Those familiar with my previous writings on this website will notice that I’m attempting something a bit more ambitious this time. Normally when I return from a trip, I'll simply use my field journal as a foundation on which to write my story, mainly because most of the entries lack that certain "story" feel. Because I feel that journaling is such an important part of any trip I take, I decided to include my day to day entries in hopes of giving you, the reader, a better understanding of what I experienced; perhaps allowing them to give a certain "feel" to what I was experiencing at the time I penciled in my entry. The journal sections in this story are in raw form meaning it appears here just as it was written in my journal.
Perhaps the best reason, for me at least, to keep a field journal is to keep track of time. I don't know what it is but as soon as I get out into the wilderness away from all the clocks, calendars and other Tools of Time, my sense of what day it is flies right out the window. Even if I have a watch with a date feature, it still takes me a while to figure things out. I have to actually draw a mini-calendar (photo # 1) in my journal and "X" off each day just before going to bed at night. Maybe all this has something to do with me having a hard time functioning day to day at home without glancing at my monthly planner.
In this report, The Iron Door, at the end of each days entries, I'm including a section titled "Post-trip thoughts." In this section I'll be adding some of my additional thoughts on various topics that may have required too much time in the field to write about or something that simply received more thought after my return. Also, bear in mind that my particular style of journaling is not meant to paint a colorful picture for the reader and at times may not make much sense. It's simply a tool that I use to keep track of time and a few basic thoughts and ideas.
If I purchase a new piece of equipment whether it be an axe, firestarting tool, firearm, or set of boot laces, I want to know that it all works and works well. Period. That's why I feel it's imperitive that I field test every piece of equipment I plan on using. My life may depend on it.
For me, the best way to know if a product (or technique for that matter) is faulty is to use the good ol' Trial and Error method; getting it out into the field and actually USING IT. Of course no piece of equipment is fail-proof but at least I have a much better understanding what it will or won't do, more so than if I simply purchased something that looked interesting then tossed it into a drawer to feel "safe".
Well, I better stop my yapping and get on with the story. If you would like to view a detailed list of the equipment I took on this trip, please scroll down to the end of this story and see "Gear List".
Pour yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy!
Eric
Wednesday September 18, 2002
- Left work at 5:30 PM
- Arrived at trailhead 10:30 PM
- Went right to sleep. Had several vivid dreams. One was about a relationship, the second was about having to shoot a bear that stuck his head through my truck window. The third was the third dream I've had about dying in a nuclear blast. First and second were at home in Iowa. Always with family embracing each other waiting for the nuclear "wave" to hit.
The dream last night was about driving through my home town at night then seeing two lightning bolts strike straight down. Panic everywhere and people rushing. Remember being in someone's basement with entire family. We were all embracing each other waiting for the "wave" to hit. All the dreams have been within a couple months. Very realistic and very disturbing.
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Post-trip thoughts
The "nuclear dreams" as I refer them as, have a very real and eerie feeling to them and are of the kind that are not easily forgotten. None of the three dreams have been about the Hollywoodish reduced instantly to ashes type as portrayed in many of the movies but have been about waiting patiently for the after effects to hit ... like waiting for the gentle rolling waves to reach the shore from a boat passing in the far distance. I can only describe the internal feeling is that of a magnetic type nausea. Weird.
Eric
Thursday September 19, 2002
- Was on trail by 8:45 AM. (Pop Tarts and coffee)
- Stopped several times before first pass to "fine tune" pack (photo # 2)
- Noticed wilderness graffiti (Photo # 3) on log. Made me angry.
- Stopped around noon to rest and eat salami and cheese. Noticed cattle urinating in water. Lots of poop.
- 45 minutes climbing next pass noticed two or three deer. Used opportunity to drop pack and grab rifle. Would have had good shot. Deer ran when hearing "click" of safety. Well within 100 yards.
- Arrived at camp at 3:30 PM. Went to fill water bottle, heard loud roar, looked to canyon entrance and saw jet fighter fly directly over the tree tops. Wow! Could see markings on side of jet.
- Decided to experiment w/ GI tent in stash. Set it up w/ ridgepole against tree (Photo # 4).
- Going to bed early (7:45 PM) Full moon!
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Post-trip thoughts
On this trip I hauled my gear in on a classic Kelty pack-frame. I'll let ML tell its story.
"I was trying to build a pack-frame platform that I could use to carry bulky items. Through the 1970s, ’80s and the first half of the ’90s, I relied on external-frame Kelty packs to carry loads through the Sierra Nevada, and came to greatly respect those old models. Thus, when I wanted to fabricate a special load-platform, I started out with an old Kelty packframe. This particular frame has a bit of a story behind it: In the 1980s, a company called Wilderness Experience (later Wild-X) was based in Chatsworth, California, founded by the Thompson Brothers. That company changed hands several times, and is now long gone, but for many years they produced good-quality outdoors equipment. At one time, one of the brothers was selling off some of his used equipment, and I bought his old Kelty frame pack--it was a D-3 or a D-4 (Photos 5 and 6), probably made around 1968 or 1970. As with all Kelty packs of this era, it used an external ladder-type frame made from heiliarc-welded aluminum tubing. That frame is what you have now, and it’s covered many, many miles in those 30-plus years."
The suspension on that old model was pretty dated, though, so I re-rigged the original frame with new straps, backbands, waist belt, and so on, also from Kelty, vintage 1980 or so. The original frame lacked the telescoping top bar, so I added that from a later Kelty "Massif" packframe. In the early 1980s, I used this setup on several hunting trips to pack out game. Then I decided to make a "chassis" and attach it to the pack, fabricated out of 0.040-inch 6061 T6 aluminum sheet. It worked out well, but turned out heavier than I would have liked"
When it came time to load the pack-frame, I folded my Filson jacket and placed it on the outside of the frame to prevent items from poking me in the back. Next, I attached my Trail Tube system to the middle of the pack-frame using two nylon straps. Instead of threading the wide straps through the frame's small yet very useful "D" rings that ML added to all his old external-frame kelty packs, I fashioned some large loops from 550 cord, threaded them through two of the "D" rings and tied the ends. These loops provided a wider area for the straps to go through as well as providing additional leverage when cinching everything down tight. Another advantage of using two "D" rings on each side of the straps is that if one ring happens to fail, the other one will hold the load in place until a repair can be made.
After the Trail Tube was in place, I secured my rifle (Photo # 8) and food canister (Photo #9) to the sides using separate straps. I then attached my shoulder bag to the top of the pack-frame using two more of the many "D" rings. The Hunter's Axe was simply slid down into one of the tight folds in the blanket.
One may take notice to the strange looking device on attached to the top of the Model Seven. That is simply a guard I made to protect the end of the barrel from overhanging rocks and other hazards. The guard is made from a plastic 35mm film canister with a small "X" cut in the center of its lid. The barrel is inserted into the "X" and held in place by friction. Judging by the scuffs and scrapes the guard recieved on this trip, it saved the barrel from accuracy effecting damage that would have surely occured had the guard not been in place.
Another feature I like about the Kelty pack-frame is the two "legs" protruding from the bottom of the frame. Whenever I needed to take a break along the trail, I simply backed up to a nearby log or rock about the height of my waist, allowed the weight of the pack to rest on those two legs, and simply unbuckled the pack and slid out. Once I was free of pack, I used my walking stick as a sort of "kickstand" and propped up the pack in place. When my break was over, I just reversed the process and went on my way. Much energy was saved not having lift and lower the pack everytime I wanted to rest.
Unfortunately, one of the nylon leg inserts came off somewhere along the trail. They really didn't offer a great deal of grip against the rocks and logs so I plan on fitting the legs with a pair up rubber tips like the ones found on the end of walking canes.
Boy, seeing that fighter jet fly over the tree tops was indeed breathtaking! I've never seen one fly that low in the Sierras. I could swear that I saw the pilot grinning as he screamed by in his hell-harnessed peace keeper.
Eric
Friday September 20, 2002
- Woke up at 8 AM. No reason to get up until sun hit camp for warmth. Slept well.
- Started off with camp chores, air out bedding, organizing equipment, filling pockets w/ essentials.
- Breakfast was oatmeal w/ raisins + b sugar. Used extra can for coffee. Cleaned up.
- Performed morning ritual. Found nice "seat" (Photo # 10). Removed waste and buried elsewhere to utilize toilet again.
- Visited Ron's old camp. Went through trash for cans. Walked down stream. Only activity was chipmunk.
- Began searching for wood to make "Woodsdrummer" table. Couldn't decide what to use. Returned to camp.
- Staring to feel weak @ 4:00. Ate salami and cheese and wrote in journal. See chopper flying overhead. Lots of aircraft activity. May get ready to go back to "MC".
- Went back to "MC" and waited in grass (Photo # 13) about 25-30 yards. Nothing. Took a couple pictures. Sun was setting - went back to camp. Are the marmots hibernating?
- Started getting ready for bed @ 7:30 PM. Brought in all essentials to tent. Rearranged pine needles.
- Last night getting ready for bed, turned around and was startled at full moon shining through trees. Took note of time (7:15). Tonight moon rose half hour later and slightly to the left (north).
- Before turning in, going to study map. Will probably travel south tomorrow in search of "iron doors" and "something interesting". Will leave tent in place for when I return in a couple days. Never been in that area before. Should be fun.
* While sitting on log, spotted part of a stick that I used to write Tammy a note a few trips back. Had a couple letters to see how it would show up. "LO" (love)
Good night.
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Post-trip thoughts
George W. Sears discusses the value of ‘smoothing it’ rather than ‘roughing it’ in his classic book Woodcraft and Camping. Waiting in bed for the sun to reach it's arms through the trees to warm my camp in one of my ways of smoothing it. If there's no reason to get up early, why stand around shivering in the morning cold trying to light a fire? Also, when choosing a campsite, I sometimes position my camp so it's exposed to the east and west horizons. This way I'll be able to take advantage of the sun's warmth in the morning, and its light in the evening.
I found another way of smoothing it on this trip. Strolling through the rocks one morning, I happened to stumble across a trustworthy bank in which to make my deposits. Rather than dig a hole and keep investing funds to the same account for several days, using a "scoop" I simply made a withdrawl, carried my loot to another location and buried it. I do the same thing at home with the cat pans, so why not with my "pan"? Moving right along...
A couple years ago I started building a permanent shelter in and around a large rock overhang. I later discovered that due to the surrounding rocks, the shelter had a constant draught running through it which in turn made it quite chilly. There were some other things I didn't like about the shelter and its location so I eventually abandoned the project. On this trip I dismantled the shelter, and returned the area to how it had been before.
Where the heck were the marmots on this trip? Well, to quote the book Sierra Nevada Natural History by Tracy I. Storer and Robert L. Usinger, "the Yellow-bellied Marmot becomes layered with fat by September or October before returning to hibernation". I thought it was strange that I didn't see any but maybe the marmots were already in hibernation.
Eventually I gave up lying in the grass for a marmot to appear. Just to be certain my rifle was properly zeroed in, I choose a small rock about the size of a marmot and fired a shot at it. The bullet hit exactly where I had aimed.
Eric
Saturday September 21, 2002
- Woke around 7 AM. Another great night's sleep.
- Usual camp chores. Ate breakfast (oatmeal and coffee). Began packing gear. Made sure fire was out.
- Left camp @ 9:30 AM (Photo # 14). Left tent standing for return trip.
- Walked a couple more miles and decided to rest/eat pb+J under nearby shade tree. (1:30 PM)
- As I was lowering pack onto ground, large deer came running up over a small slope and within 10 yards of me and stopped. I was hidden behind pack. Deer was staring straight at me. Before I could get camera out, he ran off. I was directly down wind from the deer. Very exciting encounter.
-Only a few miles from destination.
- Arrived at cow camp late afternoon. Lots of neat stuff. Cabins, blacksmith area, corrals (Photos 19, 20, 21, 22 & 23). Poked around for a few minutes then searched for water.
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Post-trip thoughts
The air traffic instrument remains. I talked to my friend who's a pilot and I'm told that what I found is referred to as a "wind sock." When pilots land, the wind sock tells them the direction the wind is blowing. I described the larger iron "cage" and he said it could have once been covered with wood in the shape of an airplane which is also used to relay visual information to pilots landing nearby.
The deer encounter. This really came as a surprise! The deer literally just about ran me over! Judging by the deer's body language, it didn't quite know what to think of me either. All it saw was a backpack with a head...and a hand reaching for a camera!
Arriving at the cow camp was like stepping back in time. As would be expected from a camp deep in the wilderness, everything had a very rustic and authentic feel to it. It was fun poking around the different areas thinking about the days when ranchers lived out there for months on end.
Luckily I was able to find the spring. The creek in the meadow was dry so that meant I would have had to go back a mile or so to a place along the trail where I saw water. There were various above ground water pipes around the camp so I knew there had to be a spring close by. A small tree frog (Photo # 28) wedged in the top of a pipe fitting was also a good sign that water was nearby.
There are so many shelter possibilities with the big trees lying around the ground. On this trip a made a sort of debris shelter using some of the many dead branches lying about the ground. At one point I decided to use board-like sections torn from a decaying log. When I placed these pieces on my shelter, I was sure to put the decayed sides to the outside in order to help prevent insects and small pieces of wood from dropping on my face while I slept. I didn't set out to make the shelter's roof waterproof. That would have taken a lot more time and energy. In the case of rain or snow, I'm sure the roof would have been better than nothing but what I mostly wanted to accomplish is to construct some type of structure that would prevent the cold air from pouring down onto me from the mountainside above and to prevent the warm air inside the shelter from escaping into the atmosphere. I was a log. I slept like one too.
Eric
Sunday September 22, 2002
- Out of bed @ 6:30 (Photo # 29) Camped up on slope so wasn't as cold as previous nights. Slept well in debris shelter. Main goal was to cut down on drafts that flow down hills at night. Roof also helped keep heat from escaping into atmosphere.
- I've seen a lot of squirrel activity so I'll be taking my rifle with me along with some basic gear. I'll be starting @ 8:30 AM.
- Took off from camp and within minutes found a suspicious "soup can" (cooking pan) in the middle of a grassy clearing (Photo # 30). Started searching rocky areas for more clues. Didn't see where one would be able to utilize a cave.
- Returned to dig site. Loaded new film in case others didn't turn out.
- Returned to camp around 2 PM. Tried to "dispatch" a couple pesky squirrels that were taunting me.
- Indecisive what I should do from here. Camera has me nervous as to whether or not certain pictures have turned out. Pictures are always a big part of my trips. Don't really have anymore "clues" to guide me to the iron door. I only had a couple vague "theories" to go on. I feel I did well under the circumstances but feel any more searching would be a waste of time. Will probably go over to "Something Interesting" tomorrow.
- Was sitting writing in my journal preparing to return the equipment I borrowed and heard another squirrel nearby (Photo # 33). I grabbed my rifle next to me and eventually located it in a tree. I fired one shot. Got it! (Photo # 34) When I found the squirrel it was a clean shot through its center. Almost didn't need to gut it. I'm always glad of a humane kill.
I'll have to say it was nice taking my rifle through all the necessary steps. Scope, Range, reduced loads and actually feeding myself with what I shot.
- Made sure fire was dead out. Don't plan on having fire in AM so I can get on my way. Tried out GB Hunter's Axe (Photo # 36). I really like it in fact I may use it now over the Wildlife Hatchet. (Getting darker)
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Post-trip thoughts
Honestly, with only a couple clues to go on, I really didn't have any high hopes of finding the iron doors. For me, part of the fun that goes along with hunting for wilderness "treasure" is the gathering the small bits of information that may or may not eventually lead to the items at hand being found. I had a lot of fun theorizing where I should start looking and overall it was a great experience having to travel so deep into the backcountry. Next time I'll offer a bribe.
One of the main highlights of this trip was being able try out a new rifle and hand loading some reduced loads to be used with it.
For the last few months I’ve immersed myself with a new Remington Model Seven rifle (photo # 37) and started learning to re-load my own ammunition using an RCBS Partner system. The whole process has been a great learning experience and I owe my friends ML, Bill Hay and several Hoodlums from the Hoods Woods Forum a big word of thanks for their help with the many questions I had.
The first question I had to ask myself is for what purpose do I intend the rifle to be used for. I have no experience hunting larger game such as deer or elk, so I wanted a rifle that would one day allow me to do so. And thanks to ML’s excellent article Reduced Centerfire Rounds (see link below), if I learned how to re-load my own specialized ammunition, I would also be able to hunt small game using the same rifle. This, in turn, would make the rifle a much more versatile hunting tool.
I eventually settled on a Remington Model Seven SS in .308 Winchester. The Model Seven is a couple pounds lighter and a few inches shorter than many of rifles I held in the store. Since I planned on carrying it on many miles into the Sierras, it seemed like a good choice. I also prefer to purchase my firearms in stainless, mainly for their ability to stand up to harsher weather. I also feel I can do a better job at cleaning my firearms due to the lighter silver color of stainless.
Unfortunately, one of my favorite gun shops closed its doors earlier in the year so I had to take my business somewhere else and what a disaster it was. To make a long story short my scope was not mounted properly using the correct base. There were other hassles I had to go through but in the end it all came down to incompetent employees. With the help of ML, I eventually learned to mount the scope myself. I’m happy things worked out as they did because I was able to learn another new skill.
Hand loading my own ammunition was a wonderful learning experience. I wasn’t looking to re-load for shear bulk, I was looking to create specialized loads to use on small game. For more information on the components I used for these loads, see “Gear list” at the end of this story.
Out on the firing range, I also learned how to properly zero in a new rifle. Using full powered loads, I started out at 25 yards, eventually working my way out to 100 yards. It took a while but I eventually got the hang of it and was able to get all my hits within a few inches of the bullseye.
When it came time to test the reduced loads, I took mental notes on how their point of impact changed from that of the full powered loads. At 25 yards they were pretty much hitting the target dead center but moving out to 100 yards, they were hitting about 12” lower than that of the full powered loads. There was also quite a bit less recoil and report using the reduced loads.
After a lot of research and a little frustration at times, I was able to purchase a quality firearm and the accessories to go with it. From there, I learned how to install the scope using the proper rings and base, hand load ammunition, zero the rifle in and test the reduced loads at the range, then carry everything miles into the backcountry and use it to fill my dinner pot. I feel a great sense of accomplishment having done this and look forwarding to using this versatile rifle on many more of my trips.
Eric
Monday September 24, 2002
- Woke up @ 5 AM. Dozed until 6. Dismantled shelter. Ate salami, cheese, raisins. Packed up gear. Performed ritual, gathered water, rinsed ass rag in sun. Ready to go. Stop at cow camp one more time to drop off borrowed can then head down long meadow until in narrows then turn south.
- 11:45 AM sitting here in small meadow just south of where I should be. Speaking of bees, I just sat down on an old dead stump and stirred up a nest. I slowly got up and very slowly walked away. They were flying all around me. Maybe they only sting a running (panicky) subject.
- I started out following a dry stream and soon got turned around. Just as I was about to turn around and head back, on a hunch I followed a dry creek to where the map said should get to the meadow. Now I realize it's not the right meadow. That's OK because now I know exactly where I should be. Going to give it one more chance. If I don't find it, I'll head back to my base camp.
- Well, I decided to head back. After taking another wrong turn, then realizing I was out of water, and knowing the "blue lines" may in fact be dry if I find the meadow, I'll save this adventure for another trip.
- 4:15 PM. Arrived at base camp. Soaked feet in cold stream. It's nice having the tent still set up. Plan on relaxing and cooking up neglected bannock. Still have a lot to use up.
- 7:00 PM. Had some time to think over dinner of stick/ash bread w/ cheese and pine needle tea and have come to the conclusion tomorrow will be the day I head back home. I feel as though I've accomplished everything I set out to do on this trip. The "treasure hunts" were fun but my main goals were to try out the vintage Kelty pack frame, as well as the Model Seven with its reduced loads (handloaded by yours truly) and a Gransfors Hunter's Axe.
- I picked up litter (plastic, foil, etc.) left by other campers and will pack it out tomorrow. I plan on going to bed soon so unless anything eventful happens between now and until I reach the trailhead parking lot, this will be my last entry for this trip.
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Detached, isolated, apprehensive, overwhelmed...
These are a few of the words I use to describe the feelings I was bombarded with during my first solo survival trip into the Sierras. That trip was not easy but I felt it was necessary; it was the trail I had to follow that would someday, hopefully lead me to wilderness self-reliance.
Independent, capable, confident, inspired...
Having now spent many nights alone in the Sierras, these words have replaced the first, and are the ones I use to describe how I feel when I’m on my own in the wilderness. Don’t get me wrong, when fatigue, cold, and hunger enters the picture, negative words will sometimes slither their way into my thoughts. The difference is that now, I have more experience under my belt and feel better prepared to deal with the obsticles I'm faced with.
Whenever I'm traveling through the wilderness, I always try to keep in mind that in many fields, including wilderness survival, over-confidence can sometimes lead to arrogance, which in turn, may lead into recklessness. What this means is that I try not to become so comfortable with my skills, that I start taking unnecessary risks. One slip off a rock ledge and the big red "Fail" gets written across my forehead. I broke the first and most important rule in Ron Hood's Rule of Threes; I didn't think. Test over.
In his truly inspirational and informative book Camping and Woodcraft, Horace Kephart, many times referred to as "The Dean of the Wilderness", once stated, "In the school of the woods, there is no graduation day." So true. Whenever I return from a trip, I feel as though I have only turned one page in Mr. Kephart's Wilderness 101 textbook.
Time to start planning my next trip...
Eric
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Gear List
*new items for testing
Kelty pack-frame*
Modifications:
-"D" rings attached to all clevis pins
-telescoping top bar added
-updated suspension system
Accessories:
- five (5) nylon straps
- loops and misc. lashings (550 cord)
- freighter shelf (fabricated by ML)
Remington Model Seven SS in .308 Winchester*
Modifications: None
Accessories:
- Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10x40mm scope*
- Weaver rings and base*
- Butler Creek Flip-Open scope covers
- Uncle Mike's quick detatchable sling swivels*
- Boyt leather sling*
- barrel guard* (35mm film canister)
Ammunition:
Standard Loads- American Eagle 150-grain FMJ Boat-Tail (These rounds were carried simply to provide extra weight in my pack; I'm still in the process of finding an appropriate full-power to use on large game)
Reduced Loads* (individual components):
-Speer 150-grain Spitzer Soft Point bullet
-21 grains IMR 4759 powder
-Federal #210-primer
-Federal Gold Medal Match brass
(All cartridges stored in MTM Case-Gard J-20 series shell case*)
Ruger Redhawk .44 Magnum
Modifications: None
Accessories:
- Blade-Tec O&E (odds & ends) "hybrid" shoulder holster
- Uncle Mike's Sidekick ammo pouch
Ammunition:
- Garrett 330-grain +P (18 rounds)
Trail Tube bedroll system
Swiss military mortar tube contents:
- cook-can (1 lb. coffee can)
- 21" Svensaw
- Geier elkskin gloves
- small nylon stuff sack (filled with pine needles and used as a pillow)
- sweatshirt (50/50 blend)
- one (1) package saltine crackers*
- Olympus Epic Zoom 80 35mm camera with film and remote
Rolled onto and fastened to exterior of mortar tube:
- body-bag
- wool blanket
- two (2) nylon straps
- leather shoulder strap (cinch strap from saddle)
- military surplus backpack shoulder pad
- carabiner
Shoulder bag
Contents:
- Maxi-kit (see Volume 3 of the Woodsmaster Series: "Survival kits")
- maps
- notebook (journal)
- pencils
- two (2) rolls 35mm film
- spare camera battery
- CMG Equipment Infinity Task Light
- Primatine Mist inhaler (sometimes needed in extremely dusty/moldy environments)
- hunting and fishing licenses in Omni-seal bag
- magnesium firestarting tool
- petroleum jelly saturated cotton balls in 35mm film canister
- fine steel wool in 35mm film canister
- firestarting kit (Tai Goo custom steel striker, flint chard, char-cloth, jute rope, fine steel wool, leather scrap) stored in brass tobacco tin with burning lense
Clothing (on person)
- wool jacket (Filson Mackinaw Cruiser)
- wide brimmed hat (wool)
- head rag (cotton)
- long sleeve shirt (50/50 blend)
- Combat Cloth BDU trousers (60/40 blend)
- one (1) pair Thorlos (Hiking) socks (acrylic blend)
- one (1) pair extra sexy nylon knee highs (used as liner socks)
- boots (Cabela's Mountain Hunter)
- BDU belt*
Equipment (on person)
- Swiss Army knife (Rucksack) with sparking rod
- Iodine crystals in glass bottle
- lip balm
- one (1) contactor's bag
- Mini-kit (see Volume 3 of the Woodsmaster Series: "Survival Kits" in Otter Box* storage container
- Casio Triple Sensor watch
- H. Roselli Hunter's Knife
- Silva compass
Equipment (misc.)
- Gransfors Bruks Hunter's Axe*
- Nalgene lexan 16oz. wide mouth bottle
- ass-rag
- surplus aluminum powder tank* (food storage)
- hickory walking stick with Ultrapod camera tripod attached to top
Food
- 1 lb. dry salami*
- 1/2 lb. sharp chedar cheese*
- 1 lb. jar peanut butter*
- 10oz. jar strawberry preserves*
- two (2) cups bannock
- seven (7) handfuls coffee
- six (6) packs Cup-a-Soup (cream of chicken flavor)
- aprox. four handfuls raisins
- seven (7) cups oatmeal
- aprox. ten tablespoons brown sugar (stored in small reusable Glad container*)
(salami, cheese, bannock, coffee and oatmeal were stored in separate Ziplock freezer bags)
Copyright © 2001 by Eric Stoskopf.
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