Today we meet, Luke McLaughlin, Founder, Director and Instructor at Holistic Survival School outside of Asheville, NC. He's an avid outdoorsman, survival/primitive skills instructor, and appeared on the television show, Naked and Afraid (twice). In fact, I took a survival skills course from him awhile back. You can read about that here. 

What is it about the outdoors that appeals to you? 

It's hard to answer that question because I view the "outdoors" and nature as everything.  I firmly believe that if we humans wish to live full, healthy and meaningful lives we must be connected to the natural world.  For hundreds of thousands of years our ancestors have lived a life where nature was our food, shelter, clothing, gods, entertainment, and everything else.  That is how we have evolved and we need nature emotionally, physically, spiritually.
Beyond that I love the stillness of nature, the endless connection, and the contradictory nature of nature (gentle yet savage, slow yet quick)  

When did you first start having an interest in the outdoors and specifically learning bushcraft/primitive survival skills? 

I got introduced to primitive skills by working at a Wilderness therapy program in Utah.  In the program students lived in the West Desert of Utah for 2- 3 months.  My job was to keep them alive, have fun, and help them work through their issues by teaching them primitive skills.  I loved the skills and the way they can teach us more about ourselves and each other.  After a few months working their I felt the most whole I had ever felt so I dedicated my life to the Earth and learning and teaching these skills. 

What is one of your most memorable outdoor moments?

Hmm. Probably that one time I was being stalked by a leopard in Namibia.   She came and sniffed me in the middle of the night. I didn't hear a thing but saw her tracks.  She was less that 15ft. away from me.  Turns out, I had invaded her territory and she had a small 2 month year old kitten.  She had the right to kill me and I wouldn't have blamed her.  I am always grateful to her for sparing my life. 

What is your favorite patch of wilderness?

Oh man that's hard.  I got too many.   I love the Great Basin Desert, Northern Michigan forests, Southern Appalachia, and everywhere in between.  I love them all for different reasons. 

Why do you think bushcraft/primitive survival skills are important in today's modern age? 

If we want to continue as a species on this earth we need to come back to our roots. Simplicity, connection, community, gratitude.  These are the things that will save us, not new technology, more agriculture, and the cure for _______.   Primitive skills are doorways for us to learn the traits of our ancestors and learn how to live in balance again. 

What is one piece of survival equipment that you cherish over anything else and why? 

haha to be honest I hate how people fetish-ize survival equipment.  If our ancestors can make it work with no bone and stone then I can do it with any steel.  One of my favorite (less sexy) pieces of equipment is the fire flapper. It's really just a simple piece of bark or sleeping pad that you can use to feed oxygen to the fire.  It has saved my life a few times in really cold, wet situations. 

Any final thoughts you would like to share with our readers?

GET OUTSIDE!!! now!   Stop reading and go play.  you will be happy later because of it.

If you want to know more about Luke McLaughlin and his courses, check him out here:
https://www.holisticsurvivalschool.com/ 

Emergency situations generally aren't planned. You can't tell yourself, "oh, I think I'll go out into the wilderness and break my leg today." I suppose you could, but I think you might have some issues at that point. This is why we prepare for the worst and hope for the best. In other posts, I've talked about training and gear, as well as proper mindset, but a lot of situations can be...well not avoided, but perhaps made better with proper communication.

First, let's talk about planning and letting folks know what you're up to. I do a lot of hunting and scouting, and there have been times that I've gone out alone to do these things. I've always let my friends and family know where I was going (provided coords or a map) as well as when to expect me. Most of the places I go are out of cell phone coverage, so there isn't an easy way for me to communicate back home. But I let my people know if they haven't heard from me by X time and date, then something is up. I've read too many sad news stories of folks getting lost and ending up dead because no one knew where to look, or that they had even taken off in the first place.

Second, invest in a good communication device. As I mentioned above, I hunt and scout in a lot of places that don't have cell phone coverage. I bought a device called the Delorme Inreach which allows me to send messages, gps coords, tracking, and emergency SOS anywhere in the world. It was a little pricey, but it brings peace of mind. Plus, the ability to stay in touch with loved ones is wonderful. 

​Bottom line, communicate, have a plan in place, and don't do anything stupid that will risk your life while you're out in the wilds. It could make the difference between life and death.
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It's been awhile since I posted a survival-related article. Just recently I was contacted by Colin from Basis Gear who liked one of my posts. Turns out he and his team also deal in the realm of survival and thought they would be a good fit for my blog. I checked out their link, and I have to agree. Here's a link to a website that details 62 wild edible plants. Each plant is detailed with quality photos and quick tips on identification and uses. Check it out.

http://basisgear.com/edible-wild-plants/

It's that time of year again, elk scouting time. This last weekend I went up to my usual spot to put in some sweat equity and place a couple of trail cameras. I went up with my dad and a few other friends, and I have to say (if I haven't said it before) that patch of wilderness is hands down my favorite spot in Utah. 

My dad and I hiked out to a couple of spots that I thought had potential, spots that I came across last year during my hunt. A couple of other buddies went out to another location to check out some trail cams that they had placed a few weeks ago. While my dad and I didn't see any elk, we saw a lot of sign to include fresh (that morning) droppings. We placed the cameras in two spots where it looked like elk trails were converging. 

There were a ton of empty camp trailers up there. I probably came across a dozen or so. I'm not sure if people were taking them up there and leaving them to save a spot (which is bullshit) or what. I hope that it isn't an indication of the amount of archery hunters there will be.

I was able to try out my tent and wood burning camp stove. Both worked out fantastically, although I still have to mess around with the stove to figure out the optimum way to keep it burning. The tent was nice and toasty when it was running, and let me tell you, it got pretty chilly at night up there. Hopefully, these spots will pay off come hunting season. 

In other news, I've tried using a bow drill to create fire every time I go camping/hunting since I had that survival skills class and I haven't been able to recreate it. That just tells me that I need to keep practicing. I've come close a couple of times, but close isn't going to get a fire lit. 

I generally try and steer away from political hot topics, mainly because I don’t want to get bogged down in the muck and the mire of the moronic comments and such (because let’s face it, the Internet is chock full of stupidity which seems to quadruple when something goes viral). However, in the wake of the recent tragedy of the Orlando nightclub shooting, I think this post may be appropriate. I’m not writing this to point fingers, do he/she said this, or why didn’t they do such and such, this is merely education.

Mass shootings, murders, and general assholery is a major problem these days. I’m not going to get into the reasons why (because as I mentioned above, I don’t want to go down that road of ridiculousness). I want to give you some tools that you can use to help survive certain situations should they arise around you. In the Air Force, we’re trained to respond to active shooters with Run, Hide, Fight. I’ve seen a similar mantra tossed around in different circles, but they all seem to use the same concept.

First, if an active shooter is around you, run. Plain and simple Try and get as far away from the douchebag as fast as you can. Help others around you, but get away. Don’t get cornered in an office or another part of the building if you can help it. This isn’t the time to be a hero; it’s the time to save your skin and others if possible. Run. Run fast. Your life depends on it.

Second, if you can’t run, then hide. Barricade yourself in a room, lock the doors and be as quiet as possible. Do everything you can to separate yourself from the shooter or shooters. Be aware that bullets go through drywall and doors easily, so know the difference between cover vs. concealment. A shooter can spray a room from the outside and it can be deadly. Also, silence any electronic devices you may have on you. Nothing will ruin a hiding spot quicker than a phone ringing or vibrating. It’s a very distinct sound and can draw the shooter’s attention.

Finally, if all else fails, and there are no other options, you must fight. Find anything you can to use as a weapon and be as violent as possible when you attack. If you’re in the final part of this Run, Hide, Fight process, there are no other options, so you must give it your all. A pen can make an effective weapon or a fire extinguisher. Use numbers in your favor and attack en masse. You might be saying, well if I go to attack and expose myself, I might get hurt or killed. True. You might get killed. But if you do nothing, you might get killed anyway. As I said, fight is the last option. Below I’ve linked an interesting article on using a tactical pen. I've also linked a video that explains these steps in a little more depth.
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Everyone is different and reacts differently to high-stress, life-threatening situations. You never truly know how you will react until you find yourself in said situation. Reading a blog post on the subject isn’t going to be the end-all-be-all of surviving a bad situation. However, you can perhaps increase your odds if you think about it, make a mental game-plan, and train. Train for self-defense. Train for disarming attackers. I’m not a fan of using violence to solve problems; however, I do truly believe that sometimes violence is the only answer.

http://survival-mastery.com/skills/defence/how-to-use-a-tactical-pen.html

Sometimes the shit might hit the fan when you are away from home. Carrying a full-size bug-out bag may not be an option for whatever reason. That's why I carry a get-home bag in my vehicle. It has all the basics necessary for me to survive short-term, just long enough to get home. The picture above shows everything that's in there. I'll break it down even further and give a close up.

I've got four of the five C's of Survival covered in this bag. The first C I'll show you is cutting. I have a multi-tool and a fixed-blade knife. Between those two, I should be able to tackle most situations. Also featured in this pic, is my flashlight, and some food.

Here is the second C--cordage. I pack a small length of para-cord with me. Para-cord is great because there are smaller strands of cord inside which are easy to pull out, giving you something to make lashings if need be.

I have a bit of water stored away, as well as some purification tablets. Not featured in the picture, is the third C which is my container. I have a water bottle which has a built-in filter. Between these three items, I should be able to stay hydrated while getting home. In the left hand corner is a first-aid kit so I can take care of any small wounds.

Here's the fourth C--combustion. Between the lighter, matches and the magnesium match, I should be able to make a fire. I have a small notepad (featured in another picture) that I could use for fuel if need be. The only other C that I'm missing in this kit is cover. I noticed that fact when I pulled everything out to take pictures. I need to dig through my stuff and find my emergency heat-saving blanket and put that in bag. With one of those, I could make some quick cover if need be, or at the very least, conserve body heat.

Here it is all packed up. Depending on where I'm going, I may or may not have a pistol packed away in the bag as well. It's not much, but it could be enough to save my life if I get caught up in the wrong situation. What's in your get-home bag?

If you find yourself out in the wilds trying to survive and you just can't seem to find any water, worry not! You can use a transpiration bag with little effort on your part. Now I know you packed clear plastic bags in your in your survival/bug-out kit because I mentioned their use in an earlier blog post. Grab one of those divine chalices and find a plant (the larger the better, because they will have the most water. Do NOT use this method on poisonous plants...just don't...I think it will cause you to lose your mind, shit your pants, and possibly die, only to be reborn as some ungodly creature that scours the night preying on unsuspecting humans. But in all seriousness, don't use this on toxic or poisonous plants. If you're unsure, then move along until you are sure).

Once you've selected the plant that gets to endow it's life-giving liquid unto you, then wrap that bag around the greens, at least 3/4 of the way into the bag. Tie the top end off with some cord real tight so it won't fall. You'll also want to use a small rock to keep the corner low so the moisture will collect. Then you wait and let the sun do it's work. The plant inside will go through its magical process and within a few hours, SHAZAM! you've got water. The amount of water you collect will depend on a lot of factors like sun, cloud cover, type and size of plant, etc...but it should produce enough to keep you alive.

​To collect the water you can open up the corner with the rock and drain it into a container. You might want to filter it because sometimes there can be debris or "other" things in there (free protein if you aren't opposed to eating creepy crawlies). You can also place a tube in the bag and use it as a straw if that's your thing. Anyway, that's a quick tip for survival. Make sure you put some clear plastic bags in your survival gear and you can get some water.

If you follow my blog or have read any of my earlier posts on survival training, you’ve probably heard me talk about training. Training in the skills you need to know is essential, because when the shit hits the fan is definitely not the time to try and become the master of wilderness survival. Get out there and practice in a safe environment when your life isn’t on the line. Get some professional hands-on training from skilled professionals.

I decided to put my money where my mouth is and get some professional training. I was trained by the military to survive in the wilderness, but that was over 14 years ago. I most certainly have lost some skills, and I know I’m weak on primitive fire-making and medicinal herbs. Therefore, when I saw that holistic survival professional, Luke McLaughlin was putting on a weekend class in Utah, I jumped on the chance to attend.

Luke McLaughlin was on the television show, Naked and Afraid where he had to survive 21 days in the wild with nothing but his skills, a partner, and one survival item. His episode landed him in the country of Namibia located in southwest Africa. His emphasis isn’t just on survival, but re-wilding and the survival of the earth. You can learn more about him here at his website: http://www.holisticsurvivalschool.com 

The training was supposed to take place over a weekend in the West Desert of Utah. I knew it wasn’t going to be an arduous ordeal where we’d be surviving on nothing; rather it was an educational opportunity to meet some new people, get back in touch with nature, and learn some primitive survival skills. Luke would be touching on two of the items I really wanted to learn more about (fire-making skills and herbal/edible plants), so I was stoked.

To set the scene, it had been raining off and on for the last two weeks leading up to the training. The weather forecast called for a medium chance of showers, and cooler temperatures and they weren’t joking. We got out to the site and started to set-up, and it rained off and on the entire day. The temperature dropped to the 40’s and we found ourselves sitting by the fire and socializing for the majority of the first night.

Snow dropped on us and the temperature dropped even further during the night, making for a restless sleep. I had packed for chill and rain, but obviously not for the kind of cold snap that occurred. The next day, it was sprinkling off and on, and we started talking about plants. Instead of just diving right into different plants that could be found in and around the mountainous areas of Utah, Luke broke it down into what kind of plants could be used medicinally based upon the type of issue occurring with your skin/body, and the taste/smell of the plant. It was almost a basic usage that would work the majority of the time and was great because you might not know what kind of plant it is, but based on some characteristics, you can surmise what it can do to help you. I would suggest attending his training for that knowledge alone.

It was shortly after that block that the rain started to pour down on us. We broke for lunch to see what would happen, but it was apparent that it didn’t have any intention of stopping any time soon. We had a couple folks in the group who were scheduled to fly out the next morning, and we didn’t want to get stuck up in the mountains and have them miss their flight. The road to get up to the site was narrow and muddy, and the rain was just making it worse. We finally decided to call it quits and reschedule for another time. Oddly enough, we made it down the mountain fine, but the car I was in got stuck in the mud on a dirt road near a field. We got out, but it took a lot of persistence and mud baths. 

The reschedule day was very nice with it being sunny and cool enough to be comfortable. This is when we went hard into primitive fire-making skills. Luke taught us some different wood combinations that work well together, and some to avoid. He broke down the steps and theory behind making a “nest” to put the coal into, as well as how to properly hand drill and bow drill. First things first, as Luke said at the class, DO NOT RELY ON PRIMITIVE METHODS to start a fire. They should be used as a last resort. That’s why it’s imperative that you have a couple different methods of making a fire with you. Everything has to be just right when using a primitive method. The materials and weather were ideal, and it took me 1.5 hours to get a fire going with a bow drill. Granted, it was my second attempt in my lifetime to try and do this (the first attempt was an utter failure) and there were a lot of hiccups and training moments. However, it was very elating to get that fire going finally. From now on, whenever I go camping, I’ll be practicing to try and get better. 

We finished up with more herbals and reinforced some of the knowledge that was taught on the first day. All in all, it was great training and I would recommend taking a class from Luke if you get a chance. He has a laid back teaching method, but is still very thorough. It’s obvious he knows what he’s talking about because he’s had to rely on his skill in real-life situations. Plus, he’s just an all-around cool guy with some fun stories. If you see him, asking what the bonus C stands for in his C’s of survival, probably one of my favorite and something I’ll take with me camping/hunting from now on.