Bushcraft(ish) Episode 2

[johnspenn]

I have joined and begun posting and interacting at another forum, Bushcraft USA (BCUSA). They have a free "Bushclass" series of lessons that look helpful, and I hope to start learning more about how to actually do more than hike and hang a hammock while I'm out in the woods.

In this trip I scout and select a site for "basecamp". I hope to use this spot to practice the lessons and skills needed to progress through the course.

For those concerned about LNT: I am too. This spot was entirely on private land. If I were out on public land I would never make a fire ring, I would use an existing site or forgo a fire altogether. Also, I'm not looking to make furniture, or teepees or other crazy stuff. My main goal is to be more proficient at making fire (without lighters and man-made materials), and being more self-sufficient while out-of-doors and not so reliant on technology.

All that said, here is a video talking about site selection and the day's goals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu_SZSZymm8

And here is the trip report in pictures and words.
https://couch2trail.wordpress.com/20...n-1-episode-2/

Thanks for your kind attention!

[Red Wing]

I dig the crossover. Bushcraft can particularly be helpful to hangers.

[InfuriatedMax]

I am excited to see how your Bushcraft adventure develops over time. Looks like a nice spot.

[johnspenn]

I dig the crossover. Bushcraft can particularly be helpful to hangers.

I agree! I think we all "bushcraft" to some extent without realizing it. Thanks Red Wing!

I am excited to see how your Bushcraft adventure develops over time. Looks like a nice spot.

I'm very pleased with the location up front, only time will tell how it works out. Thanks Max!

[TrailSlug]

Is there going to be a second video as this one seemed to just stop before any bush crafting started

[johnspenn]

Is there going to be a second video as this one seemed to just stop before any bush crafting started

Hey TS, the actual trip report is on our blog, more of a pictorial format. The video just sort of serves as an introduction, and I'm kicking myself because this one ran way too long for that kind of thing.

The Bushcraft(ish) series will pretty much be that kind of format tho, a short introductory video paired with a pictorial blog report.

If you're interested the blog post is here: https://couch2trail.wordpress.com/20...n-1-episode-2/

Thanks for watching!

[TrailSlug]

Ah! I read the blog and see that now. I'm slow like that I enjoyed that blog and it's always good to get to play in the woods. I've enjoyed getting into the woods since I was a wee lad and still enjoy it. I guess some of us never grow up.

[johnspenn]

Ah! I read the blog and see that now. I'm slow like that I enjoyed that blog and it's always good to get to play in the woods. I've enjoyed getting into the woods since I was a wee lad and still enjoy it. I guess some of us never grow up.

Thanks for checking it out TS! Here's to never growing up! Cheers!

[Rick68]

Sweet, I did just the opposite I went from bushcraft to semi-UL hammock hangging.

[johnspenn]

Sweet, I did just the opposite I went from bushcraft to semi-UL hammock hangging.

I don't think the two necessarily have to be mutually exclusive. I can see taking different kinds of trips where both skill and equipment sets will come into play, from a backpacking trip focussing on hiking and making miles to the other end of the spectrum, backpacking out a few miles and setting up a basecamp to do some exploring in a smaller area for a couple of days.

Mainly though, the skills you acquired bushcrafting don't weigh anything, and you have those skills to fall back on if needed. Happy trails.