Canoe Outfit - Ditch Kit
In preparation for our upcoming canoe trips I'll be posting a couple of articles on what I'm packing and why. I wrote a previous article on how I kit out my PFD for canoe touring, which serves as my most essential life support system should I be separated from the rest of my luggage during a remote trip. Building on that then, my next layer of planning is what I'd like to have should I take a swim in deep water to recoup once on dry land.
First Aid - The Pocket Cuts Kit
There are a few items that I consistently have with me no matter where I'm going, and a pocket first aid is one of them.
In terms of heading outdoors, it's a key piece of kit. Certainly if i'm taking a knife then my pocket cuts kit is the very next thing I pick up. The tiniest cuts can become a real issue if left open to the dirt and detritus of the outdoors...
Canoe Outfit - PFD Kit
With our canoe expedition launching next year I thought this to be a good time to refresh a key bit of equipment in my outdoor outfit: my personal buoyancy device. Until now I've typically borrowed PFD's from centres or friends when I've been out on the water, but given that this aspect of my outdoor pursuits in increasing in frequency I'm using it as a good excuse to finally buy my own! In this article I'll outline how I ready a PFD for backwoods travel, in unison with what I carry on my person.
Tarp Knots- Keep it Taut
The third and final knot in the series I use regularly to pitch my tarp when camping. In the last article we looked at anchoring one end of the ridgeline with the Evenk Hitch; this article with cover the knot at the other end- The Taut Tarp Hitch. These two hitches used alongside the slippery guyline hitch are all you need to secure a tight and evenly pitched tarp.
Tarp Knots- The Evenk Hitch
Continuing our knots for tarps series here is the primary knot, tied first of all, against which we can pull our tarp out from: The Evenk Hitch, named for the indigenous siberian peoples who taught this knot to Ray Mears in the 1990's and who in turn applied it his book Bushcraft.
June's Walk Follow Up
Each month I lead a relaxed Sunday evening walk around the beautiful Grenoside Woods, we look at various aspects of tree and plant knowledge as well as some specific bushcraft knowledge. During June’s walk we had a couple of discussions which I wanted to summarise concisely here for those that attended, but also to those that haven’t been on a walk with us yet an insight into what we find when we’re wandering around.
Tarp Knots- Tarp to Tail
FOLLOWING ON FROM THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE IN THIS BLOG FEATURING THE METHOD I EMPLOY TO TIE A GUYLINE OUT TO AN ANCHOR POINT, I THOUGHT WE'D LOOK AT THE OTHER END OF THE LINE AND EXPLORE A COUPLE OF KNOTS I EMPLOY TO ATTACH THE GUYLINE TO THE TARP CORNERS.
Personal Carry Kit for a Canoe Trip
Following along with my prep for next week's canoe trip this quick article will highlight what I'll be carrying in my pockets and on my person. Generally I usually have a combination of all this equipment on me whilst in the outdoors, and it forms the foundation of my wilderness outfit.
