Make use of what is around.

 

In the above short video you can see where the Forestry Commission had been logging and left them around for later transportation. Of course, the land is 'private property' since the Forestry Commission (government) stole the land from the English People long ago. We could, of course, not use these logs to make some form of shelter or windbreak, since this would be against the law. I investigated the clearance area and there was a good deal of stuff left around which could be put to use at a later time. 

It has been snowing for around two days, but not laid that much because before that we had days of rain, so at first it did not lay. Last night was a freezer and the temperature today did not rise above zero until after twelve o'clock. However, though we see this as being zero the wind-chill factor would have pushed this well below that. I had to cut short what I was going to do because Sam was shivering with the cold even with two coats, a blanket, and my jacket around him, as well as a thermal blanket wrapped around this lot. Whippets unfortunately have little fur to keep them warm. I lit a fire which warmed things a bit but have no photos because the camera shows the memory-card being full, even though I emptied it yesterday. Something wrong there I suppose. 

The area that I went to today is not really suitable since it is a conifer area (pine and spruce) but the ground is rather open for this type of woodland and is covered with brambles which makes getting through it difficult. This is fine if you did not wish others to find you but for practice is not that good, especially when it has been so wet and soggy and now frozen on the surface only. There are other areas to choose though.

Around this area it may be suitable to set up some form of base-camp which could be made with the intention of setting up a quick shelter and fire in such bad weather. This I shall look at later, and there seems enough wood cut down and left lying around to make a start without too much cutting. This I have found to be the best way to go about practice, having something there to work with from the start. Need to check the area for a more suitable spot.

Watching a few Taramovies videos last night he mentioned how some think it is 'cheating' to make one's own bow-drill set up and taking it along, rather than making it up on the spot. The answer, of course, is that the so-called 'aboriginal' peoples (those who still use this old method) do this themselves, they make up their kit and take it with them. This makes sense not only for a bow-drill (*) but also for tinder that needs collecting in the dry weather and not when it is wet. It makes far more sense to go prepared.

(*) Personally, although I have had success once with a fire-bow, I carry a Ferro-Rod and Knife to use for fire-lighting, and matches and a lighter if necessary too. These are much easier than the fire-bow, as is a Flint and Steel. 

It is also better to carry some form of small wood-stove that can be used to make a cup of tea and to cook on; this is easier to use to boil water and cook than making a larger fire, and can be used after to light the fire.