Some time outdoors.

DerekH

DerekH

Handsome According to my Mother
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This last weekend our Scout Troop had a campout. First time in a long time we had really pushed the limits and gotten them outside in the cold and snow, and it did them all good. Got some requirements knocked out for the newer Scouts, among which was a 5 mile hike. Also showed them a trap that I had shown them how to make previously, and managed to get my BK16 caught in it. ;)

BK16 and my old Gerber Sportsmans Saw got the trap made quickly and easily.

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I really enjoy this trail because there is an abrupt change between deciduous trees and conifers and it happens all at once.

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Looks like some turkeys have been through here semi-recently.

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Downed trees.

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The water that froze coming out of this had resin content which made it very odd looking, and much different in color in person.

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Deciduous trees.

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Is this tinder fungus?

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All in all everyone really enjoyed the campout and the hike, and despite being winded as heck, it felt good to get outside again and see some dirt time.
 
Good for you taking the scouts out! Winter hikes are usually the most satisfying, they just seem so calm and beautiful. My dad lived in Martinsburg a few years back, always loved the area.
 
Great pictures Derek!

That fungus is not what I know to be either type of tinder fungus. Chaga (true tinder fungus) or colts foot (false tinder fungus) looks much different. Both can be found on birch trees.

Chaga



Colts foot



Jeremy
 
Great pics, thanks for sharing. I got my polar bear badge when i was in the Scouts, but we never had weather like that :)
 
Excellent! Dirt time is happy time.

I need to work on my trap making.... Especially if you and the Scouts are using them to catch Beckers. That sure beats the snot out of buying Beckers.

On second thought, I bet Ethan would be pretty upset by the time I go back out to check the trap. :D
 
A little bit of looking and it appears there was a thread on this same type of fungus over on BCUSA where it was established that it was Willow/Grey Fire Bracket Fungus. Per some further looking, allegedly it was dried, burnt and the ash was used as an alternative to smokeless tobacco at some point. Sounds icky, so I won't be trying that, but I did get a bit to dry out that I will try to use as a tinder fungus.

The pics here look much more like it that anything else I have seen:

http://naturallore.wordpress.com/2007/11/10/willowgrey-fire-bracket/
 
DerekH said:
A little bit of looking and it appears there was a thread on this same type of fungus over on BCUSA where it was established that it was Willow/Grey Fire Bracket Fungus. Per some further looking, allegedly it was dried, burnt and the ash was used as an alternative to smokeless tobacco at some point. Sounds icky, so I won't be trying that, but I did get a bit to dry out that I will try to use as a tinder fungus.

The pics here look much more like it that anything else I have seen:

http://naturallore.wordpress.com/2007/11/10/willowgrey-fire-bracket/
Click to expand...

Please let me know what you find out. I am always interested in learning new things.



Jeremy
 
Your pictures are stunning, DerekH. Serenity was the first word that sprung to mind. And all these pictures and praise of the BK16 and 17 really makes me doubt he decision to buy a GSO 4.1.
 
Looks like fun! I remember doing that 5 mile hike...wait until you have to do five 10 mile hikes and one 20 mile hike for the hiking merit badge...
 
That shot of the ice is really cool. It's neat to see the different ways ice can form. Thanks for posting the pictures. :thumbup:
 
Awesome. Makes me want to get my kids out for a long winter hike. They aren't as fond of the cold as I am, and the wife is even less inclined to go in the cold than the kids.
 
spydercobenchmadekai said:
Looks like fun! I remember doing that 5 mile hike...wait until you have to do five 10 mile hikes and one 20 mile hike for the hiking merit badge...
Click to expand...
I am pretty sure he doesn't need no stinking badges! (Reference to an old movie, very old movie google Treasure of the Sierra Madre)

Murphnuge said:
Great to see you got away for a bit man, you and the Major?
Click to expand...
Great to see you got the kids BACK too! It looks indeed peaceful and serene. I would have stopped by the bank and just stayed there.
 
Great pics! I have been spending a lot more time outdoors lately, and have been loving it! Thanks for sharing your photos!
 
Thanks for taking the time to post your winter woods hike. It is supposed to get a lot warmer this coming week here. If I have time, I think I am going to hit a trail or two. It's time to warm up my little used winter muscles.
 
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