A Hawk In The Bushes

 

Survivalist? No.

 A while ago I made a post about my not being a survivalist. I had removed it after having a conversation with an acquaintance. I have thought about it for a couple of weeks and i want to reiterate: No, I am not a survivalist!

To a lot of people, bushcraft is being a survivalist. The reality is, no, no it's not. I stand by being a bushcrafter and being a survivalist in their most common definitions are not the same. Roll your eyes all you want. Anyone who practices actual bushcraft knows they are different. Allow me to re-explain.

Survivalist:

noun-

◆One who prepares for possible dangers such as natural disasters, societal collapse, or nuclear war, as by stockpiling necessary supplies or acquiring survival skills.

◆A person who believes in being prepared to survive and is actively preparing for possible future emergencies and disruptions in local, regional, national, or international social or political order.

◆Someone who tries to insure their personal survival or the survival of their group or nation.

The above is the most common definition of a survivalist. These are the people with bug out bags, cases of gas masks, underground bunkers, cases of ammo stashed, a 10 year supply of food and water stocked up, etc. etc. . None of this has anything even remotely connected to primitive skills. 

Bushcraft/Woodcraft:

noun-

◆The skills needed to survive in the bush, and by extension in any natural environment.

◆A set of wilderness survival skills that enable individuals to live in the wild with minimal reliance on modern tools and technology. The term combines “bush,” referring to wilderness or uncultivated land, and “craft,” meaning a skill or art form. It is about more than just surviving; it’s about thriving in nature by understanding and utilizing the natural environment to its fullest potential.

The above is the most common definition of bushcraft.

Take a look at the parts I made italic. They could not be on more opposite ends of the spectrum. One is about buying and stockpiling to prepare for disruption. The other about a skill set for being in the woods.

Yeah, a nitpicker will say bushcraft skills are survival skills. That's very true! Key word is skill here. There's no skill involved in mail ordering 5 years worth of dehydrated food or buying 50,000 rounds of ammo. There is skill involved in knowing how to make cordage, build a shelter, make a fire with wet wood, and forage for your food.

Things get even further muddies up when we put the two together, bushcraft survival. Then we have a million schools that teach bushcraft as survival and blur the lines. The truth is, it's more a money making term than reality. Bushcraft is survival in that it teaches skills to survive a night or two in the woods if you get hurt or turned around. It teaches old school, often primitive skills most do not possess or in reality have a want to learn. Including survivalists. Bushcraft isn't about LARPing with your buddies running around the woods in camo shooting trees with firearms. Bushcrafts really not even about being prepared for natural disasters. With the exceptions of knowing how to make a fire and cook over a fire. Bushcraft is about being in the woods, the bush. It's right in the word!

Here's an example:

 A survivalist needs to know a few skills associated with bushcaft, such as first aid, making fire and cooking over it, maybe, MAYBR shelter building, and possible navigation skills.

But a bushcrafter does not need to know anything about being a survivalist, by definition.

Survivalists lean very heavily into the doomsday prepping aspect of the spectrum. This is not bushcraft, at all! Preparing for shit hits the fan is about as bushcraft as an escalator in an outhouse. Bushcraft is about woodsmanship and skills. Not buying 100 cases of TP.

So, again, am I a survivalist? As per the conclusion of the conversation with said acquaintance, I suppose I am, in the manner of being prepared for an extended and unplanned stay in the woods. But, am I a survivalists in the true sense? No.

Morakniv

 I just want to take a minute to discuss a few of the Mora line up. Basically the more popular models many woodcraft/bushcraft people like. The base models, the 511 and 546- which are the same knife but the 511 is a high carbon steel and the 546 is a stainless. The Garberg, the Companion, and the Classic #1. There are a large variety of other models, but these seem to be the most popular choice for outdoors enthusiast.

Most people will attribute the design of these knives to traditional Scandinavian designs. Which are the puuko and the leuku. But, Mora seems to sort of be hybrids of the two. Take the 511 for example. It's sized more like a puuko, but the blade profile leans heavily towards a leuku. As are the Gerberg, Kansbol, and even the little Eldris have more of a leuku blade profile. While the Classic, Companions, the Bushcraft, or even the All Around models lean more into that classic puuku profile.

See my example below:

The top is the Pro C, the middle a Companion, and the bottom a Garberg,

The Pro C, which is the same profile as the 511and 546 leans more towards a leuku profile, as does the Garberg, but the Companion in the middle is more of that classic puuku profile.

The definition of a puuku is a smaller thinner blade with a tapered belly and a mild angled drop point. The leuku is defines as a larger more rubust blade with a more obstruse belly and a much less angles point. Yet, the Mora Robust is this thicker blade, but it's by no means a large knife. Hmmm.... Hybrid?

I think Mora sort of took the traditional elements of those Scandi knives, and turned them on their ear a little. Does it matter though? If you are a purists, yes. If you just like to buy stuff and go use it, no.

The Essentials

 Yeah, this again.

So every site blogger, YT influencer, social media poster, and state agency has a list of suggested items. I am no exception. I do tend to be a little different, as I feel what you carry should depend on your skill level and experience for being in the woods. Does that mean an expert should carry only bare essentials and that a beginner should carry everything in the house? No. What it means is you should carry items you have tested and know to work for you personally. You will gain that experience by going out into the woods and learning. You will not learn or gain experience from reading. So stop reading and go outdoors!

Still here? OK, lets get the wagon rolling. Again...But a little different.. Maybe..Sort of... Look, if you're still reading then just keep reading. You might gain some insight.

The more time one spends in the woods the more you'll find items you need and do not need. Need here, not want. You need a way to make a fire, but you do not need to carry a flame thrower (you can but... I digress). You need a first aid kit, you do not need to bring three nurses and a doctor. You need a compass, you do not need to carry a satellite on your back. Leaning what you need can take years, or one trip. I'd lean towards a years....

I've covered this, but I want to show a different approach here. Lets a look at what our NYSDEC says on the topic of recommended items, as it's actually pretty universal:

NYDECs Hike Smart

Anyone with real experience will agree with this list. Or at least most of it. Would I suggest lugging all if this for a 5 mile trek through a town park? No. Would I suggest all of it for a day hiking the West Canada Lake Wilderness? Yes, or at least most of it.

Here's the things I would either swap, change, or leave at home. It's really only a couple of items.

For the Sun and Bug stuff, bug repellent is a must anywhere in bug season. But I would not bother much with the bug net, sunscreen (in wooded areas, if you're in the desert with blaring sun, have at it...) or the sunglasses. They are not on what I'd consider a needed list. Use that space to carry a little more water. Or, a few small candles- see below.

The shelter items. It might be a little bulky, but I'd opt for one of the tarps with the reflective side over just a tarp AND emergency blanket. As I said, it weights a tad more and will take up a little more space than a tarp and mylar blanket, but it will not tear like the space blankets tent too. Or, even one of those emergency tents that come in the shape of an a-frame tarp shelter already and have the reflective surface in the inside. In cold temps it might be a good idea to carry some candles, in case the need arises to make a Palmer Furnace.

One thing not on that list is cordage. Not everyone can whip up 50 feet of cordage like heating a can of soup. So I suggest carrying at least 50 feet of some sort of cordage. You'll need it to make a shelter from the tarp, you can use it in a pinch to make an emergency splint. Duct tape works great for that as well, but duct tape hurts like hell when removed from hairy body parts. Cordage of some sort should be in every kit.

I would also carry a knife besides just in the emergency kit. I prefer fixed blade belt knives, but at least a decent folding knife is a must.

I would also suggest appropriate clothing from the start. Those new age gym shorts and flip flops are great for pool parties, but I really suggest proper shoes, actual pants or shorts (not sweat pants or pajamas), and a tee shirt. But, I guess proper clothing is subjective in these times of not even actually getting dressed to go shopping. 

As you spend more time out wandering and exploring, you'll learn what works best for you in your area, or even what works best on this trail in this area and what works best for that trail in that area.

I personally know what I need, but often carry what I want as I make videos and I'm not a minimalists in most aspects. But, anyone who knows me or has seen some of the videos I have been known to carry only a bottle of water and a knife at times in warm weather.

Now, if you read all that. Load up some stuff and go practice learning what YOU need for the woods!