Heckler & Koch is proud to announce the US availability of the HK SP5, the only authentic sporting version of the legendary MP5 submachine gun available. The SP5 was developed by HK as a semiautomatic, civilian sporting pistol that matches the look and feel of the legendary MP5 submachine gun. “Our whole team is very […]

by Todd Walker

School is out for summer. Here’s a look in the rear view mirror at our first year of Project Based Learning at RISE Academy.

Our students and staff wish to thank each of you for the encouraging words, moral support, and following our journey of Doing the Stuff of Self-Reliance! Below is a pictorial recap (picture-heavy) of the skills, projects, and links to more in-depth posts for those interested in learning these skills.

Cutting Tool Safety and Use

Related Links:

• Knife Use and Safety
• Ax Tutorial for Beginners (video below)

Outdoor Classroom Construction

Early in the school year, we decided to build an outdoor classroom. Nothing too fancy but functional for our needs. Students used math skills to square corners, learned to read a tape measure (fractions), and lashed the bamboo structure together. Their lashings held fast even through Hurricane Irma.

Related Links:

• How to Tie a Square Lashing
• Some Musings on our Outdoor Classroom

The Science of Fire

We have a joke around school when I’m asked, “What are we doing today?” My typical response is, “Cutting and burning stuff.” You may not get it, but fire takes center stage in the life of our outdoor classroom. Learning to use fire as a tool is paramount for outdoor living and education.

Fire by Friction

Related Links: 

• Using a Modified Bearing Block for Bow Drill Fires
• Tips and Tricks on Hand Drill Fires
• Using Thumb Straps on Hand Drill Spindles
• Beginner’s Guide to Bow Drill
• Build a Meal Plan for Fires

Fire by Spark Ignition

Related Link: 

• The Burning Secret of Flint and Steel
• Ferro Rod Ignition

Fire by Solar Ignition

Practical Tools and Crafts

Burn and Scrape Containers

This may be the most mesmerizing of all the skills students learned.

Bark Containers

Students used Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) bark to craft traditional containers.

Related Link:

• Appalachian Berry Basket Tutorial 

Hoko Knife

A simple way to introduce primitive technology to students is to make a Hoko knife. This stone cutting tool was discovered on the Hoko River archeological site in Washington State. A landslide destroyed the native fishing village about 2,700 years ago preserving artifacts of their material culture.

Related Link:

• How to Make a Hoko Knife

Pine Pitch Glue

Related Link: 

• Pitch Glue Tutorial

Natural Cordage

Related Link:

• Natural Cordage How-To

Atlatl

What’s an atlatl?

A simple dart-throwing stick with a handle on one end and spur (male end) or socket (female end) on the other end. The dart, a flexible spear, mates with the spur/socket when thrown. Typically about two feet long, an atlatl employs leverage to extend the arm’s length to propel a dart further and with more velocity than when thrown using only the arm.

Related Links:

• Down N Dirty Atlatls
• Making Atlatl Darts

Campfire Cooking

Related Link:

• Campfire Cookery

I’ve also created a RISE Academy Playlist on our YouTube channel. if you’d like to see our students Doing the Stuff, click on the video link below:

Many Thanks!

The things we have to learn before we do them, we learn by doing them.

~ Aristotle

We cannot thank you enough for all the support and encouragement you’ve given our students whom you’ve never met! The full impact of this journey in experiential education may never be known. It’s difficult to quantify. But you can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voice.

Some of you have asked how you might help in more tangible ways. Stay tuned for updates on becoming a partner/sponsor with RISE Academy. Until then…

Keep Doing the Stuff of Self-Reliance,

~ Todd

P.S. – You can also keep up with the Stuff we’re Doing on Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook… and over at our Doing the Stuff Network.

P.P.S – If you find value in our blog, Dirt Road Girl and I would appreciate your vote on Top Prepper Sites! You can vote daily by clicking here or on the image below. Check out all the other value-adding sites while you’re there…

Thanks for Sharing the Stuff!

Copyright © by Survival Sherpa: Content on this site (unless the work of a third-party) may be shared freely in digital form, in part or whole, for non-commercial use with a link back to this site crediting the author. All links in articles must remain intact as originally posted in order to be republished. If you are interested a third-party article, please contact the author directly for republishing information.

Photo and Video Credits: Many of the photos were taken by Mr. Chris Andrews (teacher) and various RISE students. Video footage was shot mainly by students and guided by Mr. Michael Chapman (teacher).

Security overload leads to apathy. How often do you hear a car alarm go off and roll your eyes hoping the owner would disable the blasted thing before the incoming headache comes a knocking? The primary objection I have to such systems is they work too well. Every week I hear an alarm being triggered […]

This is just the start of the post Security Information Overload: From Panic to Apathy & the Remedy. Continue reading and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments!

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Security Information Overload: From Panic to Apathy & the Remedy, written by Thomas Xavier, was created exclusively for readers of the survival blog More Than Just Surviving.

I love a good compression sack because it allows me to save on space in my bag and provides some waterproof protection for my sleeping bag. I have a mid weight down sleeping bag from REI. It is over 30 … Continued

If you’re planning on spending a night out hunting coyotes, you’re going to need to pack
accordingly. After all, even the best hunter needs to make sure they have the right gear to have
a successful hunt. This handy checklist will help you make sure that you have everything you
need to enjoy yourself and catch your game. It’ll help you make sure you have everything and
that you know exactly why you need it! 

Your Weapon
In any hunting excursion, your weapon should be one of the first things you pack. You have a lot
of different options but air rifles are becoming more and more popular. These come in a variety
of models that are good for all kinds of hunting. They’re lightweight and oftentimes more
inexpensive design has also gained them attention.

Gear to Let You See
While nighttime predators have superb night visions, humans, unfortunately, don’t. That means
that you need some way to see what you’re hunting. A plain white light might be effective at
illuminating an area but it’s also one of the fastest ways to alert wildlife of your presence. This is
why many nighttime hunters have turned to putting a red film over their light. This is an easy
way to add a little light to the situation without putting everyone else on alert because it will
reflect on the eyes of wildlife. Just make sure not to shine it directly in their face!

Some hunters who go for night game like hogs and coyotes prefer green light because it’s
slightly brighter in tone than red while still being low enough as to not alert the animals.
Unfortunately, green lights do have a disadvantage when it comes to cutting through moisture,
so they aren’t going to be as helpful as a red light on foggy or misty nights.

Alternatively, a lot of hunters like to use night vision to hunt. However, this does step into some
legally dicey territory. You have to be careful when reviewing the laws for night hunting in your
area. While it’s legal to purchase night vision gear across the United States, many states don’t
allow for this gear when night hunting or only allow it in certain conditions.

Calls and Decoys
Coyotes are smart creatures. In other words, you’re going to have to put in a bit of work to lure
them towards your position. Your best bets are to invest in some calls and decoys.
First, let’s take a look at calls. There are two primary calls you’ll have to choose from including
mouth calls and electronic calls and many hunters decide to use a mix of the two. When it
comes to the type of coyote calls to use, you have a few options. You might find success in
mimicking the sounds of a young coyote or coyote howls.

What’s often more effective, though, is to appeal to the coyote as a predator. Trying something
like a bleating fawn might attract coyotes to the area in search of a midnight snack. It can take a
little trial and error to nail down the most effective method for your area, so don’t be afraid if your
call doesn’t work on the first try.

If you’re just using a call and not seeing any results, that’s probably because the illusion you’re
creating isn’t quite putting the coyote at ease. Many hunters see better results if they have a
visual to work with their calls. This is where decoys come in. If a coyote hears a sound that
interests them and sees a visual cue with it, they’re more likely to approach. It’s important to
note that there is a chance they’ll charge at it which might be an intimidating enhancement to
newer hunters. Even if you’re only comfortable with a call, for now, you’ll have a lot more
success with one than without one.

Shooting Tripods and Chairs
Getting your shooting position a little higher can go a long way when you’re hunting. A shooting
tripod can help lift your point of view slightly higher and it can even make scanning for coyotes
easier and quieter.

It can also help to get a shooting chair to take with you. This doesn’t need to be anything highly
specialized but a little padding can go a long way in making sure that you don’t end up
uncomfortable or with legs that are falling asleep.

Warm Clothes
When it comes to dressing for the part of hunting at night, you’ll want to remember that if
hunting can get chilly during the day, it’s going to get even colder at night. As such, you should
make sure you’re dressing for the occasion. It’s going to make the waiting process much less

grueling if you aren’t freezing the whole time. Just like with the chair, the more comfortable you
are, the more alert and prepared you’ll be.

That being said, you don't want to bog yourself down with layers and clothing that sacrifices
movement for warmth. You should still be able to make any movement you need to as quickly
as you need to while you stay cozy.

You don’t have to worry about blending in with your surroundings in the same way as you do
when you hunt in the day but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to worry about it at all. Pale skin,
in particular, will stand out to a coyote’s eyes as a sign of danger. This is why many night
hunters opt for extra coverage with gear like gloves and balaclavas. Just like your other
wearable gear, these extras should be light and breathable so that they don’t restrict you in any
way.

Hunting at night can be a rewarding and exciting experience. However, if you want to have a
successful rather than frustrating time, you’re going to want to make sure you have all your
ducks in a row. This means making sure that you bring all the right gear on your next night
hunting outing.

Heckler & Koch is proud to announce the US availability of the HK SP5, the only authentic sporting version of the legendary MP5 submachine gun available. The SP5 was developed by HK as a semiautomatic, civilian sporting pistol that matches the look and feel of the legendary MP5 submachine gun. “Our whole team is very […]

The post 12 days of giveaways from Savings.com. appeared first on Surviving and Thriving.

Over two weeks we found a lot of interesting places to visit in Morocco, starting and ending in Casablanca. The “real trip” started in Marrakesh. From there we did a clockwise loop that took us over the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert. Continuing, we drove southwest towards Icht where we could see Algeria off in the distance. Then we turned north and headed to Essaouira via numerous stops detailed below to complete the loop and finish at the Casablanca Airport.

It was a marvelous trip that was organized with the help of Sun-Trails, a local Moroccan company I found online and would recommend.

There were certain things I absolutely had to do while in Morocco. That list included a multi-day hike and an overnight visit to the Sahara Desert but we were open to other suggestions, especially from someone who lived in the country. What you see below is our agreed upon route – with a private driver for most of the trip. 

The trip cost about $Cdn5000 – and yes we could have done it for less if we’d rented a car and done the route ourselves. But when you’re really busy and you just want a holiday, I think a personal driver who intimately knows the country, is the way to go. Especially in Morocco.

A driver allowed for huge flexibility everyday – stopping where we wanted for lunch – usually with a picnic that Mustafa, our driver, had purchased for pennies in a local market. If we wanted a photo or just to get out and walk, it was always easy to do.

We also never had to get out the map to figure if we were on the right road. And there’s no chance we would have had the same experience in the Sahara without Mustafa. Actually there were a huge number of experiences that made the trip much richer because of him, especially as he grew up as a nomad in the Sahara and was a master at telling stories.

We had a couple of breaks from Mustafa – and he from us – while on a two day hike in the Anti-Atlas Mountains (a highlight) and for the couple of days we spent in Essouaira. 

Here’s a look at our two week trip – in chronological order – and 14 places to visit in Morocco covering the southwestern part of the country.

Allow a day for Marrakesh – even though it was one of my least favourite places to visit in Morocco 

Exotic images probably come to mind when you think of Marrakesh. Colourful, noisy souks, snake charmers in Djemaa el-Fna, fancy riads and a lot of brilliant colours. Marrakesh is partially that but it’s also noisy and polluted. The medina is full of motorbikes – an addition in the last 6-7 years – and not a good one. 

Overall it was my least favourite city that we visited in all of Morocco (though we didn’t see them all) so I really wouldn’t recommend a lot of time here. Allow 2 nights and a full day with a guide so you can see the main sights. Then get out of town. It’s also if you’re a solo traveler where you’re most likely to be hassled.

Read: Marrakesh Places to Visit When You Only Have a Day

Drive through the Atlas Mountains

The Atlas Mountains, the highest mountain range in North Africa, stretch for almost 1,000 kilometres from the Atlantic Coast northeast to northern Algeria. They are easily accessible from Marrakesh as a day trip, but if you’re planning to visit the Sahara or many of the places listed below, you’ll see them one way or another. 

The Toubkal area of the High Atlas is the most visited area – and is accessible by public transit from Marrakesh. If you’re into hiking or rock climbing then you may want to spend an extended time in this part of Morocco. There are local and international trekking companies that run tours here, some several weeks long.

But even just a drive through the Atlas Mountains will give you a sense of their grandeur. The road is good and if you’re heading to the Sahara Desert, rest assured you’ll get a taste of the Atlas Mountains. The road we drove took us over Tichka Pass at 2260 metres.

From there we followed an itinerary hitting the following interesting places in Morocco over a two week time frame.

Tour the Kasbah Telouet – one of the unusual places to visit in Morocco

The Kasbah Telouet is on the former camel caravan route to Mali. It served as headquarters for the Glaoui tribe until Morocco gained independence in 1956. Then it was seized by the state and has mostly been left to decay.

Today it’s hardly a major tourist stop but if you’re driving across the Atlas Mountains to Tamdaght, it’s definitely worth a stop. Only about 10% of the structure can be visited, including a climb up onto the roof. What you will see are some magnificent tiled rooms – the site of many a lavish party back in the day.

The view from the top out to the countryside is very beautiful so be sure to explore what you can. There is a very small entrance fee of about a dollar. Allow about 45 minutes.

Visit the fortified Kasr of Ait Ben-Haddou – a UNESCO site

Ait Ben-Haddou, near Ouarzazate, is one of the best preserved kasbahs in Morocco’s Atlas region. You may have seen it unknowingly in theatres or on TV as its been included in scenes of at least 20 movies including Lawrence of Arabia and more recently in the Game of Thrones.

Ait Ben-Haddou won UNESCO status because it exemplifies “traditional earthen habitat representing the culture of southern Morocco”. The community was on a trading route between Marrakesh and ancient Sudan. As such it had to protect itself which it did by building dwellings onto the side of a hill. At the top is a fortress, the last line of defense.

Ait Ben-Haddou sees throngs of tourists and tourist buses so get here early to beat the rush. You have to get past the souvenir shops to get across the river and the main entrance – near more souvenir shops. You don’t need a guide – even though many men will offer their services.

Admire the Drâa Valley

The Drâa Valley, home to Morocco’s longest river, the 1000 kilometre Drâa River, is a gorgeous oasis, home to kasbahs, Berber villages, lush green plains and endless stretches of palm trees.

The valley starts around Ouarzazate and continues into the Sahara Desert. Mostly we just drove through it, stopping to get photos – and for one lovely hour to hike in the shade of some giant date palms on route to Zagora.

Buy pottery in Tamegroute

While the village of Tamegroute is home to the Nassira library that contains a 10th century gold-engraved Koran, it’s the pottery that draws people to stop.

You can buy pottery in a rainbow of colours. But it’s the tell-tale emerald glaze that you see on mosque tiles and on dishes all over Morocco that people seem to be crazy for. Personally it’s anything blue for me.

Collecting pottery when I travel is something I love to do, especially if it helps support a community. Here, where we saw people toiling for long hours, whether it be pounding clay or using the pottery wheel like the gentleman below, I cherish the few pieces that made it home intact. I feel like they have a real story to tell.

Spend a night in the Sahara Desert – one of the outstanding places to visit in Morocco

A true highlight of any trip to Morocco is a night or two in the Sahara Desert. The Sahara will mesmerize you with its otherworldly beauty and the infinite sand patterns in the dunes. It may surprise you with its lushness after a winter rain. And if you lie on a carpet outside your tent, you just might find magic in the night in the form of shooting stars.

Camel trips are optional at most places you stay in. If that sounds exotic to you, then do it. And be sure to catch either a sunrise or a sunset.

But be aware. There are two main desert camps in the Sahara. One has a quieter atmosphere – and one a party atmosphere. Be sure to choose one that fits the type of traveler you are.

Read: A Trip to the Sahara Desert in Morocco

Drive across dry Lake Iriki – one of the unusual places to visit in Morocco

If you’ve been to the dunes at Erg Chigaga, then you’re very close to dry Lake Iriki. Drive across it on an almost-as-hard-as-tarmac road – stopping to look for fossils in one place, and to admire the Fata Morganas mirage, that is more often than not seen at sea.

The mirage, named after the sorceress Morgan le Fay in the legend of King Arthur, appear when the light is “bent” by contrasting air temperatures. It’s a regular occurrence on Lake Iriki.

Nomads are famously hospitable and many well welcome you into their simple tents. It’s an entrance into as foreign a world as I’ve ever been privileged to see. Cross your fingers your driver can organize something or that you get lucky and meet a family that invites you in as it’s a true highlight of a trip to Morocco.

Explore Amtoudi

Amtoudi is a small village that sits at one end of a gorge, at the base of a 600 metre cliff.  It is well off the beaten track and perhaps that’s why I loved it so much.

The village was the end point of our two day Anti-Atlas trek. The final hike into the village through the gorge is absolutely stunning and would make a fine day trip in itself.

There is also the option to climb 600 metres to reach the ancient granary. It is here that locals would store water, stock grains and raise bees – in case of attack. It’s worth doing the steep hike. Views are spectacular and the place just oozes history.

Read: A 2 Day Hike in the Anti-Atlas Mountains of Southern Morocco

Hike or mountain bike in Taroudant

We didn’t have much time in Taroudant which is a shame as its ideal for hiking and mountain biking. Still we got a chance to explore near our hotel – slithering over and around massive rocks and enjoying the views. The following morning we checked out the painted rocks – just strange – along with the otherworldly landscape.

Visit Souss-Massa National Park

We were both ready for a nature break before heading to Essaouira. We opted to change our itinerary from a stop at an ancient apiary to a trip to Souss-Massa National Park. It turned out to be a real joy with a tremendous amount of bird life especially around the lagoon. We basically just walked in along a dirt road as far as we could go – taking a couple of hours to admire the birds and stretch our legs.

The park is supposed to contain some rare wildlife too though we didn’t see any of it. If you’re lucky you might see the Egyptian mongoose, the common otter or the Eurasian wild boar.

There’s a fenced in part of the park which is home to Dawker’s gazelle, Arabian oryx and the red-necked ostrich. The rare bald ibis are the biggest attraction but no luck for us.

Spend a few days in Essaouira on the coast

Located on Morocco’s windy Atlantic Coast, Essaouira a former Portuguese stronghold, is a popular holiday destination spot. Its got lots going for it from a rich history, excellent restaurants, a laid-back beach culture along with a medina that’s far more fun to explore than the one in Marrakesh. 

If you’re a windsurfer you must visit Essaouira. And if you’re not, just enjoy the beach, perhaps adding in a massage and a few days of relaxation in this pretty Moroccan city.

Read: 5 Great Things to Do in Essaouira, Morocco

Stop in Oualidia for oysters, beaches and swimming

Oualidia is a relaxed fishing town halfway between Safï and El Jadida north of Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast. The majority of the town is sandwiched between a peaceful lagoon and the sea. There’s a nice walkway above the beach along with what looks like miles and miles of beautiful sandy beach.

The town – called Morocco’s “oyster capital” is also good for swimming if you stay in the lagoon. If its adventure you want try windsurfing.

Visit El Jadida – a UNESCO site and one of the unusual places to visit in Morocco

Only an hour away from Casablanca, El Jadida is a former Portuguese stronghold on the south Atlantic coast. The area around it is becoming popular because of beaches. But it’s a visit inside the Portuguese Cistern, another UNESCO site that makes this one of the more unusual places to visit in Morocco. 

The cistern is a water reservoir – that was used in the 1951 Orson Welles movie Othello. There isn’t a lot of light in the reservoir – except for an opening in the ceiling so the place oozes eeriness – and hence the reason it was used in the movie. 

The Portuguese fortifications are also what give this part of El Jadida UNESCO status. According to the UNESCO website “the fortification with its bastions and ramparts is an early example of Renaissance military design.”

You only need about 45 minutes inside the cistern and perhaps another hour at most to walk the fortifications.

My favourite places to stay in Morocco

All the places I’ve listed below I stayed in except Amtoudi Adventure – and we did take tea in their house.

In Mmarakesh we stayed in Riad La Parathese. They have a lovely rooftop patio, a great breakfast BUT ask for a room that doesn’t back onto the street or the noise will drive you crazy.

In Tamdaght, not far from Ait Benhaddou, I highly recommend Kasbah Ellouze. Try to arrange to bake bread with the old ladies in the morning.

In Zagora the Azalai Desert Lodge, with its beautiful pool, is absolutely lovely.

In Icht stay in Borj Biramane – with a swimming pool and rooftop terrace. Rooms are simple but still a very nice place in what feels like the middle of nowhere.

If you don’t mind modest accommodations I’d recommend Amtoudi Adventure. We used Hassan as our guide for two days trekking in the Anti-Atlas Mountains (the highlight of our trip!!) and I can tell you his wife makes the most delicious bread – served with their own honey.

If you want a more upscale experience book Tigmi Boubol in Amtoudi. The village itself feels like you’ve stepped back in time.

In Tata I highly recommend a stay at Dar Infiane.

In Tafraoute you will enjoy a larger than normal room at Elmalara and very good food. Plus there is great hiking from the hotel.

Stay at Dar Zahia just outside of Taroudant. It’s a lovely spot with very well-appointed rooms. A great asthetic throughout the hotel.

Essaouira has loads of great accommodation choices.We stayed in the lovely Riad Perle d‘Eau with windows that opened to beautiful views of the sea. And at high tide, the waves pounded the building which was actually really cool but a little scary too. They serve an awesome breakfast with a view on an upper balcony.

Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.

The post 14 Interesting Places to Visit in Morocco appeared first on Hike Bike Travel.

I have been fascinated by cartridge adapters since I read an article about the .22LR to .223Rem adapter when I was a kid. The idea that you could have a full powered firearm, and be able to use a less powerful round for taking small game or practice with, just made sense for this aspiring […]

Agriculture is one of the most dangerous workplaces in Australia and other countries. This reality is supported by many statistics and over a long time.

Agriculture is, perhaps, at the forefront of changing production methods to ensure sustainability in a world that is changing in ways that no farmers have had to face in the past. Agriculture therefore needs to be both a safe and a sustainable industry.

So why is workplace health and safety not being given a top priority in the Victorian Government’s Smart Farms program?