2007 Nessmuk Weekend Wellsboro, PA (LOTS OF PICS)

k_estela

k_estela

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Last weekend, a number of knife and outdoors enthusiasts gathered in Wellsboro, PA to relive the Nessmuk "Go Light" dream. What started out as a suggestion, turned into a camping trip I organized on a whim. What a blast! Below is a selection of photos from the weekend and the full story can be found by clicking the link below to the "other" site. I'm hoping more of you gents and gals will be able to make the next trip. We all had a blast and we are always up for making room at the campfire for others!

http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/799484/tp/1/

Map of the area
Tiadaghtonmap.jpg

Some Scenery Shots
Tiadaghton3.jpg

Tiadaghton.jpg

PennGrandCanyon3.jpg

PennGrandCanyon2.jpg

A sign dedicated to the man of the weekend
Tiadaghton5.jpg

Our home for a few days
Pinecreek.jpg


More pics to come
 
The gentlemen

Rob G
Marcelo C
Scott Gossman
Ed and his son Alex
Not pictured (Dom)
Kev
Big John
Tim S.
Group1.jpg


Hiking a trail
grouphike2.jpg


Walking the bike trail
Grouphike.jpg


Some gratuitious gear shots
edcitems.jpg


Gossman WSK (AWESOME!)
GossmanWSK.jpg


Chopping with Marcelo
ChoppingwithMarcelo.jpg


Can lantern
Misc.gear.jpg


Staff slinging walnuts
Staffslinging.jpg


Rob G working on his bow drill skills
RobGwithbowdrill.jpg


My Foot on top of a poplar fire board (Note the jute twine already under the notch in the board) I prefer to transfer the coal but this method is good to practice too.
BowDrill.jpg




More pics coming
 
Battoning with a Gossman PSK JR
KevbattonswithGossmanpskjr.jpg
\

Me cooking
Kevcooking.jpg


Not really hunting but the deer didn't know that
deerhunting.jpg


See the look of fright in their eyes?
Deer.jpg


$30 blind horse knife (very cool little blade)
Marcelousingblindhorseknife.jpg


Me with a mouse I caught scampering over the road (no mouse was actually injured in the taking of this picture!)
mousehunting.jpg
 
The weekend weather was gorgeous except for Friday night.

The skills practiced included packing light, cooking over open fires, bow drill, wood carving/whittling, basic plant recognition and numerous other essential skills.

We had a blast and shared knowledge, stories and an amazing experience in a remote and rugged landscape.

I would welcome any questions about the trip and will also welcome anyone on future outtings we take.

Hope you enjoy the pics.

Kev
 
Fonly,

My personal gear included

Eagle AIII Pack with side pockets
Wiggy's ultralight 20 degree wide body bag
Thermarest ultralight pad
Hennesy Deluxe Assymetrical hammock
Guyot Designs Stainless bottles
Titanium long handled spoon from backpackinglight.com
Snow Peak Large Titanium Mug
Fiskars Hatchet
Leatherman Supertool 200
BRKT Fox River
Gossman PSK JR.
Petzl Tikka headlamp
MRE Peanut Butter (I LOVE THIS STUFF) and other packable foods
Bahco laplander
and other gear I'm forgetting to list
 
Very nice time I am sure . That area is about 5 hours from me which is not a problem If dogs ( big and friendly)are ok I would hope to atend an outing some time.
 
Dang. That looked fun guys! Thanks for posting that!
 
GREAT PICS! I want to go camping NOW! I want it to be a little bit cooler here before I go though. Here in GA, it is hot as bawls right now. It's starting to cool off a little but still not good enough. I like it to be chilly in the city. Then I know it'll be really good and cold in the mountains. Makes working on stuff and running, climbing, etc. a whole lot easier.
 
Looks like a lot of fun.

Did y'all use any Nessmuk knives and hatchets?

Did you try any of the recipes he mentioned in his book? I've always wanted to try his "club Bread" recipe.

Did you build one of the fires with the logs for a reflector or one of his "campfire ranges" to cook on?

Anybody try to set up one of the "indian camp" shelters like he mentions??

How light were your packs? Did you hike in with your packs a ways to set up camp?

And yeah more cool pics! Looks like a beautuful area!!!!
 
HD,

As much as we would have liked to stay with the Nessmuk ideal, the whole weekend was more about modern comforts than traditional historical accuracy. I came in late on Friday night and if it weren't for my GPS, I wouldn't have found the camp so quickly. Ironic huh? Of all the knives there that weekend, only Marcelo had a small necker Nessmuk knife courtesy of Scott Gossman. Only modern foods were prepared and because of the lack of dead and downed wood, we didn't craft anything other than small kitchen utensils. As far as packs, I used only my Eagle A-III for packing in but on the next day, I brought down from my car a small pack basket made by Mick Jarvis of Chateaugay, NY. We all wanted to get away from the large car camping trips like PWYP, PWYP North, WAR and PEACE. While fun, we found these trips made us overpack. Hell, I brought far too much ammo (I know, its unlike me to say this) and gear to North Carolina last year. We wanted to have a back to basics approach to hiking and camping and for the most part, we accomplished it. My pack, not including water, was about 20 lbs. Not the lightest but I was certainly comfortable with what I brought all weekend long.

Next year will be different now that we know what to expect.

Kev
 
Something I always wondered is Nessmuk is always talking about roasting pork over the fire.

I have to assume he brought along some ham or something smoked wouldn't you think?

I can't imagine raw pork lasting more than a day or two w/o refrigeration, although maybe at the time he took it it was winter?
 
hollowdweller said:
Something I always wondered is Nessmuk is always talking about roasting pork over the fire.

I have to assume he brought along some ham or something smoked wouldn't you think?

I can't imagine raw pork lasting more than a day or two w/o refrigeration, although maybe at the time he took it it was winter?
Click to expand...

Fatback and cured ham last real well, I have ate plenty of home raised and cured fatback cooked on an open fire and wild brook trout fried in the left over grease, even that was sopped up with light bread. A lot of rural applachians die of heart disease, including my grandfather who was a true mountain man. Chris
 
Thank you for the pictures!

I grew up in Mansfield and have hiked in Wellsboro many times. Rafted down that river once too (I think it was in April and we got snowed on! :eek::mad::thumbdn:)
 
Great pics!

I went camping in that area a couple of times with friends in the late 80s, when I was in college. One year we went on our spring break in March and wound up staying overnight in 11 degree weather. :eek: We went back to the cabin the next day.
 
Awesome time with good friends. Of course time spent out is never long enough. Thanks for posting Kev.
Scott
 
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