I've spent today setting up the canvas tarp (which also involved cleaning it as it came with a lovely mottling of mold on it, probably from condensation in the plastic packaging material).
I've also been trying out various carry configs... and sadly it seems like I'm going to have to stick with the modern Bergen. It's basically the only bag I can carry that doesn't destroy my lower back. On that same topic, I'm also going to have to bring the self-inflating mat.
It's a bit of a downer, really, because I'd spent ages doing an awesome "all-in-one over-the-shoulder pack roll", with the tarp and sleep system wrapped around the entirety of my kit, and bound with as-close-to-period-accurate twine as I could get my hands on.
Problem is, I can't put that much weight over my shoulders... and that was with a nylon tarp (so it'd be even more annoying with the much heavier canvas one)
Still, I've got my kit down to the following:
Sleep and Shelter
- Canvas tarp (it's 16oz "duck" cotton canvas)
- Tree straps and ridge-line (I'm using the straps because I've noticed the line cuts in to the trees with the weight of the tarp)
- Merino wool blanket
- Sleeping bag and liner (I don't have a mil-style bed roll or bivvy bag, so just working with what I got)
- Self-inflating mat (my back simply won't allow anything otherwise, and yes... I feel "guilty" for including it)
- Simple bug net (otherwise they'll never leave me alone, and I've found reference to basic bug nets used in that period, so I'm calling that "authentic". Apparently bug nets have been in use since prehistoric times! See
Wikipedia entry on mosquito nets)
Cooking
- Simple pan for cooking in
- Stainless canteen for water
- Metal cup for eating and drinking out of (though I'll likely just eat out of the pan, and use it for coffee)
- Wooden spoon
- My small grill
Clothing
- I'll be wearing my usual outdoor garb (shirt, trousers, wool socks, boots)
- Fleece or wool pullover (depending on which one I find first, they're still packed from when I moved several months ago)
- Spare wool socks
- Thermal vest
- Poncho (in case we end up with protracted heavy downpours, and I'm also intending to double this as a rain catch)
Tools
- My ESEE 6 (main working knife)
- Folding saw (I'm not much of an axe man, personally)
- The new knife I got from Damascus (for intricate carving work)
- Crook knife (I'm hoping to make use of it while I'm out there)
- Reasonable amount of cordage
Food
I'm picking all this up tomorrow, so it'll basically come down to what I can find in Tesco...
- Fresh veg
- Fresh meat (for use on the Friday night)
- Dried/Cured meat
- Popcorn kernels
- Block of butter
- Molasses
- Ginger root
- One or two bags of pre-prepared bread mix
- Couple of home-made Hudson Bay Bread squares (oats and molasses-based syrup with fresh banana... yum)
- Coffee (going to see if I can get my hands on a basic peculator otherwise I'll stick with the 3-in-one variety)
- Loose-leaf tea
Tinder Pouch
I'm going to try with tinder picked from the environment first, but if that fails I'll be bringing some with me...
- Cotton bud
- Birch bark
- Coconut husk (not strictly accurate to the boonie, but I just happen to have some and want to try it out)
- Couple of spark-catching fungus that I've been given
Emergency/Fail-safe Stuff
All items (except med kit) in my waist kit unless otherwise stated...
- My full med kit
- Firesteel (just in case I absolutely fail with bow drill)
- Matches (these will only be used for smokes)
- Compass
- Whistle (came in handy before... might be useful again, you never know)
- Bug spray (I'm not joking when I say they never leave me alone!)
- Couple of survival blankets (might come in handy should my canvas tarp start letting through water for any reason)
- Small card-rolled duct tape (to be used with the above)
- Knife sharpener
- Multi-tool (usually only used when I'm failing to untie a knot with my fingers)
I think that's everything, basically. Anything missing?