The Practical Woodsman
Education • Travel • Preparedness
The Practical Woodsman is a way to share love of the wilderness, as well as my observations, thinking, and approach to what folks today are calling 'bushcraft' and 'survival'. The focus is on what is practical, as well as pointing out certain things being demonstrated by 'bushcrafters' today that are not practical at all.
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Self-Sufficiency Challenges on the Road

I’m on the road this weekend, visiting some of my old stompin’ grounds in Philadelphia and doing some other things. (So no livestream is possible today!) But I have some things I’m eager to share with you all when I get back home, involving the difficulties of having self-sufficient heat-up/cook methods while staying in higher-end hotels. It is very, very difficult because you can absolutely not create smoke.

I’m in a Marriot here in Philly, and there are probably 300 people or more staying in this hotel. The last thing on earth I can do is risk setting off the fire alarm in this building early in the morning. Can you imagine the resulting chaos that would ensue?

Instead of drinking the hotel’s terrible coffee, I want to be able to boil my own water for my own coffee that I have brought, enough water to have a cup now and to also brew plenty for my thermos for drinking throughout the day after I check out.

In preparation for this, I even brought a small, portable electric stove top that just plugs into the wall. As a backup, I have a small alcohol/pop can stove. I’ve been able to use neither one this morning. I’ve tried, and both are just too risky.

When I get home I’ll do a demonstration for everybody highlighting the problems I encountered with both things, and the ultimate solutions I arrived at.

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What else you may like…
Videos
Posts
My Aunt Ruby

…the myth, the legend.

#AppalachianLegend #AuntRuby #BackwoodsBars
#ThePracticalWoodsman #AppalachianCampfireStories

00:00:55
September 12, 2026
Two People Dying

WARNING: This is a brief video of two people dying. The wife thought she was taking a picture of the event, but it was actually a video.

I have been in these intimate, private circumstances many times before with my own brain.

00:00:16
September 08, 2026
Yotes (Coyotes)

In Appalachia they get confused as ‘haints’ or otherworldly creatures roaming the dark woods. Hearing this, you can probably understand why. They make a downright spooky sound in the dark, Appalachian backwoods!

00:00:24
September 17, 2026
Wallpaper Share

A wallpaper for your phones and tablets, for those interested.

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September 16, 2026

This tomater out of my garden doesn’t like you looking at its butt.

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September 15, 2026

Nothin’ is better than round, uniform tins for hauling certain things. I’m really fond of them because they stack neatly and can save quite a bit on space. I get them off Amazon in two different sizes at a low price - a small, snuff-size can, and a larger can.

The only real drawback about them is that they can get beat up fairly easily, because they’re made out of really light aluminum. But for their low cost, I reckon it’s no big deal, since they’re easy to replace.

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