Table of Contents
Introduction 11
Chapter 1 Building Your Kit 15
Plan the Scope of Your Trip 16
Ten Cs of Survivability 17
Core Temperature Control 18
Tools 20
Comfort 25
Convenience 28
Tips and Tricks 28
Chapter 2 Natural Resources 29
Pine 31
Willow 34
Poplar 35
Oak 36
Sassafras 38
Birch 38
ITEMize 41
Medicinal Preparations 42
Tips and Tricks 43
Chapter 3 Wooden Tools and Simple Machines 45
Throwing or Digging Stick 45
Anvil Stump 46
Spear or Gig 47
Maul or Mallet 49
Wedges 49
Simple Woodland Machines 50
Tips and Tricks 54
Chapter 4 Advanced Firecraft 57
Primitive Fire Starting 58
The Bow and Drill Method 59
Flint and Steel Method 69
Solar Fire 71
Tips and Tricks 72
Chapter 5 Sheltering 75
The Four Ws 76
Establishing a Base Camp 77
Roving Camps 77
Permanent Shelter Options 81
Earthen Structures 84
Camp Amenities 86
Tips and Tricks 90
Chapter 6 Knots, Bindings, Weaving, and Looms 93
Cordage and Ropes 93
Knots 97
Basket Weaving 107
Weaving 110
Tablet Weaving 114
A Simple Peg Loom 115
Inkle Loom 117
Waist Looms 120
Nets and Net Making 121
Tumplines 123
Tips and Tricks 124
Chapter 7 Trapping 125
Animal Behavior 126
Animal Sign 127
Lower-Food-Chain Resources 128
Water-Type Traps 128
Types of Primitive Traps 132
Trapping Birds 138
Hunting 142
Tips and Tricks 145
Chapter 8 Preserving Food Sources 147
Flours and Meals 148
Nuts 150
Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs 151
Fruit Leather 153
Plant Sources of Storable Foods 153
Saps 155
Meat 156
Tips and Tricks 159
Chapter 9 Hide Preservation, Tanning, and Clothing Repair 161
Small Hides 161
Large Hides 163
Rawhide 164
Making Leather 164
Clothing Repair and Reproduction 166
Repair Stitches 167
Simple Clothing Patterns 169
Tips and Tricks 171
Chapter 10 Woodworking 173
Tools 173
Dimensional Lumber 178
Workbenches 179
Besom 180
Axe and Tool Handle Replacement 181
Making a Wood Bow 184
Making Arrows 188
Tips and Tricks 191
Chapter 11 Blacksmithing 193
Blacksmithing Tools 194
Sources for Metal 197
Working with Hard Metal 200
Chapter 12 Containers and Conveyances 207
Water Containers 208
Baskets 209
Clay Vessels 210
Boats 214
Pack Frames 221
Tips and Tricks 222
Appendix A Tarp Setups 223
Appendix B Dutch-Oven Cooking 225
Appendix C Cloud Charts 235
Appendix D Primitive Navigation 237
Appendix E Mineral Hardness Scale 245
Appendix F Measurement Conversions 247
Index 249
