gore-Tex ® jacket is not enough. In the wilderness, the weather can go from bright, hot sunshine to freezing winds in a matter of hours, particularly if you are on a remote hillside or deep in an isolated woodland. That is why you should follow what the world’s Special Forces and survival experts call “the layer principle.” The layer principle is very simple. The more layers of clothing you wear, the warmer you will be. Temperature control is very easy. If you are too hot, take off clothes; if you are too cold, put on clothes. Remember, getting too hot can be as much of a problem as being too cold. If you sweat when it is cold, the body chills when you stop sweating, and your sweat-soaked clothing will draw away body heat into the air. It is important that you prevent this. Here are the layers you should wear: • Next to the skin, you should wear thermal clothing (long underwear). • Over this, wear a woolen or wool mixture shirt. • On top of this, wear a woolen or good fiber-pile sweater, jacket, or fleece. • As a final layer, choose a warm windproof and waterproof jacket. This should be made out of Gore-Tex ® or a similar material. Footwear Footwear is incredibly important to soldiers in the special forces. For any outdoor activity, it is best to equip yourself with a pair of strong, waterproof boots high enough to support your ankles, never running shoes. It is important