After being in our old base camp for so long. Cloak was able to find a topographical map of forest park and pin pointed an nice place for us to take.

So we did a light scout hike today. We had to start from our usual entrance but we took a different trail instead. The trail veered left and right for about 2-2.5 miles before reached our area.

Our little campsite was a ways off the trail and completely concealed by prominences in the terrain itself. When we arrived we scoped the area and stopped to eat our lunches comprised of: Bagels with salsalito turkey and pepper jack cheese, apples, Clif Bars, and Skittles. After the lunch we decided to make something.

In survival the most important, and the first, thing to do is build a shelter, so naturally we did.

One of the easiest shelters to make and also one that has great insulation is a debris shelter.

So off we go. We first gathered as much of the dead branches that were scattered completely around the are. No need to waste energy chopping. We occasionally sawed sections for our frame but we also mainly just broke them by force.

We first started by jamming finding a y stick and beginning the basic part of the A-Frame. (Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures on this but you will soon see). We also jammed a stick between the two trees that we were making the shelter near to so we actually would have room in the back. This was not a lean-on shelter so we had a little more space. After that we just began placing branches along atop the frame.

[Linked Image from i235.photobucket.com]

After we finished placing branches along the entire length of the shelter we decided to use the bark from the tree that we made it next to. The tree was a dead big leaf maple. The bark was an excellent base layer for the shelter.

[Linked Image from i235.photobucket.com]

[Linked Image from i235.photobucket.com]

[Linked Image from i235.photobucket.com]

We did this because it would give more surface area for the second layer of small twigs and branches. The small twigs and branches would help give a good texture for the third and final layer of debris insulation.

[Linked Image from i235.photobucket.com]

It's pretty cozy inside. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[Linked Image from i235.photobucket.com]

[Linked Image from i235.photobucket.com]

It's also pretty big, here is CnD crouching by the entrance.

[Linked Image from i235.photobucket.com]

This took us around 2 hours and after that it was beginning to dark. Thus we hiked back. A quick and excellent hike.

The day was well spent. We're really glad we found a new base camp and we can't wait to return to it.


JYD #54 "Put your hands high, let your arms be the pillars that be holding up the sky..."