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Summertime Fiddleback Adventures
- Thread starter hasco
- Start date
fod
a la sombra
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2006
- Messages
- 1,194
Thank you gentlemen!
Mick, It is a commercial endeavor. . .We are planting an acre to start with and if we do our part right and nature blesses us we could get a ton of hops in a year or two. So, more than I'll ever use.
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2013
- Messages
- 914
So I'm just now getting around to uploading the pics of my camping trip last week at Indian Cave State Park (SE Nebraska). We had the chance to connect with some friends from Illinois who are also outdoors-oriented folk, and who have a daughter a year older than my oldest. Basically, the kids are like sisters.
I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but camping with kids is a far cry from what happened "B.C." I still remember one trip where I lived out of a large daypack for six days. Now, this is what my trips more often look like.
Well, we certainly had good weather, anyway. Look at that blue. That is filterless, taken with a cell phone. It was even more brilliant in person.
It's called Indian Cave because of a "cave" within its borders (more of a ledge, as you can see) that has some pictographs on it. Unfortunately, there are lots of more recent pictographs that obscure the more ancient ones. Centered in the first pictograph picture is the beak of an eagle. Centered in the second pictograph picture is a "buffalo," and the box-with-X (left side of the picture) has been identified as of Native American origins as well.
My companion, Louie, got some burrs in his hair, which aggravated him enough to roll repeatedly in the bush where he got the burrs. I was not amused. 
:thumbdn:
And subsequently threatened him regarding what would happen if he ever tried that nonsense again.
The "Half-Breed Cemetery" (for you history-minded folk) was where they buried those of mixed Native American and European immigrant descent. It's pretty ancient (as far as things go around here), and there is only one marker still legible. (By the way, that's Walt's Kephart making an appearance)
John Davis

Died

Dec. 27, 1865

Aged

69 Years, 3 Months, 9 Days
Saw some great vistas, some beautiful flowers...
But generally was having a good enough time being "unplugged" that I didn't want to mess with the camera.
Walt's Kephart saved the day when our trail unexpectedly wound through a long section of stinging nettles (kids simply do not "press on through the pain" at this age). The extra sharpness he coaxes out of these blades is epic, and the Kephart functioned marvelously as a mini-machete.
Mostly though, Fiddlebacks were carried and served in food and fire prep. The big knife meal was kebabs, with both meat and veggies needing processing before cooking. My hands were full, so no pics there (shame on me).
Oh, and in the height of irony, my camping buddy used a multi-tool to open a multi-tool. It's like a bottomless pit of knife-need.
Sorry there aren't more knife pictures, but when the knives were working I didn't think much to get out the camera. It just felt good to be immersed in it all, knowing that with a Fiddleback on my hip, I was prepared for anything that might come my way.
I'm ready to go again.
Michael
I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but camping with kids is a far cry from what happened "B.C." I still remember one trip where I lived out of a large daypack for six days. Now, this is what my trips more often look like.
Well, we certainly had good weather, anyway. Look at that blue. That is filterless, taken with a cell phone. It was even more brilliant in person.
It's called Indian Cave because of a "cave" within its borders (more of a ledge, as you can see) that has some pictographs on it. Unfortunately, there are lots of more recent pictographs that obscure the more ancient ones. Centered in the first pictograph picture is the beak of an eagle. Centered in the second pictograph picture is a "buffalo," and the box-with-X (left side of the picture) has been identified as of Native American origins as well.
My companion, Louie, got some burrs in his hair, which aggravated him enough to roll repeatedly in the bush where he got the burrs. I was not amused.
:thumbdn:
And subsequently threatened him regarding what would happen if he ever tried that nonsense again.
The "Half-Breed Cemetery" (for you history-minded folk) was where they buried those of mixed Native American and European immigrant descent. It's pretty ancient (as far as things go around here), and there is only one marker still legible. (By the way, that's Walt's Kephart making an appearance)
John Davis

Died

Dec. 27, 1865

Aged

69 Years, 3 Months, 9 Days
Saw some great vistas, some beautiful flowers...
But generally was having a good enough time being "unplugged" that I didn't want to mess with the camera.
Walt's Kephart saved the day when our trail unexpectedly wound through a long section of stinging nettles (kids simply do not "press on through the pain" at this age). The extra sharpness he coaxes out of these blades is epic, and the Kephart functioned marvelously as a mini-machete.
Mostly though, Fiddlebacks were carried and served in food and fire prep. The big knife meal was kebabs, with both meat and veggies needing processing before cooking. My hands were full, so no pics there (shame on me).
Oh, and in the height of irony, my camping buddy used a multi-tool to open a multi-tool. It's like a bottomless pit of knife-need.
Sorry there aren't more knife pictures, but when the knives were working I didn't think much to get out the camera. It just felt good to be immersed in it all, knowing that with a Fiddleback on my hip, I was prepared for anything that might come my way.
I'm ready to go again.
Michael
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2014
- Messages
- 1,639
Michael - great post of your trip! It is a challenge using your fiddlebacks and documenting it with a camera at the same time. I'm not sure how mistwalker does it so well. I love pic of the sak opening the other sak! Poor Louie.. LOL
FOD - Great progress on the hops plantation! I see a fiddleback campout / hops sampling/ shoutout gathering in the future. Maybe not in that order though...
FOD - Great progress on the hops plantation! I see a fiddleback campout / hops sampling/ shoutout gathering in the future. Maybe not in that order though...
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2005
- Messages
- 19,797
This thread is so much fun to look at. I'm jealous of all the places my knives go now...
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2014
- Messages
- 1,704
How about this . . . .
So, I took my trusty Runt with me on a trip to the world's largest salt desert (100 times the size of the one in Utah). This is now my 6th or 7th time there, but my first time with a Fiddleback. The "Salar de Uyuni" sits at 12,067 ASL and can be seen from space! This is about 6 hours from where we live.
They harvest the salt here, process it, and export it. These salt piles are the first phase of the process.
There is an underground river that percolates up at the "Ojos del Salar"
You drive for about an hour and you arrive at an "Island" that is made up of coral and cactus'
The Runt with varying coral
Sticking out of a cactus
View from the top of the coral island
Cool colors
Caught the Sunset on the way back home, I seriously need a wider lens! The colors were changing almost as fast as we could click!
About 5 minutes later
A sight from the return trip home
I use my Runt and 2 Finger Karda a bunch everyday. They are awesome little knives that don't get enough attention because their normal tasks are not as 'exciting' as their bigger brothers!
- Joined
- May 1, 2013
- Messages
- 844
great shots everyone, kinda reminds me of the traveling gnome pictures with fiddies backdropped with wonderful scenery.
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2012
- Messages
- 2,921
You'll have to forgive the number of pictures in this post. I had a horrible time trying to trim it down as there are many more from where these came from.
My camping trip morphed into heading into the mountains for my church's men's retreat, so the content of my last Summertime Fiddleback Adventure has changed. Less camp type chores with Fiddlebacks and more hiking and just enjoying God's creation. Regardless, I hope you guys like following along on my last summertime adventure of this year. (There will be some fall adventures, hopefully starting this coming weekend with the previously mentioned camping trip, just a week delayed)
I headed west toward Fraser Colorado, which is just outside Winter Park for all you ski junkies. I also spent some time driving and hiking around the western portion of Rocky Mountain National Park. This was the perfect weekend to catch the aspens changing color. There's going to be a theme in these pics: Color and Creeks. Everywhere I looked there's brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds. And most of my hiking was along creekside trails.
The first glimpse of color on the way up:
Heading out for some hiking. The mix of evergreen and aspen is what makes the Colorado mountains' color so contrasting:
The requisite Fiddleback content. The patch knife was my constant companion this weekend:
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
Everywhere you go, you'll find mountains of dead trees. These are from the Pine Beetle kill. Eventually, these will be lit and burned to the ground.
Plenty of Elk sign, but no Elk to be seen this time.
Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is the highest paved road in the US. It affords some incredible views and a chance to get out above the tree line for some Alpine hiking and some snow in the Never Summer Mountains.
This looks like an alien landscape to me.
Some more creekside hiking, this time around Adams Falls in RMNP.
Hiking around camp:
Even the drive back was worth it.
My camping trip morphed into heading into the mountains for my church's men's retreat, so the content of my last Summertime Fiddleback Adventure has changed. Less camp type chores with Fiddlebacks and more hiking and just enjoying God's creation. Regardless, I hope you guys like following along on my last summertime adventure of this year. (There will be some fall adventures, hopefully starting this coming weekend with the previously mentioned camping trip, just a week delayed)
I headed west toward Fraser Colorado, which is just outside Winter Park for all you ski junkies. I also spent some time driving and hiking around the western portion of Rocky Mountain National Park. This was the perfect weekend to catch the aspens changing color. There's going to be a theme in these pics: Color and Creeks. Everywhere I looked there's brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds. And most of my hiking was along creekside trails.
The first glimpse of color on the way up:
Heading out for some hiking. The mix of evergreen and aspen is what makes the Colorado mountains' color so contrasting:
The requisite Fiddleback content. The patch knife was my constant companion this weekend:
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
Everywhere you go, you'll find mountains of dead trees. These are from the Pine Beetle kill. Eventually, these will be lit and burned to the ground.
Plenty of Elk sign, but no Elk to be seen this time.
Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is the highest paved road in the US. It affords some incredible views and a chance to get out above the tree line for some Alpine hiking and some snow in the Never Summer Mountains.
This looks like an alien landscape to me.
Some more creekside hiking, this time around Adams Falls in RMNP.
Hiking around camp:
Even the drive back was worth it.
Thurin
Thanks mate for that little trip around your part of the world, here in Australia we just don't get that beautiful colour in the trees like you have over your neck of the woods and your mountains are just out of this world, ours are more like large hills.
Your patch knife is a cracker ( great , awesome etc ) and I can't wait to test mine out.
Thanks for the great photos they are sensational.
Mick
Thanks mate for that little trip around your part of the world, here in Australia we just don't get that beautiful colour in the trees like you have over your neck of the woods and your mountains are just out of this world, ours are more like large hills.
Your patch knife is a cracker ( great , awesome etc ) and I can't wait to test mine out.
Thanks for the great photos they are sensational.
Mick
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2014
- Messages
- 1,639
Those are some amazing pics Nathan! My dad lives in Arvada. I haven't been our there in a few years. The last time was for a hunting trip, and I got to see some of those beautiful colors. Seeing those pictures makes me realize I need to go out there soon.
My favorite picture is the second to last, the path with the aspens. I just love that. It looks like a fantastic trip. I am glad you got out there. Thanks for sharing all of the great pictures with us.
Tod
My favorite picture is the second to last, the path with the aspens. I just love that. It looks like a fantastic trip. I am glad you got out there. Thanks for sharing all of the great pictures with us.
Tod
Comprehensivist
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2008
- Messages
- 3,208
Absolutely stunning photos Nathan. Probably your best set ever, and that is really saying something given the quality of all your photos. God really used the best of his color palette when he made the Rocky mountains. Thanks again for capturing all that beauty and sharing it with us.
Phil
Phil
- Joined
- May 1, 2013
- Messages
- 844
Thanks for sharing Nathan. The sheer vastness of the area is truely awesome. I've only gone to CO for skiing, I'd really love to visit during the warmer months. Kinda reminded me of one of my favorite Ray Mears videos:
[video=youtube_share;0eeoq1BkP4k]http://youtu.be/0eeoq1BkP4k[/video]
Living in southeastern PA, our church's men's retreat ends up being at a local campsite with fairly small mountains, though there are still plenty things to do (like eating all the fattening stuff that our pastors' wives wouldn't normally allow them to eat at home ).
Sorry to get all "religious," but in addition to forgetting all the worldly travels, being out in nature for me is one of my favorite ways to have a communion with my creator.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
[video=youtube_share;0eeoq1BkP4k]http://youtu.be/0eeoq1BkP4k[/video]
Living in southeastern PA, our church's men's retreat ends up being at a local campsite with fairly small mountains, though there are still plenty things to do (like eating all the fattening stuff that our pastors' wives wouldn't normally allow them to eat at home
). Sorry to get all "religious," but in addition to forgetting all the worldly travels, being out in nature for me is one of my favorite ways to have a communion with my creator.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
schmittie
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2009
- Messages
- 2,966
Awesome pics gentlemen!
Nater, I stole some of your pics of Colorado and now I have new "home" and "lock" screens on my ipad. I can't believe the colors are changing in your neck of the woods already. We have a few more weeks to go before things really start changing here. I already overheard a few people saying the farmers almanac is predicting a bad winter like last year. I've got to get going on that firewood pile....
Nater, I stole some of your pics of Colorado and now I have new "home" and "lock" screens on my ipad.
I can't believe the colors are changing in your neck of the woods already. We have a few more weeks to go before things really start changing here. I already overheard a few people saying the farmers almanac is predicting a bad winter like last year. I've got to get going on that firewood pile....