Posted: 6/20/2011 8:55:08 PM EDT
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Ed_T, well known author from many outdoor and ultra marathon forums & magazines held a Back country Skills Workshop 16-19 June at his little slice of paradise near Lincoln Montana and efficiently covered:
Clothing Systems Packing Systems Shelter Systems Sleeping Systems Food & Cooking Systems Fire Building in any conditions Safe Water Acquisition Basic Navigation Camp Site Selection Bear Country Camping and Travel. Bushmasterdan loading the cooler at the start of the trip. 
Truck packed for the trip, loaded to the gills. 
Sandhill Crane on the dirt road to the camp. 
Topic discussion in the Tipi. 
Everyone who brought gear discussed new innovations in back country gear like this pack saw. I didn't get a picture of the Gränsfors Bruks axes but I will own one before the end of the month. 
Gavin discussing gear with Patrick Smith owner of Kifaru Intl. 
Grizzly Bear through the spotting scope from Ed_T's front yard, about 1200 yards away. A cub was with her, but barely visible behind the tree in front of her. 
Gavin loading the wood stove in the tipi during an inclimate weather period of the class. 
Other class participants. 
Gear review, kind of like show & tell.
More gear review. 
Pack review & comparison. 
Pack waist straps for the Kuiu packs need more room for skinny guys. 
Wes sampling the Kifaru UL5200 with 130+ lbs in it. 
Ed_T discussing with Brad different herbs of medicinal use like Yarrow & Arnica. 
Discussing the merits of Mountain Juniper. 
Mr. Patrick Smith, owner of Kifaru International , makers of some of the finest outdoor, survival & tactical gear on the planet and the most humble man I have ever met. 
Brad, from Kentucky, amazed at the amount of snow still on the mountain. (And the lack of oxygen)
Snow at the summit. Group photo. 
Second sighting of the grizzly bear & cub from the top of the mountain, also though a spotting scope. 
Discussing & comparing different spotting scopes. Consensus had it that the Nikon ED 50 was the best value for the money. 
Around the campfire (stove) in the tipi on the last night. MUCH fun was had, maybe TOO much by some.
Elk we spotted on the drive back. 
Overall, Ed_T runs an exceedingly efficient course describing the most effective ways to not only survive in the back country but excel and live well. I HIGHLY recommend the course and I will be attending the advanced course when it is available. |