Adahy
Kuksaholic
So I went for another overnighter with Kevin a couple days ago. We decided to camp next to this creek that we really like and used to play around when we were kids. I wanted to try out the MSS with my hammock this time. I was a little nervous about the cold, since hammocks help compress the under insulation and I'm too cheap at the moment for an underquilt.
I just learned how to start fire with flint and steel. This was a major goal of mine since I was a kid. It felt really good to get it, so this campout I was determined to get our fire going this way. I didn't have a lot of luck. So as the clouds would pass I'd put the flint down and grabbed the magnifying glass from my tinder kit while the sun was shining. It was funny seeing me switch back and forth. I forgot to bring charcloth so I broke out some amadou that I harvested from horse hoof fungus. This worked so well with the magnifying glass!
Kevin grabbed my camera to get some shots of my giving CPR to the tinder nest.
I think the hardest part of this fire lighting method is patience. I had to take some breaks because I'd get lightheaded from not getting enough O2. When blowing into the bundle, it's hard to remember to move it away from your face when you inhale. So new lesson learned!
After we set up camp we decided to walk some of the abandoned rails nearby. I've always been inspired by hobos and tramps and how they bushcraft. So the tracks were fun to scrounge around. We ended up finding tons of coal along the tracks. We used a couple pieces in the campfire.
Sucks to see garbage, but these were really neat to find. Mobil, citco, texaco... These could really be used in a survival situation.
Nothing is creepier to me than finding rolled up carpets in the woods. I just always think of Stand By Me, where they walk the tracks to find that body...
I decided to bring along my 1"auger. We decided on a bench to sit on since the ground was saturated.
For lunch I brought some sardines. This was new to me, but it will become a staple of my campouts.
Good eats.
I was curious to see how the Poncho would act as a hammock tarp. It was a little short, but luckily for me the weather was clear.
One of my other kuksa designs.
I found some downed oak from that noreaster I keep talking about. The branch shared a similar pattern to the axe helve I wanted to make so I got started using my roselli. I brought an extra axe head to work on. A decent flint edge.
True Temper Kelly Flint Edge - I think it came out amazing for carving the handle from memory! I was trying to visualize my gransfors handle. Yes that's a little blood spot. Adds character. It was fun making a wedge and wood mallet to complete this the right way. Oak isn't my favorite choice, but when you're out and about, you don't always get the best materials to work with. The head also needs some more work, it hasn't been sharpened yet, and the poll needs filing.
So far this was the coldest we've camped. It got close to 18-20 degrees at night. It was one of the brightest full moons I have ever witnessed. It was competing with my fire.
I'd have to say this was the best sleep I've ever had camping. Sleeping right up against the creek was so peaceful. Between the swaying of the hammock in the wind, the amazing warbling water sounds, and the crackle of the fire... I was in another world. [I posted a recording of this on my blog if interested] http://theaxeisboldaslove.tumblr.co...ide-in-a-hammock-in-new-york-in#disqus_thread
Look at that moonlight! I wrote in my journal with no headlamp this night.
When I got home I was dying to compare the handles.
Anyways, had to ramble... thanks for looking!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCIyCDhTL-Y
I just learned how to start fire with flint and steel. This was a major goal of mine since I was a kid. It felt really good to get it, so this campout I was determined to get our fire going this way. I didn't have a lot of luck. So as the clouds would pass I'd put the flint down and grabbed the magnifying glass from my tinder kit while the sun was shining. It was funny seeing me switch back and forth. I forgot to bring charcloth so I broke out some amadou that I harvested from horse hoof fungus. This worked so well with the magnifying glass!
Kevin grabbed my camera to get some shots of my giving CPR to the tinder nest.
I think the hardest part of this fire lighting method is patience. I had to take some breaks because I'd get lightheaded from not getting enough O2. When blowing into the bundle, it's hard to remember to move it away from your face when you inhale. So new lesson learned!
After we set up camp we decided to walk some of the abandoned rails nearby. I've always been inspired by hobos and tramps and how they bushcraft. So the tracks were fun to scrounge around. We ended up finding tons of coal along the tracks. We used a couple pieces in the campfire.
Sucks to see garbage, but these were really neat to find. Mobil, citco, texaco... These could really be used in a survival situation.
Nothing is creepier to me than finding rolled up carpets in the woods. I just always think of Stand By Me, where they walk the tracks to find that body...
I decided to bring along my 1"auger. We decided on a bench to sit on since the ground was saturated.
For lunch I brought some sardines. This was new to me, but it will become a staple of my campouts.
Good eats.
I was curious to see how the Poncho would act as a hammock tarp. It was a little short, but luckily for me the weather was clear.
One of my other kuksa designs.
I found some downed oak from that noreaster I keep talking about. The branch shared a similar pattern to the axe helve I wanted to make so I got started using my roselli. I brought an extra axe head to work on. A decent flint edge.
True Temper Kelly Flint Edge - I think it came out amazing for carving the handle from memory! I was trying to visualize my gransfors handle. Yes that's a little blood spot. Adds character. It was fun making a wedge and wood mallet to complete this the right way. Oak isn't my favorite choice, but when you're out and about, you don't always get the best materials to work with. The head also needs some more work, it hasn't been sharpened yet, and the poll needs filing.
So far this was the coldest we've camped. It got close to 18-20 degrees at night. It was one of the brightest full moons I have ever witnessed. It was competing with my fire.
I'd have to say this was the best sleep I've ever had camping. Sleeping right up against the creek was so peaceful. Between the swaying of the hammock in the wind, the amazing warbling water sounds, and the crackle of the fire... I was in another world. [I posted a recording of this on my blog if interested] http://theaxeisboldaslove.tumblr.co...ide-in-a-hammock-in-new-york-in#disqus_thread
Look at that moonlight! I wrote in my journal with no headlamp this night.
When I got home I was dying to compare the handles.
Anyways, had to ramble... thanks for looking!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCIyCDhTL-Y
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