Scott A. Roush 20 Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 I just took my family to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to explore the Sylvania Wilderness by canoe. It's only a couple hours from my house but it's like entering a new world. Sylvania is a special wilderness area that protects a system of kettle lakes and old growth forest. The lakes are close to each other and easily portaged with a nice light weight canoe. My kids are young so we decided to keep it easy and paddle out to only one campsite with one portage. We paddled the entire length of Crooked Lake and portaged over to Loon lake where we set up camp and then spent a couple of days exploring the hoary 'Old Forest' around us. I kept getting visions of Middle Earth while we were there with the giant old trees and mossy, green landscape littered with bogs, mushrooms and my hobbit children finding mischief. I took along some recently completed implements such a Viking style axe and a big camp knife with black oak scales (forged from 5160).. as well as my 'Little Goblin'.. a composite pattern welded utility blade I made for myself (cracked in quench). I wanted to do more 'action' photos with my work.. but as the camp photographer AND blade user.. I didn't get all that much. Oh well. It was an amazing trip.Loading up our 18' kevlar canoe with gear on Crooked Lake:Looking for the portage to Loon lake in a vast wild rice bed:Camp on Loon. They weren't kidding about 'Loon Lake'.. I was practically kept up all night by their eerie calls.An ad hoc meal with Bisquick and cheese on the pie irons. I highly recommend this.The 'Crooked Lake Cutter' (inspired by J. Knight's Sooke Mountain), the 'Little Goblin' and a Viking axe. I could have left everything and just used the 'Crooked Lake' for everything.My son with a little axe I made for him. Every year I sharpen the bevels a little more. Eventually I will harden it. :-)The best seat in the house:In the 'Old Forest':Hobbit Feet:A peat bog:Some 'shamrocks' and other pretty things:Dead Man's Fingers:Foraging raspberries on Deer Island Lake:Getting swallowed up by 'Old Man Willow' (actually a gigantic red pine):Getting back to 'topic'.. another look at the 'Crooked Lake' making wood:Preparing to portage back to Crooked:Portaging:Done:Thanks for looking! http://www.bigrockforge.com Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Johnson 0 Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Looks like a great time to be had! nice pictures too, that is some green forest! "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail"--Ralph Waldo Emerson"Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves."--Henry David ThoreauMy DeviantArt: http://wildwolfworkshop.deviantart.com/ Link to post Share on other sites
GBrackett 19 Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Looks like you all had a great time. Great memories for the family. Thanks for sharing with us. ”Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor!” George Brackett American Bladesmith's Society, Apprentice Member Hialeah, Florida Link to post Share on other sites
Hoy's Forge 28 Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 You are helping your kids to be "ABNORMAL" that means they will think Mom and Dad are cool and kids their age are weird. It means they can do things besides text, game, and whine. Thanks for bringing back good memories! I'll have to start on the Grand kids soon! Youve got some beautiful kids. great tools and Photos too! www.hoyfamily.net Isa 54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.Lu 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Mr 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Link to post Share on other sites
Troy Christianson 3 Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Great fun! Abnormal kids are the best. Mine spent today digging "bunkers" re-hafting a throwing hawk. Carving spoons and making fire with flint and steel. Just your normal/abnormal day. My son Knute has been after me to make him an axe like Logan's ever since the Hammer-in. Gives me an idea for a project tomorrow. Troy Allen Christianson is NOT a "Licensed Bladesmith" so you may treat his posts with the contempt they deserve. Link to post Share on other sites
Scott A. Roush 20 Posted August 11, 2013 Author Share Posted August 11, 2013 You are helping your kids to be "ABNORMAL" that means they will think Mom and Dad are cool and kids their age are weird. It means they can do things besides text, game, and whine. Thanks for bringing back good memories! I'll have to start on the Grand kids soon! Youve got some beautiful kids. great tools and Photos too! Nice way to put it! And thanks for the comments. Troy..I've met your kids and you are doing it right! http://www.bigrockforge.com Link to post Share on other sites
Doug Adams 15 Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Man Scott that looks like a fun trip. You have a great family. Doug Jn. 3:16 Link to post Share on other sites
CProkopp 2 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Looks like fun! I haven't been in the Upper Peninsula since Kennedy was President. Just as beautiful as I remembered. Great-looking culery. Oddly, I was more fascinated by the idea of a Kevlar canoe. It's taken me a while to wrap my head around the idea of fiberglassing plywood kayaks, now they spring THIS on me! Maybe I'm in the wrong century. "I'm not anti-gun. I'm pro-knife." Molly Ivins NT Limpin' Cat Prokopp Link to post Share on other sites
Scott A. Roush 20 Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 I'm of a fan of combining technologies across centuries... :-) Any material is better than aluminium for a canoe in my opinion though. http://www.bigrockforge.com Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Stephens 486 Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Ah man, that's just awesome. Thanks for sharing Scott! -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly." -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com Link to post Share on other sites
CProkopp 2 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Aluminum canoes...argh! We hates it! "I'm not anti-gun. I'm pro-knife." Molly Ivins NT Limpin' Cat Prokopp Link to post Share on other sites
Stewart Light 0 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Those pictures make me smile. Cheers, Stew. stewartjlight.atchoo.org stewartjlight-knives.blogspot.com Link to post Share on other sites
Stewart Light 0 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 ...and I'm off to investigate Pie Irons!! Cheers, Stew. stewartjlight.atchoo.org stewartjlight-knives.blogspot.com Link to post Share on other sites
Scott A. Roush 20 Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 ...and I'm off to investigate Pie Irons!! Haha... I wasn't using them in the conventional manner in that picture. I wasn't sure how the Bisquick would cook through so I just used them individually. They are normally closed and most folks use bread. Make sure you buy a set that is actually IRON.. not aluminum. Or you will also have an aluminum bloom in the bottom of your firepit. http://www.bigrockforge.com Link to post Share on other sites
Dion 2 Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Beautiful photos. I was up there when I was a kid once, I still remember how nice it is there. I'm jealous. (By the way Scott, did you get my email?) Dion Grethen D. Grethen Hand Forged Iron https://facebook.com/DGrethenHandForgedIron "In fire iron is born, by fire it is tamed" "Never touch the blacksmith's hammer . . . or his daughter." Link to post Share on other sites
Scott A. Roush 20 Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 Beautiful photos. I was up there when I was a kid once, I still remember how nice it is there. I'm jealous. (By the way Scott, did you get my email?) Yep... I just looked back and found it and replied! http://www.bigrockforge.com Link to post Share on other sites
Phil Ullrich 22 Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Great pics, thanks for sharing. Brings me back to canoe trips in the Boundary Waters when I was in high school. Love that big knife, too. I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he first forms a good plan.... - Benjamin Franklin Link to post Share on other sites
Bill North 0 Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 What a great time! Thanks for posting, Scott. Bill My knife and photography related blog: http://www.thenorthedge.me Link to post Share on other sites
Kip Kaiser 2 Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 (edited) Awesome pic" Scott it appears you are truly blessed! Be well Kip Edited August 22, 2013 by Kip Kaiser A man is no better than his word! Check out the web site @ www.thekaisercustomknives.com Link to post Share on other sites
Jim P 0 Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Looks like a fun time for everyone, the last picture says it all, and brings back memories Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now