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- Jun 3, 2010
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This time I decided to lighten up my pack. I went with a smaller 50 L pack. Unless my math is wrong that can't be more than 3500 cubic inches maybe less. This isn't all that much for winter but was lucky to have some nice weather. I packed no water but enough food. Speaking of weather the snow melt is almost done and there was very heavy rain the day before. In some spots the entire ground was submerged. The streams were full beyond capacity and even simple run-off looked big enough to hold brook trout if I didn't know better. Not all the ground travelled was wet.
A bit of snow and reindeer moss. I read this stuff is edible however not sure how to prepare it.
Woodpeckers working over this Hemlock.
Not packing water during winter isn't smart. This trip was never far from the road so there wasn't any real risk IMO. Also given the heavy rain there was no way water wouldn't be easily found and soon it was.
Despite looking clear I used the Frontier Pro filter straw for a fast drink. Filled a Platypus for boiling later that night. When it comes to water looking good doesn't imply it is potable. Best not to take the chance.
Some higher ground.
My fire kit consisted of a SOL Fire lite aka AMK Spark Lite and a tin of charred cedar bark from the last trip. On a side note I think it is important to pack at least 3 dependable ways to start a fire. This is just practice and isn't intended to be taken seriously as what should be packed for a fire kit. It is what it is. just a good time practicing skills.
This grass looked welcoming for tinder.
After rejecting a few trees this cedar had some good looking bark for tinder. I took what was hanging so not to harm the tree. It was a bit damp from past rain but not soaked. Cedar and Yellow birch bark do wonders for starting a fire.
Later that night I boiled water using my hobo stove and ate some snacks. Wasn't really that hungry. The SOL Fire Lite/Spark Lite isn't all the different from an empty Bic. The spark isn't exactly spectacular and dry punk wood wasn't to be found. Did a short night hike looking for Yellow Birch bark. I used the Fire Lite to ignite a fluffed up Q-tip from my FAK. The Yellow Birch bark took that flame and ignited the dry grass and wood shavings/smaller twigs inside the hobo stove. I didn't gather enough birch bark or grass for another attempt if the flame die out. Granted I had more Q-tips, the cedar bark and could of made more shavings but just wanted the water boiled ASAP. Everything worked out well and the job got done.
Here is a video of the Fire Lite in action during this trip.
[video=youtube;O5UFv13SkY0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5UFv13SkY0[/video]
My Hennessy Hammock Explorer DLX with under cover and open cell foam pad setup so the insulation wouldn't get compressed under my body weight. The sub 2 lb down sleeping bag was marginal for the season. Any colder I might have gotten chilly.
I ran into this wild edible, a partridgeberry when breaking up quartz for another fire. Wild edibles are very possible during winter but I wouldn't want to depend on that alone. No way.
Using wood found on the soaking wet ground wasn't going to work. Standing deadwood saplings had the best chance of being dry.
Smashed up some quartz found the previous day. I planned on using traditional flint and steel as my second fire starting method. That was a good excuse to mess around with the charred cedar bark from my previous outing.
The cold wet ground could make starting a fire more difficult. I used a traditional platform with back support so the tinder wouldn't get crushed and to mitigate the ground issues. Also like the night before used a two stick platform to keep my fuel off the ground. This little bit of extra effort is worth the trouble however not needed all the time IMO.
Here is a video of the campfire started with a large striker knife, fluffed up cedar bark found the previous day, charred cedar bark from my last trip and local quartz. I wasn't totally optimistic as this was only my second time using charred cedar bark. Given the wind and wetter conditions failure was a possibility.
[video=youtube;a_cK8_oernc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_cK8_oernc[/video]
The traditional bacon on a stick. I don't do this often but can see why it is very popular.
My kit about to be packed up.
Here is a video of this outing. Not sure sitting through all 24 minutes is a good way to spend your time be here goes.
[video=youtube;-EXqpYzeRQM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EXqpYzeRQM[/video]
A bit of snow and reindeer moss. I read this stuff is edible however not sure how to prepare it.
Woodpeckers working over this Hemlock.
Not packing water during winter isn't smart. This trip was never far from the road so there wasn't any real risk IMO. Also given the heavy rain there was no way water wouldn't be easily found and soon it was.
Despite looking clear I used the Frontier Pro filter straw for a fast drink. Filled a Platypus for boiling later that night. When it comes to water looking good doesn't imply it is potable. Best not to take the chance.
Some higher ground.
My fire kit consisted of a SOL Fire lite aka AMK Spark Lite and a tin of charred cedar bark from the last trip. On a side note I think it is important to pack at least 3 dependable ways to start a fire. This is just practice and isn't intended to be taken seriously as what should be packed for a fire kit. It is what it is. just a good time practicing skills.
This grass looked welcoming for tinder.
After rejecting a few trees this cedar had some good looking bark for tinder. I took what was hanging so not to harm the tree. It was a bit damp from past rain but not soaked. Cedar and Yellow birch bark do wonders for starting a fire.
Later that night I boiled water using my hobo stove and ate some snacks. Wasn't really that hungry. The SOL Fire Lite/Spark Lite isn't all the different from an empty Bic. The spark isn't exactly spectacular and dry punk wood wasn't to be found. Did a short night hike looking for Yellow Birch bark. I used the Fire Lite to ignite a fluffed up Q-tip from my FAK. The Yellow Birch bark took that flame and ignited the dry grass and wood shavings/smaller twigs inside the hobo stove. I didn't gather enough birch bark or grass for another attempt if the flame die out. Granted I had more Q-tips, the cedar bark and could of made more shavings but just wanted the water boiled ASAP. Everything worked out well and the job got done.
Here is a video of the Fire Lite in action during this trip.
[video=youtube;O5UFv13SkY0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5UFv13SkY0[/video]
My Hennessy Hammock Explorer DLX with under cover and open cell foam pad setup so the insulation wouldn't get compressed under my body weight. The sub 2 lb down sleeping bag was marginal for the season. Any colder I might have gotten chilly.
I ran into this wild edible, a partridgeberry when breaking up quartz for another fire. Wild edibles are very possible during winter but I wouldn't want to depend on that alone. No way.
Using wood found on the soaking wet ground wasn't going to work. Standing deadwood saplings had the best chance of being dry.
Smashed up some quartz found the previous day. I planned on using traditional flint and steel as my second fire starting method. That was a good excuse to mess around with the charred cedar bark from my previous outing.
The cold wet ground could make starting a fire more difficult. I used a traditional platform with back support so the tinder wouldn't get crushed and to mitigate the ground issues. Also like the night before used a two stick platform to keep my fuel off the ground. This little bit of extra effort is worth the trouble however not needed all the time IMO.
Here is a video of the campfire started with a large striker knife, fluffed up cedar bark found the previous day, charred cedar bark from my last trip and local quartz. I wasn't totally optimistic as this was only my second time using charred cedar bark. Given the wind and wetter conditions failure was a possibility.
[video=youtube;a_cK8_oernc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_cK8_oernc[/video]
The traditional bacon on a stick. I don't do this often but can see why it is very popular.
My kit about to be packed up.
Here is a video of this outing. Not sure sitting through all 24 minutes is a good way to spend your time be here goes.
[video=youtube;-EXqpYzeRQM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EXqpYzeRQM[/video]
