The sacred simplicity of nature

The sacred simplicity of nature

At a spiritual level there are two reasons that drive me to regularly spend nights alone in the woods, all through the ever changing year. The two are first, the undisturbed solitude, and second, the relative asceticism that inevitably comes with it. Although it is...

Customs, life and generations

Customs, life and generations

I love Mora knives. There, I've said it. I know not everyone agrees to their greatness, but I grew up with Mora knives being the only knife everyone used, outdoors, in the garage, at school woodwork class, at work, literally everyone, and everywhere. I love them. And...

Nature, solitude and company

Nature, solitude and company

As a father of two fantastic boys, hiking & camping means different things to me, depending on for what reasons, and how it is all done. And the resulting experience is therefore for me also quite different. This can, at times, also be a source of concern and...

The Sound of the Raven

The Sound of the Raven

Some of my favourite sounds in the woods are the sounds that the raven make. After the raven disappearing almost completely, the forests I go into now have quite a lot of them and on a lucky day you can see 10-15 of them together, although more commonly you see or...

Why go on solo hikes?

Why go on solo hikes?

Camping and hiking for most people means a group activity, something you do with your friends and family to provide company and comfort in an environment that is unfamiliar, and at night for many even a bit scary. Going solo however, has its own merits and I will here...

Dangers of winter and how to prepare

Dangers of winter and how to prepare

Wintertime and cold weather pose their own particular challenges, discomforts and dangers and you need to know a few basics to make life easier and safer under the conditions these seasons offer for your outdoors life. This article collects advice that attempt to...

Nordic words for snow

Nordic words for snow

In the parts of the world, or more specifically, the regions and places where snow has a direct influence on people's lives, it is quite common for people to have different words describing the characteristics of the snow based on how it influences their lives in...

Let kids play with knives

Let kids play with knives

I was fortunate to grow up in a time and place where it was quite normal for kids, and boys in particular, to use knives, cutting twigs and branches into various usable items, like sausage sticks, bow and crossbow arrows, staves etc, etc, not to mention a whole lot of...

Learning to handle being lost

Learning to handle being lost

Getting lost for some time in the wild isn't necessarily a bad or dangerous experience and also something you can practice in gradually more difficult environments. Here are some tips based on personal experience of getting "lost" in the woods every now and then.  It...

Canoeing alone the easy way

Canoeing alone the easy way

So having just gotten back from a couple of days of canoeing and having watched a flock of highschool teens loudly struggling with little resulting movement and control, here are a few basic tips primarily for those who would like to learn to paddle alone, but with...

Life in circles –  small ponderings

Life in circles – small ponderings

Happy the man, who, remote from business, after the manner of the ancient race of mortals, cultivates his paternal lands with his own oxen, disengaged from every kind of usury; he is neither alarmed by the horrible trump, as a soldier, nor dreads he the angry sea; he...

Walking with ease and awareness

Walking with ease and awareness

We all have a natural tendency to try to choose the shortest and the easiest route as we travel to a location. The fundamental desire is to not exhaust oneself unnecessarily, preserving energy, which of course is wise. However, finding the middle way between those two...

On George Washington “Nessmuk” Sears

On George Washington “Nessmuk” Sears

George Washington Sears (December 2, 1821 – May 1, 1890), might not be so internationally famous, but among American bushcrafters he is without doubt one of the most well-known and influential early fathers of the whole lifestyle, inspiring other renowned outdoorsmen...

Everyman’s Right in the Nordic countries

Everyman’s Right in the Nordic countries

While most countries in the western world designate certain remote and less populated state or commune-owned areas for camping and hiking, most of the Nordic countries handle this quite differently and in a way that surprises many from other parts of the world....

Hiking alone for the first time?

Hiking alone for the first time?

So, you are considering hiking alone for the first time? What can you expect from that experience? Well first of all, it will be an amazing and strong experience. There will be no distraction from other people (hopefully) and it is just you and nature, meaning you...

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