Camp Tramps, Loners, and Hermits

Camp Tramps, Loners, and Hermits

Everyone is trying to survive and attempting, in some form, to be independent by being as self reliant as they know how.

Over the years, I have run into many dozens of “camp tramps”, folks who live a life as a nomad, sometimes moving the camp a only a few yards, to a few miles. Sometimes they are recognized by their well used gear or in some cases worn out to tatters gear. When a camper pulls stakes, he is leaving the camp ground. The vigilant camp tramp will will run over and check out the location to see if anything usable was left behind. If it is a state park, and they have that little post that says how long the stay is, and if campers left early, the camp tramp will move his camp to that location. He might gain a few days or a week. They also do a lot of trash can foraging. I still have a few bolo ties one camp tramp sold as a way to make bucks. He carved out a ducks head and painted it. I talked with this person over the course of several days and he told me how he moved about. He said The trick was not to make his camp look really “lived in”, and not to be hanging around the camp ground all the time. “look like any other tourist who is camping”, he said. He has been kicked out of many camp grounds because he got complacent. He also said if the pine pigs caught him trying to sell anything he was kicked out right away. Sometimes the do gooders reported him, even after he sold them something. Regardless, he liked his way of life.

I have seen many camp tramps. Some of them have lost homes, a so called good job, and are down and almost out, but still surviving, and practicing to be as self reliant as they know how to be with no funds to speak of. They are really just on the edge of being a Feral Woodsman but dont know it.

Hermits are all across he country and number in the thousands. To be a hermit doesnt mean they shun company, but mostly shy away from it. In the Nevada area of Parhump, I was doing a little gold nugget metal detecting and wandered way back into the desert. As I was coming around an outcropping, I almost ran into a guy. We were both startled. I sat with him a while and just chatted He had been out there for over 30 years. Previously, he had been a professor, but when his wife had an affair he packed up and came to Nevada, he was originally from Ohio. I took what he said with a grain of salt, of course, but he then invited me to his abode, his words. It was an older Airstream travel trailer. The out side had all kinds of junked mining equipment, all rusty and just crap. We went inside the “abode” and sure enough hanging on the walls were all his degrees. His place was clean and neat. I asked him how he lived? He said he took all the old mining junk he found, slapped a coat of varnish on them, and drove his old truck to the highway and set up to sell. He told me tourists will buy anything if they are from the east. He stated he only needed to make 3 or 4 hundred bucks a year. His old beater truck, a 48 Chevy, had no plates and he said he never got a drivers licence and the coppers seemed to let him slide. He never got a dime from any other source. I asked him how he got the Airstream to this location, he towed it in and blew up the road. So, here is a man who really dropped out and would be a prime candidate for a Feral Woodsman, or a Feral Desertman. He said the only folks he saw was when he went to town for a few pounds of flour and other goods to cook with. He did a lot of hunting and foraging. The tourists didnt talk too much and only sold his items a few times a year. He never drove the old truck on pavement he was always on dirt roads… Very interesting fellow. He was pretty dang close to being a Feral Woodsman.

The loners can be found in the middle of a city and stay to themselves, much the same as a hermit, but seem not to be able to deal much with anything social. I think they are in higher numbers than we might think. They are found in a lot of out of he way locations as well—We have a lot of them in the high desert. I spied one older fellow riding a bike, in the heat of summer, so I stopped and asked if he wanted to put his bike in my truck and I would give him a ride. His answer was classic. He thanked me for stopping and said he just wanted to be left alone. Now and then, I see him on his bike and he waves.

The true recluse is another animal all together. Mostly not at all friendly and they dont care much how they look. The unabomber might have fit that mold. I have run into the type many times and just dont say a word unless they do. I dont have much info on them so wont comment anymore than this.

So it seems that a lot of the people out there are just on the fringe of the Feral Woodsman’s life style

and don’t even know it. Becoming a Feral Woodsman is a choice, just like any other one might make in a life time. It has some negatives and positives like all life styles. However, it might take more moxy than other choices, which is why I caution that you should start off slowly gaining your skills and strength. After all, what we are proposing here is not much different than some of the folks mentioned in this Article. An adjustment in attitude will be major.

In the western states we have what is called BLM land ( Bureau of Land Management), and you can hunt and fish and get a camping permit that is good for 6 months. During that time, you could be exploring and finding your place of operation. You might meet up with some local drop outs who can help with some skills, as well. I would take the time to get as much training and to hone your skills. I know a lot of folks who think they are very good outdoorsmen, but cannot create a decent fire lay, much less know a variety of them; moreover, don’t know really how to cook. Owning those skills alone could make it much more pleasant in the Feral Woodsman’s life.

In the book about “Sylvan Hart , the Last Mountain Man” you will find a lot of information about being alone. It also seems he had many girl friends. His story is very amazing, and a good read. Shows what you can do. Next we will cover the what and how by learning and owning the skills you will need to be a Feral Woodsman. A pioneer in the Feral Woodsmans lifestyle.