Ol' pup's a-settin' sentry over camp like he's drawin' wages for it.
"I'm really surprised that any woodsman would be willing to go deep into the backcountry without this most important tool, which is a creature who can smell what you can't smell, hear what you can't hear, see what you can't see. Early warning system. It's just amazing.
They'll look off into the dark. You can't hear a sound. But they've heard something or they've picked up on something, and something is out there."
— The Practical Woodsman
Plan your day around water, not miles. Fill up at every good source, filter it or treat it if you want the extra insurance, and never pass up clear moving water because you think there'll be more ahead.
— The Practical Woodsman
Braving the Ol' Shawnee Appalachy - Pt 2: Ornery Gal
After this latest time out, I’ve decided I’m not leaving home without a double-walled cup or thermos ever again. It’s not worth it. I wake up eager for a nice, hot cup of coffee, I spend all the trouble and energy to get my water boiling, finally have my coffee in a cup - and it’s cold in 3 minutes. It’s ridiculous.
I’m not fond of the idea of carrying any more cups or pots or pans or anything into the backcountry that ain’t absolutely necessary, but this has become one of those things that I simply feel is necessary.
If it means leaving something else at home, like my kuksa cup or whatever, then that’s just gonna have to be the way it is in order to make going to the trouble to prepare a cup of coffee out there practical.
Folks'll lug one o' them so-called "portable" tent wood stoves clean back into the hollers, then spend the whole blessed night a-feedin' it like a colicky young'un. Give me a proper fire ever' time.
"A regular campfire is superior, requires less work, is more dependable, and about a million times less fickle. You can get a good campfire going, walk off and leave it to itself for two hours, come back and it's still good. A campfire allows you to turn your attention to other things.
These toy stoves need constant attention and babying, demand the majority of your time, attention and energy, and only spit out heat for brief periods, and will die if you walk away from them.
A regular ol' campfire and layers is the answer, not toy stoves."
— The Practical Woodsman
