This is the second entry in a 3-part series about the planning and construction of a custom leather chef’s knife roll. To view just the photos, visit the gallery on Facebook. Part 1: Discovery and design Part 2: So, all you have to do is cut out some leather… Part 3: Getting a handle on…
A Prize in the Woods #1!
In honour of the end of bug season, I’d like to send a lucky fan a Mosquitno 10-piece prize made up of their three products, SpotZzz, Adult BandZzz and Kids size BandZzz. All you have to do is “LIKE” this post on the A Word in the Woods Facebook page (if you’re not already a…
Cabela’s announces Plans for a new store in Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Good news for outdoor fans in Ontario. Nebraska-headquartered outdoor specialty store Cabela’s announced today that it will be adding a fourth Canadian store to their existing lineup. In addition to over 40 stores in the United States, Cabela’s already have locations in Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. The new 70,000 square-foot store, slated for the Park Place…
Mountain Equipment Co-Op and the Merlin DF Sleeping Bag
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) — one of my favourite outdoor stores — is selling a sleeping bag on clearance, and it’s a good opportunity to tell you about both the product and the store. They’re selling this bag as a “Second-quality” product, and the reality is anything but. The original designation listed this as…
Are survival kits the “good” silverware that gather dust?
I recently read a brace of posts from fellow outdoor blogs, The Oak and the Mountain, and Wood Trekker talking about survival kits. Now, the reason I came across these posts was because I was actively looking for survival kit ideas. I thought it was high time I re-visited my personal kit. Given that it’s…
A Day with Pinock Smith
On January 15, 2011, I had the distinct pleasure of spending the day with Pinock Smith, a master builder, known for his traditional canoe-building methods. I first heard of Pinock in the second season of Ray Mears’ Bushcraft, where he and Ray built an authentic birchbark canoe in a week. They worked on screen again in…
Kindle for kindling?
Of course, if your true need is for firestarting, the old dead-tree book might serve you better for dry tinder. The resource that an ebook reader such as the Kindle can give you access to, however, has such potential. I impulse-bought one last week, and have been loading up with guides and references. Some of…
Where do you get your water?
I never quite have enough of the clear liquid when I’m on a backcountry trip, but I’m usually a bit more active, of course. It’s made me a bit more conscious of my hydration in my day-to-day life, however, and I know what it means when my hands have that mottled look under their skin,…