Two wet days in the woods, table/chair building, and one it’s a girl BEAR!

[bearthedog]

The last two days have been rainy, cold and just downright glum in the Eastern Woodlands.

However, this is the best time to work on projects that are noisy from tools. Less people go out to walk their dogs and hike in wet weather. As for me, I had new knives to review and some quick build projects I wanted to complete in my new camp. The area is a little damp and marshy, so getting things like tools, cookware, backpacks, and myself up off the ground is important. In this weather, fire is always a little difficult and nothing is dry that the human eye can see, which means…lots of splitting. Not to mention, the humidity has been high and even when the rain stopped a constant mist was always looming, like background music in my mind!


The creeks were moving and water wasn’t an issue. No need to walk down to the main river this time!



I got to work quickly as it wasn’t getting any dryer…
I took down a young Maple with a bow saw, making a V cut in the front (direction of fall), then a straight cut in the back. It was smooth going!









For shorter trips I only bring what I think I will need to purify my water. I usually boil a lot when I arrive at camp, but fire wasn’t going to be quick this time.



Building a chair started with a jam knot…



Then…lots of jute twine lashing, which I think I’m done with jute twine…forever. Between the freezing and thawing, then sun, rain…it just snaps in two. I used what I had left, but it makes longer work than bankline and 550 cord.



The bow saw was working overtime on all the projects, as was the new ESEE ¾ HM knives.









Time for a break and some fire...

Everything was wet, especially the air. I had to split wood. I usually never split wood unless it’s wet. Most people seem to always just split and fuzz out wood, even though there are dry twigs and natural tinder, seems automatic for lots of people. But…this time I had to split and fuzz or give up having some brew and chow!



Drying out the larger damp fuel.



I boiled up some Barley…then let it drain.



Added some spam, called it a day!







The smaller creek near my camp was flowing…



Table time







ESBIT was stashed in my camp for those times when I’m not ready to commit to a big fire…
Just enough to brew some coffee!



Thai coffee today!



The rounded poll like on this Hawk is excellent for not splitting wooden stakes. Notice, none of the stakes have been chamfered, or split!







Then, I made another little quick sit stool. Actually more comfortable than it looks.





I ended up doing another hour of wood prep, sawing and splitting, then shaving wood down for a fire. Poplar and Maple were my friends. Poplar is soft wood, but doesn’t always split evenly, however it has a very low combustion temp making it great for tinder and kindling. Maple splits pretty straight and shaves down very nicely. It is the easiest hardwood to light up with a ferro rod for me.

I smoked a ham with a simple split stick of green Maple from a blown down tree. I anchored it down Mors Kochanski style.







Desert…



As I hiked out, there she was…

 

[tknife]

Some excellent camp craft there! I am really trying to resist the modified handled ESEE 4, but my willpower is not very good

 

[panzertroop]

you can find the strangest things in the woods.

 

[bearthedog]

you can find the strangest things in the woods.

Like, what?
Haha!
-RB

 

[Insipid Moniker]

How are you liking the HM ESEE? I've never liked the handles on the 3 or 4, but those look really comfortable.

 

[bearthedog]

I've been an ESEE 3 disciple since 2007, this new version is with a camplore style handle.
Even better.

-RB

 

[Insipid Moniker]

I've been an ESEE 3 disciple since 2007, this new version is with a camplore style handle.
Even better.

-RB

Thanks! And, as always, thanks for posting the experiences and pics. Always cool to see what you're up to and I always look forward to your posts.

 

[panzertroop]

Like, what?
Haha!
-RB

Me of course!

 

[stabman]

Glad you survived that vicious bear attack!

 

[TheMadIndian]

Aw don't give up on jute, I carry a foot of it with me always. You can make a mean birds nest out of it or be your flash tinder. I hear you on using it for binding though, #36 bankline is my go to there

Great post btw

 

[upnorth]

Enjoyable post, thanks. I didn't know that Fiskars made a bow saw....hmmmmmm, interesting.

 

[bearthedog]

Aw don't give up on jute, I carry a foot of it with me always. You can make a mean birds nest out of it or be your flash tinder. I hear you on using it for binding though, #36 bankline is my go to there

Great post btw

I got lots of poplar bark, birch bark, pampass grass, and hemlock or poplar to fuzz out for tinder. Jute is ok tinder, but I think I need to get me some #36 bankline, as you said.

-RB

Enjoyable post, thanks. I didn't know that Fiskars made a bow saw....hmmmmmm, interesting.

It was $10 at home depot. It is pretty good and I've used two Sven saws, and the Bod Dustrude, which is the best, but lacks some room between the saw and frame.

-RB

 

[trestle]

This looks like a really good time reestablishing your camp. I've enjoyed following the process and the pics.

A question: where do you find all the unique instant coffee packages? I can never seem to find anything so exotic, either just Via or Folgers instant (ick), but would love to find something different.

Another question: on the ESEE 3/4 HMs, is the blade full thickness from hilt to tip or is there some distal taper to them? Those handles look great and I'm very intrigued by them.

 

[bearthedog]

This looks like a really good time reestablishing your camp. I've enjoyed following the process and the pics.

A question: where do you find all the unique instant coffee packages? I can never seem to find anything so exotic, either just Via or Folgers instant (ick), but would love to find something different.

Another question: on the ESEE 3/4 HMs, is the blade full thickness from hilt to tip or is there some distal taper to them? Those handles look great and I'm very intrigued by them.

Coffee packs are from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Russia, Germany, Philippines, or wherever I am traveling through.
However, most 3-in-1 instant coffee packs are Indonesian and can be found in Asian markets, namely Filipino stores in the USA.

The 4HM is pretty consistent, but has a small taper towards the tip.

-RB

 

[John A. Larsen]

BTD, that photo of the ESBIT stove brought back good memories. I could carry a ESBIT stove, with a box of fuel inside it, two extra boxes, all in a small M16 (20 round) ammo pouch, and that would last me for 10 days in the field. Not really cooking, just heating up water for coffee and LRRP ration packs. The fuel tabs were smaller than the issued Heat Tabs, and seemed to wrk better, and not very expensive either. John

 

[bearthedog]

BTD, that photo of the ESBIT stove brought back good memories. I could carry a ESBIT stove, with a box of fuel inside it, two extra boxes, all in a small M16 (20 round) ammo pouch, and that would last me for 10 days in the field. Not really cooking, just heating up water for coffee and LRRP ration packs. The fuel tabs were smaller than the issued Heat Tabs, and seemed to wrk better, and not very expensive either. John

John I agree. A good piece of kit still. Cheap and not too many moving parts for me to screw up.

-RB

 

[Woods Walker]

Looked fun! On a side note processed food cr@p like pop tarts are the devil's work.

 

[Mistwalker]

Great post Reuben, damn I love your photography. Looks like you have been a good influence on the ESEE guys Now I need to go find something to eat, two of your threads in a row is more than I can take lol.