Recent PostsCategories
Archives
|
August 7, 2012
by 
Considering that the Dakota fire hole is an obscure fire building tradition, I sure get asked about it quite often. People want to know if it really works, is it worth the trouble, and a whole host of other questions.
The Dakota fire hole is a Native American fireplace style that burns wood efficiently like a wood stove. It also provides a greater margin of fire safety by keeping coals and flames fairly contained when you must have an open fire in windy conditions.
By spending some extra effort on the front end to dig the fire hole, you can burn a hot fire with less wood. This can be a huge time and material saver in areas where wood is limited.
Here’s how to make it.
[ Read Full Post ]July 27, 2012
by 
Our ancestors made cord, twine, and rope from a diverse number of fibrous plants throughout the world. Often, this cord would find its way into every facet of life, from clothes and tools, to fishnets and bow strings. Try going camping without cord and see how well you do.
All is not lost, however, if you come up short. Luckily for us, there is plenty of plant fiber out there that can be turned into rope. The fibers of many different materials can be used in strips or ribbons, in the same condition as they are harvested. Fibers can also be separated and cleaned, and then twisted into traditional, multi-ply cordage.
[ Read Full Post ]July 17, 2012
by 
With the 2012 hurricane season already underway, if you’re not yet ready, we’ll help you finalize your preparations.
The season officially began on June 1 and won’t end until November 30. So far, we’ve already had Tropical Storm Alberto, Tropical Storm Beryl, Hurricane Chris and Tropical Storm Debby in the Atlantic. The forecasts for this coming storm season are conflicting, and at the end of the day they are simply predictions, not certainties.
[ Read Full Post ]July 13, 2012
by Have you ever been outdoors with someone who was in over his head? No skills, in terrible shape, or simply overconfident. Or perhaps he had a health issue, or even a mental health issue, that put him at greater risk of getting hurt or lost than the average outdoorsman.
A young autistic man was at great risk for the past three weeks, when he got in over his head and became lost in the backcountry by himself. And yet, he somehow survived. William Martin LaFever, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, went missing around June 6th while attempting to walk from Boulder, Utah, to Page, Arizona, a distance of about 90 miles.
[ Read Full Post ]June 29, 2012
by 
A key chain ring is one of those everyday items that never gets much attention. It holds our keys together, and that’s all it does for us, most of the time.
But as I focus more on EDC (every day carry) gear lately, I wanted every part of my keychain to help with survival chores, even the key ring. So I thought you might get a kick out of my favorite key ring trap trigger. Here's how it works.
[ Read Full Post ]June 25, 2012
by 
The ability to store and transport water is a huge part of any good survival strategy, especially in a dry climate. But that heavy duty Lexan plastic bottle is more than just a one-trick pony. Lexan plastic is shatter-resistant and can withstand boiling temperatures. Here are ten other survival chores that your water bottle can perform beyond just holding your drinking water.
1. Waterproof Survival Kit: Since a water bottle won’t let water out, it also won’t let water inside (unless it sinks to a depth that has high enough pressure to cause the lid to leak). Stuff a water bottle with survival equipment to keep the gear dry and in one place. If it’s brightly colored, it’ll be easier to find. If you don’t overload the bottle, it can even float.
[ Read Full Post ]June 18, 2012
by 
Did you ever notice how easy it is to knock off a chunk of tree bark in the late spring time? That phenomenon is due to the sap running in the tree and the bark temporarily loosening as the tree gets ready to put down another growth ring. This is the perfect time to peel bark for containers.
Bark containers have been used for thousands of years and are found worldwide. From the birch bark canoes and maple syrup buckets of the Native Americans in the North East, to Aboriginal bark cooking pots in Australia, the containers have been as diverse as the people who have made them.
Bark containers also give you a strong and versatile container to use for survival purposes in the wilderness, especially if your normal gear has been lost or stolen. Here’s how to make one type of bark container.
[ Read Full Post ]June 11, 2012
by 
Survival school owner, instructor and author Creek Stewart couldn’t have picked a better time to release his new book, Build The Perfect Bug Out Bag. With all the baggage that the year 2012 has attached to it, lots of people are nervous about the future. Naturally, I couldn’t wait to get this book and give it a thorough read.
I wanted to see if it met my three criteria for a good survival book. I wanted to find out if it was realistic, if it contained legitimate skills and if it would be helpful to people.
[ Read Full Post ]June 7, 2012
by 
Many people walk around with their heads stuck where the sun never shines, missing critical signs that can impact their well-being. The most basic urban survival skill is making sure you’re not one of those people. Situational awareness is key to getting out of tricky scenarios—or, better yet, avoiding them entirely.
[ Read Full Post ]June 1, 2012
by
|
