Will to Live: Dispatches from the Edge of Survival Read Online Free PDF Page B

survival mentality. He had an extraordinary will to live, the creative genius to solve the many challenges that were thrown at him every day, and a fair bit of luck. Of course, he was also helped immensely by the fact that he had a survival kit with him, and that he knew enough to keep himself in good physical shape.
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    What Would Les Do?
    It may be tempting, but deciding to eat fruit or other wild edibles you have no knowledge of is potentially dangerous, too. One way to determine whether you should indulge in a possibly life-saving food source is through the Edibility Test , which ensures that only small parts of the plant contact your body at one time, in slowly increasing increments. The Edibility Test requires a lot of time and effort, so make sure there is enough of the plant in question to make your efforts worthwhile. A final note: the Edibility Test is also a last-ditch effort, and does not work on all poisonous plants.
    1. Test only a single plant type at a time, and don’t eat anything else during the test period.
    2. Rub the plant on a sensitive part of your body, such as your wrist. Wait forty-five minutes for signs of any adverse effects like nausea, hives, dizziness, or shortness of breath.
    3. If no effect is detected, take a small part of the plant and prepare it the way you plan on eating it.
    4. Before eating, touch a small part of the prepared plant to your outer lip, to test for burning, tingling, or itching.
    5. If there is no reaction after five minutes, place the plant on your tongue. Hold it there for fifteen minutes.
    6. If there is no reaction after fifteen minutes, chew a very small amount for fifteen minutes; be alert to any adverse effect. Do not swallow.
    7. If you still feel fine after chewing for fifteen minutes, swallow it.
    8. Wait eight hours. If you begin to notice any adverse effects, induce vomiting and drink as much water as possible. If there are still none, eat a small handful of the plant.
    9. Wait another eight hours. If there are still no negative effects, you are likely safe.
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    After resting at his shoreline campsite, Yossi set off down the Tuichi toward Curiplaya. According to the map, he thought he would make it there the following day. He was right. He soon stumbled into Curiplaya. It was abandoned, but he was overjoyed to find four well-built huts waiting for him. And beds! Yes, he would sleep well in Curiplaya.
    Yossi used his time in Curiplaya to plan the next part of his journey. He would walk to a town called San Jose, which he estimated he would reach in a few days. His rationale was sound: Curiplaya was used as a
seasonal camp by people who lived in San Jose, so the trail between the two places must be well marked and easy to follow. He again afforded himself a little time to rest, exploring the camp and looking for the trail that would lead him to safety. I agree with his decision to move on. It showed proactivity in a tough situation. Staying put was not a viable option.
    Yossi set out the next day. The trail began wide and well marked, but soon narrowed considerably, forcing Yossi to search for machete marks on trees to find the route. He sang while he walked, another great mind trick to make you feel better and keep you motivated in an otherwise desperate situation. In a handful of my survival situations, I have either sung aloud or played harmonica while walking. It accomplishes a few things: it kills time, it gives you a focus other than your pain or dire circumstances, it can lift your and your travel mates’ spirits, and it can scare off predators ahead on the trail. I use this method in thick bear territory all the time.
    Yossi’s confidence had grown to the point that he actually hoped he wouldn’t be rescued. He wanted to walk into San Jose on his own. He soon came upon a sandy beach littered with driftwood. Still thinking like a survivor, he piled the logs into the shape of the letter Y and the number 12, representing his first initial and the