Coming in 2015... Climbing. Mount Whitney In Otzi styled Kit For 50th Birthday!

A Dream in the works
Years ago, I came up with something I would like to do when I Turn 50 I am about a Year out and I have mentioned it many times here
Here it is I intend to climb Mount Whitney the Year of My 50th Birthday in Otzi styled Gear

I will make most of the Equipment/clothing and build in essential safety and assemble a small team I have contacted a few people that would have interest and am looking for ideas on the Documentation

Some thoughts would be collage film or doco class??? But have no idea on where to look…It may just be whatever cams we/ I can get…

I think this would happen in the spring to beat the crowds and I will have to look into all the permits soon as the spots fill fast The peak season is august but I want some snowfields
I climbed the Mountain twice and this will be the third once with buddys in California and the Second as a Guide with two SERE Specialist as a Continuation training

This would be a less rushed go taking advantage of several camps on the way up as always there my be a point where it is called but that’s how it works.
The gear will be a fun project and as mentioned I will keep it authentic but not blow off safety

I saw a re enactment of a science group re trace the routes of the Voyagers of old they made the canoes paddles clothing and flotation was added to vest and some containers to pad the risk of what they were doing

It will be done in all respects to the Man who lost his life so many years ago and other than that there is no real reason other than submersing in the Adventure of a time long past
I am in the Process of acquiring skins and scraps and to be honest My budget is Zero at this point and is still just paper and in my grape as far as the plan
Food will be traditional as possible as well as the carry methods but again I WILL have a “Life boat” plan

Whitney is not the Most technical Mountain but its is a place dear to my Heart and being the Highest point in the Contiguous USA its not to scoffed
At this point I am Sharing this thought I will add here any gear I have started or any ideas on the changes I will make such as fire kit and alternate choices Such as I may use flint and steel as opposed to pyrites quarts and fungus

It will not be a exact reenactment but I will keep as true to the time as possible and use what I have as far as Material
Anyway there it is God willing and the Crick don’t rise that’s what I want to do I hope to see this snowball grow and when it stops I will have a report on this Adventure
M/BK
　
　








Updates here  　 http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showthread.php/119153-Otzi-Does-Mount-Whitney-a-Dream-in-the-Works

OperationalExtras Handrill fire With flintTracker Knife...Go!...

 Slowly gonna drag older stuff in hear instead of having to dig as much

Another responce added blog fodder

In my cutting my teeth days I would grab a old Buffalo skinner or what ever in a piece of fire hose tuck that in my belt and walk into the San Bernardino National forest AKA back yard

The reason I took the blade was the Mountain is made of granite, Decomposing granite,there was Very small deposites of obsidian here and there those were Serrano work sites also basalt was the main material of any artifacts and scrap I would use it and leave it of stash it to share later and depending on the circumstances I kept it and still have it but that between me and me

water could be had at many seeps and springs and there was no paranoia of Giardiasis (Though I did get it later from a splash to the face in the lake)Some of the same water I enjoyed then has probably made its way to Arrowhead springs and has filtered thousands of feet down the hill and is in a truck or little plastic bottle... lol

There were a quite few ways to get the water Mopping it up with a bandana,stick seep,straw tap with willow bark tube,seep hole as not to bore...

they were seasonal so picking the areas was well planned from year round countless visits. some places had wild rose, some good willows for arrows,some frogs, crawdads, catfish, Trout most of the areas had water in the form of creeks and evidence of Serrano people was near by so my choices were sound as far as figuring out where when and how to go
Horse grass,Alder,Pinyon,Globs of sap from the sugar pine and ponderosa,Sotol on the transition area,Sage,currants,strawberrys, THREE FEET OF FOREST DUFF to sleep on sheets of bark laying all over root rope galore...not one of the things required knife manipulation
Im noticing lately the collection of scraps I carry replacing the mounds of stuff sacks ditty bags and every combo know I have acquired,now a old pima cotton Patagonia scrap holds my line kit...oops this is about a knife

a fish can be gutted with a finger so cutting wood and scrapping was the reason above all I would take one anyone can beak a stick hastily make a frame or what ever but I do find joy in clean controlled cut and making stuff well,that looks cool... abrading with a rock works but if you actually do it a lot to prove its effectiveness it losses its allure real quick

The rendering of gear can be looked at as unsafe and I will agree because in my teeth cutting days I had some close scraps and I was gonna immerse myself and figure stuff out there were few books and no fastract internet many "mystical secrets" were guarded or the people I asked didn't know, the tracks of that was the tandy leather pre made accoutrement and dyed turkey feathers...My ancestors left all this stuff in Caves of Europe so yeah I can make this stuff Chief(another Story)... that started another quest for lack of a down to Earth term... cave camp the knife went away for awhile and I learned more than ever


there are no guarantees of food drink and fire shelter its about how you handle the fails and the joy that brings...small Victory's

Now Im gonna turn into a Coyote and eat the Nabors cat

just some thoughts on grabbing a knife and walking


as far as what ever the hell else went on in this thread...I don't understand the Question so "let me ride my bike around this camp"

Theres a story you can look up


"A edge, a simple edge... and the understanding the many ways to improves a edge" Best Knife speech I ever Heard

Former USAFSAMUSAFSEREPROGRAMSMETRAINGTOOL/UARMNINJADIGGITY lol

Some Thoghts today...no reason

Many Years ago My Pap Said "No Matter How good you think you are at anything Theres some one out there that's Better" I never forgot these words and has been a motivator to this day

Years later I Heard "Somewhere in the world someone is Training when you are not. when you meet he will win".Some wise words from a True "Global Survival Expert" Though you would never hear him say it, that's I what he was on paper and deed , that was earned by intense Training
In this training there was no fastrack the foot work was done or the one slipping by was done if it was not done to the best effort

Fastrack to "expert-itus" is something I have mentioned may times in my rambles and with instant access to tips tricks techniques its flourishing now more than ever and answers from cut and paste quick draws can sometimes paint a false illusion of Knowledge and skill as well as "skill by location association" Rain percentage of a area where your apartment is will not guarantee fire success in the Rain forest or the Sonoran Desert and Not all People in Alaska were raised by Inuit
Location is not a skill but can sometime(Many times) be presented that way

A simple pleasure like a Pot hook in one of its most simple form or the most intricate work of art and function can be scoffed by a self proclaimed Expert as a waste of time as well as certain alternative tool use and anyone recommending the shortcuts to Training has probably did the same throughout theirs the old saying "Theres more than one way to skin a cat" comes to mind and anyone who just settles on tossing the cat in the fire is not really passing knowledge just relating the Max of their skill level and what they have settled on to start cashing in. Seek Eagles not the Parrots...

Know to the best of your ability who said what and give them credit Cody Lundeeen did not say "Dear Lord please don't let me **** this up" that was Alan Shepard Cody's would ego is bigger than a Astronaut and would not not utter possible failure lol (Remain calm... note: not an attack its just he has been credited as well as Les Bear DC and some other interpreters with quotes as of late that are in scout manuals and woodcraft books dating back before their conception...Moving on)

Another thought Fancy Graphics Highspeed production and acquaintance of a Former SEAL will not help you do anything by Viewing you will have to do your own teeth cutting Knowing the Facts and Science of the edge of a blade,swing arc or the rpm of a hand drill spindle will not mean you can do it either for fun or for a Emergency hands on is key Eyes on is only the first baby steps and that is translated to feel and that then becomes burnt in to your muscle memory

It all washes out on the rock...more to follow

OperationalExtras Colorado Gear and Condition Hotwash (+playlist)

Heres some of the Gear in the Kit Bag,condition observationand another attempt at optional don doff and optional carry of the Kit Bag and a peek at my Magic Cape lol

The Abandoned Woodcutters Seat...

Quite a few years back I was doing Tree work and was assigned to clear parts of a road of any and all branches it was so vehicles could drive the perimeter road, anyway grabed my gear and my pack and was driven to the site in a Kawasaki mule I was showed the area and the foreman split
I got cutting the weather was cold and drizzly
I worked about 8 hours leaving piles to be pushed of the road later by back hoe the temps were dropping and the drizzle turned to sleet…and it was past closing for the day No ride showed up needless to say I was getting pissed
I went to my pack got out the poncho and cut a few poles at this point I was just going to shelter down and wait No Radio and No phone…trusted them to pick me up and they still havent showed
I had water a canteen cup a brew kit some snakos and some MRE Conponenets So I says Screw it they aint coming back Im gonna set up a camp.I cleared a spot down to the dirt got the chainsaw into some Ash Juniper and did a flat cut with the grain producing a pillow case worth of dry shavings there were enough twigs on hand to get a good blaze and it was soaking quick,I struck the mess of with my metal match and got the cup on the brew I had raingear on British DPM and a Patagoochie fleece but it was really dropping in temps I still had a ton of shavings from the saw and I always have a cravat or two I took one out and filled it with shavings to make a seat It worked great pulled up a log and begin to think I really don’t care if they get me.
I sat,ate Drank hot Brews as the night closed in I saw the lights from the mule wasn’t sure what I was gonna do I made sure it was the Forman coming and the fog lights flashing was sure sighn he was coming
I put the fire out wrapped up my gear and waited under the poncho…
Oh Man Im So Sorry!I thought you went home so I left too security said your ride was here still said he
I just looked at him…Don’t leave people laying around! sez I I was fine just don’t ever do that again to anybody
I moved on after a few more knuckleheaded stunts but have used the “abandon woodcutters seat “on many occasions…









Long of the short... be Prepared

There was more Adventure at that place and the fishing was Great,My last day lol...More later

Entry for May 25, 2008

Posted on May 25, 2008 by operationalextras

Note: on the pic. Raised platform triangle frame with Dream catcher type net made w/550 cord(you tube dream catcher to see how to do the weave)three poles tied w/550 canadian jams.the whole mess is covered with about 6 or8 gores of parachute material sew tight w/….550cord tie off poncho hood lift center and tie 4 corners….awelcoma to aneenjaaah hooooose!…..made w/CK undisclosed local…..go make one!
M/BK 
WARNINGS!
Many “highend” shops could care less about your trip! BE CAREFULL do the research yourself in the store ask to see the box or the catalog most staff have never used anything in the store. I did not used to be a fan of On line sales but if you know what you want and the gear is not a second or irregular piece you get a Hell of a better deal on line!They are there help if they don’t go elsewhere.there’s a few that will make the changes in your order and say “well its about the same thing”.No its not, that is unacceptable
Alot of the Odds and Bods you could only get from these shops a year or two ago can be found at you large sporting goods type places and Wally-world for that matter.Some of your big “Mountain Manly” gear company’s are now owned by fashion magazines with the Technical and the non-technical. The price on both will still be TECHNICAL. Be advised.
Also: be very careful about where and who you get your info and training from.I cant believe some of the crap I have seen presented as survival instruction on the web and TV and especially “tube” type video.I just watched some unbelievable rubbish on a video playing at a high end _ass pro shop book section.Some guy in his cotton levi’s a big old Bowie knife. they had this video on so folks watching thought it was good info…I’ve seen one  guy “Lizzy Borden”a small sapling with a tracker knife…(with a knife like that should of been a 4-6 chop) to make a hasty Bow… don’t paint a good picture for those of us who practice Survival / Bush-craft….more later.
I do not like to be Grummpy but once in a while I Just Have to let it fly lol
Take care M/BK