New book arrived today. The Foragers Guide to Wild foods by Nicole Apelian. Colour coded into sections of herbs and greens, shrubs and berries, trees, mushrooms, seaweeds and poisonous plants. With each topic set out with the name of the plant, description of the flower and leaf, edible parts, medicinal uses, how to harvest, preparing the plant and look a likes.With pictures of the distribution, flower and bulb. Looking forward to reading it. Mostly set out for North America but many of the plants are also in Australia. Great pictures, very well set out.
Ive been looking for new bushcraft boots that give my ankles more support for the areas Ive been hiking lately. I like the Danner Mountain 600’s Ive been wearing for walking’ but am looking at the Danner Crafter 8″ for an upgrade.
Youtube channels I like to watch in no particular order. The main ones I get ideas from are Corporals Corner, The grey Bearded Green Beret and Coalcracker Bushcraft.
Mushroom season has definitely started their popping up every where. Class starts soon, will be good to identify them with more confidence. Im finding it very relaxing photographing mushrooms. These were in the field where I walk my staffy, behind where Im staying.
I tried out several items from my old Get Home Bag, which I based around the set ups by Corporals Corner and the Grey Bearded Green Beret listed below. I changed a few things around to suit more the packing of the items and updated a few items that I owned to a heavier duty versions.
I started packing everything into ziplock bags and removing any pouches or existing bags to reduce weight, added a Silky pocket boy for cutting wood. There is a lot of stuff in an IFAK that I wouldnt use. Its more major cuts Id be treating.
I would only need one contractor bag for filling with soft material for sleeping on or water proofing and collecting water. Ive purchased a Helikon tex Poncho so the holes line up with the poncho liner . Im also going to pre rig a ranger roll and strap it to the bottom of the bag so its ready to go. This saves room in the main pack and I only have to unwrap it if its raining to access the poncho, other than sleeping in it.
Id also have the snugpag stasha Tarp pre rigged with the parachute cord and guylines already attached and rolled up for quick deployment. Im also trying out a few different biodegradable soaps that are also have insect repellent qualities..
Ive also decided to purchase an MSR Pocket Rocket stove and two canisters for boiling water rather than lighting a fire. The little stove can boil water in minutes with little signature.Ive always been put off these stoves due to never being able to find the fuel canisters but for the purposes of a 3 day hike Ive reconsidered.
Shelter kit
Helikon Tex poncho liner
Helikon tex poncho
SSA mylar blanket heavy duty
Snugpak bivi Bag
x1 contractor bag
snugpak tarp Stasha
x4 tent pegs
parachute cord 30m with number 36 bankline prusic loops attached
Fire kit in a zip lock bag
Bic lighter
ferro rod
matches
tinder
candle
Water kit
32oz stainless bottle
grayl filter
nesting cup
MSR Pocket rocket plus 2 fuel canisters
Food kit in zip lock bags (still working on this section)
emergency bars
Cliff bars
tuna sachets
biltong
Medical kit
AMK .07 pro
Ifak only pressure badage and rats torniquet: in zip lock bags
meds : personal , various pain killers, imodium, antihistamines, :in zip lock bags
Nav kit in zip lock bags
map
compass silva ranger
Tool kit :some of it in zip locks
bank line
silky pocket boy saw
spork titanium
headlamp
batteries
tops knife hog 4.5
multi tool
gorilla tape
Clothing
beanie
shemagh
gloves
socks
hygiene kit :in a zip lock bag
tooth paste
toothbrush
deodorant
sanitation kit :in a zip lock bag
wet wipes
alcohol hand sanitizer
soap
Accessory kit :always kept in vehicle
jacket thermal layer
spare hat
Youtube links for Corporals Corner and the Grey Bearded Green Beret GHBs
Todays scout took us up several tracks looking for a place to try out building a lean-to shelter. Many were over grown, but a good day out. Found some great little creeks and it seems Ive become addicted to taking pictures of mushrooms.
When my health picks up its my idea to have my mate drop me up near one of the spots we checked out today, which is about 30kms from where Ill be living and try out my GHB and walk the tracks back home and do at least one over nighter, maybe two to check out all my gear and what may be lacking.
track leading to camping spotcreek bedrock escarpment overhangmushrooms yet to IDlots of trees downed by stormsthat tree is almost 3 feet acrosstree hollows almost large enough to sleep inmore mushrooms first red one Ive seenthese mushrooms were all over the place
Ive been looking into having a shower awning on the side of my new van and after looking at several different brands I came across the Quickpitch, having the most solid bracket system I could find. Im also looking at hot water systems. I dont like having indoor systems they take up too much room and when they break. Been there done that. There are several options listed below. from a Joolca portable LPG operated system. To a solar and 12volt options. Still looking into comparing whats out there, but prefer portable and easy to fix.
I was watching Dan Wowak Hacks on the Coalcracker channel which are full of ideas and since I had timber to spare thought Id try to drill a toggle without a drill and turn it into a ratchet strap for a bedroll. I believe I first saw the tensioner system on Felix Immlers channel so I also put a link to his site. Lots of cool ideas on there as well.
timber split and V notch cutbinding completedtensioning cord attachedshowing the completed hole
