New member, Hello.

[TheSunling]

I'm 17 years old and just hoping to learn as much as I can from everyone here. My goal is to go live in the wild for a full 12 months. I know I still have years of learning, but I look forward to every new piece of information I'll gather.

To start off my first thread I would like to ask you, if you could go back to when you were my age, how would you go on about preparing for this journey? Would you have done anything differently?

Thankful for this site and hope to learn aplenty!

[Rick]

Welcome home. You probably want to read through this...

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ead.php?t=6837

[Camp10]

Hello and welcome.

[oly]

Welcome and enjoy.

[TheSunling]

Thank you all for your welcome. Rick great post thank you. I'm looking at starting of my learning with the book, Exploring Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology. Good entry-level book?

[wareagle69]

first welcome
2nd as with any thing in life it is wise to set realistic goals
start out with 2 days first, then a week then 2 weeks then a month and so on and so on
i think you will find if you ask how to prepare for the shorter terms first, based on your age you will get helpful advice (this is just based on the fact that over the years we have had many,young and old ask how to live in the bush long term) so start out with 2 or 3 days then 7 days and see how it goes.
also best thing to have in your pack at all times is pen and paper write down your thoughts and needs real time instead of trying to recreate and remmeber when you are back home and comfy

[Rick]

I haven't read it so I can't comment. Understanding geology is certainly a good subject. Understanding how different strata is formed is certainly worthwhile. Understanding what flint is and where to find it, for example, can be very helpful.

[TheSunling]

wareagle69 Thank you, and the pen and paper idea is a great idea, haha I would love to read what people were writing in their 6 or 7th month of seclusion. But yes, you're definitely right, I should start more short-term realistic goals (always been a problem with setting goals to high). Thank you wareagle69.

[wareagle69]

nothing wrong with being ambitious
if i had brought pen and paper with me on my 30 day trip i might have learned alot more than i did, also it is a time filler at least when in camp and all chores are done you can write or draw a pic of an animal track or plant to research when you get back home

[TheSunling]

wareagle69, when you said starting out with 2 days then a week and so on, well, I live in Los Angeles, so what would be a good way I can practice that?

[Rick]

If you live in a house, you can start in the back yard. It might sound lame but it's a start and let's your practice you skills. You can find out what you are lacking or what you have but don't need just as easily in your back yard as you can in the woods.

If you live in an apartment, do you have a park or preserve near your that you can camp in, safely? (I don't know where in LA you live and don't need to) If so, take advantage of that. If you have a car then you can travel (with parents permission, of course) to a nearby preserve or park.

[wareagle69]

1st my freinds here call ,me WE
at your age in LA i cannot answer that do not know the area, most here will tell ya to join the scouts, i know your goal is alone time but as i said realistic goals first. Find people you can go out with to learn from, it may be frusterating because you are going at their pace and not the one you want to go from, but as you learn from them and get older and more proficient at your skills and then get a small truck you can then venture out, there maybe some great areas around LA i do not know, look at people here some are from cali and can give better advice, all i can offer is what to do once out there, now if ya want advice about arizona i can be of better help

[TheSunling]

Arizona is a great idea, I could move there when i'm 18. We do have wilderness park here in fact one near my city, but the park is only open to the public wednesday through monday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. So I don't think I will be able to overnight it there. So Arizona is probably a place I should be focused on learning about.. Thanks WE

[Sourdough]

We do have wilderness park here in fact one near my city, but the park is only open to the public wednesday through monday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

WOW......I am starting to understand why youths are so seduced and bewitched with wilderness.

[wareagle69]

i under stand also sourdough
my wife biological father is a cranky old italian man who grow up during the occupation of italy and who now stocks more food in his freezer than one person could ever eat. most of it poached and he throws out more meat every year a waste, reason we do not get along, but i understand because he went w/o food it is so important to him. the polish lady i learn wild edibles from was in the same situation but she learned edibles instead, when you live in nature or so close to it, i guess it is hard to imagine not being able to go out in it like our young freind here.

[Sarge47]

Arizona is a great idea, I could move there when i'm 18. We do have wilderness park here in fact one near my city, but the park is only open to the public wednesday through monday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. So I don't think I will be able to overnight it there. So Arizona is probably a place I should be focused on learning about.. Thanks WE

Welcome to the Pack, Sunling! I applaud your mature attitude towards reaching your objective! Like WE said, I always endorse the Boy Scouts, or, in your case, the Explorers. However, if that is not an option, then try, at least, to find books about what you'll need in regards to the outdoors. There is also a wealth of info here on the Blog site! I will be posting pics of books that you might consider later on in the "Book" sticky. Also, remember that there's nothing wrong with having a long-term goal; and that it may take several short-term goals to reach it. I also suggest you study Zig-Ziglar's teaching on "Goals." You will also need to consider finances. More to follow!

[Winnie]

Hello and welcome!

[smhg]

Welcome aboard!

[pocomoonskyeyes]

Hello and Welcome!

[NightShade]

Welcome and enjoy.. Like WE said.. Start small with realistic goals and work your way up... You'll gain valuable insight and experience.. Even if you don't get out overnight at first, you can spend time in the woods learning to identify plants, track animals, starting a campfire, etc... There are many skills you can hone overtime even if its only a few hours at a time you can dedicate at first.