It's boiling hot. I felt a trip to the woods was in order. After recently trading for a new knife, what better way to get the feel for it than heading out and carrying out a few simple tasks with it? There is a wood near me than I haven't visited for about 5 years or so. I don't know why, maybe I found better places. As it's only a ten minute drive from my home I put the dog in the car, grabbed my new knife, a nalgene bottle and tatonka metal cup, my victorinox Rangergrip 79 and a LMF fire steel. So, with the thermometer at 24 degrees, I strolled into the dappled shade of the woods....
The wood hasn't been touched by man for quite some years and it's refreshing to see it in a kinda natural state.
I grabbed some kindling along the footpath before turning off and heading off the beaten path to find a quiet spot. Some dead dry pine needles will do the trick for my fire steel.
I walked through shoulder high bracken, moving it aside to pass through. Brambles tugged at my shins frequently, forcing me to slow down. The dog bounced through quietly and didn't seem bothered. The wood is not managed for timber and is quite hilly, being situated on a north facing steep slope, there are many short, steep spurs to negotiate. I eventually came across an alder, it's branches hanging down and creating a natural shaded spot. I looked through the branches to find a dead pine which had fell against the trunk of the alder, so I had shelter and fire wood.
I set about preparing the ground and processing a long pine limb. I used the saw on my Rangergrip to cut useful lengths.
I used my new knife to baton the lengths and then shaved some feathers to use with my fire steel.
My new knife limbed the pine and created feathers with ease. For a 9 inch blade, it is surprisingly light in the hand and it's a joy to use. My forearm news to get used to it though and I had to rest my grip a few times.
Using the pine needles I had pocketed on the way in, I attempted to get them lit with my fire steel. I was able to light them but I had not got myself prepared properly with kindling and as such, I was unable to get the fire going, despite several attempts. Eventually I was left with next to nothing in the way of pine needles so I moved onto using the feather sticks instead. After several minutes and with sore fingers I had failed again to get a fire going. Sweating profusely I took a rest and reevaluated my position. Not wanting to fail again I looked around my little spot for some better tinder. I found a dead sycamore branch with its dead Brown leaves still attached. I grabbed as many as I could and rubbed them into a ball.
With just one strike of the fire steel and guess what? Flames! I got the remaining feather sticks alight and within a minute I had a hot fire roaring.
After all that it was time for a brew. What better than by a cup of pine needle tea? I went off foraging.
Some very young needles collected I filled my metal cup and put it on the fire.
While the brew was getting to a good scold I took my knife out to give it a wipe. I had a proper look at it for the first time. I have decided I love it.
With my cup lightly bubbling I took it off the heat. Time to sit back and enjoy the silence.
While sipping my tea, I felt peckish. Right near my seat there were some bright green nettles. I picked some and scorched them over the flames. They are delicious done this way and I chomped my way through quite a few!
Fed and watered I headed back to the car via one of the spurs.
Top right of the this picture my dog lifted up a deer and it bounded off. I only caught site of its bum....
One last pic....
I will definitely be coming back more often. Thanks for reading!
Sent from my SM-G903F using Tapatalk
The wood hasn't been touched by man for quite some years and it's refreshing to see it in a kinda natural state.
I grabbed some kindling along the footpath before turning off and heading off the beaten path to find a quiet spot. Some dead dry pine needles will do the trick for my fire steel.
I walked through shoulder high bracken, moving it aside to pass through. Brambles tugged at my shins frequently, forcing me to slow down. The dog bounced through quietly and didn't seem bothered. The wood is not managed for timber and is quite hilly, being situated on a north facing steep slope, there are many short, steep spurs to negotiate. I eventually came across an alder, it's branches hanging down and creating a natural shaded spot. I looked through the branches to find a dead pine which had fell against the trunk of the alder, so I had shelter and fire wood.
I set about preparing the ground and processing a long pine limb. I used the saw on my Rangergrip to cut useful lengths.
I used my new knife to baton the lengths and then shaved some feathers to use with my fire steel.
My new knife limbed the pine and created feathers with ease. For a 9 inch blade, it is surprisingly light in the hand and it's a joy to use. My forearm news to get used to it though and I had to rest my grip a few times.
Using the pine needles I had pocketed on the way in, I attempted to get them lit with my fire steel. I was able to light them but I had not got myself prepared properly with kindling and as such, I was unable to get the fire going, despite several attempts. Eventually I was left with next to nothing in the way of pine needles so I moved onto using the feather sticks instead. After several minutes and with sore fingers I had failed again to get a fire going. Sweating profusely I took a rest and reevaluated my position. Not wanting to fail again I looked around my little spot for some better tinder. I found a dead sycamore branch with its dead Brown leaves still attached. I grabbed as many as I could and rubbed them into a ball.
With just one strike of the fire steel and guess what? Flames! I got the remaining feather sticks alight and within a minute I had a hot fire roaring.
After all that it was time for a brew. What better than by a cup of pine needle tea? I went off foraging.
Some very young needles collected I filled my metal cup and put it on the fire.
While the brew was getting to a good scold I took my knife out to give it a wipe. I had a proper look at it for the first time. I have decided I love it.
With my cup lightly bubbling I took it off the heat. Time to sit back and enjoy the silence.
While sipping my tea, I felt peckish. Right near my seat there were some bright green nettles. I picked some and scorched them over the flames. They are delicious done this way and I chomped my way through quite a few!
Fed and watered I headed back to the car via one of the spurs.
Top right of the this picture my dog lifted up a deer and it bounded off. I only caught site of its bum....
One last pic....
I will definitely be coming back more often. Thanks for reading!
Sent from my SM-G903F using Tapatalk
