How many times have you heard someone say, “You need to get experience in the woods!” without actually explaining how to do it? To someone who’s been doing it for years it’s almost a no-brainer. But what if you’ve never been out in the woods or have very limited experience?
Here’s a quick primer on how to get that experience that just might save your life some day.
First, let me give you some idea of what you’re going to discover on this journey. You will get dirty. You’ll probably discover that pine pitch is tough to wash off. There are likely to be bugs of various sorts. Some might bite, some might sting, but mostly they’ll just scare you a little when you first see them on you. Perfectly natural, so don’t feel like a weenie if you give a little yell when you see something crawling up your pant leg. Pretty soon you’ll be able to sort out the ones you have to worry about from the ones you don’t. Even the stingers no longer bother me these days as I know not to bother them first.
Things you’ll need:
- A pack or bag to put your gear in. A small backpack is a perfect choice.
- A good survival knife
- Firesteel and lighter
- Stove and fuel
- Poncho and a contractor bag
- Flashlight
- Cordage – paracord or something like it
- Notebook and pen
- Compass and map of your area (you might be able to print something in your area from Google maps)
- Canteen and canteen cup and/or a small pot for boiling water
- A place to practice your skills. A small patch of woods, a field, or even your back yard will work
- Multi-tool
- Bandana
- Small first aid kit
- Small tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
Camp
First, find a good spot to set up an over night camp. Look for level ground and if possible a spot sheltered from the wind. A large rock can be used as a fire reflector if there’s one around.
The weather will help decide where you set up your camp. If it’s very cold and windy you’ll want to avoid setting up on the very top of a mountain or in a valley (cold air settles to the bottom.) A spot midway down the hill is usually a decent choice if you can find a flat spot for your tent. Avoid low lying areas where water might pool up if it rains. Try looking for spots that have running water nearby, so you can have water to drink and cook with. Make sure to boil it first. If you’re having a fire try to camp near a spot that has a good supply of firewood nearby. If it’s very windy try not to camp under trees where branches can break off and fall on you.
Having said all this, over the years I have violated all these guide lines and I’m still around to talk about it. Find the best set of conditions you can for your situation and go with it. Remember, this is about getting experience and not all experiences are going to be good, but they can all be learned from.
Start by setting up your tent. Make sure there aren’t any big rocks or roots under the tent and once the tent is up go ahead and lay out your sleeping pad inside the tent. I like to use the foam kind, but there are different types available on the market. Why foam? KISS – keep it simple stupid. It’s hard to mess one of these bad boys up! They’re designed to keep your body from losing heat by keeping you off the ground and not to make you comfortable. Once you lay the pad out go ahead and lay down on it. Lay on your back and sides to make sure it’s comfortable with no lumps or sharp objects sticking into you. When you’re satisfied lay your sleeping bag out.
Now you’ve got your tent set up you’ll want to start collecting wood for a fire. I like to get a big pile of wood and then double it, so I know I’ll have enough. Make sure the wood you find is dry. Standing dead is usually the best source of dry fuel. Look for a tree no thicker than your arm and then chop (or saw) it down. If you cut 3/4 or more through you can usually push it in the direction you want it to fall.
Another source of dry wood is branches that have fallen, but are off the ground. Most anything laying on the ground is likely to be wet – at least on the ground side – and won’t burn as well or at all.
Make a fire pit. There are many techniques for doing this, but the way I prefer is by making a simple fire ring out of rocks. Living in Maine there is usually a good supply on hand to choose from. I usually get the about the size of my head or smaller then put them in a circle about 18″ to 36″ in diameter depending on how big I want my fire to be. Make sure your fire pit isn’t too close to your tent as sparks can fly out and land on your tent. If you’re using a light hiking tent the chances are good that one of the sparks will put a small hole in your tent. Not good.. (Trust me.) Also, try to make sure the tent isn’t down wind from the fire. A good breeze will all that smoke right into your tent. Also not good.
Once you’ve carried the trees/logs/branches back to your site it’s time to process them. I usually carry a small camp saw with me. I personally use either the Sven Saw or the Sawvivor. Go ahead and cut the wood into lengths that are good for you. Sometimes it’s easier to break the wood between two trees then to saw it and some people will just lay the ends in the fire and and keep pushing the log in as it burns. It’s all good, so find a method you like and go with it.
Now you have your tent, fire pit and firewood ready to go. These are the two big chores you’ll have when setting an overnight camp. Next you need to designate a spot for going to the bathroom. This is a nice euphemism because there are no bathrooms out there. If you have to make a standing head call it’s not a big deal, but if you have to make a sitting head call you should dig a cat hole or even a small latrine if there are enough of you. To make a sitting head call unhitch your britches, squat down (I like to put a hand on a tree for balance if possible ), then do your business. Hopefully you remembered the TP. Once you’re done go ahead and bury everything in the pit. Also remember to set the latrine area well away from your tent. If you have to get up in the night to go make sure you have a flashlight nearby and don’t get lazy. I’ve known people (and done it myself especially in the winter) where they just take a few steps away from the tent and whizz away. Try to walk at least ten steps away from the camp before doing your business.
Next week – starting your fire and cooking over it.
How about some experiences campers out there shouting out a little advice? Everybody likes to run their camp a littler different.
Questions? Comments?
Sound off below!
17 comments
Nice post!
I always carry a small tarp along. You can make a shelter near your fire so the heat reflects off it. Also, a tarp can make a rainy camp much more enjoyable. http://www.survivalcommonsense.com/video-5-tips-to-make-a-quick-emergency-tarp-shelterfeed/
Also, I always carry a book along. I really enjoy sitting next to a fire and reading. This is particularly nice when you’re snug and dry under the tarp while it is raining.
Leon
no recent camping experience, but I was a boy scout for a few years…
we need to elaborate on what makes a “good” survival knife.
(no hollow handle cheapos) also, some type of small shovel
(as we discussed on Monday) is probably worth having along.
right now is a good time to look around in the woods here, because most of the fallen trees are still around. it will illustrate why tree branches are called “widow makers”. standing dead trees are sometimes small enough to just be pushed down, cutting to length is optional. (splitting it however, does make for easier burning)
… lately I’ve saved up a few plastic peanut butter jars. one for each car, another for the gear bag. even though I usually have a flashlight, I don’t want to go wandering around in unfamiliar places after dark. (make sure it is a big enough jar) for “guests” I keep a package of “HERE” bags (with absorbent material inside) in case there is nowhere to pull over.
Glad you both mentioned the tree branches. 32 yrs ago my brother was walking in the woods. tree branch came down on his head. He thought he was a goner. He drove over an hr to the nearest hospital. Dr. said go home and take some aspirin. If your still in pain come back. So my brother drove to a real hospital. They x-rayed him. He had a broken neck. Dr. said you are lucky to be alive. Just driving over a bump could of killed you.
yeh, that’s why you shouldn’t refuse (qualified) medical attention after any accident.
When I first taught my niece wilderness survival, when she was 7, I used my 1.5 acre back yard. It was close to the house so she wasn’t scared and also close enough to use the indoor plumbing. I had her gather the wood and make a fire pit, and showed he how to start a fire. later I taught her how to use different methods of fire starting. we made stew in a small pot, then made smores. While we all know smores probably won’t be on the menu in a real SHTF situation, I have found it works well to help teach and keep new comers interested. roasting marshmallows or hot dogs also provides an great opportunity to answer questions and discuss other skills the newbie should learn.
Good list but you forgot to add a shovel even though you mention digging a hole.
As for the best way to get started, start with someone experienced. Do a group trip with people you know who do it or go to your local outfitter. They are always putting stuff together. Experienced packers, LOVE to share their knowledge/experience.
You can also practice a lot at home before going out (starting a fire by various methods, setting up a tent, taking a walk/hike with your loaded pack).
That’s right! Good catch, Man!
For those really long sticks, I like to lay then across the fire with about 2 feet sticking out the far side. It burns through leaving you a nice length for later, no breaking or cutting. I have been known to use whole trees, Lodgepoles mostly, to feed the fire. The only downside is the space used and possible trip hazards, but it saves time and energy.
One of my favorite outdoor tools is a hammock. It is a very versatile (internet search on their uses) and you will be surprised how comfortable these things are, whether lounging around a campfire or catching a mid day ‘catnap’ – perfect. The small hammocks are okay for children, but for for adults, you will probably be happier with the larger units.
When cutting or hauling firewood in our area, a good pair of gloves is appreciated. Insect bites / strings, rough bark and burns from fire helps minimize injuries to hands. Another tip – a pair of garden shears makes cutting tinder for your fire base really easy and quick. I learned this tip some years back from a camping book (Nygerges ?) and its a good one.
Spring is a good time to get out outside and spend some family time together – Thanks for writing this as a reminder.
Tent camping is the best way to learn. No electricity, you need to, and will learn how to cook, wash yourself and dishes, How to keep things dry, How to keep warm, How to start a fire, how to cook with wood, and 1,000 other things most people in our modern world have no idea how to do.
PS: learning to keep things dry is a lifelong thing, every time I think I got it figured out, I find I have more to learn.
For the wilderness fire builders here is an amazing U-Tube video that will likely teach you a new way to find tinder. this video is well worth the 16-min time to watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdbwJJkPGXA
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Bring a headlamp. I’m a big Petzel fan. However I purchased an Icon Black Diamond recently. Runs on 4 AA battery pack that sits on the back of your head. It’s water proof, had red light function, dim and strobe. Flood light VS beam as well. 200 lumen output. It’s a sweet piece. $89 I was paying about $50 for my AAA Petzels.
Be sure to have a red light function. The red has next to no effect on your night vision. You can look at something on your hand with the red light on then look into the distance with no loss of night vision. It’s waaaay easier to perform camp chores with a head lamp than having one hand tied up with a flashlight.
Suffering Steve, headlamps are like growing a 3rd arm. Look at the Princeton Tec’s too. I have an Aurora or two and just got an EOS with interchangeable lenses, it rocks. The EOS burns more energy and the Aurora is pretty miserly. I like the Mini-Petzl with its adjustable focus, it burns forever. The LED’s these days are soo efficient compared to the older units.
200 Lumens on that Flood, sh*t. That’s blinding, you could grow food with that thing.
I like headlamps too. I’ve done a lot of mountaineering and it’s way easier with a headlamp than with a regular flashlight. After awhile you just get used to having it on your head.
I’ve wanted to like using a headlamp because everyone seems to think they are one of the best things ever invented. But I just don’t use one. I have been camping for 50-years and several years ago I bought a few headlamps and took to the woods with them. I find them uncomfortable (even the small ones) and there is nothing I can’t do with a flashlight or camp lantern. LED lanterns light up the whole tent well and a flashlight works well outside the tent. As far as having both hands free I never found this to be an issue as LED lanterns work well.
One thing that did annoy (sp?) me greatly with the headlamp is that bugs would buzz around the light and your face, this is extremely unpleasant and in itself a reason to not strap a bug magnet to your head.
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(note to self) add to equipment list: broad brimmed hat. mosquito head net.
I like building a fire first so the coffee’s done by the time the tent is up and the bag laid out.
My first few camping trips were with uncles and we divvied the loads, so someone always carried the axe for cutting wood, but it was seldom used. Most, we used small breakable wood because it builds a fast fire and is less bother than splitting big chunks of probably wet wood, even stuff downed for years will bear moisture preventing a good fire.
Dunno why anyone would want to carry a shovel for digging a cat hole- save those for fox holes. A stick is much more easy to find than a shovel is to carry.
The tent is usually set-up up hill from the fire, which is probably going to be not far from the water supply for ease of getting water for cooking and cleaning- think kitchen triangle. Smoke will be pushed away from the tent as the air cools, as well.
Flashlights… I think I carried one once. Don’t know why. Once I have the campsite chosen, it’s easy enough to set up before dark- and even in the dark we could set up the tent as well as in light. Need to look for firewood after dark? Why didn’t you gather enough to park under a tarp/plastic for the whole night?
Used to love when we did what we called ‘survival trips’ and all we carried was a sleeping bag, knife and some salt and pepper and fishing tools. Sure wouldn’t want to do those now-a-days… fifty years later is fifty years smarter. Hopefully.