On the river. Survival choices
There are many choices we have in life. I like to think about that and control as much as I can, the direction my life goes. No one cares as much as we do about what happens to us, if we are happy, successful or not. I have lived my life as I wished, in control of it, mostly off the grid, self-sufficient, subsistence in the wilds. I call it a way of thinking. I can pass on tips, how to, lists, instructions, links, and answer personal questions on the subject of wilderness survival and self-sufficiency.
As some background - I have spent 45 years in the wilds and around remote villages of Alaska. I lived without a bank account, no ID or any paperwork for 25 years. No drivers license. No phone, no taxes, no bills of any kind. I traveled by dog team in winter, and boat in summer, living off the land nomadically. I built my own dog sleds, made my own harnesses with hand tools. My website has a lot of pictures, my bio, books I wrote, references, magazines I have written for etc. www.milesofalaska.net
I can answer questions on most aspects of self-sufficiency. I have made my own soap by rendering my own bear fat and making my own lye. I know about shelters, emergency wild foods, wild medicines, self-defense, homesteading, cabin building. Mostly it is a matter of what it is you would like to know? If ‘everything,’ I suggest getting my books! www.milesofalaska.net/book But right here you can ask a question and I will reply. Maybe others will have the same question, and be interested in an answer! If you like, you can fill out the form and get regular tips, discounts on my products, updates. Select a category if you wish, so you do not get bothered with information if it is of no interest. I’m involved in a lot of things. Knife making, art, writing, various raw materials others need that I offer. I can begin a discussion with
There are many choices we have in life. I like to think about that and control as much as I can, the direction my life goes. No one cares as much as we do about what happens to us, if we are happy, successful or not. I have lived my life as I wished, in control of it, mostly off the grid, self-sufficient, subsistence in the wilds. I call it a way of thinking. I can pass on tips, how to, lists, instructions, links, and answer personal questions on the subject of wilderness survival and self-sufficiency.
As some background - I have spent 45 years in the wilds and around remote villages of Alaska. I lived without a bank account, no ID or any paperwork for 25 years. No drivers license. No phone, no taxes, no bills of any kind. I traveled by dog team in winter, and boat in summer, living off the land nomadically. I built my own dog sleds, made my own harnesses with hand tools. My website has a lot of pictures, my bio, books I wrote, references, magazines I have written for etc. www.milesofalaska.net
I can answer questions on most aspects of self-sufficiency. I have made my own soap by rendering my own bear fat and making my own lye. I know about shelters, emergency wild foods, wild medicines, self-defense, homesteading, cabin building. Mostly it is a matter of what it is you would like to know? If ‘everything,’ I suggest getting my books! www.milesofalaska.net/book But right here you can ask a question and I will reply. Maybe others will have the same question, and be interested in an answer! If you like, you can fill out the form and get regular tips, discounts on my products, updates. Select a category if you wish, so you do not get bothered with information if it is of no interest. I’m involved in a lot of things. Knife making, art, writing, various raw materials others need that I offer. I can begin a discussion with
boat breaks down floated 5 days
What is the most important tool to have in a wilderness survival situation?
Let’s say your car runs out of gas. or slides off the road in a remote area you are passing through. Or your boat sinks. You are the survivor of a plane crash, get lost on a outing? What is it you absolutely must have if you wish to stay alive? I say it is a knife! “A man with a knife is master of a thousand tasks” I read once. and now believe. With a knife and knowledge you can carve a bow drill to start a fire. Or strike the right rock to make a spark. You can carve a trigger for a deadfall that will kill small game or even a bear. You can make a shelter, carve tools of all kinds, a wood shovel, cut birch bark to make a container to cook in, make a fish hook, cut tree roots for rope, magnetize a needle to make a compass, mark trees to make a trial, carve messages for rescuers, skin game, make items of skin. The list can go on. I think no other item you could have with you can have as many important functions. Yes it is nice if you have matches! Many would not want to face the wilds without a gun! A set of extra dry warm cloths is dandy all right. So is a flashlight and map! In fact when I can, and I have room, I have a whole hundred pounds of cool stuff I find handy for camping and staying safe. Even a ham radio and chair. (now that I am a senior!). Yet a knife can supply almost all those things if you know how to use it!
If anyone has a comment, disagrees, or has a question I’d be happy to reply!
Who cares! We are not cave men anymore, so why bother knowing this stuff?!
In some ways , this is true! The chances might be so slim any of this ‘survival’ stuff would ever be useful, it is not worth bothering with. Consider a few things however. There is more and more control over us, with fewer freedoms and rights. Prices go up for essentials like food and shelter. Jobs are harder to get, insurance less affordable. Some items are scarce or expensive that used to be readily available. I say some aspects of survival knowledge might be handy just to ease the financial burden it might be nice to grow your own foods, extract your own natural medicines, or know how to stay warm without a dependency on fuel oil. There is an interest in natural herbs, teas, medicines for example. Every bit as good as processed, that you can easily make or grow yourself. There are potential changes ahead due to events like global warming, overpopulation, growing governments around the world, and what not. Our good life might be more fragile when many are willing to admit! The ability to help others in their emergency exists if we have some basic knowledge. Knowing how to set a bone or make aspirin could mean the difference between life and death in situations any of us could find ourselves in. So who needs this knowledge, if anyone? Let me know!
Let’s say your car runs out of gas. or slides off the road in a remote area you are passing through. Or your boat sinks. You are the survivor of a plane crash, get lost on a outing? What is it you absolutely must have if you wish to stay alive? I say it is a knife! “A man with a knife is master of a thousand tasks” I read once. and now believe. With a knife and knowledge you can carve a bow drill to start a fire. Or strike the right rock to make a spark. You can carve a trigger for a deadfall that will kill small game or even a bear. You can make a shelter, carve tools of all kinds, a wood shovel, cut birch bark to make a container to cook in, make a fish hook, cut tree roots for rope, magnetize a needle to make a compass, mark trees to make a trial, carve messages for rescuers, skin game, make items of skin. The list can go on. I think no other item you could have with you can have as many important functions. Yes it is nice if you have matches! Many would not want to face the wilds without a gun! A set of extra dry warm cloths is dandy all right. So is a flashlight and map! In fact when I can, and I have room, I have a whole hundred pounds of cool stuff I find handy for camping and staying safe. Even a ham radio and chair. (now that I am a senior!). Yet a knife can supply almost all those things if you know how to use it!
If anyone has a comment, disagrees, or has a question I’d be happy to reply!
Who cares! We are not cave men anymore, so why bother knowing this stuff?!
In some ways , this is true! The chances might be so slim any of this ‘survival’ stuff would ever be useful, it is not worth bothering with. Consider a few things however. There is more and more control over us, with fewer freedoms and rights. Prices go up for essentials like food and shelter. Jobs are harder to get, insurance less affordable. Some items are scarce or expensive that used to be readily available. I say some aspects of survival knowledge might be handy just to ease the financial burden it might be nice to grow your own foods, extract your own natural medicines, or know how to stay warm without a dependency on fuel oil. There is an interest in natural herbs, teas, medicines for example. Every bit as good as processed, that you can easily make or grow yourself. There are potential changes ahead due to events like global warming, overpopulation, growing governments around the world, and what not. Our good life might be more fragile when many are willing to admit! The ability to help others in their emergency exists if we have some basic knowledge. Knowing how to set a bone or make aspirin could mean the difference between life and death in situations any of us could find ourselves in. So who needs this knowledge, if anyone? Let me know!
RSS Feed