Dave takes the lead as the pair survey their latest survival location since these Kentucky woodlands are much the same as Dave's home turf in the temperate forests of eastern Ohio. Warmth and shelter are always the big firsts but Dave has an edge up with local food options, especially mushrooms, berries and other edible plants.
Image Credit: DCL
One of the first tools Dave makes is a basic "rabbit stick" that can be used to bring down small mammals. This ancient hunting tool is no more than a one to two inch thick branch about the length of your arm with a boomerang like elbow. With a little practice, the user has a better than average chance of bagging a squirrel or rabbit.
Image Credit: DCL
Cody explores along a limestone wall for a good overnight shelter. The limestone outcrops and hills across much of central Appalachia have many recesses and caves that can provide a ready made roof. Native Americans used many of the larger caves and covered ledges for thousands of years.
Image Credit: DCL
At their first campsite, Cody uses homemade fire tongs to grab a hot rock that he'll drop into the helmet stew pot (lower right). Boiling water with red hot rocks is a great way to both cook and sterilize water. Before dropping the stones in the water, you can brush off ash with green branches but everything that gets boiled will be clean even it's a little smutty.
Image Credit: DCL
Dave uses tough flexible maple saplings to fashion a simple boat frame made possible after they came across some supplies at an abandoned moonshine still, including one of the ultimate survival tools: duct tape! Dave will be the first to admit that this wonder material -- an almost universal fastener and sealant -- is one of the best things to have around at all times.
Image Credit: DCL
Cody and Dave wait out the worst of a rain shower using the old tarp that they also found at the abandoned still. When the weather clears a bit, they'll turn the tarp into the skin of their new raft that will let them use the river to make much faster time getting back to civilization.
Image Credit: DCL
Our intrepid duo heads out in their latest ride, using the old tarp as both a boat skin and foul weather gear. Laying across Cody's lap is a jury-rigged paddle made from a forked branch wrapped with duct tape. The raft turns out to be fine in smooth water, but the floating scraps don't have much of a chance in the rapids that lay ahead.
Image Credit: DCL
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