Little bushwacking today

[LMT66]

Took a walk into my usual winter hangout with my Koster Bushcrafter tagging along. I don't go here in summer because the overgrowth is so dense. Despite it still being quite green, I stumbled accross a few things I miss in winter.

Colors are just starting to change here.

 

[LMT66]

My furniture is still here but pretty rotten this year. Was a wet cool summer.

........................

 

[LMT66]

Got a little fire going using PJ soaked cotton balls but it was really hard to get it lit. I think i had too much PJ on it. It did finally go using the striker but it took a while.
The new notches on Dans' current Bushcrafter really shed alot off the firesteel. Massive and sustained shower of spark with a slow even strike. I used a thin round slice of a rock (from the bigger boulder behind my pit) to lay my tinder on.

 

[Stormstaff]

Very nice! Looks like a great area.

 

[LMT66]

There's a lake where I park and this picture is of the boat launch. Here's summer/winter shots from the same spot earlier in the year.
77 F

 

[LMT66]

Very nice! Looks like a great area.

It's the Lemont Quarries all the way back and straight into the woods between the ship canal and (edit>) I&M Canal Trail.

 

[banana-clip]

Awesome pictures

 

[sasha]

cool pics i like the before and after with the snow. Must be one of those relaxing days..

Sasha

 

[TheGame]

Wow, some really awesome pics in there! Thanks for sharing.

 

[mtnfolk mike]

great pics man... :thumbup: that looks like a cool spot/area to trek around...

 

[Shotgun]

So I gotta ask, which one's your favorite the Koster or the Skookum? And who the heck is your girl in your avatar?

I'm a rotten christian and have to do this often

I wouldn't worry about that too much. I've never met a "good" Christian and the people who claim they are, are usually the worst kind of people. Be a good person and you can't help but to be a good Christian.

 

[LMT66]

So I gotta ask, which one's your favorite the Koster or the Skookum? And who the heck is your girl in your avatar?


I wouldn't worry about that too much. I've never met a "good" Christian and the people who claim they are, are usually the worst kind of people. Be a good person and you can't help but to be a good Christian.

That is Robin Meade in my avatar! She wakes me up every morning via CNN Headline News.

I prefer the Koster. The Skookum is a great tool but it lacks a finger guard and about an hour after that one picture, i had a "bleeder" going pretty bad. Cold weather and no finger guard = Slip/cut/and a whole lot of swear words followed by a duct tape bandage! The plate on the end of the SBT is very useful though. The Skookum is great in warm weather but I really prefer a small finger guard year round. As far as slicing goes, this years Bushcrafter is thinner and a great slicer. They are about equal to me in that regard but the spine notches on the Koster are top "notch".

 

[John G]

That's a neat secret camping spot! I like seeing it in different seasons. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Mistwalker]

Great pics. I really like that natural fire pit and reflector! I find a lot of crap in the woods here to sometimes. Like you I will sometimes try to at least turn it into something useful. I usually end up hauling out a bit of someone else's garbage in a bag in my pack.

 

[DMelone]

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/Loon66/DSC00061.jpg[/IMG]

Neat area!!! Great place for bushcrafting!!!!

I thought I recognized the pottery, it is a pickle crock made by Ransbottom Brothers Pottery out of Ohio. It is about 20 gallons hence the 20 in the center of the crown. It probably dates to the 1920's or 1930's.

You probably have an old farm site there as most of that may have been devoid of trees, depending on the area, after the pioneers/settlers/farmers cleared the original growth. It may be mostly buckthorn now, which is why it is tangled. Since I do not know the exact area this is only a suggestion. I know that this will sound stupid, but most of that should actually remain in the woods since it is part of the site.. I know how it sounds leaving old junk, but if one day someone wants to do research on the area, at least the old site would be preserved. Again, since I have not been there, most of it is speculation from the pic's that I have seen.

You are near Lemont? I am a local archaeologist who studies/researches local Native American sites and historic sites as well. I have been doing nothing but going into all of the local forest preserves and undeveloped sites documenting these areas.

That Koster is sweet and I am still waiting for mine. I can't wait!!!! Maybe a bunch of us locals can meet up for some knife testing.

Thanks for the pic's!!

Dan

 

[LMT66]

Neat area!!! Great place for bushcrafting!!!!

I thought I recognized the pottery, it is a pickle crock made by Ransbottom Brothers Pottery out of Ohio. It is about 20 gallons hence the 20 in the center of the crown. It probably dates to the 1920's or 1930's.

You probably have an old farm site there as most of that may have been devoid of trees, depending on the area, after the pioneers/settlers/farmers cleared the original growth. It may be mostly buckthorn now, which is why it is tangled. Since I do not know the exact area this is only a suggestion. I know that this will sound stupid, but most of that should actually remain in the woods since it is part of the site.. I know how it sounds leaving old junk, but if one day someone wants to do research on the area, at least the old site would be preserved. Again, since I have not been there, most of it is speculation from the pic's that I have seen.

You are near Lemont? I am a local archaeologist who studies/researches local Native American sites and historic sites as well. I have been doing nothing but going into all of the local forest preserves and undeveloped sites documenting these areas.

That Koster is sweet and I am still waiting for mine. I can't wait!!!! Maybe a bunch of us locals can meet up for some knife testing.

Thanks for the pic's!!

Dan

There is quite a history in this area as it is along side the historic I&M Canal. This particular area is in the direct vicinity to dolomite limestone quarries along the I&M Canal in Lemont. This area was once a shanty camp for the immigrant miners. It is between the ship canal and the I&M Canal so there is also alot of spoil from digging them both and also a lot of strange odds and ends. My firepit rock is actually a mile long berm of this. Directly behind the firepit about 100 yards is the ship canal. Of my many interests, exploring these areas is my favorite! I spend a lot of time around the canals from Willow Springs on out to Joliet.
Here's a link to the Lemont area's history > http://township.com/lemont/historical/PixPages/Quarries/Quarry1.htm

Some other pictures of things around Lemont including whats left of a structure on the Briers Quarry area along Bluff Rd.

What do you make of this first picture? We discussed this here a while back and it does appear it could be the work of an old way to split quarried rock but the impression follows precisely bumps and valleys in the rock such as a wet noodle layed accross a bumpy surface. I had a photo shot closeup in macro and accross the surface that showed this but I deleted the photo. The far left side of the impression falls off and drops about 1" and twists slightly.
A fossil expert from the area, who the historical society directed me, says it is indeed a fossil impression. Here is his response to my forwarded email:
The fossil is a cephalopod impression. A cephalopod is a head-footed animal that lived in the warm seas covering this area during the silurian period ( 400 to 450 million years ago).
It lived in one section until it outgrew it then added another section and so on. Extending from the shell was the head and tentacles, and a breathing tube called a syphuncle. Belonging to the same group of animals are the octopus and squid. The material from the seas decaying matter eventually compressed over time and formed the limestone which encases the remains of the creatures that lived in the shallow sea. Hope this helps.

Text on sign near where this was found:
"From this overlook, you can see a story in the landscape. It begins 400 million years ago when shallow seas covered this area. The remains of sea creatures form the dolomitic limestone bedrock, which can be seen in nearby outcroppings and quarry sites.
The ground you are standing on and the hills across the valley were formed 13,000 years ago when rocks and clay were deposited by the Wisconsin Glacier. Meltwater from the glacier carved out this valley and exposed the limestone bedrock.
During the 1800s, limestone from quarries in the area was used to build the Chicago Water Tower and many buildings in Lemont. Visitors to the abandoned quarry site can find fossils that are three times older than dinosaurs."

.........................................

 

[Joezilla]

I love finding junk out in the middle of nowhere. If I had a metal detector I really wouldn't have a life.

 

[LMT66]

I love finding junk out in the middle of nowhere. If I had a metal detector I really wouldn't have a life.

I hear you there! I've been seriously thinking about buying one but no one would ever see me again!

 

[LMT66]

Neat area!!! Great place for bushcrafting!!!!

I thought I recognized the pottery, it is a pickle crock made by Ransbottom Brothers Pottery out of Ohio. It is about 20 gallons hence the 20 in the center of the crown. It probably dates to the 1920's or 1930's.

You probably have an old farm site there as most of that may have been devoid of trees, depending on the area, after the pioneers/settlers/farmers cleared the original growth. It may be mostly buckthorn now, which is why it is tangled. Since I do not know the exact area this is only a suggestion. I know that this will sound stupid, but most of that should actually remain in the woods since it is part of the site.. I know how it sounds leaving old junk, but if one day someone wants to do research on the area, at least the old site would be preserved. Again, since I have not been there, most of it is speculation from the pic's that I have seen.

You are near Lemont? I am a local archaeologist who studies/researches local Native American sites and historic sites as well. I have been doing nothing but going into all of the local forest preserves and undeveloped sites documenting these areas.

That Koster is sweet and I am still waiting for mine. I can't wait!!!! Maybe a bunch of us locals can meet up for some knife testing.

Thanks for the pic's!!

Dan

Thanks for the interesting information!
I'll make a point of not disturbing things when I run accross them. I'll stick to pulling out obvious newer items like plastic buckets/pails and things like that that are obvious dumped garbage.
I grew up near Lemont and have been all over the back areas along the canal towns for a long time. Twenty-five years ago, we could access most of these areas with 4WD or by enduro motorcycle. Now that is out of the question and not an interest to me. I'd rather hike in.

I'd be interested in knowing more about your research and explorations. This interests me a lot. PM me about it if you like.

Your going to like your new Koster! Well worth the wait and a great tool to have!

 

[kgd]

Very nice pictures - all of them, I really enjoyed reading this thread! Thanks.