Mungo Says Bah - Camping, Bushcraft, Photography and More!

Mungo's Exciting Inaugural Occasional Twitter Digest

2011-04-20T05:30:00.004-04:00

I post a lot of links to outdoors, bushcraft, camping, and plain ol' interesting sites using my Twitter account. Given the volume of information I tap out on my keyboard, I thought it might be useful to compile my Tweets in a daily digest post. Some days there won't posts. Some days there won't be much in these posts. Some days there'll be more. Arctic Sledding | The House awe.sm/5I2zE Dartmoor April 2011 part 3 « blogpackinglight - awe.sm/5I2zO The Pulitzer Eddie Adams Didn't Want: Donald R. Winslow Unravels a Mystery - NYTimes.com - ow.ly/4DeVx Mungo's Camping, Bushcraft & Hiking...

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Redux: A Tutorial on How To Build a Coke Can Stove for Hiking, Bushcraft and Camping

2011-02-15T07:27:00.005-05:00

I was just looking over my Coke can camping stove tutorial and thought it might be a good time to post it again - it is such an easy stove to make, and lots of fun. Okay, following up on a post about emergency preparedness, picture this: your power has just gone out. It is the middle of winter, and the battery-powered radio reports that a major substation has suffered an outage due to iced-over power cables. You are told to expect that power will return in no less than 7 days. So you get out all the blankets in the house, and warm up the bed. You find your 72 hour kit, first aid kit,...

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Ray Mears Videos: Northern Wilderness - In Arctic Footsteps

2011-02-12T08:46:00.001-05:00

I became a huge Ray Mears fan a few years ago - and have watched nearly all of his inspiring bushcraft and outdoor skills based programs. "In this episode of the series, Ray follows in the footsteps of an unsung British hero who helped put modern Canada on the map. John Rae from Scotland was the first great Arctic explorer and came to be regarded as the foremost authority on First Nation methods of Arctic survival and travel. Ray Mears follows the story of how John Rae found the Northwest Passage - the Holy Grail of 19th-century exploration. Yet this man, who should have been a hero of his...

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Mungo Is Still Mad About Wool Blankets

2011-01-27T15:32:00.004-05:00

So this is a rewrite of an older post. I'm going to start writing more again soon - but with the cold winter upon us here in Ontario, I wanted to share my Wool Blankets post again. Stay warm out there! I picked up some wool blankets recently at a second hand thrift shop. They cost $4 each. I am utterly amazed at the prices there. To buy a new King sized blanket at the Hudson's Bay store in Canada, it would cost me $475. For a Double sized blanket, $275. Even to buy one on Ebay.ca, with shipping factored in, I'd be paying at least $75. So instead, I occasionally stop in at the neighbourhood...

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A Snowy Saturday, Spent Indoors

2011-01-15T19:59:00.002-05:00

It was a snowy Saturday here in Toronto, so we stayed indoors and played and read and napped and had a great time. James and his sticker book. James playing with stickers. Monty sniffing James. A view outside the back window, with the shed and school. The winter rose bush. James putting stickers on my arm. The abominable snow beagle, Monty. Monty standing guard. Monty running away. Cheers, Mungo Are you subscribed to the Mungo Says Bah! RSS feed yet? If not - you know what to do... You can also follow my tweets at @MungoBah This post is from the Mungo Says Bah blog at...

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Mungo Says Bushcraft Baby Number 2!

2010-12-28T19:56:00.008-05:00

My wife and I were able to share some news with our families recently, about which we've known about for a while - we're having a little baby, a sibling for James! Boy or girl, we don't know yet... but the little one is arriving in June of 2011... suffice to say, we are very excited! James - whose 2nd birthday is in a week - doesn't quite understand what this all means, but he did whisper 'baby' to us the other day. One more pair of hands to hold a paddle, and to set up a tent in the woods! Cheers, Mungo Are you subscribed to the Mungo Says Bah! RSS feed yet? If not - you know what...

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'Twas the Night before Bahmas (The Story of St. Mungo and Team of Beagles)

2010-12-24T20:45:00.003-05:00

Twas the night before Bahmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Mungo soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on...

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Shooting The Moon, On A Campfire Kind of Night

2010-12-21T22:42:00.000-05:00

I shot the moon tonight, the night after the lunar eclipse. It is a brilliant full moon, and I wasn't able to do it justice. But it is a perfectly wonderful night, and I wish I was camping in the woods with a warm campfire, sitting on a log, covered in a wool blanket. That would be perfect. Hope you're having a nice night, Mungo Are you subscribed to the Mungo Says Bah! RSS feed yet? If not - you know what to do... You can also follow my tweets at @MungoBah This post is from the Mungo Says Bah blog at http://mungosaysbah.com Copyright 2005-2011. All Rights Reserved. All Bahs Reserved....

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Repost: My Lunar Eclipse Photos from February, 2008

2010-12-20T23:39:00.002-05:00

Thought I'd repost this on the eve of the Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse (which hasn't happened since something like 1650)... We get 2 lunar eclipses each year, but having it happen on the Winter Solstice is apparently rare. Anyhoooo.... have a look and a read below! ---------------------- I heard about the lunar eclipse that was happening this evening, so I grabbed my digital camera, my big Nikon 12x50 5.5º binoculars and went out into the backyard. The weather is perfect for taking pictures, with not a cloud in sight. It is cold, and clear. In case you've forgotten (or never really knew,...

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20 Minute Knife Sharpening Board Tutorial

2010-12-20T19:59:00.005-05:00

This little project should take you about 20 minutes at most. Mors Kochanski recommends making one of these in his book 'Bushcraft' (of which I have a signed copy!)... I had all the ingredients needed in my basement: 600 grit wet and dry sandpaper, double-sided carpet tape, a scrap of wood for mounting the sandpaper, a cutting board (another scrap of wood), a pencil and a piece of paper. First of all, I applied two strips of double-sided carpet tape to the wood, ensuring the application was nice and flat. That is, I didn't overlap the tape, just kept the joint between it very close (about...

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Videos - Making Fire in Wet and Cold Conditions: Wilderness Survival Skills

2010-12-11T22:31:00.008-05:00

These are amazing videos from Hedgehog Leatherworks on how to make fire in wet and cold conditions - useful now that winter has arrived here in Ontario. This guy is a great presenter, I am really impressed. Enjoy! How To Make Fire In Wet Conditions Part 1 How To Make Fire In Wet Conditions Part 2 How To Build a Self-Feeding Fire - Wilderness Survival Skills Enjoy making your next campfire... Cheers, Mungo Are you subscribed to the Mungo Says Bah! RSS feed yet? If not - you know what to do... You can also follow my tweets at @MungoBah This post is from the Mungo Says Bah blog at...

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First Snowy Hike of the Winter

2010-12-08T15:20:00.002-05:00

Went for a nice hike into the valley behind our house around lunch today. The sky was clear, and it was accordingly cold. Few signs of animals, a few red squirrels scampering about. Chickadees, Cardinals, and Robins flitting amongst the trees. The river was beginning to freeze up. I unpacked my napsack, and laid out my wool blanket. I brought a saw, some bread, evaporated milk, my stainless steel camping mug, my Mora 510 blade, a Light My Fire mess kit (the green item in the back), a kettle, along with a Trangia alcohol stove, a Nalgene full of water, my arctic mitts, some pre-cooked...

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My Warm Military Arctic Gloves, Licorice Allsorts, a Ferret and a bag of Jelly Tots

2010-12-06T14:03:00.004-05:00

This is a re-post from a couple of years ago, but I wanted to share it again. The first snow of the year fell on Toronto today, and it is beginning to get cold. I pulled out my shearling hat, and was happy to remember that I had put my arctic gloves in my car trunk. Next time I go for a hike, and it is VERY cold, I'll have them handy. The other week I went to the local army surplus store and poked around the racks and stacks of the stale smelling offerings. It's quite nice there, if you can get past the awkward people who examine you as you browse the products they sell. I came across a wire...

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Ray Mears Videos: Northern Wilderness - The Unknown Pioneer

2010-12-05T13:53:00.001-05:00

As mentioned in an earlier post, I became a huge Ray Mears fan a few years ago - and have watched nearly all of his inspiring bushcraft and outdoor skills based programs. For Ray Mears there is one British pioneer who stands above all others in the exploration of Canada. That man is Samuel Hearne. In learning to travel using First Nations skills, he set the template for successful travel into Canada's wilderness. Hearne's story is defined by hardship and adventure, an inspiring tale made more powerful by the journal he left as a legacy. In a celebration of one of Earth's last great...

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The Great Late October Mushroom Hunt

2010-12-05T09:31:00.005-05:00

Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) Are you subscribed to the Mungo Says Bah! RSS feed yet? If not - you know what to do... You can also follow my tweets at @MungoBah This post is from the Mungo Says Bah blog at http://mungosaysbah.com Copyright 2005-2011. All Rights Reserved. All Bahs Reserved. Thank you for subscribing.

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Recently Found Bushcraft, Camping & Outdoor Links

2010-11-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Here is a roundup of some bushcraft, camping & outdoor links that I found out on the web: Rain and Mist in the Cascades http://is.gd/fkqcY The River Cottage Mushroom Handbook http://is.gd/fkqaM The Week In Review http://is.gd/fkq6W UpNorthica Reviews: Granite Gear Superior One Pack http://is.gd/fkpYf Wilderness Guide School - Month One http://is.gd/fkpUd Robert Rogers in the French & Indian War. http://is.gd/fkpPZ Lobster Mushroom! http://is.gd/fkpPI How to Cook Bannock on a Stick – Campfire Bread http://goo.gl/fb/SgSzk Canoe Pack Basket paddlemaking.blogspot.com The Vagabond’s Spatula...

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Pictures from a Cold Walk in the Woods

2010-11-27T21:38:00.003-05:00

I went for a nice walk in the valley yesterday - it was cold, and I'd forgotten to bring my gloves. But I warmed up soon enough. The field where the deer bed down at night had all the signs of deer, except for what I wanted most - an actual deer which I could photograph. Perhaps they were off at the shops, taking advantage of the Black Friday sales. I settled myself in some pine woods, out of the biting wind, and opened my rucksack and laid out my wool blanket. I wandered around slowly to see what I could see. This femur belonged to a bird - certainly not a chicken. I quickly found...

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Winter is Coming. Fall is Ending. Things Look Nice All About.

2010-11-24T15:41:00.006-05:00

December is about to begin, and the squirrels are fattening up - some of them are fairly huge. They're easier to catch when they're like this. Or so I imagine, as my wife has forbidden me from making squirrel stew. I cut back the trunk of a Japanese Barberry shrub today - the bright yellow wood was exposed. Amazing stuff. I might keep some of it to make a ferrocerium rod holder. I wonder why the wood is so yellow. Perhaps there is a chemical in it that deters insects or fungus or something. I have read that historically, yellow dye was extracted from the stem, root, and bark. Here are...

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Mushroom Hunting - Part 3 of 4

2010-11-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I went for a hike in a forest north of Toronto with my new Nikon D3000 DSLR camera. I was experimenting with my new toy and at the same time delighting in the fall bounty of 'shrooms and flora that littered and occupied the woods. See the previously posted Part 1 & Part 2 of my hike in the York Region Forest. Unknown specimen. I love how the golden heads are poking up through the leaf and pine needle litter in the rich soil. Turkey Tail: Trametes versicolor. From afar, you don't get much of an impression of this polypore bracket fungus, but up close, you see the many...

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Recently Found Bushcraft, Camping & Outdoor Links

2010-11-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

Here is a roundup of some bushcraft, camping & outdoor links that I found out on the web: Spoon Carving First Steps Coffee Spoon http://is.gd/ekOI1 Not just a barn cat http://is.gd/ekOGY Braised Rabbit with Rosemary - The Silver Spoon http://is.gd/ekOEt Sailing Atlin Lake - Day Four (Sloko Island to Teresa Island Campsite) and Day Five (Back to Atlin) http://is.gd/ekOyO Chase Netting http://is.gd/ekOvy Maori War Canoes http://is.gd/ekOu8 The Week In Review http://is.gd/ekOqJ Rådjebalges/Gränsleden Guiding Course – Part 7 http://is.gd/ekOnN Reconsidering because of Ray Jardine #1: sleeping...

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Recently Found Bushcraft, Camping & Outdoor Links

2010-11-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Here is a roundup of some bushcraft, camping & outdoor links that I found out on the web: The Hunters Lean-To http://ow.ly/2uVH8 Awesome idea - wonder if you could make one yourself...? Concrete Canvas Shelters '08 http://ow.ly/2uy5t Knot of the Week: 550 Paracord Wrapping - http://ow.ly/2t99H Welcome to the Northeast Voyageur Outdoor Blog http://is.gd/etaRO Comfort in the Woods http://is.gd/etaQ5 The Ultralight Bushcraft Stool http://is.gd/etaOB Trip Report http://is.gd/etaOn Cow Bone needle. http://is.gd/etaJM Buddas Bug Out Bag http://is.gd/etaIG Quick First Aid Tip http://is.gd/etaC5 My...

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Recently Found Bushcraft, Camping & Outdoor Links

2010-11-15T08:00:00.004-05:00

Here is a roundup of some bushcraft, camping & outdoor links that I found out on the web: Your Best Defense In the Wild: Pepper Spray: The Outdoor Wire http://t.co/NpaajyN Paddle Making (and other canoe stuff): Split Paddle Repair Article http://ow.ly/2rVvn Every Day Carry http://is.gd/eoKIt Making Cordage Part 2: The Three Strand Braid http://is.gd/eoKwd Flint, Steel, and Tinderbox Fire Lighting. My First you tube Skills Video. http://is.gd/eoKvu Test run of the Vargo Triad stove: A+ http://is.gd/enKu4 Hydration and a new filter bottle. http://is.gd/enKsb Porcupines, plywood, and...

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Lest We Forget - Patrick Joseph Doyle - Rifle Brigade, Eighth Army, North Africa and Italy

2010-11-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

My Granddad fought in World War II. I take some of the following words from my Mum (Joan) - who included some letters my Granddad sent home. Patrick Joseph Doyle - Rifle Brigade, Eighth Army, North Africa and Italy . He "was apart from Gran from 1940 to 1947, and was home on leave just a handful of times. I particularly recall two of those occasions, one was when Anne [my Mum's sister] was born in 1943 and he came home to Dublin on compassionate leave as Gran was desperately ill and not expected to live, and the second was when I made my First Holy Communion. On one of those occasions I...

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Mushroom Hunting - Part 2 of 4

2010-11-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

See part 1 here When taking photographs, it is important to look up occasionally, in case a bird decides to poop on your head. Blue Jays inhabited this neck of the woods. Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) lined up along the pathways. Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) This is a jelly fungus of some kind - don't know what. Fomes fomentarius (commonly known as the Tinder Fungus or Hoof Fungus) with a new mushroom and moss growing on it on a tree that had fallen over. My knapsack. "Scutellinia scutellata, commonly known as the eyelash cup, the Molly eye-winker, the...

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Ray Mears Videos: Extreme Survival - The Rocky Mountains & Military Survival

2010-11-04T08:01:00.000-04:00

I became a huge Ray Mears fan a few years ago - and have watched nearly all of his programs. I have them on video at home - brilliant stuff and very inspiring. Have a look at the YouTube clips below and enjoy! The Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains are a stunning sight to behold, but also a place where knowledge of how to stay warm, well fed and safe from bears can prove vital. Understanding and determination are the keys that unlock this wilderness. Extreme Survival - The Rocky Mountains - Part 1 of 3 Extreme Survival - The Rocky Mountains - Part 2 of 3 Extreme Survival - The Rocky...

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