Yay the suns finally out...time for the shorts and summer kit !

pitdog

pitdog

Joined
Apr 13, 2007
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Blue sky today !

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By pitdog2010 at 2011-05-17

In summer I tend to carry less, this is what I carried today, my typical summer kit...

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By pitdog2010 at 2011-05-17

When we have threads about the knife that means the most to ya, that Vic SAK is probably mine. It is now about 30 + years old and was given to me by my grandad when I was just a wee woods-walker. My grandad passed away a few years ago now but the SAK is still going strong !

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By pitdog2010 at 2011-05-17

Maisy relaxing in the sun !

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By pitdog2010 at 2011-05-17

As I got ready to move a little further I realised I'd lied about the kit, in my pocket was this ferro-rod and capsules, in one is some PJB's and in the other some strike anywhere matches...

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By pitdog2010 at 2011-05-17

This is the corm I've mentioned previously on a Fairy slipper orchid, I'd not eaten one for a while so decided to try one today and refresh my memory. They actually taste of very little which IMO is far better than something tasting nasty. Think of over cooked rice and you won't be far out.

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By pitdog2010 at 2011-05-17

I love big blades but in reality most tasks can be performed with a small one such as the ML I carried today. From camp items to traps etc a good little blade will get it done !

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By pitdog2010 at 2011-05-17

I kept hearing lots of branches breaking today, I think it was most likely deer, Snicker was always quick to investigate !

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By pitdog2010 at 2011-05-17

Anyone know what this plant is, it smelled very herb like, kinda like sage or something ?

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By pitdog2010 at 2011-05-17

A close up of the furry leaves.....

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By pitdog2010 at 2011-05-17
 
Summer? Man, we're still into 50 degree days over here, but the grass is growing like a bastard. Nice pics.
 
Loved the weather today. Great pics Pit, as always. I like that leather pouch kit, very nice:thumbup:
 
Summer kit, yes. Shorts, no!

I'm getting more and more sensitive to poison ivy as I get older. :(

That is a cool pouch.
 
Always good to join you on the trail through your snaps :thumbup:

Will you excuse my ing'nance and let me know why 'PJB's' are?
 
scruffuk said:
Always good to join you on the trail through your snaps :thumbup:

Will you excuse my ing'nance and let me know why 'PJB's' are?
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Petroleum jelly balls...just cotton wool mixed with vaseline, takes a spark easy from a ferro rod and burns for much longer than cotton wool on it's own !
 
BRL said:
Can you talk about that cool fixed blade too? Great shots.
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It's one I had custom made by Matt of ML knives. He had a model called a short survivalist but the handle was shorter and had an exposed tang. The blade also ran to a plunge line and didn't continue all the way to the back of the blade.
I explained the changes I wanted to Matt and he made me this exactly as I'd asked...I couldn't be more pleased with it.
Matt has now added this version to his site.
 
pitdog said:
There's still plenty of water around if I'd needed it, I did have a flask of coffee !:D

Depending on where I'm hiking then yes I will take some water.
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I just switched to my summer kit a week ago as well. It's basically the same as yours plus a few garbage bags and a bottle of water. It's cool how people in the same general area evolve to carrying similar gear. :D
 
I'm switching to my summer kit starting tomorrow. I tend to hang onto the winter kit a little longer than I really need to because of some of the cool snaps we get in the spring nights. It always includes an extra layer of clothing just in case I get injured and have to spend the night somewhere less than optimal.
 
pitdog said:
Petroleum jelly balls...just cotton wool mixed with vaseline, takes a spark easy from a ferro rod and burns for much longer than cotton wool on it's own !
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Doh! Of course. Not had enough cups of tea when I typed that.

I tend to use somethnig called 'safety fuse' which I have in abundance as its an old form of lighting fireworks (I work for UK's biggest fireworks importer).

Its essentially cotton rope thats been 'washed' in Pot. Nitrate, similar to the stuff used in Matchlock rifles. Its a great ember extender and will just keep going and going.

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Its great with ferro rod, but I like to char the end a bit, use a bit of brass tube as a snuffer/cover, and use flint and steel to light it.

I don't think there's a jacket pocket or pack that I own that hasn't got at least one length in it.



ps. Finally some blue skies over this way....first in 2 weeks....maybe its time to shed a few pounds from the pack?!
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The unknown plant is (as far as I can tell) an achillea millefolium (yarrow, solider's woundwort, etc) flower shoot. Normally they are just a clump of those leaves at ground level, but this is flowering season. A picture of the open flowers would make a positive ID very easy. The scent of the crushed leaves is also distinctive, but hard to describe and is a good way to identify if you know the smell. This plant has a ton of historical medicinal uses including use of a tea made from the leaves for fever. The plant reportedly contains a mild blood coagulant and can be used (I'd assume lightly crushed) as a wound dressing to slow/stop bleeding.
 
Ferrousknight said:
The unknown plant is (as far as I can tell) an achillea millefolium (yarrow, solider's woundwort, etc) flower shoot. Normally they are just a clump of those leaves at ground level, but this is flowering season. A picture of the open flowers would make a positive ID very easy. The scent of the crushed leaves is also distinctive, but hard to describe and is a good way to identify if you know the smell. This plant has a ton of historical medicinal uses including use of a tea made from the leaves for fever. The plant reportedly contains a mild blood coagulant and can be used (I'd assume lightly crushed) as a wound dressing to slow/stop bleeding.
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Thanks buddy, I'll check into that !
 
I'd have to agree on the Yarrow front.

It's a natural painkiller ya know, it contains the active ingredient in asprib (salicylic acid).
Was used along with nettles to flavor beer back in the day, before the introduction of hops.

I've always thought that seems like the ideal beer...it's got an in-built hangover cure!!
I wonder if it'd work well with milkthistle too?????
 
hey pitdog, kinda off subject but what do you use on your pups for tick and flea prevention? i have an american staffordshier terrier that loves the woods, but i dont take him vert often cause the ticks are bastards around here. (southern indiana) thanks, rob.
 
Rob Thomas said:
hey pitdog, kinda off subject but what do you use on your pups for tick and flea prevention? i have an american staffordshier terrier that loves the woods, but i dont take him vert often cause the ticks are bastards around here. (southern indiana) thanks, rob.
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I don't really do anything buddy, Maisy has had a couple of ticks in the past few years which I had to pull off but apart from that they seem to do okay. Maybe it's because I let them swim in sea water most weeks ?
 
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