West Is The New North!

  In my meanderings about the hillside, marshes, creek bed and woods, I have come to the reasoning that a lot of what is touted as "survival skills" is pure hogwash.  The so-called "Preppers" of the Internet World have no clue of how to survive in the wild.  Sure, there are a handful that would fall into the category of hardcore survivalists and could withstand most everything thrown at them but the wannabes are killing me with their advice.  Just today, I was in a discussion with some other folks about how to survive if you become lost on a hike.  It was decided by most that they would use some sort of electronic gadget to find their way out of the woods.  When I threw out a scenario of "What happens if that is lost or broken?", it seemed to be the popular idea that you should "Look for moss on trees because that is the north side!".  Yep, because we ALL know that moss only grows on the north side of the tree.  (For those of you who are unaware, mosses carry compasses! Surely, that is true because you just read it on the Internet!)  Besides, I am not even sure these people could tell their right from their left much less know cardinal directions.  Speaking of that, in one of our past Clue Hunts on the Bayou, the teams had to use a compass to get to their next post.  Not ONE GROUP knew how to use the thing.  (Oh, and these were all teens and adults.)  But it was that north-facing moss that was the kicker today.

  Folks, moss grows anywhere it pleases.  It does not grow only on the north sides of trees.  It can grow on the south, east and west sides too...not to mention limbs, roots or anywhere.  Moss, when happy, tends to multiply and flourish and grow everywhere.  That said, try to figure out a direction from a tree completely covered in moss.  Not happening folks.  Plus, do you know your mosses from your algae?  Algae grow on trees, too.  Uh, oh.  Could be trouble. 

  This afternoon, I was wandering the creek bed when I burst out in giggles thinking of how my trees might confuse a lot of my friends.  There was a perfectly beautiful green coating on the WEST side of a tree.  It was algae growth.  Yep, not moss, at all.  That green stuff can be tricky.

  Folks, if you really want to learn survival tricks, get off the Internet.  While it is full of helpful (and some not so helpful) information, it is not going to do you any good if you are truly lost.  Try actually learning something instead of just "pinning" it or "saving" it for a later date.  It won't be there when you really need it.  I do not claim to be any better at things than the next person but it seems that it would be a much wiser decision to actually learn the proper methods of doing things if you are going to preach it.