Camplife and routine

[RonW]

I am sitting, looking out at the snow and a thought came to mind, one that regularlypops up, but I can not completely answer myself.

What does camplife look like?

here's an example; You're staying out there for, let's say, 48 hrs.
You arrive, prepare a place for the night, ake some food, eat and sit near the fire for a while, befor you hit the sack.
Next day you get up, try to bend yourself back into shape again, prepare breakfast......
And then what?
What do you do all day?
If the wether's fair, you can wonder through the woods, looking and learning about animals and plants or try improving some skills.

But!!!
What if it's cold, like now, how do you keep warm all day? Lying in your sleepingbag under a tarp is not an option, really. Is it?
If it's very wet, how do you stay dry and comfy? Sitting under a tarp next to a fire all day?

And what do you do, when all chores are done?
Shelter's finished, food is digesting, pots and pans are clean and firewood is at hand, but it's dark, cold, windy, freezing, raining. What do you do to keep moral up and be comfortable?

 

[Retired Member southey]

Wear the right clothing and the weather isn't a problem, so walking about looking at what you have available in your local, read a book, whittle something, mod kit, write , collect more fire wood, think, plan your next day, collect more fire wood , chat to people who happen by. Relax then prepare foods for the evening, cook tea, eat tea, maby have a tipple. Read by candle then bed. Rinse and repeat.

 

[drewdunnrespect]

Ron,
very good question. It is also a question that in the past i have woundered the answer to. Now my answer is to do what ever you please, the reason for saying this is that if you are going camping a this time of year with the weather the way it is as you well know, you have to be propared for the worst the weather can throw at you. So with this in mind, i came to realise that there is nothing stopping you doing as you would when the weather is fine and sunny because yes in the good weather it is easier but in the bad weather it is more of an achievement to feel proud of and still no less enjoyable if dunn right.
so this now makes the list endless
from playing cards
to making leather goods
to primitive fire skills
to tracking
and so on

drew
ps please knote this is just my opinion and i could be wrong

 

[Cobweb]

I tend to make stuff or do 'housework' for example, you always need more wood, so a good concentrated hour of finding and preparing some is a good hour spent, by that point I want a cup of tea, so I build the fire up and make one, that takes about a half hour to do and drink.

Then make a tripod for all of the stuff that needs to come off the floor... including me (sack chair), finding the right poles, cutting and lashing one can take another hour or two, then I go through my pack and see what I have in there (I can never remember) and re pack.

Then by that point it's usually time to prepare and cook tea, which also involves sorting out the bloody fire again. Fire, preparation, cooking and eating can take another hour or two, then time to wash up, another 15 mins or so...

Cup of tea again, and a sit down and chill for another hour... poking at the fire.

Then I'll probably go for a wander and find some food to nosh for tea, can take up to two hours or so again.

Tea time!

After tea then it's time to sit and chill, it's pretty much dark at that point so nowt much to do than poke the fire!

I never seem to have enough time to do any personal projects lol!

 

[Graham_S]

In a cold camp, I spend time prepping my wood supply.
I like to have plenty of good firewood for the night.
Depending on the conditions I'll build a windbreak, or improve my camp in some other way.

 

[rik_uk3]

Talking to my friend(s), listening to music, cooking, reading, drop of wine, eating etc. I can't hike so my shelter is a parachute, I use chairs to sit on and now have a wood burner to heat the chute shelter.

 

[DaveBromley]

wicked question and pretty well answered!

What i tend to do is make camp when i arrive (the earlier the better) although you do have to find somewhere Really isolated to avoid being disturbed. Then take out my day sack which usually has the means to make a brew or a cuppa soup and a couple of litres of water, then go for a mooch for a couple of hours collecting tinder kindling and the odd log as i go. Then head back to camp for a spot of lunch once sorted fir out i then go and gather enough wood to keep it going through the night (if its cold). Then on to water purification I use a sand and charcoal filter (that i make at home and bring in my pack) as i cant afford a milli bag or other such, then spend a good while boiling and putting into a 10 litre container that collapses. once this is done it is usually time to start Tea once eaten just sit back and relax with a book r Ipod enjoying the surroundings.

I'm getting into carving at the mo (still rubbish at it so far) but i keep trying lol then time for bed and as southey said rinse and repeat!

Dave

 

[Highbinder]

Lounge in my hammock and watch the world go by, smoke..., go for a wander, collect firewood (this is a big one..), play guitar if I have it with me, read a book or write in my notebook, play with my knife, make lots of cups of tea..

 

[SCOMAN]

I found this in Sep when I was in the Outer Hebrides. I'd sightsee(neolithic tombs, folk museums etc) and photograph(landscapes or elements) all day(had planned fishing but the 20 - 30kt winds didn't do much for fly fishing techniques). I'd look for a site and probably have the tent pitched by 1700 - 1800. I didn't light fires(didn't want to damage the machair I camped on and the wind would have burnt the limited logs in v short order) and was using rat packs so my dinner was usually a v quick affair. In the evenings I caught up on some reading, listening to music(it drowned out a flappy tent), kept a journal and I have to say that has probably been one of the best things out of the holiday. I recorded where I was, temp, weather, comments on kit used(at the end of the week I reviewed 'essential kit' that I didn't use, that was interesting) thoughts on the day and strayed onto things I want to do etc etc. I also and I will accept the scorn and mockery for this, watched a film or tv series on my iPad. I never set out to do the Outer Hebrides the hard way and had brought quite a few luxuries with me that was a major one and so there. Had a lovely time though and would recommend a multi-day camp to anyone.