It's so funny going back and watching these basic videos, because when I was watching them a year ago it seemed like I would never be able to survive out there or be comfortable. Now that I have the experience, it feels silly that I was so doubtful of myself. And I can tell as time passes how helpful channels like this have been for me to learn and get comfortable out there. Cheers bro
Thanks for writing that, I'm in a similar spot to where you used to be - stuck at college and wishing I could get out into the woods to try some stuff, but very hesitant and doubtful. Your comment gives me hope!
I'm transitioning myself into getting comfortable with sleeping partially exposed by myself in the woods. Not sure why its been such an issue, Mostly creatures on 2 legs keep me at edge.
I absolutely love going out in foul weather to practice my skill sets. Not everyday is 85 and sunny. Great video, great points. .. until next time, I'll be in the woods...lol
Camping in Algonquin park (snow shoes and toboggan) I carry a piece of heavy duty aluminum foil for a reflector fire. It seems to double the heat out put of the fire and weighs almost nothing. Sat around all evening chatting at -10C. Life can’t get better
Best essential camp set up video when you become stuck. I have added a 5x7 tarp to my winter pack for the just in case I am spending the night in the White Mountains. Great bed explanation.
If you add a heavy duty trash bag (contractor bag) to your kit, you have a vapor barrier to put between you and the snowy / icy boughs. Just an FYI for any who don't already know... I love how you discuss adjusting priorities as conditions change!!
@@gastondoumerc7863 Hiking and 4 wheeling as a kid in the rockies with my grandparents. We would take these trash bags as makeshift ponchos since every evening it tended to sprinkle. Sounds like a good 2-way deal to use as a raincoat or a bed liner.
I carry three of those heavy duty bags. Two of them to make a debris mattress with and one to use as a poncho. And yes, they weigh so little that I often forget they are even in my bag.
Very nice mate, great vid. It's a hell of alot different here in Australia. Certain parts here, you wouldn't even get that opportunity for any shelter, water, food or fire. No matter what you do.. better to go bush with a plan in mind, under no circumstances should you ever go anywhere, without ample water, food, fire equipment, extra fuel, and supplies for a week. Even if you're not planning on being stuck, prepare to be. It will save your life. Too often it happens. Usually due to inexperienced people. You can die in 30 minutes in the 50 degree plus Celsius out back heat, or the minus 25 degree Celsius mountain ranges.
On top of the pine bough bed, on of those inexpensive, blue, closed cell pads from Walmart would be a blessing. Wares proof and high R value. And inexpensive. Is also a comfy place to sit, and lean against a tree, I’ve been told Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
Good video, Dan. As always, you do a very good job of explaining the entire process for doing something and the reasons for your particular decisions. I am a fan!
So useful! I live in Wisconsin. It's nice to see how you set up a quick camp! I am going to try this soon! (well as soon as it gets back up to 25 degrees...) In the spring 25 degrees seems nice after surviving winter.
Same here, I live in Fence, WI. about 16 miles west of Iron Mountain, MI. There are plenty of winter days that I would wish that it would warm up to 25 above.
Great information! Awesome points talked about during this video. Like having your fire 3 feet away from your emergency blanket. I like how you explained how priorities change depending on the situation. Looking forward to seeing a lot more of your videos
Hello my outdoors friend, thank you for sharing another very informative video. You brought out some great pointers. Be safe out there and always have fun. 🤗
I would (of course) shake each Hemlock bough and then dry it by the fire before laying it below/inside the tarp. I'd also look for a short log, stump or rock to sit on (softened by my sack or blanket) while I dry the boughs. It also seems obvious that being well above the area low-point (because of possible rain/flooding) and, lacking a full tent, windbreaks from trees in EVERY direction are important. Lastly, I've found that 4x as much firewood as expected is often what's important for security. [My preferred method for providing firewood is to create a fulcrum setup. First, find 3-41/2 inch diameter dead, upright trees that can be snapped off at the base (no chopping needed). Next, find two strong trees close together that can be used for leverage to snap off pieces of firewood from the dead trees. If the tree snap setup cannot be arranged, a fulcrum can be made by placing the firewood trees between the ground and a boulder. Caution: Do this carefully! Find 3 heavy, different sized rocks (10-50 lbs+ each) that you can safely lift over your head. Snap off the dead branches/tinder from your firewood tree(s), then, break off as much of the top of each firewood tree as possible by hand, next, break the firewood trees into the appropriate size for your fulcrum. Last, drop the large rocks on the appropriately trimmed firewood trees. BE AWARE of the direction that the wood and rocks will move. The snapped wood WILL swing UP and out. Snap as much dead tree wood as needed. When done carefully, it is no exaggeration to say that, using this method, firewood for a day or more can be provided in less than 30 minutes... -and with no tools!]
Cool stuff, two mentions: Close any gap behind the tarp with snow, if you have time, use some logs to close the sides, and take a small dd magic carpet over the pine insulation, less moisture, more warming.
Great demonstration of the survival priorities and the work that has to be done as you develop this camp. I think that accomplishing all of these task with only the basic items that you had with you brings the importance of preparedness and the basic kit to the forefront. This video is an excellent “how to” implement what it is that you know needs to done from your training and experience. Important information. Thanks - Tennessee Smoky
A favor? Think about the vanilla cupcakes, look into the camera, and say my name. (No disrespect to the family; I love you guys. I just need to remember that someday I will be someone's vanilla cupcake.) Love the video as always. You have such a knack for explaining in clear terms while keeping everything joyful and light. Truly appreciate this channel.
One of your classes would be fun I’m sure, you seem to have a pretty good hang on this forte. Glad you teach people that don’t have the same experience
You make a great point by saying to look down. Ive looked around at the canopy, seemed good to go, then set up camp only to notice a pine with a hole almost all the way through it at waist level. Love your vids man, vegging out this morning, then headed out myself.
I really like Dan's vids as they are short and concise. but following on from what you said, I feel the same setup would have been better under the overhanging branches of the tree in the background which has less snow on the ground and would have given more cover
A few things I would do differently is set up tighter to the pines to lessen wind and tie the tarp tight against a large tree it’s now part of a windbreak on one end and can be built up easily with a small tree or larger branch and filled in with pine boughs and sealed with snow piled up against it from the outside creating a three walled shelter in very little time 👍💙🇨🇦
This is a well made video and I'm a big fan of the channel but one thing I might try in this situation is to camp out under a tree, like the natural shelter in the right of the screen and start a small, long fire to stay warm. In the situation in the video, if it snowed hard or rained the fire would struggle to put of heat and could go out during the night. I just wonder if starting the fire under the tree and using a wool blanket for warmth and the tarp as a moisture barrier or loosely drape over your shoulders and back, would work. Fun to think about.
Good stuff Dan found you a couple months ago really enjoy your teaching… I have a buddy and need more PA that used to teach survival his name is Bob Barr. Learned a lot from him, enjoy what you have to offer
I do not know if you've mentioned it in another video. But taking your time with those branches and forcing them into the ground, one on top of eachother, really helps to lift you up from the ground. A bit like fish scales, or fur. I've spend quite a few nights outdoors, and it really gives better comfort than just laying the branches flat on the ground.
@@Smartskaft2 definitely depends on where you are the perme frost in Alaska for example can really add to the cold and difficulties ice can make for good shelter especially to insulate from it.
Perfect couldn't have done it better myself. That may not look like much but that's a five star hotel to me. When you're in a survival situation you can't rely on luxuries. Start with a Bare Essentials that will at least get you through that first crucial night.
You have the best Bushcraft Channel. Not saying you have better information than anybody but you get straight to the point and you go over intricacies and I really appreciate that
I did this back in college at Jarvis Christian College 2011 💪🏿 you don’t know your vulnerabilities until your in the situation experiencing your vulnerability.
@@wmluna381 that I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was … I was only a half mile away in the woods … and I went back home for items multiple times… and learning to start a fire with wet logs is a Challange…. Fire starters and a way to chop wood to get to the dry fibers are key.
I think great idea would be to build some sort of wind barrier at the bottom of the tarp, we can see reasonable gap a the bottom. Probably from the snow (if it's not going to melt very soon) or debris.
Hi Mate. I've only just discovered your bushcraft vids on utube. I watch a lot of this type of vid, and have done so for a long time, so I don't know where your vids have been hiding. I've also done a lot of bush camping myself, and consider myself to be very experienced without (definitely) being an expert and I find just about every vid of this type I watch to be mostly bullshit, usually being how a 'city slicker' perceives it should be done after reading a couple of books or watching a couple of the other bullshit vids on the subject. Although, having said that, there are a couple of really good contributors out there, but they are scarce. I find your vids to be absolutely 'spot on' in every practical detail with no bullshit at all. They are fantastic, even through my critical eye, so congratulations on well produced and entertaining vids which move along at a good pace and that are just crammed full of critical tips and useful information. Keep 'em coming, 'cause I can't get enough of them.
Morning All. 3 Years and 10 Days Later and Here in the Northeast the weather isn't much Different. 11 Deg. overnight and we've had wind Gusts up over 30 MPH. and regular winds around 20 MPH. So, a Great Video that could come in handy at ANY TIME!!
I recognize changing priorities but it seems efficiency in micro climate control dictates shelter first to shield from cold exposure - snowing, wind, or not - and to capture heat from the fire once it's made. Fire first means lost heat to the universe at a time you need the universe to get its own heat somewhere else. :D imho of course :D
@@wmluna381 Couldn't get a fire started, but at least I had company. I originally planned to go alone but my friend joined me last minute. Lucky he did as I would have been scared shitless!
@@alimbo9436 At least you tried it out! I'm sure it will get better from there with a few more gos. I went out by myself a couple of times here in Michigan late in the season last year when there was hardly anyone around. It was at a official campground, however. I did that on purpose because I hate being in areas full of people in the outdoors. I've never done that by myself before and gave me a chance to practice some things. 😊 I found that dried cat tail fluff wasn't too great as tinder, even when mixed with other things. Highly overated.
@@wmluna381 I ventured more recently alone and it was a different story. Dry wood meant a big fire and one happy guy! I think it's good you did it on a camping ground, it's much safer than doing it in the middle of nowhere. I'm jealous how much land you Americans have compared to us in little old London.
Maybe just me but I would have tunneled under the big pine trees behind you then broke off a few dead limbs to set up a plow point shelter underneath if it snows 3 ft deep it will uselly be clear underneath anyway hot as crap here so like looking at the snow .
