The EDGE May 2009
I have been emailing clients this beautiful autumn morning when I came across an e-mail from Darren. Darren, along with his brother Rick signed up and completed The EDGE challenge – May 2009. Darren had e-mailed this note when I was away at camp this last summer a couple of months after he attended his extreme survival camp.
What strikes me the most when we receive correspondence from our clients, is the affirmation that wilderness survival skills continue to make a huge and positive impact in peoples lives. This is why I began teaching wilderness survival and nature awareness in the first place.
The same positive and empowering impact these skills have had on our clients are the very same ones that I experienced when I first began my studies in wilderness survival, nature awareness, tracking, and Bushcraft many years ago. I have always maintained, that as guides, we only facilitate the interaction, the interface, between people and wildness. To submerge oneself in wilderness I reckon, is an experience akin to aliveness!
There is an old saying: You can bring a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. But for Darren and Rick, they both drank deeply and savored all that the moment offered.
“Hey Mark,
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to thank you again for an amazing experience at the edge camp. Rick and I had a great time learning about the wild and how to survive with nothing! It was great getting to know you, I wish we had more time. Maybe when Rick and I climb Shasta you can join us.I did receive the shirt and cigar, thanks a lot. People ask me about the shirt all the time. I hope business has been good this summer, you truly deserve a lot of credit for important teachings that you are instilling in people.I for one am a better person because of it.” ~ Darren D.
Thanks Darren & Rick!
Carlos S., drove all they way down from Portland Oregon to attend our Weekend Survival camp – 2009. We had a great time and did all the crazy stuff we do at camp. When Carlos returned home he dropped me an awesome testimonial of his experience with us and what was really wonderful, he sent us this picture passing his knowledge on to his children.. entitled ` “The legacy of your teaching.”
“Carlos here… from a few weeks back. Attached you will find evidence of your legacy 
I have always believed that the best way to cement knowledge is to pass it on to others. So I presented my kids with the challenge of creating a one-match fire. Starting with proper match-lighting technique (3 finger support, long fast stroke, wind shielding) and moving on to proper pyramid fire construction (tinder, kindling, etc). Encouraging healthy competition my kids went to work and all of them did very well in their own way. Ultimately my eldest son (14) ”won” with a beautifully executed performance. Thanks again for all that you share. I hope to learn more from you soon.” ~ Carlos S.
Weekend Survival Training with Carlos - 2009
Passing on the knowledge
Thanks Carlos!
