What are the aims & purpose of Bushcrafting?
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I bushcraft often, despite the warnings that I'll go blind
I'm definitely agreeing with the point of modern methods counting too.
I think there is one big benefit to exploring older methods, though, and that is that the more ways to do something you learn, the more likely you are to develop an understanding of the underlying principles, which will make you more efficient and able to improvise more effectively.
If you're working a lot with fires and spend most of your time in one place, then leather, wool and even canvas make a lot of sense and I can see how if you start going down that route you're likely to discover all these old methods to explore.
Doesn't mean modern materials and equipment shouldn't be allowed though!
That is easy, enough clothing for warmth and enough alcohol for fuzzy, the real Woodscraft just start from that ...
Bushcraft to me was not around until I first heard Ray Meats talk about it. That was IIRC on a programme about the Kalahari bushmen. I also thought it was more about tribal, hunter gathering communities in big, open country. Then he started talking about bushcraft in Australia, Canada, America. Then there was a programme in the UK IIRC through the seasons. That's when I realised bushcraft was just another made up name for spending time outdoors.
Since then there's been bushcraft magazines, forums, YouTubers, etc. Especially the last two seemed to spread out into everything from reenactment (that includes paleo and every age to modern days), survival, appreciation of the natural world, foraging, hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, camping, socialising outdoors, etc.
If you ask me it could be anything you wanted it to be possibly even dancing naked round a fire pretending to be a pagan from before religions were recorded. Personally it's a word that has become so many things that it's got no real meaning to me.
Am I even a bushcrafter? I'm not into paleo, I don't reenact anything, I don't hide in the woods lighting fires and whittling stuff, I don't hump tons of heavy, cotton, wood, leather and brass kit to a campground that looks more like a Klondike mining settlement possibly with as much drinking too!! Nothing wrong with any of those things at all just I don't do it. I walk, camp at sites and in the wild. I use modern kit. Cook on a modern camping stove such as trangia with gas kit using a scout fire light thing from light my fire , matches or lighter. I sleep in down sleeping bags on plastic mats in plastic tents or plastic bivvy and tarp. I wear plastic clothes and plastic shoes or boots because they're lighter which is more comfortable. If car camping I'll take a fire pit and/or a BBQ if I feel like it.
I own knives that I use not for their aesthetics. I own a hand axe but TBH don't use it much. I spend as much time outdoors as I can especially with my family. I spot nature and enjoy seeing it. I pass on what I've learnt to my family. I know I don't know a lot but I know enough for our needs. Even though my fire lighting skills leave a lot to be desired i do eventually get a fire going but that's not important if I n didn't because I cook on stoves not fire and my warmth is generated by self using food and assisted by good insulation if needed from good quality, modern, performance kit. I'm interested in reading about what others are doing out and about plus their various craft based activities. I learn new things that way but even if I don't go on to do those things I'm better for knowing about them.
Is this even bushcraft? If it m isn't it doesn't matter because I do it because I like doing it and not owning the label won't stop me enjoying it.
PS where is a good source of reasonable quality wildlife cams. We're moving into n the country and the garden is big and wild enough to possibly have some interesting visitors. I'm more likely to see something caught on one of those than actually seeing it first n hand.
Since then there's been bushcraft magazines, forums, YouTubers, etc. Especially the last two seemed to spread out into everything from reenactment (that includes paleo and every age to modern days), survival, appreciation of the natural world, foraging, hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, camping, socialising outdoors, etc.
If you ask me it could be anything you wanted it to be possibly even dancing naked round a fire pretending to be a pagan from before religions were recorded. Personally it's a word that has become so many things that it's got no real meaning to me.
Am I even a bushcrafter? I'm not into paleo, I don't reenact anything, I don't hide in the woods lighting fires and whittling stuff, I don't hump tons of heavy, cotton, wood, leather and brass kit to a campground that looks more like a Klondike mining settlement possibly with as much drinking too!! Nothing wrong with any of those things at all just I don't do it. I walk, camp at sites and in the wild. I use modern kit. Cook on a modern camping stove such as trangia with gas kit using a scout fire light thing from light my fire , matches or lighter. I sleep in down sleeping bags on plastic mats in plastic tents or plastic bivvy and tarp. I wear plastic clothes and plastic shoes or boots because they're lighter which is more comfortable. If car camping I'll take a fire pit and/or a BBQ if I feel like it.
I own knives that I use not for their aesthetics. I own a hand axe but TBH don't use it much. I spend as much time outdoors as I can especially with my family. I spot nature and enjoy seeing it. I pass on what I've learnt to my family. I know I don't know a lot but I know enough for our needs. Even though my fire lighting skills leave a lot to be desired i do eventually get a fire going but that's not important if I n didn't because I cook on stoves not fire and my warmth is generated by self using food and assisted by good insulation if needed from good quality, modern, performance kit. I'm interested in reading about what others are doing out and about plus their various craft based activities. I learn new things that way but even if I don't go on to do those things I'm better for knowing about them.
Is this even bushcraft? If it m isn't it doesn't matter because I do it because I like doing it and not owning the label won't stop me enjoying it.
PS where is a good source of reasonable quality wildlife cams. We're moving into n the country and the garden is big and wild enough to possibly have some interesting visitors. I'm more likely to see something caught on one of those than actually seeing it first n hand.
Going back to the purpose of 'bushcraft', I think it might be something to do with harking back to what is perceived as 'better times', when things were perhaps cleaner and 'purer' when it came to camping or living outdoors. The ideal of canvas shelters, fire from flint and steel or friction, clothes made from wool does take us on that journey and, because of our perceptions, makes us feel better, more fulfilled about what we are doing and how we are doing it. Obviously, it doesn't require any of the practitioners to go for full immersion into that style of outdoor activity - we can pick and choose what we want to use, according to budget, knowledge and experience - but it does add a certain, quietly pleasing element to our time in the wilds. So, maybe that is the 'purpose' of bushcraft: to deepen our experience outdoors and link us, albeit tenuously, to some elements of the past?
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
I wonder if people in those better times had modern equipment would they be using them? The idea of old kit being better but you could argue even older kit was better. Why was say 1930s climbing clothing better but modern clothing for similar use isn't or even older clothing isn't?
It's personal whether you prefer walking around in tweed plus fours and stout leather boots with hobnails in the sole or latest in Softshell trousers and lightweight winter boots with lightweight climbing crampons for example. Clothing doesn't make the activity but finding the clothing that works for you can make the activity more comfortable. If bushcraft is an activity then defining it by clothing is a distraction from understanding what bushcraft is. A craft not clothing.
It's personal whether you prefer walking around in tweed plus fours and stout leather boots with hobnails in the sole or latest in Softshell trousers and lightweight winter boots with lightweight climbing crampons for example. Clothing doesn't make the activity but finding the clothing that works for you can make the activity more comfortable. If bushcraft is an activity then defining it by clothing is a distraction from understanding what bushcraft is. A craft not clothing.
I personally believe that technology is great and awesome and wonderful.....BUT....it takes the "CRAFT" out of bushcraft....if you take all kinds of gadgets and niceties out there you do not really need any skill....
Where is the fun going into the bush and not using and practicing those skills? O you say that you go camping? Well then sir, I will correct you....you are into CAMPING, you may identify as a CAMPER and thats not bushcraft....IMO
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Theproccessor,
Maybe no one has told you, but use of capitalised words on a forum is the equivalent of shouting. There is no need for a raised voice on this thread, thanks.
I cannot say that taking on the roll of arbiter of bushcraft is altogether a bad thing, I think I may have done something similar here on the forum, but you need to be careful about why you are doing it as well as how. Are you doing it to exclude those who you deem unworthy or unqualified, or are you doing it to help people grow, improve their skills or keep them safe? Simply telling people how they may identify themselves, as if you have the gold standard for what a "bushcrafter" is, isn't going to come across well and will earn hostility.
It is awkward since "bushcraft" isn't like driving a car, in which a number of skills must be used together, while in a car, while in motion, otherwise you cannot say you are "driving" and you would be hard pressed to even claim to be practicing. I could go camping, using a tent, sleeping bag and stove, but I might choose to gather fire wood, have a fire, carve some cooking utensils or other camp-aides, and forage a few wild edibles to supplement my meals. Now personally I would say I was camping and using a few skills which are part of bushcraft, but at the moment that I am collecting dry wood, or picking edible greens, or choosing the right wood to carve it really doesn't matter what shelter I have, what means I will use to light my fire or what portable rations I will be using.
Do you see the problem with your approach? It requires a very subjective and individual threshold for where "bushcraft" starts. You might look at a camp and be sure there were no bushcraft skills used at all:
P1040283 by Last Scratch, on Flickr
While another might use little else:
But between these....?
Sleeping like this:
img_5294 by Last Scratch, on Flickr
and cooking like this:
img_5276 by Last Scratch, on Flickr
Chris
Maybe no one has told you, but use of capitalised words on a forum is the equivalent of shouting. There is no need for a raised voice on this thread, thanks.
I cannot say that taking on the roll of arbiter of bushcraft is altogether a bad thing, I think I may have done something similar here on the forum, but you need to be careful about why you are doing it as well as how. Are you doing it to exclude those who you deem unworthy or unqualified, or are you doing it to help people grow, improve their skills or keep them safe? Simply telling people how they may identify themselves, as if you have the gold standard for what a "bushcrafter" is, isn't going to come across well and will earn hostility.
It is awkward since "bushcraft" isn't like driving a car, in which a number of skills must be used together, while in a car, while in motion, otherwise you cannot say you are "driving" and you would be hard pressed to even claim to be practicing. I could go camping, using a tent, sleeping bag and stove, but I might choose to gather fire wood, have a fire, carve some cooking utensils or other camp-aides, and forage a few wild edibles to supplement my meals. Now personally I would say I was camping and using a few skills which are part of bushcraft, but at the moment that I am collecting dry wood, or picking edible greens, or choosing the right wood to carve it really doesn't matter what shelter I have, what means I will use to light my fire or what portable rations I will be using.
Do you see the problem with your approach? It requires a very subjective and individual threshold for where "bushcraft" starts. You might look at a camp and be sure there were no bushcraft skills used at all:
P1040283 by Last Scratch, on FlickrWhile another might use little else:
But between these....?
Sleeping like this:
img_5294 by Last Scratch, on Flickrand cooking like this:
img_5276 by Last Scratch, on FlickrChris
In my opinion bushcraft is the amount of skills which is needed to live in the woods.
The more skillfull a bushcrafter is, the less equipment he needs. But bushcraft also contains the correctly use and maintenance of equipment.
I agree that compared with old school equipment modern equipment usually is easier to use, but the knowledge how to use and tread both has his own value.
The highest level of skills is without any doubt to be able to create a complete equipment oneself in the forest. That's why bushcafters usually are interested in stone age techniques, even if they don't use it.
But as most of us aren't trappers or hunters who life in the pure wilderness in the end of the world, most of us are wild campers or hikers who have to respect pretty restrictive laws about what can be done in the woods behind the house and what isn't allowed.
The legal frame dictates the way how to move and behave in the woods. And for most of us the result is to spend our time as a hiking stealth camper who may be pretty skillfull in bushcraft and survival techniques.
One of the most important skills of a hiker is to choose the right multi functional equipment, that is strong and tough enough to fulfill the requirements, but as light but long lasting as possible too.
If one chooses to meet this requirements with classical old school stuff made from linen, leather, hide, wood, bone, horn, wool and metal or if one tends to nylon and polyester equipment mainly depends on the usual weather conditions the equipment will be used in, the personal body force and personal taste.
In my opinion the choice of materials of the equipment doesn't really change the value of skills.
And it is totally normal that constructions and materials change with the time.
I for example am able to live very well with hundred years old stuff in the woods, or also with next to nothing than clothing.
But usually I nowadays prefere an equipment that is made in old sizes but in new very light and tough materials because that is incredible comfortable to carry over longer distances.
I prefer a copy of historic equipment in new materials, which has the advantages of several newer Ideas and constructions.
But that's mainly because it is lightweight.
The historic stuff had also a lot of advantages which I miss if I use the modern stuff.
But whether I use this or that:
The amount of bushcraft skills I use to live comfortably in the woods doesn't change so much.
If I would carry around my new camping equipment with gas stove, self inflating insulation matres and nylon double wall tent, would I bring mountain equipment into the woods, the comfort to use it in the camp would be payed expensive with the discomfort to carry it.
That wouldn't be so very skillfull in my opinion.
The more skillfull a bushcrafter is, the less equipment he needs. But bushcraft also contains the correctly use and maintenance of equipment.
I agree that compared with old school equipment modern equipment usually is easier to use, but the knowledge how to use and tread both has his own value.
The highest level of skills is without any doubt to be able to create a complete equipment oneself in the forest. That's why bushcafters usually are interested in stone age techniques, even if they don't use it.
But as most of us aren't trappers or hunters who life in the pure wilderness in the end of the world, most of us are wild campers or hikers who have to respect pretty restrictive laws about what can be done in the woods behind the house and what isn't allowed.
The legal frame dictates the way how to move and behave in the woods. And for most of us the result is to spend our time as a hiking stealth camper who may be pretty skillfull in bushcraft and survival techniques.
One of the most important skills of a hiker is to choose the right multi functional equipment, that is strong and tough enough to fulfill the requirements, but as light but long lasting as possible too.
If one chooses to meet this requirements with classical old school stuff made from linen, leather, hide, wood, bone, horn, wool and metal or if one tends to nylon and polyester equipment mainly depends on the usual weather conditions the equipment will be used in, the personal body force and personal taste.
In my opinion the choice of materials of the equipment doesn't really change the value of skills.
And it is totally normal that constructions and materials change with the time.
I for example am able to live very well with hundred years old stuff in the woods, or also with next to nothing than clothing.
But usually I nowadays prefere an equipment that is made in old sizes but in new very light and tough materials because that is incredible comfortable to carry over longer distances.
I prefer a copy of historic equipment in new materials, which has the advantages of several newer Ideas and constructions.
But that's mainly because it is lightweight.
The historic stuff had also a lot of advantages which I miss if I use the modern stuff.
But whether I use this or that:
The amount of bushcraft skills I use to live comfortably in the woods doesn't change so much.
If I would carry around my new camping equipment with gas stove, self inflating insulation matres and nylon double wall tent, would I bring mountain equipment into the woods, the comfort to use it in the camp would be payed expensive with the discomfort to carry it.
That wouldn't be so very skillfull in my opinion.
Last edited:
So it's the skills not the era of your equipment?
What skills count as enough skills? A plastic camper/hikerr, stealth camping has different skills to a concession camper with cotton canvas and base camp mentality over gear. Skills are still learnt and used in both.
I'm a plastic camper both in sites and the fells of Cumbria or Highlands or Snowdonia. I use plastic tarps/tents, carbon fibre, alloys, titanium, etc. I dislike Merino or other wool clothing except for hats and one component in socks. It's simply not durable IME. I have skills for what I do and I have some skills, knowledge and experience of more clear cut bushcrafters. Whether I'm a bushcrafter or not is possibly down to personal gatekeeping. I do not see myself as a bushcrafter but I bet others don't see themselves as having that tag. It simply doesn't matter! Enjoy what you do, ignore what others call you!
What skills count as enough skills? A plastic camper/hikerr, stealth camping has different skills to a concession camper with cotton canvas and base camp mentality over gear. Skills are still learnt and used in both.
I'm a plastic camper both in sites and the fells of Cumbria or Highlands or Snowdonia. I use plastic tarps/tents, carbon fibre, alloys, titanium, etc. I dislike Merino or other wool clothing except for hats and one component in socks. It's simply not durable IME. I have skills for what I do and I have some skills, knowledge and experience of more clear cut bushcrafters. Whether I'm a bushcrafter or not is possibly down to personal gatekeeping. I do not see myself as a bushcrafter but I bet others don't see themselves as having that tag. It simply doesn't matter! Enjoy what you do, ignore what others call you!
If there are no trees where you spend your time outdoors, it seems to me to be intelligent to carry a modern plastic equipment, because most bushcraft skills do not help so much in the mountains...
A bushcrafter on the Montblanc is like a cowboy in New York..
A bushcrafter on the Montblanc is like a cowboy in New York..
Ooooh the denial! May I remind you, you are an avid and respected member of a 'bushcraft' forum...
But the intrepid trekker just looks for a wind shielded gully and makes a cup of tea.
In most places one can use either knowledge or experience and a little imagination, even falling from an airplane without a parachute is not totally hopeless, a few people have survived it. For that it has to be your lucky day though.
The question is if we have in this bushcraft forum any bushcrafters.
Would we exclude here all hikers, trekkers, hunters, fishermen, boy scouts, wild campers, stealth campers, woodcrafters, canoeists, reenactors, survivalists and woodrunners, I probably would be the last who remains.
And I would switch off the lights and leave, because I am a Wandervogel.
Would we exclude here all hikers, trekkers, hunters, fishermen, boy scouts, wild campers, stealth campers, woodcrafters, canoeists, reenactors, survivalists and woodrunners, I probably would be the last who remains.
And I would switch off the lights and leave, because I am a Wandervogel.
If only that was enough to make you a bushcrafter...Ooooh the denial! May I remind you, you are an avid and respected member of a 'bushcraft' forum...
If you look at what I mostly post about it's kit with a few forays into other topics like commenting on quality work by the more crafty types. Hardly coming across as bushcrafter more gear freak and someone with too much time on his hands. I'm hardly in need of joining bushcrafters anonymous!! Otherwise known as meetups or Bush moot.
I think that qualifies you as a bushcrafter. The pleasure I gain from a successful kit purchase following days or weeks of internet research eclipses the pleasure I get from attempting bow drill. Do I get booted from the forum for saying that?
For me, it's going outside being warm and having a cup of tea and a bacon cob. See I've built up a skillset that lets me do it. I'm able to stay out for a night or two if I want but at my age, I like my bed at home.
Si
Si
