Wilderness Survival: I'm thirsty

Are you the type of person who would want water to drink after being stuck in the desert for a few days? Then read on, my thirsty adventurous friend!

The most important thing necessary to survive for an extended amount of time in the wilderness is an ample supply of water. Without proper hydration, you can die of thirst in as little as three days! You need to know how to get fresh drinking water anywhere, anytime. Even in the middle of the desert.

For supplies, you'll need something to dig with, a container to catch and hold water (preferably a cup), and a small tarp (around four feet by four feet).

This method works in even the driest of conditions. The most important piece of equipment in this particular method is the tarp, or at least a rain poncho; everything else can be improvised relatively easily from other supplies or even from the natural resources of the surrounding area.
Here's how it's done.

The first step to collecting fresh drinking water is to dig a circular hole about three feet in diameter and two feet deep.

Next, take the cup and place it in the center of the hole.

Gather ten rocks about the size of your fist from the surrounding area.

Cover the hole with the tarp, weighing down the edges of the tarp and making sure it's centered over the hole. Don't stretch it too tight; you'll want to leave some slack so it sags down toward the center of the hole.

Once your tarp is securely in position, weight down the center of the tarp with a small rock.
In a few hours, moisture from the ground will have collected and condensed on the underside of the tarp, rolled down toward the center and collected in your cup.

Voila! Pure, fresh water ready to drink!

And next week, we'll investigate Wilderness Survival: Moonshine Whiskey Distilling.