planning a survival practice night out

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Will

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Jan 4, 2003
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I am planning to spend a night out with a few friends to practice some basic survival skills. I have extensive backcountry experience, and can build shelters and fire no problems, but have never tried putting it all together, and spending a night out without a sleeping bag at this time of year. Up here is it cold (around freezing), and always raining so it will make for good practice. The people I am going with have minimal experience, so one night seems best, and we are going to focus on shelter and fire building only. We will bring real food, but cook it on the fire. The general idea is to have with is only the gear we would have at this time of year for a day hike - ie no tents, sleeping bags/mattresses, stoves…

I always carry basic survival gear packed in such a way it can all be carried in my pockets, on my belt, and the others will put together similar kits, but focus on the gear for shelter and fire building. This is what I have for those categories, and have suggested the others get together for themselves:

100 mph Tape - several feet
2mm accessory cord - 30 feet
Mylar (space) blanket - 5' x 8'
safety pins - 2 med. 2 small
birthday cake candle
mini Bic lighter
tinder tabs - 4
ranger bands - 3
spark-lite

I also have a mini headlamp, Charge Ti, SRK, and folding saw. Clothing for the weather and season, water bottle, basic first aid kit…and whatever other little day hiking things normally come along.

Because we want to practice, and try different things out, I will bring along extra cord, a variety of tinder, and several different sized knives and saws, so people can figure out what tool combos they like best.

I think the cold and rain will be our biggest challenge – trying to stay warm and dry. Also, getting through the long dark nights (it gets dark around 5 pm). Although actually sleeping out without a sleeping bag isn’t as much as skill as fire or shelter building, it is a good experience that will mentally prepare us for such situations.

Some of us want to bushwhack from the vehicle for several hours before establishing camp, but I am not sure it will be a good idea. After driving to our destination, then adding several hours of approach, we won’t have much in any light left. That might be ok, working at night is am important skill to practice, and will help minimize the amount of time spent sitting around waiting for morning. I am also concerned about safety being too far away incase something happens and it turns into a real survival situation. Other issues and getting soaking wet and tiered from the bushwhack, and possible not finding a good place to camp, or adequate water source.

What do you guys think of this idea? Any suggestions or comments on the plan, or proposed gear? To bushwhack or to camp near the vehicle? What to do all night to pass the time? I doubt it will be easy to sleep, and may not be safe either.

I am going to bring along my SAS survival manual just to have a reference to consult so we can practice other things. I know it isn’t normal day hiking gear, but I think it will enhance the learning experience.
 
I would still take a sleeping bag to use in your shelter!
If after this practice you figure you can manage without don't take one next time !!!Make sure it is synthetic though as you more than likely will get wet!
 
Will,

It sounds like a great way to get some experience. I would counsel against bushwhacking in too far unless you are headed to a place you scouted out beforehand.

As a backup you want to be able to treat yourselves for hypothermia. That would mean that each of you have a sleeping bag and change of warm clothes. If you camp near the truck then you could leave then in the truck. If you want to you could put a seal on them only to be broken in emergencies.

Make sure some reliable person knows where you are going, what you plan to do and when you will be back. If possible take a cell phone and have some one that you call to check in with.

When practicing it is best not to include too many variables. In this case you are testing shelter and fire, not food. If you add navigation to that as well, you may get in over your heads and put yourselves into hypothermia. Take it seriously.

People handle things differently. No two people will react to the cold the same way. You should agree to allow the other two to tell you when you are in too bad shape to continue. Nobody wants to be the one to throw in the towel for fear of looking like a quitter. You need to look out for each other and if any two of you agree that the third guy is suffering from hypothermia then you need to be able to tell him get warm.

A lean-to and a big fire will work wonders. Take notes and photos. Mac
 
I would not hike very far away from your vehicle, just in case something really happens. gotte keep it safe

In the car you can keep stuff for your back-up plan, like the already mentioned sleeping bags, cell phone, extra clothes, tents, ...

to pass the time at night a deck of cards can do wonders.
 
Will, you said.
I am planning to spend a night out with a few friends to practice some basic survival skills. I have extensive backcountry experience, and can build shelters and fire no problems, but have never tried putting it all together, and spending a night out without a sleeping bag at this time of year.

You might spend quite a bit time in the bush, this doesn't mean you have extensive backcountry experience. This where people get in over their head.

Listen to the others on here, if you want to practice, that's great. However, don't put yourself in a situation that can cause you harm on a practice run. Take the necessary items to keep warm and survive any situation that might happen on this practice run. Use this time to test your limits, what your body can take and withstand. For example, leave your gloves off until your fingers feel like they are so cold they are going to fall off. Then try to build your shelter and get a fire started or take a dip in a creek or a lake with your clothes on and try to build your fire and shelter. Make sure your friends keep warm so they can help you if you fail. In any survival situation, you have to KNOW YOUR BODYS LIMITS if you want to survive. Hope you have a great time, and be safe
 
sounds like a good time. I do this from time to time as well, but I go for a few days. I agree with everyone else about hypothermia, its a true killer, and especially if you get wet and cant get a fire going. As for the idea of bushwacking, I think that finding a good spot to build a shelter is part of survival practice. But you might want to be able to find your way out easily. What types of fire starting will you be practicing? Just wondering if everything will be wet. Be prepared to not have that fire as well, I would bring rain gear, maybe a tarp, and a sleeping bag. Enjoy your time and let us know how it is.
 
Sounds like fun. since you are going in too late in the day a firebed is kind of ruled out, although I reccomend you learn this skill eventually. That is if you don't already know how to make one. They work great with no sleeping bag and can keep you very warm in freezing weather.
 
Will said:
What do you guys think of this idea? Any suggestions or comments on the plan, or proposed gear? To bushwhack or to camp near the vehicle?
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I think it's a great idea, but like others have said - either stay near the vehicle or bring extra clothes/sleeping bag in case of onset of hypothermia. Having a safe backup-plan doesn't make it less real - it just makes it safe and that's what survivalism is all about.

Will said:
What to do all night to pass the time? I doubt it will be easy to sleep, and may not be safe either.
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Make tea. It will keep you hydrated as well as directly transfer some of the fire's BTUs to the interior core of your body. Making and drinking tea is a time-consuming process and it will keep you occupied as well as refreshed.

If you can fall asleep, you should. There is no danger of freezing to death in your sleep (if that's the safety issue you're concerned with). Your body will start to shiver and you'll wake up in plenty of time to deal with an onset of hypothermia.

You might want to bring a can of coconut milk - it's loaded with fat which will help your body to keep warm. Generally, any fatty foods will be a good idea to bring along - sausage, nuts, cheese.

As I'm sure you know, the key to success will be staying dry. Choose your clothing well.

Have fun and let us know how it went! :thumbup:
 
I sort of feel the same way about the bushwacking safety issue, and it may just get in the way of learning the skills we want to practice. I hate to be the pussy of the group, I have already talked them out of not bringing food(that was just rediculous), and not bring space blankets. I like the suggestions of trying stuff without gloves, or while soaking wet to skin (with dry clothes on hand). I will make these suggestions as better, safer alternative to bushwacking as ways of challenging ourselves. I can even suggest trying things one handed to simulate injuries.

Will
 
I did a similar thing once but, to try out my survival tin and dash-1 gear I always have on me when I'm out bush. I was simulating the lose of my normal pack.

I set myself up a few hundred yards from my 4x4 just incase things where not going well overnight or I found that I had missed something major from what I thought I should have in my dash-1 kit. The distance was far enough to stop me wandering back but, there was a sence of security.

The big thing I found was what I was wearing to hike in was not good enough to be out in overnight. I needed to build a decent thermal shealter to make it through the night. Also living in Australia snakes and bugs where a concern. Needed to make my fire give off a good deal of smoke to help keep the bugs away (I now have a small can of bug spray with me at all times). I also had to make the shelter with a raised bed to sleep on to keep the snakes, of which I saw none but, in the dark with no tent, I could 'feel' them out there, away from me. I've built this kind of lean-too before but, I was using a small axe, much harder with just a fixed bladed.

One thing I was glad of, was the army style tin mug that my NATO water bottles fit into. It was nice to have a hot drink and to be able to make my collected water safe to drink.

I had a load of fun doing this and found out what was worth keeping and what I needed to add to the dash-1. I also took the SAS guide with me to get ideas from. It change my mindset on how to fish when outback, no more one line and a rod, I had five short line tied at even spaces along a stroung stick and put this in the water at right angle to the current and held it down with some rocks and overnight it caught two Redfin.

Going with others should make the camper easier to build and if you are aways going to travel in a group, if each of you take one extra item you would not mormally have with you on a day hike, between you, you start to have a better emergncy kit between you.

Above all have fun and be safe
 
I think everyone has covered the bases.

What I heard is that your friends are not so experienced. That raised a Red Flag with me. Since there will be inexperienced people with you, definitely stay nearer to your vehicle. Make sure your car battery is good, and that you have plenty of fuel.
Kepp the extra creature comforts close-by, like sleeping bags, tent, first aid kit, and such. Since it is rainy up there, would you have a small plastic tarp with you on a day hike? If so, don't deny yourself, an 8x8 plastic tarp could really be a life saver if it's cold and rainy.

If these folks are indeed, not as savvy, I wouldn't put myself in any position where I needed to depend on them to take the lead, or help me out of hypothermia, give me first aid, or the like.

Bring them up to speed over the next several outings, then you can push a little deeper into the wilderness, maybe in late spring or summer when the cold has subsided a bit.

Good luck, and above all, be Safe.
 
Stay near the vehicle and keep some creature comforts inside it ..... just in case. Rookies may get frustrated after a few hours in the dark, cold and rain. Be prepared to help them regain their composure.

A long time ago I got frequent chances to sleep in an army poncho in the rain. Put it on like normally, find a place to curl up and only the feet should be sticking out. Then put the feet into a large, plastic garbage bag. You should stay very dry.

Nowadays I always carry a heavy wool sweater and army poncho on my day hikes, just in case. I like wool in cold wet weather. Polypro seems to get damp and clammy. I guess that's a personal preference.

Keep the shelter small. The smaller the better. Trying to heat up a big shelter consumes lots of energy.

Other than that, enjoy yourself.
 
Split some sticks,pack them with smaller twigs and pine resin and you will have torches to illuminate your campsite !!!!
 
The most important thing as leader is to keep up morale; learn some songs that everyone can sing along to, make hot drinks for every team member, treat even the smallest wound and keep their minds positive; "Imagine what alugh we will have when we are safe and warm in a bar somewhere".
 
wolfmother said:
The most important thing as leader is to keep up morale; learn some songs that everyone can sing along to, make hot drinks for every team member, treat even the smallest wound and keep their minds positive; "Imagine what alugh we will have when we are safe and warm in a bar somewhere".
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yup, for sure, I have been thinking along these lines. As realistic as we want to keep it, I am planning to bring all sorts of goodies to snack on all night to keep warm and busy.

We are going this coming weekend. It is a little below freezing and there is already 6 inches of snow on the ground in the mountains at the spot I have in mind. I know there will be more before the weekend too. Should be fun!
 
It's late here, so I may have missed it, but I suggest that each person have their own gear and because they are green, that gear should contain everything required for them to be warm and dry. A good poncho for everyone in the group will go a long way to making sure that you at least have dry covered. They will also help to waterproof your shelter(s).

Camp close to your vehicle and like others have written, have warm and dry clothing along with sleeping bags ready just in case. Know the symptoms that indicate the onset of hypothermia. It may not happen often, but it is a killer and will sneak up on you before you know it. Also know the proceedure for helping to gradually warm someones core body temperature in case they get hypothermia. That does not mean to sit them in front of a roaring fire. That can cause serious complications.

Have fun, but use your head and keep it safe.
 
It's fun to take a night an put it all together. But for a first time putting everything together, and with newbs no less, I suggest making this trip a more 'normal' camping outing and using it as an opportunity to hone some skills. Go easy on the newbs. Next summer, when the weather is more accommodating, plan a 2-night minimalist outing. Use this trip to introduce the new folks to the concepts. They can think about everything, acquire their own gear, etc. between this trip and next summer. Doing the minimalist thing in warmer weather will be easier for everyone. After that outing, extend the experiences into the fall and winter. Safety first.
 
It is one thing to plan, pack, read and run it over in your head. It is a totally different thing to DO IT!!! I was a member of the local Explorers Search and Rescue Team. We trained, I read everything I could find, I bought equipment...I was ready. We went on a weekend winter campout and put our training into practice. Believe me...it is totally different trying to get a fire going when it is blowing snow then doing it in the back yard. I could go on and one but the point is it was a wonderful learning experience. I would highly recommend everyone taking your bags out and do a one or two nighter in the wild...in EXTREME conditions. You will learn more than you will gleam from any book.

In His Service,
Reid Allen
 
waredbear said:
It is one thing to plan, pack, read and run it over in your head. It is a totally different thing to DO IT!!! I was a member of the local Explorers Search and Rescue Team. We trained, I read everything I could find, I bought equipment...I was ready. We went on a weekend winter campout and put our training into practice. Believe me...it is totally different trying to get a fire going when it is blowing snow then doing it in the back yard. I could go on and one but the point is it was a wonderful learning experience. I would highly recommend everyone taking your bags out and do a one or two nighter in the wild...in EXTREME conditions. You will learn more than you will gleam from any book.

In His Service,
Reid Allen
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I have certainly spent many nights out in extreme winter conditions, and I know what expect in that respect. Either way, we are bringing full gear:tent, sleeping bag/mat, stove. We are camping close to the car as well. We will spend the afternoon practicing building a variety of shelters and fires with our PSK's, and take it from there. If conditions don't feel right for whatever reason, the tents can go up. Or maybe we just use our bags in the shelters. I would at least like to try spending the night trying to keep warm without resorting to the camping gear, but obviously if anyone of us reach our limit, it is right there and we can adjust as necessary, or even drive home.

Will
 
Will,
It sounds like you have thought it through, and even had the sense to ask the "peanut gallery" as a double check.
I have to take my hat off to you, for actually following through and going out during this time of year.
Good Luck, take pics and let us know how it goes.
Be safe.

Enjoy.
 
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