Even if primordial the art of Tracking is still utterly valuable in our everyday life. Reading tracks (and signs, although microscopic sometimes!) of men, animals and vehicles allow us not only to collect essential data to reconstruct what happened in a specific time/place frame and why, but also to reinforce our situational awareness and, consequentially, to avoid mishaps or, even worse, dangers we may encounter. Home security could be a remarkable field to test your expertise in reading tracks.
The benefits related to the use of this Art vary from a functional application to the Law Enforcement Dimension (specifically, Border Patrol Units quite daily resort to it during the detection of any illegal infiltration), Forensic (in order to recreate what exactly happened inside the crime scene) as well as Wildlife Conservation.
Not to mention Search and Rescue Teams: those who can count on the presence of trained Trackers have demonstrated, in fact, not only a larger success in finding missing subjects, but also an abundance in terms of resources at zero cost.
By saying that, far from being a dead one, this Science can bring great benefits in our ordinary lives too, since she is extremely powerful, as I often remark in my videos and during my classes and webinars.
I didn’t use this adjective by chance: being a Tracker, infact, means to grow, nourish and maintain (especially in tough times like these, so impacted by Covid-19) a specific mindset which is founded on
- CONSISTENCY
- ACCURACY
- EXPERTISE
- FUNCTIONALITY
- PREPARDNESS
Starting from a proper observation of the area the Tracker finds him/herself in, the individual, in fact, is able to collect precious data from the ground, knowing how many persons (and/or animals-vehicles) have passed, approximately when and even noticing anything odd which could be missed by other eyes (and minds).
Like a detective, the Tracker gather the pieces and puts the parts of the puzzle together and he/she moves on, on the tracks of the subject/s.
If this may sound you fair away from your everyday necessities, I kindly invite you to consider this art in combination with home security: situational awareness is the cornerstone of securing your property, as I stressed out in this video. By that, I mean outdoor and indoor places.
As a matter of fact, if you know how to track, you can detect any illegal infiltration inside your home, establishing when it occurred and how many individuals took part of it. Sounds pretty good, isn’t it? Plus, you can recognize which species of animals approached your vegetable garden during the night and dawn and, consequentially, you can understand how to handle them.
Developing a skill in tough times like these, due to the spreading of COVID-19, requires dedication as well as a good dose of courage. I won’t hide you that, but if you are currently focused on saving your money because you are fearing an economical collapse, let me tell you that among all the primitive skills, Tracking requires quite a minimal gear paired, at the same time, with a large amount of experience and training, the so called “dirt time” in the Trackers’ code.
Besides a measuring device to measure tracks (and I am pretty sure we all have one!), a flashlight (to enhance prints laid in shady areas or during the night), we just need an inquisitive and accurate mind, a good capacity of observation, perseverance, honesty and patience.
You can develop your skills at home, taking advantage of the lockdown to make practice – and mistakes too. Because Trackers are all trained, not bor, as Paul Kirtley wisely said once.
This Art could make the difference in any hardship and it is pretty much at easy reach whenever you may need it to secure your own property and goods by illegal infiltration.
As always, knowledge weights nothing!
Guest Author
Kyt Lyn Walken is the official European representative and instructor for Hull’s Tracking School (Virginia, USA), and she is a certified Conservation Ranger for C.R.O.W. (Conservation Rangers Operations Worldwide). She has been an outdoors and tracking enthusiast since childhood. She is free lance writer for several magazines based in US and UK. Kyt lives and works in Europe even if she often travels overseas, and can be contacted at www.man-tracking.com
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