Why starting a fire in the rain wouldn't have saved me..

[Coopsdaddy]

Curious about your thoughts on just carrying something like a xmid 1 fly and 4 stakes vs a tarp if your carrying poles.
Seems like a viable option and quick to setup.

 

[txtransplant]

That’s my plan this year, though with a different tent. If you can pitch the fly independently, I don’t see any downside (other than the fact that it might be more closed off than you’d want for a glassing tarp). I’m certainly no expert here, but it seems useful to me to be able to enclose everything for an emergency shelter or unplanned night out.

This is the one I’ll be carrying this year.

Edit to add: I paid $110 for the 2 person double wall variant. The $170 price is absurd - just so they can mark it down to $100 and claim it’s a 40% discount.

 

[mad_angler]

Between the Colorado hiker thread, and the fire in the rain thread, I think this is a good time to talk about what happened to me(45) and my Dad (70) this year on a hunt, and what I learned from it.
I'll try to keep it very short and concise.

...
Thanks for sharing.

I agree completely. This is a pretty common scenario.
In general, your first survival need is shelter. Fire is somewhere way down the line.

You did the right thing and you both lived to tell the story.

 

[mad_angler]

So you think 10x10 is ideal emergency tarp sizing?

Really looking hard into an emergency shelter, also looking at some poncho options?


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I have a 12x12 for camp. And I carry a 10x10 with me most of the time. It is prerigged for the center ridgeline configuration that the original poster used. It is a critical piece of survival gear.

Here is a good company in northern Minnesota that hand makes very durable versions of these tarps;

1.1oz Silicone Tarp

Setting up a nylon rainfly just right brings that feeling of comfort and security to your campsite...making it your home. Having the right nylon tarp for camping makes set-up and packing a breeze. In addition to being light weight and strong, CCS nylon rainflys are designed to give you maximum...

cookecustomsewing.com

 

[mad_angler]

First line of shelter starts with clothing. Rain gear/poncho, hooded puffy, watchcap and etc.
If you have a tarp you can keep a fire going under it and if you have rain gear you can collect wood without getting soaked. A roaring fire is warmer than 'the rewarming drill'. JMO-YMMV.
Something to consider.

JMO... i disagree. Scrambling around trying to find, carry, and process firewood sounds miserable. And then it takes a very large amount of wood to get "a roaring fire". And then it just warms the front of you.

Consider if both guys had fallen in a creek. Neither guy would have been strong enough to start that kind of fire and keep it going.

Building a shelter, jumping in sleeping bags, and injesting hot food/liquids is way more efficient.

And even your scenario would not have worked without a shelter. Shelter is almost always your top survival priority.

 

[*zap*]

The top survival priority is keeping dry. If your wet than it is getting dry/warm.
If you fall in the creek and everything you have is soaked how is your wet down clothes or wet down sleeping bag going to rewarm you? You may not even have those things with you....
Different situations require different solutions.

 

[Pharmseller]

Deer camp 2025.

Sacrifices were made.

Edit to add, the drive over bruised the Riesling almost to the point of undrinkability.

 

[*zap*]

View attachment 958880

Deer camp 2025.

Sacrifices were made.

Edit to add, the drive over bruised the Riesling almost to the point of undrinkability.

With no fire pit your survival is questionable.

 

[journeyman713]

Microwave!
That’s how they do it.
Been trying to figure out how those anti-fire guys are “injesting hot foods/liquids”.
All makes sense now.

 

[Pharmseller]

With no fire pit your survival is questionable.

I took the pic before I got the second plush chair out, as well as the barbecue and fire pit.

Didn’t want to seem too bougie.

Appearances and all that folderol.

 

[Pharmseller]

Also, liquor store was within walking distance.

Not kidding.

 

[Rich M]

JMO... i disagree. Scrambling around trying to find, carry, and process firewood sounds miserable. And then it takes a very large amount of wood to get "a roaring fire". And then it just warms the front of you.

Consider if both guys had fallen in a creek. Neither guy would have been strong enough to start that kind of fire and keep it going.

Building a shelter, jumping in sleeping bags, and injesting hot food/liquids is way more efficient.

And even your scenario would not have worked without a shelter. Shelter is almost always your top survival priority.

Tell me how you heat up the liquids and foods without a fire or stove. A stove is fire.

I’ll wait.

You dont need a bonfire to warm up and dry off. A coffee can sized fire can do that effectively.

Zap makes the point of staying dry. That’s the easiest way to stay warm in a hunting scenario. And the only way you can survive cold w/o fire. Be dry and dressed properly.

 

[mcseal2]

Thanks for sharing, looks like you handled the situation well.

This post I had a while back might help the guys looking at a poncho for a solo emergency option. I still like this set-up, it will be going to Kodiak with me in November. It’s not like having a tarp for a real camp, but is’s easy to have along for a solo option.

I’ve since started carrying a mylar poncho in the pocket on the back of my old FHF bino harness. Its another option thats always on me even if my pack isn’t. It can go under the rain poncho. My pack still has a 2 person space blanket. I like having both so can be a ground barrier, fire reflector, or be given to another person.

Anyway, hope this helps.

Thread 'Latest version of my perfect poncho/tarp shelter'

Nov 6, 2023

I've talked about this on various other threads, but thought I'd make one dedicated to the new version. I read we all pack our fears, and I don't disagree. The items I won't compromise on have become a fixed blade knife, metal container (Vargo titanium BOT), and a poncho or tarp. I am always looking to carry less and lighter things that are more multi-purpose. On some trips like my Alaska hunts I carry a good rain jacket and pants plus a tarp. Sometimes even when packing breathable rain gear I'll use the poncho or a tarp to protect the rain gear while holed up waiting out a hard rain...

• mcseal2
• Replies: 36
• Forum: The Lightweight Zone

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[*zap*]