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Minimalist Outdoors Folk
- Thread starter Vivi
- Start date
It could be said that there aren't any "rights or wrongs".... just actions and results.
There is no one correct way to enjoy life.
Everything comes from the universe whether it is a cabbage, a sharp rock, a $500 pocketknife, or a spaceship.
The way to go, I currently believe, is to follow your deepest instincts..... and to have fun.
Go for it Vivi.
There is no one correct way to enjoy life.
Everything comes from the universe whether it is a cabbage, a sharp rock, a $500 pocketknife, or a spaceship.
The way to go, I currently believe, is to follow your deepest instincts..... and to have fun.
Go for it Vivi.
I just got back from an outdoor education class I teach and we just had what is called "a teachable moment". I pulled out a survival rig that the late Frank Vought had made for me 10 years ago. It is a big 12" bush knife in L-6 with a piggyback ATS-34 utility knife. Neat combo. In a pouch on the back is a survival kit. I had never opened the kit. The scenario for the class was that we (8 of us) survive a crash or ship wreck. We find the rig. Lets begin to survive. We opened the kit and what we discovered was that, among other things, the bic lighter was unusable. The wheel wouldn't turn, the butane was dry. We took it apart to get at the flint but it crumbled. In our scenario we knew that fire was THE priority at the moment. We were in deep stuff. The class learned...don't trust a 10 year old kit, carry more than one source of fire and better know how to make fire with natural materials.
Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
- 17,562
Do you have a shot of that knife? All equipment should be periodically inspected. Ferro rods tend to be more stable than matches and lighters, assuming they are protected from rust anyway.
-Cliff
-Cliff
Cliff
I don't have the ability to photograph. The knife looks like a basic 12" Ontario Machete only a bit thicker and the blade is slightly more narrow. The handle is a very ergonomic, stout, canvas micarta. The utility knife is a bird and trout style knife with a slender handle and a narrow 3 inch blade. Real nice combo. The survival kit, or what is left of it, is held in a pouch at the back of the cordura lined with kydex sheath in a compact aluminum container. I am restocking it for part two of the class. This time I'll have a small ferro rod from Buckshot tucked away in the kit. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Wednsday we'll have fire,
I don't have the ability to photograph. The knife looks like a basic 12" Ontario Machete only a bit thicker and the blade is slightly more narrow. The handle is a very ergonomic, stout, canvas micarta. The utility knife is a bird and trout style knife with a slender handle and a narrow 3 inch blade. Real nice combo. The survival kit, or what is left of it, is held in a pouch at the back of the cordura lined with kydex sheath in a compact aluminum container. I am restocking it for part two of the class. This time I'll have a small ferro rod from Buckshot tucked away in the kit. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Wednsday we'll have fire,
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=404745
Guys can you help me with this discussion? Who has legal ownership and the right to produce the WSK design. Rumor has it the RS6 Blades is in battle with Tom Brown over the right to produce this knife.
Tom Brown is on the war path and is supposed to coming after all makers of the WSK's. The Discussion is on does he own the design or not and does he have the right to keep others from making it?
Guys can you help me with this discussion? Who has legal ownership and the right to produce the WSK design. Rumor has it the RS6 Blades is in battle with Tom Brown over the right to produce this knife.
Tom Brown is on the war path and is supposed to coming after all makers of the WSK's. The Discussion is on does he own the design or not and does he have the right to keep others from making it?
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2006
- Messages
- 4
I challenge the notion that ferro rods are more stable than matches. I made a friend a tobacco tin sized survival kit which was taped and waterproofed but not well enough . he fell into the sea in Northern australia and the kit got wet. result. The windproof matches were usable but the manesiom metal match was not. The tin crumbled, the needles rusted everything was ruined. But it would still light a fire after several years. I believe that matches fuse or windproof matches made in the United Kindom are the go as backed up with a sparklite. I stich the striker off a tub of lifeboat matches onto a sparklite package, wrap the tinderquick and sparklite in a ziplock inside and put in several fuse matches and a compass and gem blade if it will fit. The suonto button compasses are better than the silva sere or the brass MOD compasse.
- Joined
- May 27, 2006
- Messages
- 2,325
Perfect example of using what is available to survive, and the green snake monster was no match against the bamboo cannon firing diamonds. :thumbup:
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2006
- Messages
- 2,526
As usual, I find the most reasonable path to be somewhere down the middle. I don't go into the woods without a knife, stone, compass, and redundant firestarting stuff. I feel it's just a good habit to get into. On the other hand, I don't bring TV's and propane BBQ range on a camping trip, either.
Whichever approach you take, the most important thing is to get out there and practice with the gear and/or techniques you've decided to try. A wire SAS saw looks like a great idea till one falls apart in your hands; likewise, knapping flint looks like a great skill to learn until you find yourself knifeless and can't find any flint.
Based on your previous posts, Vivi, I'm confident you have sense enough to carry some kind of backup when practicing your primitve techniques. If not, don't come crying to me
Whichever approach you take, the most important thing is to get out there and practice with the gear and/or techniques you've decided to try. A wire SAS saw looks like a great idea till one falls apart in your hands; likewise, knapping flint looks like a great skill to learn until you find yourself knifeless and can't find any flint.
Based on your previous posts, Vivi, I'm confident you have sense enough to carry some kind of backup when practicing your primitve techniques. If not, don't come crying to me
I've been to a number of Tom's classes, and it's true, you can make a shelter from what you find, you can make fire, weapons etc. with natural materials.
But....
What happens when you're wandering the backcountry in December with your minimalist ways, and fall into an icy creek 20 miles from nowhere?
I've practiced a lot of primitive skills, and they're great to know, but sometimes you need to make a fire fast and if ice is forming on your beard and you have to spend 20 minutes while half frozen (and your fine motor skills degrading at a rapid rate) trying to carve out a bow drill (or even a hand drill) you might have just minimalized yourself into a long sleep.
I often day hike with a photogtype vest and without overbulking it, I still have 2 quick ways to start a fire, a sportsmans thermal blanket and pureification tabs. (and an SAK rucksack and a small bag of almonds)
If I'm also going out to the High Cascades, I WILL take a daypack of gear. You can argue about possible scenarios all you like, but I'm going to go somewhat prepared.
..and as Nessmuk said,..."I don't go into the woods to rough it, I go into the woods to SMOOTH it.." (or something very similar)
Clint Hollingworth
The Wandering Ones webcomic
http://www.wanderingones.com
But....
What happens when you're wandering the backcountry in December with your minimalist ways, and fall into an icy creek 20 miles from nowhere?
I've practiced a lot of primitive skills, and they're great to know, but sometimes you need to make a fire fast and if ice is forming on your beard and you have to spend 20 minutes while half frozen (and your fine motor skills degrading at a rapid rate) trying to carve out a bow drill (or even a hand drill) you might have just minimalized yourself into a long sleep.
I often day hike with a photogtype vest and without overbulking it, I still have 2 quick ways to start a fire, a sportsmans thermal blanket and pureification tabs. (and an SAK rucksack and a small bag of almonds)
If I'm also going out to the High Cascades, I WILL take a daypack of gear. You can argue about possible scenarios all you like, but I'm going to go somewhat prepared.
..and as Nessmuk said,..."I don't go into the woods to rough it, I go into the woods to SMOOTH it.." (or something very similar)
Clint Hollingworth
The Wandering Ones webcomic
http://www.wanderingones.com
The wise man always hedges his bet.
It is wise and admirable to learn to make the best from the primitive materials one finds naturally, and to learn their strengths as well as their weaknesses. But it is foolish to reject the advantages and superiority of modern materials and technologies.
Throughout the ages man has struggled universally to find better technologies and materials with which to improve his quality of life.
Further, it is demonstrable that life has improved in many quantitative ways. Average life expectancy bears this out. In fact it is quite possible that the quest for improvement is exactly what makes us human.
The bottom line is that there are 2 essential ingredients for a successful wilderness outing; 1) wisdom and 2) ingenuity.
Rus
It is wise and admirable to learn to make the best from the primitive materials one finds naturally, and to learn their strengths as well as their weaknesses. But it is foolish to reject the advantages and superiority of modern materials and technologies.
Throughout the ages man has struggled universally to find better technologies and materials with which to improve his quality of life.
Further, it is demonstrable that life has improved in many quantitative ways. Average life expectancy bears this out. In fact it is quite possible that the quest for improvement is exactly what makes us human.
The bottom line is that there are 2 essential ingredients for a successful wilderness outing; 1) wisdom and 2) ingenuity.
Rus
- Joined
- Jun 29, 1999
- Messages
- 10,122
Well, being inherently rather lazy, I tend to be as minimalist as possible when I'm toting my house on my back, so to speak. On the other hand, I take as many tried-and-true pieces of gear as practical to ensure warmth (light nylon tarp, Zippo (filled, of course, with extra flints), space blanket, matches and striking surface in waterproof container), as much water as I think I'll want, and maybe then some, depending; food;compass; extra clothing including an anorak, vest, toque, gloves (wool or leather, depending) ; a good knife (of course), or more likely, a couple; Leatherman; heavy nylon cord and a caribineer; and whatever else seems logical, such as a MSR stove and fuel, cook kit, etc. For overnight, even more. Survived all kinds of adventures (so far).