More than 20 of us had a great time at the Finger Lakes this weekend. Special thanks goes to SB Raider who put the whole thing together. Among other activities, Marty Simon and his wife Aggie, owners of Wilderness Learning Center, took us out on plant identification tours each day. One of his instructors, Bob Plude, showed some of the participants how to make a bowl out of a short length of log, using coals from the fire and pine pitch. Sorry I didn’t get some photos of that. In addition L.T. Wright and Dan Coppin, of Blind Horse Knives, were on hand to share knowledge about knives and how to use them in various situations.

The event was so successful that DW (who thinks sipping wine on the deck is outdoor living) now wants to go to Cabella’s with me. It probably didn’t hurt that we each won one of the Bark River Knife and Tool Co. knives the company donated to be raffled off.

Here are some photos:

A general view of the campsite.


Jerry and Marcello on one of the hikes.


Bob demonstrating fire making skills using cattails.


Finger Lakes area is beautiful during fall foliage season.


A local game warden gave the group a bear talk. That’s Marty on the right.

Sweet!

-Blast

Sounds great. We should do that in Tx.

Wonderful--some real life skills --better than some of the fun but kind of off-the-wall survival posts..

That looks like a great time!

I have two words concerning this post!!!!

Uncontrollable Drooling

The field right next to camp.


L.T. trying on Jerry's Bivanorak by Hilleberg


L.T. batoning some wood with his Bushcrafter while Scaatylobo and Dan saw some wood in the background.

One of Marty and Aggie Simon's plant walks. They know their stuff and knowledge just pours out of them.


Friday night got down to below freezing. No problem, wrap the sleeping bag in a wool blanket and throw a Nalgene bottle with hot water in it in the bottom and I'm warm and toasty.


Saturday morning. Cold.

Fighting the cold with hot calories. Can't think of a better way.


Bob is teaching Dan how to start a Kuksa.


Dan is getting the first couple of coals worked in pretty well.

It doesn't take Dan long to open up that hole. You just have to watch for cracks in the block.


Hey, it's a new woods hookah!


Marcelo here is using a leather strop that is under development by JRE Enterprises, with a ring on one end and a rat tail on the other, to work his knife to shaving sharp. It really took no time at all.


Hope you enjoyed these pics, wish I had more.