Morning Announcements - Winter Count 2009

Happy Solstice. We hope this post finds everyone well and excited for a new year. We have 45 days before Winter Count 16 takes place in Arizona. We are looking forward to a large crowd, loads of instructors and great weather. You need to join us. Last year, Winter Count was larger than Rabbitstick making it the largest gathering of primitive skills enthusiasts in the country. The mid-winter break is great for everyone living in the snow belt, and gives us a chance to visit our cold-challenged friends to the south.

If you plan to attend as an instructor, class cards and a staff letter are on their way to you now. If you are coming as a participant and you haven't signed up yet, go to the Backtracks home page and sign up on-line today. Don't wait. Signing up in advance lets us plan better for the event, making it better for everyone - so let us know if you're coming. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions - you can do it by phone or e-mail. Hope to hear from you soon. Wescott

2010 Events

Put these dates on your calendar -
Winter Count #16 - - - Feb. 14-20, 2010
Rabbitstick #23 - - - - Sept. 12-18, 2010

Join us for a week of quality skills instruction, stories and music, and great company. You're invited to come get to know us and engage in our unique brand of tradition. Help us to keep these traditions alive. - Wescott



Opening day at Winter Count 2009, Maricopa, Arizona

Skin-On-Frame-Workshop

Through the efforts of longtime supported Kiliii Yu, we finally made a kayak class happen. It's odd that such an inland location was the site of a sea kayak course. I have to admit, the outcome was worth the effort. Three beautiful boats were built in 10 days and then paddled at the base of the Teton range on one of the premier backcountry lakes in this part of the country- Leigh Lake - in Grand Teton National Park. 

You can see the entire class at is progressed in a one minute time-lapse video produced by Kiliii. 

If you would like to attend a course yourself, let us know as we are planning another one for just prior to next years gathering to be held at the Backtracks shop at Thomson Farm. Contact me at the Backtracks website or post a comment here.       - Wescott

Rabbitstick- Winter Count

The 2009 Rabbitstick Instructional Staff  -

90+ great teachers and mentors of the oldways.

Of all that goes on in primitive technology, 

Rabbitstick is the "Mother Church."

            Steve Watts

Welcome to our blog !

Well, we have learned that trying to interface with the cyberworld using sticks and rocks will probably not work out. We have been lucky in that our gatherings can still focus on the traditional ways of passing on knowledge and skill, but I guess it's time to make the big step toward connecting with our  Backtracks supporters through our latest effort - the RS-WC blog. After 25+ years of operating in the stone age, this is more of a giant leap than a step. 

The purpose of this blog is keep everyone up to date on what's happening at  Backtracks* in a more timely manner. It's interesting to note that a group so fascinated with primitive skills is easier to contact through the internet than any other way - trying to maintain a current mailing list is a nightmare, and cellphone numbers change or land-lines don't exist at all for many (by definition, our homes are mobile, but are cars aren't). We are doing this as a sort of  "thank you" for the efforts of so many people that make our events unique and exciting. Our plan is to post event reports, updates and information for both instructional staff and participants who attend our gatherings. Our website - backtracks.net - will still function, but we hope this spot will keep you connected with more current updates. 

The field of primitive living skills is alive, well and growing because of the interest and support of people such as yourself. We still get calls everyday from someone who says "I thought I was the only one out there who did this stuff. It's great to find out that I'm neither crazy or alone." Welcome to the world of Rabbitstick.  - Wescott

*Note we are also maintaining blogs that focus on our other projects - Classic Camping, Society of Primitive Technology,  and Thomson Farm - URLs will be available soon.