Practice makes Perfect. For many years while learning my craft I used to go out in Winter taking less and less kit each time as a way of pushing myself. Can I survive well without a sleeping bag? Light a fire with just a striker? Each time I pushed a little harder. I rarely traveled alone on these trips, its good to learn but it is stupid to die trying.

Its part of the learning process to go out in the forest and practice, it just you do need to learn first. I sent a tweet out a few months ago that I think sums up my thoughts on going out to the wilderness before you learn basic survival skills:

"Skydiving; rent aircraft, buy parachute, dive out, you will learn as you go. Insane, but with Survival this happens all the time!" @brucezed August 26, 2013