Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

WOODCRAFTifdeal in that—half of woodcraft, as of any other art,is in knowing what to avoid. That is the differencebetween a true knot and a granny knot, and it canbe shown by a sketch as well as with string in hand.In this work I have preferred to give full details,so far as the book goes. One's health and comfortin the wilds very often depend upon close observanceof just such details as breathless people would skipor scurry over. Moreover, since this is not a guidebookto any particular region, I have tried to keepin mind a variety of conditions existing indifferentkinds of country, and have suggested alternativemethods or materials, to be used according to circumstances.One might, perhaps, compress into avest-pocket manual all the expedients of woodcraftthat would have to be practised in one certainlocality, say the Adirondacks, but it would be oflittle use in a different sort of country.Of course, no one person is likely to find all ofthis volume directly useful to himself. I must askhim to accept my assurance, based on a considerablecorrespondence with outdoor men in many countries,that there is no chapter in it but is of interest tosomebody. Each reader is supposed to pick out forhimself what bears on his own problems.The first volume of this work. Camping, is intendedmainly for parties who go well equipped andare guided by natives of the country, and who haveadequate means of transportation, or for those whogo into fixed camp and stay there until the vacationis over. This one, on Woodcraft, is for those whotravel light, in the real wilderness, rove about a gooddeal, and sometimes scatter, every man for himself,with his life in his own hands.In the following chapters I offer suggestions onforest travel, pathfinding, route sketching, what todo if lost, outfits for trips afoot, marksmanship inthe woods, emergency foods, qualities and utilizationof wood and bark, camp making with tomahawk oraxe. cabins and rustic furniture, caches and masked