Wilderness Surviving and Primitive Living

H

Hall07

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Nov 3, 2007
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I am only 21 years old, yet I've grown quite tired of this world we live in, this society, and the social stigmas that come with this society... I want out of this rat race. I do not think that I want to live my life like this forever. I simply do not feel at peace living this kind of lifestyle. Many of my interests lie within mother nature and primitive survival. I am ashamed to be a part of this culture. It's actually pretty hard for me to live this way and it seems it always has been except for when I was a kid. Though, I understand it would be no easy task to be self-sufficient and survive solely on materials from the wilderness itself, I seriously think about doing it.
One of my heroes is a man named Dick Proenneke. He has a video called Alone In The Wilderness. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you try to. Here is a link that tells a bit about him. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Proenneke
He survived in the Alaskan wilderness for 30 years until the -50 below winter temps got to be too much for him at 80 years old. Wow. That's all I can say.
Anyway, I am not 100% certain I have what it takes but, I can say for sure that I have a far greater chance of surviving than most modern people would and I would fully prepare my self and learn as much as I could before dropping off the face of the earth, of course. One thing I don't know is- where on earth I could go and do this? I don't especially want to test my skills in -50F kind of weather. That would be the ultimate test of survival. My ideal location would be somewhere a bit milder. It would, of course, need to be in a part of the country where not many men cross through, if ever. Women would be ok though. :D Lol. Really though..this is hard to find. Does anyone here know of a possible piece of land in the United States that I could just set up camp on? Do I sound crazy for wanting to do this? Or are there other people here on this blade forum that share the same views and dreams as me...that see out of a similar pair of eyes? To me, it seems like there would be.
I think that I would find this sort of experience, this kind of lifestyle, very satisfying. Growing, foraging, and hunting for food. Making clothes, tools, furniture, a home, and everything! I do not believe I would feel quite as satisfied if I were to just give in to the cultural norm and accept everything the way the government has made it to be. Even if I was a millionaire I just do not know if I could be completely satisfied and happy living this way. Now, I'm not saying I would not LOVE to have a million dollars hehe :rolleyes: but, you know what I'm saying...



So. I guess the reason I wrote this is to get some open minded feed back/advice/info/whatever from people that I assume are pretty open minded and possibly even supportive/encouraging of this sort of thing. Many simply call it unrealistic and are just too caught up in the modern way of life (we call these people sheep) to think of this seriously and have any real interest in it.

Do any of you ever think about it? Venturing into the wilderness to pursue a different way of life? Is there anyone out there that would even be interested in forming a small primitive tribe or community? I know there are some people out there that would and I think it would be cool as hell if we could make our dreams come true. There definately a better chance of survival also if you have a partner/partners. Seriously though...
I'd really like some suggestions as to where this could be done. Thank you if you took the time to read this. If you didn't..well, you're probably not the kind of guy I'd want to respond anyhow. :jerkit:
I look forward to reading some resposes. Have a nice day.
-Hall


Edit: I should add that I have a girlfriend of about 2 years whom I love and would love to share a life with but, her views differ from mine, we don't exactly see eye to eye, and I know if I was to ever do this she would most likely not come with me. That would hurt and be hard to part from that and I'm afraid the solitude could be a difficult task to overcome. I just feel, sometimes, it's something I have to do.
 
Oh, boy, where to start:

My suggestion is to give it a try in a temporary situation. Don't permanently burn any bridges yet. The modern way of life came about by most people who were living a true, self-sufficient sustinence lifestyle getting out of it as soon as they could. There is a huge difference between getting away from it all for a couple of weeks and making it a permanent lifestyle.

The first time you get seriously hurt you are going to want quick transportation to a hospital. Your chance to survive in the first place will be greatly enhanced by the vaccinations the modern way of life has given you. You are likely stronger, larger, and healthier because of modern technologies.

Go look on the wilderness survival forum. It is not filled with tips on permanent sustinence living. It is however filled with discussions on modern fabrics, plastic products,
technologies, etc., which help make survival more likely.

From my experience as an electric utility engineer, most people who create their wilderness paradise are within a short time wanting an electric line run to it and a good road.

I am not trying to be deliberately cynical. You are 21. That gives you a lot of time for experimentation. Go for it if you want. Just keep in mind that it is not a requirement that you immerse yourself in the aspects of the culture surrounding you that you find distasteful. You could ditch the TV this afternoon. If your friends distress you, get some new friends. Just because our society is materialistic doesn't mean that you have to be. To paraphrase the Master Teacher, you can be in this culture but not of it.

I will tell you from experience growing up on a near-subsistence farm that central heat and air and indoor plumbing can be awfully nice. This is one old fart that doesn't want to go back for more than a few days at a
time.
 
Come live and work in Africa for 2 years. I had a girlfriend who wanted to get away from it all and travel through Africa.

I believe that we all want to step back to nature, that society is wastefull and sick. A bit of time in Africa will help you value what you have and see what you really don't like in your own society so that you can return and try to make a difference.

A friend who shared diggs at varsity with me got that urge in 1985 and over the 3month Christmas holiday went walk about from South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, South West (Namibia), Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesthoto, ,,,,,,, I dropped him off on the roadside outside Durban with a Rucksak, Swiss Army Knife and $200.00 ($100.00 I had loaned to him). He was back on time for the next year and had spent only $40.00.

He was very mature on his return.
 
I wouldnt mind having my own tribe, if you want to try this the best place would probably be somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. The only problem with this kind of life is you woudln't be able to use the computer to correspond with all the blade fanatics here and tell them how your journey is going. For me I have thought about this many times however without a permanent address I wouldn't have anywhere for them to send all my knives. Terrible problem with collecting things you can't just pick and move without a place to put 200 knives. I don't though if you want to make this something you could sustain you would definately have to give it a short run try first somewhere. I just don't think it is possible to live like this in the modern world for more than a couple of months. Not anyway once of you've been exposed to the moder luxeries to majority of us have become so widely accustomed to.
 
I can fully sympathize with your plight. I would suggest, like others have, that you try short term experiments first. Like do a thru-hike on the Appilachian trail. At times you will be very removed from civilization and company. Yet resupply points are set up that cater to hikers. Yes there are still rules to follow such as trail etiquete, where and how you can camp in places, and what you can do to and with plants and animals. On some sections of the trail you will get all the solitude you can handle. And most often the people you meet along the way will be like-minded and interesting. It does take a lot of forethought and preparation but regardless of the length of your hike there is almost always an "out" in emergencies or if you just plain get tired of it and want to go home. Plus there is a feeling of accomplishment that simply "squatting in the bush" doesn't provide.

Just another suggestion from an old Codger who still fondly remembers the time when he walked the AP last century.

Codger
 
If you want to get away from people, a small uninhabited island might be worth looking at. You'd probably need to get most of your sustenance form the sea.
 
Just get out of Michigan. Especially if you live in SE Mich. (like me). The economy, weather, job market, the ever-collapsing real estate market, and general disposition of the residents here have the ability to pound ones soul into the ground like a tent peg.

Its one of the most depressing places in the country.

Just my opinion of course. If I could get a transfer or a job in another state (and get fair market value for my house :mad: ) I'd be outta here quick.

Chris
 
Maybe buy a 5 acre plot with a small house in a rural area, get a mule and some 18th century manual farm implements, and try your hand at subsistence farming. After a year or so, when you're ready to abandon it and move back to civilization, realize that had you tried true primitive living, out in the wilderness with stone age tools, it would have been 100 times harder still.
 
for what its worth to you im 31 and have felt similar to you at times in my life. most of my twenties were not spent focused and i managed to make a big mistake or two. i sometimes found that what i thought i wanted wasnt really what i wanted and what i really wanted was not that far from home. my advise would be to keep your options open and stay close to those you love and do what some of the others have suggested by not jumping off the proverbial cliff. take things slow, go on a trip or three. when you are talking about drastic changes (nothing wrong with them) just ease into them. you can always dive deeper later.
good luck.
josh
 
I feel the same way, and I think your exact thoughts almost everyday, but I'm married, and I love my wife and would some day like to have children. So, I'm satisfied with a few camping trips to the Sierras every year.

As far as looking for a place to do this, I would suggest checking out the rocky mountains, and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges. I know for a fact that there are still some very remote areas in these west coast mountain ranges.

I would suggest though that when you do find a likely spot, you move close to it, and do a lot of short term camping/hiking trips to scout out the area. I would also suggest you find somewhere within a days horseback ride to town, so you can come in from the wilderness, once a month for supplies. Because, lets face it, at some point you will need to replace tools, sell furs, pick up building supplies, meet a girl for the night, check in with bladeforums, etc. You will also have somewhere to go if you are seriously injured. Ideally you would also like to be near water, such as a lake, river, or stream.

Like I said, this has always been a dream of mine, so I've thought about it a lot.
 
The fantasy and reality are two very different things. Snap out of it.
 
Into the WIld....check it out.

My wife and I are of the firm belief that the only thing that keeps me on the grid is her. Period not much more to tell on that story.

I am not a misanthrope and really like people I just have no use for society.

Try hiking alone for a weekend, then hit up something epic, the John Muir comes to mind and see if its your cup of tea. I am planning a solo trek across the San Gabriel Mountains in April to test the beginning of this idea. Good Thread!
 
you are young and i guess your leaving your family (mom/dad etc) try a extended camping trip 1-3 months that will bring reality back really fast , everybody has the phases in life...quite watching the wilderness family videos and think about your well being and others around you...if your gonna do it give a game plan to people you care about ,hey ,i'll be in this location for a month...or what ever ...if you think taken a few supplies and walking off into the bush and falling off the grid is gonna happen most likley not ,where you are located you'll more than likey be tresspassing on some-ones land...the great outdoors is awesome but blink a eye and it can be deadly...think long and hard about what you want to do...and all ways talk to some one before you act.
 
One thing I don't know is- where on earth I could go and do this? I don't especially want to test my skills in -50F kind of weather. That would be the ultimate test of survival. My ideal location would be somewhere a bit milder.
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Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia. All very temperate. Winters aren't super harsh, summers aren't super hot. Plenty of lakes and streams. Plenty of mountains. Plenty of wildlife to hunt and most folks now adays are too concerned with "the rat race" to get into them anymore. I'm from Kentucky, I live in Kentucky. Basically if/when I decide to bug out...all I have to do is pick a direction and "commence to runnin' ". :D
 
I used to think about living off of the land too. I especially liked thinking about the native Americans (Indians) and the early explorers and pioneers. I thought the best life in the world would have been to be a Plains Indian riding horses and hunting buffalo.

I agree with the previous posts that you should check out something temporarily first. I love nature, but you can only look at it and play in for so long. I got my nature fix "fixed" by joining the Army (I was in all three components, National Guard, Active and Reserve). We were outside a lot and I loved it, but there were times I wanted to get back to civilization (cold, boring, nights will do it to you). The good thing about the Army is/was you got paid for the outdoor time; you built up retirement for the older years. The Army does not appeal to everyone (no kidding :D), so maybe you can combine your desire for outdoor life with being a park ranger, game warden, forester, biologist, etc. A career in an outdoor field may be what you need.

"Living off the land" is fun to try and experience, but ultimately it gets old. Try it for awhile in a temporary fashion like some have suggested and see what you think.

Good luck! We have all been there trying to figure what to do with our lives and that fact that you posted your concerns for all to see shows that you are braver than most. You are going to do fine.

Scout
 
Suggestion: Go to school, study forestry, then get a job that will both put food on your table and take you out in the woods a lot of the time. There are a lot of jobs available in a variety of fields that will put you outside where you can enjoy Mother Nature in peace and solitude, but you get to come back home and sleep in a real bed at least some nights. There is a lot to be said for that "coming back home" part! Warm showers and good food are kind of nice, too.
 
A lot of guys live this kind of lifestyle in Montana and Idaho.
Let's make a distinction first:
Are you wanting to live completely off the grid, or just go back to more of a mountainman lifestyle.
If you're going completely off the grid, then in most National Parks and Forests, you can camp for free. However, you can't homestead, meaning you have to move around, you can't set up a permanent camp. You also can't have firearms on most National OParks land, but many, if not most National Forests you can. I would not recommend this lifestyle unless you have skills that exceed those of a Les Strout or Ron Hood kind of guy.


Now, to be honest, I'm planning on moving to more of a mountainman type lifestyle.
This means more of setting up a permanent residence on my own land.
Mountainmen did not live on their own, 100% sufficient. They can to town, and to rendezvous to get supplies and such so they didn't have to do everything themselves.
Here's what I'm planning, and I hope it's a good idea.

1.) Buy a plot of land. I plan on a Montana area plot. There's more wilderness and fewer people in Montana than in most of the other 48. They have land for (fairly) little money, won't sell in in less than 5 acre lots (meaning lees chance of others encroaching on me later). Downside is I have to dig deep for a well, and that'll probably be a pisser for a hand pump.
2.) Pay off everything you can. If you can buy a 4x4 truck or Jeep -- buy, not finance.
3.) As you gather money, tools, etc and pay off bills, buy some good books and videos on survival and homesteading.
4.) Practice what is in the books. Learn pioneer living. Learn to grow your food, learn animal husbandry and how to grow things like chickens and rabbits from people around hwere you live. Ask questions.
5.) Shut off your electricity as much as possible. If you're in a house (rented or not) with a privacy fence, start living in the backyard as much as possible. Practice heating water and cooking over a fire (set it up in a cheap $25 grill if you have to), or a woodstove, if you are going to have one in your country abode). Learn to light it with firesticks, tinder shavings, etc.
6.) Do yourself a favor, pay someone to drill a well for you and put in a hand pump.
7.) Do yourself another favor and build a shelter. I'm planning on a basic barn type structure that I can park my truck in and store my tools. Big enough for two trucks, I can live in the other side. If I decide to build a cabin separate from it, the half I used to live in will be space for a much-needed workshop.
8.) learn to work with hand tools. Project around the house/apartment? Use handsaws, drill braces, etc. If yo have to buy wood for your backyard/grill fires, buy it in logs (unless you are in an apartment and can't), and learn to buck it with bucksaws and axes, split it with axes and mauls.
9,) Learn to hunt and trap. If you can, find people to hunt with. Even if you don't get anything the first few times, have them teach you to dress and prepare the animal (i.e. offer to help them do it). Learn to tan hides.
10.) Learn to dumpster dive. A lot of stuff people throw out can be used for other purposes. Old plumbing fixtures may be fine, just their wife wanted to remodel. Clean them up, attach to a raised barrel to make a gravity shower. Often lumber can be reclaimed from the trash, or if someone is clearing land or just trimming trees, you can often get the wood for free so they don't have to pay to have it removed.

There is a lto to learn, and byt he time you are financially solvent and the land is BOUGHT and prepped, you'll have learned most of what you need for the mountainman lifestyle.

After this, I plan to still hold a job. However, with vehicle(s) paid for, the land paid for, etc, all I'll need money for is gas, property taxes, vehicle registration and to buy what I cannot grow or make myself. So I can make it with a fairly low-end job if I have to. It also allows me to invest a lot of the money, even from a low paying job, for retirement. You'd be surprised how well you can live on very little money if you don't have house and vehicle payments to make. It's just most people (including women) don't want to live that way in order to do it.

IMO, the mountainman kind of lifestyle is a good compromise between living like a caveman and yet not getting caught up in the modern ratrace. You can still have a real bed, warm food and showers (just have to heat some water first).
 
What was the name of the kid up in Alaska who had the same notion? They found him dead, starved to death, in a broken down school bus.

Get serious, this stuff is a fantasy. The day to day reality of this kind of life style will get old in a real hurry. Listen to Dr. Mudd. I got my degree in Rec and Parks Administration so I could get an outdoor job as a ranger after college. Of course, that never happened. I became a stockbroker instead... ;)
 
CSG said:
What was the name of the kid up in Alaska who had the same notion? They found him dead, starved to death, in a broken down school bus.

Get serious, this stuff is a fantasy. The day to day reality of this kind of life style will get old in a real hurry. Listen to Dr. Mudd. I got my degree in Rec and Parks Administration so I could get an outdoor job as a ranger after college. Of course, that never happened. I became a stockbroker instead... ;)
Click to expand...

that "kid" they found in Alaska was an ass. He had no training and no skills just a rich kid who decided to up and take off a lot, without telling anyone where he was going. It's called the "Darwin Award" and he got it. The fantasy is that everybody just naturally assumes when TSHTF occurs the government is going to be mother goose and take care of everyone. Yeah..sure. You keep thinkin' that, Scooter. Meanwhile I'm gonna do what my Papaw taught me and keep my senses and knives sharp. Cause when it all finally does go to hell on a railcart (and it will) I don't want to have to depend on "Uncle Sam" who'll probably just toss you a C ration and wish you the best of luck.
So you cats just keep on thinking that those of us who smell winter coming and keep on preparing are living a fantasy life...but when the snow finally starts falling don't come knockin' at my door...cause all I'll have for you is a shotgun.
 
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