Hi folks,well have just completed the 2 night challenge,and a long review.
Well i went with just 4 items.
Kit list.
1-wool blanket
2-knife
3-ferro rod
4-jogging pants.
Plus freebies,FAK, Mobile phone,camera and rucksack.
Anyway I headed out Monday morning, I walked to my intended site for the 2 nights.
It was a fine sunny day and as I walked I picked up possibles that were free for the picking.
I started with some of last years nettles,stripping off the fibre.
Fibres stripped
As I strolled,I made the fibre up into cordage,whilst scanning around for anything that caught my eye.
Cordage
Well would you believe it,I came upon some easily gathered cordage,some kids must have been playing with under a Holly bush.
Free cord
Farther on I went into the woods where I started to gather up some edibles for my evening meal.
After that ,you know its strange how some peoples discards,are another mans treasure.
I found a frying pan and a car wing mirror casing,I had intended to cook my meals in the embers in the fire,but just could’nt leave these things lying.
The handle on the pan fell off when I picked it up,but that was no hardship.
So I finally made it too my campsite.
First on the agenda was a fire and to fetch some water,but I needed containers to collect it,looking around I found various discarded bottles,plastic and glass.
I took these and filled them from the small burn near camp,next it was tinder I had to find.
Dry dead Goose grass,Bracken,Cherry bark as well as Birch. Using my knife I shaved the birch bark to get a fine tinder,then I struck sparks from the ferro rod.With the fire going and the glass bottles in to purify my water.
Water nearly boiling
My mind now turned to shelter.
I chose the solo kennel,first I laid down logs for a raised bed then constructed the shelter around it.
Bed and frame
Next it was a light covering of fine twigs and then leaf litter
I also needed a door so that got constructed next
Finished shelter and door
Inside
As time was slipping by,it was time for my meal.
Ingredients
Sweet cicely
Ramsons
Pignuts
Plus Jelly/Jews ear fungi and Nettle tops.
So soup it was
Cooking
Whilst it was cooking,I knocked up a rough spoon from Willow which was my fire wood.
Ready for eating
After my meal the rest of the night was spent in front of the fire
As I watched the flames,i got to thinking about protein,so i took one of the plastic bottles and made it into a Minnow trap
By this time I was well and truly knackered,so I put 3 big stones in the fire to heat,these would be my hot water bottles,and turned in.
Well the night was not the best sleep I,ve had outdoors as the cold woke me several times,I don’t know what the temp was,but when I crawled out the shelter there had been a frost overnight.
In the morning it was time to set the trap,which I baited with worms that were a by catch whilst digging Pignuts,I also up turned fallen logs to get a few more. A short stroll down to the river,and I baited and weighted the trap,next into the river it went,to be left until the next morning.
In the river
By now I could feel my energy waining,I had no food stocks left,so I resorted to eating Hawthorn buds that were just emerging,and small Ramson leaves which are not as strong tasting as the big leaves.This I did while I climbed back up to my shelter.
Back in front of the fire,which needed re-lighting,I was really feeling the effects of blood sugar loss.I really had to force myself to get up and go. I re-lit the fire by showering the old fire dogs with sparks from the ferro,then blowing them back to flame.Next it was time to try and replace some of the calories I’d used up, fortunately I came upon more Pignuts which I hadn’t seen before closeby,so I munched away merrily,savouring there taste,though I did’nt plunder the area,I collected more Nettles and Ramsons with some young Goose grass growth.Back at the fire I dry stir fryed them for lunch.
The car wing mirror casing came in handy as a collecting container
Stir fried greens
After that most of the rest of the day was spent infront of the fire trying to conserve calories,I fell asleep a couple of times,only to be awoken by Roe deer walking through camp.Sorry no photos though as I was just to tired.I also tried Knapping one of the glass bottle bottoms.I’m still practicing so no fine arrow heads were made,just lots of shards,oh well more practice me thinks.
I headed to the shelter for the night whilst it was still light,and turned in,again not the best nights sleep,I was cold which woke me again even though it was raining outside and mild,I think the lack of calories played a big part though.
Well so today I got up at first light,tidied up camp,and got ready for the head home.
I left the shelter up for future use.
One last look before setting off,and saying my thanks to the wood.
On the way back down i stopped off to check my Minnow trap, and it worked, for inside were 2 Salmon Parr
Sorry about the pic as I was in need of some nourishment back home
The fish were returned back to the river safe and well,as I had no need to eat them,anyway I was having a big fried breakfast when I eventually shuffled home.
And that was my 2 night 15items or less challenge.
Oh dear,sorry for the long post.
Thanks for looking
Cheers Stuart.
) and it turned into a camping trip on dartmoor more than anything else ( although i did put fire starting lessons and cooking to good use )
