Twig Bundle Fire

The ability to make a fire is an essential and useful skill, especially for anyone that spends any time hiking or out in the woods. Exposure is the leading killer for lost travelers and hikers. The ability to make a fire to warm the body is invaluable. When I head out into the woods I usually have at least two match safes with me, with sandpaper glued to the outside for quick and easy igniting; a flint/steel set; and several other items including cotton balls covered in petroleum jelly.

I was in Springfield NH for a few days visiting family, and I made sure to spend some time out in the woods with my camera. While I was out there I stopped and made a little twig bundle fire-

Arethusa Falls on Christmas Day

My fiancee and I spent a few days in the White Mountains, on Christmas we hiked up to Arethusa Falls. Christmas day was grey and cloudy, but the day before was a clear blue sky, which made for a beautiful drive through the Kancamangus.
Arethusa is a popular ice-climbing spot in the winter and a popular summer hike year-round. Most estimates put the falls somewhere between 15o' - 200' long.


The trail up Arethusa was well packed, so there was no need for snow shoes. We periodically heard the intimidating sound of ice breaking and crashing down from the nearby Frankenstein Cliffs. The falls were frozen solid, with many tracks up to the falls, though no one was climbing, we had the spot to ourselves, it was very calm and peaceful. We did pass a small group of people on the descent. Both of these photos were taken by Jacqui with her 18-250mm Tamron lens.

Snowshoeing in Springfield

A clearing in the forest. One of my favorite spots to visit.

I went home (Springfield NH) for the weekend and had the chance to spend a few hours snowshoeing with a good friend and my dogs in the woods I spent years exploring while growing up there. The conditions were great for tracking, there was thin dusting of snow that fell the evening before, on top of a thick crust of snow. I love observing the winter traffic in the forest, it always seems like such a bustling place! There were a great deal of turkey tracks (saw quite few of the birds on two different occasions while out there), squirrel, grouse, mice, deer, hare, and a few coyote or fox.

turkey tracks (above)

snowshoe hare (ab0ve)