ADVANCEDBUSHCRAFT

AnExpertFieldGuidetotheArtofWILDERNESSSURVIVAL

DAVECANTERBURYNewYorkTimesBestsellingAuthorofBushcraft101

Avon,Massachusetts

DEDICATION

Abookshouldbededicatednotonlytothosefromwhomtheknowledgetowriteitwassecuredbutalsoforthosewhomakeitpossible.MywifeIrishasmadeitpossibleformetolivemydreamofteachingoutdoorskillstoothersthroughmanyoutletsfromsocialmediatotelevisionaswellasthewrittenword.Shehasfaithfullystoodbymethroughthecountlesshoursoftrainingandevolving,throughtheyearsofpracticeandexperimentaldirttime.Shehasalwayssupportedmeandgivenofherselftohelpfulfillmydreamsinthisandanyendeavor,andsotoherIdedicatethisbook.Iwouldalsoliketothankmyfatherfortheexamplesinworkethichetaughtmemyentirelifeandstilltothisday.Whilewestrivetochaseourdreamsinlifewemustalwaysremembertheroadtosuccessispavedbytheworkyouputintoit.Ihavelearnedthislessonwellfromhisteachings.Asforthecontentsofthisbook,thelistisexhaustivetosaytheleast:men

forgotteninhistoryofbothAmericanandEuropeandescent,nativepeoplesoftheearlyAmericaswhopassedtheirknowledgetousalongthewayintheearlydaysofexploration,andmanymodernrolemodelswhocontinuetothisdaytopassontheknowledgetheyhaveinanefforttoestablishtheselessonsforgenerationstocome.ThewritingsofauthorspastsuchasDanielBeard,ErnestThompsonSeton,HyattVerrill,WilliamHamiltonGibson,GeorgeWashingtonSears,HoraceKephart,MorsKochanski,andmanyotherscometomindquicklyasshiningexamplesofmenfromwhomIhavetakenawealthofknowledgetofurthermylearning.

CONTENTS

Introduction

CHAPTER1:BUILDINGYOURKITPlantheScopeofYourTripTenCsofSurvivabilityCoreTemperatureControlToolsComfortConvenienceTipsandTricks

CHAPTER2:NATURALRESOURCESPineWillowPoplarOakSassafrasBirchITEMizeMedicinalPreparationsTipsandTricks

CHAPTER3:WOODENTOOLSANDSIMPLEMACHINESThrowingorDiggingStick

AnvilStumpSpearorGigMaulorMalletWedgesSimpleWoodlandMachinesTipsandTricks

CHAPTER4:ADVANCEDFIRECRAFTPrimitiveFireStartingTheBowandDrillMethodFlintandSteelMethodSolarFireTipsandTricks

CHAPTER5:SHELTERINGTheFourWsEstablishingaBaseCampRovingCampsPermanentShelterOptionsEarthenStructuresCampAmenitiesTipsandTricks

CHAPTER6:KNOTS,BINDINGS,WEAVING,ANDLOOMSCordageandRopesKnotsBasketWeavingWeavingTabletWeavingASimplePegLoom

InkleLoomWaistLoomsNetsandNetMakingTumplinesTipsandTricks

CHAPTER7:TRAPPINGAnimalBehaviorAnimalSignLower-Food-ChainResourcesWater-TypeTrapsTypesofPrimitiveTrapsTrappingBirdsHuntingTipsandTricks

CHAPTER8:PRESERVINGFOODSOURCESFloursandMealsNutsFruits,Vegetables,andHerbsFruitLeatherPlantSourcesofStorableFoodsSapsMeatTipsandTricks

CHAPTER9:HIDEPRESERVATION,TANNING,ANDCLOTHINGREPAIRSmallHidesLargeHides

RawhideMakingLeatherClothingRepairandReproductionRepairStitchesSimpleClothingPatternsTipsandTricks

CHAPTER10:WOODWORKINGToolsDimensionalLumberWorkbenchesBesomAxeandToolHandleReplacementMakingaWoodBowMakingArrowsTipsandTricks

CHAPTER11:BLACKSMITHINGBlacksmithingToolsSourcesforMetalWorkingwithHardMetal

CHAPTER12:CONTAINERSANDCONVEYANCESWaterContainersBasketsClayVesselsBoatsPackFramesTipsandTricks

AppendixA:TarpSetupsAppendixB:Dutch-OvenCookingAppendixC:CloudChartsAppendixD:PrimitiveNavigationAppendixE:MineralHardnessScaleAppendixF:MeasurementConversions

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

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

asourancestorsbeforeusdid.AsGeorgeWashingtonSears(Nessmuk)wrote,“Weseektheforestforadventureandafree,open-airhunter’slife,foratimeatleast.”AdvancedBushcraftisthehandbookforyouradventure.Useittosurviveandthriveinthenaturalworld.

—DaveCanterbury

Chapter1BUILDINGYOURKIT

“ThedoctorateinwoodsyknowledgecanonlybetaughtbyMotherNatureintheclassroomoftheoutdoors.Manycantrainyoubutonlyexperiencecanteachyou.”

—DAVECANTERBURY

Bushcraftisthepracticeofusingwildernessskillstosurviveandthriveinthenaturalworld.InAdvancedBushcraft,youwillhonethoseskillsandpushbeyondthementalityofimmediateneeds.Youwilllearntothinkaboutthetotalityofyourskillsandsuppliesandhowtheyworktogethertoensurelong-termsustainability.Inotherwords,it’snotjustaboutpackingresources.It’saboutthinkingaheadtothekindsofskillsittakestorefurbishyourresourcesorcreatemoreifnecessary.Youwilllearnthatittakesalotofskillsbutonlyafewtoolstobecomeself-reliant.Withjustahandfuloftherightimplementsyoucanmanufacturemostofthethingsyouneed,fromapermanentsheltertoclothing,huntinggear,weapons,andevenmedicine.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

1 8

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

CONVENIENCEItemsofconveniencearethelowestprioritywhenbuildinganemergencyorsurvivalkit,butinalong-termscenariotheseitemsareveryimportant.Thesearetheitemsthatmakecamplife“smoother”andalsoaddtothelongevityofyoursupplies.Theyincludethingsthatrepairandrefurbish,candles,navigationalaids,extracontainers,evensnowshoes.

PRIORITIZINGITEMSOFCONVENIENCERepairkitswithadditionaltoolsPremadetindersandfireextendersVariedcookwaresuchasfoldingreflectorovensandskilletsAdditionaltarpageformakingshelteroverworkareasAdditionalcordageformajorprojectslikenets

TIPSANDTRICKS

1. Anyhandledtoolshouldhaveahandleofwoodforeaseofreplacementinthefield.

2. Inapinch,thebladeofabowsawcanalwaysbeusedwithaframesawthatyoufashionyourselffromnaturalmaterialssuchaswood.

3. Savethemostpreciousresourcesasalastoption.Forexample,neverstartafirewithalighterifyoucanuseaferrorod,andneveruseaferrorodifyoucanusethesun(whichisarenewableresource).

4. “Opossummentality”isalwayskey:Thinklikeascavenger.Neverpassoveraneededresourcethinkingthatyouwillrunintoitagain.Thisisespeciallytruewithmaterialsrelatedtofire,food,ormedicine.

5. Anypieceofyourkitshouldbeversatileenoughthatithasatleastthreeviableuses.

Chapter2NATURALRESOURCES

“Preconceivednotions,especiallywhenoneisfairlybroughtupintheirinfluence,aremostdifficulttoshakeoff.”

—STEWARTEDWARDWHITE,CAMPANDTRAIL

Naturalresourcesareacriticalcomponentofwoodcraftandbushcraft.Treesareespeciallybeneficialbecausetheyareaccessiblethroughoutallfourseasons.It’struethatsomeresourceswithinatreemaybebetterharvestedduringwarmerseasons,butthelumber,roots,andinnerbarkarealwaysavailable.Therearemanytreesintheeasternwoodlands,andtalkingaboutallthespecificspeciesisbeyondthescopeofthisbook.However,youwilllearnaboutsomeofthemostprevalentfamiliesoftrees,likepine,willow,poplar,oak,andbirch,andhowtothoroughlyusetheresourcestheyoffer.

Viewatextversionofthistable

PINEThepinetreeisoneofthemostabundanttreesintheeasternwoodlands.Italsoprovidesusefulresourcesthroughoutallfourseasons.Sincethepinetreeisaconifer,itdoesnotloseitsneedlesinthewinterwhenmanyothertreespeciesdroptheirleaves.Let’stakeacloserlookatthistreefromtheoutsideintobetterunderstanditsresources.Pinewoodisfantasticbecause,duetoitsresinousnature,itwillburnquickly

andcanbeusedtomakeafirelayeveninwetweather.Thedarkblacksmokethatyouseefromafiremadewithpineisaproductoftheresinsfromwithinthewoodburningoff.Pineisasoftwoodthatcanmakeaveryeffectivebow-drillhearthandspindleset—althoughbecarefultoavoidtheresinsorthesetwillsimplypolishandnotburn.Pinemakesadecentcarvingwoodbutisnotasdurableforutensilsasotherwoods.

Pineneedles

SAP/RESINPineresinisusuallyfoundontheoutermostpartofthetreewhereaninjury

hasoccurred.Thedrippingorsecretionallowsyoutoaccessandcollectsomethingfrominsidethetreewithouthurtingit.Thisresin,orsap,islikeliquid

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

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.

WILLOWWillowisawaterindicatortree,sinceitonlygrowswellinwetareasalongriverandstreambanks,drainageareas,andlakesides.Willowwoodissoft,goodforcarving,andoneofthebestmaterialsforahearthandspindlewhenmakingabow-drillfireset.

Willowleaf

LEAVESANDBRANCHESWillowleavesandtheinnerbarkcontainsalicin,whichisoneofthechemical

compoundsusedinaspirin.Adecoctionoftheinnerbarkwillmakeafairlygoodheadacheremedy,andchewingtheleaveswillalleviateatoothache.Thebranchesofthewillowgrowlong,andnewgrowthisfairlystraight,

whichiswhytheymakepassablearrowshafts.Willowbranchesarepliableandcanthereforebeusedtomakequickbasketcontainersaswell.

INNERBARK

Willow’sinnerbarkcanbeusedtomakebasketsandpackboards.Thebarkisbestharvestedinthespringandearlysummerwhenthebarkislooseandcaneasilybepriedfromthetreewithawedge.Theouterbarkcanthenbeseparatedbypeelingtheinnerbarkfromit.Aswithmostofthesetypesofcomponents,theinnerbarkismostworkablewhenkeptwet.

POPLARTherearemanypoplarsintheeasternwoodlands.Thetulippoplar(sometimesknownastheyellowpoplar)isoneofmyfavorites,butitisactuallyamagnoliaandnotatruepoplar.DanielBoone’scanoewascarvedfromthiswood.Thepoplarisasofttreeandthereforemakesanexcellentprimitivefiresetsuchasabowdrill.Thepoplarmakesafinespindleaswellasahearthboardforthispurpose.Alsofineforcarving,itmakeseasysmallcampitemslikespoonsandspatulas.

TulipPoplarleaf

LEAVESTheleavesandthebarksofthistreeareveryastringentandcanbeused

medicinallyfordrawinginfectionorfordrivingtoxins,liketheoilsfrompoisonivy,tothesurface.Ahotfomentationcombinedwithawashisoneofthebestwaystoridyourskinoftheivyoilsthatcauserash.Whentakenasaninfusion,theleafteaisbindingandcanrelievediarrhea.

OUTERBARKDuringthespring,easilyremovetheouterbarkbypryingitfromthesapwood

withawedgeoryouraxeblade.Youcanusethisbarktomakebarkcontainers

frombasketstoarrowquivers.Todothis,maketwocircularcutsthroughthebarkaroundthetree;thedistancebetweenthecutsshouldbethedesiredlengthofthepiece.Then,toopenthebark,makeaverticalcutbyinsertingawedgebetweenthebarkandsap.Youcanthenslowlypeelofftheouterbark.Rememberthatpeelingoffthebarkwillkillthetree,somakesureitisabsolutelynecessarybeforeyoudoit.

INNERBARKIntheeasternwoodlands,theinnerbarkofthepoplarisoneofthemostprized

resourcesnexttopinesap.Theinnerbarkprovidesbothbird’snestmaterialandtinderbundlesforfire.Whenharvestedgreen,italsomakesastrongreversewrapfortwo-plycordages.Manytimestheinnerbarkfiberscaneasilybeseenthroughrottingbarkhangingoffthebranches.Ifbranchesaredeadbutnotshedding,thebackofyourknifewilleasilyprocessthistomaketheinnerbarkaccessible.

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.

Oakleaf

SASSAFRASIincludesassafrasherebecauseofthecarminativevalueoftheroottea.Finelygrounddrysassafrasleaveswillalsoaddacinnamon-typeflavortofoodssuchasbannock,aquick-frybread.Sassafraswasamainstaytonicfromcolonialtimesuntilthe1960swhentheFDAconductedteststhatshowedmassamountsofsafrolecausedlivercancerinrats.Rootdecoctioncanbeusedtoeaseupsetstomachandregulatethedigestivesystem.

Sassafrasleaf

BIRCHThereareseveralspeciesofbirchthroughouttheeasternwoodlands,butblackandriverbircharethemostprevalentinthemiddlegroundareasoftheOhioRivervalley.Allbirchescontainoilthatcanbeextractedfromthebark,anditissoflammablethatitcanoftenstillburnevenwhendamp.BirchisanexcellentcarvingwoodandisthepreferredmaterialforScandinavian-madeknifehandles.

Birchleaf

BIRCHBARKBirchbarkprovidesprobablythemostversatileandevenlife-savingresources

ofallthetreesintheeasternwoods,savemaybethepine.Withitsrichandvolatileoils,birchbarkburnswithadarkblacksmokethatinthesummercanhelpdriveoffinsects.Itisvirtuallyunmatchedinitsabilitytoburnindampconditions,andwhenusingopenflameitrequiresalmostnoprocessingtoquicklycreateahot,warmingfirewhiledryingmarginaltinderasitgoes.Birchbarkisalsoprizedasamaterialforcraftingcontainersofallsortsandforweavingtomakebasketsandsheaths.Nativepeoplesusedbirchbarktomaketheouterskinofcanoes.ItisbesttoharvestthebarkfromlivetreesbetweenMayandJune,butthistreeissoresilientandresistanttorotthatbarkcanevenbeharvestedfromdeadtrees.Itispossibletoharvesttheouterbarkwithoutkillingalivetreeaslongasyouareabletodosowithoutdisturbingtheinner

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

slowlydrainintothecontainerbelow.Theprocessusuallytakesseveralminutestofillasmallcontainer.Thenthetopcontaineriscarefullyremovedtoexposethepoolofoilbelow.Thisoilishighlymedicinalandcanbeusedasbothanantisepticandaninsectrepellant.Itisalsoflammable,sobecautiouswhenusingit.

BUSHCRAFTTIPBirchoilcanbefurtherrenderedintobirchtar.Tocreatebirchtaryouwillneedtoslowlyheattheoiltoaboillikeagravyandthenstir.Becarefulbecauseboththefumesandtheliquidarehighlyflammable.Oncerenderedtoathickpasteitcanberolledontoastickwhereitcanbestoredforlateruse.Thisformofstorageiscalledapitchstick.Thetarcanalsobemoldedontosquaresorballsforstorageandlateruse.Birchtarcanbeusedformanypurposes.Whenreheated,itisacompletelywaterproofgluingmaterial.Itisalsoaflexibleadhesiveandcanbeusedforhaftingandsealingbothcontainersandleatherssuchasmoccasinseams.

ITEMIZEIt’struethatplantsandtreesprovidemanyresources,butitisabsolutelycriticalthattheyareidentifiedcorrectlybeforeusingthem.Afriendofmine,GreenDean,teachesasimplemethodforthiscalledITEM:

I—ProperlyIdentifytheplantwithatleasttworesources.T—ConsidertheTimeofyear:Istheplantgrowingorbloomingintheproperseasonforitsspecies?E—ObservetheEnvironment:Istheplantortreegrowinginalocationtruetoitsnature?Forexample,aplantthatprefersdry,rockysoilwilllikelynotbefoundinamarsh.M—ResearchtheMethodofharvestandpreparation.Manyplantsmustbeharvestedatacertaintimeintheirlifecycle,oracertainpartmustbeharvestedforuse.Findoutwhatmethodisusedtopreparethisplantforfoodormedicine.Doesitneedtobeleached?Doesitneedtobedoubleboiledtocreateadecoction?

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.

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.

Chapter3WOODENTOOLSANDSIMPLE

MACHINES

“Nature’sPriority:Takecareofthebrainfirst.Thenitwilltakecareofyou.”—GENEFEAR,

SURVIVINGTHEUNEXPECTEDWILDERNESSEMERGENCY

InadditiontothefivecriticalmetaltoolsdiscussedinChapter1,therearefivewoodentoolsyoucaneasilycraftyourselftoaidinalong-termouting.Theselectionisdependentonthetypeoftripyouhaveplannedandwhatfoodandmeatprocurementsuppliesyouarecarrying.Thislisttakesintoconsiderationthefactthatyouarecraftingmostofyourtoolsasyougoinordertokeepdowntheweightofyourkit.Thisisespeciallytruewhenyouaretravelingwithoutconveyances.

THROWINGORDIGGINGSTICKThefirstthingIusuallymakewhilepreparingmycampisathrowingstick,whichcanalsobeusedfordigging.Althoughthistypeoftoolisoneoftheeasiesttomake,itaddsalotofversatilitytoyourkit.Thethrowingstickshouldbemadeofgreenhardwood(oak,maple,magnolia)ifpossibleandisaboutthelengthfromyourarmpittoyourcuppedhand,orwhatIcall“axe-handlelength.”Icuta45°wedgeononeendandadullpointontheother.Thissimpletoolcanbetuckedintothebackofyourbeltorbedrolluntilneeded.Younowhaveareadytooltothrowatgameonthegroundsuchasrabbitsandsquirrels,andyoucanalsouseittodigfire-pitholesoruprootplantsandtubers.Itcanbeusedasareadybatonifneededforprocessingfirewoodorevenforretrievinghangingdeadwoodbytyingastringtoit,throwingitoverabranch,andpulling.Themostbeautifulthingaboutthismultifunctionaltoolisitonlytakesabout2minutestomanufactureandisthereforeeasytoreplace.

Throwingstick

ANVILSTUMPFindalargestumpifyoucan,orjustcutoffapieceoflogthatislargeenoughforaseat.Youwillbesurprisedatthemanyusesitwillaffordoverashorttime.Thisstumpwillkeepyouoffthegroundandwillalsofunctionasaworkbenchandadrysurfaceonwhichtoprocessfiretinderandkindling.TheanvilstumpcanalsobeusedmuchlikeasawhorsewhenyouaddVnotchesonthesideintowhichyoucanplacepiecesofwoodthatneedtobecut.JustlayyourstumponitssideandlockthepieceofwoodyouwanttocutintotheVnotch.Thewiderthenotch,thebiggerthepieceofwoodyoucanlayintoit.Thiswillhelpyouavoiddrivingyouraxeorknifeintothedirtbyaccident.Theanvilstumpprovidesaraisedsurfaceforacandleatnightaswell.Theanvilstumpcanbefurtherprocessedtomakeagrindingbowlonthesurfaceand,ontheotherside,aseriesofcutoutsthatcanbeusedtoholdsharpeningstonesandflatsofwoodthatcanbeusedforcuttingboards.

Anvilstump(clave)

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

MAULORMALLETAmaulcanbeeasilyfashionedfromacutgreenhardwoodbranch.Maulsvaryinsize,butIwouldstartwithabranchthatisapproximately16"longand4"indiameter.Carvetheheadfromthefirst6"ofthebranchandreducetheotherendofthecutwoodsothatitcomfortablyfitsinthehand,makingitsweightforwardlikealarge,roundhammer.Thistoolcanbeusedformanytasks,especiallyforstrikingthebackofametaltoolsuchasyourknifeoryouraxe.Thistoolwilltransformyouraxeintoawedge,achisel,orasheercuttingdevicewithmorecontrolthanifyouarejustswingingitfreely.Themaulcanalsobeusedtobatonwoodwithyourknifeiftheneedarises.Finally,youcaneasilyopenorsmashacorns,nuts,andclamshellswiththistool.Becausethemaulhasalargersurfaceareathanthehammerpoleonyouraxe,it’salsoagreatdevicefordrivingwoodenstakesandwedges.

Maul

WEDGESAssoonasyouneedtosplitwood,youwillneedtomakewedges.Ifyouareforcedtouseaknifeforprocessingwood,awedgecanbevitallyimportanttosafelyremoveaknifethatgetsstuckduringasplit.Wedgesshouldbemadefromgreenhardwoodmaterialand,aswithmostofthesetools,shouldbemadeinvaryingdiametersandangles.Wedgescanalsobeusedforsplittinglongerlogstomakethingslikebowstavesordimensionallumber.They’realsousefulforseparatingbarkfromsapwoodtomakecontainersorbarkshinglesforroofingmaterials.Whennotinuse,wedgescandoubleastentstakes.Forthatreasonalone,Irecommendfashioningsixseparatewedgesabout1"–2"indiameterandatleast12"long.Inthisway,thesetoolsbecomeoneofthefivesimplemachinesyouusemostofteninthewoods.

Wedge

SIMPLEWOODLANDMACHINESAsidefromwedges,therearefourothersimplemachinesthatyoucanfashionfromwoodmaterialfoundinthelandscapetohelpwithtasksinandaroundcamp.

WINDLASSThewindlassisusedtomoveheavyweightsorfortensioning.Typically,a

windlassconsistsofahorizontalcylinderthatisrotatedbytheturnofacrankorbelt.Awinchisaffixedtooneorbothendsandacableorropeiswoundaroundthewinch,pullingaweightattachedtotheoppositeend.Awindlasscanbemadeevenmoresimplywithaloopofcordorropeanchoredtoafixedobjectandthenloopedaroundanotherobjecttobemoved.Aleverofproportionatesizeisthenplacedwithintheloopandturned,endoverend,totightenthelineuntiliteventuallymovestheobject.

Windlassoperation#1

Youcanalsouselargerpostsaslevers,eitheratgroundlevelorstanding,windingropetomoveanobject.Awindlasscanalsobeassimpleasatensioningdeviceforabucksaw,madefromnaturalmaterials.Aquickvisecanbemadefromagreenstumpbyemployingawindlasstotensiontheworkpiece.Awindlassoperatesverysimilartoatourniquetinthiscase.Itemploysafewwrapsofropetensionedbyastickthatisthenheldinplacebytyingitofftothelowerareaofthestump.Itactstoconstricttheworkpieceandasaholdfast.Killing-typetrapssometimesalsoincludeawindlassdevice.

Windlassoperation#2

INCLINEDPLANEAninclinedplaneisasimplemachineformovingheavyobjectsabove

ground.Theinclinedplanetakesadvantageofanglesinordertoleverorpullweightforwardonashallowangle.Thismakesiteasiertoliftthanpullingdeadweightdirectlyfromtheground.Youcan,forexample,movealargerlogontoabuckinghorseorpullaloguphill.Tooperatetheinclinedplaneyoutake

advantageofthehillandthelogasacylindricalrollingobject.Fromthere,youuseawindlasstocontrolthetaskofraisingtheloguphill.Topullaloguphillyouwilltakeadvantageoftheinclineplaneofthehillside.

YouwillneedalengthofropelongenoughtoformaWwiththecenterwrappedaroundatreeatthetopofthehillandthetwooutsideVswrappingthelog.Thetailsontheoutsideareusedatthetoptorollthelogupthehill,withtwopeoplepullingatthesametime.

Inclinedplane

LEVERANDFULCRUMAlevermadeofstrongmateriallikegreenhardwoodcanbeusednotonlyto

rolllargelogsandstonesacrossthegroundbutalsotoassistinrollinglogsupaninclinedplane.Whenusingafulcruminconjunctionwithalever,youcanalsoliftlogsandotherheavyobjects.

BOWANDDRILLThebowanddrillisoneoftheoldestsimplemachines.Itisusedasa

primitivefirestarterandcanalsobeusedinconjunctionwithbitsofmetalorstonetomakeholesinotherobjects.You’llneedtocreateachuckwhenusing

thisdeviceforanythingotherthanfiremaking.(Sometimeschucksareusedformakingfiretoo.)Formoreonthismachineseethefollowingchapter.

Bowanddrill

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.

Chapter4ADVANCEDFIRECRAFT

“Topokeawoodfireismoresolidenjoymentthanalmostanythingelseintheworld.”

—CHARLESDUDLEYWARNER

Fireistheresourcethatmanybushcraftersconsideronlysecondinimportancetoagoodcuttingtool.Fireiscriticalforpreventingcold-weatherinjuryandprovidinggeneralcomfortaroundcampincoldenvironments.Firecanalsobeusedtodisinfectwater,cookandpreservefood,preparemedicines,andkeepbugsatbay.Thereareprobablyahundredusesforfirethatcancontributetoallfourcategoriesofyourkit(temperaturecontrol,tools,comfort,andconveniences).Buildingfireinanemergencyshouldbeeasyforaseasonedwoodsman.Thereareplentyofitemsonthemarkettoday,fromlighterstoroadflares,thatwillalmostensureaflamecanigniteevenmarginaltindersources.

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.

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.

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

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.

Bearingblock

BOWThebowcanbemadefromanybranchanddoesnothavetonecessarilybe

bentlikeabow,butitneedstobefairlystiffsothatitdoesnotbreakunderstrain.Thebowshouldbeabout3'longand ⁄ "indiameter.Thelongerthebow,thefewerthenumberofstrokesitwilltaketomaketherevolutionsofthespindle.Acommonmistakeistouseabowwellunder3'.Makingthebowisassimpleastyingastringtoabranch.Therearemany

complicatednotchesandholesyoucancreatetostringthebow,butIhavefoundthatasimpleforkononeendofthestickwithaloopandastakenotchontheotherendtotieitoffwithastraightlashingandaclovehitchworksbest.Thestringdoesnotneedtobesotightthatitcausesthebowtobendinordertoloadthespindle,butthestringcannotbesoloosethatthedrillslipsunderdownwardpressure.

1 2

Bow

THEBIRD’SNESTTheemberthatyouignitewithyourbowanddrillwillbeusedtoignitea

bird’snest,akeypartofyourfirelay.Thebird’snestmustbemadeupofcoarse,medium,andfinematerials.Infact,mostofthematerialsyougathertomakethehearthandspindlecanalsobeusedwhenassemblingthebird’snest.Theinnerbarksofthepoplarorwillow,orbarkfromthecedar,allworkwell.Therearelotsofotheritemsthatcanbeusedinthebird’snest:forinstance,smalldeadpineneedlesandmaterialswithanaturalaccelerantorhighlycombustibleoilslikebirchbark.Becarefulnottousetoomuchdrygrassandleavesbecausetheseitemsburnquicklyanditisimportantthatthebird’snestburnlongenoughtoignitetherestofthefirelaymaterials.

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.

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°.

1 8

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

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

1 4

flamesareonthebottomandheatrisestothenonburningmaterial.Finally,placeitintoyourfirelayandmakeafire!

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,

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

tin,forfirematerialandcharring.Strikesparksfromthemetaltooldirectlyintothetin,whichincreasesthesurfaceareaforcatchinganember.Onceanemberiscreated,placeitintothebird’snestasdescribedforthebow-drillfire.

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.

1 4

Fatwoodisthewoodsman’ssurefire,anditworkswelleveninthedampestconditions.Finescrapingsandshavingsofresinousfatwoodpinewilligniteeasilyandburnlongenoughtocatchmarginaltindersources.Birchbark,whichcontainsavolatileoil,willalsobehighlyflammablewithanopenflamebutcanbeprocessedtoincreasethesurfaceareaforusewithaferroceriumrodaswell.AnoldSamimethodofmakingfireistorolltinderinabirchbarktubeandthenplaceanemberinthebackofthistubeclosesttothemouthandgentlyblow.Thisprotectstheemberwhileallowingheattorisethroughthetinderandthebirchbark.Italsoaddsfuelforlongevityoncethefireisignited.

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.

Chapter5SHELTERING

“Shelterprovidesamicroenvironmentthatsupplementsinadequateclothingorallowsyoutoshedcumbersomelayers,especiallywhenyouwanttostopmovingorwhenyouwanttosleepincoldweather.Shelteralsoenhancestheeffectofawarmingfire.”

—MORSKOCHANSKI

Whenplanningforshelteryouneedtoconsiderbothlong-termandshort-termoptions.Evenifyouintendtobuildabasecampwithapermanentshelter,youmightstillneedtotravelforanightortwotohunt,trap,orfish.Forthisreason,yourkitshouldincludeasystemthattakesyoueasilyfromcabintowoodswithsuppliesthatwillbeusefulineithersituation.Thebaseofthiskitwillinclude:

Waterprooftarp(Egyptiancottonoilclothworkswellhere)WoolblanketSimplesleeveofcanvas(likeapainter’scanvas)ifyouplantomakearaisedbed

THEFOURWsAsdiscussedindetailinBushcraft101,therearefourcriticalelementstoconsiderwhenlookingforaplacetobuildyourshelter:

WindWaterWoodWidowmakers

WINDThedirectionofthewindwillhaveanimpactonyourabilitytosafelykeepa

firegoingandheatyourshelter.Lookformiddlehigh-groundareaswherethewindispresentbutnottoostrong.

WATERLookforanearbyareasuchasacreekbedthatcanprovideasteadysourceof

water.

WOODYouwillneedalotofwoodforthefire,buildingshelter,andmakingother

resources.Alargefallentreeprovidesagoodsourceoffirewood,andtreessuchaspinescanprovideasteadysupplyoffatwood.

WIDOWMAKERSExaminethetreesaroundyou—especiallylargetrees—verycarefullyforany

deadbranchesthatcouldposeadangertoyouandyourcampsite.

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.

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

awayfromgrommetsaltogether;theyseemtobetheweakestlinkinanyshelternomatterthematerialbecausetheytendtoweakenthesurroundingfabric.Instead,optforthetie-outorstakeloopswheneverpossible.Ifyouhaveonlyablankcanvaswithnowaytotieitoff,placeatoggleonthecornersandfolditoverthetoggle;trapthiswithajamknotonthecornerofthetarp.

Atogglecanbeusedtotiedownatent

Youcanalsouseastoneorevenawadofdeadleavestoplaceaballofsortsintheareathatneedstobetiedandthentieajamknotoverthewholething.Intheolddays,musketballswereoftenusedforthistypeofconfiguration.

Aballtie-downonatarpconfiguration

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.

3 8

Stake-drivingangles

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

sourceoftheceilingandwalls.Lookforfissuresorcracksinthestonethatmightbecompoundedbyheatfromafire.Considertheheightoftheceiling.Thelowertheceilingheightofthecave,themoreafirewillaffectthestructure’sintegrity.Caveswithhigherceilingswillalsoprovidemuchbetterventilation.

RAISEDPLATFORMSHELTERSAraisedplatformsheltercanbeconstructedbyattachingwoodpieceswith

simplelashingsandcrossmemberstocreatetheplatform.Justrememberthatthemorecomplextheshelter,themoreresourcesandtoolsthatarerequiredtoconstructit.Theraisedplatformshouldbeatleast3'–5'abovegroundlevel;again,thisdependsonthefactorslikewildlife,resources,andenvironment.Makethisplatformatleast2'widerthantheinsidedimensionoftheshelteryouplantoplaceontopofitandatleast6'longertoleaveroomforopenworkareas.Thecoveringorconstructionoftheshelteritselfcanbeasimplehoopdesignorasquarestructure.Thehoopdesignisbyfartheeasiesttobuildandmaintain,anditwillshedwaterthebestaswell.

Hoopdesignonashelterconfiguration

LOGCABINSBuildingasmallcabinwithasinglepitchedroofisafairlysimpleundertaking

fromadesignperspective.However,itislabor-intensiveandrequiresagreatdealoftimberresources.An8'×10'cabinshouldbesufficientforasingleperson.Anythinglargerwillbedifficulttoheat.Youwillwantlogsofatleast8"–10"diameterforthis,andsizewilldictatethenumberneeded.

Basiclogcabindesign

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

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.

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

manyplantsandcreatesanicelatherthatcanbeusedasanaturalsoap.Intheeasternwoodlands,thebestchoiceforthisisthebrackenfernbecauseitsrootishighinsaponins.YuccaisanotherAmericanplantthatcanbeusedforthispurpose.

Simplelanternmadefromacan

LATRINEForshort-termoutingsitiseasytosimplywalkawayfromcampanddiga

smallcatholeforalatrine.Outingsthatlastmorethanacoupleofdays,however,willnecessitateapitlatrine.Thispitmustbeacomfortabledistancefromcampbutwellawayfromanygroundwatersource.Generallyspeaking,thepitlatrineshouldbeasdeepaspossiblebutshouldbekepttoatleast3'abovethewatertable.Findingaspotthisfarabovethewatertablecanbeatrickyundertakingdependingoncamplocationandelevation.Ifyoufindyourselfneedingtochoosebetweenafartherwalkandpossiblegroundwaterpollution,doyourselfafavorandtakethewalkuphill.Agoodpracticeforwildernesspitlatrinesistoaddashesfromthecampfiredaily.Thiswillcoverthesmell,breakdownthefecalmatter,anddetractpestslikeflies.Oncethepitisfullwithinafootofthetop,coveritwithdebrisanddiganewpitinadifferentlocation.

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

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.

TIPSANDTRICKS

1. Therearemanygood,modernsyntheticmaterialsyoucanuseasasleepingbag.Justrememberthatthesematerialswillnotbeaslonglastingovertimeandaremuchmoresusceptibletothingssuchasanerrantsparkfromanall-nightfire.

2. Canvasthatisuntreatedmaybesusceptibletomold.Treatingitbeforeusewithaguardingagentisprudent.CanvascanalsobeverysusceptibletoUVbreakdownataltitudesofabout3000',sotreatitorbuySunforgertentcanvas,whichwillbethebestbetforalong-lastingshelter.

3. Mostred-meatanimalshavetallowintheirfat,andmostwhite-meatanimalslikehogshavelard.

4. Inareaswherestakeswillnotpenetratehardearthorrocks,longlogsorlargerockscanbeusedassubstitutesforstakes.

5. Rememberthatanyinsulationmadefromnaturalmaterialonthegroundtobattleconductionshouldbe4"thickwhencompressed.

Chapter6KNOTS,BINDINGS,ANDLOOMS

“Bushcraftiswhatyoucarryinyourmindandyourmuscles.”—RAYMEARS

Cordageisoneofthemostvaluableresourcesthatyoucarryinyourkit.Itsusesareendless,fromlashingobjectstogetherinwoodworkingprojectstoweavingadditionalimplementstoaddcomforttoyourcamp.

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.

Ropecomponents

OPERATINGAROPETWISTERRopeismadefrommultiplestrandstwistedintwodifferentdirections.Itonly

takesonepersontooperateasimpleropetwister,whichcanproducelengthsofropethatareabout20'long.Tomakeenough,youwillneedtofeedabouteleventimestheamountofcordyouintendtoproducethroughtheropetwister.Attachoneendofthecordtoastationaryobjectandmakeoneloopsothatyoucanattachittothespinnerandtwist.Startbyspinninginaclockwisefashionuntilthecordbeginstowindonitselfwhenitisslack.Atthispoint,dividethecordinthirdsandmaketwoloops:onetoplaceovertheoriginalstationaryobjectandonetoplacearoundthetwister.Youshouldnowhavethreestrandsoflargercordagainbetweenthetwisterandthestaticend.Beginspinningagainincounterclockwisefashionuntilthedesiredtightnessisachieved.Oncetheropeisfinished,pullhardagainstthestaticobjectto“set”therope.Cuttheendsandwhip-stitchthemtofinishyourrope.

Step1

Step2

CONSERVINGCORDAGEOneofthemostimportantskillsinwildernesssurvivalisproperuseof

cordage.Whetheritissyntheticropeyouhavecarriedinyourkitornaturalropeyouhavemanufacturedyourself,cordageisapreciousresourcethatshouldbetreatedwithcare.Infact,Iprefertouseknotsthatcaneasilybeuntiedsothattheropecanalwaysberecoveredwithouthavingtocutit.Whenworkingwithsyntheticrope,Ialsoavoidcuttinglengthsshorterthanabout20',orfour“pulls”fromtheroll,unlessitisabsolutelynecessary.By“pulls”Imeanpullsfromthe

rollthatarethelengthofmyoutstretchedarms,fromonehandtotheother.Forthisreason,itisalwaysbesttousenaturalbarkcordageforsmallbindingorlashingprojects.

KNOTSBushcraft101coveredsomebasicknots(bowli