<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
Sorry,I was not implying anyone here was dumb. I was mearly trying to stress the importance of having the knowledge and not just the gear.

No kidding Mac,

'S why Cloak and I try to get out into the woods and do BC whenever we get the change to.

The last thing we did was the shelter and that was crazy. Definitely a little too ambitious and not very practical in most situations but nonetheless proved that a team can get very far. We did learn that we can make a shelter fairly well and fairly quickly if it was smaller.

Next time, we should finish that debris shelter that Cloak's been stopped working on a long time ago in "The Playgroud."

Cloak,

Sure, I'm more on the line of getting a few pieces of rock, some thin vine, sticks, and more vine and make a primitive bow set. It wouldn't be hard to make it look good but making it right is pretty hard (as you have seen me try several times with bad uncured wood. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> )

Nothings to ambitious, as long as you dont hurt yourself.

You guys are lucky to have each other(in a compleatly non-gay way of course), I have to go solo everytime I walk the woods.
I dont even have a dog sutable for it.

You're right mac, we've very lucky. Neither of as have friends at our respective schools that are in to knives or this kind of thing, so its really lucky we became friends.

Hmmmmm bow set you say, sharp?
that could take some doing, why don't you research a bit? I don't know about the strength of English ivy, but thats pretty much the only vine we have around here. Paracord would be a better bet, maybe, unless its too stretchy... idk, I'm just thinking out loud here

anyone got advice on privative weapon making?

Hmm... We could soak the English ivy and cook it. Dry the vine and test it.

I have tried with paracord, it is stretch but it will work, nontheless. We could also soak the paracord in water and let it dry to make it less stretchy.

Soaking and drying is a good thing to do if were gonna make some rope.

yeah, I also know how to make rope by hand, so we'll see

Primitive Ways

Wilderness Way Magazine

Check the featured articles link on WW too. There's stuff there like:

Making a quick bow

Master Bowyer Tim Baker

Survival Arrows

Making a survival bow

For the First Time Bowyer Part I

It's a good idea to replace your shoelaces with paracord. In an emergency, you'll always have some with you. If you need it, you can just take out the inner strands so you can still tie your shoes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I've got a couple of decent books on Flint Knapping and related skills. If your interested, I'll give you a couple of names. Although if you can find a good local knapper that is willing to teach, or a Knapping event you'll learn a lot more.

We have a local event that takes place twice a year at a state park called a Knap-in. Lots of fun and very informative. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

That is actually a pretty good idea. Sadly I'm wearing Mostro Pumas which don't have laces. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Though, I have been constantly wearing a paracord bracelet with around 3-4 feet of cord. It is an awesome bracelet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I've been looking at some of the links that Andy provided (thank you, by the way) and watched some very nice videos. There are some things I don't have, like a leather hand hard or leg guard, but I figure some leather gloves and my double-front carhart work pants would do the trick.

I'd love to find a local knapper but... you have to understand that Portland, OR really goes in for the whole, "REI, enviro-friendly, bourgeoisie" outdoors, so the chances of finding a knapper in these parts is small.

If I needed a salesman of say, men's beanie hats knitted from organically grown hemp and made by Colombians paid fair-trade wages, then I'd be in luck <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I personally don't think survival is a different skill set then bushcraft.
Bushcraft to me is the study and ability to be able to thrive in the outdoors if you needed to in a self sufficiant manner.
It is knowledge based, with equipment being secondary, local food sources etc can be a big part of it.

Survival to me is fighting against what nature throws against you in order to live. The more bushcraft you have the better your chances.

I have lived my whole life in a temperate rain forest and am quite comfortable in the bush, however if I found myself suddenly stranded in a broken down 4x4 in the Nevada desert, I would be in a survival mode and hopefully some of the bushcraft I have would translate over and help me get through it
Having a broken down 4x4 in the wilds of British Columbia would just be a flashback to my teen/early 20's