When most people hear Wilderness First Aid, they picture somebody getting hurt ten miles down a trail, miles from a road, with no cell service and a helicopter hours away. That is definitely part of it. But Wilderness First Aid is really about something much broader: What do you do when somebody gets hurt or sick and professional help is not immediately available? That could happen deep in the backcountry, but it can also happen on a remote jobsite, during a major storm, after an earthquake,...

by Dan Brenneman - Owner, Summit View Survival & Preparedness Each year on Independence Day, Americans gather under fireworks, flags, family cookouts, and the familiar rhythm of summer celebration. It is easy to enjoy the holiday without stopping to remember what it actually represents. July 4th is not just a celebration of national independence. It is also a day of remembrance. It is a time to reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and responsibility shown by the men and women who helped bring...

This post is a full revisit of the 12 C’s of Survival, but with more depth and real-world application. Before diving into each category, I want to cover something that often gets overlooked: your pack, your mindset, and how you evaluate what you carry. Because none of the gear matters if you can’t carry it properly… or don’t know how to use it. The Foundation: Your Pack Matters More Than You Think One of the most common things I see in classes is people showing up with completely inadequate...