Trekking in Kentucky, foraging, fire kit, and getting over the "flinch"!

[Hatchet-Jack]

Trekking in Kentucky last Saturday. It was 38 degrees and mostly sunny. I happened upon a downed Ash covered with Turkey Tail Mushrooms so I collected some to be used medicinally. It boosts the immune system and helps the body fight disease and infection. Only do this if you know how to safely identify these mushrooms!

I collected Cedar Bark for Tinder and dried it in the sun.

My Fire Kit consists of a tin can and cotton for storing and making charcloth, flint and steel, jute, fatwood, and a tinderbox with a fire glass. This gives me two ways to start a fire.

I'm getting over the "Flinch", it's feeling more natural. "Kaboom!" the ball strikes the steel target "Clang!" putting a big smile on my face. Today was a good day to be in the woods.

 

[Oldtimerbow]

Really enjoyed the photos, thanks for taking us along on your journey.

 

[Spence10]

You make me jealous, it's been too long since I was able to get out for a trek.

Cedar bark has been my go-to tinder for a long time, works great, but I don't recall ever seeing anyone else post about using it. Do you shoot a smoothbore? If so, have you ever used cedar bark for wadding in it?

Can you tell from this photo if these are turkey tail fungi?

Spence

 

[Calum]

'morning Spence,

In my experience, Turkey Tail is more greyish-blue based, and multicolored in stripes (as in Hatchet Jack's photo). There's also a false Turkey Tail that very highly resembles it.

Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in with thoughts on what you have. I'm in the "just starting to learn fungi" phase, so put more weight on what others say.

Mike

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

You make me jealous, it's been too long since I was able to get out for a trek.

Cedar bark has been my go-to tinder for a long time, works great, but I don't recall ever seeing anyone else post about using it. Do you shoot a smoothbore? If so, have you ever used cedar bark for wadding in it?

Can you tell from this photo if these are turkey tail fungi?

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Spence

Hi Spence!

No it's a .50 cal rifle. Using ceder for wadding interesting idea. Ceder is abundant in my woods. If I could find birch I would use that too.

Those have the right shape and TT likes to grow on dead logs but the color is very orange. It almost looks like chicken of the woods that has dried up but I would have to be there to know for sure.

 

[Flintlock]

If cedar bark makes great tinder, you sure as hell don't want to be firing it out of a gun into dry leaves and grass. If you really need something between powder and ball give wasp nest a try, it won't burn down the forest and everyone's homes. It would be kinder to the bore, not as much sand, dust and other abrasive material.

 

[Antonio Ferraioli]

great pics from all.I wish I had the time to trek. I have to do it this year, hopefully when I retire.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

great pics from all.I wish I had the time to trek. I have to do it this year, hopefully when I retire.

Thanks @Antonio Ferraioli. Working on my kit, working on a kit for my son, doing research and getting out in nature is keeping me sane during this pandemic. I hope you can get out and do some trekking.

 

[MountainSmoke]

Greatly enjoyed. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

Greatly enjoyed. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks @MountainSmoke!