Topic: Where does your love for the outdoors come from? (Read 11936 times)

twentyclicks · « **Reply #15 on:** May 04, 2011 »

Grew up in the country. Was always outside and on family camping trips and forest/beach walks. Dad started taking me up the Mournes when I was 7 on the weekly group walks. Always remember when we camped by the ice-house then got up early to climb Donard. Ray Mears, Due South and the Commando Survival manual were all inspiration, but Messners 14 8000ers book filled me with wonder for the future

For family reasons and the sheer fatigue of being a teenager and all the nonsense they make you do for school I got out of touch with the outdoors, but started hiking and camping by myself once I got a car. Bivvying is very primal to me... making home where you lay your head, sleeping where no-one else may have slept before, being in touch with the danger and wonder around you, restless but refreshed with the first stretch of dawn: it's one of the most real things you can experience in our increasingly connected, but isolated world.

I want to travel on foot and bike, live in forests and scale mountains; paddle and sail the lakes and oceans; and die an old man on a forgotten grassy hillside in outer Mongolia, my last breath carried on the wind to call the vultures to pick my bones... I love the outdoors.

MikeD · « **Reply #16 on:** May 04, 2011 »

I have no idea, but apart two years ago I was on holiday in inland spain and from my balcony I could see a mountain (which I called Monkey, after the song from the gorillaz album)....

I would stare at it for ages and drink the local bulls blood red wine. Then one day, decided to walk up it on the baking heat.....

Since then, I've been drawn to mountains and the outdoors, and I'm grateful to Monkey for that.

twentyclicks · « **Reply #17 on:** May 04, 2011 »

Class - I love giving mountains personal names. In the Mournes my mates have given me Ray's mountain, Helicopter, Eagle River! and Kid A.

Answers on a postcard

surfnscenic · « **Reply #18 on:** May 05, 2011 »

My introduction to the outdoors was with the Boy's Brigade. We used to go on summer camps throughout the UK and slept in canvas ridge tents with wooden poles, a seperate piece of canvas for a ground sheet and extremely draughty lace-up doors. It wasn't true wild camping but was wild enough for me at that time.

This then expanded when one of the leaders started taking us to the Mournes. Looking back my equipment was fairly spartan but it worked. A school bag or haversack to carry my lunch and flask in. A waterproof(?) coat and maybe hat and gloves. Footwear was courtesy of a borrowed pair of workboots and 2-3 pairs of socks. No we didn't sleep in a cardboard box!

I really enjoyed these trips and started to get better bits of kit together. A real pair of walking boots, a previously used (Second hand to you and me) rucksack and a Peter Storm rain jacket.

I even camped with lads I ran about with. We bought a tent from Kay's catalouge at a couple of pound per week each. We would get the bus into Belfast to Oxford St Station then onto Newcastle and walk up the Glen River valley for an overnighter before heading up or around Donard towards Annalong and back to Newcastle.

There was then a lull in my outdoor activities as other things seemed to take over. Most recently over the last 8 years or so I have got out more and bought more kit. Both children doing Duke of Ed meant other stuff was bought. They have experienced walks in the Mournes since their early years.

Hopefully after D of E they will continue with this activity.

My real love of the outdoors is getting back to basics. Getting away from the pressures of modern life, phones, emails, the constant rush that everything has to be done now. In the outdoors the things that really mattter are food, water, shelter and safety. The other thing is that you only have yourself to rely on. If you didn't bring it then you've only yourself to blame.

The peace, tranquility, the beauty and enormity of it all. I just hope to be able to enjoy this marvellous pastime for years to come.

spartan00117 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 05, 2011 »

Was scaring the internet looking for some words of wisdom to relate to being outdoors and this one caught my eye.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain.

Enough said, I'm off!

whoRya · « **Reply #20 on:** May 06, 2011 »

Good to hear another BB man on, it seemed everyone was a scout for a while

Mind you I didn't do a lot of outdoors stuff with the BB. My first outdoors experiences came through Scripture Union boy's adventure camps in Bushmills, Newcastle and Castlewellan. I really had some magic times on them and still regularly hit the outdoors with a friend I made on those camps.

Some people may say "I don't get why someone would want to go and spend a night in a tent up a hill" as if it is strange behaviour. Why should it be seen as that? The sane comfortable life that we all live day to day is great but I think there may be an inbuilt part of our soul that can appreciate more basic things like walking with your house and food on your back and waking up closer to nature. Not necessarily something that has to be learnt.

I wouldn't be being genuine if I didn't also say that for me being outside enjoying nature also forms a spiritual connection to God.

Spud · « **Reply #21 on:** May 06, 2011 »

Used to go on long country rambles with my grandfather in the woods and fields near his home, with plenty of stories and info on animals and birds along the way, I then joined the scouts and did plenty of camping, did a few courses at ardnabannon also, bivvied in annalong wood etc. I see the mournes every day from my home, and always wish that I was up there walking and camping in the peace and quiet, rather than sitting on a bus for an hour to sit in an office all day!! :'(

MG1 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 06, 2011 »

Its the BB as well for me. we would have been in the Mournes about once a year but would have had alot more camps in Gosford forest park.

Lynda · « **Reply #23 on:** May 19, 2011 »

Well, I'm sure you've all heard the oul 'I used to go camping when I was a kid' routine so I won't bore yous with the obvious. Since my late teens though my camping and outdoor activities have been mainly (but not titally) confined to times of austerity (wild camping round europe), pleasure (Festivals & parties) and the odd time where I woud pit myself against an experienced mountaineer just to prove I could do it (and succeeded!). Hopefully I'll gain some new skills (or bad habits) from the people I meet on here and have good craic while doing so.

Grace. · « **Reply #24 on:** May 19, 2011 »

Same for me as well Lynda. I've been camping since I was about seven, we didn't need no Spain or country far off. 7 days at tollymore was the highlight of my year. Since then I carried on camping but it wasn't until I met Oisin that it become such a love of mine to the extent I just want to spend every weekend sleeping in a tent. As finding people our age who love the outdoors as much as us can be a struggle this forum has great for us

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Author Topic: Where does your love for the outdoors come from? (Read 11936 times)

twentyclicks

Re: Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

MikeD

Re: Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

twentyclicks

Re: Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

surfnscenic

Re: Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

spartan00117

Re: Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

whoRya

Re: Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

Spud

Re: Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

MG1

Re: Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

Lynda

Re: Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

Grace.

Re: Where does your love for the outdoors come from?

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