What Kind of Outdoors Person are You?

stabman

stabman

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Just trying to get a feel for why some of us do the things we do.:)
I'm not the woodsiest guy.
I live in a city...always have.
I know I won't be surviving the inevitable "zombie/nuclear/mad-cow-human virus/radioactive Russian invasion{insert favourite paranoid fantasy here}" while eating mushroom sauteed squirel in the forest. But then again, neither will you, because you'll be part of the horde or eaten.:D
Or, more realistically, because that stupid crap ain't gonna happen (sorry to bring reality into it;))

I can make bits of cordage, but I like bringing it with me more.
I enjoy the feeling of...whatever it is that the woods brings out in us, but I don't get all connected to the ancient Earth Mother or anything like that.

I fully realize that Og the cave dude could survive far better in the wild utilizing only a piece of flint and some moss than I can with a Junglas, fire steel, lighter, tent, etc.
But I can find internet porn way better than old Og could.:D

Basically I like to get away from the everyday into the woods, make a fire, grill some meat, and get in touch with my inner whatever the heck it is. Nothing more noble or serious than that.
I'm not starting a nature commune, trying to outdo Survivorman, or prepare for WW3.

So, what is it you're all into the outdoors for?
 
I think one of the major things i love about the woods is how much it takes you away from all the suburban life crap. There arent any bills, or bosses, or annoying people anywhere to be found (well im sure you can find annoying people). I want to escape, same as you, and just feel some ounce of freedom since the rest of my day/week/eternity is already predetermined by my income/kid/wife/debtors. Building a fire, a camp, grilling some meat (either trapped,shot, or brought along) and doing them successfully are some of the simplest pleasurable moments a man can have (except maybe that porn you were talking about)
 
i wouldnt mind the whole zombie apocolypse thing, as long as there was a reset button in case i screwed up :D
 
Neat topic.

I'm pretty much a lazy camper/hiker. I practice skills now and again but I mainly go out to the woods to veg out. I don't need to do 20 miles a day or extreme things like rafting or climbing. I also don't feel the need to do all the bushcrafty things that a lot of guys like to do. Nothing wrong with it, just not me. A leisurely stroll through the woods or hanging out with friends around the campfire is what I like. I once told my buddy that I hike about a mile an hour and he couldn't believe it. I find that most hikers hike from A to B with the destination/goal being the most important thing. To me just being IN the woods is the goal.
 
clichtenwalner1 said:
I think one of the major things i love about the woods is how much it takes you away from all the suburban life crap.
Building a fire, a camp, grilling some meat (either trapped,shot, or brought along) and doing them successfully are some of the simplest pleasurable moments a man can have
Click to expand...

That's pretty much the page I'm on.:)
 
I have to admit that i also vary with the kind of woodsman i am. Sometimes i try a bow drill to start a fire, the next ill use a zippo and rolled up newspaper. its nice to practice and to "know how" just in case, but i feel like the only "just in case" scenario will be when i drag the kid into the woods on a weekend "survival" trip when he is old enough same as my dad did for me. On that trip ill be a mountain man, the next time i swear ill have a fanny pack and sunblock on my nose complaining about the skeeters.
 
Growing one with nature daily and with the lord! The earth is my home. I feel at one where ever I am! So I'm a christian naturalist with guns lol
 
This fake man made world gives me little to no satisfaction. Nature is where the real world is, at least it's quiet. Humans, and all the other animals evolved in nature, that's where we can be the most connected to the rest of life and the planet. I'm not a hippie dude, but there can be a connection to nature, I breath it in when I'm there, and it recharges my spirit.

I admit, I don't know the plant life, as far as what I can eat, I just enjoy being there, and hiking and backpacking. I can sit still, be quiet, and watch a sunset, that's my most content.
 
I like the bush because it's natural and not man-made. Mother Nature runs the show ; not a bureaucrat . There , my decisions usually affect me and no one else. Self-sufficiency , not dependant on anyone else.

It actually takes a little while to adjust from being in the city for too long , but once in the woods again , everything settles down , time slows down , no more city rush , senses come alive , mind thinks clearer. Even food tastes better.


This is all great , because I'm leaving tomorrow morning for a 4 dayer.:D:D
 
I enjoy being away from highways, buildings and city light at night. I love the sound of wind across trees or even a rock face. I marvel at God's creation, but do not worship it. I give thanks to Him for creating it all for us to enjoy. I believe in being a good steward of the earth, but using the materials provided, including meat. I hunt dove, quail, hog, turkey, duck, pheasant, and chukar but love to watch them fly when not hunting. After hunting duck, I cannot but help to stop what I am doing and watch them fly, take off and land on water. It always holds my attention, to the dismay of my wife. I usually pick up trash that others left on trails. I do the same with spent shotgun shell casings, I try to clean up.

I enjoy 4x4ing as well, but believe in tread lightly. There are plenty of roads already.
 
My idea of "being a woodsman" is living in a house, in the mountains in my country, with all the comforts of modern life. The government is building so many hydroelectric dams that I don't think that we'll ever have power shortages, so that is taken care of. I say this because I have had the opportunity of living or visiting big cities and I just couldn't stand it. I need to see green, trees and my idea of a neighbour is someone who lives half a mile away, so I don't neeed to be bothered by the barking of his dogs or his drunken revells (and viceversa).
On the other hand, I don't see myself living in sheds or caves, fending off zombies or crazed-drugged types (thieves, sure, they are here already) and hunting-gathering for food (too old for that). Besides, I need my high blood pressure medication on a regular basis. :D
 
I'm not exactly an outdoor person as I love indoor openfire a.k.a. Irori :)

climbing, backcountry ski, caving.
Occasionally I make knives, mostly for myself.
 
Im a Hardwoodsman, and a collector of skills and good gear. Anything and everything to do with being more confident and comfortable in the woods, by using my tools and brain to give me what I want.

I despise campgrounds with screamin kids, barkin dogs, and RVs humming. I am not a sit around and cook and take pictures of my shiny new knives kinda "woodsman" either. I do what I do, like what I like, and try to learn something new every time im out.
 
I grew up in a fairly remote area and spent a lot of my teen years wandering the woods aimlessly. For the most part I pissed outdoors and went barefoot whenever possible (rarely when hiking). 25+ years later I still try to hike and camp and pee in the dirt as much as possible. I don't need long backpacking trips to sustain me, just routine hikes and occasional bonfires that are hot enough to melt glass. My "survival" skills are rudimentary, but being comfortable with wilderness and wildlife and getting dirty gives me some level of confidence. I also prefer if my wilderness excursions are somewhere near a winery or two. :)
 
I've always enjoyed being out in the bush since i was a little kid. In the past 7-8 years i started trekking from our home in Chilliwack to Summerland, about 200 miles away. This has been a real learning experience for me. The outdoors for me was a great way of dealing with fear. I am no longer afraid of bears and now look forward to seeing them. It's very humbling to be by myself in such beautiful country.
 
Yep...though I like to hike around 12 to 17 miles thru the state forests here in PA, just being in the woods or stargazing on a clear summer night does it for me.
 
I'm like a fat guy at an all you can eat hog roast when I'm in the woods or maybe a kid in a sweet shop. If I'm not able to get into the woods every few days I become depressed and start to crave it.
As a kid I spent nearly all my free time in the woods following streams, catching frogs and small fish and collecting bird eggs ( yeah I do feel bad about that one now ! ), I even knew a few wild edibles back then and would search for them with one or two of my buddies.
In recent years I have gone to being like a kid again but since getting involved in survival/Bushcraft my interest has rocketed even more so.

I'd definitely say I'm more Cody Lundin than Dave Canterbury if that helps !:D
 
Peace and quiet, having a great enjoyment of the incredible beauty of creation. I have always been deeply interested in all things nature-related - dendrology, geology, paleontology, etc.
 
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