Tromping through deep snow with your snowshoes on is hard work and it feels pretty good to sit down once in a while and take a break.

Plopping down in the snow isn’t an option. Not only is it cold, but you’re also going to end up with wet pants. Plus, if you’re grabbing some lunch or hanging around a fire while you’re out on the trail, it’s nice to have a decent place to rest while you grab some food. Continue reading QUICK TIP- SNOWSHOE SEAT →

The idea of building my own house wasn’t born out of any nostalgic notion, it was simply my frugality in its most radical form. Years ago, I read a book called, Mortgage Free and that’s when the seed was planted. The passive-solar designs in Michael Reynolds’ Earthship confirmed what I knew a house could be, but I didn’t like the idea of hammering dirt into thousands of tires to create a wall of thermal mass. Continue reading The Efficient House: A Passive Solar, Earth-Sheltered Log Cabin →

I live way up in the mountains where there are a wide variety of critters that might want to chew on me if I surprise them when I’m on the trail. In fact, I ran into a black bear with two cubs this fall but was thankfully able to escape unscathed. Regardless of where you might run, it’s a good idea to have a viable way to defend yourself or others. Remember, chance favors the prepared. Continue reading A Holster for Athletes and Adventurers →