The training Primer was to set up a hammock campsite in the back yard, invite my grandson over to light the fire and talk about the campsite, and spend a solo night in the hammock. After-action-report: The campsite set and lesson went quite well and was a good refresher for G Man and his dad. G Man kindled the fire using a windproof match. Then we also lost it with talk - talk - talk, but his dad, our son, saved the situation. I boiled water and reconstituted my Mountain House for dinner. Two servings - I don’t think so. The new quilt system took some adjusting but goin to bed everything seemed in order. Yes it was forecast to be cold. Quilts worked well until it didn’t. I was up multiple times dealing with cold and got about 2.5 hours of sleep until at 1:30 am I had had it. Yes - I bailed. I am stubborn but not foolish. The underquilt was sold as a two piece system and I was unwittingly using the liner as a top quilt. The single under quilt was only rated to 40 degrees. You get what you pay for. I also did not bring a beanie and I did not change out my wool socks. Future Steps: Make sure the equipment is rated for the anticipated weather. Bring dry socks and or base layers to change into, and cover your head with a weather appropriate head gear. I did get commitment from son and grandson to camp in the backyard and continue prepping for the October Course.

Summer is right around the corner and we need to get ready for a survival overnight at a local school. My campsite, grandson’s fire with a timely rescue by his dad. Family affair.

I headed out to the training stumps at the fire pit with the concept of practicing flint & steel. If you are going to ignite char and use resources, you should think of the next fire. So let’s make char cloth. I headed out the door with an Altoids Tin, denim patches, a piece of black volcanic glass, the file striker gifted from Bill Cox of Survival Lore, one stick of dried birch with bark intact, and the Hudson Bay Tobacco tin purchased from GB2. Now the goal was a one-stick fire ignited from flint & steel. I knew the tobacco tin had twine and char cloth. Otherwise, my grandson has eaten me out of char cloth. The carving axe and the Migizi knife made short work of the piece of birch. I had some cedar bark close by and now, I don’t think it was completely dry. I used three pieces of very fine char cloth from the kit and despite adding birch bark and then twine to the messy bundle could not get it to flame. Short work for my friend, Mr. Texas Bushcraft ferro Rod. I cooked the denim cloth and proved the char. One photo credit to my bride for coming out to see what was going on and picturing a bundle that looked very promising. The red is cedar, not fire! Last weekend was the fire exercise, Saturday was a nice hike with Buz, and back yard fire today. I hope everyone had a contemplative and respectful Memorial Day. I’m hanging out here, waiting for everyone to come back. Ken - Out

Training Primer: To hike around the family homestead and identify several campsite locations, to complete a shelter - fire - boil exercise. AAR: Buz accompanied me for a hike at the homestead for a hike. We completed a 1.2 mile loop and passed through four potential locations where we can set up a semi-permanent campsite. We definitely identified one that is close to a mass of small expendable white pine trees that we can use for a primitive shelter, several shelter locations and suitable places to hang. It is also very close to piles of fire making resources from land clearing activity. At one of my winter shelter locations I dismounted the pack and started the shelter build. Time stealing error of leaving the #36 bankline against the tree on the inside of the bowline knot. Time. I had collected tinder as I approached location but started the exercise without gathering kindling and fuel. More time. So the boil took 27 minutes. When I repeat the exercise I will definitely remember where the Prussik knots are located. I will also gather fire materials before I start the clock. This site is great for fire because there is kindling and fuel in abundance. I was able to teach my hiking partner some things about knives. He carries a Mora with a rat-tail tang knife. Carves like crazy but I would not normally baton with that knife. I was also able to demonstrate how to remove a boiling bottle from the fire with a dangling toggle and various uses for a shamagh . Equipment maintenance and restocking.

What do you folks put in your bushcraft bag IFAKs? I’m not looking to have a standard ifak in my bush bag, just something more practical