Basic skills and confidence

in Outdoors and more2 months ago

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For all of nature's wonder and beauty, it is also hostile and unpredictable.

- Liam Neeson -



Over the years, I've spent a lot of time in hostile environments and places where comfort and easy living doesn't come easy at all.

What makes a hostile environment?

A warzone certainly, the wilderness where the elements are harsh or extreme, survival situations, areas where deadly animals exist, places where civil unrest occurs and general society can be also: Shootings, muggings and assaults, carjackings, home-invasions and other such things can make what should be a safe environment feel unsafe and hostile.

Not too long ago I was in a hostile environment...not a warzone, but somewhere in which living didn't come easily and one had to work at it, take a more active role in providing even the most basic survival needs such as shelter, warmth, water and food. I loved it!

I love challenges like that and situations in which I need to draw on my bushcraft skills and I always feel more confident as a human and a man through being responsible for nothing but my own life, that of those around me, and the mission, reason or purpose I'm there for in the first place; it's a cool feeling to use skills I've worked hard to gain. On this particular occasion we had basic supplies, we took them as part of our loadout, but we had to carry everything we needed in a single vehicle and then hike it up to the location we called home for several days; that meant the need for careful packing and keeping things light...and that many creature comforts were left behind.

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I've always left out things that I really wanted in preference to things I might need, survival takes priority over comfort.

General equipment, and that needed for the task, plus spares, (one is none, two is one), first aid/medical supplies, communications, navigation and maps, batteries and water and food always take priority over comfort items. This means that food is always basic and that each thing we take has a purpose, a dual/multiple-purpose if possible. No luxuries...mostly.

The trip I went on wasn't the most extreme I've done but we had to prioritise heavy rifle-systems and ammunition over things like Twinkies, gourmet foods and soft bedding.

Trust me, there's nothing quite like the taste of a Twinkie or other such snack when one is roughing it in the dirt. So rewarding.

We took what we needed and whilst we had our basic needs covered there was nothing of a luxurious nature. Basic food, dehydrated hiking foods and MRE's, fresh water, a little powdered coffee and some dark chocolate was about it. We slept on thin hiking bedrolls under a makeshift shelter and had to be content with that basic existence. We were...content.

I don't mind existing, subsisting, in that way, I mean basically, because I know at some point in the future I'll be back to civilisation and drinking better coffee, eating better food and living far more easily. Having the chance to live simply, to work for life a little harder, meaning actively applying my mind and physical being towards sustaining my life be it making fire, collecting water, creating shelter and other requirements, helps me respect and value how easy life can be when in civilisation...but also makes me feel concern for those who have lost, or never had, the skills to be self reliant.


Confidence should never be confused with arrogance, and confidence should never spill over to over-confidence, because down that path lays disaster.

So many people simply have no skills beyond that which our easy-living society gives them. Turning on taps, lights and air conditioner switches aren't skills though and I think a person should work on building a little more self reliance even if that is as simple as learning some basic first aid skills, disaster management, planning for when things go wrong, and other such monumentally easy things to learn. Being a little more confident in the things that provide basic human needs and generally more self reliance can go a long way towards making a person's life safer and more enjoyable. One never knows when such skills may be needed.



Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp

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What you describe is peace to me. It puts one in the present as you have no choice but to focus on the now of things. It is heaven...as long as I'm not taking mortar fire or something.

Lol, yeah mortar fire is sure to ruin what is otherwise a good day...unless that mortar fire is outbound of course, then it can be glorious.

Nature man, it's the place to be. I relate better to those who understand that and get out there. You?

Yep, outbound fire is always the best kind. Yes I do relate better to folks who get outdoors. It is something I have truly missed since being ill, especially being able to do them with my sons. We used to camp and other outdoor activities all the time. I am so glad things are on the mend so we can start enjoying those types of activities again.

Great to hear things are moving forward and I think some outdoors time with your lads would be a good thing to aim for, and a reward as well.

Hell yeah! I have some camping gear ready to be used again. It is a sad lot sitting on the shelf in my garage :)

As someone with a bit of familiarity with hostile environments I'm curious, do you have a preference for the sort where Mother Nature is out to get you or the ones where it's the people who are making it hostile?

You ever get a chance to camp out in bear country?

This is a good question.

People are predictable (mostly) so can be easier to deal with if someone has the skills and equipment. Having said that, humans are capable of doing terrible things.

Nature is less predictable but doesn't think, it just is, meaning it does what it does...the wind blows, the rain falls, a lion wants to hunt and eat and so on.

With that in mind I'd say mother nature any day...I back my skills in either situation but I think nature is preferable because people are fucken assholes sometimes.

I've camped in koala bear country but I don't think that counts as those little buggers aren't really dangerous...the worst of it is a sharp claw during a hug! So no, I've not camped in bear country, just loads of other dangerous places. How about you?

When I was typing it out I was certain I'd go with people, but the more I thought about it the less certain of that I am. Mostly having the option of fighting back is what appeals to me I think.

Quite a bit, mostly black bear with a little bit of time in grizzly country. It's not particularly dangerous, probably stand a better chance of stopping a round here in the city, but you have to secure all your food/scented items in a bear-proof container. That's it's own sort of planning and discipline, one I've discovered escapes a surprising number of people. They're not overly large, you talking about food reminded me of the tradeoffs you make for that.

Yep, I agree that the fight-back is an option and there's no point doing so with a twister or earthquake. People though, I guess I'll choose nature over them most of the time. My cat for instance, she's better than most people I know. Lol.

As for bears, I have read about the food storage thing and it makes sense. In my head though, I have bear attack images from the move, The Revenant. Great movie. Koala bears don't attack like that.

Hi Galen, reading this post I can only say that I am grateful to life for what I have. My origin is a very humble family, I've worn as a child the shoes that my grandfather made with his own hands. I think I have never lost sight of the fact that I am privileged.

I am also no stranger to that "hostile" environment in which work those people who make it possible for the city to be clean, for the mail to arrive home, or for the refrigerator to be full.

And I'm glad you had a good time with friends and in the middle of Nature.

People (generally) have lost touch with nature and the ability to do things for themselves, be self-reliant, is diminishing which I believe is a bad thing. I'm not saying that everyone needs to have highly developed skills like some of us, just that being able to do a few self sustaining things is an advantage.

I think you probably agree.

Have you got some skills that help you be more self reliant? First aid, electrical, mechanical and other such skills?

In Nature I am sure to die. At home, it may seem silly, but I keep a paper DIY encyclopedia that I still consult from time to time when I need to fix something at home.

As for first aid, even if it is by profession, I have knowledge in emergency intervention, I am accredited as a trauma expert.

You are absolutely right. Many of us, if we lived in such a hostile place, would die within a few days, others would perhaps adapt and learn to survive. I am completely useless. Never in all the years you have spent outdoors have you ever had an abnormal experience. the attack of an animal or strange thing.

I've had many strange and dangerous events occur when I've been out and about in the great outdoors...snakes, spiders, scorpions, hellish weather, people issues too...it's why I have worked so hard at building my skills to the level they are as it brings the confidence to get out there and tackle the challenges head on.

If I had a chance to choose where to live, then I'll definitely choose rural life which far from all stress in metro cities. There's nothing more genuine than taking a rest under the moonlight and realizing about life and future. It's true that living on world is harsh and finding a safe place is hard since there are lots of blockades that stops us to feel those those things.

I agree, living in cities is convenient but I think many who do have lost touch with nature and their connection with it which I think is of great detriment to a human.

You spoke of Twinkies over ammunition. But you do carry a firearm into the wild for protection always I am assuming. What are the permits rules down there on that type of protection carry.?

The government doesn't feel protection carry as a legitimate purpose of use so we can't say that.

When. Hunting I have a purpose of use so carry of course, but one can't simply carry. Furthermore, one needs to be able to prove one is hunting/culling to be able to carry which means permit to be on the property, listed on the culling register, hunting permit and so on as appropriate for the situation. In that case, one can carry. Of course, at no point can someone carry a handgun for any purpose other than club use unless one has a reason like a licensed security person. Not even our cops can carry outside of their job, even if they have a firearms license, which most do not.

#governmentretards

Wow... That is what I kinda figured from some of the stories I have heard.

I guess a big ol' samurai sword will have to do the job then.

And some kung fu...untitled.gif

Yeah man, krav maga and a fucken big sword goes a long way. ✅

I've watched that show naked and afraid in the past and besides the being naked part, I always wonder why so many of them seem to buckle so quickly. I feel like I am nowhere near as skilled as them, but I would at least last a little longer. I'm sure it's one of those things where it is a lot harder than it looks, but I've been camping long enough to have picked up a fair number of skills. I fear I am getting too old to ever go back to the rustic life, but I am not a stranger to it.

Having the right skills needs to be coupled with the physical ability to get things done, no doubt. At 54, I've kept myself in good shape through some hard work and effort and eating properly so I'm ok on that front, probably more than ok if I'm immodest. But for sure getting older has an effect. Having said that, I don't think it negates the need for a self-reliant ethos as there are many ways that can be brought to pass.

I think my wife and I will be camping for many years to come. Although we have a lot of gear, there is still something quite basic about camping that I really enjoy. It's just kind of raw. We do most of our cooking on a charcoal grill or propane griddle. I'd like to get a tripod for grate for over the fire and perfect my skills at open fire cooking one of these days.

I really like that quote. Nature is definitely unpredictable, and we had to learn that the hard way at sea. We never underestimate nature anymore.

I grew up on a farm, so I’m a bit privileged in that regard. If you dump me in a forest in the middle of nowhere, I’ll survive. I'm glad you had a good time with friends and guns.

There's a few I'd like to dump in the forest but, alas, that's not considered quite the done thing these days.

Most people are monumentally ill-prepared in their general lives through ignorance, laziness and stupidity and it's that lackbif preparation that boggles the mind considering how easy it is to be prepared. As for people's outdoor skills, well, that can be easy too but some don't get the chances we have had I guess. Not having one's affairs in order generally, no home fire evacuation plan, first aid skills, will, power of attorney, savings/investment plan... inexcusable.

The basic skills of living in nature, without the luxury of the homes we lived in, we acquired as children and young people playing and staying in nature.
We made shelters in the forest, lit and warmed ourselves on the campfire, drank water from the spring, slept under the clear sky. and all through the game.
I guess that's how you gain experience for a lifetime.
I didn't have the opportunity to stay in war and hostile environments, but I manage very well in nature, far from civilization.

Kids these days don't often get those opportunities because they have their faces planted in a screen but yep, that's where it all starts; it did for me too. Loved it and love it still.

Born before 1980 🙂
Before the internet era.

Video games back then were on devices weighing hundreds of kilograms, we didn't have them on mobile phones like today, these new kids...

Yeah, me too (fortunately).

This would be the ideal situation for all of us, that we all know a little or better enough to be more self-sufficient for extreme situations. You never know when you're really going to need them, even if we're not at war... or if we are. Confidence is a very important point along with that knowledge.

Everyone could be more self-sufficient; it's a choice really, and not all that difficult to make happen.

People prefer comfort... but yes, it's really not difficult at all.

I really enjoyed this story you shared, it seems that I have been carried away into a natural and serene nature where nature always provides interesting things, I love it with exploring. Thank you for sharing this peace-creating story dear friend 👌

No worries, I'm glad you liked it.