Surviving Winter's Icy Grip

I remember it all too well: the season that didn’t want to end.

- Mark Kaz

It all started in November of 2013, and finished in late April of 2014. It was a grueling six month period, and for most of us, we wondered if it was ever going to end. From the first snowfall to the last and everything in between, the winter of 2014 was a season that we’d really like to forget.

When there is snow in November in southern Michigan, it can be a sign of what’s to come. It sure did come: in the form of snowstorm after snowstorm and with the wind and cold, as well. However, there I was, in my deer stand, watching the majestic snowflakes falling from the white cotton-like clouds. The view was breathtaking, watching nature in its moment of beauty. As the season went on, we were also challenged by a polar vortex that swept through in January of 2014.

I’m a hunter and a fisherman; these sports are my passions and with my career choice, I spend up to 75% of my time outdoors. I truly can appreciate and understand what it takes to get and stay warm. The seasonal challenges I face as an employee and outdoorsman remind me how difficult it is to bug out and survive the wrath of nature. Winter is the season one should prepare for most, and there are critical areas of survival that one should focus on to survive an extreme climate. Here in Michigan, we set a new snowfall record with 94.8 inches of snow in the winter season of 2014.

As an active bush crafter and survivalist, I am always challenged by nature. Even at my Kaz vs Wild survival camp that I head up every autumn, the challenges presented by nature are different from year to year. Rain was abundant this year as it fell from the sky four of the eight days we were practicing our survival skill sets. Dealing with the elements creates challenges in everything we do. Basic campfire making, eating dinner, staying dry and warm and keeping the fire burning throughout the night all seem easier when you have survival experience to rely on.