Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Outdoor Activities => Northern Ireland Camping and Bushcraft => Topic started by: Oisín on May 18, 2011
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Me and my fellow explorers are going out on a survival night sometime in June. We are allowed a limited amount of items, as far as I can remember they are as follows:
- 6 matches
- A cooking Pot
- 1 Large sheet of Tarpaulin
- 15 metres of twine/seisel*(Spelling)
- A shovel
- A saw (apparently you're not allowed hatchets anymore ::))
All food and drinking water provided.
I've been allocated the job of Firemaster (Best job title ever!) and the idea of being in charge of a fire and only having six matches to use daunts me. They never light anything.
Any advice guys? Advice on other issues bar fire would be welcomed too.
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Keep your matches dry ;D
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Keep your matches dry ;D
That will be the top priority. :D
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Replace the matches with a fire steel.
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Replace the matches with a fire steel.
Sadly this isnt an option. These are the things we have been told to use. Although I can never find the patience for firesteel either.
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Gather plenty of kindling and keep dry. If your allowed to take your own matches dip them in candle wax to keep the heads dry then simply peal off before use.
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Fires aren't that hard but only having 6 matches is a nightmare. A rule that always served me well is "gather 3 times the wood you think you need" - this counts for kindling, medium wood and logs. Seems like overkill but it has worked for me every time. For the 6 match situation I'd go with as much really dry, light kindling as you can lay your hands on - you couldn't possibly have too much. Something easily burned like straw or very fine twigs would be best. Then light your fire between two big (dry) logs that are sheltered from the wind. Be prepared to blow gently to get it going. Don't even start to light it until you have all the wood you need for a few hours. If it's wet, give the firemaster hat to someone else, it wont be a fun job ;)
Maybe ask if you could prepare something like char cloth - it's a well respected bushcraft firelighting basic, as are strips of bicycle inner tube.
Also look into feathersticks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feather_stick). I've never tried but I see it plenty in Bushcraft.
We should have a weekend like this, it sounds blummin awesome (as long as we can bring a tipple to keep the cold out, we're not animals ;))
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6 matches... Lucky sod...!!!
No matches, No firesteel.... Now there is a challenge...
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Bah, easy-peasy, I do that all the time with a bushcraft art I like to call piezo-electric with gas :)
6 matches... Lucky sod...!!!
No matches, No firesteel.... Now there is a challenge...
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use the hardened or cristalised sap of a pine tree to light your fire it ignites easily and burns well
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twine burns well ;) just detach from tarp first :o
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We should have a weekend like this, it sounds blummin awesome (as long as we can bring a tipple to keep the cold out, we're not animals ;))
I'd be on for that, should we organise it?? 8)
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Yep. We should pick a night and head for Donard wood.
We should have a weekend like this, it sounds blummin awesome (as long as we can bring a tipple to keep the cold out, we're not animals ;))
I'd be on for that, should we organise it?? 8)
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If yous organised it I'd tag along. Saying I would of had all the experience as Firemaster!(Joke, I'm not taking responsibility for fire)
But I'd be up for that in all seriousness. ;D
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Too late. OISINS THE FIREMASTER EVERYONE ::)
If yous organised it I'd tag along. Saying I would of had all the experience as Firemaster!(Joke, I'm not taking responsibility for fire)
But I'd be up for that in all seriousness. ;D
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Then let's do it! Who's going to organise it?
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Finding a night might be a prob with the Iplod upcoming. If we're going survival we'd want to do a Sat/Sun so we could be up there with enough time to prepare. Don't think we'd want to roll in at 7pm on a Friday night.
What about Saturday 4th June. I'm suggesting that date but I haven't actually checked if I'm free. I'll throw a post up later and see who bites. At least we can start discussing the rules etc.
Then let's do it! Who's going to organise it?
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That day wouldn't suit me, can I suggest maybe a little later in the summer so everybody can make preparations and see when they're free?
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Of course. I'll throw a post up later and everyone can just suggest dates. We can always do more than one, sounds like a night it would be fun to repeat as you refine your skills.
Maybe Oisin could let us know how they're organising their event so we had some ideas.
That day wouldn't suit me, can I suggest maybe a little later in the summer so everybody can make preparations and see when they're free?
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Check you lot out. your gonna think your bear grylls soon
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The organizing wasn't as complex as you might think. We simply got together and suggested the items we should bring, and if the items were too luxurious we ruled them out. For example not alot of twine is allowed, no pillows etc. Just the basics.
Its less than a mile from out scout hall. So were walking there and setting up a tarp under a few trees. We're then being given a pot to cook smash in and we will be given a whole fish, which it is up to us to gut and cook etc. There isnt much more apart from that, just the general rules, no mobile phones etc.
And it was made clear that if were going that night and its raining, we cant change our dates. Because you cant choose when you have to survive!
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Check you lot out. your gonna think your bear grylls soon
Wash your mouth out...it's Ray Mears all the way!!
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Check you lot out. your gonna think your bear grylls soon
Wash your mouth out...it's Ray Mears all the way!!
Nope the Bear rules
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I think if we were going to do it we'd consider allowing bivvy bags and sleeping bags as part of the basic kit. No point being too uncomfy when you're actually trying to sleep. We could probably have grades of kit depending on how serious people wanted to be, though I wouldn't want to be eating cold fish with my fingers while some buggers tucking into steak and pepper sauce with all the trimmings :)
The organizing wasn't as complex as you might think. We simply got together and suggested the items we should bring, and if the items were too luxurious we ruled them out. For example not alot of twine is allowed, no pillows etc. Just the basics.
Its less than a mile from out scout hall. So were walking there and setting up a tarp under a few trees. We're then being given a pot to cook smash in and we will be given a whole fish, which it is up to us to gut and cook etc. There isnt much more apart from that, just the general rules, no mobile phones etc.
And it was made clear that if were going that night and its raining, we cant change our dates. Because you cant choose when you have to survive!
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Bivvy bag, sleeping bag......I'm already sorted! ;)
I think this could be a really good event
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I think this could be a really good event
It would be fun I must say. Its something that brings a change to the usual tent pitching.
I did something similar a few years back. We had a sheet of tarpaulin tied to a chestnut tree and then onto some other smaller saplings. And we just cleared the ground and lay in our sleeping bags. You feel exposed but its a nice form of openness.
And we didn't even notice until we had woken up the next mornining that we had been sleeping a meter away from a ducks nest all along. Woke up with baby ducklings wandering about. Great experience. :D
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We bivvy like that all the time now, although we'd always be in a bivvy bag too incase of dampness. It's defo the best way to waken up, looking straight at the sky! Damn it, I really want to go bivvying now and I have an odd craving for a ribeye steak cooked on an open fire..
I think this could be a really good event
It would be fun I must say. Its something that brings a change to the usual tent pitching.
I did something similar a few years back. We had a sheet of tarpaulin tied to a chestnut tree and then onto some other smaller saplings. And we just cleared the ground and lay in our sleeping bags. You feel exposed but its a nice form of openness.
And we didn't even notice until we had woken up the next mornining that we had been sleeping a meter away from a ducks nest all along. Woke up with baby ducklings wandering about. Great experience. :D
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If Eamon comes he'll probably make us all look bad :)
I'd defo be up for this. Been itching to do a little survival/bushcraft since the last donard wood camp and watched Big E do his Char cloth.
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I'm looking forward to the food. :D
That smokey open fire taste gets me every time.
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Were do you guys buy your bivvy bags from lads.
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The only experience I have of a "bivy" bag is sleeping in a bright orange survival bag and waking up soaked with my own condensation. :D
So I'm with you on this one about where to buy one that will do the job.
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Alpkit Hunka Bivvy Bag
http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16312&category_id=253 (http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16312&category_id=253)
I have a Rab Storm too but I don't rate it as highly as the Hunka.
The only experience I have of a "bivy" bag is sleeping in a bright orange survival bag and waking up soaked with my own condensation. :D
So I'm with you on this one about where to buy one that will do the job.
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Hunka it is then, seems the business
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I've used mine probably about a dozen times and it's been really good. It's one of the few items I'd feel confident about recommending. Plus at £30 delivered it's a steal.
Hunka it is then, seems the business
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Whats the price on the Rab Storm?
Seen the Hunka was £30.
Sadly as a student I have to think about these things.
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This sounds like brilliant fun!!
You should be able to do loads with the list you have there mate.
have lots of fun.
Cheers
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As long as you can keep your matches dry and protected from the wind, then 6 matches is more than enough.
Careful thought about your fire managment will mean that you will give yourself the best opportunity for success.
As for the fish, then preparation methods like Ponnassing or even making a fish broth will maximise the resource.
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Did this night ever happen? It's good to get out with minimum kit and see how you cope, I suppose it depends on the area you are going as to what kit you take. I like to built my own shelter where possible but if your up the side of a mountain it would be difficult.
Where did you go on this night? Was it the mournes? Or did you go to one of the local forests??
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It never happened no, I wish it had off. We opted for a bushcraft day instead, provided by the NIBA (Northern Ireland Bushcraft Association) which was equally as fun.
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We'll definitely get back to the survival night idea. Maybe in October.
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Sounds as if it's going to be a good night, my two boys get out as much as they can with minimum kit they love the idea of traveling light, me I like a few comforts the old hips aren't liking the hard ground as much nowadays