In this episode, I answer questions on tips for having fires under tarps, will there or should there be more bushcraft on TV, what might the causes be of getting pumped forearms when making feathersticks, is there a best time of year to harvest wood for carving, and details of Typha fibre extraction.
In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I talk about my best bushcraft moment of 2017, some advice on introducing kids to canoe camping in Scotland, bow drill material selection troubleshooting, up-to-date alternatives to film canisters for match storage, some considerations for topping up a brown bag and sterilisation of billy cans, cups, etc.,…
In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley, I answer questions about water purification protocols in areas where water is mostly clean to drink, how to use withies to create a tripod with canoe paddles, useful daily camp routines for personal admin and hygiene, the consequences of compass bubbles, an overview of the fire saw with bamboo, and whether ant larvae are edible…
Joe Robinet is known for making videos documenting his bushcraft and camping adventures, as well as having appeared on the first season of History Channel series Alone. I’ve been intrigued by the proliferation of outdoor video blogs and specifically bushcraft & camping videos on YouTube. Given Joe’s success on the platform, I figured he would be a good person to help discuss this area in more detail…
The appropriateness of having campfires on rock, what to do when group morale is low, a recommended magnifying glass for lighting tinders, the dangers of exposure to woodsmoke from campfires and the differences between traditional Scouting and modern bushcraft…
The Dandenong Ranges or simply, the Dandenongs, are a range of hills near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. I’ve been to the Dandenongs before but I wanted to return because the forests there are simply magnificent. The slopes and in the gullies of this area are characterised by towering mountain ash, a.k.a. stringy gum, Eucalyptus regnans, and rough tree ferns, Cyathea australis but within this canopy there is much more to explore, a lot of it strange in one way or another….
In previous articles, I have covered some core axe skills, along with safety considerations, which will serve you well year-round. When we look at winter specifically, however, there are some added considerations…
On 30th April 2017 Colin Skeath and his nephew Davis Gould-Duff set off from Loch Sunart on the West Coast of Scotland in an open canoe, aiming to circumnavigate Britain. 86 days later they completed this epic undertaking. Colin joins me to discuss the adventure, where the idea came from, the mindset required of them and what they learned from the experience…
In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about using birch polypore as a strop, the importance of reading the weather, which trees and plants to learn, what my favourite wild edibles are and running repairs on axes…
Conditions in winter can vary enormously. Much of this is down to weather. Snow is more likely to fall and persist on higher ground, so the terrain in which you choose to walk in winter will potentially provide a greater degree of difference underfoot than in the summer months. Here’s what to wear, carry and know when heading out in the hills in winter…