All Stories | Page 14 of 28 | The Filson Journal

a black and white image of six men wearing a variety of jackets, hats and pants holding a flag reading the mountaineers

The Evolution of Mountaineering Gear

Humans have climbed mountains since they first crossed the Alps or left religious offerings in the highest heights. But it wasn’t until the mid-18th century that Europeans turned their gaze to the tops of mountains.

8 Min

Profiles

The Filson Restoration Department & Workshop

We’ve taken pride in the quality of our craftsmanship for over a century, and in keeping with that tradition, the Filson Restoration Department and Filson Workshop were formed. We caught up with Jeremy Bennett, Jon Duce, and Marissa Barnard from the workshop team to find out what goes into restoring a Filson original and creating a one-of-a-kind piece from salvaged resources.

5 Min

cast iron pot on a metal surface with wood fire in foreground

How-To's

How to Choose & Care for Cast Iron Pans

One of the most basic and versatile pieces of equipment that every kitchen must have is a large cast-iron pan. The beauty of this piece is its simplicity. With all the technology that can be found in modern cookware, the cast-iron pan, which has been around for generations, still produces some of the best food. When properly cared for, a cast-iron pan will improve with use and be something that you can pass down to the next generation.

6 Min

a snowy dark landscape of the Utah mountains with patches of trees and a storm rolls in

Field Notes

Remarkable Skills of an Avalanche Rescue Dog

When it comes to mountain life, avalanches are part of the territory. If you’re lucky, you might only see or hear one. But on the off chance you get caught, there’s little even the most experienced mountaineer can do to escape. Bright gear, a beacon, shovel and probe are key to survival, but when disaster strikes, nothing beats four furry legs and a wet nose. Trained since puppies, avalanche rescue dogs have unique talents that are unmatched by humans or human science – covering as much ground in thirty minutes as twenty humans could in four hours.

3 Min

a blonde ski patroller wearing her red and black jacket with a white medical cross on the shoulder, black snow pants, black boots and holding the leash of her black, brown and white dog wearing his red and black rescue vest as they walk away from the chalet

How-To's

How to Become a Ski Patroller

Ski patrollers are responsible for maintaining and promoting skier safety, providing first-aid assistance to accident victims on the hill, and transporting injured skiers. They play a huge part in what makes any ski area run. Working as a ski patroller can be physically demanding, but it also might be the most rewarding job you’ve ever had.

5 Min

two Air Force men wearing green snowsuits, one sitting up, while the other lays down resting on a bag as a helicopter takes off in the snowy mountains in Alaska

Field Notes

The 210th Air Rescue Squadron

The 210th Air Rescue Squadron, nicknamed “The Second 10th,” is an elite peacetime and combat search and rescue (CSAR) unit based in Alaska that’s on call for its citizens 24/7/365. Regarded as “the Guardians of the North,” the unit has saved thousands of natives stranded in remote terrain, brutal snowstorms, and icy waters along the coast.

11 Min

a brown, tan and white border collie sitting next to a black and white on the back of a 4-wheeler parked along a blurry tree line

Profiles

Dogs with Jobs: Sheepdogs in Rural Scotland

Sheep dogs are commonplace in rural Scotland, with many shepherds owning more than one. The use of such dogs in Scotland dates back to the 19th century, but even today they still play a crucial role in gathering and herding sheep across the hills and are very much engrained in everyday rural life.

5 Min

close up image from the top down of over a dozen wild horses in varying hues of brown and black running towards something

Field Notes

History of America’s Wild Horses

The wild horses of the West have occupied the minds of people here since they were reintroduced to the North American continent by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. These first mustangs (from the Spanish mestengo, which means “ownerless beast” or “stray horse”) were the predecessors of the wild horses that roam the desert and grassland ecosystems of the Midwest and Western United States today.

9 Min

a brunette woman with a long braid down her left shoulder wearing a grey scarf, red jacket and black cowboy hat against a wood barn

Field Notes

The History of the Cowboy Hat

If there is one piece of Western wear that has become the ultimate symbol of the American Cowboy, it’s the cowboy hat. Like all Western wear, hats were made to be as tough as the trail and started off as accessories purchased based purely on function rather than fashion. A hat provided shade, protection from the elements, and warmth for the wearer, but could also be used to fan a fire, as a vessel for drinking water, or waved from horseback to catch the attention of a fellow rider in the distance. There were as many styles of cowboy hats as there were people wearing cowboy hats.

5 Min

pile of split firewood stacked with a red building behind it

How-To's

How to Stack Firewood

Follow these easy 5 steps for proper stacking and storage of firewood. This easy guide will provide a safe location to protect your wood from the elements while keeping out any unwanted pests and ultimately keep your home or cabin warm during the colder months.

4 Min

snowy white covered landscape with a dozen snowy bison walking towards you

Field Notes

Rebisoning America’s West

As we bounce across the prairie, small groups of bison close to the dirt track watch us roll by, while two bands of elk stare at us from a distance. Meandering along in search of the two bison cows, Austin talks of seeing the landscape restored to its pre-nineteenth-century vigor.

6 Min

a top down view of a dark wood table with various tools and materials to make a shoe, including a hammer, scissors, wax and thread

Signature Materials

Keeping Handmade Traditions Alive in the Northeast: Filson & Quoddy

Jack and Anne Spiegel originally started Quoddy in Maine in 1947. Their unique footwear was all made with moccasin construction to be flexible, durable, and repairable. At one point, Quoddy had a fleet of stores, many along the well-traveled Route 1 where summer visitors stocked up on other home-grown Maine brands like Hathaway, GH Bass, and LL Bean.

6 Min

Profiles

The O’Hair Ranch

Before there were O’Hairs, there were Armstrongs. And like most homesteaders, the Armstrongs arrived at Paradise Valley, Montana, by way of misfortune looking for fortune. In 1878, Owen T. Armstrong (“O.T.”), aged 27 years old, and Mrs. O.T., aged 26 years old, decided it was time to up and leave Missouri, where they had hewn out a meager existence.

7 Min

cast iron pan on a flaming outdoor grill with browned steak, halved red onion, whole garlic and sprigs of thyme

Food & Recipes

Filson Food: The Perfect Cast Iron Steak

There are many ways to cook an amazing steak, but none beat the simplicity of a cast-iron seared steak basted in herbed brown butter. Try it once and you will be convinced.

3 Min

a white plate sitting on a black countertop plated with a cut of cooked pork butt, diced potatoes and a few springs of sage and a bay leaf

Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Apple Braised Pork

This Pork Shoulder recipe is sure to never disappoint. Make this in the cooler months and make sure to make extra—it gets better as the flavors have time to hang out in the fridge.

4 Min

a close up of a US Fish and Wildlife silver duck band

Field Notes

Duck Banding: Hunter-Backed Conservation Work Helps Waterfowl Thrive

Banding has been used for centuries. In 218 B.C., besieged Roman soldiers reportedly used thread to tie a message on a crow’s leg and then released the bird. John James Audubon and Ernest Thompson Seton pioneered early banding methods in the United States. Federal banding programs were established in the 1920s after the Migratory Bird Treaty of 1918.

5 Min

a black and white x-ray of a two headed fawn skeleton from the top down

Profiles

University of Georgia Deer Lab Boosts Our Knowledge of America’s No. 1 Game Animal

For about 50 years, students and faculty at the University of Georgia’s famous Deer Research Laboratory have conducted far-reaching studies across the country and beyond to improve our understanding of deer biology, behavior, and management. With an extensive list of published research and many graduates in high-ranking wildlife positions, the lab’s influence on the knowledge and management of deer is undeniable.

8 Min

an illustration of a wood log burning from the inside out with a cast iron dutch oven on top

How-To's

How to Build a Swedish Fire Log

When the Swedish army jumped into the Thirty Years War to invade the Holy Roman Empire, the soldiers developed a highly efficient campfire that required only a single log, commonly known as the Swedish Fire Torch or, in the Great White North, the Canadian Candle.

3 Min

man wearing green hiking pack, dark green pants, shirt and cap, carrying a big camera and hiking poles up a snowy mountainside

Profiles

Q and A with Adam and Frankie Foss of Foss Media

Gary Edinger, a logger is at the center of Will to Live: The Gary Edinger Story, the latest film from Adam and Frankie Foss, the husband and wife team behind Foss Media.

7 Min

a man wearing plaid red and black wool coat, snow pants and a orange hard hat, walking towards the camera in a snowy wooded area

Profiles

Will To Live: The Gary Edinger Story

On a fateful February day in 2007, in the remote Northern Wisconsin woods, a solo independent logger named Gary Edinger severed his left leg off while felling a tree. Twenty miles from help and in forty below temperatures, Gary summoned the remarkable willpower to crawl to his pickup, and attempted to drive to safety.

19 Min

Profiles

Wild Goose Jack

At the turn of the 20th century, sportsman John (Jack) Miner found himself amidst an unregulated commercial market, and local grassroots hunting. In the small town of Kingsville, Ontario, along the northern shore of Lake Erie, young Jack and his brother Ted spent their minimal free time carving and painting decoys in preparation for when the ducks would return.

8 Min

chef plating the dish with the final touches of drizzled with horseradish sauce, a side of kale salad and grilled bread on a dark wood serving dish

Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Beef Carpaccio with Horseradish Sauce and Kale Salad

All meat is a reflection of the land the animal was raised on, genetics, and, of course, the feed they ate. To truly appreciate the complexities of a great cut of beef, you have to eat it raw. Make this carpaccio any time of year as a great intro to dinner.

3 Min

dozens of birds flying overhead on an overcast day

Field Notes

North America’s Flyways and Ducks Unlimited

Twice a year waterfowl and bird species make the long journey from south to north and back again along the Pacific Flyway, stopping at reservoirs, wetlands, and shallow lakes along the way to both rest and feed.

9 Min

chef drizzling sauce over finished apple dessert on parchment paper fresh out of the oven

Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Apple Galette with Salted Bourbon Caramel

A simple riff on an American classic. This galette is both super simple and looks great on the table. The more rustic-looking, the better, so don’t spend a lot of time trying to make it look perfect. The most daunting part of this recipe is making sure not to burn yourself when you make the caramel sauce, and that you don’t drink the bourbon before the recipe calls for it.

8 Min

double barrel shot gun open with both shells hovering above chamber

Field Notes

History of the Shotgun for Upland Hunting

The earliest shotguns, or “Haile Shotte peics,” as they were called, date back to the 16th century in England, where they were used for hunting by the aristocracy, chief among them Henry VIII. These were multiple shot firearms and were used primarily for hunting birds.

9 Min

National Forests

Filson and The Forest Service

Filson and the U.S. Forest Service share unbreakable ties to our wildlands and a relationship that dates over a century. Since the 1950s, Filson garments have been in-use as field and uniform attire for U.S.F.S. personnel, and remain so today. Read the full article on The Filson Journal at the link in bio.

2 Min

Field Notes

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 1: “FRIDLEY”

First responders and wildland firefighters don’t have the option to work from home. They need to be in top physical and mental shape or else lives could be lost. If they can’t make it to the gym, they bring the gym home or find a way to use whatever space they have to hit their daily goals. We worked with the guys at MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab to bring those simple but effective routines to you and whatever space you occupy to help you keep physically fit and mentally sharp.

7 Min

two men shirtless in a gym, the one in front bent over with his hands on his knees tired while the other adjusts the rowing machine behind him

Field Notes

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter with Mountain Tough Fitness Lab

The day-to-day rigors of a wildland firefighter require supreme mental and physical strength. These folks hump 45-pound packs up and down steep, rugged terrain for three to five miles a day — usually in the intense heat of a wildfire. If you want what it takes to be a wildland firefighter, you have to train like one. That’s where MTNTOUGH comes in.

2 Min

sausage and carmalized onions with sauerkraut and milled mustard on a bun with centralized text reading

Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Beer Brats

The German roots run deep in this dish, but you don’t have to wait for Octoberfest to enjoy it. The next time you are hosting a group of people and want to keep it simple and casual, this is a great one to pull out. Everything can be done ahead of time so no one will see you sweating it in the kitchen, but you will still impress everyone with the fact that you made Bratwursts from scratch.

black lab jumping to catch pheasant flying away in a hunting field with dead grass and cattails

How-To's

How to Process an Upland Bird

Steven Joyce of Reds Hunting, a renowned hunting and fly-fishing guide outfit in Eastern Washington, joined us at Filson’s annual Sportsman’s Expo to demonstrate how to harvest the meat from an upland bird. Check out Steve’s clean and efficient method for processing any game bird.

4 Min

The Evolution of Mountaineering Gear

The Filson Restoration Department & Workshop

How to Choose & Care for Cast Iron Pans

Remarkable Skills of an Avalanche Rescue Dog

How to Become a Ski Patroller

The 210th Air Rescue Squadron

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Dogs with Jobs: Sheepdogs in Rural Scotland

History of America’s Wild Horses

The History of the Cowboy Hat

How to Stack Firewood

Rebisoning America’s West

Keeping Handmade Traditions Alive in the Northeast: Filson & Quoddy

The O’Hair Ranch

Filson Food: The Perfect Cast Iron Steak

Filson Food: Apple Braised Pork

Duck Banding: Hunter-Backed Conservation Work Helps Waterfowl Thrive

University of Georgia Deer Lab Boosts Our Knowledge of America’s No. 1 Game Animal

How to Build a Swedish Fire Log

Q and A with Adam and Frankie Foss of Foss Media

Will To Live: The Gary Edinger Story

Wild Goose Jack

Filson Food: Beef Carpaccio with Horseradish Sauce and Kale Salad

North America’s Flyways and Ducks Unlimited

Filson Food: Apple Galette with Salted Bourbon Caramel

History of the Shotgun for Upland Hunting

Filson and The Forest Service

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 1: “FRIDLEY”

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter with Mountain Tough Fitness Lab

Filson Food: Beer Brats

How to Process an Upland Bird