One Week Knife Only Survival Challenge

The scenario simulates a wreck into a remote river or coastline where you are the only survivor. This is a solo one week “knife only” wilderness survival challenge. The point of the challenge is to see if you can create a sustainable situation when stranded in the wilderness. Within the first two days you must create an environment proof shelter, and build a fire. By the third day you must secure sustainable safe water. By the end of the week you must have found sustainable food, woven some cordage (rope) , built a basket, made weapons and traps, and built an “all-night” fire. Though you start only with a knife (or two) and must create everything on-site, using human garbage is allowed. Learning to use garbage is important not just because it has so many uses, but because there may be nowhere on the planet without it.

During this challenge, even though I was starving, I was still doing my morning exercises to push myself not just physically but emotionally and psychologically to add to the challenge. In a real situation you should try and conserve as much energy as you can, but I knew one way or the other I was out of there in a week so I wanted to make the most of it.

My supplies were: a knife for cutting, and a second knife for chopping. My boots (laced with paracord to be used for traps and a fire drill), hat, sunglasses, shirt, watch, sarong, pants, and a little plastic baggie to keep the camera dry (which doesn't really count). Though I don't know why I bothered to keep it dry, it wound up fairly blurry and busted. Maybe if you rub Vaseline into your eyes the video might look better ...

Though this video is just for fun and not intended to teach anyone, if you might be interested and want to learn the skills, I highly recommend studying bush craft and survival skills. I have spent months at a time learning from various schools such as NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School), SOLO, and Sigma3, among others. Last time I was at any of those places they were pretty good so if you have an interest I say check them out. Even if you don't have weeks or months at a time to devote to travel and study you can take a day course in your area. Even big chains like REI usually have some good offerings. Happy learning,

-NASH