Ray Mears shuns life with the in crowd
Survival expert Ray Mears has travelled to the four corners of the globe in his quest for knowledge — but could he cope out in the famously unforgiving Highlands? Ahead of a talk he will be giving in Perth, Kirsten Johnson learns what inspired the intrepid adventurer and picks up some top tips on how to make the most of Scotland's dramatic scenery.
- By Kirsten Johnson
- Published in the Courier : 18.09.10
- Published online : 20.09.10 @ 06.31pm
Photo by Electric Egg
It is almost 40 years since television's bushcraft guru Ray Mears spent his first night alone in the wild.
Unable to afford camping equipment but desperate not to return home when darkness fell, the Surrey schoolboy improvised, gathering bark and twigs to make a fire like his fictional hero Robinson Crusoe. Though he was only a few miles from suburbia, kept awake by passing planes and the rumble of heavy goods lorries, the experience was an epiphany.
"Sleeping outdoors under the stars for the first time on my own was completely exhilarating and quite addictive," he says. "From then on I couldn't get enough time outdoors, I only came inside for dinner and even then I would take a little food with me in my rucksack."
The woodland surrounding his hometown of Kenley became a playground. Developing a unique understanding and respect for the local environment, he learned how to track foxes and distinguish edible plants from their poisonous relatives — skills he still uses when filming.
Around the same time, Ray met a man he refers to only as 'Kingsley' — a larger-than-life judo teacher who fought behind enemy lines in Burma during the second world war. The veteran taught Ray to challenge conventional wisdom and practices and would tell him, "You don't need equipment — you need knowledge to survive in the wild." The importance of generating maximum efficiency from minimum effort was another of his themes — a simple principle that has become enshrined in Ray's bushcraft philosophy.
"I owe a lot to Kingsley. We met when I was around seven years old — at a time when I was a sponge for knowledge — and he encouraged me to follow my dreams," Ray says.
With more than a hint of admiration audible in his unmistakably serious voice, he continues, "You don't survive soldier-to-soldier combat in a foreign land like he did without being extraordinary. He was a strong, brave man and his stories remain with me to this day."
Ray admits his primary school years were somewhat different to the generation of today, who are too often kept indoors in front of a computer screen. A staunch opponent of the "couch potato" lifestyle, he hopes his own documentaries encourage youngsters to "get out in the open".
"I definitely had a passion for the outdoors from a very young age but you certainly didn't get all the video games and TV channels you do now. I really think living a digital lifestyle is very unhealthy, both physically and mentally — you cannot develop properly in that environment. Our ancestors lived off the land; it is vital for us to get fresh air and experience real-life situations.
"Computer games create a type of frustration that is a lot more dangerous than most things we experience outside."
Ray is also fairly old-fashioned when it comes to TV. An expert rather than a good-looking "boy scout" — like he once described his biggest rival Bear Grylls — he believes certain channels exaggerate the fear factor to make for a good "show".
"Unfortunately it's all become a bit Hollywood," he says. "There always has to be some sort of threat and then a dramatic resolution, which I do not agree with. I have always wanted my TV series and books to highlight the real thing — you don't have to have a script.
"I want to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to go out with a tent and ensure they are prepared to deal with what they may come up against. I teach viewers how to make tools and find shelter but the most important thing anyone can bring with them is an open mind. The world is not as dangerous as we are made to believe, there is no need to be wrapped in cotton wool."
Hardship
In his 20 years in front of the camera, Ray has spent a great deal of time with indigenous tribes. In his 2008 hit series Ray Mears Goes Walkabout he visited Kimberley in north-west Australia and embraced the traditional Aboriginal way of life. It is a topic he speaks about with great enthusiasm.
"The native people had a deep stoicism and were able to deal with hardship, such as drought, with real strength. They believe it is their duty to protect the land and deeply respect it, meaning it respects them in return. Now when I visit Australia I see it through the eyes of an Aborigine, which makes it feel like home. I learned so many things from the native people I get frustrated in the cities and want to flee to the bush."
During his time in Canada for Northern Wilderness, he saw first-hand how the emerging western culture was beginning to make people ill. He journeyed to various regions looking to learn particular ancient skills but found many had been lost when elders passed away prematurely.
Continued...
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