From wild animals to harmful terrain, the outside has its fair proportion of hazards. Check your survival data towards a Backpacker editor and see the way you fare.
Up to date August 27, 2025 10:35AM
We don’t imply to brag, however Backpacker‘s editors know a couple of issues about survival. Through the years, we’ve learn tons of of tales about wilderness mishaps, edited guides to avoiding backcountry hazards, and infrequently needed to put a few of these expertise into apply. Through the years, we’ve employed everybody from skilled guides to mountaineers to look and rescue staff. So how does a mean hiker stack up?
Time to search out out: We invited our colleague, Exterior software program engineer Max Thompson, to check his survival data towards one in all Backpacker‘s staffers, Affiliate Editor Emma Veidt, in a ten-question, winner-takes-all gameshow-style dwell quiz. Yours actually was liable for the questions, and I didn’t make them straightforward, mixing in every part from obscure wildlife details to abandon survival trivia.
Questioning how you’ll do? Play together with us by taking the quiz under, then watch the video to see the way you fared.. —Adam Roy, Editor-in-Chief
Backpacker Survival Problem!
True or False: For those who’re misplaced within the desert, you will get water by reducing a gap in a cactus.
A 1997 research of snakebite victims discovered that 80% of them had been male. It additionally discovered that 40% of them had been what?
What aspect of the tree does moss develop on?
What animal causes probably the most accidents to guests in Yosemite Nationwide Park?
In line with the commonly-cited “Rule of Threes,” a human being can count on to outlive 3 weeks with out meals, 3 days with out water, and three hours with out what?
What share of persons are proof against poison ivy?
What’s the commonest reason for loss of life in U.S. nationwide parks?
On common, how many individuals do wolverines assault worldwide in a 12 months?
The present world report for top temperature is 134.1F, which was recorded in 1913 at this spot in Loss of life Valley.
A mixture of the Latin and Greek phrases for “low,” “sodium,” and “blood,” this harmful situation can happen when hikers drink an excessive amount of water within the warmth.



















