A really wonderful story Elspode. It must have been fantastic! You should get up and do it again the hard way
Since I've been 6 I went hiking with the boyscouts. When I was 18 I went to Inari in Finland for a survival in the everlasting ice. One week with all you need in some sort of sledge you had to pull yourself, walking on snowshoes, sleeping in tents or in snowholes temp : -30C to -15C.
Then when I was 20 I joined the army and that's when the fun begun. Survivals in the desert or in the woods, days of "good" belgian weather (rain, rain, rain). Of with everything (up to 35kg) or with nothing, for one day or ten days. With or without sleeping for 2-3 days (my best is 3 hours of sleep in a 72hours-exercice)...
Few tips:
- Always leave the nature so that nobody could tell you were there. Not because you're paranoid but because of respect of the nature and the other campers...
- Against bugs : stray ashes around the sleeping place, helps a lot.
- Against mosquitoes and flies : Make a big fire and throw lots of grass and green leaves in it. Problem is you to can't stand the smoke. Use some repellant and if it doesn't help, go somewhere else! Or just try to ignore (had a bad experience of lying for an hour on a ants-heap during an infiltration patroul).
- If you go by car take everything you might need. If you have to carry yourself, throw everything you don't really need (cut your toothbrush in two, take only one piece of soap,...). But do have always enough pairs of socks if you're hiking and walking a lot.
- Wear gloves while working with your knive/axe and while gathering wood. Wear long sleeved shirts and no shorts. Wear a hat or something else to protect your head against sun and cold and rain.
- Fire is very important, to cook, heat, dry but also to cheer up after a hard day. Be careful and never let a fire unguarded.
Need some more advise? Just ask
