I hope i'd never have to use a tool as a weapon, it was way too late to move to camp in unfamiliar territory, if i had not had a knife with me i'd have fashioned some sort of club from nature and failing that a good hand sized rock, any of these would have given me the same good nights sleep i got from sleeping with the knife, i am usually quite capable of defending myself weaponless but it never hurts to give yourself an advantage if you think the fecal matter is going to hit the air circulation device, i've been knifed twice in my life (both whilst in a city centre), once arguing over £5 and both times i did not have a knife or any other weapon and i was twice the size of my assailants
Practical/Real world camo/concealment
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When it comes to concealment you should make camp as late as you can and camp well back from any public footpaths, roads etc and try to blend in with the surrounding countryside, when it comes to lighting a fire I would also leave it as late as possible so when it is dark hopefully nobody will see the smoke from a distance as for the fire, I would make reflectors so when the fire dies down a bit hopefully you shouldn't stick out like a sore thumb....so to speak! also keep the fire as small as possible and when you leave in the morning leave early and make sure you exstinguish the fire and clear the area as if you were never there!
Id your campsite. Move on elsewhere some distance away. Eat supper, with/out fire. Chill. Return to campsite late. No fire or smoke or noise. Keep all/most of your gear in your pack in case you have to bale out fast. Sleep. Leave early. Eat breakfast elsewhere. (Plus various recommendations from previous respondents.)
Not forgetting sound and sudden movementBe aware of the "S"s
Shape
Shine
Shadow
Silhouette
Smoke
Nature abhors not only a vacuum but also a straight line and crisp angles so break up any of those in your camp.
Shiny, glittery bits draw the eye so matt everything down
In this case shadow can be your friend deep shadow can hide you from prying eyes
Pitch so that your camp has a matching background from every aspect - pitches that are on a ridgeline stand out
Avoid producing clouds of smoke which may be visible for miles
Rik is right here imho. If the thought of needing a weapon to defend yourself against other people came to mind, i would think i was in the wrong place and would move on.
If i had been in familiar territory and it was still light that would have been my preference of action too, the dodgy people were not seen until close to dark and after dark and the area was unfamiliar to me for moving camp in the dark, i moved camp at first light the next day, well after my first cuppa to be accurate
Just to go slightly against the flow. My answer would be: don't.
Or rather. don't go over the top. It's very easy to end up with a camp that looks "wrong".
In most areas of the UK, you can roll out a camo bivvi bag on a sleep matt 10ft from a footpath, sleep well and despite the 3 dozen early morning walkers going past just feet from your head, not one will notice you.
The Kent group's recent trip out involved three of us camping less than 50m off a well used bridleway. All weekend we saw people walking past, and despite having a fire, and a functioning camp, noone batted an eyelid. Two of the shelters were British Army DPM tarps, and the 3rd was just an OG tent. I had a Bright YELLOW exped Synmat 7 UL sleeping bag, but you couldn't see it once there was a tree or so in front. The only thing anyone might have seen was my sainsburys carrier bag (now banned by the other members) hanging on a tree.
You want just enough subtlety to not scream I AM HERE, without making it look like you're trying to hide.
Oh, as for sleeping with your knife. I sleep with my knife in my sleeping bag, Not because I want to use it to defend myself, but because I want to know where it is at all times. I don't want to wake up to find it's been stolen by a dog that smelt last nights sausages on it. I don't want to wake up and tread on it.
Julia
Or rather. don't go over the top. It's very easy to end up with a camp that looks "wrong".
In most areas of the UK, you can roll out a camo bivvi bag on a sleep matt 10ft from a footpath, sleep well and despite the 3 dozen early morning walkers going past just feet from your head, not one will notice you.
The Kent group's recent trip out involved three of us camping less than 50m off a well used bridleway. All weekend we saw people walking past, and despite having a fire, and a functioning camp, noone batted an eyelid. Two of the shelters were British Army DPM tarps, and the 3rd was just an OG tent. I had a Bright YELLOW exped Synmat 7 UL sleeping bag, but you couldn't see it once there was a tree or so in front. The only thing anyone might have seen was my sainsburys carrier bag (now banned by the other members
) hanging on a tree. You want just enough subtlety to not scream I AM HERE, without making it look like you're trying to hide.
Oh, as for sleeping with your knife. I sleep with my knife in my sleeping bag, Not because I want to use it to defend myself, but because I want to know where it is at all times. I don't want to wake up to find it's been stolen by a dog that smelt last nights sausages on it. I don't want to wake up and tread on it.
Julia
xylaria
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
A polish army laavu and light shrub and picking a spot far from the madding crowd is normally enough for nice night amongst nature. Under mature shruby hedges is a gap big enough to fit a tent.
However I am not alone in finding an unauthorised nudist beach or dogging or cottaging site. Most people into these wierder hobbies aren't interested in forcing themselves on others. However if you do find yourself in the region of these hobbies my advise os sleep fully dressed. Belted trousers makes sexual assault more difficult. Sleep facing upright with your boots on and your bag packed.
However I am not alone in finding an unauthorised nudist beach or dogging or cottaging site. Most people into these wierder hobbies aren't interested in forcing themselves on others. However if you do find yourself in the region of these hobbies my advise os sleep fully dressed. Belted trousers makes sexual assault more difficult. Sleep facing upright with your boots on and your bag packed.
I do wonder if you could pitch up a BT man hole covering tent setup like you see on the streets, but in the middle of the south downs way... Bet most people would just walk past it and not disturb you. Sod to carry tho...
Julia
I'd say the high-viz bib was a spot on comment. Camo is not just about blending into the background it's also about becoming what people expect to see.
For instance if both the foresrtry workers pictured below set up a full overnight camp with a fire, which one would you expect an average passing member of the public to report to the police? who is out of place, the Health & Safety obsessed employee or the escapee from a fairy tale.
For instance if both the foresrtry workers pictured below set up a full overnight camp with a fire, which one would you expect an average passing member of the public to report to the police? who is out of place, the Health & Safety obsessed employee or the escapee from a fairy tale.
I'd say the high-viz bib was a spot on comment. Camo is not just about blending into the background it's also about becoming what people expect to see.
For instance if both the foresrtry workers pictured below set up a full overnight camp with a fire, which one would you expect an average passing member of the public to report to the police? who is out of place, the Health & Safety obsessed employee or the escapee from a fairy tale.
there's a lot of truth there, hiding in plain sight an all that.......if you happen to see the fella on the left, ask him where he got that waistcoat lol
today I was stunned to see a forester cutting a hedge on a main road wearing camo. I can see the conversation with his relatives sorry I did not see him. Makes me so mad when hi vis is so simple with a yellow bib. sorry sort of the opposite of this thread :-(
I'd say the high-viz bib was a spot on comment. Camo is not just about blending into the background it's also about becoming what people expect to see.
For instance if both the foresrtry workers pictured below set up a full overnight camp with a fire, which one would you expect an average passing member of the public to report to the police? who is out of place, the Health & Safety obsessed employee or the escapee from a fairy tale.
Like the POWs that escaped a prison camp in Germany in WWII by walking out the front gate taking measurements and writing them down as if they were doing an inspection.
Or the thieves that stole a fire truck from the Air Force in the Philippines. They just turned on the lights and siren, and the gate guards stopped traffic for them while they drove out.
I've walked a few long distance paths, camping wild as and when I felt like stopping.
I haven't had a problem, just sitting at the side of the path, cooking up, then when it gets dark rolling out the beeping slag/bivvy bag. I've also used a small one man tent.
Have been woke by farmers and dog walkers early morning, but they seem more interested in what you are doing than trespassing. An explanation on what you are doing and that you got caught short, usually suffices.
I haven't had a problem, just sitting at the side of the path, cooking up, then when it gets dark rolling out the beeping slag/bivvy bag. I've also used a small one man tent.
Have been woke by farmers and dog walkers early morning, but they seem more interested in what you are doing than trespassing. An explanation on what you are doing and that you got caught short, usually suffices.
