Wilderness Living

[Lytic]

I can second all the posts voicing the idea of going sooner then later. I'm single without a wife or kid to worry about but I can't afford to leave work. Student loans, car payments, insurance, phone bills, etc., keep me from having any length of time to pursue my dreams like this. Life happens in a hurry and next thing ya know you're just a slave to the bankers and the government.

[Bakes168]

Stumpthumper, thank you. Your words mean more than you know.

Lytic, I dont want to be a slave! If I were in your boat I'd drop off the grid, live in the woods, become a mountain man!    Or maybe just take up a different line of work.
Thanks for the advice.
Bakes

[Doug Treat]

I work for an ambulance service and see a lot of hikers that get caught unprepared and if not rescued would probably die, even when they are able-bodied and have good weather.  Last October I decided to test myself to see how I would do if something happened to me while hunting in the mountains by myself.  The most practical scenario I could come up with is to break my ankle.  I had my wife set an alarm without telling me what time it would go off, then I went hunting with nothing but what I would normally carry for a day hunt.  When the alarm went off, I had to build a shelter within a hundred yards of where I "broke my ankle" and survive overnight.  That night was extreemly windy and cold, but I stayed relatively warm and I ate some native plants that I found out were edible.  I think doing test runs like this are very valuable for if the real thing happens.  Even with different circumstances, it helps to recall other survival situations to give you confidence.  I would like to try a winter snow cave survival trip next.  The work-up-to-longer-and-harder-trips is good advice.

[Matty]

I think we all here have a bit of the wild adventurer in us.  I have cretainly been taking my baby steps, I grew up in New York City.  And my dad would always watch TV show about "The West" for which he always had an affinity for.  Being Just Like you Bakes When I was old enough to know enough I moved Here to colorado, and started doing all the things you want to do A little bit at a time.  TOM BROWN was definately an inspiration to me I have read all his Books and Seen many of the TV shows and documentaries.  I highly recommend Getting them, and PRACTICING everything you plan to do.  Doug Treat had a great  example as well.  remember this little quote too..
"If you don't plan to succeed plan to fail."

[Seeking Trad Deer]

I could see Ken Mowry doing an extended wilderness adventure.

For the  young out there do it before life gets in the way...

[ALW]

Bakes168,

    Not telling you what to do with your life at all.  That has to be your decision.  I even played with the idea of becoming a guide when I first started college.  Hated school.  But I finished school, got a job, got a family, got a mortgage, etc.........  Now there isn't time or money for the adventures you refer to.  But I have a good job, a great wife, and three wonderful children that I get to watch grow up and share that time with.  That may not be for you.  You have to go with your heart.  Good luck with whatever you choose and be safe in any of your adventures.

Aaron

[John Scifres]

I guess there is one other thing I'd like to say.  If you think wilderness living will test your ability to survive, it's nothing compared to "real life".  Getting up every morning with the responsibility for 4 other people's livelihood...and not just for a week or a month but for at least the next 20 years...now that's a test.  More than half the men in this country fail it too.

Plus, just because you enter into the college- work-family phase of your life, it doesn't mean you are on a track.  I have more meaningful and fun adventures now than I ever did when I was a kid.

Life is a journey.  Enjoy all your steps.

All that being said, explore the world now.

[trapperzeke]

Well said John!

And BTW Bakes, schooling and outdoor adventure don't have to be independent from each other.  I was much like you upon graduating high school, and really didn't know where I was going next, I just wanted to be outside.  Good fortune and guardian angels got me to the Adirondacks and VERY small college, with an even smaller program in Wilderness Recreation Leadership.  Camping for Credit!  Not only did that hone my skills and build my confidence, but the connections made there led directly to many more wilderness excursions.

These days there are many more outdoor-based college opportunities if you look for them.  If you want more info on my old program, I'd be happy to share what I can, though it's been years since I've been in touch with the school.  Good luck with whatever you pursue!

[Selfyewdave]

When I graduated college in 96', a buddy of mine and I decided we would head out west (from Louisiana) for a week and see what happened.  A friend of mine was inn the Natl. Guard and gave me a case of MREs.  
We got in the car and drove.  We were gone a week.  we camped out everynight in either a state park or off the beaten path somewhere.  We hiked the Grand Canyon, and I mean we hiked.  We drove all over New Mexico and Arizona.  We went to Lee's Ferry, hiked a wash to the Colorado River, camped and fly fished for 3 days, eating the MREs and whatever we caught.  
We took one shower that whole trip and spent only 100 bucks per person, due to gas.
The BEST BEST BEST trip of my life.  I will always remember it for the rest of my life.  Now that I am a little older, make more money, have a child, etc...it won't happen again for a while.  I did go on a hiking trip through the mountains of China 3 years ago, but it was about 4000 more than that trip with my friend, and not nearly as fun.

Long story longer.....do it while you can.  It doens't have to be living off of bugs and coyote scat for months, do it for a week or two...but in the long run, you will be glad you did and will always have great stories to tell.

[northener]

If you don't go for your dreams now, while you can, you will regret it for the rest of your life.
That being said, John Scifes said a mouth full there!!!! I have worked my butt off for the last 34 years to support my family, would,nt trade it for nothing. Now at 52 I can start taking some time to do the things that I enjoy.

 I found, family does not mean as much to you when you are young and full of piss and vinegar but when you get older, it's means the world to you!!

[heartshoth]

bakes168

i have gone elk hunting in new mexico for 10-14 days in a row and loved it...met an actual mountain man / clan and he helped us pack out one of our elk...long story...i'm in muskegon if you ever want details...even got a video of an elk that i hit with a video camera...i'm 40 now and think of those times every day...all i can say is you're on the right trail letting GOD help you...good luck with your decision...

steve

[BobT]

I lived in a 12' x 14' log cabin in the woods for about a year back in '79 or '80. I subsisted on fish and game plus what I grew in the garden or gathered in the woods. My water was a spring that was under the cabin floor. I was working full time  though so I don't guess this counts as a true living off the land existence since I could stop in for a cheeseburger any time I was in town, I simply chose not to. It was fun but a lot of work when I wasn't working at my job.

Bob

[Drew]

A friend and I have done a 1-2 week trapping trip to the UP every winter for the past 4 years. We pack only as many traps as we can carry, a little food (mostly jerky, rice and some chocolate) usually take a 22 since he's not a trad bow guy and I carry my bow.

We stay in a old dirt floor hunting shack in the middle of a few hundred acres surrounded by state/fed land.

I've always lost 10-20lbs but had a blast, only had one scary incident where he fell through the ice in a beaver pond and took me with him as I was trying to get him out...a few goose bump/heart pumper incidents with wolves a year ago.

I look forward to it every year! Best of luck, packa journal so you can write your thoughts and what you see...I leave the camera at home because those memories are special to just me and my bro.