Survival I.

This is coolbert:

Devoted readers to the blog will understand that these headlines caught my attention right away.

Survival Russian style. As taught to the military.

NOT so much that wilderness survival skills are taught as to WHO is doing the teaching.

Old Believers of the Russian Orthodox Church!!

Old Believers adherents to a strict and ancient form of Russian Orthodoxy. Persons persecuted for many centuries and seeking refuge as far from the rest of humanity as possible. Refuge to include such a place being the Siberian northern arboreal forest. The taiga.

Old Believers not only able to exist in the taiga but thrive. Knowledgeable in all aspects of wilderness survival, live off the land if need be, and again not merely existing but thriving!!

1. "Siberian Old Believers teach Chinese officers to survive in taiga"

"Novosibirsk, June 13, Interfax - A military delegation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China has undergone a source of training for the special task force and alpines of the Russian army with instructors from a local Old Believer community on the foothill of Western Sayan on the border of Tuva and the Krasnoyarsk Territory"

. . . .

"The Old Believers taught the Chinese guests basic skills of surviving in the wild nature of Siberia: how to navigate the terrain, climb rocks and cross gorges and water obstacles, get fire, food and drinking water, organize a stay for the night, and give first medical aid.

"South Siberian Old Believers are skillful pathfinders, hunters and good economic people. They have lived by themselves, passing their traditions from generation to generation, for over three centuries."

2. "Old Believer bootcamp: Russian army learns survival skills from reclusive sect"

"Members of an isolated Orthodox community are teaching special forces how to navigate the Siberian wilderness,"

"A group of Russian special forces has emerged from a month-long training camp in the Siberian wilderness, led by members of a staunchly traditionalist religious sect."

See from this excellent You Tube video the type of life as led by the Old Believer in the taiga:

"Agafia. Hermit Surviving in Russian Wilderness for 70 years"

coolbert.