tricks of the trade | The Filson Journal

a blurry image of two sled dogs running across the snow with read harnesses and lines in front of and behind them

The Dynamic of the Line: the anatomy of a dog team

Sled dog teams consist of 12-16 dogs to traverse difficult terrain, while following specific commands from a musher. Learn the anatomy of a sled dog team and what it takes to build a good team.

4 Min

a close up of a man showing a snake shed

How-To's

Dos and Don’ts of Traveling in Rattlesnake Country

Local outdoors expert & lifelong Texan, Cory Emerson, helped us navigate the desolate limestone hills and canyons of Texas Hill County to put our new gear to the test. The most important piece being the dos and don’ts of traveling in rattlesnake country.

3 Min

morel mushrooms in a white bucket next to pinecones on the ground

Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Field to Table Morel Mushroom & Ricotta Appetizer

As snow melts off mountain peaks, and yellow balsamroot bloom in valleys below, it’s time to take to the woods where an elusive delicacy of the season awaits. Introducing the morel mushroom. Morels are among the most beloved of our wild fungi.

2 Min

knife cutting venison sirloin held by hand next to a hasselback potato on top of a wooden cutting board with sauce in a small bowl

Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Santa Maria Venison Sirloin

When we think of American BBQ, we tend to think of Southern BBQ: slow-cooked brisket, pulled pork, pit beans, coleslaw, etc., but there are a lot of other BBQs to be found around the U.S. Case in point, California BBQ.

2 Min

hand with guard device working a detail on the border of a white canvas sail

How-To's

How to Repair a Ripped Sail at Sea

You hear a sound you shouldn’t. Standing at the helm, getting a good look forward is tricky through rigging, mast, and mainsail. But that long ripping sound was not a good sign. Your crewmate below can hear the sail flogging and she pops her head up out of the hatch: “Need a hand?” While she takes the helm, you scramble forward to assess the damage. Your task now is to stabilize the situation before it worsens.

4 Min

two people in lush mossy forested area tending to food cooking by an open fire

Profiles

Q & A With the Open-Fire Chefs of Portland’s Tournant

Tournant is an open fire cooking and events company. Based in Portland, OR, their business serves as a homage to the Pacific Northwest, to one another, and to all the things they hold dear: food, fire, nature, craft, connection, community, seasonality and sustainability.

4 Min

small bowls of salt and lemon and condiments and salmon laid out on a wooden cutting board

How-To's

How to Preserve Your Catch

Winter brings slower days and time to cook – and a freezer full of fish after a summer of harvest. Nourishing and delicious protein, wild salmon brings brightness to the table through the cold weather months. This recipe is a personal favorite provided by Nelly Hand at Drifters Fish, a local Pacific Northwest business.

2 Min

a black and white top down view of a nautical chart with a compass laying on top

How-To's

How to Read a Navigational Chart (the basics)

A map will show you where to go. A nautical chart will help you plan your trip, tell you where (and where not) to go, tell you when to go (with the help of tide tables) and where to anchor. This information is continuously changing, which is why it’s prudent to have up-to-date charts.

4 Min

a black and white image of a snowy mountain peak landscape

How-To's

How to Stay Safe in Avalanche Terrain – Tips from NWAC

Every year in the mountains of North America, avalanches kill an average of 45 people and injure many more. Nearly all these incidents involve people recreating. If you’re planning to get into the mountains this winter, there are a few things you should consider regarding avalanches prior to heading out.

7 Min

info graphic depicting steps of tying a figure eight knot

How-To's

How to Tie 5 Sailing Knots Recommended by US Sailing

“Tie me a figure 8”, “grab that cleat hitch”, “fasten a bowline” – next time you’re aboard or at the docks, make yourself useful to the captain and crew and earn your passage. As they say, practice makes perfect. So whether you’re learning a new skill or brushing up on your technique, keep reading to learn about the top five sailing knots recommended by US Sailing coach Chris Childers.

5 Min

Profiles

Avalanche Dog Noses: Your Best Chance of Survival

Up in the mountains, 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 can do to escape. Bright gear, and a beacon, shovel and probe are key to survival.

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 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

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

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

person warming hands behind burning kindling

How-To's

3 tips for Backcountry Preparedness with Coalcracker Bushcraft

Outdoor recreation provides an opportunity for people to learn and explore. It allows people to spend time with family and friends, view wildlife, and experience nature. These experiences however, could potentially become life-threatening. Be prepared by utilizing the following steps to prevent any mishaps. Preplan. Preplanning is the key to a safe and memorable outing.

3 Min

men working with long oyster rakes on rocky beach at water's edge next to wooden boat bough

How-To's

How to Shuck an Oyster with Taylor Shellfish

The 4 easy steps to open an oyster from the 120-year old shelfish farm

bird dog and hunter stand in a field of short yellow grasses

How-To's

Tricks of the Trade: 4 Helpful Hints for Dog Injuries in the Field

For over two decades, George Hickox has shown all levels of owners how to train great bird dogs. Today, he reminds hunters of 4 ways to prepare for injuries in the field. When spending time afield with your dog injuries can occur to your four legged buddy. Listed below are a few helpful hints

three hunters stand with their hunting dogs in a field

How-To's

Developing Gun Sense with George Hickox

For over two decades, George Hickox has shown all levels of owners how to train great bird dogs. Today, George describes the importance of establishing gun sense with your young hunting dogs. Photos courtesy of Martha Graffis. We have waited impatiently all year for the opening of the upland bird seasons. Before taking Pupster out

Snow capped mountains with descending line of pine trees in foreground

How-To's

The Do’s and Don’ts of Fishing in Bear Country

What to remember when fishing around big ursids and what to forget. Words and photos by David S. Lewis. This is too important a topic for me not to include the disclaimer at the top: I’m not a bear scientist. I’m not even a circus trainer. But on a recent trip to Alberta’s Rocky Mountains,

finished green canvas arrow quiver full of arrows and tools for making arrow quiver arranged on work table

How-To's

Tricks of the Trade: Make Your Own Archery Quiver with Matt Pierce of Wood&Faulk

Matt Pierce is a modern day jack of all trades. Born in Kansas, the tinkerer’s interests in carpentry and mechanics were honed through interactions with close friends and family. Eight years ago, Matt gathered the gumption to uproot, leave Kansas, and relocate to Portland, Oregon. Currently, he runs a blog entitled Wood&Faulk and carries a

gun rack with two shotguns in front of wall with vinyl siding

How-To's

3 Ways to Better Your Chances for a Bird this Fall with Andy Duffy

Andy Duffy has been shooting competitively for over 23 years. He’s a 12 time Sporting Clays National Champion and an avid bird hunter. Today, he details 3 ways to improve your chances of taking down a feathered friend this Fall. One of the issues for shotgun shooters who practice on clays is to realize that

bottle of honey next to cloth with honey on it

How-To's

Tricks of the Trade: Treat Burns in the Wild

Article courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Bushcraft team: Jason Schwartz is an axe-wielding, modern day mountain man. He’s also a Red Cross certified Wilderness First Aid Instructor, music aficionado, and known to some of the locals as the “Bear Grylls” of his area. Leah Klocko oversees the country music landscape of Pittsburgh as a radio personality when she’s not

How-To's

Tricks of the Trade: The Original Multi-tool

Article courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Bushcraft team: Jason Schwartz is an axe-wielding, modern day mountain man. He’s also a Red Cross certified Wilderness First Aid Instructor, music aficionado, and known to some of the locals as the “Bear Grylls” of his area. Leah Klocko oversees the country music landscape of Pittsburgh as a radio personality when she’s not

How-To's

Tricks of the Trade: Emergency Sunscreen

Article courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Bushcraft team: Jason Schwartz is an axe-wielding, modern day mountain man. He’s also a Red Cross certified Wilderness First Aid Instructor, music aficionado, and known to some of the locals as the “Bear Grylls” of his area. Leah Klocko oversees the country music landscape of Pittsburgh as a radio personality when she’s not

The Dynamic of the Line: the anatomy of a dog team

Dos and Don’ts of Traveling in Rattlesnake Country

Filson Food: Field to Table Morel Mushroom & Ricotta Appetizer

Filson Food: Santa Maria Venison Sirloin

How to Repair a Ripped Sail at Sea

Q & A With the Open-Fire Chefs of Portland’s Tournant

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How to Preserve Your Catch

How to Read a Navigational Chart (the basics)

How to Stay Safe in Avalanche Terrain – Tips from NWAC

How to Tie 5 Sailing Knots Recommended by US Sailing

Avalanche Dog Noses: Your Best Chance of Survival

How to Choose & Care for Cast Iron Pans

Remarkable Skills of an Avalanche Rescue Dog

Dogs with Jobs: Sheepdogs in Rural Scotland

How to Stack Firewood

How to Build a Swedish Fire Log

3 tips for Backcountry Preparedness with Coalcracker Bushcraft

How to Shuck an Oyster with Taylor Shellfish

Tricks of the Trade: 4 Helpful Hints for Dog Injuries in the Field

Developing Gun Sense with George Hickox

The Do’s and Don’ts of Fishing in Bear Country

Tricks of the Trade: Make Your Own Archery Quiver with Matt Pierce of Wood&Faulk

3 Ways to Better Your Chances for a Bird this Fall with Andy Duffy

Tricks of the Trade: Treat Burns in the Wild

Tricks of the Trade: The Original Multi-tool

Tricks of the Trade: Emergency Sunscreen