A Wander with some new gear...

Had a lot I wanted to do today, beyond getting some bush time in general. Wanted to see if I finally hit the grail with the pack basket carry mod, get the Donk Grill good and hot, and of course get my new Whelen Wilderness Knife dirty. Iz did such a fine job with this knife I felt it would be irresponsible of me to NOT use it pronto! I also wanted some more Chaga and having spied some last time out it seemed like my day was going to be full of dirt time goodness.

The before I go shot of the custom Turley Whelen Wilderness Knife. Based on the knife Col. Townsend Whelen carried for most of his life. I had explained to Iz what I wanted in the handle and man he delivered. Couldn't be happier, you can bet on seeing a lot more of this knife.

I knew as I rounded the end of the lodge on my way to the back trail and saw the turkeys in my drive way that I was going to thoroughly enjoy today. Event the temperatures are down, low to mid 60s and virtually no humidity! Hell it got down into the lower 50s last night and the damn skeeters don't know what hit 'em.

According to the Minnesota DNR we're not supposed to have turkeys this far north. Been seeing this flock now for about four years so they seem to be doing okay, even old broke tail. Don't know what the tangled with that he got his rear fan busted but he's still struttin' so I guess he's okay.

After spending some time acting like a amateur wildlife photographer I turned my back on them and the barn and head out the back trail. Based on where I wanted to grab that chaga, and wanting to circle back the long way through the tamaracks and the sphagnum moss I figured on about twelve miles. This was going to be a bit of a workout because I was running kinda heavy. Full kit and all in the pack basket as I wanted to see how the hauler worked out.

I originally bought the LL Bean Load Hauler to pack meat quarters out of the back country and carry tree stands in and out, it worked well for that. Then I got this wild idea to mate it up with the pack basket. As much as I love foraging with a pack basket, it ain't real conducive to comfortable carry over many a mile, at least mine wasn't. It worked and I used it a lot but I knew there must be a more comfortable option. I don't really care if stuff is period or correct or not, I'm not afraid to see fastex buckles and nylon with ash basket slats and leather. To me it's a modern incarnation of something that just flat works. When I'm planning on foraging a lot, there's nothing like a pack basket, add a modern harness and rigging and well, it just doesn't get much better.

Here's several shots of what the monster looks like now.

So off on the trail, absolutely amazed at how well the pack carried and how comfortable it was even loaded up. The hip belt took the weight to the hips, straps comfortable, all it the ride was great.

Staghorn sumac isn't really in yet, wish it was, got a real hankerin' for some Indian Lemonade.

Our dew berries are in, covering the forest floor it's hard to make any progress for the fact that I'm browsing as I go. They are the first berry that we get in, they are a little behind this year as is everything else due to our lingering winter.

We're still an easy couple weeks out on the Thimble Berries I think but they are there. Of all the berries of our north woods I think I like the Thimble berry the best.

Canada Fly Honeysuckle, non-edible, 

Ghosting some of the big woods in pursuit of chaga and looking for deer sign.

What Monarch, this old giant moss covered maple tree was one I hadn't seen before. Wetterlings 26" axe laid in for size comparison.

I'm not that sharp on fungus but they are photogenic. Couldn't find this one in my field guide. Any one know what it is?

Time to loop back, taking the long way would bring me through Beaver valley as I call it. Last count there were no less than five active families. I had no intention of bogging close enough to them to get pics though, that's some hard hairy country to get through this time of year. Instead the plan was to stay on the west side of the valley and travel south by passing much of their country. It did mean however that I'd still be boggin some through the sphagnum moss and Labrador tea of our low country.

From here I got into some rough stuff and put the camera away for a while, but still managed a couple shots as I moved deeper into the lowlands of the valley.

Time to unlimber the pack and have a little lunch! I was pretty deep into the cedar swamp so pickens on perfect places was slim. I settled on a spot where an old cedar made a pretty good sittin spot, this ancient behemoth had become five trees and one of the roots has grown so big I really didn't think I'd find anything better. Was a bit muddy where I wanted to put the fire so a couple rocks and some bark for a fire bed were in order. Skeeters were actually pretty thick here so bug juice and thermacell were used to hold them off till I got some smoke from the fire to drive them out.

 I was in a hurry to get a fire going so went after it. Cedar bark shavings for tinder, some feathering and shaving and boom, fire!

Once the fire was going it was on to food prep. Donk's Grill is a perfect place for my mini-cutting board. This grill is the ticket. Folds flat and works perfect. So far I got nothing but good things to say about it. Not sure what it weighs but it doesn't feel that heavy. As far as finish and function, backwoods bum approved.

Alright, nothing to do now but wait for the coals to get right.

First course, BACON! 

Second course now, some peppers, shrooms, flanken ribs!

Oh hell yeah!

After a little desert, some Treebeard tobacco out of a Missouri Meerschaum, it was back on the trail again.

Anyone know if these are 'Witches Butter'?

I covered the several miles back to the house through the rest of the afternoon, batteries died on the way back so only got a couple more shots.

Thanks for coming along!

Hultafors, in a rounda'bout kinda way

Someone told me the Hultafors were not available in the US, and once I heard that I really didn't give them another thought. I did look for them but what I found wasn't US based and had some pretty stiff shipping prices to go with an already inflated sticker price. Oddly enough I found a Wetterlings felling axe cheaper than I could get the Hultafors. That was a year or so ago and admittedly I don't know if these axes are available in the US now or not.

In a recent trading haggle session with DCM, a friend of mine on the BCUSA forums, a Hultafors felling axe got tossed on the trade rock, 3.5 pounds, 32" and with a history it would seem. Originally a BushTramp (another member of BCUSA) axe that ended up traded on the blanket at the Ohio meet. Now it was being offered up in trade again, we settled up and called it good.

I was surprised by the Hultafors, and the helluva good whipping job BushTrap laid on it. Trade was a good one and now a Hultafors helps heat the lodge!

 I'm no axe aficionado, all I really know is what feels good to use, how it sharpens and how well it holds an edge. I've used the axe daily since I received it and I've become rather fond of it. The swing is good, the bite is deep and the chips fly as if under rocket power.

I'm thrilled with this feller.

Recently I got out to rummage up some birch bark, hunt some small chaga to replenish stocks, and enjoy both the axe and a new to me BHK Bushcrafter. When I'm foraging there's nothing I like as much as my pack basket for the purpose. I recently finished up a few additions and it was a perfect chance to get it out and have some fun. It's become a hot mess of traditional combined with modern aspects. From using  several MOLLE attachments to a Bison Gear survival pouch mounted to the harness webbing.


I like to be able to carry an axe in the basket instead of carrying it in my hand. What I don't like is it flopping around and banging to and fro. So, using a 'Elasto-lok Combat Medic vertical tourniquet carrier I fashioned the perfect axe handle stabilizer. The set up slips between the ash slats on the basket making the perfect spot the set up the carrier. Similar to the way the MOLLE/PALs system works, the ash slats are nearly identical in size and spacing as PALs webbing.


Might be a little hard to see in the image  to the right and below but it's self explanatory really. The axe handle is secured in the carrier via the bungie/buckle clasp. It certainly kept the axe secured, had no movement at all until I wanted to take the axe out.





So with pack on my back and Ace in the lead we hit the trail, into what might as well be the jungle of northern Minnesota this time of year!

After tramping most of the morning and collecting birch bark along with some chaga to replenish my personal stock it was time for some tea as it were, and some piddling with the new to me BHK Bushcrafter. Also procured in another trade it arrived with let's call it a sharpness challenge, it took about an hour to get the edge I was looking for and in the end she came out the kinda sharp I like.

 I've handled and used a couple BHKs in the past but not over much. This one I've spent some time with and have come to really like. Blind Horse Knives has a solid reputation and why that is, is clearly evident in this knife. Form, fit, function, all top shelf and pretty easy to take a liking to.

A fair piece of chaga to add to the stocks...

 After lunch we hit the trail again, though neither dog really wanted to leave their comfortable spots. They'd dug in while I was piddling and getting a fire going. A better pair of trail dogs I've rarely known. In fact this is the first Husky I've ever seen that doesn't streak off. We've covered miles together and never a bit of it with him on a leash, he sticks close just like he should.

Much of the rest of the day was spent wandering around collecting bark and just piddlin about wasting time. I collected enough bark to finish several projects, enough chaga to have a steady supply of tea and enough 'trail peace' to keep me even keeled for a while.

I'd call that a successful day.