A fifteen year old boy is dead. The Altamaha has claimed another victim. His father is surely in anguish. Never take the wild for granted, no matter how many times you have been down there. Practice and learn what to do and what not to do.
http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/201...ty_boy_in_woods
In 2008 I took my daughter down there to teach her land navigation and and some basic fire making skills. If you get lost in such a place, and must spend the night, fire is your friend. Even Les Stroud had a hard time here.


I never go down there without the proper survival gear. I carry at least two Bic lighters, a compass, a map, and a few tools.


And always, a machete or a BIG KNIFE!

That article is one of many reason I practice woodcraft. But not the first or only reason.

I was fortunate to have My Dad, Grandfather, Uncles and Friends to teach me starting at an early age. And I continue to learn new things all the time.

That is definately a tragedy

That is a shame. Lord be with the family during a hard time.

It is doubly a shame because a little clear thinking and preparation could have saved that young life. We need to learn survival or fieldcraft and teach it to our children. No matter how modern and sophisticated we become, nature still rules.

not only is practicing very important but i think its really fun.

Very sad. Obviously I wasn't in their shoes but I just don't know if I would have left my son... Nope, I wouldn't.

I only started on fieldcraft and hunting a few years ago. The first thing I decided I needed was a knife I could count on, with my life. How I found Scrap Yard acually.

I wanted to be able to fend for myself if it came down to it.

But just a little time learning, getting into a couple of light hairy situations, and you start to not panic and THINK.

And it looks like these guys were unprepared. It does not take much I have learned.

I've always loved walking in woods and enjoy woods ever since I was 5 y-o. Army hit me like sledge hammer about Fieldcraft. I kept nearly 8 years pause after army, studies and such. After picking up photography, I started again walk in forrest, now with camera. Man who understands fieldcraft and practises it, is more touch in nature than purely city folks. IMHO that also makes person more level head and more touch in realism.

Woods are my cathedral, my place of thinking, relax and remove stress. I love the sound of woods, birds, animals and leaves. I love the smell of soil and rain. I love to go in nightless night in 3 or 4 a.m. and enjoy the nature with every breath and every cell.

It sucks that places that I as kid wandered around miles from the nearest human population have been past 10 years built homes, a cursed golf course that destroyed beautiful part of woods and places I loved to be when I was a kid.

Yeah. Personally I have never done any camping or hiking. But since I have started working at my present job, some of the guys that I talk to really make me want to start. I really want to learn, but I guess as with everything else, I have to crawl before I can walk. So I need to learn the basics. Are there any books or guides I can get that would help me get started?

Hey Stevo, the best way to start is to go on a few day hikes near where you live. Don't go alone, bring water and sunblock and wear comfortable shoes. Just go walking for a couple of miles with a light backpack and see how you like it. Some try to get into it with a bigger trip only to discover it's not for them. If you start out simple, you'll find the joy in being outdoors and soon you'll be buying gear to use not just to collect dust.

That last sentence is personal experience! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Joe! I will definitely try to do that this year! I just need to get a buddy to go with me that has some experience! But first I need to get a day pack put together.

And the sad fact is, the more technology takes over, the more people rely on it instead of gthe survival skills borne of millions of years of evolution.