Lost opportunity?

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Kerne

Maker
Dec 16, 2007
1,766
21
Gloucestershire
I'd love to go on this and I reckon the price is great - expert tuition at less than £100 a day is a bargain. BUT: impossible to get the time off work. (There are some disadvantages to being a teacher (honest! :) ) - like no flexibility whatsoever when opportunities like this turn up.)
 

Tengu

Full Member
Jan 10, 2006
12,790
1,529
51
Wiltshire
I couldnt dream of having the money....

And If I could...I would save it for Uni.

Im applying for Archaology/Geology courses...Two subjects Im sure will take me to some pretty way out parts of the world.
 
I would love to go and was initially interested in doing so but when all the costs are added up, including the flights it was working out more expensive for me than I thought as I would have to take extra flights/trains and gathering gear. However during the last quarter of this year I have had a lot to think about including a possible new job or going back to uni etc and alot of cost cutting.

The price is great for the course and for what you get plus I may, if savings allow, be going along with another group to the arctic at some point in the future.


tengu - good luck with the archaeology and geology :) Did my undergrad in geology and currently doing archaeology part time out of interest....you will love it I am sure. :)
 

Elines

Full Member
Oct 4, 2008
1,590
1
Leicestershire
............................

It makes me wonder why we are all here?

...
Gary - thanks for posting this, it's made me think harder about where I want to get to by doing 'bushcraft'. Because I am having a great time learning loads of new stuff and meeting interesting new people I hadn’t thought about what my end ‘goal’ was.

I would now see spending a week in the Arctic as my ultimate achievement. But to get to that level will take me time. You have seen how much stuff I ‘need’ for a summer’s few nights. And I haven’t even spent 3 consecutive winter nights out in the UK let alone 7 nights in the Arctic.

An obvious first step would be a UK winter skills course but the Bushcraft UK Winter Skills Course 30th January – 3rd February has been cancelled because of lack of interest (guilty as charged m’lud). Maybe it won’t be offered again. So …. more difficult to get to where I (now) want to be – but not impossible. And at least I now know what my ultimate aim is - so thanks again.
 
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ex-member BareThrills

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Dec 5, 2011
4,461
3
United Kingdom
i looked into taking my wife and daughter to see the northern lights and the price was astronomical. this seems like a stunning price but alas my wife doesnt do camping let alone bushcrafty things. I would love to go but wouldnt be able to swing spending that sort of cash on my hobby. I really hope it goes ahead for those that are booked.

do people really spend that sort of cash on a knife :O). I got a £10 mora. it cuts stuff good lol
 

TurboGirl

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2011
2,326
1
Leicestershire
www.king4wd.co.uk
I'm gutted to hear that they might not be able to run it, Wayland, was really looking forward to seeing the pictures you'd take and the write up... and as a noob, to read these things fires the imagination although like many other commenters, I'm a. broke, b. too noob and unprepared to be more than a liabilty.

Like Elines, it makes me think about why I'm here... is it a cop out to not want to travel? I'm a home hearth kinda person who wishes she'd started this years ago so I could have attained the knowledge locally and worked outwards. Listening to you talking about your preparation at Rough Close on my first meet opened my eyes and mind to what experienced bushcrafting is about and I'm real sorry that we might not be able to marvel at the experience you'da had, deep sympathies if it doesn't come off :S
 

bikething

Full Member
May 31, 2005
2,568
3
54
West Devon, Edge of Dartymoor!
I'm gutted to hear that they might not be able to run it
I thik it's the basic course that may not run - the advanced looks to be fully booked with a reserve list :)

But to get to that level will take me time. <snip> So …. more difficult to get to where I (now) want to be – but not impossible.

...and as a noob, to read these things fires the imagination although like many other commenters, I'm a. broke, b. too noob and unprepared to be more than a liabilty.
The whole point of the course(s) is to teach you what you need to know for this environment :)

You'll have experienced instructors on hand to keep an eye on you, and you'll have heated tents and shelters to retreat to if needed.

As a way of safely aquiring a lot of skills quickly you can't beat an organised course IMHO :)
 

andybysea

Full Member
Oct 15, 2008
2,609
0
South east Scotland.
Id love to go on a course like this but £520 quid to us is a lot at the monent plus add in all the other cost's and taking in to account weve just laid out all we can for our kids Christmas its a no goer.
 

Wayland

Hárbarðr
Thank you for all the positive responses, I'm sorry if it came across as harsh, I guess it is my frustration showing at the edges.

Of course I recognise all the problems that people face when making a decision like this, I'm not a wealthy man and times are hard for me as well at the moment.

I wanted to do this course the first year it was offered but could not make it, I tried again last year but again circumstances prevailed against me so I have moved Heaven and Earth to make sure I can go this time. In the interim I have been tinkering with and making kit like a madman. I'm probably far better equipped now than I need to be for this trip.

I've cleared the dates of all bookings so I'm losing a lot of money during a busy time of year, I don't get paid holidays I just don't earn anything. Even if the basic course does not run I will still fly out there to do something, on my own if need be.

I have a very clear vision of why I am doing these courses and I consider it an investment for my future. It could very well be an investment in the future for many of us.

Imagine not just driving to a local meet up but getting a cheapflight to Norway, Sweden or Finland just like Doc, Twodogs, MartinK9, Bodge, Muddyboots and others to set up international meet ups in some of the Worlds most spectacular winter scenery.

I don't know about you, but I think that is worth investing some time, money and effort towards.

 

Everything Mac

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 30, 2009
3,112
83
36
Scotland
I couldnt dream of having the money....

And If I could...I would save it for Uni.

Im applying for Archaology/Geology courses...Two subjects Im sure will take me to some pretty way out parts of the world.


Just finished my geology degree Tengu. Feel free to drop me a pm if you have any questions. - The job market in this sector is good. :D


Sadly even if I can get the £520 together there is the added cost of all the kit I don't have. Not to mention flights. - it's just a no go this year sadly.
 

jackcbr

Native
Sep 25, 2008
1,561
0
50
Gatwick, UK
www.pickleimages.co.uk
It would be a shame if the course does not run and is dropped for future years. It is one I would like to take part in, but 2012 is going to be the year swbo and I go to Canada. It's been 4 years of trying and this is my only chance to get free flights. So for me I've had to cancel all work on the house, keep the old vehicle going and start cycling to work. I'm doing as much rabbit work as I can but still not sure we're going to have enough cash.

So even though it is a great price, sadly not enough to get me there this year. Hopefully it's just a sign of the current economic times and things improve soon for us all.
 

Soak

Banned
Dec 20, 2011
3
0
Colchester Essex
I haven't booked then yet and cannot until we know if the course is a runner or not.

Your so full of it yet you have not even booked the course yourself...that's just diddly poo from head to foot.

Just stop to consider others positions for once instead of being so selfish and superior, I have run courses all over the world in every environment and under all conditions. Many on this forum are young, others are unemployed, others have bosses, others have time limitations, others have families, do you ever consider anyone else, you are certainly not a person I would wish to be in a survival situation with, you'd be a danger and threat to both yourself and any member of a group.

Consider just how many actually have all the equipment needed and can afford both the time and money to go on courses in whatever country they live in, especially Britain in the current economic climate. I have been on many camping, bush-craft, survivalist, wood-law forums and let me say determination, interest and commitment are not something lacking in the many who are on those forums and sites, however what hold many back is the spare cash to even begin to get a decent kit together. They are often lacking in enough knowledge as are many posters to point the way to only buying the best gear, others are limited to buying less appropriate gear from lack of knowledge and funds, yet they are driven by a burning desire and try hard to learn and do learn to make do.

What strikes me is that you are the one without full commitment as while moaning at others you do not book yourself on the course you are advocating others join. Where is your commitment?

In any real wilderness experience it is those who have learned by effort and thought who survive comfortably not those who just have the best equipment available. Bush-craft and wood-law are all about living in the wilds with minimum gear, making minimum impact on the environment and learning about both oneself and all aspects of the wonderful wilderness.

Now let us take this to the next logical stage, how many on this forum will ever be in the position to need to know arctic survival?

Unless you have no alternative and discover yourself in an Arctic survival situation, why would most people in Britain need the information? Certainly if one was in Canada or some other country that has a more serious winter and severe conditions yes fine, we in Britain have not had need of such knowledge since 1963 sure there have been bad winters since and yes people do die in bad winters. Can you or anyone guarantee having all the needed kit with you if you find yourself in a situation in which it is needed? You can't just pop home to get it you know.

Therefore it is far better to learn first in summer then gradually expanding outwards into first autumn (it is easier and warmer than spring) then spring and finally British winter. Sure if you are planning to go to the Arctic or Antarctic or Canada or up Everest you will need to know but many on here are struggling to just learn the basics. So much kit to buy from so many manufacturers and until you spend that cherished coin you will not know if what you are buying is as good as the advert or salesman says until you are using it in a real situation.
 

Wayland

Hárbarðr
Bye then.
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