Top 5 Spring Must Do's...

Spring has sprung here at base camp, and I think this is an excellent time to check gear, make repairs if necessary, and polish up on your outdoor skills. Here are my top five springtime survival must-do’s.

5) Check and sharpen your knives and axes.

You know what to look for—rust, pits, and any kind of damage to handles. When in doubt, throw it out! An axe with a damaged handle is a liability in the bush and could break when you need it most. The same goes for fixed-blade knives that are not full tang. Take a good look at the handles and pay attention to oxidation of plastics and drying wood. A little bit of butcher block oil goes a long way on those weathered wooden grips. Make sure your folders open and close smoothly and still lock up tight. You don’t want one to accidentally close on you when using it. At best, you’ll need a bandage—at worst, an ER trip!

4) Set up your tents and check for holes.

A small hole can cause a big problem when—not if—it starts to rain! We’ve all been there. Nothing puts a damper (see what I did there?) on a trip quite like wet gear. You might be surprised at how many holes you find. Sparks from campfires and cot legs are the leading causes of pinholes and tears in my experience. Sparks are hard to control, but you can ease logs into a burning fire instead of tossing them in to prevent flare-ups. As for holes in the floor, I like to use thick cardboard under cot legs when I’m on soft ground.

3) Now is a great time to check on the health of your cookware.

If you’re a cast-iron user like me, you know the importance of seasoned, rust-free pans! Bring them inside and give them a good wash with hot water, then reseason if necessary. Another key piece of kitchen gear I like to clean up and maintain is my coffee pot. Nothing beats a hot cup of coffee next to a warm fire. There’s just something to be said about listening to it perk, smelling the coffee brewing, and building that anticipation for the first warm sip. Mmmmmm… coffee.

Check your chuck box and ensure you have enough flatware and cooking utensils, and that your spices and seasonings are still fresh and ready to go.

That brings us to number two…

2) Brush up on your outdoor skills and learn some new ones.

It’s easy to focus on gear—what’s new, what’s trending, and what everyone is talking about. But in my opinion, the most important tool you have for any outdoor adventure is your brain. Experience and knowledge will always carry you further than equipment alone.

I’ve found that as I’ve developed more bushcraft and outdoor skills, I’ve become less reliant on gear and more confident in my abilities. One of the most important skills you can build is fire-making. Having a lighter and waterproof matches in your kit is essential. When it’s cold and raining is not the time to rely on more difficult methods like a bow drill to get a fire going.

The rule of “two is one and one is none” applies here. Always have more than one method of starting a fire. In the woods, fire is life—it provides heat, allows you to cook food, and gives you a way to make water safe to drink.

Some common and reliable methods include lighters and waterproof matches. I personally like carrying a Zippo lighter—it’s dependable and consistent—as well as a Bic lighter as a backup. Bic lighters are simple, reliable, and make it easy to check your fuel level.

I also use a candle wax and sawdust-based fire starter to help build a strong initial flame. That said, it’s important to practice using natural materials as well, since you may not always have prepared fire starters available. Learning to work with what’s around you is a skill worth developing.

Now for number ONE…

1) Set up camp!

If you’ve been following along and checking things off this list, then you have all your gear out and ready to go. All that’s left is to set up camp and enjoy it. Whether that’s in your backyard, front yard (oh dear—what would the neighbors think?), or your closest campground, just do it. Cook a meal, sit by the fire as night draws close, and sleep in your tent. Make it a family affair!

As always, thanks for reading!