1. Hunting is Not Always Successful.
This is especially true if your character is on the run. Even if your character has hunted their entire life, they will have the odd day where a hunt does not go the way they want. Today’s hunters have modern technology and often sit in tree stands all day waiting, and even then hunts still don’t always go as planned.
2. Altitude Sickness Can Happen.
Getting altitude sickness is actually a very common problem. If you live your whole life at a certain altitude, and then suddenly decide to climb a very tall mountain, you could get very sick.
There are three levels of altitude sickness:
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the mildest form, and it’s very common. The symptoms can feel like a hangover — dizziness, headache, muscle aches, nausea.
High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a buildup of fluid in the lungs that can be very dangerous and even life-threatening. This is the most common cause of death from altitude sickness.
High-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is the most severe form of altitude sickness and happens when there’s fluid in the brain. It, too, is life-threatening, and you need to seek medical attention right away.
“Altitude Sickness: What to Know” by WebMD
3. Altitude Affects Fires.
Fire needs oxygen, and since oxygen is thinner in places of higher altitudes, the higher you go, the harder it is to light fires. With a flint-and-steel at high altitude, it can sometimes take an extended amount of time to get a fire going.
4. Sleeping Under the Stars Can Be Awful.
It’s a romantic thought used in pretty much every adventure-fantasy novel written, but in real life it can lead to you being miserable. Even if it does not rain, you could wake soaked through with morning dew. Instead, look up shelters like lean-to’s, A-frames, and snow-shelters for your characters. Even a tent might be an option.
5. Water is Not Always Safe to Drink.
Just because you find water does not mean it is safe to drink. In a real-life survival situation, you will want to filter the water and boil it before drinking. I have read books where a character just drinks from a pond or stream, and nothing happens to them. Sure there is a chance that you could get lucky and be ok with that, but there is also a huge chance you could get very ill from it.
I really hope that helps! If it does, and you want to see more content like this, please let me know and I will make another video with more points to help you out.
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