Student Log-Jonathan Jessop

3/1/08
Jack Mtn Bushcraft, Wolfeboro Falls NH

Summary:
Today we spent our first night in our shelters with three feet of snow still on the ground and temperatures in the teens. For breakfast we had oatmeal after which we started the day with Tim's powerpoint presentaton on wilderness survival. After the wilderness survival talk we discussed log books and nature journals; and then we headed outside to do one match fires and learned about the twig bundle fire lighting method after which we took a break for lunch. Following lunch we learned about axe use which had a strong emphasis on safety and proper form; Tim felled a tree and we all limbed and sectioned it. Then we went on a walk and Tim pointed out several important landmarks to be aware of and also identified several trees such as white pine, red spruce, eastern hemlock, and balsam fir, and also the tinder fungus chaga. We also found some tracks which we identified as coyote and on our way we brought the firewood we had cut back to camp and ignited a fire and then Tim demonstrated and we practiced igniting cotton balls and petroleum jelly with fire strikers.

Accomplisments and observations:
1. made two one match twig bundle fires
2. limbed a tree
3. sectioned a tree with axe
4. split wood with axe
5. Made a wet day fire from wood split with axe.

Reflections:
It was good to review proper axe use and also twig bundle fire lighting.

3/2/08
summary:
After I woke up I helped a fellow student get a fire going in the wet weather and used to dry some of my socks and ate oatmeal for breakfast. After breakfast we pressed some eastern hemlock in the workshop and then made some tin whistles in the workshop and praticed percussion fire making too; and then Tim demonstrated the hand drill fire method; which we started to practice with an emphasis on technique and then we had lunch. When we finished lunch we cut saplings with our knives and assembled the framework for the sauna.

Accomplishments and observations:

1. made a wet day fire with one match
2. made three tin whistles
3. worked on hand drill technique
4. assembled frame on sauna
5. studied and pressed hemlock
6. started weather journal

Reflections:

I'm getting more used to living here, and the weather seems to be warming up slightly too.

4/2/08

summary:
After breakfast we began studying our first constellation, ursa major, and then we all went off to find our sit spots. After we found our sit spots Tim showed us two dome shelters and bush beds and then we went off and found our locations for our shelters. I built my bed and shelter and started gathering my firewood. Later in the day we also studied red and white pine.

Accomplishments:
1. studied big dipper and ursa major
2. built bush bed
3. built dome shelter
4. cut firewood
5. studied red and white pine
6. began learning about weather prediction

Reflections:
Getting around in the snow today was difficult because I kept sinking in at every step, especially when carrying materials for my shelter and firewood.

4/3/08
Summary:
After breakfast we studied the red squirrel, mammal of the week; after that we went on a walk to the stream that feeds into Rust Pond and pressed several plants along the way, such as pipsisawa and wintergreen, and Tim also demonstrated bipolar percussion. When we got the the stream we found some beaver sign and also some coyote and deer scat. When we got back to camp we pressed plants and continued scrapping deer hides and at night we watched a documentary on the Cree.

Accomplishments and observations
1. studied the red squirrel
2. Identified several plants
3. learned about bipolar percussion
4. scraped deer hides

4/7/08
Summary
We started the day practicing wet day fires with weather sticks and then went for a walk and pressed some plants. When we got back from the walk we practiced making reverse wrap cordage with some basswood inner bark. After we finished with the cordage I demonstrated the bow drill and got a coal going and then we worked on bow drill kits and on hand drill. I also moved into another shelter.

Accomplishments
1. one match with feather sticks
2. pressed lichen
3. made a coal with bow drill
4. made some reverse wrap cordage with basswood bark
5. practiced hand drill technique
6. started scraping another deer hide.

Reflections:
My floating hand drill technique seems to be progressing a little.

4/8/08
summary:

After breakfast we pressed a tree club moss and then we made some primitive spinners for rope making and spun some rope; and then Tim brought out his rope making machine and we started to make rope with that. We all took turns with the different positions in the rope making process and we each made our own length of rope. Before we made rope we also reviewed some basic compass work. When we finished our ropes we practiced friction fires and then ate lunch. After lunch we did some knife sharpening and learned the noninverted slippery bowline knot and after that we scraped our hides some and then ate dinner. After dinner we walked to the stream that leads into Rust Pond and lookd for smelt and learned more about various constellations and ways to find the north star and navigate.

Accomplishments
1. identified and pressed creeping jennie
2. continued scraping my hides
3. learned the noninverted slipper bowline
4. made rope with spinners and the rope machine
5. sharpened my knife
6. learned more ways to Polaris
7. made a sun compass

Reflections:
It was great to learn more about navigation especially with the night sky and I also enjoyed the rope making.

4/9/08
Summary:
After breakfast we practiced wet day fires and then we practiced our knots from yesterday and then leaned the slippery sheet bend and the figure eight knot; and tied a tight ridge line. After lunch I gathered more fire wood and then scraped my third deer hide.

Accomplishments
1. learned slippery sheet bend
2. learned figure eight knot
3. gathered more fire wood for shelter

4/10/08
summary
After breakfast we learned two more knots and reviewed the ones we did previously and then we walked to the stream and tracked some beaver and tasted alder catkins and partridge berry. On the way back to camp we gathered materials for our saw frames and pack frames. After lunch I made two buck saw frames.

Accomplishments and Observations:
1. Practiced five knots
2. researched two more plants
3. made two bucksaws
4. identified and tasted speckled alder catkins

Reflections:
One of my buck saw frames bended a lot because I thinned the branch too much and it was also too green when I assembled it, so I'll be more careful with that.

4/11/08

Summary

After breakfast we gathered saplings for our pack frames and emergency snow shoes, which we felled with out knives. On on our way to cut saplings we learned more about the red squirrel and how to snare red squirrels. When we got back to camp we limbed, peeled, and assembled the pack frames and learned he jam knot also. After lunch we carved netting needles out of cedar, and learned more safe carving techniques.

Accomplishments and observations:
1. Felled saplings with knife
2. started learning how to snare red squirrels
3. made a pack frame
4. learned the jam knot.
5. learned more carving techniques with my knife

Reflectons:
My knife handling has improved a little because of he various projects we do that require fine knife use.

4/13/08
Summary:

I spent last night in my shelter with no sleeping and used a fire to keep warm. I melted some of the plastic together because I left it too close to the fire while it was getting going, and some of the wood that was left out had also got fairly soaked through from all the rain we had; which made the fire a little more difficult and smoky.

4/15/08
summary:

In the morning we headed out for a walk, along the way we found some coyote sign; and along the way we learned about the natural history of the area and various trees. We also studied another way to light wet day fires, where you use your knife and a dead standing tree as a feather stick to establish a fire. After lunch we assembled an emergency snowshoe and reviewed the jam knot, and I also started to carve another netting needle.

Accomplishments and Observations:
1. Learned to identify Ironwood
2. identified coyote scat
3. assembled an emergency snowshoe
4. practiced jam knot
5. started carving another netting needle

Reflections:
I enjoyed the walk this morning especially learning about the history of the landscape and reviewing how to identify several trees and also while carving Tim showed me a couple of safe ways to carve close to my body.

4/16/08
summary:
After breakfast we cleaned out the workshop so that we could fit the twenty foot wood and canvas canoe in to work on it. Don Merchant arrived and we sanded the canoe and filled holes that were between the gunwales; and then we brought the canoe into the workshop and marked out the free board lines with a pencil and then carried the canoe back to the barn. Once the canoe was back in the barn we put three coats of shellac on it. During lunch Tim demonstrated how to prepare sourdough biscuits and cook them in a reflector oven. After lunch we made a tripod to smoke sucker fish and then we walked to the stream that leads into Rust Pond and made fish spears along the way. I managed to spear and kill one fish, when we were done we brought the fish back to camp and learned how to fillet the fish, and then we smoked them on the rack.
Accomplishments:
1. marked free board line for canoe
2. shellaced canoe
3. made tripod to smoke fish
4. filleted several suckers
5. speared a fish
6. smoked fish
7. scaled fish
8. learned how to use a reflector oven to cook biscuits

Reflections:
I really enjoyed spear fishing today and learning how to take care of the fish afterwards.

4/17/08
Summary:
This morning we went on a walk up Jack Mountain and around the area. Along the way we pressed gold thread, turkey tail mushroom, and walked down to the stream, and I caught about six suckers with my hands. When we got back to camp we started carving our canoe paddles. I'm going to make mine several inches taller than me.

Accomplishments:
1. identified porcupine sign
2. caught six suckers by hand
3. started carving my paddle
4. practice using my draw knife
5. practice using a shaving horse

4/18/08
Summary:
After breakfast I continued working on my paddle and ate lunch; after which I went with Tim to the dump and when I got back I packed up and went home for the weekend.

4/21/08
Summary:
After breakfast we met by the kitchen and we discussed Tim's Bushcraft University idea, and then headed to the workshop and studied navigation more. We went over map reading and how to orient a map and compass and also watched a short video on map and compass use; after which we took a bearing on a topographic map of the area to a stream and then walked to it and back. After lunch we went over the parts of a canoe and how to properly portage the canoe solo and with a partner. Tim also went over the different kinds of PFDs and canoe paddles; after which we worked on friction fires.

Accomplishments:
1. oriented map
2. went over map and compass use
3. made a bow drill fire
4. worked on hand drill technique
5. went over parts of canoe
6. learned how to portage the canoe with two people

4/22/08

In the morning we brought the portaged the canoes down to the lake and went over several paddling strokes and then poled upstream and saw a lot of suckers. When we got back to camp we played an awareness game where we walked alone into the woods and clipped clothes pins on branches and such and then ahd to walk back and find them all, in a set amount of time. After lunch we elaborate on....etc.

4/23/08

Summary:

Today was a half day, the first part of the day we practiced more canoe strokes and then I poled up the stream and caught seven suckers by hand and brought them back and filleted and smoked them and then left for UNH the next morning.

4/28/08

Summary:

After breakfast we pressed about fifteen plants including comfrey, clover, mayflower, valerian, and burdock, and we went for a walk and Tim pointed out false hellebore and we also found some moose sign. After lunch we continued carving our paddles until bed time and watched Alone in the Wilderness Again.

4/29/08

We knew rain was coming today so we practiced wet day fires and ate some dough nuts that Tim picked up and decided to sort of take a half day and worked more on canoe paddles and plants and went over trip planning.

4/30/08

Today we dressed our hides using a solution of eggs and vegetable oil and spent most of the day just stretching our hides..---elaborate more on process

5/1/08

Today we got upa little late and talked some and then got in the van and pressed several plants such as water hemlock, yellow burdock, queens annes lace and japanese knot weed and then Tim drove us to a friends house and we pick handfuls of the knotweed; and when we got back to camp we made a pie with them. After which I started packing more and watched Dead River Rough Cut.