Bushcraft Basics: Backwoods wire

[the_alias]

So you're out in the woods and want to make a shelter. This probably involves lashing sticks together, but oh no you forgot your paracord. Not to worry there are alternatives. Most cordage takes time to build and in some survival situations you don't have that time, you may also lack that skill (I do for one ) So we turn to the wire of the woods.

Pine roots!

Step one, find pine trees, now look for their roots. You'll have to get down on hands and knees maybe. Start unearthing and you find a root.

Centre of the picture is one I've pulled up.

A zoomed in look (from another trip)


Time to unearth and follow the root.

Have to be a bit careful and sometimes you will find not suitable roots; they may become to thin and weak or become too thick and not flexible. Patience and taking care helps. This is easy work.

Unrooted it? Cut it into length and start using it like wire!
It can be tied in regular knots usually:


Here is it being used to securely lash an A-frame (I didn't finish the shelter it was just as an example for this installment of Bushcraft Basics.


So don't sweat if it you forgot your paracord!

[Rebelac7]

great pics

[Towanda]

Nice photos! I've heard that you should not take more than two or three roots from any single tree. Anybody know if that's the case?

[the_alias]

Nice photos! I've heard that you should not take more than two or three roots from any single tree. Anybody know if that's the case?

I've never heard that. It would be hard to tell in some instances, the roots are pretty well spread out and intersecting. I tend to widen the area I take from just because it is easier to see fresh ground than keep staring in the same place you just got some. (If that makes sense, widen the net and you can see better)

Rebelac, thanks.

[man_of_tanith]

Like it very much.
You can also split the roots to make thinner bindings.
a little fiddley but very effective once you get the knack

[DrunkWookiee]

Other tree roots will work as well, like spruce.

[DonTrusTheMEDIA]

DrunkWookiee, do both black and white spruce work well? we got a TON of black around here, but LOTS of white as well. I would think they would seeing as black spruce is like white spruces retarded cousin. Know any other specific tree types that excel at root-rope making?

Also, has anyone ever tried to split the root, then twist it into cordage?

[the_alias]

Other tree roots will work as well, like spruce.

Good point, I guess anything of the family Pinaceae might be able to produce roots like this...

Also, has anyone ever tried to split the root, then twist it into cordage?

I don't think this would work (happy to be proven wrong, I'll also have a try soon), I'd stick with nettle cordage. Anyhow a good root is really pretty strong for lashing stuff.

[DonTrusTheMEDIA]

hey dude im gunna try and twist it. So far i have only made cordage out of flaging, but if i can remember to pull out some spruce roots, ill try to make some quality cord

[SwampRat]

Good one the_alias. I've actually never thought of this, And I live in the land of the pine.

[DonTrusTheMEDIA]

...and here i thought i lived in the land of the pine, learn something new every day. maybe everywhere is "land of the pine" if it grows everywhere from Canada to Florida

[SwampRat]

Meh, big pulp wood industry in the panhandle of Florida. 80% of the land is either paper company land or Water Management land being replanted with the native pine, which will eventually be logged as well... And I log part time, So I feel like I am always staring at a pine tree.

[ninja-elbow]

I've done this a few times in the past and all I can say is: It Works.

[Ad'lan]

+1 post of win their my friend

[DrunkWookiee]

DrunkWookiee, do both black and white spruce work well? we got a TON of black around here, but LOTS of white as well. I would think they would seeing as black spruce is like white spruces retarded cousin. Know any other specific tree types that excel at root-rope making?

Also, has anyone ever tried to split the root, then twist it into cordage?

I know Native Americans used both to make birch bark canoes, so I couldn't say if one was better than the other.

[ninja-elbow]

Re twisting root for cordage:

Maybe if you took it down to really thin threads or something or some kind of process like that but there are better materials to work with than root for this. The root cordage is good as is and does not need the processing, at least I never needed to do something like that though I have taken grass and other thinnner materials and turned it into usable cordage.

[Woods Walker]

Good thread.

[Vulcan]

That's some scraggly looking cordage. Remove the outer layer to expose the smoother, wood colored inner layer. It's easier to tie also.

[modustollens]

In the past when we collected the roots we soaked the collected roots in water for a while before using them to make them more pliable. When they dried they tightened up a bit more too...

[the_alias]

That's some scraggly looking cordage. Remove the outer layer to expose the smoother, wood colored inner layer. It's easier to tie also.
[img]img[/img]

Not sure I really class it as cordage...I understand cordage to be something you manipulate - like you did.
Yeah it is expedient and it works just fine without any additional work. Doesnt have to look pretty...

[Nesrath]

Great info

[Vulcan]

That's some scraggly looking cordage. Remove the outer layer to expose the smoother, wood colored inner layer. It's easier to tie also.
[img]img[/img]

Not sure I really class it as cordage...I understand cordage to be something you manipulate - like you did.
Yeah it is expedient and it works just fine without any additional work. Doesnt have to look pretty...

Sure it's cordage! The only difference between my cordage and yours is that I removed the scraggly outer layer. Removing the outer layer makes it look and tie nicer. You can also split the bigger pieces of cordage into two strands. Ray Mears works a lot with root cordage in his birch bark canoe making video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOU8QZsV ... ideo_title

[Johan]

In the Army survival training over here it is taught to use Spruce-roots since they work well, and tend to run close to the surface.
It is easiest to harvest them where the ground is soft, boggy/marshy if you have a choice.
It is also taught to split a stick to grip the roots with and use to strip the bark off.
This makes them easier/better to use and more compact to store.
They can be rolled up and dried for storage, just soak in water for bit before use.