Growing
up I was always outside. I loved to play, fish, camp, hike, you name it. I was
an avid boy scout (eagle scout) and had a keen interest in outdoor survival and
bush craft. I grew up mostly around southern Utah. It was an outdoor paradise.
The diverse landscape made outdoorsmanship easy and it was an integral part of
the culture. I spent hours learning how to make a fire with flint and steel, tie the perfect bowline, or hit a squirrel sized target with my wrist rocket from 50 yards away. I did everything from day hikes to 50 mile canoe trips where I spend the night in a lean-to shelter. My enthusiasm spread beyond the boy scouts. I was determined to learn everything there was about being a "mountain man." I build snares out of shoelaces and dead fall traps out of bricks and twigs, I learned how to flintknap, throw tomahawks, and brain tan buck hides. Those are my best memories.
Like so many people, somewhere along the way I stopped. It was a combination of family circumstances, moving across the country and wanting to fit in with the culture that caused me to lose both interest and proficiency in my outdoorsmanship. It was no longer cool to be a rugged outdoorsman like it was where I had previously lived. I conformed to the hippy culture of the great Northwest (Seattle, the epicenter of American hippieism). Inside I continued to long for the wilderness. I would participate in cushy camping trips and day hikes periodically, but stopped perusing high adventure activities. I became bored, depressed, directionless, even neurotic from neglecting my need for adventure in the wilderness.
Like so many people, somewhere along the way I stopped. It was a combination of family circumstances, moving across the country and wanting to fit in with the culture that caused me to lose both interest and proficiency in my outdoorsmanship. It was no longer cool to be a rugged outdoorsman like it was where I had previously lived. I conformed to the hippy culture of the great Northwest (Seattle, the epicenter of American hippieism). Inside I continued to long for the wilderness. I would participate in cushy camping trips and day hikes periodically, but stopped perusing high adventure activities. I became bored, depressed, directionless, even neurotic from neglecting my need for adventure in the wilderness.
Seattle, WA
Recently I have regained
this passion and have started practicing the things I love.
The suddenness of this revival is for several reasons. The first being I have stopped caring
The suddenness of this revival is for several reasons. The first being I have stopped caring
about
what the hippies think. I no longer care about the dagger stares I get when the
hipster next to
me overhears a conversation I’m having with a friend about hunting bear. I
have allowed myself to
become myself again.
become myself again.
Greenlake.
Seattle, WA
The second reason is I
have finally realized that the evergreen state can be just as much of an
outdoor paradise as Utah (greater in many ways). The gap in my outdoor
adventures has left me feeling like an empty shell. I hope to heal my heart by
doing what I love again.
Mt.
Pilchuck, WA
Thirdly and finally, outdoor
sports are becoming more and more popular again as people begin to realize how oppressive
city living can be. Still, only a short list of outdoor sports that are
socially acceptable in the hippy capital of the northwest. Hunting and shooting
sports are not on that list. However, I'll take what I can get. The increased interest in outdoor sports has provided a great opportunity for affordable used gear which makes reentering the world of outdoor adventure a bit easier.
Used REI backpack I purchased for 15 dollars at goodwill
After hiking in jeans and sneakers, I decided that I
really needed to get on the ball. with gear. The gap in outdoor activities has
left me with virtually no gear or outdoor clothing. I’m a student so I’m also Poor AF. This blog
will really just be about getting back into adventuring and the cheapskate ways
I’m trying to get it done. I don’t have tons of money for equipment, but I don’t
want to buy cheap and repeat every year so I'm looking to strike a balance. You as the reader get to learn through
my experiences about what is affordable and functional versus what is CHEAP without having to spend your own cash and in a fraction of the time it would take for you to experience it yourself. You will learn this through before and after
reviews on gear, clothing, and more. Additionally, I’ll be writing 'how to' blogs
on restoring, repairing, maintaining, and creating gear. I don’t claim to be an
expert. I want you all to leave input and respectfully discuss the topics
presented in this blog. The goal is that we can all learn from each other here.
I’m not gonna’ sit here and preach. I’m just an average outdoorsman.
Fort Casey. Whidbey Island, WA
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