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…
Short days and frigid weather mean many of the plants and trees we are surrounded by in the warmer months of the year are dormant. The landscape is populated by bare trees and skeletal plant remains. There is, however, still much detail in this dormancy. We can continue to work on our tree and plant identification skills through these winter days…
Kevin Callan is well known as a paddler and author of many canoe-route guidebooks for his native province of Ontario, Canada. He’s also known as the Happy Camper, and he certainly has always been happy when I’ve camped or chatted with him. Kevin has been a guest on my podcast before and today I’m delighted to welcome him back again to talk about another shared passion of ours – winter camping….
The Eighteen Mile Island Loop on the French River takes advantage of the complex nature of the French River waterways, combined with the ability to traverse this type of river both downstream and upstream, creating the opportunity for a varied, circular 70km (44 mile) route, taking in some fine, fast moving white water and pleasant conifer-lined flat water, through archetypal canoe country, along a Canadian Heritage River of unique historic importance. We took four days to make a canoe-camping journey from Wolseley Bay down to Dry Pine Bay and back again. Here I share photos, video, a written account of the trip and campfire notes.
Professional deer stalker and firearms instructor Andy Chadderton returns to The Paul Kirtley Podcast. The conversation Andy and I have in this podcast is based on questions submitted by listeners. In the wide-ranging discussion, we talk deer stalking, land management, rewilding, hunting ethics, firearms law, riflescopes, advice to beginners and more…