Back in 1986 my paper round money went on a copy of John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman’s SAS Survival Handbook. I still have it.
I’d managed to get a copy just before it was banned. Shortly after it was revised without the mantraps and chemical concoctions. All the bits we would talk about at school.
I had spent a good chunk of my childhood living in and around woodland and to say this book changed me is an understatement. My dens soon became sturdy shelters with some still standing 15 years later. I had always had a knife, ever since I was five. My Granddad had taught me how to respect it and Lofty had taught me how to use it. His book not just gave me new skills, it gave me a new understanding of the wilderness and how to survive in it.
While others my age were doing their homework or playing football, I was trapping, whittling, building and foraging. As I explored the book I explored my surroundings and fell in love with nature and all the secrets it looked after.
On the 4th of June 2011, 25 years later, I finally got to meet Lofty Wiseman at the Bushcraft Show on the banks of Lake Windermere.
In a large tent surrounded by likeminded outdoors folk & Bushcrafters, we all sat and listened as he told us a little about his own journey and what he had learned while serving 26 years in the SAS.
I sat cross-legged at the front and without thinking clicked record on a small digital recorder. I am not sure there is another audio record of this talk.
Due to the number of mobile phones in close proximity, the recording was close to inaudible in places. I had @MCFontaine (Mark Cotton – audio wrangler) take a look at it and he has tweaked and restored it so that all three 30 minute parts can be comfortably listened too below. I’m amazed at how well he has cleaned it up. There’s still a little distortion in a couple of spots but hang in there, Lofty tells a great story and shares some unique insight.
If you cannot see the audio players click Part One, Part Two and Part Three to hear the audio from John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman.
Monday morning for me this week will start at 4am as i rise, wash and head over to my friends for 5am, the official start of our trip into the wilderness.
We will drive nearly 500 miles north into Scotland to Mallaig. From there we hope to be in time for the ferry over to Inverie on the Knoydart Peninsular, mainland Britain’s last wilderness.
From there who knows… We plan to hike across, find a nice spot in a wood on the northern coastline of the peninsular where we can build camp, enjoy the wilderness and perhaps even do a little fishing.
We plan to exercise our bushcraft skills and although not packing a tent, we will be taking hammocks to sleep in unless it is as cold as it was last week where we may find it better to dig snow holes.
For my friend Dave it is an extension of the kind of weekends we find ourselves on in the summer. He will be practicing his axe skills, carving stuff, fishing, hunting and general camp craft. For me i also want to enjoy the wilds of Scotland but in addition, I am keen to see if i can blog, record and capture the great outdoors by using solar power and the no doubt limited cell phone coverage.
If you don’t here from me on Twitter or through my normal channels for a week, it’s because there is no mobile signal at all. Although not traveling too light, there was no room for a satellite modem as i wanted to make sure we had enough food and whiskey.
If you don’t hear from us for longer than ten days.. Expect to hear a story about how two stupid bushcrafters misjudged the weather and perished in the wilds of Scotland.
That said.. there will be a video diary shot along the way so the news should have more than enough decent footage.
For those interested in the kit I will be taking, i have tagged a flickr photo below.
(Please click on the photo)
Amongst other bits and bobs, Dave will be packing the first aid kit, axe, skillet, fishing kit, and flares. I’m not sure if anyone will actually pay any attention to flares around Bonfire night..
Before you say.. “The fools.. they will surely perish out there.” I must tell you that i’ve packed a Handpresso coffee machine.. I refuse to perish without caffeine in my blood.
Please don’t email or call unless it’s important. If i can get a mobile signal i will most likely be blogging via Twitter. You can find me on http://www.twitter.com/documentally
