This web site is dedicated to my nephew who asked me to help him learn more about living outside comfortably. Young men do and old men remember, so I write.
When we were boys we couldn’t wait to go camping. I was lucky, starting in 5th grade we were allowed to go camping not chaperoned one weekend a month all year around. We taught each other survival and learned from trial and error. We learned about being hungry, dehydrated, frostbite, bugs, and plants first hand. This helped us to become comfortable in the wilderness. These experiences allowed me as an adult to be comfortable camping alone. By comfortable I’m not saying you won’t have adversity but you will be able to take care of yourself.
Building a knowledge base alone won’t make you comfortable physically or mentally in the wilderness. You need to spend enough time in the wilderness to make it your home. I would spend weeks or months living outside year around. Also while living in civilization I wouldn't use heaters or coolers allowing my body to learn how to keep me comfortable. Being alone in the wilderness allows you to discover how indifferent nature is and learn how to judge the risks without the distraction or reliance of another person. You are less apt to put yourself at risk knowing there is no one to help you. Also you will go better prepared in you knowledge base and leave the 50 pound back pack at home that you like to carry on man made trails. With knowledge and experience you don’t want or need a lot of gear.
I'm old and cold and not so bold. So just recently I started carrying a cell phone and a backpack with all the goodies but managed to keep it under 20 pound plus food. Before I became old I just used a plastic tarp, lighter, knife, and any other goodies had to fit in my pockets or on my belt. You can’t effectively move through the wilderness carrying a home on you back.
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