Out on the Land Quotes

“Modern life can create great confusion and we can forget that humanity is an integral component in the natural world.”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“This traditional woman grew up in a world where respect for the animals hunted was of paramount importance. A concept that, in many cases, differentiates the native from the non-native hunter.”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“The international code for signalling with a whistle is: One blast – Where are you? Two blasts – Come to me Three blasts – I need help Response – One blast”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“It is a skill in its own right, one that requires the highest degree of technical ability, personal honesty and sober thought. Self-delusion and overconfidence can get you killed when travelling in remote wilderness. Long-range”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“The taiga provides wonderful opportunities for truly long-distance expeditions into areas that are incredibly remote from civilisation. The spiritual reward of such journeys can prove to be transcendental,”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“being able to catch and eat fish on a journey provides a deep spiritual connection to the land. Fishing”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“The fuzz stick described in many woodcraft manuals does work, but it is slow and awkward to carve. Any”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“it. Symbolising”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“In the boreal forest, there are many highly combustible materials to be found – the north woods are a living ‘tinderbox’, one of the easiest places on earth to start a fire.”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“the ability to kindle a fire, swiftly and without fail, remains the most fundamental skill of life support in the boreal forest.”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“The first thing to understand about travel in this environment is that the forest can be your friend; it can supply you with almost everything you need for life if you learn where and how to look. The second thing is that you can be a friend to the forest; if you consider carefully the consequences of your actions, you can learn to harvest resources without causing any harm, sometimes even assisting the natural process of forest growth.”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“The old adage that ‘there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing’ is certainly true. Other”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“The other cause of many problems is ‘assumption’. Never assume anything. If you do hear the word, alarm bells should start ringing. Always check, re-check and check again.”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“Shouldering responsibility When”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“using drumming. Once found, the shaman would sing a magic song to hold the caribou in that place until the hunters could intercept them.”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“the greatest of their teachings has been the importance of looking to the forest itself for answers.”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“The silence of winter has already been broken by birdsong from crossbills, heralding the onset of spring. At one with the forest. For this man, the boreal forest is his home, his provider and he looks to the forest for the things he needs to live. He has no sense of isolation. He is a simple talker. This”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“The best thing in life is moving on’ Traditional Evenk saying Join”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest

“The Boreal World ‘From a satellite orbiting high above Earth, the taiga appears as a dark mantle draped across Earth’s shoulders, a robe glistening with aquamarine lakes. This forest-green cloak declares to the rest of the solar system that this planet is the home of living things.’ J DAVID HENRY Canada’s Boreal Forest”
― Ray Mears, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest