If you're planning to embark on an adventure—whether it's camping or hiking—you really need to think ahead. What preparations should you make before setting out? What unexpected situations might you encounter? And how will you call for help if danger strikes...
The "Bear Grylls craze" sparked by the UK's iconic wilderness survival expert has now swept China. But if you think watching documentaries will make you as capable as Bear Grylls, ready to roam the wild with ease—that's a big mistake.
Before you set off
Choosing a route, understanding the local climate, and preparing the right gear... this isn’t a spontaneous trip.
"The four most high-risk outdoor adventure activities include rock climbing, diving, caving (cave exploration), and trekking."
"The very first thing before setting out is choosing your destination. For beginners in outdoor adventures, it's best to pick well-established routes and progress from easy to difficult based on your physical fitness. Because novice explorers haven’t yet developed the necessary technical skills, stamina, or mental resilience. Jumping straight into challenging cliffs without any prior mountain-climbing experience can be extremely dangerous."
He cited the Simatai section of the Great Wall, located in Gubeikou Town in the northeast of Miyun County, Beijing, as an example. As the only remaining stretch of the Ming-era Great Wall that retains its original appearance, this section embodies all the wonder, peril, and ruggedness of the ancient wall. "For instance, the Single-Plank Wall here has cliffs on both sides. Unless you have some experience, if an explorer lacks the right mental fortitude and panics, it can quickly become dangerous."
Once you've chosen your destination, the next step is gear preparation. "Is it a short outdoor trip or a longer expedition? Will you be hiking or driving? Do you need to camp? These are all things to consider when packing."
"Generally, you should check the local weather conditions in advance. Take Beijing’s Lingshan Mountain, for example. At over 2,300 meters above sea level, nighttime temperatures at the summit can be much lower than in the city or even at the base. Even in summer, you’ll need warm clothing. If you’re hiking Lingshan in the summer, I’d bring a rain poncho even if the forecast says no rain—because there are microclimates on the mountain, and you need to prepare for that."
When choosing gear, follow the principle of 'simple yet effective.' 'If you’re camping, you can’t exactly carry a mattress and quilts. There are now multi-purpose outdoor gear items. For example, the rain poncho I just mentioned is essentially a piece of plastic sheeting with Velcro. When it rains, you can stick it together to make a raincoat; open it up, prop it with branches, and it becomes a tent; you can also lay it under your tent as waterproofing.'"
How should you eat?
Eating raw insects, as seen in reality TV shows, is highly inadvisable in real-life adventures—especially for beginners.
"Food is extremely important. For short trips, bringing high-calorie, easy-to-carry food is sufficient—like the compressed biscuits I usually carry. But for longer outdoor expeditions, you can’t rely entirely on pre-packed food, so you’ll need to forage."
When selecting food, prioritize items you know are safe and edible. For example, certain fruits or familiar wild greens. 'Many people also recommend eating mushrooms, but my advice is to only do so if you’re absolutely sure they’re non-toxic and you recognize them. Otherwise, avoid them.'"
If none of the above food sources are available, experienced explorers have some practical methods for testing whether unfamiliar plants or fungi are poisonous. "'For example, you can judge unknown plants by their smell or taste. Avoid anything that smells like bitter almonds or tastes unusually sweet or sour. If you’re unsure about mushrooms, you can split the stem and check the cross-section—if it changes color quickly, it likely contains high levels of sulfur compounds and is probably toxic. We generally advise trying unknown foods in small amounts first—for example, testing for allergic reactions on your skin. If there’s no reaction, touch it to your lips, then lightly lick it to see if it causes numbness or other effects. Do some basic safety tests. If you’re in a group, you can even have one or two volunteers try it first.'"
"Meat is undoubtedly better than plants for restoring energy. If you’re able, you can catch rabbits or fish—but whenever possible, eat cooked or grilled food. Methods like eating raw insects, as shown in Bear Grylls’ survival shows, are not advisable in real-life adventures, especially for beginners. Eating raw meat isn’t entirely out of the question, but only if you’re certain it’s free of pathogens and clean. Keep in mind that getting infected with bacteria in the wild and suffering from diarrhea or dehydration can be extremely dangerous."
"Basically, we don’t support adventurers imitating Bear Grylls’ show stunts because survival programs are commercialized and often rely on eye-catching gimmicks. But behind those shows is a large support team handling emergencies and ensuring the safety of Bear and others. If ordinary people venture into the wild and something goes wrong, they won’t be so lucky."
Even if you truly end up in a situation where you must eat raw meat, the priority is adapting your body gradually—start with small amounts and increase only once you’ve adjusted.
If you encounter danger
Try to light a fire and use various methods to signal for help. In many cases, staying put and waiting for rescue is wiser.
"We need to consciously avoid common dangers. For example, the most frequent hazard in the mountains is slipping and falling—there are lots of loose rocks, and stepping on them can be dangerous. So be extra careful when climbing. If you do fall, stay calm, assess your surroundings, coordinate your body, and slide down in a controlled manner—preferably using your buttocks or back."
Another common danger is being whipped by branches or vines. 'That’s why experienced explorers always carry protective eyewear when venturing into the wild, just in case.'"
Other common injuries include sprained ankles, fractures, or general scrapes. 'Besides treating these issues, regardless of whether you have heart problems, it’s wise to carry fast-acting heart medication or glycerol trinitrate, because wilderness adventures can sometimes overtax the heart, and such emergencies aren’t uncommon.'"
To minimize risks, it’s recommended to share your itinerary and plans with someone who isn’t going. 'Have a rough plan—what route you’ll take, where you’ll enter and exit. If you haven’t returned a day or two after your expected time, someone should report it and initiate a search. Also, it’s best to carry a walkie-talkie to stay in contact.'"
"Once in danger, try to build a fire. Fire can not only keep you warm and cook prey to prevent illness, but also keep wild animals at bay for safety. The smoke from the fire can also serve as a distress signal. If you don’t have fire, you can use a whistle or a survival mirror (equipment that can reflect light over a dozen kilometers away). If you get lost in the wilderness during the day, choose a direction and move along fixed landmarks; if it’s night, it’s best to stay put to avoid wasting energy on futile efforts." "In short, once lost in the wilderness, unless you know where there are signs of people or can descend along a stream, it’s best to stay in place and wait for rescue."
Nowadays, more and more people enjoy outdoor adventures, and some companies’ team-building activities have gradually shifted from indoors to the outdoors. "Wilderness survival is an excellent team-building project for building willpower and fostering qualities like unity and mutual assistance. It’s also a great way to satisfy curiosity and get closer to nature. However, without extensive exploration experience, it’s best to join a well-organized group or bring one or two experienced guides. This way, while experiencing wilderness adventures and gaining knowledge, you can minimize risks and ensure personal safety."
Flip through a seasoned explorer’s backpack
Open the gear, and you’ll find triangular bandages, band-aids, iodine, alcohol, small scissors, adhesive tape, anti-diarrheal medicine, anti-inflammatory drugs, cold medicine, quick-acting heart rescue pills, glycerol, large, medium, and small band-aids, ropes, flashlights, knives, raincoats, flint, military aluminum water bottles, walkie-talkies, portable solar charging panels, GPS, compasses, maps, and entrenching tools.
These are the most basic pieces of equipment. For long-distance expeditions, you should also bring a stove. If you’re going to mountainous or jungle areas where open flames are prohibited, you can replace the stove with a stove head and gas canisters.
"In short, the longer the journey, the heavier the burden. To conserve energy, keep your gear as simple as possible!"