Last weekend I decided to go out on a short overnight trip. I drove to the usual area and set to the task.
The weather was not the best as it was raining a little. I started to walk at 12.00 and had plenty of time until it was dark.
The picture below shows the rucksack I carried.
The picture is taken during the technical break I use to have after 5 minutes of walking. The breaks purpose is to check gear, adjust clothing and your rucksack.
In the area I was going to there is a cabin owned by the hunting and fishing administration. The trail is therefore reinforced with bridges, making it easier to walk trough the woods.
After 1,5 ours (the distance was 3,5 km on the map) I was at the camp site, not a ready made one but just a place I took from the map.
You could see the camp fire right in the middle of the picture above.
I set up my shelter tarp and started to gather wood for the fire.
I mostly burned fresh birch. This is actually an excellent fuel and builds a good bed of coals.
I also went further away and found a dry pine which I sawed down and carried back to the camp. This I laid on the fire at bedtime. The folding saw broke when sawing the pine. I lost a pin holding the blade lock. The da*n thing was not peened to the saw. Luckily I had my Wetterlings small hunters axe with me.
I unpacked all my stuff just to show what I carry in the woods (at least on this trip).
I mostly carry the same all the time, it is the amount of food I carry that is the difference.
The cal.22 rifle is packed in the camouflage colored roll (wool blanket). I did a little plinking. The only ammo I used was the Remington Subsonic ammo. They worked pretty well, very quiet, even in my auto rifle.
All my gear weigh about 16 kilos (35 pounds).
I made bannocks for dinner, the salty, sweet kind. Yes, I had both coarse salt and raisins in the bannock mix. They tasted excellent.
I saw only one other person. I think he was fishing. I really missed my binoculars at that time.
It is dark at 20.00 Hrs, and I went early to bed.
At 03.00 Hrs. I abruptly woke. The wind had ripped the tarp apart in one corner and the tarp was slamming in the wind. The headlamp was put to use and the damage was fixed. Picture shows the fix the morning after. I just gathered the tarp material and tied it together.
I guess 25 years of service is enough for a thin nylon tarp.
I noticed that the sky was clear and the moonlight glowed over the landscape.
When I woke at 08.30Hrs. the sky was again cloudy and it had begun raining again.
I got the fire going and made breakfast.; fried bacons and beans, and of course good, strong coffee. It was the only time my wool sweater was used.
I also had to make a spoon to eat with. I had forgot my cutlery at home. The spoon was simple (but served its purpose) and I tossed it on the fire after use.
I fired some more rounds with my cal.22 and then packed my gear. The walk home took 2 ours and it mostly rained the whole time.
Some pics from the area I camped in.
Some thoughts after the trip:
I had too much food, I didnt eat half of it. I do this all the time.
While the wool blanket worked fine I could as well used my sleeping bag. I think the weight is actually less than the wool blanket.
I should have taken the Laplander folding saw as this is tested several times, but now I have tested the Jaws saw I had with me and found its faults. That was one of the purposes of the trip, to test gear.
The Wetterlings small hunting axe worked like a charm chopping wood for the fire and when whittling the spoon. A very good axe which I highly recommend.
The light cheap Coleman mess kit is too thin and doesn`t cope with normal use. It was dented after being carried in the pack. Next time I will take my Eagle sharp stainless steel pot and frying pan with me instead.
My tarp needs replacement. It is too old and worn.
Thanks for looking.
Tor
The weather was not the best as it was raining a little. I started to walk at 12.00 and had plenty of time until it was dark.
The picture below shows the rucksack I carried.
The picture is taken during the technical break I use to have after 5 minutes of walking. The breaks purpose is to check gear, adjust clothing and your rucksack.
In the area I was going to there is a cabin owned by the hunting and fishing administration. The trail is therefore reinforced with bridges, making it easier to walk trough the woods.
After 1,5 ours (the distance was 3,5 km on the map) I was at the camp site, not a ready made one but just a place I took from the map.
You could see the camp fire right in the middle of the picture above.
I set up my shelter tarp and started to gather wood for the fire.
I mostly burned fresh birch. This is actually an excellent fuel and builds a good bed of coals.
I also went further away and found a dry pine which I sawed down and carried back to the camp. This I laid on the fire at bedtime. The folding saw broke when sawing the pine. I lost a pin holding the blade lock. The da*n thing was not peened to the saw. Luckily I had my Wetterlings small hunters axe with me.
I unpacked all my stuff just to show what I carry in the woods (at least on this trip).
I mostly carry the same all the time, it is the amount of food I carry that is the difference.
The cal.22 rifle is packed in the camouflage colored roll (wool blanket). I did a little plinking. The only ammo I used was the Remington Subsonic ammo. They worked pretty well, very quiet, even in my auto rifle.
All my gear weigh about 16 kilos (35 pounds).
I made bannocks for dinner, the salty, sweet kind. Yes, I had both coarse salt and raisins in the bannock mix. They tasted excellent.
I saw only one other person. I think he was fishing. I really missed my binoculars at that time.
It is dark at 20.00 Hrs, and I went early to bed.
At 03.00 Hrs. I abruptly woke. The wind had ripped the tarp apart in one corner and the tarp was slamming in the wind. The headlamp was put to use and the damage was fixed. Picture shows the fix the morning after. I just gathered the tarp material and tied it together.
I guess 25 years of service is enough for a thin nylon tarp.
I noticed that the sky was clear and the moonlight glowed over the landscape.
When I woke at 08.30Hrs. the sky was again cloudy and it had begun raining again.
I got the fire going and made breakfast.; fried bacons and beans, and of course good, strong coffee. It was the only time my wool sweater was used.
I also had to make a spoon to eat with. I had forgot my cutlery at home. The spoon was simple (but served its purpose) and I tossed it on the fire after use.
I fired some more rounds with my cal.22 and then packed my gear. The walk home took 2 ours and it mostly rained the whole time.
Some pics from the area I camped in.
Some thoughts after the trip:
I had too much food, I didnt eat half of it. I do this all the time.
While the wool blanket worked fine I could as well used my sleeping bag. I think the weight is actually less than the wool blanket.
I should have taken the Laplander folding saw as this is tested several times, but now I have tested the Jaws saw I had with me and found its faults. That was one of the purposes of the trip, to test gear.
The Wetterlings small hunting axe worked like a charm chopping wood for the fire and when whittling the spoon. A very good axe which I highly recommend.
The light cheap Coleman mess kit is too thin and doesn`t cope with normal use. It was dented after being carried in the pack. Next time I will take my Eagle sharp stainless steel pot and frying pan with me instead.
My tarp needs replacement. It is too old and worn.
Thanks for looking.
Tor
.
