Filed under: The Great Outdoors | Tags: Coleman Stove, George Washington National Forest, Sherando Lake
This past weekend we did some good old car camping out at Sherando Lake in the George Washington National Forest. Some pictures of the weekend, forgot the camera when we actually visited the lake…
Wife got to read, dog got to chill out and chase animals, and I got to fish. A good time was had by all. A few kind friends also decided to stop by and spend a night with us.
Filed under: Gear, The Great Outdoors | Tags: High Sierra, John Muir, Sierra Club, Sierra Cup
This past weekend I found some nice old Sierra Cups at a yard sale in town. Looking forward to putting them to use this weekend. The history of the Sierra Cup is well documented, John Muir himself supposedly used one while out in the wilderness.
For more learning on Sierra Cups check this out this site , also Cold Splinters has some things to say bout these cups as well.
Last two images via The High Sierra Club, which is worth trolling through if you have time. Have a good weekend.
Filed under: The Great Outdoors
With summer slowly winding down there aren’t too many hot days left to swim and nothing really beats swimming in a lake, especially from a canoe with a cooler full of beers. Make sure you get in the water a few more times this summer.
Filed under: Wilderness Heroes | Tags: Edward Abbey, Martin Litton, The Good Fight
Born in 1917 Martin Litton, is a Grand Canyon river runner, a long time environmentalist, and a protector of the gigantic sequoia trees in California. A close friend of Edward Abbey and David Brower, he has been involved in the conservation movement since he was 18.
Martin Litton has been leading trips down the Colorado river since 1971 using small wooden boats called dories. At a time when river runners were switching to rubber inflatable craft, he stuck to the wooden boats which were originally used as fishing vessels in New England and along the coast in Oregon. He own dory was called the “Sequoia.”
Check out “The Good Fight”, a short documentary about Litton and his conservation efforts.
“Smells are surer than sounds or sights to make your heartstrings crack.”
For all those times when you miss the smells of the campfire there is Campfire Memories. I found this box of olfactory memories at a yard-sale a few weeks back. Haven’t burned any yet, guess I’m not yearning for that campfire smell just yet…
Filed under: The Great Outdoors | Tags: Forest Service, Historical Photos, National Forests, USDA
I recently discovered the US Forest Service’s online photo archive. I always find it interesting that the Forest Service, responsible for all National Forests, is an agency of the USDA. Anyways they have made available thousands of historical photos on their site from different forests all over the US. Here is just a small sampling of the amazing collection.
Tongass and Chugach National Forest, Alaksa
Deschutes National Forest, Oregon
Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon
Mt Baker National Forest, Washington
Colville National Forest, Washington.
Filed under: Friends | Tags: Ellsworth Jaeger, The Wild Wood, The William Brown Project, Wildwood Wisdom
Kind words and a book bearing the name of this blog over at The William Brown Project. Another excellent blog that we read and enjoy daily. Check it.
I went fishing on the Rivanna River this past weekend at Shadwell, Thomas Jefferson’s birthplace, in search of smallmouth bass. Having caught them in these spots before and some just a few days earlier up stream from this spot I thought it would be no problem.
However in exchange for small mouth bass the river gave me a load of sunfish and bluegill, which in the end was alright with me.
The only companion I brought along was my friend beer. I picked up a pack of these Rolling Rock cans mostly because of their retro design. The taste however did not live up to the looks of the can, I will have to stick with the High Life.
Also a good discussion happening now over at NY Times about the ethics of catching and releasing fish vs keeping them to eat, worth a reading.
More vintage outdoor gear. Seems like we have been coming on alot of it at yard sales this summer. Just this past weekend I picked up this vintage REI backpack for a few bucks.
It is in pretty good shape for its age but could probably use a good washing. The pack shows evidence of its history and the many adventures it has traveled, with small holes in the outline of various patches that once were sewn to the outside.
Filed under: Wearables | Tags: Boy Scouts, Fort A.P. Hill VA, Jamboree, patches
Last week the National Boy Scout’s Jamboree took place at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia. The first Jamboree took place in Washington DC in 1937, at the invitation of the president on the national mall. The event which takes place every four years has been held in Virginia since 1981 and will be the last there before it moves to a new permanent home in Beckley, WV .
Among the many events at the Jamboree is the tradition of trading patches. Scouts will trade patches from their individual packs along with commemorative patches made specifically for the event. Here are some of our favorite ones we have come across.
