Woodland fire pit construction

[Paulm]

Reckon you could get around five decent sized birds in that one, six maybe if smaller, would be good eating, but maybe not on a solo trip, would need to save that idea for when I have a few mates visit !

It's my own land so no particular need to keep a low profile, although don't want to attract unwelcome visitors who might get up to mischief, and I want to keep it as a woodland setting as much as possible for the feel of it, so not interested in building cabins or too many structures etc,

Wednesday night was an interesting mix of full moon lighting up the trees and woodland floor, really special, and some strong winds. Woke up in the morning to find a dead'ish pine nearby had snapped at the base in the wind and hung up on a neighbouring tree, thankfully not too close to the camp and leaning away from it ! Wasn't safe to leave it like that so took it down and added it to the new wood pile area to be cut up another day.



A hearty breakfast of foraged wild hedgehog mushrooms, black pudding, bacon and duck eggs, and a large mug of strong black coffee got the day off to a good start



Back home late yesterday and sorting kit out today, can still smell the wood smoke, missing it already !

 

[Robson Valley]

A guy could get addicted to that place very quickly.
I like the little cooking fire. Isn't a serious fire pit nice?
Does not need a cord of wood to be seen for 40 miles.

 

[Paulm]

Yes, no need for a large fire for warmth yet, temps were down to around 9 or 10 degrees C at night, so just needed to cook a quick meal in the evening and some visual enjoyment and atmosphere after. Kept it ticking over during the day too warming the kettle, with the odd green bit of wood to smoke the critters away !

 

[Robson Valley]

We're pretty much done with flying bugs here. Had a week of -5C nights and colder.
No snow here in the village yet but the weekend isn't over. The snow up top isn't melting.

I hope the crappy WX holds off, company coming. Is the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.
Tine for turkey and fruit pies and all the extras that my waist line ( waste line?) doesn't need.

 

[Paulm]

Sounds great, hope you all have a great Thanksgiving

 

[Robson Valley]

I'll do the chook and some pies. Wine-braised bison for another night.
If I had any sense, we would eat those at your camp.

 

[Wood Goblin]

Apologies for the resurrection, but wanted to say that camp is lovely. Looks like paradise! Manage to make much use of it over the winter?

 

[Paulm]

Just day trips over the winter, keeping an eye on storm damage and felling a few casualties, fixing tarps and the like.

Would have camped some more but was busy at home for a few months sorting out a new workshop that kept me tied up for a while. Finished now though, so starting to think of evenings by the fire

 

[Wood Goblin]

Sounds brilliant, what a place to watch the seasons change. Nice one!

 

[Paulm]

I was there again a couple of days ago, clearing up some brash and dead hedging, planted a few willow whips too to screen off a small area and provide some materials for weaving a few baskets or similar in a few years time

Always got to make time for a brew though

 

[Robson Valley]

Must be nice. The snow is belly-deep in the forest on the deer than browsed by a couple of days ago.
We are stuck with -25C sunrises. 10kg sunflower seed for the birds does not last very long.
The big Flickers have the suet feeders pretty much to themselves.

I have winter memorized. People fear it's never going to change!

 

[Wood Goblin]

Looks lovely, that does. Extremely civilised way to have a brew, on that tripod setup. Makes me look forward to getting out.

 

[Paulm]

The kettle's a bit of overkill for just a brew of course, but I put it on in the morning and then by the time I'm ready for lunch, usually noodles or cous cous unless I'm in the mood for a fry up, then it does the lunch and a brew and a few more when needed, saves having to boil up each time

I would do more cooking but on the day trips I'm generally working in the woods so something quick and easy lets me crack on with whatever I'm doing.

 

[Wood Goblin]

Those massive kettles are one of the best bits of kit going for people who like to faff about in the woods. Tragically overpriced in this country.

Fryup in the outdoors is unbeatable. Plenty of energy for whatever woods work you are at!