SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea [New Edition] 0060578793, 9780060578794

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The Original Million-Copy Worldwide Bestseller

Survivals

Handbook How to

Survive

in

the Wild,

in

Any Climate, on Land or at Sea

JOHN "LOFTY" WISEMAN

Poison

Sumac

Treacherous I

Mine Shaft

.

.

Dangerous Animal .......

.

Cliff

A.

Leeches

ir

Bed

of

Quicksand

^^ cS7):

Wild

Strawberries

small, scrambling plan 'ruits

nail cultivaft

You 1

48

ma

'ook

-

under the

berries.

FRUIT to find the sweet, delicious fruit.

kinds occur high

in

eaten

The

C and

best

Vitamin

fruits are rich in

Some

mountains.

fresh.

6 Hawthorns (Crataegus) are spiny

shrubs or small trees found in scrub and waste places, with deeply lobed

of white

clusters

leaves,

pink

or

autumn, reddish Their flesh is creamy and raw. Young spring shoots are and,

flowers fruits.

edible

in

edible, too.

7

Apples

Crab

(Malus)

are

short,

rather spiny trees of scrubland

woods,

with

downy

leaves,

oval,

usually reddish-brown

twigs

and

Fruit,

often very

white, pink or red flowers.

looks

bitter,

cultivated apples. dried

and

often

toothed,

for storage.

like

the

can be sliced and

It

many

Too

of the

red), (sometimes will produce apples

yellowish-green pectin -rich

diarrhoea and are best cooked with other

fruits.

Wild Cherries (Prunus) occur woodland in most areas, growing

8

24m

(80ft) with small, pale

in

to

green to

reddish leaves, usually shiny reddish-

brown

bark,

flowers.

and white or pinkish

The fruits are red or black

depending on the kind; some kinds taste sour.

9

Blackthorn

spinosa)

4m

is

(13ft)

or

Sloe

(Prunus

a large bush, growing to with

dark brown

twigs,

long thorns, oval leaves and white flowers, in

Eurasia.

woodland and scrub over

The small blue-black fruits

are very acid

and

better cooked

down

to a jelly.

Fruits supply essential

food values,

and C. They are the staple diet of many animals and birds — so, where you find fruit, you will find animals too. particularly vitamins A, B2

149

FOOD 1 and 2 Bilberries, Cranberries, Cowberries and Huckleberries (Vaccinium and Gaylussacia) are abundant on northern moors, bogs tundra, and sometimes in woods. Variable in size, but all are woody and shrubby with smallish oval leaves and

small globe-shaped

from white

flowers

varying

to pink or greenish.

The

cranberry prefers marshy ground, the related, ground-hugging Cowberry (or Mountain Cranberry, 2) grows on moors. The spherical berries

closely

may

be black

(Bilberry,

1),

dark blue

(Huckleberry), mottled red (Cranberry)

or red

useful

for

storage

woody stems make

The

raisins.

like

They are edible

(Cowberry).

cooked or dried

fresh,

fuel.

Chokeberries (Pyrus) are North American shrubs growing up to 2.4m 3

but

(8ft)

usually

much

with

less,

spear-shaped, finely toothed leaves

and

five-petalled,

pinkish or white

woody

flowers; in wet or dry

swampy

on

or

ground.

areas,

The

red,

purplish or black spherical berries,

which grow

in clusters,

raw, dried or jellied.

with

are excellent

Do not confuse

poisonous

the

Buckthorns

(RhamnusJ.

4 European Elder (Sambucus nigra) occurs in scrub and woods, growing to

7m

(23ft) with

and

leaves

spear-shaped toothed

bunches

The

flowers.

of tiny whitish

clusters

of

small

purplish-black berries are best cooked

down

to

a syrup.

There are similar

edible elders in other parts, but avoid

the smaller ones as their red berries

may

be

toxic.

Juniper (Juniperus communis) occurs in mountainous and northern 5

a a

woody shrub 5m

small prostrate bush

(15ft) tall or

with

green, needle-like leaves. Avoid

young

green berries; the ripe blue-black ones St (i

cooked with other food.

Rowans

or

Mountain

Timon >\\\

50

\:

in

to

Ashes

.

15m

(50ft)

FRUIT with

smooth

toothed elusters

greyish

and

flowers

of small orange

These

berries.

raw and

are edible but sharp-tasting

can be cooked down

small

bark,

white

leaflets,

to a jelly.

7 Wild Mulberries (Morus) average

6 -20m (18-60 ft), with oval leaves, sometimes deeply lobed, flowers on catkins, like

the red or black fruits look

large blackberries,

long.

5-7 cm

(2 -3 in)

They are edible raw. Found

woody areas

in

many temperate

in

parts.

8

Wild

Grapes

shaped

are straggly,

(Vitis)

with

high-climbing,

coarsely

heart-

large,

toothed

leaves,

greenish flovsers and bunches of amber to purplish grapes. Very

widespread

in

warmer parts of the world. As well as the fruit, young leaves are excellent the

boiled.

PRESERVING FRUIT Fresh fruits soon go off, but they

can be kept by making them into jellies. Most kinds contain an ingredient

called

pectin,

which

reacts with the acid in the fruit to

help

it

settle

into

a

jelly

after

boiling.

TO MAKE JELLY the fruit and then simmer mushy. Some fruits have less pectin than others. These can be supplemented by adding another fruit rich in pectin, such as Crab Apple. The boiling action kills off any bacteria that would turn the fruit. Allow to cool and keep in First boil

until

a

clean,

possible

if

airtight,

container.

Some

fruits

can

be

dried

for

storage, although this will take a

week

to ten

days.

Lay them

in

a

single layer on a sheet, not in direct

sunlight,

moisture

and protect them from any - both rain and dew.

151

NUTS Nuts supply proteins and Pines

1

are

(Pinus)

fat.

the

familiar

cone-bearing trees with clusters of evergreen

slim

needles;

most

in

temperate and northerly areas. Heat

mature cones to release the seeds. They are tasty raw but delicious roasted. Roasted nuts can be ground for flour and can be stored. Young catkin-like cones are just about edible boiled. Needles and bark are also edible.

grow to 30m composed of many toothed, narrow leaflets and furrowed bark. The blackish brown nuts are at

2

Walnuts

first

(Juglans)

with leaves

(90ft),

enclosed

a thick green husk. In

in

most temperate areas. One tree can yield up to 58kg (1401b) of nuts.

18%

Walnuts contain

and provide 6600

fat

60%

protein,

calories per kilo

(3000 per pound)! Butternut (Juglans cinerea) is another North American relative,

3

with

smaller,

more greyish bark and

oblong, sticky fruit husks.

4 Pecan (Carya

36m

(120ft),

illinoinensis) reaches

with dark ridged bark

and many small pairs,

leaflets in opposite

moist

in

places

in

North

America. The oval, thin-husked nuts are

richer

in

fat

than any other

vegetable product.

5 Hazels (Corylus) are

tall

shrubs of

and

waste ground, toothed, oval to heart-shaped leaves thickets

and

brownish-yellow

highly nutritious nuts leafy, bristl)

catkins.

come

The

in ovoid,

or hair) husks

6 Sweet Chestnuts (Costarica) range

5-30m

from

(i5-90ft), spreading

toothed hairless leaves and bearing catkins,

in

wooded

areas. Nuts,

"c forms 2-3 together, are borne in

gle

boil

152

I

thick

pricl

Smash open husks, peel and mash. Do not confuse

husks

nuts,

with

NUTS Horse Chestnut which has large palmate leaves, like the fingers on a hand, and poisonous nuts. 7

Beeches (Fagus) are very tall and with smooth lightish bark

spreading,

and

wavy-margined

thick-veined,

broad-leaved woodland. Nuts small, triangular, 2-4

sharp oval leaves; in

in

each hairy husk depending on the Protein-rich;

species.

roasted or crushed for

8

Oaks

wooded

lobed

deeply

occur

(Quercus)

variety in

raw,

edible

oil.

but

leaves

great

in

Many have

areas.

bear

all

unmistakable acorns. Shell them and

changing the water

boil several times,

to

ease their bitterness, or steep

in

cold water for 3-4 days. Alternatively,

bury them

and

ash

with

from

watering

time

roast; roasted acorns

charcoal,

Then

time.

to

make good

flour

or coffee substitute.

9

grow

Pistachios (Pistacia)

warmer parts from east

Afghanistan;

to

elsewhere. Trees, to

many

wild in

the Mediterranean

introduced

10m

(30ft),

with

small oval leaflets and clusters

of nuts

with

a green

kernel

raw or parch on

reddish skin. Eat

and fire

embers.

10 Almonds (Prunus) grow wild in warm, arid parts of Europe and Asia, widely introduced elsewhere. Resemble large peach trees, with sprays of blossom, small spear-shaped leaves and clusters of nuts in green leathery husks. Avoid bitter ones, which contain prussic acid.

Extract

oil

from

rich

nuts such as

beech. Crack open, separate meat

from shells. Boil gently skimming off the oil as

in

water, rises to

it

the surface or allow to cool separate. Store dry,

preferably

container.

A

in

yield of

of nutritious

450g

somewhere

oils

cool

and and

an

airtight

270ml

(3fl oz)

can come from

(11b) of nuts.

153

POISONOUS PLANTS Compared

to the

many

edible ones,

there are few poisonous plants

temperate areas. ones shown.

Learn

well

in

the

CONTACT POISONS Contact with Poison Sumac, Poison Ivy and Poison Oak produces severe

and rashes. Wash effected immediately (see Poisons in

irritation

parts

Health).

1

Sumac 2-6m

Poison

vernix) reaches

many

with

clusters

2

18ft), hairless,

oval leaflets

opposite

in

dark-spotted smooth bark and

pairs,

in

(Toxicodendron (6-

of white

berries; in

swamplands

south-eastern North America.

Oak

Poison

(Toxicodendron

quercifolium) resembles Poison Ivy but is

smaller,

always upright, and with leaflets and white wooded parts of North

oakleaf-shaped berries,

in

America. 3 Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is

smaller, 0.6-2.

1m (2-7 ft],

trailing or

upright, with three-part very variable

flowers

always

but

leaves,

and white

greenish

with

berries; in

wooded

areas of North America.

4 Jewelweed near Poison

(Impatiens), often Ivy,

found

with pale yellow or

orange spotted flowers and seed pods provides

that pop, irritation

a juice

to

ease

from contact with these and

other plants.

POISONS BY INGESTION 5 Death Carnas (Zigadenus venosus) reaches

30-60cm

(1-2ft),

with long,

strap-like leaves arising from thi

and loose

clusters of greenish-white,

si\-part flowers; in North America, in

grassy,

rocky

and

lightly

wooded

DEADLY: do not confuse with Wild Onions or Lilies. 6 Thorn-apple or Crimson Weed S

(Datw

154

90cm

POISONOUS PLANTS (3ft),

with jagged-toothed oval leaves

and

large

white

solitary

flowers

widespread

and

in

trumpet-shaped

and spiny fruits; most temperate areas

also in the tropics. Sickly smelling.

All parts

DEADLY poisonous. grow

7 Foxgloves (Digitalis)

1.5m

to

with a rosette of basal leaves

(5ft),

topped by a

leafy spike of purple,

tall,

pink or yellow tube-shaped flowers; in waste and disturbed ALL parts are highly toxic,

widespread places.

affecting the heart.

8

Monk's-hood (Aconitum) reaches

1.5m

with palm-shaped,

leafy,

(5ft),

deeply segmented leaves and hairy

yellow

or

hood-like

purplish-blue

flowers; in

damp woods and shady most common kinds have

places. The

VERY poisonous. macu latum) may much branched, with

purplish-blue flowers.

9 Hemlock (Conium reach

2m

(6ft),

hollow purple-spotted stems, coarsely toothed leaves,

lighter

white roots;

in

dense

below,

of tiny white

clusters

flowers

and

grassy waste places.

Bad-smelling. Very poisonous.

10 Water Hemlocks or Cowbanes average 0.6- 1.3m (2- 4ft),

(Cicuta)

branching, with purple-streaked stems,

a hollow-chambered rootstock, small

2-3

lobed, toothed leaflets

and

clusters

of tiny white flowers, always found by Smells

water.

MOUTHFUL CAN 11

Baneberries

60cm

ONE

unpleasant. KILL.

(Actaea) reach

(1-2ft), with leaves

30-

made up of

several toothed leaflets, small, usually

white flowers clustered at the end of a stem,

and white or black

mostly

in

dizziness,

berries;

woods. ALL parts cause

Vomiting and severe internal

irritation.

12 Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna) may reach 1m (6ft), well branched,

with

bell-shaped,

oval leaves,

purplish

or

solitary,

greenish

and shiny black berries, in woodland and scrub in Eurasia. ALL

flowers

parts,

especially

berries,

are

VERY

poisonous.

155

FOOD Some poisonous

plants are easy to

60cm-2.6m

swampy places, some

Do not take risks. Hemlock and Water Hemlock are the two most important poisonous plants to learn, found in both Eurasia and the Americas in a wide Both are of country. range umbellifers, of which there are many kinds, and with many tiny flowers in dense clusters, like an umbrella inside-out and difficult to

lily-of-the-valley's,

apart.

tell

The

edible plants, but

some

include

umbellifers

NEVER

collect

any

ones.

grow

(2-8ft),

mistake for food plants if you are not careful in your identification.

wet,

in

species in grassy

Oval ribbed leaves resemble a

drooping clusters

of whitish or greenish-yellow flowers.

Can be

lethal.

Henbane (Hyoscyamus to large,

niger)

medium

growing on bare ground, often

near sea (Europe). Sticky oval leaves

creamy

hairs,

(upper ones

toothed

unstalked),

streaked

flowers

purple.

Unpleasant smell. Deadly poisonous.

POISONOUS BERRIES Canadian Moonseed (Menispermum canadense) North American vine-like

unless certain they are neither of

climber, clusters

these two, which can be lethal

Could be mistaken for Wild Grape but

in

very small amounts.

common

poisonous

plants

in

addition to those illustrated.

berries.

and has only a

lacks tendrils

Learn to recognize the following

of soft black

single

crescent- 1 ike seed in each berry.

(Solanum) medium

Nightshades large,

bushy plants

untidy,

to

liking

scrubby places, leaves usually long-

Buttercups

(Ranunculus) occur

in

great variety, from a few centimetres

from green

north and

white.

south, including far into the Arctic. All

edible

to

over a metre

have

waxy

glossy,

flowers

with

lapping petals.

in

tall,

five

bright or

AVOID

yellow

more over-

all,

they cause

severe inflammation of the intestinal tract.

Lupins (Lupinus), 30-90cm (1-3ft)

tall,

spear-shaped.

stalked,

to

Berries

black,

Plants producing berries

compact

and

similar

woody,

the

berries

smaller and more numerous.

any doubt assume and AVOID. Virginia Creeper

but

more

usually

are

ripen

yellow or

red,

If

in

be poisonous

to

(Parthenocissus

guinquefolia) vine-like North American

garden kind, growing in and grassy places. Often with small leaflets in a palm shape or

stalked,

radiating like the spokes of a wheel,

blue berries, smaller than wild grapes.

and

No plant

the

like

clearings

spikes of 'pea-flowers': blue, violet,

occasionally pink white or yellow.

Any

part can cause fatal inflammation of

Stomach and

intestines.

Locoweeds (Astalagus and

Vetches

"

ng

ni

(6-1 Sin)

tall,

grassland and mountain

palm-shaped leaves, toothed tendril and clusters of small

leaflets,

with edible blue berries

is

and with tendrils. shrubs Buckthorns (Rhamnus), ng in sometimes small trees scrubby and woods places, sometimes damp. Leaves oval, finely toothed; berries black and bitter tasting, vine-like

clustered a

i

iflets in

climber (introduced to Europe). Long-

./enf/y

opposite pairs '.oiled 'pea-

pink

to

rhere

are

many

field

guides

available which will help you extend

your False

156

Helleborines

.

ratrum)

knowledge

plants, detailing

of

many

temperate local forms.

TREES provide other nourishing foods, as well as fruit and nuts,

Trees

which can be invaluable to the

where there

other plant

is little

life

survivor,

particularly in areas

available.

The following refers to the trees of temperate and northern regions. Tropical trees, such as palms, are included in the section on tropical plants.

Bark is

both edible and

when sap has

started to flow.

The thin inner bark (cambium) of certain trees nutritious, but best in the spring,

Choose bark from near the bottom of the tree or from exposed roots. Peel

it

back with

a knife to reveal the inner layer. This

-

sweet and can be eaten raw long boiling, which

will

but can be

reduce

it

made more

is

mildly

digestible by

to a gelatinous mass.

It

can then

be roasted and ground for use as flour.

Outer bark has too much tannin to be edible, but some kinds

have medicinal uses.

Trees with best inner bark Slippery

Elm

northern

America,

maximum 18m and rough,

(Ulmus

to

a

occur

in

Maples

many

northern areas.

(Acer)

grow widely and

are

Twigs arc hairy

recognized by their distinctive lobed

toothed leaves are

and by the twowinged fruits. Spruces (Picea) are evergreen trees of cold climates. They are shaped like steeples, bear cones and have stiff,

(60ft).

oval,

of

rubra),

grows

hairy below.

Bass wood (Tilia americana), a North American lime with large, heart-shaped

and dark, grooved bark which becomes smooth grey on upper parts. Birches (Betula), which are often abundant in colder areas. They can be leaves

leaves in three parts

four-sided

needles

that

grow

around the twigs. Willows (Salix) are broad-leaved

all

trees

identified by their long delicate twigs

or shrubs with toothed leaves, lighter

and shiny

on the underside, and

flaky

bark

that

often

is

broken up into plates.

Aspens

(Populus

medium

trees resembling poplars.

tremula),

have rounded leaves on

very,

small

to

They

very long

Pines

(Pinus)

evergreen

stalks that quiver in the wind.

clusters

bark

(Larix laricina), is

(80ft) with

It

found in cold

grows

to

24m

a pointed shape, bears cones

and has needles

in tufts

along the twigs.

(Populus) have triangular and prominent catkins. They

many

kinds,

including ground-hugging arctic ones.

Tamarack

parts of North America.

distinctive yellow

or green catkins. There are

is

trees

are

widely

found

bearing cones and

of long needles.

Their inner

rich in vitamin C.

Hemlocks

(Tsuga)

resembling spruces, foliage, flat

are

with

evergreens,

sprays

of

needles and short, oblong

They bear no relation to the

Poplars

cones.

leaves

poisonous plant of the same name.

157

FOOD NOTE:

addition to the inner bark, the buds and shoots of

In

cooked

trees can be eaten raw or

- EXCEPT

for those of

all

these

Tamarack

and Hemlock, which are POISONOUS.

Other uses for inner bark The inner bark of some trees torn

into

strips

example,

for

made

is

been steamed

It

The bark of the mohoe

is

easily

tree,

for

into 'grass' skirts by Pacific islanders, having first

in a

hangi (see Fire

Birch bark can be

and forms an

very strong but pliable.

is

lashings.

Camp

in

Croft).

removed from the

tree

large sheets

in

ideal material for roofing shelters or for

making

small containers. The North American Indians clad their canoes

with

it.

SPRUCE TEA Steep spruce needles

in

hot water to make a tea. Collect only

green needles and

fresh,

vitamin

C.

boil.

The

liquid

produced

is

rich

in

The vitamin can be obtained more directly by chewing

tender young needles, whose starchy green tips are particularly pleasant

in

spring. Spruces occur far into the

an important source of nourishment is

north and are

other plant

life

resins

With some trees, when hardens into a lump. If a

little

available.

Gums and

not,

when

a

is

it

useful

resin.

survival

cut,

this

sap seeping out on to the bark is

soluble

in

water

Both are very nutritious, food.

rich

it

in

is

a

gum;

if

sugars and

A few have medicinal properties and make excellent material for

others are highly inflammable and lighting fires.

Birch and maple syrup rap birch or maple in

in

the

same way

as a rubber tree. Cut a V-shape

the bark to collect the sugary sap that runs out.

,i

hole

,i

container. Colle