when did it all start ?

[Gcckoka]

In this thread lets share with to each other , when did it all start ?
And I am also interested how does it feel when times passes and you have more and more experience ? I mean I begin interested in bushcraft 2 years ago and since then everyday the dream to go and live for few weeks , months , years grows. The more experience I get the more I want to go out there in the bush to live of the grid for some time. Do you feel the same ? after 10 , 20 ,30 years how is it does the interest go or it is bigger ?

as for when it started this is a picture after about one month when I found there was something called bushcraft

But love of nature and becoming a hunter started way way in the past
This was my room , with firearms on every wall , with bear and snow leopard hides and thousands of rounds

Post your first bushcrafty photo , share with us please , I am really interested

 

[Tony]

It's a good question, For me it started yeas ago, I always thought I was fine outdoors etc and then back in about 2002 I think it was me and my mate Phil attended a course at Woodlore, the instructor back then was Ben McNutt (started Woodsmoke soon after), Gary Whale was a volunteer instructor and there were a couple of others, we did the week, enjoyed it a lot and realised that there was so much that we didn't know and really we were hooked from then. I started Bushcraft UK because back then it was so hard to stay in contact with people with a like interest, so this place was born. Since then I've spent a fair bit of time doing bushcraft and I love it.
I'm far from skilled but I enjoy my time out in the woods or camping etc. Bushcraft is something I've always viewed as a life enhancer, something that adds to the colour and vibrancy of life as well as the comfort and adventure, too many people think it's all about rubbing sticks together rather than looking at the big picture of bushcraft being able to underpin so many outdoor activities...

You can see from your pictures that you're experiences are going to be different from most of the people here in the UK and I look forward to hearing more of your journey and your views as time goes by.

 

[MMarshall]

I agree, a good and interesting question, and as Tony said it will be good to hear more of your experiences as you have them.

For me, I grew up in reasonably remote (for UK) moorland in Scotland where the nearest shop is still 10+ miles away, where my interest in living outside and making fire, finding food, etc, began at an early age. It has never left me. I've also been fortunate enough to be a student of Ben Mcnutt (though through his own Woodsmoke) and have certainly benefitted from the privilege. I look forward to more!

 

[DavidJT]

About 12 years old, crazy geography teacher took us on an outdoors weekend to the Peak District. River running, pot holing, 20 mile yomps in the driving rain. Totally bonkers and probably dangerous, but absolutely loved it.l, and triggered something in me.
Later in life, a Swedish wife and lots of time spent in Scandinavia cemented the bushcraft bug.

 

[MMarshall]

Later in life, a Swedish wife and lots of time spent in Scandinavia cemented the bushcraft bug.

You lucky so-and-so!

 

[Kerne]

As a kid - went wild camping, lit fires to cook on, walked hills of S. Wales and on the Gower. All very basic with army surplus kit and a bunch of like minded mates.

Grew up (sort of..) and stopped all that sort of a thing (to quote Fr. Ted) until Mr Mears' TV programmes reminded me what life should be about. Did a Woodsmoke course (Christmas present from SWMBO) about 10/12 years ago and never looked back.

 

[mousey]

My folks were quite outdoorsy people and I remember being dragged around various bits of the UK countryside and visiting family etc. Was in the cubs, swam a lot, did a bit of climbing, went through the DoE when in school and enjoyed the hiking trips also enjoyed other school organised trips [mainly history = Belgium, France & Germany and Geography = UK filed trips, Italy & Iceland] and other outward-bound / PGL trips. When a little older in college and old enough to take myself off bought a couple of maps of local areas, packed a bag and didn't come home for a couple of days at a time

Now life's too busy to get away for longer than a couple of hours Although I'm realising I'm not really that bothered about 'bushcraft' I just like being outside.

 

[Pioneer72]

I always liked being in the woods or the mountains, whether it was walks as a kid with parents, or when I was in the Scouts, and I guess that was the start without realising.

When I realised an interest in bushcraft directly, it was born from a little book I bought in 1992 called 'The Complete Outdoor Handbook', written by a guy who was relatively little-known back then, called Raymond Mears who at that point had not yet been on TV.
I still have that book on my shelf right here, it goes through the seasons highlighting all the things to do at different times of year. I then started going to the woods to explore such things for myself.
I worked as a cabinetmaker so making things from wood was not really a problem, but in the workshop there are machines and endless specialist tools, and the wood is kiln dry straight planks. I do enjoy the alternate of making something out of green, round bits of fresh tree, using only a few very simple bushcraft tools.


Obviously there is a big difference between our cultures and I respect that, and the photos are clearly quite old, but I do hope that hunting snow leopards is no longer pursued - there are likely less than 4000 left worldwide.

 

[Gcckoka]

I always liked being in the woods or the mountains, whether it was walks as a kid with parents, or when I was in the Scouts, and I guess that was the start without realising.

When I realised an interest in bushcraft directly, it was born from a little book I bought in 1992 called 'The Complete Outdoor Handbook', written by a guy who was relatively little-known back then, called Raymond Mears who at that point had not yet been on TV.
I still have that book on my shelf right here, it goes through the seasons highlighting all the things to do at different times of year. I then started going to the woods to explore such things for myself.
I worked as a cabinetmaker so making things from wood was not really a problem, but in the workshop there are machines and endless specialist tools, and the wood is kiln dry straight planks. I do enjoy the alternate of making something out of green, round bits of fresh tree, using only a few very simple bushcraft tools.


Obviously there is a big difference between our cultures and I respect that, and the photos are clearly quite old, but I do hope that hunting snow leopards is no longer pursued - there are likely less than 4000 left worldwide.

I don't even have that hide anymore , my godfather gave it to me , he bought it in Russia about 25 years ago , I wasn't even born yet

 

[Night Phoenix]

I consider myself very lucky and was practising bushcraft before I knew it as a term. I grew up as a kid exploring the woods and hills around my home. I was tracking animals, making dens, exploring as soon as I could. This became more and more a part of my life as I got older, I was in love with the wildlife and landscapes. Thankfully when I was in primary school it was in quite a natural area in the village but when i went to secondary school in the town I felt displaced, like Id lost something. Haha I remember I used to skive off school to go to the woods but still it was never enough time. I remember as soon as i discovered books about ethnic groups and ancient civilisations I used to play at pretending I was them and making things in the books. The woods and the hills were safe and I loved them. To be honest I dont think, in some ways, i would mind returning to that childhood.