Date: May 07, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine
The first part of the day was spent on the river. We paddled down the Aroostook and polled up part of Squapan stream. The stream ended up being too low, even for poling, so we turned around. We poled back up to our launch site and returned to camp. At camp we made a pile of "doughnuts" (deep fried bannock) followed by a presentation on map and compass navigation. For dinner we cooked pork and potatoes in the dutch oven.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Poled up stream successfully (Squapan)
2) Made doughnuts
3) Learned orientation principles
4) Cooked pork in a dutch oven
5) Saw moose, red fox, and varying hare
Initial Reflections:
I made it up the slow shallow Squapan successfully but I had a really hard time on the Aroostook. I read through a poling aritcle and I think I can make some positive changes to my technique tomorrow.
Current Reflections:
The "really hard time" I had on the Aroostook was frustrating. I wasn't getting something in poling and I couldn't convince the canoe to go upriver. My emotion control was slipping away from me and I think I was dehydrated. It wasn't a scene or anything but I was quite annoyed. Getting upset just makes everything more difficult in an awful positive feedback cycle. I feel like I learned quite a bit about myself by going through that experience.
Tuesday 31 January 2012
Monday 30 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 17
Date: May 06, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine
The rain kept us at camp today. In the morning we reestablished a kitchen area that was used last year. We put in a new crossbeam and covered it with a tarp. We had a lesson on setting up tripods and how to use cooking rigs. After lunch we carved pot hooks for cooking over the fire. I built a jig for sharpening my still unfinished crooked knife. I started working on ma new longer bucksaw frame but it won't be finished until tomorrow.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) restored part of the camp
2)carved pot hook
3)made sharpening jig
4)starting bucksaw frame #2
Initial Reflections:
I need to be careful about accumulating too many unfinished projects! I will try to get either my bucksaw frame or crooked knife done tomorrow.
Current Reflections:
Not accumulating unfinished projects is a good idea for my life in general! I have a tendency to get "excited".
I found working on camp infrastructure to be quite interesting. I think setting up a good long term camp is one of those experiential bushcraft skills that is hard to train without actually spending the time in the bush (vs. flint knapping, knots, etc). Having a quality tarp covered cooking area with a solid cooking apparatus makes a big difference in your quality of life. If you can cook on the fire (with said apparatus) the need for modern gear like stoves is greatly reduced. Good times.
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine
The rain kept us at camp today. In the morning we reestablished a kitchen area that was used last year. We put in a new crossbeam and covered it with a tarp. We had a lesson on setting up tripods and how to use cooking rigs. After lunch we carved pot hooks for cooking over the fire. I built a jig for sharpening my still unfinished crooked knife. I started working on ma new longer bucksaw frame but it won't be finished until tomorrow.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) restored part of the camp
2)carved pot hook
3)made sharpening jig
4)starting bucksaw frame #2
Initial Reflections:
I need to be careful about accumulating too many unfinished projects! I will try to get either my bucksaw frame or crooked knife done tomorrow.
Current Reflections:
Not accumulating unfinished projects is a good idea for my life in general! I have a tendency to get "excited".
I found working on camp infrastructure to be quite interesting. I think setting up a good long term camp is one of those experiential bushcraft skills that is hard to train without actually spending the time in the bush (vs. flint knapping, knots, etc). Having a quality tarp covered cooking area with a solid cooking apparatus makes a big difference in your quality of life. If you can cook on the fire (with said apparatus) the need for modern gear like stoves is greatly reduced. Good times.
Wednesday 25 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 16
Date: May 05, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine
In the morning we reviewed some basics like axes, sharpening, and spark fire. After that we put the canoes in at the Ashland trading post on the Aroostook River. We went over the particulars of river safety and how to ballast the canoes. The process involved a lot more work on both paddling and poling. Poling up river was new as was ferrying with pole and paddle. We left the Aroostook right down the road from JMB. I baked sourdough bisuits in a reflector oven before dinner.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Learned river safety
2) Learned up river poling
3) Learned ferrying (pole and paddle)
4) Improved J-stroke and poling on flat water
5) Baked in reflector oven
Initial Reflections:
Today went much better than yesterday. My basic pole and paddle technique improved but I had a hard time with pole ferrying and poling upstream.
Current Reflections:
I think this was the first day of a positive feeling about canoe travel. I was pretty frustrated after the previous day and this experience was a nice change. These positive feelings were not consistently maintained (as you will see soon enough), but I started to get the feeling I could do it.
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine
In the morning we reviewed some basics like axes, sharpening, and spark fire. After that we put the canoes in at the Ashland trading post on the Aroostook River. We went over the particulars of river safety and how to ballast the canoes. The process involved a lot more work on both paddling and poling. Poling up river was new as was ferrying with pole and paddle. We left the Aroostook right down the road from JMB. I baked sourdough bisuits in a reflector oven before dinner.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Learned river safety
2) Learned up river poling
3) Learned ferrying (pole and paddle)
4) Improved J-stroke and poling on flat water
5) Baked in reflector oven
Initial Reflections:
Today went much better than yesterday. My basic pole and paddle technique improved but I had a hard time with pole ferrying and poling upstream.
Current Reflections:
I think this was the first day of a positive feeling about canoe travel. I was pretty frustrated after the previous day and this experience was a nice change. These positive feelings were not consistently maintained (as you will see soon enough), but I started to get the feeling I could do it.
Tuesday 24 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 14 and 15
Summary:
Day 14 was spent in transit.
Date: May 04, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Day 12:
First thing today was making rope from an orange plastic cord using a crank. Afterword we reviewed some knots for use with canoes. Most of the day was spent on Squapan Lake in canoes. We worked on basic paddling and poling.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Made a rope
2) Reviewed non-inverting slippery bowline, slippery bowline, and slippery sheet bend
3) Learned J and knifing J
4) Learned basic poling
5) Harassed porcupine
Initial Reflections:
I did very poorly in the canoe today. It was a bit better near the end but I was generally awful.
Current Reflections:
Kinesthetic tasks usually take a me a while to figure out and canoes are no exception. If memory serves the next series of "Initial Reflections" involve lots of woe and self pity. Its ok, things got better later. Building a rapport with boats can take a while. I didn't find anything intuitive about making the boat heed my requests so I had to spin around in circles until things started making sense.
Porcupines are cute.
Day 14 was spent in transit.
Date: May 04, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Day 12:
First thing today was making rope from an orange plastic cord using a crank. Afterword we reviewed some knots for use with canoes. Most of the day was spent on Squapan Lake in canoes. We worked on basic paddling and poling.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Made a rope
2) Reviewed non-inverting slippery bowline, slippery bowline, and slippery sheet bend
3) Learned J and knifing J
4) Learned basic poling
5) Harassed porcupine
Initial Reflections:
I did very poorly in the canoe today. It was a bit better near the end but I was generally awful.
Current Reflections:
Kinesthetic tasks usually take a me a while to figure out and canoes are no exception. If memory serves the next series of "Initial Reflections" involve lots of woe and self pity. Its ok, things got better later. Building a rapport with boats can take a while. I didn't find anything intuitive about making the boat heed my requests so I had to spin around in circles until things started making sense.
Porcupines are cute.
Thursday 19 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 13
Date: May 02, 2009
Location: Wolfboro Falls, Newhampsire, USA
Sourdough pancakes. There was a brief incident involving high heat and large quantities of bacon grease, lesson learned. We spent most of the day working on crooked knives, filing the bevels, carving handles, hardening and tempering. All that is left is a bit of handle shaping, lashing, and sharpening. We also loaded canoes onto the canoes onto the trailing. We go back to Masardis tomorrow.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Made sourdough pancakes
2) Finished crooked knife shaping
3) (Mostly) finished crooked knife handle
Initial Reflections:
After some more practice I discovered I could file more efficiently in a different position. I cut myself twice today, both in moments of frustration. Staying calm and concentrating are vital.
Current Reflections:
Its funny how true all the tool safety information about "not working tired/angry/drunk" actually is. I didn't get seriously cut ever but the only times I got cut at all were strange unsafe positions when I was frustrated. The time I remember was trying to cut a branch for the knife handle. I was perched half way up a small tree and definitely not in a proper knife use position. I guess it was one of those lessons I needed to learn for myself. Ah well, better a Mora knife than a table saw!
Location: Wolfboro Falls, Newhampsire, USA
Sourdough pancakes. There was a brief incident involving high heat and large quantities of bacon grease, lesson learned. We spent most of the day working on crooked knives, filing the bevels, carving handles, hardening and tempering. All that is left is a bit of handle shaping, lashing, and sharpening. We also loaded canoes onto the canoes onto the trailing. We go back to Masardis tomorrow.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Made sourdough pancakes
2) Finished crooked knife shaping
3) (Mostly) finished crooked knife handle
Initial Reflections:
After some more practice I discovered I could file more efficiently in a different position. I cut myself twice today, both in moments of frustration. Staying calm and concentrating are vital.
Current Reflections:
Its funny how true all the tool safety information about "not working tired/angry/drunk" actually is. I didn't get seriously cut ever but the only times I got cut at all were strange unsafe positions when I was frustrated. The time I remember was trying to cut a branch for the knife handle. I was perched half way up a small tree and definitely not in a proper knife use position. I guess it was one of those lessons I needed to learn for myself. Ah well, better a Mora knife than a table saw!
Tuesday 17 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 11 and 12
Summary:
Day 11 was spent in transit.
Date: May 01, 2009
Location: Wolfboro Falls, Newhampsire, USA
Day 12:
We began with a lesson in sourdough baking, pancakes in specific. The lesson was expanded to include baking sourdough biscuits and bannock. The rest of the day was spent converting mill bastard files into crooked knives.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Learned the basics of sourdough baking
2) Baked sourdough biscuits
3) Baked bannock
4) Annealed file
5) (mostly) finished shaping crooked knife
6) Humanure bucket emptying demo
Initial Reflections:
Sourdough baking is better than I expected it to be. Using sourdough seems both practical and delicious. Shaping this file is taking a very long time, I must remember to look into other low-tech solutions.
Current Reflections:
Sourdough biscuits really are delicious. I find myself craving them on a fairly regular basis.
This day was my first introduction to blacksmithing of any sort. I would definitely like to do more in the future. There is only one place teaching any blacksmithing locally (that I have found). I should probably get my act together and take a class!
http://www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca/EN/main/programs/by-series/public-programs/at-the-forge.html
Day 11 was spent in transit.
Date: May 01, 2009
Location: Wolfboro Falls, Newhampsire, USA
Day 12:
We began with a lesson in sourdough baking, pancakes in specific. The lesson was expanded to include baking sourdough biscuits and bannock. The rest of the day was spent converting mill bastard files into crooked knives.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Learned the basics of sourdough baking
2) Baked sourdough biscuits
3) Baked bannock
4) Annealed file
5) (mostly) finished shaping crooked knife
6) Humanure bucket emptying demo
Initial Reflections:
Sourdough baking is better than I expected it to be. Using sourdough seems both practical and delicious. Shaping this file is taking a very long time, I must remember to look into other low-tech solutions.
Current Reflections:
Sourdough biscuits really are delicious. I find myself craving them on a fairly regular basis.
This day was my first introduction to blacksmithing of any sort. I would definitely like to do more in the future. There is only one place teaching any blacksmithing locally (that I have found). I should probably get my act together and take a class!
http://www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca/EN/main/programs/by-series/public-programs/at-the-forge.html
Monday 16 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 10
Date: April 27, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
The shelter I slept in last night was comfortable. The space was cramped but it was warm and dry. In the morning we felled some trees. My first felling got caught up in some other trees but the work to free it was quite informative. Afterword we made fish spears. The rest of the day was devoted to stalking and awareness.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Spent the night in a tunnel shelter
2) Learned approach to troubleshoot felling
3) Made 1st fish spear
4) Practiced stalking
5) Practiced wide angle vision
Initial Reflections:
The shelter went really well and clearly illustrated the value of a tarp. I was very interested in the stalking exercises but they obviously require extensive practice. Tomorrow we leave for a few days to Tim's property in New Hampshire.
Current Reflections:
The shelter really was comfortable. It was below zero but I awoke toasty and dry, good times! Getting exposed to some basic stealth and awareness exercises did a good job of highlighting how deep hunting is as a skill set. I was aware, prior to this experience, of the importance of animal behavior and marksmanship but I hadn't really considered the stealth/awareness aspects in much detail. I can see now how long it would take to truly internalize and develop those approaches to moving in the bush and how that would alter hunt success.
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
The shelter I slept in last night was comfortable. The space was cramped but it was warm and dry. In the morning we felled some trees. My first felling got caught up in some other trees but the work to free it was quite informative. Afterword we made fish spears. The rest of the day was devoted to stalking and awareness.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Spent the night in a tunnel shelter
2) Learned approach to troubleshoot felling
3) Made 1st fish spear
4) Practiced stalking
5) Practiced wide angle vision
Initial Reflections:
The shelter went really well and clearly illustrated the value of a tarp. I was very interested in the stalking exercises but they obviously require extensive practice. Tomorrow we leave for a few days to Tim's property in New Hampshire.
Current Reflections:
The shelter really was comfortable. It was below zero but I awoke toasty and dry, good times! Getting exposed to some basic stealth and awareness exercises did a good job of highlighting how deep hunting is as a skill set. I was aware, prior to this experience, of the importance of animal behavior and marksmanship but I hadn't really considered the stealth/awareness aspects in much detail. I can see now how long it would take to truly internalize and develop those approaches to moving in the bush and how that would alter hunt success.
Friday 13 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 9
Date: April 26, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
I managed to get more felling practice in the morning before much of the day had begun. The rest of the morning was spent looking at potential camp sites down by the river. We worked on land navigation to get us there and back again. After lunch we built the shelters we will be spending the night in. These shelters went up much faster than the quadpods. The day ended with a "plant of the day" and dinner.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Felled 2 trees
2) Started a large 1-match fire
3) Worked on navigation by sun position
4) Found hare, grouse, and black bear scat
5) Built a shelter (looks kind of like a bivy sack made from a bough bed, alder saplings, and a tarp)
6) PotD entry for Coptis trifolia (goldthread)
Initial Reflections:
My felling is getting much better. I corrected an angle problem I was having and it made a big difference. Our trip to the new camp site made it apparent why rivers were the highways of the bush as the bush is "dense". I think the shelter sleeping will go well tonight. The temperature is supposed to drop to around -7C but I will have a sleeping bag so it should be ok.
Current Reflections:
The real accomplishment today was the 1-match fire, I think it was my first. I think the "secret" that this jump (10-match fires to 1-match) represents is really an issue of patience. I kept trying to "force" the fire to start before I had everything in its right place. When I chilled out and took the time to get all my fuel stages properly aligned things got much easier.
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
I managed to get more felling practice in the morning before much of the day had begun. The rest of the morning was spent looking at potential camp sites down by the river. We worked on land navigation to get us there and back again. After lunch we built the shelters we will be spending the night in. These shelters went up much faster than the quadpods. The day ended with a "plant of the day" and dinner.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Felled 2 trees
2) Started a large 1-match fire
3) Worked on navigation by sun position
4) Found hare, grouse, and black bear scat
5) Built a shelter (looks kind of like a bivy sack made from a bough bed, alder saplings, and a tarp)
6) PotD entry for Coptis trifolia (goldthread)
Initial Reflections:
My felling is getting much better. I corrected an angle problem I was having and it made a big difference. Our trip to the new camp site made it apparent why rivers were the highways of the bush as the bush is "dense". I think the shelter sleeping will go well tonight. The temperature is supposed to drop to around -7C but I will have a sleeping bag so it should be ok.
Current Reflections:
The real accomplishment today was the 1-match fire, I think it was my first. I think the "secret" that this jump (10-match fires to 1-match) represents is really an issue of patience. I kept trying to "force" the fire to start before I had everything in its right place. When I chilled out and took the time to get all my fuel stages properly aligned things got much easier.
Thursday 12 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 8
Date: April 26, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
The main project of the day was tweaking and putting the finishing touches on our saws. My saw is now completely finished. After lunch we went into Presque Isle for supplies. I secured a prepaid cellphone. On the way back we stopped by the Ashland logging museum and were given an extensive tour.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Totally finished saw frame
2) Coated axe (linseed oil and turpentine)
3) Visited Ashland logging museum
Initial Reflections:
The logging museum was interesting, the tour guide was on the board of directors and was very knowledgeable.
Current Reflections:
I was shocked by the contrast, after a week in the bush, of being back in an urban area. Considering that urban area was the bustling metropolis of Presque Isle I can only imagine how it would feel to go straight into a big city. It felt like my mind had begun adapting to the different pace and sensory experience of the bush. I find the psychological part of spending time in the bush interesting, I can really feel the different after a week or so.
This reminds me that I should do some work on my axe. It has been lingering in my closet for a while and needs some work.
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
The main project of the day was tweaking and putting the finishing touches on our saws. My saw is now completely finished. After lunch we went into Presque Isle for supplies. I secured a prepaid cellphone. On the way back we stopped by the Ashland logging museum and were given an extensive tour.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Totally finished saw frame
2) Coated axe (linseed oil and turpentine)
3) Visited Ashland logging museum
Initial Reflections:
The logging museum was interesting, the tour guide was on the board of directors and was very knowledgeable.
Current Reflections:
I was shocked by the contrast, after a week in the bush, of being back in an urban area. Considering that urban area was the bustling metropolis of Presque Isle I can only imagine how it would feel to go straight into a big city. It felt like my mind had begun adapting to the different pace and sensory experience of the bush. I find the psychological part of spending time in the bush interesting, I can really feel the different after a week or so.
This reminds me that I should do some work on my axe. It has been lingering in my closet for a while and needs some work.
Tuesday 10 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 7
Date: April 26, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
Wind. I was forced awake to reinforce my shelter because the tarp was actually blowing off. This morning was time for building atlatls. I made an atlatl and one dart. It worked better than I would have expected. In the afternoon we built saw frames.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Built an atlatl and one dart
2) Built a saw frame
3) Practiced with atlatl
Initial Reflections:
The atlatl was great and worked well. I would like to work with them further. The saw frame was quite challenging. Carving surfaces to be flat is, in particular, quite difficult. The end result of the saw frame functioned and was acceptable.
Current Reflections:
The atlatl really did work well in terms of time invested. A few shaped pieces of wood and a (very basic) stone point gave me a baseline projectile. One would certainly want a lot of experience with atlatls before getting too confident with accuracy. Even well made atlatls take time to build accuracy and I would not call my first atlatl "well made"! The limited range also means you would want to have a good handle on stalking. These aren't complaints, I think atlatls are fascinating tools.
The saw frame was a surprisingly difficult carving project. As I mentioned in my "initial reflections" carving something to be proper flat is hard. It is not a difficult task with a plane but knife carving that surface requires great control. The other difficulty was dealing with the tension in a saw frame. The whole set up must be bound in such a way that the tension keeps the saw blade taut. It was an interesting task and a great way to lower pack weight and/or build in redundancy.
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
Wind. I was forced awake to reinforce my shelter because the tarp was actually blowing off. This morning was time for building atlatls. I made an atlatl and one dart. It worked better than I would have expected. In the afternoon we built saw frames.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Built an atlatl and one dart
2) Built a saw frame
3) Practiced with atlatl
Initial Reflections:
The atlatl was great and worked well. I would like to work with them further. The saw frame was quite challenging. Carving surfaces to be flat is, in particular, quite difficult. The end result of the saw frame functioned and was acceptable.
Current Reflections:
The atlatl really did work well in terms of time invested. A few shaped pieces of wood and a (very basic) stone point gave me a baseline projectile. One would certainly want a lot of experience with atlatls before getting too confident with accuracy. Even well made atlatls take time to build accuracy and I would not call my first atlatl "well made"! The limited range also means you would want to have a good handle on stalking. These aren't complaints, I think atlatls are fascinating tools.
The saw frame was a surprisingly difficult carving project. As I mentioned in my "initial reflections" carving something to be proper flat is hard. It is not a difficult task with a plane but knife carving that surface requires great control. The other difficulty was dealing with the tension in a saw frame. The whole set up must be bound in such a way that the tension keeps the saw blade taut. It was an interesting task and a great way to lower pack weight and/or build in redundancy.
Friday 6 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 6
Date: April 25, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
I spent last night in the quad-pod. The experience was valuable and it taught me a lot about open shelter building. The primary lessons revolved around the distance between the shelter and the fire and the size/type of fire wood. The fire had to be managed every hour or two so little sleep was had. At 6am I moved to my normal shelter that had my sleeping bag in it. The rest of the day was an "off" day.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Slept in 1st quad-pod
2) Read "Craftsmen of Necessity"
3) Explored the importance of a good nights sleep
Initial Reflections:
My body was in need of a day off. My hands are in pretty rough shape and I was really tired from staying in the quad-pod. All things considered, the shelter kept me alive and let me get some legitimate sleep, a success.
Current Reflections:
My quad-pod experience was definitely of the "learning from your mistakes" variety. Three years later I have a much clearer memory of the things I did wrong than the things I did right. I think the actual shelter part of the set up was pretty good, though it wasn't tested against rain. I couldn't feel much air movement and I didn't feel like I was losing a lot of heat through my bed. The space between my bed and the fire was too large. I wasn't getting enough heat from the fire and that caused me to get cold around every hour or so (as soon as the fire died significantly). I also made the, very silly, mistake of putting a very large (still wet) log on the fire thinking that it would dry out over night and eventually burn up... this is not what happened. Instead the big log just sucked heat out of my fire all night long, it was "not great". Its amazing how many little lessons there are in a task like shelter building.
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
I spent last night in the quad-pod. The experience was valuable and it taught me a lot about open shelter building. The primary lessons revolved around the distance between the shelter and the fire and the size/type of fire wood. The fire had to be managed every hour or two so little sleep was had. At 6am I moved to my normal shelter that had my sleeping bag in it. The rest of the day was an "off" day.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Slept in 1st quad-pod
2) Read "Craftsmen of Necessity"
3) Explored the importance of a good nights sleep
Initial Reflections:
My body was in need of a day off. My hands are in pretty rough shape and I was really tired from staying in the quad-pod. All things considered, the shelter kept me alive and let me get some legitimate sleep, a success.
Current Reflections:
My quad-pod experience was definitely of the "learning from your mistakes" variety. Three years later I have a much clearer memory of the things I did wrong than the things I did right. I think the actual shelter part of the set up was pretty good, though it wasn't tested against rain. I couldn't feel much air movement and I didn't feel like I was losing a lot of heat through my bed. The space between my bed and the fire was too large. I wasn't getting enough heat from the fire and that caused me to get cold around every hour or so (as soon as the fire died significantly). I also made the, very silly, mistake of putting a very large (still wet) log on the fire thinking that it would dry out over night and eventually burn up... this is not what happened. Instead the big log just sucked heat out of my fire all night long, it was "not great". Its amazing how many little lessons there are in a task like shelter building.
Thursday 5 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 5
Date: April 24, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
The rain and wind had passed by morning. Breakfast was followed by work more work on knots. After lunch we built braces for the group shelter's stove pipe as it had blown down the day before. The rest of the day was spent building "quad-pod" shelters. The other student and I are each on one side of a long fire. We will be spending the night in these shelters without sleeping bags.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Learned three new knots:
i) prusik
ii) constrictor
iii) square
2) felled 2nd tree (Thuja occidentalis - white cedar)
3) made braces for stove pipe
4) built 1st quad pod
5) noticeable local increase in bird and insect activity
6) tadpoles now in ponds and stream
7) shown how to make basic sundial
Initial Reflections:
There really seems to be a lot more birds active today. Shelter is a huge amount of work. I was chopping carrying and weaving boughs for most of the day. It will be interesting to see how this turns out.
Current Reflections:
Going through the process of actually building a shelter (vs just reading about it) really highlights the complexity of the task. There are a lot of variables to consider and balance. One has to account for wind, rain, convective and conductive heat loss, proximity to fire, and other local considerations. Actually building a quadpod made me uncomfortable with my previous stance of "oh, that looks easy enough.... I'm sure I could build one if I really needed to...". My view shifted considerably after this day. My stance is now,
If you haven't done it, assume you can't do it in the bush.
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
The rain and wind had passed by morning. Breakfast was followed by work more work on knots. After lunch we built braces for the group shelter's stove pipe as it had blown down the day before. The rest of the day was spent building "quad-pod" shelters. The other student and I are each on one side of a long fire. We will be spending the night in these shelters without sleeping bags.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Learned three new knots:
i) prusik
ii) constrictor
iii) square
2) felled 2nd tree (Thuja occidentalis - white cedar)
3) made braces for stove pipe
4) built 1st quad pod
5) noticeable local increase in bird and insect activity
6) tadpoles now in ponds and stream
7) shown how to make basic sundial
Initial Reflections:
There really seems to be a lot more birds active today. Shelter is a huge amount of work. I was chopping carrying and weaving boughs for most of the day. It will be interesting to see how this turns out.
Current Reflections:
Going through the process of actually building a shelter (vs just reading about it) really highlights the complexity of the task. There are a lot of variables to consider and balance. One has to account for wind, rain, convective and conductive heat loss, proximity to fire, and other local considerations. Actually building a quadpod made me uncomfortable with my previous stance of "oh, that looks easy enough.... I'm sure I could build one if I really needed to...". My view shifted considerably after this day. My stance is now,
If you haven't done it, assume you can't do it in the bush.
Wednesday 4 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 4
Date: April 23, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
Woke up to heavy rain this morning. I took a shot at getting a fire going but the tinder was too damp and I couldn't make it last. The rain and wind kept us inside all day. We review our canoe trip plans and created some contingency plans if something goes awry. The rest of the day was spent on nature study.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Found a 7" spotted salamander
2) Worked on canoe trip plans
3) Nature study on Salvelinus fontinalis (brook trout)
4) Read H.A. Rey's "Stars"
Initial Reflections:
It is surprising the degree to which weather effects your daily life when you live outdoors. I find myself immensely thankful for things like the angle of my shelter to the wind.
The "Stars" book was interesting as I had no previous knowledge of astronomy. I feel I could now extract quite a bit more information from the night sky.
The spotted salamander was found trapped in a deep footprint in the snow. It hardly reacted to being picked up but disappeared soon after being placed under a tree out of the snow.
Current Reflections:
Weather seems to be one of the major mechanisms through which we "synch up" with the land. I was used to ignoring the weather and going about whatever business I had previously arranged. There was a strange kind of communion to following the rhythm of things and altering my plans in accordance with the weather.
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
Woke up to heavy rain this morning. I took a shot at getting a fire going but the tinder was too damp and I couldn't make it last. The rain and wind kept us inside all day. We review our canoe trip plans and created some contingency plans if something goes awry. The rest of the day was spent on nature study.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Found a 7" spotted salamander
2) Worked on canoe trip plans
3) Nature study on Salvelinus fontinalis (brook trout)
4) Read H.A. Rey's "Stars"
Initial Reflections:
It is surprising the degree to which weather effects your daily life when you live outdoors. I find myself immensely thankful for things like the angle of my shelter to the wind.
The "Stars" book was interesting as I had no previous knowledge of astronomy. I feel I could now extract quite a bit more information from the night sky.
The spotted salamander was found trapped in a deep footprint in the snow. It hardly reacted to being picked up but disappeared soon after being placed under a tree out of the snow.
Current Reflections:
Weather seems to be one of the major mechanisms through which we "synch up" with the land. I was used to ignoring the weather and going about whatever business I had previously arranged. There was a strange kind of communion to following the rhythm of things and altering my plans in accordance with the weather.
Tuesday 3 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 3
Date: April 22, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
I took another walk to the river after waking up. This was followed by breakfast and an entire morning spent on knots. It had just rained so lunch became an impromptu lesson on starting and maintaining fires in wet conditions.. After lunch we did our "plant of the day" nature study and carved bow drills.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Learned 3 knots: i) jam knot
ii) slippery sheet bend
iii) non-inverting slippery bowline
2) added Thuja occidentalis (yellow cedar) to herbarium
3) carved bow drill (Thuja occidentalis)
4) got 2nd bow drill coal (I had only managed this once previous to the course)
Initial Reflections:
Knots are hard. It will take a lot of consistent practice to internalize these knots. Lighting fires when everything is wet is also hard! I am interested to see what strategies are available in temperate rainforest to combat the wet, both in terms of fire and bush life generally.
Current Reflections:
I found (and continue to find) knots quite challenging. On top of the obvious practical use of knots, the process of learning them is important for my self knowledge. Like most people I have a tendency to prefer tasks that come easily to me. As knots are a challenge to learn they are useful for building my patience and gaining a better understanding of how I learn.
As someone who lives in the rainforest I really enjoyed learning wet weather fire skills. It seems like much of the challenge of living in the temperate rainforest is dealing with the wet. We may not spend much of the year below zero but soaking wet at 6 degrees is "not fun".
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
I took another walk to the river after waking up. This was followed by breakfast and an entire morning spent on knots. It had just rained so lunch became an impromptu lesson on starting and maintaining fires in wet conditions.. After lunch we did our "plant of the day" nature study and carved bow drills.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Learned 3 knots: i) jam knot
ii) slippery sheet bend
iii) non-inverting slippery bowline
2) added Thuja occidentalis (yellow cedar) to herbarium
3) carved bow drill (Thuja occidentalis)
4) got 2nd bow drill coal (I had only managed this once previous to the course)
Initial Reflections:
Knots are hard. It will take a lot of consistent practice to internalize these knots. Lighting fires when everything is wet is also hard! I am interested to see what strategies are available in temperate rainforest to combat the wet, both in terms of fire and bush life generally.
Current Reflections:
I found (and continue to find) knots quite challenging. On top of the obvious practical use of knots, the process of learning them is important for my self knowledge. Like most people I have a tendency to prefer tasks that come easily to me. As knots are a challenge to learn they are useful for building my patience and gaining a better understanding of how I learn.
As someone who lives in the rainforest I really enjoyed learning wet weather fire skills. It seems like much of the challenge of living in the temperate rainforest is dealing with the wet. We may not spend much of the year below zero but soaking wet at 6 degrees is "not fun".
Monday 2 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 2
Date: April 21, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
I began the day with some solo nature observation down by the river. After breakfast we worked on spark ignition and the use of cotton balls in vaseline as tinder. An introduction to saws was next but we were forced inside by heavy rains. Instead of saws, Tim gave a presentation on wilderness survival and its relationship to bushcraft. Following this was time spent on nature study, specifically the "mammal of the week". After lunch we moved to the newly built common shelter and worked on carving netting needles.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) ignited cottonballs in vaseline with sparks
2) listened to survival presentation
3) nature study on Lepus americanus (snowshoe hare)
4) limbed portion of hardwood tree
5) carved netting needle
Initial Reflections:
The survival presentation was very useful. I feel I have a better grasp on plan and gear priorities. My netting needle was poor but my carving improved through the process. I couldn't make sparks with the back of my knife because the edges are rounded, I must remember to file them flat.
Current Reflections:
Carving the nettling needle was quite a challenge. My previous woodworking experience was of the chisel/plane variety with very little knife based carving. I was having problems because of the width of the end blade on Mora knife I was using. The blade was narrow and I was inexperienced, so maintaining my grip for fine carving was a difficult. I switched to a slightly larger Mora and the problem went away. I think this was a skill based problem and not a knife based problem. Tim has larger hands than I and he used that same knife with no problem.
This was also my first real exposure to why I wouldn't want to do fine work (like carving a netting needle) with a large knife. I think it would be very difficult to have the kind of control required to do the carving work efficiently with a large knife. By "large knife" I'm talking bowie/tacticool size, not just the "larger Mora" I was discussing previously. I guess what I should do is buy a large knife and try it myself!
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
I began the day with some solo nature observation down by the river. After breakfast we worked on spark ignition and the use of cotton balls in vaseline as tinder. An introduction to saws was next but we were forced inside by heavy rains. Instead of saws, Tim gave a presentation on wilderness survival and its relationship to bushcraft. Following this was time spent on nature study, specifically the "mammal of the week". After lunch we moved to the newly built common shelter and worked on carving netting needles.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) ignited cottonballs in vaseline with sparks
2) listened to survival presentation
3) nature study on Lepus americanus (snowshoe hare)
4) limbed portion of hardwood tree
5) carved netting needle
Initial Reflections:
The survival presentation was very useful. I feel I have a better grasp on plan and gear priorities. My netting needle was poor but my carving improved through the process. I couldn't make sparks with the back of my knife because the edges are rounded, I must remember to file them flat.
Current Reflections:
Carving the nettling needle was quite a challenge. My previous woodworking experience was of the chisel/plane variety with very little knife based carving. I was having problems because of the width of the end blade on Mora knife I was using. The blade was narrow and I was inexperienced, so maintaining my grip for fine carving was a difficult. I switched to a slightly larger Mora and the problem went away. I think this was a skill based problem and not a knife based problem. Tim has larger hands than I and he used that same knife with no problem.
This was also my first real exposure to why I wouldn't want to do fine work (like carving a netting needle) with a large knife. I think it would be very difficult to have the kind of control required to do the carving work efficiently with a large knife. By "large knife" I'm talking bowie/tacticool size, not just the "larger Mora" I was discussing previously. I guess what I should do is buy a large knife and try it myself!
Sunday 1 January 2012
JMB Spring Term Day 1
Date: April 20, 2009
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
Today was the first day of the JMB Spring Term. After a breakfast of bacon and oatmeal we started on basic axe-work We worked on felling, limbing and sectioning. This also included a lot of work on stance, positioning and safety.
After lunch we got an introduction to wet weather fire ignition. This involved finding an appropriate dead tree which we returned to camp for sectioning. From this dead tree we made and ignited feather sticks.
Following this was an introduction to the nature study curriculum and a plant walk. Dinner was rice and lentils cooked in a solar oven.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Felled my first tree (Abies balsamea / balsam fir)
2) Limbed two trees for my shelter floor
3) Made first feather sticks
4) Added Abies balsamea specimen to my herbarium
5) Carved simple knife for spreading jam on a sandwich
Initial Reflections:
I butchered my first felling and sectioning jobs, though the second sectioning was noticeably better than the first. My feather sticks worked but there is lots of room for improvement.
Current Reflections:
This day was a big deal for me. I had spent very little time working with an axe prior to this course so spending the first day with an axe in my hand left an impression on me. Felling, limbing, and sectioning are all a lot of work and those three tasks were precursors to many other jobs around camp. It was quickly obvious that trying to live in the forest without a good axe was not a great idea. It was enough work with an axe, I would not be keen to try them with a big knife.
Note: Feather sticks are a great tool of specific importance for those of us living in wet ecosystems. If you live in temperate rainforest you should have a handle on feather sticks.
Location: JMB, Masardis, Maine, USA
Summary:
Today was the first day of the JMB Spring Term. After a breakfast of bacon and oatmeal we started on basic axe-work We worked on felling, limbing and sectioning. This also included a lot of work on stance, positioning and safety.
After lunch we got an introduction to wet weather fire ignition. This involved finding an appropriate dead tree which we returned to camp for sectioning. From this dead tree we made and ignited feather sticks.
Following this was an introduction to the nature study curriculum and a plant walk. Dinner was rice and lentils cooked in a solar oven.
Accomplishments and Observations:
1) Felled my first tree (Abies balsamea / balsam fir)
2) Limbed two trees for my shelter floor
3) Made first feather sticks
4) Added Abies balsamea specimen to my herbarium
5) Carved simple knife for spreading jam on a sandwich
Initial Reflections:
I butchered my first felling and sectioning jobs, though the second sectioning was noticeably better than the first. My feather sticks worked but there is lots of room for improvement.
Current Reflections:
This day was a big deal for me. I had spent very little time working with an axe prior to this course so spending the first day with an axe in my hand left an impression on me. Felling, limbing, and sectioning are all a lot of work and those three tasks were precursors to many other jobs around camp. It was quickly obvious that trying to live in the forest without a good axe was not a great idea. It was enough work with an axe, I would not be keen to try them with a big knife.
Note: Feather sticks are a great tool of specific importance for those of us living in wet ecosystems. If you live in temperate rainforest you should have a handle on feather sticks.
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