Mountain man Jake Herak knows the true meaning of self-reliance. As a seasoned houndsman and star of History Channel's Mountain Men, he routinely works and plays in the rugged, unforgiving terrain of Montana's Ruby Mountains.
Navigating these isolated, high-altitude landscapes has taught him that preparation is the ultimate key to survival.
To help fellow adventurers navigate the deep woods safely, Herak has delivered his top four essential strategies for staying safe, prepared, and entirely self-reliant in the unpredictable backcountry.
Summary
- Mountain Men star Jake Herak shares life-saving advice for staying safe in the backcountry.
- Outdoorsmen must completely understand their physical health and personal limitations.
- Wearing the correct personal protective equipment and clothing is critical.
- High-altitude survival requires studying the terrain and packing matching gear.
- Explorers must never leave home without essential survival gear.
Tips for Self-Reliance
1) Know Your Limitations
You need to know your body’s physical condition and your limitations. If you’re going into a high-altitude environment, you’ll need to acclimate yourself to the elevation first before diving into something.
If you don’t, you can get in a lot of trouble, fast. I keep myself in shape by working out at the local high school gym every other night for one to two and a half hours. But there’s nothing that will train you for the mountain like the mountain.
2) Wear Personal Protective Equipment
You need to have the proper gear. Your boots and your clothing are absolutely key. I call them PPE, or personal protective equipment. If you get soaking wet, for example, you need to be able to keep your body heat up so that you don’t get frostbite.
In one seven-day stretch on the mountain here, I think the high was negative 20 degrees, and at one point it got down to negative 58. And the wind is always blowing—anywhere from three to seven miles per hour and then on up to 20- or 40- or 60-miles per hour.
3) Know Your Terrain & Pack Accordingly
You need to know the terrain—and be prepared for it with the right equipment. In certain areas, for instance, you’re going to need to bring along rain gear. Even if you don’t plan to spend the night on the mountain, you’d better be prepared to do so. I’ll sleep in a tent or on the ground.
Sometimes I’ll just bring a sleeping bag and a ‘bivy sack’ (a lightweight ‘tent shell’ that zips over a sleeping bag for additional protection).
4) Bring Survival Essentials — Every Time
You need to bring along ‘the essentials’ including a first-aid kit, something to start a fire, and a way to filter water. For filtering water, I use either a tiny little pump (no bigger than a pack of gum) or a LifeStraw water-filtration system.
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