- Joined
- May 17, 2006
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- 4,290
Winter is still being coy around these parts of the country, but finally- cold temperatures!
We got out just after a hard rain the previous day and hoped to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and the water flow. It stayed in the mid 40s for most of the day, but quickly turned bitterly cold. Evening got down to the high 30s, but most likely went as low as 35F.
We know better than most campers that the best way to fight off the Old Man Winter is with some high calorie foods. People stay warm with movement and by metabolizing food, but at night after the camp work is done, there isnt much movement coming from us. This is where the calories come into play. We had a good spot about 75 meters from a creek and that really helped with staying hydrated. Dehydration in the winter is very common because people do not associate thirst with the cold. It is the stealthy killer because the dry air and heavy winds dry us out. The cold temperatures mask the feeling of thirst and before you know it youre pissing goldif at all! I dont consider myself an expert at anything except dehydration, but not this time. I peed about 11 times the first day and about 5 the next morning.
We ate like kings with cavemen cooking methods and laughed like fools. It was a good winter camp!
Recently back from Finland, I picked up a Kuksa cup and a hood scarf (especially for winter) and decided to use my finish trio of tools.
Rude and crude tarp stakes whatever!
Finnish Trio
Although I didnt really use the hatchet, I did intend to use it to keep up the practice and skills, but I ended up chopping through one log, about thigh-thickness and calling it a day. The saw and knife did about 98% of the woodcraft. I dont usually split wood in the first place, rather just walk a little bit and find thinner sticks leading up to the fuel size. However, split wood does burn better, non of the wood was that soaked.
Ive owned the Marttiini M571 (bait knife/All-purpose knife) since 2007 and the saw from 2005. They are legends in my book!
Making coal!
Time for the grill. Jay brought a grill to try out, so we did a couple of chickensCajun style.
Coal Cooking
While we waited
Jay split some wood for kindling hed use in his stove
and I got friendly with a spider
I carried an armful of moss to use as a steamer for our carrots and mushrooms, but it didnt fit in my pack front pocket, so I carried in front like a little moss baby, but I couldnt take a pictures. Jay will have to share it.
I made a small separate fire and dumped a load of moss on top, put the veggies on and covered it with moss to steam them.
Chicken with moss steamed veggies
Jay used his H&B to properly quarter it.
Then he made bacon
Cold weather mode for the hood scarf!
Pie was for desert, but can anyone guess what kind of pie??????????
The morning was about 34F and a fire was badly needed.
Ive been doing the lazy log-cabin fire lay a lot lately! Just a rough cabin and put the tinder in at the bottom, then feed small sticks and move up to larger until its ablaze. Fast and efficient!
Caveman tongs!
Making a split to hold a GIANT ham steak
Little did I know this was evil ghost coffee
Who you gonna call?
Some Finnish outdoors gear!
The cold trail out and we got a super light frost in the air, but it didnt stay. Perhaps next trip!!!!!!!!!
-RB
