On this Hike we take head to Owls Nest after we realize the Minister Creek Trail was impassable for us. We bought Ice cleats for the next time we find ourselves on the ice. Better packing next time for that.
Owls Nest
We visit Owls Nest a lot in the summer time. It is great for going fishing and bird watching. There are also a few beaver there in the lake that like to visit. Last year the beaver were gone so the Geese came and made a nest on the beaver dam.
Owls Nest Hike
Well here is our video document of our owls nest hike. It was a great time and we discovered new things.
In this episode of Epic Survival Secrets, David McCullough and his Father Maximus go along with Expert Survivalist Rory Summers, Jeffrey Snyder and his son Isaac to tackle a cold winter night in the Allegheny National Forest.
The key to epic survival in the winter is to stay warm, dry and well hydrated. Watch and learn as these epic survival experts show you how to have a great time in the middle of winter.
The crew looks for an ideal camping spot that has flat ground and resources. The crew picks a spot with plenty of fallen down hickory trees that are dried and ready for fire. There are some pine trees about 25 yards away.
Pine trees have many attributes that a survivalist can take advantage of, pine bows can help you build a shelter and squaw wood that lays at the base of pine trees are great fire starters. The sap from pine trees are medicinal and antibiotic. If you get a cut in the woods use pine sap to keep the wound clean.
As soon as the team finds a place, David begins to build a fire. He uses a fire steel for this process. Fire steels are used by survivalists because they are waterproof and last longer than lighters or matches. As you can see David is using dry grass to get the flame started. This fire will keep the team warm and cook their food when the time is ready.
Rory, David & Max opted to bring tents while Jeff and Isaac opted for Hammocks with a reflective wall barrier. They will be using pine bows tonight to help build this barrier. They will be using tarps & plastic for their wall as well. Their goal is to stay warm with a fire that they will build inside their structure, let’s watch as Jeff and Isaac prepare their spot for the night.
David and Maximus are camping more traditionally. You can have an awesome time in the middle of winter camping if you bring the right stuff. Let’s listen as David explains what they brought to make their camping survival trip EPIC!
Rory opted for more a military style camping. Hes sporting many wool products which is a great choice for winter survival. Wool is better than cotton because it will let your skin breath even if it gets wet, wool also dries faster than cotton and other materials.
As evening falls upon the men, their spirits pick up as they drink some refreshments. They prepare a grill to cook meat on. Rory surprises the group with Delmonico steaks and Pork chops.
The steaks were delicious and the guys had a great time. In hindsight there are a few things that we may have done differently, but that is how it is when camping and hiking. You are always testing out new gear and trying something different; You learn how you can adapt to different environments and try to perfect your gear each trip out. For our crew here the winter camping was a success even though we ended up with one flat air mattress and could not keep the fire going to the guys in the hammocks.
Everyone woke up the next morning and had breakfast then headed out of the woods.
Tree identification in the North East of the United States is a true bushcraft skill in the wintertime. You have to remember here that you may have 6 to 8 months where you can harvest plants and eat them. The 4 or 5 winter and early spring months you have to rely upon trees and the bounty they provide.
Identifying Tree Species In The Wintertime
There is just one small problem identifying tree species in the wintertime. You have to recognize trees by their bark. Many of the leaves that fall to the ground are eaten up by the forest animals. The wind blows the leaves all over the place. Counting on leaves to identify tree species is very difficult in the wintertime.
Tree Identification Is Important
To identify trees is an important skill you should have as a bushman. If you find yourself in a survival situation like the Donner party did back in the 1800’s it will be life saving knowledge.
Our New Tree Identification Category
We are creating a new category on our website. It is simply called “Tree Identification”. We will cover the tree species in the North East United States. Each tree species will be covered in detail. We will help you recognize them by the bark and leaf. What trees to tap and when. How to harvest different things from the trees that you can eat. So join us, please subscribe so you do not miss an article. Our Mother will be hosting the videos and creating the posts for this.
I determine the value of a product in a real world scenario. This could be extreme weather like in the middle of winter. I always try to narrow down and streamline my tool supply. This helps a bushcrafters like me have a lighter load when going into the forest. If the tools are not that useful then its not worth carrying that tool.
Every space in my backpack or my tactical vest needs to have something useful that I will need. If I can substitute lighter things for heavier things then I do.
Contents Of Earthquake Survival Kit
Here are the contents as described by the seller.
Strategic Military Gear: Complete EDC Outdoor Survival Kit Inside: Folding Knife, Led Flashlight, Paracord Bracelet,Compass w/ 360dg Bezel, Multi Tool Pliers, Emergency Blanket, Tactical Steel Pen, Stainless Steel Pocket Card, Popular Fire Starter Stone & Striker w/Compass & Whistle, Wire Saw, Mini Flashlight, Aluminum Whistle, Water Bottle Carrier, Rope for Tent Shelter, Rain Poncho, Electric Tape, Glow Stick, Carabiner, Zip Ties, Upgraded Larger Shock Resistant, Airtight, Waterproof Black Case
My Review of Earthquake Survival Kit
I like the folding knife. It was sharp and the handle had a good grip. Of course I am taking into consideration that it was also cheap. So for a cheap knife it was good. The LED flashlight was bright and I used it during my testing trip. The paracord bracelet was OK. The compass on the bracelet was a little difficult to use. It did not always point north. The other compass that comes in the kit worked fine though. The striker on the bracelet is a little difficult to use. The kit did come with the another striker that was much better as you can see in the video. The aluminum whistle was a piece of junk. You can see me trying to blow the whistle in the video. The water bottle carrier did not fit my water bottle. I believe it is just for plastic bottles. I carry a stainless steel bottle in my survival kit. The wire saw was a joke. The glow stick did not work either.
Video Of Real Life Testing Out Earthquake Survival Kit
Survival is not all about being desperate. There are so many people that find tranquility in the forest. We like to engage in what we call “Bushcraft Water Fun”. We love it because we are not swimming with a bunch of chemicals. The water we have here comes straight out of the mountain.We swim in Mountain Fresh Spring Water.
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Spotting Things In The Water
The water is usually so clear here that you can see fish swimming clear at the bottom of the stream. Sometimes we bring fine nets to catch the smaller fish to use for bait when we go fishing. There are crawfish here as well. Many people don’t realize this but you can cook crawfish like lobster. When they turn red in the pot they are ready to eat. Boy are they delicious. There are a lot of trout in our creeks here. Catching them are a lot of fun!
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Bushcraft Water Fun
Anyway you slice the cheese living free in the wild is more fun than you can possibly imagine. We watch survival shows and laugh at some. Not to be disrespectful to the people that make these shows but the difference between us and them is, “We live it”. Their desperation is our everyday life. We hope you can see our humor in that. The difference is we actually know what we are doing.
The waterfun in the summertime is just amazing. Once in a while we will get visitors and take them to our swim holes. We see the fear on their faces when we ask them to come in. They are expecting the river swamp monster to jump out and grab them or something. Most of them though end up taking a plunge and you see the freedom come over their face like they accomplished something amazing.
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The Soft Mountain Fresh Water
The soft mountain fresh water here is amazing. Once people make the plunge and get in the water they realize the softness of the water. You can even open your eyes under the water because they don’t burn from chemicals. We actually shower and drink the cold fresh mountain spring water everyday.
Soft Mountain Spring Water
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Bushcraft and Fun Camp
If you ever want to test your bushcraft skills or just come to the forest and “rough it” let us know. We have another cabin that you can rent out for a weekend or a week. The best thing is that you have us to be your guide. We will show you what you can and cannot eat in the forest. We can show you how to start fires. What the best wood is to burn. Where the best fishing and hunting spots are. The best berry picking if you come in June, July or August. We will show you the best swimming holes filled with natural mountain fresh spring water. How to purify your water and much more.
If you are interested in such a trip contact us at [email protected] and the next time we get back to our computer we will respond to you.
