SANDY — Doug Huffman has been teaching people how to survive adverse conditions his entire life.
His desire to learn what he could about living in and off the wilderness began when he was a Boy Scout. His father was also an avid backpacker and took him on extended trips throughout his native Arizona.
But it was his decision to work as a private military contractor that really shaped the direction — and substance — of his life. What he began learning as a boy for fun quickly became a matter of life and death.
After years of teaching military and law enforcement agencies the critical skills of survival — both in the wilderness and in urban disasters — he now offers his advice and products to the public.
"I was 48 years old, and I just came to the realization that I am no longer Superman," he said with a laugh. "A couple of bullet holes, knife wounds, broken bones. … It was time to pass the torch."
At first he planned to take individuals on camping, hiking and survival outings. But very quickly, he found a need for someone to teach groups not just how to build a fire, construct a shelter or which plants are safe to eat, but also how to prepare for a disaster or navigate tough urban situations.
So he opened the Sierra Survival School in California and offers a wide variety of classes and courses, including junior rangers, that all focus on developing skills that will enable a person to survive disasters and/or the harshness of the wild.
He is one of hundreds of presenters at the International Sportsmen's Expo at the Expo Center in Sandy, today through Sunday, March 20. He is speaking on how to be better prepared for any situation.
"It's life skills," he said. "What's on the rise is Urban survival. What happens if the economy collapses? What if there are food shortages? I've had a really big rise into homes and advise them on home security. I'm teaching them how to sprout food."
In this method, a person could have vegetables in three days — even without sunlight — rather than waiting 70 to 90 days for a garden to produce.
"There are simple things people can do," he said. "Any time you're in survival mode, you are going to come under certain stressors."
Hands-on experience can mean the difference between success an failure.
"All the reading in the world doesn't compare to scenarios," he said. "People getting out there in these situations can be a tremendous advantage because they know what's actually going to happen and how it feels."
He said many problems arise because people are unprepared or underprepared. The rise in usage of GPS and other technology has emboldened people to head out into the wild unprepared.
"In California, there is a subscription service that for $19.95 you can sign up for and it allows you to push a button and call (Emergency Medical Services)," he said. "These are people who have no reason to be where they're at and never should be out in the woods taking chances that they simply shouldn't be taking."
Sadly, it taxes the limited resources of rescue organizations and endangers the lives of others when recreational enthusiasts are unprepared for adverse conditions.
"Technology has meant people take less and less gear," he said. "You need to know what to be prepared for, and you need to take the right tools."
International Sportsmen's Expo
What: The Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Hiking Expo that offers products, services, seminars, speakers and outdoor ideas.
Where: South Towne Expo Center, 9575 S. State, Sandy
When: March 17-20; Thursday and Friday noon to 9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults; youth under 15 and active military with ID are admitted free.
Website: www.sportsexpos.com
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