More Photos of Maine

Well folks, 'Ol "Whisky Jack" had to come to town today so I decided to post a few more pics for your enjoyment.

My good friend MIKE took the night time and canoe pics.

Enjoy!

Yours Truely,

"Whisky Jack" AKA Tomahawk

"Whisky Jack" - Tomahawks handle in the Maine woods

Folks, Just a quick post and a few pics to keep you updated on my travels.

My friends and I just returned from a 9 day Canoe trip here in Maine, I am in town now to take a shower, check email, buy some foods and whisky.

I have been Christened "Whisky Jack" by my companions and will continue to use that handle while Im here in the Great state of Maine.

We will be heading out on the Aroostook river again in a few days. Ill keep you posted.

"Whisky Jack" on the trail! - AKA Tomahawk

The Aroostook "War"

My Good friend Matt sent me some info about a little known "War" between England and the USA(Maine) in 1838-39.

The conflict was called the Aroostook War, it was apparently over a disputed border area between Maine, New Brunswick and Quebec.

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

You can check out wikipedia for more details; here is a sample,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aroostook_War

The Aroostook War was an undeclared confrontation in 1838-39 between the United States and Great Britain over the international boundary between British North America (Canada) and Maine. The dispute resulted in a mutually accepted border between the state of Maine and the provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec. It is called a war because not only were tensions high and rhetoric heated in Maine and New Brunswick, but troops were raised and armed on both sides and marched to the disputed border. President Martin Van Buren sent General Winfield Scott to work out a compromise. A neutral area was created and the controversy gradually died down.

There was no actual confrontation between forces and the dispute was soon settled by diplomats from Britain and the U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster secretly funded a propaganda campaign that convinced Maine leaders that a compromise was wise; The final border between the two countries was established with the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, which gave Maine most of the disputed area, and gave the British a militarily vital connection between provinces

Minimalist gear of "Jungle Wil" and the Tomahawk

My good friend and fellow wilderness bum "Jungle Wil" and I were chatting the other day about the things that we currently own.

Right now my total worldly possessions can fit into 1 large dry bag and 1 army duffel bag.

Last December when I returned to Arizona via the Philippines and Montana, I sold, gave away or donated nearly EVERYTHING I owned to folks .

I had an entire house full of useless shit that was costing me money to keep in storage.

After the CHINESE GREEN CARD WHORE that I was married to sent me our divorce papers, I knew it was time to purge myself of all unnecessary plunder.

The stuff I have with me now is gear for the wilderness, Ill use it up and discard things as I move down the trail. I will be in Maine for 9 weeks, when I leave there all Of my gear will then fit into 1 back pack; it will consist of: Shelter, Water, Fire,Food. and a few tools.

My plan/hope/wish is to never burden myself with all of the junk that most people think they need. I choose to live in the reality of freedom rather than the illusion of freedom.

Feel free to check out the gear lists of me and "jungle Wil" found below,

Tomahawk - And "Jungle Wil" - Scouts Out!

Aside from some wood working tools, a bike and some cold weather gear that I have stashed at my friends house in Montana my worldly possessions consist of the following; This may look like a lot of stuff but it fits into the 2 bags shown in the picture.
1 hennessey hammock
1 cheap 2 man tent
1 therma rest pad - and patch kit
1 wiggy brand poncho liner
1 light sleeping bag
1 S/bag liner
2 small plastic tarps

4 x 1 liter water bottles
1 small butane cook stove
1 army canteen cup with lid
1 travel mug
1 metal spoon

1 jansport 3 day pack
1 large dry bag
1 army issue duffle bag
1 timbuk2 messenger bag

My old green river knife
1 marrttiini knife
1 swiss army knife - with a saw
1 sharpening steel
1 axe head
1 rusty flat bastard file
1 small ball peen hammer

1 bic lighter
6 packs of army MRE matches

200 feet of various cordage
15 feet of perlon rope

Camera
tough book laptop

4 pair of carharrt pants
4 pair of carharrt shorts
4 boxers
4 t shirts
6 pair of socks - wool
1 pair of high top sneaks
1 set of flip flops
1 pair of leather hiking boots
1 red baseball cap
1 fleece beenie cap
3 bandannas
1 army cravat bandage
goretex jacket
hoodie
3 outdoor shirts of various weights
2 short sleeve light weight shirts
2 belts

1 large plastic "ammo" can - great to keep stuff dry when traveling on a river.
shaving kit
signal mirror
a few paperbacks to read

and not much else.

"Jungle Wil" has about the same stuff where he lives in the PI; in his own words,
1x emachines notepad 10" with accessories...
3x wilderness shirts (1 on, 1 ready to wear, 1 in the dobie)
2x fastdry trekking pants
2x fastdry trekking shorts
1x ziptee fleece,gloves, hat, neck wamer
1x marmot precip kagoul
3x undear (as for shirts principle)
3x sox (as for shirt principle
1x 501 levi's and denim shirt
1x foot thongs (flipflops)
1x salomon all purpose adventure shoe high top
1x sunglasses Spiders
1x silk weight capilene patagonia t'shirt
1x base ball cap
1x shemagh
3x bandanas
1x bolo knife, swiss army, neck knife
2x small dry bags
1x 3500ci drybag pack
1x salomon 30 raid pack
1x army cup 39 pattern issued to me in 1975 stainless steel with lid> ( custom made in Cebu)
1x whisperlite stove & bottle fuel
1x first aid kit
1x expeditition mtn bike with full touring capability
1x petzl tika head lamp
1x jungle hammock and TNF flight series tent
1x silk s/bag liner
1x moonstone down 3 season s/bag
1x home carved spoon
1x thermarest
1x fastdry pack towel
1 x wash mess kit
1x nail brush
50' 550 paracord
1x emergency survival kit (personalized) including memory stick with all scanned personal data......
any other items of non-essential value can be ditched/sold/give to needy people....

Dead River Rough Cut

I have been meaning to write and post a little something about my favorite movie "Dead river rough cut".

The 2 main characters Bob and Walter remind me so much of my own inbred, hillbilly relatives it isnt even funny.

These two guys possess (or did)a lot of outdoor knowledge and skill which is lost on the under 40 crowd.

If you can find it online or buy it someplace, this movie is well worth the time it takes to watch it and the effort it takes to find it.

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

http://www.deadriverroughcut.com/

Bob Wagg and Walter Lane live in a tarpaper shack, hunting, fishing, trapping and logging with oxen. They prefer the sounds of the birds to the roar of highway traffic, and scorn the money-chasing of city life. Covering a period of four seasons in the remote backwoods of Maine, Dead River Rough Cut presents a revealing look at an individual way of life. Wagg and Lane earn a living and accept their isolation for the independence it allows them. But not everyone would want to draw water from a hole in the ice. They share their reflections about women, politics, taxes, the lone life and death.

An Axe and File for the Tomahawk

I need an Axe and bastard file for my upcoming Maine wilderness adventure so my friend and Me took in the local swap meet and I managed to locate a 2 pound Axe head and a bastard file to sharpen it with for the grand total of 3 bucks - not bad. The Axe head is actually in fair shape but the file leaves a bit to be desired, but, ill make them work for me.

At the same swap meet I was also able to locate 3 pair of Carharrt pants and 2 pair of Carharrt shorts for 4 bucks - excellent deal.

I only need to make a handle for it when i get to maine. Cant wait to get it cleaned up, sharpened and a handle fit to it so I can go out and turn wood into useful Items for the outdoors.

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

"Mr. Grey" and Tomahawk at the range

My good buddy "Mr. Grey" and Me went to the range on friday to turn a shit load of ammo into noise and also to test fire 2 new pistols recently purchased by myfriend.

it was a good time but as always for me the novelty of shooting guns wears off after firing several hundred rounds.

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

Aquila Super Calibri .22 Powderless ammo

I first heard about the .22 Super Calibri ammo from my friend Matt in Arizona, I think he called it a gardeners bullet, so called because it is used to scare off or shoot garden pests etc.

The other day while test firing the .22 "Mr. Grey" bought for his daughter we used this ammo. This ammo only fires about 550 feet per second so it is a bit slow but it is cheap and affordable.

Ill add a brick or two to my gear.

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

Forever Locked - Battling Moose of New Hampshire

I had the pleasure of meeting Ray Deragon the other day and talked to him a bit about hunting, the woods and the Battling Moose of Fowlertown.

It is an interesting story and rather than waste your time with my amateur attempt to write about it Ill post the link to the website and include a little info here for your enjoyment.

I think you will find it interesting.

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

http://www.northcountrynewsnh.com/web_pages_00000b.htm

“Forever Locked”
The Story of the Battling Bull Moose of Fowlertown
Many dedicated hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts take to the woodlands of New Hampshire in search of the shed antlers of deer and moose. Some of the most persistent “Shed Hunters” have become well skilled at knowing when and where to find the prized drops of bucks and bulls. It is a rewarding experience to find a large moose or deer antler. Successful shed hunters across the state have gathered impressive collections of drops of all shapes and sizes, but for one fortunate sportsman, a find in the fall of 2003 represents one of Mother Nature’s most powerful and rare events in the wild kingdom.
On October 9th, 2003, Ray Deragon, an avid hunter and outdoorsman, spent the day scouting a remote tract of woodlands in the Gile State Forest, Springfield, NH. While walking along an old trail, Ray approached an area that caught his attention because he recognized the strong odor in the air of some animal that had died recently. Ray had discovered something that few have seen. Two large bull moose had engaged in a fight and died. Bulls fight during the rutting period to vie for breeding privileges with receptive cows in the area. During the battle, their two massive sets of antlers had become inextricably locked. Unable to separate from one another, the bulls, exhausted, stressed, and unable to eat or drink, eventually succumbed to nature.
Ray then contacted Conservation Officer John Wimsatt and explained what he had discovered. The men returned to the area to take a closer look. CO Wimsatt estimated that the moose had been dead for approximately one to two weeks. The two mature bulls had likely clashed antlers during the last few days of September. It is rare for battling bulls to permanently lock racks. But in this case, unusual palmation and fate contributed to the permanent locking of the antler sets. Once tightly locked, the bulls hopelessly tried to separate and eventually died.
As the two continued to examine the carcasses, the question surfaced as to what to do, or not do with them. Coyotes, other predators, and ravens had heavily fed on the main bodies of both moose. Decomposition was well in progress. But, what did remain in unspoiled condition, was a mass of entangled antlers that was unlike anything the two had ever seen. CO Wimsatt photographed the scene to document the event. The men then carefully removed both heads of the moose while maintaining the tightly locked antlers. One bull sported a 53-inch spread while the other displayed an impressive 61-inch spread! The antlers remained permanently locked and have never been separated.
Over the following months, much discussion was taking place regarding what to do with this natural anomaly. After consultation with Ray, several taxidermists, biologists, and staff at Fish and Game Headquarters, the decision was made to preserve this natural event in an effort to create a unique educational display.
In January 2004, a fundraising campaign was started to raise funds to finance the creation of a life-size, full body, museum quality taxidermy display depicting both moose, as they likely appeared, engaged in their final battle that permanently locked their antlers and ultimately caused their untimely deaths.
During the October 2004 moose hunt we were able to obtain three quality moose skins as donations to the project. Two bulls were exceptional. One dressed out at 825 pounds the other at 870 pounds. Both moose were taken in the Pittsburg/Clarksville area. A third bull dressed out to 650 pounds and will serve as a backup.
During the winter, spring and summer of 2005, Mark Dufresne of Nature’s Reflections taxidermy worked tirelessly to create the mounts. A steel exhibit base was created by Northeast Steel Fabricators. Extensive habitat work was completed and wildlife artist Ryan Jacque created a design image for the project. Bryan Flagg, publisher of the Northcountry News created a website, graphics designer Chris Scott of CS Marketing and Design and Lenny Charron of Great Northern Signs created the graphics for the display trailer. CO Wayne Saunders, CO Jeremy Hawkes, and many other volunteers provided the necessary logistical support to make this endeavor possible. Special thanks goes to Lisa Bell for her countless volunteer hours and support.
This life-size taxidermy display is mobile and will travel to a variety of shows and exhibits. It is a one-of-a-kind, museum quality attraction and educational exhibit that will serve to support the mission of the NH Fish and Game Department.

Crickett .22 Rifles

My good friend "Mr. Grey" and I were sitting around his house test firing a Crickett .22 rifle he bught for his daughter. I like the little gun, it would be a great .22 to add to a survival kit for the boat, plane or car/truck.

We were firing at spinning targets set up at about 50 yards back in the woods, I liked the sights and the bolt action of this rifle. The inexpensive cost of this gun makes it affordable and practical for the average Joe.

I have included a little info on the history of the company below from their website.

http://www.crickett.com/crickett_aboutus.php

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!


The History of Keystone Sporting Arms, LLC:

It all began in the winter of 1994 at an auction house in Pennsylvania, where Bill (father) and Steve (son) McNeal, both certified auctioneers, held public auction every Friday. On this particular weekend, they were approached by a gentleman with a Chipmunk .22 caliber rifle in hand. Both Bill and Steve were impressed by the look and the feel of the rifle, how compact and attractive it was, and the fact that it was made especially for youth shooters.

Subsequently a phone call was made to the manufacturer to see if rifles could be purchased. Instead, the owner asked if Bill and Steve would be interested in purchasing the company. They decided to take advantage of the opportunity; however the acquisition never materialized because of a situation that arose with the seller. Bill and Steve decided to manufacture their own rifle. Working with design engineers, consulting gun manufacturers, and trademark experts, they created the Davey Crickett single shot .22 caliber youth rifle and secured the rights to the logo "My First Rifle", "Crickett", and "Davey Crickett".

Keystone opened its doors in January 1996, with only four employees. The business started as a family owned and operated company; and that year 4,000 Crickett rifles were produced. Since then KSA has exhibited constant annual growth.

In 2007, the company made two major purchases. The 1st was a competitor, Rogue Rifle Company in Oregon, who was the original maker of the Chipmunk rifle. With this purchase KSA eliminated its biggest competitor and moved to the forefront in becoming the leading rifle supplier in the youth market.

The second purchase was Revolution Stocks in New York, which was owned by Revival Industries, a stock manufacturer who provided KSA with most of its stocks. Revival had also created a line of after-market stocks, named "Revolution" for rifles such as the Ruger 10/22. These were beautifully made wooden stocks, with great style, detail, & quality, manufactured as an upgrade or replacement stock.

Then in 2008, KSA re-located to a 31,000 square foot facility in the Milton Industrial Park, Milton, Pennsylvania. The company is equipped with modern, state of the art equipment, and a capability to increase production to meet the growing demand for firearms. KSA continues to grow, producing 60,000 Crickett and Chipmunk rifles in 2008. Currently KSA employs 70 people, and in Sept 2009 has completed a 45,000 square foot building addition to accommodate existing production and new projects.

At the present time, KSA produces the Crickett & Chipmunk single shot .22 & .17 caliber rifles, along with a single shot hunter pistol, as well as the entire line of Revolution after market stocks. In early 2010, a new model shotgun will be introduced to the market place, and other new firearm products are scheduled to be revealed later in 2010.

The goal of KSA is to instill gun safety in the minds of youth shooters and encourage them to gain the knowledge and respect that hunting and shooting activities require and deserve. Thank-you for considering our products. We will continue to provide great customer service, and build quality, made in the U. S. A. products.

CrickettRifles.com
KEYSTONE SPORTING ARMS, LLC
155 SODOM ROAD MILTON, PA 17847
phone:1-800-742-0455
fax: 1-570-742-1455

Tomahawks new Marttiini knife and Optimus stove

Recently, while still in arizona I picked up - in trade a Marttiini "mora" type knife made in finland.

It is a very nice knife, the brass hilt and birch handle combined with the stainless steel blade make a "pretty" knife.I look forward to using it in the woods.

Yesterday , after our Hike to the pond with "Mac", my friend Dave traded me a MSR(?) single burner stove called an Optimus for an Arab shemagh and a bow and drill fire set.

I really like the light weight of this stove and fuel canister,the only problem I can see with it is locating more fuel cans on the road. Ill have to experiment with it and see if there are any other types of fuel cans that will fit this stove.

anyhoo, Id better split - I need to go make a Bow and Drill fire set for Dave.

I just thought Id throw another picture of my friend "Mac" in here too!

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

A short Hike in New Hampshire

Today My good friend Dave and I had the good intention to hike up a mountain called Kersarge but after a night of booze,beer, junk food and strippers, we were feeling a little rough.

We opted to take his dog "Mac" for a short hike to a pond where he could take a swim and play fetch. "Mac" is a stick fetching maniac and being a Lab, he loves the water.

I love dogs, and "Mac" is a healthy 6 year old Labrador retriever in his prime, so it is a real pleasure to have him along on the trail. I have never understood people who think Dogs and other animal friends of man dont have personalities.

"Mac" is a rascal and good friend.

I have posted a short video of him Below doing what he likes to do best - Fetch!

Tomahawk - Go "Mac"!

Share the Damn Road

My good friends over at http://www.sharethedamnroad.com/ have asked me to post a link etc, for their site.

Since I am a former Cross country cyclist and 4 year Bike messenger veteran, Bicycles have always been my first love.

Go on over to sharethedamnroad.com site and check it out, they have some really nice bike jerseys with great logos on them.

You can check out the founders Mission statement below.

Tomahawk - Scouts out!

The Mission:
My name is Phil Gaimon. I'm a professional cyclist for the Kenda-Gear Grinders Pro Cycling Team, a coach, a freelance writer, and the founder of Share The Damn Road. During training rides, I've been honked at, buzzed, cussed out, and pegged with beer cans. When I'm victimized, if I can catch up with the offending motorist at a red light, I always try to talk to them. I'll knock on the window and ask "Do you know that you almost killed me back there?"

I don't yell or throw insults, but I try to calmly discuss the situation. I tell them that it's legal to ride on the road, even two abreast. I mention that actually I was in a bike lane, and that I can't ride on the sidewalk, because people walk there. Half the time, I don't get anywhere in these confrontations, because someone just wants to yell and cuss. But often, I'll get someone who's a little open-minded, apologetic for putting me in danger, understanding that I'm just trying to do my job or get a workout. I tell them to have a nice day, and they promise to be nicer in the future. I think the victory was just from talking to them, putting a face to cyclists, and humanizing what might have just looked like an easy victim before.

Some of these conversations were so positive, I wanted to find a more efficient way to spread the message, and jerseys were the obvious answer. I'm often accused of making the car/bicycle interaction worse, as people think the word "damn" or the messages themselves might generate more anger. I think this is absurd. No motorist is going to read a jersey in a split second as he passes, get mad because you have an arrow and "3 Feet" on your shirt, and decide to honk or swerve at you. There just isn't enough time to digest it and react. For the same reason, I realize that with text on the back of a jersey, it's not likely that a driver will realize the error of his ways and give the appropriate space, or suddenly decide to be polite.

The goal of the jerseys is just to get the message out there. We're treated unfairly, like second class citizens, but how can you be informative or send a message at all when someone just berates you and drives off at three times your speed? With Share The Damn Road Jerseys, they'll see the message at stoplights, coffee shops, and in traffic, and it will make them realize that we're people just like them, and hopefully they'll think about it next time they pass a cyclist.

When you wear a Share The Damn Road Jersey, I'd like you to keep these ideas in mind. Obey the laws, don't be a jerk, don't make it two wrongs, and don't give them a reason to hate us. If someone lets you in, give them a smile and a "Thank you". If you get honked at, try to catch up and tell them why you have a right to be there. I think a slightly confrontational method will be much more effective than continuing to let cyclists get bullied, and I'll sleep a lot better just for trying.

Guns, Strippers , Beer and Bacon - The Tomahawk in New Hampshire

My plane arrived 20 minutes early at the Manchester NH Airport the other night but, of course my good Buddy Sean was about 1/2 an hour late picking me up.

When he finally showed up we drove out to his place about an hour from the city , all the way shooting the shit about the People - staff and young assholes we worked with in Utah youth wilderness programs.

it was good to Reminisce. After we got to "the house" , It was getting late so I headed up the hill out back and strung me Hennessey Hammock between a Birch tree and a Balsam Fir. It was refreshing to sleep in the cool temps.

Late the next morning after dining on a breakfast the consisted mostly of Beans, Bread, Bacon and beer, oh! , and coffee.

We headed out to test fire 3 new rifles and 3 pistols my friend Had just bought. we ended up turning a shit load of ammo into Noise, it was fun and a good time was had by all.

We came back to the bachelor pad then made the hasty decision to head over to Vermont and check out the strip club called "Hollywood's Hard bodies", it turned out to be a decent "Gentleman's club" and we spent a bit of time in there last night.

I was introduced to a drink made up of Red Bull and Vodka - interesting.

We ended up getting back to the house around 3 am where I climbed into my Hennessey hammock out back and slept like the baby Jesus ,wrapped in my Wiggy brand poncho liner.

Right now, I'm polishing off 1/2 a gallon of coffee and packing my gear for a day hike in the local area. More on the hike later - if we go.

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

Tactical Gear Head site

I have been forgetting to post the link to my friend Johns "tacticalgearhead" site.

There is a lot of cool stuff there and I enjoy a lot of the articles, gear test and other info John presents on his site.

Check it out, It is well worth the time.

http://tacticalgearhead.com/

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

Tucson Airport , Tomahawks gate way to the world

Tucson Air Port, I have many pleasant memories of the Tucson AP. I have flown internationally from there (Here) several times to Destinations like, Qatar, Kuwait, Kosovo, the UK, Kenya, Darfur, and Numerous times to the Philippines and Thailand.

Im sitting here tonight killing time. My good friend Matt brought me up here this afternoon.

So, I have about 16 hours to kill before my flight departs in the AM mananna. Actually Tucson International is not to bad to hang out in.

It is small, there is a lounge area where you can catch some ZZZs, free wifi, and the food vendors are not overly priced as in larger airports.

Im departing Arizona for New Hampshire and Maine where I will spend 11 weeks in the wilds of the North East USA.

Having never been to New England, I am really looking forward to this trip - to be honest, Im just a little burned out with the tropics and desert areas.

Ill update my blog as often as possible from the Maine woods.

Remember ; all donations can be made via the pay pal button in the right hand column of my blog.

See you down the road!

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

New Bushcraft Forum

My good friend Sticks65 just informed me of a new forum on Bushcraft and wilderness skills.

I have been checking it out and it looks good, ill be joining up and I hope you all would be interested also.

Here is the link;

http://planetbushcraft.webs.com/

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

50,000 viewers

I was just sitting here and happend to notice that I have 50,000 viewers on this blog.

Tomahawk adventure travel and survival blog was begun a little over a year ago while sitting in the back seat of my suburban in my buddies back yard in Montana, USA.

Since this blog was began I have been to Thailand, the Philippines, Montana, Washington, Arizona, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and a few other places. I have had the pleasure to practice wilderness/survival skills in all of those locations.

Today ill be leaving for the NE USA and that proves to be another interesting adventure.

I never thought there would be any interested in the type of stuff that I do as a normal way of life. I hope that my travel info, wilderness stuff and historical posts are both informative and entertaining to all viewers.

The difficulty in posting interesting information is that folks simply do not comment on posts to let you know what is good or bad.

Oh well.... human nature I suppose.

Rest assured that The Tomahawk will be posting more wilderness travel and skills information in the near future.

Remember; any donations can be made through pay pal.

Tomahawk - Scouts out!