Challenge to Define

I  joined a survivalist forum and put the term Minimalist under my Avatar, which is a cropped headshot from this PCT photo taken at Lake Moreno, at the anual zero day kick off party.

A friend asked me, What is your definition of minimalism, and when did I get interested in Survivalism. The answers aren't that easy to put into words. So, after some thought and of course,  some condensing or minimizing of the ideas, here's what I came up with. Thanks for asking me, Bruce.


Definition of a minimalist to me means having the things I need without excess. For instance, I have maybe seven pair of pants, two of which are for work...do I need all of that? Probably not. How many shirts are hanging in your closet that you never wear? How much fluff -decorations line your book shelves? Its hard to come up with a specific definition. Of course it would be different for a family. For me, everything has to fit in my geo metro.

I became a minimalist while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I found the less I had, the better my experience. Many things can serve more than one purpose. Some people are accumulators and feel their self worth is measured in Stuff. Mine is measured in experiences. Marketers try to sell us so many kinds of soap, for instance, one for every task under the sun. A minimalist finds the best all purpose soaps and keeps the clutter down to a minimum.

As survivalists, the less we need for our basic comforts the more satisfied we will feel. People go into panic mode when they feel their needs are not being met or that scarcity of essential things is right around the corner. Minimalists perceive that same scarcity differently. Not everything is essential, most things are luxuries, so the level of perceived scarcity is much less threatening. Panic leads to bad decisions, and eventually disaster. A minimalist requires little, is mobile and can adapt readily.

That's basically my philosophy, in a nutshell. I've wrote about it as an ultralight backpacker at trailquest.net.

I can't say when my Wilderness Survival Interest and fascination merged with an End Of the Power grid or End of the world survivalism thought process. Surely watching and reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy several times made a huge impact, also the craziness surrounding the possible bird flu pandemic and the fact we could be quarantined in our homes for weeks.

I've always been fascinated by survival stories, and wrote a whole thing on it, called Wondering, which can be read by following a link found on my webpage at www.trailquest.net/BRindex.html

We humans have a host of book knowledge. Few have any true survival -homesteading skills. We are loosing this. I bought a book maybe 20 years ago, called Brain Tanning the Sioux Way, and it said that skill is being lost, few if any native Americans know how to tan a hide using the brains of an animal.

This made me realize, its the same for other skills and if they aren't passed on, we as a people, our whole sustainability will suffer.

So, no real answer here, Bruce, but my next step is to learn to hunt with various weapons, and actually utilize as much of the kill as possible.

NOW!

If I actually had a place to store stuff, and stopped living the life of a transient, I'd have lots of tools and materials for surviving a national or world wide crisis. I have a lot of respect for those who have left the gerbil wheel and are prepared for grid collapse. Survivalists call mulitple systems redundancies, which are back up "plans" or tools for primary system failures. That is very smart. If a person has the room and ability to do that, excellent.

Which brings up a key point of minimalism. Being able to re-purpose, re-cycle, restore the stuff we already have is an important skill for minimalists. Instead of throwing things out and buying something new, we reshape them into the things we need.

Low Wifi Accessibility and Information Control

I'm visiting family now and its great to have unlimited Internet connectivity. Our lives are nearly dependent on having information access, whether it be by phone, Internet, newspapers or television. We pay bills, receive valuable information on health, family and financial issues. We stay in touch.

Up at Man Camp our living quarters had great Internet most of the winter. Twice it went down for extended periods. When I headed out to take three days off location, our dorm Internet was still down. The Main office had it, as did the caretakers house and the Lake Hotel Employee Dining Room. Apparently they have a separate land line than does the Living Quarters. Bummer.
So, we all have to make some noise....ask, ask, ask. I tell the guys to let them know we need it. They tell me all the stuff they are missing back home, the information, the photo opts.

 

 

 

The sweet Geo, in sunnier locations.

 

 

 

Some say, well, you're up at Lake, what do you expect? It would be one thing if we never had it, never were told we would have it, never built our lives around having it. Our entertainment comes through wifi. How do you think we watch NetFlix?

 

Its a case in study if the grid went down. People Need Wifi....well, maybe not NEED, but sure as hell want. People Change when they don't get what they think they need. They might get crabby and unmotivated. 

The River Survival Series was written with this concept in mind, that when people loose the ability to share information, using the Power Grid to supply daily comforts, they change and take extraordinary measures to cope.

 

Spring fever is here.

Yesterday I spent half an hour wandering around Walmart. I hadn't been in a walmart for 6 months.  I bought some socks, a movie, some diet Rootbeer. Guess I'm still a minimalist.

Man Camp Lake Yellowstone Update

 

The end of Man Camp for the winter is right around the corner. The end loader above is clearing the scrap lumber and metal from the parking lot. With the roads now open, transporting the construction debris is so much easier. The guys are making alot of progress and this renovation is on schedule.

 

I've been writing about this experience all winter. In November, I actually was inspired to write a short novel about the resident poltergeist who I named John Deerfield. His antics and attempt to out the murderous Madison Shelby who cooked for the man camp can in be read on your computer or kindle and is available at amazon.com.  Primal Cut has a crazy twist at the end. Will there be a sequel. Who knows....I'd call it Fatal Loves! 

Footprints in the mud show the current status of Lake Yellowstone: lots of workers going back and forth from man camp to finish up details. Lots of painting going on. The floor guys did a gorgeous job in the Dining Room and Sun Room. The gift shop is in nearly done, the interior steps are next.

I've really had a marvelous time here at Man Camp. Who knows what next winter may bring?

See my other blog,  http://brawnyview.blogspot.com for a summary of my skiing and other outdoor adventures while on Location.

A Real Mountain Man Survivalist

If you'd like to read about building a mountain retreat by hand and enjoy a photo essay of the work in progress, check out this link: Survivalist in Action


So often, people post theories and ideas, defending them to the last, yet they have very little experience. Mountain man Mike shares his experiences, his motivation and inspiration with his readers at http://Survivalistboards.com . He has taken the time to write at length in various threads the pros and cons of bunkers and guns, city vs. wilderness life  and demonstrate his underground bunker.

The checklist posted in the first link for a Defensible Survival Retreat is important. At least half of the preparation for a retreat involves the location and proper mindset necessary to making it a sustainable community.

Lots of Earthquakes Here In Yellowstone

Yellowstone Earthquakes


Check out the above link to find out about the recent earth quakes in Yellowstone. Considering we're living on top a volcano, its very interesting to have 3.1 movements. I drove my car out to Hayden Valley. We saw the mud volcanoes. The heat coming off the pots is pretty interesting,

how it actually heats away at the road grates.

Most folks just write it off. If we're here, we're here.

Went for a ski today, roads are getting cleared, every one's glad to have their cars, me included.

Finally the Geo is back on the road! 

A Beautiful Day in Paradise (Man Camp Update)

 

There's nothing so sweet after being snowed in for five months at Lake than seeing this baby coming down the road.

 

Now, technically speaking, people, men actually, have been coming and going as the crews get a chance to go home and recouperate after working seven days straight. Somehow, though, I've only been out 3 times (spending a total of 4 nights) off location. Part of the problem was the space was very limited and our drivers had guys that had to go home to families.

 

 

The snow removal process takes several rigs. As you can see, one guy blows a ton of snow into the back "40". Hopefully it will stay there and melt.

 

 

Then you got some serious trucks and heavily chained duded coming by with pusher overs...not sure the legal term of these rigs, but they move some serious stuff, creating mounds of snow balls and heavily crusted enbankments.

 

These guys churn up alot of snow pack with rotary blades grinding out massive white stuff. Love them. The road I skied the day before is now nearly cleared of snow. The sun does quick work melting this stuff. The air is pretty dry. I walked the road way today. Awesome job, guys, thanks.

Finally There's Pavement

Yesterday I hiked and skied awhile. The first sign of spring is here, at last. Pavement!

 

Not to get too excited....the Geo is still housed safely in number two storage container, at the man camp staging area. Its actually got a long set of shelves blocking me from backing it, providing I hook the battery cable correctly and it turns over.

 

Not to worry, I've been told. We'll help you!

 

Today I went skiing down the road, nearly to LaHardy Rapids. Its getting slushy, so early morning or evening skis are the only way it's pleasurable anymore. Getting really sticky out there.

 

After I got past the fishing bridge intersection, I climbed a slight rise, came to the Hayden Valley opening. I glanced down. A coyote was traveling the road too. I watched the river, ducks and a few birds were also enjoying the warm weather.

I glanced down, what's this? Tracks...at first I thought it was a wolf's, cause just the front toes showed in the wet snow. Closer inspection and a tenth of a mile later and I knew I was following a griz. I bent down, measured with my hand. Nearly two lengths of my hand, the claws clearly visible.

 

I scanned a 360 view. Nothing in sight. My bear spray was in my pocket. I continued. Another quarter mile, on and off, the prints followed the road. Suddenly things changed. Little prints, little tiny cub prints now wove in and out of the larger ones. I realized the cub's prints hadn't shown up in the rough plowed sections, or the hard back along the center. Once this baby joined its mother in the slushy stuff, the prints were clear as day.

 

I paused. Scanned again. Nothing. I kept going, The Rapids were up there just a bit. A strange smell caught my attention., I paused again, inhaled deeply. Blood. A fresh carcass.

Whoa, this was getting more serious. I watched the tracks increase along the river bank, heading north. I decided, prudently remembering my own mortality, that today I had skied far enough.

 

I turned around, headed back to Lake Yellowstone. Five to six miles all told.

April's Fool and Tofu Bean Sprouts

April first comes once a year. Here at Man Camp in Yellowstone National Park, we in the Kitchen just had to  do something.

 

While preparing lunch, I told the chef my idea. He smiled and said, yeah!

When Barb came in at 11, I told her my idea. She was on board. I told her to write up the menu, make it believable.

 

Of course, we knew better than to serve tofu. The wraps were lettuce, tomato, chicken salad with chopped crisp bacon. The soup was turkey vegetable. We made real homemade cookies as always, and, as always had to limit all 55 guys to two each. Before the cookie limit was enacted months ago, the guys would scarf down 5, cleaning everything in site before the last guys could get a taste.

 

 

Barb and I promised each other we had to keep a straight face. Little did we expect the hilarious challenge facing us.
The first guy in line is known for his great love of bacon and all things RED meat. He read the board and daggers of murderous fire shot from both eye balls. Barb actually took a step back from the line. We winked, whispered it was a joke, and he softened a tad, took his and disappeared to his room.
The next guys in line read the menu skeptically, asking among other things, "What is Tofu? What is Kale?" We calmly explained both items, and told them to try them. Reluctantly, they did, walking away.
An older gentleman read the board and stomped off angrily. I can't say he was swearing, but I he grabbed the door, I called his name and signaled to come over. We whispered the joke, he grinned, said he wouldn't give us away, and took one.

Barb and I were doing good. Straight faces, telling the guys they had to open up their worlds and try some tofu. One guy came through, scowled and said, "Yeah, you know why guys don't eat tofu? It messes with their manhood. They start growing boobs and shit."
"Whatever," I replied, "I'm not buying that excuse."
The guy laughed and said, "well, sounded good to me."

A painter stood looking over the serving line, speechless. I thought he might shoot us if he had a gun. I said, "Bill, try a wrap."
"I don't believe this crap," he replied.
"Try it, all the other guys are eating theirs," I suggested amicably.
He took one, sat down, called over as I came out to refill the cranberry juice picture, "Carol, this tastes like chicken."
"Alot of stuff tastes like Chicken," I replied.
"Well even the texture is like chicken," he said.
"Thanks, Bill, I appreciate it."

A plumber was talking on his phone as he read the board unbelieving. He cocked his head, read the same four lines over and over. Finally he took the cell phone from his ear and growled, "I'll have  a wrap."
Later, as I walked around the tables, some guys still seemed to think they were being fed tofu. One electrician said, "I don't think I got a single tofu in my wrap."
"No?" I asked, surprised, "What do you think you ate?"
"I thought it was chicken," he said suspiciously." I smiled.


Later, a guy came in for supper, confided, "When I read the board, I quietly left the dining hall, went to my room and punched out my pillow. Then, I calmly returned and ate a bowl of cereal. Once I found out the guys were eating Chicken wraps, I had one. They were great."

So, our April Fool's joke was a huge success. We enjoyed every one's honest reaction. I'm still not sure everyone had figured it out yet. We never even tried to serve tofu.