Where Did Outdoor Skills Go?

I find it interesting that some of the core skills for adventuring in wild places aren’t given much space in the outdoor market. The three big ones that come to mind are navigation, survival skills and leadership. I think there were a few things that happened that got us to our present state. 

First, as technology got better there has been an increased reliance on stuff instead of skills. It is easier to buy something and throw it in your pack than take the time to learn skills. This attitude is backed up by big marketing budgets in the outdoor gear space. Their job is to sell you stuff, not teach you how to use it. 

There was a time not that long ago, that you simply could not complete a backcountry hike without knowing how to use a map and compass. Now, many people are solely reliant on their phone or GPS which leaves them vulnerable. The prepared hiker may use a phone or GPS as their primary navigation tool, but also has a map and compass and knows how to use them. 

The other thing that I feel has led us to this current state of skills divorcement comes from the bushcraft and primitive living world. There is a whole community of people that are completely dedicated to learning and teaching these skills, especially the survival and primitive living skills. The problem is that they fail to apply it to the modern backcountry traveler. 

At NWJ we are trying to bridge that gap. We are trying to bring traditional wilderness skills and apply them to the modern outdoor adventurer.