1. Who are some of the people in the outdoor community, either past or present who you either consider mentors, or from whom you have gained knowledge about the outdoors, or inspiration to get out there?
Certainly the most influential person in my interest in the outdoors has been my father. He was an Eagle Scout and I grew up hearing about their trips to New Mexico and about all of his memorable canoe trips. He taught me to fish and camp, and was pretty much my sole input for those skills as a boy. He participated in a never-ending string of knife throwing, archery, and blowgun competitions during my entire childhood. His influence in that area was not all supportive, however. All during my growing up years, I staunchly insisted to him that school and college would be wasted on me, because I planned to live in the woods and lead a modern version of the mountain man fantasy. At first, it was a joke, but I think he became more and more concerned that I was serious, and I still remember a very serious talk we had (I was embarrassingly old actually) where he informed me that I needed to grow up and realize that wasn't going to work.
There were also uncles and grandfathers in Texas and Colorado that I looked up to as rugged outdoorsman who could ride and fish and hunt and would occasionally let me come along for some of it.
I should also include a book by Louis L'Amour called Last of the Breed. I read this as a boy, and to this day, it's one of my favorite books. I mean, it's about an American Indian fighter pilot who is captured by Russians, escapes, and then leads the Russians on an epic chase through the wilderness across the entire continent. What's not to love?
Currently, Les Stroud is someone to whom I pay close attention. His demeanor and his logical methodology in wilderness living is something I am learning from. Also, the writing of Chris Noble, Mark Warren, and Jon Young.
2. What is the typical duration of one of your trips, and how much distance do you tend to cover on such trips?
Most of my trips are actually day trips these days. There are about half a dozen good spots within an hour of my house, and some are even convenient enough to visit at the end of the workday. A day trip for me usually consists of <5 miles.
I only manage to get in about two backpacking trips per year, and typically just 1 - 2 nights. A normal overnight is usually in the 12 mile range.
3. What is your favorite instructional book about the outdoors?
Of course, my first books on the topic were FM 21-76 and Bradford Angiers How to Stay Alive in the Woods, but my favorite is probably Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature
by Jon Young, Evan McGown, and Ellen Haas. It isn't so much an instructional work, I suppose, as it is a textbook in observing, helping, and teaching others to enjoy the outdoors. 4. What is your vision of the woodsman, or the outdoorsman, at least as related to you and what you hope to achieve?
I don't have an achievement in mind. I used to actually have a list of skills I wanted to learn - sort of a mental checklist that equated to being "there" in my estimation. I don't have that anymore. Now, I go to the woods to enjoy myself, and if while I am out, if I find myself wishing I knew how to do something, I go home and try to learn it. Function should lead form. I know for some folks that the building of their library of outdoor skills is the best part, but for me, just being out in the woods, enjoying what there is to see, and knowing enough to competently enjoy being there, is enough.
5. Do you hunt, and if so, how do you incorporate that into your trips? If not, is there a specific reason?
Ha! If walking around in the woods with a gun counts as hunting, then yes, I do! But if it means actually killing an animal with said gun, then no, I haven't. I have bought a hunting license for the past two years, and because of my schedule, have been able to spend about 4 hours total out trying. Next year, I think I'll save my money.
6. How much was your pack base weight on your last overnight trip?
I don't know the answer to this one. I don't ever weight my packs, but I go as light as I possibly can. If I had to guess, maybe 30 lbs?
7. Have you been offered the opportunity to film any TV shows related to your outdoor pursuits? If yes, have you thought of accepting them? If no, would you be interested in such an offer?
Yes. I have received casting offers through this blog, but I've never given serious thought to accepting, and I don't believe I ever would.
8. What is your preferred shelter system for winter trips?
I have tent camped once in the past 10 years, I believe. Besides that, it is always a tarp. I have the benefit here in Georgia of mild winters, so the conditions are such that a tarp is nearly always adequate. I go through a couple of the blue Walmart tarps per year, so I have been considering upgrading to nylon for something more compact and durable.
9. Are you a member of any outdoor organizations whether they be hunting, backpacking, etc?
Only the Atlanta Area Paddlers
10. Have you ever found yourself in a survival or emergency situation while in the woods, and if so, how did you cope?
The closest I've been to actual emergency was helping a friend fight off oncoming hypothermia during a hike in freezing rain in the Ouachita Mountains. It was during an endurance challenge and it was a surreal experience. According to him, he felt normal, just "a little cold and tired" but he was stumbling all over the trail and it would take him half a minute to process and answer even a simple question. The impaired state of his thinking was the thing that has stayed with me. We took a break, got him in dry clothes and into a sleeping bag, but it was an half hour at least before he started seeming normal.
11. Why do you blog?
Honestly, I blog for three reasons. First, I like keeping my trips organized. I used to just have folders and image files are just collected and never looked at. Now, I can cruise back through my archives and remember the trips, or at least the high points, and have a story to go with the picture. I think it will be cool to share with my sons when they get older, since they are featured in an increasing number of them. Second, I like the community of other bloggers and forums posters, and as much as I enjoy their thoughts, trips, and input, I want to share the same. Finally, I use my blog as an excuse/accountability to get out and do what I love as much as I can. I get a lot of eye rolls sometimes when I break out the camera gear, but hey, I do it because I enjoy it!
I'm going to keep this going by tagging the following folks here:
A Waterman's Woods
Goblin Ranger
Creek Stewart
The Flying Kayak
This River is Wild
The Maine Outdoorsman
The Axe is Bold as Love
Out Living
Scott Williams
Survival Common Sense
Wayward Travels
And here are your questions. Looking forward to reading your thoughts!
1. What is your most memorable outdoor moment of the past year?
2. Do you have any outdoor pursuit goals or achievements that you hope to accomplish in the current season/year?
3. Do you have an adventure buddy? If so, what are the attributes that make them such a great companion?
4. Given a single day, what would be your adventure of choice? Where and what activity?
5. Do you make money adventuring outdoors? If so, does it diminish the enjoyment? If not, would you entertain the opportunity to get paid?
6. Where is somewhere you have never been but would like to go?
7. What piece of gear goes with you on every trip?
8. Who is your life has motivated, inspired, and taught you in your outdoor pursuits?
9. Have you ever been seriously inured while out?
10. What is your favorite outdoor themed book?
11. Do you participate in any local outdoor clubs or meetups?
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