Who Are Your Inspirations ?

pitdog

pitdog

Joined
Apr 13, 2007
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That is who made you into the outdoor fanatics that you are today ?

I guess my dad caused that initial spark of interest, but it was these two legends that have influenced me the most over the years.....

Tom Brown Jr....

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And Ray Mears ( shown here sat with another legend ! )....

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Both provided different kinds of inspiration, Tom Brown gives the encouragement to get out there and enjoy it all, Ray Mears gives all the technical stuff to survive when you are out there !!!:thumbup:
 
My grandfather , kinda older version of Joezilla. Ray Mears was one. Several folks have influenced me over the years. I have a buddy theat's a bit older now that was a Ranger and a member of the RDF (prerunner to Delta) that always seems to inspire me. His health hasn't been too good to him the last few years, but he manages to come visit and spend time in the bush with me. Not to mention giving me a sweet Paratrooper model SKS, since I had sold my rifles for bills. Hell, everybody here is really an inspiration. ALl these pics of beautiful places and killer gear, makes it hard to sit here and type instead of being outside playing in the woods. Later,Steve
 
Maybe Ray Mears.The first time I saw his show I was so exited.Everything started then!
Also BULLYSON (he's a member of Bladeforums).Too bad,that he lives far from me.:(
Also too bad,that most of my buddies are how Bullyson have said 6on Bulgarian (not sure how it would sound in English :) ) "children of the internet technology".He's right.I'm kinda oldfashion.If there wasn't all that knife info on the Internet,i wouldn't be using a computer at all ! :)
Ofcourse,my Grandfather was a great inspiration too !Too bad,that he passed on last year,two weeks before my birthday... :(
 
books.

countless books, read as a kid in the city.

do kids read anymore?
 
My Dad for starting me backpacking at 4 years old.
I would say Tom Brown Jr. and Nessmuk. My day had the Nessmuk book when I was a kid, and I read it when I was 11 or 12 years old.
 
An Explorer Manual from 1952. It was my fathers, although I rarely saw him as a youngster - in fact the last time was at age 7. I guess that was my motivation for self-reliance, I didn't need him.
 
Couple people. My father was always an outdoorsman, when I was a kid, rabbit was put on the table, my sister and I were told it was chicken, but my mom did a helluva job of preparing it. He took me hunting a couple times, but I preferred traipsing around his property with him. Pointing out deer tracks etc, little tidbits of information, camping outside. My uncle has such a great time on the water or near it, it really cultivated my love of fishing and being on the water. My high school science teacher kind of solidified my love of the outdoors, my father and uncle always preached taking care of the environment. My science teacher, nutjob whacko that he was, was an outdoorsman at heart, and gave me a sort of stewardship love of the outdoors.

Recently, an old friend of my fathers and uncles, and Scott Gossman, have inadvertently rekindled my love of the outdoors, and drive to really get back to it, other than simple jaunts down manicured trails.
 
My fathers Naval bluejackets manual he gave me when I was 9 got me interested in the military, which in turn led me to my first surplus store, which led me to my first survival manual, which led me to my first SAK, which led me to collecting knives from antique shops and magazines like Boys Life at 10 years old. Ever since I have been a gear junkie, and enthusiast of all things outside.:)

Not to mention I was an avid SOCAL mtn biker as a kid.
 
I must go with the books. Robinson Crusoe a big one... All the adventure books and the fantasy books that i still love to read. Even now at 42 when i go backpacking or hiking sometimes i see my self going on an adventure like in the books.. A good book is better then anything else out there. I would go crazy and die a painfull death if i would run of things to read.

Sasha
 
Grandfather and father of course, Meshach browning as a frontiersman and hunter. I have ready many of his first hand accounts and he really was a great hunter and shot along with a great bushcrafter and woodsman.
 
I have always been an avid outdoorsman, hunting, some fishing and camping but my inspirations for wilderness survival and knives way before I got on the internet are
Ron Hood
Dan Shecthman
Steven Dick


Scott
 
My (maternal) Grandfather was a a great hunter(The greatest in my eyes).I got all my inspiration from him,plus reading a lot...Tom Sawyer,survival manuals,army ranger manuals,navy seals,....etc & spending a lot of time outdoors,mostly by creeks & rivers,since I grew up in an urban envirionment.

He used to take me Deer (et al) hunting when I about 7-10yrs old.He always used a .308 Winchester & gave me a Ruger .22lr for squirrels & rabbits.We always ate everything we shot.

It was he whom I first heard the motto "failing to prepare,is preparing to fail"


He moved to America from Poland around 1930 & fought (the Germans),for America in WWII followed by an Honorable Disharge...Purple Heart Recipient.

He built his own house on about 2acres of land,in the Lake George area of NY State.


He died of cancer when I was twelve.Rest his soul:(


He was a great ,wise man & will always be in my thoughts.



Oh yea,I was in the BSA too from 12-15
 
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My Dad taught me to hunt and fish and to love nature. My Grandpa (Dad's pa) taught me wilderness skills and self-reliance. Gramps would haul us kids out into the timber with our packs, 1 tent, and a 22 rifle (regardless of "seasons") and leave us for two or three days at a time. Don't worry it wasn't all that traumatic and it was only a 2-4 mile walk (as the crow flies) back to the farm.
 
No doubt, the stories of the real mountain men and a book called "Spirit of the Border." I know most of you older guys at least have read it. Probably several times.

More recently, My two Grandpa's were total outdoors men. My dad, rest his soul was a work-alcoholic, who took little time for fun. ( A Fault that I did not inherit )
 
My Dad was always the one to take me hunting, but really my Mom is the one who sparked the most interest in me to really love the outdoors & to start learning how to use various tools to enjoy camping / plan for survival etc.

She was a Girl scout leader, and really loved to teach others of the beauties of nature & how to plan for the various situations one might find their self in.
She was the first one to give me a compass & mag rod etc.

Another friend of mine who I don't see much anymore was a real encourager to help me start honing my skills - (forum name Dr.HanibalLector)
Brilliant & class A guy. :thumbup:

Also got to thank all the folks on this forum, I have really enjoyed myself here - seem to learn a little something everytime I log on.

Of course, I have really enjoyed gleaning from Les & Bear too :D
 
nobody actually since i dont have any adult friends or family that are interested in the outdoors enough to actually get out there with me.

i hunt,hike and camp 90% of the time by myself and while i admire the big names you guys have listed i didnt discover them until after i became interested in the outdoors.

i guess i would say God for making such a beautiful natural world that i cant help but try to absorb it.

also when i was a kid i got in some trouble and had my freedom revoked for 3 months since the wheels of justice move slow.during that time i had a magazine about the Adirondak Mtns and i would look at the pictures of the mountains and i associated them with freedom,the opposite of that concrete dwelling.i finally grew up and never looked back.

i started out hiking and then moved to camping and then to hunting.i slowly started building up my collection of gear,buying one piece at a time and i now i have more gear than i could ever need and consider myself pretty well rounded in my outdoor capabilities and knowledge.
 
Good job Northern. It sounds like you took control of your life and made some big improvements. Glad to see it.:thumbup:
 
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