Hunters Visit the Cabin

8:02 AM | Labels: , ,


The cabin in its early stages. It now has many insulating layers of leaves.


The survival shelter I built, which I've named "the cabin" to distinguish it from other nearby landmarks, has been visited by a hunter.


I found a jar perched on the framework this morning. Inside the sealed jar was a note reading

"Hunting Bear in God's Country. BoBo 11/24/2010 10:30 a.m. Put note back in Jar"

Inside the cabin was a broken blue cigarette lighter. In the virgin fire ring a wad of unused toilet paper.

Now, I love the fact a hunter could use the shelter. However, no one gets to leave junk.
At the intersection was a piece of paper with similar information. That also goes in the garbage.
If you ever have to pick up someone's trash, an easy effective germ free way to do this is use a walmart plastic bag. Place it over your hand like a glove. Reach for the offending object, pulling it into the bag while keeping the bag on your hand. Once the item is all the way in the bag and your hand is now in the open, tie the bag shut.
I clean trash from the woods periodically because it makes for a much nicer wilderness experience.

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Posted by Unknown

Praying for Survival

8:56 AM | Labels: , , ,

The story is out: three teenagers adrift at sea in the South Pacific prayed for rescue. They survived 50 days, hanging onto their aluminum boat, sipping rainwater that fell into it, eating flying fish that landed in the boat, and killing with their bare hands one silly bird that landed on it.
I don't have a problem with praying. I don't really Pray. Many folks have suffered horrible outcomes regardless of the time they spent begging their god for help.
But, if praying keeps hope alive, if praying keeps someone focused and in the moment, its a great tool.
We tend to bargain with the great spirit, as though anything we'd do in the future could convince him-her-it to change the circumstances.
Watching world events unfold, I have lost confidence in a god that takes much stock in any one individuals suffering. Seems like god is a being that likes to test us by stirring the pot to see what happens.
My friend thinks the reason we can't be sure there is reincarnation is that we'd just give up when it gets too miserable, commit suicide, and take a chance on the next life being better.
I'm not really sure how the spirits work, the gods, or supreme powers.
But I say, if praying helps you, then do it.
As any true survivalist will tell you, the most important thing is the will to live. Praying, bargaining, repenting, and forgiving may give you a larger purpose than just making it out alive for your own well being.
Its good to feel something out there is larger than ourself, and may have an interest in our future.

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Posted by Unknown

HIgh Peak USA Website Link

6:29 AM | Labels: , ,

High Peak USA, the manufacturer of the South Col tent that I'm reviewing has a lot of great looking gear.

Check out their website for more information.
http://www.highpeakusa.org/

Many companies market through other distributors and don't do direct sales to indiviguals. Their website assists you in finding these outlets.
According to their home page, they are presently looking for dealers east of the Rocky Mountains. There is an e-mail link if you might be one of those interested in this.

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Posted by Unknown

Patagonia Fleece-Gear Review

5:59 AM | Labels: , ,

Fleece comes in various weights and fabric content.
The quality you'll find with brand names is worth the money. Although I bought some wonderful fleece jackets at Old Navy in 2009 in one of their blow out sales, when I really need a serious warm layer, I pull out my Patagonia.

It's a wonderful woodland green with one chest pocket. It doesn't have a hood, my only regret. It's a pull over, and weighs 15 ounces, a winter weight. The sleeves are plenty long, a key factor in choosing an insulating layer.

I love that even after many years of trail use, living in it for days on the Colorado Trail it is in very good condition. It still doesn't "pill", a sign of high quality fleece.

Brand names are costly. Look for them at thrift stores, on sale or as gifts. Think of them as an investment. Unlike cheap fleece, they will last a very long time.

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Posted by Unknown

South Col-Four Season Tent-Review

11:03 AM | Labels: , , ,

I received my South Col Four Season Tent yesterday and set it up this morning. I was really looking forward to seeing this signature tent by Brad Johnson, a man with over 35 years experience in mountaineering.



Unfortunately, the first time I set it up, one of the long aluminum poles broke right in the middle of the section. I created a repair sleeve from an old hiking pole of mine, carefully sanded it down and threaded it over the dome pole. Directions on how to make your own pole repair sleeve can be found at
http://brawnyview.blogspot.com


This is a beautiful tent. Weights as follows: 9 pounds 7 ounces for the entire shipped weight, which includes 23 serious winter stakes, generous carrying case, body, fly and poles. I divided up the sections to see the weights into three, the capacity of this nearly square dome:
body is 3 pounds 3 ounces, fly is 3 pounds 6 ounces, and the rest of the equipment would add up to 2 pounds 12. The carrying case could be replaces with a simple silnylon stuff sack, saving nearly 3.5 ounces.




Its easy to pitch this tent, even for one person. Stake down the 4 corners, select and prepare poles for tent by laying diagonally across body. Place ends in grommets, gently curving and raising poles, clipping body to poles near bottom so they don't fall over.
The fly has two doors, just like the body. Sweet for couples sharing a tent.


This gear loft clips into place via decent plastic hooks. Of course, limit the weight suspended in this loft to minimal things or you'll risk a collapse. After seeing how easily one pole snapped, I am hoping that was a freak accident, but have placed extra repair sleeves in the stake bag.

This carrying case has handles and a length wise zipper. Roomy enough for winter pack ups when cold things expand and a person doesn't want to fight with a minimalist bag.
Its easy to see the designer of this four season tent appreciated wind. There are many staking points, guying points both at top and bottom. The heavy bungee cording at guying points shows the designer had significant experience with wind. This tent will stand up to bad weather because of the added flex, where for some tents there would be rigidity.
I'm really looking forward to a trail testing of this South Col tent. Lets pray for snow.



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Posted by Unknown

Too Much Information-A Trail Story

11:18 AM | Labels: , ,

I'd been hiking alone for awhile when I met some older gentlemen crossing a field up in New Jersey.
Contrary to what you'd think, the Appalachian Trail is not always crowded. Depends on how much rain there is and how close to roads.
It's nice to meet humans once in awhile, chat, share news.
Sometimes, though, if you've been alone awhile, you end up sharing a little too much information.
These guys wondered where I was going, how long I'd been on the trail and offered a bunch of unsolicited day-hiker type advice. Deferring to their age, feeling no threats, I assured them I would make it to Katahdin, later this summer, having hiked a good 1400 miles already.
They asked me how far I planned on heading this evening. I mentioned the next shelter's name as a possible campsite.
We said our goodbyes, I hiked on. After a couple miles, I crossed paths with another guy hiker. He knew all about me, and repeated several things I'd told the old guys. He had met them crossing the road.
Lesson learned, too much information.
Even if it seems harmless chit chat, my safety could have been jeopardized by my sharing so much with people I'd dismissed as harmless. In their continued sharing of my information with others, the wrong person could have been my camp mate.
I believe in a power I call Trailgods. They taught me a vital lesson that day.

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Posted by Unknown

Size of Blades or Knives in Survival Situations

9:38 AM | Labels: , , ,

My Razor knife, shown above, is the only blade I've used on my long distance backpacking trips, including the Pacific Crest Trail, and thru hike of the Appalachian Trail.
Read my journals at http://trailquest.net/BRindex.html
I built this and other shelters without any tools. The bow saw shown in this photo was brought on this trip to clear blow downs on the trail leading up to this mountain hideaway so my camera man could do some filming.
It was not used to cut any limbs or branches for this debris shelter which is large enough for two.

I took a survival quiz and one of the questions I got "wrong" dealt with the size of the blade.

As a minimalist, I've learned many techniques which do not require any blade. I've analyzed my packing/hiking/shelter building skills and realized I've never used a large blade. What is the ideal length and weight of the Ideal Blade?
Its the one you have with you. Regardless.
It must be sharp. A heavy dull blade is worse ( having little value and is actually dangerous) than a razor sharp two inch knife. Whatever length you normally have with you is the one you will work with in a survival situation.

The longest outdoor knife I've ever owned has a 4 inch blade. It fits my hand. I seldom bring it because it's heavy by ultralighter's standards. I've made stoves using a small blade, cut and sewn gear using a razor knife.
When building a camp fire, don't waste time cutting firewood into lengths with a knife or blade. Two ways to deal with long logs is feed them in, or build the fire with the middle of the logs in the center of the fire.
As far as hunting and skinning animals, or self defense, the best knife is one that feels comfortable in your hand, which can not be wrested from your grasp. For me, that's a small blade. I have learned to identify edible plants which are bountiful, knowing that actual hunting in survival situations can be time and calorie consuming. More on that later.
As a chef, I use significant knives while in the kitchen. I leave them there. My minimalist ultra lighting tendencies cause me to carry a small, razor sharp tool. My skills are built knowing that's what I will have with me.
So the bottom line is to get used to carrying the knife you want to have in a survival situation.


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