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Bushcraft is the knowledge and skill of making and obtaining tools, shelter, and food from the natural environment.
An accomplished bushcrafter has mastered many skills, including firecraft, tracking, hunting, shelter building, using knives and axes, container making, rope and twine making, and foraging. In addition, the bushcrafter honors the land. According to British bushcrafter Raymond Mears, author of The Outdoor Survival Handbook (St. Martin's Press, 1992), bushcrafters should “follow the maxim of taking only memories and leaving only footprints, and then try to make those as light as moccasin prints.” More Wilderness Knowledge, Less Wilderness GearA central concept of bushcrafting is the use of knowledge, observation, and skill for back country camping and survival, rather than a lot of gear. A capable bushcrafter is equipped for survival with appropriate, layered clothing and a good knife. Adding a flint and steel or magnesium fire starter, a compass, a small first-aid kit, and a few emergency rations that do not need rehydrating permits a skilled bushcrafter to live off the land for longer periods. A Good Knife Is Essential for BushcraftingThe knife is bushcrafting’s most valuable tool. Knives are used for cutting wood for fires for constructing shelters, for carving tools, for cleaning and skinning game, and for a myriad of other purposes. The knife must be kept clean and sharp. In his recent (Oct. 2008) article, “Introduction to Bushcrafting,” in Ohio Valley Outdoors magazine, L.T. Wright, co-owner of Blind Horse Knives, described what he considers to be the optimal bushcrafting knife design. Wright’s favorite knife has a four inch blade with a flat grind. The handle should fill the hand and provide a secure, comfortable grip. Wright prefers a knife with the point centered in the width of the blade and a rounded butt end for easier drilling. Starting Fires without MatchesMatches are great for quick, easy fire starting. However, damp matches are useless. Bushcrafters can make fires from sparks with a pocket fire starting kit and tinder. With practice, they can even start fires with sticks and friction. Bushcrafting techniques include learning to build fires that keep burning safely with a minimum of attention. The long log fire, for example, burns steadily throughout the night, warming the entire length of a person’s body as he sleeps. Building Shelters from Natural MaterialsBushcrafting covers the construction of shelters to provide protection from the elements. These include lean-tos made from wood and brush, blankets woven from some type of cord or twine and grasses, and shelters constructed fully or partially from snow or ice. With such a shelter, warmed by a properly positioned fire, a person can survive extreme weather conditions. Sucessful Hunting and ForagingFinding and catching food are additional skills for the bushcrafter. Primitive but effective weapons, such as bolas, slingshots, and spears, allow a hunter to successfully hunt birds, rabbits, and fish. Carved fishhooks with bugs or worms for bait make functional angling equipment. Simple snares can catch small game as well. The bushcrafter’s knowledge and awareness of the natural surroundings reveals edible plants, roots, and fungi. Bushcrafting Books and ClassesGoing into the wilderness safely with only a few essentials requires preparation. Mears’ book is a great place to start learning. Mors Kochanski’s book, Bushcraft (Lone Pine Publishing, 1998) is another popular resource, along with books such as The Winter Wilderness Companion (International Marine Publishing, 2000), by Garrett and Alexandra Conover. Bushcrafting enthusiasts can also participate in wilderness survival courses led by experienced guides, learning to honor nature by understanding how to be part of it.
The copyright of the article Bushcrafting in Wilderness Backpacking is owned by Brenda Layman. Permission to republish Bushcrafting in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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