Trip Report: Out For Squirrels 10/10/15 – 10/11/15
I know it’s been some time since I posted, but not to worry. I’ve been getting out and doing the usual trips, I just haven’t had time to write any posts because I’ve been busy with house stuff. Here is...
View ArticleFire and The Modern Woodsman
Some time ago I started writing about a concept I called The Modern Woodsman. The idea itself was nothing new, but I felt that it needed to be reiterated and it’s existence pointed out. In short this...
View ArticleMy Favorite Cold Weather Exploration Books
Winter is just around the corner, and and my mind has been drifting towards undertaking different, foolish, cold weather adventures. When I am in such a mood, I often go back to books on the subject...
View ArticleTrip Report: Bailey Cemetery 11/14/15 – 11/15/15
It’s still a week before deer season opens around here, so I decided that while waiting I would just go and relax in the woods. After some searching over the maps, I noticed that there was a marking...
View ArticleTrip Report: Opening Days of Deer Season 11/21/15 – 11/22/15
I usually try to keep the trip reports to one per month at most because I know they can get boring, but this month I figured I would do a second one because this past weekend was the opening of deer...
View ArticleSurvivorman Season 7: Survivorman Is Back, But Forgot to Tell Anyone
Hey guy, did you know Survivorman is back? Well, he is, but no one would blame you if you had no idea. Season 7 of Survivorman premiered earlier this month, to virtually no promotion. It has been...
View ArticleSolo Stove Lite Kit Review
Last month I was contacted by the manufacturer of a portable wood burning stove called the Solo Stove. They provided me with a stove and pot set free of charge, and I agreed to review it. The stove was...
View ArticleThe First Solo Unsupported Crossing Of Death Valley
This post is a bit delayed, as the crossing occurred early in November 2015, but I wanted to put some focus on the expedition. Because of my location, I often focus on cold weather achievements, and...
View ArticleVideo Series Highlight: Ask Paul Kirtley
For quite some time now I have been following the writings of Paul Kirtley, for whom I have great respect as a person and as a woodsman. For those of you who are not familiar with him, Paul is a UK...
View ArticleVenison Jerky Recipe
After shooting a good size deer this season, I still have a large supply of venison in my freezer. I’ve been thinking of ways to use it. This weekend I had the idea of making some venison jerky. I was...
View ArticleTrip Report: Beaver Pond Duck Hunting 12/19/15 - 12/20/15
I didn’t really have any particular trip in mind for this month’s trip report, so this past weekend I figured I would take advantage of one of the last duck hunting weekends to get out and give it a...
View ArticleHow to Camp Out, by John M. Gould
These past few months I have been doing a bit of reading on 19th century camping, and I came across the above book. It was first published in 1877, and contains one of the earliest discussions I have...
View ArticleDual Survival Returns For Season 7 With New Hosts
That’s right folks, Dual Survival is coming back for another season. It was very surprising when The Discovery Channel canceled the show after the alleged issues with co-host Joe Teti (have a look...
View ArticleClassic Backpacking: Concept and Theory
For several years now I have been writing and trying to practice a concept that I have been referring to as The Modern Woodsman. At its base is the assertion that woodsmanship did not end or peak at...
View ArticleTrip Report: Classic Backpacking 1/1/16 - 1/3/16
“The man who goes afoot, prepared to camp anywhere and in any weather, is the most independent fellow on earth. He can follow his bent, obey the whim of the hour, do what he pleases whenever he...
View ArticleClassic Backpacking Gear - Packs
The first piece of Classic Backpacking gear that I would like to discuss is the pack. I want to point to some things that I have discovered during my research, and to tell you what I use as an...
View ArticleClassic Backpacking Gear - Shelters
The next piece of gear I want to discuss in the context of Classic Backpacking is shelters. The amount written on the subject by authors of the time period is quite large, so here I will try to hit the...
View ArticleClassic Backpacking Gear - Blankets
Along with the “canvas tarp”, the blanket is one of the most integral parts of the myth of the woodsman. While it is correct that for warm weather most woodsmen in the time period between 1880 and 1930...
View ArticleTrip Report: Classic Backpacking 1/24/16 - 1/25/16
This advice is not intended for the tenderfoot, for he should never attempt to "rough it," and that is just what it means to "travel light," for when making long journeys over land, carrying the...
View ArticleClassic Backpacking Gear: Cutting Tools
In this post I want to focus on butting tools which would have been available to and used by woodsmen during the Classic Backpacking period of 1880 through 1930. As with shelters, actual choices by...
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