And we're off.

This morning, bright and early,  Phoxx strapped on his packs and headed south on interstate 89 toward Arizona. He'll be hitch-hiking his way to Winter Count and hopes that he will arrive before the 12th. For those of you attending this year, keep your eye out for him.   Phoxx attended Rabbitstick for the first time in 2009 and will be a first time member of the Winter Count camp and would love to meet anyone interested in the project. So, to all of our friends at Backtracks and the Society of Primitive Technology, we hope this year is profound for everyone making the long anticipated journey to the desert to see good times and familiar smiles. Safe travels!

Bright Raven
designedtoexpire@hotmail.co.il

More about the trip to Wintercount.

An integral reason for the long awaited trek to Winter count is for Phoxx to have the opportunity to construct his gear for the expedition, meet new people and share the project with the those that are a part of the primitive living skills community. It's his hope that he will meet people at Winter count that will later be willing to take him in for a few days and teach him the skills he'll be using as well as new methods, preferences and individual variation that inherently occurs from one teacher to another. Even as Phoxx is experienced with many of the skills, having a "well rounded" knowledge of  a certain skill with a grasp of a  variety of different methods or options can broaden a persons ability to practice that skill in whatever environment, with whatever materials may be available at the time. An example would be, the ability to flintknapp with what one has on hand whether that be antler or another stone.

For Phoxx, building community around the project is an essential part of the message. Phoxx will select his mentors specifically to expose himself to new philosophies and perspectives regarding primitive technology. As the tides are constantly in flux, so Phoxx seeks to create an emergent quality in his progress toward his goal.

Gear for the day to day...

Along with "modern" gear that was announced in the our previous update, Phoxx has completed his selection process and chosen the early technology that he will be taking with him. These tools and supplies date from the early paleolithic era and will be his primary equipment. The gear that was announced in the modern list will be reserved as a back-up in emergency situations. Keep in mind, such items will not be used as a quick fix if things get uncomfortable and his coziness be compromised but rather, to keep Phoxx safe should he exhaust every other option and be left facing life threatening conditions.

An example of an emergency scenario would be...
Phoxx is unable to find stone for making the tools
that he would need to make fire equipment. The temperature steadily drops to such that would likely result
in a hypothermic condition. Phoxx would then resort to using the steel knife to make a fire and prevent his core temperature from decreasing to a potentially fatal level.

So here it is.

3 clay bowls for cooking and other various tasks.
1 large stone blade (4 inches approx)
1 small stone blade (2 inches)
1 stone chopper for heavier tasks
5-7 different styles of bone hooks for fishing
1 bone awl
1 pair of braintan pants
1 sleeveless braintan shirt
1 long sleeve braintan shirt
1 braintan pouch or backpack for carrying gear
100+ ft of cordage woven from plant fiber for fishing, shelter making and any other time Phoxx needs to tie his world together.

Every piece of gear listed here will of course, be made by Phoxx, specifically for his voyage.

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Off to Wintercount!

  Wintercount is an annual primitive living skills conference that takes place over one week. The gathering occurs outside of Phoenix, AZ and people arrive from all over the globe for the opportunity  to take in a vast amount of information regarding the skills that are of interest to them, as well as teach some themselves.
 Winter Count is organized by the Backtracks organization and hosts an expansive group of instructors that have acquired the knowledge they impart over many decades in some cases. Indeed, some of these folks have been the persons "behind the scenes" that instruct the television "experts" in the very skills they showcase for dramatic effect. Classes at Winter Count encompass almost any aspect of wilderness living skills that one could hope for as well as skills that utilize technology that is a bit more recent. A student can work on flintknapping , braintanning deer hides and move on to weave a basket all in the same day. Mind you, it is a week long event that provides camping and two volunteer prepared meals per day. This is all included in the tuition cost. There are even vegan and vegetarian options in regards to dining.

Phoxx is attending Winter Count to learn to construct the gear that he will be taking with him on the expedition. This will also provide him an opportunity to gather materials and to deepen his knowledge of the skills by which he will be living whilst,  acquiring new facets as well. Phoxx also hopes that his attending the event will help him gain more diverse exposure and interest in the expedition. Indeed he hopes to get as many chances to pick brains and take in information that will help him become stronger.

Phoxx hopes you will come out and take part in the event. He will be there to represent the expedition and will be there for anyone that has a desire to get involved.

As always you can support the expedition by following us on Facebook and Twitter.