Another Winter Overnight

Same basic camp type as last time. Made a few changes to the shelter type though, adding another larger tarp over the reflective poncho. Different fire as well and used pine boughs under the Thermarest.

Snow was much deeper, hitting three and a half feet with drifts to five plus.

Our snow is very dry, doesn't pack much, just sink in it. Event with decent snowshoes I'm not getting much flotation, the pulk is sinking as well, about eight inches or so from the surface.

Future camp site.

Digging out of the camp site.

Once I got the site dug out I got the main larger tarp up and the smaller reflective poncho set up. Pine boughs down and basic camp set and then started on the fire.

Putting dinner on...

Making wood fell to the Wetterlings, the BK9 and predominantly the Trainblazer 24" Buck Saw.

 

 Got the temps inside the shelter to about 55 degrees, air temp outside the shelter was 12 degrees.

Homemade leather sheath for BK&T BK-9

I decided to try to make a leather sheath for my BK9. I learned pretty quick that I am no leather worker but the end product suits me fairly well.

I used some saddle leather in layers, double stacks of it on the edges and a collar for where the handle sits when the blade is sheathed for a bit of retention. Again, I am not a leather worker, but my end results are satisfactory for my needs. Stitches in thick leather stacks is a pain in the fingers!

After it was fully assembled I got the bottom quarter wet, placed a BCUSA patch there and then the whole thing into a flat wood vice to press the patch into the leather. It came out okay, I was shooting for the whole thing and what I got was a vintage looking worn away embossing.

Waxed Canvas Gathering Bag

I use a canvas bag to gather things around camp or on the way from a camp, everything from edibles to tender, twigs and so on.

I decided to wax the current bag I am using, making it waterproof and more durable.

Pretty simple process, nothing complicated.

Materials, including a Wounded Warrior Project canvas bag, a melting pot, some parafin wax, fuel, stove, bristle brush and a cardboard box to lay the bag on as you apply the wax.

Melting the wax.

Beginning application. All I did was brush it on while it was good and hot. Made sure the canvas was saturated.

Continue application.

Finished and it stands on its own, heavily waxed.

Folded flat for transport.

BushClass USA Twig Fire

Finally got out to do this one.

It was 0F without the wind and it was gusting some, around -15 I'd guess with the windchill.

Stopped for a bit of coffee and did the Twig fire exercise.
The canvas Wounded Warrior Project bag I used in gathering materials is going to get the waxed treatment soon. Hope to document that process as well.

Ignition was done Kochanski style, no tender, match directly into the small twig bundle.

This was the end result.

Here's the process of getting the materials and getting the twig fire going.

The King Has No Clothes

I've really been enjoying the Becker Knife & Tool knives I got late last year.
Recently I decided to mod the BK9, it's been the knife I have used the most since I got it.

I filed the thumb ridge and jimping off to create a hard 90 for better results when used with a firesteel.

I added the aftermarket micarta handles.

I stripped the factory finish off, not that there was anything wrong at all with the coating, I just prefer the clean non-tacticool look of the stripped blade. The process was very quick and simple.

Before:

After: