Lost and Stranded: Expert Advice on How to Survive Being Alone in the Wilderness

by Timothy Sprinkle

For anyone who spends time in the backcountry, understanding not only what sorts of dangers you can run into out there but also exactly what those risks can do to you is part of being a smart, well informed outdoor traveler. In Lost and Stranded , author Timothy Sprinkle breaks down the perils that can befall hikers, hunters, and other outdoor enthusiasts. There are animal encounters, weather events (lightning strikes), parasites (giardia), biting insects (bees/wasps), winter hazards (avalanches), natural disasters (forest fires), hypothermia, dehydration, disorientation, and much, much more to worry about. Although these risks are generally well known, what’s less understood by many adventurers is what exactly happens to you when, say, you become malnourished in the backcountry. What does it feel like? How does the condition progress? How long do you generally have before the body shuts down? What helps or hurts when you’re fighting for survival? Lost and Stranded will answer these questions and many more by taking an inside look at more than two dozen outdoor hazards. Each one will include a narrative section that dramatizes the experience of a certain situation based on real-world events. From there, information from expert sources—medical doctors, first responders, wildlife experts, and others—will fill in the details around exactly how each scenario plays out on the ground, followed by suggestions on how to avoid or survive each risk factor, making this book is a vital resource for outdoor travelers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature

296 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2017

About the author

A longtime business journalist whose work has appeared in Wired, Entrepreneur, Quartz and many other publications, Timothy Sprinkle has covered a wide range of topics including technology, small business and entrepreneurship. As part of his research for "Screw the Valley," he traveled to emerging startup cities across the country -- including Boulder, Austin, New York City, Raleigh-Durham, Las Vegas, Kansas City and Detroit -- meeting with more than 200 founders, mentors, venture capitalists and other tech thinkers, immersing himself in each region's small business culture. Based in Colorado, he holds a degree from The College of William & Mary.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book at the library after watching many wilderness and survival shows on TV. I thought maybe there was more for me to learn even tho I live in an urban environment. Surprisingly this book did not provide me with any new tips or startling revelations so I was a bit disappointed. But...for people new and unknowledgeable of the wilderness, it might be a handy read.

I know about spiders and the different types - during my lifetime I’ve seen and have been bit by a few. I know about the poison ivy, oak and sumac - I’ve had quite a few tumbles with these noxious plants to the point I had to be hospitalized, so yeah, things to be seriously aware of. I’ve had run in with snakes (I hate snakes) - one came out of rocks on shore while I was fishing, another time a family of snakes was wrapped around my hose/hose cart out front of my house, sunning themselves, and I have come across many garden snakes in my yard gardens.

So yeah, if you are young and not very knowledgeable of the woods and the wild, perhaps are going camping, hiking and and outdoor adventuring, this is a good basic book for you. There are pictorials in this book as well.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent, general overview of surviving in the backcountry. Most of it is common sense and people will probably have come across most of the advice in this book before.

My biggest issue was the introduction of each section with a 'scary story of an attack or encounter with the section subject that resulted in death but the the rest of it is about how you shouldn't be afraid of it and you're not really going to die but there is still that anxiety.

Good for those who have no knowledge of any ways to survive in the wilderness but otherwise those with experience will probably find this book repetitive and boring (and anxiety inducing).

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of many troubling situations you may encounter while in the wild. From animals (including humans) to illness to rough terrain. Bears, mountain lions, ticks, scorpions, spiders, mosquitoes, humans, high altitude, dehydration, excessive heat or cold, landslides, avalanches, glaciers, dysentery, and so much more. Each type of encounter includes a story or event of someone getting hurt or killed after encountering such difficulties. Even Chris McCandles was mentioned in the section about starvation. Author also provides a few tips on how to deal with the situations. This book is not comprehensive and one would need to do further study and reading to truly prepare for each situation, especially since every region, season differs. The author especially emphasizes as his last point of the book that wanderers, hikers, adventurers need to properly prepare, which is the most important task on any adventure into the wilderness. Recommended for those that enjoy the wilderness, but as mentioned, more preparation is needed.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads. I felt it was well written and talked about all the hazards that you might encounter while hiking. It would be a good book to read before you take a trip.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Half the advice was just "don't get in this situation," which isn't super helpful. Lots of worst-case scenario stories but not enough of a focus on practical and practicable skills.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had a great format to it, first providing a cautionary tale for each type of hazard, followed by m detailed information and advice.