The Modified Hunter's Firelay

    I recently came up with a modification that improves on the Hunter's Firelay. The classic style is basically 2 logs laid parallel to each other over the heart of a fire's ember base. The logs are kept close enough to hold a pan just above the fire.

    The main issue with this setup, is the kindling must be stuffed under the pan to burn, thus stifling the air flow the fire needs to burn efficiently and clean; the fire starved of oxygen struggles and must be maintained frequently as it produces a less than ideal heat.

    My modification starts by slightly angling the parallel logs into a subtle "A" shape. Next, I add a third log at the end of the parallel logs. Last of all, I change the location of the kindling so it's no longer stuffed under the pan, its now on the third log with an additional log laying perpendicular for a heat reflector.

    Its quite easy to accomplish and elevates the fire from the stuffy interior of the parallel logs to the open air, now heat created is reflected into the cooking pan or pot as well as the 3 logs to which it sits; the logs underneath in turn glow red with embers sustaining and magnifying the heat the humble kindling creates. Its a pleasure cooking on this firelay, stews are boiled with hardly any effort in terms of fuel gathering.

   
...A hand full of sticks has never done so much work!

-Mitch
http://nativesurvival.com

Wild Sharpening Stones

    Sharpening stones are necessary kit correct? Indeed they are, so much so because their a vital component to maintaining the most important manufactured tool carried into the wilds; a metal knife. A sharp rust free knife is a proper knife, a proper knife is a functioning knife, a functioning knife in the hands of a skilled person can make miracles commonplace. From carving fire kits, traps, feather sticks, containers, spoons, bows, arrows, spears, butchering, shelter components, to cooking rigs, a knife equals life. Thus a smart plan is to have a backup for your sharpening stone that can be found in the wilds, keeping that ever important tool in top shape no matter the situation.
    Stones found amongst streams, rivers and lakes fit the requirement as a Primitive Mimic for a sharpening stone. Truly all that must be found is a smooth stone with a flat spot. Sharpening in the same way as a handheld stone makes quick work of sharpening a knife's edge, I use small circles along my knife's edge, alternating sides until my edge is ferocious. That's it, done deal.

...If ever your found in the wilds without your sharpening stone, never forget whence sharpening stones originated.

-Mitch
http://nativesurvival.com

Panissed Fish

    Panissing a fish is extremely satisfying, its a bit of old bushcraft thats fallen into disuse over the years. Ive eaten everything from Trout to Salmon with this method, and it never disappoints! The means to cook with this method are easy to obtain, a straight thumb thick stick double the length of the filet is split 3/4's down its length, and 2 sharpened pinky sized sticks, are woven through the top and bottom of the filet, continuing across the back and poke through the filet's face on the opposite side. The last step of prep is sliding the held open long split stick up the filet's middle, following the path of where the spine was.
    At this point the fish resembles a boat's sail. Using roots or other natural cordage, tie the top of the split stick with 2 half hitches or a clove hitch to secure and tighten the panissed fish in place.
    Roasting a fish in this manner is very easy, you simply angle the fish toward your fire and its done cooking when its golden brown. Cooking this way is simple, delicious, and adds absolutely no weight to your pack.

...Life becomes a little more enjoyable when little sticks at your camp, comprise your cooking equipment.

-Mitch Mitchell
http://nativesurvival.com

The Magic Of Spoon Carving

    Ive carved many spoons over the years, and the season, the locale, the type of wood used, even the weather at the time, all play a part in forming the memory carried within it. Some spoons are basic with clean lines, others sleek with refined angles, all depending on my whim at the time and listening to what the wood was telling me to carve. Point being, there's a magic to walking into a forest and keenly choosing your work piece to whittle down into an elegant, yet functioning work of bush art literally employed everyday at meal time to cook your soups and stews, to flip your frying fish filets, to stir your coffee and teas, to mix your bannocks, and of course; savor each spoonful of a meal.
    Creating something so valuable for everyday living with your hands, knife and wits, imparts a feeling of connection for the forest within yourself that's reaffirmed every meal its spoon shares with you.

-Mitch Mitchell
http://nativesurvival.com

The Ultimate Bedroll

    Bedroll. The word means so much more to those of us that spend long periods in the wilds. A bedroll is our bed, our sanctuary, and our place of healing. It is our shelter, within our shelter. My bedroll that I've devised is Fire Proof, Water Proof, and Cold Proof; only resistant truly, as nothing is "proof" not even granite (ask the tides who's winning that one).
    My bedroll consists of three components, a sleeping bag, a waterproof bivy, and a wool bivy. My wool blanket I've specifically designed to be rigged into a bivy while still retaining its ability to be a simple blanket. The sleeping bag and waterproof bivy keep me warm and dry while the wool bivy provides additional warmth and the all important fire resistance to the equation; allowing me to lay near my fire vastly improving my state of sleep, and increasing the temperature range my bedroll can function in.

...A bedroll with these attributes is quite potent, a warm and dry repose goes a long way in the cold and wet seasons of the year, while just the light and comfy blanket provides the means for a restful sleep in the scorching season.

-Mitch Mitchell
http://nativesurvival.com

The Caveman Steak

    The Caveman Steak is one of my all time favorite ways to prepare a good cut of steak. Delmonico's/Rib Eye's, Strip's, Tenderloin's, the usual suspects brought to perfection quite easily with  this incredible cooking technique. Coals are generated by burning some Oak or other hardwood of your choice that thrives in your local bioregion, and while the logs are still black and orange another stick is used to pop the coals free from the logs. In a matter of moments a sizable pile is easily accomplished and spread flat with a stick creating your cooking surface. Its incredible to realize these coals are screaming hot yet with care they wont burn or dirty your dinner.

    Simply lay your steak on the coals for 2-3 mins, then scrape off any coals that adhere to it when flipping it to cook the other side. If your coals need to be rewarmed, just drag some fresh coals from your fire onto them.

    Enjoy the incredibly robust flavor of an ancient cooking technique that has been with us for millennia, coupled with a genuine satisfaction from cooking without any pots or pans.

    

...A truly timeless method.

-Mitch Mitchell
http://nativesurvival.com

The Horseshoe Bedroll Rig

    There have been many ingenious methods devised throughout the years for carrying bedrolls with rucksacks. Today we discuss a method I found in an old camping book from 1950; The Horseshoe Rig. This is an easy way to configure by just laying your rolled up blanket over or under the rucks top flap and tying the rest of the blanket down each side, thus forming the Horseshoe shape. This rig is extremely easy to setup, furthermore it eliminates any swaying or bouncing of your bedroll whilst hiking, which is common on other setups, giving you a more stable carry on your back.

Give it a shot and see if The Horseshoe Rig improves your rucks stability too.

-Mitch Mitchell
http://nativesurvival.com

Veils of Reality

    Whilst peering in a far track of woodland the veils of reality are not readily apparent. For the blood of the trees, conceal their rich cache of sweet syrup coursing in veins just out of touch. The stony acorns caress their illustrial meal, bidding all who wander a test of persistence and creativity. The formidable hive, a fortress of divine nectar thwarts all those lacking imaginative will. Roots and wounds, ponder when a traveler might concoct a weird mixture dreamt with eternal hunt's in the mind's eye. Yes, the very waves crashing above the continental shelf, curiously observe all who feel yet do not free the grains from their graceful prison. How long shall the minerals afoot wait for a keen eye to release their true form within? They care not, for their patience is of the aeons, unmarred amongst the ages before and after the frailties of organic thoughts.
    Indeed there are many veils of reality a mere thought away, surrounding and encompassing, enriching to character and skill; if one but knows, hears, feels, smells, envisions, even...converses.

...What veils are surrounding you?

-Mitch Mitchell
http://nativesurvival.com

Supreme Gift

    The Life Granter provides the blood of all, the life of all. It courses and swells, it gracefully flows, it fiercely hardens into crystals...a guarded spectacle of divine beauty and form. While some manifestations are heavy and lumbering; others disappear on a whim like smoke into the very air we breathe. Every instant, she transcends her corporeal shell, knowing all rely on her precious gift in various ways and degrees as gas, solid, and liquid. For without water nothing survives, all is rent inactive, the stasis of material death, water is literally material life.
    We are water life forms, carrying it as liquid and gas in our every fiber throughout our life that it grants us. As is the case for our plant cousin's in this strange realm, and our brother's and sister's the noble animals, who hold onto the precious knowledge of the real way of living on this majestic water life form our mother earth.
    The great and powerful earth relies on water to live like the rest of us, her explosions of molten rock, her ghostly valleys, secluded gullies, hidden chasm's, echoing caves, and living atmosphere, would not be.. only a dead shell, lifeless, cold and barren knowing only pure desolation. In turn, the earth is a gracious guest, sheltering this entity known by this current civilization's language as water, so she may frolic and play creating her incredible dancing droplets in the wind, at once pelting and soft, serene and frightening, racing down the earth's various rifts creating lush beauty with every grain. She stockpiles her frozen reserves to bask in the stunning and coveted auroras, shared with but a rare few.
    The greater part of mankind have lost their reverence and love for this omnipresent provider of life, while collectively slumbering in a nightmare the dominant culture fell into 12,000 yrs ago...yet all is not lost, a portion hath awoken, awestruck with unspeakable appreciation for the Life Granter's Supreme Gift.

..Do you yet slumber?

-Mitch Mitchell
http://nativesurvival.com

The Whispering Promise

    You feel it creeping at night, slow and methodical; ever-present and ever-growing. You know it in the early morn. You see it in the glowing orbs on the black stained nights. The sun losing the battle day by day, her chill frost visage spreads to the fields and glens as he slumbers. Her shrill counter-shadow illuminates that which is beneath her, bathing all in a cold, sterile, whispering promise..

"I am ever-close,

You cannot be saved,

Nothing will impede my approach,

Hear my breath,

Feel my kiss,

Know my building torment,

All who are weak shall shrivel and die,

I shall strip others of their prideful colored cloaks,

All will be smothered by my icy embrace"

    Thus all recede to their precious hearths, and gather up the victims of winter's past to keep warm and protected from her deathly touch. Acorns, Blueberries, Pinenuts, Deer Jerky, Raspberries, Walnuts, Blackberries, Strawberries, Wintergreenberries, Chestnuts, Dewberries, Partridgeberries and so much more will be desperately prepared, frantically saved, for the bleak lifeless days of winter's unhinged magnitude.
    Some cannot withstand her incantations and fall into a deep slumber, praying the overrun sun will gather his courage and push her back to her frigid realm. Some leave their homes far behind in search of the edge to her might, living on the battlefield where Winter's Stark White clashes Summer's Molten Orange.

..What will be your response to her whispering promise?

-Mitch Mitchell
http://nativesurvival.com

Hidden Fire

    O' the freedom of peering easily about oneself, knowing the tree that which you gaze upon, can be coaxed to release the fire secreted away within her fibers. Mighty indeed be this element, and there inside the wood's grain it hides; requiring a conversation to which you must join if you are to have a hope of meeting her in this plane of existance..for you see the fire already exists, but in the world of potentiality.
    Delicately shaping the medium, removing all that does not belong is an act of listening, an act of respecting the fire's demands. Do you hear her words? Feel her needs? Know her comforts? Once the dialogue is started proper, all that you must learn she will reveal in due time; till one day you find she is hiding all about you, in every forest, every glen, in every season, every climate, waiting for your call, feeling your need, knowing your love.
    There are many ways to release her, spin the fibers, rub the grain, nick the edge.

She will come...if your call be true.

-Mitch Mitchell
http://nativesurvival.com

Transitional Rain

    When the early seasonal rains arrive, there's a rare window of opportunity in the woods, for those souls who rejoice in all its moods. The steady patter on the short new growth, the smell of Winter's death, the beautiful mix of greens and browns, the enchanted forest stirring from her long winter's sleep.
    The thorough cleansing has begun, Wintergreen steadfast through winter begins to grow yet again, the Partridgeberry creeps along the debris floor, Moss swells up with its soft beauty; subtle motion is taking over the realm.
    The wanderer of such a landscape is routinely rewarded with witnessing the quick grace of Deer, or the silent crouched shuffle of Turkey. Streams and rivers are loud and clean, shedding their Winter's stock.
    Yes indeed, this is a special time amongst the transitions; a time of Water, serene sound, green carpets, soft footing, and pure love.

-Mitch Mitchell
http://nativesurvival.com