| 1. | Introduction | 1 |
| The three-step approach to wilderness survival | 1 |
| 2. | Snow and Ice Climates | 3 |
| 3. | Gear | 6 |
| Ice ax | 6 |
| Snow shovel | 7 |
| Mountaineering poles | 7 |
| Probe | 7 |
| Avalanche transceiver | 8 |
| AvaLung | 9 |
| Clinometer | 9 |
| Altimeter | 10 |
| Snowshoes | 10 |
| Crampons | 16 |
| Cross-country skis | 16 |
| Sled | 18 |
| Backpack | 19 |
| Sleeping bag | 23 |
| Sleeping pad | 24 |
| Knives | 25 |
| Ax | 28 |
| Saws | 30 |
| Backpacking stove | 32 |
| Headlamp | 34 |
| Cooking pots | 34 |
| Survival tips | 35 |
| 4. | Clothing | 36 |
| Heat loss | 36 |
| Materials | 38 |
| COLDER acronym | 40 |
| Parka and rain pants | 43 |
| Boots | 44 |
| Socks | 45 |
| Gaiters | 45 |
| Hand coverings | 46 |
| Headgear | 46 |
| Eye protection | 47 |
| Zippers | 47 |
| Skin protection | 47 |
| Survival tips | 48 |
| 5. | Camping | 49 |
| Selecting a campsite | 49 |
| Tent | 50 |
| Bivouac bag | 52 |
| Emergency tarp shelters | 53 |
| Emergency natural shelters | 54 |
| Survival tips | 66 |
| 6. | Fire and Other Heat Sources | 67 |
| Man-made heat sources | 67 |
| Building a fire | 68 |
| Survival tips | 77 |
| 7. | Signaling | 79 |
| Signals that attract rescue | 79 |
| Signals that pinpoint your location | 80 |
| Cellular phones | 86 |
| Improvised signals | 86 |
| Helicopter rescue | 90 |
| Survival tips | 90 |
| 8. | Water | 92 |
| Water sources and procurement | 93 |
| Water indicators | 96 |
| Natural water filtration | 97 |
| Water impurities | 98 |
| Purifying water | 99 |
| Dispelling myths about water | 103 |
| Survival tips | 104 |
| 9. | Food | 105 |
| Foods to Pack | 106 |
| Plants | 107 |
| Bugs | 114 |
| Crustaceans | 115 |
| Mollusks | 117 |
| Fish | 118 |
| Birds | 125 |
| Mammals | 126 |
| Cooking methods | 134 |
| Storing food | 135 |
| Survival tips | 136 |
| 10. | Navigating | 138 |
| Map and compass | 138 |
| Determining direction without a compass | 154 |
| Global Positioning System (GPS) | 160 |
| Survival tips | 161 |
| 11. | Traveling on Snow and Ice | 163 |
| How to load your pack | 163 |
| Basic travel techniques | 163 |
| Terrain issues | 166 |
| Using an ice ax | 168 |
| Traveling on snowshoes | 173 |
| Traveling on cross-country skis | 175 |
| Traveling on crampons | 183 |
| Survival tips | 183 |
| 12. | Avalanches | 184 |
| Avalanche types | 184 |
| Avalanche triggers | 186 |
| Identifying avalanche hazards | 186 |
| Route selection | 193 |
| Avalanche necessities | 193 |
| Surviving an avalanche | 194 |
| Avalanche rescue | 194 |
| Survival tips | 199 |
| 13. | Health Issues | 200 |
| General health issues | 200 |
| Traumatic injuries | 201 |
| Environmental injuries and illnesses | 206 |
| Survival stress | 212 |
| Survival tips | 213 |
| 14. | Animals | 214 |
| Polar bears | 214 |
| Brown bears | 215 |
| Black bears | 218 |
| Pumas | 219 |
| Gray wolves | 220 |
| Moose | 221 |
| Survival tip | 223 |
| Survival and First-Aid Kits | 224 |
| Knots and Lashes | 226 |
| Index | 229 |