Hi,

After reading Chris' many positive posts about Mors Kochanski (and living myself in the northern forest area), I'm thinking about ordering the 4 volume set of Wilderness Living Skills:

Clothing, Sleeping Bag and Sleep;
Knife, Axe, Saw Sharpening and Safe Use;
Sticks for Tools and Implements;
Knots, Are You Knot Literate.

There's the famous Bushcraft book available but I'm really curious about seeing Mors in action, and videos could be useful to watch especially knife sharpening and knots making. Are they worth it? Have anybody seen them?

Thanks

I don't have them.. yet.. If you do end up getting them, let us know about walking in your socks in the snow in the Clothing, Sleeping Bag and Sleep one...
Then give us a good review of all of them.. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

That will be my pleasure. I'm very tempted to order them. They don't have a SSL form on the site so I'll have to send them either a printed form via mail or call them. Which one is more secure? I don't know how long it will take.

Frankie

Don't know.. I sent them an email and they replied after a few days... try doing that and asking them..

Sorry for the late reply. I've been having issues with my ISP <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> The Kochanski tapes are excellent. One could argue Mors doesn't do 'Survival' but Bushcraft. But if you live in the resource rich arboreal forest this knowledge turns the survival scenario into more of an inconvenience " Oh dear, the old De Haviland Beaver hasn't shown up. I will have to camp for a week." Mors' use of Moras sends shudders in knife people's bones cold enough to draw out the heat treating. But Mors comes from a AXE tradition. If you learn his lessons of safety well this is not an issue, unless your venturing out with a PSK alone. I've crammed a scandi blade in mine, but an axehead no. In this kit mode you would be wise to pair up a few blades; A heavy duty 'crowbar' and a slicer.

I haven't seen his videos yet but I've read his book. I like a lot of his ideas about wilderness living but I've heard even better things about his knowledge of the boreal forest and the plant life. Mors is practically a legend in his own time. I had a friend from Ottawa who took the course a few years a go and he encouraged me to take it this year. "Mors is getting on in years and is close to retirement" he said so I am going to make time this year.

His survival school is located between Jasper and Edmonton and because the Jasper area is one of my favourite spots in the Rockies, I figure I gotta go check it out. Wish me luck.

Hi Chris, for now I ordered by phone the Clothing and Sleeping bags DVD as it's the priority and I'll see if I like his style and then if I'm happy I'll order the three other Wilderness series DVDs. I can't wait to watch it. They said the order will go out on the 2nd or 3rd of January and wished me a Happy New Year to which I replied. Thanks for the feedback.

Frankie

I received the DVD. I'm happy with my purchase. He has a lot of things to say so he talks nonstop in a clear english and he gives his lecture in 0 °F (-18 °C) temperature. The thing that brought my attention after a first listening (I have to watch it again because my english is a second language and there's no subtitles or closed captions) is that he uses a hard hat inner liner and a Scottish Balmoral type of Beret with a pompom for headgear (and explains why) like this:



I watched the soaking socks section and he uses two Custom Woolen Mill's 30% mohair / 70% wool blend socks in the video.

He also uses what appears to be the Canadian military issued Hy-Arctic Shell from Raber Gloves that have a wool cheek warmer on the back of the hand:



I like his style, his enthusiasm and the type of content and will order the other Wilderness series DVDs soon.

Frankie