another overnighter: burnt holy book and plan b.

[JV3]

i went to my favorite trail last weekend for an overnighter - the only days that weren't in the freaking high 90's...a couple of views of the 1 of 2 scenic peaks before reaching the permanent shelter.

this time no turkey vulture sitting atop that dead tree watching to see if i collapse from the heat and then snack on me.

tons of these pockets are filled from the heavy rain the night before - little did i know i should've been collecting the water from them when i had the chance!

spotted a fire ring nearby and a nice flat area - i might come back and camp there in the fall when the leaves are changing colors...the view should be awesome.

blueberries? they were all over this particular section.

mullein? i saw several of them including three that are very dry already. if it is, i'll take those dried ones later and try my hand at hand-drill.

another sign of the heat wave we've been having lately.

this is weird, chunks of moss that's flipped over but in a clean way since they don't look to be ripped up or anything.

is it from the crazy heat? doesn't look like they've been munched on or chewed by animals looking for water.

the first sign that this overnighter isn't going to go as planned - there's usually a small stream here but this time it was bone dry. it's usually not my main source of water so i pressed on towards the shelter where there's another stream...i hoped it was going to be there despite this one being dry.

the permanent shelter.

...with a fireplace to boot!

another disappointment - this is the only dry wood in the immediate area to be found. i wandered around for about an hour and i can't even collect a handful of twigs enough to boil a cup of water with my emberlit now i know why i never attempted an overnighter here before - the spot is just too popular with hikers and as a result it's picked clean of any firewood. my only option is to do some heavy processing of that big log - man, i hate it when i get really sweaty and can't take a bath before sleeping...winter can't get here soon enough!

then i noticed this burnt holy book in the fire pit...someone got tired of lugging it all the way up here and decided to burn it instead or renounced their religion?...at this point i just decided to get water and find a completely different spot to camp altogether. i don't want to get blamed for a hate crime or something with that burnt book there.

a few minutes of hiking later i reach the spot where there was a spring-fed stream two months ago...bone dry this time

this is how that same spot looked last may...sigh...is it winter yet? i'm really wishing for some 2-3 ft of snow right about now.

 

[JV3]

time for plan b...not much firewood and no water at all so i grudgingly hiked back to the car, drove to a different area and hiked to my usual spot to do the overnighter.

thankfully, i've converted almost to full-on ultralight otherwise that hike back to the car would've killed me and i would've just gone home.

the camp fire area - i still have a ton of firewood left over from that initial stash i did from earlier this year.

you can barely see my shelter in the back there - the gray tarp surprisingly blends well in the shrubs.

my toys for this trip - the newest one being the svord kiwi machete (12" blade made from l6 steel).

very lightweight at just 10 oz.

despite the lightweight, it's very tip heavy so it's a good chopper for it's size...i really like it! alright, who am i kidding, i like all machetes

i like the handle design - reminds me of the beckers where you can hang your pinky finger off and use the rounded pommel as a hook/pivot point to increase the chopping leverage.

the grip is secure enough that i can even hook just my middle finger for even more leverage.

i fiddled around with the grip and this is the most comfortable position for me for feather sticks.

it can't compare to my scandi knives but it did make thin-enough curls that lit easily with my firesteel...the whole length of the spine is sharp enough to scrape a firesteel by the way.

funky belt loop though...i opted to just use a carabiner and paracord to hang it on my belt...i like the bushcraft-style deep carry of the sheath though.

reason #358 to own a machete: you don't have to get up from your comfy sitting position, just use the machete to push the twigs inside the emberlit

reason #359 to own a machete: you don't have to get up from your comfy sitting position, just use the machete to lift the lid to check if the water is already boiling

man, something is wrong with me lately - i forgot to bring spam

...at least i didn't forget the hot stuff.

for dessert, hot chocolate spiked with this caffeine gel.

 

[JV3]

more gear pics...i'm all oranged-out.

what i have in my pockets at all times...in the real world, i hate carrying anything in my pocket even as small as a bic lighter but i've gotten used to it when in the woods...must be all that posts i keep reading about keeping a psk on you instead of in your pack all these years.

kifaru field chair...i've had it for months now but only lately did i start warming up to it especially after i paired it with an inflatable sitting pad - it really needs it in my opinion. only problem is on wet or muddy ground (like on this trip) so i kept my work gloves on so i can push myself up and off the ground and not get my hands dirty in the process.

...folds up small.

i drew a line to mark where the lock is otherwise it's hard to line up the hole properly when adjusting the length.

enough yakking...time for bushcraft tv!

a bug decided to commit suicide in my dinner.

 

[LMT66]

Awesome!

Could you have been able to dig down where the little pool was last year to see if theres any sub-surface water? Or is it all rock underneath?

 

[ROCK6]

Great photo's JV3! I haven't had a chance for posting up our last backpacking trip. We were fortunate depsite the high humidity, the area wasn't too hot during the day (upper 80's) and cooled down to the mid 60's at night. I like that Svord...is that the sheath that comes with it? A chopper was essential where we were...even though it didn't rain on us, the area was really saturated and even with a hot fire, I just couldn't get 4" logs to burn and had to saw and/or split them open.

ROCK6

 

[WILLIAM.M]

Thanks for taking the time to post your photos

I'm liking that Machete VERY MUCH

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Excellent report, as always.

Doc

 

[nozyk]

Beautiful trip and photos.Always enjoy your reviews.

A bit eerie with the Holy book stuff. I would have high tailed it outta there as well.

 

[6shooter]

Awesome post, love all the pics. Your posts are starting to cost me money though.... First I had to get a Woobie, which I love, and my evernew .9L UL is one of my favourite pots, and now that svord machete looks wicked. Sheesh


Those berries look like salal. Edible, and kinda taste like blueberries, but not as sweet. Same sort of fleshy texture though. At least the ones I've tried anyways.

 

[TheGame]

I'm eventually going to get that machete. Not sure I like the orange, but that will not stop me from getting it. Thanks for the report :thumbup:

 

[TPVT]

wow. thanks for all the pics JV3. good stuff.

 

[Stickman]

Great story and pics as usual. After all the disappointments with water you deserve credit for even trying another spot in this heat. Especially considering you didn't have your favorite survival food with you All ended well it seems, nice setup at the second site.

 

[Walkabout]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your photos. It's great to be able to have a bit of an imaginary escape into the bush when looking at your pics. Looks like it turned out well... thanks again!!

 

[Jamesbern]

Just convinced me to get an Emberlit UL. I have a propane came stove, but ilke the lay flat design of the Emberlit. Now lets hope I go camping and actually use it.

What pot is that?

 

[crossada]

Another great thread JV3!

I bought a Kifaru Field Chair. I've only had one opportunity to try it out but the legs kept sinking in the ground on me. This in turn caused the back support to give way. Is this a trial and error thing or am I doing something wrong on the set up you think? On a side note though testing it out in the house it works great and is quite comfortable really.

 

[JV3]

Awesome!

Could you have been able to dig down where the little pool was last year to see if theres any sub-surface water? Or is it all rock underneath?

thanks! it's pretty rocky so i didn't even consider digging. even the stream on the 2nd spot where i overnighted on was really low. i never thought i'd see it so low that i can cross it without getting my boots wet actually but it happened...i think i'll camp near a lake for the rest of this summer.

Great photo's JV3! I haven't had a chance for posting up our last backpacking trip. We were fortunate depsite the high humidity, the area wasn't too hot during the day (upper 80's) and cooled down to the mid 60's at night. I like that Svord...is that the sheath that comes with it? A chopper was essential where we were...even though it didn't rain on us, the area was really saturated and even with a hot fire, I just couldn't get 4" logs to burn and had to saw and/or split them open.

ROCK6

thanks! and welcome back!

yes that's the sheath it came with but there's also a version with a yellow plastic sheath. here's my thread on the outdoor gear sub-section: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/972908-some-pics-of-my-svord-kiwi-machete. fortytwoblades posted pics of the plastic sheath near the bottom of that thread.

Thanks for taking the time to post your photos

I'm liking that Machete VERY MUCH

you're welcome, dr. bill. i think you'll like it, it's the first machete i've received that actually came shaving sharp from the factory!

Excellent report, as always.

Doc

thanks, doc!

Beautiful trip and photos.Always enjoy your reviews.

A bit eerie with the Holy book stuff. I would have high tailed it outta there as well.

thanks!

Awesome post, love all the pics. Your posts are starting to cost me money though.... First I had to get a Woobie, which I love, and my evernew .9L UL is one of my favourite pots, and now that svord machete looks wicked. Sheesh


Those berries look like salal. Edible, and kinda taste like blueberries, but not as sweet. Same sort of fleshy texture though. At least the ones I've tried anyways.

thanks! i have all my gear almost sorted out so i won't be buying anymore gear soon...i just want a 0° sleeping bag next and that'll be it so your wallet will finally get a break

thanks for the tip! another member said they're edible so i'll give those berries a taste next time, maybe i'll bring a pancake or bannock mix next time for it.

I'm eventually going to get that machete. Not sure I like the orange, but that will not stop me from getting it. Thanks for the report :thumbup:

you're welcome! fortytwoblades said the early ones had a black handle, you might be able to track one down.

wow. thanks for all the pics JV3. good stuff.

you're welcome!

Great story and pics as usual. After all the disappointments with water you deserve credit for even trying another spot in this heat. Especially considering you didn't have your favorite survival food with you All ended well it seems, nice setup at the second site.

thanks! i'll be honest, saving my pee did cross my mind i'll be stashing water and spam all over my hiking spots next time to prevent this scenario again

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your photos. It's great to be able to have a bit of an imaginary escape into the bush when looking at your pics. Looks like it turned out well... thanks again!!

you're welcome!

Just convinced me to get an Emberlit UL. I have a propane came stove, but ilke the lay flat design of the Emberlit. Now lets hope I go camping and actually use it.

What pot is that?

i think you're going to really like the emberlit - you get that whole camp fire experience (preparing tinder and kindling, etc.) without all the heavy wood processing if you don't want to.

the pot is an evernew titanium 900 ml...more pics here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/951622-review-evernew-titanium-900ml-pot.

Another great thread JV3!

I bought a Kifaru Field Chair. I've only had one opportunity to try it out but the legs kept sinking in the ground on me. This in turn caused the back support to give way. Is this a trial and error thing or am I doing something wrong on the set up you think? On a side note though testing it out in the house it works great and is quite comfortable really.

thanks! i found that i can never get a comfortable position using the shortest setting but i always hit the spot on the 2nd or 3rd length. did you make sure to cross the legs? i think you'll just have to set up on harder ground or use a piece of wood or flat rock under the legs to prevent the sinking.

 

[SurfingSalmon]

Sweet tarp set up! Thanks for the photos. Really makes me want to go outside right now... The photos of that svord machete are cool, too. Been eyeing one of those fellas.. Probably the orange handle.

 

[jcl-MD]

Good Stuff!

What bug net is that ?

THANKS

 

[crossada]

thanks! i found that i can never get a comfortable position using the shortest setting but i always hit the spot on the 2nd or 3rd length. did you make sure to cross the legs? i think you'll just have to set up on harder ground or use a piece of wood or flat rock under the legs to prevent the sinking.

I did cross the legs. I will take your advice and set up on a piece of wood next time and i'm sure that will solve my issues. Thanks again!

 

[Woods Walker]

Those look like Blueberries to me but there is a small chance they could be Black Hucks. 95% sure Blueberries 5% sure Hucks. They do look heat stressed. Nice photos and cool shelter/camp. Thanks for taking the time to post the report.