Friday, February 19, 2010

Reavis Ranch through Roger's Trough

Reavis Ranch through Roger's Trough is a great backpacking trip, around 18 miles round trip going in from the south.  The hike in is harder than the hike out.  It is absolutely beautiful.  The spring runs year round.

You can also go in from the north.  They say it is longer, but flatter than the south route through Roger's Trough.

Anyway, here is information if you are going in from the south.

Hiking Guide
Hiking Guide

Reavis Ranch through Roger's Trough overview map
Reavis Ranch through Roger's Trough, north detail map
Reavis Ranch through Rober's Trough, south detail map

You can find indian cave ruins up Roger's Canyon in a few mile detour.  Or you can climb up to circlestone, a stone wall left on top of a mountain by ancient indians.


Scout On!

Monday, February 8, 2010

How to Make a Capote

Here is a link to instructions on making a capote, authentically. 

Of course, you can always use any type of blanket like material.  And, if time is important, get a few sisters to help your boys sew on a machine.  I can cut and sew two to three capotes in a mutual with a sewing machine and assistance from the boys.  One person with experience using a sewing machine and limited experience sewing something could do their first during a mutual.  There really is limited cutting, fitting and sewing.

They are so easy, even a mountain man could do it!!!!














Scout On!

Roger's Trough to Indian Ruins

Want to hike your boys to some awesome indian ruins?  Then Roger's Trough is it.

Photos of my trip are on my Face Book page (Stephen Follett).

Here is a trail guide.  Unless you want to hike the whole thing.... I suggest turning around at the ruins.  There are a few spots to camp within a mile or so of the ruins.  If you do this, you will need to carry water, unless you find pools because of recent rain.  Make sure and filter.  We saw a dead horse/mule parts strewn along two pools.

Google for current trail conditions.  Here is a site that sometimes has information on the trail and road conditions.  This is the current conditions as of February 2010.  Contrary to the guides, I did it in my 2 wheel drive S-10 twice last year.  4x4 is not necessary, at least if the road is continually maintained.

Watch yourself if it is going to be a wet time, there are lots of washes and dry creek beds to cross on the drive and there are lots of washes and dry creekbeds to cross on the hike.

Scout On!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Flint knapping videos

Here is a post with a collection of flint knapping videos on YouTube.
Scout On!

Cool Museum Stuff

This is a database of museum pieces.  Cool.

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Primitive Skills

Here is a website with lots of "primitive skills".  It is fun for me to just browse and learn.  But, I am crazy like that.

Scout On!

Side Seam Moc Tutorial

Here is a good tutorial on how to make traditional side seam mocassins.

For the sewing, I recommend making holes an inch or so at a time, and then sewing with a DULL needle.  Make a few more holes and sew.  Make a few more holes and sew.  Or, don't punch holes and use a glovers needle which is very sharp with a pair of very small pliers from Harbor Freight to pull it through.  Glovers needles are expensive and make it a bit slower, so I choose to sew most things with an awl and dull needle. 

I don't like the boys breaking my expensive needles.  With a big fat dull needle, they usually only bend it.  Sometimes, the boys have bent my awls.  How they do it, I'll never know.

Make a "dull" needle by breaking the tip of with pliers.  A dull needle is necessary, because it will only go through when it finds the hole made by the awl.  If you punch a hole with an awl, then try to use a sharp needle of any kind, it will just try to make a hole wherever you stick it.  And, on the "suede" side of the leather, it can be hard to see the hole exactly.

Scout On!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Simple Lace Mocassins

Here is a link to simple lace up mocassins patterns.  For the size "9" you will just have to subtract holes so it is half way between the "8"  and "10".  You will have to print out two pages for some of the patterns and then tape them together.  One page for the cuffs is 8 1/2 by 14, so make sure you don't print it off too small.  If Adobe does "fit to page" you will print the cuffs, but they won't be the right size because they will get shrunk.  Print that page separately.

Cut two soles, two vamps (the top/tounge), and two cuffs.  There is no real right or left.  Punch holes, and lace them up so they look like mocassins.  For a hint, use masking tape wrapped around the end of the lace and pointed as a needle.  The masking tape is stiffer than the lace, so it goes quicker.  If it gets too soft, just peel it off and put on a new "needle".

Just remember to run a piece of strong lace or shoestring under the cuff so that it can wrap around the front and tie.  Look at the finished moc below to see where it comes out of the cuff and weaves through the vamp to tie.  It is easier to put the lace there before you sew it.  Otherwise, get a hanger to feed the lace through the cuff.  Duct tape the lace to the wire so you can pull it through.  A hook in the wire is too bulky.










They look like these when you are done.  Notice the lace that comes out of the cuff and ties in a nice bow on top of the foot.  Using a shoelace, whether leather or something else is a good idea for the strength.  The leather lace from Tandy just isn't as strong.

If you have some insoles from old tennis shoes, put them in for comfort.















Here is a view of what the back side looks like finished below.  You can see the lace that sews the cuff on as it weaves through the holes in the cuffs to sew it onto the moc.  That is not the lace piece you will use to tie the moc.  The lace that you use to tie the moc is actually running through the cuff, so that when you pull it tight, it will pull on your heel.  Look closely at the moc above, and you will see the lace coming out just under the fold.  I guess you could use the lace that sews the cuff on, but it won't give as tight a fit.

You can do the cute green tounge and buttons, if you are a sissy.  Get some deer antler or bone if you want to dress it up a bit like a mountain man.