I shot a few more of my latest solo nighter. I know people are more into regular, untouched photographs so I wont stick them in the thread my style is my own and best left on my gallery. Im not a photographer. These pics are hidden from my main gallery, I like to keep my time in the woods away from others, but Bushcrafters can probably feel me on this. Not many know about my escapes to the woods.
Heres the link to them, I hope theyre enjoyed -
http://photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=1068447
I left home around 6 and got to my area around 7. As I got closer to my intended spot, I heard laughing and screaming right where my hammock was going were three blokes drinking beer while their kids ran riot. I love seeing kids enjoying the woods, no issues at all but I knew itd mean a later start than Id planned. An hour later Im sitting in a bush having a smoke and they pass me on their way out. It sounds odd I didnt pick another area to setup in, if you came to these woods youd understand why I couldnt most of it to do with people wrecking the place. The Entwives all left bruva.
I got in and pulled my tarp and hammock out I keep these in the very top compartment so I can get to them right away. As I started setting up I realised my light was going .
Ive not setup in the dark before. Im a big boy and Ive been in these woods since before mum said I could, so it feels strange admitting the mild panic I felt. Panic? Not sure if thats the word. I felt pressure though I started to scramble a bit, zips got fiddly, empty stuff sacks disappeared and reappeared as I tried to keep order. One thing Im proud of is getting my tautline hitches right on the tarp sorted the ridgeline and 4 corners and got the basha tight. Ive known this knot for 2 camping trips now, kept getting it wrong but with a bit of slow breathing and determination I got them sorted. Im quite proud of this as my whole life Id just get the line fastened to the anchor and wrap, loop and knot the line until Id cowboyed a line that was tight the sort you normally have to cut through at hometime!
At this point, I remembered my headtorch the red light done well and I was able to easily sort my sleeping system and bring some order in general using short bursts. I sat in my hammock feeling chuffed, relieved and glad I always carry a mugflask of tea for this point!
Id gone out with the intention of avoiding a campfire in recent months Ive started to think over my destruction to the environment. I still love fires but if Im only there for the night on my own, I figure it best I use a stove. My stove is one of those big, square jobs and it takes up a lot of my bergen Im going to buy a smaller one you screw on to gas bottles asap! It really is a lot easier for me to boil and cook this way. Id opted for this stove as Im wary of the size of gas canisters, and this one takes spray-can sized ones carrying it around though, it seems the bigger can / smaller stove option would work a lot better for me. Am I alone in fearing an exploding gas canister strapped tight to my back? Serious question Ive always been suspicious of them yet no one else seems to consider something could go wrong, and everyones used them for decades.
A couple cups of tea, my sandwiches and a smoke and I got restless. I decided sod it, Id have a small fire in the morning! I collected a fair amount of dead wood from the floor, didnt need my saw and only took what I could break over my knee with ease this was a very relaxed fire prep!
My first night in a hammock! One-side-reflective rollmat zipped inside my DD Camping Hammock, my 3 season bag and a small travel pillow (synthetic fill). Bed at around 11pm, I woke up around 6:45, slowly becoming AWARE that I had a couple of cold spots - but they hadnt woke me up. I slept better that night than any night I have ever had in a tent. Actually, better than any Id had sleeping on mates living room floors.
I got washed up and got the stove on for a tea, had a lovely 2 cups as I smoked and tried to ID trees with my Collins guide. The sycamore I recently learned Id been tying up to for my afternoon chillouts is actually a rowan.
Or ash
With the morning ahead of me I did a quick video of the fire lighting and sent it to my prettier half, so she would be suitably impressed. Once lit and going I cooked up some awful tinned soup for breakfast. I continued to feed small logs into it throughout the day for firegazing, but no more cooking . My knife was already sharp and my tree research grew tiresome, so I decided to shoot another, better video on my camera setup. Ill link that below too. I did a quick one of my setup, more in depth than a previous attempt but realised afterwards that Id shot the whole thing in portrait again, so Ill try again next time. Ive no aspirations to be a Youtube hero, to be honest the vids I enjoy most are taken by people (no doubt members here) who are just showing their setup and having a ramble, so maybe someone will enjoy watching mine, or at least see how things look when setup.
I had 1.5l water with me I ALWAYS take 4l, this time though because of the size of the stove Id arranged with my brother to bring me more in the morning, all week wed planned smoking bacon for sandwiches, letting him test out the hammock and generally having a good time, maybe some spoon carving. He never showed up. I had enough water to cover me, and being 20 mins away from home, Im in no trouble. But I do like my tea, so this did cast a small shadow on an otherwise wicked day. This could have easily gone wrong though elsewhere, and Im never relying on anyone else when it comes to camp supplies. I wonder if this waiting for my brother is faux pas, a real breach of bushcraft etiquette? Dont get me wrong a proper outing Id ensure Im covered, but godjam this was HIS idea!
Throughout the time I was there I got on with my picture-taking. Im getting used to my camping and bushcraft-type activities as a subject to shoot and get a lot of enjoyment combining two of my interests.
I chilled until around 5pm, had my final half-cup of tea and packed out. I do my best with leave-no-trace a woodsman would suss me no doubt, but little kids and their gattered dads would not. Round my way its easy to find the stone circles full of beer cans and bacon wrappers, I dont want to let on theres space for another one!
To conclude, I had a great time. Its not every nighter I come away so pleased with myself, but seeing my basha in the morning, just confirming in daylight that it was setup right with all the knots tight and doing their job, man I felt good!
Im not sure how it relates or what inspired it on this pleasantly warm nighter, but my next bit of kit will be a Bison Bush Shirt. Dont need it through summer but I cant take my eyes off it!
Well, I hope everyones either out in the woods or planning on being!
Heres a link to the camera gear video, my second attempt at a video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekUAfoctF20
Have a good one
Brady
Heres the link to them, I hope theyre enjoyed -
http://photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=1068447
I left home around 6 and got to my area around 7. As I got closer to my intended spot, I heard laughing and screaming right where my hammock was going were three blokes drinking beer while their kids ran riot. I love seeing kids enjoying the woods, no issues at all but I knew itd mean a later start than Id planned. An hour later Im sitting in a bush having a smoke and they pass me on their way out. It sounds odd I didnt pick another area to setup in, if you came to these woods youd understand why I couldnt most of it to do with people wrecking the place. The Entwives all left bruva.
I got in and pulled my tarp and hammock out I keep these in the very top compartment so I can get to them right away. As I started setting up I realised my light was going .
Ive not setup in the dark before. Im a big boy and Ive been in these woods since before mum said I could, so it feels strange admitting the mild panic I felt. Panic? Not sure if thats the word. I felt pressure though I started to scramble a bit, zips got fiddly, empty stuff sacks disappeared and reappeared as I tried to keep order. One thing Im proud of is getting my tautline hitches right on the tarp sorted the ridgeline and 4 corners and got the basha tight. Ive known this knot for 2 camping trips now, kept getting it wrong but with a bit of slow breathing and determination I got them sorted. Im quite proud of this as my whole life Id just get the line fastened to the anchor and wrap, loop and knot the line until Id cowboyed a line that was tight the sort you normally have to cut through at hometime!
At this point, I remembered my headtorch the red light done well and I was able to easily sort my sleeping system and bring some order in general using short bursts. I sat in my hammock feeling chuffed, relieved and glad I always carry a mugflask of tea for this point!
Id gone out with the intention of avoiding a campfire in recent months Ive started to think over my destruction to the environment. I still love fires but if Im only there for the night on my own, I figure it best I use a stove. My stove is one of those big, square jobs and it takes up a lot of my bergen Im going to buy a smaller one you screw on to gas bottles asap! It really is a lot easier for me to boil and cook this way. Id opted for this stove as Im wary of the size of gas canisters, and this one takes spray-can sized ones carrying it around though, it seems the bigger can / smaller stove option would work a lot better for me. Am I alone in fearing an exploding gas canister strapped tight to my back? Serious question Ive always been suspicious of them yet no one else seems to consider something could go wrong, and everyones used them for decades.
A couple cups of tea, my sandwiches and a smoke and I got restless. I decided sod it, Id have a small fire in the morning! I collected a fair amount of dead wood from the floor, didnt need my saw and only took what I could break over my knee with ease this was a very relaxed fire prep!
My first night in a hammock! One-side-reflective rollmat zipped inside my DD Camping Hammock, my 3 season bag and a small travel pillow (synthetic fill). Bed at around 11pm, I woke up around 6:45, slowly becoming AWARE that I had a couple of cold spots - but they hadnt woke me up. I slept better that night than any night I have ever had in a tent. Actually, better than any Id had sleeping on mates living room floors.
I got washed up and got the stove on for a tea, had a lovely 2 cups as I smoked and tried to ID trees with my Collins guide. The sycamore I recently learned Id been tying up to for my afternoon chillouts is actually a rowan.
Or ash
With the morning ahead of me I did a quick video of the fire lighting and sent it to my prettier half, so she would be suitably impressed. Once lit and going I cooked up some awful tinned soup for breakfast. I continued to feed small logs into it throughout the day for firegazing, but no more cooking . My knife was already sharp and my tree research grew tiresome, so I decided to shoot another, better video on my camera setup. Ill link that below too. I did a quick one of my setup, more in depth than a previous attempt but realised afterwards that Id shot the whole thing in portrait again, so Ill try again next time. Ive no aspirations to be a Youtube hero, to be honest the vids I enjoy most are taken by people (no doubt members here) who are just showing their setup and having a ramble, so maybe someone will enjoy watching mine, or at least see how things look when setup.
I had 1.5l water with me I ALWAYS take 4l, this time though because of the size of the stove Id arranged with my brother to bring me more in the morning, all week wed planned smoking bacon for sandwiches, letting him test out the hammock and generally having a good time, maybe some spoon carving. He never showed up. I had enough water to cover me, and being 20 mins away from home, Im in no trouble. But I do like my tea, so this did cast a small shadow on an otherwise wicked day. This could have easily gone wrong though elsewhere, and Im never relying on anyone else when it comes to camp supplies. I wonder if this waiting for my brother is faux pas, a real breach of bushcraft etiquette? Dont get me wrong a proper outing Id ensure Im covered, but godjam this was HIS idea!
Throughout the time I was there I got on with my picture-taking. Im getting used to my camping and bushcraft-type activities as a subject to shoot and get a lot of enjoyment combining two of my interests.
I chilled until around 5pm, had my final half-cup of tea and packed out. I do my best with leave-no-trace a woodsman would suss me no doubt, but little kids and their gattered dads would not. Round my way its easy to find the stone circles full of beer cans and bacon wrappers, I dont want to let on theres space for another one!
To conclude, I had a great time. Its not every nighter I come away so pleased with myself, but seeing my basha in the morning, just confirming in daylight that it was setup right with all the knots tight and doing their job, man I felt good!
Im not sure how it relates or what inspired it on this pleasantly warm nighter, but my next bit of kit will be a Bison Bush Shirt. Dont need it through summer but I cant take my eyes off it!
Well, I hope everyones either out in the woods or planning on being!
Heres a link to the camera gear video, my second attempt at a video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekUAfoctF20
Have a good one
Brady