Introduction to Bushcraft Weekend April 2012

I want to thank everyone involved thus far with Great Lakes Bushcraft getting started. Over the weekend of April 21^st & 22^nd we held our first official weekend overnight course, Introduction to Bushcraft. We had 10 students and 4 instructors in attendance. There were experienced folks to first timers. Most had car camped, and so they brought in a lot of gear. But that is exactly what the course was all about. Learning what you really need in the woods to be comfortable.

I have to admit that I myself skimped on layers, and was a bit cold at night away from the fire. I tried to get away from carrying an under pad for the hammock, won’t do that again anytime soon.  

We began the day early on Saturday morning at 9 am sharp. The wind was howling like a hawk, so we quickly moved towards the woods for some reprieve. Once in the woods we looked for widow makers while setting up our individual campsites, and tried to find level dry ground. An advantage with hanging, you only need two trees about 9-12’ apart. Having smaller children, providing shelter for them can be a task when hiking in. Especially when the youngest is 3 and has to carried part of the way.

I showed how to set up a hammock and tarp set up. I pitched the tarp close on one side and a roof on the other. My modified Baker Hammock Tarp. This allows me to use the hammock as a chair while cooking or other tasks in non-bear country. David had a simple lean-to with his bivy bag. Terry had a modified A-frame with mosquito netting. Shaun set up a modified open end pyramid with a single pole inside. Jamie set up his famous plow point he loves so much. We had a tarp for a wind break and reprieve for any rain that skirted around us Saturday and Sunday. A few knots were demonstrated for the best uses of a ridge line, tent pull outs and hanging a Hennessy Hammock.

Settled in we set up a sun compass when the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, which didn’t last too long. We did manage to get three good shadows in about an hour and a half. Tested against a compass, it was dead on! Then we demonstrated a proper fire lay, while everyone collected small tinder and kindling. Two hands worth of kindling to keep the fire going. Don’t use it all at once though. Save some in case you have trouble, and keep some for the morning fire for coffee. All of the students were able to get flame from a ferro rod and Mini Inferno.

We found some Chaga, discussed some uses for fire and tea. I made a small pot and shared it among us. A little too much sugar took away most of the nutty flavor, but we got enough to test. Shaun baked us some of his bread in his Swiss Stove set up, and it was good.

We collected firewood, made some furniture and talked around the fire. I laid out my 10 pc kit to show the essentials needed to take into the woods. Ken opened his soul by unpacking his bag in front of us all. We found a lot of redundancy in there. That can be from a habit of not emptying your bag before leaving out. I pack an empty bag before each trip. I keep small kits of gear in individual bags. Then I can switch them very easily. Learn the 10C’s of survivability, and you won’t ever forget the important stuff again.

Shaun slept next to the fire lay Saturday night. We built a reflector from some of the larger logs, but the stakes holding it were not far enough in the ground to support it. So early on it fell over. Shaun said that was fine since it was too warm anyway.

The next day we all woke up to a beautiful sunrise in the woods. The night got a bit cold, 34*F, but we all fared well enough. We were all packed up and on our way home by noon.

Be sure to meet us for the next campout May 5^th -6^th in Port Huron where we will begin the Bushcraft Basic’s Course. We will have stations set up for each student to master the skill taught throughout the day. 

Jeff “LFB” Kindy

Instructor

Great Lakes Bushcraft

Intro to Bushcraft Weekend

This weekend will be our first of the year introduction to Bushcraft Weekend campout. We will be showing how to set up a camp in a bushcraft style. We welcome anyone who wants to check out some what it is we will be teaching at our courses. We will demonstrate a lot of different skills this weekend. Fire building, water procurement and treatment, shelters and gear.

Come see what the instructors carry in their packs. See how we set up our camps. Enjoy friendship around the campfire. Learn some new skills. Get a taste of what the courses will entail at a slower pace. This weekend will give you a taste of what to expect during a course, how to pack and what to leave at home.

We will be hiking in about a 1/2 mile, so pack light. Bring your own food and a way to treat your water, there is a stream close by but will need to be treated. A tent is not required, and we will show you how to set up a tarp to be very comfortable. Several of us will have a few different hammocks for you to check out. To me, a hammock is the only way to camp! I will cover why i hang, the benefits and the drawbacks.

We will be meeting at the Port Huron State Game Area parking lot on Metcalf rd at 9am. We will be hiking in shortly after that. Call Jeff at (734) 286-4096 for further details and reserve your camping spot. Come out for the day or spend the night with Great Lakes Bushcraft!
Jeff "LFB" Kindy
Instructor

Warmer weather is on its way...

It better be, I trimmed my beard off to a goatee and cut my hair summer length. I will force the weather to warm one way or another.

I took the weekend off for myself and finally edited some videos I took during the 15 PC kit camp. Check them out here:

Took a trip to Walmart and picked up a few things. I got the blue backpacker tarp, for $10 I'll try it out and probably put it in Sarah's kit. Some bug spray, and some of those little soap film pack things. Paper thin soap in a tiny little plastic box. Then I picked up some collapsible 16 oz water containers. 

Other than that, I was armchair bushcrafting all weekend in front of the computer and watching YouTube.

See ya in the woods.

Jeff

Weird weather in Michigan

With the weather doing funny things you have a hard time packing for an overnight. Do you pack winter clothes? Do you pack summer clothes?

Dressing in layers is the answer. By dressing in layers you can easily adjust for weather changes. Remember to dress lightly for the walk into your campsite if its more than 1/2 mile away from your car. You can add a layer later if deemed necessary. You can add at night too.

A wool blanket will come in handy in this type of weather. You can use it as a cloak. You can use a rope or sash to tie the cloak closed. Or even use a blanket pin. A good wool blanket will keep you warm on a cold night in bed if used properly. Check Pathfinder's videos on how to use a wool blanket.

A rain jacket is a good top layer. It can be used as a wind break that will keep you dry from outside moisture. Be careful when choosing rain gear. If it does not breathe, you will get just as wet on the inside, as you would from the rain. I have a military issue with a vinyl coating on the inside and cloth exterior. I have to decide if its worth putting it on for a light drizzle. A wool jacket would be a better choice for light rain as it retains heat when wet, and dries quickly from body heat. Wool does not hold up well to wind though. I learned that the hard way in my youth on a motorcylce trip in the Fall. In a windy environment, you need a wind break over wool.

Shelter configurations may differ as well. Having a lean-to with a fire that can be maintained according to temps is a good choice. Having enough firewood available is necessary if the temp drops low. Having everything prepared included dry tinder is very important, and will allow you to quickly start that fire without even getting out of your covers. Sleeping bags that use layers are better in unknown conditions as well. I use a 0* bag with a fleece liner. I can regulate sleeping temps by opening the bag/s or by removing one and using either, and covering with the other if needed. During the summer I use a 40* bag with the liner. I got my fleece sleeping bag from Gander Mt for $20. It is surprisingly warm for its weight and is generally good down to 30* by itself depending on clothing worn to bed. On that note, I ALWAYS remove my pants to sleep. Wet clothing may feel warm until 3am. Walking through moist grass and being by the fire will make your outer clothing damp. Damp is wet. It retains moisture that will wick the heat from your body. Having a dry set of clothes, like sweat pants or long underwear just used for sleeping in will keep you warmer than jumping in your bed with your clothes you wore all day. Your body releases moisture all day, even in the coldest climates.

Hydration is always important. More so in cooler weather as you may not notice sweating, the most common sign of water loss. You loss body moisture many different ways though. Through respiratory, through convection and by the wind. 3-4 quarts per day is a good rule for most. Keeping those fluids helps regulate body temp. So keep hydrated throughout the day. Remember that the more protein you eat, the more water your body needs to process it. A good rule to follow is 1 quart of water per meal, with sips in between for good measure. If you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated. Ever notice that at home you can sleep all night without having to get up and relieve yourself? Well in the outdoors, your body doesn't want to waste energy keeping those fluids warm, so it gets rid of it faster. Use a bottle with a tight fitting seal to use that warm fluid to keep your feet warm. Just make sure the lid is on tight when finished filling it!

Jeff "LFB" Kindy
Manager
Instructor
Great Lakes Bushcraft

New GLB bushcraft knife

I am in the process of designing a new knife that we will be offering through Great Lakes Bushcraft.

It will be a Woodlore clone 3-1/2" to 4" Scandi grind blade. Micarta scales and either a custom leather or kydex sheath. I am designing this knife to be affordable to the common man. We will be getting the blades from Two Finger Forge, who is a very large company who sells knife blanks around the globe. Every blank is hand forged and heat treated to perfection. I will be handling these in my brother's shop at Erie Knife and Tool. I am looking to keep the price under $150.00 depending on the cost of the blanks. Keep tuned for further details.

New Blog to keep you upadated!

     I am creating this blog to keep you updated on events, classes and courses. We will post up reports, news and pertinent information regarding Great Lakes Bushcraft.