Minimalist camping without a fixed blade

[Quiet]

I have deer and woodpeckers in my garden.

I was stalking in the Highlands of Scotland the other year. No one for miles, until two cross country bicyclists went down the valley and cleared the Red Deer off that part of the mountain. No one for miles isn't often enough.
True wilderness is harder to find, for most a pocket is about as good as it gets.
I don't live in Canada, nor Australia, nor anywhere that its that easy. Takes a boat, plane or helicopter to get far enough away.

I see you are in the UK, ah, well that does change matters. There are lots of places here where you truly can get away. Let me know if you ever get over to the US, I'll show you some places in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, or North Carolina where it's truly untouched woods far as the eye can see. Deer, wild pigs, bald eagles sailing by, truly some beautiful wild places left here.

 

[flipe8]

This thread needs a few pics[emoji106] These were from a solo trip up the coast last season. No one to be seen for a few days, except the sleeping cat[emoji6]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[robgmn]

Off tangent- I like the idea of LNT and keeping things in a way that as many can enjoy it as possible.
I do my part.

That said, I had to laugh heartily at some recent events regarding a nature center in our area:
Tree huggers became heavily up-in-arms about those horrible mountain bikers ruining the trails with their nasty knobby tires. Then, we got a hundred-year rain storm that virtually eliminated half of the trails (we're talking newly-formed gullies that were 30 feet across by 20 feet deep) and left the rest looking quite the mess.

Fast forward several years, and the city decides they are going to pay to have some tree-thinning done in the nature center to remove closely-spaced pines and other scrub trees that are killing each other off so that "good growth" can occur .
The work commences, then some numnuts hires a lawyer and brings suit against the city for "ruining the nature center".
A few weeks after the suit it filed, we get a storm with 100+MPH winds that takes down over 1,000 trees (at current count) in the center.

We have SOME impact when we get out there in the woods, but nature does what nature wants!

 

[Quiet]

I assumed that was the case, but didn't want to assume(haha!). I get what you're stating about being out there away from others. I spent a couple days solo paddling around a patch of islands near the Maine/New Brunswick border just last week. Most the islands within the chain are either privately owned or under protection through provincial or federal conservancy organizations. Either way, while still being for the most part, uninhabited , it is common practice to reduce impact while using the islands. I've also found this to be the case with many provincial/state/national parks. Being that you stated you've spent much time in the wild, do you simply stay off land where these rules apply?

There are a lot of places where the woods is just the woods. Most private lands I've camped on, I either asked in advance (wherein permission was always granted) or I was on public land. To clarify, a lot of the back country here in Florida for instance is state land, but there's nothing there and no signs are posted, and no Forestry guys are throwing anyone off. In fact, any officials I've ever run across have been far more interested in catching poacher/illegal hunters than they are some folks who just hiked in, camped, and came out. I've been "caught" four times, where I hiked out on a Sunday and there was an officer parked near my car which was parked on a back road. We talked about camping a bit, after I was given a visual once-over and they saw no obvious firearms or animals I'd killed, and was told that camping's no issue and to have a great day. Living in Florida, there are plenty of places which are protected, but that you can still go out onto, like marshes and wetlands. Locals also keep in mind that there are plenty of animals which are protected (I'm not a hunter anyway, but kinda going hand in hand with conservation) so hunting without a permit's a no-no. I'm not a hunter myself, so this doesn't bother me. I like taking pictures of animals when I can.

As for rules, I would tell you that I have a strong set of conservation rules I keep to. Some examples: I pack it in, I pack it out. I don't hurt animals or disturb them if at all possible*, and I take extreme care to set up my campfire in a small way (ie: no roaring bonfires). I have been known to turf my campfire spots when possible. I DO enjoy cooking outdoors, and will have to try to get a picture of my setup next time I'm out. As far as low impact goes, I generally don't chop down trees, and in fact, can't recall the last time I have needed to. As for blazing trails, in the southern states, you have plenty of places where a machete is necessary to get through to some of the coolest, out of the way spots. Kudzu, thick underbrush, vines, we get it all. It's always neat to be out in the middle of the woods, and you come across a neat little brook chuckling along and you have to find a fallen log across. A little careful footing, some common sense, and you're good to go.

I will say that I do my best to respect peoples' property, and haven't ever had an issue where I was sitting on a log and somebody came up to throw me off their property. There are plenty of places in Florida where you can camp, hike, and Geocache which are "semi" campgrounds because you can either have an area assigned to you that has some amenities, or you can show them on a map "I plan to camp in this area" out in sticks. This is a pretty good place for that sort of thing.


*I've seen deer, bears, wild pigs, Sandhill Cranes (who are real jerks), badgers, countless other creatures

 

[GREENJACKET]

Quiet,
There you are very fortunate, you can enjoy some vast spaces.
I did spend some time in the States, mainly in Little Rock, Arkansas, a few other places too, even Las Vagas. Sadly, rarely ventured far out of Camp (Fort) when there.
If circumstances were to allow I might well take you up on your kind offer. Any excuse for an adventure. Unfortunately, family commitments probably will put a kibosh on me zooming off to do my own thing.
I live on the south coast of England, but will be having Christmas in the Highlands of Scotland. Best I can do.

Though I like being out under the stars, my real passion is hunting. In truth shooting generally. A good day is out with a gun, and my dog. And yes, I do carry the right knife. For a hunter I don't shoot as much as I could; its the excuse to be out that attracts me.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Nature surely has an impact.

If you exclude people from the natural world, we still have an impact. Turning most of the hardwood forests of Ohio into farm fields in the 1800s is one example. Now many of the acres are second-growth scrub (deer food). Come back in centuries, if we go away, and things will look closer to "natural."

Still, we won't be going out to shoot Passenger Pigeons, Labrador Duck, or New Zealand Quail. All gone.

If we don't cause all the problems, we can sure make them worse.

 

[Quiet]

This thread needs a few pics[emoji106] These were from a solo trip up the coast last season. No one to be seen for a few days, except the sleeping cat[emoji6]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Canoe camping!! I've only done that once, and it was a lot of fun. Great shots, I need to do that again. There are some great rivers around here that would be good places for it. I'll have to see if I can find any pictures from my outings, I generally don't take many pics when I camp, so I'll have to try to do so next time. Thank you for sharing.

 

[sabre cat]

This thread needs a few pics[emoji106] These were from a solo trip up the coast last season. No one to be seen for a few days, except the sleeping cat[emoji6]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, that is not what I expected.

I like cats and was thinking that you have an exceptional kitty that travels with you until I scrolled down a little more.

 

[Mecha]

Heya Carl. Great question.

The aplinist and the woodsman are the same in that they both rely on their equipment and their skill to stay alive. Tools and technique are both critical.

My daughter is learning to rock climb and as a part of that process and in a controlled environment, she learning how to fall off the rock and to rely on the ropes and her belayer and also to react to the fall and to swing back towards the rock. Related, you may recall that Yvonne Chouinard was forced to sell Chouinard Equipment to his employees, thereby creating Black Diamond Equipment due to a wrongful death lawsuit involving a climber who secured his Chouinard climbing harness incorrectly, fell and then fell out of his harness.

From the alpinist point of view, the adjective "survival" associated with any piece of equipment is redundant because pretty much everything in the minimalist kit is about survival. When I hike above treeline my survival mitts have survival wrist cords, because taking a mitt and loosing it in 40mph (or more) winds can be lethal.

The LNT approach to travel below treeline is the same.

Here is a shot of my gear on a trip a while back in October. 25-35F, moderate winds and rain/snow mix.

IMG_1618 by Pinnah, on Flickr

I need to run to work right now and will come back and provide more detailed later about how I bet my life on my survival tarp, survival stove, survival sleep system and survival clothing system, just as a woodsman may rely on a survival knife.

Goodness, that just looks dreadful. There are homeless encampments all around Eugene, Oregon, that look the same.

Ahh, here we go! Nothing like a minimalist hike through Nature's untouched beauty!

 

[GREENJACKET]

Interestingly, the deer population in the UK was eaten out at least twice. It was the Royal parks that reintroduced them and protected the deer from the locals. Their numbers are pretty high, very, at present with six species. All hunting is done in regulated seasons. We have some vermin that are open season. Shooting, hunting, guns in general, aren't nearly as popular over here compared to the States.

Shooting and conservation can go hand in hand. So much of the landscape is man managed, so is the wildlife. Here in the UK we have some spectacular wildlife. Modern farming practices are a concern at present. Housing and development also for some time.
There sure isn't the insect life here as there was when I grew up. Less small birds too.

Whoever you are have some respect for the natural world. Do your part where you can.

 

[philllll]

Quiet, please find a way to discuss the topic without insults and personal attacks.

A smart man once wrote "NEVER WRESTLE WITH PIGS" in a piece about posting on the internet with civility

 

[Quiet]

That's about as close as you'd want to be to one of those. I was on a trail out on one of the large tracts of wooded land my family owns up in TN and I'm standing at the edge of a large oval shaped clearing I'd just found, and a large cougar casually saunters into the open at the other end. I stood still, Rodent 9 in hand, and we made eye contact. Scared the absolute daylights out of me. Then the moment passed, and that big cat casually just walked across and into the woods. He couldn't have been more than 20 yards away. A cougar would have covered that in an instant if he'd been so inclined, and been all over me like a fat kid on cake. I did not camp there that night, needless to say.

 

[pinnah]

Hoisted on my own pitard

 

[Morrow]

A smart man once wrote "NEVER WRESTLE WITH PIGS" in a piece about posting on the internet with civility

A smart man would know to not try and start shit after all the issues were handled. The thread is back on track so knock it off.

 

[leghog]

For those of us who are actually camping? Yeah, a fixed blade is a must have.

I actually camp. Have for decades. And I almost always do so without a fixed blade knife. I discovered long ago that a fixed blade wasn't a "must have". Millions, especially minimalists, hit the backcountry without one for that very reason. There's a reason you don't find a fixed blade knife on any widely accepted and used lists of essentials. And when I leave the backcountry I endeavor to leave it so no one will even know I was there.

When possible they traveled from village to village. Anything far then as a party, as in hunting party. The man power to provide a camp and security takes a team effort. For nomads then usually a pack animal was deployed and they moved with a whole village or extended family group. Sure individual could go it alone, but rarely did unless on a well trodden trail.
A single human was pretty easily taken out ...

Yup. Just look at what happened to Ötzi, and he was well equipped for his day.

 

[Quiet]

I actually camp. Have for decades. And I almost always do so without a fixed blade knife. And when I leave the backcountry I leave it so no one will even know I was there.

And hey brother, I'm glad that that works for you. I'm merely speaking for myself and others who tend to camp in the sort of environs I camp in (I know a lot of folks who camp, we all carry fixed blades). My sincere apologies for appearing to speak for you. Carrying a fixed blade isn't for everyone, and I won't tell you what you do or do not need. :thumbup:

 

[leghog]

And hey brother, I'm glad that that works for you. I'm merely speaking for myself and others who tend to camp in the sort of environs I camp in (I know a lot of folks who camp, we all carry fixed blades). My sincere apologies for appearing to speak for you. Carrying a fixed blade isn't for everyone, and I won't tell you what you do or do not need. :thumbup:

yet, it was you who said "For those of us who are actually camping? Yeah, a fixed blade is a must have." I very rarely ever see others out recreational hiking, backpacking, or camping with fixed blade knives unless they are car camping or very close to where they parked there cars. Heck, in those cases you can probably just haul your own pre-processed wood. I can say with confidence that I've never seen a minimalist (which was the OP inquiry) or UL with a fixed blade.

 

[Quiet]

yet, it was you who said "For those of us who are actually camping? Yeah, a fixed blade is a must have." I very rarely ever see other with fixed blade knives out recreational hiking, backpacking, or camping unless they are car camping or very close to where they parked there cars. I can say with confidence that I've never seen a minimalist (which was the OP inquiry) or UL with a fixed blade.

Yes, you quoted me the first time, thank you.

Also? I've seen multiple minimalists with fixed blades. Moras are great, wouldn't you agree?

Your experience is just that, your experience, same as mine is. You're welcome to yours, I'll stick to mine. And my experience is that I need a fixed blade while camping. Same as everyone I know, and almost everyone I run into on those rare occasions when I see someone else out in the wilderness. :thumbup:

 

[philllll]

A smart man would know to not try and start shit after all the issues were handled. The thread is back on track so knock it off.

Sorry Jason I guess my reference was a bit obscure. I was referring to an article written by Pinnah himself.

I'll shut up now

Hoisted on my own pitard

:thumbup:

 

[Quiet]

And really, Leghog, if we're speaking strictly of minimalist camping, I can tell you that in no way do I consider something like a stove something for a minimalist. I personally have gone out on multiple occassions for an entire weekend with:

- a space blanket
- large contractor grade trash bag
- some fishing line, hooks, bobs
- firesteel
- 4 inchish fixed blade
- Bic lighter
- Water purifier straw
- Water bottle
- Gallon ziplock bag containing: two pairs of socks, 1 pair undershorts, 1 undershirt
- 1 can of spam (emergency rations, what?)

(shrug) I can do the minimalist thing just fine. Not really that hard. Everything altogether weighed less than 10 lbs. I carried it all in a small Maxpedition Versapack. Second weekend I did it, I caught four fish. The first weekend, eh, I ate the Spam.

I will say though that these days I enjoy car camping, and I don't hike nearly as much as I used to. I have a lot of rural areas where I am, so I can park, walk two, three miles at the most out into woods, follow some deer trails, and find run across a stream or nice area, and spend a couple days there walking around exploring.