trailheadpress

[trailheadpress]

Hey man, I just moved to Indy and am in pretty desperate need for a traditional/primitive archery community somewhere nearby. Do you know of any organizations or (especially) events going on in the next few months I should attend?

Brandon:

I left Indy about 27 years ago, so I’m not in touch with local Indianapolis events.  You probably know about the national primitive archery event in Marshall, Michigan.  That’s probably only a 4-5 hour drive from Indy.  I haven’t ever been there, but I’m told it’s the mother of all primitive events.  

I don’t know when you posted this question.  I haven’t gotten into my Tumblr account in several years.  So if it’s been a year since you posted this question, I apologize for the delay.  I also apologize for not being very helpful.  

[trailheadpress]

HERE’S THE OUTCOME.  KENT’S BOW HAS A NICE TILLER.  THE TWO LIMBS ARE BENDING EVENLY, AND THE BEND IS CONCENTRATED IN THE CENTER OF EACH LIMB. BOW MAKING IS A FASCINATING HOBBY.  THESE BOWS WE MADE ARE CALLED “SELF BOWS,” WHICH MEANS THE BOW IS JUST WOOD, WITHOUT ANY ADDED LAMINATIONS OR BACKING (SUCH AS FIBERGLASS, LINEN, SINEW, OR WOOD.  THE “SIMPLE” SELF BOW IS ACTUALLY A VERY COMPLEX INSTRUMENT, CAPABLE OF ALMOST INFINITE VARIATIONS.  NOWADAYS THERE ARE LOTS OF BOOKS ON THE MARKET FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TRY THIS.  

[trailheadpress]

HERE’S THE GUYS ACTUALLY DOING THE TILLERING.  THEY’RE USING DRAW KNIVES TO TAKE OF EXTREMELY THIN LAYERS OF WOOD FROM AREAS WHERE THE BOW IS TOO THICK.  YOU CAN SEE KENT’S BOW IS HELD FAST TO THE WORK TABLE BY A “C” CLAMP.  IT’S A SLOW PROCESS, AND ONE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO TAKE TOO  MUCH OFF.  IN CASE THESE TOOLS ARE TOO HIGH TECH FOR YOU, THIS CAN ALSO BE DONE WITH A CHIP OF FLINT OR OBSIDIAN.  

[trailheadpress]

THIS PICTURE IS A LITTLE HARD TO SEE, BUT HERE WE HAVE KENT WITH HIS HALF-COMPLETED BOW ON A “TILLERING BOARD.”  THE TILLERING BOARD CONSISTS OF A BOARD WITH NOTCHES CUT INTO IT AT ONE INCH INTERVALS.  THIS ALLOWS THE BOWYER TO PULL THE STRING BACK PROGRESSIVELY FURTHER AS HE WATCHES THE BEND OF THE LIMBS OF THE BOW.  THIS WAY HE CAN SPOT AREAS OF THE BOW LIMB WHICH AREN’T BENDING EVENLY OR ARE BENDING TOO MUCH.  HE CAN THEN TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION AS HE PROCEEDS TO SHAVE OFF MICROSCOPICLY SMALL LAYERS OF WOOD.  EVENTUALLY HE’LL HAVE THE BOW BENDING AS IT SHOULD, AND PULLING ENOUGH PRESSURE TO LAUNCH HIS ARROWS AT THE SPEED/DISTANCE HE DESIRES.  

[trailheadpress]

Here’s a couple of friends roughing out their bow staves.  “Roughing out” is one of the initial steps in making your own archery bows.  Looks like Kent (on left) has his bow pretty well roughed out. This picture was taken around 1993 or ‘94.  His next step will be “tillering” which will be the subject of the next picture.  

[trailheadpress]

I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU BUILD A SNOW CAVE ON THE SIDEWALK RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FRONT PORCH.  THIS WILL THRILL YOUR WIFE, WHO LOVES HAVING A HUGE MOUND OF SNOW THREE FEET FROM THE FRONT PORCH STEPS.  YOUR MAILMAN AND OTHERS WILL ALSO LOVE YOU FOR IT.  IN FACT, YOU WILL FIND THAT YOUR SNOW CAVE COMES IN HANDY IF YOUR WIFE THROWS YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE.  NOTICE I TOOK THE EXTRA TROUBLE OF LAYING A CATTAIL WELCOME MAT AT THE ENTRANCE. KATHY WASN’T IMPRESSED.  

[trailheadpress]

Now here’s a peaceful scene.  At a 1998 outing, some of us decided to do some flintknapping.  Flintknapping is the making of stone tools and stone implements.  Slabs of chert are chipped away using a deer antler point and antler ‘billet’.  Steve Kohli is on the right, and Tom Konopinski is in the center.  I don’t remember who the fellow is on the left.  Kids love doing this too.  Which leads me to think that native American boys were probably master knappers by the time they were 20 years old. Flintknapping, like most crafts, is very relaxing (until you bring a billet down on your thumb).  Knapping out under the trees is getting very close to heaven (Footnote: there WILL be flintknapping in heaven, and all chert will be Flint Ridge chert).  

[trailheadpress]

I’d rather wade with the animals in an icy, foggy stream at four o'clock in the morning than to sit in some fancy house, feet up on a cushion, practicing what Arthur Gordon called “the deadly art of non-living.

Sleep Close to the Fire by Jim Allen (via trailheadpress)

[trailheadpress]

It may be wise to build your fire first, before you build your shelter (depending upon weather conditions).  You will be strongest when you first get to camp.  This may be a good time to start your friction fire.

Jim Allen

Up In Smoke, 2001, Trailhead Press

www.jimnallen.com

[trailheadpress]

A policy of appeasement never works, and these little green Hitlers continued to push the envelope by leaning over as far as they could, making it impossible to get to the tomatoes.  Some grew to nine feet, blossoming late, as Jerusalem artichokes usually do.  Blossoming is simply their way of gloating.  Like a Russian facing Napoleon, I chuckled as I thought to myself: "Wait until winter.

Excerpt from UP IN SMOKE by Jim Allen

[trailheadpress]

Thanks for following me! You have a really interesting blog! :)

Thanks.  Good luck with your studies. 

[trailheadpress]

Here I am watching two younger guys shoot my self-bows.  These guys were pretty good.  

[trailheadpress]

One winter's day as Amos,    Was a-loadin' up his pack, Jed stuck a knife in Amos's ribs,    Another in his back. "I'm sorry friend, when it comes to gold,    There ain't no friends, you see. Besides, I'll do just fine alone,     From now on it's just me."  He loaded up the sled with gold,      And headed toward the town. The dogs could hardly pull the sled,      The most gold ever found.

Excerpt from “Gold Fever,” 

Tales of the Frozen North by Jim Allen, 12 poems, 46 pages.  Go to www.jimnallen.com

[trailheadpress]

Here’s a classic Mors Kochanski-style lean-to at one of our 1994 outings.  Notice the high angle of the canvas.  Notice also the pole bed.  I will never understand how a pole bed can be comfortable, but it is.  My friend Doug Palmater is on the right in the background.  Lower right is a stack of firewood to get me through the night. 

[trailheadpress]

Mushroom report

Just a quick update for those of you who live at our latitude here in the midwest: I went out Thursday and looked for an hour or so.  No luck.  It’s been rather dry here until this week, so it may take a few more days.  I ran into one fellow who said he found a handful of gray’s, but nothing more.  

[trailheadpress]

Hey gang, this is just a reminder that I have a book on the market.  If you love the outdoors you need to buy this one.  It contains how-to chapters, “quiet reflection”, poetry, and quite a bit of humor.  89 pages.  Paperback.  It lists for $11.95.  This book is available from Amazon.com, Iuniverse.com, Barnes and Noble, or any other bookseller. 

[trailheadpress]

HERE’S ANOTHER LEAF HUT.  I BUILT THIS ON A FRIEND’S LAND EAST OF ELKHART.  IF YOU ARE  NOT FAMILIAR WITH LEAF HUTS, THIS KIND OF SHELTER CAN KEEP YOU WARM DOWN TO FORTY BELOW ZERO, DEPENDING ON HOW THICK YOU MAKE THE WALLS.  OF COURSE, THE INSIDE MUST BE FILLED WITH LEAVES OR OTHER INSULATING MATERIAL, AND THE DOOR MUST BE PLUGGED WITH THE SAME.  THESE HUTS CAN BE VERY COMFORTABLE.  THOSE LEAVES ARE RESTING ON A FRAME OF TWO-INCH POLES SIMPLY LEANED AGAINST THE RIDGE POLE (HIDDEN BY LEAVES IN THIS PICTURE).  I USUALLY MAKE MY LEAF HUTS (SOMETIMES CALLED DEBRIS HUTS) ABOUT WAIST HIGH AT THE RIDGEPOLE.  AFTER THE LEAVES GO ON IT WILL BE ABOUT CHIN-HIGH AT THE TOP-MOST POINT.  I CERTAINLY DIDN’T INVENT THIS.  I THINK TOM BROWN, JR CAN BE ATTRIBUTED WITH MAKING THIS SHELTER KNOWN AMONG THE HARD-CORE WILDERNESS-LOVERS.  IF YOU LIKE BEING CLOSE TO NATURE, BABY THIS IS IT.