How to Build a Fire: And Other Handy Things Your Grandfather Knew (5 page)

Get Roped
•  •  •

“The bowline is a knot you can trust. You pull it and it just gets tighter!”

—J
OE
T
OTH

H
OW TO
T
IE A
B
OWLINE
K
NOT

Step 1:
Eyeball where you’d like your knot. The bowline makes a big, no-slip loop at the end of a rope, perfect for, say, tying a boat to a pier or a tire swing to a tree. If you’re not sure how big you’d like your loop, start two feet from the loose end of your rope. Make sure the loose end of the rope is on your right, and the long end is on your left.

Step 2:
Make a rabbit hole. Flip the loose end of the rope
over
the long end of the rope to make a tiny loop, and hold that loop still by pinching it between your left forefinger and thumb. The tail, or loose end of the rope, should be dangling on your right side. Let’s call that your rabbit.

Step 3:
Run the rabbit. Using your right hand, pass the rabbit (aka the very tip of the loose end of the rope, not the whole thing)
up
through your rabbit hole,
under
and around the tree (aka the long side of the rope), and then back
down
through the rabbit hole.

Step 4:
Tighten your knot by gripping the rabbit along with the nearest side of the resulting large loop in one hand and the long end of the rope in the other. Pull in opposite directions. Booyah!

More Handy Tips

• This knot’s a tricky one to pronounce. To say it properly, unleash your inner hick and say the word
  bowling
  . Did you drop the
  g?
  If so, you’re pronouncin’ it perfectly.
  
• To adjust your knot, pull the slack in either direction and tighten.
  
• To untie a bowline, just fold the loop forward; it’ll magically loosen.
  
• Practice tying this knot on its own and also around an object, like a tree or even your own hips.
  

Know Your Kingdom
•  •  •

“You learn how to look down at the ground in the woods. Even pigeons leave tracks. You’ve got to know how to read the clues. If you don’t know how to read the clues, you won’t get the message.”

—B
ILL
H
OLLOMAN

H
OW TO
R
EAD
A
NIMAL
T
RACKS

Step 1:
Open your eyes. Unless you’re looking for prehistoric fossilized tracks, you’re not going to find very many clues on rocks (or rock-hard surfaces). The softer the ground, the better the track. You’re golden if you happen to be on a riverbank, a muddy trail, a sand dune, or a snowy path.

Step 2:
Use your head. Before you start the real detective work, consider which animals you know or suspect live nearby. For example, unless you live on the tundra, those big footprints in your backyard will more likely belong to your neighbor’s dog than a grizzly bear. While you’re at it, keep your eyes peeled for other contextual clues. Look for nearby habitats (nests, dams, dens, et cetera), fur, and feathers, as well as any other signs of life, like, well, you know, poop.

Step 3:
Study the footprints. If the tracks have crisp edges, they’re fresh. If the edges are worn or crumbled, or if there is debris in the tracks, they’re old. Take note of the length, width, and depth to get an idea of the animal’s size. Determine whether the animal has two or four feet, and check the distance between the strides to help understand his speed. (The farther apart, the faster he was going.) Finally, count the toes on each foot, and look closely for claw marks to help identify what kind of beastie passed through and which way he was going.

Common tracks (in ascending order, based on the number of toes):

Deer (two toes):
Look for an upside-down heart, about two to three inches long, with a line between each half. Other possibilities: moose, elk. Appropriate reaction if you spot the animal: Get out your camera.

Mountain lion (four toes):
Count four toes on each print, plus a heel pad with two lobes on the front edge and three on the back edge. Tracks will be about three to four inches wide, and the front paws will be larger than the rear. Retractable claws mean no nail marks will be visible. Other possibilities: bobcat. Appropriate reaction if you spot the animal (well after he’s spotted you): Freak out on him. More specifically, make yourself bigger and louder than ever before until he (hopefully) runs away.

Coyote (four toes):
You’ll see four toes on each paw, often with claws, with the center two toes in alignment and the outer two toes almost triangular. The front paws are larger than the rear ones. The heel pad of the front paw has one lobe on the front edge and two on the back. The heel pad of the rear paw looks like a slightly smushed version. Coyote tracks are generally larger than dog tracks, and their paw prints run in a straighter line. Other possibilities: dog. Appropriate reaction if you spot the animal: Either scare him away, or give him a biscuit, but only if it’s Fido from next door.

Squirrel (four toes in front, five in back):
All rodents have four toes on their front feet and five on their back. Squirrels bound, which means their larger back feet land in front of their front feet. Other possibilities: mouse, chipmunk, porcupine. Appropriate reaction if you spot the animal: Meh, you see those everywhere.

Raccoon (five toes):
Usually about two to three inches long, the raccoon track looks like a creepy, bony hand from a
Tales from the Crypt
episode with five long toes on each paw. The hind paws are longer than the front, and when the animal walks, you’ll see the left hind paw next to the right front paw. Other possibilities: weasel, badger, otter, beaver, opossum, and skunk. Appropriate reaction if you spot the animal: Run home immediately. You’re out way past your curfew.

Rabbit (five toes):
Because rabbits hop, you’ll find tracks from their oblong-shaped rear paws far in front of the tracks from their tiny front paws. Unlike squirrels, their front paws will be staggered, not side by side. Appropriate reaction if you spot the animal: Awwww.

Black bear (five toes):
About three to five inches wide. You’ll see five toes, each with individual claws, on each paw. The heel pad of the front foot looks similar to the ball of a human foot, only much larger. The heel pad of the hind foot will be about seven inches long, and it’s triangle-shaped, almost like a massive piece of candy corn. (Mmm, candy corn.) Appropriate reaction if you spot the animal: If he doesn’t see you, thank your lucky stars and back away slowly. If he does, wave your arms and talk to him in a firm voice. Once you get home, regale your friends with your tale of bravery—after you change your underwear.

More Handy Tips

• Carry a field guide with you when you’re tracking animals to help you identify them.
  
• Don’t forget your compass, in case you get lost.
  
• Remember that the tracks are not always perfect. In some ground conditions, only four toes of a five-toed animal may show up. Always remember to look for contextual clues.