Axe and Camp skills with Paul Kirtley - very pic heavy

[Mesquite]

Just back from spending a weekend with some members off of the forum and Paul Kirtley

The theme for the weekend was Axe and camp skills and we were lucky to have the use of a really nice woodland courtesy of Damian. Many thanks for the use of your woods Damian :You_Rock_

We were pretty lucky with the weather with just the occasional shower but on the whole dry which makes a big diference.

Anyway here's the pics

My pitch for the weekend

We started off looking at safe axe work with Paul demonstrating how to sned limbs from a fallen tree.

After which we got stuck in

Axes are great... but a chainsaw does speed things up... so long as it works

The tree Pete was cutting was to be converted into benches for the pitch

Gary brought his WW2 pioneers saw and gave it a try out... it was suprisinging effective

 

[Mesquite]

We then looked at splitting firewood and Paul demonstrated various ways to split logs without the use of a splitting block

Sam had an interesting time with his log...

In the evening Gary cooked a really delicious Turkey and Ham Bean Potage for the group with his infamous Gin Gan Goo for a late night snack... Full of flavour and not a chili or onion was used Unfortunately there's no pics of that as we were all too busy eating

The next day we looked at how we were going to split the beech logs we collected the previous day so we carved gluts from holly

Pete used the logs we were going to plit bottom his resting block

And then we had a glut of gluts

Which we used to split the logs

 

[Mesquite]

The logs proved some hard work but soon started giving way to gluts

Once split the faces had to be cleaned up to ensure no splinters for anyone sitting on them

There's always time for a cigarette and a quick sharpening of the axe

Once the faces were cleaned up holes were drilled for the legs

And then a try out of the finished product

A couple other items we looked at were fire rigs for camp cooking and the various pot hooks that can be used and how to rig large tarps for base camps. Paul showed us a very handy technique for getting a really taut ridgeline using a half sheepshank and a carabiner. I didn't take pics of those activities but others did so no doubt you'll see them later on.

It was a great weekend, Paul is a fantastic tutor with a wealth of knowledge which you can see he is more than happy to share with you. We look forward to having him back again next year

Special thanks for the weekend go to Damian for the use of his woods, it really made the weekend. Gary for his excellent cooking skills showing us that food doesn't need to be all heat and no flavour And finally to Paul for spending his time with us just after he'd got back from 2 weeks in Canada

 

[Elines]

When you have posted your pics Steve I will try to fill any gaps - but thanks again to you and Damian for a fantastic weekend (and Paul and the other folk there, of course)

 

[John Fenna]

Dont do it!
I do not want to see what I missed!
Especially as the "holiday with the mrs." that I cancelled for never materialised
She changed her mind when she saw the weather forcast!:umbrella::aargh4:


Oh go on then - I might still learn something....

 

[shaggystu]

had a superb weekend in the woods with friends old and new, but didn't take many photographs, i was too busy enjoying myself.

thanks to steve for arranging this, damian for the hospitality, gary for the cooking, paul for the tuition, and everyone else for the great company. i sincerely hope that i manage to get along to more of these in the future

the few photo's i did manage to take:

cheers

stuart

 

[Mesquite]

Dont do it!
I do not want to see what I missed!
Especially as the "holiday with the mrs." that I cancelled for never materialised
She changed her mind when she saw the weather forcast!


Oh go on then - I might still learn something....

I did... hope you enjoy them

But I won't mention the last minute space that became available so you could have come in the end...

 

[sasquatch]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing Steve. That's a great venue to swing an axe around at!

 

[PeterH]

Don't worry John I have not much in the way of photos to add --- as I thought I had managed to leave my camera behind but it was in the Sabre top pocket all the time! :bang

Really good weekend even though Elines and I seemed to make a tactical mistake in attempting to use both log halves whereas a quick count on the other side of the parachute looked like one bench per pair, that is our excuse and we are sticking to it..... Will finish them off next time Damian, and I will get someone to check the angle of the hole I am augering so the pair of legs are vaguely symmetrical :rofl

 

[Shewie]

Great write up and pics Steve, that looks like a really useful few days, gutted my birthday got in the way

Seeing Pete with an axe and chainsaw is scary stuff

 

[Teepee]

What a good weekend!

Big thanks to everyone for organizing, taking snaps, hosting, cooking and teaching. :You_Rock_

Paul was a great teacher and I learnt a helluva lot. Met some great new faces too

I hope ya woods stop smelling of garlicy 2 stroke soon Damian


Hoping theres a next one.

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

Looks like a top weekend chaps and some great looking axe work there.

 

[udamiano]

I hope ya woods stop smelling of garlicy 2 stroke soon Damian

Im going to tell my students that we have a new species of beach trees on site, and it gives off a spiced Garlic and pepper aroma to warn off predators LOL

 

[Wayland]

Good piccies, great weekend.

I'll put up a few shots as soon as I get the chance.

 

[Barn Owl]

I'm gutted i couldn't get to this one too.
Great pics guys.

 

[Karl82]

nice one thanks for sharing looks like all that attended had fun and learnt some new skills.

 

[udamiano]

A couple of Pictures from my position in the background working extremely hard while the others enjoyed themselves :sulkoff:


The class of 2012 Milord......

Some of the inmates have been put to work in the wood shop, to help with their rehabilitation, this week its benches, next week, a full log cabin with fitted kitchen sun lounge and terraced barbecue area

The escape committee Finalise their plans. What hoo chaps !

Instruction into the art of cordage and bindage! (I was going to say bondage, but in a moment of lucid clarity thought better of it)

a pleasure to host the weekend, and in seriousness everyone had a cracking time; me included (mainly involved sleeping in my chair in front of the fire)

Da

 

[jacko1066]

Looks like a quality weekend chaps!!
Very green indeed!!


Leave only footprints take only memories

 

[Imagedude]

Looks like a fun time. Were any proper sized axes present?

 

[shaggystu]

Looks like a fun time. Were any proper sized axes present?

no idea what you class as proper sized (really big or really small, how do you like your choppers?), but either way, yes would be the answer. between us we'd got everything from pocket sized to full-on felling axes, and i think pretty much all of them got used over the course of the weekend

cheers

stuart