Moss Lake Adirondacks 8/7 - 8/8

 At least once a year we try to get to the Adirondack mountains and one of our favorite places to go is Moss Lake, just outside of Eagle Bay, NY.  My wife and I spent our honeymoon around there, so when we were thinking of places to go for our 18th wedding anniversary, it was one of the first choices.  Having stayed at the hike in campsites up there the past few years, we decided to take the canoe and try out one of the boat access sites around the lake.  So we loaded up the car and hit the road. Thought I'd share some pictures my wife and I took. Hope you enjoy them.

The View from the launch.

Across the lake.

Rock cliffs

There is a small island in the middle of Moss Lake we had never been to, We decided to paddle over and check it out.  There we found some very photogenic Cedar Waxwings.

Cedar Waxwing

Loon on the lake

It was a great couple of days in a beautiful place.

Thanks for reading,

N.E.V.

Tree roots on shore

Coffee Can Emergency Kit

Kit Packed Up

I was checking out some different compact survival or emergency kits that people have put together online. Everything from altoids tins with the bare minimum items to daypacks with enough gear in them to spend a couple of nights in relative comfort.  Since I like to customize my gear to fit my skills I decided to put together my own.  In the spirit of budget bushcrafting and to keep it as cheap as possible, I decided to use things I already had around the house.


Here's list of the items I put in and why I chose what I did.

Coffee Can with lid - To boil and transport water in, makes a tough, waterproof container to hold the rest of the kit.

Large Folding Knife - I don't want to have to rely on a razor blade or small folding knife that I have seen in some kits. I'd rather carry the extra weight and have a knife with some toughness.

20' of Paracord - carrying 20' of 7 Strand paracord gives me 160' of cordage for building a shelter, repairs, etc.

1 Gallon Ziplock Bag - For storing and transporting disinfected water if needed.

Emergency "Space" Blanket - for use as a shelter or heat reflector.


Chemical Light Stick - Fast and easy light source

Pencil and a few sheets of paper - for leaving notes, drawing maps, etc.

Banadana - Hat, water pre-filter, bandage, towel, etc.

First Aid Kit - a few bandaids, Tylenol, ointments and alcohol pads to patch up minor cuts and scrapes.

Mini Button Compass - For finding direction.

Magnesium Fire Starter - I chose this over matches or a lighter because it works when it wet and can't be broken. If you carry one, be sure to practice starting fires with it before you need it in an emergency.

Food - I threw in a Clif bar and a couple of different kinds of teas.  Simple comfort items in a stressful situation.

A few more things I've been thinking about adding :


Plastic shopping bags - Great for carrying things, they pack down small and can even be made into useful cordage if needed.


A couple of feet of aluminum foil - For cooking, pot lid, signaling mirror.

Kit spread out

That's everything, I do plan on taking a hike and testing it out sometime to see how it performs.  Emergency kits are one of the things you hope you'll never need, but should be practiced with. If you decide to build your own, don't just copy mine, customize it to fit your skill set.




A couple of  tips, If you end up having to spend a unexpected night in the your going to be cold, hungry and not thinking as clearly as normal.  It's a good Idea to jot down some notes to put in your emergency kit, things like some simple drawings of knots in case you can't remember how to tie them, shelter ideas and ways of finding direction.  An inspirational quote or two can help at stressful times. Create your own mini "Survival Manual" personalized just for you.

Don't just throw a kit together and forget about it. Take it out once in a while and practice with it. It's also a good idea to check expiration dates on medications and any foods you've included.

Hope this post was useful for you. Have a great Day!
Thanks,
N.E.V.

Sunday Hike on the Finger Lakes Trail

Last Sunday, my wife and I decided to take a day hike somewhere we haven't been before. We started to drive to some state land, but the access road to it wasn't being very kind to my little car (next time we'll take her Four wheel drive). So we drove around until we found a park with an access trail that connected to the Finger Lakes Trail system, 950 miles of trails that run through New York's Finger Lake's region. I have wanted to check out the FLT for a couple of years now but just hadn't gotten around to it with all the other great outdoor spaces around here.



Old Home Foundation


We parked the car, hitched up the dog and started our walk. The access trail from the park was pretty wet and muddy but eventually started heading uphill where it dried out and met the Finger Lakes Trail. The first part of the FLT we were on was an old logging road that led to the foundation of a long abandoned homestead. After checking that out for a few minutes we headed down the trail which quickly turned into a single path through the woods.

Part of the Finger Lakes Trail

We followed that for another mile or so, crossing a road and a couple of small streams before turning around and heading back the way we came. We passed the access trail we came in on and followed the FLT as it looped around and headed back to the other side of the park we started in, a total hike of around two hours.

Never having been on the FLT before, I wasn't sure what to expect. Parts of the trail run through towns and populated areas but this section ran through mostly state land and was a beautiful trail. There are plenty of places to get water and I spied quite a few really nice places to camp for a night or two. I'll be checking out other parts of he trail on day hikes throughout the summer and if I have the time, maybe even a two or three day backpacking trip. For more information about The Finger Lakes Trail check out http://www.fltconference.org/ , they are the organization that manages and maintains the trail system. They also offer guide books and maps, I'll be ordering a few from them very shortly.

Thanks for reading and I hope your days outdoors are good ones.

N.E.V.

Tree at the Old Homesite

West Rim Trail, Tioga County Pa.

With the rain finally giving way to nicer weather here in the Northeast, My wife and I decided to take a day off from work and take a hike in the woods. Living only a few miles from the Pennsylvania border, we decided to go hike part of the West Rim Trail. The west rim trail is a 30+ mile hiking trail in North Central PA with it's northern terminus outside of Wellsboro Pa and it's southern terminus in a small town called Blackwell. Since this was a day hike we decided to hike in for a couple of hours then hike back out the same route. Googling "West Rim Trail PA" and "Pennsylvania Grand Canyon" will get you plenty of info about the trail and the area around it. The scenery is stunning and outdoor opportunities are everywhere.

The start of the trail is steep at times and crosses a couple of small creeks and then a state park road before finally leveling out and following the West Rim of the Pine Creek Gorge. In the first couple of miles you'll get glimpses of Pine Creek and The Pine Creek Rail Trail (a converted rail path for biking, walking, etc.) to your left. This part of the trail runs through Colton Point State Park and soon you'll hit the overlooks which offer incredible views of the gorge and creek. You'll see plenty of Turkey Vultures and if your lucky, the occasional Bald Eagle soaring over parts of the canyon.

Earlier in the hike we had come across a rather "fresh" present from a wandering bear right in the middle of the trail. Just as the trail was passing the overlooks, we caught up with him and my wife caught a glimpse of him when he realized we were behind him and he took off running, not giving us the opportunity for any pictures. There is a lot of Black Bears in this area and your chances of seeing one are pretty good. Just remember to keep your distance.

The trail wanders through patches of Mountain Laurel, which was just starting to bloom. Absolutely Beautiful.

On the way back out my wife saw a large bird sitting about 20 feet off the trail up ahead. As we got closer we realized we were looking at an Immature Bald Eagle and he didn't appear to be in any rush to leave. We quietly took a few pictures and stayed a respectable distance away so we wouldn't disturb him. They are an impressive bird, I have seen them before in flight but never one this close. They are magnificent creatures. We quietly headed back down the trail and back to the car.



Round trip we ended up hiking about 9 miles, and taking our time to see the sights it took us about 5 hours. I'd like to go back soon and do a 2 or 3 day backpacking trip to see the entire trail, hopefully I'll have time this summer for it.

Until next time, Be safe and enjoy your time in the outdoors.

Thanks for reading,

N.E.V.

Knives and other sharp things

Cutting tools are a critical part of any outdoor pursuit. There are few things that are as needed or used as much as a knife in the woods. Almost every outdoor magazine, website, blog and message board has recommendations and information on what to carry and why to carry it. I am a firm believer that what you carry is based on where you are going and what your planning to do there. If I'm heading into a thick hardwood eastern forest, I'm going to carry different tools then If I'm going into a southern swampland. There are areas of overlap such as pocket knives and sheath knives but there are also specialized tools for your surroundings. Let's take a look at what I regularly carry up here in the Northeast.

Let's start with the basics. Anytime I head out on the woods I carry a good quality pocket knife. I prefer Swiss Army Knives, They're sturdy, multifunctional, and lightweight. It is a proven design that has been around for a long time and are an excellent value. You can buy them at almost any discount store and if you buy an original Wenger or Victorinox, you are assured of a certain level of quality. They excel in general campsite usage such as cutting rope, pulling splinters with the included tweezers or spreading peanut butter on some bannock. The can opener on genuine Swiss Army Knives is first rate.

I also carry a sheath knife. My preferred sheath knife is a handmade Billy Watson Hunter. I own a whole lot of knives, and the Watson is the highest quality, best designed sheath knife I have ever used. It fits my hand perfectly, is well balanced and stays razor sharp for a long time. It is also not an inexpensive knife, mine was a gift from my father who has an appreciation for custom knives. That doesn't mean that everyone needs a expensive, handmade knife for the woods. A good, quality knife can be bought for $10 if you know what your looking for. Some of the less expensive knife brands I have used and like are Mora, Buck, Green River and Gerber. The key is to find a knife that works for you, practice with it and learn how to use it properly.


I no longer carry a folding multi-tool with me unless I'm bicycle camping. I found that the only features I really used consistently on it were the same ones on a SAK. Since I have simplified what I carry, I no longer needed the extra tools included. If you do carry something like a stove that occasionally needs to be disassembled, a multi tool can be a big plus.


I also carry a small home made folding saw that I made a couple of years ago.  It's a jigsaw blade mounted in a crude folding handle. It's great for small jobs like cutting notches in fireboards and roughing out spoons, etc. They are simple to make and cost almost nothing.

The only other cutting tool I carry is a small tomahawk. It's actually a modified, cheap throwing hawk I picked up at a gun show for a couple of bucks. Originally it had a spike opposite of the cutting head but a few minutes with a hacksaw and a file and it now has a blunt hammer on it for driving in stakes, etc. The reason I carry a tomahawk instead of a small hatchet is the ease in which I can replace the handle if it breaks, I don't have to worry about wedges or perfectly fitting the handle. The softer steel of the cheaper tomahawk can also be sharpened on any hard stone, negating the need for me to carry a file or stone for it. If you do drive stakes or hammer with any hatchet or tomahawk you must keep the blade covered to prevent injury. I use a simple tie on blade sheath.

No matter what you decide to carry, you need to keep he blades sharp. To maintain my edges I carry the 2 stage sharpener pictured at the right. A couple of strokes through it and my blades are sharp again. I make sure any knife I carry is sharp before I leave so all I have to do is maintain the edge instead of resharpening out in the woods. If you carry a hatchet or small axe with extremely hard steel, a small fine file is not a bad idea.



So there it is, what I carry for cutting tools. This post was meant to give you an idea of why I carry what I do and to help you make some decisions about your own kit. Carry what you're comfortable with and practice, practice, practice. Carving and whittiling are excellent ways to get a feel for how comfortable a knife is to use and how it holds an edge. Practice at home so your knife handling becomes second nature in the woods.  Feel free to let me know what you carry and why in the comments sections, I'm always looking for new ideas and suggestions. Until next time, be safe and I hope that someday our paths may cross in the woods.

N.E.V.

The Two Stone or Trappers' Stove

Here's a technique I use when I'm traveling light and don't feel like carrying a stove, or just want to cook up something quick without starting a large fire. It's called a Two Stone or Trappers Stove, and versions of it have been around for a long time.  I'll often set it up right in a larger fire ring in the mornings to make coffee and breakfast when I don't want to start a large fire until later.

Field Stone

It's simple and effective, just grab a couple of flat stones of similar size with one flat edge (not from a creek, they can hold pockets of moisture and can explode when heated).

Set up and starting to burn

Bury them partially in the ground and start a fire in between them. Make sure they are stable and strong enough to support whatever pot or pan you're cooking in.  I'll test it out with the pot I'm going to use before I start the fire just to make sure.  Give it a few minutes for the fire to catch well and build up some coals.



Mmmmmm.... Bannock!



Set your pot on the stones and start cooking. Feed the fire from either side with small sticks and twigs.  Make sure you have a good enough supply to keep it going long enough to cook what you need to.

I've found it easier to use this method for quick fires and favor it over using billy hooks or carrying a stove for short trips. It holds the heat in pretty well and is surprisingly efficient, using only small sticks for fuel.  If you decide to give it a try, please be safe and pay attention when you're working with fire so you don't burn yourself, never leave a fire unattended and always make sure your fire is completely out before leaving it.

Thanks and enjoy the outdoors.

N.E.V.

Technology in the Outdoors

Hello Everyone,


It's been a while since I last posted on my blog. I've been pretty busy lately but things are slowing down now and I'm looking forward to getting outdoors more and posting here more often. It's been a cold, rough winter in the northeast along with most other parts of the country. I hope everyone is doing well.


Some Thoughts on Technology in the Outdoors


Technology is something I deal with on a daily basis. My job requires me to keep up on new technologies and help others implement it. I am a believer in tech making a difference in everyday life. I've seen technology make things simple and I've certainly seen it make things a heck of alot more complicated.


One place that I feel people are becoming a bit too dependent on technology is in the outdoors. It seems that every time I pick up a magazine or look online there's more stories of peoples' reliance on technology and electronics getting them in trouble. Batteries die, a weak satellite signal and all of sudden it's an emergency. Often, it's someone who, with a little common sense and proper preparation, could have easily gotten out of, or never gotten into, the situation in the first place. I believe that GPS units, SPOT locators and the like can and do make outdoor experiences better and safer, but only if used safely and intelligently. If you go into the woods and rely on a GPS as your only means of navigation, you're asking for trouble. I have and sometimes use a GPS, but when I do, I also carry a map and compass with me and often refer to it often to keep my skills fresh. I'm a firm believer in redundancy when you carry equipment. One of my first posts on this blog was about carrying three of everything you may need to rely on in the woods. Always have a backup plan.


One technology I do carry in the woods for emergencies is a phone. I know it's not very bushcrafty but I always have mine on me when I'm out, although it's always turned off and packed away. I'm not someone who you will ever see hiking down a trail blabbering away to someone (We've all seen it!), But If there's a real emergency, it will be one of my first means of communication to try. That doesn't mean rely on it, because you can't always guarantee a signal. It's not a replacement for first aid knowledge or emergency preparedness, just another tool to use if you need to get help quickly for you or someone else.


One technology that has improved my enjoyment of the outdoors are iPods and Mp3 players. I could guarantee that if I was staying any where near a popular camping or hiking spot, someone would always have a radio playing, sharing their choice of music with everyone around them. One of the things I really enjoy about the outdoors is the solitude and sounds of the environment around me. Since portable music devices have become popular, I almost never hear anyone else's music anymore.

One electronic device I have never used is a digital compass.  I see them for sale almost everywhere, always at about twice the price of a good liquid filled magnetic one.  I don't quite understand the reasoning behind taking something as simple and foolproof as a magnetic compass and making it dependent on batteries, but maybe they have advantages that I'm not aware of.  If anyone has one, post a comment and let me know if you like it and if it has any advantages over a standard compass.

I guess the point of this whole post is to use technology as you would any other tool in the woods. Have a backup plan, don't rely on it to keep you out of trouble, and don't count on it to be there when you need it. Always carry multiple tools and have the skills and knowledge to be able to do without it.


Thanks for reading, I hope to see you in the woods!


N.E.V.