Bushcraft Fire-making Attempt #1

I've become intrigued in learning some bushcraft skills. Today I decided to try my hand at fire-making. So with just my Swedish Mora Knife and a length of paracord I headed off to the woods behind my house.

Lots of pine but I did locate some dead soft wood of some sort. (I've realized how important tree identification is to be successful at this endeavor).

I was very comfortable with the knife and soon was using the baton method for cutting and trimming. It was actually easier than I thought it would be to shape the three pieces of wood for this technique.

My goal this time was to simply produce a gloawing coal. It took some practice to keep the spindle turning and for the cord not to slip. I realized I was pressing too hard on the hand-piece.

I did find my groove and before too long I actually had some smoke going! I managed to create a nice pile of dark dust, but no ember... According to my book I didn't go at it long enough. And I'm not confident about my wood selection either. The materail I've read on the topic recommends wood that isn't indiginious to this area. I need to find out what to use around here AND learn how to identify it!

I ran out of time and had to stop. I did feel good about my abilities to shape the wood into the necessary parts and about getting lots of smoke going. I think I'll get it... eventually.

SCORE!

Heet for 25 cents! Regular $1.37!
Put me down for four.

The Braves are in Gwinnett!

I've watched this sweet stadium literally come up out of the ground during my commute this year. Now I gotta get in one of those seats and eat a hot-dog.

I'm not really getting old

Even though I'm excited about my new multi-grain hot cereal with milled flaxseed and soy. And I added some apples I just dehydrated. Very good! I believe I've found my new go-to breakfast for backpacking.

Scott Hearn
From my mobile device

Have you tried one of these yet?

This is the Excelerator. It's a new type of hand dryer in bathrooms. This is about the fourth one I've seen. They definitely get your hands dry.

Ouch

Of all the times I've worn trail-running shoes backpacking, this is the first time I've done anything like this. The bummer is I did it before we even got on the trail! We still did 10 miles. It really didn't bother me until I looked at it.... after we got back.

Yeah, it does kind of look like your aunt's ankle.

Hanging Out

I finally had a chance to use my new MacCat Deluxe Tarp from Outdoor Equipment Suppliers with my Hennessy Hammock. I was a little concerned becuase it was forcast to be the low 40's and I'd never used my hammock when it was that cool. I took alony my "silver burrito" emergency bivvy-sack, my double-wide 1/4" closed-cell pad and a cheap fleece throw, all to use as insulation underneath me. I took my 40 degree Ray-Way homemade quilt to cover up with.







The tarp worked great, especially with my new homemade tensioners. The tarp stayed taunt all night! And even though the temperature got down in the mid to upper 30's I stayed toasty all night.

The more I hang, the more I like it. For me is really beats the ground.

More Pictures from Israel

I've uploaded another 815 pictures from my Israel & Rome trip. You can find them here: 2009 Israel Trip.
Enjoy!

SHALOM from Israel!

We are having a great trip. I am seeing and experiencing things that I haven't gotten to on previous trips.

We feel very safe. Would have no idea there are any tensions over here at all.

Beautiful weather. I actually got a little sunburn on the boat on the Sea of Galilee!

 

I've posted some pictures from my trip here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=83804&l=23663&id=753733932

 

Tuesday will be out last day in Jerusalem. We'll leave at 2:00 am for a 6:00 am flight for Rome on Wednesday morning (yawn....) We'll spend a day and a night in Rome then back to the states on Thursday.

 

SHALOM!

A new way of living

This light weight backpacking has effected lots of areas of my life. I ask the question, "Do I really need this? "Can I get by without this and not compromise my safety?" "How can I get the most out of what I AM carrying?"

In the picture above you can see how it has effected my packing for my 10 trip to Israel and Rome. The suitcase on the left is the one I used when I went in '98. The one on the right is the one I'm taking tomorrow.

I'm envisioning the difference moving through the airport and all around on this trip. Also, just less stuff to keep up with.

I could actually carry it on the plane! But I got to check it cause I got a jar of peanut butter and a squeeze-bottle of grape jam... To go along with the loaf of wheat bread in there! (And my Skeletool!!!) Now if I had just gotten some ready-to-eat bacon... (You know... ISRAEL!)

Shalom y'all....

The first time in 9 years

This is the first time in the nine years we've lived here that I have seen our pond begin to ice over from bank to bank.
It was 9 degrees on our deck yesterday morning and 12 degrees this morning.

Now if I just had those old hockey skates from my Kansas days.

My... Angels???

It is amazing what entertainment can be found in Sally's Hair Supply...

'Tis the Season

I want to say thank you to my precious oldest daughter for going above and beyond the call of duty to get her old man in the spirit of the season.

"Thank you" daughta!!

Slideshow from the Wildcat Mtn Trip

If you want to pause the slideshow, click on the picture. Click on the picasa logo in the bottom right and go to the album to see the location of each photo on a topo map! Enjoy!

Sunset on Wildcat Mtn

What a beautiful evening! We were hoping to cowboy camp again but it is very, very windy up here. But we are waiting for the space shuttle to go by!

It's gonna be a chilly night. I think we'll be dreaming about breakfast at Ma Gooch's.

2 Liter on the downhill slope

Here's Ralph and 2 Liter, a southbound thru-hiker, on Cowrock Mtn. He started June 10 and will finish up in a couple days. He's from West Hanover, CT. He wants to grab a chik-fil-a before he heads back north.... And one more glass of sweet tea.

The Three Amigos Ride Again

Here we are at the Famous Walasi yi Inn at Neels Gap. The only place the trail goes thru a building.

To view more pics, click here.

From the top of Mount of Stone

A beautiful day and one of the best PBJs of my life. Just me and Caroline.

Fruit-loops

Caroline and I are hiking up Stone Mountain and the Fall colors are outstanding! It loks like God dropped His boxes of Fruit-Loops...

It has begun

My church is a polling station. It looks like every thing they were predicting is going to be true.