Neo-Traditionalist Woodsmanship... My Concept...

The Neo-Traditionalist Woodsman project started in early 2008, at the time there were few people looking at the old skills as a realistic form of modern wilderness living. Most people at the time were firmly entrenched in the two schools of thought of the day, Survivalism & Bushcraft.

I was interested in both, and neither seemed to tell me what I wanted to know. I had a brief fling with historical trekking, and I do mean brief…, which pointed in the direction I wanted and provided more information on skill-based wilderness living than the others did, yet was turned off by the whole “Period Correct” requirement. I wanted to learn the skills, use gear and experiment with items from many different periods, from the Stone Age up to the present. Historical trekking would not allow me to use kit from different periods at the same time, so I had to look for another way of doing things.

Fast forward to 2011… I had a brain wave… at first it was called the Jäger Project, the idea was to put together the kit and skills of the past into a workable form, my blogs were all a mix of modern and 18^th Century style with a brief foray into the primitive side of things. Then, in September 2011 I named it… Neo-Traditional Woodsmanship… I wanted to call it “21^st Century Neo-Traditional Woodsmanship”… but somebody had started using the 21^st Century part for their own project and I didn’t want to come across as a copy-cat, riding on another’s coat tails.

Today it is a growing method, with several friends trying out various parts of my project to give me some more input, and an early draft of the requirements, code of conduct and objectives written.

The project I started back in 2008 has grown into a more physical form, which I hope to launch as an association of members in the near future. The physical group will be heavy on practical skills, but also research and experimental archaeology. Members will need to research the past to understand what they are doing and build viable skills at the same time.

Now, there are several people online who are doing similar things; some are even making videos on the topic, so I am not claiming to be the only person to think of it, but I am the first to coin the term “Neo-Traditionalist” and “Neo-Traditionalism” in reference to this method of woodsmanship.

So what is it all about?

A Neo-Traditionalist is a modern person; they wear modern clothing and live modern lives. However, their wilderness skills are firmly rooted in the old woodsmen and frontier folks of the past. All of their equipment is either a reproduction of or analogue of gear available to a frontier homesteader, trapper, scout, market hunter, or settler of the past. We take as a benchmark the 18^th Century, what was available to them, as a minimum, now we can use kit from any period, however it needs to be a long-term use item, of simple design and natural materials. Our tech cut off for equipment is 1939, for major kit items like packs and the like… all pre nylon and plastic kit.

Modern gear has its place though, we will use modern first aid kits, water purifiers, maps, and compasses and these are analogues of items available in the past. We use modern communications equipment and wear modern clothing, yet it is of natural fibre, wool, cotton, linen, leather… no tech fabrics, no nylon, no SILNY… tools are of carbon steel, we try to avoid high tech cutting tools in favour of older style manufactured goods or so called “Trade” items. So out with the $500 custom/semi-custom/commercial monsters, and in with the old style wood handled butchers knife in a homemade sheath, the “Scalping” or “Trade” knife of the past, a type available across the world, from Australia to America to Southern Africa & anywhere else there stood a European…

Most people interested in this prefer to go pre-1900’s yet some, like myself also use ideas and equipment from as late as 1922 (Kephart). It is a personal choice, but still requires research and experimentation, if a technique or item of equipment does not work in your location or just for you, you have to find one that does, still based on the older technology. For some the idea of jumping from modern high-tech kit, that is light weight and small in size and easy to BUY, is a huge hurdle to this way of thinking, yet I tell you, we lived for 200,000 years (modern humans) without any of it!

Now, I know what some of you will be thinking…. Yes, I am talking to you… put the coffee cup down and stop leaning back in your chair… “If Kephart was alive today he would be using a SilNy tarp, Titanium cookware and wearing tech fabrics like we do now”, this is true, he probably would… but he isn’t and he can’t…  or the old time re-enactors claim when he was too lazy to research his kit… “If they had ‘em they would have used ‘em”, yes, you are right too… but they didn’t so they can’t have…

A huge part of this is relearning skills from the past, I say relearning because how many can make their own clothing, pack, etc. from common cloth or leather? How many can camp out in the wilds with only a blanket and a fire? How many can sit out a storm without the benefit of Gore-Tex and nylon/Tyvek tents/tarps? Or COOK good food on the trail using simple ingredients and not just rehydrate or heat up a pre-pack meal or MRE type abomination, and enjoy it?

There are those who can do a few of these things, but very few of whom can do all of them…

This is all part of being a Neo-Traditionalist… and more…

Safe trails…

Karl.

A beginner's guide to Bushcrafting...

Today, jump on the internet and you will find many sites and blogs about bushcraft, most focus on gear and celebrities not so many focus on skills.

In the beginning, gear is really important, it is yoursafety net and helps you make up for a missing aspect of your skill sets. A lot of kit will be carried, there are so many “What ifs” to worry about and a lot of thought will be on “Emergency” needs too.

Here are some general guidelines for the novice Bushcrafter:

1: It’s not about the gear…
We humans existed for thousands of years without the modern high tech gear or modern “Experts” telling us we need this or that item… get what you can afford, it’s not about how much gear you have, but what you learn to do with the gear you have, we are building skills, not re-establishing our synthetic environment in the bush.

2: It’s not about the“Experts”…
It’s all about you and your relationship with the environment you find yourself in, not what the “Experts” have written, said or done on some TV show.

3: It’s not about religion or spiritualism…
Some of the “Schools” out there will try to convince you that you can only “understand nature” is by subscribing to some native belief system… you don’t have to, to understand your place you just need to spend time out there with an open mind and a sense of humour… (the longer you are out there, the more important this will become…)

4: It is not a competition…
It doesn’t matter what the other people do, how much or how little they carry or how much or little they know compared to you, it’s about building up your level of comfort and confidence while in the natural environment.

5: It takes time and effort…
Like anything worthwhile, it takes time to build a firm foundation of skills and knowledge… unlike what a lot of the marketing and hype some books and so called teachers will tell you, a weekend basics course won’t make you ready for a long-term bushcraft expedition any more than one trip to the gym will make you into an athlete.

6: It’s about sustainability…
The sustainable use of natural resources, making wise choices about gear and knowing the difference between minimal impact and displaced impact…

Minimal impact = the small impact we make on the environment by lighting a fire, harvesting wild foods and resources using natural selection (only the strongest continue) and leaving enough of that resource behind to further the species.

Displaced impact =the huge impact made by high-tech gear manufacturers in the production of petro-chemical based products and the tons of emissions made on your behalf to produce that great Titanium Spork you like to use or the massive environmental impact of a bauxite mine that produces the ore to make those aluminium internal pack frames…

7: It’s all about gaining knowledge and experience in a friendly and empowering way, meeting like minded people who share a passion and desire to learn.

Ok… so now we have a basic understanding of what we are doing out there, how about a little kit?

The Essentials in no particular order:
1: A knife… generally for the tasks we do a small fixed blade knife is needed rather than a folder, they are safer for what we do. A knife needs to meet two main criteria… it needs to be strong and safe… the design will be a personal choice, but in general a small blade, about 110mm long is more than enough knife.

2: A Whetstone… a sharp knife is a safe knife, while it is true we could just pick up a stone in the bush and use that, it is better to have a small pocket stone to touch up your blade while out in the bush.

3: Fire steel & Tinder… a means to get fire going is important, and a fire steel or Ferrocium rod (Ferro rod) is one of the best, it won’t run out of fuel and works even when wet. Keep some cottonwool in a small watertight container to help get your fire going.

4: A canteen and nesting metal cup… something to carry water in and a metal cup to boil what you collect to replace what you use.

5: A tarp/shelter sheet/poncho… something you can use to fabricate some protection from both sun and rain. Don’t forget to carry some string or light rope too for this purpose.

6: A Compass… get one you can easily read in a graduation system you understand, whether that is mils or degrees and learn to use it correctly, understand it’s limitations and possible problems.

7: A basic first aid kit… the kind that fits into yourpocket, if you carry a knife always have this on you. Fill it with band-aides, a cravat bandage, Betadine swabs and some sports tape at the minimum.

8: A Lighter… the butane jet types are better than a Bic,they have a few uses not just for fire lighting.

9: A Light source… I recommend a head mounted light with a flash capability and a smaller micro squeeze type around your neck or on azipper pull to help you find things, don’t forget a spare set of batteries too.

10: A quality Folding Knife on a lanyard… this is a useful back up to your belt knife and should ideally be capable of performing the same duties as your fixed blade, make sure it has a good positive locking mechanism too.

11: A Folding Saw… this is your main heavy cutting tool in the beginning, while eventually you will want a chopping tool of some kind like an axe or machete, the saw is far safer to use, it is also capable of splitting wood like an axe when you learn the technique.

12: A Trail Snack… whenever you step out, make sure to take something to eat with you… even if you only plan to be away for an hour or two, it’s easy to get caught up in a project and taking more time than you expected. Don’t forget to take a brew kit too, a couple of tea bags and some coffee or hot chocolate mix.

13: A Whistle… this is for when you are turned around or if an accident should happen, it will allow you to get other people’s attention and will work long after you vocal cords would have given out on you. Keep it on a lanyard with your micro light and Ferro rod, either around your neck or looped through your belt.

14: A Roll of Strong Twine… string has 1001 uses out in the bush and is a royal pain to make in any quantity. I recommend natural fibre because, if you leave any behind it will just return to nature in a couple of weeks, whereas nylon cord will last for years if left behind… if you need stronger cord it can be rolled into thicker material quite easily too.

Now, others may have different ideas of what is needed and that is fine, but you will learn as you go that, what works for one person doesn’t always work for another, this basic kit is enough to start learning and a basis to help establish your own kit list of “Essentials” for the future. Don’tforget something to put it all in, a small daypack or satchel will be fine…

If you plan to do some overnight camping out, don’t forget a sleeping bag, ground pad and extra clothing to keep you warm, weatherproof gear is a good idea if the possibility of rain is there…

This is just the beginning, once you start there is a myriad of subjects you can study and enjoy that will add to your experience in the bush, such as tracking, photography, sketching and painting, botany, bird and wildlife watching, even hunting and fishing where it is permitted…

In the end, bushcraft is not just a skill set, but also a mindset, we go out into nature to embrace the wild side of life, to understand it and learn to use what we have, it is not a battle against the elements or the wildlife. It is about you, and understanding who you are and your place in the world around you… something we have lost in the hustle and bustle of our modern synthetic world.

“This is not wilderness survival or any other title we wish to give it. It is fundamental knowledge of what it means to be an educated human.”
-Mors Kochanski , November 2007

Safe Trails…

Karl.

New Page...

Ok... there is a new page posted to the right...

Traditional Bushcraft Library (PDFs)   

for all those who like the old style knowledge and gear there are some good sources of information there, I will update them as I find new titles.

Safe Trails...

Karl

Is it Bushcraft or Survival?

Hmmm... time for another blog post I think

So, is it Bushcraft or Survival?

Well, that all depends on where you stand and how you see things…

Today we hear a lot about survival, mostly thanks to the many TV shows, but in my humble opinion, the term survival is used far too freely.

Survive:
Verb. Continue to live or exist. Continue to live or exist in spite of (an accident or ordeal). Remain alive after the death of.

Noun. Survivability
Adjective. Survivable

Origin:
Middle English: from Old French sourvivre, from Latin supervivere (super = ‘in addition to’ + vivere ‘live’)

Survival:
1: the state or fact of surviving.
2: an object or practice that has survived from an earlier time.

Bushcraft:
Noun. Skill at living in the bush.

Woodcraft:
Noun.
1: Skill in woodwork.
2: Knowledge of woodland, especially with reference to outdoor pursuits.

(Source: Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 11^th Edition)

Now, as we can see bushcraft/woodcraft and survival have very different meanings in the accepted literature. And as such, the topics are two very different things.

So, which do you practice?

I, for one, practice primarily bushcraft/woodcraft, mostly in the traditional sense of the word, that is, skills that allow me to live in the bush for any period of time in a comfortable manner. I also learn and practice survival skills, which are life saving techniques for when things go wrong.

To me survival skills are pretty simple:
Emergency first aid,
Emergency signalling,
Search and rescue techniques

Now, if it is not in the above list, it is a bushcraft skill…

To go out into the bush and practice survival is kind of like going out and practicing dying… since a survival situation implies that you will die if you fail, we can practice skills but not survival. As bushcrafters, we do not practice survival, in fact if you practice good bushcraft you should never need survival skills. But, as we all know things go wrong and accidents happen, sometimes we can’t foresee meeting someone on the trail in the middle of an angina attack or the child who looks to be “drunk” coming down with hypothermia, this is when survival skills are needed, not when you are lost in a well trafficked national park or recreation area.

Now, I admit that I am very comfortable in the bush; I have little to worry about because I have the experience to know that I can live there. The novice or tourist hiker has not yet gained that level of confidence, so getting lost can be a huge shock to the system, for them it is a “perceived” survival situation with all the horrors of some Hollywood movie waiting to devour them.

Now, every person who ventures out into the bush gets lost at some point, if they say they have never been lost, they are either lying or never travelled into the bush proper.

We, as bushcrafters, should aim to be comfortable in the bush, the old saying “If you’re roughing it, you’re doing something wrong…” is true, you get no extra points for carrying the heaviest rucksack or the least gear, if you are uncomfortable it is all your doing. Carry enough gear to keep you comfortable without turning your hike into a forced endurance march. The idea of going bush with only a knife and a bag of salt to live off the fat of the land is impractical, if not downright stupid… it has been done, but only by people who grew up living in the bush and are so at home there that it’s like walking into their own living room at home…

So, what is survival to me?
Any situation where I have a less than 25% chance of living to see the next morning… that is what training and life experience has taught me.

Survival is a very short-term thing, generally, it is only a matter of hours if not minutes, and then the paradigm shifts, to living skills…

So, you have crashed a light aircraft into the middle of the Victorian Alps, the first survival situation is the impact with the earth’s crust… so, you lived through that, good… now the second situation, are you injured? Probably… but is it life threatening at this moment?
No… good, you have extracted yourself from the wreckage and found you are the sole “survivor” ok, life sucks for you right now, but you are breathing and mobile… good, you find yourself some shelter (the wreckage & debris), you find water and make a fire, the survival episode has ended… for now… you have moved to the next phase… living.

This is just a basic example, most instructors will agree, that once you have shelter, fire and water, you are not surviving any more, you are living, because you have covered the basics of life support, once you have some rest and rehydrate next to your fire you will be thinking clearly again and can then think about other needs, signals and food come to mind.

All the skills of bushcraft cover your daily living needs; survival skills cover only those very short-term threats to your continued existence.

I will leave you with a quote from Ray Mears on the subject:

“The skills of bushcraft are not new, experts have been writing about them for nearly a hundred years, grouping them together under the well suited title of “Woodcraft”. In more recent years they have somehow acquired a macho image and been renamed survival skills. There is no real harm in this but for the fact that in the process, many of the techniques have been inaccurately described. To those who grew up with, and still use the original skills of woodcraft, these errors are alarming if sometimes funny…. These skills are a living link with our Paleolithic ancestors that allows us to see nature with native eyes and understanding…”

Raymond Mears, “The Survival Handbook: A Practical Guide to Woodcraft and Woodlore” 1990

Safe Trails....

Karl

Neo-Traditionalism

What is Neo-Traditionalism?

This was a question asked of me today by Perkunas, and it's one I have been thinking about since...
I think it is, for me at least, a personal take on Wilderness Skills, it is the blending of "Old School" woodsmanship and modern Survival/Bushcraft Skills...

For me it is also the return to actual skills over equipment, it is my effort to get away from Gore-Tex and Titanium and back into long term use gear, travelling light and using my knowledge rather than rely on gadgets... an attempt to get away from the Synthetic environment and get back into the woods like our forebears did.

The "Mentors" of this style of woodsmanship are:

• Kepheart (Camping and Woodcraft) (Camp Cookery)
• GW Sears (Nessmuk) (Woodcraft and Camping)
• Sir Francis Galton (The Art of Travel)
• Kreps (Woodcraft)
• John Keast Lord (At Home in the Wilderness)

These are the main sources for woodsmanship of this kind, and they often cross-reference each other too...
I don't like to use the terms Mentor or Survival, I like to think of my studies to be more akin to a salad bar, I can see all the information in front of me so that I can pick and choose what I want to use.

I temper what I read from the old writers with modern science and knowledge, I use modern gear if it will last, or a modern analogue of an older item, a lot of my methods would be seen as close to what a re-enactor would do, but to me it is more like experimentation, a lot of my kit would resemble that used by an 18th Century Woodsman, yet it is a modern version... I wear regular clothing and use modern tarps and hammocks, stainless steel pots and canteens, yet only if it will last my grand kids lifetime...

I am a modern man, I live in the 21st Century, yet my knowledge is firmly rooted in the past, using the "forgotten" ways of the past in a modern interpretation.

I originally wrote about this same topic back in September in my post:  Return to Tradition

And to date it has held up to the test of common sense, that 18th Century personal quality that seems to be lacking today...

All of the books mentioned in this post are freely available at either Archive.org or via Project Gutenburg for download as PDF files some are also available in Audiobook format for free via Librivox.com, simply enter the name of the author or the title.

Safe Trails...

Karl

Rumours of my Demise...

Well, what can I say, it's been a few weeks since my last post, well closer to a month or so now... I'm not one for posting personal details online, and I don't blog about my "regular" life either, however the last couple of months have been quite busy for me.

The reasons for my break in regular transmission are simple...

I went and got myself Married... then, as is the natural progression, went away for the honeymoon... then, it got to be Christmas followed by the new year... life has been a bit busy...

On top of all this I have been very busy doing the research into the whole Neo-Traditionalist project and am happy to say it is working well, a combination of 18th Century woodsmanship and the likes of Kephart, Nessmuk, Sir Francis Galton, among many others are fast becoming a very workable system of woodsmanship for me, I hope to post a little of my work here soon, so stay tuned...

I would also like to thank all of you for the messages of interest in my well being over the last few weeks, I am still posting and the like... the rumours of my demise were greatly exaggerated...

Safe Trails...

Karl...

What “X” do you recommend?

I am often asked what is the best “X” to use… now “X” could be a knife, tarp, cook set, etc. I mostly get asked by neophyte woodsmen to recommend the best item for them to use, no harm in asking or how do we learn?

My answer often leaves them feeling like I don’t care… the answer is… “The one I’m holding at the moment I need it most…”

Take knives for example, we read that you “must have” Brand "X"… why?

Knives are a funny thing in the wilderness community, they are one of the most personal items you can own, no two people will agree on what the best is, let alone allow someone else persuade them that another is better than their favourite. However, why?

I often find people become brand fans, if it’s made by a particular manufacturer then it’s automatically the best or if it’s custom it’s even better… why?

Today, products sold to outdoors enthusiasts win or lose depending on the advertising hype of the company, not based on the reputation of reliability, most items sold for use are meant to be replaced, not kept for generations… or else these companies would put themselves out of business.

Staying on the knife theme for now, why do I need to spend $500 on a blade from some overpriced company when a $10 butchers knife will do the same thing, sure it won’t come in the “Tacticool” ballistic nylon sheath, it won’t have the “special” scales on the grip and it won’t have the fancy black coating on the blade… but it will still make my projects in the woods and help me make dinner at night. Let’s face it… 99% of the time we use our knife to prepare food, the other 1% covers our projects and the like.

Is that $80 Ti pot going to cook my food any better than a “Free” jam tin billycan? No…

Is that expensive piezoelectric lighter going to get my fire going any faster than the el cheapo Bic lighter? No…

Why do we feel this need to buy the most expensive items on the market simply because the company who sells it tells us we need it? Why do we read all these PAID advertisements pretending to be reviews of items and then feel compelled to go out and buy it?

People in the bushcraft and survival community often complain about how bad the economic situation is and how tough times are at present, and to be honest they are trying times at present. Then the very next thing they write is how they went out and spent $300 on a new rucksack from some “Tacticool” Nylon supplier… am I missing something here? One minute life is tough and they have no disposable income to cover life’s needs, the next they have bought this beast of a rucksack that does nothing more than carry kit from A to B…

These companies who sell items to Joe Average at extortionist prices do so for one simple reason… because they can... why?

Because we will pony up with our hard-earned cash and buy it at whatever price it may be… that Gucci knife that sells for $500 may only have $20 worth of actual materials in it, but we will pay… because it comes from Company “X”…

Think about this… How much of the gear you own, that cost you a small fortune to acquire, could have been replaced with a simpler cheaper option that works just as well… set aside all the hype and the “Must have” advertising… How much?

On the other hand, think about it like this… I take you out into the bush with your normal load out, then replace each item you have with a generic cheaper option that serves the same function, are you going to die?

 In wilderness survival, it’s not about what brand knife you use or how much scientific research was put into the design of your Ti Spork, it’s about your knowledge and mind set… the animal you are skinning couldn’t care less if you unzip his skin with a $200 dollar knife or a 30c box cutter or a glass flake for that matter…

 Who is your gear going to impress in the woods? Nature couldn’t care less what make or brand you kit is… and if you need to ego stroke by having more expensive gear than your mate, then why are you out there… skills not gear people.

Safe Trails…

Karl.

The Naked Ape in the bush...

Could you Survive here?

Humans are a strange species, we can be quite resilient or fragile depending on the situation and the external elements we face.

 Something has been rattling around in my mind for some time now, I enjoy wilderness skills, studying them, practicing them and researching them… it is my passion in life. Now I don’t always have the time I would like to dedicate to my passion, living and working in a fairly restrictive country doesn’t help either… nor does a job requiring me to work six days a week, random days at that, since nothing is fixed.

 Ok, so we have certain needs as humans, protection from the elements, our modern bodies are not hardened to the elements like our forebears, water to drink, food to eat and a sense of belonging to our tribal community. Yes, even lone wolf survivalists need to belong or so many of the survival based fora and websites would not exist… humans are communal creatures.

 We as a species are also born into a world of tools, vessels and food… we have all the requirements of life provided for us from an early age, no one is born into the world and expected to live with nothing in hand. Traditional peoples always have tools, containers, food set aside, clothing, etc. available for use by all members of society.

 Today I often laugh in frustration when I read of this or that “Survivor” telling the world that you need nothing more than your brain and hands to live in the bush… the simple truth is no, this isn’t true…

In traditional cultures, there is a community spirit that pervades the tribe, sure, there are arguments, grudges and insults felt, but there is order and there is the family unit to fall back on.

 Now imagine you are a member of a primitive society, you have grown up in the tribe with food, water, tools and clothing available when needed, sure you have learned to make what you need, since you are a productive member of your society.

 Now also imagine, you have left your humble hovel to go hunting for meat for the family, while you are away for maybe a couple of days on the hunt, you return to find the hovel burnt to the ground and the family members either dead or departed post haste… what do you do?

 Your family store of food for the rapidly approaching winter has gone up in smoke, the family home has likewise vaporized in a plume of carbon dense gases… the only thing you have between you and death is the bow in your hand, a simple knife and the clothing you stand up in… the prognosis doesn’t look good for you my friend… you have lost what you as a human depended upon to live through the harsh winter… your tribe and your store of supplies.

 Now, surviving this situation is not impossible, it can be done… but it will be difficult and the long-term situation will not be pleasant… there are accounts of natives faced with similar situations surviving a harsh winter with nothing more than a knife; however, these are the exception not the rule. There is a common misconception that an Aboriginal or Native American or a Bushman in Africa can just be dropped into the bush and will live… it is just not so. Sure one or two may live, but as a rule they will die in a short time, you see one person can’t do everything needed to survive in a harsh environment for more than a couple of days..

 In traditional cultures, banishment was a death sentence… pure and simple. To be alone was/is to be dead in a traditional culture. Few white men in history have been able to live long on their own in the wild for more than a couple of weeks at a time, those who have, often returned to society in a half starved and wild condition, not as the healthy rational specimen that walk out the front door on the first day.

Could you find all your needs here?



 So what is the point?

 Well… simple…

 We as humans have certain needs, protection, water, fire, food, medicine… without these things we will perish quite quickly. As a woodsman, you have an obligation to carry your material culture with you into the bush, like our ancestors, we need a store of goods to see us through a harsh time.

 When you set out into the wilds, carry your needs, and do not expect to simply make everything from scratch… the “Naked ape” in the woods will not work. If you need it carry it, but carry only what you truly need… we often carry more comfort than needs into the bush, this is crazy.

 Carry a form of shelter, your clothing is your primary shelter, this is backed up with tarps, blankets, etc.

Carry your tools, a simple knife, saw and chopping tool is all you need, more is nice but is mostly just dead weight, the only other tool I would add would be a good folding knife for small tasks.

Carry your water and means to make it potable, never rely on the bush to give you water, if is does it will not be in a manner you find acceptable.

Carry means to make flame… several means are better than one, sure I like my spark based fire sets and burning glass, yet I always carry instant flame at all times, you would be smart to do the same. Another thing, carry your first fire with you… tinder – kindling – fuel, all ready for the first camp of the trip, enough to get the fire going then add local fuel to maintain, then replace what you use before moving to the next camp.

Carry your food with you, and carry a means to collect food as you go, never rely on gleaning food from the wild, many explorers and mountain men noted it could take up to two weeks before game was found and harvested… that’s a long time without food, no matter how tough you are.

Carry the means to maintain your health in the bush, yes learn about primitive medicines and bush remedies, but carry a real self-aid kit too…

 These are the basics, don’t forget navigation, yes learn to read the signs and find your way, but carry a compass and map too, work smarter not harder, in all things do this, carry the thing that makes life easier, not necessarily more comfortable, but easier… a metal knife rather than a field made one, a tarp rather than a foliage lean-to, etc…

 Primitive wilderness living is hard work, I know I have practiced it a few times, generally without any planning on my part, simply arriving at work and being told to draw weapons and get onto a truck, only to return home two weeks later stinking to high heaven, half naked and starving… it’s not fun and it’s not easy, add to that, I had a job to do at the same time, gather information and locate certain things in the bush often many miles apart, yes the military has some interesting ideas when it comes to wilderness living, just because you are cut off doesn’t mean your job stops…

 So, the moral of my story?

 Simply put… do not expect to start from scratch in the woods and carry your basic needs with you, our primitive ancestors didn’t just walk out of camp and expect to live for an indefinite period of time with nothing and neither should you…

Safe trails…

Karl.

Ross: Bushcraft-the Life and Death Struggle to Make our Lives More Exciting

Ross over at Wood Trekker had a good rant today... and I like it... check it out and think about the truth behind it before you reply...

Bushcraft-the Life and Death Struggle to Make our Lives More Exciting

Good words, good mindset...

Karl Sends...

Truth...

Wherever we go, people are just people and the sky is just the sky, trees are trees, mountains are mountains and rain is rain... our needs, wants, desires are unchanged...


Karl Sends...