What is the Triangle of Survival?
It’s often said that “knowledge is the most important”. I have to respectfully disagree. The Triangle of Survival includes Knowledge, Skills, and Resources. Without one, the other two don’t matter; and without the other two, no single one will matter, either.
Survival Knowledge
Knowledge, in this context, means the theoretical understanding of a given subject. It’s more academic. Skills are physical application of that knowledge. It’s more practical. Resources are materials that these are applied to to make something happen. These are limited to what you have in your pack or what you can find in nature.
Let’s look at fire making as an example. I know that the application of heat to a combustible resource will likely produce fire. I know that the tinder resource needs to be finely processed so that it will readily accept the heat from the ignition source. Once thats burning, I know that I can use that heat to ignite larger and larger sources of fuel until I have a sustainable fire. I have that knowledge.
“THE GREATEST ENEMY OF KNOWLEDGE IS NOT IGNORANCE, IT IS THE ILLUSION OF KNOWLEDGE.” -STEPHEN HAWKING
Survival Skill
That doesn’t mean that I actually have the physical skill to use a particular resource like a ferrocerium rod to produce that heat; that doesn’t mean that I can physically process a particular tinder resource down to the size it needs to be to accept that heat. It’s not enough that I know and understand how to do it. I have to be able to apply that knowledge to physically produce a given result.
Survival Resources
At the same time, I can have all the knowledge and skill in the world, but without any resources to apply them to, I still won’t have anything. If I don’t have a resource like a lighter, matches, ferro rod, magnifying lens, flint and steel, or friction fire set, I have no way to produce heat. If I don’t have any tinder to accept that heat, I am also dead in the water. If I don’t have any fuel to keep that fire going after I get the tinder lit, I am not going to be able to produce a fire.
I could also have a bag full of gear and be surrounded by natural resources, but that still wouldn’t be enough. I have to have the knowledge of how to use the gear and what to look for in the wild, and the skill to use them as well.
So which is most important? None of them. They are all equally important. Books, blogs, videos, and PDFs all give you the academic knowledge you may need to rely on in a backcountry emergency. You still have to take this knowledge and go out and physically develop the skills through practical application. Take the time to learn the natural resources in your area so that you can supplement or replace some of the gear you pack in and build confidence in your ability to handle what comes.
“KNOWLEDGE IS NOT EVERYTHING. KNOWLEDGE IS ACADEMIC. YOU STILL NEED TO DEVELOP THE PHYSICAL SKILLS AND LEARN TO APPLY THEM TO APPROPRIATE RESOURCES TO GET ANY RESULTS.YOU NEED ALL THREE.”
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I hope to see you around our campfire soon!
-Joshua