Advanced Bushcraft: An Expert Field Guide to the Art of ... Bushcraft_ An Expert Field Guide...
Transcript of Advanced Bushcraft: An Expert Field Guide to the Art of ... Bushcraft_ An Expert Field Guide...
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ADVANCEDBUSHCRAFT
AnExpertFieldGuidetotheArtofWILDERNESSSURVIVAL
DAVECANTERBURYNewYorkTimesBestsellingAuthorofBushcraft101
Avon,Massachusetts
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DEDICATION
Abookshouldbededicatednotonlytothosefromwhomtheknowledgetowriteitwassecuredbutalsoforthosewhomakeitpossible.MywifeIrishasmadeitpossibleformetolivemydreamofteachingoutdoorskillstoothersthroughmanyoutletsfromsocialmediatotelevisionaswellasthewrittenword.Shehasfaithfullystoodbymethroughthecountlesshoursoftrainingandevolving,throughtheyearsofpracticeandexperimentaldirttime.Shehasalwayssupportedmeandgivenofherselftohelpfulfillmydreamsinthisandanyendeavor,andsotoherIdedicatethisbook.Iwouldalsoliketothankmyfatherfortheexamplesinworkethichetaughtmemyentirelifeandstilltothisday.Whilewestrivetochaseourdreamsinlifewemustalwaysremembertheroadtosuccessispavedbytheworkyouputintoit.Ihavelearnedthislessonwellfromhisteachings.Asforthecontentsofthisbook,thelistisexhaustivetosaytheleast:men
forgotteninhistoryofbothAmericanandEuropeandescent,nativepeoplesoftheearlyAmericaswhopassedtheirknowledgetousalongthewayintheearlydaysofexploration,andmanymodernrolemodelswhocontinuetothisdaytopassontheknowledgetheyhaveinanefforttoestablishtheselessonsforgenerationstocome.ThewritingsofauthorspastsuchasDanielBeard,ErnestThompsonSeton,HyattVerrill,WilliamHamiltonGibson,GeorgeWashingtonSears,HoraceKephart,MorsKochanski,andmanyotherscometomindquicklyasshiningexamplesofmenfromwhomIhavetakenawealthofknowledgetofurthermylearning.
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CONTENTS
Introduction
CHAPTER1:BUILDINGYOURKITPlantheScopeofYourTripTenCsofSurvivabilityCoreTemperatureControlToolsComfortConvenienceTipsandTricks
CHAPTER2:NATURALRESOURCESPineWillowPoplarOakSassafrasBirchITEMizeMedicinalPreparationsTipsandTricks
CHAPTER3:WOODENTOOLSANDSIMPLEMACHINESThrowingorDiggingStick
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AnvilStumpSpearorGigMaulorMalletWedgesSimpleWoodlandMachinesTipsandTricks
CHAPTER4:ADVANCEDFIRECRAFTPrimitiveFireStartingTheBowandDrillMethodFlintandSteelMethodSolarFireTipsandTricks
CHAPTER5:SHELTERINGTheFourWsEstablishingaBaseCampRovingCampsPermanentShelterOptionsEarthenStructuresCampAmenitiesTipsandTricks
CHAPTER6:KNOTS,BINDINGS,WEAVING,ANDLOOMSCordageandRopesKnotsBasketWeavingWeavingTabletWeavingASimplePegLoom
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InkleLoomWaistLoomsNetsandNetMakingTumplinesTipsandTricks
CHAPTER7:TRAPPINGAnimalBehaviorAnimalSignLower-Food-ChainResourcesWater-TypeTrapsTypesofPrimitiveTrapsTrappingBirdsHuntingTipsandTricks
CHAPTER8:PRESERVINGFOODSOURCESFloursandMealsNutsFruits,Vegetables,andHerbsFruitLeatherPlantSourcesofStorableFoodsSapsMeatTipsandTricks
CHAPTER9:HIDEPRESERVATION,TANNING,ANDCLOTHINGREPAIRSmallHidesLargeHides
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RawhideMakingLeatherClothingRepairandReproductionRepairStitchesSimpleClothingPatternsTipsandTricks
CHAPTER10:WOODWORKINGToolsDimensionalLumberWorkbenchesBesomAxeandToolHandleReplacementMakingaWoodBowMakingArrowsTipsandTricks
CHAPTER11:BLACKSMITHINGBlacksmithingToolsSourcesforMetalWorkingwithHardMetal
CHAPTER12:CONTAINERSANDCONVEYANCESWaterContainersBasketsClayVesselsBoatsPackFramesTipsandTricks
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AppendixA:TarpSetupsAppendixB:Dutch-OvenCookingAppendixC:CloudChartsAppendixD:PrimitiveNavigationAppendixE:MineralHardnessScaleAppendixF:MeasurementConversions
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Introduction
ThisisthesecondinwhatIhopewilleventuallybeaseriesofbooksontheartofbushcraft,orwildernesssurvival.Bushcraft101wasaprimerontheskillsnecessaryforashortstayinthewilderness.Theseskillsincludebuildinganeffectivekit,selectingandmanagingequipment,developingsupplies,andsettingupcamp.Muchofourstudywasonconnectingwithnatureandlearningthebasicsforpreparingourselvesforanyclimateandsituation.InBushcraft101welearnedthatmanythingscanbeaccomplishedwithourownknowledgeandafewtools.Wetalkedaboutthekindsofthingsyouneedforashortstayoutdoors.InAdvancedBushcraft,wewilltaketheseskillstothenextlevelandprepareyouforalengthystayinthewilderness.Themostimportantthingtounderstandbeforeembarkingonalongjourney
outdoorsisresourcemanagement.Youcanonlycarrysomuchonyourback—especiallyifyouplantohikeorwalkforalongdistance.Sinceyoucannotbringatruckloadofsupplieswithyou,youneedtounderstandthelimitationsofyourkitandhowtomaximizetheenvironmentanditsresourcestoovercometheselimitations.Youmustdiscernbetweenwhichsuppliesyoushouldcarrywithyouandwhichcanbeharvestedormanufacturedonthetrail.Thisrequireskeencompetencyinmanufacturingversatiletools,startingfireswithminimalformsofignition,developingsemipermanentshelter,andestablishinganeffectivetrappingcampaignforfood.Long-termsustainabilitywillrequirealotofimprovisation.Partofself-
relianceislearningtodealwiththeunexpected.Toolswillbreak,weatherwillturn,andfoodsourcesmaybehardtofind.Youneedtobeconfidentenoughinyourskillsthatyoucanfixthehandleonyouraxeifitbreaks,and,whenyoudo
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findthatgame,preservetheleftoverssothemeatwilllastyouagoodwhile.Ifyouunderstandadvancedskillssuchasbuildingwatercraftandmakingcontainersforwaterandothersupplies,youwillbeabletonegotiatetheclimateandyourenvironmentforalongtime.Don’tunderestimatethevalueofcomfort.Ifyouaregoingtobeoutforalongtime,agoodnight’ssleepiscritical.Knowinghowtoassembleasleepsystembyfashioningpillowsandbuildingraisedbedswillmakeatremendousdifferenceinyourabilitytobesuccessful.Wewillalsotakeacloselookatadvancedwildernessskillssuchasweaving
foradditionalclothingandshelterimplementsandnetmakingtohelpsecurefishandotherwateranimalsasadditionalsourcesofprotein.Managingcordageandmanufacturingadditionalropeoutofnaturalmaterialswillbeacriticalcomponentofthesepractices.Understandingthenaturalworldwillbeabsolutelyessentialtoyourabilityto
smoothitinthewilderness.Itisyourrepositoryforfood,fire-makingsupplies,andhealthresources,anditfurnishesyouaplaceandthematerialstobuildyourshelter.Beingabletorecognizethecomponentsofatree,fromthepropertiesofitswoodtothemedicinalvaluesofitsouterleavesandbark,willallowyoutotakeadvantageofyourenvironment’slargestresource.Recognizinganimalsandtheirbehavioralpatternsiswhatwillhelpyououtthinkthemwhenyou’rehunting.Eventhecloudsintheskycanprovideyouwithaweatherforecast,whichyoucanusetomakeadjustmentstoyourcampandshelter.Remembertopractice!Useshortcampingtripsasanopportunitytohonetheseskillsandexperimentwithlifewhenyouarecarryingonlyafewthings.Ifcertainthingsdon’tworkoutrightaway,that’sokay!Headhome,restup,andtryitagainonyournexttrip.Thishandbookisintendedforthewoodsmanwhoknowsbasicprimitive
survivalskillsandislookingtoadvancehisknowledgeandabilitiesforalongerstayinthewilderness—afewdaysorevenanentiretrappingcampaignseason.Theseskillswillalsohelpyouintheeventyoubecomelostorstrandedwithoutresources.Mostly,though,thesegiveyouachancetoenvelopyourselfinnature
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asourancestorsbeforeusdid.AsGeorgeWashingtonSears(Nessmuk)wrote,“Weseektheforestforadventureandafree,open-airhunter’slife,foratimeatleast.”AdvancedBushcraftisthehandbookforyouradventure.Useittosurviveandthriveinthenaturalworld.
—DaveCanterbury
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Chapter1BUILDINGYOURKIT
“ThedoctorateinwoodsyknowledgecanonlybetaughtbyMotherNatureintheclassroomoftheoutdoors.Manycantrainyoubutonlyexperiencecanteachyou.”
—DAVECANTERBURY
Bushcraftisthepracticeofusingwildernessskillstosurviveandthriveinthenaturalworld.InAdvancedBushcraft,youwillhonethoseskillsandpushbeyondthementalityofimmediateneeds.Youwilllearntothinkaboutthetotalityofyourskillsandsuppliesandhowtheyworktogethertoensurelong-termsustainability.Inotherwords,it’snotjustaboutpackingresources.It’saboutthinkingaheadtothekindsofskillsittakestorefurbishyourresourcesorcreatemoreifnecessary.Youwilllearnthatittakesalotofskillsbutonlyafewtoolstobecomeself-reliant.Withjustahandfuloftherightimplementsyoucanmanufacturemostofthethingsyouneed,fromapermanentsheltertoclothing,huntinggear,weapons,andevenmedicine.
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PLANTHESCOPEOFYOURTRIPShort-termtripsinthewoodsaregreatopportunitiestopracticeskillsandtakechanceswithasmallerkit.Travelingwithfewerimplementsrequiresalotofimprovisationwithtoolsandsupplies,andit’sokayifthingsdonotgoperfectly.Onashortjaunt,whetheritisadayoraweek,itdoesnotmattermuchifyourshelterisuncomfortableorifyourtrappingcampaignisnotoverlysuccessful.Useshort-termtripsasopportunitiesforlearningandknowthatifsomethingdoesnotturnoutquiteright,youcanpracticeagainnexttimetomakeitbetter.Alongtrip,sayafull-seasontrappingcampaign,requiresalotofconfidence
andcertaintyinyourskills.Youdonotwanttoplaceyourselfinasituationofunnecessaryrisk.Forlongexcursions,agood4–6hoursofrestfulsleepeachnightbecomesanimperativecomponentofsafety.Withthatinmind,thecomfortlevelofyourshelterandsleepingimplementsmattersagreatdeal.Youmightneedtobringsuppliestotrapforfood,butyoushouldalsoplanforapossibleunsuccessfultrappingcampaignbybringingbackupfoodsources.Youalsoneedtothinkaboutwaystoconservethemostvaluableresourcesormakesurethatyouarenotoverusingthem.Itmaynotbepossibletoreplaceabrokenknifeonthetrail.Onalong-termtrip,youmightalsoneedtoincludesometypeofconveyance.
Sincethesearecumbersome,youneedtomaximizeitasaresource.Forexample,asledfordraggingsuppliesinthesnowcanberepurposedtodragfirewoodoranimalsfromyourtrapsbacktocamp.Conveyancesarenotoftendiscussedinbushcraftliterature,buttheyarecriticaltolong-termsustainability.Ourancestorsnevertooktothewoodsorwildernesswithouthorses,wagons,canoes,sleds,orpacktrains.
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TENCSOFSURVIVABILITYAsdiscussedinBushcraft101,themostbasickititemsarebasedontheFiveCsofSurvivability.Forlonger-termstaysinthewildernessyoucanexpandthatchecklisttoTenCs:
Cuttingtools:knives,axes,sawsCombustiondevices:ferroceriumrod,lighter,magnifyinglensCoverelements:seasonalclothingwithouterwear,tarps,woolblankets,sleepingbag,emergencybivvy,hammock,smalltentContainers:waterbottles,canteens,nestingcookpotsandpansCordage:bankline,paracord,rope,webbing,muletapeCottonmaterials:bandannas,shemagh,netting,clothshardsCargotape:ducttape(IprefertheGorillaTapebrand)Candlingdevices:headlamps,candles,cranklightsCompasses:yourpreferredbrandalongwithasmallbackuplikeaqualitybutton-styleCanvasrepairneedle:wedge-styleneedleforrepairingheavymaterials
Donotforgettoincludeanymedications,includingsomethingtorelieveanallergicreaction,andfirst-aidkititems.Nowlet’sbreakthekitdownintocategoriessothatyoucanreallyconsider
yourneeds.
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CORETEMPERATURECONTROLThisisthefirstandmostimportantkitcategory.Clothingisthemostbasicwaytocontroltemperature.Herearesomemorespecificguidelines:
CLOTHINGPackatleasttwofullsetsofsocksandundergarments,trousers,andshirts.
Carryclothingthatiscomfortableinallseasonsorbepreparedtopackenoughclothingfortwodifferentclimates(foratotaloffoursets).Iwouldrecommend10–12-ouncedurablecanvaspantslikethetree-climbingpantsofferedbyArborwear.Long-sleeved,lightweight,canvas,button-downshirtsarecomfortableinallseasons,andcottonT-shirtstakeadvantageofevaporativecoolinginthesummer.Donotforgettoplanforrainandwetweather.Tentsmithsmakesasolidraincoatfromcottontreatedwithanoil/waxfinish.Inwinter,useaheavywoollayerthatwillactasinsulation,suchasthe
merinowoolpantsofferedbyMinus33.Ingeneral,nothingbeatswoolincold-weatherclimates.Itiscomfortable,fireretardant,repelsmoisture,andevenwhenitiswetitstillactsasagoodinsulation.IprefertheBorealShirtbyLesterRiverBushcraft.Ithasneverletmedown,evenonthecoldestofwinterdaysandnightshereintheeasternwoodlands.Iffreezingrainandsleetareanissue,combinethewoolwithanoilclothraincoat.
FOOTWEARLeatherbootsareanabsolutemustforlong-termwildernessactivities.The
Pronghorn,fromDanner,isagreatthree-seasonboot,andtheirCanadianmodelworkswellinthewinter.Whenchoosingyourfootwear,rememberthatbootsareonlyaswaterproofastheyarehigh.Carryingasecondpairofbootswillsavealotoftroubleonlong-termtripssoyoucanalternateandavoidwearingthemouttooquickly.Ifcarryingasecondpairistoocumbersome,atleastplantobringapairofmoccasinstowearwhenwalkingaroundcampsothatyougiveyour
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bootsanoccasionalrest.Moccasins,elkhideorbuffalo,arealsohandywhenstalkinggameindryleaves.
HATNeverunderestimatetheimportanceofhatswhenplanningyourkit.Agood
hatwillprotectyoufromthesunandconservebodyheat—mostofwhichisreleasedthroughtheheadandtheneck.Afeltedwide-brimhatworkswellinspring,summer,andfall.Awoolbeanieortobogganwillhelpcombatthecoldinwinter.InthemostsevereweatherIhavefoundgreatcomfortintheoldleatherbombercapswithearflapsandfurlinings.
SCARVESKerchiefsandscarveshavebeenstaplesofthewoodsman’skitforhundreds
ofyears.Theirusesgowellbeyondtheobvious.Thecottonnettingusedasasniperveilworksverywellinsummerandmakesagreatimprovisednetforfishing.Kerchiefsmadefromcotton,liketheshemagh,areeffectiveacrossthreeseasons.Inwinter,Iprefera4'×4'scarf,whichnotonlykeepsmewarmbutcanalsobeusedasacapetorepelsnow.
GLOVESANDMITTENSAsturdypairofleathercalfskingloveswillprotectthehandsfrombriars,
brambles,andblisterswhendoingnormalcampchores.Inwinter,arcticmittenswithwoolglovelinersareindispensable.Ihavefoundthattostaycomfortableforafulldayonthetrailortrapline,keepingmyextremitieswarmisjustasimportantasconservingheatonmycore.
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TOOLSWhenpackingtools,whattrulydistinguishesasophisticatedkitiseliminatingredundancies.Let’stakeafewminutestodiscussdifferentoptionsforcriticaltoolssothatyoucanintelligentlydecidewhattopackinalong-termkit.
FARMEDRememberthisacronymwhenpurchasingtoolsforyourkit.Itisespecially
helpfulwhenyouaretryingtochoosebetweenmultiplebrandsandstyles:
Functionality—Isthistooldesignedforonlyonespecificpurpose?Orcoulditbeusedtocompleteseveraldifferenttasks?Affordability—Doesthistoolfitintomybudget,especiallywhenconsideringthetotalsumofthetoolsIneedtopurchaseformykit?Repeatability—CanIperformtasksthesamewaywiththistoolandgetthesameresulteachtimeoristheregoingtobealonglearningcurvetomasterit?Maintainability—Isthistooleasytomaintainovertimewithaminimumofperipheralgear?Ergonomics—Doesthistoolfeelgoodtomeformybodystatureandbuild?Willittiremeeasilyorcauseunduediscomfortduringuse?Durability—Isthetoolofgoodqualitythatwilllastforyearsifwellmaintained?
CHECKLISTOFFIVEMOSTIMPORTANTTOOLSThesetoolsshouldbethebasisofyourkit.Whendecidingwhichversionsof
thesetoolstoincludeinyourkit,thinkabouttheenvironmentalfactors,thetypeofshelteryouplantobuild,andthelengthofyourstay:
KnifeAxe
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SawCarvingtoolAwl
KNIFEWhenyou’reselectingaknifeforyourkit,thenumberofchoicescanbe
completelyoverwhelming.Itisagoodpracticetocarryafewknivesfordifferenttasks.
BUSHCRAFTTIP
ThreeKnivesThatAreWorthCarrying:5"–6"knifeforbutcheringKnifeforfinecarvingFoldingknifeofhigh-carbonsteel,whichcanbekeptinyourpocket
Certainbladeprofilesaremoreconducivetocertaintasks.Aknifewithabutcheringprofilewillalwaysbethebestoverallknifewhenprocessinggamemeat.Aslenderbladewidthisbetterforfinecarvingtasks,boning,andfilleting.Ifyouarebuildingalonger-termkitthatincludesresourcesformoreadvancedtasksinthewilderness,gameisgoingtobeakeyelementtoyoursuccess.Processingthisgameforfood,tools,andhidesismorecriticalthancarvingnotchessoyouwillneedabladethatisspecifictothistask.Aknifeforfoodprocessingshouldbeabout4"–5"longandfairlythinatabout ⁄ "orless.AScandinavian(V)grindwillbemostuseful,butaflatgrindisaclosesecond.Bothareeasilymaintainedinthefieldbutarestrongenoughtoactasaprimaryblade,shouldyouneedareplacement.
BUSHCRAFTTIP
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Recentlytherehasbeenmuchdebateoverthecapabilitiesofasheathknifeonthehip.Manyarguethissingletoolshouldbeenoughtoaccomplishtasksfromfinecarvingandprocessinggametosplittingfirewood.Itendtoagreewiththisphilosophy,especiallybecauseevenifyouloseyourpack,thisknifewillalwaysbeonyourperson.Keepingthisinmind,besuretopracticeusingyourknifeforvarioustasksbeforeembarkingonalongjourney.
CARVINGTOOLSIntheeasternwoodlands,thejackknife,orfoldingknife,hasbeenconsidered
thebestforwhittlingorfinecarving.Moraknivcarriesafinelineofcarvingtools.Ialsolikethecrookedknife,ormocotaugan,whichwasastandardcarrytoolformanynativepeoples.Thisknife,similartotheBentKnifebyDeepwoodsVentures,canbeusedfortasksasversatileascarvingcanoepaddlestomanufacturingreplacementhandles.
MACHETESANDLONGERBLADESInmanyareasofthecountryamachetemaybethebestchoiceofbladein
conjunctionwithasmallerknife.Theadvantagetothemacheteisthatyoucanuseittoquicklyclearatrailorlimbsfromatree.Italsoworksasascrapingandcraftingtool.Inmyopinion,themacheteistrulythe“woodsman’spal.”Selectasizethatworksbestforyou,butIfindthatfromthetipofthebladetothebaseofthehandleshouldberoughlyequaltothedistancefromtheelbowtofingertip.
AXEThemainaxeyoucarryshouldbeatleast18"–20"inhandlelength.Alarger
axeof26"–28"inhandlelengthwillbemuchmoreeffectiveforbigtaskssuchascuttingdownlargetrees.Asidefromhandleconfigurations,therearealsomanyheaddesignsandprofilesavailable.Anaxewithaheadweightofupto3poundsisgoodforfelling.Whenselectinganaxe,mostoftherightdimensions
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comedowntopersonalpreference,butwhateveryouchoose,Ihavefoundthatagoodaxeisworthitsweightingoldonalongtrip.
TOMAHAWKSThetomahawk,apersonaltoolthathangsonthebelt,hasbeenusedfor
hundredsofyears.Itisabackuptoaknife.Oneofthehandiestthingsaboutthetomahawkisthatthehandlecanberemovedsoyoucanusetheheadaloneasascrapingorskinningtool.Tomahawksaretoosmalltoprocesslargeamountsoffirewoodorfelllargetrees,buttheirhandlescanbereplacedfairlyeasilyifbroken,whichmakesthemagoodchoiceforlongexcursions.Therearealotoftomahawksonthemarkettoday,buttheoneswithheavierheadsaremostadvantageousforwood-processingtasks.
HATCHETSThedecisiontocarryatomahawkorahatchetdependsonyourindividual
needsandtheenvironment.Asmallercrafting-typehatchetcanbecarriedalongwiththelargeraxe.Hatchetscanbecarriedrightonthebeltandareveryeasytowieldwithonehand.Theyarehandyforfinecarvingandsmallchoppingwhenprocessingfirematerials.Lookforvarietiesthataredesignedtoputthecenterlinebladeintheproperlocationwhenyouarechokinguponthehandlesothatitworksasacarvingorskinningtoolaswell.HudsonBay–styleheadsaregreatinthisapplication.
SAWSFoldingsawsmakeanexcellentadditiontoyourkitaslongasthebladeisnot
tooaggressive.ByaggressiveImeanabladewithlargerteethandawiderkerf,ordistancebetweenteeth;thesedonotmakefinecuts.Itisbettertoselectsomethingwithsmallerteethandanarrowkerf.Iseemanyfoldingsawsonthemarkettodaywithaggressivepruning-type,green-woodblades.Theproblemwiththatconfigurationisthatitlimitstheusesofthesaw.Afoldingsawismostefficientwhenitdoublesasanotch-cuttingsaw,andforthatreason,a
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crosscuttingbladewillbemucheasiertocontrolandyourcutswillbecleaner.Therearealotofvarietiesinthemarket,butIfindthebestbladeonafoldingsawwiththebestlongevityisBahco’sLaplandermodel.
Fixed-bladesaws:Thesesawsincludenotonlycrosscuttingordovetailsawsbutalsopruningblades.Thetypesofsawsyouincludeinyourkitwillbedictatedbywhatyouplantodowiththem.Ifyouarecarryingabucksaworbowsawthathasagreen-woodblade,thenasimplecrosscutbladewithabitfinerteethwillbemuchmoredesirablethanapruning-type,green-woodblade.BowSawsandbucksaws(framesaws):Thesearesafechoices,andtheireasyusehelpstosavepreciouscalories.Includeoneoftheseinanywinterkit,nomatterthelengthofyourstay.Forlonger-termkits,justbesurethatthebladeisatleast20"longandhasbothagreen-woodanddry-woodblade.Theadvantagetoabow(metal-frame)sawisdurability.Irecommendtheseforlong-termoutings.Eventhoughitismadefrommetal,theframeisactuallyahollowtubesothedifferenceinweightisnegligible.
AWLInthetradeledgerfromtheAmericanfrontierdays,theawlwasoneofthe
mosttradedmetalitems,secondonlytotheknife.Awlsaredesignedtopunchholesinmaterialssuchasleather,bark,andwood.Therearemanydifferenttypesofawls,butthecrookedawlisthemostversatile.Thesetoolsaretwo-sidedwiththreeorfoursidestoeachpoint.Thetaperoftheawlisusuallyalittledifferentonopposingendssothatyouhavesomeversatilitywhendrillingholes.Youcaneasilyfashionahandleforoneendofthistoolifneededoraddaholeforlock-stitchsewingtasks.
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COMFORTInthiscategoryyoushouldthinkabouthowtogetagoodnight’srestinbothlong-termandshort-termscenarios.Evenifyouareplanningtosetupapermanentshelter,youneedtobepreparedtosetupatemporaryshelterincaseyouneedtoleavebasecampforadayortwo.AgoodEgyptiancotton,oilclothtarpof8'×8'minimum,liketheoneavailablefromTentsmiths,combinedwithamoisturebarriersuchasatickmattressandastoutwoolenblanketwilldointhecoldestofclimates.Justmakesureyouhaveaproperbedandfire.ThePathfinder100percentwoolblanket,fromSelfRelianceOutfitters,willworkasagoodthree-seasonblanket,aswillWitney(checkeBay),Hudson’sBay(availablethroughWoolrichorL.L.Bean),orTonyBakerblankets.Youcanalsolookinsurplusstoresforanyblanketsthatareguaranteed100percentwool.Anywoolenblanketshouldbeentirelymadeofwoolandshouldbequeen-sizedorsix-pointdimension,approximately96"×96".
HAMMOCKSHammocksaffordmanyadvantages,evenforuseinalong-termshelter,and
giveaverycomfortablenight’ssleep.Theyhavebeencommonlyusedbywoodsmensincethe1800s.Olderversionswerefashionedfromballoonsilk,ropenetting,orcanvas.Balloonsilkisnotthatdifferentinconsistencyandweighttotheparachute-typematerialusedtomakehammockstoday.Hammockscanbeagreatthree-seasonoptionwhencombinedwithablanket.Theycanevenbeusedincoldweatherifyouusesomekindofqualityunderquiltthatwillcombatconvectionissuesassociatedwithhangingaboveground.Alotofhammockmanufacturersnowmakeabugnetthatiseitherbuiltintothehammockoravailableasanadd-on.Thesenetscreateascreenedenclosure,offeringaddedprotectionfrombugs.
TENTS
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Smallbackpacking-styletentsprovidecomfortandsecurityfrombugsandotherwigglers.Thedownsideisthattheirconstructionrestrictsyourviewandeliminatestheabilitytousefireasaheatsource.Thereisalwaysatradeoffwithanypieceofgear!Therearealotofdifferenttypesoftentsonthemarket,butIwouldsuggestselectingonethatismadeoftheheaviestmaterialyoufeelcomfortablecarrying.Youwillappreciatethedurability.Oneotherpossibledownsidetoconsideristhatcondensationtendstoforminsidethetentwallsatnight,whichcanmakethemcolderthanopenshelter.Lookforvarietieswithmeshtopsandarainflap,whichhelpsalleviatethecondensationissues.
BIVVIESAbivvyisusuallyasmalltube-stylebagthatismadeforasinglepersonand
canbesetupveryquickly.Thesamerulesapplytobivviesastotents:Lookfordurablematerialwithmeshandaclosablerainflaptohelppreventcondensation.Somemanufacturersofferbivviesthathaveasleepingbagincluded,likeaself-containedsleepingunit.
TENTCOTSTherearealsotentcotsmadeespeciallyforhunting.Theseareself-contained
tentsandsleepingcotsbuiltintooneunit.Theycanbequitecomfortableandprovidealltheadvantagesofaraisedbedandclosedtent.
ULTRALIGHTCOTSUltralightcotsprovideacomfortableraisedbedinjustacoupleofminutes.
Thesecotsfoldupverysmallandareextremelylight,whichmakesthemagreatoptionforagoodnight’ssleeponlongertreks.
BUSHCRAFTTIPPointblanketsareatypeofwooltradeblanketmostassociatedwiththeHudsonBayCompany.Theseoldstandbyshavebeensoldin
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NorthAmericasince1779.Pointblanketshaveaseriesofcoloredlines(points)wovenintothemononeedgesignifyingthesizeoftheblanket.Duringthefurtradeerathelargestpointblanketwasafour-pointblanketofabout72"×90".Modernpointblanketscanbefounduptosixpoints,orapproximately96"×96".Intoday’sterms,afour-pointblanketwouldfitafull-sizedbed,andasix-pointblanketwouldfitaqueen-orking-sizedbed.Intheolddaysthesepointswerealsousedtosignifyhowmanyfinishedor“made”beaverhidestheblanketwasworth.Soasix-pointblanketwasworththevalueofsix“made”beaversortheequivalentinanotherfur.
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CONVENIENCEItemsofconveniencearethelowestprioritywhenbuildinganemergencyorsurvivalkit,butinalong-termscenariotheseitemsareveryimportant.Thesearetheitemsthatmakecamplife“smoother”andalsoaddtothelongevityofyoursupplies.Theyincludethingsthatrepairandrefurbish,candles,navigationalaids,extracontainers,evensnowshoes.
PRIORITIZINGITEMSOFCONVENIENCERepairkitswithadditionaltoolsPremadetindersandfireextendersVariedcookwaresuchasfoldingreflectorovensandskilletsAdditionaltarpageformakingshelteroverworkareasAdditionalcordageformajorprojectslikenets
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TIPSANDTRICKS
1. Anyhandledtoolshouldhaveahandleofwoodforeaseofreplacementinthefield.
2. Inapinch,thebladeofabowsawcanalwaysbeusedwithaframesawthatyoufashionyourselffromnaturalmaterialssuchaswood.
3. Savethemostpreciousresourcesasalastoption.Forexample,neverstartafirewithalighterifyoucanuseaferrorod,andneveruseaferrorodifyoucanusethesun(whichisarenewableresource).
4. “Opossummentality”isalwayskey:Thinklikeascavenger.Neverpassoveraneededresourcethinkingthatyouwillrunintoitagain.Thisisespeciallytruewithmaterialsrelatedtofire,food,ormedicine.
5. Anypieceofyourkitshouldbeversatileenoughthatithasatleastthreeviableuses.
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Chapter2NATURALRESOURCES
“Preconceivednotions,especiallywhenoneisfairlybroughtupintheirinfluence,aremostdifficulttoshakeoff.”
—STEWARTEDWARDWHITE,CAMPANDTRAIL
Naturalresourcesareacriticalcomponentofwoodcraftandbushcraft.Treesareespeciallybeneficialbecausetheyareaccessiblethroughoutallfourseasons.It’struethatsomeresourceswithinatreemaybebetterharvestedduringwarmerseasons,butthelumber,roots,andinnerbarkarealwaysavailable.Therearemanytreesintheeasternwoodlands,andtalkingaboutallthespecificspeciesisbeyondthescopeofthisbook.However,youwilllearnaboutsomeofthemostprevalentfamiliesoftrees,likepine,willow,poplar,oak,andbirch,andhowtothoroughlyusetheresourcestheyoffer.
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Viewatextversionofthistable
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PINEThepinetreeisoneofthemostabundanttreesintheeasternwoodlands.Italsoprovidesusefulresourcesthroughoutallfourseasons.Sincethepinetreeisaconifer,itdoesnotloseitsneedlesinthewinterwhenmanyothertreespeciesdroptheirleaves.Let’stakeacloserlookatthistreefromtheoutsideintobetterunderstanditsresources.Pinewoodisfantasticbecause,duetoitsresinousnature,itwillburnquickly
andcanbeusedtomakeafirelayeveninwetweather.Thedarkblacksmokethatyouseefromafiremadewithpineisaproductoftheresinsfromwithinthewoodburningoff.Pineisasoftwoodthatcanmakeaveryeffectivebow-drillhearthandspindleset—althoughbecarefultoavoidtheresinsorthesetwillsimplypolishandnotburn.Pinemakesadecentcarvingwoodbutisnotasdurableforutensilsasotherwoods.
Pineneedles
SAP/RESINPineresinisusuallyfoundontheoutermostpartofthetreewhereaninjury
hasoccurred.Thedrippingorsecretionallowsyoutoaccessandcollectsomethingfrominsidethetreewithouthurtingit.Thisresin,orsap,islikeliquid
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goldandshouldbecollectedatanyopportunitythatpresentsitself.Icarryaseparate4-ouncetinsothatIcancollectsapanytimeIcomeacrossitandstoreitinmykit.Asamedicinalresource,pinesapcanactlikenewskinonashallowcutandgenerallyworksasanantisepticwhencaringforwounds.Theresinitselfishighlyflammableandisthereforeagreatflameextenderwithinthefirelay.Averygoodadhesive,calledpinepitch,canbemadebyheatingthesapandaddingequalpartscharcoalandabinderlikecattailflufforherbivoredung.Usealowheatwhenmeltingthesapbecauseitbecomesverybrittlewhenburned.Theresultinggluecanthenbestoredinatinorwrappedonapitchstickbywindingitlikecottoncandyonastickanddryingitonelayeratatime.Thisstickcanlaterbeheatedoverafiretosoftentheglueforapplication.
NEEDLESNeedlesoneasternpinesareextremelynutritiousandhavemorevitaminC
perweightthanafresh-squeezedorange.AlsohighinvitaminA,thesepineneedlesmakeanexcellentteaforboostingtheimmunesystem.Pineneedleteaalsoworksasanexpectorantandadecongestant.Theteacanevenbeusedasanantisepticwashorfomentation.Notallpinestastethesame,soyoushouldtrydifferenttypestofindwhatyoulikebest.Youcanfashionbeautifulcoilbasketsfrompineneedles,althoughthistaskistedious.Deadpineneedlesarefantasticadditionstoanyfirelayastheresinousneedlesarehighlyflammable.Theyalsomakegoodcoarsematerialsforabird’snestwhenmakingprimitivefire.
ROOTSCertaintreespecies,suchasthespruce,haveverylongrootsthatgrowjust
underthesurfaceoftheground.Theserootscanbeharvestedinlonglengthsandusedforcordorbasketweaving.Oncetherootisharvested,theouterbarkmustberemovedtomaketherootmorepliable.Youcanremovethebarkbypinchingtherootbetweentwosticksandpullingtherootthrough,removingthebarkas
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yougo.Keeptherootswetsothattheyareeasiertohandle.Largerrootscanbefurthersplittomaketheresourcelastevenlonger.
FATWOODTheareaofthetreecommonlyknownasthefatwoodwillcollecttheresins
bestbecauseit’swherethesapsettles.Oftentimesthestumpandrootballcanbeanexcellentsourceoffatwood.Notalltreespecieshavealotofsap,soyouwillneedtoexperimentwithwhatyouhave.Itissafetosaythatallpineswillcontainsomefatwood.Manytimes,adeadstandingorfallentreewillhavearootballthatiscompletelysaturatedwithresin.Thatisthegoldmine!Ifyoufindyourselfinneedofanemergencyfire-startingdevice,rememberthatfatwoodishighlyflammable.Whenyoucombinetheaccelerantvalueofresinwiththewoodasaslow-burningfuelsourceyouhaveanaturalpairing.Chooseanareaofalivingordeadtreewhereabranchhasgrownandcutthebranchasclosetothetrunkaspossible.Hereyouwillfindatleastafewinchesoffatwood.Toprocessthiswoodforstartingafire,locatethedark,orange-coloredfatwoodareaandscrapethisintofineshavingswiththebackofyourknife.Thismaterialwillignitewithanopenflameoraferroceriumrod.
INNERBARKTheinnerbarkcanbeusedasafoodsource.Italsoholdsmanyantiseptic
propertiesandcanevenbeusedasanimpromptubandage.Whendried,theinnerbarkcanalsobeusedtomakeslatsforwovenbaskets.
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WILLOWWillowisawaterindicatortree,sinceitonlygrowswellinwetareasalongriverandstreambanks,drainageareas,andlakesides.Willowwoodissoft,goodforcarving,andoneofthebestmaterialsforahearthandspindlewhenmakingabow-drillfireset.
Willowleaf
LEAVESANDBRANCHESWillowleavesandtheinnerbarkcontainsalicin,whichisoneofthechemical
compoundsusedinaspirin.Adecoctionoftheinnerbarkwillmakeafairlygoodheadacheremedy,andchewingtheleaveswillalleviateatoothache.Thebranchesofthewillowgrowlong,andnewgrowthisfairlystraight,
whichiswhytheymakepassablearrowshafts.Willowbranchesarepliableandcanthereforebeusedtomakequickbasketcontainersaswell.
INNERBARK
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Willow’sinnerbarkcanbeusedtomakebasketsandpackboards.Thebarkisbestharvestedinthespringandearlysummerwhenthebarkislooseandcaneasilybepriedfromthetreewithawedge.Theouterbarkcanthenbeseparatedbypeelingtheinnerbarkfromit.Aswithmostofthesetypesofcomponents,theinnerbarkismostworkablewhenkeptwet.
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POPLARTherearemanypoplarsintheeasternwoodlands.Thetulippoplar(sometimesknownastheyellowpoplar)isoneofmyfavorites,butitisactuallyamagnoliaandnotatruepoplar.DanielBoone’scanoewascarvedfromthiswood.Thepoplarisasofttreeandthereforemakesanexcellentprimitivefiresetsuchasabowdrill.Thepoplarmakesafinespindleaswellasahearthboardforthispurpose.Alsofineforcarving,itmakeseasysmallcampitemslikespoonsandspatulas.
TulipPoplarleaf
LEAVESTheleavesandthebarksofthistreeareveryastringentandcanbeused
medicinallyfordrawinginfectionorfordrivingtoxins,liketheoilsfrompoisonivy,tothesurface.Ahotfomentationcombinedwithawashisoneofthebestwaystoridyourskinoftheivyoilsthatcauserash.Whentakenasaninfusion,theleafteaisbindingandcanrelievediarrhea.
OUTERBARKDuringthespring,easilyremovetheouterbarkbypryingitfromthesapwood
withawedgeoryouraxeblade.Youcanusethisbarktomakebarkcontainers
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frombasketstoarrowquivers.Todothis,maketwocircularcutsthroughthebarkaroundthetree;thedistancebetweenthecutsshouldbethedesiredlengthofthepiece.Then,toopenthebark,makeaverticalcutbyinsertingawedgebetweenthebarkandsap.Youcanthenslowlypeelofftheouterbark.Rememberthatpeelingoffthebarkwillkillthetree,somakesureitisabsolutelynecessarybeforeyoudoit.
INNERBARKIntheeasternwoodlands,theinnerbarkofthepoplarisoneofthemostprized
resourcesnexttopinesap.Theinnerbarkprovidesbothbird’snestmaterialandtinderbundlesforfire.Whenharvestedgreen,italsomakesastrongreversewrapfortwo-plycordages.Manytimestheinnerbarkfiberscaneasilybeseenthroughrottingbarkhangingoffthebranches.Ifbranchesaredeadbutnotshedding,thebackofyourknifewilleasilyprocessthistomaketheinnerbarkaccessible.
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OAKTheoak,withitsheavygrainandhardwood,hastraditionallybeenusedforconstruction.Oakisexcellentforcraftingwoodentoolsandevenreplacementhandlesfortools.Therearetwomajorgroupsofoaks:redoakandwhiteoak.
Redoakisgreatforanybuildingmaterialslikeslatboardsanddimensionallumber.Redoakisafibrouswoodthathandlesbendingstresseasily,soitcanalsobeusedformakingbows.Redoakcanbeusedtoheat-formmanysuppliessuchaspackframesandsnowshoeframes.Whiteoakrepresentsthemedicinalsideoftheoakfamily.Inmedievaltimes,thewhiteoakleafwasthesymbolformateriamedica,thatis,thecollectedknowledgeaboutmedicinesandtheconditionstheywereusedtotreat.Theinnerbarkofwhiteoakcanhelprelievesinuscongestionandheadaches.Duetothehighleveloftannins,theleavesandthebarksofthistreeareveryastringentandcanbeusedfordrawinginfectionorfordrivingthingstothesurface,liketheoilsfrompoisonivy,andforrelievingdiarrhea.Whiteoakisantisepticinnature,sodecoctionsofthisbarkmakeexcellentmouthwashesandgarglesforsorethroatorgumproblems.Oakwoodisalong-burninghardwood,whichmakesitagreatchoiceforall-nightfiresandforcreatingcoalbedsincookfires.
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Oakleaf
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SASSAFRASIincludesassafrasherebecauseofthecarminativevalueoftheroottea.Finelygrounddrysassafrasleaveswillalsoaddacinnamon-typeflavortofoodssuchasbannock,aquick-frybread.Sassafraswasamainstaytonicfromcolonialtimesuntilthe1960swhentheFDAconductedteststhatshowedmassamountsofsafrolecausedlivercancerinrats.Rootdecoctioncanbeusedtoeaseupsetstomachandregulatethedigestivesystem.
Sassafrasleaf
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BIRCHThereareseveralspeciesofbirchthroughouttheeasternwoodlands,butblackandriverbircharethemostprevalentinthemiddlegroundareasoftheOhioRivervalley.Allbirchescontainoilthatcanbeextractedfromthebark,anditissoflammablethatitcanoftenstillburnevenwhendamp.BirchisanexcellentcarvingwoodandisthepreferredmaterialforScandinavian-madeknifehandles.
Birchleaf
BIRCHBARKBirchbarkprovidesprobablythemostversatileandevenlife-savingresources
ofallthetreesintheeasternwoods,savemaybethepine.Withitsrichandvolatileoils,birchbarkburnswithadarkblacksmokethatinthesummercanhelpdriveoffinsects.Itisvirtuallyunmatchedinitsabilitytoburnindampconditions,andwhenusingopenflameitrequiresalmostnoprocessingtoquicklycreateahot,warmingfirewhiledryingmarginaltinderasitgoes.Birchbarkisalsoprizedasamaterialforcraftingcontainersofallsortsandforweavingtomakebasketsandsheaths.Nativepeoplesusedbirchbarktomaketheouterskinofcanoes.ItisbesttoharvestthebarkfromlivetreesbetweenMayandJune,butthistreeissoresilientandresistanttorotthatbarkcanevenbeharvestedfromdeadtrees.Itispossibletoharvesttheouterbarkwithoutkillingalivetreeaslongasyouareabletodosowithoutdisturbingtheinner
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bark.Maketestcutstodeterminethethicknessandpliabilityofthebarkbeforemakinglargeharvests.
CHAGA(TINDERFUNGUS)Birchesthatgrowathigheraltitudesorincolderclimatesaresusceptibletoa
parasiticfunguscommonlycalledtinderfungus(Inonotusobliquus),orchaga.ChagagrowsinareasoftheUnitedStatesfromNewEnglandandMichigandowntoNorthCarolina.Chagahaslongbeensoughtforbothitsmedicinalandfiretinderproperties.Itappearsasalargeblackenedballormassonthesideofthetrunkofbothliveandfallenbirch.Thisfungushasextensivemedicinalvalue;manywoodsmenwillsimplyboilachunkofitintheirkettleasadailyteatodrinkatcamp.Whenit’susedasafirestarter,theyellowsoftareasbeneaththeblackoutercrustwilltakethesparksfrombothsteelandrodandwillholdanembertobeusedforignition.Youcansliceitthinlyorcreateadustthatcanthenbestoredinyourkitforlateruse.
MEDICINALVALUEOFTREERESOURCES
TREE MEDICINALVALUE
Pine Decongestant,antiseptic,immunesystembooster
Willow Painreliever
Poplar Astringent,diarrhearelief
Oak Decongestant,astringent,diarrhearelief
Sassafras Regulatedigestivesystem
Birch Antiseptic,insectrepellant
BIRCHOILBirchoilisextractedbyusingtwocontainersofmetalorclay.Thefirst,called
thecatchmentcontainer,isburiedbelowgroundtotherimandsurroundedbydirt.Thesecondcontainerisfilledwithbirchbarkandsealedwithadrainholeorholesinthebottomfromwhichoildrainsintothecatchmentcontainer.Thiscontainerisplacedjustoverthecatchmentcontainer.Afireisthenbuiltaroundtheabovegroundcontainertoheatthematerialandreleasetheoilsuntilthey
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slowlydrainintothecontainerbelow.Theprocessusuallytakesseveralminutestofillasmallcontainer.Thenthetopcontaineriscarefullyremovedtoexposethepoolofoilbelow.Thisoilishighlymedicinalandcanbeusedasbothanantisepticandaninsectrepellant.Itisalsoflammable,sobecautiouswhenusingit.
BUSHCRAFTTIPBirchoilcanbefurtherrenderedintobirchtar.Tocreatebirchtaryouwillneedtoslowlyheattheoiltoaboillikeagravyandthenstir.Becarefulbecauseboththefumesandtheliquidarehighlyflammable.Oncerenderedtoathickpasteitcanberolledontoastickwhereitcanbestoredforlateruse.Thisformofstorageiscalledapitchstick.Thetarcanalsobemoldedontosquaresorballsforstorageandlateruse.Birchtarcanbeusedformanypurposes.Whenreheated,itisacompletelywaterproofgluingmaterial.Itisalsoaflexibleadhesiveandcanbeusedforhaftingandsealingbothcontainersandleatherssuchasmoccasinseams.
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ITEMIZEIt’struethatplantsandtreesprovidemanyresources,butitisabsolutelycriticalthattheyareidentifiedcorrectlybeforeusingthem.Afriendofmine,GreenDean,teachesasimplemethodforthiscalledITEM:
I—ProperlyIdentifytheplantwithatleasttworesources.T—ConsidertheTimeofyear:Istheplantgrowingorbloomingintheproperseasonforitsspecies?E—ObservetheEnvironment:Istheplantortreegrowinginalocationtruetoitsnature?Forexample,aplantthatprefersdry,rockysoilwilllikelynotbefoundinamarsh.M—ResearchtheMethodofharvestandpreparation.Manyplantsmustbeharvestedatacertaintimeintheirlifecycle,oracertainpartmustbeharvestedforuse.Findoutwhatmethodisusedtopreparethisplantforfoodormedicine.Doesitneedtobeleached?Doesitneedtobedoubleboiledtocreateadecoction?
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MEDICINALPREPARATIONSHerearesomebasicmethodsusedtopreparenaturalresourcesformedicinaluse:
Infusion—Thisprocessisjustlikemakingtea.Theportionsoftheplanttobeusedareplacedinwaterthathasalreadybeenboiledandremovedfromthefire.Alidisplacedonthecontainerandthemixtureislefttosteepfor15–30minutes.Itisthenconsumedasneeded.Decoction—Similartothewayyoumakeaninfusion,youaregoingtoboilwater.Withadecoction,however,youwilladdthebarkorrootstotheboilingwaterwhileitisstillonthefireandsimmeruntilhalftheliquidremains.Thenaddwatertotheoriginalamountagainandrepeat.Onceyouhaveessentiallytwice-boiledtheliquid,itcanbestrainedandconsumedorusedasneeded.Note:Thismethodisalwaysusedforextractionfrombarkandroots.Fomentation—Afomentationisaninfusionordecoctioninwhichacottonmaterialhasbeensteepedforabout5minutesandisthenwrappedorplacedontheskin.Wash—Youuseawashofeitheraninfusionordecoctiontowashorirrigateanarea.Youcanalsopossiblysoaksomethinginit,suchasyourfeet.Poultice—Apoulticeisusuallythemaceratedplantwrappedagainsttheskinwithabandage.Thismethodisusedmainlyfordrawingortoreduceswelling.
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TIPSANDTRICKS
1. Ifyouarehavingproblemsidentifyingatreeinthewintermonthswhenyouhaveonlythebarktoexamine,lookonthegroundaroundthetree.Theleavesaroundit,evenifdry,willbeagoodindicatorofwhattypeoftreeitis.
2. Whenusingtreebarkasaresource,rememberthatthebirchistheonlytreethatyoucanringorgirdlewithoutkillingtheentiretree.
3. Afterinjuringatree,applyingafreshcoatofthickmudwillhelptoprotectitfromfurtherdamageasitheals.
4. Alwayscollect“punky”wood,whichiswoodthatisnearlyrottenandveryspongyinappearanceandfeel.Punkywoodmakesthecharredmaterialforthenextfire.
5. Keepaneyeoutforwatervines.Inanemergency,ifwaterisunavailable,wildgrapeorwatervineswillholdwaterforseveralmonthsfromearlyspringthroughsummer.Cutthevineclosetothegroundfirstandthenabout2'higher.Alargevinewillholduptoacupofwater.
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Chapter3WOODENTOOLSANDSIMPLE
MACHINES
“Nature’sPriority:Takecareofthebrainfirst.Thenitwilltakecareofyou.”—GENEFEAR,
SURVIVINGTHEUNEXPECTEDWILDERNESSEMERGENCY
InadditiontothefivecriticalmetaltoolsdiscussedinChapter1,therearefivewoodentoolsyoucaneasilycraftyourselftoaidinalong-termouting.Theselectionisdependentonthetypeoftripyouhaveplannedandwhatfoodandmeatprocurementsuppliesyouarecarrying.Thislisttakesintoconsiderationthefactthatyouarecraftingmostofyourtoolsasyougoinordertokeepdowntheweightofyourkit.Thisisespeciallytruewhenyouaretravelingwithoutconveyances.
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THROWINGORDIGGINGSTICKThefirstthingIusuallymakewhilepreparingmycampisathrowingstick,whichcanalsobeusedfordigging.Althoughthistypeoftoolisoneoftheeasiesttomake,itaddsalotofversatilitytoyourkit.Thethrowingstickshouldbemadeofgreenhardwood(oak,maple,magnolia)ifpossibleandisaboutthelengthfromyourarmpittoyourcuppedhand,orwhatIcall“axe-handlelength.”Icuta45°wedgeononeendandadullpointontheother.Thissimpletoolcanbetuckedintothebackofyourbeltorbedrolluntilneeded.Younowhaveareadytooltothrowatgameonthegroundsuchasrabbitsandsquirrels,andyoucanalsouseittodigfire-pitholesoruprootplantsandtubers.Itcanbeusedasareadybatonifneededforprocessingfirewoodorevenforretrievinghangingdeadwoodbytyingastringtoit,throwingitoverabranch,andpulling.Themostbeautifulthingaboutthismultifunctionaltoolisitonlytakesabout2minutestomanufactureandisthereforeeasytoreplace.
Throwingstick
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ANVILSTUMPFindalargestumpifyoucan,orjustcutoffapieceoflogthatislargeenoughforaseat.Youwillbesurprisedatthemanyusesitwillaffordoverashorttime.Thisstumpwillkeepyouoffthegroundandwillalsofunctionasaworkbenchandadrysurfaceonwhichtoprocessfiretinderandkindling.TheanvilstumpcanalsobeusedmuchlikeasawhorsewhenyouaddVnotchesonthesideintowhichyoucanplacepiecesofwoodthatneedtobecut.JustlayyourstumponitssideandlockthepieceofwoodyouwanttocutintotheVnotch.Thewiderthenotch,thebiggerthepieceofwoodyoucanlayintoit.Thiswillhelpyouavoiddrivingyouraxeorknifeintothedirtbyaccident.Theanvilstumpprovidesaraisedsurfaceforacandleatnightaswell.Theanvilstumpcanbefurtherprocessedtomakeagrindingbowlonthesurfaceand,ontheotherside,aseriesofcutoutsthatcanbeusedtoholdsharpeningstonesandflatsofwoodthatcanbeusedforcuttingboards.
Anvilstump(clave)
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SPEARORGIGThespear,simpleasitmaysound,isextremelyusefulforavarietytaskswhenyouareroaming.Itshouldbeconstructedofahardwoodsaplinglikemapleandshouldbeatleast12"tallerthaneyelevelwhenfinished.Makeastoutforkthathasabout4"tinesononeend.Theotherendcanbefashionedinoneoftwowaysdependingontheenvironment.Ifyouareclosetoagoodwatersource,suchasaflowingsteamorpond,youwillwantagiggingdeviceontheotherend.Makethisgigbysplittingtheendofthesaplinginacrossfashiontocreatefourequaltines,eachofwhichareabout6"–8"long.Thensharpenthestickasifitwerestillonesolidpiece.Afterthis,twosmallgreenstickswillbeplacedintothecrosscutstoforceopenthetines.Youcanthenlashthesticktokeepitfromsplittingfurtherbeforesharpeningtheindividualtines.Oncethisiscompletedyouhaveatoolthatcanbeusedforhuntingthingslike
frogs,fish,snakes,andsmallmammalsindens.Thistoolwillalsogiveyoureachtoretrievenutsornestsfromhighpointsintrees.Useyourspearforstabilitybyusingitasathirdlegwhencrossingstreams.Youcanalsouseitasasupportforhangingapotoverthefireifneeded.Youwillfindinfiniteusesforthissimpletoolasyoutravelandhunt.
Spear
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MAULORMALLETAmaulcanbeeasilyfashionedfromacutgreenhardwoodbranch.Maulsvaryinsize,butIwouldstartwithabranchthatisapproximately16"longand4"indiameter.Carvetheheadfromthefirst6"ofthebranchandreducetheotherendofthecutwoodsothatitcomfortablyfitsinthehand,makingitsweightforwardlikealarge,roundhammer.Thistoolcanbeusedformanytasks,especiallyforstrikingthebackofametaltoolsuchasyourknifeoryouraxe.Thistoolwilltransformyouraxeintoawedge,achisel,orasheercuttingdevicewithmorecontrolthanifyouarejustswingingitfreely.Themaulcanalsobeusedtobatonwoodwithyourknifeiftheneedarises.Finally,youcaneasilyopenorsmashacorns,nuts,andclamshellswiththistool.Becausethemaulhasalargersurfaceareathanthehammerpoleonyouraxe,it’salsoagreatdevicefordrivingwoodenstakesandwedges.
Maul
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WEDGESAssoonasyouneedtosplitwood,youwillneedtomakewedges.Ifyouareforcedtouseaknifeforprocessingwood,awedgecanbevitallyimportanttosafelyremoveaknifethatgetsstuckduringasplit.Wedgesshouldbemadefromgreenhardwoodmaterialand,aswithmostofthesetools,shouldbemadeinvaryingdiametersandangles.Wedgescanalsobeusedforsplittinglongerlogstomakethingslikebowstavesordimensionallumber.They’realsousefulforseparatingbarkfromsapwoodtomakecontainersorbarkshinglesforroofingmaterials.Whennotinuse,wedgescandoubleastentstakes.Forthatreasonalone,Irecommendfashioningsixseparatewedgesabout1"–2"indiameterandatleast12"long.Inthisway,thesetoolsbecomeoneofthefivesimplemachinesyouusemostofteninthewoods.
Wedge
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SIMPLEWOODLANDMACHINESAsidefromwedges,therearefourothersimplemachinesthatyoucanfashionfromwoodmaterialfoundinthelandscapetohelpwithtasksinandaroundcamp.
WINDLASSThewindlassisusedtomoveheavyweightsorfortensioning.Typically,a
windlassconsistsofahorizontalcylinderthatisrotatedbytheturnofacrankorbelt.Awinchisaffixedtooneorbothendsandacableorropeiswoundaroundthewinch,pullingaweightattachedtotheoppositeend.Awindlasscanbemadeevenmoresimplywithaloopofcordorropeanchoredtoafixedobjectandthenloopedaroundanotherobjecttobemoved.Aleverofproportionatesizeisthenplacedwithintheloopandturned,endoverend,totightenthelineuntiliteventuallymovestheobject.
Windlassoperation#1
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Youcanalsouselargerpostsaslevers,eitheratgroundlevelorstanding,windingropetomoveanobject.Awindlasscanalsobeassimpleasatensioningdeviceforabucksaw,madefromnaturalmaterials.Aquickvisecanbemadefromagreenstumpbyemployingawindlasstotensiontheworkpiece.Awindlassoperatesverysimilartoatourniquetinthiscase.Itemploysafewwrapsofropetensionedbyastickthatisthenheldinplacebytyingitofftothelowerareaofthestump.Itactstoconstricttheworkpieceandasaholdfast.Killing-typetrapssometimesalsoincludeawindlassdevice.
Windlassoperation#2
INCLINEDPLANEAninclinedplaneisasimplemachineformovingheavyobjectsabove
ground.Theinclinedplanetakesadvantageofanglesinordertoleverorpullweightforwardonashallowangle.Thismakesiteasiertoliftthanpullingdeadweightdirectlyfromtheground.Youcan,forexample,movealargerlogontoabuckinghorseorpullaloguphill.Tooperatetheinclinedplaneyoutake
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advantageofthehillandthelogasacylindricalrollingobject.Fromthere,youuseawindlasstocontrolthetaskofraisingtheloguphill.Topullaloguphillyouwilltakeadvantageoftheinclineplaneofthehillside.
YouwillneedalengthofropelongenoughtoformaWwiththecenterwrappedaroundatreeatthetopofthehillandthetwooutsideVswrappingthelog.Thetailsontheoutsideareusedatthetoptorollthelogupthehill,withtwopeoplepullingatthesametime.
Inclinedplane
LEVERANDFULCRUMAlevermadeofstrongmateriallikegreenhardwoodcanbeusednotonlyto
rolllargelogsandstonesacrossthegroundbutalsotoassistinrollinglogsupaninclinedplane.Whenusingafulcruminconjunctionwithalever,youcanalsoliftlogsandotherheavyobjects.
BOWANDDRILLThebowanddrillisoneoftheoldestsimplemachines.Itisusedasa
primitivefirestarterandcanalsobeusedinconjunctionwithbitsofmetalorstonetomakeholesinotherobjects.You’llneedtocreateachuckwhenusing
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thisdeviceforanythingotherthanfiremaking.(Sometimeschucksareusedformakingfiretoo.)Formoreonthismachineseethefollowingchapter.
Bowanddrill
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TIPSANDTRICKS
1. Inthelongrunyouwillwantdrywoodforconstructingmanytoolsandhandles,socollectgood,straighthardwoodpiecesaheadoftimesotheyhavetimetodryoutcompletelyaroundcamp.
2. Woodwilldryoutandcrackfasteroncethebarkisremoved.Thiscanbebothanadvantageanddisadvantage,dependingontheprojectforwhichyouarecollectingwood.Youmaywantthewoodtoformacrack,whichwillmakeiteasiertosplit.
3. Alwayshangontotheshavingsandmaterialsyoucollectduringwoodworkingprojects.Storetheminadryplacesotheycanactasreadytinderforfirestartinglater.
4. Heavycordagesuchasropeisoneofthehardestthingstoreproducefromnaturalmaterial,sothisassetwillalwaysbeapriorityforlonger-termkits.
5. Anywoodentoolwillneedtobeoiledtokeepitfromdryingoutovertime.Useanimalfatsorbirchoilforthistask.Whenawoodentoolisfirstmade,youshouldoilitleasteverydayforaweek,everyweekforamonth,andeverymonthforayear.
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Chapter4ADVANCEDFIRECRAFT
“Topokeawoodfireismoresolidenjoymentthanalmostanythingelseintheworld.”
—CHARLESDUDLEYWARNER
Fireistheresourcethatmanybushcraftersconsideronlysecondinimportancetoagoodcuttingtool.Fireiscriticalforpreventingcold-weatherinjuryandprovidinggeneralcomfortaroundcampincoldenvironments.Firecanalsobeusedtodisinfectwater,cookandpreservefood,preparemedicines,andkeepbugsatbay.Thereareprobablyahundredusesforfirethatcancontributetoallfourcategoriesofyourkit(temperaturecontrol,tools,comfort,andconveniences).Buildingfireinanemergencyshouldbeeasyforaseasonedwoodsman.Thereareplentyofitemsonthemarkettoday,fromlighterstoroadflares,thatwillalmostensureaflamecanigniteevenmarginaltindersources.
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PRIMITIVEFIRESTARTINGAsmentionedintheTenCsofSurvivability,youshouldhavethreeitemsforignitioninsupplyatalltimes:
1. Lighter2. Ferroceriumrod3. Magnificationlens(sunglass)
Beyondthesemethodsofemergencyfirestartingthereareanumberofprimitivemethodsthatwoodsmenhavebeenusingforages.Whatdistinguishesthesemethodsisthatyouwillbeusinganembertoignitetindermaterials.Therearefivefire-startingmethodsinwhicheverywoodsmanshouldbecompetent:openflame(lighter),ferroceriumrod,magnificationlens,flintandsteel,andbowanddrill.Thesewillensurethatthewoodsmanispreparedandcanbecomfortable,or“smoothit,”inawoodlandenvironment.MatchesarenotincludedinthislistbecauseIdonotbelievetheyaddanythingtowhatthefirstmethodscanaccomplish,especiallyconsideringtheissuesthatcanencumbertheiruselikemoisture,wind,andlossofgrossmotordexterityincoldweather.Keepmatchesinyourkit,though,tobeusedinconjunctionwithanyothermethodofignition—justincase.Thetwomostimportantprimitivemethodsoffirestartingtounderstandare:
1. Bowanddrill2. Flintandsteel
Bothofthesemethodsusematerialfromthelandscapeandyourhigh-carbonblade.Thebowanddrillkitcanbemadewithyourstoneorglasstools,butaknifemakesthejobmuchmoreconvenient.Somewouldtellyouthattotrulypracticeaprimitiveskillyoumustalwaysuseprimitivetools.Thetruthis,inmodernsocietyitiseasytofindmetalandglassmaterialstouse.
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THEBOWANDDRILLMETHODYouwilluseyourbow-drillkittocreateanember,asmolderingcoaltoaddtoabird’snestofcombustiblematerials.Theemberisacriticalcomponentofthebow-drillkitbecauseyoucannotmakefirewithoutit.Tocreatefireyouneedthreekeyelementsknownasthetriangleoffire:heat,
oxygen,andfuel.Tocreatethesmolderingcoal,yoursetmusttakemaximumadvantageofallthree.Methodsinsurvivalarelikeprocessesofmanufacturinginthatallinputswillaffecttheoutput.Itiscrucialthatyouensuremanythingshappen—andinthecorrectorder—sothatyougetthedesiredoutput.Thebowanddrillsethasfourcomponents:
1. Spindleordrill2. Hearthboard3. Bearingblock4. Bow
Usedcorrectly,thesecomponentsworkasasimplemachinethatremovesmaterialandcausesafinedusttoaccumulate.Thedustisthenheatedbythedrill’sfrictionatwhichpointoxygeninthesurroundingairwillallowignition.Choosingthecorrectcomponents,usingtherightform,andunderstandingwhenandhowmuchpressureandspeedtoapplyarethekeyinputstothisprocess.Theonlyvariationshouldbeintheresourcesyouselect.
SPINDLEMakethespindlefromasoftwoodsothatwhenyoupushdownonityour
fingernailleavesanimpression.Poplars,cedars,willows,andpinesareallgoodwoodstouse.Thespindleonlyneedstobeaboutthesamediameterasyourthumbandthelengthfromyouroutstretchedthumbtopinky.Sinceyouwillbecarvingbothends,itisokayifitisevenalittlebitlonger.
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Thespindleneedstobeasstraightandroundaspossible.Ifyourwoodpieceisslightlycrookedorbent,usethebackofyourknifetocarefullyshaveitalittleatatimeuntilitisstraight.Nextitistimetopreparetheendsforuse.Oneendofthedrillshouldlooklikeaworneraseronapencil:slightlyroundedbutstillbasicallyflat.Thisendwillbeplacedonthehearthboardtocreatemaximumsurfaceareaandfriction.Youwantallthefrictionbetweenthespindleandthehearthtobeinthisspot.Thetopofthespindleneedstobeshapedliketheleadsideofapencil:apointedshapebutslightlydull.Makesurethereisverylittlefrictionatthetopofthespindlesothatyoucanpushandpulltheboweasily.
Spindle
HEARTHBOARDThehearthboardshouldbemadefromthesamesoftwoodasthespindle.
Thewoodshouldbedrybutnotinastateofdecay.Iprefertousewoodfromthetulippoplarbecausethelowerbranchesoftenhangdeadfromthetreeand,barringahardrain,areabletodryoutaboveground.Youwillwantyourfinishedhearthboardtobeaboutaslongasyourforearmandasthickasyourthumb.Selectalimborpieceofwoodlargerthanwhatyouneedsothatyoucansplititdowntomakeaflatboardwiththesedimensions.Carefulconstructionofthehearthboardandthenotch,whichmustbemade
correctlyinordertoachieveacollectionofmaterialforacoalwhilegatheringenoughoxygenforignition,isthemostimportantstep.Makeasmalldivotinaspotonthehearth.Whereyoumakethisinitialstartingpointisdependenton
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whetheryouareleft-orright-handed,aspartoftheboardwillbeunderyourfoot.Justmakesurethedivotisnottooclosetotheendasthatmaycausetheboardtosplitorbreakoutunderpressure.Agoodstartingpointwouldbeabout2"fromtheendclosesttoyourdominanthand.Youdonotneedmakethisdivotverydeep;itonlyneedstoguidethespindleduringtheburningprocess.
BEARINGBLOCKThebearingblockisakeypartofthesetbutisprobablytheleastunderstood
andthemostcomplicatedtostart.Itshouldbemadefromthehardestwoodavailable,suchashickoryorbeech.Softwoodsquicklystarttowearaway,whichcausesthespindletorubontheangledareasbelowthepoint.Thiscommonmistakeiscalledshoulderingout,anditwillleavetheoperatorexhaustedandinhibitthesetfromrunningsmoothly.Selectagreensaplingthatisabout3"indiameterandcutouta4"–5"pieceonthewidestend.Thensplitone-thirdoffthesaplingusingyourknife.
BUSHCRAFTTIPAsmentioned,thebearingblockisthemostdifficultitemtoproduce,anditcontrolseverything.Ingeneral,anyhard,naturalmaterialmakesagoodblockaslongasadivotcanbecarvedintoit.Rocks,bones,andantlerwillallwork.
Useyourknifetocreateasmalldivotontheflatsideofthisblock,rightinthemiddle.Thedivotonlyneedstobelargeenoughtoacceptthepointofthespindle.Afree-spinningdrillwillbeeasytooperate.Ifyouarehavingproblemswithyoursetup,thespinningdrillisthefirstplacetodouble-check.
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Bearingblock
BOWThebowcanbemadefromanybranchanddoesnothavetonecessarilybe
bentlikeabow,butitneedstobefairlystiffsothatitdoesnotbreakunderstrain.Thebowshouldbeabout3'longand ⁄ "indiameter.Thelongerthebow,thefewerthenumberofstrokesitwilltaketomaketherevolutionsofthespindle.Acommonmistakeistouseabowwellunder3'.Makingthebowisassimpleastyingastringtoabranch.Therearemany
complicatednotchesandholesyoucancreatetostringthebow,butIhavefoundthatasimpleforkononeendofthestickwithaloopandastakenotchontheotherendtotieitoffwithastraightlashingandaclovehitchworksbest.Thestringdoesnotneedtobesotightthatitcausesthebowtobendinordertoloadthespindle,butthestringcannotbesoloosethatthedrillslipsunderdownwardpressure.
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Bow
THEBIRD’SNESTTheemberthatyouignitewithyourbowanddrillwillbeusedtoignitea
bird’snest,akeypartofyourfirelay.Thebird’snestmustbemadeupofcoarse,medium,andfinematerials.Infact,mostofthematerialsyougathertomakethehearthandspindlecanalsobeusedwhenassemblingthebird’snest.Theinnerbarksofthepoplarorwillow,orbarkfromthecedar,allworkwell.Therearelotsofotheritemsthatcanbeusedinthebird’snest:forinstance,smalldeadpineneedlesandmaterialswithanaturalaccelerantorhighlycombustibleoilslikebirchbark.Becarefulnottousetoomuchdrygrassandleavesbecausetheseitemsburnquicklyanditisimportantthatthebird’snestburnlongenoughtoignitetherestofthefirelaymaterials.
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Bird’snest
ProcessingMaterialfortheBird’sNestProcessingisthetaskofshreddingbarkstoamassaquantityoffinematerial.
Itisthemostimportanttaskinconstructingthebird’snest.Makesureyouplacesomethingtocatchtheshredssothattheydonotfallontotheground.Ifthematerialyouarecollectingisstillattachedtothetree,youcanusethebackofyourknifetoprocesstheshavings.Ifthematerialyouarecollectingiswet,processitimmediatelyandspreaditoutoveralargersurfacesothatitwilldryquickly.Youcanplacesomeofthisprocessedmaterialbetweenlayersintheclothsaroundthecorebodyareatodrythemorspreadthemoutonadarksurface(likeatarp)inthesun.Oncethematerialisdryitcanbefashionedtolooklikeabird’snest.Ifyoucomeacrossabird’snestinthewild,takealookathowitisconstructed.Whenbuildingtheirnests,birdsplacefinematerialinthemiddleorcenterandaddprogressivelycoarsermaterialastheyworktheirwaytotheoutside.Rememberthebestbird’snestforafirelayisanactualbird’snest,sobesuretocollectoneifyoufinditavailableandunoccupied.
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BURNINGTHEHOLEANDMAKINGTHENOTCHNowthatthecomponentsofyourbowdrillareready,itistimetogetstarted.
Firstloadthespindleontothebow.Placethespindleonthedivotonthehearthboard.Setyourselfupwiththecorrectform:Makesureyourwristislockedintoyourshininordertopreventthespindlefrommovingsidetoside.Makesuretherearenoobstructionsthatwillinterferewiththefullmovementofthebow.Leanforwardtopushsteadydownwardpressureonthespindlewiththebearingblock.Yourchestshouldbeoveryourknee.Begintoapplyenoughdownwardpressurewiththebearingblocktoholdthedrillinthedivotasyouslowlyrotatethespindle.Itisimportantthatyoumoveslowlybecausethisstepwillmarrythedrilltothedivotforwhenyoubegintocreatethecoal.Ifyouusetheentirebowwithsteadystrokes,downwardpressurewillcreateenoughfrictiontobeginburningthewood.Stoponcethewoodhasburnedaroundthespindleandthingsarerunningsmoothlybecauseusingtoomuchofthematerialnowreduceswhatyouhavetomakeacoal.Nextyouneedtomakeanotchfromthecenterofthefreshlyburneddivot
holetotheedgeofthehearthboard.Thenotchmustbemadecorrectlyinordertoachieveacollectionofmaterialforacoalwhilegatheringenoughoxygenforignition.Youalwayswantthenotchtothefrontoftheboardfacingawayfromyoubecausethiswillallowyoutoeasilyviewtheprocesswhenoperatingthedrill.Takecarethatyournotchareaisnottoonarrow,whichwouldcauseittoclogup,preventoverspill,andlimitoxygentotheember.Alternately,makesuretheburneddivotholeisnottoobigbecausethedustneedstobecompactandtheoxygencontrolled.ApropernotchshouldbeinaVcutinwhichthebottomoftheVgoesapproximately ⁄ thesizeofyourburneddivotcircleintotheblackenedarea.TheanglesoftheVshouldbebetween30°–45°.
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Constructingthebowdrill
MAKINGANEMBERNowthatyou’veburnedyourspindleholeandmadeyournotch,inspecteach
componentcarefullybeforeattemptingtomakeacoal.Anyissuesatthispointwillonlygetworselater.
1. Checkthebowstringforstretchandretightenifnecessary.2. Checkthebearingblocktomakesurethedivotisnotgettingtoodeep
andthatthespindlehasnotbeguntoshoulderout.
Nowyouarereadytobeginmakingfirewithsticks!Thereisoneextra,smalltaskthatmakesthingseasierandmightsaveagoodcoalfromgoingoutduetogroundmoisture.Youneedtomakeawelcomemat,aplaceforyourcoaltoflowontoonceitiscreatedinthenotch.Thewelcomematcanbeasmallsliverofbarkorathinpieceofwoodthatisabouttwotimesaswideasthenotch.Thispiecewillgounderthehearthboardtocatchthecoal.Operatethebowslowlyatfirsttoestablishandmaintainarhythm.Yourchest
shouldbeoveryourkneesothatyoucaneasilyobservetheactivityinthenotch.Youdon’tneedspeedyet;youwantsteady,longstrokesthatusetheentirelengthofthebowwhileyouexertdownwardpressure.Atthispointthegoalistoremovematerialfromtheboardandthedrillandfillthenotchwithdarkbrown
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fluff.Manyfolksmakethemistakeofmovingtoofast,assumingspeedwillmakeanember,butthefactis,ifthereisnodustinthenotch,youhavenofueltocreatetheember.Afterseveralstrokesyouwillbegintoseesmokeandthenotchwillstartto
fillwithmaterial.Oncethematerialinthenotchbeginstospillforwardinfrontofthenotchyoucanincreasethecadenceofyourbowstrokesbyabouttwotothreetimes;itshouldonlytakeabout10–12fullstrokesofthebowatthispointtocreateaburningcoal.Staysteadyandmakesureyoudonotmakeajerkystopthatmightdisturbthecoalyoucreated.Slowdownduringthelastcouplestrokesandstopinthesamepositionyoustarted.Slowlyremovethespindleandbowandobservethecoal.Ifitseemstobesmokingoutsidetheboardwherethedusthasgathered,youareprobablyhomefree.Don’tgettooexcitedthough,becauseyoustillhavealotoftimeleftintheprocess,probablyabout5ormoreminutes.Slowlylifttheboardatanangleandtapitgentlywiththespindletodislodgeanymaterialthatmightbecloggedinthenotch.Ifthecoalisstillsmokingatthispoint,youcansitbackandrelaxforaminute,catchafewbreaths,andsmile!
USINGTHECOALTOIGNITETHEBIRD’SNESTNowcomesthemostimportantpartoftheequation.Alwaysbringthebird’s
nesttothecoal—nevertheotherwayaround.Makeanynecessaryadjustmentstoyourbird’snesttomakesurethereisplentyoffinecombustiblematerialinthemiddle.Tiltthenesttowardthewelcomematandpickupthewelcomemat,movingittowardthenest.Thenslowlytapthewelcomemattodumpthecoalintothenest.Thisshouldonlybea ⁄ "dropatmost!Slightlyfoldthenestandbegintoaddsomeoxygenbybreathingintoitslightly,nothardblowsjustlightbreaths.Ifthecoalisstillburningstrongly,youcantiltthenestslightlysothatyouareblowingupintoit,causingtheheattoriseintothebulkofthenest.Astheembergrows,smokewillbegintorollfromthebackofthenest,whichisthecueforyoutoblowabitharder.Asthesmokethickensyoucanincreasetheoxygenuntilitbeginstoburn.Oncetheneststartstoflame,turnitoversothe
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flamesareonthebottomandheatrisestothenonburningmaterial.Finally,placeitintoyourfirelayandmakeafire!
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FLINTANDSTEELMETHODTheflintandsteelmethodisimportantforyoutounderstandforthesamereasonyouneedtoknowthebowanddrillmethod:incasesomekindofemergencycausesyoutolosethemajorityofyourgear.Aslongasyoudonotloseyourprimarycuttingtoolofhigh-carbonsteel,youshouldbeabletofindarockinmostregionsthatwilldrivematerialfromthebackofyourbladeandhelpachievethismethodofignition.Itmaytakesomesearchingtofindarockthatwillworkforthistask,butgenerallyanyflint,chert,orquartzrockwillworkifyoucanbreakorfindasharpedge.Forthismethodyouwillneedtodrivesmallshardsofironmaterialfromthe
backofyourknifewitharock.Theseparticleswillcombustwithfrictionandoxygenat800°F.Whyisthisimportant?Remember,ifyouneedtomakeabow-drillfire,itisbecauseyouhavelostthemajorityofyourkit.Youwanttoavoidhavingtomaketwobow-drillfiresifyoucanhelpit,soyoumakecharredmaterialassoonasyouhavesetthefirstfire.
MATERIALFORFLINTANDSTEELIGNITIONThebestwaytoensureaneasierfireafterthebowdrillistohavecharred
materialsreadyforthenexttimearoundsoaflint-and-steelfirecanbemadeinstead.Somefungusessuchaschaga(truetinderfungus)willtakethesparkfromthismethodwithouthavingtocharitfirst.Youcanalsogetthedustfromsometypesofshelffungus(Fomesfomentarius)toacceptaspark.Toaccomplishthisyouwillrequireasmallpileofdustthatyouhavecreatedwithasawcutorbyscrapingwiththebackoftheknife.Oncethedusthasigniteditmustbelefttogrowintoacoal,whereasthetruetinderfunguscanbeignitedwithinalargerpieceandthedustisnotnecessary.Witheither,youwanttousethesofter,innermaterials,nottheouter,hardsurface.Analternativeischarmaterial,whichevenbetterensuresasparkforignition.
Charcanbemadefrommanythingsyoufindinthelandscape,includingpunky,
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decayingwoodortheinnerpithfromsomeplantslikemullein.Youcanalsousematerialsthatare100percentcottonfromclothingoryourkit.
MakingCharTheeasiestwaytomakecharistoplaceyourchosenmaterialinametal
chamberwhereyoucansubjectittohighheatwhilelimitingoxygen.Inthischamber,gasesareabletoescapeasthematerialisheatedinside.Astainless-steelbottleandnestingcupwillworknicely,oreveninanemergencyanoldcanwithaflatrock.Placeyourmaterialinsidethechamberandthenplacethechamberinthefire.Coalsarebetterthandirectflamebuteitherwillwork.Asthematerialisheated,smoke—whichisactuallygas—willbegintoescapethechamberfromanyplacethatisnotcompletelysealed.Thisisokayjustsolongasoxygencannotenterthechamber.Oncethesmokestops,thecharringshouldbecomplete.Itisveryimportanttowaituntilthechamberiscompletelycoolbeforeopeningitbecauseifoxygencontactshotmaterialitwillcauseittoburn.
BUSHCRAFTTIPTherearemanyadvantagestomakingcharmaterial.Forone,charishighlycombustible,soaddingittothemarginalmaterialswithinabird’snestgivesanextendedheatsourceforeffectingignition.Infact,charredmaterialcanbeignitedwithalmostanysparkfromoldlighters,ferroceriumrods,orasunglass.Givenitsvarietyofignitionmethods,charisanimportantmaterialtokeepingoodsupplyinyourkit.
Inspectthechar.Ifitisblackandfraillooking,itismostlikelyready.Ifthematerialisbrown,closethechamberandputitbackintothefire.Youcanalsotestasmallamountofthechartomakesureitisready.ManywoodsmencarryaspecificcontainersuchasanAltoidstinoranoldshoepolishcan,calledachar
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tin,forfirematerialandcharring.Strikesparksfromthemetaltooldirectlyintothetin,whichincreasesthesurfaceareaforcatchinganember.Onceanemberiscreated,placeitintothebird’snestasdescribedforthebow-drillfire.
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SOLARFIREThereisahugeadvantagetousingasunglasstocreateanember.Sincethesunisarenewableresource,youarenotexpendinganythingfromyourkitwhenyouuseit.Allthematerialsformakinganembercanbecollectedfromthewildandarenotdifficulttouse.Asunglasscanigniteanycharmaterialoreitherofthefungusspeciespreviouslymentioned—whichcanbeusedinarawstate,oftenstraightfromthetreeforthismethod.Horsehooffungusmayworkbetterasadust,butitwillmakeanicecoalinashortamountoftime.Youcanalsocreateanemberbycompressingnaturalmaterialslikecattaildownorpoplarbarksintoasmall,tightballabout ⁄ "indiameter.Thenusetheglasstoburnintothematerial,creatingasmolderingember.
AWORDONMATCHESMatcheshavebeenthestandbyforstartingfiresformorethan150years,but
theyreallyshouldjustbecarriedasanextraresourceinadditiontothethreemainignitionsources:alighter,alargeferroceriumrod,andasunglass.Matchesareextremelysensitivetoweatherandmoisture,andyoucanonlycarrysomany.Itwouldtakeseveralboxesofmatchestocomeclosetotheopen-flamepowerandlongevityofasingleBICcigarettelighter.Theonesmalladvantageofmatchesmaybethetinyamountoftinderawoodenmatchrequires,butthisisnegligibleinaproperfirelay.Manyinstitutionsstillteachlightingfireswithmatches,butIbelievethismethodcontributesnothingtowardtruelong-termsurvivabilityinthewilderness.
ADVANCEDBUSHCRAFTTIPMostsoftwoodspeciescanbescrapedwiththebackoftheknifetocreatefineshavingsforignitionwithanopenflameoraferroceriumrod.Innerbarksandbarksofthingslikecedar,poplar,grapevine(watervine),andhoneysucklewillmakeacombustiblenestifdry.
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Fatwoodisthewoodsman’ssurefire,anditworkswelleveninthedampestconditions.Finescrapingsandshavingsofresinousfatwoodpinewilligniteeasilyandburnlongenoughtocatchmarginaltindersources.Birchbark,whichcontainsavolatileoil,willalsobehighlyflammablewithanopenflamebutcanbeprocessedtoincreasethesurfaceareaforusewithaferroceriumrodaswell.AnoldSamimethodofmakingfireistorolltinderinabirchbarktubeandthenplaceanemberinthebackofthistubeclosesttothemouthandgentlyblow.Thisprotectstheemberwhileallowingheattorisethroughthetinderandthebirchbark.Italsoaddsfuelforlongevityoncethefireisignited.
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TIPSANDTRICKS
1. Rememberthatthebowanddrillisamachine;thelongerthebow,thefewerstrokesittakestoachieverevolutionsofthespindle,andthesmallerthespindle,themorerevolutionsperstrokeofthebow.Thereisahappymediumthattakessomeexperiencetofind.Muchisdependentonyourownmethodandbodytype,butagoodstandardistostartwithathumb-sizedspindleand3'bow.
2. Alwayskeepaneyeoutforrocksthatmaybehardenoughtodriveasparkfromhigh-carbontools.Pickuprocksasyouarewalkingandtrythem.Iftheywork,throwtheminyourpack;ifnot,tossthemaside.Chertandflintwillhaveaslickshinetoitwhenwetandmaybewhite,gray,orpalehuesofredandpink;quartzwillalwaysbeagoodbet.
3. Collecttindersourcesatanyopportunity,evenifjustwalkingfromonelocationtoanother.Keepaneyeoutforanyhanging,stringybarkmaterials.Honeysucklevineswillshedthinlayersofbarkallyearlong.
4. Deadplants,especiallygoldenrod,haveflammableflowertopsandhollowstems.Theseareterrificsourcesoftinderandkindlingandgenerallygrowinlargegrovesofopenfields.
5. Asmallstubfromausedcandleisalwaysagoodsafetydevicetohavewhenfirestarting.Lightthecandlewiththefirstopenflameandsetitasideuntilthefirehasbecomesustainable.Ifyouneedalongeropenflameformarginalmaterials,thiswillsavepreciouslighterfluid.Candlesaremucheasiertomakethananewlighter.
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Chapter5SHELTERING
“Shelterprovidesamicroenvironmentthatsupplementsinadequateclothingorallowsyoutoshedcumbersomelayers,especiallywhenyouwanttostopmovingorwhenyouwanttosleepincoldweather.Shelteralsoenhancestheeffectofawarmingfire.”
—MORSKOCHANSKI
Whenplanningforshelteryouneedtoconsiderbothlong-termandshort-termoptions.Evenifyouintendtobuildabasecampwithapermanentshelter,youmightstillneedtotravelforanightortwotohunt,trap,orfish.Forthisreason,yourkitshouldincludeasystemthattakesyoueasilyfromcabintowoodswithsuppliesthatwillbeusefulineithersituation.Thebaseofthiskitwillinclude:
Waterprooftarp(Egyptiancottonoilclothworkswellhere)WoolblanketSimplesleeveofcanvas(likeapainter’scanvas)ifyouplantomakearaisedbed
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THEFOURWsAsdiscussedindetailinBushcraft101,therearefourcriticalelementstoconsiderwhenlookingforaplacetobuildyourshelter:
WindWaterWoodWidowmakers
WINDThedirectionofthewindwillhaveanimpactonyourabilitytosafelykeepa
firegoingandheatyourshelter.Lookformiddlehigh-groundareaswherethewindispresentbutnottoostrong.
WATERLookforanearbyareasuchasacreekbedthatcanprovideasteadysourceof
water.
WOODYouwillneedalotofwoodforthefire,buildingshelter,andmakingother
resources.Alargefallentreeprovidesagoodsourceoffirewood,andtreessuchaspinescanprovideasteadysupplyoffatwood.
WIDOWMAKERSExaminethetreesaroundyou—especiallylargetrees—verycarefullyforany
deadbranchesthatcouldposeadangertoyouandyourcampsite.
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ESTABLISHINGABASECAMPSettingupabasecampsavesyoufromhavingtocarryallofyoursuppliesonyourbackatalltimes.Ofcourse,buildingamorepermanentshelterisalargeundertaking,anditwilllikelytakeacoupledaysofwork,maybeevenaslongasaweekifyouarewithoutahelpinghand.Bearingthatinmind,thefirstthingyouwillneedtodowhenyouarriveattheplacewhereyouintendtoconstructyourbasecampistobuildatemporarysheltertokeepyouuntilthepermanentshelterisready.Justrememberthatyouneedtofinishbuildingyourpermanentshelterbeforetheweatherdemandsone.Foryourpermanentshelter,youcaneitherbuildalargerversionofyour
temporarybasecamp(likeahunter’sstation)fromnaturalmaterials,oryoucanpackalargercanvasshelterinyourkit.Whicheveryouchoose,itmusthaveatleastthreesidesforprotectionfrominclementweatherandalargefirebackingorportablewoodstovethatisatleastashighasthepitchorroofoftheshelter.Incolderweatheraraisedbedisamust,butiftheweatherisfair,ahammockmaybeenough.Followingaretarpconfigurationsthatcanbeusedforaroving-typecamp,working-campstructures,andfinallymethodsforbuildingapermanentshelter.
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ROVINGCAMPSInBushcraft101wediscussedthemostcommontarpsetups.Hereyouwilllearnaboutsomesimplemakeshiftcampconvenienceitemsthatwillmakecommontarpandothertemporarysetupsevenmorecomfortable.
TENTSTherearemanytypesofcanvastentsandyurtsthatcanbeeasilytransported
aslongasyouhaveconveyances.Rememberthatlargecanvasescanbedifficulttoheat,soforaseasonalshelter,thinkaboutselectingsomethingsmall.Muchofthedecisionaboutwhattypeofcanvassheltertousewilldependonyourenvironment.Open-facedtentsliketheWhelenprovidethreesidesofcoverageandcanbeusedwithahammock.ForcolderweatherIwouldrecommendsomethingthatcanhouseastovelikeasmallwalltent.Smallwalltentscanbeverycomfortableandoffergreatprotectionfromthe
elementsespeciallyifastovejackisinstalled.Manyofthegoldrushminerslivedinwalltentsthatwereplacedonraisedplatforms.Thesetemporarystructureswerelargeenoughthattheycouldevenholdafewsmallfurnishingssuchasachairandasmalltable.Withinthewalltentyoucaneasilyfitahammock,acot,orevenbuildaraisedbed.Thebiggestconvenienceofthewalltentisthatitprovidescoverageonallfoursides,whichmakesitoperatelikeacanvascabin.An8'×10'walltentprovidesplentyofroomforoneperson.Itcanbeusedtemporarilywithallthesamefixturesandamenities,suchaslightingandsleepsetups,thatyouwilleventuallyuseforamorepermanentshelter.
STAKINGANDTIE-OUTMETHODSNomatterwhatkindoftemporaryshelteryouuse,itwillneedtobetieddown
orstakedsothatitstayssecure.Therearemanymethodsforsecuringyourshelter,allofwhichdependonthematerialsthatwereusedtomanufactureitandtheenvironmentalconditionsinwhichithasbeenerected.Irecommendstaying
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awayfromgrommetsaltogether;theyseemtobetheweakestlinkinanyshelternomatterthematerialbecausetheytendtoweakenthesurroundingfabric.Instead,optforthetie-outorstakeloopswheneverpossible.Ifyouhaveonlyablankcanvaswithnowaytotieitoff,placeatoggleonthecornersandfolditoverthetoggle;trapthiswithajamknotonthecornerofthetarp.
Atogglecanbeusedtotiedownatent
Youcanalsouseastoneorevenawadofdeadleavestoplaceaballofsortsintheareathatneedstobetiedandthentieajamknotoverthewholething.Intheolddays,musketballswereoftenusedforthistypeofconfiguration.
Aballtie-downonatarpconfiguration
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Alltielinesshouldbemadeadjustablefortensionsotheycanbetightenedorloosenedwhennecessary.Addingthisadjustabilitymakesiteasytosetupandtakedownyourshelter.Todothis,useflatslabsofwoodwithaholedrilledoneachendthatislargeenoughfortheropestopassthrough.Theropeisthenplacedinthistoggle,oneendineachhole,andknotted.Ifyouareusingloopsfortie-outpoints,itmakessensetopasstheropethroughtheloopbeforeknottingononeendofthisslidingtoggle.Afterthisitcanbeloopedoverastakeandthenadjustedfortension.Anotherwayofdoingthisistouseastandardtrucker’shitchknotwithatensioninglooponthetie-outropes.Youcanalsouseabarrelknot,whichwillself-tightenwhenpressureisapplied.Anotheroptionistostakeyourshelterrightintotheground.Inthiswayyou
arealmostcreatingamicroclimate,andwindandweatherwillhaveverylittleeffectonit.Anoisy,loosetarpthatisblowingaroundinthewindwillbeanall-nightaggravation.Besurealllinesaretightandsecureenoughtowithstandanyunexpectedweatherconditions.Stakesmadeofwoodworkwellforlonger-termcampsbecausethewoodswellswithmoisture,whichfurthersecuresitintotheground.Thelengthofthestakeisreallydependentongroundcondition:Uselongerstakesformoistgroundandshorterstakesfordryground.Ifthegroundisextremelyhard,youmightneedtousemetalinstead.Inthose
casesIrecommendfashioningstakesfroma ⁄ "steelstocklikerebarwitha2"×120°bendatthetop.Ifstakesarenotpracticalatall,youcanimprovisewiththingslikelogs,rocks,orbagsfilledwithsomethingheavylikesmallerrocksordirt.Ifthegroundisextremelysoft,itmaytakeachainoftwostakestosecurethetentinhighwindconditions.
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Stake-drivingangles
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PERMANENTSHELTEROPTIONSThebesttypeofpermanentshelterdependsontheenvironment,seasonalchanges,resourcesavailable,equipmentonhand,andtheskillleveloftheuser.Herewewilldiscussafewsimpledesignsthatdonotrequirevocationalexpertise.Inmyexperience,anythingthatistoodifficultorcomplicatedtoconstructislikelytobeleftundone.
CAVESANDROCKHOUSESLongbeforemanstartedconstructinghisownshelterheadoptedexisting
elementsinnaturetobehishome,justasanimalsdo.Thesecavesandstonesheltersendureinnature,andalthoughittakesalittleefforttomakethemcomfortable,theycanstillbeagreatchoiceifthesituationarises.Infact,therearemillionsofpeopleworldwidewholiveincavedwellings.
THEDOWNSIDEOFCAVESItisimportanttorememberthedangersthatmaypresentthemselvesinnatural
dwellings.Awetcavecanbeamiserableplacetosleep.Ifyouareinanareawithhigh
humidityorlotsofannualrainfall,cavesarenotthebestchoice.Cavemoisturecreatesseveraldangers,includingbacteriagrowth,mold,weakstoneintegrityofthecaveitself,andadampnessthatcouldleaveyoucoldmostofthetime.Acavemightalsoalreadybehometoinsectsandothermammalssuchasbats,cats,orbears.
BUSHCRAFTTIPIfyouareconsideringusingacaveasapermanentshelterdwelling,inspectitforsignsofanimalsthatmayhavesetuphousekeeping.Lookforfeces,bones,andsmellsofurine.Fallingrockcanalsopresentadanger,somakeavisualinspectionwithagoodlight
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sourceoftheceilingandwalls.Lookforfissuresorcracksinthestonethatmightbecompoundedbyheatfromafire.Considertheheightoftheceiling.Thelowertheceilingheightofthecave,themoreafirewillaffectthestructure’sintegrity.Caveswithhigherceilingswillalsoprovidemuchbetterventilation.
RAISEDPLATFORMSHELTERSAraisedplatformsheltercanbeconstructedbyattachingwoodpieceswith
simplelashingsandcrossmemberstocreatetheplatform.Justrememberthatthemorecomplextheshelter,themoreresourcesandtoolsthatarerequiredtoconstructit.Theraisedplatformshouldbeatleast3'–5'abovegroundlevel;again,thisdependsonthefactorslikewildlife,resources,andenvironment.Makethisplatformatleast2'widerthantheinsidedimensionoftheshelteryouplantoplaceontopofitandatleast6'longertoleaveroomforopenworkareas.Thecoveringorconstructionoftheshelteritselfcanbeasimplehoopdesignorasquarestructure.Thehoopdesignisbyfartheeasiesttobuildandmaintain,anditwillshedwaterthebestaswell.
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Hoopdesignonashelterconfiguration
LOGCABINSBuildingasmallcabinwithasinglepitchedroofisafairlysimpleundertaking
fromadesignperspective.However,itislabor-intensiveandrequiresagreatdealoftimberresources.An8'×10'cabinshouldbesufficientforasingleperson.Anythinglargerwillbedifficulttoheat.Youwillwantlogsofatleast8"–10"diameterforthis,andsizewilldictatethenumberneeded.
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Basiclogcabindesign
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EARTHENSTRUCTURESSheltersconstructedfromearthenmaterialsareagoodoptioniftheresourcesareavailable.Partialwoodconstructionshelterscanalsobecoveredwithearthenmaterialsforfarbetterinsulationincold-weatherenvironments.
SODSodisslabsofgroundmaterialsanddirttowhichtheexistingplantsor
grassesarestillattached.Sodmakesgoodsheltercoveragebecauseitshouldcontinuegrowingfoliageovertime,whichwillonlyaddtoitswaterproofingandinsulationcapabilities.Sodcanbecuttoanywidthandlengthbutshouldalwaysbeatleast4"thick.Ifyouintendtousesodmaterialsonaroof,ensurethatthesupportingstructurecanholdtheweightbeforecovering.Youwillwantsemiclearsodthatdoesnotcontainsmalltreesorbushes,whichmaylatergrowlargerootsthatinterferewiththerestofthestructure.
NATURALCEMENTSNaturalcementhasbeenusedforthousandsofyearstobuildmanythings
fromshelterstructurestohearths,ovens,andstorageareas.Youcanevenusenaturalcementtodevelopyourownblocksorbricks.Thefollowingmaterialsarerequiredtomakenaturalcement:
Clay-basedsoil(ifthesoilfeelssmoothandslickwhenwet,itmostlikelyhasahigherclaycontent)GrassesandlongerfibersthatcanbeusedasrebarAsourceofwaterAbucketorcontainerformixing
Tomakethecement,collectenoughclay-basedsoiltofillyourbucket.Youwillalsoneedagoodarmloadofdrygrassesabout6"–12"longorotherfibrous
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plantmaterials.Long,drygrassesworkmuchbetterthangreengrassforthisproject.Nowmixsomewaterwiththeclayuntilyougetasquishyconsistencythatis
nottoorunny.Ifyouareusingthisforamortarorchink,mixitthinner.Youcanmixthecementrightinthebucket,butIfindthatatarpworksverywellforthisprocess.Spreadoutthetarp,laydownthegrassesfirst,andthendumpthemudontopofthem.Themosteffectivewaytoincorporatethemixiswithyourbarefeetsothatthematerialsreallygrindtogether.Youcanfoldthetarpoverthematerialsandwalkontheenclosedmass,oryoucansimplyuseyourhandstomakesurethegrassesarewellmixedandnothingisleftdryorunmixed.Usethecementimmediatelytocreateyourstructureorasmortarforyour
project.Ifyouwanttosaveitforlater,youcanshapeitintobricks.
BUSHCRAFTTIPTomakebricksyoucanusethecementalreadycreatedandshapeitinaformmadefromwood.Itwilltakeseveraloftheseformstomakemanybricksatatime.Packthematerialsintothebrickformanduseanothersplitstickasascrapertolevelthetop.Letthebricksdryinthesunforseveraldaysandtheywillshrinkalittlebit,makingitveryeasytoremovethemfromthemold.Youcanalsomakefiredbrickssimilartothewayyoumakeclaypots,butthebindermaterialusedmustbemoreselective,likecattailflufforcrushedshells.
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CAMPAMENITIESNomatterthesizeorpermanenceofthebasecampyoudecidetoconstruct,thereareafewcampamenitiesyoushouldincludeforbothcomfortandconvenience.
LIGHTINGYouneedtothinkaboutsourcesoflightingtouseasthefirediesdownor
beforethefireisbuilt.Headlampsarefineforaquickoutingaslongasyourkitincludessparebatteries.Forthelongterm,candlestendtoworkbest.Besidesprovidinglight,candlesalsohaveanopenflametoaidinemergencyorlate-nightfirestarting.Beeswaxcandlescanalsobemeltedandusedformanyotherpurposessuchasalubricantorwoodpolish.Youcanevenrubitonyourtoolstopreventrusting.Asimplelanterncanbefashionedfromanemptycantoprotectthecandle
fromgoingoutinthewind.Ifyourhuntingortrappingcampaignhasbeensuccessful,usefatfromtheanimaltomakeoillamps.Anyconcavecontainer,fromashelltoahollowpieceofwood,willmakeaneasylamp.Allyouneedisawick,whichcanbemadefromanysolublematerialsuchascottonropeornaturalcordage.Youcanalsouseaballofcompressedcattailflufforcordedcedarbarkforaquick,temporarywick.Makecandlesbydippingawickofnaturalcordintoapanofmeltedtallow,
lettingitcool,dippingagain,andlettingitcool.Thethicknessincreaseseachtime.Thedifferencebetweentallowandlardisthetallowwillhardenatroomtemperatureandlardwillstaysoft.Torchesareeasilymadebydippingdeadplanttopslikemulleinintofatandlettingthemdry.
SOAPManyplantshavenaturalsaponins,chemicalsthatarecreatedbythe
saponificationprocesswhenmakingsoaps.Thissubstanceoccursnaturallyin
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manyplantsandcreatesanicelatherthatcanbeusedasanaturalsoap.Intheeasternwoodlands,thebestchoiceforthisisthebrackenfernbecauseitsrootishighinsaponins.YuccaisanotherAmericanplantthatcanbeusedforthispurpose.
Simplelanternmadefromacan
LATRINEForshort-termoutingsitiseasytosimplywalkawayfromcampanddiga
smallcatholeforalatrine.Outingsthatlastmorethanacoupleofdays,however,willnecessitateapitlatrine.Thispitmustbeacomfortabledistancefromcampbutwellawayfromanygroundwatersource.Generallyspeaking,thepitlatrineshouldbeasdeepaspossiblebutshouldbekepttoatleast3'abovethewatertable.Findingaspotthisfarabovethewatertablecanbeatrickyundertakingdependingoncamplocationandelevation.Ifyoufindyourselfneedingtochoosebetweenafartherwalkandpossiblegroundwaterpollution,doyourselfafavorandtakethewalkuphill.Agoodpracticeforwildernesspitlatrinesistoaddashesfromthecampfiredaily.Thiswillcoverthesmell,breakdownthefecalmatter,anddetractpestslikeflies.Oncethepitisfullwithinafootofthetop,coveritwithdebrisanddiganewpitinadifferentlocation.
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Considerthismatterseriouslyattheoutsetwhenchoosingalong-termcamplocation.
LINESRidgelinesarethebestplacetohangalantern,keepclothingofftheground,
orsuspendabagofgoodiesthatmaybeneededatnight.Dryinglinesshouldalwaysbeusedtoensureyouhaveaplacetoairbeddingmaterialandclothingduringthedayorwhenwet.Beatingawoolblankethungoveralinewillkeepitfreeofdirt,deadskincells,andmanypests.
ESTABLISHINGASLEEPSYSTEMSleepinggearcanhaveabigimpactontheweightofyoursupplies—asimple
canvasandacoupleofwoolblanketscanaddasmuchas20poundstoyourkit.Still,agoodnight’ssleepofatleast6hoursisoneofthemostimportantaspectsoflong-termcomfortandsurvival.Oftenmysleepsystemmakesuptwo-thirdsofmykit’sweight.Thefollowingitemsareasolidbasisforasleepsystemthatwillbeeffectiveineitheratemporaryorpermanentshelter:
Woolblanket(ortwo)MaterialsforaraisedbedCanvasLargeneedle,likeasailneedle,thatisheavyenoughtopunctureyourcanvas#36banklineforstitchingthecanvasSyntheticsleepingbagincaseyouarenotabletoreturntothebasecampforanightortwo
BUILDINGARAISEDBEDAraisedbedisthebestweaponagainstgroundtemperaturewhensleeping.
Youcanmanufactureasimplemattress,orbrowsebed,withaheavypainter’scanvasorwoolblanket.Firstfoldyourcanvaswidthwise(notlengthwise).Itis
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okayforyourfeettohangofftheend,butitisimportantthatyourbedbewideenoughforyoutorolloverwithoutfalling.Threadyourneedlewiththe#36banklineandwhip-stitchtheendsofyourcanvastogetherontwosides.Thestitchingdoesnothavetobeperfect;anythingbetween1"–2"stitcheswillworkfine.Itshouldnottakemorethanabout15minutestostitchuptwosidesofthecanvas.Nextstuffyourbedwithleavesandgrass.Thisisthemosttime-consuming
partofmanufacturingaraisedbed.Stuffthebedandthencompressthematerialtomakeroomformore.Stuffthebedagainandcompressthematerialtomakeroomformore.Thisprocesscantakeaslongasanhour.Whenthebedispackedwithabout4"ofcompressedinsulation,stitchupthelastsidewithyourwhipstitch.
SETTINGUPYOURSLEEPAREAFoldoveryourtarpandlayitdownwhereitwillactasamoisturebarrier
betweenthegroundandyourraisedbed.Thewoolblanketwillkeepyouwarmwhilesleeping.Carrysomesortofbag—evenyourhaversack—thatcanbeemptiedatnightandfilledwithspareclothingtoactasapillow.Apillowisatremendouscomfortthatisoftencompletelyunderrated.
HAMMOCKSHammocksareanoptionbutwillrequireanunderquiltorsomesortof
insulationtobattleconvectionissuesthatcomewithcolderweather.Acheapwaytodealwiththisissueistoplaceathickpadlikeagroundmatinthehammockandareflectivebattingontopofthat.Thenplaceyoursleepingbagorblanketsrightonthispad.Reflectixisaninsulationusedforthehomeandcanbepurchasedatanyhardwarestore.Itcomesin2'–3'widthsandisbasicallyabubblewrapwithMylarcovering.Theotheroptionisanunderquiltthatwilltrapwarmairbetweenthequiltandthehammock.
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TIPSANDTRICKS
1. Therearemanygood,modernsyntheticmaterialsyoucanuseasasleepingbag.Justrememberthatthesematerialswillnotbeaslonglastingovertimeandaremuchmoresusceptibletothingssuchasanerrantsparkfromanall-nightfire.
2. Canvasthatisuntreatedmaybesusceptibletomold.Treatingitbeforeusewithaguardingagentisprudent.CanvascanalsobeverysusceptibletoUVbreakdownataltitudesofabout3000',sotreatitorbuySunforgertentcanvas,whichwillbethebestbetforalong-lastingshelter.
3. Mostred-meatanimalshavetallowintheirfat,andmostwhite-meatanimalslikehogshavelard.
4. Inareaswherestakeswillnotpenetratehardearthorrocks,longlogsorlargerockscanbeusedassubstitutesforstakes.
5. Rememberthatanyinsulationmadefromnaturalmaterialonthegroundtobattleconductionshouldbe4"thickwhencompressed.
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Chapter6KNOTS,BINDINGS,ANDLOOMS
“Bushcraftiswhatyoucarryinyourmindandyourmuscles.”—RAYMEARS
Cordageisoneofthemostvaluableresourcesthatyoucarryinyourkit.Itsusesareendless,fromlashingobjectstogetherinwoodworkingprojectstoweavingadditionalimplementstoaddcomforttoyourcamp.
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CORDAGEANDROPESForlong-termexcursions,herearethemostbeneficialandmultifunctionalropesandmaterialstocarryinyourkit:
1. Naturalropes2. Paracord3. Bankline4. Naturalstrings5. Webbing6. Muletape
NATURALROPEVERSUSSYNTHETICROPENaturalropeiseasiertouseandfarmoreversatilethanmostsynthetics.This
istrueespeciallywhenitisbrokendownintosmallerfibersorcords.Syntheticropes,suchasriggingropeorKevlarclimbingandstatic-lineropes,arewidelyavailableandcanbeagoodresourcetokeeponhandifyouhaveroominyourkit.Justknowthatwhilethesesyntheticsarestrongfortheirrelativesize,thefiberstendtobreakdownafterlengthyexposureinthewilderness,whichmakesthemdifficulttouse.
MAKINGROPEMakingropeisausefulskilltopossessintheeventyoufindyourselfina
situationthatrequiresmorecordagethanwhatyoucurrentlyhaveinyourkit.Youcanmakearopebycombiningandtwistingthreeormorestrandstogether.Therearethreecomponentstoarope:
Fibers:Thefibersarethesmallestmaterialsthataretwistedtogethertocreatetheyarns.Yarns:Yarnsaremultiplefiberstwistedtogetherinthesamedirection.Strands:Strandsaremultipleyarnsagaintwistedinasingledirection.
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Ropecomponents
OPERATINGAROPETWISTERRopeismadefrommultiplestrandstwistedintwodifferentdirections.Itonly
takesonepersontooperateasimpleropetwister,whichcanproducelengthsofropethatareabout20'long.Tomakeenough,youwillneedtofeedabouteleventimestheamountofcordyouintendtoproducethroughtheropetwister.Attachoneendofthecordtoastationaryobjectandmakeoneloopsothatyoucanattachittothespinnerandtwist.Startbyspinninginaclockwisefashionuntilthecordbeginstowindonitselfwhenitisslack.Atthispoint,dividethecordinthirdsandmaketwoloops:onetoplaceovertheoriginalstationaryobjectandonetoplacearoundthetwister.Youshouldnowhavethreestrandsoflargercordagainbetweenthetwisterandthestaticend.Beginspinningagainincounterclockwisefashionuntilthedesiredtightnessisachieved.Oncetheropeisfinished,pullhardagainstthestaticobjectto“set”therope.Cuttheendsandwhip-stitchthemtofinishyourrope.
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Step1
Step2
CONSERVINGCORDAGEOneofthemostimportantskillsinwildernesssurvivalisproperuseof
cordage.Whetheritissyntheticropeyouhavecarriedinyourkitornaturalropeyouhavemanufacturedyourself,cordageisapreciousresourcethatshouldbetreatedwithcare.Infact,Iprefertouseknotsthatcaneasilybeuntiedsothattheropecanalwaysberecoveredwithouthavingtocutit.Whenworkingwithsyntheticrope,Ialsoavoidcuttinglengthsshorterthanabout20',orfour“pulls”fromtheroll,unlessitisabsolutelynecessary.By“pulls”Imeanpullsfromthe
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rollthatarethelengthofmyoutstretchedarms,fromonehandtotheother.Forthisreason,itisalwaysbesttousenaturalbarkcordageforsmallbindingorlashingprojects.
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KNOTSBushcraft101coveredsomebasicknots(bowli