Waxed Pants for Bushcraft & Camping Kusk Bushcraft 2023-06-25 | This is the process I use to make waxed pants for the outdoors. Starting with a $7 pair of pants, I walk you step by step through the waxing process before upgrading the pants with some leather knee patches. The process is quite simple and results in a tough, functional pair of pants that will last for a few years with heavy use.A few things to be noted:100% cotton is the most ideal material for this project. It will have the least amount of stretch (compared to blends with synthetic material) which will result in better waterproofing abilities.If you are going to be wearing these pants in the winter, make sure you get a size or two larger so that you can fit insulating layers underneath.The wax is composed of 7 parts paraffin wax and 1 part beeswax. They are measured out by weight then melted together in a pot over low heat. I mix the melted waxes together very thoroughly then pour the melted wax into paper muffin wrappers. After the wax is allowed to completely cool and harden I end up with the wax pucks you see me using in this video.Using parchment paper between the pants and the boiling pot/clothing iron when melting the wax will prevent the transfer of wax onto the pot/clothing iron.Thin layers of wax melt in easier but require more layers of wax to fully saturate the material. Heavier layers of wax take longer to melt in but will saturate the material with 2 or 3 coatings. I opt for heavier layers of wax and leave my hot pot of water on each section for longer. Melting the wax is the slowest part of the waxing process.Other methods to melt the wax include using a clothing iron, heat gun, blow dryer, or campfire. I decided to use a hot pot of water as a makeshift clothing iron since it is the easiest to replicate without any special tools.If you have any questions or comments please let me know. Thank you to everyone who watches. God bless!
Why My Knives DO NOT Have 90° Spines Kusk Bushcraft 2024-03-30 | The square spine is often highly regarded throughout the outdoors community. Today I thought I would share my thoughts and opinions on the square spine along with my reasoning for having rounded spines on my knives. If you're somebody that enjoys working with your knife a rounded spine could offer you a more enjoyable experience. Thank you to everyone who watches, God bless!
Split Log Stove Lunch + A Chat & Pipe Smoke Kusk Bushcraft 2024-03-19 | Just a quick little spring time chat talking about a few things in regards to the channel. Let me know if you enjoyed the 'Pipe smoke and a chat' aspect of this video. It might be something I'd enjoy doing perhaps once a month or so just to answer FAQ, tell stories, and give updates on the channel. Thanks for watching! God bless.
Making Gear Last - Patching a Hole in Cotton/Canvas Material Kusk Bushcraft 2024-03-11 | Just a quick video showing my method of repairing large holes/tears in cotton material.Thank you to everyone who watches.
Emergency Snowstorm Survival with a Vehicle Survival Kit Kusk Bushcraft 2024-03-01 | On a cold snowy winter day I find myself stranded in the Canadian wilderness with a small survival kit I keep in my vehicle. I put my kit to the test to survive the night during a -20°C snowstorm.Thank you to everyone who watches! God bless. More info about the video and the gear I used:First off, this is just a scenario depicting what I'd do in a situation where I was stranded in the outdoors. I spend a lot of time alone in the wilderness and there's been many times where my vehicle has broken down or gotten stuck and I've had to call for help. If I had been unable to get help in those situations this video is an accurate representation of what I would do.Location: Alberta, CanadaWhy not spend the night in my vehicle?In this scenario my vehicle will not start. That means no heat. A winter night inside of a non-running vehicle would be very cold compared to the camp I had. If the vehicle had been running then perhaps staying in the vehicle would be an option. It mainly depends on how much fuel you have. It should also be noted that staying inside of an idling vehicle can be dangerous because of exhaust fumes. The correct choice of whether or not to stay in your vehicle is very situational. In the scenario shown in this video, I felt the correct choice was to sleep outside.What was the temperature during this video?It started off around -15°C (5°F) base temperature and -25°C (-13°F) with the wind chill. During the night the coldest it got was -21°C (-6°F) base temperature and -30°C (-22°F) with the wind chill.What about wildlife?There's a variety of big game (moose, deer, grizzly bears, black bears, cougars, wolves) in this area. They tend to avoid humans for the most part and don't pose much of a threat. I figured due to the weather most animals would be bedded down and waiting out the storm but to my surprise in the morning when I hiked out there were fresh wolf tracks all over the place. How much sleep did I get?I got approximately 6 hours of sleep, getting up once throughout the night to tend to the fire.What clothing was I wearing?I was obviously at a huge advantage during this video since I was wearing proper footwear and clothing for the weather which is always the case whenever I'm in the backcountry.Upper body clothing (4 layers):Cotton base layer, Hooded cotton/wool blend sweater, Wool sweater, Waxed cotton jacketLower body clothing (3 layers):Cotton base layer, Wool pants, Waxed cotton pantsFootwear:Thick cotton socks, Sorel Pac BootsA few links to videos showing the knots I used:Simple Cinch Knot for lashing my wool blanket to my pack:youtu.be/uUZKJD-604gSimple Tarp Ridgeline using One Knot:youtu.be/dyeDLXjup7kAttaching a Tarp to a Ridgeline:youtu.be/xHfhNjnaOEwGear List:Backpack: Small Tactical Day Pack (link provided is not the exact model, but very close)https://a.co/d/j3ZpceEHatchet: 1 3/4 lb German-made HatchetSaw: Norlund Folding BowsawTarp: Arcturus Heavy Duty Survival Blankethttps://a.co/d/2u67BWkWool Blanket: Arcturus Military Wool Blanket (Olive Green)https://a.co/d/58SlHbEKettle: Woods Cypress Kettle (I think this model has been discontinued...here's a link to something very similar)https://a.co/d/15Ezz6wIf you have any questions please let me know in the comments section, thanks!
Split Log Stove Cooking - Pancake Bacon Dippers Kusk Bushcraft 2024-02-26 | On this very windy day I stopped trailside to have a quick lunch of pancake bacon dippers. Due to the wind I opted to use a split log stove instead of having a fire on the ground. The area I was in had a lot of debris and duff on the forest floor and with the strong winds I didn't want to risk starting a forest fire. The split log stove worked great in these conditions and left zero footprint where it burned.The stove was made from a less than ideal piece of spruce wood. The log was slightly damp and some of it was beginning to rot. Despite the low quality wood the stove still performed great. I was able to fry up my bacon then cook the pancakes without trouble. Due to the moisture in the log, one half of the stove burned much more efficiently than the other half (as you can see at the end of the video). I believe the half that didn't burn so well had more moisture and was likely on the underside of the leaning tree the log was cut from. A good dry piece of wood is much more ideal for a split log stove but this was a good demonstration that the concept works even if the log isn't perfect.The pancake bacon dippers were a delicious lunch. I like this meal because it is easy to pack and simple to cook. Bacon, just add water pancake mix, and some maple syrup is all that's needed for this meal.Thank you to everyone who watches! God bless and happy trails.
Backcountry Bedroll Camping & Campfire Cooking Kusk Bushcraft 2024-02-09 | While I do wish that there was more snow and colder temperatures, I certainly can't complain about the weather during this trip. Some very mild winter conditions allowed me to be extremely comfortable on an overnight campout with a minimal bedroll kit. I'm beginning to explore areas for a future project I hope to begin this summer. The resources in this area looked quite promising for my needs.Let me know if you have any questions! Thank you to everyone who watches. All glory to God!Extra Info:This was filmed in Alberta, Canada.My kit weighed 21 lbs on the hike to my campsite. That includes all my bedding, tools, water, and food. Carrying it with the thin rope straps was not an issue for me. On the hike out my pack was slightly lighter due to less food and an empty water bottle. The lighter weight was even more enjoyable to carry. I think keeping a bedroll pack around 15-17 lbs would be very comfortable to carry.My tarp is an 8'x8' waxed cloth tarp that is homemade. I made it from a 600 thread count cotton bed sheet. I hand-sewed tie out loops cut from lamp wick material. I waxed it with a 7:1 paraffin to beeswax mixture (measured by weight).My hatchet weighs 1 3/4 lbs. It has no branding marks on it. It was heavily rusted and without a handle when I got it. I restored it, reprofiled the cutting edge, hafted a handle, and made the leather sheath. So far it has been a pleasure to use.My kettle/cooking pot is a Stainless Steel Uberleben Kessel. It suites my needs quite well and is far easier to clean that a standard kettle. The removeable/reversable handle offers a lot of versatility that makes it a perfect addition to my kit.My frying pan is branded 'Quick Meal'. It measures 8" in diameter at the base of the pan. An 8" frying pan is excellent to have compared to a smaller 5" or 6" pan. The larger size allows you to easily cook whole meals inside of the pan without struggling to evenly cook the food or having food spill out over the edges.To do my dishes I wipe them out with a natural material (grass, moss, spruce boughs) then heat them over the fire with some water or snow in them. Once the water is hot I use my spatula (or a stick) to scrape away any remaining food. I dump the water into the side of my fire pit then once again use a natural material to wipe away anything remaining in the dish. At this point the dish is clean from food and I use a small rag carried in my kit to wipe them down. Following this process leaves me with clean non-greasy dishes without having to use any soaps or disposable towels. All of the natural materials I use to clean my dishes I discard into my fire so as to not leave any traces of food around my camp. I have to be conscientious about leaving food around my camps since there are large predators/animals in the area. The sounds at night were Owls calling back and forth. The were also coyotes howling but I was unable to get a good recording of them.
-20⁰ Winter Bushcraft - Tarp Camp with Wool Blankets & Long Fire Kusk Bushcraft 2024-01-19 | Winter is finally here and it's brought some frigid cold temperatures. In this episode I venture out to the frozen wilderness with a simple kit including a tarp shelter and two wool blankets. Despite the cold I'm able to get a comfortable camp set up, enjoy a few delicious meals cooked over the campfire, and stay warm thanks to a hot-burning long fire. Thank you to everyone who watches! God bless.Extra Info:Temperatures during this trip - During the day it was -15⁰C (5⁰F) and during the night it got down to -28⁰C (-18⁰F)What about wildlife? - Bears are sleeping the winter away in their dens. Wolves and mountain lions in this area are very timid towards people. Encountering dangerous wildlife is uncommon but I do carry a form of protection just in case.Bannock/Pan Bread recipe - 1 cup flour, 1/2 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt. Mix dry ingredients thoroughly. Add ~1/2 cup of water to form a thick dough. Pan fry over low heat for 10-15 minutes.Beaver Tail/Cinnamon Sugar Fry Bread recipe - 1/2 cup flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 3 teaspoons white sugar, 2 teaspoons butter, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix ingredients thoroughly until butter is broken down to form a dry crumbly mix. Add enough water to form a thick dough. Thin dough to ~1/4 inch. Fry over medium heat until both sides are golden brown. Top with cinnamon sugar or topping of choice.
Life of a Woodsman - Tour of the Tent Kusk Bushcraft 2023-12-22 | In this final episode of the 'Life of a Woodsman' series I give you a tour of the camp and touch on a few different pieces of gear I've brought with me. I had originally intended for this series to go on longer and to share quite a few more videos from this camp. Unfortunately after filming for a few weeks I ran out of battery life for my camera and the series had to conclude here. This trip was a lot of fun for me to film and I now have a better idea of how to prepare for the next wilderness living trip. I'm hoping to make the 'Life of a Woodsman' series an annual occurrence and I'll make sure to be better equipped to film the entirety of the next installment. I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who has stuck with me throughout this series. Spending so much time in the wilderness was a dream come true and being able to share it with all of my amazing viewers is the cherry on top. Once again, thank you. God bless and happy trails!
Life of a Woodsman - Natures Bandage Kusk Bushcraft 2023-12-20 | Just a quick tip regarding how I deal with small cuts and scrapes. This is a very simple way to seal up small wounds and protect them from getting infected.Thank you to everyone who watches!
Life of a Woodsman - Honey Oat Cake and Coffee Kusk Bushcraft 2023-12-18 | It's another beautiful day here in the wilderness. Having a breakfast that is both filling and enjoyable to eat is always a great way to start the day. This mornings breakfast of honey oat cake and coffee certainly meets that criteria.Give this recipe a go! It's simple, easy to pack, and tastes amazing.1/3 cup oats (I use large flake oats, quick oats also work well)1/2 cup all purpose flour1 tablespoon brown sugar1 tablespoon white sugar1 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon cinnamon2 tablespoons butter or margarine~1/4 cup water~1 tablespoon honey (for topping...jam also tastes great)Thoroughly mix dry ingredients first.Add butter/margarine to the dry mix and stir in until the butter has broken down to form a dry crumbly mix.Add water until a thick, sticky batter is formed.Spoon batter into a greased pan and pat down with the spoon to form a 1/4"-1/2" thick cake.Cook slowly over a low heat. Once the top of the oat cake begins to firm up, flip the oat cake and cook until a wood sliver will pass through without any batter sticking.Spread with honey or desired topping before eating.Makes enough for 2 filling breakfasts.If you try this recipe let me know how it turns out! Thank you to everyone who watches.
Life of a Woodsman - Beaver Pelts Kusk Bushcraft 2023-12-15 | Just a quick word on what is happening with the beaver pelts. It is plenty cool enough that they will keep without the hair slipping until I can get them back home and finish tanning them properly. Let me know if there is any interest in a hide tanning series. I would be happy to share the process if people are interested. Thank you to everyone who watches.
Life of a Woodsman - Smoked Beaver Meat Kusk Bushcraft 2023-12-13 | Time to get the smoke rolling and the beaver meat preserved. I process a couple pounds of beaver meat by slicing it thin then add some seasonings. The meat then heads into the smoker where it can smoke for a few hours. After smoking and drying the final product is a huge success. With this test batch finished I can continue to work through the remaining meat and have a tasty snack to enjoy around camp.Thank you to everyone who watches!
Life of a Woodsman - Building a Meat Smoker Kusk Bushcraft 2023-12-11 | It's time to begin preserving the extra meat I've been blessed with. In order to preserve the meat I first need to construct a smoker which is the focus of this video. Simplicity is what I strive for and I think the design is as simple as one can get without sacrificing the effectiveness. It performed well when I tested it, now it's time to load it up with meat. Stay tuned! Thank you to everyone who watches.
Life of a Woodsman - Beaver Stew Kusk Bushcraft 2023-12-09 | Now that I have a good supply of meat in camp it's time to enjoy a filling meal. It's been light living throughout this trip having only harvested 2 grouse prior to the two beavers. I'm thinking a delicious beaver stew will taste great and fill me up. Thank you to everyone who watches.
Life of a Woodsman - Processing Beavers for Fur and Food Kusk Bushcraft 2023-12-07 | This is a quick look into the tools I use to break down wild game when I'm in the backcountry. A very basic tool kit that's light, easy to carry, and doesn't take up much room inside of a pack. Now that these beavers are processed I'm ready to begin cooking up a delicious beaver stew! Stay tuned.Thank you to everyone who watches!
Life of a Woodsman - Trapping Success Kusk Bushcraft 2023-12-04 | It is a very blessed day here in the outdoors. After leaving my traps out for one night I had a good deal of success and will now be staying well fed for the remainder of my wilderness living trip.Now the real work begins in processing meat and fur. Stay tuned! Thank you to everyone who watches.
Life of a Woodsman - Beaver Trapping Kusk Bushcraft 2023-12-01 | Being able to acquire food from the landscape is an essential bushcraft or wilderness living skill. Today I am targeting beaver using modern traps to bring in more food for my camp and fur that I can use. It's always important to follow all hunting and trapping regulations. Thank you to all who watch. More coming soon.
Life of a Woodsman - Seasoning a Skillet For Non-Stick Cooking Kusk Bushcraft 2023-11-27 | I apologize for all of the explaining in this one, but cooking in the outdoors shouldn't be a scary task. We should all be able to enjoy our meals without the fear of having them ruined by our food sticking to our cookware. As I cook up my dinner tonight I thought I would share a very simply way anyone can guarantee a non-stick cooking experience. Utilizing my pre-seasoning method you can relax as you cook and enjoy the outdoors experience. This is the simplest way I've found to ensure my cookware is non-stick and I encourage you to give it a try. Even with my heavily used, scratched up stainless steel skillet I'm still able to achieve a non-stick finish using this technique.Tomorrow I will begin setting traps and hopefully I can start getting more meat to enjoy around camp.Thank you to everyone who watches!
Life of a Woodsman - Scouting For Fur and Food Kusk Bushcraft 2023-11-24 | My food supply is starting to dwindle and if I plan to keep myself full throughout the remainder of this trip I'm going to need to begin harvesting more food off of the landscape. Today I'm taking a long hike to scout for potential food sources. I'm hoping to find some good places where I can begin trapping and some new areas to hunt as well.Thank you to everyone who watches!
Life of a Woodsman - Fried Grouse and Potatoes Kusk Bushcraft 2023-11-20 | Spending more time hunting has finally paid off. I was able to harvest a Ruffed Grouse that I fried up alongside a potato to enjoy as my supper. This was a very easy meal to make that didn't require a whole lot of ingredients but the final result was incredible. Meals like this are such a blessing to have at camp. Eating meals that are filling and also enjoyable to eat give you such a boost, not just with the energy they provide but they also go a long way in boosting morale. This meal certainly was a huge boost for me and I'm hoping I can harvest another grouse soon so I can make it again.Thank you to everyone who watches!
Life of a Woodsman - Simple Camp Chair Kusk Bushcraft 2023-11-17 | Every good camp should have a comfortable place to sit. The easiest seat to make in the outdoors is a stump seat, and with a few extra minutes of work the stump seat can become a much appreciated addition to the camp.With the completion of this stump seat my camp is really starting to feel like home. Now it's time to focus on getting more food through the means of hunting and trapping.Thank you to everyone who watches, your support means the world! Happy trails!
Life of a Woodsman - Grass Mattress Kusk Bushcraft 2023-11-13 | With my wood bed frame complete all that is needed is a comfortable mattress. Fortunately for me this area has a lot of great resources available including lots of dead, dry grass. I gather up a few arm-loads of grass and get to work on making my mattress. It's a very simple process but one that is certainly rewarding.I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who is sticking with me throughout this series. Your support means the world to me. Happy trails!
Life of a Woodsman - Log Bed Frame Kusk Bushcraft 2023-11-10 | Sleep is very important for maintaining our health and getting a good sleep in the backcountry can easily be overlooked. After spending a few nights sleeping on the ground and not experiencing the full benefits of my wood stove, I've decided to put together a comfortable log bed. Join me as I use my saw and hatchet to turn a few logs and poles into a bed that rivals the comfort of it's modern equivalent.All the materials used for this project came from dead trees (some already fallen and some dead-standing). My hatchet was bought from an antique shop about 5 years ago for $8. There's no makers mark on it. It weighs about 1 1/2 lbs. It has a White Birch handle I made for it during the restoration process. My saw is a 2-piece bow saw I made in my previous tarp camping series. The frame is holding up very nicely. I'm surprised how much tension the frame will hold on the blade. I believe at this point it is safe to call the 2-piece frame design a proven success. I like this design a great deal simply due to how simple it was to make requiring only my belt knife. The saw blade is a 21" Bahco peg-tooth (dry wood) bow saw blade. Together they make cutting wood an easy chore (now that the saw blade has been sharpened).A huge thank you to everyone who watches, I hope you all enjoy!
Life of a Woodsman - Sharpening a Saw Kusk Bushcraft 2023-11-06 | One aspect of bow saws that contributes to my reasons for carrying them over different saw types is that they can be so easily maintained in the field. After another incredible day in the backcountry I settle down in my tent for the night and share my process on sharpening my bow saw. This is a 21" Bahco Peg-Tooth (dry wood) saw blade mounted on my 2-piece bow saw frame. I bought this blade for ~$10 and have been using it for the past 4 1/2 years. Since these blades are so inexpensive most would simply replace them rather than taking the time to sharpen them. I believe in making my gear last and having the skills to maintain my gear has always been beneficial. This sharpening process is very simply and only requires a small triangle file to achieve great results. The difference between the dull saw blade and how it cuts after sharpening is night and day. The sharp saw cuts like a dream and is a pleasure to use once again.Don't fight with your saws. Sharpen them up and enjoy the cut.Thank you to everyone who watches!
Life of a Woodsman - BBQ Grouse and Rice Kusk Bushcraft 2023-11-03 | After successfully harvesting a spruce grouse I am able to enjoy my first taste of fresh meat at this camp. I skewer the meat and grill it up over a bed of hot coals. Paired with a pot of rice it makes for a delicious and filling meal.Thank you to everyone who watches!
Life of a Woodsman - The Campfire Kusk Bushcraft 2023-10-30 | One of the staples of a good camp is a properly built firepit. During this outing my campfire needs will primarily include cooking and boiling. Join me in this episode where I get the fire pit made along with a nice pot hanger. These simple additions to the camp make outdoor life more enjoyable as well as a lot easier.The tent stove is made by a company called Kni-Co and is the Trekker model. The outside dimensions of the fire box are 19"L x 10"H x 10"W. The inside dimensions of the fire box are roughly 17"L x 8"H x 8"W. It's a nice little stove and worked quite well for me on this trip. I primarily burned small diameter fuel (approx. 2"-3" diameter) cut to roughly 16" in length. This smaller fuel was nice since I didn't have to split any of it. When I properly loaded the stove and dampened it down I was able to consistently get 3-4 hour burns before the stove died down to the point where the tent started to get cold. Typically I only had to get up once throughout the night to add wood to the stove which allowed me to have a good sleep every night I was out. The combination of the canvas tent and wood stove worked excellent in these milder weather conditions. If I was camping in the winter (with temps well below zero) a larger wood stove would probably be more suitable. But for this type of camping I'm very happy with how well this little stove performed.If you have any questions let me know. Thank you to everyone who watches. God bless and Happy trails!
Life of a Woodsman - Camp Setup Kusk Bushcraft 2023-10-28 | To begin this long-term wilderness living trip I get my camp established by setting up the canvas tent. I have chosen a large open area for my camp. This gives me plenty of room to set up the tent and it keeps me away from any tall trees that could be a potential hazard. The tent setup is very easy despite making all the stakes and poles from surrounding materials. Inside the tent it is very large and offers plenty of room for a comfortable living experience.About the tent:The tent is a 5 meter canvas bell tent. I bought this tent with my own money after doing my own research to decide what style of tent I wanted. Prior to this trip I had used the tent only a handful of times and never with the wood stove. I bought this specific brand of tent (Danchel Outdoor) simply because the product had a good reputation from other buyers and at the time of purchase it was on sale so I was able to get a good deal. Later on in the series I will share more of my opinions on this tent. Thank you to everyone who watches! God bless.
The Life of a Woodsman - Series Introduction Kusk Bushcraft 2023-10-27 | Welcome to the Life of a Woodsman! Join me as I spend a few weeks in the backcountry of Alberta, Canada living out of a wood-heated canvas tent. This is a series that will be covering a wide variety of topics relating to wilderness living. Thank you to everyone who follows along with this series! God bless and happy trails!
Bushcraft Tarp Camp (5/5) - Completing the Camp Kusk Bushcraft 2023-07-27 | This is the fifth and final episode of the Bushcraft Tarp Camping mini-series. Throughout this series I have completed the setup of a semi-permanent camp that I can return to throughout the future to complete a variety of bushcraft trips and projects. In this final episode I craft a chair from a spruce log and put the finishing touches on camp.Thank you to everyone who watches, I hope you all enjoy!
Bushcraft Tarp Camp (4/5) - Gear Overview Kusk Bushcraft 2023-07-21 | This is the fourth episode of the Bushcraft Tarp Camping mini-series. Throughout this series I will be completing the setup of a semi-permanent camp that I can return to throughout the future to complete a variety of bushcraft trips and projects. In this fourth episode I go over the gear I brought with me for this trip.Thank you to everyone who watches, I hope you all enjoy!Extra Info/Gear List:Included in my first aid bag is a small bottle of insect repellant I use to help deal with the mosquitoes, midges, and chiggers.To maintain my knife and hatchet I usually strop them once or twice a day (depending on how heavily they are used). I rarely use my sharpening stones and only do so if an edge becomes damaged.Including food and a full bottle of water my pack weighed 32 lbs for this trip.My pipe was bought previously owned/used. I restored it and now it’s a great little smoker.My strop was purchased from an antique store for a few dollars. It’s a small double-sided strop that fits nicely in my pack.Backpack: Rothco Double Strap Duffle Bag.Wool Blankets: 2x queen size 100% wool blankets (no brand info available).Sleep Pad: 3/8” green foam sleep pad (no brand info available).Food Bag: Woods brand 10L roll-top dry bag.Tarp: 8’x8’ waxed cotton tarp made from a 600 thread count king-sized bed sheet. Tie outs made from 1” cotton lamp wick material. Tie outs reinforced with a heavy canvas material. Waxed with a 7:1 ratio of paraffin to beeswax mixture (measured by weight).Saw Blade: 21” Bahco peg tooth saw blade.Belt Knife: Helle Sigmund.Hatchet: 1.5 lb hatchet (no brand info available).Extra Clothing: 100% wool sweater tan colour (no brand info available). 85% cotton 15% wool sweater black colour (no brand info available). 80% wool 20% synthetic wool pants (home made, here’s a link to the video showing how I made them: youtu.be/TJnSzUXhACc)Bear Spray: Counter Assault Bear Deterrent Spray.Ditty Bag Contents: Pipe tobacco (Virginia flake with perique), pipe kit (pipe, pipe cleaners, tamp), small double-sided strop, repair kit (needles, thread, wool yarn, small saw file, knife sharpening stone, pencil, block of beeswax), Energizer brand headlamp, Silva brand compass, waxed cotton rope (approx. 12 ft.), rope bag (paracord, cotton twine, bankline, synthetic sinew thread), puck-style axe sharpening stone (brand unknown)Camera Bag Contents: Olympus TOUGH TG-6 camera, Zoom H1n Audio Recorder, 60000 mAH of battery banks, battery chargers (for camera and audio recorder), 5x extra memory cards, 6x extra camera batteries, 6x extra audio recorder batteries, VIJIM brand small battery-powered light (for night filming)Cookware: Large pot and frying pan from Wealers Stainless Steel Campfire Cooking Pots and Pans Combo Kit (shown in the video are the smaller pot and frying pan from the set). Small kettle/cooking pot is an Uberleben Kessel. Water bottle is a 1L Stainless Steel Nalgene bottle.Pillow: Homemade from an old pant leg. Stuffed with synthetic pillow stuffing and sewn closed.
Bushcraft Tarp Camp (3/5) - Log Table Kusk Bushcraft 2023-07-17 | This is the third episode of the Bushcraft Tarp Camping mini-series. Throughout this series I will be completing the setup of a semi-permanent camp that I can return to throughout the future to complete a variety of bushcraft trips and projects. In this episode I focus on making a table for camp.Thank you to everyone who watches, I hope you all enjoy!
Bushcraft Tarp Camp (2/5) - Carving a Two-Piece Bow Saw Kusk Bushcraft 2023-07-10 | This is the second episode of the Bushcraft Tarp Camping mini-series. Throughout this series I will be completing the setup of a semi-permanent camp that I can return to throughout the future to complete a variety of bushcraft trips and projects. In this episode I craft a simple two-piece bow saw that will allow me to begin working on more elaborate projects around camp.Thank you to everyone who watches, I hope you all enjoy!
Bushcraft Tarp Camp (1/5) - Establishing Camp Kusk Bushcraft 2023-07-07 | This is the first episode of the Bushcraft Tarp Camping mini-series. Throughout this series I will be completing the setup of a semi-permanent camp that I can return to throughout the future to complete a variety of bushcraft trips and projects. In this first episode I share the process of establishing the camp and getting the camp basics set up.Thank you to everyone who watches, I hope you all enjoy!
Knife-Only Wood Spoon Carving Kusk Bushcraft 2023-06-13 | My pack has been without a proper eating utensil for over a year now. My old spoon broke two winters ago whilst I was making a campfire stew. Since then I've been carving makeshift eating utensils whenever I'm off in the backcountry. Today I had a few hours to spend in the evening so I carved a nice piece of Willow into a simple spoon using just my belt knife. This is a very simple design that makes for a fun afternoon or campfire carving project. Thanks to everyone who watches! God bless!Knife used: Helle Sigmund
Keeping it Simple - Coiling Short Lengths of Cord Kusk Bushcraft 2023-06-09 | In this installment of the Keeping it Simple series, I walk you through my preferred method for coiling shorter lengths of line so they're ready to use whenever I take them from my pack. I've now gone over coiling long (10 ft +), medium (4-10 ft), and short (3 ft & less) lengths of line. I prefer coiling different lengths of line in different ways so that I know how long each piece is before I unravel it. Since these coiling methods are very easy to unravel, I can determine how long a length of line is and have it unraveled even if it's it's dark, wet, and cold.Let me know what you think of this system and if it works for you.Thank you to everyone who watches. Happy trails!
Keeping it Simple - Coiling Long Lengths of Cord Kusk Bushcraft 2023-06-05 | In this addition to the Keeping it Simple series, I show my preferred method for coiling longer lengths of cord (10 feet or longer). This is a quick and simple method that works especially well with paracord. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks to everyone who watches.
Spruce Bark Basket Kusk Bushcraft 2023-05-22 | Hiking through the wilderness I stumbled upon a large spruce tree that had recently been blown over by the wind. I saw it as an opportunity to harvest the bark to craft baskets from.This video follows the process as I use a knife to create a medium sized spruce bark basket. These types of projects are a lot of fun and yield a great item for use around camp.Since I started so late in the day, I ran out of time and was unable to attach the reinforcement for the rim. I will finish the basket another day but even without the reinforced rim it's still a functional piece of kit.I plan to do more spruce bark projects in the future since it's such a great material to work with. God bless!The knife used in this video is a Helle Sigmund.
Coming up Next... Kusk Bushcraft 2023-05-13 | Just a quick update about what's coming down the trail next for the channel. God bless.
Keeping it Simple - Tarp Shelter Orientation Kusk Bushcraft 2023-05-12 | In this installment of the Keeping it Simple mini series I go over how I determine which way to set up my tarp shelters. Setting up a shelter that faces the wrong way can lead to a less than desirable experience. With the tips and tricks in this video you should be able to achieve a comfortable camping experience while using a tarp as a shelter. Thank you to everyone who watches. God bless.
Keeping it Simple - Attaching a Tarp to a Ridgeline Kusk Bushcraft 2023-05-05 | This is another installment of the Keeping it Simple mini-series. In this episode I go over my preferred method to attach a tarp to a ridgeline by using a short length of cord and a taut line hitch. Thank you to everyone who watches!
Keeping it Simple - Tarp Ridgeline Using One Knot Kusk Bushcraft 2023-05-03 | This is the beginning of a mini series going over a few simple tarp-camping tips and tricks. In this video I share a simple ridgeline that utilizes one basic knot. It's not uncommon to find ridgelines described as complicated systems that require multiple knots and components to function. To each their own but in my eyes simplicity is king. The next episode will be up shortly. Thanks for watching.
Simple Cinch Knot for Bushcraft and Camping Kusk Bushcraft 2023-04-01 | Just a short video on a simple cinch knot. Thanks for watching! More backcountry adventures coming soon.
The Ultimate Wet Weather Fire Starter - Featherstick Tinder Bundle Kusk Bushcraft 2023-03-17 | This is a simple way to ensure a dry tinder source in any weather condition you may find yourself in. If you have dry wood you have the means to start a fire. Making fine wood curls with your knife is a great skill to have and can certainly get you out of a pinch should you find yourself without dry tinder. Thank you for watching! God bless.
Bacon, Egg, and Hashbrown Skillet Cooked on a Campfire Kusk Bushcraft 2023-03-15 | Friendly reminder to have yourself a great breakfast! Happy trails my friends.
Maintaining Bushcraft Gear - Patching Burn Holes in a Wool Blanket Kusk Bushcraft 2023-03-11 | I haven't seen a lot of information shared on repairing holes in wool blankets so I thought I'd share a quick video demonstrating the process I use. By no means is this a professional way of repairing a hole in a wool blanket but it's worked great for me over the years. Relying on fire so often throughout the winter months for warmth it's almost impossible to avoid getting the odd hole in my blankets. Thankfully repairing a hole is quick and easy.Let me know if you have any suggestions or comments regarding my methods. Thank you to everyone who watches! God bless.
Surviving a -36° Night - No Tent & No Sleeping Bag Kusk Bushcraft 2023-03-03 | This is the coldest outing I have been on to date. The temperature dropped all the way down to -36 degrees Celsius by the morning. All that was brought with me is what you see... 5 simple items. This was certainly a test of my abilities in the outdoors but enjoyable nonetheless. Thank you to everyone who watches! God bless.Extra info/FAQ:Location:Northern Alberta, CanadaMy Clothing:Outer layer - Waxed cottonInsulating layers- Wool & CottonBase layer - CottonI get criticized a lot because I choose to wear cotton in the outdoors. Argue about it all you want but if you keep it dry it insulates almost as good as wool. Keep your clothes dry and they'll keep you warm. Don't ever depend on wet clothing to keep you warm... even if it's wool. Keep. It. Dry.Are there wild animals in this area?Yes. There's a variety of big game (moose, deer, grizzly bears, black bears, cougars, wolves) in this area. They tend to avoid humans for the most part though and don't pose much of a threat. I do carry a form of protection just in case.How did I manage to sleep in such cold temperatures?Simply put: my fire. Having a large, hot fire is the reason I was able to stay comfortable throughout the night despite not having any bedding. The fire I made was as simple as it gets in terms of long fires. I probably should have built it differently to conserve the wood but it was still an effective fire that did it's job.My gear:Knife - Helle SigmundKettle - 9 Cup Aluminum Percolator KettleFerro Rod - Made by UberlebenAxe - 2 1/2 lb german-made boys axe. Bought used then restored it.Boots - Sorel Pac BootsFingerless Gloves - Fox River Ragg GloveIf you have any other questions or comments please let me know in the comments section down below.
Winter Backcountry Bushcraft - Bedroll Pack & Half Canvas Tent Kusk Bushcraft 2023-02-24 | On this bushcraft trip I spent two nights alone in the backcountry of Western Canada. Bringing a minimalistic kit meant I had to utilize a lot of the natural resources around me to ensure my stay was comfortable. This was a great outing that allowed me to practice a variety of wilderness living skills. Even though I was unsuccessful at harvesting food it was still a very enjoyable experience. I hope you enjoy this trip as much as I did. Thank you to everyone who watches. God Bless!Temperatures during this trip:High: 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit)Low: -5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit)My clothing:Upper body - Cotton base layer, hooded cotton sweater, waxed cotton jacket. (Total 3 layers)Lower body - Cotton base layer, wool pants, waxed cotton pants. (Total 3 layers)
Turn Your Tarp Or Wool Blanket Into a Functioning Backpack Kusk Bushcraft 2023-02-17 | Here's a detailed look at how I make my bedroll packs. This is a great way to utilize a tarp or blanket to carry gear from one camp to the next. It's far more functional than other bedroll methods as you can access the gear inside without having to take the whole bedroll apart.Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! Thank you to everyone who watches. See you in the next one! God Bless.
A Quick Update From Camp Kusk Bushcraft 2023-02-14 | Hello to all! Just a quick update regarding the channel. The future of the channel excites me and I can't wait to share everything I have planned. Be sure to stay tuned. God Bless!If you are interested in my other content here's a link to 'Kusk Wild':youtube.com/channel/UCIq6Jhgq8B0DnDiFGHgZMlQ
