Tag Archives: bushcraft

Knowledge Equals Survival

When it comes to the outdoors knowledge equals survival, it not only aids in acquiring skills needed to accomplish tasks, but also helps in maintaining and improving on everything we once learned and knew.  Camping is no different there are tons of different aspects and journeys one can take and by having the knowledge of the land plus the skills needed to conquer the conditions it really makes a difference in how you enjoy nature. My main teachers can be found not only on YouTube but also in the books I have read. I want to share with you the books that have taught me the skills needed to be confident and comfortable in the woods.

  1. Bushcraft 101 A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival –  Dave Canterbury started a series of books with this one but of the ones I have read this is still my favorite. It goes through all the basic knowledge of not only camping but true primitive living. The pictures in this book help to imagine what needs to be done to make certain that you understand what he is talking about and how it helps in a woodland environment. I also enjoy the fact that Dave also has a YouTube Channel that you can find videos on everything he talks about in this book to better knowledge yourself and learn in different ways.
  2. The Peterson Field Guides – I myself have the books about Edible Wild Plants, Medicinal Plants, and Herbs, and Eastern Trees.  These field guides are small and easy to bring with into the woods to help identify different plants and trees. Having a knowledge of what the earth can provide for you can help turn an emergency into a minor setback. The books are full of information to help identify and use each plant you come across.
  3. SAS Survival Handbook For Any Climate In Any Situation – This book is FULL of information not only about camping but also survival. The information in this book can keep you alive and comfortable in most cases and I must say the amount of knowledge I have gained from this book is by far worth every penny. I feel everyone should own a copy of the SAS Survival Handbook just to be ready for whatever might come your way.
  4. The Survival Handbook Essential Skills For Outdoor Adventure – When it comes to a good end table read this book fits the bill. There are a ton of big graphic pictures in this book that not only illustrate the knowledge being shared but it always goes over a wide variety of different topics to help spread your knowledge and keeps you wanting to learn more. I myself flip through the pages, find a picture that catches my eye and learn something new or something I might not have thought of before.  For everyone that is just starting in outdoor adventures, this is a good book that will keep your attention and help you learn.
  5. Survive and Thrive a Pocket Guide To Wilderness Safety Skills – This is a children’s book all about camping and wildlife. This book has a lot of very basic camping knowledge and fun activities you can do while spending your days in the woods. It is a very fun book to read to kids and helps get ideas for different snacks and activities. Even though this book is aimed at a much younger reader there is still a lot of knowledge in this book and being so easy to read I find myself going through it as a refresher from time to time.

Knowledge is power, and by knowledging yourself you will be able to better perform different tasks and skill that not only make your time in the woods safer but also a ton more fun!

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The 10 C’s of Survivability

We have already gone over the original 5 C’s of Survivability. Now we will cover the next 5 C’s that will better round out your kit. The 10 C’s of survivability are how I start off every kit or list of gear I need. Each piece of the 10 C’s kit is very important to have on you when out in the woods.

Candling Device – Having light can turn any situation into a much safer more relaxed environment. Being able to see what you are facing is huge in any situation and having the ability to have the sense of sight in a dark area makes basic movement that much easier. I usually always carry a flashlight on me whether it’s just a small one in my pocket or a much larger more powerful one in my pack or vehicle. One of the best options for in camp is a headlamp, wearing a headlamp allows you to light up whatever you are looking at while still having both hands free to perform task around camp.

Compass – Having a compass that points north and helps you find your escape route is very important. Just as important is knowing your area and having a plan so when things don’t go as planned you have a general direction to head to avoid major threats. knowing which direction the highway is or a major river makes the compass that much more of a tool to help aid you in self-help or self-rescue. Also, having a compass with a mirror and magnifying glass makes your compass a very versatile piece of kit.

Cotton – Having a cotton bandana is a very important and useful piece of kit. It can be used to help in first aid, filtering water, can be turned into char cloth, protects from the sun and the wind, and when wet it can be used to help cool you down on a hot day. There are tons of uses for a cotton bandana and the uses are extended if you choose to carry a shemagh which is basically the same thing only larger.

Cargo Tape – Having Cargo tape I prefer Gorilla Tape can aid you in many ways as well. It can help with repairs, help waterproof holes in tarps or clothes, can be broken down into a flammable tinder bundle, not to mention all the other things that can be made out of tape such as bowls and cups.

Canvas Needle – Having a sail needle doesn’t seem like a very important piece of kit to carry but it can perform in many different ways. Having a sharp sail needle can be used to help dig out slivers or splinters, it can also be used to punch holes in leather, or start a hole in a piece of wood to start carving out a bow drill set. If the needle is magnetized it can also be turned into a compass to help find your north/south line to help aid in finding your way back to camp.

Having all 10 C’s allows you to have all the tools needed to find your way, shelter in place, or safely navigate through the woods. So all of my kits Start with the 10 C’s which are Cutting, Combustion, Container, Cordage, Cover, Candling device, Compass, Cotton, Cargo tape, Canvas needle. These basic pieces of gear will help keep you safe and somewhat comfortable in the woods. also by having pieces that serves more than one purpose can help you that much more, such as a compass that also has a mirror.

OUTDOOR BUG PROTECTION?

With Tick and Mosquito season underway what are some of the things you use to keep them away what is your outdoor bug protection?

I start every season by treating all my clothes, tarps, tents, backpacks, and any other fabric with Sawyer Permethrin. The reason I like using Permethrin even tho it can not be used on skin is because it not only keeps Ticks, Chiggers, Mitts, and Mosquitos away it kills them on contact. I have watched a tick start to climb up my pants and was killed before it even made it to my knee. Plus it stays on your clothes through 6 loads of laundry so you don’t need to treat your clothes every time you go into the woods.

Second I always make sure to bring Sawyer Maxi-Deet this can be applied to the skin to help aid in keeping the Ticks, Chiggers, Mitts, and Mosquitos away in the first place. There is an ongoing joke that the MN state bird is the Mosquito, they can be very thick at times and being able to keep them away is key to keeping your sanity out in the woods. Plus the Ticks are known to carry Lymes disease and other illness so keeping them away is a must.

My Favorite Mora Knives

  1. Mora Companion – This was my first Mora and it has served me very well I can’t think of a better budget fix blade. I have the Carbon steel blade because it is able to strike sparks off the spine and can be used in many other ways. It does, however, come in a Stainless steel option.
  2. Mora Bushcraft Black – Once I got the bug, I had to get the Bushcraft Black. It is very similar to the Companion but with a more rubberized handle that I find to be a lot more comfortable. It also has a 90-degree spine which aids in scraping bark and striking a ferro rod.
  3. Mora Pro C – In one of my BattlBox I received the Mora Pro C it has a much different feel than the Companion but it still has that hard plastic handle. The handle is very comfortable and has a very nice hand guard to keep you from slipping onto the blade. The blade is Carbon steel and much shorter than the Companion. My plan was to give this knife to my young son as his first fixed blade but the more I use it the more I wanna keep it for myself.
  4. Mora Kansbol – This is one of Mora’s newer blades. I hope to one day get my hands on one and see how it compares to my Bushcraft Black.
  5. Mora Garberg – It wouldn’t be a Mora list if it didn’t include Mora’s first ever Full Tang knife. I would love to own one of these knives I can’t imagine what the engineering of this knife includes. They took everything good they have ever done to a Mora, wrapped it up into one package and then made it a full tang. The price shows that they didn’t skimp out on quality but like I said I would love to own one of these bad boys some day.

5 C Survival Kit

The 5 C’s of Survivability are 5 items that are the most helpful to have in any emergency. They are also the hardest to reproduce out of natural materials and burn the most calories to make. So by carrying them with you at all times, you will always find yourself in a much better state of well being no matter what might happen in the woods.

I will put them in order of how I feel they are most important.

  1. Cutting Tool – My cutting tool that I carry most often is a fixed blade knife whether it’s my BK9 or my Mora Bushcraft Black I always have a knife at my side. Some other options could include a machete, ax, or a multitool.
  2. Combustion Device – Fire is very important in any situation it is a moral booster as well as a protector of bugs and other animals. It also lights up camp at night, keeps you warm on a cold day, and can be used for cooking or treating water. So haveing a reliable fire starter is one of the most important parts of your kit. I always carry a good old Bic lighter as well as a Ferro Rod along with some Wet Fire or Live Fire to make sure I can start and maintain a fire in most conditions.
  3. Container – Having a container that you can carry water over distance with as well as cook and treat water is a very important thing to keep in mind. I carry a stainless steel water bottle that I can use to not only carry water but I can place it in a fire to boil water for drinking or cooking anything I may find along the trail.
  4. Cordage – Having cordage or rope with you can help aid you in many tasks. It can tie logs together to make a raft, it can be used to help build shelter, you can make a tripod out of long sticks to help cook or smoke anything you find to eat. I always carry 550-paracord with me that I keep in my pack just for emergency purposes only. Other options would be Zing-it which still has a very strong tensile strength but is much lighter. Also, tarred bank line is used by many bushcrafters for the same reason.
  5. Cover – Having shelter from the elements is very important to staying healthy and safe when dealing with weather. The very first defense from weather is the clothes on your back. Always make sure to dress according to the conditions of the day ahead of you. Wearing a swimsuit in a snowstorm will make shelter building a very top priority over anything else. Making sure that not only are you dressed for the day ahead of you but also having something like a light coat or rain jacket can make a surprise rain seem like just another walk in the park. I try to always dress for the conditions, have a coat to help keep me dry or warm, plus I carry a space blanket that I can make a shelter out of and also keep me warm, safe, and dry.

The 5 C’s was a system made up by Dave Canterbury. All of my kits have a minimum of the 5 C’s Dave has also added 5 more C’s to round out a 10 piece kit that will aid you even further. I will be adding those 5 C’s in another post so stay tuned for future posts.

Water Filter

My favorite water filters.

  1. Sawyer mini – I have used the Sawyer Mini for years and find it works really well. It is small light weight and very easy to use. The thing I like most about it is that you can drink straight from the filter or you can squeeze the water into a separate container allowing you to carry more clean water with you as you go.
  2. Berkey GSPRT water bottle – This is a water bottle with a built-in filter this allows you to fill the bottle with any water from anywhere and simply drink like you would out of a standard straw that you find in most sports water bottles. This makes it super simple to use and fast to get what you need and keep moving.
  3. Sawyer Squeeze – I have not used the Sawyer squeeze which is the Mini’s bigger option. I have heard from many people that the flow rate on the Squeeze is much better and it can filter a ton more water than the mini. However, I feel the Mini serves me well and don’t plan to buy a Squeeze now that I have the Mini.

  4. Sawyer Products Personal Water Bottle Filter – Like the Berkey this is a standard water bottle that you just fill and go. It is very quick and easy to use allowing anyone, even your children to filter water and not slow them down.