For the few guys in CT

C

chabla

Joined
Nov 22, 2007
Messages
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Hey i know a few of you on the forum are from good ole Connecticut what are some good places i can get survival gear in CT? where can i practice bush craft/survival skills by myself and/or in a group (workshops, programs) also do you have any good fishing and camping places i can know of?
 
Survival gear can be purchased at any Army Surplus store like Military Specialties on the Berlin Turnpike, Dick's Sporting Goods, EMS, REI or the new Cabelas in East Hartford. Cabelas is by far your best bet.

As for a place to practice skills, just follow the laws and go to state parks. You can also go to any blue blazed trail (get the Connecticut Walk Book) and go off trail and out of site. Just make sure to have a good map and compass to not get lost. Remember not to cut live trees and only use dead standing or dead and down trees.

As for groups, look to the chapter of the AMC and you might find a workshop. If you ever want to arrange a camping weekend for the CT guys, let me know and I'll demonstrate/teach some skills as I'm in CT too.
 
what part of connecticut are you from???

One thing I like to do is go to google maps and just look for parks (always show up in green) then I just get the directions and go.
 
You mean there are real people here in CT. Just moved to Hamden from the mid west (Chicago area) and all I can say is we are not in Kansas any more Totto. Taking a little getting used to. :)
 
i live in stratford right next top bridgeport so no woods except a small forest. not much practice i can do around where i live
 
I'm in Bristol and used to work for a canoeing and kayaking outfitter for 10 years. I have access to plenty of land with a river nearby it for shelter building, firebuilding etc. Let me know if you guys are interested. There is a primitive campsite on the island in New Hartford, CT where the shop is. I can get it hooked up but I need definite confirmations from people and possibly a deposit (maybe $10 a night) for use of the site.

What do you think? Give me a date. I'm thinking April at some point.
 
You may want to check out Wilton Outdoor Sports on Rte 7 (just past Norwalk line). They carry many premium brands, may seem pricey at first however the quality can't be beat. Knowledgeable boot and pack fitters.
As for getting out in the woods in Connecticut..limited. Litchfield County http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325156&depNav_GID=1650 is the most "Wild". Nice day hikes, etc. I find for a night or 2 out, you can't beat heading over the Hudson River to the Catskills. I've been out in some areas where I don't see a sole in 2 days. All this and only 2 hours or so from Fairfield/Bridgeport.
 
I'm in CT as well. A local get together would be fun- I would probably be interested, as long as I didn't have any other obligations going that weekend. Is the New Hartford venue accessible without a canoe or kayak- or is it just affectionately called 'the island'- I'm not familiar with that venue- I don't own either. What dates are we looking at?
 
for wilderness area, i enjoy hiking bear mountain. aparently its the highest peak in CT, but there is another mountain that starts half in ct but peaks in mass.

good hike, depending on which way you guy up and down, it offers a fair amount of versatility in terrain. there is plenty of steep rock scrambling (not fun after the rain!) and there is alot of gentle sloping walking. beautiful area any season.

as for gear; i don't buy that much gear anymore, i have collected what is my set for quite some time i think. but when i was buying, i looked at hardware stores for knives and they usually have some stuff in a little camping section. Dicks, Cabelas (i have heard, never been. soon to change i hope), walmart has some stuff, sometimes you have to look hard to find the quality stuff.
 
I am in Windham Co., the "Quiet Corner." For gear shopping, there are army surplus stores in Mystic and New London. My favorite gear store though is URE Outfitters just across the border from Voluntown in RI. This is a neat independent shop. Not cheap, though.

Speaking of Voluntown, the Pachaug State Forest there is quite large (by CT standards) and the bordering section of RI is all state forest land, and is one of my favorite hiking areas.
 
So as to not hijack the thread, I do my shopping at either Cabelas, Country Sports (a local shop, I think), EMS or online.

But I would def be interested in a CT get together. However, I wont be home from college until May:(
 
Ok, so lets shoot for late May or early June. I don't start teaching week-long courses at the Wilderness Learning Center until mid June so anytime before then would be fine for me to do a weekend trip. I'll check to see if we can get the island for a weekend but I know it shouldn't be a problem.

Kev
 
k_estela said:
Ok, so lets shoot for late May or early June. I don't start teaching week-long courses at the Wilderness Learning Center until mid June so anytime before then would be fine for me to do a weekend trip. I'll check to see if we can get the island for a weekend but I know it shouldn't be a problem.

Kev
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Kev,
Me and Aggie might come on down if were invited.
Oldman/Marty Simon
 
Marty and Aggie,

You are always invited to CT! I'd love for you to come and paddle the Farmington and camp out sometime in my neck of the woods! This trip is just in the early stages of getting set up but I'll keep you posted for sure! Should be a fun time in good old CT.

Kev
 
i didnt plan for this thread to turn into a trip in the rough, but heck im in for it if my plans are good and my parents let me
 
k_estela said:
Ok, so lets shoot for late May or early June. I don't start teaching week-long courses at the Wilderness Learning Center until mid June so anytime before then would be fine for me to do a weekend trip. I'll check to see if we can get the island for a weekend but I know it shouldn't be a problem.

Kev
Click to expand...

After May 10 would be Excellent for me:cool:
 
so kevin do you have a quick short list of what we would be doing? nothing specific just the major things
 
Chabla,

There are so many topics that can be covered. On the trips I post here, we all meet up to camp first and learn from eachother second. You would be amazed how many skills are demonstrated and shared in a 24 hour period. In the past we've practiced fire starting with all methods, shelter building, water purification, knife and axe craft, plant identification and other basic skills. If anyone wants to see a particular skill or try it out, these trips are your best bet.

My question to all of you guys is, what skills do you need improvement with? There would be plenty of time to practice them and get better on this trip.

BTW, after May 10 it is!

Kev
 
BTW, after May 10 it is!

Kev[/QUOTE]

Kev,
Don't get too close to Memorial Day as we have to prepare for our PEACE rendezvous.
Oldman/Marty Simon
 
I'm up in Farmington/Unionville a lot. Beautiful area, if there is going to be a weekender, I would like to go if possible.

I'll second the Wilton Outdoor Sports Center. Good people and a good selection of gear. I just bought some IceBreaker and Ibex stuff from them. For any SAK lovers, they have colored Alox Cadets.
 
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