another day hike: two of my favorite spydercos.

[JV3]

looks like it's starting to warm up now that the sun is up.

i have my full ninja gear on

vodka to help keep my blood from freezing nah, it's just water. i'm trying to move away from a camelbak to save more pack weight (not that it's useful anyway at this temp).

looks like i found the perfect bottle - fits perfectly on my side pocket without sloshing around or getting in my way.

some damascus-looking puddle of water/ice.

i like trekking poles - i feel like i have 4 legs...way more stable on sketchy water crossings.

the sun starting to peek out...so peaceful.

then bam! you get hit by a widow maker.

i decided to check on a couple of my well-hidden overnight spots to see if anyone else stumbled onto them...my untouched stash of wood suggests no.

nice to see one of my water sources is flowing strong again!

 

[JV3]

something caught my eye so i crossed over the frozen stream to check something out (never cross an unfamiliar stream in the winter!).

nope, not chaga...my search continues.

one of my favorite winter-only tinder, beech leaves.

they're like potato chips - full of oils that catches and burns well.

really weird mild winter here so far. i should've brought my spikes...i'll take deep snow over this icy mess anyday.

trying to cover your tracks? pee against a tree so you don't leave yellow snow behind

most of this tree's branches are pointing towards east.

...which reminded me of this awesome book (thanks pitdog for suggesting it!).

hurricane sandy left a lot of downed branches behind but surprisingly a lot less than i was expecting (very few actual trees that snapped).

 

[JV3]

headed over to my overnight spot #2 to check on it.

that tree bridge is actually alive and well (come spring time it's full of side branches shooting up, full of leaves and very healthy)...good spot to put a snare trap too if you need to.

more snow fuzzies.

ginormous burl on the base of this treee (should've put my knife on it for scale).

reminds me of a mole

gotta love the will to survive!

my other spot looks to be un-used as well.

the pile of branches i left last year are still untouched.

 

[JV3]

on my way to my yet another overnight spot...birch trees are all over here and it's my favorite tinder. the inside rots very quickly but the bark keeps for a very long time.

i rarely come across a cedar tree so when i do i make sure to grab some of that bark for tinder too.

time for lunch!

i couldn't decide which pic i liked better so decided to post these as well...the bushcraft is my most used fixed blade of all time.

the folding saw is the one doing all the heavy lifting though...the bushcraft just swoops in for the glamour shots

what i keep on me at all times...i decided to give my orange military (my most used folder of all time) a break this time and brought my orange pm2 with me. it has quickly become my favorite folder (the black one anyway since that's the one i've been using a lot lately) - almost all the awesome slicing ability of the military in a more pocket (and non-knife people) friendly size.

anyway, by now my hands are numb and my stomach growling (should've just taken the lazy way and brought a stove with me!), i shove the birch bark, feather sticks and twigs inside the emberlit.

i rubbed the cedar bark between my hands to create a bird's nest.

...then shove it in the bottom and tilt the emberlit back to better catch the firesteel's sparks.

my fire kit.

reminded me why i prefer a wood fire over a stove - that camp fire atmosphere

my spoon-carving skill is coming along nicely!

sorry to disappoint but my trademark spam will have to wait for next time.

the emberlit in hand-warmer mode.

woods ninja!

...anyway, that was my first hike of this year.

 

[lambertiana]

What camera do you use? It has a crisp macro.

You use the same boots that I do.

 

[JV3]

What camera do you use? It has a crisp macro.

You use the same boots that I do.

it's a nikon d90 body with a tamron 18-270 mm lens.

i really like those boots - i'm probably going to use my rei 20% off/dividend to pick up another set to put away to make sure just in case they discontinue it. even with street clothes, i tend to favor it over wearing sneakers, etc.

 

[martineden]

Great pics!! Nice hiking too. Bravo!!
Alfredo

 

[WILLIAM.M]

Another Great post Bro

Thanks for posting!!!

 

[Joezilla]

vodka hiking is good hiking

vodka hiking with spyderco is best hiking.

Sputnik!

 

[Translash]

Nice!! Im very interested in that ember thingy, because I was just on a hike last week in Harriman around the Pomona and it was 9 degrees out! My toes were numb and I could've made good use of that thing to warm me up.

 

[rpn]

Great, great pics. Thanks for taking us along!

I keep thinking I want that knife...but I'm scandi-phobic!

 

[fatcat55]

Enjoyed the show. Thanks for sharing.

 

[upnorth]

Some beautiful shots in there. Love your spoon carving.

 

[Woods Walker]

Thanks for the great outdoors and gear photos. I have never seen Chaga in NJ. The only thing that might help is elevation. The higher maybe the better? Guessing you know but for those who don't both yellow and white birch trees can have chaga so that's what I am looking for when foraging. Best of luck bro.

 

[JV3]

Great pics!! Nice hiking too. Bravo!!
Alfredo

thanks, Alfredo!

Another Great post Bro

Thanks for posting!!!

thanks, Dr. Bill!

vodka hiking is good hiking

vodka hiking with spyderco is best hiking.

Sputnik!

haha!

Nice!! Im very interested in that ember thingy, because I was just on a hike last week in Harriman around the Pomona and it was 9 degrees out! My toes were numb and I could've made good use of that thing to warm me up.

thanks! this was in harriman as well (near seven lakes drive)...i highly recommend the emberlit - it fires up really fast even with twigs only...all that feather-sticking i did was just for fun.

Great, great pics. Thanks for taking us along!

I keep thinking I want that knife...but I'm scandi-phobic!

thanks! why are you scandi-phobic? the sharpening part or the delicate edge part?

Enjoyed the show. Thanks for sharing.

thanks!

Some beautiful shots in there. Love your spoon carving.

thanks! next time i'll use an axe to really show off my spoon carving skill

Thanks for the great outdoors and gear photos. I have never seen Chaga in NJ. The only thing that might help is elevation. The higher maybe the better? Guessing you know but for those who don't both yellow and white birch trees can have chaga so that's what I am looking for when foraging. Best of luck bro.

you're welcome! i mainly frequent harriman (the lower section around seven lakes drive, appalachian trail, etc.) so if you happen to be in the area and do spot one, leave it alone and let me know been meaning to try that chaga tea and tinder because i keep seeing them in your videos. i think i spotted staghorn sumac as well near the side of the road heading towards the parking lot last fall but i forgot to harvest some for tea.

 

[agile_1]

Dig the stone wall. Are you in New England somewhere? We have those all over the place in MA.

 

[JV3]

Dig the stone wall. Are you in New England somewhere? We have those all over the place in MA.

thanks! this was in ny...those stone walls are all over here.

 

[Sig_Op]

how do you find the sheagh for the spyddrco, and how often you get rolls or chips in it

 

[Ultraman]

Nice journey - plus, your post has inspired me to use my Nalgene flask again! Did it have enough water to serve its purpose? thanks in advance

 

[Skrapmetal]

Great pictures. We just got 5 inches of snow, looked like this a couple of days ago...

Your post makes me wanna head out again to enjoy the snow!