Woodlife Trails

Preparations are well under way for the Bushmoot and I’m getting pretty excited to get away, meet the BCUK crew again and hopefully get stuck in and learn a few more skills. Actually, there’s not a great deal to do as I’m getting pretty used to deciding what to take on excursions. All my kit is readily available in two drawers of an old filing cabinet and my (ever expanding) ‘Bushcraft’ part of a wardrobe in my study. All I really have to do is get out the kit according to my kit list and pack it all up.

I like to lay all the contents on the floor first, and then pack in a systematic fashion. Spare clothes usually go in first; poncho, Thermarest and hygiene pack follows this; cookset, liquids and heavier items next (keeping the heaviest at the centre); anything else at the top. Tarp and hammock go in the side pouches as with the utility kits for easy access. First aid kit is always in the lid pocket. Now that I have a waterproof sleeping bag compression sack, I’m happy to strap the bag to the outside of the sack. Some people like to compress it in the bottom of the sack. I used to do that when hiking and climbing in the services, but it seems I’ve got more kit now!!

I like to print out a kit list so that I remember to take everything. All I have to do is amend the list from a previous excursion depending on the expected weather, number of days away (this one’s four), time of year and location of the excursion.

Here’s my planned kit list for this excursion:

Carry – Karrimor Sabre 75, EuroHike 15 litre Day sack (Food), shoulder bag (packed in Sabre)
Shelter/Sleep – BCUK Hammock, 3×3 Tatonka Tarp, Thermarest Prolite 3, Nanok -10 Sleeping bag, Folding sit mat, Folding chair.
Small Utility pack 1 – Petzl Tikka XP Head Torch, Pocket sized waterstone, Personal water filter, Spare batteries
Small Utility pack 2 – 4 small Bungees, Tent pegs, 10m twine, 2 x Black bin liners, Candle lantern (and spare candle)
First Aid kit
Clothes – Highlander Poncho, Boots (HiTec), 2 x T shirts, Base layer thin fleece undershirt, 2nd layer Fleece jacket (pillow), Light Rain Jacket, 2 x summer cargo trousers (one to wear), Fleece hat (sleeping), Hat, Spare socks, Underwear, Shemagh, Buff
Tools/Shoulder bag – GB SFA, Ball of twine, Clipper knife, GB Mini Axe, Spoon knife, Folding saw, Camera, Binos, Notepad, Tinder, Compass, ¾ litre drinking water bottle.
Belt – Possible pouch (firesteel, tinder & Mini FAK, Opinel no 8), Kuksa, (in case someone offers me a snifter).
Neck Carry – Companion MKII knife, Mini Torch, Jet Scream Whistle, SAK (in trousers).
Cooking – SA Trangia, Crusader cup, Drinking mug, 500ml spare meths, 1litre water bottle, 5 litre collapsible water bag, Firebowl.
Hygiene Pack – Collapsible bowl, Hand Flannel, Liquid Soap/Washing up, Toothbrush/toothpaste, Foot powder, Hygiene wipes.
Provisions (in ration bag) – Instant porridge mix, pre-prepared chicken stew, Rice mix, Pasta mix, Mini bars chocolate, Mixed nuts raisons, Fresh fruit, packs of instant soup, Tea & sugar, Brandy (medicinal only) J, Pipe & tobacco, beef jerky.
Additional (In vehicle) – SBK bow and arrows

Other preparations have included a trip to the supermarket (Yeuuuch!! – that’s twice this year so far!) for provisions, a tool sharpening evening, and a beef jerky making session.

We (my colleague Paul’s coming again on this one) are leaving about 10am tomorrow and should get to the site about 12pm after stopping for a ‘big boys’ breakfast’ on the way. This should be early enough to arrive at the site, pick a reasonably good spot and get settled in. The weather looks as though it’s going to be okay. Quite warm (but Saturday night dropping to 5C) with only localised spots of rain.

I’ll hopefully be sending some short posts from the moot although there’ll be no pics. I’ll be doing this from from a mobile phone using email posts. I’ll do a write up on our return. So keep a look out over the weekend (if you’re not there of course). See you later.

Pablo.