I Pet a Rattlesnake – And Question My Life Choices: Fizz was not happy to be out of her bucket. And she made her displeasure known. The high frequency buzz of an angry rattlesnake is unmistakable once you have … Continue Reading →
Change Your Trail to Change Your Attitude
I’m not a psychologist. I don’t even play one on TV. But I know when I’ve fallen into a rut. I find myself in the same routine, doing the … Continue Reading →
Make Your Own Field Strop (Video)
There’s nothing like handmade gear in the wilderness. Imagine being on the trail and reaching for a piece of equipment you yourself have crafted. The texture, the smell, … Continue Reading →
Building a Tule Boat (Part 2 – The California Boat)
DREAM SMALL! That’s advice you don’t hear too often. But when you stop and think, it makes a lot of sense. In our daily lives, fulfilling our small dreams and desires … Continue Reading →
10 Books for People Who Love the Outdoors (2015)
Sometimes winter weather sucks. High winds, torrential downpours, freezing rain – that’s when I settle into a comfortable chair with a cup of hot chocolate and a favorite book. … Continue Reading →
10 Equipment Gifts for People Who Love the Outdoors (2015)
It can be hard to shop for someone who likes the outdoors. You want to get them something they will use and enjoy. A gift that matches their interests and … Continue Reading →
Building a Tule Boat! (Part 1 – The California Boat)
QUAIL!!! I stomped the brake pedal as quail streamed across the road. My sedan lurched and checked its steep descent down the coastal mountain. The car idled, motionless, … Continue Reading →
Use Your Knife – Make a Whimmy Diddle Bushcraft Toy (Video)
It’s fun to practice your skills by making a simple project. The Whimmy Diddle is a folk toy you can create to practice your carving skills. The toy may have originated … Continue Reading →
Tell me Your Spooky Story!
Halloween is approaching and once again I’m volunteering for The Missing Arm Hike. The staff of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, in northern California, guides visitors through a 1-hour, … Continue Reading →
My most popular first aid supply of the year!
The envelope please. And the winner is… <drum roll> Wait! Who am I kidding? There’s no such thing as a “popular” first aid supply. In fact, first aid supplies … Continue Reading →
Bear Eats Sea Kayak! (Video and Lessons learned)
Mary Maley was on a solo 107-mile kayak trip in Southeast Alaska when she encountered a black bear (Ursus americanus). She had just transferred her tent, food, and gear … Continue Reading →