Engaging the Rewilding Process...
"Here is this vast, savage, howling mother of ours, Nature, lying all around, with such beauty, and such affection for her children, as the leopard; and yet we are so early weaned from her breast to society, to that culture which is exclusively an interaction of man on man."
—Henry David Thoreau
The Milk River, Alberta. photo: Jonathan Wright
Are you a true native of the landscape you inhabit? Do you have a working understanding of the natural world outside your town? Do you feel at home in nature? Or do you live your life as a tourist in your own land, gazing out the window of your car at the country flying by with little or no understanding of what is going on out there in the real world, an alien on your own planet? Or are you somewhere along the path to enlightenment but wishing for a greater knowledge of the wild, a heightened comfort level that comes with increased competence?
If these latter cases are true, you are by no means alone. We are all products of our time, even those of us who are most at home in the woods by today's standards. In fact, it has been demonstrated that most professionals involved with the outdoors today, from field biologists to professors of ecology, do not have a sufficient holistic awareness nor skillset to elevate them much beyond the level of tourist when they enter nature. We all have much to learn here!
Re-wilding - the process of reconnecting with your natural world - like so many things in our lives, is not an event, but rather an on-going process.
Survival.
Kindling. photo: Laura Fetherstonhaugh
"He was a Courerur de Bois, one who runs in the woods, and where he came from, no one knew... [he] knew every trick the Canadians had developed for staying alive in freezing weather. He thought nothing of spending months alone in unexplored territory..."
- James A. Michener
The fact that we are here at all tells us one thing: we are survivors. We are survivors now, when things are easy, yes, but we were also survivors when things were not. We did it then and we can do it now and, with the necessary preparations, we will continue to do so. Our foremothers and fathers routinely and as a matter of course faced days that might kill us just to contemplate as and where many of us stand today, but the fact is, what was in them is in us. We too can master the skills of the Pioneer, the Coureur-de-Bois, the remote Taoists, the Mountainmen. The means are still ours.
There are market skills and there are life skills. The first tend to be specific to a time and a place and apply to scenarios that may change constantly and with increasing rapidity, rendering today's favored approaches obsolete overnight, while the second are timeless, have applications in any scenario, and are never obsolete. There is, of course, some overlap, which is why skills, and especially attitudes learned in one sphere can be useful in either. Where the specifics are concerned, most of us today are long on market skills pertaining to our own specialty, and short on many of the timeless life skills which relate to survival in the natural world.
Survival in the natural world is not a matter of scaling nor leaping off cliffs, purposely putting yourself in dangerous scenarios, killing live quarry with your teeth and eating it raw, nor pulling off stunts of any kind. Just as in an urban environment, survival is about working with your world, as opposed to hurling yourself against it. The life of a true wilderness survivor rarely resembles an action flick, any more than does the life of a grizzly bear - or a corporate lion, for that matter. If your life out there does look like an action flick more often than not, odds are you're going to die pretty fast once the film crew leaves. You would likely be surprised who it is that comes out alive and why in some of the most desperate real-life scenarios that have been documented, involving mixed age-groups with a range of apparent abilities. It's often not the person most would bet on!
- James A. Michener
The fact that we are here at all tells us one thing: we are survivors. We are survivors now, when things are easy, yes, but we were also survivors when things were not. We did it then and we can do it now and, with the necessary preparations, we will continue to do so. Our foremothers and fathers routinely and as a matter of course faced days that might kill us just to contemplate as and where many of us stand today, but the fact is, what was in them is in us. We too can master the skills of the Pioneer, the Coureur-de-Bois, the remote Taoists, the Mountainmen. The means are still ours.
There are market skills and there are life skills. The first tend to be specific to a time and a place and apply to scenarios that may change constantly and with increasing rapidity, rendering today's favored approaches obsolete overnight, while the second are timeless, have applications in any scenario, and are never obsolete. There is, of course, some overlap, which is why skills, and especially attitudes learned in one sphere can be useful in either. Where the specifics are concerned, most of us today are long on market skills pertaining to our own specialty, and short on many of the timeless life skills which relate to survival in the natural world.
Survival in the natural world is not a matter of scaling nor leaping off cliffs, purposely putting yourself in dangerous scenarios, killing live quarry with your teeth and eating it raw, nor pulling off stunts of any kind. Just as in an urban environment, survival is about working with your world, as opposed to hurling yourself against it. The life of a true wilderness survivor rarely resembles an action flick, any more than does the life of a grizzly bear - or a corporate lion, for that matter. If your life out there does look like an action flick more often than not, odds are you're going to die pretty fast once the film crew leaves. You would likely be surprised who it is that comes out alive and why in some of the most desperate real-life scenarios that have been documented, involving mixed age-groups with a range of apparent abilities. It's often not the person most would bet on!
Fitness.
On the Fraser, 1828. Adam Sherriff Scott, ca. 1942
"To keep the body in good health is a duty…
otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear."
- Buddha
Obviously, raw survival is only our first goal in rewilding, as in all of life. It is the necessary precondition. To thrive in life is ultimately what we should be aiming for, in any setting. Not just to keep the vital signs on the graph, but to be alive as we can possibly be on all levels.
Fitness is a measure of how alive you are. Literally translated, the word itself begs a question of us: "How ready are you to fit into your world?" Any world?
Being in shape both physically and mentally is a key element of that first precondition - survival - in any challenging time or place, and your most valuable tool in the wild. The current obesity epidemic, then, tells us many things about our culture today, but one of the foremost may well be that we are not being challenged enough - we are not challenging ourselves enough. Clearly, it does not take a high degree of fitness to be ready on a basic survival level for our world today, but that doesn't change the fact that if you are, you will reap more from life in this time, too.
Fitness can be essential to survival in a more challenging time and/or situation. Of course, simply by surviving in such a time or place you will become more fit in the sense that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but with no gaurantee which of these two possibilities will be the outcome, wouldn't you rather be stronger going into such a situation?!
All you need to be in superb physical condition is what you carry with you, stripped naked. In fact, if you employ some of the regimes of the ancients requiring nothing more than your own body, you may well end up fitter than you would taking advantage of a gym membership that gives you access to a full range of equipment. We're pretty good at complicating things these days.
Of course, the fitter you are physically, the better your brain is prepared to work. And fitness for the wild involves the right headspace as much and more than the right physical conditioning. The right attitude is vital. With the senses and body tuned and the mind opened, you are ready to take in the subtleties, to notice the myriad invaluable details that surround you in a natural setting and turn them to your advantage.
To thrive.
otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear."
- Buddha
Obviously, raw survival is only our first goal in rewilding, as in all of life. It is the necessary precondition. To thrive in life is ultimately what we should be aiming for, in any setting. Not just to keep the vital signs on the graph, but to be alive as we can possibly be on all levels.
Fitness is a measure of how alive you are. Literally translated, the word itself begs a question of us: "How ready are you to fit into your world?" Any world?
Being in shape both physically and mentally is a key element of that first precondition - survival - in any challenging time or place, and your most valuable tool in the wild. The current obesity epidemic, then, tells us many things about our culture today, but one of the foremost may well be that we are not being challenged enough - we are not challenging ourselves enough. Clearly, it does not take a high degree of fitness to be ready on a basic survival level for our world today, but that doesn't change the fact that if you are, you will reap more from life in this time, too.
Fitness can be essential to survival in a more challenging time and/or situation. Of course, simply by surviving in such a time or place you will become more fit in the sense that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but with no gaurantee which of these two possibilities will be the outcome, wouldn't you rather be stronger going into such a situation?!
All you need to be in superb physical condition is what you carry with you, stripped naked. In fact, if you employ some of the regimes of the ancients requiring nothing more than your own body, you may well end up fitter than you would taking advantage of a gym membership that gives you access to a full range of equipment. We're pretty good at complicating things these days.
Of course, the fitter you are physically, the better your brain is prepared to work. And fitness for the wild involves the right headspace as much and more than the right physical conditioning. The right attitude is vital. With the senses and body tuned and the mind opened, you are ready to take in the subtleties, to notice the myriad invaluable details that surround you in a natural setting and turn them to your advantage.
To thrive.
Neighbors.
"The animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensiions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear.They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and the travail of the earth."
-Henry Beston
Fisher, king of the martens. photo: Jonathan Wright
the Birds...
Learning about and paying attention to your local birds is a fundamental and very enjoyable aspect of the rewilding process. Not only is learning to recognize the different species a satisfying endeavor in itself, birds can relay a wealth of information about the environment you're in through their presence, absence, calls and behaviors. And, unlike so many of the creatures of the wild, many species are readily observed, offering us a ready source of input and wonder.
the Beasts...
From the tiny shrew to the elusive furbearers to the graceful deer to the mighty grizzly... they're out there, and learning their ways is not only crucial to understanding and inhabiting your natural world, it's also tremendously exciting! Part of the rewilding process is learning to break down the barriers of secrecy that separate you from them...
The Cold-Blooded...
The reptiles, amphibians and fish... slippery, scaley denizens of the wild that hop, crawl and swim, they lend intrigue, beauty, mystery and sometimes danger to our habitats, and include are some of the most fascinating creatures that share our planet.
Insects and Other Invertebrates...
Approximately 80% of animal species on earth are insects, 99% are invertebrates. Insects provide natural services that we often take for granted. They are the pollinators, undertakers, leaf litter sweepers, garbage collectors, soil conditioners and natural fertilizer producers of nature. About 80% of the flowering plants on Earth are pollinated by insects, and the flower color, shape and scent has evolved to attract their insect pollinators.
Trees and Plants...
Who needs a vegetable garden, a medicine cabinet, heating oil, building materials, etc...? It's all out there waiting for you!
Learning about and paying attention to your local birds is a fundamental and very enjoyable aspect of the rewilding process. Not only is learning to recognize the different species a satisfying endeavor in itself, birds can relay a wealth of information about the environment you're in through their presence, absence, calls and behaviors. And, unlike so many of the creatures of the wild, many species are readily observed, offering us a ready source of input and wonder.
the Beasts...
From the tiny shrew to the elusive furbearers to the graceful deer to the mighty grizzly... they're out there, and learning their ways is not only crucial to understanding and inhabiting your natural world, it's also tremendously exciting! Part of the rewilding process is learning to break down the barriers of secrecy that separate you from them...
The Cold-Blooded...
The reptiles, amphibians and fish... slippery, scaley denizens of the wild that hop, crawl and swim, they lend intrigue, beauty, mystery and sometimes danger to our habitats, and include are some of the most fascinating creatures that share our planet.
Insects and Other Invertebrates...
Approximately 80% of animal species on earth are insects, 99% are invertebrates. Insects provide natural services that we often take for granted. They are the pollinators, undertakers, leaf litter sweepers, garbage collectors, soil conditioners and natural fertilizer producers of nature. About 80% of the flowering plants on Earth are pollinated by insects, and the flower color, shape and scent has evolved to attract their insect pollinators.
Trees and Plants...
Who needs a vegetable garden, a medicine cabinet, heating oil, building materials, etc...? It's all out there waiting for you!
Fear.
Prairie rattlesnake, Alberta.
photo: Jonathan Wright
"Fear explains why millions of people accomplish little and enjoy little..."
- David J. Schwartz
Fear is in all of us - perhaps most of all in those who most vehemently proclaim they have none. There are some good reasons to be afraid from time-to-time, and in fact, if fear were not a valuable emotion to our survival, we wouldn't experience it. Where fear is not good is when and where it becomes misguided and/or crippling.
Many fear the natural world. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that fear of the wild is part of our cultural fabric, and like any fear left improperly dealt with, this one has lead to maladaption and done great damage. Perhaps the greatest damage ever.
Fear of the wild does damage on an individual level, as well. If there is some rudimentary knowledge of what's out there, such fear may take specific form, or, where ignorance prevails, the fear may be general in nature. Whatever the case, if we let these fears become roadblocks, we are bound to miss out on some of the most rewarding experiences life has waitng for us, as many of these experiences are out there in that natural world from which we once sprang.
The best way to allay fear is to first acknowledge it, to second pinpoint it, to third study the source, and to fourth confront it. You may be surprised to learn that your fear of certain things may be largely unfounded, while at the same time you've been livng in ignorance of that which truly represents a danger to you. This is very often true of people's perceptions of the wild.
Rather than fear the elements of your world, it is far better to repect them, and proceed accordingly. Only through knowledge can we gain the understanding that transforms our fear to respect. All civilizations rise and fall, the people eventually cast back at the feet of a situation they are unaccustomed to. Do not fear your world. Understand the wild and you will then have two homes. And less to be afraid of.
- David J. Schwartz
Fear is in all of us - perhaps most of all in those who most vehemently proclaim they have none. There are some good reasons to be afraid from time-to-time, and in fact, if fear were not a valuable emotion to our survival, we wouldn't experience it. Where fear is not good is when and where it becomes misguided and/or crippling.
Many fear the natural world. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that fear of the wild is part of our cultural fabric, and like any fear left improperly dealt with, this one has lead to maladaption and done great damage. Perhaps the greatest damage ever.
Fear of the wild does damage on an individual level, as well. If there is some rudimentary knowledge of what's out there, such fear may take specific form, or, where ignorance prevails, the fear may be general in nature. Whatever the case, if we let these fears become roadblocks, we are bound to miss out on some of the most rewarding experiences life has waitng for us, as many of these experiences are out there in that natural world from which we once sprang.
The best way to allay fear is to first acknowledge it, to second pinpoint it, to third study the source, and to fourth confront it. You may be surprised to learn that your fear of certain things may be largely unfounded, while at the same time you've been livng in ignorance of that which truly represents a danger to you. This is very often true of people's perceptions of the wild.
Rather than fear the elements of your world, it is far better to repect them, and proceed accordingly. Only through knowledge can we gain the understanding that transforms our fear to respect. All civilizations rise and fall, the people eventually cast back at the feet of a situation they are unaccustomed to. Do not fear your world. Understand the wild and you will then have two homes. And less to be afraid of.
Skills.
“…those unlucky enough to live in academic confines or in suburbs or cities, would be baffled by a lion’s views on hunting, but surely the Bushmen would not.”
- Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
If you're going to be out there re-wilding yourself, it's a good thing to have a range of skills beyond the basics of plant and animal identification under your belt to make yourself more at home.
Shelter...
#1 in your survival arsenal!
- Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
If you're going to be out there re-wilding yourself, it's a good thing to have a range of skills beyond the basics of plant and animal identification under your belt to make yourself more at home.
Shelter...
#1 in your survival arsenal!
Water...
Finding it, making sure it's safe. #2 in your survival arsenal!
Food...
Next in line in a survival situation! What's on the menu, how do I get it?
Fire...
It is said that if it weren't for this one, there'd be none of us living anywhere the temperatures fall regularly below ten degrees celsius. Fire - encoded in our DNA and a defining part of who we are. Know its intricacies...
Food...
Next in line in a survival situation! What's on the menu, how do I get it?
Fire...
It is said that if it weren't for this one, there'd be none of us living anywhere the temperatures fall regularly below ten degrees celsius. Fire - encoded in our DNA and a defining part of who we are. Know its intricacies...
Hunting...
Wolverine - on the trail of a legend. photo: Jonathan Wright
Some say the hunt is what developed our brains beyond ape-hood and made us human. Whatever the case, you're not likely to survive long in the natural world outside of the tropics without some animal protein...
Tracking...
One of the most important re-wilding skills for you to develop. Learning to recognize, read and interpret "sign" is like gaining access to a wilderness encyclopedia. Essential to unlocking the secrets of your world, and ultimately, to your life itself...
Weapons...
No matter how fit you are, you are a weakling compared to most wild things. This is why we have used our key advantage - our brain - to develop weapons. Basic weapons skills have helped humans even the playing field for millenia, and still do today...
Survival kits...
A fundamental part of every mountainman's outfit was his "possibles bag." Today, we call this a "survival kit." While these are usually customized by the individual, certain standard items are considered "must haves..."
Orienteering...
Don't risk losing it all by getting lost!
Horsemanship...
photo copyright: Laura Fetherstonhaugh
This may not be one people think of in the modern woodsrunner's context, but anyone who's carried a heavy backpack over a long trail has probably found themselves thinking, at some point, "this is bullshit."
In fact, we are lousy beasts of burden, and we've only started treating ourselves as such since losing our access to, and comfort around, horses, asses and other pack animals. But the fact remains, every mountainman and woman should know their basic way around a horse. The horse delivered us intact to the threshold of where we stand today. Like fire, they are an integral part of who we are. Take a load off.
