So Here's The Scenario

[Joecole]

Right all you budding survivalists here's the challenge
Your stuck miles from anywhere, not a tree in site just acres of bracken.
All you have is what's in your pockets and on your belt. Its going to be dark in an hour and the forecast says its going to hit minus 3
Ok contents of your pockets, 5 fags, bic lighter almost out of gas, handerchief, 10 feet of paracord and an Opinel no9. On your belt a water bottle about quarter full.
That's it so now you have to survive the night and still be fit to walk out at first light, now its up to you*

 

[teef]

personally i've barely half a clue here but i like the idea of the challenge.

 

[Joecole]

personally i've barely half a clue here but i like the idea of the challenge.

Morning teef the first clue that I'm going to give you and everybody else who wants to take the challenge is that among the list I've given you there is a red herring which in the situation is completely useless*

 

[Ark79]

I’ll have a stab at it, tho I did book a hotel


first things first, bracken was used to store veg so I’m thinking it should be a good insulator ? So my time would be best served building a mound of bracken and crawling into it ,(fire would not be an option at this point) hopefully stacking the bracken in a way that the rain will run of away from the middle, in which I will be snuggled up in ,,, hopefully dry and warm’ish

bracken and no trees would suggest open or sloping plains so this would have to be factored in to where the shelter was built, however within this time scale it would have to be a quick decision! Then it’s hunker down for the night and staying dry and warm ….


the following day would bring more decision, stay or self rescue? I think I would opted for self rescue, finding resources would pose a challenge in an unfamiliar area….. so reccy trips would be needed in each direction to find a vantage point or better resources …. I’m thinking this would have to be done before I decide to leave my shelter ! Once my direction was established then I would have to factor in how long it will take to get there (guesstimate)! Before I left my original shelter !

and finally once I’ve found civilisation I would phone my travel agent and complain fully

 

[1 shot willie]

Go on then

You dont make things easy do you Joe

First thing I would personally do is look around and try to work out where the prevailing winds come from.
look for a suitable hollow/dip in the ground that would offer the best shelter from any wind.
Cut plenty of Bracken to keep me off of the ground and kind of comfy.
Then cut more to cover myself.
A fire would be is nice but not essential as I would hopefully be wearing the appropriate clothing.......and it would be difficult to make with so little decent fuel about.....having no trees.
Drink the water before bedding down and fuel the bodies natural furnace with it.
If I should start to feel cold during the night....rather than curling into a ball and shiver I would move my body around to generate some heat......if it was too bad......get up and do some light exercise but not to the point I would begin to sweat......continue as necessary....until daybreak.

As for the Snot Rag.....I would use that to clean my glasses in the morning......and walk out

 

[Joecole]

I’ll have a stab at it, tho I did book a hotel


first things first, bracken was used to store veg so I’m thinking it should be a good insulator ? So my time would be best served building a mound of bracken and crawling into it ,(fire would not be an option at this point) hopefully stacking the bracken in a way that the rain will run of away from the middle, in which I will be snuggled up in ,,, hopefully dry and warm’ish

bracken and no trees would suggest open or sloping plains so this would have to be factored in to where the shelter was built, however within this time scale it would have to be a quick decision! Then it’s hunker down for the night and staying dry and warm ….


the following day would bring more decision, stay or self rescue? I think I would opted for self rescue, finding resources would pose a challenge in an unfamiliar area….. so reccy trips would be needed in each direction to find a vantage point or better resources …. I’m thinking this would have to be done before I decide to leave my shelter ! Once my direction was established then I would have to factor in how long it will take to get there (guesstimate)! Before I left my original shelter !

and finally once I’ve found civilisation I would phone my travel agent and complain fully

Your definitely going in the right direction figuratively speaking Mark but can you flesh it out with a bit more detail, where, how and why will you take and make yours decisions because that's important and what is the red herring?

 

[Joecole]

Go on then

You dont make things easy do you Joe

First thing I would personally do is look around and try to work out where the prevailing winds come from.
look for a suitable hollow/dip in the ground that would offer the best shelter from any wind.
Cut plenty of Bracken to keep me off of the ground and kind of comfy.
Then cut more to cover myself.
A fire would be is nice but not essential as I would hopefully be wearing the appropriate clothing.......and it would be difficult to make with so little decent fuel about.....having no trees.
Drink the water before bedding down and fuel the bodies natural furnace with it.
If I should start to feel cold during the night....rather than curling into a ball and shiver I would move my body around to generate some heat......if it was too bad......get up and do some light exercise but not to the point I would begin to sweat......continue as necessary....until daybreak.

As for the Snot Rag.....I would use that to clean my glasses in the morning......and walk out

You've covered most point Bill but while your jumping about at 3am I'm going to get 6/7 hours nice cozy warm sleep

 

[1 shot willie]

You've covered most point Bill but while your jumping about at 3am I'm going to get 6/7 hours nice cozy warm sleep

So....I guess you did start a fire with what was to hand Joe......and then cooked that "Red Herring" to eat before bedding down.....and smoked the fags?

 

[Ark79]

All decisions would be based on self rescue and the weather

however joe I’m struggling to spot the red herring buddy as I would use all that’s provided

 

[Joecole]

So....I guess you did start a fire with what was to hand Joe......and then cooked that "Red Herring" to eat before bedding down.....and smoked the fags?

Although you have most of the answers Bill stop and think, behind every survival situation there's a certain amount of logic and science that has to be applied. I would do things a little different from you but they would only be minor changes so now make sure that your going to survive the night

 

[1 shot willie]

Are we now including "Drop Bears" into the equation Joe?

The only science I can think of relating to this scenario are.... recognising and applying the basics Shelter.....Radiation....Convection....Evaperation.....and Convection
Maintaining the bodies core temperature as best you can.......and certainly not wanting to get into the realms of hypothermia.

There is something I have obviously missed and not thought about though.....it has been a while

Remember....I am a humble "Wild Camper".....Glamper in fact......not a survivalist with the skills you have

 

[Joecole]

Are we now including "Drop Bears" into the equation Joe?

The only science I can think of relating to this scenario are.... recognising and applying the basics Shelter.....Radiation....Convection....Evaperation.....and Convection
Maintaining the bodies core temperature as best you can.......and certainly not wanting to get into the realms of hypothermia.

There is something I have obviously missed and not thought about though.....it has been a while

Remember....I am a humble "Wild Camper".....Glamper in fact......not a survivalist with the skills you have

Ok being the kind and gentle soul that I am I will give you my answer

1/ So I've walked as far as I can, now I'm going to sit down have a fag and take stock
2/ There's not to much breeze but it's important to know where the weathers coming from. Now you've probably all been on high moors with stubby stunted trees and they all lean the same way which is the opposite to where the weather comes from. Just realised you have no trees so you revert to the old trusted school boy trick of wetting your finger and holding it above your head
3/ You and Mark are both correct about the pile of bracken but there is more. I'm going to find a little knoll, not a hollow in the ground. Why? What will happen to your little hollow if it chucks it down with rain?
4/ Now we come to you biggest recourse, bracken, I'm going to go about 50 metres from my chosen location and collect the biggest pile of bracken that I can. I'm going to build a little wall about 3 feet high and about 8 feet long but curved with the back of the curve into the wind. The rest of the bracken I will form into a pile about 7 feet long and 3 high and them I'm going to sit back and relax for an hour with another fag and a couple of mouthfuls of water.
Now comes the science, who's heard of the composting effect? Well within an hour the middle of my pile is going to heat up so in I get 2 feet on top and a foot under me. Nice and warm
So there you have it and incidentally you can chuck the paracord away.

Back ground info. I spent nearly 2 weeks on top of a mountain at minus 22. Admittedly with a bit more kit than you have and at no time was I cold*

 

[1 shot willie]

Bugger Joe .......I completely forgot about the "Old School Boy" trick.......wet finger in the air......dammit

 

[Ark79]

Bugger Joe .......I completely forgot about the "Old School Boy" trick.......wet finger in the air......dammit

is that to test which end the wind is coming oot

 

[1 shot willie]

@Ark79

There is still something puzzling me Mark

 

[teef]

i figured that paracord might be useful for transporting and bundling the bracken. being a non-smoker i figured the ciggies to be the toss and forget item.

one question on the side: isn't bracken Tick Central? i've picked up ticks a couple times on local hikes and both times i was near or through bracken. not exactly conclusive evidence of course but not irrelevant either.

i realize we're talking a survival situation so the risk would have to be taken, but i'm curious nevertheless.

 

[Joecole]

i figured that paracord might be useful for transporting and bundling the bracken. being a non-smoker i figured the ciggies to be the toss and forget item.

one question on the side: isn't bracken Tick Central? i've picked up ticks a couple times on local hikes and both times i was near or through bracken. not exactly conclusive evidence of course but not irrelevant either.

i realize we're talking a survival situation so the risk would have to be taken, but i'm curious nevertheless.

When the weather is going to be minus 3 teef you won't have ticks to worry about

 

[Ark79]

@Ark79

There is still something puzzling me Mark

Now that’s not easily done bill , I’m intrigued What mate ?

 

[1 shot willie]

Why the feck would someone build an EIGHT foot long wall......when 3 foot six inches would have been ample.....standing up.....or lying down??

I am........... confused.com

 

[Joecole]