A Word in the Woods - Latest Comments

Re: Trip report: Little Hay Lake

Mike Zimmermann — Wed, 13 May 2020 17:51:27 -0000

Soon to be eleven! I'm jonesing for a trip into the woods, but not sure that'll be in the cards this year. Hopefully a few properly-isolated fishing trips will scratch the itch.

Hope you're healthy, safe, and secure these days! Feel free to reach out on FB/email etc., Ian!

Re: Trip report: Little Hay Lake

Ian Hoar — Wed, 13 May 2020 16:36:36 -0000

Can't believe this was 10 years ago!

Re: Backyard cedar strip canoe: Part 1, Introduction

Mike Zimmermann — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 14:50:51 -0000

Thanks. I'm slowly doing the research, saving, and also collecting tools and techniques this year, and will look at selling my current canoe, and figuring out the logistics of undertaking such a build in a city backyard. It's a bit daunting!

Re: Backyard cedar strip canoe: Part 1, Introduction

Tom Constant — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 14:34:19 -0000

Nice project. Good luck!

Re: Gear Review — Mosquitno Bands and Spotz

Mike Zimmermann — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:07:53 -0000

Thanks for the comment, Mandrake. I agree that there's still no ideal solution - coverage (especially two think, tight weaves) is the only sure-fire way, but it's sometimes cloyingly hot, and DEET or smoke work, but are toxic as you point out—not a desirable option if you're around food or children.

Re: Gear Review — Mosquitno Bands and Spotz

Mandrake Trekker — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 15:27:11 -0000

Great review. I used mosquito coils, they seem to work. But they only are useful when you are stationary, like cooking in a camp. And they also come with scary warnings of toxicity so that's not too comforting when you're trying to be "au naturale".
I also used the EcoSmart products, did not work at all.
The only thing that works is camp fire/smoke when stationary and DEET when moving.

Re: “Father Nature Outdoors” — Integrated Camping Blanket

Mike Zimmermann — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:01:00 -0000

Good for you, Chris (wish you had used a comma before my name there :).

I think the wild is always a part of us — like music or art, you can take breaks for years, but it's always there waiting for when you're ready.

Re: “Father Nature Outdoors” — Integrated Camping Blanket

Chris — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 13:19:31 -0000

Brilliant I am backing this

Re: “Father Nature Outdoors” — Integrated Camping Blanket

Chris — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 13:18:56 -0000

I am in Mike, great idea as I am getting back into the bush again
cheers
Chris

Re: “Father Nature Outdoors” — Integrated Camping Blanket

Mike Zimmermann — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 15:23:46 -0000

Wow, so it turns out that was very easy!

Re: Advising new campers? Here’s some advice.

Darling A — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 18:35:49 -0000

I love your first paragraph! Made me chuckle :)

Re: Cody Lundin announces he’s “been fired by Discovery Channel”

Mike Zimmermann — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:48:34 -0000

I'm sure details will come out in the near future (or some future memoir), but I'm puzzled as well — as far as I can tell, Cody was always well-reasoned, based in science and experience, and not at all the sort to be reprimanded for his actions, let alone fired.

Re: Cody Lundin announces he’s “been fired by Discovery Channel”

Actias Selene — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 11:57:24 -0000

Did they asked him to wear shoes ?-) It doesn't make a lot of sense tough, Cody was the star of the show, they can easily replace a military guy with an other military guy, but Cody ? he is pretty unique.

Re: Interview: Mykel Hawke from “Lost Survivors”, “One Man Army” and “Man, Woman, Wild”

Mike Zimmermann — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 14:06:28 -0000

Thanks, Anthony, I'm glad you enjoyed it. And Mykel's a genuinely friendly, helpful guy. Straightforward and honest, what you see is what you get. We need more like him.

Re: Interview: Mykel Hawke from “Lost Survivors”, “One Man Army” and “Man, Woman, Wild”

Anthony W. Sellers — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 12:39:34 -0000

Enjoyed the interview. Good questions! And Mykel was, as always, a learned gentleman and a hero in my eyes.

Re: Interview: Mykel Hawke from “Lost Survivors”, “One Man Army” and “Man, Woman, Wild”

Mike Zimmermann — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 23:47:45 -0000

Agreed, @graywolfsurvival. It's really great to see that sort of genuine respect and patience, especially in a TV climate that seems to always promote conflict and arguments. Theirs is the mature road, and I want so much more of that!

Re: Interview: Mykel Hawke from “Lost Survivors”, “One Man Army” and “Man, Woman, Wild”

graywolfsurvival — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 23:17:54 -0000

I really like MH. What I really appreciated was how patient he was with his wife in some episodes. Not saying anything negative about her because I like her as well, but he didn't even hint at being annoyed. I don't have that kind of patience.

Re: Interview: Mykel Hawke from “Lost Survivors”, “One Man Army” and “Man, Woman, Wild”

Mike Zimmermann — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 23:03:49 -0000

UPDATE: looks like the Travel Channel has moved the timeslot for Lost Survivors to Sunday 11am. They're also missing a proper page for the show and I'd love to see more promotion (although Mykel does a great job on his unofficial FB page), so I'd encourage you to contact the network if you'd like to see them get behind it a bit more:

http://www.travelchannel.co...

Re: Advising new campers? Here’s some advice.

Mike Zimmermann — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:33:46 -0000

Oh, we all do bring in our own bias, style, and philosophy, of course, but the more _relevant_ our advice, the better and more useful it will be.

And I think it's really only an issue when you're giving specific advice to an individual. Otherwise, I believe 'general advice' can be as one-sided as you want, and should reflect your own views, as long as the reader/listener understands _your_ general context.

Re: Advising new campers? Here’s some advice.

Ross — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:54:10 -0000

Very well put. I know a lot of the time I am guilty of talking just about the things I value and I forget about what people actually care about.

Re: Disclaimers and the like

Kerry Adams — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:58:36 -0000

Unfortunately, not everyone out there is capable of thinking for themselves. The key to any of this information available on online, is to read it, digest it, combine it with what you already know, and decide for yourself if it makes sense. More than anything else, if people would just stop and think about the situation they are in, many issues wouldn't develop.

Re: Making a classic bow-frame saw

Steve — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 19:55:31 -0000

Michael, Thanks for the kind words. Can you contact me? Need to ask you a question. Thanks...Steve

Re: Disclaimers and the like

Mike Zimmermann — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:57:01 -0000

It's just so unfortunate, given the subject matter and interest in this case. One of the core natures of bushcraft that Ross puts forward is the exact opposite of this: a focus on self-sufficiency. This requires adaptability, awareness and learning, and making responsible, accountable decisions for oneself.

Re: Blacksmithing and leatherwork and bushcraft, oh my.

Mike Zimmermann — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:52:29 -0000

Thanks. It's trickier than it looks (I'm not an illustrator), and I struggled a while until I ended up with something that 'felt' like a proper oak leaf. If I remember correctly, you can get acorns as a stamp, although I think I carved those by hand as well.

Re: Blacksmithing and leatherwork and bushcraft, oh my.

weekendwoodsman — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 05:26:18 -0000

Fantastic leather work! I really like the oak leaves and acorns. Great message, as well. :)