Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Skills Series at Jax

Sam Ritter, our long-time instructor, is running a series of classes at Jax Mercantile in Lafayette, CO. If you are interested, contact him directly at sam@laughingcoyotproject.org.


February 9 — Primitive Fire, 9am - 3pm
 
February 16 — Primitive Hunting, 9am - 3pm
 
February 23 — Primitive Traps, 9am - Noon

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

BOSS Field Course



Our instructor Galen Stanger wrote this post about his experience over the summer at Boulder Outdoor Survival School's 14 day Field Course. Enjoy!



At the end of this past summer I spent 2 weeks living in nature. I took a 14-day Boulder Outdoor Survival School (BOSS) course in Utah. There were 12 of us - 9 students and 3 instructors. We only had a couple of items the first three days, to simulate a true survival situation. I had a water bottle, two wool upper body layers, wool pants, a hat, and a knife. We walked 27 miles in the first three days. It’s amazing what the body can do with no food and only water. There were some things to forage alone the way but if the body does not get 500 calories in one day it’s better not to eat anything. After 3 days of walking and no food, it was about 11:00 at night and we came to a primitive camp with Wikiups. I ate the best tasting banana I had ever had in my life, and went to bed for a much needed sleep in the Wikiup with a wool blanket. The nights were getting cold, down into the 30ยบ’s.

This was the transition from surviving in the natural world to living in the natural world. In order to sustain ourselves, we took the life of an animal in a very humane and humbling way. There were two days spent processing every part of this animal in honor of its life so we could stay alive and continue on our journey. We took care of camp chores and prepared for our travels as we still had a long way to go. The way got easier even with small blanket packs carrying a little food, two water bottles, and my wool layers. The guidance of our route was handed over to us. We were given maps and an end destination. We were to appoint two leaders for a day but any of us students could weigh in on the route we traveled. We set out from the primitive camp out of the canyon and headed up to 11,000 feet, mountain country. After a couple of days in the mountains and getting rained on we headed back to the desert. It had been 8 days and at this point our instructors had shown us everything they could. It was time for our solos. Three days by ourselves alone for some solo time and living in the natural world with almost nothing.

 After a great three days the group came back together. This led to the next stage where our instructors left us for 2 days. We had an end destination and a route led by us with no instructors. We had been a group for 12 days, so this was our time to sink or swim. It was inspiring to be in that group. From the slowest person to the fastest we all picked each other up when we fell. There were many leaders but we took turns never stepping on each other’s feet and always looking out for the welfare of the group. After a wonderful two days, and seeing the best looking little creek in my life (because I hadn't seen water deep enough to submerge in for two weeks), we met back up with our instructors at sundown of the second day. We told our stories of the last two days and set off on our final challenge, which as a BOSS tradition, I can’t say what it was. Every one of us made it the whole 100 miles in two weeks.  We ate a great final breakfast together back at base camp. Finally something more than the 3 items that had been on the menu for the past two weeks.

There is something to be said about simplicity, and living in the natural world with no protection. I have come back a changed man in more ways than one. It was an experience I am truly grateful for. Now I have the skill set to survive anywhere, and not just the knowledge.  

~Galen


Crossing through sage

A debris bed, used to insulate us from the ground at night

A wickiup

Drying sheep jerky

One of our instructors in a debris hut
My blanket pack

Poncho-shelter
Woodrat tracks

Testing out a debris bed


My cooking fire on my three day solo





Walking along the canyons

The group at the end of the course