General Preparedness

I am going to do a series of videos on general preparedness. I always like to do some basic skills stuff on a regular basis. I think it helps to keep you sharp. This first part is on some gear selection for a day hike. I know this may be below a lot of peoples skill level. But, I will try to keep it interesting. I am goin to try not to focus on gear. I am going to focus on how to use your selected gear and basic bushcraft/survival skills in conjunction.

I hope to do the videos in this order:

General Preparedness Day Hike Part 1
General Preparedness Day Hike Part 2
General Preparedness Overnight Hike Part 1
General Preparedness Overnight Hike Part 2
General Preparedness 3 Day Hike Part 1
General Preparedness 3 Day Hike Part 2

Anyway here is the first installment.

A quick bow and drill vid

Well I think I figured out how to post a few videos. I have 30 or so on you tube and will be putting them up.

Over at Bushcraft USA, we are having a Skills Meet in MO in April. I am judging, which kinda sucks since I won't be winning the prize. Oh well. Here is a little primer of what we will be doing.

A Few Carving Projects

In the last few years I have started to gain interest in making spoons an other trinkets while in the woods. I bought a Mora spoon knife and have used it for quite a few projects.





This spoon is made from good old IA walnut.




These vids are of my canoe paddle I made. Just took it out for a 20 mile run down the West Nishnabotna and it handled like a dream. I was pleasantly surprised.














More vids of the paddle to come.

Where I have Been

I feel as though I owe and explanation on where I have been. Well I have been spending my internet time over at Bushcraft USA, and trying to do some video on my You Tube Channel. So as you can see I have been busy, just not busy on this blog. If you are interested in Bushcraft, I think you will enjoy both of these links. I hate to double and triple post info, but if there is some interest I will post alot more info here. Just let me know what you want.

A few of my Videos

Trying something new, vids !!! They are kinda fun to do, but alot of prep. Hope ya like them.

Split wood fire

Natural materials shelter

Charred Bull Thistle Down

This a project that is easy to do and has a very high cool factor. If any of you have charred cloth, and I know that most of the crowd that reads this blog probably has, you know how easily it catches a spark. I really like to use the back of my mora and a piece of flint I found to start a fire. It keeps life interesting to try different methods of fire starting etc... This method gives you a natural option for your char cloth. To start with, find some Bull Thistle and harvest the dry down.



Next take that down and pack it into a metal container. I was taught to put a hole in the top of the tin.



After that, place the container in a fire. When it starts to heat up, smoke and then a flame will come out of the hole. Once there is no more smoke coming out of the hole remove it from the fire.


Let it cool down and there you have it. It is an easy project and works well.


You can use other natural materials besides Thistle down. Cattail down, and the inner bark of the Cottonwood tree will work also. This is also a great material to use a magnified lens on.

A Few of My Winter Projects

Well sorry I haven't posted a lot lately, but It's not like I've been doing nothing. Here are a few of the projects I have done this winter.

This set is a fire steel and ceramic sharpener. Both are IA deer antler with palm wood caps. They came out OK. I'm going to try to get the antler to match a little better on the next set I make.

This one is a project I have been wanting to do for a while. A leather sheath for one of my Moras. I put a fire steel loop on it also. I made this one so the knife rides low on my hip. I hate wearing a pack and have a knife digging into my leg.

And finally, this is an old double bit I restored. I love this axe. If only it was not so big. Oh well, I probably wont be carrying this one on the trail, but it makes a great camp axe.