Location info sent! 1st Connecticut Wilderness Skills Gathering, April 26-27, 2008!

Hey there, I might try and make this trip if I can get a bud or two of mine to come over. I'm guessing it's only about 45 minutes at the max. from where I am now so that's always good. I will let you know by the end of the week hopefully. :thumbup:

Look forward to meeting you all if I do decide to grace you with my presence! :D
 
RedEdge, hope you make it! Drop us an email so we can can keep count and keep you in the loop with updates!
 
I may be able to make it one day, but probably not two. Is there a breakdown of what will be done on both days so I can decide which one to try and make? I will send an email if I become a little more confident that I will be able to make it. Thanks.
 
-Everything from the day clinic list plus your 10 essentials.

Please refresh my memory. Thanks.
 
Sgt. Art,

The 10 essentials vary from person to person. Basically, you want a minimum of gear on you to address certain needs. You try to compensate for skills by carrying gear that makes life in the woods easier. Can I make an improvised fish hook? Yes, do I still carry fishing gear, absolutely. Again, you carry what will make life easier.

I prefer to consider my essentials list a list for needs instead of individual items. Limiting your items to 10 will wear on you and you might prevent yourself from carrying gear to stick within that magical number "10." Here is my list.

1. Cutting Tools
2. Fire Starters
3. Water Container and Water Collection and Purification Devices
4. Shelter Components
5. Signaling Devices
6. Navigation Tools
7. First-Aid Kit
8. Cordage
9. Food and Food Procurement Gear
10. Flashlight
 
i might be able to make it im not sure im in the CT area and would love to perfect my skills
 
Are there any lakes or such around either of the campsites? Just curious as to whether or not some fishing gear would be in order for the trip. :D

Also, I will be sending you an email about joining in on this within the hour. :thumbup:
 
Brian/Kevin sounds good to me all around. I was wondering if 'clinics' will be held on the following topics of interest to myself, and I suppose others; with all brands being compared side by side:

Ax & hatchet handling and sharpening techniques

Various shelters and materials used to make them

Knife sharpening and various usage

Tinders natural and man made

Handsaws use and brand comparision

Multitools

Various brands of PSKs and homemade versions

Manufactured shelters

Different types of fire construction

I'm looking foward to trading knowledge and learning about all of the above. If you have it bring it I say!! I'll bring up some extra firewood if needed, had 3 large trees come down in the past few days. Just cut up a bunch of it into rounds; could use them to demo axs, hatchets, batonning knives, etc. Let me know.
 
In my fire clinic, I'll cover natural/man made tinder collection and use. Some will surprise you how simple they are.

Fire construction will definitely be covered and I'll address how to build them and explain what purpose each has.

As for knife and axe craft, that is the norm. Shelter building will be covered in an afternoon clinic at some point. Gear trials are ongoing and what normally happens is a person asks another to try it or look at it before handling it. Side by sides are always encouraged. If time permits, just ask and the topic or skill will be addressed/taught. Of course, we'll do as much as we can and as much as time permits.

A tentative schedule of events will be posted shortly.
 
Chompin' at the bit down here in N'Joisey for April to bring it on! Only bad part is the timing is off for diehard trout fishermen!!

Sounds like what I was hoping you would be doing Kevin. I'll bring what I have to the gig and see what we have that's different. Any specific woods that you might need in multiple sizes for making up the fire board kits? I have a ton of downed wood all around at the moment from this week's storm. We got slammed with 70mph winds and it took lots of stuff down large and small. Let me know and I'll take a look around for us.
 
1tracker,

My personal favorite is Northern White Cedar. If you have that, awesome! If not, bring a few 1' logs of various woods. Make sure to keep track of what they are and we can all experiment making hearth boards and drills from them. I know Marty said he is cutting Poplar (another great wood for bow drills) and will have that there. I'll show everyone how to find the right wood for this skill set.

Thank you for the offer and keep counting the days brotha!
 
Roger That Kevin, I'll sharpie it on 'em as I cut 'em up. You want 1ft by what diameter? nothing like custom firewood GRIN! I'll load as much wood as I can into the rental car GRIN!
 
We'll be cutting our own fireboards. The ideal fireboard I like is approximately a foot long by 4" wide by approximately 1" thick.
 
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