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Hi Everyone! I have always used Type III 550 paracord for the ridge-line and guy-lines for my tarps. I now use silnylon tarps. So most of the packable weight is the cordage. I am thinking of switching to 95 paracord (with reflective tracers) to reduce my pack weight. My question: Is the...

Things seem a little slow, so I thought I'd relate a funny story from last weekend. Many of us are experienced outdoorsmen (and outdoorswomen). So we take certain things for granted. But I volunteer leading urban youth on hiking and backpacking trips. They remind me that our experience is...

Things are a bit slow so I thought I'd post a link to an article that talks about tree squirrel alarm calls. Tree squirrels are vigilant, always on the lookout for predators. They're also loudmouths! If you're tuned to what squirrels are saying, you can use it to your advantage. You can...

Things seem a little slow on the forum, so I thought I'd share a day hike I did this weekend. When people think herpetology, they immediately picture snakes. But there are many spectacular herps in the world that are not snakes. This article talks about finding these amazing creatures: What...

I notice that now when I come to read the forums, I need to log-in again. In the past, I have been able to visit the forums without needing to do this. Has something changed? (forums or Chrome?) I log-in with the "stay logged in" checkbox selected. But it doesn't seem to help. I generally visit...

2019 begins with a momentous gift – the tale of blustery winter evening. The poem is considered among the great works of American literature, and it entered the public domain January 1. The entire text is in the article, below. I can see myself in the narrator's position, lingering beside...

Hi Everyone, After years of yearning and saving, I finally purchased a Fallkniven TK3. I got the new TK3ic, which has desert ironwood scales. I love the idea of having a Fallkniven made with a beautiful and durable handle material that is native to California, my home. I received the...

After years of yearning, I finally got my chance to visit Denali National Park (Alaska, USA) and explore the tundra. To me, hiking on tundra feels like walking on a trampoline. If you have hiked on tundra, how would you describe it? The ground was carpeted with blueberries and...

Hi Everyone! I was a bit dismayed to read the recent thread, "Bushcraftuk.com seems less and less populated nowadays." I enjoy reading everyone's posts but don't post myself very often. So I thought I'd share a trip I did this summer. Skyline to the Sea is one of the most exciting hikes in...

Hi Everyone! I'm trying to make a comfortable sit-pad for hiking in cold/snowy environments. And I need some advice. I want to attach some sheepskin to a 1000-Cordura polyurethane-coated nylon backing. Is gluing my best option? If so, what adhesive do you recommend? Or, is there...

Hi Everyone! I believe Ray Mears' latest book, Out on the Land: Bushcraft Skills from the Northern Forest, is out on Kindle today in the United States. The hard-cover edition is out October 11. If anyone has read the Kindle edition or the hard-cover (if it is available in the UK), care to...

I teach modern wilderness survival classes for California State Parks and other nonprofit organizations. During classes students use knives to help construct shelters, prepare tinder, and start fires. Many students live in suburban and urban areas. Using a knife outdoors is not part of...

I just had a close call with two Northern Pacific rattlesnakes. I know you don't have these venomous snakes in the UK. So it's important to remember that although venomous, the snakes are not aggressive. Their first response is to coil defensively and remain motionless. Their second is...

Hi Everyone! No, this is not a recipe. :D An enterprising gull got more than he bargained for when he tried to forage above a vat of chicken tikka masala. If you haven't seen this, meet the newest member of the Spice Gulls! :)...

Hi Everyone! I'm looking for some quick help with the definition of 'wild camping'. As an American, I'm often puzzled by use of the term "wild camping." Is it similar to backpacking, where you carry your gear on your back and camp in wilderness areas? Does it also encompass car-camping...

Hi Everyone! It's a sad occasion when a hiker loses her life in the outdoors. I believe there are several safety lessons we can take from her story. So I'm sharing this link. Hypothermia Claims another Hiker A reminder to be thoughtful and kind when discussing the deceased...

Hi Everyone! Happy New Year! Let’s start the New Year with a laugh. It’s about time nature gets its own commercial... Prescription Strength Nature When I first saw this video, I mistook it for a drug commercial. My initial confusion quickly gave way to laughter. If you were...

It has been my dream to build a tule boat. I've wanted to do it ever since I heard about the craft. Tule is a marshland plant that grows in many places in North America. The Ohlone, Coast Miwok, and Yokuts Peoples in California made beautiful boats (technically rafts) from the plant to hunt...

Hi Everyone! You have probably seen the viral video of the bear eating the woman's sea kayak. I wasn't able to find a thread that talks about it so I thought I'd start one. In a strange way the encounter is highly amusing. Both she and the bear emerge unharmed, which is terrific. But I have...

Hi Everyone! Identifying wild edibles can be intimidating. It's natural (and reasonable) to feel apprehensive when you're starting out. Many people ask me how to get started with wild edibles so I wanted to share this easy project with forum members. It teaches you how to make a yummy...