Long Term Wilderness Survival

[Le Loup]

Just thought I would throw this one in and see what comes out! I have an interest in wilderness survival, and in particular long term survival. I am a primitive skills instructor, retired, but still teach within our group and at the local Scouts. My other interest is in early 18th century New World living history and historical trekking, and these other two interests compliment long term survival very well. Infact the clothing, equipment and skills associated with this early 18th century colonial period are in my opinion the best there is for long term survival. After all, it has been in use for at least 300 years, and we know it works! Anyway there it is for now, any questions? I look forward to hearing from any interested persons. Oh skills, clothing and equipment wise, I am talking early 18th century English woodsman and woods-women. Regards to all, Le Loup.

 

[Matt Weir]

Where in the world are you Le Loup? I'd love you to do a workshop/lecture at a meet - sounds fascinating.

 

[Geuf]

judging by his name le loup ( the wolfe if I'm correct) france or belgium?
Anyway, you sound like an interesting person. especially regarding your former job occupation. Since, I'm looking for and working to oppertunities to become a wilderness guide and/or primitive skills instructor, it would seem most interesting to talk with you some time. I would be very interested in the path you have followed to become what you are.

Cheers!

 

[Burnt Ash]

judging by his name le loup ( the wolfe if I'm correct) france or belgium?

He mentions New World and colonial, so I'm guessing Canada. Quebec, maybe? Woodsmen/women isn't a very British or European term/concept.

Burnt Ash

 

[OzaawaaMigiziNini]

He mentions New World and colonial, so I'm guessing Canada. Quebec, maybe? Woodsmen/women isn't a very British or European term/concept.

Burnt Ash

No, but it is a fairly popular term in America. As well Le Loup mentioned Colonial. Not many Canadians term that era as Colonial for us. Although we did have colonies... it's odd, but that era was more of our furtrade French Indian War times.

Who knows, guess we'll have to find out when Le Loup answers

 

[Geuf]

we could always make a pool

 

[Mikey P]

Well, 'Le Loup' is French for 'The Wolf', so French Canadian? US/Canada border area?

I like this game.

I'm also going to guess from the dates and comments that he ('Le Loup') is a Robert Rogers enthusiast? Also has an interest in trappers/trapping?

Robert Rogers = of 'Roger's Rangers' fame. See Ray Mears programme for excellent analysis of woodland living in the Great Lakes area.

Am I getting warmer?

 

[rik_uk3]

There is a guy from cali on the stove forum who is really into re-enactment from this sort of time period, its a very serious hobby for this man and his wife and the others I guess. Everything from tents to shoes have to be just right. The big difference between the British re-enactors and the Americans, is that the Brits shoot blanks from their pistols/rifles/cannons, and the Americans shoot for real

 

[Mike Ameling]

Ah, le loup. Yee have found this forum on the other side of ... The Pond ... as well, I see.

I too am interested in the skills/tools/lifestyle of our forefathers over here in ... the New World. I focus mostly on the 17th and 18th century in the upper Mississippi River area of what was called Nouvelle France back in the old days. My blacksmithing is centered on the iron work of the Fur Trade throughout the areas in and around the Great Lakes, and on down the Mississippi River. So that means I deal mostly with the French influence in the early days of North America. And, yes, we do get to shoot the Brits in the various historical reenactments - F&I War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and even occasionally just for fun.

And then sprinkle in all the American Indian influences, and you get a pretty well rounded introduction to primitive/survival skills. I can't remember the last time I "camped" with modern gear. I think the latest time period I've done in years has been a couple 1870's cowboy/old west camps with a chuck wagon. (Altho some friends are trying to get me involved in some WWI and WWII era stuff.) Almost every time I go out in the woods it is historically based, and so are the skills used.

A few forums and/or web sites for the historical reenactment stuff:
http://www.historicaltrekking.com
http://http://frontierfolk.net/phpBB/index.php
http://www.northwestjournal.ca/
http://www.navoyageur.org/index.htm
http://www.lanouvelle-france.com/

I've also been known to play around with some Roman era and Viking era stuff (like Wayland). And working towards more aboriginal tech stuff.

Oh, the twisted trails we follow to keep ourselves ... occupied.

Just some humble thoughts to share. Take them as such.

Welcome le Loup.

Mikey - that grumpy ol' blacksmith out in the Hinterlands
( of Les Pays d'en Haut of Nouvelle France)

 

[ForestNH/VT]

A few forums and/or web sites for the historical reenactment stuff:
http://www.historicaltrekking.com
http://http://frontierfolk.net/phpBB/index.php
http://www.northwestjournal.ca/
http://www.navoyageur.org/index.htm
http://www.lanouvelle-france.com/


Mikey - that grumpy ol' blacksmith out in the Hinterlands
( of Les Pays d'en Haut of Nouvelle France)

Mike, I am surprised you forgot to mention http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com It was through a post you made there that I found this site! A lot of good information even if you don't own a muzzleloader (yet)
I also would add http://www.jackmountainbushcraft.com Tim teaches a lot of skills that are directly applicable to F&I reenactment and he has posted several tutorials and excellent articles on his site. For what it is worth, the main reason I got interested in F&I reenactment was a for an excuse to use bushcraft skills without getting funny looks. Over here on the other side of the Pond Bushcraft is not as popular and most people I know consider a queen size air mattress and portable generator completely normal when camping "out in the wild"
I love this forum and have learned a tremendous amount. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Levinin]

Just thought I would throw this one in and see what comes out! I have an interest in wilderness survival, and in particular long term survival. I am a primitive skills instructor, retired, but still teach within our group and at the local Scouts. My other interest is in early 18th century New World living history and historical trekking, and these other two interests compliment long term survival very well. Infact the clothing, equipment and skills associated with this early 18th century colonial period are in my opinion the best there is for long term survival. After all, it has been in use for at least 300 years, and we know it works! Anyway there it is for now, any questions? I look forward to hearing from any interested persons. Oh skills, clothing and equipment wise, I am talking early 18th century English woodsman and woods-women. Regards to all, Le Loup.

So what do you feel they did/used then that we tend to miss out now? I'm fairly sure they considered washing unhealthy at that time and I'm not sure we should follow that practice!

Seriously though, interested in your insight.

 

[Mike Ameling]

Too many people try to use kit/gear to replace or make up for lack of experience/knowledge. The classic case is the person who buys the best possible fishing poles/lures/vests/hats/boots, and expects all those "toys" to make them a great trout fisherman - and then get upset when they get out fished by a person with a willow pole/line/hook using a worm. Toys and gadgets can be great and fun to use, but the basic knowledge of how to do the task behind them is far more useful and versatile.

An example:
A down sleeping bag does work great and can be fairly light to carry into the woods, but what happens if it gets wet? Using it would be worse than not using it. But that old tried-n-true wool blanket that's been around for centuries is another story. Yes, it's heavy to pack along. But if it gets wet, it still retains a lot of its insulating/warming capacity. Plus it has a wide range of other possible uses - while that down sleeping bag really only has one purpose/use.

The equipment, gear, kit, and skills used back in the 1700's and 1800's were developed over the centuries. They worked. They survived the test of time. And they didn't rely upon gadgets or toys. That's the appeal of this. That's why I actively try to learn and use the same skills they knew and used back then. It's more ... basic knowledge ... than many of the modern gear so many people see as popular.

Just my humble thoughts to share. Take them as such.

Mikey - yee ol' grumpy blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

 

[BOD]

.

An example:
... that old tried-n-true wool blanket that's been around for centuries is another story. Yes, it's heavy to pack along. But if it gets wet, it still retains a lot of its insulating/warming capacity.

I spent a night in a couple of very wet army blankets and a hootchie in the WA south west during winter in the 70's.

"Warming" was not a word I recall

I suppose I didn't die but I think you should amend the post to "insulating" only and delete "warming".

 

[Greg]

After watching Peter Gawleta's dvd on lightweight travelling I have thought about using just a Hudson Bay pack using a poncho and a wool blanket.
This way you can make a kind of sleeping bag by wrapping the poncho around the blanket and button it up using the side clips.
It looked pretty good on the dvd although I wouldn't want to try it with the weather we have had of late!
I know its not completely of the era you are talking about but it is the old and new(ish) thrown together to make a compromise.

 

[Mungo]

I also would add http://www.jackmountainbushcraft.com Tim teaches a lot of skills that are directly applicable to F&I reenactment and he has posted several tutorials and excellent articles on his site.

I took a course last month at Tim Smith's Jack Mountain Bushcraft & Guide Service in New Hampshire, taught by Mors Kochanski - it was brilliant! I have lots of photos on my site (see signature below). I understand that Tim has bought some property north of N.H. in Maine, and I hope to attend a course there in the future.

Cheers,

Mungo

 

[Le Loup]

After all this time I came across this post I made ages ago. I never did recieve notification of your replies. Hi Mike.
I am living in a forest in New England Australia, but I was born in West Sussex England.
Mike Ameling has I think explained the reasoning behind why 18th century methods & tools are superior, at least in our view. But it is not just the tools & equipment & skills, it is also the attitude, the way you learn to think.
Most of you no doubt have a list of kit that you take with you when you go bush. A part of this kit will be a survival kit. My whole kit in one small knapsack is my survival kit. I can pick up my 18th century knapsack & tools & walk out the door & survive in the wilderness for the rest of my life. You can't do that with 21st century thinking & equipment.
If you want some links, try these: My Blog http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/
Our Group's Forum: http://eighteenthcenturylivinghistory .freeforums.org/
My Skills Video Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/historicaltrekking?feature=mhu m
[video=youtube;Go3i6FP4m3o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go3i6FP4m3o[/video]
The forum address is wrong on this video as it has since changed, but it does give you a quick look at the sort of stuff we do.

 

[SMARTY]

Long term survival can paint different pictures for different people. If you are in a long term survival situation its because you haven't been found, and then rescued.There may be many reasons for that. Are you referring to wilderness living skills here? IMHO these are the skills that folks use to live in an area of their choice, with the technology of the day. If it all goes wrong then you may find yourself in a survival situation, but the time starts then. Evidence proves that long term survival situations are getting more rare and the difference between long and short term survival is different for each one.

 

[blacktimberwolf]

If it came to real 18 th century long term wilderness survival, I would prefer to copy from the native indians, rather than the colonials, I can't help thinking ......the colonial's long term was prehaps & wee bit shorter than that of the indian's.
I really dig the colonial clothing though, Indian skills & snappy duds, now theres a combination.

 

[Husky]

I can pick up my 18th century knapsack & tools & walk out the door & survive in the wilderness for the rest of my life. You can't do that with 21st century thinking & equipment.

It would be very interesting to hear what is in this kit and it may also steer the conversation in the right direction?

 

[blacktimberwolf]

It would be very interesting to hear what is in this kit and it may also steer the conversation in the right direction?

Don't you mean in the direction you would prefer it to go ?