The Best Ways to Treat Drinking Water, According to a Survivalist
Hydration is one of the first principles of backcountry survival. Here's how to do it safely.
Author
Jessie Krebs
Jessie Krebs is a former Air Force S.E.R.E (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) instructor and owner of O.W.L.S. Skills, a school aiming to educate and empower women and other underrepresented demographics in wildnerness survival. Krebs has also starred in History’s “ALONE: season 9” and National Geographic’s “Mygrations”.
My Stories
How A Survivalist Efficiently Carries Heavy Loads
These survivalist-approved burden-carrying techniques can help you manage heavy weights on the trail.
How to Choose a Knife, According to a Survival Instructor
Blades come in all shapes and sizes. Here's how to pick the right one for your needs.
How to Cook Over a Fire, According to a Survival Instructor
No camp stove? You can still whip up a hot meal with these tips.
How to Navigate in the Backcountry at Night
When darkness falls, these wayfinding skills could save your life.
How to Find Your Way Without a Compass
Use nature to get your bearings with these navigation skills.
How a Military Survival Instructor Packs for Emergencies
What should every backpacker carry in case of emergency? It's a tough question—so we got an expert to help answer it.
Caught Out With No Tent? A Survivalist Shares Her Best Shelter Tips
No tent? No problem. Use these expert tips to make shelter in any conditions.
How to Survive in the Cold, According to an Expert
Knowing how to keep warm could help save your life if things go wrong on a winter hike.
How to Make a Fire Even in the Windiest, Wettest Conditions
Lighting a fire is one of those skills that just takes practice—but knowing a few tricks makes it a lot easier.
8 Mental Techniques to Keep You Calm When Your Hike Gets Dangerous
Psychology plays a large role in survival. Here's how to leverage it to your advantage.
A Survival Expert’s Best Tricks for Finding Water
You're out of water and far from a reliable source. Stay alive with survival instructor Jessie Krebs's backcountry-tested advice.
Signaling for Help Is the Most Important Survival Skill
Knowing how to summon help isn't as flashy as being able to start a fire with a bow drill or forage for food. But it's a lot more likely to help you get home safely.
“Survival” Isn’t What You Think It Is
No matter what your favorite grizzled YouTuber tells you, survival isn’t about learning to track animals or spear fish with a stick. In this new column, former Air Force survival instructor Jessie Krebs explains what hikers actually need to know to return from the backcountry alive.