• Ramen: From High Art to the High Sierras

    May 13, 2015 Comments (1) Camp Kitchen

    Ramen in Japan traces its history to the beginning of the 20th century and the use of Chinese style noodles in broth made from chicken, pork or fish. Originally a meal for workers, it was served from carts or small stalls. By the 1950’s the influx of large amounts of American wheat and the need …

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  • Axes & Tomahawks: Part 3

    April 30, 2015 Comments (0) Field Facts

    As with any tool you may need to bet your life on, your ax/hawk needs to be cared for properly. If you manage to take care of your tools, you may likely be able to pass them on to your children. Caring for your ax is very similar to caring for a field knife and …

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  • The Scorpion

    April 20, 2015 Comments (0) Fauna

    Scorpions may just be the quintessential creepy crawly that few campers want to come into contact with while on the trail. If their armored and alien looking bodies, claws, multiple sets of eyes and venomous sting don’t trigger a person’s primordial fears I don’t know what will. All of these traits come

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  • The North American Porcupine

    April 15, 2015 Comments (0) Fauna

    The North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) also goes by the name Common Porcupine or Canadian Porcupine and is the second largest rodent in North America after the beaver. They are very adaptable; living throughout Canada and the United States from coast to coast in a variety climates and habitats. The

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  • The California Quail

    April 6, 2015 Comments (0) Fauna

    The California Quail (Callipepla Californicus) also goes by the name Valley Quail and has been the California State bird since 1931. (sorry California Condor) They are found throughout the west coast from Canada to Mexico with some pockets in Nevada, Utah and Idaho. Quail spend most of there time on the ground in

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  • Seward’s Folly?

    March 30, 2015 Comments (0) Field Facts

    On March 30th, 1867 U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward signed a treaty with Russia purchasing Alaska for 7 million dollars. This price at 2.5 cents per acre added a land mass twice the size of Texas to the United States. Congress ratified the treaty by a mere one vote and detractors called the …

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  • Review: Prometheus Design Werx Dog Tag Tool

    March 25, 2015 Comments (0) Gear Reviews

    PDW Dog Tag tool – practical tactical tool The old truth is that the ultimate last-ditch survival tool/knife is the one you have within your hand’s reach when needed. Of course, these days most of us don’t carry tools and knives to ‘survive’, but it can make your life easier, more

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  • The Great Horned Owl

    March 23, 2015 Comments (0) Fauna

    The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) also called the Hoot Owl is one of the largest and most widely distributed Owls in North America. Great Horned Owls are found from the Alaskan arctic, down to the tip of South America and flourish in a variety of environs. They are also called Tiger Owls for their …

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  • The Garibaldi

    March 20, 2015 Comments (0) Fauna

    Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) are bright orange members of the damselfish family and California’s official State marine fish.This means they are protected and cannot by fished or removed from the ocean. Garibaldi are only found in the near coastal waters from Monterey Bay to Baja California and the Channel

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  • The Oak Tree

    March 18, 2015 Comments (0) Field Facts

    Oak trees come from the genus Quercus and have 600 different species found around the world in almost every climate. High levels of tannins make the stout Oak resistant to insects and fungus, some living to over 1,000 years old and still going strong. Acorns are the fruit of the Oak and also contains high …

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