another 2-nighter: 2 types of shelter used.

[JV3]

All your post are great bro........ Makes me want to pack up and head out each time.... Thanks for your cool posts.... Mike

thanks, man!

Great photo documentation. Thank you the post.

thanks!

JV3 that was an excellent job of the pics and naration . What a cool area you have there for your wilderness time and bushcraft .


.............................................
HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS !

thanks!

Hey JV3, excellent thread and I know how much effort you put into posting it - excellent!

You mention that friction fire is on your short list - friction fire is not all that hard.

Ever get up to Ontario? If so, give me a shout, and we'll get you tuned up.

Doc

thanks, doc! i've never been to canada but i'll keep your generous offer in mind. i know you've met tonym before and he learned a lot from you. i actually learned beech leaves as tinder from him, among other things, from our previous overnighter...i guess i'm next in line as the little grasshopper

[Battle Creek Knives]

i'm very happy with my kukri - the proof is the edge is well serrated from constant use in the backyard my junglas is gone now actually (sold it a few days ago) because i like the kukri so much...can't believe i didn't take it out hiking until recently! as far as the hockey mask deal, i learned my lesson with the izula - little knives bite when i least expect it so i didn't want to get the "bandaid companion" any reason to. besides, it's one of your early knives - i'll wait until you become famous and ebay it for $500

now that's funny right there..

when I got my cs kuk I started a thread on the old esee forum junglas vs cs kuk... lot of slack from that one, funny you find the cs kuk excels so well that you'd sell your junglas

I might have to dig mine out and touch it up....

off to go look up that field chair, I don't think you're getting old you're just used to the luxury of furniture!!

[David_Parker03]

Awesome post man. I love seeing your little camping adventures. Keep it up!

[JV3]

now that's funny right there..

when I got my cs kuk I started a thread on the old esee forum junglas vs cs kuk... lot of slack from that one, funny you find the cs kuk excels so well that you'd sell your junglas

I might have to dig mine out and touch it up....

off to go look up that field chair, I don't think you're getting old you're just used to the luxury of furniture!!

i just received the field chair earlier today. surprisingly, it actually works very well especially the back support. it's a simple design, i'm sure you can rig something up with a spare tarp and two sticks to get the feel for it...btw, there's a knife show here in early march. are you going to make it? i'm tired of seeing 99% folders. at the last show i attended the only fixed blade maker was busse.

Awesome post man. I love seeing your little camping adventures. Keep it up!

thanks! i almost went out again today but the snow forecast was very disappointing - a mere 1" so i called it off in hopes of a bigger storm by next weekend.

[abo4ster]

Great post. Where did you find a multi-cam poncho with fire retardant? That is all me as this is my setup which is a GI Poncho...

[JV3]

Great post. Where did you find a multi-cam poncho with fire retardant? That is all me as this is my setup which is a GI Poncho...

thanks! i saw your thread on bcusa/these pics and others while researching about the super shelter. good stuff, man! o.p.s.e.c. poncho: http://www.survival-solutions.com/O_...__Details.html. i just bought a piece of 1/2" webbing and i'll sew a tie down loop at both ends for the main ridge line so i don't have to jerry-rig it again next time.

[ROCK6]

Great post JV3…I know that takes a lot of time and effort to get that put up…much appreciated brother!

I’ve got the “Swack Shack” and really like it for what it is and I think the BCUSA tarps in Multicam are also fire retardant. I’m jealous…we have the same weather here, but not nearly the beauty! Great reviews and some great gear tests; I too am sold on a Multicam for excellent camouflage. Thanks again, I really enjoyed the read and photos...it brightens the busy work days here in A’Stan!

ROCK6

[JV3]

an update to the poncho, i added two tabs on the ends (stitched with kevlar thread) so it should be good to go as my emergency shelter. i'm very happy with it, it just needed those extra tabs from the factory to be perfect for me.

Great post JV3…I know that takes a lot of time and effort to get that put up…much appreciated brother!

I’ve got the “Swack Shack” and really like it for what it is and I think the BCUSA tarps in Multicam are also fire retardant. I’m jealous…we have the same weather here, but not nearly the beauty! Great reviews and some great gear tests; I too am sold on a Multicam for excellent camouflage. Thanks again, I really enjoyed the read and photos...it brightens the busy work days here in A’Stan!

ROCK6

thanks, bro! the swack shack caught my eye too. yes, the bcusa multicam tarps are also fire retardant. the material overall feels tougher and thicker than their regular tarps too.

[gregorio]

Thanks for the post, lots of good info here

[JV3]

Thanks for the post, lots of good info here

you're welcome!

[CellerDrummer]

Dude, you are a bad ass in my book..Your story reminded me of 1989... I lived in a tent for a month in the middle of the winter, in Korea of all places...Except there were 14 of us in the tent,and we had a big kerosene heater in the middle and a built up wooden floor...We all had cots and the best sleeping bags uncle sam owned at the time..I was 19 yrs old with two stripes on my sleve...Team Spirit 1989 what a great time.

I was also stationed at Clark AB for three years in Angeles City..Had my 19th,20th and 21st birthdays in the P.I. Kamusta

[CellerDrummer]

When I was a kid we had a nice remote location that was next to a stream..We would fish, build fires, roast some dogs and just hang out like we owned the place..Someone came up with the idea of keeping two 5 gal buckets at the location with our tarps,nets and things that we didn't feel like carrying out each time..Our beer coolers were getting heavier and heavier so we had to come up with something....We painted the lids brown,,dug two holes and would just throw some dirt and leaves on the top to hide them..It worked perfectly..

You could bury a small wood stove at your location..One of the cheap DIY ones that guys posted on this site or u-tube..It looks like you could easily modify your shelter and you definately have the room...Just an idea to make your vacations a little more comfortable...

[JV3]

Dude, you are a bad ass in my book..Your story reminded me of 1989... I lived in a tent for a month in the middle of the winter, in Korea of all places...Except there were 14 of us in the tent,and we had a big kerosene heater in the middle and a built up wooden floor...We all had cots and the best sleeping bags uncle sam owned at the time..I was 19 yrs old with two stripes on my sleve...Team Spirit 1989 what a great time.

I was also stationed at Clark AB for three years in Angeles City..Had my 19th,20th and 21st birthdays in the P.I. Kamusta

When I was a kid we had a nice remote location that was next to a stream..We would fish, build fires, roast some dogs and just hang out like we owned the place..Someone came up with the idea of keeping two 5 gal buckets at the location with our tarps,nets and things that we didn't feel like carrying out each time..Our beer coolers were getting heavier and heavier so we had to come up with something....We painted the lids brown,,dug two holes and would just throw some dirt and leaves on the top to hide them..It worked perfectly..

You could bury a small wood stove at your location..One of the cheap DIY ones that guys posted on this site or u-tube..It looks like you could easily modify your shelter and you definately have the room...Just an idea to make your vacations a little more comfortable...

thanks! kamusta i'm not hardcore at all, i just like cold weather for some reason, haha. clark ab/surrounding area is now filled with beach resorts and other tourist stuff! i've seen averageiowaguy's diy stove before too and it's neat. i'll probably try something like that for next winter and definitely a 0 degree bag too, haha. i'm tired of freezing without the snow this winter.

kifaru makes a sub-3 lb. folding stove in stainless steel too but it's pricey. right now i can rough it without any heat but maybe i'll pony up for one if i'm married with kids someday so they won't hate winter camping...or i win the lottery soon!

[Reasoned1]

Thanks, JV3, for the great post--I THOROUGHLY enjoyed it. I'm heading out in the next week for an overnight in the Vermont woods with my wife and daughters (11 and 3). They've never been, so it'll be a lot of fun. I'll be cheating a bit and using a Eureka Assault Outfitter 4 tent and a foam pad--along with that 0-degree bag you mentioned.

[JV3]

Thanks, JV3, for the great post--I THOROUGHLY enjoyed it. I'm heading out in the next week for an overnight in the Vermont woods with my wife and daughters (11 and 3). They've never been, so it'll be a lot of fun. I'll be cheating a bit and using a Eureka Assault Outfitter 4 tent and a foam pad--along with that 0-degree bag you mentioned.

thanks! glad you like my thread. with a wife and kids in tow, i think you'll be roughing it even more than i did - going solo the only complaints i hear are from my own voice good for you taking out your daughters into the woods. reminds me of a friend's 5 yr old daughter - she's always asking her dad to show her her pink izula

[Reasoned1]

I got my wife and 11 year-old Izula II's for Christmas--great knife for girls... ; )

[Mikel_24]

my north face sleeping bag absorbed the moisture though.




sleeping bags should be water proof and not need another outer layer for protection. oh well. as i get more experienced, i learn more what to look for when shopping for gear.

There are some sleeping with the outher layer made of Gore DryLoft, but I would recommend against them. They are nice to have in the event of dumping your tea/soup/water bottle/pee bottle or whatever on you... but they won't allow moisture to go through from the inside out like the Pertex does (for example).

The lighter the fabric, the better it will breathe... and the better it breathes... the easier it will be to stay dry night after night. I think the problem you experienced was due to the shelter being so small and so close to your sleeping bag. And you sweating a bit, of course. Unless it is raining or snowing, a warm enough sleeping bag will work better if not covered by anything. If your bag is too warm... you will sweat too much and end up opening it a bit to ventilate, which means cold spots and a bad nights dream. If your bag is not warm enough... well... you know what happens then! It is not easy to nail it...

I own two different down filled sleeping bags. One is good from 0ºC to 15ºC or so (Mountain Equipment Marathon 300). The other one has a confort temp of -17ºC and trust me, unless you are at -4ºC or lower, you sweat a lot in it (RAB Summit 700). I guess I just need another one.... LOL.

Great trip and great pictures by the way....
Mikel

[Reasoned1]

Took my 11 year-old out last night in the backyard to test the tent and bags--Mom was too smart to go. I had one candle burning and, in our 0 degree bags, we were okay until about midnight when the wind picked up and the temperature dropped rapidly to 8 degrees. By 4:30am were pretty cold and ready to head back into the house. I'm thinking I might get a propane tent heater...

[JV3]

There are some sleeping with the outher layer made of Gore DryLoft, but I would recommend against them. They are nice to have in the event of dumping your tea/soup/water bottle/pee bottle or whatever on you... but they won't allow moisture to go through from the inside out like the Pertex does (for example).

The lighter the fabric, the better it will breathe... and the better it breathes... the easier it will be to stay dry night after night. I think the problem you experienced was due to the shelter being so small and so close to your sleeping bag. And you sweating a bit, of course. Unless it is raining or snowing, a warm enough sleeping bag will work better if not covered by anything. If your bag is too warm... you will sweat too much and end up opening it a bit to ventilate, which means cold spots and a bad nights dream. If your bag is not warm enough... well... you know what happens then! It is not easy to nail it...

I own two different down filled sleeping bags. One is good from 0ºC to 15ºC or so (Mountain Equipment Marathon 300). The other one has a confort temp of -17ºC and trust me, unless you are at -4ºC or lower, you sweat a lot in it (RAB Summit 700). I guess I just need another one.... LOL.

Great trip and great pictures by the way....
Mikel

thanks! yes, my poncho shelter was indeed set up too low - every time i rolled over my sleeping bag brushed up against it (and against the condensation that built up). good info on those outer layers!

Took my 11 year-old out last night in the backyard to test the tent and bags--Mom was too smart to go. I had one candle burning and, in our 0 degree bags, we were okay until about midnight when the wind picked up and the temperature dropped rapidly to 8 degrees. By 4:30am were pretty cold and ready to head back into the house. I'm thinking I might get a propane tent heater...

yeah, that's what i found out the hard way - i need to add 10-15 deg to whatever the sleeping bag's rating is for a "real world" rating. also, the wiggy's booties helped a lot in keeping my feet warm too...good for you two testing gear out

[Reasoned1]

Between the expense and the danger, I'm pretty reluctant to go the propane heater route. I'm leaning towards getting bivy bags to supplement my current sleeping bags instead. Thoughts?