READERS COMMENTS

Donald you are a Jedi of the Forest ~ Thanks :)
Posted: Sep 06, 2009 Wade

I think donald may have done one too many hits of acid in his day...lol. I actually agree with all of this, my wording would have been a bit different however...
Posted: Apr 18, 2009 stevie

Comment on the comments above by DonaldJ and Michel: I thought you made some good points.
I really enjoy navigation and find it boring not to navigate! And if you know where you are every 10 minutes, then you're only 10 minutes away from being found.

Posted: Feb 13, 2009 Honora

When navigating dangerous terrain, take each step in your mind before you physically take the step...

I was searching a scrap metal yard, when the old yard owner comes toward me, and confronts me... He tells me there's only one rule for playing in his yard.. that's to take each step in your mind before actually taking it.. because this place is full of dangerous sharp knife edge metal... He tells me he loses an employee every three weeks from accidents... I tells him, I will do as he says... After a few minutes it became second nature to me... In just a couple seconds, I studied the dangerous metal terrain before each step...

When you are negotiating loose rock, test each step with only a quarter your weight, before taking that step.. and know which way you will move that step should the material under your step give way... After a few minutes it will be second nature to you...

Use your mind when you are trekking in the wilderness...

And be kind to the animals... You are in their living room... Be respectful of other creature's homes...

I find that the animals reward our respect and kindness... When I'm in the bush, critters pause near me, screaming at me to get my attention... I pause, and say "I am watching, your majesty."..
The then critter shows me how it acquires food.. It actually teaches me how to survive... After it's done its lesson, I say "I thank you your majesty for the lesson."... I know, if I were disabled in the wilderness, wild animals would care for me and protect me... They feel the love I have for them... I treat them all as they are better than me, and they feel that, even squirrels, and even bugs... I can say an excited friendly "Hi!" to a passing huge dragonfly, and it will decelerate as it circles me at the shoulders, and land on my nose or face... Same for a wasp, a hornet, a butterfly, a bird... It's no big thing, but each time it happens, it feels like I just received a million dollars in my pocket that can't be spent... That's why I love the forest.. because the forest loves me... When I'm in the forest, we are one... When you go out into the forest, bring all your love with you, and you will leave with ten times more than you came with... This is how the wilderness rejuvenates us... This is the lure of the wild...
Having done that, should you become lost, all you need do is ask a critter... "Your majesty, I am lost.. Kindly point the way to the road... Watch its quick movements very very closely... The critter will show you the way, in a second or two...

Be nice to the little life, and the big life will be nice right back...

Trust your love...

If you don't have any love in you, Don't go out into the forest...

Posted: Jan 15, 2009 DonaldJ ("cosmicb")

While hiking, always keep your map in hand (not in a pocket or your pack) and orient it with your hiking direction, so what you see on the terrain is displayed the same way on the map. When you turn, you turn your map. Use compass to orient the map properly and confirm direction. Don't check your map only at main points or when you're lost but regularly check what you see vs map and what's on your map vs terrain. If possible, it's boring but useful, keep your thumb on your location, you are on the map and move it as you progress.
Posted: Nov 27, 2008 Michel Rysenaer, Belgium

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