Winter camping with Rick

Bushcraft, supershelter, winter camping

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Fire
• camping
• supershelter
• winter
• bushcraft

[therocket2k]

Hey guys, where in southern ontario was this filmed? I like in the kitchener area and I can't find any sort of bush where I can camp unless I go to the muskokas!

Thanks!

[kgdblade]

@therocket2k Your best bet when dealing with these kinds of shelters is to get access to private land. This can be a bit tricky, but helps to find meet-ups of bushcrafters in your area and through these meet-ups you can often find places where traditional approaches are acceptable. Alternatively, you can find Crownland. As you probably already know, the closes Crownland parcels is up around the Bancroft area. Check out the OMNR Crownland locator tool, a free online interactive map for info.

[NewbieCamper]

I realize this trip happened last year, but would you mind answering these questions:

1. Why - exactly - did your buddies make the shelter shorter ... presumably to keep in more warm air, but would appreciate specifics.

2. Did adding reeds under your sleep system achieve the desired result; i.e. a warmer sleep? ;-)

As my login name suggests - I'm still very much at the stage of needing small details that more experienced campers would already know. Thanks!!

[kgdblade]

@NewbieCamper The felt that by shortening the supershelter that it would be more efficient. The reeds on top also helped keep the heat in. On the first night, they thought the shelter was great while the fire was roaring but less then adequate when the fire died down. The second set of improvements made the shelter perform well as long as there was a small flame. On my shelter, supplementing the thermarest by layering under it a bed of reeds made a huge difference. I was far warmer after.

[canesser1]

Been awhile since I've visited bladeforums, thanks for the pointer, found it quickly enough. So simple! Have had my eye on the Alice packs for awhile, cheap and effective it a bit heavy by modern standards but like all the pockets. Rick Marchand has some awesome knives too, any personal experience with them?

[kgdblade]

@canesser1 Yeah I have one of Rick's S-curves and because he's my pal I often get to see to some of his new ones first hand before he mails them off. They are great knives.

[kgdblade]

dinnerandshow - I hear your concern about impact, but reality is there are hardly any campers anymore. In many places saplings choke out growth because our forests are not majestic mature forests, but disturbed pre-logged ones. Statements like yours show ignorance in that you have no idea about what the local conditions are that we are working under. Go burn your white gas and sleep in your 6 pounds of synthetics made from a tonne of oil. We'll see who has the bigger effect in the end!

[derserts]

Well Done Guys especially the simplicity of the tarp. Keep the faith.

[Wintertrekker]

Well done boys! Looks like you are liking essentially a baker tent design. Might be worthwhile to sew one up out of fabric of choice. Ridge can be suspended between 2 trees with rope, and with guy outs and 2 back guy outs, you don’t need the wood frame (saves set up time if you have guy out locations). Front could be the clear poly for the supershelter heat, which can also be poled up for a canopy over the fire if it rains or wet snows. My buddy made a 5x7 baker with black poly - works great.

[grilop1492]

where did you guys buy the italian wool blankets they look very warm, also what brand of boots were you guys using.

[MrSokitumi0007]

Hint - rocks stones ash sand clay dirt combine to make a indoor fireplace and cook stove = fine winter camping. At least go buy some cinderblocks and bricks or something dryer vent tube ect for chimney.

[NewbieCamper]

@kgdblade - Thanks for your quick response! I'd forgotten that they'd also put the reeds in the back & around, good thing to also keep in mind. And I'm glad you had a better second night ;-). Cheers, J.