For the vast majority of human existence the skills of adventuring were simply the skills of continued survival. The essentials of water, shelter and food were as natural to us a breathing, indeed our ancestors had such a comprehensive knowledge of the natural world that there is good evidence to show they had bigger brains than we do now.
The skills of exploration were key to our success, navigation, communication, teamwork and adaptability enabled us to expand our range to almost every part of the Earth.
I think we still have that sense of adventure in us, it’s the reason we watch survival programs on the television, or go camping, or fishing or just go to the beach, there’s a part of us that yearns for that raw connection with the wild, a part of us that just knows that we should know these things.
I’ve always been fascinated by the skills and the equipment of adventuring, I put it all down to the influence of Action Man in my childhood.
Here at Perfect Rucksack we explore the skills, the equipment and the spirit of adventuring in simple steps to help find and expand the edges of your comfort zone and perhaps to feel more alive and present in your body and in your world.
Jonny KEMP
THE ELEMENTS
Perfect Rucksack is a physical rucksack filled with tools, gear and equipment but more than that, it is a philosophical rucksack filled with skills, principles and ideas. The Perfect Rucksack logo depicts alchemical symbols for the four elements: Air, Earth, Fire and Water. This is the framework for sharing my thoughts and interests with you, the gateways to witnessing our beautiful World.
A tiny bit of our atmosphere photographed from about 38”000.
AIR
The cocktail of gasses that we refer to as air, is the first and fundamental element of life. In pure survival terms we can last about 4 minutes without air and then we’re done.
Image of Earth taken by a NASA camera on the DSCOVR satellite.
EARTH
The second priority of survival (after Air) is shelter and in the PerfectRucksack circle of elements this falls under the title of Earth.
A warm and welcome campfire on a cold evening on Misty Lake, Algonquin, Canada.
FIRE
Fire must surely be the defining element in the evolution of our species, our control of fire gave us many things.
The PerfectRucksack Canadian expedition team playing in the cool waters of Algonquin.
WATER
Seven tenths of the Earth is covered with water (about 71%) and it is responsible for the presence of life here.
