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How to Track Better…

November 21, 2015 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan

Fresh otter tracks (left) beside a grey heron track (right), (Photo: Sean Fagan).

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TOP TRACKING TIP - EXPECT TO SEE MORE!

Once, during a cold night in winter, as I was taking a stroll along a canal in the heart of Dublin city, I spotted an otter hunting in the frigid, cold waters of the canal.

I’m guessing the otter found the plentiful rudd and perch in the canal an irresistible lure.

This experience struck home to me that animals are behaviourally, more versatile and unpredictable than is often perceived.

Maybe, if I had expected to see more wildlife on my occasional, city strolls maybe I would've seen a lot more.

This experience also solidified something I've noticed with my tracking...

That a lot of tracking is based on expectation.

Learn how this small change in attitude can improve your tracking...

And what I learned about tracking from the wild bobcat..

The Joy of Plants in Winter

November 16, 2015 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan ..

A large, over-wintering sea radish, Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. maritimus. Sea radish roots are an exceptional source of starch during winter (Photo: Sean Fagan).

Why Plant Identification Skills during Winter

is an Important Bushcraft Skill...

Remember summer? When every time you took a leisurely stroll through your favourite patch of greenery there was fecund displays of life all around you?

Flowers were everywhere, flaunting their brash colours for all to see while trees rustled and shimmered with a full canopy of leaves.

Then winter arrived, and the landscape seemed stripped of all life - devoid of flowers and foliage.

Except it wasn't bare - just curtailed.

Our prehistoric ancestors were very adept at identifying plants during the winter months – they had to be, and it behoves us, as aspiring bushcrafters, to emulate their winter plant-identification skills.

The Art of Improvisation

November 11, 2015 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan .

This old, busted barrel provided the perfect, instant fire reflector (Photo: Sean Fagan).

A Bit of Improvisation can go a Long Way...

This busted oil barrel part I found in the woods was a first rate fire-reflector.

Within 5-10 minutes of placing the barrel close behind the fire, it was quite hot and radiated a lot of heat.

What this meant was that a small fire was all that was required to keep me warm - as the reflector significantly magnified the heat of the fire.

A small fire means less fuel, less work, and a more sustainable use of local fuel resources.

Less work for more efficiency is a good thing in the outdoors.

I believe that bushcraft can be about using man-made materials found in nature as it is about using natural materials in nature – especially since man-made materials are a sadly increasing feature of wild, remote places.

That old barrel part proved very useful in 4 other ways.

Campsite Safety: Trip Hazards

November 4, 2015 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan..

The pale colour of debarked, wooden pegs makes them more visibly conspicuous - especially at night (Photo: Sean Fagan).

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De-Barking Wooden Pegs for Greater Visibility & Safety

When it comes to outdoor safety, it's often the little things that can catch people out.

Over the years I've witnessed quite a few individuals trip over tent pegs and guy lines (especially at night).

When a person is tired or distracted, it can be surprisingly easy to trip over a wooden or metal peg.

It's not a pleasant experience.

When I’m teaching outdoor courses or casually camping with friends in a woodland, I’m often asked why I de-bark the upper section of my wooden pegs.

The answer is simple – to make them more visible.

Learn more about trip hazards and my general thoughts on camp-site safety.

Coyotes & The Aroostook River

October 24, 2015 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan

Eastern coyote track (Photo: Sean Fagan).

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Memories of Maine

The Aroostook River

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For three months of 2009 I lived in a remote camp with two companions in the northern woods of Maine, USA.

Living conditions were very basic.

Despite the relative lack of comfort and modern conveniences, I had a great time, partly because I lived near the clear, wide waters of the 180 km long Aroostook River.

One very memorable moment occurred one morning, after a brief swim in the Aroostook...

Bushcraft as Therapy?

October 15, 2015 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan

Is Bushcraft a Natural Remedy for Modern Stress?

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Below is a short video interview with outstanding wild food forager, Robin Harford.

In the video, at 4:40 minutes - Robin delivers a passionate account of the healing properties of nature.

Robin doesn’t use weighty terminology or referencing to back up his claim about nature’s healing ways.

Instead, Robin speaks eloquently from the heart.

You can feel the authenticity of Robin's experience on this matter - of his years of witnessing individuals transformed for the better in nature.

In this blog, I've also included some views on the healing properties of nature - from a bushcraft perspective and why I occasionally get away from it all - to seek peace in nature.

I hope you enjoy the video, and the rest of the blog...

Fire-Skills: Carrying Kindling

October 10, 2015 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan

A handful of dry, natural kindling is of negligible weight when carried but can greatly increase the odds of igniting a fire in challenging conditions (Photo: Sean Fagan)

To Carry or not to carry Dry Kindling?

The Value of Carrying Dry Kindling in the Woods...

Many bushcrafters will recommend that you carry dry tinder on your person and in your backpack - preferably in a robust, waterproof container/bag.

This is good advice.

You never know when conditions will become challenging - and having dry tinder can give you a head-start in igniting a fire during inclement weather.

What's very rarely recommended is carrying dry kindling as well as dry tinder.

You can have an abundance of dry tinder on your person - but if your kindling is wet - then lighting a fire can prove challenging.

A better solution is to carry dry tinder and dry kindling.

Learn more about the benefits of carrying dry kindling and why having a flexible approach to fire-lighting will make you a better bushcrafter.

Connecting with our Prehistoric Past

September 28, 2015 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan

Complete with a central depression for accommodating a drill tip, this mammal vertebra fits snugly into my hand - a great bearing block! (Photo: Sean Fagan).

Finding a Bone...

How Imagination Stirs the Bushcraft Soul

This weathered bone is most likely a vertebra (spinal bone) from a Sika Deer.

It will make a fine handhold (bearing block) for my latest bow drill set.

It was a quiet day in the woods as I held the bone handhold for the first time.

Effortlessly, my mind quietly meandered into the distant past...

Bushcraft, Winter & The Night Sky

September 23, 2015 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan

The moon and the planet Venus - bearing down their luminous presence from the southern sky over the river Liffey, Dublin, Ireland (Photo: Sean Fagan).

A great nocturnal activity is astronomy - which can be done in urban, rural and wilderness areas.

In the photo above, is the planet Venus and the moon. Both these celestial objects can often be seen during the longer nights of winter - they are also reliable, night-time navigational markers and well worth using with a map and compass - when navigating at night.

A reoccurring attitude I often come across is that the long, cold nights of winter are not an enjoyable time to be outdoors.

I couldn’t disagree more.

There is a magic to winter and a large part of its allure is the night sky.