View Full Version : Making wooden items on the trail (The Challenge)
Wise Old Owl
09-29-2009, 18:30
Here is a thought for a cool night, Got half an hour? how about practicing
making a figure four dead trap... Oh why too easy? How long would it take,
how quickly all the knives we recommend would dull? Would a finger tip
go flying? Would it work when you got done?
What would you take away from doing this?
http://www.cotef.org/_/rsrc/1239494679209/skills/traps/Traps%20020.jpg
I find it interesting that folks talk about bringing the best knifes, types, or survival,
But they never seem to discuss skills in using them.
Wise Old Owl
09-29-2009, 18:35
Well here was some things that really stuck out, My Wenger Swiss got dull fast! I had to stop & sharpen once during the half hour, The crosspoint wasn't tight enough (See above) My Swiss has a small wood saw, INCREDIBLY handy time saver! On the first time I got some angles wrong. My thumbs really hurt. No there won't be rabbit for dinner. Hey I learned something....
What are your experiences making things on the trail?
Wise Old Owl
09-29-2009, 22:51
wow 65 views and no wonder there isn't a survival forum....Smitty a rim shot please!
I'd make it into firewood.
Goes well with apple brandy, a cool October night and the warm sleeping bag, shelter and food I happen to also be carrying.
In fact, that's what I'll be doing this weekend.
Rocket Jones
09-30-2009, 06:16
Way back when, in Scouts, we always made our own tent pegs on each trip. We also lashed together stools and tripods to hang wet clothes (not as efficient as a clothesline, but anyone can tie a rope between trees).
Wrangler88
09-30-2009, 07:22
If I was to make that ... I'd feel just like survivorman.
Seems like he used that in every episode.
MintakaCat
09-30-2009, 08:40
What would you take away from doing this?
Ah, how about: You catch it, you skin it and eat it.
Me? I'll just stick to freezer bag meals, thank you.
brooklynkayak
09-30-2009, 09:32
Way back when, in Scouts, we always made our own tent pegs on each trip. We also lashed together stools and tripods to hang wet clothes (not as efficient as a clothesline, but anyone can tie a rope between trees).
I had to do that a couple weeks ago when I realized I didn't bring enough pegs.
Making a walking stick is another common whittling activity on the trail.
Sometimes trees aren't an option for hanging a clothesline so the tripod could be an option.
It is easier and more comfortable with a bigger knife and some larger folding and fixed blade knives weigh about the same or less than a standard Swiss Army knife.
I walked the highways for a month, no pack, or much of anything really.
Second day I broke a dead limb out of a locust tree and lashed up a pack frame.
Used some rawhide strip banded horizontal across the back for suspension and cut strips off my blanket for shoulder straps.
I just tied stuff on it in plastic bags. It worked surprisingly well.
I was only packing 5-10lbs so it wasn't heavyduty.
I like this idea. At least in principal, & maybe done at home "Just in case".
I'd also like to suggest, at least as practice projects at home: make a spoon. a fire stick. putting a notch in a stick for a back up tent stake (harder to get right than you would think). Start a fire with: flint & steel, bow & drill, empty Bic lighter (the striker).
But I always hike on maintained trails / the AT! Why would I need survival skills?
Murphy's Law: Whatever can go wrong will, at the worst possible moment. :eek:
My opinion: Murphy was an optimist. :p