Jack Mountain Bushcraft Podcast

Blake Towsley is an old friend, purveyor of uncouth fire side talk (his description), and the owner of Le Club De Raquette de SRF. In this episode we discuss winter camping, winter weather trends, his line of traditional snowshoe and canoe gear, freedom cabbage, and upcoming winter camping trips.

PHOTO: Blake and Tim in the Guide Shack at the field school.

Links:

• LeclubderaquettedeSRF, Blake’s Instagram page.

Jeff Hatch is the owner of Raven Wilderness School in western Massachusetts, an ambassador for Fjallraven, has more instagram followers than we can count, and is an all-around great guy. Ed Butler and I sat down with Jeff on a breezy day to discuss his school, the role of social media in promoting small business, how he became a brand ambassador, and his upcoming events at Fjallraven stores in Vermont and New York City.

We also discuss Ed’s first fish through the ice of the winter, tell a few stories, and give advice for young people getting started in the outdoor industry.

PHOTO: Jeff Hatch, Tim Smith & Ed Butler (from left to right). Photo by Jessica.

Links:

• Raven Wilderness School, Jeff’s website. Go there for links to his Instagram and a schedule of his courses and Fjallraven events. Note: Fika event is on 1/12 in NYC.
• New England Bushcraft Show May, 2019, the 2nd annual New England Bushcraft Show.
• Global Bushcraft Symposium June, 2019 in Alberta, Canada.
• Working Class Woodsman, Ed’s website. Go there for links to his podcast and YouTube. You should subscribe to both.

Ed Butler, the Working Class Woodsman, stopped by and we spent an hour and a quarter talking about winter preparedness, the changing face of the forest in northern New England due to economic pressure, what you should carry with you, the boiling point of propane and butane, and a bunch of other winter-focused things. I haven’t seen Ed much lately because he’s been so busy, and it was great to catch up. It’s always a pleasure to have him of the podcast, and it’s never boring.

PHOTO: Ice-covered pond at the field school. The discolored ice should be a safety warning, as should be the open water near the outlet.

Links:

• Working Class Woodsman, Ed Butler’s website. Go there for links to his podcast and YouTube. You should subscribe to both.

Dragan Uzelac is the owner of Niko Wilderness Education in Beaver County, Alberta and a Jack Mountain alumnus. In this episode of the podcast we discuss guided winter expeditions that Dragan will be leading this winter. We talk about making the gear needed for winter trips, the importance of planning ahead, and why it’s amazing to be in places with no light pollution.  All four of his trips this winter are full, so if  you’re interested in experiencing the winter trail with him in Alberta, register early for 2020 expeditions.

PHOTO: Dragan Uzelac and Blake Towsley on the winter trail.

Links:

• Niko Wilderness Education
• Lure Of The North

Donovan Burgess is the founder of Liquid Sessions Surf, a surfing school and full-service travel company in Pavones, Costa Rica, as well as a Jack Mountain Yearlong Immersion Program alumnus. Through Liquid Sessions Surf, Donovan offers a variety of learn to surf programs, including a month-long immersion into the skills and lifestyle of surfing that includes food, lodging and your own masseuse! I had a blast with Donovan when he was at Jack Mountain, and am stoked that he’s followed his passion and is passing along his knowledge and experience of life on the ocean riding waves.

In this episode we talk about what got him to this point, the advice he received from movie star Chris Pratt and his next big project; traveling the west coast from Canada to Mexico in a modified ice cream truck teaching surfing and filming the experience. 

PHOTO: Donovan blowing a tinder bundle into a flame at the field school.

Links:

• Liquid Sessions Surf

PHOTO: Dugout canoe at the libby museum that I first saw when I was 4 years old, in front of a photo of Rust Pond where it was found. The folk school is down the shore on the left.

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PHOTO: Natural waterslide on a northern Maine river.

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PHOTO: Newly-carved paddles being used for the first time.

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PHOTO: Cold morning in the Guide Shack.

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PHOTO: Poling practice. David is the guy on the right.

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