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
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
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.
Monday, February 7, 2011
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.
Once again follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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.
Once again follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The few modern conveniences...
As we're moving foward into the logistical phases of the expedition,
Phoxx has compiled his list of gear selected as contingency provisions in response to any nautical challenges.
An example in this case would be potential capsizing, cold water immersion or otherwise separation from his craft should it roll and require that he bail from the "cockpit". Other scenarios would be a severe lack of essential resources such as, stone for crafting tools.
He has chosen certain pieces of updated technology for this
reason while maintaining his "bare minimum" philosophy.
Below you will find an updated list of "modern conveniences" that will be included in the initial outfitting of the rig.
1 PFD (life Jacket)
1 Wet suit
1 set of Map/Compass/navigational equipment.
1 Simple Knife and 1 hatchet to be used if stone for knapping is not available.
A few pieces of "tackle" to get him started
11' of paracord.
Find us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with any updates and changes.
Phoxx has compiled his list of gear selected as contingency provisions in response to any nautical challenges.
An example in this case would be potential capsizing, cold water immersion or otherwise separation from his craft should it roll and require that he bail from the "cockpit". Other scenarios would be a severe lack of essential resources such as, stone for crafting tools.
He has chosen certain pieces of updated technology for this
reason while maintaining his "bare minimum" philosophy.
Below you will find an updated list of "modern conveniences" that will be included in the initial outfitting of the rig.
1 PFD (life Jacket)
1 Wet suit
1 set of Map/Compass/navigational equipment.
1 Simple Knife and 1 hatchet to be used if stone for knapping is not available.
A few pieces of "tackle" to get him started
11' of paracord.
Find us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with any updates and changes.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Welcome!
Welcome!
You've found the official blog for the Full Circle Kayak expedition. Full Circle' is a 67 day expedition that will be centered around the building of a hand made "skin-on" frame kayak and the practice of the necessary primitive living skills. This journey is the undertaking of a single adventurer. Phoxx will be utilizing the precious bounty that the land and sea will provide for him. The explorer must rely not only on his own carefully cultivated experiential knowledge of the natural world and wilderness living skills, but bring it all harmoniously to the challenges that he may encounter in meeting " mother nature" upon her own terms. Providing for his basic physical needs, whilst developing a rythym in his daily living, may be essential to the success of this trip. The goal is that Phoxx will set out with minimal gear, and depend entirely upon those skills to provide for himself.
The trip is set to venture out toward Vancouver Island in the summer of 2011. The kayak itself will be crafted by the very hands of wayfarer that navigates it and Phoxx will be residing on and around the island for a total of 67 days. Whilst in the embrace of the wild, our man will be utilizing all local resources to provide for shelter, food, warmth, fire and overall comfort and safety.
Keep up with us for updates and any changes to the current itinerary.You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter and of course, we welcome your questions, concerns, words of encouragement and whatever else. A trip like this has not been completed in over 250 years!
Bright Raven
designedtoexpire@hotmail.co.il
You've found the official blog for the Full Circle Kayak expedition. Full Circle' is a 67 day expedition that will be centered around the building of a hand made "skin-on" frame kayak and the practice of the necessary primitive living skills. This journey is the undertaking of a single adventurer. Phoxx will be utilizing the precious bounty that the land and sea will provide for him. The explorer must rely not only on his own carefully cultivated experiential knowledge of the natural world and wilderness living skills, but bring it all harmoniously to the challenges that he may encounter in meeting " mother nature" upon her own terms. Providing for his basic physical needs, whilst developing a rythym in his daily living, may be essential to the success of this trip. The goal is that Phoxx will set out with minimal gear, and depend entirely upon those skills to provide for himself.
The trip is set to venture out toward Vancouver Island in the summer of 2011. The kayak itself will be crafted by the very hands of wayfarer that navigates it and Phoxx will be residing on and around the island for a total of 67 days. Whilst in the embrace of the wild, our man will be utilizing all local resources to provide for shelter, food, warmth, fire and overall comfort and safety.
Keep up with us for updates and any changes to the current itinerary.You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter and of course, we welcome your questions, concerns, words of encouragement and whatever else. A trip like this has not been completed in over 250 years!
Bright Raven
designedtoexpire@hotmail.co.il
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