- Joined
- Nov 27, 2004
- Messages
- 3,124
Take it easy, all,
I'm hitting the trail tomorrow for a hiking trip in the interior of Algonquin Park, returning late next Wednesday. This will be my first time hiking in the park, though I have been on plenty of canoeing / fishing trips there.
The plan is to hike a large loop, putting some serious trail time in each morning, making it to camp in the afternoon, and fishing before (and hopefully to obtain) dinner.
One of my two companions on this trip will be my young (14 - but taller than me already ...) cousin, who has recently taken a big interest in wilderness and survival activities, but has never camped, hiked, made a fire, etc. before. He doesn't have anyone to take him out and show him the ropes, so I'm going to do my best to live up to my forum name. I gave him Les Stroud's 'Survive' for his birthday a few months back, and I think he has read it cover-to-cover a few times since then.
We're all packed for a straightforward camping and hiking outing, and we'll be practicing 'leave no trace'. On top of that, though, I'm going to teach him some survival techniques - fire-making (including fuel collection, tinder preparations, the joys of fuzz sticks, PJCB and ferro-rod fire starting, proper maintenance and dousing, etc.), some basic shelter making, fish cleaning, navigating, etc.
Of course, I plan to have plenty of fun too! With any luck, the fish : bloodthirsty insects ratio will be stacked in our favor. The terrain is beautiful, so expect plenty of photos when I return.
For cutlery, I'm bringing my JK-AK in my Spec-Ops sheath, which can be worn comfortably with a backpack. The sheath pouch will contain my Leatherman Wave. I'll also be carrying my EDC scandi, so this is basically an outing with my revised 'trio'. I actually don't think I'll be needing a chopper, and I'm not bringing an axe. In the morning, if I decide I have the room, I'll throw my JK Hudson Bay in my pack, just so I can take it for a spin and demonstrate chopping and batoning. My other experienced hiking companion will be bringing an old Marble's belt knife that I refurbished with a new handle and scary-sharp convex edge. I'm going to be giving my cousin a Grohmann #2 in carbon steel, which is probably going to be the ideal knife for this trip.
I fully intend to test the heck out of my new PSK on this trip. I have already revised the kit based on comments from you guys. I look forward to reporting on its performance when I return.
So, that's it. Take it easy. See you next week!
All the best,
- Mike
I'm hitting the trail tomorrow for a hiking trip in the interior of Algonquin Park, returning late next Wednesday. This will be my first time hiking in the park, though I have been on plenty of canoeing / fishing trips there.
The plan is to hike a large loop, putting some serious trail time in each morning, making it to camp in the afternoon, and fishing before (and hopefully to obtain) dinner.
One of my two companions on this trip will be my young (14 - but taller than me already ...) cousin, who has recently taken a big interest in wilderness and survival activities, but has never camped, hiked, made a fire, etc. before. He doesn't have anyone to take him out and show him the ropes, so I'm going to do my best to live up to my forum name. I gave him Les Stroud's 'Survive' for his birthday a few months back, and I think he has read it cover-to-cover a few times since then.
We're all packed for a straightforward camping and hiking outing, and we'll be practicing 'leave no trace'. On top of that, though, I'm going to teach him some survival techniques - fire-making (including fuel collection, tinder preparations, the joys of fuzz sticks, PJCB and ferro-rod fire starting, proper maintenance and dousing, etc.), some basic shelter making, fish cleaning, navigating, etc.
Of course, I plan to have plenty of fun too! With any luck, the fish : bloodthirsty insects ratio will be stacked in our favor. The terrain is beautiful, so expect plenty of photos when I return.
For cutlery, I'm bringing my JK-AK in my Spec-Ops sheath, which can be worn comfortably with a backpack. The sheath pouch will contain my Leatherman Wave. I'll also be carrying my EDC scandi, so this is basically an outing with my revised 'trio'. I actually don't think I'll be needing a chopper, and I'm not bringing an axe. In the morning, if I decide I have the room, I'll throw my JK Hudson Bay in my pack, just so I can take it for a spin and demonstrate chopping and batoning. My other experienced hiking companion will be bringing an old Marble's belt knife that I refurbished with a new handle and scary-sharp convex edge. I'm going to be giving my cousin a Grohmann #2 in carbon steel, which is probably going to be the ideal knife for this trip.
I fully intend to test the heck out of my new PSK on this trip. I have already revised the kit based on comments from you guys. I look forward to reporting on its performance when I return.
So, that's it. Take it easy. See you next week!
All the best,
- Mike
