Ways to learn the area you are going into before you go in??????

[shaun1209]

Hello everyone...

I live in the US but hoping to get some help from you guys being that this site is by far the best source of info in regards to bushcrafting...so thank you all for your knowledge.....

I live on the west coast but also travel to the east coast often....my question is more regarding any general areas around the world (though I would love to find info of the general area I live in).

I'm sure everyone here is aware of the show "Survivorman" (I have no interest in the good and bad opinions of the show...i've seen plenty on this site).

Les mentiones in many of his episodes that he usually has a meeting with local survival experts as well as aquiring info on indian tribes and others in the long past that would live off of the land in a very primitive way...everything from what the types of trees and plants exist and what they have to offer in that particular area to insects and wildlife and much much more.

Basically I would like to find what the best method is for learning what the land you are in has to offer in the most detailed way possible. Any help on this topic is greatly appreciated.....

 

[commandocal]

The Internet mate, normally wikipedia has lots of info i found out alot of the tree's,wildlife plants about the Yellowstone National Park also your library surely has books on specific areas

 

[RobertRogers]

Yes, the Internet. Also mapping: Google Maps, Google Earth, World Wind are excellent ways to get an idea of the landscape.

 

[Pablo]

Not that I've done a lot of this, but I would probably source stuff on the internet and then try and make contact with someone local via email. In "Call of the Wild" the author had extensive contact with locals months before he actually went on the trip which proved invaluable when he actually got out there and also what kit to take with him. (This is a great read).

Failing that, you could make contact with someone when you're there, but this might be a wasting valuable time and eat into your trip.

You might be able to buy a book on line describing he local wildlife and geography. I always do this when I go on family holidays abroad (although I rarely get to do any wilderness living abroad, I still take myself off for walks.)

If I go to a new place, I just sit quietly and watch. You soon get a feel for what's happening and how each species interact with each other and the environment.

Pablo.

 

[akabu]

Here are some links that I use:
http://www.hiking.com.hk/eindex.htm
http://www.12hk.com/lnk_ntro.html Hong Kong, general info.
http://www.onebag.com Travel info. and many Links
http://www.weather.com/ready/supplykit.html Weather Info. And more, you can check for locations before you go.

http://www.superpages.com Find hospitals camping stores ect. In the area, very useful.
http://www.traildatabase.org Eureka! :}
http://slackpacker.com another gem
http://oahuhiking.com Hawaii, the undiscovered by tourist.

 

[Sickboy]

Yup, it's all about the internet nowadays, planned my trip to Norway on it, not sure i could have done it without, questions answered on this forum aswell as BB and offers of help with the tricky bit's from localsand those that have visited, top stuff :You_Rock_

 

[akabu]

http://www.audubon.org/market/licensed/fieldguides.html
for the USA the Regional Field Guides are very comprehensive .look to the Peterson Field Guides for more detail on uses of flora.