BIG NEWS: I have designed my own Survival Knife called “APO-1”. You can get it now at my online store: www.survivallilly.at/ Thank you so much for your support
Survival Lilly You are my favorite woods gal and I have my Daughter watching you also ,I spent 25 , years in the wilderness with my husband,so outdoor life appeals to me I want to thank you for sharing these videos,I appreciate them ,your work and skills . No reply needed. God bless and protect you.👍😘
Lilly, after I made my 2 cent comment, I read a couple of other comments made on your video. There are two items I always carry in my pack and they take up minimal space: (1) a 5X7 tarp sold at Walmart for $10 and (2) a role of #36 bank line. The tarp comes in a stuff sack and is slightly larger than my wallet. I used the 5X7 tarp at the front of the configuration to prevent rain from getting inside and giving me a little more privacy from nosy neighbors who love to stand in their house using binoc's. I do a lot of gear testing in my Hobo Camp. I use twisted #36 bank line instead of 550 cordage. It weighs less and takes up little pack space. The bank line is in a small McDonald's milk carton with a hole drilled in the top. I pull out only the amount of cordage I need for a specific task so I don't waste it. I used to waste miles (exaggerated) of 550 which equates to a small pile of money. Anyway, I love this tarp configuration...it's my favorite and is so easy and quick. Great job, Lilly!
Great video Lilly... I live in arctic Sweden and all my shelters are the debris kind. Temperatures during winter often drops below -20 Celcius not even counting the wind factor. Herding reindeer means you have to be on the move daily for long time and if you have to disperse personel over a wider area we each make a debris shelter to overnight in, when we are in the same place we erect a laavu tent we haul on a snow scooter. Basically my preferred debris shelter is made by digging out 2x2 meters of snow roughly 40-50 cm deep. Constructing a "rib cage" of wood is easily done with my axe (I leave 1 branch at the end of the wood piece trimmed down to create a "hook" to latch it on my main beam without using any cordage.. Then everything is covered by at least 40 centimeter thick layer of spruce for insulation. Next part may not be considered "kosher" among most of readers here but I secure the spruce with a flexible net I lace together with cordage, usually spruce root split in half (no shops within 200 kilometers here carry stuff like paracord which I would love to have but I have had success making my own cordage so far. Thus secured and slightly condensed by the net I shovel all the snow I removed back on top of the pile making it wind tight. I lay myself on top of it to compact the snow so it have a harder time flying off in the wind. Being slightly below normal snow level I dig a 30 cm deep 10 centimeter wide trench in the middle of the floor serving as a cold well (heat generated during the night goes up, pushing cold down. Having a cold well means the cold goes deeper than where you sleep and it is funneled out through the entrance enhancing the heat build-up inside. Fire inside?.. I dont usually. I have 10 portable heat generators (model Alaskan Malamute) with me and they usually curl up outside, but for social reasons some of them sleep inside the shelter on the other side of the cold well. Cooking I do on a Kelly Kettle (basecamp size) which has replaced my usual swedish logfire+billycan method I used years ago. In a pinch I can easily cook on the Kelly Kettle inside by digging the base a bit down .. the jet of flames won't cause much problem with the roofing as long as you keep a constant eye on it, Never dose off with open fire inside a shelter is my philosophy. The dogs also keep lynx, occasional wolf and bears at a distance or at least warn me if we get company. If I one day get to own a gopro camera that can recharge from a portable solar panel or baby windmill I will be happy to make a video now and again. Keep practicing your skills, its a wonderful hobby that can end up saving your life one day.
Please do, i would very much like to see that video. i admire your way of life. In a day and age of way too much comfort and technology it is refreshing to know some still live a simplified life and enjoy the great outdoors with the knowelge and skills it takes to do so.
Herding bulls in California doesn't seem all that ruff anymore. I just keep a hammock and hang a tarp over it. During the summer I just use a tent because of all the mosquitos, scorpions and snakes.
Thank you, Lilly. I set up a tarp in the wooded area behind my house using this configuration. Works great! I raked leaves on the closed sides to minimize the wind and with a long fire/reflector in front the leaves helped to retain heat in the shelter. Plenty of room, too, and the tarp I used is a 10ft X 10ft. I also spread a bed of leaves inside to about 8 inches and threw a Tyvek sheet over them for the floor. I slept in the shelter on a 37 degree (Fahrenheit) night using only a cheap blue closed cell pad and a heavy wool blanket. Slept like a baby. Keep the videos coming...you're a great teacher!
Hey Lilly thats a great shelter. Im teaching my daughter who is 7 bushcrafting and wilderness survival stuff we have fun and she does not even know she is learning anything. Thanks for haveing a channel
I watched 4 other 'tarp shelter' videos before yours. Not one of the four that I watched made mention of the tarp size best suited for this shelter. Thanks Lilly, for making that point clear right at the beginning. You will, of course, get my thumbs up.
Looks cozy, and it is a good idea, a tarp weights much less than a tent, but i would choose the cordaje instead of that previous work. The only problem would be the entrance, make sure you point it north or other direction than south (if you live in the northern hemisphere), if pointing south and it rains, you would get pretty wet...
I like your videos. They have been helpful and encouraging. Your dog Max is a hoot, he is a very self motivated hound. I loved the video where he jumped in the creek in the background while you were filming. He appears to love the woods, I would imagine that he leaves no item unturned. Thank you Lily.
when I build tarp shelters people always think i'm camping even though it's just for a couple hours of hanging out and learning. I live in a homeless epidemic area where being homeless is not nesseccerily acceptable but there is so much of it growing that these kids get into drugs and become homeless themselves and they see it everywhere so they think it's ok. I was homeless for three years and I've been through all kinds of weather conditions and not knowing how to make long term shelter cause my shelter to come down in the middle of the night or remaking it in rainy conditions. I look back now and it is all just experience and it has made me make shelter better. gotta start from somewhere. thanks for showing me how to use sticks as stakes because I used to collect cans and have to buy stakes, cordage, and tarps to make my shelter. now I can do it more naturally and cost effective.
I love watching your dog frolicking behind as you work your tail off to survive! He always starts off clean and ends up digging and rolling joyously in the dirt, grass and/or muck. What a happy dog! I also enjoy your videos and a absorbing the knowledge in case I need it later. :)
Love the tarp setup, quite easy and simple to do provided the terrain allows for it. Good points on the fire being too close to the setup.. many people don't realise but it also depends on what type of wood you use. Most soft woods burn fast and usually spit quite a lot where as hard woods will burn slowly and are very unlikely to spit hot sparks out. I've had fires just 1 metre underneath my tarp, in windy and none windy conditions. Just make sure you're not using soft woods, especially for an over nighter; you wouldn't like to wake up to your shelter in flames! xD
Having a fire in an enclosed area will always be dangerous, but provided you have enough ventilation, you'll be fine. Although the best shelters to have fires in, would be the Indian Style T.P's with the mini log burning stove. If you have an open tarp shelter with a fire underneath then you should be fine as long as you set it up right! There are plenty of videos on UA-cam on how to do these types of shelters so just search for them. If you are having a fire infront or under your tarp I do suggest building thermal walls around the fire to help radiate the heat back into your sleeping area and leave open space above the fire to all for the smoke to rise out of your shelter.
Hi Lilly, I'm a newbie to bushcraft and have become totally addicted to your videos. Thank you so much for your incredibly informative videos. ATVB. Steve.
This pitch mimics Col. Townsend Whelen's forester's tent. You lay, however with your head toward the opening, closer to the fire to better benefit from the heat and to more easily feed the fire during the night.
Nice Setup Lilly, but I would be a little afraid in heavy rain, that the richpole will lead water into the shelter. So it might help to tie some cord around the pole just in front of the tarp and let the end hang down. That might lead away the water the pole will catch from the inside of the shelter.
rozilmer Not to mention the direction in which you have your opening. Depending on where you live you need to consider in which direction your storms hit your area. Example, If you live in California, most of your storms will either come from the West moving East Or North heading South. If you live in Michigan then the storms will come down from the North and either go South or East. If you live in the South then your storms will come from the south and head in a North-Eastern direction. Do you see where I am coming from? You wouldn't want your main opening facing the direction where it will catch the storm. It will blow your tarp away like the wing of an airplane.
Boyce Lawrence You would be surprise the common mistakes "experienced" outdoors people make. But my comments were basically for the inexperienced woodsmen and women. Thank-you for your comment, no offense taken for a legitimate questions or comments.
Nice tips, Lilly... I had a woodsman Aunt and her Collie dog teach me things like this when I was 10 (Plus Rattlesnakes) many years ago- It's comforting to see that some things never change!
Hey Lilly, would just like to say I've bought the half saw, 'Wolverine Folding Saw', extremely sharp indeed, and just took it up to my local forest in a secluded spot, took my whole set up, as in large rucksack, which I did not need, but as I posted a while ago, I put it at the very bottom of rucksack, woods are plentiful in trees, so followed what I had in memory from this vid, and set to work on my DD 3 x 3 Tarp, all loops, no ringlets as you know, and set this set up, up. Though it's a massive Tarp, and I folded under the sides rather than have then stretched out, brought them in and under to form the groundsheet, and pegged it down from the inside, and it worked brilliantly. Didn't stay long incase of any police involvement, then took it down. The saw? Well even though it's lethal to have here, and need a very good excuse for having a 'locking blade' I didn't hang around, but it rained, as usual for Glasgow, so pity as its public forest, but wanted to stay out, but too many dog walkers for my liking, so just tried to improvise on what you've shown me, then came back home. I also carry ontop of Bergen a small 2 man dome tent, so if any police came, I had an excuse for having the saw. As these woods are not for camping, but had a couple of dog walking locals come over to see what I was doing, I just said I was practising for going away for the weekend,even though the Summer seems to be halfway here now, and I was surprised at their interest into what I was doing, they were impressed greatly when they saw no door lol!The simple set up is easy to build up, and your video was great, as now I know how to improvise it. So Thanks for yet another tip. Bought a 'Jungle Bag' by 'Snugpak' very slim and lightweight bag. Complete with Mosquito net, but realised once I had it out that you can sleep in either end, and the net as you no doubt know can be removed. Well once the Summer arrives I'm off to do this walk we have here called 'The West Highland Way', 96 mile walk on proven and well used track, and even though the bag is very thi, I thought it would be cold to sleep I, so tried it out inside the tent, and not sure why, but it kept me very warm indeed. Too warm at times. So I'd also recommend this for its lightweight pack, as it weighs it seems lighter than a 2lb bag of sugar, well worth the £35 I paid.Keep posting, I've learnt a lot from you. Not just this simple set up, but lots of things you've shown. I'm going to subscribe to your channel to let you know my apretiation in what you've shown me, and if I were ever to have anyone with me for help, well it would certainly be you.No nothing in that, just that you know a lot more than me when it comes to Survival Skills.Thanks again for something nice and simple to set up, and no hard work to be honest. Though got my walking poles if I need to throw up a simple sloping back set up. In the Summers we get here, well for some reason don't last as long as when I was a young guy just going camping.Now I have everything that would be illegal if you were caught just wandering the streets with and no excuse for having the saw, and small folding penknife. Only just over an inch long, but good for my para cord. One thing, this Ronald Ellington seems to have a little 'Groupie' fan, saying "Hey Ronald, think you've got another fish on the line. He's even looking forward to Ronald's next comment to make him laugh, well some mentality this guy must have eh?Talk about idiots, can't wait for the comeback I get, my tongues sharper than the saw. Would love to see him come with me on this trek, he'd get left behind asleep, as I'll do this trek up and down in 6 days, I can walk pretty fast, and I'm 50 years old, but up at crack of dawn and he'd be playing catch up,mas I'd leave him sleeping, then see him on my way back down. Lightweight as I only weigh in at 70 kilos. Slim and nifty, so Charles, you want to come along with me? You'd be more than welcome. You can also take the backseat in my two seater inflatable kayak, just use your hot air to inflate the thing, then we go cruising on Loch Lomond, we'll go and visit the Wallabies on the island of that name. Up for that? Carries 160 kilos, so hope you don't weigh to much. Need room for the tarp and gear, if not, well think of the fun I'll be having cruising said Loch up and down, visit most of the Islands it has. Never know, tie a jug onto the back with a jug and a Yo-Yo fishing device, and you never know, might get a fish on the hook/lure. Just don't get a fright with the thump it makes when it skelps/hits the jug, that's if you've saw a Yo-Yo device in action.No laws broken, as it's hidden, and if police launch is out, well it's your job in the back to get it out the water, as it's a sort of poaching device, though in saying that, it's not unnatended baited line, you're watching it lol!Better going with someone than just going yourself, though have wi-fi device, Pebble chargers and the old iPad with me.Well, need to keep up with the Tarp shelters set ups. Roughing it lol! Want to join me? I know your answer. Stick to writing big long posts. Always been told I can write for Scotland. Well nothing better than reading a nice long post, then realise what it's all about. Hope you know a few fire set ups. I'll carry the gear, you can carry the food, plenty of packets of dry food like 'Ko Noo Noodles' and Quaker porridge tubs and coffee/Tea Bags and powdered milk. Maybe a couple of boxes of sachets of coffe's. I know you'd enjoy cruising the Loch, stunning it is. Though I would o on my own if need be, just offering you a week away. Once we've done the Loch tour, well I'll get the kayak picked up, as why haul that up a straight land walk to Fort William, go through the stunning Glencoe, that's my highlight. Spend a night in Fort William, B n B, relax, then head back down. I'm looking to go in May or June. Got enough gear, cooking set ups. Even a portable 5 litre shower, as in to hell with Wet Wipes! We'd easily do it in a week, as they have a Run up in October for charity, and the records something like 15 hours, so at a good pace, well 7 days would be my goal hiking it.That offers open to anyone. Who cares about flak, if you want to do it, well come along for the jaunt.Sincerely...Paul.
Another great vid Survival Lilly. What I think is very helpful about your uploads is not only your practical knowledge but also your knowledge of products and equipment. A lot of the brands I grew up using have gone down in quality over the years as a lot of outdoor manufacturers became fashionable, production goes up, quality goes down. Been stuck for ideas what to buy and it can be costly to choose the wrong gear in more ways than one. I find it hard to trust the previously trusted manufacturers.Fascinated by some of the brands and products you mention as never came across them before and the quality is clear. Brilliant!
That was sweet and simple. I could especially see its application if suddenly caught in the rain. With the right location you could have it set up in minutes. Thanks for the idea Lily.
Just make sure to have the opening downwind so if there is a storm or rain it will not enter the tent. If you do have a fire nearby the make either a fire wall reflector of have a very small volcano fire dug into the earth near you. have a bedding of leaves in the tent to keep yourself from losing heat on the bare ground.
Hi lily first time I have commented on your videos cause I am computer stupid and have just learned. I enjoy all your videos and advice.. I'm just trying to really lighten my pack cause the back gets out more than I do. Very nice easy shelter. Keep up the good work
I like your use of Y braces on the main ridge poles rather than lashing it to the tree. It just seems so much more secure and stronger than lashing. As the weight increases on the ridge pole (if you were using debris instead of a tarp) it will only lock the ridge pole all the more securely. Good video but the birds were sure noisy. LOL
Well done video and good perspective, thanks for posting. I have used plastic in my tipi designs and plan on a smaller tipi design with internal fire to show how practical they really are. My old bones need as much comfort as I can give them these days and tipi's can offer it. My videos are not as well done as yours but I am trying. Good girl, keep up the good work.
I use an 8 x 10 silicon tarp with stakes in the corners. That, and a single trekking pole in the center of the entrance. Very stable without a ridge pole. Best part....the trees get to live longer.
This might just be the best tarp setup I've ever seen. I use a DD Hammocks 3mx3m tarp, and I'll have to give this a try. The best part is - no cordage. Thanks for sharing this. Grüße aus Kroatien!
Have you tried setting up your square tarp in a diamond shelter shape (even though you do need one piece of cord)? Tie one corner of your tent cord to a tree, and stretch the tarp about six feet from it. Make your tie point about 5 feet off the ground. Stretch your tarp away from the tree, and stake the opposite corner to the ground. Next, stake the other two corners left, and right, and your shelter is finished. Should take less than five minutes, and you are done. A small fire can be built between your shelter and the tree.
Tatonka Tarps are great bits of kit. I particularly like that they're square instead of rectangular like most on the market, which I think gives you even more options on tarp setup. Great use of ridge poles & Max even has a dry place to sleep. (Max says: "As if you thought we could leave things there like tinder when there's a dry spot for me to sleep in. What silly humans we are sometimes"... hehe) Nice video Lilly :)
great set up i walked for a week in northern france using the same shape with a walking stick and 1 line tied to a tree post bush etc a word of note dont store anything on that corner come fall or spring as the condensation pools on them corners tucked in just my experience could be im a big guy and i produced more humidity in it
Excellent set up! I think I would put my pack on that part of the tucked-in flaps of the tarp. BTW I really like the way you film your videos! Showing us how your work instead of just talking in the front of a static camera for the whole video. You are not afraid of silent moments where we hear only nature's sounds. Very organic and full of life. Very nice. The natural light enhancing the woodland colors, the moving camera and different angles, etc. Do you have training in films?
That is a nice tarp and I can't blame Dax for liking it and he have a place to come into when not digging up the forest. That would be nice for one or two people camping out overnight or the afternoon while fishing for the day then take down and bring home to put away.
Great Video. Just a feedback..you might wanna put a piece of something on the main piece of wood, cos, if it rains, water will drip along the wood, making some part of the tarp wet. Great idea.
Lily, my kids and I watch your videos and they wanted to say what a great video this was! Thank you and keep it up! James, Aslan, Shiloh, Liesel, Baird, and Evolet!
What do you prefer for ground insulation? I usually use a Swiss Army insulated mat or a US ARMY ground mat. Lacking those a nice bed of tree boughs if available. Two trash bags filled with debris also gets you off the ground and is comfortable.
pirate0jimmy My concerns with Therm-a-rest, or any inflatable for that matter is the tiny punctures from ground matter or holes from sparks. So that means a repair kit, etc. When I was young in the Army or during tactical foot patrol in the USAF I often went without a sleeping bag (too bulky and heavy) or a ground pad for the same reasons. Travel light-freeze at night. I wish I had used hammocks some as a camper. Too high off the ground for tactical uses, the higher off the ground when a fire fight starts, the more likely you will get perforated. Old habits die hard. Thanks for the post.
BIG NEWS: I have designed my own Survival Knife called “APO-1”. You can get it now at my online store: www.survivallilly.at/ Thank you so much for your support
Survival Lilly You are my favorite woods gal and I have my Daughter watching you also ,I spent 25 , years in the wilderness with my husband,so outdoor life appeals to me I want to thank you for sharing these videos,I appreciate them ,your work and skills . No reply needed. God bless and protect you.👍😘
Survival Lilly I need more head room to have some sort of cot to make easier to stand up. I have bad knees.
Te ha quedado pero que muy guapo
Fun fact: Tatonka means buffalo in Cherokee! Learned that watching Dances with Wolves :D
Survival Lilly Hi Lilly your very nice i Like u
Lilly, after I made my 2 cent comment, I read a couple of other comments made on your video. There are two items I always carry in my pack and they take up minimal space: (1) a 5X7 tarp sold at Walmart for $10 and (2) a role of #36 bank line. The tarp comes in a stuff sack and is slightly larger than my wallet. I used the 5X7 tarp at the front of the configuration to prevent rain from getting inside and giving me a little more privacy from nosy neighbors who love to stand in their house using binoc's. I do a lot of gear testing in my Hobo Camp. I use twisted #36 bank line instead of 550 cordage. It weighs less and takes up little pack space. The bank line is in a small McDonald's milk carton with a hole drilled in the top. I pull out only the amount of cordage I need for a specific task so I don't waste it. I used to waste miles (exaggerated) of 550 which equates to a small pile of money. Anyway, I love this tarp configuration...it's my favorite and is so easy and quick. Great job, Lilly!
Great video Lilly... I live in arctic Sweden and all my shelters are the debris kind. Temperatures during winter often drops below -20 Celcius not even counting the wind factor. Herding reindeer means you have to be on the move daily for long time and if you have to disperse personel over a wider area we each make a debris shelter to overnight in, when we are in the same place we erect a laavu tent we haul on a snow scooter. Basically my preferred debris shelter is made by digging out 2x2 meters of snow roughly 40-50 cm deep. Constructing a "rib cage" of wood is easily done with my axe (I leave 1 branch at the end of the wood piece trimmed down to create a "hook" to latch it on my main beam without using any cordage.. Then everything is covered by at least 40 centimeter thick layer of spruce for insulation. Next part may not be considered "kosher" among most of readers here but I secure the spruce with a flexible net I lace together with cordage, usually spruce root split in half (no shops within 200 kilometers here carry stuff like paracord which I would love to have but I have had success making my own cordage so far. Thus secured and slightly condensed by the net I shovel all the snow I removed back on top of the pile making it wind tight. I lay myself on top of it to compact the snow so it have a harder time flying off in the wind.
Being slightly below normal snow level I dig a 30 cm deep 10 centimeter wide trench in the middle of the floor serving as a cold well (heat generated during the night goes up, pushing cold down. Having a cold well means the cold goes deeper than where you sleep and it is funneled out through the entrance enhancing the heat build-up inside. Fire inside?.. I dont usually. I have 10 portable heat generators (model Alaskan Malamute) with me and they usually curl up outside, but for social reasons some of them sleep inside the shelter on the other side of the cold well. Cooking I do on a Kelly Kettle (basecamp size) which has replaced my usual swedish logfire+billycan method I used years ago. In a pinch I can easily cook on the Kelly Kettle inside by digging the base a bit down .. the jet of flames won't cause much problem with the roofing as long as you keep a constant eye on it, Never dose off with open fire inside a shelter is my philosophy. The dogs also keep lynx, occasional wolf and bears at a distance or at least warn me if we get company. If I one day get to own a gopro camera that can recharge from a portable solar panel or baby windmill I will be happy to make a video now and again. Keep practicing your skills, its a wonderful hobby that can end up saving your life one day.
Please do, i would very much like to see that video. i admire your way of life. In a day and age of way too much comfort and technology it is refreshing to know some still live a simplified life and enjoy the great outdoors with the knowelge and skills it takes to do so.
Herding bulls in California doesn't seem all that ruff anymore. I just keep a hammock and hang a tarp over it. During the summer I just use a tent because of all the mosquitos, scorpions and snakes.
I like the cold well idea. Haven't heard about or seen that feature used in such a way.
Thank you, Lilly. I set up a tarp in the wooded area behind my house using this configuration. Works great! I raked leaves on the closed sides to minimize the wind and with a long fire/reflector in front the leaves helped to retain heat in the shelter. Plenty of room, too, and the tarp I used is a 10ft X 10ft. I also spread a bed of leaves inside to about 8 inches and threw a Tyvek sheet over them for the floor. I slept in the shelter on a 37 degree (Fahrenheit) night using only a cheap blue closed cell pad and a heavy wool blanket. Slept like a baby. Keep the videos coming...you're a great teacher!
looks like a roomy and comfortable setup.
Hey Lilly thats a great shelter.
Im teaching my daughter who is 7 bushcrafting and wilderness survival stuff we have fun and she does not even know she is learning anything.
Thanks for haveing a channel
I watched 4 other 'tarp shelter' videos before yours. Not one of the four that I watched made mention of the tarp size best suited for this shelter. Thanks Lilly, for making that point clear right at the beginning. You will, of course, get my thumbs up.
Looks cozy, and it is a good idea, a tarp weights much less than a tent, but i would choose the cordaje instead of that previous work. The only problem would be the entrance, make sure you point it north or other direction than south (if you live in the northern hemisphere), if pointing south and it rains, you would get pretty wet...
I like your videos. They have been helpful and encouraging. Your dog Max is a hoot, he is a very self motivated hound. I loved the video where he jumped in the creek in the background while you were filming. He appears to love the woods, I would imagine that he leaves no item unturned. Thank you Lily.
This setup using thick timber has an added bonus of providing some protection from falling branches. I like it thank you
Lookin good, Lilly!
when I build tarp shelters people always think i'm camping even though it's just for a couple hours of hanging out and learning. I live in a homeless epidemic area where being homeless is not nesseccerily acceptable but there is so much of it growing that these kids get into drugs and become homeless themselves and they see it everywhere so they think it's ok. I was homeless for three years and I've been through all kinds of weather conditions and not knowing how to make long term shelter cause my shelter to come down in the middle of the night or remaking it in rainy conditions. I look back now and it is all just experience and it has made me make shelter better. gotta start from somewhere. thanks for showing me how to use sticks as stakes because I used to collect cans and have to buy stakes, cordage, and tarps to make my shelter. now I can do it more naturally and cost effective.
Darn I really like that shelter tarp setup without cordage. Awesome job.
I love watching your dog frolicking behind as you work your tail off to survive! He always starts off clean and ends up digging and rolling joyously in the dirt, grass and/or muck. What a happy dog! I also enjoy your videos and a absorbing the knowledge in case I need it later. :)
Yes, I love the pup.
Love the tarp setup, quite easy and simple to do provided the terrain allows for it.
Good points on the fire being too close to the setup.. many people don't realise but it also depends on what type of wood you use. Most soft woods burn fast and usually spit quite a lot where as hard woods will burn slowly and are very unlikely to spit hot sparks out. I've had fires just 1 metre underneath my tarp, in windy and none windy conditions. Just make sure you're not using soft woods, especially for an over nighter; you wouldn't like to wake up to your shelter in flames! xD
Having a fire in an enclosed area will always be dangerous, but provided you have enough ventilation, you'll be fine. Although the best shelters to have fires in, would be the Indian Style T.P's with the mini log burning stove. If you have an open tarp shelter with a fire underneath then you should be fine as long as you set it up right! There are plenty of videos on UA-cam on how to do these types of shelters so just search for them.
If you are having a fire infront or under your tarp I do suggest building thermal walls around the fire to help radiate the heat back into your sleeping area and leave open space above the fire to all for the smoke to rise out of your shelter.
That looks so cozy! Especially with your sweet dog!
Hi Lilly, I'm a newbie to bushcraft and have become totally addicted to your videos. Thank you so much for your incredibly informative videos. ATVB. Steve.
This pitch mimics Col. Townsend Whelen's forester's tent. You lay, however with your head toward the opening, closer to the fire to better benefit from the heat and to more easily feed the fire during the night.
That shelter looks like it will be a great design for any weather condition you may run into. Thanks Lilly
Thank you for taking the time to do this video! I learned a lot! God bless!!
Very well done. Each video is better than the last. Great photography editing and instruction.
When I'm stuck indoors your videos bring the sights and sounds of the great outdoors.
Thank You
I've been binge watching your videos. Love them all. I can't believe it's been 6 years since you did this one!
so refreshing to see a female who loves the outdoors and has out door knowledge spot on lilly great video
Nice Setup Lilly, but I would be a little afraid in heavy rain, that the richpole will lead water into the shelter. So it might help to tie some cord around the pole just in front of the tarp and let the end hang down. That might lead away the water the pole will catch from the inside of the shelter.
rozilmer Not to mention the direction in which you have your opening. Depending on where you live you need to consider in which direction your storms hit your area. Example, If you live in California, most of your storms will either come from the West moving East Or North heading South. If you live in Michigan then the storms will come down from the North and either go South or East. If you live in the South then your storms will come from the south and head in a North-Eastern direction. Do you see where I am coming from? You wouldn't want your main opening facing the direction where it will catch the storm. It will blow your tarp away like the wing of an airplane.
Jumpoff A Not being a smart ass, but wouldnt that be obvious to any experienced outdoors person ?
Boyce Lawrence
You would be surprise the common mistakes "experienced" outdoors people make. But my comments were basically for the inexperienced woodsmen and women.
Thank-you for your comment, no offense taken for a legitimate questions or comments.
What the fuck is a "richpole"?
Great setup Lilly. Will try it out this summer.
You are one of the people who inspired me to be a survivalist it gives me ideas to build shelters and tools thanks
I also take a ground sheet. which is industrial strength clear plastic.
Great idea. No cordage to get tangled and no pole in the front to get in the way. Thanks for the video.
The doggo moments are always fantastic.
NICE shelter! And Dax is so funny!! Thank you!
Nice tips, Lilly... I had a woodsman Aunt and her Collie dog teach me things like this when I was 10 (Plus Rattlesnakes) many years ago- It's comforting to see that some things never change!
Sehr tolles Setup. Da ist auf alle Fälle Platz ohne Ende drinnen. Danke fürs zeigen. LG Carlos
Hey Lilly, would just like to say I've bought the half saw, 'Wolverine Folding Saw', extremely sharp indeed, and just took it up to my local forest in a secluded spot, took my whole set up, as in large rucksack, which I did not need, but as I posted a while ago, I put it at the very bottom of rucksack, woods are plentiful in trees, so followed what I had in memory from this vid, and set to work on my DD 3 x 3 Tarp, all loops, no ringlets as you know, and set this set up, up. Though it's a massive Tarp, and I folded under the sides rather than have then stretched out, brought them in and under to form the groundsheet, and pegged it down from the inside, and it worked brilliantly. Didn't stay long incase of any police involvement, then took it down. The saw? Well even though it's lethal to have here, and need a very good excuse for having a 'locking blade' I didn't hang around, but it rained, as usual for Glasgow, so pity as its public forest, but wanted to stay out, but too many dog walkers for my liking, so just tried to improvise on what you've shown me, then came back home. I also carry ontop of Bergen a small 2 man dome tent, so if any police came, I had an excuse for having the saw. As these woods are not for camping, but had a couple of dog walking locals come over to see what I was doing, I just said I was practising for going away for the weekend,even though the Summer seems to be halfway here now, and I was surprised at their interest into what I was doing, they were impressed greatly when they saw no door lol!The simple set up is easy to build up, and your video was great, as now I know how to improvise it. So Thanks for yet another tip. Bought a 'Jungle Bag' by 'Snugpak' very slim and lightweight bag. Complete with Mosquito net, but realised once I had it out that you can sleep in either end, and the net as you no doubt know can be removed. Well once the Summer arrives I'm off to do this walk we have here called 'The West Highland Way', 96 mile walk on proven and well used track, and even though the bag is very thi, I thought it would be cold to sleep I, so tried it out inside the tent, and not sure why, but it kept me very warm indeed. Too warm at times. So I'd also recommend this for its lightweight pack, as it weighs it seems lighter than a 2lb bag of sugar, well worth the £35 I paid.Keep posting, I've learnt a lot from you. Not just this simple set up, but lots of things you've shown. I'm going to subscribe to your channel to let you know my apretiation in what you've shown me, and if I were ever to have anyone with me for help, well it would certainly be you.No nothing in that, just that you know a lot more than me when it comes to Survival Skills.Thanks again for something nice and simple to set up, and no hard work to be honest. Though got my walking poles if I need to throw up a simple sloping back set up. In the Summers we get here, well for some reason don't last as long as when I was a young guy just going camping.Now I have everything that would be illegal if you were caught just wandering the streets with and no excuse for having the saw, and small folding penknife. Only just over an inch long, but good for my para cord. One thing, this Ronald Ellington seems to have a little 'Groupie' fan, saying "Hey Ronald, think you've got another fish on the line. He's even looking forward to Ronald's next comment to make him laugh, well some mentality this guy must have eh?Talk about idiots, can't wait for the comeback I get, my tongues sharper than the saw. Would love to see him come with me on this trek, he'd get left behind asleep, as I'll do this trek up and down in 6 days, I can walk pretty fast, and I'm 50 years old, but up at crack of dawn and he'd be playing catch up,mas I'd leave him sleeping, then see him on my way back down. Lightweight as I only weigh in at 70 kilos. Slim and nifty, so Charles, you want to come along with me? You'd be more than welcome. You can also take the backseat in my two seater inflatable kayak, just use your hot air to inflate the thing, then we go cruising on Loch Lomond, we'll go and visit the Wallabies on the island of that name. Up for that? Carries 160 kilos, so hope you don't weigh to much. Need room for the tarp and gear, if not, well think of the fun I'll be having cruising said Loch up and down, visit most of the Islands it has. Never know, tie a jug onto the back with a jug and a Yo-Yo fishing device, and you never know, might get a fish on the hook/lure. Just don't get a fright with the thump it makes when it skelps/hits the jug, that's if you've saw a Yo-Yo device in action.No laws broken, as it's hidden, and if police launch is out, well it's your job in the back to get it out the water, as it's a sort of poaching device, though in saying that, it's not unnatended baited line, you're watching it lol!Better going with someone than just going yourself, though have wi-fi device, Pebble chargers and the old iPad with me.Well, need to keep up with the Tarp shelters set ups. Roughing it lol! Want to join me? I know your answer. Stick to writing big long posts. Always been told I can write for Scotland. Well nothing better than reading a nice long post, then realise what it's all about. Hope you know a few fire set ups. I'll carry the gear, you can carry the food, plenty of packets of dry food like 'Ko Noo Noodles' and Quaker porridge tubs and coffee/Tea Bags and powdered milk. Maybe a couple of boxes of sachets of coffe's. I know you'd enjoy cruising the Loch, stunning it is. Though I would o on my own if need be, just offering you a week away. Once we've done the Loch tour, well I'll get the kayak picked up, as why haul that up a straight land walk to Fort William, go through the stunning Glencoe, that's my highlight. Spend a night in Fort William, B n B, relax, then head back down. I'm looking to go in May or June. Got enough gear, cooking set ups. Even a portable 5 litre shower, as in to hell with Wet Wipes! We'd easily do it in a week, as they have a Run up in October for charity, and the records something like 15 hours, so at a good pace, well 7 days would be my goal hiking it.That offers open to anyone. Who cares about flak, if you want to do it, well come along for the jaunt.Sincerely...Paul.
Great job. You really nailed it with a bomb proof shelter!
Another great vid Survival Lilly. What I think is very helpful about your uploads is not only your practical knowledge but also your knowledge of products and equipment. A lot of the brands I grew up using have gone down in quality over the years as a lot of outdoor manufacturers became fashionable, production goes up, quality goes down. Been stuck for ideas what to buy and it can be costly to choose the wrong gear in more ways than one. I find it hard to trust the previously trusted manufacturers.Fascinated by some of the brands and products you mention as never came across them before and the quality is clear. Brilliant!
that tarp is great between trees ,you use fire in front of it for to protect you from cold weather,thanks for videos
That was sweet and simple. I could especially see its application if suddenly caught in the rain. With the right location you could have it set up in minutes. Thanks for the idea Lily.
I'm normally in a hammock now - more comfortable for my back - but I have forgotten cordage a couple times for the tarp so this is helpful.
Just make sure to have the opening downwind so if there is a storm or rain it will not enter the tent. If you do have a fire nearby the make either a fire wall reflector of have a very small volcano fire dug into the earth near you. have a bedding of leaves in the tent to keep yourself from losing heat on the bare ground.
Hi lily first time I have commented on your videos cause I am computer stupid and have just learned. I enjoy all your videos and advice.. I'm just trying to really lighten my pack cause the back gets out more than I do. Very nice easy shelter. Keep up the good work
I like your use of Y braces on the main ridge poles rather than lashing it to the tree. It just seems so much more secure and stronger than lashing. As the weight increases on the ridge pole (if you were using debris instead of a tarp) it will only lock the ridge pole all the more securely. Good video but the birds were sure noisy. LOL
Well done video and good perspective, thanks for posting. I have used plastic in my tipi designs and plan on a smaller tipi design with internal fire to show how practical they really are. My old bones need as much comfort as I can give them these days and tipi's can offer it. My videos are not as well done as yours but I am trying. Good girl, keep up the good work.
A quick but informative video. You make it look easy.
I use an 8 x 10 silicon tarp with stakes in the corners. That, and a single trekking pole in the center of the entrance. Very stable without a ridge pole. Best part....the trees get to live longer.
Nice quick set up. Like the new intro to your videos too, Lilly. Nice job.
Yes Lilly, like it. I would also fold under all the time for dry spot, and bed site...Paul.
This might just be the best tarp setup I've ever seen. I use a DD Hammocks 3mx3m tarp, and I'll have to give this a try. The best part is - no cordage. Thanks for sharing this. Grüße aus Kroatien!
I like how you say "wideo" and your dog is super cool!
Have you tried setting up your square tarp in a diamond shelter shape (even though you do need one piece of cord)? Tie one corner of your tent cord to a tree, and stretch the tarp about six feet from it. Make your tie point about 5 feet off the ground. Stretch your tarp away from the tree, and stake the opposite corner to the ground. Next, stake the other two corners left, and right, and your shelter is finished. Should take less than five minutes, and you are done. A small fire can be built between your shelter and the tree.
Very practical, I'll have to remember this next time I'm on a camp out. I like the dry storage space idea.
Very nicely done. I really enjoy seeing resourceful people sharing their time and knowledge!
Very Nice Shelter . Thanks from South Carolina
looks like you left some space for me^^ mach weiter so lilly, wie immer informativ und unterhaltsam!
always great ideas !! and your dog is a blast to watch !!
Great shelter. Loads of room. Simon
Nice and easy set up, like the dry spot in the back
Nice easy straight set up lily .. cheers Chris & Sam
Love your videos. I apply many of your ideas and gear in my hobby. Kayak camping.
Lilly, you are the first one I,ve seen using this design....I have used this same design for years!
Tatonka Tarps are great bits of kit. I particularly like that they're square instead of rectangular like most on the market, which I think gives you even more options on tarp setup.
Great use of ridge poles & Max even has a dry place to sleep. (Max says: "As if you thought we could leave things there like tinder when there's a dry spot for me to sleep in. What silly humans we are sometimes"... hehe)
Nice video Lilly :)
great set up i walked for a week in northern france using the same shape with a walking stick and 1 line tied to a tree post bush etc a word of note dont store anything on that corner come fall or spring as the condensation pools on them corners tucked in just my experience could be im a big guy and i produced more humidity in it
Great idea! Just like a debrise hut without all of the work piling up debrise.
Michael DeBell
debris, (de bri)
Excellent set up! I think I would put my pack on that part of the tucked-in flaps of the tarp. BTW I really like the way you film your videos! Showing us how your work instead of just talking in the front of a static camera for the whole video. You are not afraid of silent moments where we hear only nature's sounds. Very organic and full of life. Very nice. The natural light enhancing the woodland colors, the moving camera and different angles, etc. Do you have training in films?
Lilly you are lovely keep enjoying the great outdoors cheers .
That is a nice tarp and I can't blame Dax for liking it and he have a place to come into when not digging up the forest. That would be nice for one or two people camping out overnight or the afternoon while fishing for the day then take down and bring home to put away.
I am sewing my own tarp. this was part of the research to determine how to set up a tarp for shelter. Thank you.
cool good luck
Always good to have alternate solutions!
Great simple setup Lilly !
Just wanted to say. You are awesome. Thanks for these videos.
Clever design. thanks for showing us this.
Great idea for a quick setup shelter!! Thanks again Lilly!!👍
Great setup. And nice video. It's good to see you do a vintage Alone wolverine style vid :) I sometime miss the old Lilly. Take care -Chris
Simple and brilliant at the same time
Everything you have is always impeccably clean!
Love those cozy nights.
Lilly, very nice video! I'm glad that you are doing these types of videos again - you explain things in detail. Cheers
Just found you're channel! ☺️🙂 It's great to see a Woman doing all that! Awesome! 😊👍
Hello Lily... its true.. tarps are very versatile.
Congrats.
And Thanks.
good idea. curious bout the opening keeping out weather
Simple, yet practical!
Very nice! If I don't have some cordage, this is the way I'm going.
Quick cozy shelter 😊
Great video, Lilly; awesome demonstration for a tarp shelter.
Nice Rig. There is no end to the ways you can rig a tarp for a shelter. All it takes is imagination.
I am learning so much from your videos Lilly. Thank you so much for teaching us. : ) ~virginia from Oklahoma USA
Very simple and quick to construct if caught in a storm. Great work. I'd share a tarp with you anytime!
The DAX Shelter is awesome. Good dog!
I like this open end tarp set up, you don't have to guess what's making that noise in the middle of the night. Lol
Great video, the camera angles you used are awesome ,very interesting
Great Video. Just a feedback..you might wanna put a piece of something on the main piece of wood, cos, if it rains, water will drip along the wood, making some part of the tarp wet. Great idea.
Smart, strong and pretty. Great combo.
Thanks Lilly, I like that set up. Nice n easy. - Marco
Very nice no cord setup Lilly. I quite like it.
-Jacko
Excellent set-up.
I really enjoy seeing your cool dog.
Thanks for the video.
Lily, my kids and I watch your videos and they wanted to say what a great video this was! Thank you and keep it up! James, Aslan, Shiloh, Liesel, Baird, and Evolet!
What do you prefer for ground insulation? I usually use a Swiss Army insulated mat or a US ARMY ground mat. Lacking those a nice bed of tree boughs if available. Two trash bags filled with debris also gets you off the ground and is comfortable.
pirate0jimmy My concerns with Therm-a-rest, or any inflatable for that matter is the tiny punctures from ground matter or holes from sparks. So that means a repair kit, etc. When I was young in the Army or during tactical foot patrol in the USAF I often went without a sleeping bag (too bulky and heavy) or a ground pad for the same reasons. Travel light-freeze at night. I wish I had used hammocks some as a camper. Too high off the ground for tactical uses, the higher off the ground when a fire fight starts, the more likely you will get perforated. Old habits die hard. Thanks for the post.
this setup is great also for a cotton tarp
Nice Set up Lilly I like it Keep it up girl You ROCK !!!
Very nice setup! Thanks.