Bugging out and Historical Trekking

[DOC-CANADA]

Thanks Mick.

A Ray Mears quote I like:

"Knowledge is invisible and weighs not at all. Be mindful that in times of crisis if you can find shelter in the forest, rub sticks for fire and know which wild plants around you can be eaten you cannot easily be denied access to a home, hearth and a meal. All that is necessary is that we preserve wild places and our knowledge of them.".

Doc

 

[Briarbrow]

It seems to me the needs are the same regardless of era. Using what you can find in nature, and today that includes a lot of trash, is a great benefit. But I do not think that is the way the mountain man, pioneer, or westward expedition was done. They carried a lot of stuff.

I think 18c trekking is cool if you like smoke poles. Or whatever, I've even heard of Lord of the Rings trekking. Whatever gets you to go outside into nature is cool by me(except for arsonist, vandals, litterers and the like)

It's the pushing yourself physically and daily repetition.( Dirt time; is that the term these days?) That shows what's important. Whether your cup is tin or Ti; a flint and steel or ferro rod - I cant tell the difference.

I do think if you go out to the real wilderness, where people must risk their lives to get you out if needs be, then it is irresponsible and reckless to go without the necessary basics to insure your best chance of assisting in your rescue. Maybe that is only a drum liner and butane lighter, etc. You can keep 'em put away if you are really trying to acquire the authentic flavor; but eventually we are going home as our real selves, best to stack the odds

Maybe we shouldn't be learning to live off the land; but rather learning to live off the land-fill

 

[August West]

. They carried a lot of stuff.

Early explorers into the appalachians and into the ohio valley carried very little. There are several people here saying the same thing as you, do a little more studying the time period I am talking about. 1750ish, wasn't any covered wagons headed west or long strings of packhorses.

. a flint and steel or ferro rod - I cant tell the difference.

Quite a bit of difference between the two, actually not even in the same ball park. Chris

 

[Briarbrow]

Early explorers into the appalachians and into the ohio valley carried very little. There are several people here saying the same thing as you, do a little more studying the time period I am talking about. 1750ish, wasn't any covered wagons headed west.

good point i am sure some study would do me good. The specifics though are an aside to the point I tried to make. The accouterments of basic survival in the wilderness are essentially the same in terms of general purpose. Unless I miss your point, imho messing around with all that historical paraphernalia would simply be a distraction unless you happen to love it.


Quite a bit of difference between the two, actually not even in the same ball park. Chris

I know they are quite different in terms of ease of use and specifics of fire making. My point though is; they are very similar tools. Just like the tin cup and copper pot vs. Titanium or aluminum The former being needlessly cumbersome in the woods today.

What is the difference between relying on a hand loomed wool blanket v. a high end sleeping bag? Either could be lost in unforeseen mishap. Either could be found stuffed in a closet unused.

no, I'm not anti-longhunter I think it's a cool hobby with lots of interesting crafts to master

 

[August West]

I know they are quite different in terms of ease of use and specifics of fire making. My point though is; they are very similar tools. Just like the tin cup and copper pot vs. Titanium or aluminum The former being needlessly cumbersome in the woods today.

What is the difference between relying on a hand loomed wool blanket v. a high end sleeping bag? Either could be lost in unforeseen mishap. Either could be found stuffed in a closet unused.

no, I'm not anti-longhunter I think it's a cool hobby with lots of interesting crafts to master

To me the difference is mastering the skills, if you can reliably use the flint and steel, a ferro rod is like cheating. If you can choose a shelter site and build it so you can be comfortable with a blanket a sleeping bag is icing. if you can maintain and keep yourself fed with a flintlock, a bolt action with a scope is a nobrainer. As far as tin, copper or ti I agree, 6 of one....

I just discovered this "trekking" thing and thought it was really cool that people are actually going out and doing it and some of the skills they are learning and practicing seem to be really handy to me. Chris