To begin with, a big hello to everyone on BushcraftUK. I know it's all automated in terms of registration, but it still feels like I just got accepted to join the cool kid's gang.
Anyhow, I've long had a love for self sufficiency in camping, a well as the cool, neat little tricks you do to make life easier when you are out on the trail, but until now, I haven't really pursued it. I hate to sound silly, but it was watching Ray Mears' Bushcraft series recently that really sparked my love, and I immediately set out to the Lakes to camp. Not wild camping though. I didn't feel quite ready for that...
Everything went lovely. Better than expected really for someone who has so little knowledge. I do retain a sense of pride though at my common sense. Thinking things through, rather than assuming, or diving in headfirst, is one of the most important skills in life in my honest opinion.
I made fire with my firesteel, somehow managing to light Old Man's Beard on the first night, which I have since learnt is rather hard to accomplish, then Birch on subsequent nights once I given some tips. I made resin candles, a rudimentary bow and arrow, canoed on Derwent Water, and was shown by the lovely people at Keswick Canoe and Bushcraft how to properly use the bow and drill method, which was a roaring success, no pun intended.
Since coming home, I have continued my research, what with a new job eating up valuable Bushcrafting time, and have begun to learn tree identification, and useful knots, a task I am already well used to as I spend a good portion of my time making paracord bracelets and bars and have been doing so for 2 years (field useful ones though, none of this two tone malarky. A good length of cord for me, thank you very much!).
Either way, I was wondering if any of you fine people had any advice on what to learn next, or whether I should keep going over what I've already learnt. Living in the heart of Manchester is a bit of an ache a well, as I'm not sure where to go to practice, or wild camp, so any help on location, or possibly even meets, would be great.
I will going on the Woodlore Fundamental Bushcraft course next year, but I don't want to be idle until then, so any help would be great.
Thanks again,
Matt
Anyhow, I've long had a love for self sufficiency in camping, a well as the cool, neat little tricks you do to make life easier when you are out on the trail, but until now, I haven't really pursued it. I hate to sound silly, but it was watching Ray Mears' Bushcraft series recently that really sparked my love, and I immediately set out to the Lakes to camp. Not wild camping though. I didn't feel quite ready for that...
Everything went lovely. Better than expected really for someone who has so little knowledge. I do retain a sense of pride though at my common sense. Thinking things through, rather than assuming, or diving in headfirst, is one of the most important skills in life in my honest opinion.
I made fire with my firesteel, somehow managing to light Old Man's Beard on the first night, which I have since learnt is rather hard to accomplish, then Birch on subsequent nights once I given some tips. I made resin candles, a rudimentary bow and arrow, canoed on Derwent Water, and was shown by the lovely people at Keswick Canoe and Bushcraft how to properly use the bow and drill method, which was a roaring success, no pun intended.
Since coming home, I have continued my research, what with a new job eating up valuable Bushcrafting time, and have begun to learn tree identification, and useful knots, a task I am already well used to as I spend a good portion of my time making paracord bracelets and bars and have been doing so for 2 years (field useful ones though, none of this two tone malarky. A good length of cord for me, thank you very much!).
Either way, I was wondering if any of you fine people had any advice on what to learn next, or whether I should keep going over what I've already learnt. Living in the heart of Manchester is a bit of an ache a well, as I'm not sure where to go to practice, or wild camp, so any help on location, or possibly even meets, would be great.
I will going on the Woodlore Fundamental Bushcraft course next year, but I don't want to be idle until then, so any help would be great.
Thanks again,
Matt
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