There are men who, on finding themselves alone in a pathless forest, become appalled, almost panic stricken. The vastness of an unbroken wilderness subdues them, and they quail before the relentless, untamed forces of nature....
And there be some who plunge into an unbroken forest with a feeling of fresh, free, invigorating delight, as they might dash into a crisp ocean surf on a hot day. These know that nature is stern, hard, immovable and terrible in unrelenting cruelty....
But, like all tyrants, she yields to force, and gives the more, the more she is beaten. She may starve or freeze the poet, the scholar, the scientist; all the same, she has in store food, fuel and shelter, which the skillful, self-reliant woodsman can wring from her savage hand.
Nessmuk, Woodcraft and Camping, p. 80 (1963 edition)
I love knots. I practice knots just for fun. Sitting around a campfire or conversation circle, some folks will whittle. Others will knit. I tie knots. Which is why I’m surprised that I love Nite Ize Figure 9s as much as I do. I guess I have to admit that, in the situations they’re designed for, Figure 9s can not only replace knots, they’re vastly simpler. Here’s how to use them.
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You could say that rope is the backbone of a campsite. It goes into everything from tents and shelters to cooking tripods and furniture. One of the best ideas I’ve seen in a long time is a “rope kit” — an organized collection of pre-cut ropes. Here’s how to put one together.
Continue reading »The wooden staff has been keeping travelers company ever since that first soul got an itch to wander. Largely replaced by trekking poles today, there is still a place for a sturdy, wood hiking stick.
Continue reading »Mora knives have earned a reputation as cheap but outstanding blades. Two of them, Mora models 511 and 546, make the perfect knife for teaching boy scouts and young outdoorsmen good knife skills. Pick up a 511/546 and you’ll discover a sturdy, safe knife that fits younger hands well. It fits a scout budget even better.
Continue reading »So you want to buy a Mora knife. The problem is, you visited a web store and found dozens of models. To make matters worse, it was hard to see any difference at all between them. In this article, we explain the differences between the most popular Mora knives.
Continue reading » You’ve probably heard of fatwood, the miracle fire starter. “Miracle” might be a bit strong, but fatwood makes wonderful tinder and kindling. Finding and harvesting fatwood is easy. Here’s how.
Continue reading »When it comes to starting fires in the wild, I can’t think of any options as cheap, light-weight, and fool-proof as homemade Vaseline cotton balls. Vaseline cotton balls almost guarantee you a fire, even in adverse conditions. Here’s how to make and use them.
Continue reading »The Ka-Bar Becker BK2 “Campanion” survival knife is melting the hearts of tough, rugged guys everywhere. Everybody loves the BK2 (and newer Becker BK22). Me? I used to be part of everybody … but then my love went cold. Now I’m a former BK2 owner. Here’s why.
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