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The Survival University offers our community of outdoor adventurers a robust library of training material through our Survival Blog. We believe in passing on our knowledge to empower students with a wealth of information that we find relevant to learning.

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AI-generated illustration of a rainstorm over a desert canyon with a winding river below.

Grand Canyon Flash Flood: What Happened and Lessons for Hikers

The August 2026 Grand Canyon flash flood exposes the limits of familiar campsites, warning systems, and last-minute escape plans. Jason Marsteiner’s original analysis is followed by verified updates, practical safety lessons, and a remembrance of John Giusti, Brent Rosenkranz, and Timothy Allen Smith.

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Hiker on a mountain trail with bear spray visible, standing between a black bear and a grizzly bear in bear country.

Black Bears, Brown Bears, and the Problem With “Rules” in Bear Country

Bear advice is often reduced to simple rules, but real encounters are rarely that clean. This article breaks down the difference between black bears and grizzlies, how defensive and predatory behavior change the response, and why tools like bear spray only help when they are carried, practiced, and understood. It also covers cubs, seasonal behavior, wind, terrain, bear sign, dogs, and the common mistakes people make when fear takes over.

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wilderness first aid training patient assessment ABCDE backcountry scenario

Wilderness First Aid: How to Assess Injuries in the Backcountry

This article breaks down how to assess and manage injuries when something goes wrong in the backcountry using real-world, practical methods. You will learn how to think through a situation, prioritize what matters, and take action with limited resources. Whether you are on a trail, on the road, or at home, these are skills that help you step in with confidence instead of standing by.

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Person packing a go bag at home before evacuation

What to Put in a Go Bag for Evacuation

Wildfire season gets people thinking about leaving fast, but most wait until it is already unfolding to figure out what to do. When that happens, people panic, overpack the wrong things, and realize they do not have a plan. This breakdown focuses on what you are going to need when you have to leave and do not know when you are coming back.

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Coiled rattlesnake on a dirt trail with a mountain bike tire in the background showing potential snake encounter while biking

Rattlesnake Bite: What to Do, What Not to Do, and What Actually Happens

A rattlesnake bite is not just about the moment it happens. What you do in the minutes that follow can change everything. This breakdown looks at what actually happens in the body, what helps, what makes it worse, and the real lessons behind a fatal case that didn’t have to end that way.

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Wilderness First Aid instructor treating a student's bandaged hand during hands-on outdoor medical training in Colorado.

What is your preferred classroom setting?

Are you required to have a WFR Certification for your job? Or do you want to learn medical skills for when you are venturing out into […]

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Hiker pausing at high elevation in the Colorado mountains, showing signs of fatigue and possible altitude illness.

Medic Minute # 3 – Illness at altitude

Illness at altitude Acute Mountain Sickness / High Altitude Pulmonary Edema / High Altitude Cerebral Edema Click HERE to read the article on our web page. Early August, […]

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