Survival Camping After The World Ends

It’s almost over. The countdown to the end of the world is upon us. No more beautiful national parks, no more starry nights and campfires. But, there is a chance that after all the fire and brimstone, survivors will surface. Those with basic camping experience will have the best chance at starting a new world, as long as they are prepared with a revised list of the 5 essential survival skills adjusted for the end of times.

Shelter
Without knowing the exact details of the end of times, it is safe to assume that destruction and mayhem will be involved. The good news is that world-wide chaos should leave some burned out buildings and other easy shelters. Try to avoid those places which are actively burning and those which are untouched. The nicest abandoned buildings will attract the most attention and attention is the last thing you want in a post apocalyptic world where zombies and cannibalistic tendencies are the norm.

Fire
Starting a fire will be the least of your worries after the apocalypse. Nearly everything will be engulfed in flames including large piles of garbage, most forests and gas stations. Once you find a fire, keep it going with readily available debris and paper money, which will now be worthless.

Food & Water
For the first few weeks, you will find food in abandoned and half-looted grocery stores, mini-marts and restaurants. Once these precious foodstores are gone you may have to turn to hunting and eventually, cannibalism. For water you’ll want to treat or filter everything because even fresh water reservoirs will probably be polluted with dead bodies and radioactive waste.

Navigation
Post apocalyptic navigation cannot rely on any of the traditional methods. GPS units will not function because satellites will have fallen into the ocean and compasses may not work if the earth’s magnetic core gets thrown off by some cataclismic earthquake. Even major natural and man-made landmarks may disappear when buildings collapse and mountains slide back into the ocean. Your best bet is the stars.

First Aid
You will almost certainly have several first aid emergencies after the apocalypse. From minor cuts and bruises to radiation poisoning, curses and scurvy; because all citrus trees will almost certainly get wiped out. Plan ahead with band-aids, bottles of concentrated lime juice, a lead suit and a few defensive spells.