Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Kids morning trade blanket.
Bring some crafts and other cool stuff, and get set to trade.


Good morning sunshine.

D-DAY

September 1 will be the last day for early registration. We have a seen a rush of last-minute registrations the past 2 days, and so we will hold the early rate through the 1st for those who like to push the limits (We'll change the PayPal registration rate Wednesday night). Enrollments are ahead of last year, so we are looking at another great turnout. Staff are checking in and the class schedule is filling up fast.

It's definitely feeling like Rabbitstick weather. We have gone from record high temps and afternoon monsoon rains to cool temps and clear chilly nights. Fall is just around the corner, and so is Rabbitstick. Bring it on!!!





Friday, August 20, 2010


We've been experiencing an unusual summer with high temps which create strong winds and monsoon rains in the afternoons. We're also cooling off a bit at night, meaning that Rabbitstick is right around the corner. In fact the Almanac says, "Sept. 9-12 - Sunny north, rain to snow south: 13-19 Sunny, turning warm. 20-26 Showers, then sunny, seasonable. This follows the pattern that we see each year pretty closely.
Our response to everyone who asks what to expect weather-wise is to plan for the worst and hope for the best. Anything can happen, and usually does. We can go from 85˚ to hail in a single day. Mornings are usually cool, and evenings comfortable.
So, pack your gear and join us for a few days in the stone age. Sept. 12-18, 2010. Staff Camp will run Friday and Saturday, but gates will be open for staff set-up starting Tuesday Sept. 7.

SEE YOU THERE !!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Get Ready To Learn !


2009 Rabbistick Staff

Rabbistick has attracted some of the best instructors in all areas of primitive technology. Many have been teaching with us for over 20 years, and return year after year with amazing new and exciting things to share.
Some of the staff that have checked-in so far for this year:

George Michaud - Moccasins, Brain-Tanned Pelts, Trapping
Steve Watts - ABO101, Turkey Calls, Blanket Pins
Myron Cretney - Cattail Crafts, Animal Processing
Lynx Vilden - Many Wonderous Things
Larry Kinsell - Flintknapping
Albert Abril -
Tom Cartwright - Tracking, Trapping, Round Braiding
Cameron Green - Rawhide crafts, Animal Processing
Buck Windsor - Cooking with Stones, Hominy Making
Joe Bigley - Knife and Sheath Making

And that's just for starters. There are usually about 30-40 classes a day to choose from, so you'll stay busy and be worn out by the end of the week.


Wildlife In Camp




Our camp is in the middle of over 450 acres of private wildlife preserve. The site is home to coyotes, porcupines, raccoons, skunks, weasels, moose, white tail and mule deer, foxes and more. The bird population is healthy as well and hundreds of nesting migratory birds are regular visitors. There is a large turkey, owl, hawk and eagle population as well. The site is not a park. It is a wild location in close proximity to town, but wild none the less. Fishing (with a valid license) is also pretty good just out of camp.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Lynx's display of goods from the Four Seasons Projects held each year in Washington.

Registration Forms Corrected

Many of you have notified us that the PayPal rates were incorrect. Those are now corrected. As of tomorrow, the Backtracks website info will also have been updated so it is current. Please let people you know who plan to attend this year that our late/gate fee has gone up to $50 from $25 last year, and will go up to $75 next year. We feel that raising our general admission is unfair to those who plan ahead to attend, and extra expenses should be shouldered by those who create them. We hope this will encourage people to commit early, and if not, it helps to offset rising expenses without having to pass it on to our regular attendees.

Bringing It All Home !


Cameron Green leading the game processing workshop at Rabbitstick 2009.

Many of the skills we include at Rabbitstick are new to most folks, but one that always gets people's attention is the game processing workshop. In a society where meat comes from the butcher in a styrofoam package with plastic wrapping, the entire process of the struggle between life and death becomes sanitized beyond recognition. Learn to be accountable for where your food comes from. Be a part of a workshop that will process the entire animal and minimize waste of this valuable resource. We have 3 top instructors ready to help you navigate this most important set of skills.

Friday, August 6, 2010


Rabbitstick is for kids of all ages.

We've lots of contact recently from people who would like to attend Rabbitstick for the first time and don't know what to expect. This is unusual since most people come after having talked with friends who have been before, so they get a pretty good picture of what goes on. There are a number of ads and articles out right now that have attracted some attention, but don't explain who should be at Rabbitstick 24.
Rabbitstick is for everyone, regardless of skill level. There are classes and teachers that can relate to you on a variety of levels. Don't worry about how much you bring to the event. You will take away far more than you ever expected, even if you're a novice or an expert. Everyone has something to learn, and Rabbitstick staff have a huge amount to share. Join us.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

40 Days Until Rabbitstick Begins
28 days left for early registration


Over 30 classes each day are taught. Skills are instructed by great teachers and cover everything from basic to advanced levels so just about everyone can learn something new.



Larry Dean Olsen (in the middle on the left) at Rabbitstick 1988.

Larry Dean Olsen, author of Outdoor Survival Skills and originator of the Rabbit Stick Rendezvous in 1978, will be in attendance at this years Rabbitstick for a few days. I just spoke with him and he confirmed that he will join us for this 24th annual event. Bring your copies of OSS and have Larry autograph one. It is still a landmark publication in the field of primitive skills, and you should take a minute and get to know the man. - Wescott

Tuesday, August 3, 2010


Skin-On-Frame Kayak Course
Backtracks will once again be hosting a kayak building workshop September 2-11 at our barn in Teton, Idaho. Enrollments are limited. Check out last years course at our November 4, 2009 blog post (Click on "2009" to the right). There is a video of the 10-day course compressed to about a minute. Anyone who has made a boat with us in the past is invited to join us on a post-course paddle into spectacular Leigh Lake in Grand Teton National Park. Contact us for details.
- Wescott


Welcome back to the stone age !

Rabbitstick Countdown
Rabbitsick 24
September 12-18, 2010
Early Registration $275
Late Registration is now $325

Register early, do it on-line, and save $50
Register Today !

208-359-2400
backtracks.net