Important Tips !!!

[pitdog]

Desmo, I'm pretty sure that that's exactly what it is. Take a small branch, use the pencil sharpener on it, and you have a ready supply of easy-to-light shavings. :thumbup:

Yup, you are dead right bro and if the un-thinkable happened and you lost your knife then you still have a means of making shavings......saying that if you lost your best blade,life wouldn't be worth living anyway !!!!!:thumbup:

 

[desmobob]

Yup, you are dead right bro and if the un-thinkable happened and you lost your knife then you still have a means of making shavings......saying that if you lost your best blade,life wouldn't be worth living anyway !!!!!:thumbup:

Hmmm.... if you lost your best blade, you could use the pencil sharpener to sharpen your pencil and write a "Goodbye, cruel world..." note! (On a piece of birch bark, of course.)

A darn pencil sharpener... what an idea.

Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[SkunkWerX]

Pitdog, good thoughts as we enter autumn. As always beautiful pics.

As Codger pointed to, simply having a small fire will ease your worries. Add a teabag or bullion cube and you will really feel like you are camping more than "barely" surviving.

A good mental exercise for anyone out walking or hiking, is, to look around every once in a while, look for a good place to shelter should things go to heck-in-a-handbasket.
Make note of potential water sources too. Make note of tinder and dry wood sources.
What indigenous plants would make for some quick shelter building material.

Gloves and a hat, can literally be life savers, and at the very least, comfort makers.

Thanks pitdog.
Always good to keep this kind of thing fresh in our minds and pass along to others.

 

[Codger_64]

I have made a habit of spying out small seeps on hillsides where I hunt. Often I will clear out the humus and leaf debris from one on my way out and return to a fresh fill of clean water on my way back. I do the same thing when wilderness canoing. My favorite river is beaver heaven, so I don't even consider getting my water there, not even for boiling. Small springs and seeps abound in the limestone and sandstone bluffs and steep hillsides. And the water is fresh and pure. Well I've never carried a microscope to be sure, but I've never gotten the quick-step from drinking the water. But I am careful in my selections.

Codger

 

[pitdog]

Pitdog, good thoughts as we enter autumn. As always beautiful pics.

As Codger pointed to, simply having a small fire will ease your worries. Add a teabag or bullion cube and you will really feel like you are camping more than "barely" surviving.

A good mental exercise for anyone out walking or hiking, is, to look around every once in a while, look for a good place to shelter should things go to heck-in-a-handbasket.
Make note of potential water sources too. Make note of tinder and dry wood sources.
What indigenous plants would make for some quick shelter building material.

Gloves and a hat, can literally be life savers, and at the very least, comfort makers.

Thanks pitdog.
Always good to keep this kind of thing fresh in our minds and pass along to others.

Skunk I agree with you and Codger as always however to boil water you need a cup or pot and so to carry this you will need a bag or pack etc.
My aim of this post was to get EVERYBODY to carry at least the essentials I mentioned in their fleece pockets etc, those persons that always carry a PSK do not need to take in this post as they already have this equipment or better versions of it !!!
My dog was not pleased that she was not on the pic I posted so here is another I took that same day.....I have to keep her sweet you see !!!

 

[Cotherion]

I'm a hardcore heavy smoker and I always need to find a light in tough places. This idea may have it's drawbacks (i'm not sure, haven't faced any yet) but I carry a zippo (fully fueled) and a little small lighter that is kinda like a little blowtorch. Let me tell you even soggy fags (slang for cigs) are no match for these windproof blowtorches. Weird to say but there are times when the only reason I'm alive today is because I'm a smoker

Also a cheap walking stick which you could use as firewood is an idea. Assuming it does not get too soaked. I keep chocolates in my leather jacket cause it is the only thing I can eat in the cold. Me being the amateur of the wilderness type. I second the plastic bag idea, I put them in my shoe and it keeps my foot nice and warm.

 

[Don Rearic]

Months ago I read that pencil sharpener trick in this very forum. It's wonderful! The originator of that idea needs a federal grant or something.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Me being the amateur of the wilderness type. I second the plastic bag idea, I put them in my shoe and it keeps my foot nice and warm.

If you're referring to a vapour barrier in your shoes/boots, let me suggest you have a plastic bag (vapour barrier) on each side of your sock(s) (insulation layer). This keeps the sweat from your feet from soaking the socks thereby negating the insulating effect. Your feet will sweat inside the bag but it works fine for a short term. Long term could cause 'Immersion Foot' or so I understand.

Doc

 

[Cotherion]

If you're referring to a vapour barrier in your shoes/boots, let me suggest you have a plastic bag (vapour barrier) on each side of your sock(s) (insulation layer). This keeps the sweat from your feet from soaking the socks thereby negating the insulating effect. Your feet will sweat inside the bag but it works fine for a short term. Long term could cause 'Immersion Foot' or so I understand.

Doc

Don't know the technical term but I do recall a serious wrinkling of my toes and it kind of hurt later and for quite a while... Good tip, however I'm not too comfy with plastic on the skin of my toes but comfort is last consideration in times of trouble...

 

[Bare Rib]

There is no chance of getting my Mrs to camp in winter !!!

I'm so with you there I can't even get mine to camp with me some where that doesn't have a designated bathroom facilities; so our compromise are usually state parks campgrounds and bathrooms for her and plenty of day haking trails.

But this is a great post for this time of year. Hear where I am in PA, USA we've been having days in the mid 70's-80's F (20-26 C) and then as soon as the sun goes down (which gets unpridictable this time of year) the temp drops to the low 40's to 50's F (4-10 C) which might not seem like much but a good sweat or just being out there long enough can put some hurt on ya.

PONCHO!

This is the single most versitile item of clothing that I can ever imagine. It is wind proof and water proof. All you have to do is put one on and sit down, and you have an instant shelter!

Whan you are wearing "rain gear", it is way to easy to get overheated and sweat and be worse off than you would be without it. With a poncho, it is well ventelated, and you can fluf it out now and then for better air flow and to cool down.

Finally somebody that feels the same as I on the wonders of PONCHOS. I always carry one with me they are amazingly versital. and one of the things I like the most is the fact that a good poncho will fit over you and your pack (even if it is supposde to be water proof why not keep it dry if you can) where as rain gear only keeps you dry. Not to mention cost differance a super-good poncho $20-$30 max just an ok set of rain gear $50 minimum.
Oh and they take up less room in a pack too.

 

[lukus]

and then as soon as the sun goes down (which gets unpridictable this time of year)

Dude?....Where do you live again?

Good points all. This is the time of year when people are still in the "summer" mindset. You see too many people in shorts and tee shirts on the trail without any cool weather gear in their pack. Sun goes down and "Damn, it got cold!" kicks in. A packable microfleece hat and jacket go a long way.

 

[Bare Rib]

Dude?....Where do you live again?

Good points all. This is the time of year when people are still in the "summer" mindset. You see too many people in shorts and tee shirts on the trail without any cool weather gear in their pack. Sun goes down and "Damn, it got cold!" kicks in. A packable microfleece hat and jacket go a long way.

I live in PA, USA but when I say that sundown is upridictable I don't mean in just my area; I am refering to the fact that the sun starts going down earlier and earlier every day.

 

[WILLIAM.M]

Good Advice Bro----

Thanks For Posting