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Book Review: Three Against the Wilderness

January 19, 2012 review 2


50 and sometimes 65+ below nights, snow drifts breaching 15 feet as a commonality, charging bull moose, forest fires forcing the horses to cross the lake and mosquitoes, horrible, horrible mosquitoes. And for what? You could say for some beavers, but really it was the restoration of an overly trapped ecosystem that, without their maintenance crew, had been left drained, dried and barren of its original inhabitants.

Three Against the Wilderness is a novel written by Eric Collier, a well known conservationist of his time who lived up in the Chilcotin area of BC, Canada in the early 1900s. Eric wrote for Outdoor Life in the late 40s and was convinced to write the story of his experience as a trapper and conservationist at a time when conservation wasn’t even understood by the majority of those involved in it. Who would have thought or even now fully understands how much can be destroyed or returned to an ecosystem with just a pair of beavers?

I want to emphasize, this true story of a homesteading family isn’t a hammer-it-over-your-head environmental story (the family makes their living trapping for furs), but it does demonstrate conservation from a family who to fulfill the request of a grandmother, determined to restore the area to its original condition with or without the beavers who were its original custodians.
I’ve always loved to read or hear about pioneer stories. The idea of living off the land and carving out an existence has always been in the back of my head (even if I know it will never happen to me). The lives were always simple and full, if fraught with difficulty and danger. This story has it all and presents it in a sometimes comedic, sometimes nail-biting way as Three, father, mother and child work together as a unit with nature, in nature and for nature.

If you like to see how families could survive simply and effectively, work together as one and care for the environment that lived in, I’d recommend you this book. It’s a story for everyone that understands or wants to understand more about the pioneering life, cold nights and the results of hard work.

If you’d like to see the fruit of the beaver’s labors, just check out the following coordinates:  52°11’46.53″N, 122°31’24.24″W.  Or look at Google maps.
 

Gear Review: Fold-A-Cup

January 12, 2012 gear, review 2

I’ll be honest. When I first bought this, I was NOT thinking about taking it hiking. To me, the Fold-A-Cup fell into the category of dollar store gifts. The concept was cool and I figured that my kids would love the idea of a cup that folded up very small and that they could use on camping/hiking trips. However, when I ended up using it it became upgraded to a must bring, and not just for the kids.

I’m a DIY guy at heart. I’d rather recycle something or make it myself if it’s going to be cheaper and will occupy my afternoon. I don’t like spending money if I can make something of the same (or better) quality. Yes, time is money, but free time is well… free money! But after making my own DIY mug (made of an old shaving cream can) and burning my lips on a backpacking trip last summer (despite a silicone ring around the top) I coughed up a few bucks and bough myself the “Original” FOLD-A-CUP.

I’m glad I did. Not just because it made a permanent residence on my desk as a therapeutic toy, but eventually because of how great it is for what it does. After getting over the gimmic status, I started to try it out. Not only was it less weight than my DIY cup, but it packed down smaller and wasn’t a danger of burning my lips when a hot drink was in it.




Just the facts:


Let’s look at the facts:

  • It’s a cup. What did you expect?
  • Oh, and it folds.
  • It’s made of rugged plastic.
  • It holds 7 to 8 oz of coffee
  • Guaranteed not to leak
  • crush proof plastic (also makes julian fries*. it will not break!) sorry for the cultural reference. *Does not actually make julian fries.
  • It weighs in at just under an ounce.
  • Folded dimensions: 27mm x 70mm x 90mm (1.1″x2.8″x3.5″)
  • Price: $4-$7
What I like:

Honestly, I was afraid of how it would handle hot water. I’ve seen thicker plastics fare much worse. This seems just as rigid with boiling water as with cold. It doesn’t burn the lips and even the dinky little handle is easily used and doesn’t get floppy with hot water.
After giving it to the kids to play with and after fiddling with it for a few months, I doubt I have the fear of it breaking on me. It’s easy to fold and unfold and you don’t have to be gentle with it.
Finally, I was worried about a plastic-y taste with hot beverages, but I haven’t noticed any. It could be that my coffee is too strong though ;).
Room for improvement?

There are two things that could improve this cup. The first is increasing the size and the other is offering a different color.
8 oz is sufficient for a cup of coffee, but increasing it to 12 ounces wouldn’t cost too much. It does show that we have been conquered by the coffee industry in the expectation of more beverage.  The downside obviously would be a (slightly) heavier cup that was a bit larger.

This cup comes in olive drab (dark green) and also in a yellowy model. I could see this being a problem for the lazy camper. Put it down somewhere and you might just loose it. Something with higher visibility like florescent yellow with florescent green polka-dots would guarantee that you’d be able to find it (if not raise a few eyebrows). OK, so maybe the color suggestion is extreme, but you get the idea.
Conclusions
I know many are snowpeak users, but for those hiking in small groups where a 2nd or third cup is needed, this is a very practical mug that is light and packs up small. You probably won’t even notice it there. It’s cheaper and lighter than a snow peak and keeps the coffee smell out of your mac and cheese! I’ll be looking out for more.

Buy it?

Gear Review: Katadyn Hiker backpacking filter

December 26, 2011 gear, review 0

In the search for good gear, more than anything we trust our friends. Even better if they’re family! My brother-in-law has had his Katadyn Hiker for some time now and so I asked him to write me a review of it. Here it is and it definitely looks like something worth picking up! Thanks Graeme!



The Katadyn Hiker
by Graeme A.

Not long after getting hooked on backpacking, one of the first items I purchased for my kit was a water filter. After comparing a number of water filters, I settled on the Katadyn Hiker. After 3 years of using it on 2-3 backpacking trips per year, it has proven to be a durable and reliable filter.
In its raw statistics, the Katadyn Hiker has all of the filtering ability you would want while out in the back country, filtering out common disease causing organisms with a 0.3 micron filter. What sets the Katadyn Hiker apart from other filters is that its specifications seek a balance of weight, size, and output at a reasonable cost.


At 11oz weight, it is not suited for an ultra-light kit, but still not too heavy for a serious backpacker.

It is not the smallest filter out there, but can easily fit into a normal backpack and daypack.

It pumps a respectable 1 liter per minute which is not the fastest out there, but can handle the water needs for about 3 people without delaying the trek too much.

It makes this highly respectable showing at a cost which is generally about 10-25 % less than other filters, which for a backpacker who desires reasonable quality without having to hand over a lot of money, is a definite bonus.

Using the filter is mostly comfortable. The pump handle is comfortable and has sufficient range of motion to keep your hands comfortable. Pumping a liter of water is not difficult, but it does get tiring once you’ve filtered 1.5 liters. The trick with this filter is pulling on the handle only sufficient to draw in water. Pump too quickly and you need extra strength to maintain the vacuum to draw in the water, and you will likely not capture the full output.

This filter has a number of extra benefits which the core statistics don’t mention. The Katadyn Hiker has both input and output hoses, which can give this filter quite a bit of reach. This is very handy when travelling in a group as the extra hose can easily extend to the person managing the water containers. On the outlet hose the Katadyn Hiker has an attachment designed to fit on most water bottles and hydration packs that are on the market today.

This filter is not without its issues though. Having a lot of extra hose as well as both input and output hoses can create quite a challenge preventing cross contamination of the output water and the input water especially while in the bag on the trail. I store my outlet hose in a Ziploc bag, which adds a bit of time to the process, and takes some getting used to until one gets into the habit.

While the upfront cost is relatively low, the cost of replacement filter elements is on par with other filters, none of which are especially cheap. A single trip pumping from very murky silty water can easily reduce your filters life to zero. If you must use water that is silty, put the water in another container and let the silt settle a bit before pumping.



In a recent 3 day backpacking trip to the Ozette Triangle near the Washington State coast, the Rangers passed on handy trick to add a bit of extra mileage to the filter, a trick that the Katadyn Hiker is especially suited for: When hiking in areas where the water have a bit more particulate or tannins, wrapping the prefilter with a coffee filter and securing it to the input hose with a rubber band can help extend the filter’s life by acting as a pre-pre-filter.

In Summary:

Advantages:

  •          Decent weight, size and output
  •           Lower cost
  •           Input and output hoses makes for great reach when backpacking in a group.

Disadvantages:

  •           Not the lightest or smallest filter on the market.
  •           Takes longer to filter water when filtering for 2-3 people.


The final verdict:

The Katadyn Hiker manages to produce a respectable weight, size, and output at a very good price. This filter is best suited to backpackers who don’t mind carrying a little bit extra weight and volume in order to have a solid, good quality filter for their backcountry adventures.

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Book Review: SAS Survival Handbook

December 16, 2011 review 1

I like to get my hands on survival books and so the first on my list was the SAS Survival Handbook. I was gifted a copy by my brother-in-law and his wife (thanks G&T) and started to work reading it. Well, I’ve read through it finally and it’s time for a review of probably the most definitive survival manual out there, written by probably the most well versed expert in survival, John “Lofty” Wiseman.

Just the Facts


This self-described “definitive survival guide and essential resource” covers the following:

  • Preparation: What a person needs to survive, including preparations that everyone should make
  • Preparation in its context: This covers what you’ll need to prepared for all types of survival situations
  • Setting up Camp: The A to Z of setting up your camp. From making a survival shelter to putting it in its right place to fashioning survival tools.
  • Eating: The dos and don’ts of wild edibles. We’re talking plants and animals from all around the world.
  • Travel: This covers hiking safety in all its forms.
  • First Aid: A very comprehensive look at everything from treating wounds to tropical diseases to poisonous animals.
  • Natural Disasters: How to deal with a natural or human disaster. How deep do you need to dig down to protect yourself from a nuclear blast?

Review


John Wiseman wrote this book based on his 26 years of experience with the SAS (British Special Air Services). This stuff is what they would learn for their survival training and you can see it when you flip through a couple pages. This is your encyclopaedia of Survival guides. At 576 pages and with color drawings this will keep you busy on many an evening as you make your way through clear and very thorough instructions. It is a wealth of information that could get you out of pretty much any situation if you can follow its advice.


Don’t confuse it with a pocket guide or the Coles notes versions (like Ray Mears’ “The Outdoor Survival Handbook” that gives you the basics). This is a good read, but it leaves no stone unturned and no possibility unaddressed. But it does it in a way that makes it easier to remember. I say easier because it is over 500 pages of details. But, for example it uses acronyms like PLAN to help you remember the basics of survival (P – Protection, L – Location, A – Acquisition and N – Navigation). It also looks at what to pack in a personal survival kit (separate from a first aid kit).


Then, it addresses the tools you’ll need when you are surviving. He mentions tips on finding water that I had never heard of before as well as all the standard explanations you would expect. He even addresses urban survival situations, which for the SAS would be a likely scenario to encounter.


His climate and terrain section is excellent. It hits everything you would need to navigate and travel in all terrains and climates. It even gives guide about what type of food to look for. Using a regular rope to abseil, how to decide what side of a snow pack to set up camp on to how much water you lose a day in desert travel. This doesn’t do it justice, it’s really excellently written.


Food. I don’t know what to say, the food section covers 130 pages and aside from a list of wild edibles (flora and fauna) it gives a guide on how to test new plants to see if they’re edible. Oh and this section also lists animals tracks (helps for identify animals while on the hunt). Oh and it tell you how to make quite a few different types of traps for small, medium and large animals.


The camp craft is another section that drew my attention. Lots of time was dedicated to putting together clear diagrams and guides to shelter making, fire lighting, cooking and preserving foods, hygiene, tools to ropes and knots.


It has its own first aid manual including poisonous plants and animals and wild remedies; Again, in color.

Finally, no guide would be complete without a rescue section. Why go through all the work of surviving if you don’t know how to be found (assuming you want to be found). A good amount of time is spent on the different signalling codes which show rescue and first aid workers what it is you need so they can get it to you. A must if you’re trapped in an area where no one can land and they can only drop of supplies.


My Conclusion


This one stays in my desk drawer. It’s my encyclopaedia. If there is something I want to remind myself of or concrete in my mind I go to this book. The detail is just too good not to. The diagrams are simple, the explanations are that of someone who has taught and used these skills for a long time. You can read this on two levels: A bathroom reader for those interested on picking up some ideas or as a course book for anyone who wants to become an expert in these things.


The only thing that disappointed me about this book was the lack of compass theory. It spent a good amount of time on making a compass or finding north, but where it was lacking (possibly an oversight as it was written from the SAS) is in how to use the compass for navigation. I prefer “The Outdoor Survival Handbook for that aspect.” I always try to carry a map and compass, but if I can’t triangulate my position then It isn’t a great help. 1 complaint in over 500 pages isn’t that bad in my books.


As it claims, the SAS Survival Handbook is the definitive survival guide. It is a great resource for a serious outdoor person and a fun casual reader (although a bit dry at times) for the hobbyist. If you are concerned with safety and emergency survival you need this book on your bookshelf.


Pick up a copy at Amazon:

Gear Review: Etón Clipray

December 13, 2011 gear, review, video 3

It’s winter and more than any time of year you need to be prepared for emergencies. A piece of gear you shouldn’t be without is a flashlight. I’d been eyeing a dynamo powered flashlight for a while and dropped the money on one by Etón corp. I’ve been aware of Etón for a while, I knew that they were partnered with the American Red Cross, but there was something else that caught my eye about one of their products.

About a month ago, I decided to add a Clipray to the cart when I bought a new backup harddrive for my computer. Why a Clipray? Well, not just because it was a dynamo powered flashlight, or it’s durable housing and components, but because it also includes a USB charger. First impressions were good and now that I’ve had a bit of a chance to play around with it and try out the features I decided to put together this review (along with a video).

The Clipray (one of their American Red Cross branded tools) is marketed as a “Hand Crank LED Flashlight with USB Cell Phone Chargers and Carabiner clip, excellent for Emergencies & Outdoors”. Let’s put it to the test. (Video at the end of the blog post)

Just the facts
So here’s the low down:
Features
  • Powerful LED flashlight
  • Crank powered
  • USB cell phone charger
  • Hands free carabiner clip
Specs
  • 2.25”x 6”x 1.25”(W x H x D) or
  • 57.15 x 152.4 x 31.75 mm (W x H x D)
  • Weight: 4.9 oz. (138 g)*
*Mine was 134g woohoo! (I love products that are more than honest with specs.)
Reviewing the Features
 
Well let’s look at the features one by one on the product.

 

Powerful LED flashlight LED flashlights are always guilty of have great visibility (you can see it) but can suffer from providing great visibility (what you can see with it). Add to that the fact that this is a hand cranked flashlight and you need to be extra careful on how much energy draw your LEDs make. Well as an emergency flashlight this is more than adequate. The visibility was good with it, providing both width and distance. Don’t mistake it for a headlamp or maglite, it’s not that, nor does it claim to be. It’s good at what it meant for.

 

Crank Let’s analyze this one. It has a crank that feels tough. They didn’t cheap out on materials and put the effort into making something ergonomically pleasing. There’s no bumping of the fingers while you crank and while the knob for your finger could be a millimeter or two bigger, it is very easy to get a good grip on. When you’re not using the crank, it stores away nice and securely.
Powered The cranking functions well,  but a sacrifice in putting in better LEDs is that the battery drains more quickly. It’s no problem to charge, but you will get a work out if you need to use it for long periods of time. I found it best to charge when you don’t need it so that it’s ready to use when you do.
My son wanted to help out. “It’s so easy, even children can use it!”

 

USB cell phone charger I won’t lie, this feature was what made me buy the flashlight. Dynamo flashlights are incredibly common and the technology is pretty well proven, but the ability to charge a USB device was something new to me. This part gave me mixed emotions (as you’ll see on the video) as I forgot that it was an emergency device. If your phone or MP3 player is dead then you’ll need to put in some work (1 minute of steady cranking gave me 3 1/2 minutes of audio with the screen set to turn off after 10 seconds.) I haven’t tested it with a cell phone yet.
Oh, one more thing, the USB only charges while cranking, there’s no ability to charge from the battery unfortunately.

 

Hands free carabiner clip I assume by hands free they meant that you can slip it on without needing to open the spring loaded carabiner. A bit of pressure does that for you. You’d need to use your hands to open it though. It’s an ok carabiner for the purpose. I don’t see it breaking in the near future, but don’t do heavy bushwhacking with this hanging off your hip. In normal situations it should be fine.
Conclusions




Well, as a emergency device, this is a great tool. I definitely would keep this in my car glove box and in an easy to reach place at home.
The USB charger is a great feature that works, albeit with a bit of work. I bought this with a dream of thru-hiking the AT, PCT or CDT and using the USB charger for charging a cellphone/MP3 device. I think I will first do some weekend tests to see how it works out on those before committing myself to this and giving up my headlamp.
Over all? I’m very happy with it, the kids love to play with it and I’m not afraid of it breaking. Plus, at only $15 on amazon, how can you go wrong? I would tell friends it’s great to keep on hand for emergencies, but to be realistic about the USB charging. I’m also considering this as a gift to friends for their glove box.
Video

Gear Review: Vaude Ice Peak 150 37 degree down bag

December 9, 2011 gear, review, video 6

A few months back I entered to win my choice of gear up to a $150 value on one of Sierra Trading Post‘s 25th Anniversary giveaways (@sierratp on twitter). I had been looking for a down sleeping bag and when I saw the specs on the Vaude Ice Peak 150 Down bag I had to choose it. Luckily I won! I have been meaning to do a review for a while and so I finally got out the camera and put together a video (see below). But before that I want to show a bit more about this bag.


Specs

  • 650 fill European Goose Down 90/10 down/feather
  • Lightweight fabric with water-repellent treatment
    • Shell material: 20 denier polyester ripstop Lining material: 20 denier polyester
  • Body-contoured mummy cut
  • Warmth collar and pillow compartment inside hood*
  • Long side zip from collar to foot section
  • Temp rating: 37°F
  • Girth (shoulder/hip/foot): 59/56/40″
  • Fits to: 6′ Length: 79″
  • Stuff size: 11×5″
  • Compression sack with pocket
  • Weight: 1 lbs. 6 oz.
  • Made in China

What I like about it

As a 1 to 2 season bag I’m quite happy with this. My favorite aspects of the bag are weight and compressed size.

The listed weight on this bag is 1 lbs 6 oz or 700 grams. Mine was actually a bit less (650 grams) and that is probably because it lacks a bit of insulating power.  This weight can easily be dropped half an ounce by cutting down the compression straps.

When I ordered the bag I was surprised at the stuff size (11″ x 5″) and I assumed that was compressed. It wasn’t. That’s right, when you tighten the compression sack you can get this thing down to 7″ x 5″. I fit both this and my shelter (a golite cave) in my daughter’s school backpack and the size and weight combination meant it was easy for her to pack around! I might get her to carry them on the next backpacking trip!

I’m working on getting my base weight down for backpacking so I assumed that I would be adding a few degrees by wearing warm clothes inside the bag. I got a shock when (after ordering the bag) I saw a review saying there wasn’t any space for that! Well fortunately for my 5′ 10″, 170 lb frame I had plenty of room to spare and my puffy vest fit well on top of me inside the bag (see video for more details).

The sleeping bag boasts a trapezoidal baffle system, which means that you get the benefit of all that down without any cold spots.

There is an additional baffle across the zipper that prevents heat loss. A very nice feature.

What I would improve

As I said before, my bag was a bit underweight. While that would be nice for a tent or backpack, when it comes to a sleeping bag I’d rather have an ounce more of down fill and sleep a bit more comfortably. As well, the rating on the sleeping bag itself says 7 degree Celsius limit, which isn’t the 37 degrees advertised.

The name “Ice peak” covers the whole line of bags, but to me I would never consider this something worthy of an “ice peak”. Perhaps “cool summer peak”, but not Ice peak.

The material, although light have allowed a few pieces of down to escape already in its limited use.

There is no “warmth collar” as advertised. Unless they are referring to the pull string that tightens the mummy top. There is no neck baffle like there is for the zipper.

The bag temperature rating is not accurate. It rates the limit of temperature at 2 degrees Celsius (35 F). At 7 degrees (45 F) I was getting quite chilly in my tarp tent. At that point I added my puffy vest and fleece sweater around my ankles and slept comfortably. It is advertised online as a 35-40 degree bag and I can’t imagine being out in that weather without extra layers.

The zipper works well but to save a couple grams they used one that tends to get stuck when you zip it. It doesn’t look cheap though, just light weight.

The Conclusion:

Ok, I’m very happy with this bag as a 1-2 season bag. It is compact and light and keeps you warm down to the recommended warmth rating. I bought this to be used with insulating clothing layers to bring the temperature up without being pack weight up. It will do for that.

I was hoping for a couple more degrees on the bag (the 37 degrees F (3 degrees C) advertised on all websites) which would have made below freezing nights comfortable with extra layers.

Expect a long term review sometime in the long term.

Where can I buy this or other Vaude Ice Peak bags?

At the Sierra trading post starting at $144. 

2012 Tenkara USA flies: winning a Tenkara giveaway

December 6, 2011 gear, review 0

Jason Klass’ Setup

For about three years I took Japanese lessons in high school. I would have kept going but there weren’t enough students. We dabbled in culture as well as the language, but they never told me about Tenkara fly fishing.  I’ve been intrigued with the simplicity and effectiveness of Tenkara fly fishing, especially being a lover of small stream fly fishing since I was a kid. If you’re new to the blog a while ago Jason Klass wrote up a 101 on the subject for me so take a look. But this post isn’t about the 101 it’s about a recent giveaway by Tenkara USA’s founder Daniel Galhardo that I managed to win.

Daniel’s package arrived yesterday via first class mail and after a quick photo session I thought I’d show you what he sent.

There was a fabric Tenkara USA patch, Tenkara USA sticker, a very beautifully laid out color guide book giving the history of Tenakra, as well as information on the rods and how to choose one that will suit you. And most importantly, there were the six flies promised. These flies are new to Tenkara USA and will go on sale in 2012.

I thought I’d show you a few of them to see how amazing they are and the quality of workmanship.

Thanks again Daniel! I can’t wait to try these out!

Take a look at Tenkara USA, their blog and of course their gear shop.

DIY: Winter Projects – Helle Knives

November 28, 2011 DIY, gear, review 2

Well it’s winter time and it’s getting dark early. It’s time to retire to the shop/work bench and get busy on those projects that you’ve been wanting to try.  In spring I posted an article about working with Helle knife blanks and it’s about time for a follow up.

I always wanted to make a forge and start hammering away at high carbon steel until I could produce my very own knife. Although it is still on my list of to dos, I know that it won’t happen for some time. Never fear, with my limited skills and tools I was able to get a hold of Helle’s high quality blade blanks (just the metal blade and tine) and work away on nice hardwoods and other materials to produce a completed product that while not completely original is still completely unique.

Since that article I’ve completed 3 knives and have a couple more in the works. I thought I’d show what I’ve gotten done with only a power drill and a couple hand tools.

Knife 1: Helle Triple Laminate, stainless steel Harding Blade. A combination of Ecuadorian hardwood that I salvaged from a piece of hardwood flooring, Ecuadorian leather and Ecuadorian Tagua (Vegetable Ivory).

All the pieces prepped for gluing.
Glued and ready for sanding

Sanded, oiled with linseed oil and next to the hand stitched sheath that I made.

 Knife 2: Triple Laminate high carbon Helle Tollekniv Blade with Peruvian Olive wood, leather and Tagua.

Sanded, oiled and next to a WIP sheath that I’m making.

Nice and snug in its sheath.

Knife 3: Helle Triple Laminate, stainless steel Harding Blade. Oversized handle of Peruvian Olive wood, tagua and leather.

This is a special WIP project that I hope to explain in more detain in the future.

The work so far is average, but one thing I’m really satisfied with is how the grain travels through each piece of olive wood. Quite beautiful.

So, what do I use?

  • 2 ton, 2 part epoxy.
  • Helle blade blanks
  • Hardwood
  • Leather
  • Tagua
  • Power drill
  • Hand saw
  • sand paper
  • Sanding wheel
  • Vice
It’s a pretty straightforward project, but wrap the blade while working with it so you don’t damage it or yourself. The blades come extremely sharp and hold and edge pretty well so personal injury is possible.

How do I feel about the Helle blades? The laminated blades make them harder to break, but also mean that the outside is softer and easier to damage by scratching or scraping. The downside of the softer outer shell is that it makes it nigh impossible to spark a ferrocerium rod without using the sharp edge. They hold a very good edge; Enough to shave the hair off my arm, although I try not to make a habit of it. The blades are also thicker. The harding is a good 1/8th of an inch (3 mm) and the Tollekniv is 4mm. I’m happy with them, but am still looking for a solid high carbon blade blank so that I can spark a ferrocerium rod with it, but that is a minor benefit.

Little House series – Kids books to teach traditional skills

November 7, 2011 kids, review 0


The days are getting shorter and all those parents out there have probably already been reminded to read to their children. If you’re into the outdoors, survival, primitive skills or even simple just a history buff then I strongly recommend the Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.



Somehow I missed this series as a kid, but I’m having a blast reading it to my kids now, and they have a blast listening and staring at the pictures. They love to learn about the tough pioneer days and the difficulties that seem so far removed from this day and age. Whether it’s the bad case of malaria that plagued the growing community on the prairie (and that was attributed to eating watermelons), or the chimney fires in the little log cabin to the very dangerous river crossings, there was a ton of experience and danger that accompanied daily life that the kids can learn about and learn to appreciate in this age of modern convenience.

For the first little while I was stopping whenever I encountered something that my five year old daughter wouldn’t have understood, like what’s a bobsled, or a yoke or dozens of other situations, but after pausing and explaining and then having to read Laura Ingalls Wilder explaining it in the next paragraph I realized how much attention was put into making this a teaching tool about pioneer times.

For me, my favorite part besides the story itself is definitely the skills that were used regularly and that have been lost. From building and notching a log cabin to making doors with leather hinges to smoking foods in a hollowed out chicory stump to cutting and storing ice for summer, to Almonzo’s experience trying to train his calves and more. It was a busier time and a harder one. Making a trip to town to trade firs was a 2 to 3 day trip and left your family to fend for themselves. But it was a full life. I still refer to my survival books to learn new things, but this series shows that many of these skills were not hobbies, their lives depended on them.

The books have just the right amount of drawings to keep the kids interested. My daughter attentively examines the art and absorbs what the author is saying. I only realized how much when she was leafing through one of the previous novels and recounted all the details of what was happening, the names of Mrs. Scott (let’s be honest, who remembers the few pages and which novel in which Mrs. Scott makes a appearance?).

To make it even more entertaining, we’ve started a few projects. We’re making a one room log cabin (a small one) and plan to put together a wagon, small furniture, etc. We made a Tee-pee after watching some videos about how they were made and we’re going to try to do some of the food projects (a.k.a. dinner) that they did. Nothing says Saturday morning like a heaping stack of pancakes!

Currently we’re on book 3 of the series and look at the wealthier Wilder family that Laura marries into later, but even in the second book (little house on the prairie) the kids started to call us “ma and pa” and take on the names of Laura, Mary and Baby Carrie. Unfortunately for my 2 sons, he got stuck with being mery an baby carrie. I doubt it will have lasting effects… at least until my daughter starts dressing them up in velvet for going to church on Sunday!

It’s a great series to read with your kids and is rich in history and experience, good times and hard times. It can teach us about the importance of a simple life. When your worldly possessions fit into a wagon and TVs and electronic toys don’t exist you don’t get bored, you actually have more fun, more exercise and learn more practical life lessons.

If you’re looking to buy this series, look at your local second hand store or borrow from a friend. These books are everywhere and cheap. Try to stick to the original series, and not the expanded set added to by other authors.

Book Review: Big Tracks, Little Tracks

October 18, 2011 kids, review 0


Most if not all of us in the outdoor community are trying to get our kids involved and interested in the outdoors. We’re trying to create an awareness of the wilds and we’ll take any resource that makes that easier. It seems like HarpersTrophy is up with that as it published a book called “Big Tracks, Little Tracks – Following Animal Prints”.


It’s part of Stage one of a whole series called, “Let’s Read and find out Science”. Not all books are outdoor related, but so far we’ve read with the kids the above title and “Where are the Night Animals?” These beginner readers are not new. This full color children’s book is a re-titled Harper-Collins release from 1966, and it stays timeless.

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The reason I like it, apart from the detailed drawings and story style narration is that it teaches kids to be nature detectives. It shows them things to look for not only in animal prints, but signs that animals have been there. It shows them that animals are everywhere, even if we haven’t seen them.

It’s not a super light look at animals either. While it only shows half a dozen or so different animal tracks, it lays down principles on identifying the differences between cat-type tracks and dog-type tracks, throws in a a fox track to mix things up and even shows how to read the tracks to find out what the animals were up to and why. For example, why did the rabbit start running and where did it go?

It also keeps it fun. Who ate the dog’s food? Spot the different animals! and it even finishes with a detective project and instructions for how to make plaster casts of animal prints.
I was very impressed as we were reading another story book that my daughter correctly identified cat prints (their hind feet step in the prints from their front prints, leaving less tracks, plus they retract their claws while they walk).
For young kids, this book shows a number of animals. For the older child it sets their interest in discovery rolling and gives them the basics for identifying animals and their habits.

Vasque Voltas for kids – Why you should invest in good shoes… for them!

October 9, 2011 gear, review 0


Parents you know the deal. The kids go through new shoes faster than going through toilet paper. Or at least that’s how it seems. And now that you’re thinking about potty training let’s come back to the topic of shoes. Yup, if they haven’t worn holes in them then they’ve probably already grown out of them. And, as much as you don’t want to fork out for “expensive” shoes you need to think about your kids’ feet, especially if they’re the outdoors type. Enter Vasque.

I just want to say, this isn’t sponsored, Vasque isn’t paying me. I’m just really impressed with the shoes.


Why to buy Good Shoes

Ok, so first off, bad shoes can lead to big problems for your child’s feet. Lack of support, lack of flexibility and lack of breathability can lead to discomfort, fallen arches and problems with mobility and foot development in general. If you don’t believe me, trust the experts. Plus, cheap shoes tend to fall apart more quickly.

If you wouldn’t want to go out running or hiking long distances in a $10 pair of runners I can guarantee that your kids won’t either. Kids play. They tend to walk/run/climb a lot more than we do and that’s going to mean more of a need for a decent pair of shoes than most of us desk workers.


On a whim, I went into a certain cheap big box store and looked for shoes for my daughter, just to get an idea of what they offered. I first noticed that the shoes weren’t cheap. $30 for a pair of low quality sandals! I then noticed the cheap materials, lack of arch support, etc. I wasn’t going to pay $30 for junk. So I left.


Buying Online

Then, I did something I recommend you do. I shopped online. Yah I know we all know about shopping online, but I recommend you check reviews of quality shoe brands and then go to somewhere online like the Sierra Trading Post to make your purchase. Sierra Trading post doesn’t always stock the same brands or models, but I picked up a pair of Vasque Volta shoes for my daughter there for $15. Yes, that’s right $15… OK so it was $20 with shipping. They may have been last season’s model, but that didn’t matter to her. They’re her everything runners and even I doubt she’ll wear them out before outgrowing them. That means my son will get them next (It’s just good they weren’t pink).


Vasque Volta




The Vasque Volta is a really nice hiking shoe for kids. It looks and acts just like an adult’s hiking shoe. 


When I opened the box, the first thing I noticed was the flexible sole. It was really nice and pliable. My sister-in-law always says that you need that on kids’ shoes. Studies show that the flexible sole helps the development of normal mobility and strength.  

The second thing I noticed was the traction. It’s serious stuff! I took her hiking on a trail with normal shoes and she was slipping all the time, but after getting her these she rarely takes a slide at all! She hikes more confidently and that means we can do more together outdoors.


The second think I noticed was the support and foam padding, i.e. quality materials. I’ve purchased cheap shoes for myself and I know that the first thing that goes is the cheap foam behind the heel, then the arch support. Well, not only can you notice on the Vasque runners just by look and feel that it’s a much better quality I can see it in my daughter’s activities and foot health. She hasn’t had a single sore on her foot from these shoes, even if she gets them wet! There was no break in time needed with these and she hikes without a single complaint about her feet.


Another feature I like is the draw string laces. She has no problem taking them off or putting them on by herself. It was a toss-up going for laces or draw strings, but these haven’t slipped any more than my son’s laces, even on hard hiking trails. When you have 3 kids, the sooner the kids can put on their own shoes, the better!


The upper shoe is made of leather and fabric, allowing good support and breathability. It does make them a bit more susceptible to getting wet, but that hasn’t caused a problem for us.


Honestly, I can’t think of anything bad to say about these shoes. Even the color combo is great for her (Canteen/Nile). I will definitely be looking for more of these in the future!


Shopping Online

I can strongly recommend these shoes for an outdoors kid and would strongly recommend checking out the Sierra Trading Post online or in your local area to see what they have to offer.


If you haven’t purchased anything from the Sierra Trading Post, drop me an email paul.osborn(at)theoutdooradventure.net and I’ll invite you for a $10 discount. Oh and this is where this could help me out. If you make a purchase then they will offer me the same deal on my next purchase!

Book Review: The Outdoor Survival Handbook by Ray Mears

October 5, 2011 review, survival 0


Ray Mears. He knows what he’s talking about. And he put some of what he knows is in a book. That’s Raymond Mears’ “The Outdoor Survival Handbook.”

Based out of the UK and a common feature on the BBC, he’s known for his many TV survival series and experience with traditional cultures around the world. He learned from how the indigenous peoples from around the world have lived and shows others those skills that have been lost. Did I mention that he also runs a survival school? Imagine all that knowledge distilled down into 235 pages of easy to read, easy to duplicate instructions with an abundance of drawings and diagrams.

I just finished reading it and there is enough to keep you busy all year round for many a year. From survival skills, to primitive crafts and projects there’s a ton of things I want to teach and show my kids as they get older to make them feel more at home in the woods.

Let’s start with the layout. The majority of this book is structured around the seasons, divided into Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Although this took me a bit to get used to, it makes a lot of sense. What we need to survive and what we can make use of varies by the season. What wildlife to expect, shelter needs, available wild edibles, etc. are all seasonal issues and best presented as such.

Of course, some outdoors skills or needs don’t have anything to do with the weather and so they book end the seasonal info.

For example, the book starts like this:

  • Introduction – Everything you’d expect from an introduction.
  • Clothing – the role it plays, what you should wear and how you should layer it
  • Personal Kit – As he says, “Make sure that you carry what you need, and not an item more.”
  • Under cover – From Hammocks to Bivy sacks to tent, it’s a brief look at the role of the different shelters.
  • Base Camp Kit – For those of haven’t considered the possibility of setting up a camp and doing short expeditions from there he gives some suggestions of how you can do that.
  • Cutting tools – Ray Mears’ take on different cutting tools 
  • Navigation – An easy to understand, but detailed section on Compass and map navigation, as well as a look at navigation with natural signs from trees to sun to stars.
Expect a bias here on gear related themes, but he has a lot of experience, so he’s entitled to it. Frankly that part dates the book at bit, references to specific brand names and products make it feel a bit “sponsored” although I don’t know if that’s the case.
Seasonal Info

From there it moves onto the 4 Seasons, each with its own information on the following categories:
Animal Kingdoms
  • Animal tracks
  • Droppings
  • Feeding signs
  • Winter trails
Shelter
  • A wide variety of shelters for individuals and groups for different climates
  • Beds and bedding
Water
  • How to find, collect and purify water in every season
Fire
  • It starts with the science of how a fire burns and what you need to make it
  • Next it looks at different types of fires and what they’re for (cooking, drying, heating, etc)
  • It looks at how to transporting fire
  • as well as various tools and methods for starting them.
The pursuit of food
  • Edible plants and roots
  • Fish – catching, filleting, drying, cooking
  • Making flours
  • Primitive ovens
  • Small and large games and “wasting nothing”
  • Edible fungi
  • Trapping
Special Projects
Each section about the season has a different set of projects including:
  • Cordage
  • knots
  • Birch bark creations
  • Pottery
  • Basketry
  • Carving
  • Sap
  • Wild plants and fungi for utility
  • Making snow shoes
Appendices
No, this isn’t a field surgery section, but it does provide a couple other things
  • A list of “useful addresses” which are just outdoors suppliers
  • Sharpening a knife – lots of useful pictures and info to show you how you’ve been doing it wrong/right
  • Coppicing – Say what? (Not even the spellcheck recognized that word). It shows how to correctly prune/cut trees and stumps to keep a tree healthy and make it a source of future bushcraft and survival resources. Did you know that if you take off a branch and don’t cut it flush with the trunk that fungus could enter and harm the tree? Neither did I.
Final Thoughts

This book is a good balance of survival and primitive skills with lots of pictures and an easy how to format that makes the knowledge offered easy to remember and apply. It covers a wide array of subjects and projects that make long term survival a lot easier.
It really focuses on the outdoor experience (I was going to say “outdoor adventure” but it seemed to cheesy). Ray several times speaks about awareness and experiencing nature. He’s about preserving nature for future generations while exposing it to them so they can appreciate it for themselves.
This book does not deal with first aid in survival situations. Aside from a couple wild plants and a reference to bringing a first aid kit it doesn’t dig deeper. 
If you’re looking for an easy read and easy to understand book on the outdoors, this is definitely worth a look.

Take a look at these other Ray Mears Books:

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