intothenew
12-05-2011, 04:14 PM
Will you let a grandpa around the campfire?
I'm checking in from the Woods&Waters of a small community in West Virginia. I've lived within a few miles of my current home all of my life. I love it here, but I also enjoy some travel. An Engineer by trade, this area offers a nice contrast to the routine of work.
I have had no formal survival training, but have spent many a day/night in the bush with a pack on my back hunting, fishing, foraging, or simply hiking as a younger man. As the years have past, overnight foot travel has diminished and been replaced with a primitive cabin in hunting season. But, I still spend many a full day afield relying only on a day pack. If memory serves correctly, my longest stint hiking would be 6-7 days. I have tent camped for as long as 14 days during hunting season. Not survival situations by any means, but I have come to appreciate just what you need. I have also come to appreciate just how much wants can be a burden, both physically and mentally.
I consider myself a novice, a functioning novice. My biggest asset is my attitude. I have never been in what I thought was a life and death situation, but have experienced challenging situations that almost overcame some of my comrades. Being able to keep a calm head has given me confidence in any situation that I have had to deal with to date.
Riding a Dual Sport Motorcycle is consuming more and more of my leisure time. I get to experience some incredibly remote country and still must use backpacking skills (e.g. light weight camping, non-perishable or foraged food).
I am here to return to the basics, start fresh. I mean that in two ways. One, I plan to review my personal conceptions and preparedness. Two, and more importantly, I wish to develop a kit of tools and skills to hand to my grandchildren. My children have spent, and still do, many days afield with me. The learning they have from me, for better or worse, seems to have done them well. I certainly will not be able to spend that amount of time with my grandchildren, I don't have that many trips around the sun left. So, I want to make the best of this time while I am in good enough health and they have an eager mind. Ages 7-11, three of them at the moment. Three of the most beautiful things on this earth they are. I do not want to pass bad habits or misinformation on to them, the reason for my personal review. I look forward to the time here, and the things I will learn and pass to them out there.
I'm checking in from the Woods&Waters of a small community in West Virginia. I've lived within a few miles of my current home all of my life. I love it here, but I also enjoy some travel. An Engineer by trade, this area offers a nice contrast to the routine of work.
I have had no formal survival training, but have spent many a day/night in the bush with a pack on my back hunting, fishing, foraging, or simply hiking as a younger man. As the years have past, overnight foot travel has diminished and been replaced with a primitive cabin in hunting season. But, I still spend many a full day afield relying only on a day pack. If memory serves correctly, my longest stint hiking would be 6-7 days. I have tent camped for as long as 14 days during hunting season. Not survival situations by any means, but I have come to appreciate just what you need. I have also come to appreciate just how much wants can be a burden, both physically and mentally.
I consider myself a novice, a functioning novice. My biggest asset is my attitude. I have never been in what I thought was a life and death situation, but have experienced challenging situations that almost overcame some of my comrades. Being able to keep a calm head has given me confidence in any situation that I have had to deal with to date.
Riding a Dual Sport Motorcycle is consuming more and more of my leisure time. I get to experience some incredibly remote country and still must use backpacking skills (e.g. light weight camping, non-perishable or foraged food).
I am here to return to the basics, start fresh. I mean that in two ways. One, I plan to review my personal conceptions and preparedness. Two, and more importantly, I wish to develop a kit of tools and skills to hand to my grandchildren. My children have spent, and still do, many days afield with me. The learning they have from me, for better or worse, seems to have done them well. I certainly will not be able to spend that amount of time with my grandchildren, I don't have that many trips around the sun left. So, I want to make the best of this time while I am in good enough health and they have an eager mind. Ages 7-11, three of them at the moment. Three of the most beautiful things on this earth they are. I do not want to pass bad habits or misinformation on to them, the reason for my personal review. I look forward to the time here, and the things I will learn and pass to them out there.