Your most essential bushcraft tool

[Nagual]

Sorry Brown Bear, this bear disagrees. :swordfigh The most essential bushcraft tool is the mind.

I'm ex forces and was superfit. Now, I've been out a while, I'm 40 years old and on the large size. Is my enjoyment of the outdoors compromised by not being superfit? Not at all. I've just gained more knowledge, slowed down, and enjoy the chance to look around me, rather than seeing the blur of the outdoors zoom past me as I tick off another distance/speed goal.

Some things I'll take longer over. I've no problem with that.

One other thing about the mind - you can use it to work smarter, not harder. Convince the younger, fitter people with you to do the harder stuff. I'll take it easy and tend the fire.

Before I clicked on the thread to see what everyone was saying, this answer popped in to my head, and I thought more people would have mentioned it. It's not even so much the saying "the more you know the less you carry" either, it's just about having the common sense to treat your surroundings with the same respect as you'd give any other place- if not more. It's about being able to relax and enjoy the moment, but being mentally prepared to step it up a gear if needs be.It's about trusting those around you with more knowledge or experience than you, or being confident (without letting your ego take control) enough to offer advice, if needed.

However a certain degree of physical fitness is needed for certain things, but as long as we know what it is we can do and don't over do things too much or worse under do things then we can all manage to muddle through. The last part there I've saw so many times in some people, mostly much much older. They slow down due to a little pain, here and there and over time the pain takes further control letting them manages less and less.

Please let me say I am in no way inferring that anyone here isn't trying to do their best, this isn't made at anyone here.There are many conditions that simply cause too much pain to be able to do things that most of us take for granted, my ex was one such person, who couldn't even eat or talk without causing so much pain it would make most of us cry out. I know a man of around 55 who is always complaining of this and that, going to doctors to get sick lines for sore elbows etc, when there is nothing wrong with him the GPs say that so he complains more, the consultants say it and he goes in a sulk. To look at him, you'd think he was 75. On the other hand ol' Jim down the pub takes a bunch of oldies , as he calls em hill walking on regular occasions. Takes his grandson and his mates hill walking, canoeing and camping. He's up the Cairgorms several times a year, and generally lives life. He's 83 this year.

 

[John Fenna]

I dont think anyone is saying that being fit is bad...just it aint the "most essential bushcraft tool"
Being fit can improve your enjoyment of the wilds but even those who can only stagger a few yards into the woods can have as much fun with bushy things as someone who can thrash into the mountains to find their spot!
I certainly try to minimise the effect that my probs have and will accept a bit of pain for the pleasure that wilderness can give me but I still hold that for those unable to be as "physical" as they would like that the brain outweighs brawn in bushcrafty things
As someone once said..." aint no point bein' strawng if yur biggest muskle is atween yer ears"!

 

[Nagual]

I dont think anyone is saying that being fit is bad...just it aint the "most essential bushcraft tool"
Being fit can improve your enjoyment of the wilds but even those who can only stagger a few yards into the woods can have as much fun with bushy things as someone who can thrash into the mountains to find their spot!
I certainly try to minimise the effect that my probs have and will accept a bit of pain for the pleasure that wilderness can give me but I still hold that for those unable to be as "physical" as they would like that the brain outweighs brawn in bushcrafty things
As someone once said..." aint no point bein' strawng if yur biggest muskle is atween yer ears"!

Aye. I guess a good way to put it is - know what you can do, know what you can't do, but do what you want to do- However I think thats also better aimed at the brain too

 

[treadlightly]

I thinks its all about balance, which is often not so easy to achieve. Its good to be reasonably fit for it own inherent benefits. It makes some aspects of bushcraft easier, although being less fit allows you the time to enjoy different aspects of it.

Getting back to balance. There is a regular walk near the woods I use (to the pub) and near the end (near the pub) there is a steep hill. I decided recently in the interests of getting fitter that I would run up this hill instead of walking it and reasoned I would enjoy rny couple of pints a bit more as well.

Did this a few times and all was well. Then I started running up it, walking down it, running up it up to three or four times. That is when my knee complained and currently I struggle to hobble to the corner shop.

Question is, when my knee mends will I have learned my lesson?

 

[Mikey P]

I have various physical issues these days, all gained from over working my body or in accidents that occured while out and about - it is called "getting older" - injuries include....knee problems from dislocating my knee while crossing a fence during a Lands End to John O'Groars attempt (failed after 1000k - when I was VERY fit) and resultant spinal twisting from compensating for a dodgy limb, chronic Bells Palsy - left side of my face is paralised - from a martial arts sparring incident, tendonitis in both Achiles tendons and both shoulders from training incidents/wear and tear etc etc etc.

John,

I assume that they propped you up with a stick for your avatar photo?

 

[John Fenna]

You do not want to know where the end of the stick lodged!

 

[Retired Member southey]

I am defiantly for the brain, it will get you through anything, but like the body it too takes training, you can`t just turn up and expect to be comfortable with all situations and skills, you have to teach your brain to except the possibility of change, I`ve learnt this over the last four years, I only really got into bushcraft as a hobby after I left the Army, and for a long while I could not go for an overnighter without tabbing to and from the location of my camp, It took me a long time to realise that it`s not just the sleeping out and the practising skill that are important, it`s the journey complete that brings the sense of achievement, being in the moment, At the moment I have the luxury of needing to be vfit so I can get back to the career I want, but it`s my mind that gets me out in the garden practising bow drill or carving and it the same mind that takes me up to the hills,

I was once told " in a true survival situation the fat get skinny and the skinny get dead" it was my excuse for a Burger for a long time Mind you the instructor wasn`t light on his feet so perhaps it was his too

 

[Mikey P]

Hmmmm.... again, I read with interest as we split into two camps, yet again.

I agree with Toddy's assertion that bushcraft is a broad church and is all inclusive.

However, I also agree with the point made that physical fitness is a key part of enjoyment of the outdoors.

Clearly, there are those who have injuries/disabilities which preclude them from certain activities. But there are also many that do not, and yet remain unfit without an excuse.

There is little point in being supremely fit but having no skills, or having great skills but be barely able to walk up a gentle slope.

Surely, there is a compromise? Be skilled and - dare I say it - be fit?

For the gym rats, just think how much more you could do if you improved your skills and technique. For the ...er... 'less fit' think about how much further you could travel or how much more of an activity you could do if you were fitter?

FACT: Being fitter generally leads to better health, longer life, less illness. So, why not strive to improve? There are no excuses.

Think about man (and woman) as hunter-gatherers - supremely fit, exceptionally skilled, and encyclopaedic knowledge. Now that's something to aspire to!

Right, I'm exhausted by all this typing so I'm back to my Playstation 3 for a bit of Killzone 2.

 

[Mikey P]

You do not want to know where the end of the stick lodged!

Whoa!

 

[Prawnster]

FACT: Being fitter generally leads to better health, longer life, less illness. So, why not strive to improve? There are no excuses.

Except maybe they are happy as they are?

 

[John Fenna]

FACT: Being fitter generally leads to better health, longer life, less illness. So, why not strive to improve? There are no excuses.

:

It has been that striving to improve that has lead to injury and resultant loss of fitness!

 

[JohnC]

any one see the "55yr old commando" on the tv last night?

Just back from a lunchtime run at work and waiting till my heart rate settles before getting some work done...

 

[Asa Samuel]

I wouldve thought the most essential tool would be knowlege, you can get around a lack of fitness if you know how to.

 

[Templar]

Well I will add, What sort of fitness? Are we talking gym fit or bush fit?

I know many guys who can run all day, lift big and all that stuff... but put a pack on their back and they cant get 'round the block...

In my mind bush fit is more important than how far you can run in PT kit or how much you can heft up... I'll let my knowledge do the work for me, if you are working hard doing this then you are doing something seriously wrong...

If anyone wants to become BC fit then they should just keep doing what they do in the forest, walk under a load when practical and all that good stuff, you will find your fitness matches what you all ready do, leave the super fit stuff to those who want expedition experience or who play silly buggers with uniforms and orders... (from my experience even they aren't that fit either)

Bushcraft is about being a little smarter than a survivalist and enjoying the woods... if you need to do a little exercise then do it because you want to... but I dont think many here need the uber fitness touted by some...

Just my two cents...

Karl

 

[Cobweb]

I'm a chunky monkey. Most of the time I'm either driving to and from work or sitting at the darned computer... working.
The only time I get to 'get fit' is when I'm bushcrafting.
I don't enjoy walking around or over a mountain, I was forced to, once upon a time, to walk over and then around Snowdonia when I was knockin' on 18 stone, I'm 5'5". I made it, not as fast as the other people, they took about five hours and me, I made it in nine and in agony.

I had to take two weeks off work from that little excursion, my hips were bruised and I was told if I did anything that stupid again, I could end up in a wheelie chair.

Needless to say the experience put me off. I'm not as big as I once was but ask me to go for a walk and I'll pretty much say no. My hips are still gippy.


I agree that brain is better than brawn. However, speaking as a woman, upper body strength is handy as well. (Luckily, photography is a heavy job so when I'm out making pictures, I'm carrying a very heavy camera bag on one shoulder and a very heavy camera on the other. My arm muscles are pretty strong.)

Being fit helps you to see more places, but what's the point in that if you don't know how to really enjoy it?

 

[Big Geordie]

This is very well timed for me. Im sitting in a hotel in Kathmandu recovering from a trek. My knees are pinging ( far too much rugby & boxing) and my back hurts.

It was brill to use my brain to lift my spirits when my less than average fitness was tested. I set myself targets and distracted myself by looking around to remember the route.

So my vote is for the brain.. at least until I can play with my shiny new Kukri!

 

[Toddy]

John really ought to have included a massage course in the First Aid one

Glad to hear you're surviving
Regards to herself,

atb,
Mary

 

[Tiley]

Well I will add, What sort of fitness? Are we talking gym fit or bush fit?

I know many guys who can run all day, lift big and all that stuff... but put a pack on their back and they cant get 'round the block...

In my mind bush fit is more important than how far you can run in PT kit or how much you can heft up.

Bushcraft is about being a little smarter than a survivalist and enjoying the woods... if you need to do a little exercise then do it because you want to.
Karl

Very good point and well made. I've found over the years and doing a variety of outdoor things that the best way to get fit for any of them is to do them. The same applies to bushcraft - carving, bow drill, gathering materials are all easier by their regular repetition.

Gym monkeys may have a great r.p.r. and the advantage of swift recovery but the mindset and experience of doing the task over and over again is the best form of fitness.

Humble thoughts to be munched on and spat out.

 

[Grooveski]

Think yourselves lucky, I'm unfit and don't have a clue.

 

[Cobweb]

Well then Groove, your are ripe and willing for both