Humans are born with survival knowledge and instincts such as the need to find shelter, food, water and warmth; however, if one of these four components is missing in a person's life, it can result in disastrous consequences such as illness, disease, permanent injury, and even death. With knowledge of your surroundings and the ability to stay calm under stressful conditions, your chances of survival increase dramatically. However, if you panic in a life-or-death situation, your chances of coming out alive are greatly reduced. Being prepared for the worst situations can be a person's best chance of survival. Reluctance or failure to prepare could lead to extreme outcomes, including death. Preparing for a desert trip involves two main responsibilities. These two responsibilities are to pack lightly and always remember that Mother Nature is not always on a person's side. Packing light ensures that you won't be overloaded while heading out into the woods and can save a person's much-needed energy for a later wilderness obstacle. Mother Nature is a very unpredictable factor in the climates you may encounter in nature. Whether it's running, snow, sleet, hail, heat or bitter cold, you can never predict the outcome of the forces you might face. When packing for a hiking or camping trip, it can be tempting to pack as much as you can, however, this isn't always the best idea. The top five things needed on a wilderness trip are a knife, rope, water, a fire source, and food. These things are necessary because without them survival is limited. Furthermore, always having a clear mind is just as important as preparing the necessary items. Survival situations can be handled... middle of paper... alive-in-the-Woods)No it doesn't matter what situation one is in, they should always understand that they are smaller than the forces of nature. You should never underestimate the environment you are about to encounter. A person who goes into the wilderness for thrill or recreation should stay alert and concentrate. There are too many factors in the wilderness that, if not taken seriously, could have disastrous consequences. You should always remember that they should have fun, but they should also be smart. Works Cited Ellar, Simon. Survival skills. Mankato, MN: Capstone, 2011. Print."How to Survive in the Woods." WikiHow. Np, nd Web. 01 April 2014."Introduction." - Survival in the wilderness. Np, nd Web. 01 April 2014."Scout." Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales). Np, May 15, 2006. Web. April 1, 2014. “Wildlife Survival.” Personal interview. March 21st. 2013.