Prairie walk and fire (nat tinder)

[kgd]

Out for my little walk in the prairie this morning. Started it out at 7:30 am, it was a cool crisp morning that wasn't quite frost but on the verge. More wind than I'm accustomed to and I was glad I was all gortexed up. The long underwear helped too!

Gortex socks work great with the boots. No worries about stepping into the ankle deep puddles.

My hopes for this morning that we were going to continue the raining streak and I was going to try posting to the natural tinder fire contest, but alas, the sun broke out and it was too nice to pawn off a contest entry. Still, the vegetation was very wet from the last three days of raining and I was convinced that I was going to use natural tinder to get a little fire going. On the way, I came across some of this bark and gathered it up.

Then I went to my favorite little have a fire on the stump area and proceeded to set things up. Oh here was the second little arrival that I received on Thursday. A Rat Izula - what a great little knife! Along for the ride was my new Breeden Wharny Striker.

At first I tried to ignite the shredded bark. Although it would flame up, it soon fizzled out. This stuff just wasn't going to do it.

So then I cracked open a 1" stick by batoning it with the Izula. The inside was nice and dry. After quartering it and getting some sharp edges on the split parts of the wood, I then used the edge of the izula to scrap sawdust from the inside. Then I sliced some of the wood in thin strips. Admittedly, the new breeden bocote scandi came out for the curls!

 

[kgd]

Success!

I warmed my hands on the little fire for a bit and then let it die out. Made sure all the coals were smothered with damp mud and poured some water on it for good measure.

Beta is saying - come on already, I gotta get moving!

I followed a game trail for a bit hoping to spot a deer, but alas no luck this morning. This is hard to do with the two dogs running a big perimeter around you! Anyhow, I came into a very unusual sight in the part - a grove of pine trees. This area is naturally all hardwood and I imagine that they were planted at some point. Still having fire on the brain, I thought perhaps I can find me some fatwood.

There were a couple of fallen pines and I checked out their stumps for the resinous gold.

Unfortunately no luck. One stump had a little bit of amber colour to it and some camphor smell, but it was pretty soggy and of little use. Oh well. Wish there were more pine trees growing naturally in this area.

Beta giving me the cross-eyed look during her run

 

[kgd]

A bit of knife porn

That was all for today.

 

[Mentor]

Awesome pics! Looks like the dogs had a great time. It's bloody windy here, too. Good day for a wind breaker.

All the best,

- Mike

 

[raylaconico]

Great pics and nice dogs. The black one looks just like mine!

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Hey k, no green stuff? Or does it look that way all year, except for the snow?

That Breeden looks like a winner. How does that edge compare to the Kat knife?

Doc

 

[eastr77]

fire fire and knives im heading for the out doors can't take it anymore..

 

[kgd]

Hey k, no green stuff? Or does it look that way all year, except for the snow?

That Breeden looks like a winner. How does that edge compare to the Kat knife?
Doc

Not yet doc - still waiting. I expect next week we'll start to see things popping up. Its right on the edge for the growth spurt right now.

This new Breeden one carves unbelievably well! Regarding the Izula - nice little knife. It really needs the paracord wrap to be comfy in the hand, but the ergo's are pretty good. Still produces a few hot spots when shaving curls, well certainly not as comfy as a full sized handle, but very workable and compact package.