Integrating Bushcraft With Modern Outdoor Life by Paul Kirtley

Paul Kirtley is a UK bushcraft instructor, and runs Frontier Bushcraft, a well recognized school. He also has an excellent blog that you can see here. Typically, I don’t care much for bushcraft instructors, as I find many of them to simply use flowery talk about unity with nature combined with a few knife tricks they have seen in a Ray Mears DVD, to sell a product to people who think that picking berries lets them “thrive in nature”. Paul however is a different sort, and while time does not permit me to travel to the UK to attend his classes, I’ve been reading his writings for a while and I have a lot of respect for him.

At the 2014 Bushcraft Show, he gave a presentation, which you can watch by following the link or clicking on the picture below, titled Integrating Bushcraft With Modern Outdoor Life.

I thought the presentation was very interesting and very well put. He speaks at length about how in many respects bushcraft has unnecessarily become isolated from more general outdoor pursuits. He describes his approach, which involves using the skills which bushcraft gives him and the deeper understanding of his surroundings that provides, within the context of a larger outdoor experience, involving longer, more mobile trips into the wilderness.

In many respects, he describes my thinking on The Modern Woodsman, and how all of these outdoor skills can be incorporated into one larger outdoor experience and a more well rounded woodsman, rather than the cliché little subgroups we have created. 

Trip Report: Cook Forest 5/24/14

This memorial day weekend I found myself again in Pennsylvania with my girlfriend. On Saturday we did a day trip into Cook Forest, so I figured I would share a few pics. The woods are not really her thing, but she’s a good sport.

We hiked up to a fire tower on the top of one of the mountains. We were alone the whole way up, and didn’t see anyone else in the forest. It turns out that there is also a road that goes up to near the top of the mountain, which is how everyone apparently chooses to get there. As a result there were plenty of people at the top.

Not too far from the fire tower it was possible to see the Clarion River.

We left the mountain and started on our way down. Soon enough we there was no one near us. We stopped for a bit to get some water.

I carried my usual day kit:

• Pocket kit: tinder, matches, lighter, mini flashlight, repair kit, water purification tablets, and some pills;
• Knife: custom Mora #2 clone;
• Nalgene water bottle with a nesting titanium cup (Stoic 700ml Ti Kettle); I had a second bottle for my girlfriend;
• Bahco Laplander saw;
• Emergency blanket;
• Some food that does not require cooking (power bars, etc);
• Extra clothing: rain jacket, fleece insulation layer for each of us.

I carried all of the items in a REI Flash 22 backpack. I’ve removed the side pockets from the pack as I didn’t need them. I find the pack large enough for day trips even during winter.

When we got to the base of the mountain, we spent some time by the river. The water levels were pretty high because of recent storms.

And that’s it. I’m back in NY now, trying to catch the end of turkey season if I can find the time.

Cody Lundin States That Discovery Channel Lied About Why He Was Fired From Dual Survival

So, in this latest installment of the Dual Survival soap opera, the Discovery Channel and Cody Lundin are facing off in the media as well as in a potential lawsuit.

As many of you know, last night the Discovery Channel aired an episode of Dual Survival titled Journey's End to a New Beginning, explaining why Cody Lundin was fired and what lead to that outcome. The episode primarily focused on a number of incidents from seasons three and four of the show where Cody and his co-host Joe Teti were arguing, or where Cody refused to shoot the show, or acted in a strange manner. The producers made it seem as if though they had no idea why Cody was acting in such a way, or what his problem might have been. Their explanation was that the stress of filming the show probably got to him.

For those of us who have been following along, the explanation that Discovery provided just seemed strange and very staged. It was clear that the instances provided were taken out of context, and it wasn’t even difficult to imagine what that context was. Today Cody Lundin released a statement on his Facebook page, titles “Dual Survival Defamation”, stating that the Discovery Channel lied about what happened, and that he will be pursuing legal measures against them. Here is the full statement:

“Hi Campers,

Taking the high road does not involve letting disingenuous people dump on you. I have heard that Discovery Communications and Original Media (the production company) tried their best to defame me on last night’s program, even dredging back into season three. Like herpes, just when one thinks the last boil is gone, another one appears. A cease and desist letter for defamation was sent to both companies by my attorney weeks ago. It seems this was ignored. For executives to purposely pick and edit footage out of context at my and the viewers expense, all the while knowing the real back story, is without conscience. Once again, these actions are uncalled for and have forced my hand to defend my professional reputation.

What Dual Survival fans don’t know is that last night’s “behind the scenes” episode was Discovery’s “Plan B” at attempting to explain why I am no longer on the show. “Plan A,” which I refused to participate in, is far more interesting, informative and damning to those involved.

On a positive note, I am overwhelmed by the support I have received from fans. Thousands of you have sent notes of well wishing in letters, emails, voice mails, facebook, and on my blog. Many of you expressed sadness at my parting, but were grateful for the integrity. One couple who had used my role on the show to teach their children outdoor skills is now using my termination as a teaching point to remind their kids to be true to themselves regardless of the apparent cost. Brilliant! We can all lose jobs, we can all lose friends, but if we lose our integrity and honor, we all lose. I appreciate your supporting qualities that cannot be bought.

Remember, the Light never fails!

Stay true, Cody”

At this point it’s not exactly clear what the truth is, but it’s certainly not what was portrayed on the show last night. The whole “Cody is acting strange and refusing to film the stuff we tell him to, but we have no idea why” is just not passing the smell test. My guess: Cody was clearly tired of being on the show and being asked to shoot fake, staged, and unrealistic b.s. and the producers were tired of Cody giving them a hard time about making “good TV”. Both sides were probably staying on because of the contract between them. Eventually Cody got in their face one too many times about the silliness that was being filmed and we have all become accustomed to, and they decided that they would be better off firing him.

One thing that did become clear last night was that Dual Survival is a complete joke of a show when it comes to both reality TV and survival instruction. It is rare that a reality TV show fails on the reality aspect, but Dual Survival certainly seems to have managed it. Apparently every aspect of the show is staged and scripted. Where they go, what route they take, even where they stand for the shots is apparently scripted. They take prolonged brakes, even for days in between scenes, and appear to be moving around with a crew of at least a dozen people. I am not sure why the Discovery Channel decided to show that much of what is going on behind the scenes, but it was enough to demonstrate that the show and all of the drama on it is completely staged. It made Man vs Wild look like the real deal… which is sad.

I feel bad for Matt Graham who is stepping into this debacle. I wish him luck. 

For some of Cody’s prior statements about this issue, check out:

Dual Survival Clarification by Cody Lundin and New Host Announcement and

Cody Lundin Fired From Dual Survival

Cody Lundin Explains The Various Forms of Survival Skills

Cody Lundin recently posted an article on his website titled: Dual Survival: Explaining the Various Forms of Survival Skills. The article itself has very little to do with Dual Survival from which Cody was recently fired and replaced by Matt Graham. He simply uses it to describe one particular type of survival skills.

In particular, the article outlines several general categories of survival skills:

1. Modern Outdoor Survival Skills: Short term survival in a rural or wilderness environment (usually of a three day or less duration).
2. Primitive Living Skills: Long term living in a wilderness environment using indigenous technology.
3. Urban Preparedness: Short term living in an urban or suburban environment.
4. Wilderness Living Skills (more commonly referred to as Bushcrafting or Campcraft): Short or moderate term living in a rural or wilderness environment.
5. Homesteading: Long term living in a rural or wilderness environment.

According to Cody, while survival skills can be implemented in all of the above scenarios, the way the skills are applied will differ depending on the type of scenario you find yourself from the above list. Consequently, Cody asserts that when learning, or even teaching survival skills, one should first decide which one of the above scenarios they are training for, and then learnt he survival skills in the appropriate context.

The example Cody gives is that of fire lighting. Friction fire lighting is an indigenous skill, best used in a primitive living scenario. Relaying on the same skill for fire lighting in a modern outdoor survival scenario, like those seen on Dual Survival, where time is of great importance, and you body and mind may not be functioning optimally, may not be a good idea.

I think the article is worth a look. You can read it at the above link.