TÝR Group 追踪课程体验

“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter. – Ernest Hemingway”

“猎杀什么都比不上猎杀人类，而那些猎杀上瘾的人，从此以后就不会对其他任何事都感兴趣了。”—– 海明威

Last month I was invited into the backcountry of Louisiana for a very unique outdoor adventure. I attended the TÝR GROUP 5 Day Combat/Tactical Tracker Course. To be honest, when I first heard of a combat tracker course I was a little confused. It conjured up a vision of an Indian sidekick like Tonto from the Lone Ranger putting his ear to the ground and spouting off about how many riders had passed 3 days ago. Were people still doing this? Where, and more importantly, why? A quick trip to theTÝR Group website gave me some insight, and it turns out tracking is alive and well. But what the hell is tracking?

上个月老子被邀请到路易斯安那州一个穷乡僻壤去参加一项独一无二的户外探险活动。TÝR GROUP（一家专业的战术培训公司www.tyrgroupllc.com）5天战斗/战术追踪课程。实话说，当我第一次听到这个战斗追踪课程的时候我有点疑惑。脑中浮现的是一个印第安独行侠把耳朵贴在地上然后说“唔有多少多少骑手3天前从这边路过”。那所谓追踪，现在还是这样吗？哪里会用到这些技能，更重要的是为什么会用到这些技能。翻了翻TÝR的网站，他们给到了一些信息，原来“追踪”这项技能不仅流传至今而且已经发展得更好了。但，追踪到底是个毛？

According to their website, “Tracking is the skill of following a person or animal by the signs they leave behind. When a man or animal moves over or through the natural environment, they alter the appearance of that environment and create disturbances in it. By detecting these disturbances or “sign”, and determining whether or not his quarry created it, a tracker is able to follow the quarry. Therefore, tracking, at it’s very basic level, is hunting. It’s not just about following footprints, it’s also about finding the quarry, and sign is the only evidence that the tracker has to confirm he is still following his subject. The main objective of a tracker is to find his quarry.”

根据他们的网站，“追踪，指利用人或者动物所留下的痕迹跟随他们的技能。”当人或动物在移动或通过自然环境的时候，他们会改变周遭环境，留下“标记”，通过发现、检测这些不一样的“扰动”和“标记”，确定是不是目标所留下的，追踪者就能追踪了。当然，追踪最基本目的是狩猎。不仅仅包括追踪足迹，同时也包括了发现目标（猎物），这些标志是追踪者确定是否还正确跟随目标的证据。 追踪者的最终目标，就是找到猎物。

OK, hunting people. Now they had my attention. As a lifelong hunter both on land and underwater, I have always had a fascination with such things, but how on earth would a combat tracker course apply to my modern life? Sure I like to hunt, hike, and camp. Why not learn something along the way? It turns out I learned a great deal more than I imagined.

好吧，原来他们教的是如何追踪人。我开始感兴趣了。作为一个一辈子海陆通吃的猎手，我总是对狩猎深感兴趣。但是如何将这战术追踪课程运用到我的日常生活中呢？我喜欢打猎，远足，露营这没有错。为什么不学一点相关的东西呢？事实证明，我在这里学到的东西远超我的预期。

My 5-day Combat/Tactical Tracker course was hosted by TÝR GROUP (pronounced “Tier”), which is a veteran owned and operated small business dedicated to providing realistic training and consulting services anywhere in the world. Our class was held predominantly around the Kisatchie National Forest, which is a 604,000-acre playground near Leesville, LA.

这5天的战斗/战术追踪课程由TÝR GROUP（TÝR读作“Tier” 胎压）主办。这是一家由退伍老兵所办的小型机构，提供世界范围专业训练与咨询服务。我们这堂课在利斯维尔附近面积达到604000英亩的Kisatchie国家森林中进行。

TÝR GROUP is aptly named for the Norse God of war. When you meet the founder and Lead Instructor, John Hurth, you will understand why. In full combat gear and camouflage face paint he is one seriously scary looking dude. In street clothes you might mistake the retired 23-year U.S. Army Special Forces Veteran for a mild-mannered College Professor. Make no mistake; while this guy is a mild-mannered fellow, I would not want him knocking on my door in the middle of the night with his team.

胎压机构被形象地称为北欧战神。当你见到了它的创始人和主教练John Hurth之后你就会明白这个称号的由来了。这家伙身着全套作战装备脸上涂着油彩，满脸严肃，看上去有点吓人。换了平时的着装，你可能以为这个从美军特种部队退休23年的老兵是个温和的大学教授。木有错，就算他是个温和的人，我也不希望他半夜带着他的队伍敲我家门。

I packed for 5-day camping trip, though on the ultra light side. The course guide said to prepare for 4 to 12 miles of hiking each day with full kit so I planned accordingly. Included on the required items list were individual weapon (rifle) in addition to food, water, etc. I was super stoked when I arrived at base camp and everyone seemed to follow the same program including camping hammocks which is the only way to go if you want to pack light.

我轻装了5天露营的装备。课程指导上说需要准备好每天4到12英里的负重远足为此我特别准备了一下。根据装备列表需要有个人武器（步枪）不带食物和水等等。当我到了大本营时我超级兴奋啊，其他人看上去也遵循了同样的原则，带着诸如露营吊床这种轻型装备。(装备参考请见《论一个侦搜队员的战术装备修养》：http://gearkr.com/?p=10293)

Day One started in our outdoor classroom with a full day focused on learning the basic the glossary of tracking terms as well as basic visual tracking techniques with a follow-up on human gait and track interpretation. Right out of the gate, I learned that there is a lot more to this whole thing than I would have ever thought. It’s a lot of information to absorb, but was laid out in a logical fashion with plenty of practical hands on (or feet on?) experience as the day went by.

第一天从户外教室开始，学了一整天基础、包括户外跟踪术语和基本的视觉侦查技巧，紧跟着是人类步态和轨迹讲解。一出门我就意识到这比我所想象的要繁杂许多。有很多信息要消化。但最重要的还是实践出真知，第一天就这么过去了。

Our practical laboratory for the day centered around the Tracking Pit. The Tracking Pit is roughly a 30’ X 30’ sandbox that is used to make tracks and study them. By the end of the day, we were able to not only distinguish unique characteristics about individual tracks, but also to interpret how they were made and what our quarry were up to; basically “tell a story” as to what was happened in the pit according to the tracks.

一整天我们都围绕着一个沙盒进行试验，这个沙盒差不多30*30大小，踩一脚然后就能研究脚印了。当这天结束的时候我们不仅能区分每个人脚印的特点而且能够说出这个脚印是怎么踩出来的甚至是我们的猎物要去干什么，基本上是围绕这个脚印能讲一个故事这个节奏。

After a night of trading war stories around the campfire, we were up early for Day Two and got right into the meat of the course. As it turns out, you learn to track by tracking. To add to the fun, we loaded up in a driving rain with combat kit and set off for a full day of “Fox and Hound” in the woods. We separated into two groups with one group taking off to lay track with our Assistant Instructor Spencer Alan Reiter. Yes, the famous knife maker of SAR Global Tool and well known beard wearing ball-breaker.

在一夜篝火边吹牛逼讲战地故事之后，我们起个大早开始直奔主题了（meat of the course餐中的肉食，意味主菜，口语博大精深）。用事实说明侦搜的意义。为了增强趣味性，我们在瓢泼大雨中全身武装准备在森林中进行一整天“狐狸与猎犬“的活动。我们分成两组，一组由助理教练Spencer Alan Reiter带领出发一路留下痕迹（被追踪队）。（助理教练是知名的刀匠 品牌：SAR GLOBAL TOOL） 

Meanwhile, the second group organized a tracking team to investigate the evidence and hunt them down. During our first full day of tracking we had our wise Instructor with us to help us interpret the signs and keep us on track when we got confused or the track got sparse. Within our combat tracking team we took turns rotating between team lead, team tracker as well as security for the patrol.

同时第二组组成了搜索队，搜索痕迹，并追捕第一队。经过这一整天的追踪，我们聪明伶俐的教练帮助我们解析痕迹，并在我们搞糊涂和痕迹变得稀疏难以辨认的时候确保我们在正确的跟踪路线上。一路上每个人在队长，搜索队员，警戒队员这几个职位中不停切换。（显然这里显示出一个侦搜小队中也有不同职责区分，专门负责警戒的专门负责痕迹勘探的等等）

As a team, we really got into the spirit of the hunt and really wanted to catch these guys. Unexpectedly, I found myself under pressure when it was my turn to track. As the team tracker you have follow quickly, but thoroughly and not miss anything that would throw us off and slow us down in our hunt. You start to feel the heat from your teammates when you don’t stay on track. I thought I was here for fun and I find myself deep in the woods with a bunch of guys hell-bent on hunting down another group and killing them while I’m sweating my ass off along the way. It was all in good fun of course.

作为一个团队，我们真的融入自己的角色，并且很想抓住第一队的那些家伙。在换我当搜索队员的时候我感到了压力。作为一个搜索队员时你必须迅速，果断但不能遗漏任何细节，搞得不好就会让队伍失去踪迹或使行动进行缓慢。如果你找不到痕迹你就会感到队友们鄙视的眼光。我一边一路汗流浃背一边想老子是来找乐子的，但其实我也发现和一帮急着搜寻另一队伍的大老爷们一起深入林子。这本来就是一件很有趣的事。

By Day Three we were feeling more confident in our tracking skills, so of course our Instructors decided to ratchet up the intensity level. The tracks started to get longer and tougher and we progressed. We all joked about how tough it was to find a lost track, but were amazed at how it instantly became “easy” when John was standing over us; just like magic we were back on track and hunting again.

到了第三天，我们明显对自己的追踪技巧更有信心了，然后我们的教官决定提高强度。追踪开始变得更艰难，持续时间也更久了。我们都开玩笑说这尼玛要找到个丢失的目标是有多难。但当John站在我们面前时追踪瞬间又变得简单起来。John找到追踪痕迹的本领简直就像是变魔术啊擦。

Back at camp we reviewed the days activities and debriefed on what we did right, as well as what we could have done better. One unexpected benefit from the course was meeting some really great guys along the way. Our class consisted of six people from all different walks of life. We had a couple of military veterans, a security contractor, a couple Louisiana Game Wardens (aka The Possum Police) and just some regular guys who showed up for fun and to learn a few things along the way. All in all it was a good mix of personalities that really added to the experience. The conversations from the campfire won’t be repeated here, but let’s say I laughed more in a few nights with this crew than I have in quite a long time.

回到营地后我们回顾了一整天的行动评价哪些做对了哪些做错了，还有神马我们可以做得更好的地方。让我意想不到的是因为这个课程让我认识了一帮不错的人。这堂课有六个来自不同生活背景的人。有一对退伍军人夫妇，一个承包商还有一对路易斯安那州的护林人夫妇（米国game wardens这个职业很有趣的，除了应对偷猎盗鱼等违法狩猎行为还有一定的执法权，可以捉坏人。此信息来自维基百科       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_warden）这些都是来找乐子的平常人顺带学点东西。总而言之，这次真是一个融合多种个性的奇妙体验。篝火晚会上吹的牛逼我就不再重复了，反正这几个晚上我笑得很开心。

Day 4 we were back on track but this time we were on our own hunting down our Instructors. Needless to say they upped the game considerably.

第四天我们再次踏上征程，但这次变成了我们独立追踪教官。不用说，档次一下子又上去了。

We followed a scenario where we were hunting down a group of enemy combatants after a firefight. One was wounded so a blood trail helped somewhat but there is nothing easy about tracking another man who does not want to be found.

这次是这样一个场景，我们在追上一伙武装敌人后进行了交火。我们需要追踪一个受伤流血的敌人。话虽如此，要追踪一个想要你找不到的人依然不是一件容易的事。

We had to bring all of our newfound skills to bear and work together as a cohesive team to just keep up with these guys. Of course, they do this for a living. It is hard to describe the absolute thrill to be on the hunt and see our team make progress and eventually catch up with the Instructors by the end of the exercise. It made the long hard day on the hunt totally worthwhile.

我们不得不运用到所学到的所有新技能，同时像一个真正的侦搜队那样团队协作以跟上目标。当然，他们是吃这口饭的（教官），很难形容我们一步一步取得进展并最后抓住了教官后所得到的快感。这种感觉让这一天艰难困苦的搜索都显得值得。

That evening we treated ourselves to a dinner out in town (sort of) at a local rest stop that offers some amazing Louisiana home cooking. If you are in the area of Pitkin, Strother’s Country Store serves a mean pork chop platter with fried green beans that people will fight over. Though I’m sure that after a few days in the bush we would have all been happy with a plate of dirt.

那天晚上，我们在本地镇上的一个休息站享用了晚餐，这里提供美味的路易斯安那家常菜。如果你在Pitkin地区，Strother乡村店铺有一种猪扒配新鲜豆子做的菜，好吃得打耳光都放不下啊哈哈哈哈哈！但我确定，在灌木从中呆了几天之后给我吃一盘土我们都开心得要命了。

The last day on the hunt we pulled it all together and again went on the hunt for our Instructors. This time they showed us no mercy and laid down a diabolical track. Again, we had to pull out all the stops to keep up and catch up with our tracking team patrolling hard. These practical tracking exercises were for me the highlight of the course. There is no better way to learn than through hands on experience, and John and his team did an incredible job of keeping us on our toes and engaged. It was by far the best learning experience that I have had in years.

最后一天，我们两队合并，继续追踪我们的教官。这次他们毫不仁慈，一路留下坑爹痕迹。我们不得不使出浑身解数跟上。这次实用的追踪演练对我来说是这次课程的亮点。没有什么比实战操作更能涨经验值的了。John和他的团队的出色的工作让我们不得不马不停蹄。这绝壁是今年我最好的体验了。

Back at camp late Friday afternoon we wrapped our final debrief, received our course completion certificates and Combat Tracker Patches. I can tell you that I now wear mine with pride knowing that it was earned, not given.

第五天下午我们回到大本营，并拿到了我们的小结，还有结业证书和侦搜臂章。我能自豪地说这臂章是老子挣来的哦，外面木有卖哦。

Looking back on the course as a whole I was impressed with not only the professionalism and thoroughness of our Instructors, but the learning experience as a whole was eye-opening. After the class, many of us have stayed in touch through social media and have all remarked on how we look at the world in a different light. Even a day at the beach with the family becomes a tracking exercise in my head now as I watch people walk and analyze their gait as well as footprint patterns. At home I can tell when my mailman has come with just a quick glance at the grass. Things I had never noticed before just jump out at me now. It’s like in the Matrix when Neo asked why his eyes hurt, and the reply is “because you are using them for the first time.” Yeah, it’s like that.

回顾整个课程，我不仅为教练的专业和缜密而感到震惊，同时也学到擦亮招子眼观四路的经验。回去之后，我们中很多人通过社交平台保持着联系，而令我难忘的是我用不一样的眼光去看待这个世界了。现在即使是带着家里人去海滩玩一天，在我脑子里也变成了侦搜演练，满眼都是别人的步态脚印。在家里我能瞥一眼草地就对家里人说邮递员来过了。从前我从未关注过的那些东西现在就像直接跳到我眼前那样显眼。就像黑客帝国里尼奥从母体中出来睁开眼后问：为什么老子的眼镜那么疼啊。然后被告知：这是你第一次用他们。就是这个feel倍儿爽！

The military application of modern tracking is outlined in detail in the  “Combat Tracking Guide”. It is written by none other than our Lead Instructor, John Hurth, and is the definitive guide on the subject. However, the real world application of these skills becomes more apparent when you consider some of my classmates.

For our two Louisiana Game Wardens, tracking armed felons is a common requirement in their line of work. Imagine another practical scenario where a child gets lost in the woods while on a family camping trip. Having a tracking capability would give local Law Enforcement an advantage that could easily save a life. The Search and Rescue Team at Yosemite National Park alone fields 200-250 emergency calls annually involving missing hikers. Even with all our modern GPS technology and fancy smartphones, the way most people get found is though human legwork. That is, the human advantage is what makes a difference in saving lives over technology. This is part of the core philosophy of the TÝR GROUP.

If you are interested in a challenging yet fun way to spend your next vacation doing something out of the ordinary outdoors,or if you are part of a LEO, SAR, or Military unit that would benefit from a tracking knowledge, get in touch with the team at theTÝR GROUP. You will not be disappointed! Oh, one more thing. If you plan to go make sure you grow your beard out first and above all other things do not wear orange pants!

“战术追踪指南“这本书中详细介绍了现代军事追踪的细节。本书作者当然就是我们的教官，大名鼎鼎的John Hurth。这本书也是侦搜技术的权威指南。而一些我同学在日常生活工作中使用所学知识的例子会让你更清楚地了解到这些技能的好处。

我们那两个路易斯安那的护林员在他们的工作中追踪武装罪犯是家常便饭。或者想象一另一个场景，当一家子野营的时候他们的孩子在森林中迷路了。如果你有侦搜技巧的话就能救一条性命了。优胜美地国家公园的搜救队每年要接到200-250个失踪徒步者的救援电话。就算我们有GPS和手机，这些迷路者最终还是被人力救出来的。这也是胎压机构核心理念的一部分：救援人员的能力远比救援的装备来的重要。

如果你想在下个假期里体验一把不一样的户外挑战和趣味。或者你是需要这些技能的LEO（执法人员）,SAR（The Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR)），军人。那就来和胎压机构学一下。童叟无欺哦！哦对了，如果你想去的话，先留一脸胡子，更重要的是：别穿橘色的裤子！

 

（括号内内容为译者查找资料或译注。水平有限欢迎提出错误及意见谢谢）

（原文来自http://motusworld.com/2013/11/tyr-group-combat-tracker-class/   本文翻译：@坏树三木）