This morning we worked with map and compass for several hours. A student from last fall’s semester program joined us. She’s preparing to take the Maine Guide exam, and is studying a lot navigation skills and theory. After a half hour, everyone could orient the map and plot a course with their bearings exact. It’s always rewarding as an instructor to see people get it and experience that “a-ha!” moment. I saw one this morning, and it made the day for me.

We spent this afternoon working on bows, baskets and buckskin. I removed a broken handle from an eight-pound sledge hammer, which took about an hour and a half. I’ve got a handle for it, and I’ll hang it before winter. As I was working, someone commented that maybe the reason people discard old axes and tools with broken handles is because they can be so difficult to remove. I think they’re on to something.

Tomorrow morning we’re braining our hides. We’ve got a lot of projects on the go right now, and it will be sweet when they start getting finished.