Favorite Poems

A Grain of Sand

If starry space no limit knows
And sun succeeds to sun,
There is no reason to suppose
Our Earth the only one.
'Mid countless constellations cast
A million worlds may be,
With each a God to bless or blast
And steer to destiny.

Just think! A million Gods or so
To guide each vital stream,
With over all to boss the show
a deity supreme.
Such magnitudes oppress my mind;
From cosmic space it swings;
So ultimately glad to find
Relief in little things.

For look! within my hollow hand,
While round the Earth careens,
I hold a single grain of sand
And wonder what it means.
Ah! if I had the eyes to see,
And the brain to understand,
I think Life's mystery might be
Solved in this grain of sand.

Robert William Service



A PSALM OF LIFE

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is Real!
Life is Ernest!
And the grave is not it's goal,
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther then today.

Art is long, and time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead past bury its dead!
Act, - act in the living present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


STOPPING BY WOODS
ON A SNOWY EVENING

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

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

Robert Frost

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, Long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Safe travels

RJ

PINE PITCH FIRE

The wounded bark of a coniferous tree will yield a useful "sap" that in time becomes a thick sticky syrup able to hold a flame very well indeed.
I know of a few trees along paths in my regular hunting area that have been or are under constant attack by hungry Woodpeckers.

The holes bored by these relentless ravenous birds leak sugary drops of semi liquid crystals. These trees provide me with a fairly regular supply of Fat wood - Light wood -Splint wood - Candle wood or Pitch wood whatever you want to call it.....
It's fire on a stick!

A small handful of pine pitch or fat wood should find it's way into your fire kit. When it's wet outside and you need to start that camp fire, nothing aids you as well as this natural resin for your fire. With perhaps some Birch bark to set it off, a handful of resin will burn hot and long enough to give an even damp fire set a good chance at life.
Safe Travels

RJ

Cattail Tinder

Cattails are one of the most easily recognized natural tinders in the wilderness. Their location is predictable and harvesting is simple. Cattail heads can be carried in bulk and stored for future use.
The long fiber of the stalk can be used for cordage when green and pliable (save this for another Blog section) and it's roots are a rich source of starch and carbohydrates.
By far the most common use for the Cattail is tinder.

Safe Travels

RJ

Natural Tinder For Flint And Steel

My route to work each day takes me by a field of weeds,grasses and wild flowers. It is a small overgrown patch of ground most noted for it's abilities to gather blown litter, Realtors signs and the god awful photos of hopeful would be politicians.
One summer in May, I noticed the bulbous shapes of milkweed pods gleamed in the morning sun as I sped by on my motorcycle and they caught my eye. I made a mental note to return in the fall to harvest the natural tinder within them and add it to my primitive fire making kit.

The rain was on and off (mostly on) this morning really cramping my style (as if I had any) but not so much that I could stay stuck indoors. I remembered the milkweed and got my rain jacket. It was the Fall after all and I promised myself I would pick a bunch.......so off I went.

Natural tinder fibers can be harvested from many sources. Cattail, Mullein, Birch bark, Horses hoof "amadou" but one of my favorite types is the fiber and particularly the ovum of the milkweed pod. The milkweed is a scary looking thing when time and weather has had it's way with it. The pod turns from a firm green almost pickle looking affair to a dark dried and wrinkled almost burned looking explosion of the pod it once was.
The pods at this time of year stick out against the dark browns and tans of the field like a roach on a wedding cake. Their white flags waving in the breeze slowly dispersing and disappearing.
A close look at the pod in fall is something one almost has to force yourself to do. They are a damaged, ripped, train wreck of a thing and if it were not for the beauty of their usefulness, I'm sorry to say I might not give the milkweed a second glance.



The seeds are connected to the silk like fiber which are their means of conveyance, from mother pod to the ground. The silk springs forth from the folds of the weeds ovum.

Here the ovum is seen just under the white strands of fiber.
The prize can be easily separated from the rest of the plant by just gently breaking it away from the stalk and lifting or pealing out the silk. The silk may be collected for various projects as well but today just the ovum was on my shopping list.

The delicate milkweed ovum is almost the color of an acorn squash and lite as a feather. They must be protected while transported or they will easily be torn, once dried they will be even more delicate and paper like. They will readily take the well aimed spark of a carbon steel and glow in a punk like manner. These will be strung on a length of thread and hung in the shed to dry thoroughly, placed in my possibles bag for use later in the year.
Useful stuff the UGLY milkweed pod.

Safe Travels
RJ

WHAT KIND OF CRAP IS THIS? or POOPIN 101

Do you smell that?

Well you shouldn't. If you spend much time in the woods sooner or later you will need to relieve yourself.

As awkward as it might be to discuss such matters, running into a fellow trekker's "leavings" on the trail the other day proved to me at least that some forest walkers still don't know how to deal with their droppings. Sorry Fellas (and Gals!) but stepping off the trail to make stinky is just not good enough. I know for sure that such incidents are committed by second class hikers, no self respecting (or nature respecting) hiker would leave such a mess. So lets take a quick look at what all first class hikers already know.

First and foremost all trekkers should carry sanitation gear. That's really just three items that can be toted in any small pocket of the day pack. A Trowel to excavate a small "cat" hole. These depressions in the earth need not be large, just big enough to receive the contents and be properly covered. The hole should be about ten inches deep and six inches wide (unless you're a really good shot). Any shallower will invite animals to dig up the contents and any deeper will place the contents below the magic layer. The magic layer is those few inches of top soil that contain the highest concentrations of microbial and bacterial life that will brake down the fecal matter.

Secondly, you will need Toilet paper and the type sold in outdoor equipment stores is best. This thin yet sturdy paper is intentionally designed and formulated to brake down with exposure to water and soil. If you choose not to buy this type of paper the standard paper can be used however, try not to use paper with perfumes or dyes. Some scents may attract critters and some dyes work against the natural biodegradable properties of the paper. Cheap paper is best!

Thirdly a few packs of Hand sanitizer or a small squirt bottle of any alcohol based anti bacterial hand cleanser should be carried. The high alcohol content of these towelettes enable you to drop them into the hole and Carefully set them on fire with a match, this will also set the soiled paper on fire burning most everything into ashes. Thus nothing is left to make the wilderness untidy. Ensure the items are out and no subterranean twigs, roots are burning. Cover the contents with the dirt you removed from the hole and camouflage the site with leaf litter and duff from the forest floor.

Now as the Realtor said, the three most important things are Location, Location and Location.

Always conduct such business in a private area where you will not spoil the view should someone come striding up the trail just as you are taking the dive. Stay down stream of all water sources and well away from camp or cooking areas.

If you have done your job the casual hiker should be able to pass by the deposit without detecting it.

Now as to technique, do what ever you must to get the job done but at risk of revealing my most private moments, I'll tell you how I do it. Generally, I try to find an appropriate spot near a tree. The tree will provide privacy and back support and the Tannic acid or "Tannin" that most trees lose from it's bark as it rains helps brake down the deposit. Dig your hole about one foot from the base of the tree. Don't relocate the soil any further then necessary from the hole. Remove any bulky clothes such as coats and jackets. Stand facing away from the tree with your feet just ahead and on either side of the hole. Lower your pants to the knee and no further. By spreading your knees you will hold up your pants and make a little shelf for your toilet paper to rest on. Now bend and lean back as if sitting on an imaginary chair with just your back against the tree to support you. Here comes the easy part. Empty your bowls into the hole. if you've done everything right, ground zero should be just under you. Clean up as necessary and drop paper into the hole below you. When you are done stand (without dropping your pants) and sanitize the site as above.

I don't know about you but the wilderness is the place we retreat to to escape daily stress and the crap we have to deal with in the "civilized" world.

Lets not deal with other peoples crap out here too.

Safe Travels

RJ

Long Range Reconnaissance

Maps and Charts

Man I just love looking at maps. As a youth I would make maps of my wooded areas and plot almost anything worth having a map to, fishing areas, favorite hunting grounds even individual Wood Chuck holes. Any time I need (or just want) to spend time in a new area or an area I have not visited in some time, I consult the maps first. This gives me a good idea of what I have to work with and might be up against.

I have both 7.5 and 15 min views of most of my favorite haunts. I study them constantly. If I can't be there on the ground scuffing boot leather then I can at least stay familiar with these regions via map.

These days good quality Topo maps can be hard to find. I once knew three or four good sporting goods stores that a hiker / hunter could obtain USGS maps from. Alas these stores are either out of business (I'm old) or they just don't sell enough to be worth while carrying a full stock of Topos. I understand but still miss searching bins of charts for dusty torn maps.

"Luckily" we now have access to useful chart info no further then our mouse and keyboards.

Programs such as Google Earth and Virtual Earth make previewing wilderness areas so easy it's almost like sight seeing.

Two dimensional maps are great and with practise an accomplished user can visualize the third dimension well enough to recognise what he/she is looking at.

Today with these programs we CAN identify clearings, streams, camp areas, individual trees, large rocks and animal trails in some cases.

(even a specific vehicle parked in your drive way if you're the jealous type)

I almost always start with the "road" map view to quickly locate the area of interest then move in with the satellite views.

Views on these programs can be manipulated and customized to suit your needs. Custom maps with your personal information can be printed.

Virtual pins and markings can be added to identify features.

A very helpful tool when introducing a new person to the area.

Entire trips can be planned via satellite imagery, hunting areas scouted (at least partially) and maybe most importantly this type of map review gives you an actual picture of your area not just a representation with details left to the imagination and interpretation of those in the group.

With views like these and the ability to scan 360' it is almost impossible to get lost. Much useful information can be gleaned from the comfort of your home. Used along with your GPS and SPOT messenger system (via Google maps link) we can really get the big picture.

I use these programs often and really enjoy the birds eye prospective. They are simple to use and can only help the wilderness traveler take full advantage of the terrain.

Safe Travels

RJ

A Cup A Cup A Cup A Cup A Cup

You may sip from your Canteen or Pack Hydration Badder. You might guzzle from your Can or gulp from a Bottle. Wine Skins are cool if that's what you're into and of course you might chance a sip directly from the source (dangerous) but if you camp sooner or later, you'll need a Cup.

How stupid does that advice sound? Bring a cup.

Well there are Cups and then there are Cups. In survival school, students often are required to make their own Bowls and Cups, not to mention Spoons and a Fork now and then. Luckily we don't need to do all that (although it is a very cool project) we can bring suitable Cupage on our treks.

But what kind?

One of the most common and useful cups for camping is of course the old enameled steel "cowboy" cup. These chipped workhorses of the back country dinning room have been around for centuries.

With good reason, they are rugged and smart looking. I think the inevitable chipping just adds to their eye appeal.

Here is a modern version of the classic, instead of blue with white speckle it is black and has an unpainted rim. It reminds me of the night sky and I think it is a sharp looking cup. Many seasoned trekkers know that although heavy, these cups offer their owner some interesting features. For instants, the cup cools quickly. This might sound like a disadvantage but the contrary is true. These things get HOT. The warmth is transferred to the hands and if you've ever watched a cowboy movie you know what I'm talking about. The old saddle trap, collar up hat down sitting around the fire, huddled over a cup warming his hands, face as well as his insides. It's a drinking experience.









The purpose made "Camp" cup is handy in size and weight. It's aluminium composition makes it a joy to carry.

Along the same lines, the plastic camp cup is lite and even graduated in some examples such as this one. This can be handy when preparing meals that require measurement of water or other ingredients.

The "new" standard is of course the stamped "wire" handle camp cup. Generous and tough these cups are great for just about any use, even as a small cook pot. I can't tell you how many meals of soup or noodles I've whipped up in these. The bail style wire handle keeps it manageable when hot.

The military had a similar idea and has produced "canteen" cups for the troops that have folding wire or in this case stamped metal handles. Nice size, well made, very heavy.

Not to be out done the military Mess Monkeys over seas made a design that IS more frying pan then cup but does a bang up job.

The "D" rings on the handle enable the cook to add a stick of wood to extend reach or avoid burning hands.

Some cups suffer an identity crisis, they don't know if they are cups or pots or frying pans. what this usually means is they are hardly adequate at any of those jobs. Such is the cup on the Svea 123 stove.

It's a sad little cup just trying to fit in. The handle is removable.

Suspiciously missing from my list of camp cups is of course the classic Sierra cup. This cup is a bit strange to me, it's design is wide at the top and narrow at the base. To me this seems a bit tipsy having so small a footprint and the ultra wide mouth cools the drink off so fast I find it counter productive. If you've ever seen a nautical mug used on ships at sea, you understand how and why they work. The wide base keeps them from tipping and the narrow chimney style opening keeps the steamy brew from cooling to fast. Why would any one want a cup with reverse features? The Sierra cups do look cool and make a neat micro fry pan but I think the idea was under thunk.
So many cups to chose from one might wonder what cup is the chosen vessel for you. Only you know what would work best however. Strong, lite and packable cups make the best drinking buddies.
You might ask what the tiny cowboy cup is used for.

So let us lift a glass to the cup.

Bottoms up.

Safe travels
RJ

FILTER MODIFACATION

Katadyn Hiker
Conversion - Modification, The "HIKER" is an excellent filter. Many wilderness travelers know and trust the HIKER and it's next generation incarnation the HIKER "PRO".
The "PRO" has a number of quick attachment points that make it convenient to affix to almost any water bottle/hydrator but its most important feature is a "pre-Filter" wrapped around the primary glass filter. This allows you to separate larger contaminates from the system before they reach the main filter body.
A very cool idea.
So cool in fact, I copied it and here is how I do it.
The filter of the Katadyn is rated to be 0.3 microns or as I refer to it THREE MICRONS we all know about the zero point sizing. Katadyn makes no reference as to the micron value of their pre-filter, only that it saves the main filter some exposure and clean up time.
I make a pre-filter in the 0.7 micron or SEVEN MICRON size that knocks down the exposure of contaminants to the primary filter CONSIDERABLY!

Beyond the pre-filter card, I also take steps to pre-filter the intake line as well. Katadyn supplies a screen type cylinder as a catch for it's intake line. This works but after some time needs to be cleaned. In particularly slimy water it may need immediate attention before it can be used again.

So I found that wrapping the intake line with material that can be cleaned or changed made the job easier. The pantie hose works like a charm. Bring on the swamp water.

Three of these pantie hose covers usually will last me a year of regular use.
As if the Hiker was not enough, in my paranoia I chemically treat the raw intake with Aerobic Oxygen, Iodine and or Bleach before I pump it through the filter.

This I am confident provides me with safe, fresh tasting "sterile" H2O while in the bush.

Lugol's iodine solution was once used as a disinfectant but tastes like s*@& as does Halazone but is stable in the long term. If you like the smell and taste of month old pool water then Halazone is the treatment for you. The HIKER and HIKER PRO will clean up the taste.

We learn by listening and watching, experimenting and testing but above all by sharing. A good idea is worth stealing anytime.

Safe travels

RJ

Cool and Rainy Day

TEA
That's what I needed, (and an excuse to play with a Stove) With the rain soaking my prospects for an "outdoor" adventure, I settled for a hot brew in the shed. It had been a long time since the smell of wood smoke had wafted into my nose so the plan was to burn some.

On the "stove" shelf in my shed is one or two (Six) home made wood and or alcohol burners I constructed while under the incurable shakes of cabin fever.

I opted to use a coffee can variety today seeing how I had plenty of wood and precious little alcohol, plus I love the way smoke lingers and settles on rainy days so all in all it was a first class plan.

Being inside without a cross breeze to evacuate the smoke produced by the can stove, I used a small window fan to draw out the smoke. If this had been a "Wood gas" stove, the efficiency of the preheated air and recirculated smoke would have made this spot of tea almost smokeless.

The advantages of fueling a stove with indigenous fuel is of course the weight factor. Bottled and canned fuel is heavy and costly. Wood, Pine Cones, Bark and other natural materials abound and are light wight and lets not forget free.

Of course the standard cry of the gas bottle camper will be : What if it's raining and everything is wet? Good point, but counting on wood as your fuel for cooking, light, and warmth is always a challenge. Those that know how to find-gather-light damp wood will always find a way, those that cannot need to learn or move down a rung on the food chain.

A can stove is so user friendly only those incapable of starting a fire will be at odds with it. They burn hot and very clean. What ashes they do produce are slight and easy to redistribute into the environment again (cool and safely of course) without detection.

The real secret is in the preparation. Wood needs to be pencil sized or there about and roughly the size of the receptacle (burning chamber of the can). I use a fixed blade knife and baton (stout stick) to split my can stove fuel. Although time consuming, I find it pleasurable and therapeutic. I'm always impressed by how much LESS wood I burn in the can stove as apposed to in a campfire. The concentrated and controlled heat does the job so much better and the embers last a bit longer. The ambiance is lacking but hey, what can I say? The lack of bright fire light will make star gazing that much easier.

Dry wood can almost always be found even in the dampest forest if you know where to look. Thankfully this stove uses so little that a hand full or two will be all that is necessary to produce a hot meal and steaming brew.

The "WoodGas" stove is one of the best trail stoves you can use and I plan to pack one on my next trip, but the Hobo can stove is a cheap lite weight alternative as well. Enough plans for these exist on the Internet for you to find a model that suits your needs and creative ability. Try it instead of the gas bottle stove some time, prepare a meal or two in the yard or on your patio to get the feel of how much wood will be needed and what it takes to tend one. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Safe Travels

RJ

OLD FRIENDS

HOLY CRAP!

The Vibram Gods only know how many miles my boot heels have seen over the years. Although many of these steps were lone introspective trips that challenge no one but me, at times the crunching sound of foot steps in front or behind me was a comfort. Over the years I have shared tent and trail with many very interesting people. My traveling companions were an eclectic mix of funky forest philosophers more akin to Tolkien's fellowship then average trekkers. At times we had much in common, at other times we were as different as stones on a beach but the one commonality that always seemed to be evident was kind regard, respect and concern for each other. I felt safe and at total ease with these guys and could be myself.

As much as Sam is my Son and Russel my Brother these trekkers were my crew. No leaders or followers, no egos or competition. As far as we knew all of our penises were the same size or so we thought and no display from "Alpha" males was necessary or tolerated.

I missed that trusted unspoken type of camaraderie. I don't crew trek anymore.

We grew up and walked different paths (and trails) the only evidence left to recall these days were some photos buried in a box deep in my closet.

Until just the other day.

Happenstance reunited two of us that had not spent time together in fifteen plus years. Tom and myself have jobs that occasionally allow us to bump into each other every ten years. It was always good to see him but we were working and no time could be carved out to really visit. On our last chance encounter he mentioned that Mike, another member of the "old" crew was in the area visiting family.

Mike had moved away twenty years or so earlier without asking permission and relocated in far off places known only to level six members of the witness protection program and Dick Chaney. But now Mike had returned to challenge a local white water river while on vacation. We did the smoke signal thing and made tentative plans to group up and do something together for old time sake.

The plan was Kaaterskill Falls........

It was very good to see my old friends again. Time had changed them only slightly. Tom and I both had fancy new medical devices. My pace makers due to genetic predisposition and lack of exercise and Tom's bad knees due to an unfortunate direct high velocity cranial impact with a rouge south bound apple pie. Mike had a steamer trunk with an enviable amount of travel stickers plastered on it to prove he was not afraid to wonder.

Just like old times we set straight to work. Plan "A" pizza and beer!We didn't let the fact that Trusty Rusty broke down or the fatal motor vehicle accident or the twenty two mile detour stop us. After a stop for lunch to kill time (none of us really needed to eat) we planned our assault on New York State's highest waterfall.

I was forced to live with an Itty Bitty Espresso.........unfair

The high steep region of the Catskills is undeniably beautiful. The trees were just showing a blush and the sky was that ultra bright blue that begged to be white. The air was cool, crisp and seemingly clean. The detour was picturesque as it rolled along the ravines and saddles of unnamed mountains ever climbing. The roads were narrow with little to no shoulders and I just had to stop to shoot a pic or to.
A look down over the side of the road found what looked like an El Camino that lost control on this narrow road some years ago. I could only hope it's driver survived the crash and I was briefly reminded of the loss of life the made this detour necessary. Life can be so short, it is important that we take full measure of our blessings.........

On to the hike. I just knew the accident would keep the hiking traffic down and we would have much of the Gorge and the falls to ourselves.................NOT!











The crowd under the falls milled about snapping shots of the hissing water. We met with other like minded nature lovers and compared cameras while exchanging well memorized lines from Eastwood's Eiger Sanction (guys with grey hair know these sort of things) as we watched a couple rappel the upper falls.
Tom wisely opted to wait under the lower falls while Mike and I climbed. His knee was playing hell with him and he needed to work the grave yard shift this night. So after being frisked for unregistered ballistic pastries, we left for the main cascade.
Places like this are really magic, the low angle light of afternoon caused a rainbow to dance across the pool under the falls.

The rock was warm and cool both at the same time depending on the sun's track. Lush greenery clung to rock that seemed to cling to nothing, the thermals shifted around as we squinted in the bright light. Everything was alive and beautiful. I was impressed by the noticeable lack of litter, testimony to the character of those who walked the rocks with us although I must say we did seem to find many abandoned articles of clothing here and about. I can only imagine the sensation of skinny dipping in such a place. The waterfall and the bright star light must have been a life changing experience to someone (or two) again the Pantheist in me calls.


While I took time for a SPOT check in, I wondered the smooth rock and admired the strange patterns in the stone.


I sent three OK messages out of the gorge, when I check later that day only two had be received. With the high escarpment behind me I was not surprised the satellite geometry was impaired. Never the less, I would have been rescued as a short matter of course. SPOT rules!







On our way back out of the gorge we had the pleasure to be introduced to Mr. Ted Hill, Flower stick champion of Salinas California. Ted did not have a juggling assistant (he could have used one) but he did have a great promoter. A rather interestingly dress women in long skirts and clogs who went out of her way to ensure we got Mr. Hill's name right.
See you on Letterman Ted.






























Finding each other again after all these years was a gift. I am pleased to see my friends are reasonably healthy, happy and still doing some of the things we once did.
Just when one starts to feel old, things can happen to rejuvenate the soul.
Thanks Guys. Lets do this again real soon.

The Safest of Travels.
RJ

HUNTING WITH RIFLE

Hunting

Has always been a big part of my life. It started with Squirrels and Rabbits and moved along to Woodchucks, Coyote and Deer. They all had one thing in common, the Rifle. I have and do hunt with the Shotgun as necessary and do a better then fair job at collecting "flying game" and consider the Shotgun the brush I paint my Fall canvas sky with come Pheasant season.

However, I was always and am forever doomed to be a Rifleman, one carefully aimed shot is my mantra. I have never been cavalier about what I wanted in a Rifle. I always had specific predetermined expectations of what niche it would fill. I very often found myself tailoring the Gun to fit not just the accuracy, lethality and range I would require but even the terrain, weather and ability to "come to action".

Very often firearms are purchased with few of these considerations in mind. Price and availability are more convenient reasons for most selections of shootin iron to the common hunter.

Nothing, let me say that again nothing is more important to my success then using the right tool for the job. The piece must instill confidence to the point that no thought need be wasted on the firearm after removing it from it's case. With such familiarity and trust in a Rifle I can achieve much more then one might expect. I recall a 22 cal Rifle I had as a youth. So tuned and tweaked was it that I often made 200 yard shots on Woodchucks. Of course the biggest tweaking came in the form of practice and familiarization.

I jerked my first trigger at 10 years of age behind Uncle Lou's garage in Flemington N.J. it was a twelve gage side by side that almost knocked me over. That was it. I was hooked. Now knowing better just what is involved with "making distant contact" I have passed on much of what I have learned from years of practicing and listening to the endless couching of men I have much respect for. I have tried to pass these lessons on to friends and sons of friends with varying degrees of success. One student that has proven worthy and gives me the greatest satisfaction is of course my Son. Sam has turned from an interested boy trying hard to please Dad to a first class Rifle shooter.

What a diverse set of challenges he has taken on and overcome over the years. The 22 cal, was of course the first exposure to the shooting sports but I wasted little time putting him behind (or under) high power Rifles. he always showed great enthusiasm and gave it his all.
There is s certain pride a Father has when he witness his son send a long one down range to the X ring over and over again. More important to me is when I know any game in his sites will not leave this world scared or in pain.

Sam understands the history of firearms and why they are what they are. He understands

how they are designed and used. While some guys his age are obsessed with the high capacity-laser sited-polymer-rapid fire-spray and pray Black gun craziness of the last few years, he understands that being able to put one round on target (and at distance) with each trip of the trigger counting is the only way to make points or collect game.

The Rifle plays a big part in both our lives now and hopefully into the far future. knowing I have done my best to instill in him the importance of respect, safety, history and values an American Rifleman can be proud of.

I am a proud Father and fellow Rifleman.

Safe Travels

(Shoot far)

RJ

SURVIVAL STUDY

A Real Page Turner
I have studied the science and art of wilderness survival and "Primitive living" skills for the last thirty years as a hobby,vocation and life style. In that time I have amassed several books on the subject. Not being much of an armchair adventurer, I prefer to practice my hobby hands on but reading these books has taught me much and given me the chance to put into practice the techniques used by others.
I spend alot of my "spare" time tying Trout flies but my quiet time is most often spent reading. The subject of choice is almost always something having to do with the outdoors.
Wilderness survival can be a fascinating subject, it can also be repetitious and gets stale. There is only so much the average person will read and even less will be put into practice.

I don't think anyone really learns it all and like anything else some authors are better writers then others and therefore better teachers. Like any teacher we might have liked in high school or professor in collage, some just know how to convey an idea better. So it's not that any of these books are "really" better then others, it's just a matter of writing style.
At last counting, I think I own close to one hundred books on the subject of survival. I am not counting those I liked enough to buy more then one copy of either, this is an honest count.
I have learned something from each of them, but there are those that were so special and touched my soul in ways that have changed my life. I have put the lessons I've learned from these books to the ultimate test in the bush and found that they were just as the author described.

A real page turner......I can give you lists if books (and will) that are worth reading and deserve study and practise however, there is a short list of MUST read books that I believe any wilderness trekker is compelled to have in his/her library.
Without hesitation I can attest to the quality of those books written by Alan Fry and Paul H. Risk. These two men give full measure on the subject in two distinctly different styles. In my opinion no survival library would be complete without the books Outdoor Safety and Survival (Risk) and Wilderness Survival Handbook (Fry) if you don't already own these books stop right now and leave the COSS blog page, Google them up and buy them........just do it...you'll thank me.
As a very good second string is anything by John and Geri McPherson and J. Wayne Fears These names are familiar to the survival community but if you don't own their books by now you're just not serious enough yet.
On the third shelf and again no disrespect intended it's just a matter of preference in writing style, you should read Barry Davies and Raymond Mears our English cousins tend to be fanatical about the subject and have strong opinions about how one should survive with style. This brings us to the time honored writings of Bradford Angier a bit dated but valuable. And who could forget the lessons of Larry Dean Olsen.
You may notice I left out "he who must not be named!" The Tracking guru from New Jersey. I have read all the books he has ever written and must say..........he just doesn't do it for me.
I can appreciate the whole American Indian thing but, like the contributions of Bear Grylls, I can smell a commercial enterprise when the wind is just right. It's just not what my spirit is looking for. (Hey Bear, whats with all the running?)

I'm 50 years old now and have schlepped through the thickest bush of the largest piece of wilderness in the Continental United States (The Adirondacks) and even after more then a month in the bush have never found it necessary to wring out a turd for a drink, do a back flip from the top of a waterfall or teach Tommy Lee Jones how to kill a man the old Indian fashion. Sorry, I'd rather eat berries then Bullshit.
Now from survival to Backpacking: two books we should never be without are Walking Softly in the Wilderness (John Hart) and one of my very favorite books The Camper's Companion (Rick Greenspan & Hal Kahn) just great reading in an informative yet fun style. ....more please guys.

Study any and all U.S. and foreign military survival manuals (some are better then others) but believe it or not most are vague and need instructors to fully convey what a better author can teach.
Last but not least on the must read list is The Boy Scout Handbook it is almost like a bible to me. It teaches much more then how to live in harmony in the wilderness, it teaches how to live a better life. Lessons worth learning by everyone.

Whatever you read/study put it to practical use. Try it in your back yard or local woods and get familiar with the techniques before needing them in the deep bush. remember it's good to learn from your mistakes (if you survive them) but it's better to learn from the mistakes of others.
These few books contain those lessons.

Safe Travels
RJ

SURVIVAL ARMS

TOOLS TO EAT BY

I have read countless articles and pages of enumerable books on the subject of "Survival" Firearms.

I have as you might guess an opinion on the subject as well. However if any opinion on such a personal subject is to be shared please understand my "rule" for getting along with my fellow man, the rule is:

Never tell another man what to Drive, Drink, Kiss or Shoot. NOTHING even politics and religion will get you into trouble with your fellow man faster then to criticized one of these beliefs. So carry what you will, this is what works for me.

I look to wilderness travel for a number of things, exorcise, peace and quiet, entertainment, enlightenment, sport, self improvement and scores of other reasons I'm sure my fellow travelers will agree on. we seldom walk into the deep forest and say to ourselves...what trouble can I get into today?

At least I hope we don't.

We are hikers, campers, hunters, fishers, photographers, skiers, snow machine users and a bunch of other types of visitors that might get into trouble and require tools to see us through. so with the possible exception of the hunter, most of these travelers will not likely be armed.

The saying goes: the best survival tool besides your brain is the one in your pocket, it's the one you are most likely to have with you.

So for me the best survival firearms are small and easy to tote with you as you venture out to do "other" things.

Now a handgun might be the easiest type of firearm to carry but they are much harder to use, heavily restricted and require constant practice to remain proficient with. They are also very short range guns that are likely to be eaither under or over sized to the survival task at hand. They are just not versatile enough to be called reliable meat collectors. I don't care for them and have no use for a handgun, I do however support your right to own and carry one. As I said before, carry what YOU will. Confidence is a big part of the survival equation.

Remember that Samuel Colt made all men equal and Winchester may have "Won" the west but the firearm that made it possible for the common man to tame and survive on the frontier was the SHOTGUN.

As unromantic as that may be it is true. To some the shotgun is a slobs weapon, a point and shoot affair that any jerk with half a brain can afford to buy and operate to feed himself. To that I say .... point taken and whats wrong with that? That's what makes them such good survival arms.

Easy to use by neophytes, very forgiving to those with little skill. The Shotgun fed families long before Sam and Oliver started selling shootin iron.

Without a doubt if you had only one firearm to carry with you afield for the purposes of collecting food the Shotgun is it!

That said, shotguns are generally long heavy things that bark and kick. Most of us will not be carrying one while hiking or fishing etc. I find the small bore 410 gauge (Bore) shotgun the perfect survival firearm. With a mixture of actions to choose from and a variety of shot sizes, these small wonders are easy to tote and will put Rabbit, Pheasant, Turkey, Squirrel and other small game in your stew pot. Short yet legal stock configurations allow for quick and easy handling without loss of control and felt recoil is ........well lets just say I think you can handle it.

While on a scouting trip last August, Sam and I both packed a small 410. I schlepped a pump gun with four rounds of 6 shot while Sam hardly noticed the weight of the single barrel around his neck loaded with 71/2 shot.Simple to operate guns such as these are safer then others that one might fidget with. The single barrel is a "Snake Charmer" purpose built as protection from deadly reptiles one might step on while dancing in the wild grasslands of the North East. "Reality Check"....it's a pack gun, pure and simple. Fact is, most snakes are protected in the North East United States but the gun has a cool sounding name.

The Mossberg 500 is a bit more gun but not by much. They both carry very easily in pack or as we are here around our necks. The range of these little smooth bores depends on the shot size you're firing. Both have no choke (a forcing constriction at the muzzle to tighten the shot pattern) a heavier "larger" shot will tend to go further then small light size shot. I once took a Squirrel down out of a tree at sixty feet with one shot. Try that with a handgun and you might just scare the hell out of everything in the forest before you ever get a meal.

Single projectile "slugs" are also available for the 410 shotgun and in an EMERGENCY (note: it is illegal to take big game with any shotgun smaller then 20g in the US) this might be used to harvest larger game such as deer at close range (be prepared to track it down) slugs of any gauge (calibre) are not the efficient killers high powered rifle bullets are. Oh don't get me wrong I would not step out in front of one I'm just saying most deer shot with slugs tend to run a bit before falling. Slugs have much less kinetic energy then bullets even though the sectional density is generally higher then a rifle bullet, the mass just does not make up for the lack of speed. That said, they are still versatile and require little practice to become effective enough to fill your belly.

As signals any firearm can give away your location. The 410 is certainly loud enough to be heard way off and it's distinctive popping sound (not like the crack of a rifle shot) is easily identified by searchers. The small size of the shells allow you to carry a surplus in your pocket/pack.

Here you can see the high output LED light I have mounted on the Mossberg and the hanging side sling I prefer on my firearms. It is still very manageable as you can see, my eldest Daughter finds this plastic bottle (50 ft away) an easy target even shooting from center chest with the sling as support.

I always say, the gun goes where the nose goes! With very little practice fast shots can be successfully made with a shotgun by almost anyone willing to try.

Small and fast handling, affordable and inexpensive to feed, a 410 is a gun worth looking into. Don't look down your nose at the 410 shotgun unless food is lined up with the front site.

Safe Travels

RJ

BEARS!

BEARS in the wood
We have all camped or hiked and run into Bear sign. In many ways this is exciting, in other ways it is unnerving. Ask any tenderfoot what he fears most in the wild and Bears will almost always be at the top of the short list. But why?

Most of us have never had a "run in" with a Bear, in fact most of us have never seen a Bear in the wild. Just like the Grey Wolf, the Black Bear has a terrible reputation that is 99% undeserved.
Oh I have heard stories of attacks and maulings by Black Bear but almost always these have been caused by man himself.

We "visitors" to the green wood tend to bring along our bad habits. Along with those habits come consequences.

Bears do what Bears do, you will never find them stealing your SUV from the parking area and going on joy rides, nor will you find them stretched out on the sofa of your vacation cabin watching Regis in the morning. They seem to get into the same kind of mischief all the time and it is almost always because of one thing FOOD!

Man brings things into the forest that most Bears have never smelled before. These things attracted Bears for a number of reasons, hunger and ease of acquisition being first but also curiosity as well. A Bear might eat your deodorant just because it smelled different (not good just different)

Even smoke can draw attention from Bears who have learned that smoke means food under the right conditions.

Never bring food of any kind into the tent, even for an instant. Cook down wind of your sleeping area and don't wear your sleeping clothes while cooking or around the campfire.

If you smell like a Mountain House meal or Hot dog the Bear is bound to try and taste you. Candy is a BIG no no. leave it and your trail mix with the food bag (high in a tree)

In my area of concern the Black Bear is the only real Bruin I need to worry about.










He is known to be poor of sight but incredibly keen of nose. A Black Bear smells you long before he sees you or your camp. He will approach from down wind and at a distance of several hundred yards knows what your making for breakfast, God help you if it's pancakes and maple syrup. He has a propensity towards sweets and can sniff out a Snickers bar in your tent no matter what it's in.

LEAVE FOOD OUTSIDE THE TENT!!! Hang it high in a tree and five feet from the trunk, Black Bears are extraordinary climbers. Trash is another attractant. Whats garbage to you is a feast to the Bear. Burn what will burn, where legal bury whats left over. If you can't bury your garbage PACK IT OUT!

The most dangerous time to confront a Bear is when Mom is with Cubs. Keep this in mind. YOU ARE THE ENEMY! She does not care if you were just communing with nature with your ipod playing John Denver as you watch the splendor of the natural world........She will kill you! Stay away, Keep back!










As my friends in the parks department would say, you are about to have a
BEAR ENCOUNTER.

These are seldom pleasant. Carry a whistle, wear a Bear bell laced into your boot (a round bell the size of a large marble much like a sleigh bell) these stupid little noise makers may save your life. As you walk the constant ching ching warns the Bear that something different this way comes.

My key ring almost always is clipped to my side, on it is five must have keys a p38, fero/magnesium rod and a Best brand whistle. The clanging as I walk is reminiscent of a gunfighters spurs in a grade B western BUT it makes noise and I like it.
Should I need to "go stealthy" I tuck the ring in a pocket and I'm kool as Christmas but for much of the time it tells the world I"M COMING" I like that.

Advanced Bear protection might include an early warning system set up around camp when you tuck in for the night. I don't always bother but in areas where Bear sign is fresh I hang my Bear bells and other clanging items like cans or "CLEAN" mess gear from dental floss around the perimeter. The floss is strong and the little plastic box fits well into my kit. Keep it off the ground by a foot and a half and the Skunks/Raccoons wont bother you all night. Sleep with your whistle and when the clanging starts it's flashlight and whistle time.

OK, lets say you did your best but the plan did not survive in tact and you are face to face with a Bear. Now what??

Make yourself BIG, put your arms over your head to increase your over all height, yell, scream use the whistle, stomp up and down......you know act like a jerk.

Most times the Bear will stop or run off. If the Bear holds his ground, shakes his head from side to side like a dog throwing off water after a bath or Clicks his teeth as if chewing...you are in a bad place my Brother and better you then me, prepare for an attack um-ah I mean a Bear Encounter. If you have Bear spray NOW is the time to have it in your hand. Shake the can well, I keep mine in the outside pocket of my primary pack so I can draw it like a handgun. It gets shaken regularly while I move and is almost always ready. Bear sprays are not the same as the sprays you might carry for defence against muggers so don't try to carry one of these units instead of the REAL thing.
Bear spray shoots farther and is usually oil based instead of water based (it spreads and adheres)the droplets are much smaller giving better coverage and these units are larger to allow for enough "juice" to stop a charging bruin. Aim at the Bear's head and fire a short blast at his nose/eyes. When hit the Bear should stop in his tracks and even rear up in pain. This stuff is hot (don't worry it wont do any permanent damage to the Bear) If he tries to wipe it off with his paws or digs his nose into the ground that's a good thing, he will only spread the oil into his eyes/skin producing the desired affect. Be prepared to fire again just in case, oh and be prepared to run....fast.
The Bear may run into the forest to lick his wounds or he may run right over your tent trying to get to the forest after all he can't see or smell, he is in pain and scared. He only wants out so don't get in his way.
Even if you only use it once, replace your Bear spray unit after discharge. GET A NEW ONE! The seal might begin to leak once the initial shot is fired and never TEST your spray. You might save this unit as a back up for the cabin or for a second hiker in your party but never rely on it as your primary Bear spray again.







The American Indians knew how to deal with Bears...they left them alone. Usually only the medicine man could sport a Bear robe...this was heavy duty ju ju and for good reason. Bears are to be respected and left alone to live unmolested by man.

However seeing how we are entering into his domain it should be us that protects his reputation. Don't make a Bear a menace by feeding him or disturbing his den areas. Leave him alone and you will both live longer.

Pick up a can of Bear spray, learn how to use it and keep it ready (your whistle and bell too)

I am not a hunter of Bears, I have seen them in the wild and observed from distance (just the way I like it) I mean him no harm and wish only good things for my Brother the Bear. That's why I leave him be!


Now this guy is another story. Thank goodness I don't have any of these Big Bastards around my woods.
My Friend Mike was nibbled on by a Grizzly Bear just a few steps from his home in Alaska. Mike was out for his morning jog when out came Griz and down went Mike. Being a well trained outdoors man he knew what to do if this ever happened (first soil pants) and his second nature kicked in. He had been trained to cover and roll and protect his head and neck from the powerful jaws of the Grizzly or as I call them the:
Mankillus eatem upus!

He survived the attack (encounter) and made the grade by being in the local paper.....Mankillus eatem upus attack of tender tasty man from Anchor Point Alaska..man survives / bear claims running shoes tastes like chicken, details and recipes at 5:00

Mike Dude, buy some spray....


Safe Travels
RJ

"All along the watch tower", Balsam Lake Mountain

With a need for new ground under my feet, I stuck a pin in a map and headed North.
The Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower beckoned me to stand on it's legs and view the Catskills from a new perspective.
What was planned as a two/three day trip was cut short due to the threat of hazardous weather. I decided to head for the historic summit of Balsam Lake Mountain. Balsam Lake Mountain in and of itself is not that historic, the Fire Tower on it's summit however is.

It was the very first Fire Watch Tower ever erected in New York State. Placed on it's lofty perch in 1887 (then made of local wood) the watch tower was the high ground for as far as the eye could see. It still is, oh there are higher peaks in this region to be sure but all within eye shot of the tower. President Grover Cleveland was in office then (his first term, Cleveland being the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms) in England 1887, Conan Doyle saw his first Sherlock Holmes story published. In Punxsutawney Pennsylvania the very first Ground Hog Day took place on Gobblers Knob. In the Catskills, sweaty men were building a tower.

The tower was the only man made structure visible in a sea of rolling green. The first tower burned after being hit by lightning and was rebuilt, in fact the tower has seen many incarnations over the years. Wood gave way to steel and that gave way to new steel. Five or six towers have occupied the mountain top as well as a cabin for use by the "Ranger" watch person. It is more of a hiking curiosity now and a historical way point. Whatever it is, it's on my visit list.

The relatively short hike would take less time to do then the drive from my home but it seemed worth while.
Being a Fly fisher, I was also looking forward to spending time along the Beaver kill River. This fishing Mecca of clear running Catskill water is a Trout fisher's Paradise. Reminders of who waded these waters and who still does can be found if you know where to look.














The trail starts out like many at an isolated parking area off a back road. This trail was one of the narrowest I have ever encountered in the Catskills, I took it to mean the area was lightly visited but latter decided it was just caused by pigeon toed hikers.


The Beaver Kill is a River not unlike my beloved Neversink. Mountain fed and cold, running through small communities and attracting people here and there. Sport fishers and site seers as well as photographers and lowly hikers. It's beauty is undeniable.



The cool, moist forest warmed slowly as the sun moved over the hills. I find it strange how ferns and other forest greenery will at times take on the scent of Peaches as the dew evaporates from their leaves. I find it intoxicating and always stop for a deep breath.






At some point the random setting on my MP3 suddenly changed from Beethoven's sixth to Herb Alpert.
That's all I needed, my mood changed a bit.

Horse hoof fungus and wild mushrooms abound. The trail twisted and turned ever climbing as the forest heated up. The soft spongy ground under foot was evidence of the rain the region had experienced in the past month. Prints left from creatures that had gone on ahead were all over the trail. Only one set of Human prints were visible to me, and I was hunting for them. Even these didn't go all the way to the top, they cut off trail to a shelter .25 miles away. I planned to visit the shelter on my way down.....now, the tower was calling me.
Black Bear prints were fresh just ahead of me, I turned up the MP3 and whistled so I would not surprise him.

Then just as I was concentrating on small things a big thing revealed itself. Like something out of an H.G. Wells novel, the leg of some giant unnatural thing could be seen in the clearing ahead.

The views from the tower were as expected, impressive. Just the right amount of drifting clouds scraping the green rolling mountain tops to make even a casual observer stop and be thankful for the privilege of bipedal cross country travel.

With Warren Zevon in my ears, a freshening breeze in my face and a show only nature could provide, I was unaware of the attempted larceny taking place forty seven feet below me. I had placed my day pack on the picnic table while I climbed the tower for some video. From out of the dark woods came a ravenous creature hell bent on exploiting my ignorance.

Thief! I felt violated. I rushed back down to earth to defend my possibles from further larcenous Lepus looting. Foul and awful beast! I yelled as it ran for the safety of the evergreen. Later I felt sorry for the furry thing and left a hand full of trail mix for him. I hope he likes chocolate covered coffee beans.

I've always liked Rabbits but prefer them at dinner time battered and deep fried. I guess he was just trying to get even.

I checked out the Ranger's cabin before starting back down the mountain.

I had one more stop before starting for the car, I wanted to see the shelter just off the spring trail that I had passed on my way up.

Just a quick check in with the SPOT unit and I was on my way back down to the parking lot.

I liked my hike to Balsam Lake Mountain, the Tower was wonderful and I sure had a great day for it. Next time I'm bringing the kids.

Safe Travels

RJ

WALKING THE DOGS

These boots are made for walking........and more
I own a few pairs of "outdoor" footwear. I'm sure most of us have our work shoes and our Comfortable casual kicks but when it comes to travel in the bush, we need to make some educated choices.

If we consider what our wilderness foot gear really should provide, we can list types and styles in order of perceived need. It should ALWAYS start with Comfort, Performance and Protection that's what all wilderness footwear should provide and have in common regardless of type.

For trail walking a simple pair of Approach Shoes are all that is necessary. These are like athletic shoes (sneakers) on steroids. Comfy and cushy but with an aggressive tread. Although these are light weight and give good flex and fit, they suffer from lack of support.

That takes us to the next level up. The Light Hiker, is a bit more like a true boot. With a cushioned collar and stiffer foot bed, these provide protection from shock due to repetitive heavy foot falls. They also (if designed correctly) stabilize the ankle against hyper lateral movement a.k.a. side sprains. The toe box is generally a bit wider to accommodate the inevitable swelling that occurs as you walk. It also allows for socks more suited to the outdoor activities you will be performing. The heel section is stiff, thick and cradles the foot. The latest designs are made with a mix of synthetic and traditional materials. Leather is strong and durable but heavy and needs careful care to stay supple and strong not to mention weather resistant. Textiles like Nylon (Cordura) and mesh like ballistic cloth are nearly indestructible and lite weight but give little support or stiffness. Combinations of these for the boot upper as well as the materials for the sole are common. AVA foam makes up the majority of bottoms on Light Hikers, a tough closed cell material that can be formed easily and cheaply. Over that a harder more ware resistant lug is attached. Most are glued instead of stitched (better boots are glued then stitched) but some very good glued boots are out there and for the price, they will give you adequate service life.

For the real rocky terrain or for times when you are traveling under very heavy loads you must have a full sized Hiker/Trekking boot. These things are the real deal Neal! Full vertical isolation of movement as well as strong lateral protection. Magnum soles and toe/heal boxes that are practically armoured. Lacing's should be of the strongest material so the boot can be cinched tightly. Full lug soles such as Vibram are a must as is a reinforced inner shank of steel or rigid plastic. These boots are heavy, even with today's modern materials and production methods they remain the heaviest boots you are ever likely to own.

Climbing to the next level up, the Expedition or Double boot is a very technical piece of foot furniture. These boots are designed to be ultra stiff so as to accommodate "tools" such as skis, snow shoes and crampons. The rigidness of the foot bed gives the climber a platform to stand up on without experiencing the flex that would cause muscle fatigue or reduce the tools efficiency. Like a pack frame, the stiffness much like an exoskeleton, becomes an asset while moving. These also tend to be more heavily insulated for use in the more extreme environments. I wore a pair of these during a winter attempt of Mount Washington in the eighties, they were a mixed blessing. One really must get used to the inflexible sole before you spend much time in them. Shin pain is a common complaint of those who use these boots on anything much less then vertical.

The Woodsman's or Hunters boot is so common and practical that most backwoods travelers will find them better then adequate. Most are leather and full lugged with support that goes above the ankle. A simple yet rugged design that has caused them to be used for everything from dragging White Tails to walking I beams. These are the common mans wilderness shoe.

Not to take anything away from the strong utilitarian value of this type of boot, on the contrary. These boots are almost perfect for the average wilderness walker. Where they lack features is in their simplicity. Few are as comfortable as true hikers and they don't have the level of adjustments the purpose built hiking boots does. They can be hot in warm weather and cold in winter.
I have a pair of Danner boots I use for deer hunting. These boots are top of the line stalking -rugged terrain - climb up sharp scree - march into hell to kill the Devil foot wear. The soles have no "bald" spots, being lugged their entire length. A Vibram feature called Kletterlift that has even been used by the military under the name "Fort Lewis boots". I dig em to the extreme. With integral Gortex booties and Thinsolite insulation, these things are serious toe hotels. They make the most of high tech materials and time tested high quality leather. The soles are a combination of leather and hard waring rubber that is stitched to the boot for years of long reliable life. Pity I wont be here to see how my grand kids like em when they inherit them.

Probably my best all around choice for Wilderness Travel/Survival.

Last on my list of wilderness foot wear is the legendary Pack Boot. Heavily insulated winter boots such as those made popular by Sorel, LL Bean and others. These are the standard for those who are active in very cold yet less vertical terrain. These boots utilize a thick outer leather upper and a heavy "soft" lugged water proof rubber bottom over a removable inner bootie usually of wool batting or lofty synthetic equivalent. Some of these may even have an exaggerated "peak" on the toe and heel to affix snow shoes or ice creepers. They are exceedingly popular with ice fishers and snow mobilers. Truly built for extreme cold but NOT for hiking. They are heavy as hell and the area where the rubber bottom meets the leather top flexes too much to give adequate support. Still if you are standing around the hole waiting for a pickerel or sitting in a tree stand waiting for old mossy horns, these just might be the boots for you. I own a pair of Rocky Pack Boots that are very warm and cozy rated for forty below zero. My feet have never been cold while waring them.

Choose wisely and try on everything you are considering (with the appropriate socks of course) and keep in mind the intended use for the boot you pick, you might just end up needing more then one type of boot.

Of course these boots are available in woman's and Child sizes so everyone can get the right boot for the adventure you've planned.

The common mistake when buying wilderness foot wear is thinking you can press one type of boot into service as another. This leads to sprains, fumbles and fatigue and a miserable time. You owe it to yourself to think through the process and make educated choices.

Take care of those Dogs and they'll take care of you.

Safe travels

RJ

HELLLOOO OUT THERE

By far the easiest way to attract attention
without using high tech gear is probably the signal mirror. You don't even require a genuine "mirror" to send a flash type signal. Almost any flat or semi flat reflective surface will suffice.

While smoke signals are effective, they require work and fuel and most importantly, good timing. If your fire is not lit or your smoke generator not ready when the air traffic passes within sight, your done son. Of course you might just keep a fire blazing at all times...good luck with that if youre hurt or weak or in an area with predominantly green, damp foliage. In short smoke just doesn't always work. Not to mention it is resource and labor intensive.

Fire is GREAT at night as a signal, in fact after the sun goes down nothing is better for getting you spotted. It would be hard enough to fuel a "tall" fire all night, can you imagine how much wood you'd need if you were making smoke all day AND fire all night. Save the wood for night time.

Pyrotechnic devices are wonderful but finite. I don't know how many flares you carry but let me tell you, I don't lug more then I have to so the flare gun is often left behind unless I'm in the Adirondacks or winter hiking in the Catskill high peaks region. Moreover these things are semi high tech, restricted in some areas and they can be dangerous at certain times of the year.
The flash of a signal mirror has been seen from miles away and in fact has been spotted by commercial aircraft at nearly a hundred miles away. On sea, (note: The horizon is 15 miles away at sea level) nothing is better for getting a pilot's attention.
(except perhaps the sucking sound of a Canada Goose passing though your intake fan) My Hat is off to you Sully..........just a damn fine job! I'll bet you made it onto allot of Christmas card lists.

Be improvisational! that's the secret to getting through a survival situation. Like the man said:

Improvise-Adapt-Overcome........say thank you and pay the bill.

Hold your reflector up to your eye and if you have one, site through the aiming hole towards the target (if you have no hole just site over the reflector) With your other hand, hold up two fingers (I use my entire hand) and "capture" the flash on your hand so you can tell the sun's reflection is pointed the correct direction. Move as needed until the target and the flash are in your line of sight. Sometimes I just use my hand like the shutter of an Aldis lamp and cover/reveal the flash towards the target.

DO NOT HOLD THE REFLECTOR STILL! move that puppy a bit. A steady stream of light may be seen but an EPILEPTIC flash is an attention getter. Practice in the yard. Pick a target to be the search aircraft (or distant vehicle / SAR team member) and practice finding your flash in your hand (capturing the sun) and moving it onto the target. This is not hard to learn or do but the time to try it is now under controlled conditions not the day you break a leg on a steep hill side.

Just another quick note on signal mirrors: Remember they need the sun, as you can see in the video they can still work on a cloudy day BUT you will need some rays to filter through for the best reflection. Ambient light just doesn't cut it. They may be used at night with an artificial light source. In this way you can "aim" your campfire light at a distant plane's blinking lights.

And finally be careful when you practice with signal mirrors. They are after all as bright as the sun. NEVER point them at passing traffic or in bystanders eyes. This can not only be distracting but could cause serious retina damage.

Safe Travels

RJ

ONE IN THE OVEN

My Cardiologist thinks I eat too many carbohydrates.
What can I say........The Man knows me.
I had been laid up after cardiac testing that left me sore and limping and bored!




I wanted to be outside but was not allowed to do much standing and walking was out of the question.

We were expecting some company and my wife (Super Red) was planning on baking a bread later in the day to have with coffee.

She had been experimenting with Amish style "cake" breads. out of desperation, I tried one in a cast iron Dutch Oven. With a bit of modification this could get interesting.

Fresh out of char coal brickets and with little wood to stoke my stove, I borrowed some from my family down the road. Splitting wood was less then fun with my recent procedure playing hell with my movements but I did the best I could, after all some of this blog IS devoted to Survival.

Sweet breads are one of my weaknesses, along with any other type of bread, pie, cake, bagels, muffins and rolls. well lets just say, if it comes from an oven I'm okay with it. Super Red is one heck of a baker and keeps me happy in that department.

Real Dutch Ovens have legs! camp style Dutch Ovens are used in the fire coals on the ground. I use a cast iron "Pot Belly" style stove to cook on my deck. Coals under the oven and some shoveled on top do a great job without having to wonder far from the kitchen, company or my cold drink. It's kind of like having all that rustic style cooking flavor without the big labor out lay. It's also nice to just sit there in the wood smoke and smell things progressing.

The batter for this particular bread was a bit runny for the Dutch Oven, so I added a bit more flour and other goodies just to stiffen it up a bit. It looked great!

Any time I can cook or eat outdoors is a treat for me. The fresh air and of course the scent of wood smoke is heavenly to my mind. The ash and clang of Cast Iron only seem to bring out more in the meal. I use white Gas Stove almost exclusively in the bush, but a camp fire whenever practical is always a welcome component. I cannot of course carry a cast Iron pot with me on my hikes (unless Sam packs it... Hmmm) but whenever I can, I bring them out to give them a workout and myself a treat.

WOW! I hope my company doesn't take too long getting here, they may end up having Jello!

RJ

ROUND TWO...............Ding!

TWO in the oven, I tried another Dutch Oven Bread the other day and found my primitive baking techniques improving.
I watched the temperature very closely and made sure the bottom was not over cooked.

It seems the more I try this, The better I get at it..............Sorry Doc,

RJ

The Falls

There are two Waterfalls

in the Neversink gorge unique area. today I took a walk to find one and do a bit of fishing.
I started as always in the state parking area and after sighing in, used GPS data to short cut my way along a beeline to the river. As always the trails in this hiking area were inviting and easy walking. The mixed weather had not done much if any trail damage leaving it an easy stress free walk so I could hike with my classical guitar music playing low in my earphones.

All along the way, I was reminded that spring was in full bloom. The forest had that sweet growing scent that hangs in the air and buds were splitting open everywhere.

Young things making a showing



Evidence of life was everywhere, and evidence of the struggle for life as well.

The Neversink River Gorge is a special place full of untouched beauty and life. Eagles, Owls, Deer, Woodpeckers by the ton and seemingly a high concentration of Black Bear.
Apparently the rumors about Bears are true.

I found and followed a spring down into the gorge.

At last, I spotted the object of my search in the distance, I was tongue tied.

The waterfall was only the reason for my hike, you might call it the Grail of the quest. The really special treat came after I arrived and had made my third cast. A pause and a pull came from my modified Woolybugger (my own mix of ideas any purist would have scoffed at) a wonderful Trout took my offering as it fell through an island of foam in the pool beneath the falls.

Well will the surprises and gifts never end??? as if the fates had lined up to do old RJ a favor, two figures appeared like apparitions from the mountain laurel and stood atop the falls. From my vantage point I could only tell they were also after Neversink Trout and by the looks of their kit and rods I qualified them as serious Trout hunters.

I turned my back on the pool and an ever stiffening breeze to give them a shot at the hole and hopefully the same feeling of solitude I had enjoyed. The casting was getting challenging due to the thermals changing with the sun's movement over the gorge, so I took a moment to rest my back and snack on some Girl Scout cookies (thin mints) my Daughter had gifted me. I sat against a leaning bank side tree and watched as the two new comers "played through" the hole. Both of us politely nodded to each other but otherwise kept a respectful distance. They were a man and woman, one seemed to be acting the part of a guide as the other stepped up to work the seam.

You can (at least I can) always tell the expert from the novice just by the way a "Sportsman" moves. An accomplished and seasoned Hunter will walk confidently without undue sound and seldom looks at his feet knowing the ground before him has been carefully scrutinized even if only by a glance. A veteran Fly Fisher does the same thing. They enter the water as if hiding from fish, stalking them. They keep to the shadows if possible approaching at angles that don't favor the fish as it lays in wait. They hunt the hunter. They dress to match the foliage, ware hats with dark visors to aide in shading the eye. They take small cautious steps and don't drag their feet on the pebble bottom. Most are not even aware of this habit but that's the point. One only becomes a Master when they have converted the science into an art and the art to a way of life. Such were this mans movements.

Intrigued, I watched a bit as his hand gestures guided the woman's efforts. He stood stoically watching the flow of the foam line and the subtle reflections on the water's surface for any disturbance that would indicate feeding Trout. He looked in all directions taking in the same natural beauty I gazed on and with an obvious similar appreciation for the place but while he watched his companion and mentored from just beneath the back cast, I could tell his eye was on the wind in the trees and shifting cloud cover. I am a practiced observer of people, that's what I do and I know of what I speak.

At some point I got close enough to confirm my suspicions. I, like so many others in my home town indeed this part of New York knew him. Phil Chase was one of my High School Teachers. I remember our first interaction. When he discovered I had something of a monopoly on the Tri-State area's dairy farm Woodchuck hunting, he asked me for any Black Woodchuck hair I could supply. What the heck for? I asked. For flies of course. Stupid me, I should have guessed that. He never got any, at least not from me. It wasn't for lack of trying, I just never shot one.

Phil is one of the two celebrities I've known and shared an interest/sport with. He is nationally renowned for his efforts in the name of conservation and preserving the environment with particular interest on rivers, the Delaware, Mongaup and Neversink being his "home" waters.

His contributions don't begin or end there, Phil is or has been a writer and has authored many articles on his beloved sport (life style) an accomplished fly tyer/fisher, his noble face has smeared more then a few pages of books and magazines and the list goes on and on. To me he has always been Mr. Chase and thankfully later in life just Phil (more due to my advancing age then anything else). Always honest and generous with advice and free with a smile and moment of his valuable time. He has rubbed elbows with the who's who of the angling community and is considered a contemporary by many famous writers/fishers across the country. He is all that and more to me, he is a local hero of sorts. I'm a fan and I like to think a friend.

I've been to Phil's house and waited in the living room for a copy of the tying instructions for Phil's famous "Catskill Clipper" fly. His home is a comfortable, earth toned, a warm and inviting place full of reminders of whats important to Phil. Photos of Family and Friends and the Outdoors abound. Evidence of Hunting and of course Fishing surround you as do windows overlooking an expanse of local farm land or the greenery of his own property at the end of a long private drive. I sat and waited, watching as Phil juggled two hundred things all at the same time. A smartly but casually dressed businessman sat at Phil's table going over some business concern while discussing football (Phil loves football) the phone rang at least twice, Phil brought out his latest homemade knife (Phil makes knives too) a knock on the door brought yet another person stopping by to handle some other issue only Phil could address, Phil brought me a soda before taking another phone call, we exchanged thoughts on hellgrammite imitations, admired an old rifle before he stepped back to the table to sign papers, I think the phone rang again. he just always seems to be doing something with or for somebody.

Today was no different, Phil exited the water with a grin (customary for Phil) and shook my hand. He introduced me to his friend Joanne, a very nice woman with smiling eyes and a fevered desire to connect with one of the gorge's spotted inhabitants. We exchanged pleasantries and took turns with each others cameras and of course traded a favorite fly or two. Phil complemented my casting technique, saying he liked the way I handled the rod (I think he was being very generous). Phil can be a great story teller, after all he is a writer. This time he was flat out lying!

Phil admired my GPS and the conversation turned to maps and access and eventually to the fact that I was trespassing! WHAT? I'm WHAT? so much for maps.

The area is legally accessible from the other side of the river but the land I was casting from was out of bounds. Phil was so much the gentleman he found a polite way of breaking the bad news to me, I would never again fish this particular side of the falls. I have a reputation of my own to uphold based on trust and trespass does not fit easily into it, never has. Phil has rights to walk these lands, alas I do not.
The wind Phil was watching stiffened and I had miles to walk to get back to trusty rusty so I began to pack up my toys when Phil offered me a ride back out to my car. Point of fact, Joanne was parked there too so it killed two birds. I accepted and thanked him.

On the walk back to Phil's 4x4 we met the land owner. Ben Wechsler stepped from his vehicle with an all business stone face and announced sarcastically that we were all trespassing! That was shortly followed by a knowing smile, Phil's polite introduction and a warm handshake. He seemed to be an amiable individual of quick intelligent humor, genuinely happy to run into us but I got the distinct feeling that had I not had Phil's protection, he would have shot me stone dead and left me for the Bears. Ben is understandably proud and protective of this land and it's gifts. After a time he gave us a bit of a tour, I felt privileged and followed.

On a rocky and forested hillside, seemingly in the middle of nowhere we visited the site of a plague memorializing a friend and fellow Writer/Sportsman. This private and out of the way place was as sacred as any cemetery and by my thinking even more beautiful and suitable to the man they described. This simple gesture tells much about the type of character these men possess and the respect they have for each other.
Moving and inspiring to the Pantheist within me.
I hope to meet him again soon. Thanks Ben.

When we arrived at the state parking area, I gave Phil a set of custom maps I had made of the area complete with aerial photos and satellite imaging...very cool stuff but with "no property lines". I hope he finds some use for them. I signed out at the trail register and bid my friends farewell.

It had been a very special day for me, The wild river gorge, the Trout, Phil and Joanne not to forget Ben Wechsler. Very special indeed. This is what I call a productive Saturday's walk in the woods. I wont soon forget it.

RJ

HERE SPOT HERE BOY

SPOT

What a cute name, but a fairly good one considering the concept behind the gadget. The worlds first satellite messenger. How Cool is that?

In 1999, while sitting on my sofa with a good book I became aware of a strange sensation within my chest. A stillness that was so unnerving I sat up startled. I could only describe it as a sinking almost draining feeling. I had never felt such a sensation before in my life. So uncomfortable with the feeling was I that I rushed to the hospital fearing the worst. Both my parents had died early due to cardiac maladies so I wasn't taking any chances. The emergency room Dr. had an idea what the problem was but put me into the intensive care unit for observation. Some testing confirmed his suspicions, my heart was slowing down, I would need a pace maker.

Now, let me tell you the truth about this page and it's relevance to SPOT. Like most guys I know I am a gadget junkie. Whenever a gadget junkie and outdoors man turn up to be the same person there's a very good chance that big bucks will be spent and cool stuff will be in ample supply.
I just loved my first GPS. I have been a Map and Compass dude for years but the idea of the GPS was just so damn liberating. Lock in a way point put the thing in your pack until you need it then turn it on and follow it home.............Damn I loved the thing. I'm on my fifth unit and although I still give the Map/Compass combination the highest marks for dependability, its hard to beat a quality GPS unit. After my implant my Wife insisted I did not venture into the out back without friendly support (usually Russ the one man SAR team) but it didn't work out like that. I love to venture alone, I hunt alone, fish alone and just like to walk around the forest with my camera ALONE.

The day I fell on a Catskill ledge and damn near fell off a cliff, I gave SPOT another look.

It had what I was looking for. A way to ask for assistance from a"friendly" cost effective rescue source......Family and Friends. But with the capability to SCREAM for HELP from the big guns if the fertilizer ever really hit the ventilator.

I didn't see the need for the Tracking feature, at least not yet but the standard message features were just what this trekker was looking for. As with nearly everything I spend more then six bucks on, I researched the crap outta this thing and found that those users that didn't like SPOT were not using it correctly or had an unrealistic expectation of what the thing did.

Let me tell you what SPOT is NOT:

Not a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) or a EPLIRB (Emergency Position Location Indicating Radio Beacon)

These units use radio frequency 121.5Mhz or 406MhZ to transmit the beacon (signal) to a monitoring station or any radio tuned into these frequencies (these are internationally used) able to be monitored by any commercial craft and SAR forces around the world.

They can be big (not always) and expensive (nearly always) and require a bit of understanding to use.

SPOT on the other hand is idiot proof. If I could believe everything I read about the messenger I would have the Baby sitter I needed to set me free again to travel without entourage.

I sent away for my SPOT unit and received it within a fortnight. It was just as advertised, small and light weight and seemingly rugged. The controls were so simple I forced myself to read the instructions several times thinking I was missing something. The FINDMESPOT home page made everything perfectly clear and I couldn't wait to start sending OK messages. Out came the plastic from my wallet along with a few moths and spider webs and in less then ten minutes I was my own satellite station. Boys and Girls this IS very cool.

I chose my lists of message receivers very carefully. The I'm OK just Checking in list was of course the Family and a few Friends that would actually want to hear from me and get a kick out of seeing via Google Maps where the heck I am. My HELP list was primarily made up of my Hiking-Hunting buddies that knew how to use a Map and GPS and had the highest probability of finding my dumb ass if indeed the Pacer issue ever popped up to ruin my weekend.

The 911 list....well lets just say I have little control over who will be on that list but I'm sure I wont mind seeing whoever shows up should I ever find myself in that deep a puddle of DODO.

I took SPOT with me everywhere. It was easy due to its handy size and shape. I tested it in places (check for these tests elsewhere on the COSS site) that one might think had a poor shot at good reception, it passed with flying colors.

SPOT uses two types of satellites to do its magic, a GPS locator to peg your position and a Globalstar that rats you out to the monitoring station. The station forwards your Text messages to cell phones you pre-program OR to E-Mail accounts with direct links you just click on to display your exact location. You can even zoom down on the map for a precise position of the SPOT transmitter Location. "And it does it anyplace on the planet!" As long as you can see the sky, you have a great chance to send out your message. I've never waited more then five minutes to get a conformation on my cell that the message was sent. As long as SPOT sees the sky, You're golden. In areas where I had no cell reception, I had a E-Mail waiting for me showing where SPOT was when I hit the button. The only soft point I can really see with the unit is the need for a safety cover over the 911 button. I'd hate to have to tell these guys how I rolled over on my messenger and called for the cavalry. I taped an "O" ring over the button that keeps this from being accidental depressed.

I've read other reviews of SPOT claiming it should have some sort of built in conformation signal so you know your message got out.....yeah that would be cool but the price would need to go up. At about $150 plus a $99 yearly monitoring fee (for basic service) this thing gives alot for the money.

It's one of my favorite colors..international Orange for good reason and floats if dropped in water. It can take a bit of rough handling and I even dropped it once with a grimace on my face only to find the unit unhurt and working like a champ.
I use SPOT along with my other navigation tools, GPS, COMPASS and TOPO MAP and it has been given a spot of earned high importance on my equipment list.

I'm free to hike that extra ridge or change my mind about my planned route without feeling my loved ones would not know where I went.

My SPOT messenger is my second favorite gadget, next to my Pace Maker.

DON"T STOP

THINKING ABOUT CAMPING!

Moving Vertically

Moving Down A Rock Face

is not your average style of travel. Yet when an outdoor traveler needs to get to point B but point A is on a shear rock cliff you have but two real options. No! jumping is NOT one of them, you can go around if that's possible or you can climb down.

Rappelling or as my European cousins call it Abseiling is the technique of moving down a fixed rope in a kind of walking or at times jumping action. The tools and methods for rappelling are many and varied but for the most part allow you to do the same thing, slide down the rope.

Rappelling is considered one of the most dangerous aspects of mountaineering. The reason is simple, it is one of the few times you as a climber are solely reliant on your equipment for movement and safety. Never the less, it is fun and a damn handy skill set to own even if you seldom use it.

You never know when you will need to escape a burning high rise or a jealous husband.

To this end, a freakishly warm spring afternoon spawned the strangest of ideas, we'd take a walk to the near by cliff and step off.

Three of us gathered for the trip, my good friend Pat would join me and as a weird form of birthday celebration so would Russ. HAPPY BIRTH DAY BROTHER!

Russ had done some scouting and found a semi friendly out cropping over looking the west side of town. Not only did he find the jump off point, he found the anchor and even cleaned the pitch for us.......damn he's handy to have around.

We dropped two ropes and assorted clanking junk into our packs and converged on the cliff.

While I do love the thrill of danger, I'm not stupid. Here you see I'm waring my official Magnum P.I. safety shirt. While waring this I'm safe from falls and volcanoes.
With loose rock still a threat to safety, we wore rock helmets for the first trip down....just in case! The surface of the rock had very sharp edges that could ruin a new rope and turn a controlled enjoyable trip into a screaming life flashing before your eyes kind of thing, luckily Russ had a jacket we could use to saddle the rope into and keep us safe. With couching from the Birthday Boy, Pats turn was smooth safe and enjoyable.

Russ donned his safety Straw Cowboy hat and hit the wall.

The spring breeze whipped up and soon became a full on wind.

As the designated belayer (safety man) I monitored the speed of descents and prepared to arrest any fall, I also lost my seat gear, it slipped off after Pats jump. All I could do was photograph it for posterity.

Silly isn't he?

A view of The River Bridge as seen from the hillside, the border of New York and Pennsylvania.

A nice day in the sun with friends, what more could you ask for? A cool drink maybe.
Practise Practise Practise.............rappelling isn't like falling off a log you know. it's a bit higher.

The April Fool

TROUT!
The time of year has rolled around again for me to think of Trout and of the places they live. After my scout into the Neversink Gorge unique Area with Russ, I just knew my first casts of the year would settle on these pools and pockets in this part of my beloved Neversink. So on a rainy and cool April first, I set out after my first Trout of the year.

I carried no waders and wore only my hiking boots. I chose a five weight St Crox four piece rod that was a gift from my late friend Frank. He and I took many Trout years ago, before his God called him to cast a line with him. He "left" me the rod to as he put it "take care of for him".

With pride Bro!

As before the hike to the water was two miles from my trusty rusty, but this time I had the GPS to short cut me right to my plotted spot. The RED trail was so easy to follow that Stevie and Ray could have found it, it took a bit of nerve for me to step off into the forest. The trails are so well defined that the carpeted forest floor looked even more foreboding.

And still more trails I decided not to follow.

The rain held off for most of my trip down into the gorge but the sky was a constant grey that told of wet times ahead. The soft moist leaves made little sound under my weight and I liked moving like a local instead of just a visitor in this wild wood.

I crossed the most beautiful mountain stream as I descended. Hidden in the trees and flowing out of cracks in the rocks, the springs emptied into one as they rushed toward the Neversink below. It seemed like a post card, almost too perfect. I sat for a moment to drink it in with my eyes and ears.

The Neversink was just below me and I could smell the air freshening. The breeze that always seems to follow water was cooling things down and making my spirits rise, lets hope the Trout would as well.

River side history, an old hunters treestand still hangs as a skeleton on a tree. The stand is gone and maybe the hunter as well but the hunting still looks good. Time for a SPOT check, I tested my satellite messenger three times in the gorge. Three times it sent strong OKAY massages. Its a nice feeling to have a babby sitter.

At last I made the river, its stones causing the water to crash around making a thunderous hiss. Some of these rocks weighed tons.

I turned my camera skyward to view the other side of the canyon, its walls high and formidable, home to Eagles and Hawks.

I moved up stream into an area where the water calmed and the foam line was evident and inviting. I love pocket water and this trip produced a seven inch Brook Trout from one of these pockets, but I wanted to wonder and the quiet deeper water just seemed to beckon me.

The river was narrower here but the walls on the other side of the gorge seemed to go straight up. Ice hung from the rocks where the Sun's rays had a hard time filtering through. Just under the waters surface I could discern the undercut ledge rock behind the foam line...Trout ville!

Only one Trout this trip and not even a photo for the Blog thanks to a long distance release, but wow what a trip. I had my lunch on a boulder in the rain before starting the long climb out. Old trusty rusty was waiting to coddle my weary rear end in the parking lot. As always the measure of the trip's value is in the quality not quantity.

I'll be back, next time with Sam.....watch out Trout!

THE FOAM IS HOME

Trout Fishermen and indeed Fly Fishers in my region have many options as to where their quarry should be pursued. Many of our local lakes and streams produce wonderful Trout and great opportunity for sport.

I had heard of one particular area not very far from my home that Internet Fly Fishers were whispering about. The Neversink Gorge Unique Area is a six mile stretch (5000 acre) of my home water that snakes through what was until recently, not only wild and lonesome country but Private Property. New York State's acquisition of lands accessing this unspoiled region was only arranged and finalized within the last ten years so the area is by my standards at least, relatively untouched.
The topography of the area is what one would reasonably expect when you think of a "gorge", steep-rocky and unfriendly to the ankles not to mention parking access is two plus miles from this coveted river frontage.

Rumours abound of pocket water and deep pools where big Browns just wait for your nymph to bump by. Some have reported on Eastern Fly Fishing sites that a healthy population of Brook Trout inhabit these waters as well as some of the tributaries that feed it. With mild weather forecast for the next few days and an incurable curiosity, I did what I always do..........I took a walk.

Russell was as usual, accommodating when I asked if he'd like to "take a walk". The idea of marching on new ground is always enticing. With just a few items for safety and little else we set out for the gorge.

The trail in started as a delightful walk of various widths and winds.

Trails..............


All leading down.......

and down some more.........


The lands here are apparently full of Woodpeckers and Coyote and Bears........Oh my.

Sign and scat abound.

Just when the landscape started looking common and predictable we found an uncommon structure. A Wikiup frame sat off the trail in the side of a hill. The frame needed covering and additional support but when finished would have provided shelter to four people. Over sized for my needs but an ambitious project worthy of our time to explore.

Evidently I was not the only one getting tired. This old boy was just nodding off when I walked by.

We had a good idea where the river ways, we just had different good ideas.

At last the distant sound of hissing thunder told us we were close. As we slugged over a soft watery bench in the topography, we could see the Neversink below. The foam lines shining in contrast to the dimly lit shadows of the gorge. If pocket water is the prise I was after, I got the brass ring. This place was just run after run of pockets and holes, the white water and bubbles pumping life into the oxygen rich water. The place smelled of Trout and the promise of fine fishing, great photo ops and many lost flies.

Giving scale to the depth of this gorge, Russell's orange hat can just be made out on the far right bank in the shadows. Steep sided and boulder strewn, this is no place to be after dark or if injured. It's one hell of a climb out. I tested SPOT's reception out of the gorge and was pleased to find it could get out.

The Neversink Gorge turned out to be a trip I'd look forward to doing again and again, if not for Trout then for the beauty of the area. Wild and little touched by outsiders, this "unique" area holds promise for adventure and inspiration.

We booked out before sundown and looked over my maps and GPS way points, discussed the walk and alternative approaches.
A full day, exploring/charting and

hiking on new terrain. Good friends....

What else can you ask for?

Sam just has to see this.

Rope Work

An unnamed friend (very mysterious) was asking about working with rope. As usual, we decided to take a walk.

My childhood friend Russell had the day off so we grabbed some simple gear and headed off to jump off something. All the regular walls were unavailable or inaccessible so we opted for some boulder bounding at Rancho De Cerrajeria, an unnamed piece of private property where boys will be boys.

A tiny but beautiful waterfall was our back drop.

I thought the rope lesson went very well indeed, the icy rocks made for some interesting hops but we had a nice afternoon and enjoyed the day and the company.

Russ takes a jump

We love this time of the year, the cold air just smells better and the adrenaline running high helps keep you warm. The beauty of this area gives me pause. This is valuable time spent with friends.

The screwball finds a screw tree to sit in................figures!

What was unusual was the lack of photographs of

me,

hhmmm The camera man is never in the shot! I made one or two nice bounces, but you'll just have to take my word for it.

Al makes it up to the top

Not everyone gets two Fathers, I came as close as a guy can get to that.




Russell and myself embarked on a winter adventure into the high peaks region of the Catskills both to spend valuable time together and to fulfill a promise.


Russ's Father was the kind of man other guys just gravitate to. A real man's man and with no wonder. He was giving, kind and well just plain "fatherly" everyone that knew him loved him and I was no exception. Survivor of WWII, he walked with a limp but never let that keep him from the things he loved. Al was an outdoors man, he hunted, fished year round and loved a game of golf whenever he could, that is until two open heart surgeries stopped the hunting. But ever the fisherman, he did what he could. His Boys were his best friends and if they had anything in common it was the outdoors. I think Al's sport of choice was Ice fishing. It was a ritual that he looked forward to each winter.

Russ and I would make our trips to Mt Slide in the Catskills each fall/winter and bring back photos and stories of the beauty to be found just a few miles up state. We often spoke of getting him to the top for a glimpse of this wild and wonderful area and he said more then once that he would love to see it. Al's health made such trips impossible but Russ and I planned to wheel him up on a modified game cart if it became necessary. Time passed and the trip never happened Al's health failed over time and finally won the fight and we lost him to what we hope will be a better life, full of large pickerel and a never ending cup of hot coffee.

Heaven is different to all of us.

Al's last days on this world were full of the sites and sounds of his loving family. This was one man that knew and felt comforted by those closest to him. To pass with that knowledge is a gift. Of course his gift to us was the man himself. Speaking for myself, I am a better man having had him in my life. I felt proudest when he was proud of me and I felt lowest when I let him down, I'm sorry to say I did let him down. But I always felt like one of the family, loved and guided, mentored and scolded. He was a Father to us all in the fullest definition of the word. My children even looked on him as Grandfather. That pleased us both.

After his passing Russell came to me with his plan to "get Al to the Catskills". Our lives were as most people's, hectic and hard to get synchronized for a trip to the high peaks but after a bit of planning and a work schedule that finally made it possible Al would make it to the Mountains.

This trip was our winter day's adventure,

The day started with a cool crisp sunrise and a blue sky that was streaked with long white clouds. I picked up Russ and we headed North. I can't begin to describe the conversations he and I have, we share a strange humor and being alone with no one to sneer and raise their eyebrow at us is very liberating. When you get a couple of guys together that know each other this well and for this long, there's more inside joking then the average person would put up with. You know, real quality time. We talked about family, work, the weather, our route on this trip and anything and everything. Not Al. That topic would come up all in it's own time.








The ledges looking over these mountains are a ring side seat on the most awe inspiring views of the Hudson valley. The lack of leaves gives the impression that things are closer then they appear, truth is the mountains have tall wide shoulders that stretch for miles. Al would have loved them.


















It was a quick but heart felt ceremony, if you want to call it that. A moment to remember our Father and a knowing look at each other. a beer shared by brothers and a smile at the wind as a pinch of Al's ashes drifted across the hill tops.














As you can see by the snow accumulating on my hat, the weather hit us full force and the snow obscured the distant mountains. Russ pulled pairs of ice creepers from his pack to assist with our descent, ironical they were Al's from his days of ice fishing. We retreated down the ridge taking our time over the thick snow covered ice. Russ took his turn hitting the ground after a slip but only hurt his pride. The 4x4 had thermoses of hot coffee and sandwiches and we rested our bones and laughed as we braved the unsanded back roads of Frost valley. Tired and sore I dropped Russ at home and started for my own house to lick my wounds and upload these words.
Thanks for sharing them with us.

I miss Al and expect I always will, with the fondest of memories and the deepest regard for all he was and still is to me and mine. I love you, thanks for sharing yourself with us so freely.

Ray

Gear and other Junk

I was gonna bring that too......



Man I love to fish, camp and hike. Like most of my outdoor endeavors, the preparation is a very big part of the process. I love the planning, sorting, finding, cleaning, oiling and over all prepping for the adventure. I'll scout the area to be used via aerial photographs and Topo maps before walking in to peek about a bit. based on my findings, I start my planning.

Gear is very important to the outdoors person. The right stuff makes your trip a joy, full of good times and memories. The wrong gear makes for a rather disappointing if not dangerous venture.

Charles Cataldo my friend and mentor stressed the six "P" rule. PROPER PLANNING PREVENTS PISS POOR PERFORMANCE. One only need spend a wet night in the Hudson Gorge or a frigid weekend on the slopes of Mt. Washington to realize that this is a mind set not a suggestion. The six "P" rule should be your mantra whenever you plan an outing no mater how short or slight you intend on making it.

I use to teach a packing priority exorcise I called POCKET, PACK and PAW. This simple allocation and distribution method is used by all seasoned outdoors persons, they just might not know they are doing it. For those that are not a custom to this mindset I will explain.



Ask any woman that carries a handbag to explain how she organizes it and after much arguing they will usually turn out the bag and describe in the most interesting and sometimes scary detail just what they carry and why but more importantly WHERE. Things in this strange sack of chaos are in order. Oh I'm not suggesting for a second that I as a mortal man understand the order, I can't even see symmetry after its explained to me, but its there...for her that is.

We know what works for us. We know how to prioritize and tweak, making adjustments based on perceived needs. We do it all the time. Look into your medicine cabinet, sock draw, spare bedroom closet or vehicle's trunk. There is a plan there.

When you plan and pack to carry what will become your only means of self support and dare I say luxury, you use the Pocket Pack and Paw rule.

Any item that you would use allot such as a hiking staff, fishing rod, camera or hunting rifle will invariably be carried in your hand (Paw) even things carried on the shoulder such as canteens are Paw items. Then we break down the remaining items into what you will always need to keep with you and never want to separate yourself from (Pocket) such as cell phone, whistle, fire tool, compass, Light, handgun, pocket knife. We might lose the pack with all the other support it carries but can still manage to navigate or protect yourself and survive. Things hung around the neck are usually very safe if tucked into the shirt. Fire tools and compasses are best carried here. Items worn in the center of your belt between the kidneys can be reached with either hand, a great place to have your folding knife ride. Items worn are Pocket items.

The (Pack) breaks down further into its own sub categories, outer compartments, top cover storage area and the main body of the pack or even the deep internal areas of some packs where sleeping gear is protected. There is opportunity for a plan.

I always pack my packs basically the same way. No matter if it be a day pack or expedition size monster, certain items will always be found in the same places. I don't need to wonder where I put the first aid kit, its always in the same spot. It may be a scaled down (or up) version of the one in one of my other packs buts its always in the same spot as is the toilet paper and trail mix. If I need it in the dark or have to explain to someone else where to find it, its never a hunt.

If trekking with others I always cross check equipment with my companions to ensure we are not redundant to the extreme, redundancies are sometimes a good idea with certain items.

Note: All members of the trip should have redundant Pocket items......to each his own!

WHY IT GOTTA BE A BLACK THING?

BLACK POWDER that is.......................

For as many years as I can remember I have been interested in the history of firearms. The designs and uses of different types have always fascinated me. My Father kept a more then respectable distance from them having seen more of them then he cared to in the second world war. He insisted that should I ever take up the sport of hunting/shooting it would be only after I had been FULLY mentored by my Uncles. As time went on I became of age and indeed took up the interest. I handled many types of hunting rifles with my Uncles and later in life many types of military arms, all interested me but as I grew older and more seasoned in the ways of the shooting arts I learned I would always have a warm sooty spot in my heart for the muzzle loaders.
Black powder rifles were and still are the apple of my eye. The history, the nostalgia, the sight-sound and smell of em.
I couldn't get enough of them.

My first front stuffer was a Pennsylvania long gun, a Flintlock. I love to just walk around the forest carrying the thing. It has such balance and point ability to spite it being a copy of a weapon more at home in the forests of 1777. It still has a place in modern deer woods.

At times I also tote a copy of an 1820 Hawken Flintlock that is as deadly as anything else out there under 75 yards. Both smoke poles are of the 50cal bore and have proven to be a comfort and welcome companion to this rifleman.

My son makes fun of me for finding joy in just walking around with these silly (smelly) things but I find it one of the simple pleasure in my life.

I once missed the most beautiful White Tailed deer I ever saw (alive) face to face with a Flintlock. He was close, Flintlock distance to be sure and moving slowly but a number of things were against me this morning (sometimes the most unbelievable things happen to fishermen and muzzle loaders) and I was thankful for a clean miss instead of a crippling shot. A 50 cal ball makes one hell of a wound and I would rather have missed two such deer then have one suffer.


A Flash in the pan

A close inspection of this fifty Yard target shows a first round Bulls eye!

A White Tail's heart would be about the same size as the red spot.

What could be more natural to me then to walk the same ground our frontier Fathers did carrying the same type weapons they used? With all the disadvantages and problems associated with a primitive rifle and with all the unique thrills as well. I often find myself watching for hostile natives hiding in the rocks just waiting to lift my hair.

Sometimes I vent stress and frustrations by throwing one of my Tomahawks into a stump block in my yard. It soothes me and builds great eye/hand coordination.

For some reason my neighbors don't ask to borrow my lawn mower anymore either.

Crisp rustle of leaves under foot, sweet smell of pine sap in the air and the launching boom of a Black Powder rifle every now and then. A short list of some of the things I love and look forward to each fall.

To Summon The Fire

BRING ON THE SPARKS

The act of "making" fire is both monotonous and magical all at the same time. It has a primeval effect on man and as I mentioned before in another part of the COSS blog we can thank fire for our ability to produce electricity or even split the atom.

but enough of the "ain't that cool" stuff, lets work with our fire tools.

The most common is of course the match. If you are in a wilderness survival situation and only have paper matches to rely on...its been nice. Pray for lightning or a volcano or something equally as reliable.

The wood match is to the paper match what a down bag is to a space blanket, they will both do the job but man what a difference. Wood matches are better but still not the answer.

Lighters are okay but remember they use Butane and that particular gas hates the cold and altitude. They also can't be counted on once wet. The Zippo type lighter uses far too much fuel, drys out quickly and is also susceptible to the whims of Mother Nature. In short, forget the lighters.


Okay then, whats next? I always smile knowingly whenever I hear someone use the words "Flint and Steel". Very few outdoors men (and women) today could really use a steel kit and few understand what they are talking about when they refer to it. To the common wilderness traveler, a Flint and Steel is a pocket sized bar of magnesium and a sparking insert. WRONG!

That is called.......well its a Magnesium bar with Sparking insert. Also called a Doan Magnesium and Steel (wrong again)


A true Flint and Steel set consists of a high Carbon Steel striker of some kind (even the back end of some Carbon Steel knives or an old file) and a hard sharp stone like Flint, Chert, and the like.




It must be harder then the Steel and have a bit of an edge. The idea is: The Steel contacts the stone with a Glancing blow. The stone peels a fine hair sized wire off the Carbon and under the friction of this impact is ignited like the wire in a flash bulb.



(for those that don't know, cameras used flash bulbs filled with Nichrome or Tungsten wire to illuminate the subject momentarily, An electric charge set the wire in the bulb burning in a momentary bright glowing "flash" then the burned bulb was discarded) Today we use Xenon type bulbs that are powered by a battery charging a capacitor that "dumps" energy as it discharges firing the flash again and again as needed. back to the fire.....

This short lived "spark" needs to be caught in a material that is easily flammable. Char Cloth being the most common but different types of tinder can be found in the wild: certain types of fungus and vegetation at different stages of its life make great spark catchers. The spark is carefully eased to life with ones breath and when a flame jumps from the tinder it is transferred to the kindling.....bang, the next thing you know old Jed's a millionaire.
Lets look at making Char Cloth:

Magnesium is more user friendly. Magnesium is HIGHLY flammable when peeled into fine ribbons, (they like to blow away on the slighted breeze) they burn insanely hot (in the thousands of degrees) and will light most material even when it is damp. To start the ribbons burning, you scrape an edge (a sharp edge) across the surface of the sparking insert. This throws copious amounts of hot sparks that burn at over a thousand degrees. One spark sets the whole thing off.

Now lets take a minute here to pay homage and give the respect due to the miracle substance that makes all this possible.

FERROCERIUM !

Sometimes called Mischmetal, this is a mixture of "Rare Earth" metals (iron-cerium-lanthanum-neodymium-praseodymium and magnesium, in case you want to go to the drug store and make your own) that spark when a sharp edge is run over it scraping off a shower of super hot (over a thousand degrees) sparks. As you can see there is NO Flint here at all, calling it Flint and Steel is like calling a refrigerator an ice box, it is yet it ain't.

My favorite fire tools are by far the StrikeMaster tools, strong serious tools that take a beating and stand up to continual use. They are very well made, dependable and easy to use!!
The Survival inc. company produces some nice tools as well. The StrikeForce and BlastMatch are handy and sturdy tools.

Now, Ferrocerium is so good at doing what it does that it doesn't always need the magnesium to help things along. Find the right type of dry (even semi dry) tinder and you still have fire.





One Ferro rod can produce thousands of sparks and is little effected by weather, altitude or the users experience for that matter. Your Grandmother could make a fire with one of these things.

Not carrying a Ferro rod is folly. It is by far the very best and most reliable way to start a fire, or camp stove.

On The Fly



Unless we are camping and in a "take" area we never keep fish. Although I believe there is nothing wrong with keeping two for the pan when the situation allows it. Trout for breakfast can be the highlight of your day when camping.


The time spent pursuing fish with Sam are some of my favorite fishing moments.





The first time Sam ever picked up a fly rod, he seemed to kind of get it. It took me a bit more time to become proficient but I guess he had a better teacher..............me.













He fits those boots allot better now.
The Hat lives on!


The Mongaup River is one of our "home waters", there is great fishing to be found in the local area but timing is defiantly everything. The beloved Neversink River is also within walking distance and will produce nice fish year round. Our trips afield with the Fly Rods are purely for the Zen of it. The casting is hypnotic and finding ones rhythm and timing can be as enjoyable as actually catching fish.

The bottom line is, there is no bad time to go fishing, only a poor days catch. If like me you find the connecting with nature the primary reason for getting out there, then a day with few fish or no deer or flushing few coveys is still worth the trip.

A swollen river makes the fishing tougher.

I get lost in the casting, the placement of the material on the water, its drift and the intense concentration that comes with this kind of single minded focus..........oh yeah, that's Fly Fishing.



I love the way a Brown Trout takes a Fly off the surface, some times their like fish Ninjas.




How Pretty is this? We never kill fish, the area allows you to take a few but we are too greedy.

We want to come back and catch em again!






We like to use a five weight rod for most of our fishing. Of course like most BUG TOSSERS, I own too many rods (if you can actually do that) a 3/4-three 5's a 6 a 7 and an 8/9. All with different casting characteristics. So I have a good bag of clubs to pick from depending on species, method and conditions. That's not uncommon. Sam has two rods, a soft 5 for delicate presentations and a long fast 5 for reaching out a bit or bucking the wind. I think he has the right idea, Keep it Simple Stupid!

Even a small Rainbow like this can be a challenge on light line. This one put up a heck of a fight. The marks on his sides are from him rolling on the line. No worries, he survived just fine.

I also like to watch for Otters....

I am haunted by Otters.

Remington Mod 7 aka The Jump Rifle

Okay Okay, I'll Tell Ya

I've had a couple of my friends ask me about the "little" rifle I was seen carrying during my last White Tail hunt. It is a semi custom Remington that I'm very proud of.

When I say semi custom what I mean to say is it is a production off the shelf hunting rifle that I radically tuned to suit my needs.

I started with a Model Seven Remington carbine.

This was a fantastic platform to modify due to its already dynamic weight, length and balance. Plus it had a Schnabel, I'm a sucker for a Schnabel. I pulled the barreled action out of the furniture and gave it three coats of armour's enamel and baked it on in a slow warm oven (pizza oven) once the steel was suitably flat black and safe from glare and weather, I tuned the trigger down to two crisp Lbs and installed one of the very last ACE trigger shoes in existence. The bolt lugs were lapped to make 90% contact. The standard screws were replaced with grade 8 hardened hex head bolts that allowed me to torque the action into the stock. The stock was fitted with steel screw liners for the fore mentioned bolts and the entire barrel and action was epoxy gel bedded in place.

Instead of the standard "glass" flock supplied by AcraGel, I used aluminum turnings from a machine shop. These hair like pig tails act like re-bar in the mix adding strength and help make the machine to furniture connection a true marriage. I had a choice of using stainless instead of aluminum but after testing found it did not transfer the heat created by the epoxy process as uniformly as the lighter metal. The stock was stripped and a hand rubbed oil finish applied in the European style.

The rifle is chambered in 308 Winchester or 7.62 NATO a great deer cartridge and one with loads of accuracy potential. I push a 165 gr Sierra boat tail at 2555 fps and from a sand bag, can make three bullet holes touch each other lovingly at one hundred yards (when I'm doing my job) The secret to the "user friendly" interface of hunter and rifle is in the way I carry it. As you can see it hangs over my neck and rides in what is some times called the Rhodesian Ready position.

This is the way patrolling Selous Scouts carried their Fal rifles in hostile territory. It is always just a few inches away from coming up level to the eye/shoulder even when my hands are keeping warm in my pockets.

I'll steal a good idea from anyone!

A very easy carry in all weather conditions no matter what type clothes I have on.

The glass is a Simmons White Tail Classic. I chose this scope for its "camera" finish (which is crinkled and flat black) its bright 40mm objective and its range of useful power in the zoom. It is something of an odd duck. While most deer hunting variables zoom from 3 power to 9 the Classic goes one better on each end being a 2 by 10. I like a low power scope (2) for the dense cover where I might jump deer, (thus the JUMP RIFLE) but this little beauty can do the deed at distance as well. A set of Butler Creek covers with modified silencers finishes the set up nicely. The home carved and installed cheery wood tear drop grip extension adds a bit more control on this little baby while waring gloves and complements the curve of the Schnabel. All in all, the piece is pleasing to the eye, hand and shoulder while being deadly on targets. A carefully compiled ballistics chart specific to the gun and its hand loads is under clear plastic tape at eye level on the left side of the stock. It reminds me of the rifle's capabilities and my limitations.

As a side note you might see black patches strategical placed here and there on the stock........its Tread safe. Its What? Tread safe is an industrial peal and stick safety type tape used for the edges if steps or on slippery surfaces. It is like sand paper on steroids. I use it as checkering in areas where I need a bit more grip or on areas of the stock that might slip off my lap as I sit on stand. The Tread safe keeps the rifle where I put it until "I" move it! It is easily removable and can be cut and shaped anyway you need. I really don't care what it looks like in the field, its a matter of personal preference. The beauty is in the utility of it.

What more can one ask of a 6.5 Lbs stalker?

Note: although the mighty Seven is still in production, it has changed much over the years. It is more of a mountain rifle now instead of a carbine. It is still very much the dynamic fast handling rifle it was designed to be but not as nimble as the smaller earlier carbine Sevens. Alas the Schnabel is gone as well.

Remington bring back the curve guys.....we love em.

The Last Hike Of 2008

A Major Ice Storm Hit The

Catskills

knocking out power and closing roads, so I thought "it's Hiking Time"
The ride up to the high peaks region started before sun rise and the full moon in perigee gave a ghostly illumination to the forest.

The full moon as seen through conifers. It was like some big eye watching me.

I started as always with too much gear and a thermos of espresso. The roads were ice covered or washed out. The heavy rain we had days ago were followed by plunging temperatures. It was one extreme or the other but the conditions of the area could not change my reverence for the forest and its beauty.

While stopping to take photos of the spectacular scenery, I locked my car key in my warm and running van. Mike a local and gentleman of the first order offered assistance. He was in a very pleasant mood for a guy that tells me he just got power restored after twenty seven hours without. With some wire from the barn he got me in and on my way before I lost too much time.

Thanks Mike, Merry Christmas to you and yours.

I hit the Slide Mt trail head just after sunrise.

The stream beyond the parking area (the head waters of the Neversink river) was swollen with mountain run off and I could not cross. Plan B a quick trip up Giant Ledge!

The onset of the trail was a mess, leafy puddles and broken branches covered the majority of the approach. But the worst was yet to come. As I climbed a bit further I saw the real damage. Ice and wind had broken trees large and small. Indiscriminately felling any branch that could not bend or shake it's load.

I shared the trail with other forest dwellers.
A coyote and some turkey were using the same trail I was.

I had to stop to crack the ice build up off my carbide points and the sudden silence scared a Grouse, After I re calibrated my Pace maker I moved on.

ICE EVERYWHERE!

The over look was frosted with ice and snow, I stayed away from the edge.

Mother Nature's Christmas Ornaments.

On my way home, I found the strangest tree. It seemed to have dozens of strands of colored beads hanging from it. Some of the young locals have been busy.

A Walk In The Gorge

Kaaterskill Falls
are the highest set of water falls in New York State, higher even then the great Niagara.

Sam and I decided on a whim to have a look.

The gorge itself is worth the trip even if one never reached the celebrated falls. Cool and deep and littered with mountain laurel and boulders the size of small automobiles. The trail twists and climbs following the water course towards the thundering sound of the first of two falls, one on the others shoulders proudly cutting the stone as it goes along.

Sam registers us at the trail head. The beautiful greens and blues of the water were accentuated by the stream's frozen minerals.

The trail was icy but we had not counted on it being so bad, we took only one trekking pole each instead of the customary two (dopes) it made for a slick and challenging trip.

No crampons and only one Pole made Sam look like a candidate for the ministry of silly walks.

Of course my cat like agility and mountain goat like sure footed technique enabled me to fly over the icy path.

I only fell once, and really felt stupid.

As luck would have it we were alone in the gorge. I can't think of anything I love more then when Sam and I start our giggling and clowning around (with safety in mind of course) this was the perfect place to be a jerk with your son. We had a great time.

At times, Sam thinks hes Captain Morgan.

These shots just don't do the place justice, it's beauty is bigger then life. The canyon walls are alive with roots and vines twisting their way towards the water, the ground heaves under the constant erosion.





The falls in our reach and yet not.

With the trail frozen over this was to be as far as we go, just under the lower falls we take our lunch before returning down the gorge to the parking lot and a warm drink.

I Hate Sub Sandwiches

Too bad the warm drink was soda.......

We really need to come back in the spring.

Sam at his very Best

I left him on stand while I had a bit of a walk about. He kept a sharp eye open for any signs of movement. Not including his eye lids of course.

Family Faces

The tribe gathers for the hunt:

Brother John rests after stump jumpin at the foot of the moutian. A great time was had by both of us. As it turned out, he took a nice young buck in this area. I can't wait to go again.

Sam, like his Father loves the outdoors. Hiking/Camping/Fishing or Hunting it's all the same to him. This trip was no different. I waiting until 03:30 before waking him, I figured he needed the extra sleep. He did.

Never the less he went along for the ride.

One of our favorite spots over looks a swampy area under the cliff. The rain water running off the mountain keeps this area damp and mossy, quiet and still. It has been a spot used for breeding in the past. A fine scrape kept me returning each season and this one was no different.

With our backs to a friendly rock to break the wind and shadow us from the rising sun, it watches over a convergence in a thin trail. To spite the abundance of tree Nazis (red squirrels) that sound an alarm if you fart off key this is a great spot.

Walking in the forest with your Son is like teaching each other how to lead and follow. Each in his time and at his own pace.

Every Father hopes his son will follow in his foot steps some day in some way. This is a start.

The EYEs Have it.

The Red Gods were not kind to us, no deer hung from our meat pole. Thanks to the PBandJ Gods we survived.

Yumm Yumm Frozen PBnJ


SOFF,

Hunting is very much a solitary pursuit but it started as a tribal event. This is my tribe.



A Beautiful Day to watch the sun move across the forest floor





Walking with Family, sharing the

sights, sounds, smells

and sensations of the forest

We are hunters. The Game eludes us and we respect it for that, never the less we enjoy the hunt. As part of the environment, we touch a piece be it small of our past, a past that still now calls to us to forage, gather and collect meat as we can. But mostly we are hunters.

The King's Deer

Fall's chill put hunting in mind.

The first days of cold weather found me as usual digging hip deep in the den from hell searching for the prized equipment I save for "deer hunting only" Bags of cleaned and deodorized sweaters and jackets were pulled from their hiding spots. Hats were chosen and placed in order of comfort and value depending on the weather. Boots were checked for whatever one checks boots for. I only have two pairs of hunting boots a great pair of Danners for mind weather and a pair of heavy Rocky pack boots for the snow and ice.

I carefully checked my GPS as if something had changed, few things do in the area I had in mind to hunt. The Topo map and GPS coordinates put me squarely in the "hot" spot where all the largest White Tailed Monsters lived waiting in suicide mode for me to show up with a high powdered rifle. AS IF!

I planned to hunt the first couple of days alone and then bring Sam along to operate the camera and "experience" the hunt as demonstrated by a salty veteran.

02:35 came as hard as it always does on opening day, Not fast enough! I was rolling out from under my safe warm blankets to don my armor and go to war against the chill night air. Brother chill was an understatement. The underwear was in the fore mentioned den keeping my wool socks company and waiting for me. The espresso machine was set up for my thermos. Out on the deck an entire warehouse of equipment was stacked in order of it's being attached to my rather broad and odd looking half naked body. Once I stepped out onto the covered deck there was no returning. Everything I mean everything had been cleaned and scented to conceal my human odor. I packed up the PB and J's in my favorite bag along with more support equipment then Les Stroud sees in six months of outback travel and loaded the van. Last in was my favorite Deer rifle complete with this year's new modification, a built in (self fabricated) camera mount that allowed me to capture the hunt from the hunter's perspective at least the rifle's perspective. I was excited.

Remington Mod 7, 308 Winchester
This carbine shoots sub MOA groups thanks to some careful hand loads and allot of work under the stock.
3 rounds of the 165 grain 2555 fps will touch each other at 100 yards.



This shot does not show the mounted camera for obvious reasons, its in my hand. It is attached to a permanent fixture "hard point" on the left side of the rifle just behind the objective bell and within ergonomic reach of my left thumb. It's really too kool.

The area is a true
mix of dense cover.

High cliffs and as you can see a fairly rocky valley floor

I passed on a small doe opening morning. Three more ran passed me the next day pushed by some unseen danger. I kept a weather eye for the buck that should be along any time now. This area has antler restrictions of three points on one side of at least one inch each. No matter, I knew the area produced some nice head gear having missed one two years ago........Read "why it gotta be a Black thing? The first shots were always within an hour of sunrise but not this day, in fact few shots were heard at all. Trying to remain optimistic I imagine that this meant MORE FOR ME.

I spotted hair on the ground as if deer had been dragged over some logs but to spite my best labors, I could not fine any sign of blood. The leaves were stilling laying undisturbed and even on the forest floor so I did not get the impression that an animal was dragged. Interesting?

A grey sky asked me to leave early

The wind was picking up some and I was getting that lets have a look around as I hike back to the car feeling.

Safe Hunting

RJ

WHATS IT GOTS IN ITS POCKETS?

THE BIG COMPROMISE.

I have spent years reading lists of suggested kit and equipment to carry on the camping. I have sat around the table/camp fire/ garage floor comparing gear with friends and fellow campers studying what others bring along.
And to what end? you ask, well none of us wants to carry an ounce more then we need to on a "hiking" trip but some of us are willing to carry the strangest stuff on a camping trip.

Let me state right now and without hesitation, I don't car camp!
I don't partake of camp grounds, I will not PAY for the privilege of laying on the ground. I consider camping near a road (paved or not) to be RVing not camping.

If you are one who partakes of the joys of "motor camping" this site is not for you. The site is called Common Outdoor Skills, changing a flat tire not being on the list.

My camp spots are wild, remote and far from the sanctuary of the car. Therefore I need to carry everything I need with me into the bush.
On occasions as a younger man (a much younger man) I was something of a minimalist. I tried to get along with the absolute thinnest list of kit I could stuff into my pockets. I could move along faster and had fewer back pains but I also didn't rest well and was frequently hungry. I didn't care for that much. Oh I was well versed in the primitive skills necessary to collect-catch and gather sustenance but lets face it, that's a hell of allot of work and is tough on the environment not to mention the manicure.

My pack and its fillings are better appointed these days. No less thought out and a bit heftier but suited to my age, speed, proposed plans and my over sized bulk and last but not least unexpected emergency.

We learn best by trying our gear and how we pack and carry it and modifying our results until a "compromise" is reached.

So if gear is a matter of consideration, test and compromise then lets look at how we justify some items while turning our backs on some others.

FIRE IN YOUR POCKET

MAKING FIRE THE MODERN WAY

Man is the only animal in the forest that can make fire. This puts us in a very unique situation, we gain all the wonders fire makes possible but accept the responsibilities that go along with it.

Fire is our friend simply because we have evolved beyond the thick fur our ancestors had to keep warm, the claws and fangs to rip raw food and the sharp sensitive eyes that hunted in dim light.

Fire allows us to compensate for all these things. It keeps the dark and predators at a distance and gives us a feeling of well being.

I will cover primitive and semi-primitive methods of fire making on another page,

For now, lets take a look at some modern fire making tools.

Starting with the most obvious.

Paper matches have no place in the bush, they are hygroscopic (they absorb water) and fall apart. The flame they produce is both slight and too short lived.

Camp matches such as the BLUE DIAMOND variety you see above are the MINIMUM you should ever carry afield.

The white canister on the lower right contains "LIFE BOAT" matches. More like a miniature flare, these are water and wind proof. If you must use matches..........these are it.

The lighters are pretty straight forward, butane lighters are just too handy and inexpensive not to include in your kit. The rather odd looking lighter on the upper right is a "lighter cover" it uses the exact same lighter you see pictured but has an added sliding "wind screen" for use in bad weather. Dumb looking but it works.

Some thoughts on lighters for your survival kit:

1) Buy lighters with transparent fuel capsules so you can monitor butane consumption.

2) Pick a bright color, if you drop it you'll want to find it.

3) Use one with a child proof safety, not only to protect the kiddies but to help keep the lighter from rubbing against gear in your pack and discharging..............you need it = it's empty.

4) Carry more then one and in different locations, Remember......Pocket/Pack/Paw

More Serious Tools

If you are a frequent wilderness traveler, you will at some point opt for a "Fire Tool".

More often then not a Ferrocerium rod attached to a handle or Magnesium rod/bar or both.

These things are a true survival tool and life saver. Nearly indestructible and capable of producing thousands of lights per unit. Simply running your knife or similar edge across the rod produces a shower of hot sparks..about 1100 degree sparks, that should coax a flame from dray tinder. If not a few shavings from the magnesium rod will easily ignite and burn even hotter. Damp tinder gives birth to flame with a strike or two.

This is a Ferrocerium / Magnesium combo in a Wood handle.
I just love this thing. I added a cut down Sawzall blade with a bit of bright paint and a leash to keep em together.



The Zip Lock contains Dryer Lint............Poof........Fire!

Above.........behold the STRIKE FORCE fire tool by Survival Inc! No Magnesium, just a crap load of Misch Metal / Ferrocerium in a handy plastic unit (with a compartment for tinder) and sporting a built in scrapper.
I've added some reflective tape to the sides of the unit just in case.

These things come in all sorts of handy sizes (I have a small one on my key chain) and colors and are worth the few bucks you'll spend on them. Pick one up, practice with it and rest easy about heat, light, signaling and comfort in the bush.

Remember........be careful with Fire !

Safe Travels
RJ

The White Gas Stove

The Gods gave Man Fire (Lightning from the sky)

Man harnessed Fire and made Steam (burning Wood / Coal)

Steam gave Man Electricity and the power to mass produce other machines even conquer the Atom!

kool huh?

And someplace during all that a man named Coleman invented the white gas lantern and the Gods looked down and knew they had not wasted their time.

It wasn't long after Mr. Coleman's lantern that he came up with the stove. A simple yet nearly perfect device in both form and function. Some men tinker with Coo Coo Clocks, others mess with antique Italian sports cars........me? Stoves.

I buy em at yard sale or E-bay and rebuild them, play with them and take them camping with me. I love taking an old stove that may not have seen use in years and bringing it out for a weekend of fun and food. The stoves, like old Cast Iron Pans just love the attention. The more you use em the better they are.

This page will show some of my favorite camp stoves. maybe they are not the lightest, quietest, koolest new bit of high tech kitchen gear one might posses but they are tough and dependable and in a survival situation they can save your life.

Lets look at some.

These stoves are for camping not carrying.

A 1970 Coleman 502

The Pocket Stove. Used in WWII and Korea

The Duel Gas Stove

These were and are the Classic American Stoves, Known for their reliability and long service life. However, across the pond those pesky European Alpine trekkers were craving hot Espresso and Tea and they had a few good ideas about how to get the job done.

Some really great gas Stoves were coming out of Germany and Switzerland and England.

Names like Optimus ,Primus and Svea were making reputations for the same reliability.

And earning it the hard way...........at altitude!

Not all American stoves have been what you might call a good idea, some were just dumb. As an example I present the gelled fuel stove. Stinky, slow cooking and heavy cans of gel, you needed allot.

Please note that I am a collector and this item is merely one of the many types of cooking kits I have found over the years, not something I'd place much stock in.

This will keep your pouched fish warm but not cook a meal in a wind.

This Coleman "Heat Drum" design was offered for a while but never really caught on. A 502 was marketed as the answer to the campers prayer, hot food and warm hands. I still see a few of these on frozen lakes each year, Ice fishermen like the idea.

This is a European Army mess kit complete with Alcohol Stove.

It's not a bad set up but to really "Cook" a meal requires much fuel as Alcohol burns cooler then Gas. They also hate the wind thus the wind screen.

Now the winners of the best all round Hiking, Camping, Survival Stove....in my Opinion.

The Coleman "PEAK 1" Series Multi Fuel Stove!

Burns white gas, Automotive Gas, Kerosene. if this thing runs out of fuel just pull over to a station or farm (or friendly neighbor's tank) and fill up. No canisters-Bottles or gels. No worries about Cold or Altitude or the tank not being full enough to pressurize. Just cook with it and keep it clean!
It's light enough to carry anyplace Horizontally or Vertically and puts out plenty of BTUs even in a wind. These are tough stoves, built to handle the work load. I'd trust my life to them anytime. And for all you "cartridge stove whiners".......yes they do simmer, so piss off!

Try one

Safe Travels

RJ

SAWS and AXES

The BIG jobs call for the BIG tools

Honestly, I seldom carry a saw or axe. Having the right type of belt knife might just make that unnecessary. However if you are set up in a remote area and plan on being there for an extended period of time then to not have one if not both of these tools is planning to do things the hard way.

I own a bow saw or two, a Hudson bay axe and a stout hatchet. All seldom used.




Fixed Pruning Saw



Small Bow Saws





If you have ever seen any of the old outdoor life books printed for the outdoors men of the 1950's you'll notice that there was always some Norman Rockwell type picture on the cover of a white man with hat tipped back on his head plaid shirt selves rolled up (as well as pant cuffs..whats with that?)
and holding an axe........was this guy a hunter? a camper? Lumber Jack?

I'm not sure but one thing was certain, outdoors men carried axes! youbetcha!

It was just the way things were back then, trees were always going to be in our great forests and in enumerable amounts so chop away old boy, build that fire or fence or cabin, lake side dock, tool shed to keep your axe in.


Today we know that was a dream that could not last. Trees like people need space and when people need more space the trees suffer first. felling trees is just unnecessary and wasteful to the causal camper. It should never be done.

My favorite "large" tool is the pruners saw. If I must use wood thicker then my belt knife can handle then this saw does a truly excellent job.



Inexpensive to boot.
Lite and portable and can cut through a six inch log without too much effort.


I, like most outdoors men today visit the wilderness, I don't live there. I don't need "permanent" shelter. I wont be building corals for live stock or a barn for feed, my axe is seldom used. Even the Hatchet has seen little use but I own them and know how to use them just in case.

We are taught to make efficient and economical fire sets when ever we camp. We use the same fire rings whenever possible and only use wood from the forest floor. This is a long way indeed from our axe toting friend on the cover of the book. We love and enjoy the forest as much as he ever did but we understand better now that these things are finite and we are the stewards of the forests and all wild places.

Big tools have their place, have them and learn how to safely use them in case a survival situation presents itself and you must build (semi) permanent shelter. For week end camping or two week vacation along the A.T. perhaps...leave em home.

On to the Survival tool. I hesitate to call these things knives, their just too big to be a knife.


When Crocodile Dundee said "Now that's a knife" he should have said "Now that's a big heavy chopper/cutter misfit of a tool". These things are small wonders and practically useless all at the same time. Too big to be a knife too small to be an axe/machete. In its search to be all things it does none of them very well.


In the movie CASTAWAY, Tom Hanks opens coconuts with an ice skate....Kool.

I guess I would too if that's all I had (with my luck, I'd have roller skates) but that's just the way you should look at survival tools.....not as good as the tool you should be using but it's all you have.