Bush Sauna!

[Greg]

I am going to Brecon in May to help out with a survival course, I have been asked to come up with a novelty exercise for the end of the course and I was thinking about building a Bush Sauna.
We had one of these at the end of my Cambrian Survival course a couple of years ago and it was a good laugh, problem is I have never built one myself and was wondering if any of you guys could give me ideas.

Also what are your thoughts on this novelty idea!
Do you like them or not? and if not then why?
Cheers guys & girls!!

 

[JonnyP]

Never tried one, but Bambodoggy told me how to do one....Build a fire, warm up rocks (not ones from a stream), let fire go out, or move it, or the rocks, get naked, get some water in a container next to the rocks, put a poncho over you and the rocks, pour water onto the rocks, get steamy.......
For more than 1 person, you will need to make a bender, but be careful if you are naked with a bender around......
I think thats right, isn't it Bam...?

 

[Greg]

Never tried one, but Bambodoggy told me how to do one....Build a fire, warm up rocks (not ones from a stream), let fire go out, or move it, or the rocks, get naked, get some water in a container next to the rocks, put a poncho over you and the rocks, pour water onto the rocks, get steamy.......
For more than 1 person, you will need to make a bender, but be careful if you are naked with a bender around......
I think thats right, isn't it Bam...?

Thanks for the reply,
I was actually thinking of building a type of wicki up structure and covering it in blankets or tarp.
It will need to be big enough for at least 4 people.

Does anyone have any photos of one they have built and used?

 

[JonnyP]

Thanks for the reply,
I was actually thinking of building a type of wicki up structure and covering it in blankets or tarp.
It will need to be big enough for at least 4 people.

Does anyone have any photos of one they have built and used?

That'll be the bender I mentioned, they are very easy to make, just cut hazel and form into an arch, lashing it all together as you go, then chuck a tarp over it, few logs to sit on, frozen water to jump into after, and Bobs yer uncle...

 

[Greg]

That'll be the bender I mentioned, they are very easy to make, just cut hazel and form into an arch, lashing it all together as you go, then chuck a tarp over it, few logs to sit on, frozen water to jump into after, and Bobs yer uncle...

Thanks Jon, it sounds very similar if not the same as the one we used on Cambrian Survival, but it was already built when we got to it, there was plenty of nice cold water as it was sited next to a small river.
I have been looking in my books for one and have come across one in RM's Survival Handbook,
and that is the one I think I will try to emulate.

Thanks for your help, its much appreciated!!

 

[bambodoggy]

Never tried one, but Bambodoggy told me how to do one....Build a fire, warm up rocks (not ones from a stream), let fire go out, or move it, or the rocks, get naked, get some water in a container next to the rocks, put a poncho over you and the rocks, pour water onto the rocks, get steamy.......
For more than 1 person, you will need to make a bender, but be careful if you are naked with a bender around......
I think thats right, isn't it Bam...?

Spot on for the one person jobbie and much safer than using a bender!

 

[Matt Weir]

Sounds like a fantastic way to freshen up after a few days on the land

 

[Greg]

Spot on for the one person jobbie and much safer than using a bender!

That's Funny!!I think I will stick to calling it a wicki up!

 

[bambodoggy]

Sounds like a fantastic way to freshen up after a few days on the land

It was an old Swedish outdoorsman that showed me how to do this, he was at one time in cahrge of all survival training for the swedish army and even now at about 74 years old runs the area civil defence and SAR teams.

When he was OC of a Ranger unit over there he said that his lads enjoyed a one man sauna pretty much every day while on exercise and because of that they very rearly suffered from hygien or personal admin problems.....he also said they had some funny looks from soldiers from other units too! lol

I've only ever used the "wiki up" sauna once. We made it to fit four people....there were three of us brits in there steaming nicely in our swimming trucks (as us brits do) and then the door opens and a certain swedish member from here appears before us in the all together....as you can imagine due to the hight of the door the first thing we all saw wasn't a pleasant sight!!!!!!!!

Cheers,

Bam.

 

[janiepopps]

Hi Greg, they're also known as Sweat Lodges if that helps.

j

 

[twisted firestarter]

Sweat lodges are a superb way of getting clean, you literally sweat out any impurities. Firstly construct a small dome from hazel as previously mentioned, then cover it with old blankets and finally a tarp. Make sure there is a pit in the centre for the hot rocks (The custom is to take grapefruit sized rocks in with you which have been heated on a fire) Water is then carefully added to the rocks to create the steam, do this part slowly as the heat can be extreme. Now a couple of words of caution, don't participate if you have any health issues, the heat can be really intense and makes your heart speed up significantly. Secondly be careful which rocks to use as some can crack or even explode when water is poured on. With those things in mind - enjoy the experience. There are few things better than a sweat lodge in the woods next to a stream or natural plunge pool

 

[Greg]

Thanks for the info guys-keep it coming!:You_Rock_

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

I've only ever used the "wiki up" sauna once. We made it to fit four people....there were three of us brits in there steaming nicely in our swimming trucks (as us brits do) and then the door opens and a certain swedish member from here appears before us in the all together....as you can imagine due to the hight of the door the first thing we all saw wasn't a pleasant sight!!!!!!!!

Cheers,

Bam.

I didn't know Ulrika Johnson was on the forum! :notworthy

 

[dwardo]

I was in one a few months ago at the end of a bushcraft course and it was great !

Like previously said just try to make the shelter as steam tight as possible and avoid rocks that like to explode when heated. Sandstone is one nasty jobby when hot and so are a few others.....

 

[spoonman]

Sandstone is one nasty jobby when hot and so are a few others.....

I thought sandstone was one of the stone types that could be used ??..could someone clarify that and maybe list what other types should not be used please.

 

[Greg]

Aren't all porous rocks dangerous??

 

[gregorach]

OK, I haven't actually done it, but I believe that any rock which can allow water into its structure is a bad choice for this (or any similar application, like stone-boiling). The danger being that the water gets into the rock before vaporising, causing the rock to shatter, potentially with an alarming amount of force. Rocks taken from water can be even more dangerous, as they've often already got water in them.

I'm pretty sure that the ideal rocks are both impervious (ie waterproof) and free of faults. If you have basalt available, then that should be perfect - assuming you choose ones with no faults. Basalt is so impervious that I'd even consider using previously submerged rocks, provided I was sure they had no faults.

It's probably also a good idea to test your rocks before using them for real. The idea of being naked in a small, enclosed space with red-hot exploding rocks is not a pleasant one...

 

[spoonman]

Cheers gregorach....very informative!

Only what do you mean by faults in the rocks?

 

[gregorach]

Fractures, cracks, holes, or lines of weakness. Tap 'em together and listen - the sound of a solid rock should be different to the sound of a faulted rock, although sometimes not very different.

There's really no way to be absolutely sure without testing them by heating and quenching, but you want to eliminate the obviously flawed ones first.

As for how you test safely, well, I can't really come up with much unless you've got a full set of protective clothing and a hose... But try not to stand too close!

 

[spoonman]

Thats great gregorach thanks....Should be a fun weekend testing rocks