My grandpappy was found fishing on the bank of a lake by a police officer. His bucket was full of fish.
Officer: “Hey there, old timer. Do you have a fishing license?”
Grandpappy: “Nope. These are my fish. I brought them from home.”
Officer: “You brought them from home? Whaddya mean you brought them from home?”
Grandpappy: “I come here every day, let the fish swim around in the lake for a bit, and then I call them back.”
Officer: “You call them back??”
Grandpappy: “Yeah, that’s right. I whistle and they come back and jump right back in the bucket.”
Officer: “Ok then, show me.”
So Grandpappy calmly empties the bucket into the lake and then sits back and waits.
After a moment or two, the officer says, “Well?”
Grandpappy: “Well what?”
Officer: “Aren’t you gonna call the fish back?”
Grandpappy: “What fish?”
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
Out here, a little light goes a long way. You don't need to push back the whole night, just enough of it to see your next step.
— The Practical Woodsman
Braving the Ol' Shawnee Appalachy - Pt 2: Ornery Gal
Before you build a shelter, look for the one the hill already made. Rock overhangs have kept people dry for thousands of years. Check the ceiling for loose slabs, stay out of the drip line, and leave it the way you found it.
— The Practical Woodsman
