A walk in the woods, a cup of tea, and traditionals

[paulhilborn]

Okay Pete, you inspired me to get out on what I call my "prairie walk"---maybe a quarter mile from my back door. Lets just say your post and cabin fever was the double whammy I needed to get out and off my butt. Although the wind was at a steady 20 to 25 miles and hour before factoring in the wind gusts.

North Dakota as a rule falls into that "flat as a pancake" category but don't let that fool you, we have absolutely beautiful landscape in our fine state. This however is the "flat as a pancake" neck of the woods that I went out to today

I had done the laundry so thought I'd take the lint out of the dryer screen to use and make some duct tape lint fire starters (these little packets work really well)---I wanted to go make fire and the only shelter I had was my big carcass No tea or hot chocolate came along but I had fun just the same.

Tracks to and from where I was during my exploits, just at the top of the hill.

I grabbed some dead grass and twigs combined with the duct tape lint packets:thumbup:

Brought my Boker Barlow with for some of the fire starting tasks needed along with my ferro rod and striker.

I couldn't manage the picture taking and striking of the ferro rod simultaneously so these are pictures of my meager but quite warm little fire, it did grow bigger than what the picture shows

As to leave no trace of my exploits I snuffed out the fire and made it home with a longing to get back out there soon

Thanks for the inspiration Pete!!!

Paul

 

[knarfeng]

Enjoyed this thread a lot thank you.

Would like to get out myself but still recovering from an operation that kept me inactive for some weeks.

I'm not certain that I remember hearing about that. A belated speedy recovery to you.

 

[Stich2442]

Nice Rinos, is that wild asparagus?
Paul my friend happy that I inspired your hike, I bet it's even more beautiful in the spring.

Willgoy, I'm with Frank hope you have a speedy recovery, I hope you can get out and about soon.

Pete

 

[jackknife]

Okay Pete, you inspired me to get out on what I call my "prairie walk"---maybe a quarter mile from my back door. Lets just say your post and cabin fever was the double whammy I needed to get out and off my butt. Although the wind was at a steady 20 to 25 miles and hour before factoring in the wind gusts.

North Dakota as a rule falls into that "flat as a pancake" category but don't let that fool you, we have absolutely beautiful landscape in our fine state. This however is the "flat as a pancake" neck of the woods that I went out to today

I had done the laundry so thought I'd take the lint out of the dryer screen to use and make some duct tape lint fire starters (these little packets work really well)---I wanted to go make fire and the only shelter I had was my big carcass No tea or hot chocolate came along but I had fun just the same.

Tracks to and from where I was during my exploits, just at the top of the hill.

I grabbed some dead grass and twigs combined with the duct tape lint packets:thumbup:

Brought my Boker Barlow with for some of the fire starting tasks needed along with my ferro rod and striker.

As to leave no trace of my exploits I snuffed out the fire and made it home with a longing to get back out there soon

Thanks for the inspiration Pete!!!

Paul

Man, what's all that white stuff laying all over the ground there?

 

[rinos]

Yes, wild asparagus,not yet full season but any day now..
so many ways to enjoy

 

[jon_slider]

Great thread Pete, love your pics and commentary.
I took my Peanut Snowboarding, here it is hanging out in the bar

before going to bed in my SkiCondo

and here are some of my tracks, it was an epic powder day

The week before the snow trip I used my Douk Douk on some steak in Big Sur,

and the morning after a return to Big Sur apres the snow trip, on some pancakes

Followed by more joy and celebration.. counting my blessings, wishing you all same

 

[Stich2442]

Very nice Jon, it's been about 20 years since I've been out at Big Sur, like the mandolin, and the nut. I have a Morgan & Monroe Mahogany A-style mandolin.

Pete

 

[pinnah]

Big Sur!! Ticks and poison oak!!! And sleeping on Ventana Double Cone.

Pete, snow fleas are a sign of spring. Often seen on spring tours. Saw them on Saturday by the banks of the East Branch of the Pemi this past weekend on an over night trip there.

Could you say more about how you set your fire to keep it from diving in the snow? Also, do you just put the pot straight on the fire? Lastly, how do you deal with the soot on the pot?

 

[recon1s14]

Wow, that looks like a perfect day! BTW, what's a snow flea?

Yes +1 What is a snow flea?

Ah nevermind just saw the posts above, very interesting insects, funny how they don't mind the cold apparently.

 

[zippofan]

Beautiful...thanks Pete!

Can't wait to get back to the lake this spring. Oh yeah, we have a hike coming up in a couple weeks too

 

[Stich2442]

Snow Flea along with Pinnah's explanation, I gave a brief one in post #22, also I put links to Wikipedia snow flea in post #7 & in #22

Pinnah I dug down basically till I hit solid ground and then compacted the snow, this pic might show it better, it provides protection from the wind also.

Also after spending three days alone on the Appalachian by myself 15 years ago with torrential downpours I have found adding these fire sticks which I break off a piece, or crumble to catch a spark to be a nice hassle free luxury, less mess than tree sap.

I place the a 2" piece fire stick on the flat piece of the branch I split ( larger fires place a bed of branches on the bottom then build fire on top ).

The pot I just held over the fire boiled about 2 cups of water sealed with the foil, took maybe 5-7 minutes, I dropped it on the fire when done, ambers kept it warm. Other times I have gathered a few rocks to balance the pot on ( prop up ) so I don't have to hold.

Cleaning the pot used tea bag then snow (mildly abrasive)then wiped with my handkerchief and then use the foil and wrapped the bottom, this pot stays pretty clean, carbon wipes off easily.

I also add measurements to make it easier for camp food, I stopped making homemade food camping, instead boil water add to camp food, no mess, no cleanup.

I hope that I answered your questions Pinnah.

Pete

 

[pinnah]

Pete, excellent. Very helpful. I sometime use precut portions of those fire sticks to prime my Svea (Fire ribbon works better, I think).

Regarding snow fleas... Warm weather brings them up. They seem to congregate in depressions like ski and boot tracks. Can look like dirty snow at first glance. This shot was from a tour a few years ago in the Rob Brook Swamp area, east of Bear Notch and north of the Kank Hiway (Pete and a few others will know where this is). You can't see it, but the ski has a type of XC wax called klister, which essentially turned the ski into fly paper. Or in this case, flea paper!


Flea Paper by Pinnah, on Flickr

For a ski tourer, snow fleas mean you aren't suffering in the bitter cold.

 

[SurfingSalmon]

Wow, that whistle is really cool! What does it sound like (EDIT: besides sounding like a whistle; was it a "good sounding" whistle?) and how long did it take to whittle?

 

[neeman]

Lovely photos

A few years ago I decided to ditch the fuel canister and screw on burner type stove, you don't need much to enjoy a hot meal or beverage, the kidney shaped canteen and stainless steel kidney cup I have found perfect.

The canteen cover
What is it and where did you get it

Thanks

 

[Stich2442]

Wow, that whistle is really cool! What does it sound like (EDIT: besides sounding like a whistle; was it a "good sounding" whistle?) and how long did it take to whittle?

I never took a picture of the finished product, I realize as I look at my picture, it doesn't have the wind tunnel in it yet, which I made out of a branch about the size of the hole and then shave a flat spot.
I found a video, not made the same way, but the concepts are the same.
http://youtu.be/inBOmQizHxI

Neeman, I sent you a PM

Pete

 

[goodeyesniper]

did you just drill out the main part with the knife, instead of using a drill press like the guy in the video?

 

[jwren]

Nice Rinos, is that wild asparagus?
Pete

Nice to see some fellow wild plant foragers on here!
To keep on topic, Stich2442 did you use just the peanut to carve the whistle?

 

[Stich2442]

did you just drill out the main part with the knife, instead of using a drill press like the guy in the video?

What you didn't see my drill press with my kit? Just kidding, I used the pen blade on my peanut, if I had my Vic farmer I would have used the awl, would have been way easier.
First my edge is convexed so it's pretty sturdy

I tried to capture in a picture but my cell phone is not cooperating.
I choke up on the blade, one for control, and two not to put stress on the pivot, and take it slow and easy.

Jwren I could have just used the peanut, but I used the sheepsfoot on my Boker congress to do the straight cut and the angled notched, being as I had it with me.

Pete

 

[TLARbb]

Snow fleas??? We have fleas, but not snow fleas. No snow, no snow fleas. What are they? and are they dangerous to a traditional knife such as the ones you were carrying?

Ed J