Pathfinder Challenge Entry - Nov 2010

Here is my entry to the Pathfinder Challenge. See below for notes.

I want to thank the people at Pathfinder School for giving me this opportunity to get out and test myself. When I first heard about the challenge I thought it would be a cake walk, but in the field it turned out to be a whole different story. So many things that SHOULD have worked, FAILED. Including things I've done many times before. This was quite the learning experience and that alone made it all worthwhile.

This isn't a how-to video. This is just documenting the completed requirements involved for the competition. I've attempted to keep it entertaining at the same time. Hope it worked.

Trap Notes:
I've built 100s of figure 4 traps over the years. They are simple and effective and I couldn't get a single one to function for this challenge. I experimented with multiple trigger mechanisms that I designed but none of them were very effective. Lesson learned: in an emergency, go with what you know.

The trigger on my tree/rock deadfall was from Ron Hood's video.
The trigger on my twitch up is a modified version of sargefaria's typical toggle

The rock dead fall in the tree is my own design but inspired by Ron Hood's snare mechanism.

Fire notes:
Ugh, flint and steel just wasn't working for me in the field. I couldn't locate any tinder fungus and had no char cloth. After 3 hours, I needed fire for the water boiling and I used my ferro rod. The next day, I attempted again with char cloth and had almost immediate success. Wouldn't you know my stupid camera stopped filming. What I learned: How to make char cloth. Finding and breaking quartz to use as a flint.

Cordage Notes:
I experimented with many types of vegetation and milkweed prove to be the absolute best and frankly the only material i could find that was effective. Lesson learned: making cordage in general.

Shelter notes:
Lessons learned: More bedding to prevent heat loss. Try not to build in the dark. Tighter space in the winter may have been easier to keep warm.

Primitive water boiling:
This took me the longest. I attempted to make many containers out of birch bark with absolutely no luck at all. By the time I gave up on the bark, it was too late to burn a cup out of a log. Lesson learned: ALWAYS carry a container.

Survival pumpkin:
I didn't get to film all the things I intended to use the pumpkin for, but I assure you it would have been FUNNY!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Survival
• bushcraft
• primitive
• wilderness
• skills
• shelter
• water
• navigation
• fire
• flint
• steel
• sun
• compass
• first
• aid
• winter
• cold
• weather
• milkweed
• cordage

[willyzook]

Awsome man, that's all I can say about it. I hope you win bro! That "survival pumpkin" was hilarious too man! Also, is there any way you can show us how you made the trip-wire deadfall (4:26) ?? That's a great idea for where I live!

[JeffSlawson]

@willyzook Sure, I will make a video explination on that trap in a couple days. The trigger system is simply three knots and a toggle stick. I learned it from a Ron Hood video a while back. Its easy to make but heavy on cordage. I'll work on the vid asap. Thanks man!

[markshmily]

Ok the pumpkin was awesome! Great idea if you needed to use something. lol

Great video as well.

Very cool.

[JeffSlawson]

@markshmily haha, yeah, after numerous failed attempts at building a birch bark container, i've come to love the pumpkin. :) Thanks bro!

[sargefaria]

As you are the first response to the challenge........I believe you have just RAISED the bar my friend. Very well done brother! Excellent video, great traps, and I appreciate all the extras you put in to help others........and still did it in one video under 15 minutes. Fire pumpkin gets 5*s all the way on creativity! Well done!

[JeffSlawson]

@sargefaria Awesome! Means a lot to me, bro! Thanks again for putting this whole thing together. This really drove the stake home to show me how much I need to be out practicing and learning new skills.

[ANXIETOR]

the pumpkin was brilliant, man! anything anyone can come up with, that hasnt been done to death on youtube, gets 5 stars. also, great job with flint/steel. makes you wonder how pioneers survived, eh? good work.

[cooperbayknives]

awesome video! good work :)

[timberfoxct]

great job on the traps

[willyzook]

@JeffSlawson Right on man, I'll look forward to seeing it. You don't have to be in any rush to get it done though bro, just take your time and when you get it you get it. Thanks again man, stay safe!

[BSRadar100]

Nice Job!!!!! Love the traps and yeah the pumpkin was cool too. Just never seen a pumkin in the wild. Wish you shot your shelter during the day.

[swtchbckshtr]

awesome job

[Waldhandwerk]

Fantastic work, super cool idea with the pumkin ; ) Cool traps and video, All the best  Sepp