So many PMs on why do I do Historical Trekking
Why I got so mant PMs on why I do historical trekking I don't know, I'm sure someone is gonna blast me on here but this is how I feel about it as I do it, teach it, and always keep learning.
There is a deep need in all of us to remember the past and not let it die. This country was formed with the intent that all men (women too) are free, no matter what there social status, creed, religion, or color. This is a proud heritage, and it is up to us, the people that live today to pass on what our fathers and their fathers before them knew. We have chosen to do this by learning the skills, customs, dress, and ways of a person living between 1750 and 1780. This was the golden years of the colonial era, and many a men scouted the land for homesteads, broke new barriers, lived off the land, fought the Natives, scouted for the military, built new settlements, and hoped to make it rich on land and farming, hunting and trapping the pelts of Beaver, Mink, Bobcat and others. Now we trek together, hunt together, and teach and learn together, buy the supplies we need, fix our equipment, see old friends and much more. Many of the woodsmen would challenge others to compete and demonstrate there skills with there various tools, among these competitions where target shooting, the use of a tomahawk and knife, but many more where possible. When the gathering would break up, the supply trains would head east and the Woodsmen would head back to the forests and mountains, so we head home after each gathering or historical event (i.e. the historical dates of places and events). This is a time that many have forgotten about, and might they die completely if not for Living Historians. Now we gather, as they did years ago, not to trade for furs we have trapped, or explore the untamed wilderness of the frontier but for the camaraderie, teaching, and yes, there will always be some competitions. But, all in all it is a great way to meet friends and see old ones, camp and in general have a good time. As for me and my compatriots there are many reasons, please allow me to list some of the things in our lives that have taught us what we know, who we are and even a few coincidences that form a strong bond then can not be broke. Many of us where Boy Scouts and learned the values of our great nation and the skills needed to survive, in scouting 4 of us where honored by being selected into the Order of the Arrow, this taught us a better understanding of the American Indian, his ways, his love of the land and the ways of nature. But the strangest coincidence by far is after we started to feel this brotherhood between us we learned of another thing our families heritage had in common. I had an ancestor in the Colonial Army (as I’m sure most of you did) that fought as a militiaman for Virginia and so did one of my friends (actually the same regiment, no sheeeit). A true need to understand the history of our forefathers from almost there point of view, by going and trying instead of just reading. So you see, our companionship was destined to be, and our values today come from good stock, our fathers and our nation.
Beo,
