as taught to me by Jim Lowery and Mary Brooks of EARTH SKILLS, and to a lesser extent, by others.
Although I
cover most of the basics you will need for a safe and rewarding outdoor
experience, I offer far more extensive treatment of each subject in my The
Complete Hiking, Backpacking & Wilderness Survival Manual, which may be
purchased at the at the
end of this page.
Let me begin by telling you about the wonderful and informative curriculum offered by EARTH SKILLS's Jim Lowery & Mary Brooks. I learned more about creating the primitive tools necessary to survival, when modern gear is unavailable, in their 34 hour, hands on course, than I could have imagined. I highly recommend their school to anyone interested in learning how native Americans worked harmoniously with what the Creator gave them to survive the harsh realities of the wilds. Their web page can be viewed at www.anamorph.com/earthskills.html, or reach Jim Lowery by Email at earthskills@anamorph.com, or by phone at (661) 245-0318. Jim and Mary reside north of Los Angeles; their school is held in the mountains near Frazier Park, in the Los Padres National Forest, and elsewhere, too. They are fabulous teachers.
Basic and Advanced Tracking? Plant Uses and Traditional Skills? Wilderness Skills? Nature Awareness? Arrow making? Earth Philosophy? Solo Spiritual Quests?
In July of 2000, I took the Plant Uses and the three day Wilderness Skills courses. I learned to make rope (cordage); I learned to make a bow drill and a hand drill for fire starting; I learned how to fashion a survival basket from plants; I learned to use fire to fashion utensils and tools; I worked with a team in creating the debris shelter I'd formerly only talked about, then spent a night snuggled comfortably inside the shelter; I added the knowledge of how to make a figure four snare to the other snares I'd made previously; and finally, I learned how to use flint knapping to create an arrowhead or other tools. I was fascinated by my newly-learned ability to survive without the gear I have customarily depended upon. Yes, I've studied some of these native, primitive skills in the past, but this was my chance to actually put my hands to work. I totally enjoyed my experience. My classmates, Alicia, Laura, Hal "Dances with Hammocks," Shanna, Pat, Alan, Larry and Joanne, made the time fun, crazy, maddening and unique. Thanks guys!
"Our Team," L to R - Alicia, Laura, Me and Hal
SHELTER BUILDING: The first priority in most survival situations, shelter building, involves imagination, hard, hard work, and adequate time. To survive harsh environments, one must begin early in the day if they're to finish before darkness, especially during winter months when days are short. The first thing is to locate an area containing materials in sufficient quantities to do the job. Next, decide on a good spot, relatively free from wind, ground water, hazards from rock slide or falling dead wood, etc. Then collect materials and get going. What I learned most of all, is to make the shelter as warm and water proof as reasonably possible, and then to do better.
Our Debris Hut - doesn't it make you want to crawl in for the night?
Whether you opt for a Debris Shelter, a Pit Shelter, a Lean-to, a Wickiup or a Stone Hut, the keys are adequate materials for the wind break and adequate materials for your "sleeping bag." Fire can lessen the need for a "sleeping bag." Snow shelters, such as a Quinze, a snow cave and an igloo are also important to understand. Adequate ventilation is critical. The key to any shelter is to get out of the wind (or the burning sun), then to concentrate on warmth and containing your body heat (insulation).
FIRE MAKING: When butane lighters, water poof matches, flint & steel kits, and magnifying glasses are unavailable, it's time to do what the native American did: go to the hand drill or bow drill. One of the most important steps is the proper selection of the wood to be used - look for medium woods, such as Alder, Big Leaf Maple, Box Elder, California Bay, Cottonwood, Elderberry, Willow, or Mule Fat. Downward force on the "handhold" is critical, as are smooth bow strokes. Take great care not to break apart the resulting hot coal when moving it to your tinder bundle. Use you knife blade to carefully transfer the coal. Technique is critical, as is determination and endurance.
CORDAGE MAKING: Wow! From a Yucca plant leaf to a strong piece of rope (cordage)! Amazing. Other great plant sources include Agave, Cattail, Dogbane, Milkweed, Palm Leaf, Singing Nettle and Tule. One may also use animal sinew, hair and rawhide. Cordage is important for bow making, shelter lashing, snares, tools and weapons making, net making, etc.
BASKET MAKING: OK. So this wasn't my favorite part, nor my best result. Survival baskets can be used for fishing streams, carrying food and supplies, eating and drinking, etc. roots, thin branches, vines, cattails, Tule, reeds, grasses and strips of bark may be used.
TOOLS MAKING (CARVING & FLINT KNAPPING): Whether you carve a wooden spoon, then use a burning coal to burn out the "cup" part, or use a stone to chip away at Obsidian until you have an arrowhead, you will receive deep satisfaction at your new-found creative abilities. This was one of my favorite classes.
SNARES: Hungry? Rabbit runs surround you? Then make a snare using three sticks and a heavy stone, and settle down to a tasty stew. Snares and traps vary from complex to rather simple. The keys to a snare are bait or lure, a triggering device and a lethal result or entrapment. Some traps are sprung by the hunter in hiding rather than by the prey. Where you place a trap or snare is as important as the working trap or snare itself. A good hunter/trapper studies the area for signs of prey (spoors, scat, tracks or runs), then locates the ideal spot for the snare or trap. Avoid an area around prey's living quarters, where the prey will be very alert to your presence and activity. If you must kill to eat, be thankful for the gift provided you, and respectful of the life you've taken.
Top left, going clockwise - the 3 parts of the bow drill for fire making (fireboard, handhold & spindle) (bow is not shown); Yucca Plant cordage atop my hat; wooden spoon with fire cut bowl; figure 4 snare, used with large rock; my version of basket making - I decided on a trivet or coaster.
CLEANING A FISH: Follow these
basic steps for cleaning, dressing and
steaking fish.
1. Wash fish. Use clean, drinking-quality water.
2. Scale or skin as required. Remove scales by
scraping with dull edge of a knife from the tail to the
head. If you skin the fish, it is not necessary to scale
it. To skin, split the skin down the back, and loosen
around the fins. Use pliers to remove the skin, pulling
from head to tail.
3. Cut entire length of belly from vent to head.
Remove viscera and gills if the head is not to be
removed.
4. To remove the head (if desired) cut to the backbone
above the collarbone. Break the backbone over edge of a
table or cutting board, then cut any tissue holding the head
to the body.
5. Remove dorsal (large back) fin by cutting along each
side and pulling the fin and attached bones out. Never trim
off fins because the bones at the base of the fins will be
left in the fish.
6. Wash fish thoroughly in cold running water.
7. Large fish may be steaked. To steak, cut fish
crosswise into portions about 1 inch thick.
Fish may be filleted without first removing
the
viscera. With a sharp knife, cut down the back of the fish
from the tail to the head. Then cut down to the backbone.
Angle the knife to cut away the flesh from the backbone,
allowing the knife to run over the rib bones. Lift off the
side piece, freeing the fillet at the tail. Turn the fish
over, and cut the fillet from the other side. If you wish
to skin the fillet, lay it skin-side down on a cutting
board. Hold the tail end with your fingers, and cut through
the flesh away from it by running the knife forward while
holding the free end of the skin firmly between your
fingers.
If you find the above skills intriguing, and wish to learn far more, go to our link to HikingwithMike's Wilderness Survival & Backpacking School. You may also wish to purchase my book, as detailed below.
To
obtain HikingwithMike's book, The Complete Hiking, Backpacking &
Wilderness Survival Manual, just send a check or money order, payable to
HikingwithMike.com, for $14.95 to HikingwithMike, PO Box 68, Hurricane, UT
84737. Allow
two to three weeks for delivery. Outside the USA, please add $3.00 to
your order.
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