Welcome to HTB
I’d like to welcome you to How To Bushcraft, a website and social media community focused on survival, crafting skills, and all-things nature.
My name is Ben. I’m an engineer, musician, aspiring outdoorsman (though not very skilled at time of writing - more on this later), and above all a father and husband. I grew up in Upstate New York, right at the base of the Adirondack Park near Lake Sacandaga. In my youth, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time outdoors in nature, exploring the woods, and creating forts behind my grandparents’ house.
“..enjoyed spending time outdoors in nature, exploring the woods, and creating forts..”
Building campfires, and staring into them on a late Summer night, were a pastime for me. In sunshine, rain, or snow, outside was my happy place. While I never hunted, I liked to head to the woods or Fish & Game clubs for firearm target practice (rifle, shotgun and pistol). Fishing has always been a part of my life as well, with (seasick) memories of deep-sea charters and local pond fishing. My grandfather and I learned how to fly fish together on the West Canada Creek and Kaydeross, and took fishing trips into the Adirondacks on Tuesdays for a summer or two.
After graduation from college my time outdoors lessened. I was focused on my time indoors, behind a desk, or exploring Boston and its suburbs. While living the city life and focusing my career aspirations were timely and beneficial, I began to notice something was missing from my identity. I spent more time in Medford, Somerville, and Cambridge, MA, and eventually met my beautiful wife in Boston. Thankfully, she loved to travel (especially internationally) and would hike Mount Washington (NH) every year with her father, so I knew that we would find trips and activities to enjoy together.
We went to Iceland in March of 2017, which was magical in every aspect. Peru in May of 2018, which is where I proposed (Inca Trail overlooking Machu Picchu). Then, to Kenya (Masai Mara) and Seychelles for our honeymoon in late 2019. Seeing the world, and more specifically “nature” throughout parts of the world, I found new energy, excitement and interest for being out in the elements in beautiful outdoor environments. It was around this time that I found myself scrolling through Instagram feeds at night of bushcrafters.
“..I found myself scrolling through Instagram feeds at night of bushcrafters.”
First, I created an Instagram account, then a logo, then a landing page for a website (that would go on to display “Coming Soon!” for 5+ years). Other than some simple Boy Scouts knowledge and good old “trial-and-error” I didn’t really have any training or formal knowledge to speak of for bushcrafting, camping, and other related subjects. I didn’t want to come off as a poser, but instead I wanted to invite social media and friends to “learn with me”. I thought that others may resonate with this journey of discovery and enlightenment for survival and crafty skills.
I was slow to the races to produce content, often not having a time or place for actually practicing bushcrafting in the wild. Then, it happened. The COVID pandemic hit the world in 2020, and turned everything on its head. It kept us indoors (for better or worse) and it was increasingly more difficult to be active. I had yearned for having more nature in my life again, something that I had been missing since childhood.
“..I had yearned for having more nature in my life again, something that I had been missing since childhood.”
We found a property we could afford in Southern New Hampshire during the summer of 2020; a starter home that continues to be where we live today. I love Boston, however I could tell that living in New Hampshire felt more similar to the place of my upbringing. As able, we took trips for hikes in the White Mountains and went on walks through nature closer to home. Still, I was slow to producing the amount of content that this type of community needs, and especially during such times of unknowns, worldly/societal imbalance, and fear.
Looking back, the pandemic would have been the most prime and relevant era for putting 110% into a survival and bushcrafting community and resource, however in the moment it was just not feasible with other priorities and challenges.
Looking ahead, I’ve finally (after 5+ years) regained the drive and motivation to get this website started and work on gathering content again for like-minded people that want to help each other gain skill sets and autonomy for bushcrafting, camping, survival, and several more engaging topics.
Thank you, and welcome to How To Bushcraft.
-Ben
