Northern Wilderness, your thoughts?

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5.10leader

Guest
Well the second episode was better, stunning autumn colours and the birch bark canoes were good to see.

It's growing on me

Fully agree with Mesquite. I was disappointed with the first epiosode but enjoyed it more with a second viewing. Yesterday's broadcast was better although I did find it a touch slow at times. Nevertheless the scenery and photography are fabulous and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
 

rik_uk3

Banned
Jun 10, 2006
13,320
24
69
south wales
Just gets better and better. To be honest I found Wild Food about as entertaining as watching paint dry, but this series is 'Fantastic'
 

MikaelMazz

Tenderfoot
Jan 19, 2007
80
0
33
The United States Of America
Most of Ray Mears shows are good but I can only see them on youtube. Is their any way someone could put these new episodes on youtube? That would be great. I realy dont like downloading videos from the internet.
 

durulz

Need to contact Admin...
Jun 9, 2008
1,755
1
Elsewhere
Uh-oh. I'm going to have to be the voice of dissent.
I thought the second episode was poorer than the first.
To be honest, I prefer my Ray experience to be more 'hands on' than a history/anthropology lesson. That's not why I watch Ray. If I want history or anthropology (and I do on occasion) then I prefer it delivered via a book that has checkable sources and a good bibliography.
Don't get me wrong, it's still one of the best things on TV at the moment. But I won't be buying the DVD and I won't be watching the repeats.
I was really looking forward to Northern Wilderness. But my enthusiasm has waned. I suppose it's down to something as simple as it doesn't have the kind of content I want. When watching Ray I like a lot of practical stuff. Not so keen on the re-enactment. Which is why the original Bushcraft series and Wild Food still remain my favourites by a long margin, and the likes of Extreme Survival, Walkabout and Northern Wilderness don't hold my interest as much.
But I'll still keep watching it.
 

Kerne

Maker
Dec 16, 2007
1,766
21
Gloucestershire
When watching Ray I like a lot of practical stuff. Not so keen on the re-enactment. Which is why the original Bushcraft series and Wild Food still remain my favourites by a long margin, and the likes of Extreme Survival, Walkabout and Northern Wilderness don't hold my interest as much.
But I'll still keep watching it.

I have always preferred the hands on stuff and was not so keen on the extreme survival series but I am thoroughly enjoying this one. By far the best thing on the telly and while I will not be buying the DVD (I never get round to watching them) I will almost certainly tune in to the repeats on Dave in the coming years.
 

Siberianfury

Native
Jan 1, 1970
1,534
6
mendip hills, somerset
Uh-oh. I'm going to have to be the voice of dissent.
I thought the second episode was poorer than the first.
To be honest, I prefer my Ray experience to be more 'hands on' than a history/anthropology lesson. That's not why I watch Ray. If I want history or anthropology (and I do on occasion) then I prefer it delivered via a book that has checkable sources and a good bibliography.
Don't get me wrong, it's still one of the best things on TV at the moment. But I won't be buying the DVD and I won't be watching the repeats.
I was really looking forward to Northern Wilderness. But my enthusiasm has waned. I suppose it's down to something as simple as it doesn't have the kind of content I want. When watching Ray I like a lot of practical stuff. Not so keen on the re-enactment. Which is why the original Bushcraft series and Wild Food still remain my favourites by a long margin, and the likes of Extreme Survival, Walkabout and Northern Wilderness don't hold my interest as much.
But I'll still keep watching it.


i think your opinion is just about bang on the same as mine, i much prefered his earlier series, this one had good photography and editing but im not all that interesting in the voyagers or the trapping industry, mabye if he showed some hands on skills it would be good. the second eppisode was ok, the first, urrggh, it was like watching grass grow, appauling.
ATB
Josh
 

Grooveski

Native
Aug 9, 2005
1,707
10
53
Glasgow
That was interesting and those canoes are lovely.

Funnily enough I recently spied a stand of what might be the kind of birch they use. Huge great things, nothing like and far straighter than the scrubby(in comparison) wee things I'm used to.
If anyone's ever crossing the kingston bridge southbound and coming off at the first exit for Tradeston take a peek to the left as you're twisting down the off ramp. Don't know if they're big enough(about a metre in diameter) but they're still impressive.
 

Bushcraftsman

Native
Apr 12, 2008
1,368
5
Derbyshire
I just watched it, i think it was really interesting, and just great landscape! I agree with a lot of the people here, the canoes were fantastic.

Does anyone else think that the opening sequence sounds a lot like one of his other series? i can't think which though :confused:
 

Lake

Member
Jun 7, 2009
47
0
.
I really enjoyed it. Love the beaver kuksa :) Looking forward to the next episodes.


Does anyone else think that the opening sequence sounds a lot like one of his other series? i can't think which though :confused:

Yes, i think that it is modified opening sound of the Wild food :)
 

Bootstrap Bob

Full Member
Jun 21, 2006
407
9
52
Oxfordshire
Turning out to be a fabulous series this one, hope it continues.

I can understand some peoples disappointment with the lack of practical demonstrations. I think I would have had a similar opinion a few years ago but I've been doing this long enough and been on quite a few courses over the years to appreciate the other elements of what Ray is trying to teach. There is plenty of bushcraft in the programme it's just that he is not passing it on in the same manner as in his previous series.

If I ever feel the urge to remind myself how to make fire I just watch one of his earlier shows or pull out a book. In fact if he was repeating what has been done before I think I would be the one saying that I was disappointed :rolleyes:

I for one like the new format. :D
 

Wayland

Hárbarðr
I think inspiration is the point now.

Most of the basic bushcraft techniques that you could do on mainstream TV has been done already.

Now it's time to get people out of their chairs and into the backwoods.

I think this series is good watching and there are plenty of ideas on show if you are watching for them.
 

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