I was going to rush a new episode of The Practical Woodsman out this week, but I’ve decided not to do it. I’ve probably had more ongoing, simultaneous projects going on this week than at any time since I started Practical Woodsman - and I’ve been turning the camera on while I work on them - but they just might not be very interesting to most folks.
I’ve been working on a DIY backwoods portable solar charger support tilt stand, that has been a bigger challenge than I thought it would be.
I upgraded a 23-year-old cotton canvas jacket by waxing it and making it waterproof (it also now looks a lot sexier). By the way, I used the recycled wax of a large candle for that.
I’ve been working on a DIY oil lantern/stove combination that runs off paraffin, lamp oil, cintronella, etc. repurposed from an old storm lantern. I’m loving this. No more separate stove and lamp, stove fuel and lamp fuel. It can just all be done with a single setup.
I’ve been working on putting together a DIY candle lantern that is far superior to the UCO candle lanterns, but functions as a storm lantern and can be easily maintained in the woods. Definitely superior in quality to the garbage UCO stuff.
Anyway, these are some of the things I’ve been juggling. I was hoping to put out a show with the solar charger support tilt stand setup, but I honestly just don’t think it’s interesting enough on its own. So maybe what I’ll do is publish a show next week where I show off all of these little projects combined into a single episode.
I hope y’all are having a Good Friday. Stay safe out there.
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I enjoyed it. I have a few gripes about the screenwriter - but I have complaints about all of today’s screenwriters. Overall the movie was really enjoyable, and I think it’ll be a big hit with people who follow Practical Woodsman.
I also think a kagillion people are going to be going out and buying German shepherds after this.
I agree that it can be real nice to have along friends for these sorts of things.
And believe me, I always try to invite a few to join me.
But let me tell you what has been my experience as l've gotten older (I'm in my early 50s): It gets harder, and harder, and harder to find people to join me.
When I was 30, I could find people to join me with the snap of my fingers.
Now, finding somebody to join me who will actually follow through is almost impossible. Everybody's set in their ways, they've got other things going on in their lives, nobody wants to give up their bathrooms and air conditioning or central heating. Other folks my age fear sleeping on the ground and getting dirty.
They don't know what they're missing out on. They don't understand that these experiences alone with God in the backcountry rejuvenate one's soul - hard ground or not.
I'll have to do a video where I talk about the realities of aging and how difficult it becomes to get other people to join you, just to see how many others ...
How's about some help preparin' for an upcoming weeklong river kayak adventure. What would you be more interested in seeing?
It'll be peak fall/autumn. Brilliant scenery. Frigid nights, warm or even hot days. Long days on water, evenings and nights finding places to create camps, and various activities there in evenings and mornings.
1: Complex, lots of interesting gear, tarp shelter, elaborate cooking, all-out comfort approach
2. Simplicity, bare bones, traveling as light as possible, making do with little.
