Bushcraft

[homoe]

In bushcraft, matches and lighters are luxury, but not unheard of entirely. Other methods should always be in your arsenal of knowledge. Bushcrafters learn how to make fire from a fire drill, striking rocks to form a spark, and the use of a mirror to reflect sunlight on tinder until it smolders...

Who knew there were so many ways to play with fire.....

[homoe]

Originally Posted by homoe

In bushcraft, matches and lighters are luxury, but not unheard of entirely. Other methods should always be in your arsenal of knowledge. Bushcrafters learn how to make fire from a fire drill, striking rocks to form a spark, and the use of a mirror to reflect sunlight on tinder until it smolders...

Who knew there were so many ways to play with fire.....

It’s not much good starting a fire if you can’t keep it going, so it’s essential to first collect some materials that will both set alight and keep burning. You’ll need both tinder and kindling. Tinder is what is used to start a fire and kindling keeps it burning.

Tinder
Cotton wool, paper, dry leaves, straw and dry grass, pine needles, dandelion head, jute twine fibers, alcohol-based sanitizing wipe, cattails, tinder fungus
Kindling
Twigs leaves and branches, logs, dry leaves and bark

[kittygrrl]

Originally Posted by homoe

It’s not much good starting a fire if you can’t keep it going, so it’s essential to first collect some materials that will both set alight and keep burning. You’ll need both tinder and kindling. Tinder is what is used to start a fire and kindling keeps it burning.

Tinder
Cotton wool, paper, dry leaves, straw and dry grass, pine needles, dandelion head, jute twine fibers, alcohol-based sanitizing wipe, cattails, tinder fungus
Kindling
Twigs leaves and branches, logs, dry leaves and bark

good points homoe, of course if you are winter camping dry tinder etc may be hard to come by, this is when char cloth, flint, and a striker in your fire kit will make all the difference. I've never worried too much about making fire, my fire kit is major overkill but if i didn't have it for some odd reason i always carry a knife and ferro rod..Got in a habit of doing that when i lived in Alaska. Up there it gets scary cold and there is no way you will survive the night without basic prep.

[homoe]

What Hygiene products are essentials?
Do Bring....
Unscented, alcohol-based gel hand sanitizer,biodegradable soap
toothbrush,toothpaste, dental floss (doubles as string in a pinch), cotton bandana or washcloth,unscented moist towelettes or baby wipes, quick-dry microfiber pack towel, toilet paper in its own plastic bag (or: ditch it and use leaves, snow, and smooth stones), A menstrual cup (if necessary) or feminine hygiene products and a sealable plastic bag to carry them out.

On a personal note may I suggest good old Arm & Hammer Baking Soda instead of toothpaste? Several years back when it was reported that most toothpastes contain some form of humectant, to prevent the paste from becoming dry and chalky usually in the form of Glycerol or Propylene Glycol and even tho the concentration of these ingredients is not enough to function effectively as an antifreeze, I've never used it since.

Besides it's cheaper and weighs less..just estimate the amount you think you'll need and put in a plastic zip-lock bag!

[homoe]

Do Not Bring....

Deodorant (smells attract woodland creatures)

Shampoo (bad for the environment)

Razors (embrace the beard, or let your legs go)

Mirrors (clunky and easily broken)

Non-biodegradable products (bad for the environment)

“Disposable” products that you’ll have to carry out (bulky and cumbersome)

[homoe]

Hand sanitizer is a compact and lightweight way to kick germs’ butts. Doctors wash or sanitize (or sometimes both) their hands whenever they see a new patient. Hikers should do the same after going to the bathroom and before cooking or eating meals. If you don’t, the germs on your fingers will end up in your eyes or mouth. Hikers are quick to blame trail illnesses on contaminated drinking water, but hand-to-mouth infection is a frequent culprit too. Because washing with soap and water isn’t always convenient or available, carry a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. This clear gel contains a small concentration of ethyl alcohol that kills germs on contact. Just add a dime-size drop to your palm, rub your hands together vigorously, and wait 20 to 30 seconds for the alcohol to evaporate.

[homoe]

The different fishing technique you can apply (depending on the body of water and type of fish you wish to catch) could be the difference between eating and starving....


Try using your bare hands or a spear if all else fails............