Hi, I need advice. Me and a couple friends have been thinking about running away and living in the woods. I know we can do it, cuz we have run away before. We lived on weed, hot dogs, and we even got a couple of rabbits (slingshot). I'm not a vegetarian by the way. We did find a nice stream with some fruit. We tried making a home-shelter- there but we smoked too much and got lazy. we were gone for a month and we survived. iwant to know if we should have another go, and try again. the feeling of freeness is sooooo good. should we have another go?????
if you have to ask then you are not ready.....perhaps maybe you and your friends should just go out camping more ..to get that freedom for now and to learn the skills needed to survive out on your own....
allright. but i just wanted to know what those whose oppinions i cared about thought. I am completely ready to go, i just wondered if it was wise. Thx, tho.
you're pretty young for it, I'd focus more on doing some camping trips (get better food though...), and maybe when you're old enough (an adult in your state, probably 18), you can go without worrying about parents freaking out. But maybe your parents don't care. Still, I know if I'd taken off when I was 14 the cops would have been called within a day or so to find me...which is legal since you're still a minor. I say, wait a while, get some more wisdom, then make your move. It can be a dangerous world out there and you probably aren't really prepared for it at your age, mentally if not physically.
I hope you change your mind because it does not sound like you are ready for such an adventure yet. Nature can be beautiful but she can also be cruel when she wants to be. There are lots of ways to get dead (or seriously injured) in the wilderness. That is definitely not a good sign. Your age has already been discussed in above posts so I wont repeat it here. I do want to point out that I get the feeling from your post that you are running away from something and not running to something. It just does not seem to me that you wish to embark on this adventure because you love the outdoors and nature in general. In stead, it seams that you are running away from something be it: parental rules, school, or something more specific. To put it plain running away seldom solves anything. Finally, this is a bad time of year (Winter)for an inexperienced camper/hiker. However, if you are intent on this journey here are some books you can check out at your local library or bookstore: The Psychology of Wilderness Survival, Gino F. Ferri Wilderness Living and Primitive Skills, John and Geri McPherson Bushcraft, Mors Kochanski Outdoor Survival Skills, Larry Dean Olsen Any of the Peterson Field Guides (wild edibles, etc.)
From what you have written I would say you are not ready. The last time you did it you got lucky. My advice would be to get some training in wilderness survival and do a few camps. Nature has a way of pulling off some very cruel tricks on you. It gets me when people say nature is beautiful and have this rather blase attitude towards it. Personally I think nature is beautiful, don't get me wrong. But I also know she can be very cruel and will kill you in the most violent way posible. Matt
In all honesty, I would very much love to tell you to do your own thing; if you can get by and enjoy yourself while doing it, then why the hell not go for it? Unfortunately, I just worry for your parents. I know that I would easily hop on the next Greyhound and get the hell out of this town if it weren't for that! It sounds really lame, but your parents do really love you, and I would hate for them to suffer. So maybe wait a year or two, then have all the freedom you can take! PS: Unless, of course, your parents tell you they really don't care. In that case, good luck, have fun, and stay safe! And careful not to do anything too too stupid (ie: throw rocks at a house you find in the woods, or at a bear...)
