SURVIVAL CAMPING
Jan 11 '00
There are two schools of thought when it comes to camping. The first school; is that of entering the woods equipped with everything you need to have an enjoyable time. Many people who participate in this year round activity, camp not for camping's sake but because other housing arrangements are not available.
The second school which I happen to be a student of is the discipline of "Survival Camping".
This type of camping is for camping's sake and can be done anywhere. It does not require scenery, or anything for that matter except a secluded chunk of wilderness. What is "survival camping" ? It is the process of eliminating all your gear but what you can carry in your pockets or in a small pack,and heading for the woods. The most hardcore approach would mean taking no food, water, shelter, lights, etc... WHY? Well it is not that I don't have all the gear in fact my basement is choked with tents, stoves, lanterns, mats, knives, fishing poles. etc. It's all about staying sharp and maintaining your mental edge even under duress. It's about a fresh perspective. It's about wearing your scars like medals. FUN? Not always. Sometimes you go hungry. Sometimes you freeze. Sometimes you go home early. (Rarely) However, there are those times when everything seems to click and you fall into the survival zone. Self-reliance. Confidence. Faith. Reflection. When survival camping you don't have time for bad ideas. Daylight grants only enough time to find all you need.
This kind of hard-core camping is certainly not for everybody. I do feel however that learning the art of primitive survival can be priceless. You will have an internal bank of knowledge that could enable you to survive in the most uncharitable circumstances. It will also give you a great appreciation for the things in your life that you may have taken for granted.
Now the STERN WARNING! Do not just attempt to try this from scratch with no knowledge. And do not under-estimate the harshness of the backcountry. If you don't know don't GO! True, you will learn but this is not a sport to be taken lightly. Even one night without proper shelter when the temperature drops can cost you your life. The cold ground will lower your core body temp which could lead to hypothermia. ( when your body loses heat faster than it can be replaced.) This is just one of many dangers of camping in general.
Challenges of survival camping: 1. Match-less fires. 2. Water location, purification 3. Shelter 4. Food ( Note: if you plan to harvest wild game please be sure to adhere to all local game laws) 5. Way finding 6. Lastly enjoyment.
Time of the year? I have gone survival camping in every month of the year but I prefer fall and early winter. This is because of the plentiful food sources with berries and wild game. It allows me the opportunity to practice snares and still affords a back-up meal should I come up empty.
In summer shelter is not as necessary as in winter obviously. Something about the cold that ads to the intensity.
Length? I normally go for the weekend but if the land will permit week long trips could be endeavored.
There are countless books written on wilderness survival and can be bought very in-expensively. I personally own a whole bookcase full. I would not recommend a military survival manual as your only book on the subject. Although exhaustive they are often poorly illustrated and hard to read due to small print. Especially when trying to identify edible plant life.
Choose a well illustrated, well written book that covers the five basic areas I listed above.
There are excellent schools which offer training. David Wescotts "BOSS" school in Rexburg, Idaho. The "Reevis Mountain School" in Roosevelt, AZ . These are just a few. If professional schooling is out of the question then try breaking yourself in gradually by taking time to start a matchless fire next time you enter the woods to go camping. Slowly you will develop the skills to give survival camping a try.
I hope that through this review I have at least challenged some of you to give this type of camping a try. It is not for the faint of heart, but you know what they say "NO GUTS NO GLORY" Good luck! And let me know how it goes.
Final Note: This is a proven way to cause disconnected teenagers to find a new love for themselves. There is always a trying period but if done under the watchful eye of a backcountry expert teens can really repair a damaged self-esteem. No mirrors to tell them they are ugly, no TV, no phone, no mall, just NATURE.
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firefly
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Member: Joe Lamey
Reviews written: 21
Trusted by: 92 members
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