Wilderness Travel Tips: How to Find Water in the Wilderness

Nature is so mysterious and full of charm, since ancient times, people have always wanted to conquer nature. Because of this, there is never a shortage of people who go to the wilderness for adventure travel. They pack a backpack, pack a 2 person pop up camping tent, a lightweight portable waterproof sleeping bag, and some other wilderness survival necessities, and then head out into the wilderness!

But it is not easy to go on an adventure trip to the wilderness. Our backpack capacity determines that it is impossible for us to carry a lot of applied water. Therefore, learning how to find water in the wilderness is very important to ensure our survival.

How to find water in the wild

Listening: With sensitive auditory organs, pay more attention to whether there are sounds of flowing water from mountain streams or waterfalls, frogs and water birds, etc. at the foot of mountains, mountain streams, cliffs, basins, and valley bottoms. If you can hear these sounds, it means that you are not far from the place where there is a water source, and it can prove that the water source of these few is running water and can be drunk directly. But special attention should be paid not to take the "rushing" sound of the leaves blowing by the wind as the sound of running water.

Smell: Smell the damp smell as much as possible, or the smell of soil and aquatic plants brought by the wind. Then look for the water source in the direction of the smell. Of course, this requires some experience. Observation is based on a wealth of experience and knowledge. Water sources can also be found by observing animals, plants, weather, climate and geographical environment.

1. According to the topography (geographical environment), determine the level of groundwater level

For example, there is often groundwater at the foot of the mountain, and the groundwater level is high in low-lying places, rainwater concentrated places, and downstream of reservoirs. Also, under the dry riverbed. At the lowest point on the outside of the turn of the river, you can dig a few meters down to get water. But there is a lot of mud, which needs to be purified before drinking.

2. Find water sources according to the growth of plants

Where there are plants such as cattail, Salix, Malian, golden needle (also known as yellow flower), and wood mustard, the water level is relatively high, and the water quality is also good; But the water quality is not good, with bitter or astringent taste, or with rust taste; in early spring. When other branches germinate, there is only one branch that has sprouted, and then there is groundwater here; when autumn comes, other trees in the same place have already withered yellow, but there is only one place where the leaves are not yellow, and there is groundwater here; in addition, there is also groundwater. Such as cottonwood, sycamore, willow, salt cedar, these plants only grow where there is water, and there must be groundwater below them.

3. Find water sources according to the climate and the dry and wet conditions of the ground

For example, in the hot summer, the ground is always very humid. Under the relative climatic conditions, the groundwater level is higher in the place where the ground is not dry or hot for a long time; Misty, heavy dew at night, and the ground is wet, indicating that the groundwater level is high and the water quantity is sufficient; in the cold winter, when there is hoarfrost in the crevices of the ground surface, the groundwater level is also relatively high; places thawed early in spring and frozen late in winter The groundwater table is high in places where there is a rapid meltdown after snowfall.

4. Find water sources according to the weather

Where there is a rainbow in the sky, there must be rain; under the dark, thundering cumulonimbus clouds, there must be rain or hail; in the valleys where there is always thick fog, there must be a source of water; and some urgent needs can be relieved by collecting dew.

5. Find water sources according to the activities of animals and insects

In summer, where mosquitoes gather and fly into a cylindrical shape, there must be water; where frogs, big ants, and snails live, there is also water; in addition, the routes that swallows fly over and the places where mud builds nests have water sources and groundwater levels. higher place. Furthermore, quails fly towards the water in the evening and back in the morning; turtledoves fly towards the water source in the morning and evening. These are also the basis for judging the water source.

6. Get water directly from the plant

In the southern jungle, it may be wild plantain. The core of this plant has a large water content. As long as it is quickly cut from the bottom with a knife, there will be clean liquid dripping from the stem. The tender core of wild plantain is also edible. , in the case of food shortage, can satisfy hunger. If you can find vines such as kudzu, grape vines, kiwi vines, etc., drinking water can also be obtained from them. In addition, when the trees are about to sprout in spring, drinking water can also be obtained from the trunks and branches of trees such as elm and elm. Note: Do not drink the sap of vines or shrubs and trees with emulsions, which are poisonous. In addition, drinking water can also be obtained from reed moss, cactus and their fruits. Tip: Drinking "water" obtained from plants is prone to spoilage. It is best to drink it immediately and not store it for a long time.

Final words

The above water intake method is effective when water is scarce in the field. However, simply relying on the above methods to find water sources is not a long-term solution, and it is very complicated and laborious. These methods are also limited to small and short wilderness trips. It is not applicable when there are too many people or a long time.

When you are extremely tired and thirsty, even if you find a water source, it is best not to drink binge immediately. You should purify and disinfect the water source according to the environmental conditions at that time, so as to avoid poisoning or contracting diseases due to drinking water.