Common Survival Myths That Could Kill You

The Danger of Bad Campfire Advice

We’ve all heard our fair share of “grandpa advice” — the kind that’s kept humanity alive for generations. "Don’t put that in your mouth. The bears aren’t your friends. Put that in your pipe and smoke it." Solid words, mostly.

But for every nugget of wisdom, there’s a half-truth or a flat-out lie, usually accompanied by those famous words: “Trust me, bro.”

Luckily for you, the internet exists, and you no longer have to rely on “trust me, bro” survival advice. Buckle up — because today we’re debunking a few common survival myths that you’d be better off "knot" knowing.

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Myth #1: Moss Only Grows on the North Side of Trees

Myth #2: A Compass Points Where You Want to Go

Myth #3: Clear, Running Water Is Safe to Drink

Wrap-Up: Grandpa May Have Been Wrong

Gear Guide

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Common Survival Myth #1: Moss Only Grows on the North Side of Trees

This one’s a half-truth that can really get you in trouble if you don’t understand it. Let’s start with where it comes from and then talk about what’s actually true.

I’m not a botanist, but I do know that moss likes to grow in damp, dark areas. Under the tree canopy, you’ve got both of those things. You can see that the picture below shows all the moss growing on the same side. The north side of trees (in the northern hemisphere) stays darker since the sun spends most of its time in the southern sky. So sure, that makes sense — if the only conditions were moisture and sunlight, and if wind, terrain, humidity, animals, and rivers didn’t exist. But they do, and they change everything.

Moss mostly on one side of the trees

If you’re south of the equator, just swap north for south. Same rule, opposite side.

Moss does often grow on the north side of trees, but it can grow anywhere the environment suits it. You might even find one tree covered head to toe in moss while the one next to it has none. If you’ve already figured out your general directions from the sun or other landmarks, then moss can help confirm it, but don’t ever rely on it as your main navigation method.

Moss growing on trees

So yes, moss can grow mostly on the north side of trees, but it’s not a guarantee. Use it as a backup clue, not your primary compass.

Myth #2: A Compass Points Where You Want to Go

Alright, this one might seem obvious, but it catches plenty of people off guard. A compass does not point to where you want to go. While that’d be handy, your compass isn't come archaic Google Maps, it’s tuned to the Earth’s magnetic field, pulling toward magnetic north (rarely - keep reading), not your destination.

 That’s all fine until you realize it’s even more complicated than that. Metal objects, vehicles, power lines, or even your belt buckle can throw off a compass reading, especially if they’re close. So before you start plotting your route, make sure your compass isn’t sitting on your truck hood or your multitool. Even metals in the earth can throw it off. Keep it flat and level, slowly lift it about a foot off the ground, and see if the needle moves.

 Now here’s the kicker: magnetic north and grid north (the top of your map) aren’t the same thing. The difference between them is called declination, and it changes depending on where you are in the world. You should see something like this, usually at the bottom of your map, showing how much to offset your compass.

Magnetic Variation in 3 Different Areas of the US

 The map below shows the world’s magnetic variation — and in extreme areas like near the magnetic poles, that difference can reach nearly 90°. In those regions, compasses can become unreliable because the magnetic field lines run almost straight down into the Earth.

 For most of us, though, declination stays between 0° and 25°, maybe up to 30° in some places. That might not sound like much, but even a small error adds up over distance — being off by 10° for a mile can put you hundreds of feet away from your target.

Magnetic Variation

 So moral of the story: your compass doesn’t point where you want to go, and depending on where you are, it might not even point perfectly north. Learn to account for declination, keep metal away, and always check your surroundings before marching off confidently in the wrong direction. I'll eventually write a blog on how to adjust your compass, but in the meantime, REI has a great article on it. Check it out here - How to Adjust the Declination on a Compass

Myth #3: Clear, Running Water Is Safe to Drink

I truly wish this one were true. It would have saved me a ton of time making fires just to purify water. Unfortunately, we can’t see microbes, bacteria, parasites, protozoa, or chemicals. These invisible little gut bombs will ruin your day—or end it—depending on the situation. There is no amount of “but it’s clear,” “it’s clean,” or “it’s running” that makes the water safe to drink.

 Can a person drink clear, running water and be fine? Absolutely. Have I done it? I plead the Fifth. Is it a good idea? Absolutely not. You never know what’s upstream—what’s leaking, rotting, or washing into that water.

 Imagine the scene below: a beautiful stream, clear as glass. Now, picture just around the bend, a dead pig bloated and split open, its insides flowing right into that same “perfect” stream. Your gut can handle a few accidental sips while swimming, but drinking cup after cup? That’s another story.

Rainbow Springs State Park - Florida

 So what do we do? Purify your water. And remember, purifying and filtering are not the same thing. Filtering removes what you can see; purifying kills what you can’t.

 When it comes to purification, you’ve got plenty of options: boiling, purification tablets, UV light, distillation, and more. Take the time, find a method that works, and do it right. Giardia might sound like a fun vacation location in the Alps, but it's not. Giardia is not your friend; it's a pesky little parasite that comes from feces and will give you raging diarrhea.

Wrap-Up: Grandpa May Have Been Wrong

Most survival myths, including all three above, can usually be conquered with a small dose of critical thinking. “Moss only grows on the north side of trees.” Take a second and look around; it usually doesn't take long. “A compass points where you want to go.” Really? How would it know? “Running, clear water is safe to drink.” Can you see germs?

 None of these is cosmic information, yet they’re told time and again around the fire circle. When you’re out camping or hiking, that’s the best time to check your facts before you act. I’m not a fan of being glued to a screen outdoors, but if you’ve got signal, it’s worth using it to look things up, double-check, and challenge bad information. The wrong “survival advice” can cost someone their life when it matters most. Know the difference between good wisdom and campfire fiction, your life may just depend on it one day.

Gear Guide

Using our links helps keep our gear dry, our coffee hot, and this site running — all at no extra cost to you.

Preparation is key when you're in the wild. Here is some gear that can make a world of difference. - No One Is Coming To Save You

🧭 Navigation Gear

1. Baseplate Compass – e.g. Suunto A-10 or Silva Ranger 2.0

2. Lensatic Compass (Military Style) – e.g. Cammenga Official U.S. Military Compass

3. Map Case / Waterproof Map Pouch – e.g. SealLine Map Case

4. GPS Device (Backup Tool) – e.g. Garmin eTrex 22x or inReach Mini 2

5. Ranger Beads – for pacing and direction tracking

6. Notebook & Pencil Kit – waterproof Rite in the Rain Field Book

   
   

💧 Water Filtration & Purification

1. Portable Filter Straw – LifeStraw or Sawyer Mini

2. Pump Filter System – Katadyn Hiker Pro or MSR MiniWorks EX

3. Gravity Bag Filter – Platypus GravityWorks or Sawyer Gravity System

4. Purification Tablets – Potable Aqua or Aquamira Chlorine Dioxide Tablets

5. Boiling Pot / Camp Kettle – Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set

6. UV Purifier – SteriPEN Ultra or Adventurer Opti

7. Collapsible Water Container – Hydrapak Seeker or MSR DromLite Bag

8. Water Bottle with Filter - Grayl Water Bottle (If you want to see a review of this video, check it out here)

   Grayl Water Bottle Review

   
   

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