Bark: a versatile outdoor resource

S

SouthernCross

Joined
Jun 25, 2008
Messages
1,484
G'day everyone

I thought I'd start this post to share with you my thoughts on bark as a resource when out in the bush.

It makes a great building material for constructing leanto's to act as a wind break at the end of a tarp:

Barkwindbreak1.jpg


It also makes an effective "roof" to keep your fire going in heavy rain:
Barkshingles.jpg


If its' not readily available on the ground, it can be easily stripped using a variety of techniques:
Strippingbark1.jpg


UsingtheGBminitostripbark1.jpg




Feel free to share your thoughts on bark as an outdoor resource :thumbup:


Kind regards
Mick
 
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The big one( to me) that you didn't mention is that bark makes one heck of a ground sheet, especially if you get it in big chunks like in your pictures and then warm it over a fire first.

If in a leafy environment ( like N.A. forest or jungle areas) you can take one good slab of bark and a couple of sticks or rocks to prop on end up, then cover with leaves. Warm a slab for the ground and sleep like a baby with a heated blanket.

David
 
I have used it to build fires on, to eat off like a plate, and it can crumble into some great tinder.
 
Being in an area heavy with Cedar I have found some uses for stringy bark. Cordage and torch winding are the first 2 to come to mind. It's been awhile since I've actually used bark though. This is an inspiration.
As a kid I made forts out of Scotch Broom a lot, and Douglas Fir bark was a great commodity for roof and gutter material.
 
Good stuff. I've used it as a firestarter before as well, cedar works great and pine isn't too bad.
 
Nice thread. Bark has been used for boats to shelters to chordage, etc throughout human history.

Bring the pics. That first post gets an A+. And Doc. I love that basket too!
 
Thanks guys for the positive comments.

A particularly useful bark for our indigenous peoples is the paperbark tree.
Paperbarktree1.jpg


This tree is more common closer to the coast. The bark can be easily removed in soft pliable sheets (similar I guess to Birch bark) and was used for bangages, baskets, wrapping of food prior to being cooked in underground ovens (early aluminium foil :D) and as a matting for sleeping. It makes excellent tinder when broken up into fibers.

As the name suggests, it also makes a useful toilet paper substitute :D

Bark certainly has some uses :thumbup:


Kind regards
Mick
 
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Hi all. Heres a tip to all the Aussies. Paperbark makes a perfect tinder for use with a firesteel. Grab a strip and scrunch it in your hand (like how they used to do to newspaper so you could wipe your behind with it) and when its all broken up and really pliable, just throw some sparks into it. Easiest thing in the world. Burns well too. Just dont bother to use it to start a coal from fire-by-friction alight, its ignition temp is too high.
Chris
 
Here are some pictures of me stripping and using bark to create a natural shelter last January. Hayseedw45 (Jerry) took a trip to the same location this past summer and said my shelter was still up and water tight.

RemovingbarkII.jpg


detailofshelter.jpg


InsideKevsshelter.jpg
 
Beavers like bark too.

0813res07lg4.jpg


0812res20gh9.jpg





"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."
Big Mike
 
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