Guest Post by Sourdough

Sourdough lives in Alaska. He's a real survivalist and knows his way around the bush. My opportunity to meet him came in August 2013. We've stayed in touch. If you wish to see my interview with him, check out  my My Youtube channel.

HUNTERS and/or ENVIRONMENTALIST"

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Sadly, neither group has true intimacy with the wilderness. Both are basically fearful of being alone in the raw wilderness for long periods. Environmentalist-type people today are more interested in being accepted into a social group, donating money, and spouting feel'good mantras than living alone in and exploring the ecosystems.

Hunters today have zero interest in an extended intimate relationship with the awesome majesty of raw wilderness. They want to spend as little time in the wilderness as is necessary so as to kill a majestic animal, for whom they have little if any respect, little if any honor, and are primarily satisfied, no more than satisfied......they are gleeful that their friends will see them as more of a real MAN.

It seems that everyone "Wants" from the wilderness.........Sad that so very, very few are willing to just be naked & alone with the wilderness. Sadly for many, the wilderness is just a terrifying place that they are compelled to enter so as the complete their punch-card.

You hear the "So-called" Hunter say', "I Got my Black Bear, I Got my caribou, I "NEED" to get my moose and a Grizzly......then my punch-card will be complete and I will not have to be cold, wet, miserable and afraid in the wilderness again, I sure hope those are enough animals harvested, so that other men will see me as a "Real-Man' ".

You hear the environmentalist say', "I've done the Resurrection Creek trail, the Crescent Creek trail, the Bird Creek trail.......only seven more trails and I will be one'hell-ava environmentalist.....I'll still give $40.00 a month to save the tundra foundation".

Mostly this whole thing is insecure people, searching for the badges to fill their sash. I could respect either group and/or both groups if they truly LOVED, Honored, and were willing to be "at one with the wilderness". Not as a visitor, but as a comfortable part, and intimate part of the Majestic Awesome Wilderness. God is there, if people would spend the time not in a quest, but simply BEING at one in the wilderness.

Sad, So Very Sad...............

-D. V.

Guest Post from Real Survivalist

 

I met Sourdough for a day of hiking near Hope, Alaska. We stay in touch, even though I've returned to Big Sky Country here in Montana.  Recently he sent me a great email. I enjoyed his message so much, I asked if I could share it with you.  A true survivalist, Sourdough is a skilled hunter,  builder and  famous back country guide who has taken a lot of large game. He knows wild plants and lives off the land. Thanks, Sourdough for your permission to share this information.

 

 

 

.......You DON'T need hunting gear to hunt. You DON'T need to travel to special places to hunt. REALLY all you have to do is HUNT. You DON'T need a firearm or any type of weapon. It is helpful if you can walk or crawl.

Many people confuse "KILLING STUFF" with Hunting.........That is just KILLING Stuff. KILLING Stuff is NOT hunting, really it is just killing stuff.

What is lost today is the pure BLISS of just walking out the door and studying what the other animals did last night, or three days ago. Hunting is learning to be 100% non-fearful or the least bit uncomfortable being alone in the wilderness. A six year old child can kill stuff with a scoped firearm & short LOP.

The true joy of hunting is studying the natural systems and how they are connected to each other. It is snowshoeing along a Hare track, and reading where the Owl harvested supper. Hunting is learning to track what you don't know you are tracking, all you know is that the leaves you are following at first light are turned "WRONG" side up.

Hunting is NOT having to kill an animal just because you can kill it. Hunting is withholding that desire to kill, in exchange for the reward of watching how the animal moves, what catches it's attention, how long can it freeze in mid-step, how does it blend it's natural color with it's environment.
And ten-thousand other things that cost the hunter nothing, other than the comfort of being safe and warm inside a residence. Hunting is free, one only needs the passion to learn about his natural environment.

Sadly most men are obsessed with trophies on the wall or trophies in their 401K, IRA, Bond Portfolio, etc.

To a hunter it is not the trophy, it is the pure bliss of being alone in the wilderness, without fear, but with an insatiable desire to understand the wilderness, it's majesty, it's absolute perfection, and his part with-in that perfection.

And if you can ever get there, there is a point in one's wilderness travels, where he is overwhelmed with the realization that he is surrounded by GOD. And you will weep in the majesty of the experience............(And it is ALL Free)

 

My friend, Sourdough, Guest Contributor for the  Female Survivalist.

Be Yourself

While surfing, I found this blog and one of the first things he says is Be Yourself, don't try to be me.


http://ghostskamo.blogspot.com/


I like that because in the end each person has different needs, although they do boil down to the four basics he describes as food, water, shelter and rest.

Many times we don't think of rest as a need, but without it, we loose strength, health and the ability to reason.

One of his posts deal with the 12 Cs of survival. Ghost also has many videos on youtube, a great resource, especially in the winter when getting out is much more difficult due to roads and work.

Of course, practice your skills, don't just read and watch. The mark of a true survivalist is patience and adaptability. The more you know and are exposed to intellectually, the greater your field of reference becomes, should you ever get in one of those tough spots.