The First Steps to Wild Camping - 1 of 3 by Ian Finch
Image by: Thom Neish
When done respectfully, Wild Camping is one of the most beautiful and authentic ways to connect to the landscape and the cycle of the seasons. With nostalgia still intact, a few of us may have camped as children with the encouragement of parents along with brothers and sisters on a great British summer holiday. Where others may have even attended scouts or guides, fostered valuable outdoor skills and earnt colourful and embroidered badges of merit for shelter building and fire lighting. Those moments as children remind us of freedom and of days less complicated and it’s quite possible that those children are camping as adults and grandparents today, inspiring the next generation as they once did to the power of nature and the outdoors, by passing on their knowledge and appreciation.
Today, wild camping in the UK can seem a daunting experience. As technology and confidence grows, we are pushing further into quieter and more remote corners in search of the sunrise or an infinite sunset, yet it doesn’t have to be that way as adventure, to all of us, is relative. Once we have searched, planned and sought the correct permissions or otherwise what really counts and matters, wherever you’re located, is the visceral and rewarding experience of connection that comes with sleeping out in the elements.
Some of the most common questions I come across are when, where, legality, what to pack, how to collect water, what tent do I need and what about adverse weather, wind and rain? Yet one of the most important questions we should first ask is..why?
Image by Jamie Barnes
Why go Wild Camping and what are the benefits?
In our rhythm and rush lifestyles, there has never been a better time to reconnect with nature. During the onslaught of the ongoing pandemic, we have been confined to the borders of our homes and local landscapes and not the geographic or global ones we once knew. These restrictions have inadvertently giving us a fresh perspective and appreciation towards our relationship to nature and our DNA level drives to explore. Now, more than ever we agree that time in nature is not only for challenge and fun, but for healing and reconnection.
As an example, Wild Camping can build self-sufficiency and resilience. Adverse weather, rain or snow will give you a new perspective and respect into the power of nature and the elements. As a result, we’ll actively feel, process and absorb those elemental forces of cold and wind, creating a much more memorable experience. Rationing and collecting water will provide an appreciation for something so readily available and so under-appreciated, especially on hot days. Spending long nights out will not only connect you to your natural circadian rhythm but give you the opportunity to view stars and constellations sometimes not viewable in the night sky due to the afterglow of big cities, towns and streetlights. Fundamentally, as you sleep closer to the earth, wild camping can ground you energetically and physically in ways you never thought possible.
Most importantly, wild camping can helps us connect to the present moment by breaking away from the overstimulating social and technological pressures of modern life. As a result, mental health can improve, anxiety and stress can fade as will the signal to our smartphones the deeper we go into the landscape. If not alone, you’ll work together to find suitable and safe places to sleep, help each other boil water for food, shape and build your tents and look out for each other’s interests and happiness as you go. By doing this you can develop leadership and self-confidence whilst strengthening friendships and bonds weaved together by stories around the bubbling water of on stove or in the morning haze after wind ravaged night.
The “why” of wild camping is about adding, not subtracting. Adding more of nature, quietness, challenge and reconnection – These are the things that not only enrich, heal and strengthen our connection with nature, but to our friends and families alongside us.
The how and where comes next…
To secure a place on our 2 Day Cotswolds UK Wild Camp click here: Wild Camp
Top 3 Weather Apps for the Outdoors & Adventure - By Ian Finch
Climate, weather and local conditions play a huge role in the outdoor adventure experience. Love it or hate it, smartphone technology has come a long way in 20 years – Our devices are now a detailed one-stop hub of navigation, weather, photography and communication apps that bring vast amounts of information to our fingertips anywhere at any time. Where technology is an increasingly relied upon tool, should we be careful not to rely on it solely as a source navigation or weather predictability? – Possibly. Technology has its down days, batteries die, glitches in the program can delete data or we can lose vital information if it gets damaged or lost. So, without doubt, outdoor technology is positively changing the way we interact with the outdoors, but we shouldn’t forget to learn and apply fundamental outdoor skills where we can combine traditional methods (learning about weather fronts, clouds and local signs) alongside the modern smartphone technology to make a stronger and more present outdoor adventure experience.
One of the main aspects in the preparation phase of any outdoor journey is knowing and understanding weather and the conditions you will encounter. Weather dictates clothing, clothing dictates how comfortable you will or will not be and this can dictate the successful outcome of your journey. Choosing the correct clothing to suit the weather not only comes with time and experience but can mean the difference between life and death. Fundamentally having an understanding of weather and how to access reliable local information prior to and during your journey is a great skill to acquire. Never before have we had access to so much weather data provided by NASA satellites and global communication systems. It’s here at the apex of knowledge and technology that we can bridge the gap and ensure we know what conditions we will be up against.
To aid in that journey, here are my top 3 weather apps for the outdoors and adventure.
Dark Sky
An advanced weather app providing local and global mapping and radar services showing you exactly where weather fronts and storms are and where they are going. Drill down and explore the details of your forecast and get the exact information you need and care about.
Windy (free)
Windy is an extraordinary tool for weather forecast visualisation. It’s fast, intuitive, detailed and accurate weather radars are trusted by professional pilots, paragliders, skydivers, kiters, surfers, boaters, fisherman, storm chasers and weather geeks. It’s also used by the government, army staff and rescue services.
My Lightning Tracker (free)
My Lightning Tracker is the best app for monitoring storms and lightning strikes all around the world in close to real-time. With a super sleek, interactive modern design you can watch thunderstorms as they occur and see detailed locations of actual lightning strikes.
Regions of Discovery - Travel Destinations for a Gap Year Student - Ian Finch (Written for www.blacks.co.uk)
Every journey we take has the potential to inspire, challenge and teach us. These journeys can be as simple as a hike in the fertile lowlands of the Austrian Alps or longer cross-continental trips across countries or to the foothills of the world’s highest mountain ranges. There is no doubt that the magic starts from the spark of an idea and continues through every single stage of the journey - from planning logistics to the physical undertaking of the adventure to sharing your gap year story with the wider world.
I have been blessed to have visited and met people from the world’s far away regions. The lessons that come from the landscapes and from those that call it home are always vast and far-reaching. They have shaped the way I live and taught me, in depth, about a world and our relationship to its fragile environment.
I hope the following destinations will inspire you to see that adventure and travel, in all its forms, is everywhere. I also hope the lure of these countries will encourage you to undertake journeys of all shapes and sizes during your gap year, they truly are one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll have in your life - let’s get exploring.
Austria
To me, the Alps are the younger brother of the Himalayas and are one of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes in Europe. There is easy access to the equally beautiful regions of Italy, Switzerland and Slovenia with a simple border crossing.
Myanmar
Possibly Asia’s best-kept secret. There are still areas of this wonderful and culturally rich country that have rarely seen a western tourist. A new overland route to Thailand is now open.
Mongolia
For a taste of an ancient culture and nomadic lifestyle Mongolia is unsurpassed. Fly from Ulaanbaatar west to Olgii, then further west for an authentic experience of the Steppe, horse, and eagle culture.
New Zealand
Two islands of immense and geographically diverse national parks, rich Maori culture and world-renowned landscapes, New Zealand’s (Land of the Long White Cloud) mild Pacific climate makes it ideal to explore for any length of time by bike or on foot.
Alaska
Northwest from Canada sits the US’s most least populated state at 1.3 people per square mile. Alaska is a wilderness of unrivalled vastness, human history and culture. Take a small plane from Anchorage into the tundra to hike (with qualified guide) or paddle a section of the Yukon River for an authentic taste of this untouched region.