Misc pics from the road

here are a few pics from the road
Id like to share. I am deleting these from my camera SIM card and just thought you all might like to see them.

Tomahawk - scouts out!

Thomas and Susie(?)

I met these folks in thailand. I was told by thomas that they drove from switzerland to dubai where their truck was loaded on a container ship and taken to Bangkok. sounds like they are having a good time. here is the link to their website if interested.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fufwiederguegs.ch%2F&h=f3a12

Thet seemed like nice folks, I gave them a few books I had read then hit the road.

Tomahawk - scouts out!

Mules .wmv

Here is an oldie but a goodie from my buddy Jager in Montana. we were just having a good time out on a scout near the edge of the Bob Marshall wilderness. I hope you like it!

Tomahawk - scouts out!

Mam's Little Adventure

Folks, Im back in Krung thep(Bangkok) for a few days while I figure out the tickets etc. for the next leg of my trip. Ill wait until the 1st of May then head south into Malaysia and points south and east.

Anyhoo, the other day I was laying in my hammock in the woods at a resort/park about 3 hours south of Bangkok reading “The monkey king” (by Timothy Mo) when I heard my friend Mam call my name from out of the woods!

Needles to say that I was surprised, but I was indeed! A few days prior I had talked to her briefly on the phone letting her know where I was. The area where I was at is the province where Mam grew up so she knows it pretty well, so, through the coconut telegraph it was an easy matter to track down a farang (foreigner) who was sleeping in a hammock in the woods.

I was glad to see Mam, it had been a while since I had actually seen her and plus, she came bearing gifts! Mam has brought along;

6 golden mangos
1 green crunchy mango (still sweet even though green)
4 ears of steamed “Indian corn”
1 medium sized Durian (my favorite)
1 small bag of pork and fried rice noodles
2 small bags of sticky rice
Some “Monkey meat” on a stick (BBQ Pork)
A bunch of about 20 small bananas
And one bottle of coke.

I took down the rain tarp from my hammock and spread it on the ground under a tamarind tree near my camp. Mam and I dipped in to the food. The “Monkey meat”, corn, fried noodles and sticky rice were excellent. We washed them down with sips of coke and long pulls on my water bottle. I’m not much of a pop drinker but the coke tasted pretty good.

For dessert we grazed a few bananas and then I took out “Old butch” and cut open the Durian. I love the smell and taste of Durian, in fact, I believe it has to be my favorite fruit.

I have heard people (westerners – Americans, Europeans, etc.) complain about the smell of Durian, saying that it smells like shit. But those are the same type of guys that hang out in bars all night with a lot of other guys smoking and drinking all night. I can assure you, Durian smells a whole lot better than the interior of a bar with its residual smells of sweat, old man, stale beer and 2nd hand cigarette smoke.

After eating we took a hike around the area so Mam could take a few pictures for her photo files. We say many species of tropical birds and lots of fish from the bridge we hiked across. I had been hanging out (literally) around there for a week or so and was getting a little bored with this area so Mam suggested that I go back to Bangkok (Krung Thep as the thais call it) for a few days and make my plans for Malasia since the TV deal seems to have fallen through. That was/is a good Idea.

So, I’m currently in the city looking into tickets, visa requirements(for Malaysian Borneo – if any), I am hoping to hit the trail as I said around the 1st of May providing that any generous folks make small donations to the ticket fund.

Here are a few pictures of Mam’s little adventure, sorry, but I didn’t think to take any pictures of the food she brought out, I was too hungry!

See you on the trail.

Tomahawk – scouts out!

Tomahawks future travel plans

I'm here in Bangkok now , down to my last $30.00. I have been talking with a TV show about them flying me back for a "New type of survival show" as they called it, Im getting tired of waiting for these hollywood types to shit of get off the pot.

Looking over my finances, I have decided to give them a few more days before I head out - South. My plan is to head down the malay penninsula to Singapore, then cross (by boat if possible) to Malasian Borneo, then fly(if possible) to Mindenao in the Philippines. From Zamboanga on Mindenao Ill take a ferry to Cebu and hook up with jungle Wil and my other woods buddy trailhawk.From cebu ill try to scrape the $$ together for a ticket to Hawaii, spend some time exploring there then on to California.From california, I can hitch hike anywhere in north or south america. Im kinda toying with the idea of heading to florida to visit the seminole rez.

My equipment has been paired down to a prescious little. I have only my hennessey hammock as shelter, a bed sheet for a blanket, no cooking pot, only my old travel mug, a plastic spoon, some extra clothing, my swiss army knife and "Old butch" my veteran green river knife. All of this ill stuff into my fake LOWE K2 pack.

Since I dont have any money ill hitch hike to singapore from Bangkok, cross into singapore, maybe visit some friends there while i look for a way to borneo.

This should prove to be an interesting trip since I dont have any money or means of support other then my gear.

Ill keep you posted about it in the near future.

Remember than any and all donations are appreciated and put to good use!

Tomahawk - scouts out!

Walther back-up tactical knife

Here is some good info from my good friend and fellow wilderness bum "The Mad Wolf"

Tomahawk - scouts out!

Being a Walther fan, I’ve got a Walther Backup knife for my P22. I’ll try to describe it and give you my personal impressions.

At first sight :
The Backup came in a foam lined cardboard box, with slots for every component: the knife, the sheath, and a small round slot for a paracord lanyard. In the sheath’s clip was inserted a small hex wrench for screws.

The knife has a blade of 10 cm ( 4 inches ) length, 5 mm ( 3/16 inches) thickness . The strong upper spine is checkered to allow a much improved thumb control. The tip of the blade it’s a breed between a clip point and a spey point . The tip gives a very strong feeling and meets the edge in a very good angle – not too sharp – not too stubby. The blade is made from 440 Stainless Steel and it’s black coated.
The handle is a tough polymer (which seems to be the same polymer that Walther uses on his handguns).

The handle, at 11 cm (4.3 inches) length its very ergonomically constructed and presents some very interesting features. At the back of the blade, where the handle begins, we have an index recession just behind the small rounded guard. That gives you a stopper when you use it in reverse stabbing grip. Along the upper part we have a checkered ridge that starts with a small thumb ramp and goes all along the handle.

This ridge can be used as a reference point for blade orientation in dark conditions. Small channels along the handle are useful against handle twisting in poor grip conditions. The back of the handle is slanted and can be used to hit with it.

The sheath is made from polymer and has a very strong clip that can be attached for vertical, horizontal or upside down carry with small hex screws. The sheath has a very good knife retention and you really need to push it with the thumb to get the knife out.

The Feelings on the Walther Backup Knife
The Backup Knife is a very compact, strong tactical knife.

The edge is sharpened at a slightly bigger angle (around 30 degrees or so) and gives you a feel toward military knife edges. The checkered handle fills very well the bare or gloved hand. The general appearance of the nicely balanced blade gives you enough belly for cuts and a strong tip for enhanced penetrability.

I sharpened the blade on a natural water stone and the Stainless Steel responded very well.

The sheathed knife stays tight and close to the body both in vertical and horizontal carry. Without the clip, it can be worn as a neck knife, but his beefy handle will protrude more and it will give a much more obvious signature thru thin clothes than specially designed slim neck knives.

For a more conventional waist carry, under a t-shirt, this small knife will be barely noticeable.
Overall, the Walth
er Backup knife is a good tactical knife and can be a great companion for any of Walther’s handguns, a trusty friend when the need arises, in case of a jam ( thin chance at a Walther gun) or when the danger it’s up-close and personal, in tight spaces or unpredictable moments.

It has a very good quality/price ratio ( in Europe you can get it under 32 Euros) so if you need a sturdy compact back-up tactical knife, Walther Backup might be the knife you are looking for.

Christian “MadWolf”

Pictures from my hike in the Kaeng Kacheng National park

Here are a few pictures from my last hike in the kaeng kracheng national park of thailand. I had a good time and dreded coming back to bangkok. Ill be taking off again soon so look for more posts later on in the month.

Tomahawk - scouts out!

The sea of mist

tomahawk and the sea of mist in thaialnd. my friends woke me up pretty early for this but it was worth it. i saw 3 hornbills, 2 mongooses,one monitor lizard , one hawk, 2 monkeys and a bunch of other birds.

Tomahawk - scouts out!

tomahawk in the kaeng kracheng natl park, in thailand

Tomahawk upon arrival at the kaeng kracheng natl park in thailand. Im a little hot and dehydrated. cant really think straight.

Tomahawk - scouts out!

Living confetti, Butterflies in Thailand

Tomahawk and "Oy" looking at some butterflies on the trail in Kaeng kracheng,Natl park, Thailand.

Tomahawk - scouts out!

Yu Qiang - marathon cyclist delux!

I would like to introduce you all to my new friend and fellow adventurer Yu Qiang from China. I met his the other day through my good buddy "Raja".

Yu is an interesting rascal, he speaks very good english and was telling me about his trip from his home in jian Li, Hu Bei, southern China to Bangkok via, Vietnam and Laos. He left home with very little equipment or extra clothing and only $14.00 in his pocket.Yu told me that his plan is to circle the worldd on his little folding bicycle. Along the was he has had good luck in getting money for visaa,obtaining food from friendly folks and finding places to sleep. currently though he is working some day jobs to make money for his Indian visa and hanging out at night in a park near Soi 31 /sukumvit road.

Yu wanted me to post his email address so that anyone interested could drop him a line and ask about his trip, bike and his gear.

395698069@QQ.com is is a chinese email address and looks a little odd but works ok.

anyhoo,

Tomahawk - scouts out!

Into the heart of Borneo by O'hanlon

Folks, I just finished reading this book today. It is a very entertaining read and I enjoyed it very much. I always appreciate stories of fellow adventurers from around the world. O'hanlons writing style is colorful and easy to follow.

This book also gave me a few ideas about where to head next.............

If you are interested in this book im sure it can be found someqhere on the net. I found my copy in a hotel room here in Bangkok, I hope the guy(or gal) that left it behind finished the book!

Tomahawk - scouts out!

The Wildness Within by Caleb Musgrave

I just wanted to share these words from my good friend Caleb!

Tomahawk - scouts out!

The Wildness Within;
Before I go too deep, I want to make this clear. This article (for lack of wanting to call it a rant), is not focused on Abos, Bushcrafters, Outdoors enthusiasts or the like. This is geared more towards a person who has dealt with the wilderness in a harsh way.

I've done my own little expeditions into the wilds. Some with groups, others with... classes, others on my own. The ones on my own were always the hardest, simply because I have a very vivid imagination. Once I think about an axe-wielding maniac, however unlikely, it is what I picture being behind my lean-to, or outside of my debris hut, when I know for a fact it is really the footfall of a mouse or grouse. That's part of the test I suppose. Not a test of manhood, but a test of wildness. Can you put away your primal fears to let logic and your true instincts kick in? If not, you may have done what I've done, and slept with your knife on your belt, or a tomahawk sunk into a bedlog within arm's reach. Not a coward, just sleeping with your bases covered.

We have all at one time or another been physically uncomfortable. It's human nature to say "hey, I'm not currently enjoying this". But usually we can grit our teeth and bare it until we can be more comfortable (it's what I did for my tattoos). Or we can bugger off and get away from the uncomfortable thing or things (like I did with most of my old schoolmates). Over 90% of those reading this can obviously go home to a warm, comfortable bed. I'm sure all of us when we were first trying this stuff out went home at 1 or 2 am saying "Screw it, next time I'll stay". What sent us home? Fear? Too cold? Too hungry? Missing of loved ones? None of them are shameful, they're equally the same, uncomfortable.

Most of the people who study survival and bushcraft are not new to the concepts of what is needed to survive. Fire, water, shelter, Positive Mental Attitude, and signals are basically the five things need to keep someone from dying within 72 hours. Food is useful, but not necessarily needed when those other needs have not been met. Again, we know this.

What really gets to a person? Simply, I say “The Wilds”. Other than exposure and dehydration, the only thing a survivor has against them is themselves. Panic, fear, depression, boredom, confusion and ego block the chance to enhance their chances of living by doing something productive. Rather, they sit by an ever dwindling fire, drinking untreated water because they are in too much of a hurry to properly care for it.. The list goes on.

Positive Mental Attitude to me, is accepting The Wilds. Not just saying “okay, I’m lost and in the wilderness.” But actually absorbing everything around you. The trees, the ferns, the stones, the birds, insects.. All of it.. Becoming for lack of a better term “One with Nature”. I’m not talking about spirituality, though it does play a part. I’m talking about opening those senses, accepting yourself as what you are, an animal, not in The Wilds… but an animal who is The Wilds. Instincts sharpen within hours of focusing on the natural landscape.. Even sense of smell can heighten.

Appreciate what The Wilds gives you.. For you’ve fought tooth and nail for it; If you eat cattails for a meal, don’t let a single piece burn up in the fire -you worked too damned hard to earn those calories- , and if it gets burned by accident, appreciate even the smallest, most charred morsel. A single drop of water can change your day from gloomy to brilliant once you begin to become The Wilds. The coarsest grass blanket, the lumpiest pine bough bed, become better than a goose down quilt or a memory foam mattress.

In a way, when you finally return to the modern world -whether you were only gone for a week, or a year -things seem different. A tap that pours clean, cold water is truly a revelation! Pre-made meals at a fast-food joint become shocking (and after a few meals of it.. Will shock you in the bathroom also). If you continue this trend enough.. Living as The Wilds, things change more and more drastically, but your appreciation and care grows just as fast and as severely.

I suppose, in a way The Wilds is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. But it could just as easily be a rebirth. You could wake up at three in the morning in downtown Houston Texas, in the middle of Christmas and catch yourself swatting mosquitoes that are not there. You find yourself studying people in bars, not due to attraction, but studying their movement; how their tendons and muscles work to move and balance them, how they seem so ignorant of your presence -like a deer being stalked by you back in The Wilds with stone tipped arrows and an ash self bow -it becomes dark sometimes.

The Wilds takes. It takes your friends, who though not angry, will fade into the background. It takes your old life of comfort and warmth. It takes your feeling of safety in our modern civilization. It takes and takes until only a few things are left. No more warmth, just the cold. Skin and bones. Sticks and stones.

But The Wilds gives too; a sense of strength that never existed before. Heightening of senses and perceptions. The world, not just water, but the world, you could easily walk upon. You are The Wilds.. It is a very essence within you. You are no longer a being of false promises and make-belief comforts. You are strong as a stick, as durable as a stone. Your skin and bones are bark and wood. The Wilds gives more than you could ever ask for. Freedom, passion, love, strength, food, water, clothes, shelter -The Wilds is what is left.

Call it Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Call it “Going Bush”. Call it a reawakening. Call it whatever you want, The Wilds is real. The Wilds is outside every door, and inside every person.

Tread Softly, The Wilds is upon us.

Caleb "Oz" Musgrave

Tomahawk and OY at Ko samet national park - Thailand

Tomahawk and my friend "Oy" at Ko Samet national park in Thailand.

Tomahawk - scouts out!

Tomahawk at Ko samet Marine National park

The other day my good friend Unitsa or "Oy" (Sugar cane is her nick name) wanted to get out of Bangkok for the day and suggested that I go with her to the Ko(Island)Samet marine national Park for the day.

I accepted her invite to tag along and we hopped on to a bus at Ekamai station in BKK and made the 3 + hour bus ride to Ko samet. The park itself is a pretty place but there is not much to do in the way of outdoor activities. I am not a beach or water oriented person so it was a bit boring for me but, for,some reason ladies like to hang out at the beach - so by default so do I!

I had planned on spending the night at the park but my friend Unitsa did not, but one thing led to another and she missed the final bus back to Bangkok. I rented a tent and space for the evening in the "Camping area" for 150 Baht, I gave Unitsa the tent, my poncho liner and grass sleeping mat and I took my hammock and bed sheet and went off to sleep in the woods.

Before sleeping though my friend and i went to the only local eatery open and got some excellent sea food salad and some crab fried rice for dinner, I of course had to have 2 more cups of coffee. Next we went for a walk on the pier and beach and discussed my friends time in the Thai army.

Eventually though, I was feeling sleepy and headed for my Hammock between the palms. In the morning I decided to head back to bangkok with Unitsa to take care of some business before I head north to chiang mai on saturday. More on that later.

Tomahawk - scouts out!

Axemanship by my friend Mike White

My good friend and fellow woods runner Mike White makes his living cutting trees. He has sent me some good information and a few pictures from some cedar trees he cut. Id like to share this information with you all here.

The information below is both usefull and informative. I look forward to getting back to Mikes neck of the woods soon! I love the sight and smell of this type of cedar when it is cut. I think it is eastern green cedar - not sure though!

Tomahawk - scouts out!

Axemanship is a very important thing for the outdoorsman,woodsman or even the weekend recreationalist.The use of Axes and Axemanship date back thousands of years and really hav'nt changed all that much through the pages of time or history, and many civilizations and cultures have called upon this great tool to carve there mark upon the land and to help with day to day chores in their lives.

I believe the first rule of Axeman-ship should and always will be safety. Safety in Axeman-ship means being properly instructed in use and sharpening of the axe also, because a dull Axe is a dangerous one. A sharp Axe is safer to use and takes a fraction of the time to make a cut than does a dull one.

Axes cutting usually is a combination of cutting wedge's through chopping at the wood. The first chop should be made with about a 45 degree angle to the tree you are cutting followed with a horizontal cut to make the wedge and pop the wood out of the cut. If done repeatedly this will make the desired effect on the tree felling or cutting through it.


First off pick the tree to be chopped, make sure of the distance to other objects around you and assess the safety of the situation to make sure when you cut the tree you wont injure anyone or anything and try to estimate its trajectory as it falls to the ground. Next start by delimbing the base of the tree to remove and small branches in your way making it easier and safer to operate the Axe and make a proper notch. While cutting the notch for felling make about a 45 degree notch in the front towards the direction you want to feel the tree making it 1/4 through the front of the tree. Next come around the backside of the tree the make the final or felling cut. For the final cut try to make the cut fairly horizontal and up alittle from the front notch but still where it will intersect with the top on the front notch. After doing that and if done properly the tree should fall into the notch and onto the ground in front of you.

Once on the ground you can delimb and further cut the tree down making it into useful lengths of firewood or logs.To chop through a felled tree just repeat the above process of cutting mini notches until you get through the tree. Not alot to it just repetition and common sense and saftey.


The Axe you use dosnt have to be razor sharp by any means and most people dont have the patience or talent to get one there,but....it is very important to maintain the Axe properly and to at least have a good smooth and (SHARP) cutting edge on it. For this I reccomend a file and maybe a corse wet-stone/dry stone. Sharpening is a breeze if done right and shouldnt take that long just remember to keep the same angle of the bevel on the blade and not to over sharpen or have one side steeper than the other. A quik touch up after use is all it should take to maintain one.

In closing remember if you take care of your axe it will always take care of you, remember to put a light coat of oil on it, store it in a safe place while not in use and use it properly and it will serve you for many years to come. :)) Thanks- Michael
Osage Bushcraft & Survival

Deer in Thailand- Eld's deer?

After a few days of killing time by drinking heavily and checking out the local bars in Bangkok, I got a bit burned out on that scene so I decided to pack my gear and head out to Kao yai(spelling) National park.

I took a van to pretchaburi and then checked into a "mountain lodge" as it was called to spend the night. it was a pretty place and very quiet compared to Bangkok and other rural places I have been in Thailand.

Along with the ubiquitous pictures of the thai royal family there were There were 2 interesting looking fake deer heads above the doors. The antlers were real though and reminded me a bit of Elk antlers back in the world.

I guided big game hunts in montana, Arizona and new mexico and saw many impressive looking antlers AND Horns on various critters. I dont speak antler talk anymore but both sets of these antlers were pretty impressive.

I believe them to be from a subspecies of the Eld's deer found here in thailand. If anyone can clarify this for me I would appreciate it. thanks in advance!

Tomahawk - scouts ou!
Eld's Deer (Rucervus eldii), also known as the Thamin or Brow-antlered Deer, is an endangered species of deer indigenous to southeastern Asia. The species was first discovered by westerners in Manipur in India in 1839. The scientific name Cervus eldi was coined in 1844 in honour of Lt. Percy Eld – a British officer. There are three subspecies of the Eld's Deer:

Rucervus eldi eldi: The Manipuri Brow-antlered Deer is found in Manipur, India. It is called Sangai in Manipuri.
Rucervus eldi thamin: The Burmese Brow-antlered Deer is found in Myanmar, and westernmost Thailand. Described by Lydekker in 1915.
Rucervus eldi siamensis: The Thai Brow-antlered Deer is found in Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Should perhaps be treated as a separate species. The population on the Chinese island of Hainan is sometimes considered another subspecies, R. e. hainanus, but this is not supported by genetic evidence.

Cobra Whiskey - Thailand China town

My good friend JD back in the USA made a request for some vine snake whisky from this neck of the woods. I went out today and wandered around the China town natural herb pharmacies looking for the stuff.

I didnt manage to locate any vine snake whisky but I did find a bottle with a Cobra and scorpion in it. The shop owner should have been wearing an eye patch and flying a jolly roger in front of his place because this old pirate, in seeing my white face upped the price of this commodity 3 fold.

However, Long john silver did allow me to take a pic or two tho which was gracious of him. Seeing this blend of creatures and liquid refreshment got me to thinking about the old W.C. Fields saying ; "Always carry a flagon of whisky in case of snake bite, more over, always carry a small snake!"

I think this combination might qualify as both "Flagon" and snake!

Tomahawk - scouts out!