Written by

Craig Caudill

Can you use a dead tree?

One of the things that I like best about outdoor skills, particularly primtive skills, is that there really is no garbage.  Most of the materials you work with and utilize that are natural, you will not discard and “throw away”, but rather utilize again in something else.

For example in this video, we show how to use a dead tree to your advantage.  This was really an opportunistic find on the day we are in the woods.  We were filming our videos for “Finding Firewood” and came across this tree and took the opportunity to make a quick video on it too.

So you can see there are alot of uses here for this one dead tree. While the video tells the story of this tree, I would like to emphasize for you here to be more opportunistic in your training. The easiest way to do this is to group similar objects together when and where you are training, which can be anywhere.  For example when you need some cordage, or string, you can use paracord correct?  Take the opportunity to look around you and see what else you use that looks like paracord.  For example, the power cord on the computer that I am currently using, shoe strings in my shoes, my wife’s long hair…and on and on.

So yeah this big hunk of dead tree bark could be a tube, could be a gutter, could be shingles for a roof, could be bedding, could be a hat, I am sure you get the point.  Be opportunistic, and do not waste anything.  Any type of natural matter if it becomes waste will most likely burn, so use it for your fire if nothing else.

Keep an eye out, material is all around you!

Until next time, I hope to see you on, or off the trail.