Spring bushcraft canoe expedition JMBS Maine

 

Part 8 of 15 shot in the North Maine Woods on our spring bushcraft canoe expedition course. In this episode we see some large native brook trout caught on a fly, learn about the Vers-Sweeper, see Big Fish cooking gingerbread in the reflector oven, and catch up with Whiskey Jack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBNSH59hxaU 

H.W. Tilman Explorer

From Wikipedia cause im wayyyy too lazy to type it out myself......

Major Harold William "Bill" Tilman, CBE, DSO, MC and Bar, (14 February 1898–1977) was an English mountaineer and explorer, renowned for his Himalayan climbs and sailing voyages.

 Tilman was born on 14 February 1898 in Wallasey in Cheshire, the son of a well-to-do sugar merchant John Hinkes Tilman and his wife Adeline Schwabe (née Rees). He was educated at Berkhamsted Boys school. At the age of 18, Tilman was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery and fought in the First World War, including the Battle of the Somme, and was twice awarded the Military Cross for bravery. His climbing career, however, began with his acquaintance with Eric Shipton in Kenya, East Africa, where they were both coffee growers. Beginning with their joint traverse of Mount Kenya in 1929 and their ascents of Kilimanjaro and the fabled "Mountains of the Moon" Ruwenzori, Shipton and Tilman formed one of the most famed partnerships in mountaineering history. When it came time to leave Africa, Tilman was not content with merely flying home but rode a bicycle across the continent to the West Coast where he embarked for England.

 He later volunteered for service in the Second World War, seeing action in North Africa, and on the beaches at Dunkirk. He then was dropped by parachute behind enemy lines to fight with Albanian and Italian partisans, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his efforts, and the keys to the city of Belluno which he helped save from occupation and destruction.

Following his military career behind enemy lines in the Second World War, Tilman took up deep sea sailing. Sailing in deep seas on the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Mischief, which he purchased in 1954, and subsequently on his other pilot cutters Sea Breeze and Baroque, Tilman voyaged to Arctic and Antarctic waters in search of new and uncharted mountains to climb. On his last voyage in 1977, in his eightieth year, Tilman was invited to ship as crew in En Avant with mountaineers sailing to the South Atlantic to climb Smith Island. The expedition was led, and the boat skippered, by the youthful Simon Richardson. He and his crew aboard the old, converted steel tug made it successfully and without incident to Rio de Janeiro. Thereafter, en route to the Falkland Islands, they disappeared without trace - it was presumed the ship had foundered with all hands.
Tilman was involved in two of the 1930s Mount Everest expeditions - participating in the 1935 Reconnaissance Expedition, and reaching 27,200 feet without oxygen as the expedition leader in 1938. He penetrated the Nanda Devi sanctuary with Eric Shipton in 1934, and in 1936 he went on to lead an Anglo-American expedition to Nanda Devi. With the support of a team which included Peter Lloyd and H. Adams Carter, Tilman and Noel Odell succeeded in making the first ascent of the 7,816 metres (25,643 ft) mountain, which remained the highest summit climbed by man until 1950. Tilman later described their arrival on the summit:

Odell had brought a thermometer, and no doubt sighed for the hypsometer. From it we found that the air temperature was 20 °F (−7 °C) but in the absence of the wind we could bask gratefully in the friendly rays of our late enemy the sun. It was difficult to realise that we were actually standing on top of the same peak which we had viewed two months ago from Ranikhet, and which had then appeared incredibly remote and inaccessible, and it gave us a curious feeling of exaltation to know that we were above every peak within a hundred miles on either hand. Dhaulagiri, 1,000ft higher, and 200 miles away in Nepal, was our nearest rival. I believe we so far forgot ourselves as to shake hands on it.^[1]

In 1939, Tilman was the first man to attempt climbing in the remote and unexplored Assam Himalaya, exploring the Southern approaches of Gori Chen, 6538 metres, before his team succumbed to malaria. In 1947 he attempted Rakaposhi, then made his way to Kashgar to join up with Eric Shipton in a lightweight attempt on Muztagh Ata, 7546 metres, which nearly succeeded. On his way back to India, he detoured through Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor to see the source of the river Oxus. During his extensive exploration of the areas of Langtang, Ganesh and Manang in Nepal in 1949, Tilman was the first to ascend Paldor, 5896 metres, and found the pass named after him beyond Gangchempo.
He was awarded in 1952 the Royal Geographical Society's Founder's Gold Medal for his achievements.

Sam Larsons new book

I'm happy to finally announce a project that I've been working on for t

In To Tread in Wild Places I went out to try to explain wilderness living skills to a 13 year old me. It's a relatively quick read at 160 pages, but my goal was to trim the metaphorical fat that exists in many books on this subject. For example, instead of showing 20 different ways to set up a tarp, I show a handful of ways (maybe 5) that happen to work really well. Everything is kept simple and straight forward.
The book also includes stories about my time in the wilderness from Maine, to Arizona, and yes, even British Columbia. These stories give practical scenarios where the skills shown in this book were utilized.
I wanted to share a bit of the book with you guys, just to give you a better understanding of what it presents, and why I wrote it in the first place.

The book is currently on pre-order for the paperback version (estimated ship date is December 7th, and it is currently available for instant download

Currently, this is only shipping to the United States. If you live elsewhere, shoot me an email at sam@woodsongwilderness.com if you want a paperback (ebook is available to you still)

Buy Now

Here are the first 5 pages... enjoy!

Introduction

I did a lot of deep thinking before deciding to write this book.
After all, aren’t there enough “survival” books out there already? Hasn’t everything already been said, recorded or shared?
I can assure you right now that none of the content in this book is new. In fact, most of it is very old. My reason for writing this book is simple.
The earliest memory I have of my outdoor pursuits involves a PVC pipe bow that my parents bought for me for Christmas when I was 4 years old. I irritated squirrels in the backyard and constantly practiced my shooting. When I got a bit older I began to ask my parents about hunting and fishing. Throughout history, fathers have been the source for hunting knowledge. If you find a hunter and ask him how he got started, odds are he’d tell you his old man taught him. My dad was a pastor and had only vague memories of hunting as a kid with his father, most of which involved his favorite part about those hunting trips, eating bologna sandwiches. This is probably where most people would give up and look elsewhere for ways to have a good time. Basketball, baseball, football… all that good stuff. However, my loving parents saw that this had really become a passion of mine, so they looked for people in our community to help me. Soon I was heading for the hills every weekend to chase fish and game, and explore.
Growing up I always dreamed of being an explorer. I would spend my life searching the unexplored corners of the world, mapping new lands, and getting chased by a variety of large, hairy carnivores. Maybe someday I would discover a land that had already been discovered, and I would befriend the native tribes and learn their ways. This was a great plan, but when I saw my first globe at school, I began to feel a bit disheartened. What was I going to do with my life if there weren’t any undiscovered lands?
I forget exactly how old I was when I first stepped into our local history museum, but I don’t think I was much older than 3rd grade.  I remember getting out of the elevator and seeing one of the most incredible things that anyone can ever witness. There was a small TV screen that was playing a video of a man making a spear point through a process called “flint knapping.’ Next to the TV screen was a display of old arrowheads and spear points. Next to that was a miniature earth lodge. Above the display was a banner that read “The First Nebraskans.”
It wasn’t a macho thing. The man wasn’t beating his chest or wresting a bear. He just sat there on a stump and turned a stone into a spear point. I remember thinking ‘if I can’t be an explorer, I want to be like this guy.’ It hit me that although we humans basically know everything about the topography of the earth, there is still much to be explored in regards to how humans have interacted with the earth during our history.
Another major turning point in my life came when I got the opportunity to take part in a canoeing expedition in Ontario the summer before my freshman year of high school. I remember gathering up all of my belongings, tools, old Christmas gifts, and whatever else I could find, and selling them to make enough money for the trip. During my time in Ontario I met a guide who happened to be named Sam as well. She was a Samantha, but over the course of our week in the wilderness I observed her resilience through storms and long days of paddling. She was a fearless leader who never lost her positive attitude. She showed me what toughness was supposed to look like. She taught by example. I remember picturing myself in Sam’s shoes. Would I ever be a fearless leader? I resolved to find out…

Even after these great experiences at a young age I still didn’t have a basic set of wilderness living skills. I had a lot of ideas and theories of how I could live in the wild and have adventures, and I had spent a considerable amount of time in wild places, but that was about it. I eventually turned to books to learn more about the forest.
I love books. In fact, I love reading and encouraging younger folks to explore so much that I’ve included a link to my online reading list at the end of this book. But, of the 100s of excellent books on the genre of wilderness living, none of them were composed specifically for 13 year old Sam. Some were too broad, some too advanced, some weren’t relevant to me and the resources that I had access to.
I wrote this book, because I wanted to write the book that I wish I had read as a youth. I wanted to write a book for the indoor oriented folks who are curious what adventure might lie beyond highways and cell phone coverage. I wanted to write a book that would give the young, or beginning woodsman a well-rounded view of what it takes to live comfortably in the wilderness with limited equipment. I wanted to write a book that my parents could have simply handed to the 13 year old Sam and said, ‘go for it!’
So… here we go.
Let’s jump right in! The sooner I finish this book, the sooner I can go play in the woods again.

Freedom in the Forest

I believe that the only way to feel truly free is to experience wild places, either by foot or paddle. During this time only my strokes or footsteps dictate my direction. Each action is purposeful, and meaningful.
Perhaps the true reason for why I decided to write this book is to provide people with the necessary skills to experience this freedom. A solid base of wilderness skills removes or lessens the need for money or complex social hierarchy.
It is our job to spread the joy of the natural world, not to out-do one another. This becomes clearer every time we gaze over an enormous expanse of land or water. It only takes one big storm for a person to learn that (for better or worse) nature doesn’t play favorites, and it’s far more powerful than any person.

Many books have been written about what modern humans refer to as “survival” and many more will be written after this one. I will never claim that my teachings are superior, but rather, that an appreciation for the outdoor lifestyle is, in some capacity, necessary for everyone who treads the earth.

In the 21st century we strut into the woods with our expensive backpacks, we sleep under perfectly manufactured nylon tents, we cook with our omni-fuel-ultra-stove 3500s, and then we sit back and say “I sure have this ‘living in the woods’ thing down.” We walk on trails and look at scenery without knowing anything about the flora and fauna surrounding us, let alone how to utilize it in a way that would allow one to live in the forest for any length of time.

Concerning the Internet

Perhaps the greatest hypocrisy I see amongst outdoor enthusiasts in our culture is the reliance that our outdoor community has on the internet. This is not to say that it is bad to use the internet or that there isn’t good content available online; I simply fear that relying too heavily on such sources can lead one to disregard a practical education of the natural world to an unsafe and unhealthy extent.
Although a great deal of learning can be done through the web, it doesn’t compare to time spent in the woods. It’s important to note that the internet (and television) should be used as a tool to draw people towards the natural world, not a substitute for experiences. There is no “virtual reality” for the wilderness. It greaves me to think that there are people who attempt to satisfy their urge to explore wild places by indulging in reality television and the internet. It’s like eating old bacon bits every night, when you could be chowing down on a big, juicy steak (sorry vegans, I can’t think of an analogy for you; got steak on the brain).

A human needs to tread in wild places; to breathe clean air, to smell the prairies and the forests. Sure, it’s dirty. The real world is often uncomfortable, and dirty, but at least it’s real. 

Maps.....

 “When I was a little chap, I had a passion for maps. At that time there were many blank spaces on earth. But there was one yet, the biggest, the most blank, that I had a hankering after”

This statement by Charles Marlow in the book “Heart of darkness” by Joseph Conrad, struck a cord with me when I was about 12 years old. I have always loved maps, and can spend hours reading an atlas like others will read a novel. My dream as a youth was to travel the world and see those "blank spaces", and perhaps help fill a few in. As a kid I spent countless hours learning how to draw maps the old school way (like Lewis & Clark),or by using cartographers tools. 

Had I know the U.S. Army had a cartography program/MOS I would not have wasted all of my military years in the Infantry. Anyhoo, Grab an atlas sometime and thumb through it, I'm sure you will find something interesting and learn a thing or two.

Tomahawk

 

Knife use by: "guns" in Cebu

Guns Beltran Pestaño

 

I Carried this partially home made knife(The handle is hand pounded copper) for a whole week, used it to cut candy and biscuit packaging, whittle emergency wooden door stops, peel and cut apples in half, cut meat, potatoes and carrots for a lazy man's stew, cut and sliced onions, tomatoes and other veggies for food prep, worked indoors and outdoors, got soaked in pouring rain during one of my motorcycle rides going home, and after the day and work is done all i have to do is wash it in warm soapy water to remove dried fruit juices and food particles, give it a good shake, a thorough wipe down a drop of oil at the pivot and she is back for more action. I kinda noticed also how it patina'd with everyday handling and use. Now she has that character that a lot of people force on her, mine is going slow and steady and has aged with everyday use. Thomas D Moore was right carry and use your knife like no other.

Miswak

Miswak - For several years now, i have not used toothpaste due to the fact that it contains fluoride and or artificial sweeteners. Instead, I use baking soda and peroxide and find that it is a better combination for me.  Also, whenever im in the middle east or Indonesia/Malaysia, I like to use "Miswak" as part of my daily oral hygene routine. It is a good natural root and has many good properties, to include NO fluoride. 

Traditional miswak sticks. Softened bristles on either end can be used to clean the teeth.

The miswak (miswaak, siwak, sewak, Arabic: سواك‎‎ or مسواك) is a teeth cleaning twig made from the Salvadora persica tree (known as arak in Arabic). A traditional and natural alternative to the modern toothbrush, it has a long, well-documented history and is reputed for its medicinal benefits. It is reputed to have been used over 7000 years ago.

The miswak's properties have been described thus: "Apart from their antibacterial activity which may help control the formation and activity of dental plaque, they can be used effectively as a natural toothbrush for teeth cleaning. Such sticks are effective, inexpensive, common, available, and contain many medical properties". It also features prominently in Islamic hygienical jurisprudence.

The miswak is predominant in Muslim-inhabited areas. It is commonly used in the Arabian peninsula, the Horn of Africa, North Africa, parts of the Sahel, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. In Malaysia, miswak is known as Kayu Sugi (Malay for 'chewing stick').

Tomahawk the minimalist

 

 "Never carry more than you can carry on your back at a dead run"

~Macaroni Jack

I was going over my gear to realize that I am a minimalist. I have about  40 to 50 items (I never actually counted) of clothing and equipment, that I carry around the world. These include electronics, a wardrobe and outdoor / wilderness survival / gear.

To break it all down, I separated it into the 3 categories I mentioned above;

1. Electronics - Dell laptop, iphone4, 2 Nokia cameras w/chargers, 1 blue tooth speaker, 1 one Terabyte external hard drive. Sure fire flashlight, 3 panel solar charger for camera and phone.

2. Wardrobe - 1 Pair of new balance hiking shoes, 1 pair flip flops, 4 pair of smartwool socks, 4 pair of boxers, 3 T shirts, 2 short sleeve button down shirts, 1 long sleeve. 1 light jacket. 1 touque, 1 pair of gloves. 6 handkerchiefs. 1 ball cap, sunglasses , reading glasses. Patagonia shorts, 2 pair of carharrt pants

3. Camping/survival gear - Crazy creek chair, 10x10 tarp, hammock, poncho liner, parachute cloth,
2 insulated water bottles, match safe, ferro rod, 1 swiss army knife, 1 coffee tumbler, sewing kit. Toiletries kit(tooth brush, soap ,razors etc.) 1 army spoon, 1 metal bowl. 1 Blackhawk "3 day" pack and a medium sized northface river duffle.

All of these items fit easily into my river duffle if necessary. Being a full time traveler I never accumulate many possessions or travel with things I can buy locally like towels, foods, or additional toiletries. I do at times buy things as gifts for friends around the world but mail them off quickly so I dont have to carry them.

Minimalism is a great way to travel and relieves stress and worry. Give it a try you might find that you are happier.

See you on the trail! Tomahawk

Arab style foods

I was recently in Bahrain and treated myself to an "Arab grill" beef, chicken and lamb with veggies and pickles.combined with Arab coffee and sparkling water it was a delightful repast .

Shortly I will be departing for the Najran in Saudi Arabia and will post pics of local foods and the Arab Janbiya knife.

Tomahawk out.

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep"

So, I was in my home town yesterday and decided to take a spin through the woods where I would hang out when I was a kid. I had not been there in nearly 40 years. I was surprised to see how pretty it was, not at all like I remember it. I skirted the edge of the cypress bog, found false turkey tail and artist fungi. I spied a beautiful King Fisher, his blue color was vivid in the dark woods. And I filled up my 2 water bottles from the pump, I had forgotten how good the water from this well tasted.

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep"

~Robert Frost

Kentucky coffee

On my walk today, I picked up a few Kentucky coffee tree pods. Might make a brew....
The beans of the tree were eaten, after roasting, by the Meskwaki (Fox), Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) and Pawnee Native American cultures.
The Meskwaki also drank the roasted ground seeds in a hot beverage similar to coffee.The common name "coffeetree" derives from this latter use of the roasted seeds, which was imitated by settlers because it seemed a substitute for coffee, especially in times of poverty, similar to chicory. The European colonialists, however, considered it inferior to "real" coffee:

“

"When Kentucky was first settled by the adventurous pioneers from the Atlantic states who commenced their career in the primeval wilderness, almost without the necessaries of life, except as they produced them from the fertile soil, they fancied that they had discovered a substitute for coffee in the seeds of this tree; and accordingly the name of coffee-tree was bestowed upon it. But when communication was established with the sea-ports, they gladly relinquished their Kentucky beverage for the more grateful flavor of the Indian berry; and no use is at present made of it in that manner"