Story by Joshua Swanagon, Photos by Joshua Swanagon, Publisher and Kevin Estela
While the right gear can make a comping trip more comfortable and a survival situation more survivable, knowledge can save your life in the absence of gear.
When you spend your time and effort investing in your knowledge base you will have survival assets that you won’t lose, can take on any plane, will never forget at home or back in camp, adds no footprint to your pack or weight on your back, will not break or wear out and no one can steal it from you. Gear should be viewed as an addition to your survival plan, but your mind should always be your first line of survival.
Knife & Gear Society contributor Kevin Estela’s new book 101 Skills You Need to Survive in the Woods is a well thought out and comprehensive guide to survival. Using his extensive knowledge base, Kevin’s book not only makes it easy for the reader to understand (with solid illustrations and ample photography), but he also keys in on the importance of the survival mindset that so many other books overlook.
With chapters on fire, shelter, knife skills, cordage, illumination, navigation, signaling & communication, first-aid & trauma, water and food gathering, Kevin goes into great detail in each chapter while covering many varied methods for each topic – ensuring that you are prepared in any environment and scenario. The book is easy to read and engaging enough to keep even the most distracted reader captivated.
101 Skills You Need to Survive in the Woods is 204 pages of solid information and survival tips that make it a great resource for skilled survivalists and those new to wilderness survival alike.
Knife & Gear Society contributor Kevin Estela is no stranger to the great outdoors.
I have known Kevin for a few years now – going back to my time as Editor of Knives Illustrated Magazine and he was one of my regular contributors – and I have watched him traverse the globe in search of any adventure and/or training that was provided to him.
Kevin’s lifelong passion for the outdoors led him to become Lead Instructor of the Wilderness Learning Center and one of the only survival instructors “Certified” by survival authority Marty Simon. During his time with the Wilderness Learning Center, from 2007 – 2012, Kevin instructed classes on all aspects of survival; including psychology, firecraft, water collection, shelter making, signaling, food procurement, cordage, and other elements of the Basic, Advanced and Winter Courses.
After his time with the Wilderness Learning Center – with which he still maintains an ongoing friendship – he went on to found Estela Wilderness Education. From that time, he has gone on to become a prolific writer for many knife, outdoor and survival magazines and websites – with over 125 published articles.
Kevin has also been a guest speaker at sportsmen’s shows, speaking engagements and webinars. He has been called upon to use his experience as an on-air subject matter expert for History Channel’s Expedition Africa and was selected to be Co-Host and Presenter for a History Channel pilot show in Mexico that did not end up airing.
His accolades continue to grow and his desire to share his knowledge has manifested in his new book 101 Skills You Need to Survive in the Woods, published in 2019 by Page Street Publishing.
Join the Conversation, comment on this story below. >>
Fire SkillsShelter SkillsKnife SkillsCordage SkillsIllumination SkillsNavigation SkillsSignaling and Communication SkillsFirst-Aid and Trauma SkillsWater SkillsFood-Gathering SkillsMSRP: $21.99
Kevin Estelawww.KevinEstela.com
Amazon.com
Joshua Swanagon has studied survival in both urban and wilderness environments in Colorado and Michigan for most of his life, while also adding experience in harsher terrains abroad. He utilizes his experience and years of diverse martial arts and combatives training and real world application as a self-defense/combatives instructor, published freelance writer and Field Editor for various magazines in the fields of knives, survival, self-defense and tactical subject matters. Joshua also brings with him his years of experience as Editor of, and Subject Matter Expert for, Knives Illustrated Magazine.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.