This is actually a BCUSA challenge and I am posting what I have posted there... it was quite fun actually!
My new PSK for the Advanced lesson.
This time around I thought to look at a larger PSK than a tobacco tin type - just to ring the changes really
The new tin is about as large as a pocket size tin can go (as I see it) and this one is tailored to West Wales type environments and my likely "needful scenarios" rather than being a "universal" PSK.
The tin measures some 6.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches (ideal for my smock pocket and as a boiling pan) with a sealing and locking lid and contains
2 x condoms
1 plastic rain poncho
1 emergency blanket
1 small sewing kit
Duck Tape (around lighter)
Utility Wire
Wire saw
braided cord
Tinder card
Cotton wool
Fire Steel
Party candles
Lighter
StarFlash signalling mirror
Whistle
Mini compass
Coffee
Sugar (in sealed straws)
Choco;ate
MOD Oatmeal biscuit
MOD Biscuits Brown
Mini fishing kit
Tin foil
Poly bag (for foraging, water storage/collection or storing the kit when the tin is being used on the fire)
Mini first aid kit(adhesive dressings various sizes)
Scalpel
Pencil (packaging can be written on)
Multitool
12 x 1 litre water purification tablets.
Most of the items are multi purpose and I think I have covered the survival priorities of a cold, wet, windy, well watered area of hills and coastline with good tree coverage but little in the way of available, sustaining food.
Likely scenarios in this area rarely involve anything beyond a few hours to 24 hours before rescue would be available (we are a small, heavily populated land!) but this kit should allow the wait to be as comfortable as possible using a pocket sized kit.
I look forward to testing it in the near future!
I got to my exercise area at 10am on Wednesday and set about building my shelter and gathering firewood as I anticipated a cold night.
Things went very much to plan and although I did get a tad cold when the fire burned down at stages through the night, the wind blew rain under the foil blanket tarp and much of the heat from the fire also blew away as the wind was gusting force 10 at times.
The temp fell to around 0 degrees C if you take into account the wind chill factor but my clothing and PSK dealt with it all well enough.
I left the exercise area at 10 am Thursday warm and dry - and very hungry!
Collecting rainwater for my brews worked well and lots of hot drinks during the night kept me well hydrated and warm from the inside.
The ivy and bracken bed did nothing for thermal insulation but was quite comfortable.
The wire saw was slow work but did allow me to harvest some decent timber!
On arrival
My chosen site
getting firewood
Building the fire
Making my bed
My shelter
Lighting the fire using dry Alexander stalks as tinder/kindling - not the reflector I made from some scrap I found while getting firewood
Brewing up
general view of camp
Night fire
collecting rainwater for hot drinks. Excess water was stored in the large poly bag from my PSK for drinks between showers.
Camp in the morning
Me in the morning
Overall I found this the toughest challenge yet - my 56 year old bones prefer a little more comfort!
My PSK lived up to expectations and I have restocked it already for future use.
I have chosen to keep it unchanged as it seems to have all I need but I am thinking of adding a pen torch (if I can squeeze it in) as feeding the fire proved awkward when the fire had burned so low as to give little light to find the best firewood by.
The poles added to the front and rear of the tarp were to stop it flapping in the wind and spilling too much heat.
My new PSK for the Advanced lesson.
This time around I thought to look at a larger PSK than a tobacco tin type - just to ring the changes really
The new tin is about as large as a pocket size tin can go (as I see it) and this one is tailored to West Wales type environments and my likely "needful scenarios" rather than being a "universal" PSK.
The tin measures some 6.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches (ideal for my smock pocket and as a boiling pan) with a sealing and locking lid and contains
2 x condoms
1 plastic rain poncho
1 emergency blanket
1 small sewing kit
Duck Tape (around lighter)
Utility Wire
Wire saw
braided cord
Tinder card
Cotton wool
Fire Steel
Party candles
Lighter
StarFlash signalling mirror
Whistle
Mini compass
Coffee
Sugar (in sealed straws)
Choco;ate
MOD Oatmeal biscuit
MOD Biscuits Brown
Mini fishing kit
Tin foil
Poly bag (for foraging, water storage/collection or storing the kit when the tin is being used on the fire)
Mini first aid kit(adhesive dressings various sizes)
Scalpel
Pencil (packaging can be written on)
Multitool
12 x 1 litre water purification tablets.
Most of the items are multi purpose and I think I have covered the survival priorities of a cold, wet, windy, well watered area of hills and coastline with good tree coverage but little in the way of available, sustaining food.
Likely scenarios in this area rarely involve anything beyond a few hours to 24 hours before rescue would be available (we are a small, heavily populated land!) but this kit should allow the wait to be as comfortable as possible using a pocket sized kit.
I look forward to testing it in the near future!
I got to my exercise area at 10am on Wednesday and set about building my shelter and gathering firewood as I anticipated a cold night.
Things went very much to plan and although I did get a tad cold when the fire burned down at stages through the night, the wind blew rain under the foil blanket tarp and much of the heat from the fire also blew away as the wind was gusting force 10 at times.
The temp fell to around 0 degrees C if you take into account the wind chill factor but my clothing and PSK dealt with it all well enough.
I left the exercise area at 10 am Thursday warm and dry - and very hungry!
Collecting rainwater for my brews worked well and lots of hot drinks during the night kept me well hydrated and warm from the inside.
The ivy and bracken bed did nothing for thermal insulation but was quite comfortable.
The wire saw was slow work but did allow me to harvest some decent timber!
On arrival
My chosen site
getting firewood
Building the fire
Making my bed
My shelter
Lighting the fire using dry Alexander stalks as tinder/kindling - not the reflector I made from some scrap I found while getting firewood
Brewing up
general view of camp
Night fire
collecting rainwater for hot drinks. Excess water was stored in the large poly bag from my PSK for drinks between showers.
Camp in the morning
Me in the morning
Overall I found this the toughest challenge yet - my 56 year old bones prefer a little more comfort!
My PSK lived up to expectations and I have restocked it already for future use.
I have chosen to keep it unchanged as it seems to have all I need but I am thinking of adding a pen torch (if I can squeeze it in) as feeding the fire proved awkward when the fire had burned so low as to give little light to find the best firewood by.
The poles added to the front and rear of the tarp were to stop it flapping in the wind and spilling too much heat.
