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Wild Camping

Joecole

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I know I've covered this subject before but this is aimed at the newer members who might be just starting out. Unlike a large permanent camp site where you probably have every mod con, when we go wild we carry just the basics which includes your water and toilet facilities, yes toilet facilities because we no longer dig a hole behind a bush.
One of the most important thing in my opinion is prevailing weather be you hammock camping under a tarp or using a small tent. Now where we are going for the summer meet the prevailing wind comes in from the west so when pitching your tarp or tent you want the back to be pointing south west so any wind rain or both will be hitting the rear of your shelter at about 45% , this is more important for those of you who will be under tarps. there isn't a nice warm drying room for you to hang your wet clothes where we are going.

Right any of the mods or the more experienced guys who want to add to this please feel free bearing in mind it is info aimed at the newer less experienced on the forum. Not aimed only at the summer meet but anytime they go on the wild side
 
We might ( as a website ) want to add a disclaimer, after all most land in England and Wales is owned and therefor wild camping, without permission would be illegal ;)
 
So, I will show, how I am usually camping.

I use a Snugpack Special Forces 1 sleeping bag in a Snugpack Special Forces bivvy bag on a german army foldable insolation mat. As a pillow I simply use the rucksack, where I store some spare clothing in. So it is very comfortable.

Usually I don't use a shelter. If it should rain during the night, I turn on the left side, forming a shield from the fabric of the bivvy bag, that it doesn't rain in the hole for the nose and put at the lower side the fabric of the bivvy bag under the face to make shure, I will breathe out to avoid condensation in it and it doesn't rain in.

For me this is very comfortable.

5 meters distance:

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2 meters distance:

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1 meter distance:

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And so it looks like, if you are standing directly in front of it:

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So, I will show, how I am usually camping.

I use a Snugpack Special Forces 1 sleeping bag in a Snugpack Special Forces bivvy bag on a german army foldable insolation mat. As a pillow I simply use the rucksack, where I store some spare clothing in. So it is very comfortable.

Usually I don't use a shelter. If it should rain during the night, I turn on the left side, forming a shield from the fabric of the bivvy bag, that it doesn't rain in the hole for the nose and put at the lower side the fabric of the bivvy bag under the face to make shure, I will breathe out to avoid condensation in it and it doesn't rain in.

For me this is very comfortable.

5 meters distance:

View attachment 13107

2 meters distance:

View attachment 13108

1 meter distance:

View attachment 13109

And so it looks like, if you are standing directly in front of it:

View attachment 13110
We used to do this in the military Erbswurst and I used to enjoy it, you also go superlight but here we are talking families with kids who want to enjoy the wild side of life. As for myself 24 years in the military took a major toll on my life and now my left knee consists of a titanium joint. At nearly 73 years old I now look for some comfort
 
If I reach the place, when it is just raining, I often use a military poncho (a poncho-tarp) to protect a bit the entrance of the bivvy bag.
If the wind isn't to strong, it stays dry under it.

plow point poncho shelter

6 metres distance:

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4 metres distance:

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2 metres distance:

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And the same from the other side.

7 metres distance

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5 metres distance:

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And directly in front of it:

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If I reach the place, when it is just raining, I often use a military poncho (a poncho-tarp) to protect a bit the entrance of the bivvy bag.
If the wind isn't to strong, it stays dry under it.

plow point poncho shelter

6 metres distance:

View attachment 13127

4 metres distance:

View attachment 13128

2 metres distance:

View attachment 13129

And the same from the other side.

7 metres distance

View attachment 13130

5 metres distance:

View attachment 13131

And directly in front of it:

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It certainly blends in well
 
"5 Farb Flecktarn" in german forest!
But other patterns would blend in as well.

If there is no wind, I construct an A-frame poncho shelter. For one person it is enough.

(For a couple would be better a Tarp of round about 3x3 metres. For a family or small group to sit under it are existing even larger Tarps on the market.)


The peg lines are as long as the shorter side of the poncho. That is necessary, if you want to construct a simple lean to shelter with some sticks as poles.

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The A-frame shelter can be used in a low position as wind protection too.

A 3x3 metres tarp easily can replace a 2 persons tent, if it isn't to stormy.

The cheapest larger light weight Tarp of good quality I know is the Decathlon Arpenaz kaki. 290x285 cm, 560g, £ 20 (price including poles, pegs and steel poles).
That's a really good offer for those, who want to try it out, and it will last for years!
 
"5 Farb Flecktarn" in german forest!
But other patterns would blend in as well.

If there is no wind, I construct an A-frame poncho shelter. For one person it is enough.

(For a couple would be better a Tarp of round about 3x3 metres. For a family or small group to sit under it are existing even larger Tarps on the market.)


The peg lines are as long as the shorter side of the poncho. That is necessary, if you want to construct a simple lean to shelter with some sticks as poles.

View attachment 13135View attachment 13136View attachment 13137View attachment 13138View attachment 13139View attachment 13140

The A-frame shelter can be used in a low position as wind protection too.

A 3x3 metres tarp easily can replace a 2 persons tent, if it isn't to stormy.

The cheapest larger light weight Tarp of good quality I know is the Decathlon Arpenaz kaki. 290x285 cm, 560g, £ 20 (price including poles, pegs and steel poles).
That's a really good offer for those, who want to try it out, and it will last for years!
we used to use the standard 6ft x 4ft british army poncho which was fine for a few hours sleep just as long as you followed a few simple rules
 
If I wish to have some more room under the poncho, but there is only one tree, my set up is like this:

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I let the loops in the peg lines, so I can put it up faster. I use Decathlon Simond cord, 2 mm, orange, because it is visible, light and strong enough.
For high A-frame and lean to I use it simple, in full lengths (remember: as long as the shorter side of the tarp), for the construction you can see here I use it double, putting both loops of the line over the peg, so it has only half the length.

To attach it to the trees I use the same Decathlon line in a different colour. Here I let in the loops only at one side, because at the other side has to be a quick release knot.
 
Without the right knots such a set up is no fun, especially if you want to pack everything together in the morning.

I recommend to beginners to learn the knots at home properly, especially the quick release knot. Than you can use it in forest and field.

This knot below I use in the corners of my poncho.
I think, you call it in English the fisherman's knot, isn't it?
It stays in the cord an never becomes undone.
You can see the loops -made from black cord- attached to my poncho in the fotos. They are in every corner and in every ring in the middle of the sides.

I make the loops large enough to get larger pegs in, that I have to use on sand or snow. They easily can be carved in the forest.

(For hard ground I use orange Decathlon ultra light tent pegs, aluminium, 16 cm x 4mm x 4mm, only 9g each, 5 pegs cost only £ 7.)

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For the loops I am doing the pegs in, I use the bowline hitch.

It has to be large enough for thick wooden pegs too of course!

My poncho is 220x 145cm large, so the long peg lines are totally 145cm long, after I tied the bowling hitches in.
If your Poncho would be 260 x 150 cm, your lines would have to be 150cm long, for example.
The reason is, that the angle for roof and line should be around 45 degrees. That is very important if you construct a lean to shelter. How high your pole has to be (If you do not attach it to a tree), you have to try out yourself, because that depends of the size of your Poncho or Tarp.

The bowline hitch:


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I usually hold this thin cords together with a hair gum, the best would be orange or pink, than you can find it, if it falls on the ground.

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If I want to attach the lines to the poncho, I simply pull it through the rings like this:

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Here you find it back on the left side.

On the right side you can see the quick release bowline hitch. That of course has to be tied around the tree, and so you can not let it in the line.
It has to be tied always new, and you should be able to tie it with closed eyes!

Why? Because batteries of head lamps sometimes die, and usually they do this, when it is dark!

(A good bushcrafter is able to do nearly every thing in the camp with closed eyes.)
 
How to tie a
quick release bowline hitch:

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And now you can learn some German:
"Baum" means "tree"
"Tarp" is "tarp" and
"Zum Öffnen ziehen" means "pull here to open it"

Its more or less like you use it at your shoes.
 
Now we would like to light a fire.

You have to inform yourself if it is allowed or not and could be perhaps dangerous.

Here you can see, how I usually light a fire:


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And now you should put carefully the next sizes of prepared sticks on top.

Of course the wood has to be dead and dry, if you pic it from the tree.

Usually we use only dead standing and hanging wood for our fires.

What is on the ground most times is to whet.
 
But please pay attention!

Be careful!

Forest and corn field , even simple gras are easily set in fire!!!

The following pictures I took within only 5 minutes in December in northern Germany.

It had snowed a bit for two days before.

See, what can happen! Even in winter times!
Avoid to burn down the whole area!

Who causes a fire like the following on foreign ground has a good chance to go to prison for a couple of years!

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Usually there is no wall around your fire place, that could stop the fire.

It is as good as impossible to stop such a fire with the equipment, a bushcrafter is carrying with him.

Usually a fire like this becomes totally out of control.

So:

BE CAREFULL !!!
 
Who is interested in the equipment I recommend, should have a look here in the forum to the thread
"How light is lightweight?"

There I try to continue with more interesting tipps for beginners.
 
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