Love the channel and I am curious can you use your oiled canvas tarps for a ground sheet or does water come through eventually? I would like to make a ground sheet the size of my bed roll if that would work. Thanks.
During the first lock down, my daughter and I made a small fire from scratch. To do some sausages, & smores. So she could get her fire badge for brownies. She was the only one that got one. She was so happy. All thanks to your videos. Thanks Mike.
There is nothing more satisfying than the rain on a tarp, a warming fire and the self confidence gained from being able to cope with anything that nature throws at you!
Good tips for rainy area camping. I’m from the US, east Tennessee hills. It’s wet here too and I much appreciate your tips. I grew up camping and didn’t realize that “the wet” was such a chore. It’s what we had, that’s all. When I grew up and moved away, I found that many countries and continents aren’t so wet. Dry camping has its own issues though…Water can be the enemy and the savior. Thanks for sharing your tips…from the US, east Tennessee.
One more minor tip to building a fire in wet conditions - if the fire is smoking, give it a bit more time and/or oxygen. Once you get a clean, nearly smokeless flame, it's ready for a bit more fuel. Smoke will let you know that a fire is "struggling" a bit. Thanks for a fantastic and really helpful video. Love the 3x3 m tarp idea. That's just brilliant. Cheers! J
I'd add that it's good to angle the tarp against the prevailing wind, so the smoke and rain won't blow in on you, and also to check the trees around you for big deadish branches because if the wind is going to blow hard, that's when they're most likely to come down.
I remember when TA Outdoors started. I was going through some horrible times, It was then I watched some of his videos, and they gave me confidence to go outside again. Once in the woods, I felt out of place, second time felt secure, third time, i had a camp with a hot meal. Thank you 🫡
Rode my bike in the Highlands of Scotland last year. One truly miserable day (3 degrees C and horizontal rain) I chose a pine plantation as a likely place to set up camp. At home in Canada, pines tend to grow in nice sandy soil. Big surprise! Pine plantations in Scotland are bogs - just like this one! Too tired to ride on, it took me quite some time to find a relatively dry bit of ground. Thankfully I stayed nice and dry in my wee tent (no exaggeration, it was tiny). On the rest of my ride, if I found a nice place to pitch my tent in the late afternoon - I didn't ride any further; learned my lesson. Oddly enough this little video brought back some great memories.
I agree. I was in US Navy y'all get a lot of rain there. Reminds me of Seattle, Washington USA. Though sometime in my State in Texas it seems we live in the rain sometimes for weeks before we see the sun. Of course than th sun come out and it don't rain for months. Damned if you do damned if you don't😂
@@Iknowonlywhatimtaught Aw shucks, Maggie, thanks that's interesting. I'll be doggone if I don't visit Texas before my time's up yeehaw! Such an interesting area with beautiful landscapes and starry skies
Honestly one of the most helpful and useful tips and tricks videos I’ve seen. Most helpful for me was how you packed the tarp for a quick deploy and how you kept the firewood.
Best thing I use to start fires is strips of worn out bicycle tube. Typically 20mm wide pieces. Easy to light and very hard to put out - even in heavy rain conditions. They also burn for a long time. Light to carry. Thanks for sharing. From New Zealand.
Approximately 60 years ago I was in the Boy Scout program. One of my Scoutmaster showed me a little trick to facilitate starting a fire in wet weather. That little trick is a short piece of candle about 2 inches long. Take the fire wood ( such as a teepee style lay out leaving an opening into the center for a place to put a burning candle). The candle stays lite while drying out the wet/damp wood.
Great vid! Couple of things I learned the other day. 1. If you allow some gaps at the bottom of the tarp you can have the fire under the tarp (depending on the height of the tarp of course) the gap makes sure the smoke from the fire doesn't go everywhere into the space understanding the tarp. 2. A big industry plastic bag will do the tiny waxed tarp job as well and much cheaper.
Spot on! One thing taught in the military is leave a small gap as it stops the kite effect when the wind picks up. We used our ponchos as a tarp and always worth having. One large double hook bungee cord from the hood to a branch, where there are eye holes at the corners put a bungee with the ball attacked through those holes and peg down. That was for quick set up, the peg and small bungee allows you to have the gap and more flexible with the elastic giving movement. A tarp can be set up when the weather eases. I left the army years ago but both are always in my pack along with cotton wool balls sodium permanganate and small bottle of glycerine which causes a flame when added to the SP. Fire rods can get wet as well
@@salahad-din4114 Yes. Even in pretty high wind, there's a boundary layer next to the ground that's pretty still. I've never noticed rain wanting to blow under a tarp that had a 6-inch gap under it.
I've watched a bunch of videos but I like that you explained everything so it was easy to understand plus the closeups of the how. Good content. Thanks
Not quite as rainy here in Brisbane but a universal tip is to not add too much fuel to the fire in the early stages. Important to have enough wood gathered to get the fire to a stage where it doesn't need to be constantly fed. Next time we go camping I'll make a featherstick with the boys and see if we can get it going just using the rod.
Finally a no nonsense very informative wet weather shelter setup and fire making video using one knife and a wooden baton, a tarp and a bit of paracord. Well done you👍 Tired of watching videos of people setting up camp with so many different bits of kit they couldn't possibly have carried it all into camp. Great video, thanks for sharing 👍.
Great video especially for up and coming bushcrafters. I found this information so beneficial, thank you from Adelaide, Australia as rain is rain no matter where you live on this planet.
As someone who grew up in the kind of bush alaska, these videos just feel very familiar and comfortable while providing great information. I appreciate content like this and love to listen to it while I go about my day
I love that the tarp is so small and lite! This looks like a great idea for parents going on a walk with kids too. Creating a small shelter fast if fantastic! Even going to a park this could be useful.
yep they are great to have on hand . keep the ridgeline attached with prussic loops for quick deployment . that plough nose setup he used is the quickest and you only need one anchor point . if you have two trees you can quickly set up an A frame or diamond frame tarp setup if you need more room, and its not to windy . Those DD tarps are well worth the money very durable and totally waterproof without being to heavy or bulky I always take mine bushwalking and kayaking . they are great for shade too
@BK-gq8ij so we bike everywhere with the kids, we live in the Netherlands not the US. Biking 20 minutes through the rain to go home isn't fun. Besides in the summer it only rains for 10 to 20 minutes if it's a summer storm. I'd rather just stay dry then continue having fun with the kids at the park. It's also been a few months so we do take a 3×3 thin tarp with us and set it up for shade most of the time at the park. We set up a line between 2 trees or a sign and a tree or what ever we can find to make a simpleshelter. We put a pick nick blanket underneath too. Then the kids have a shade area to snack or rest. We haven't been in a rain situation yet though because this summer was cold and wet so the days it rained we raining all day so we stayed home.
Where we used to camp - Kaimai Range, North Island NZ - there would invariably be piles of dead trees or shrubs at the corners of the river so there were always dry dead branches well above ground/water level that could be snapped off for fire lighting. If it was actually raining, the water on those upper branches was generally only on the surface so it wouldn't take much for them to dry off and catch fire.
My best friend and i do an annual 65 mile canoe trip. We take our time and cover the distance in 6-days. The first year was picture perfect conditions, warm days and cool nights. The second however, it rained everyday and poured at night. We had fire 🔥 every morning and every night using these same methods. We didn’t have any birch bark, but we did have plenty of fat wood. 👍 we had good rain gear and it was probably the best year we’ve ever had for fishing on that trip.
I'm amazed at how good this video is, so many small tips that you normally don't think about, and you always explain why you do things the way you do. GREAT video!!!
Well done. I really liked the quick shelter setup. Very efficient, and comfortable. I live in a temperate rainforest n coastal SW Washington, USA (where the Columbia River enters the Pacific.). Over my years I’m well familiar with the challenges of lighting a fire under damp, wet, sometimes snowy conditions. I’ve found getting a beach warming fire going with beachcombed wood and a cold wind blowing some of the most challenging. As you so capably demonstrated, success lies in the preparations. Thanks for another great clip. Be well. Safe journeys. Happy trails!
Thanks so much, Mike. Ive learned so much over the years from you! It rains pretty frequently here in KS. The farmers love it, but campers not so much. This video is critical. Thank you!
I have not been camping for at least 60 years but from 8 years old to about 15 years old I went camping every summer. My father had a 20’ square tent with a 10’ centre pole and 6’ sides. It slept the family of four very comfortable. In the summer it used to rain in the afternoon most days and when we set up the tent it was my job and my brothers job to dig a small trench around the tent and maybe 10’ downhill to direct the rain water away from the tent. It worked I don’t rememberer rain ever coming into the tent underneath the walls. I do remember as the tent was woven canvas not to touch the wet canvas as it would promptly leak. Those were great summer holidays. The beach about half a mile and the birds in the bush going crazy every morning and evening. No snakes no wild animals. In fact except for the possible danger of getting lost there was no danger. Many years later I checked and the massive dense bush I remember was only about an acre.
Great video and Great tips! I live in Labrador Canada, and I always use a raft or plateforme when creating fires. In winter, with snow/ice on the ground the raft or plateforme will help greatly to reduce moisture and help the heat to be reflected towards the top of the fire. I had a survival teacher told be to keep some of that bark in a ziplock bag on myself to reduce the « contamination » by moisture from my own sweat when I travel in wet environments for long distances. Keep up the great work!
This is awesome. Just moved to Tennessee where it constantly rains from california where it never does. Been struggling lighting fires while camping because everything is wet. Gonna try some of these tips
That sudden drop in temperature is a very clear sign of incoming rain or hail, especially in the spring. Here in the maritime PNW we get between 30 and 115 inches of rain a year, depending on the local topography and location. When the Lewis and Clark expedition arrived on the west coast of America they were both astonished and depressed by the fact that it rained for nearly their entire time in the area. I love it, both for the green it brings and for the solitude it provides those who can tolerate it. Whenever I visit further inland where it is drier, I am uncomfortable and irritable. Another excellent feature of living someplace so wet is that it seems to limit the number of dangerous animals, particularly insects, spiders and snakes. Yes, we have bears and mountain lions and wolves, but encounters with them are infrequent and usually very manageable. If the UK is as wet as we are here, i think i could be happy there.
Do you ever find you can smell it in the air when it's due to rain. We are in the Scottish highlands, always seem to get a change of air and the smell when rain is due. I do live it when it's warm and we get that torrential rain. Not sure why but I prefer that to the light misty rain that gets you down to the skin
I've always wanted to visit the PNW United States ever since I discovered that the Native Americans of that region were the only natives who built fixed, permanent shelters, and yet they had no need to cultivate crops or keep livestock.
The amount of precious knowledge you give us is just incredible. Every explanation is clear and well filmed. Great job! First time watching your channel, instant sub! Thanks a lot !
🌧☔🏔 Your insight into the relationship between temperature drops and rain or hail is fascinating! It's intriguing to learn about the varying levels of rainfall in different regions, like the maritime PNW. The historical context of the Lewis and Clark expedition's experience with constant rain showcases the unique weather patterns of the area. Your love for the rain and its effects on the environment and solitude is inspiring. It's interesting to consider how living in a wetter climate may limit encounters with certain dangerous animals. Exploring bushcraft tips for heavy rain and wet weather conditions would be valuable in such environments.
It’s so beautiful in the forest when it’s raining. And there is so much water which you can filter and use for drinking and cooking, so nice! With the right equipment it’s the best experience ever!
Rain doesn't show up well on camera so the downfall might be heavier than it appears. In movies, they have to use massive sprinkler arrays just to get the rain to be visible at all.
Lifelong Scout here: Very nicely done! In my own experience the worst possible condition is heavy sleet that just sticks to everything and just stays there while melting.
Awesome content, man. I live on Vancouver Island, Canada and we get like 200+ days of rain a year, easily. This is super useful information to me, I would love to see more rainy/storm/oceanside camping tips and tricks. Trying to get in touch with the primitive survivalist inside me. Have most of my gear and can't wait to get the fook out there with my trusty dogs and mother nature. Liked and subbed!
Terrific video. Very impressive that you did all this in rain. (I loathe videos where someone sits looking at the camera and just talks about it, but never does it.) A couple of months ago I was in the Philippines doing a hike with some Filipino army rangers (who train American soldiers in jungle survival). They demonstrated making a fire using bamboo. The first thing I noticed is the length of dry bamboo they carried was unlike almost all the bamboo in the forest which was either green or rotting. Second as they set up their friction they shaved a small pile of 'dust' or feathers from the surface of the bamboo. Then he compressed this pile. This increases the fuel to oxygen ratio. An important step. While teaching science I tried fire starting with sticks and a pump drill. The very first time I got a short lived ember. Then it was months all I got was smoke. These rangers could've turned any of that into fire. Compressing the fine shavings was the trick. They started blowing on what didn't look like embers to me, just smoke, but it caught. It looked like you use the met hod I use for staking my rain fly. Twisting the stake into a loop and pushing it into the ground. No tying, no adjusting. Rainflies have one advantage over tents in weather, they're all triangles. Tents are generally 'bubbles' to get more room. But this bubble will move around a lot in wind. My DIY rainfly in a storm with blowing wind in Connemara barely moved. So my method like yours, is super efficient. Strings attached to the fly at some grosgrain (nylon ribbon) loops. Nothing stronger. But all set up so if I don't need to stretch out a guy line I can just insert the stake in the loop, twist it around to secure it, then push it into the ground. Those heavy duty reinforced corners on your piece of waxed canvas are overkill. I used silnylon and 1" (25 mm) grosgrain. If I sewed 6" (15cm) reinforcing strips to the sil nylon on either side of the loop it would never tear or pull away. Another plus for a rain fly -- there's no 'floor' so there are always 360° of emergency exits -- I cook inside my rainfly. My Jetboil sits on the ground, not on my ground cloth. And rainflys are better in rain. They shed water. Tents are like my Goretex jacket. Terrific, especially when it might rain. If it IS raining, I want to have on a rubber or cheap plastic rain jacket and sleep in my rain fly. I live in California - very flammable - so when I camp (just over nighters mostly) I never make a fire, don't even bring my stove. I'll try to remember to bring matches, just in case. I'll drink cold instant coffee, usually don't even bring food. But I'm usually not out for more than a day. The only lesson from me is,: a campfire is not a requirement. A good night's sleep and not feeling miserable (wet and shivering) when you hike out are the key goals.
This is the First Time I came across your videos. You are an excellent educator/teacher in bushcrafting. Simple and straightforward information and instructions in a very clear voice with the use of less expensive basic equipment. Greetings from the land Down Under, Sydney. Subbed. I do go out in the bush often, and use cheap but reasonably made equipment and materials We do not have much rain but always prepared as much as you are as there is no network connections unless you use sat phones. I do the same way in lighting fires and looking for kindle, but you explain well! Cheers
I'd love to see a video about coping with the wind! I often find this harder to deal with than the rain. It flattens my tarp, and the noise from tarp flapping away stops me from sleeping! I'm always convinced it's about to cave in or blow away
OK, I have quite a bit of outdoor experience (mostly in dry sunny areas, and certainly not in wet soggy areas), yet I still learned something new today. Thank you! New subscriber now!
Such an enjoyable episode. In my experience, most tarp shelters work well, but sometimes the wind changes and it can start blowing water under your tarp which can be very unpleasant in some designs.
As others have said, great to see it done for real in the rain. Like the quick tarp set up, going to try that out soon. Just like to agree that it is important to have enough of all sizes of fuel before you light your fire. Thanks for sharing.
Would love to see your next steps for preparing the ground of your shelter for extended stay and sleeping with the ground being that satuated. I would imagine failing to secure a good base would be a direct path to hypothermia and things like pneumonia in a survival situation. Would also love to see you recommended KIT/load out for a survival situation in bad weather
a good sleeping mat is an absolute must for any situation. keeps you off the ground and provides a ton of insulation, makes even sub-zero f somewhat bearable as long as you have a good enough bag. Even hammock camping, if its cold out then youre completely surrounded with cold and its pressed together so the insulation is worse, but putting a pad in there helps it a ton
@@DaveRyan It's not terrible if you have good AC. And we have a big garden we water every day like crazy. But if you poke your head inside the garden you can almost imagine that your in a forest and everything is green and beautiful. I'm only joking. I love it here. People are amazing but it is pretty hot
One trick I was taught to better direct your "blow" to get the fire going is to piinch your thumb and forefinger on both hands together. Then bring the tips together to form a diamond shaped hole. Hold against your mouth and blow towards the heart of the fire. You get a far stronger, and better directed, jet of air.
Awesome video. Thx. I'd add a poncho, if only because we always had rain gear to pull over ourselves and gear... And I learned to appreciate the instant dry cover, while setting up larger shelter, and working outside the shelter, Ie, gathering wood for a fire, if a storm catches you off guard... 9:18
Wow the begining of this videi he explains the difference of wet, and green wood vs. dry usable.wood. Here inthe US we call the dry wood "squaw" wood. because the native Americans used it from up on thetrees thus it is dry!. GOOD JOB!!. This was the first time I have seen some one who knew what to do . As a former scout master I used to teach this. My scouts and I used to have a contest who could start a fire the fastest. Thumbs up!
This is such a good video! Not another clickbait title with a list of blatantly obvious (or incorrect) "secrets". Just detailed, correct, carefully explained information. I have no trouble lighting fires and getting them to the stage of happily devouring thumb-width stick, but I really struggle to get them from there to accepting thicker wood (e.g. small branches and split logs) so that I don't have to keep feeding them small sticks constantly. It would be great if you could do a video on that!
Really apprecieate the video. Was unsure of what the best emergency shelter is in rain, and this is honestly the best methods ive seen so far. Keep it up!
When I come to a brew or meal break, if its raining I deploy the tarp first then I can take my time in the dry. If not it's stove lit and a pot of water on for a brew. If I'm using my Trangia burner with my Firebox Nano by the time the water is boiling my tarp can be up and out of any wind, or late rain. I very rarely go to the bother of making a fire. It's intrusive on the ground and attracts visitors better than any flare! But my Trangia and Nano is brilliant as a main stove, and you don't need to collect wood, wet or dry! A really good video full of good tips thank you. 👍
Thanks for that tip at the end about letting the flame rise above the previous wood pile, I’ve always had a problem with smothering the flame. This was a simple remedy
Lighting a fire is one thing, (great job and explanation) but to keep it going and be useful for cooking or warmth in this condition would make for anther interesting episode.
Excellent video. Glad i do somthings rigjt. Most important....make sure you have a tarp, water and a few snacks are really all you need till weather breaks.
That was a good video of how to start a fir in wet weather. I learned a lot. I never thought about the waxed canvas to protect the tinder or the fire until it got going. I just usually hunch over the fore with my coat extended.
Yes, yes I did enjoy that. I will never go and do it again myself (hunting with dad in the new Zealand bush when I was young was enough), but I like watching someone else do it.
Nice video presentation. This kind of knowledge should not be allowed to die. I like the way you make use of the pocket deploying the tarp. I, as an old timer, would advise you to take care of you hands. Snapping twiggs will take it's tole. In the early '60s boy scouts we made Swedish torches camping in boggy areas. One nice feature, of them, is their mobility. One will burn, even if the base is submurged. It mitigates wire in a kit. Any cordage will do. Thanks.
Nice used to keep a army bivi tarp with a mylar blanket taped to the inside for such occasions, between that and a poncho I got to stay dry more often than not. Adding a small square of tarp to the day bag now , top tip thanks 💪
I have the same Thermos and agree it is one of the best flask out there. One key factor that lead me to buy it was the width of the neck as this makes cleaning so much easier.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Hope you enjoy this one folks! Watch more Bushcraft vids here: ua-cam.com/play/PLxnadpeGdTxAJy5_f_-6cjrAnuWRwUf8M.html
Love the channel and I am curious can you use your oiled canvas tarps for a ground sheet or does water come through eventually? I would like to make a ground sheet the size of my bed roll if that would work. Thanks.
During the first lock down, my daughter and I made a small fire from scratch. To do some sausages, & smores. So she could get her fire badge for brownies. She was the only one that got one. She was so happy. All thanks to your videos. Thanks Mike.
Why did you have that puddle building on the tarp at the end of the video?
@@finbarscanlonwolf That is awesome to hear!!! Please say well done to her from me!
@Looney Bin A month or so and they will be live on the site. Sign up to the email newsletter on my site and I will notify there first.
I really appreciate that you did it in the actual weather conditions , instead of just explaining it while the weather was nice.
There is nothing more satisfying than the rain on a tarp, a warming fire and the self confidence gained from being able to cope with anything that nature throws at you!
good old caveman days
Good tips for rainy area camping. I’m from the US, east Tennessee hills. It’s wet here too and I much appreciate your tips. I grew up camping and didn’t realize that “the wet” was such a chore. It’s what we had, that’s all. When I grew up and moved away, I found that many countries and continents aren’t so wet. Dry camping has its own issues though…Water can be the enemy and the savior. Thanks for sharing your tips…from the US, east Tennessee.
One more minor tip to building a fire in wet conditions - if the fire is smoking, give it a bit more time and/or oxygen. Once you get a clean, nearly smokeless flame, it's ready for a bit more fuel. Smoke will let you know that a fire is "struggling" a bit.
Thanks for a fantastic and really helpful video. Love the 3x3 m tarp idea. That's just brilliant.
Cheers!
J
I'd add that it's good to angle the tarp against the prevailing wind, so the smoke and rain won't blow in on you, and also to check the trees around you for big deadish branches because if the wind is going to blow hard, that's when they're most likely to come down.
Here in the US, Those large dead branches and trees are called "widowmakers".
@@emmitmeyer1368 Yes. True! I was killed by one on Oct. 14, 2019!
@@davidcarothers3311 what're you talking aboot
@@davidcarothers3311 a ghost post!
@@davidcarothers3311 I know the feeling
EXCELLENT presentation, perfect English, and no crazy background music!!!!
I remember when TA Outdoors started. I was going through some horrible times, It was then I watched some of his videos, and they gave me confidence to go outside again. Once in the woods, I felt out of place, second time felt secure, third time, i had a camp with a hot meal. Thank you 🫡
Rode my bike in the Highlands of Scotland last year. One truly miserable day (3 degrees C and horizontal rain) I chose a pine plantation as a likely place to set up camp. At home in Canada, pines tend to grow in nice sandy soil. Big surprise! Pine plantations in Scotland are bogs - just like this one! Too tired to ride on, it took me quite some time to find a relatively dry bit of ground. Thankfully I stayed nice and dry in my wee tent (no exaggeration, it was tiny). On the rest of my ride, if I found a nice place to pitch my tent in the late afternoon - I didn't ride any further; learned my lesson. Oddly enough this little video brought back some great memories.
Dutch bushcrafters, fellow victims of the miserable south North Sea climate, appreciate this, thanks :)
Aussie bushcrafters heading into the southern winter appreciate it too 😆
I agree. I was in US Navy y'all get a lot of rain there. Reminds me of Seattle, Washington USA. Though sometime in my State in Texas it seems we live in the rain sometimes for weeks before we see the sun. Of course than th sun come out and it don't rain for months. Damned if you do damned if you don't😂
I'll add us folks over in the Pacific Northwest...wetly appreciated.
@@Iknowonlywhatimtaught Aw shucks, Maggie, thanks that's interesting. I'll be doggone if I don't visit Texas before my time's up yeehaw! Such an interesting area with beautiful landscapes and starry skies
North West Germans, too.
Honestly one of the most helpful and useful tips and tricks videos I’ve seen. Most helpful for me was how you packed the tarp for a quick deploy and how you kept the firewood.
Cheers!
Yes very nice.
Best thing I use to start fires is strips of worn out bicycle tube. Typically 20mm wide pieces. Easy to light and very hard to put out - even in heavy rain conditions. They also burn for a long time. Light to carry. Thanks for sharing. From New Zealand.
and free! I've approached bike shops and scrounged them.
Approximately 60 years ago I was in the Boy Scout program. One of my Scoutmaster showed me a little trick to facilitate starting a fire in wet weather. That little trick is a short piece of candle about 2 inches long.
Take the fire wood ( such as a teepee style lay out leaving an opening into the center for a place to put a burning candle). The candle stays lite while drying out the wet/damp wood.
Brilliant video! Great to see someone actually doing in adverse conditions rather than just telling!
What a gem of a human you are. What a precise way of teaching advising and making a compact video. Bravo. Well-done
Great vid! Couple of things I learned the other day. 1. If you allow some gaps at the bottom of the tarp you can have the fire under the tarp (depending on the height of the tarp of course) the gap makes sure the smoke from the fire doesn't go everywhere into the space understanding the tarp. 2. A big industry plastic bag will do the tiny waxed tarp job as well and much cheaper.
although much more rare these days, I like the use & re- use of a waxed cloth. Seems much more woodsmanlike too, that's just me
Spot on!
One thing taught in the military is leave a small gap as it stops the kite effect when the wind picks up. We used our ponchos as a tarp and always worth having. One large double hook bungee cord from the hood to a branch, where there are eye holes at the corners put a bungee with the ball attacked through those holes and peg down. That was for quick set up, the peg and small bungee allows you to have the gap and more flexible with the elastic giving movement. A tarp can be set up when the weather eases. I left the army years ago but both are always in my pack along with cotton wool balls sodium permanganate and small bottle of glycerine which causes a flame when added to the SP. Fire rods can get wet as well
@@salahad-din4114 Yes. Even in pretty high wind, there's a boundary layer next to the ground that's pretty still. I've never noticed rain wanting to blow under a tarp that had a 6-inch gap under it.
Waxed cotton won't melt a hole if a spark touches it.
I've watched a bunch of videos but I like that you explained everything so it was easy to understand plus the closeups of the how. Good content. Thanks
Bro literally today i finished watching your playlist with these tips and now a new video, i'm really happy thank you !
More to come soon! 💪🏻
Not quite as rainy here in Brisbane but a universal tip is to not add too much fuel to the fire in the early stages. Important to have enough wood gathered to get the fire to a stage where it doesn't need to be constantly fed.
Next time we go camping I'll make a featherstick with the boys and see if we can get it going just using the rod.
Finally a no nonsense very informative wet weather shelter setup and fire making video using one knife and a wooden baton, a tarp and a bit of paracord. Well done you👍
Tired of watching videos of people setting up camp with so many different bits of kit they couldn't possibly have carried it all into camp.
Great video,
thanks for sharing 👍.
Yooo yo yoo Manna, you're Daemn Right😂
BEST video ever about starting a fire! Congratulations!
Great video especially for up and coming bushcrafters. I found this information so beneficial, thank you from Adelaide, Australia as rain is rain no matter where you live on this planet.
Glad you enjoyed it.
I just love watching the art of fire lightning, from collecting resources to the actual chill out time!
As someone who grew up in the kind of bush alaska, these videos just feel very familiar and comfortable while providing great information. I appreciate content like this and love to listen to it while I go about my day
Great video. Love the deployable tarp. “Snappy makes fire happy,” is the rhyme I use when teaching scouts how to prep a fire.
I love that the tarp is so small and lite! This looks like a great idea for parents going on a walk with kids too. Creating a small shelter fast if fantastic! Even going to a park this could be useful.
yep they are great to have on hand . keep the ridgeline attached with prussic loops for quick deployment . that plough nose setup he used is the quickest and you only need one anchor point . if you have two trees you can quickly set up an A frame or diamond frame tarp setup if you need more room, and its not to windy . Those DD tarps are well worth the money very durable and totally waterproof without being to heavy or bulky
I always take mine bushwalking and kayaking . they are great for shade too
Conversely you could just go back to the car and go home.
@BK-gq8ij so we bike everywhere with the kids, we live in the Netherlands not the US. Biking 20 minutes through the rain to go home isn't fun. Besides in the summer it only rains for 10 to 20 minutes if it's a summer storm. I'd rather just stay dry then continue having fun with the kids at the park.
It's also been a few months so we do take a 3×3 thin tarp with us and set it up for shade most of the time at the park. We set up a line between 2 trees or a sign and a tree or what ever we can find to make a simpleshelter. We put a pick nick blanket underneath too. Then the kids have a shade area to snack or rest. We haven't been in a rain situation yet though because this summer was cold and wet so the days it rained we raining all day so we stayed home.
It’s not small. He just set it up this way. I have the same tarp.
@@simoninkin9090 it's small enough to fit in the side pocket of the bag. It's about the size of a big water bottle.
This is an absolutely fantastic video containing all of the most relevant information with no fluff. Weldone and thank you
Where we used to camp - Kaimai Range, North Island NZ - there would invariably be piles of dead trees or shrubs at the corners of the river so there were always dry dead branches well above ground/water level that could be snapped off for fire lighting. If it was actually raining, the water on those upper branches was generally only on the surface so it wouldn't take much for them to dry off and catch fire.
My best friend and i do an annual 65 mile canoe trip. We take our time and cover the distance in 6-days. The first year was picture perfect conditions, warm days and cool nights. The second however, it rained everyday and poured at night. We had fire 🔥 every morning and every night using these same methods. We didn’t have any birch bark, but we did have plenty of fat wood. 👍 we had good rain gear and it was probably the best year we’ve ever had for fishing on that trip.
I'm amazed at how good this video is, so many small tips that you normally don't think about, and you always explain why you do things the way you do. GREAT video!!!
Well done. I really liked the quick shelter setup. Very efficient, and comfortable. I live in a temperate rainforest n coastal SW Washington, USA (where the Columbia River enters the Pacific.). Over my years I’m well familiar with the challenges of lighting a fire under damp, wet, sometimes snowy conditions. I’ve found getting a beach warming fire going with beachcombed wood and a cold wind blowing some of the most challenging. As you so capably demonstrated, success lies in the preparations. Thanks for another great clip. Be well. Safe journeys. Happy trails!
At [2:15], the gear breakdown is super helpful. Great to know exactly what to pack for a smooth camping experience!
Thanks so much, Mike. Ive learned so much over the years from you! It rains pretty frequently here in KS. The farmers love it, but campers not so much. This video is critical. Thank you!
This really is one of the most wholesome and informative channels on UA-cam. Bravo Mike!!
I have not been camping for at least 60 years but from 8 years old to about 15 years old I went camping every summer. My father had a 20’ square tent with a 10’ centre pole and 6’ sides. It slept the family of four very comfortable. In the summer it used to rain in the afternoon most days and when we set up the tent it was my job and my brothers job to dig a small trench around the tent and maybe 10’ downhill to direct the rain water away from the tent. It worked I don’t rememberer rain ever coming into the tent underneath the walls. I do remember as the tent was woven canvas not to touch the wet canvas as it would promptly leak. Those were great summer holidays. The beach about half a mile and the birds in the bush going crazy every morning and evening. No snakes no wild animals. In fact except for the possible danger of getting lost there was no danger. Many years later I checked and the massive dense bush I remember was only about an acre.
This was great man! Seriously one of the best videos I've seen out there of the basic theory of fire preparation and getting started with wet wood.
Thank you for shedding light on the incredible lengths bushcrafters go to in preparing their firewood.
Great video and Great tips!
I live in Labrador Canada, and I always use a raft or plateforme when creating fires. In winter, with snow/ice on the ground the raft or plateforme will help greatly to reduce moisture and help the heat to be reflected towards the top of the fire.
I had a survival teacher told be to keep some of that bark in a ziplock bag on myself to reduce the « contamination » by moisture from my own sweat when I travel in wet environments for long distances.
Keep up the great work!
This is awesome. Just moved to Tennessee where it constantly rains from california where it never does. Been struggling lighting fires while camping because everything is wet. Gonna try some of these tips
An excellent video with some good advice. I've camped beneath many rainstorms using just a tarp!
I love bushcraft videos. They always end happy and warm with a good fire going.
That sudden drop in temperature is a very clear sign of incoming rain or hail, especially in the spring. Here in the maritime PNW we get between 30 and 115 inches of rain a year, depending on the local topography and location. When the Lewis and Clark expedition arrived on the west coast of America they were both astonished and depressed by the fact that it rained for nearly their entire time in the area. I love it, both for the green it brings and for the solitude it provides those who can tolerate it. Whenever I visit further inland where it is drier, I am uncomfortable and irritable. Another excellent feature of living someplace so wet is that it seems to limit the number of dangerous animals, particularly insects, spiders and snakes. Yes, we have bears and mountain lions and wolves, but encounters with them are infrequent and usually very manageable. If the UK is as wet as we are here, i think i could be happy there.
Do you ever find you can smell it in the air when it's due to rain.
We are in the Scottish highlands, always seem to get a change of air and the smell when rain is due.
I do live it when it's warm and we get that torrential rain. Not sure why but I prefer that to the light misty rain that gets you down to the skin
I've always wanted to visit the PNW United States ever since I discovered that the Native Americans of that region were the only natives who built fixed, permanent shelters, and yet they had no need to cultivate crops or keep livestock.
Great explanation of using a feather stick for fire lighting technique, thanks.
The amount of precious knowledge you give us is just incredible. Every explanation is clear and well filmed. Great job! First time watching your channel, instant sub! Thanks a lot !
Very good video,good tip regarding not putting to much wood on too early.mistake I've made too often.Thankyou.
🌧☔🏔 Your insight into the relationship between temperature drops and rain or hail is fascinating! It's intriguing to learn about the varying levels of rainfall in different regions, like the maritime PNW. The historical context of the Lewis and Clark expedition's experience with constant rain showcases the unique weather patterns of the area. Your love for the rain and its effects on the environment and solitude is inspiring. It's interesting to consider how living in a wetter climate may limit encounters with certain dangerous animals. Exploring bushcraft tips for heavy rain and wet weather conditions would be valuable in such environments.
It’s so beautiful in the forest when it’s raining. And there is so much water which you can filter and use for drinking and cooking, so nice!
With the right equipment it’s the best experience ever!
Someone said that the British created the empire in order to get away from all that rain.
Arguable
@@MehmetMehmet-y8c it's a joke, nerd.
The other rumour is: their food and their women
It’s very true, oh and the taxes
Heyy, it’s not that bad. You just have to learn to swim.
Well done. Very informative and detailed. The most complete video I’ve seen on the subject. Thanks.
This is a great video! Tons of useful tips. Although I will say "Heavy Rain" has a completely different meaning here in the Southeast US
And in Australia. Bushyboy Oz.
That's what I was thinking. East Coast Canada here and "heavy rain" basically means anything without a ceiling above is now a lake lol.
Even from the UK I would not call that heavy rain. It is little heavier than drizzle.
Rain doesn't show up well on camera so the downfall might be heavier than it appears. In movies, they have to use massive sprinkler arrays just to get the rain to be visible at all.
@@ResoluteGryphon I was judging more by the noise and the sight of the rain on the stream.
Excellent presentation! Instructive and memorable.
@2:14, I was waiting to hear you say "That it's only mostly dead". I think I've watched the Princess Bride too many times.
Lifelong Scout here: Very nicely done! In my own experience the worst possible condition is heavy sleet that just sticks to everything and just stays there while melting.
If it piles up, it makes treacherous footing. All around worst conditions.
I have a tarp a bit bigger than that one that I set up over my Hammock and / or Tent. The Hammock is a great way to sleep off the ground
Awesome content, man. I live on Vancouver Island, Canada and we get like 200+ days of rain a year, easily. This is super useful information to me, I would love to see more rainy/storm/oceanside camping tips and tricks. Trying to get in touch with the primitive survivalist inside me. Have most of my gear and can't wait to get the fook out there with my trusty dogs and mother nature. Liked and subbed!
Absolutley the best movie about outdoor living. Your are so good at explaining. You are a great teacher!
Terrific video. Very impressive that you did all this in rain. (I loathe videos where someone sits looking at the camera and just talks about it, but never does it.) A couple of months ago I was in the Philippines doing a hike with some Filipino army rangers (who train American soldiers in jungle survival). They demonstrated making a fire using bamboo. The first thing I noticed is the length of dry bamboo they carried was unlike almost all the bamboo in the forest which was either green or rotting. Second as they set up their friction they shaved a small pile of 'dust' or feathers from the surface of the bamboo. Then he compressed this pile. This increases the fuel to oxygen ratio. An important step. While teaching science I tried fire starting with sticks and a pump drill. The very first time I got a short lived ember. Then it was months all I got was smoke. These rangers could've turned any of that into fire. Compressing the fine shavings was the trick. They started blowing on what didn't look like embers to me, just smoke, but it caught.
It looked like you use the met hod I use for staking my rain fly. Twisting the stake into a loop and pushing it into the ground. No tying, no adjusting. Rainflies have one advantage over tents in weather, they're all triangles. Tents are generally 'bubbles' to get more room. But this bubble will move around a lot in wind. My DIY rainfly in a storm with blowing wind in Connemara barely moved. So my method like yours, is super efficient. Strings attached to the fly at some grosgrain (nylon ribbon) loops. Nothing stronger. But all set up so if I don't need to stretch out a guy line I can just insert the stake in the loop, twist it around to secure it, then push it into the ground. Those heavy duty reinforced corners on your piece of waxed canvas are overkill. I used silnylon and 1" (25 mm) grosgrain. If I sewed 6" (15cm) reinforcing strips to the sil nylon on either side of the loop it would never tear or pull away.
Another plus for a rain fly -- there's no 'floor' so there are always 360° of emergency exits -- I cook inside my rainfly. My Jetboil sits on the ground, not on my ground cloth.
And rainflys are better in rain. They shed water. Tents are like my Goretex jacket. Terrific, especially when it might rain. If it IS raining, I want to have on a rubber or cheap plastic rain jacket and sleep in my rain fly.
I live in California - very flammable - so when I camp (just over nighters mostly) I never make a fire, don't even bring my stove. I'll try to remember to bring matches, just in case. I'll drink cold instant coffee, usually don't even bring food. But I'm usually not out for more than a day. The only lesson from me is,: a campfire is not a requirement. A good night's sleep and not feeling miserable (wet and shivering) when you hike out are the key goals.
This is the First Time I came across your videos. You are an excellent educator/teacher in bushcrafting. Simple and straightforward information and instructions in a very clear voice with the use of less expensive basic equipment. Greetings from the land Down Under, Sydney. Subbed.
I do go out in the bush often, and use cheap but reasonably made equipment and materials We do not have much rain but always prepared as much as you are as there is no network connections unless you use sat phones. I do the same way in lighting fires and looking for kindle, but you explain well! Cheers
I'd love to see a video about coping with the wind! I often find this harder to deal with than the rain. It flattens my tarp, and the noise from tarp flapping away stops me from sleeping! I'm always convinced it's about to cave in or blow away
Set up low.
wind sheild using dead bits of trees and bushes anything close by even a 2 foot sheild would make a huge difference
OK, I have quite a bit of outdoor experience (mostly in dry sunny areas, and certainly not in wet soggy areas), yet I still learned something new today. Thank you!
New subscriber now!
Such an enjoyable episode. In my experience, most tarp shelters work well, but sometimes the wind changes and it can start blowing water under your tarp which can be very unpleasant in some designs.
That's why I thought it was quite unusual that he attached the tarp so far up the tree
@@neovo903 Yeah while it rain a decent amount in this video, there really is not much wind.
Being in thick forest means you aint gonna get a lot of or even any wind
As others have said, great to see it done for real in the rain. Like the quick tarp set up, going to try that out soon. Just like to agree that it is important to have enough of all sizes of fuel before you light your fire. Thanks for sharing.
Perfect timing with this video. We’ve had tons of rain here in Oregon 🇺🇸. Love your content! 👍🏻❤️
Awesome!
Yooo Manna, Y'all need MacDonald n Cola cola very Sweet Meals
Well done. I learned many of these tips as a Boy Scout many, many years ago, but your presentation and knowledge of your surroundings is excellent.
Thanks for the great video, sir. I enjoyed it very much, as usual.
Would love to see your next steps for preparing the ground of your shelter for extended stay and sleeping with the ground being that satuated. I would imagine failing to secure a good base would be a direct path to hypothermia and things like pneumonia in a survival situation. Would also love to see you recommended KIT/load out for a survival situation in bad weather
a good sleeping mat is an absolute must for any situation. keeps you off the ground and provides a ton of insulation, makes even sub-zero f somewhat bearable as long as you have a good enough bag. Even hammock camping, if its cold out then youre completely surrounded with cold and its pressed together so the insulation is worse, but putting a pad in there helps it a ton
I love to watch your videos. You are a. Great teacher and I appreciate your knowledge base.
Great video. I would love to have only 159 days of rain, I have 202 days of rain in Ireland.
I envy you, here in Mexico I only get 40 days of rain. And it's hot. Like really hot. And there are no natural trees anywhere in site
@@peternickerson2911 ok, that's like hell to me. I'm not made for heat and would melt. I will keep the rain and soggy ground.
@@DaveRyan It's not terrible if you have good AC. And we have a big garden we water every day like crazy. But if you poke your head inside the garden you can almost imagine that your in a forest and everything is green and beautiful. I'm only joking. I love it here. People are amazing but it is pretty hot
Oh very good. Clear, right length, excellent demonstration of technique.
One trick I was taught to better direct your "blow" to get the fire going is to piinch your thumb and forefinger on both hands together. Then bring the tips together to form a diamond shaped hole. Hold against your mouth and blow towards the heart of the fire. You get a far stronger, and better directed, jet of air.
KATON: KOUGAKYUU NO JUTSU!!
I heard this. But I now use a telescopic pipe for blowing into fires (buy it online). Works magic in winter.
100% this. Don’t buy pipes to do what your fingers can do already.
@@paddor I prefer not to inhale too much smoke. A pipe allows being further from the fire. Of course I could do without it as well..
Awesome video.
Thx.
I'd add a poncho, if only because we always had rain gear to pull over ourselves and gear... And I learned to appreciate the instant dry cover, while setting up larger shelter, and working outside the shelter,
Ie, gathering wood for a fire, if a storm catches you off guard... 9:18
Awesome skills🌄
Thanks. preparing the firewood and keeping it dry before the rain starts is key
This is one of the best fire lighting videos I have seen. Thanks, I will look forward to watching your other content .
Wow the begining of this videi he explains the difference of wet, and green wood vs. dry usable.wood. Here inthe US we call the dry wood "squaw" wood. because the native Americans used it from up on thetrees thus it is dry!. GOOD JOB!!. This was the first time I have seen some one who knew what to do . As a former scout master I used to teach this. My scouts and I used to have a contest who could start a fire the fastest. Thumbs up!
All great tips. I'm impressed you bothered to wait for a front to come in and film.
This sort of weather is one of the reasons I have a camp pack ready to go. Mind healing sleep.
Beeing al alone in nature, living of what nature give's you. Its a dream❤
This is such a good video! Not another clickbait title with a list of blatantly obvious (or incorrect) "secrets". Just detailed, correct, carefully explained information.
I have no trouble lighting fires and getting them to the stage of happily devouring thumb-width stick, but I really struggle to get them from there to accepting thicker wood (e.g. small branches and split logs) so that I don't have to keep feeding them small sticks constantly. It would be great if you could do a video on that!
Nicely done. Helpful hints for a rain-soaked environment. Thanks.
Great video. And perfect way to describe managing the fire early on. Well done, sir.
So many practical tips, and so calming to watch and learn. Thank you!
I love your tip for stuffing your tarp in a pocket. I definitely will give you that edge for setting up in the rain.
Really apprecieate the video. Was unsure of what the best emergency shelter is in rain, and this is honestly the best methods ive seen so far. Keep it up!
When I come to a brew or meal break, if its raining I deploy the tarp first then I can take my time in the dry. If not it's stove lit and a pot of water on for a brew. If I'm using my Trangia burner with my Firebox Nano by the time the water is boiling my tarp can be up and out of any wind, or late rain. I very rarely go to the bother of making a fire. It's intrusive on the ground and attracts visitors better than any flare! But my Trangia and Nano is brilliant as a main stove, and you don't need to collect wood, wet or dry!
A really good video full of good tips thank you. 👍
Thanks for that tip at the end about letting the flame rise above the previous wood pile, I’ve always had a problem with smothering the flame. This was a simple remedy
Lighting a fire is one thing, (great job and explanation) but to keep it going and be useful for cooking or warmth in this condition would make for anther interesting episode.
I learned how to start a fire in the rain in Florida, but obviously this is quite different. Good stuff :)
Well Done - I know how hard it is just to get a fire going in the dry. Some really good tips. Thanks.
Great video. It's the basics, but the basics are what keep you alive
I've seen all kinds of tarp shelter setups but not like this one. This is probably the simplest I've come across. Very good video!
Ha ha I've had a very similar journey with fire lighting. All good points here. Like the feather stick ignition method too. Cool video mike
Excellent video. Glad i do somthings rigjt. Most important....make sure you have a tarp, water and a few snacks are really all you need till weather breaks.
Thank you for this video. You offer excellent guidance for anyone who has to light a fire in wet conditions.
Again, thank you for this video.
That was a good video of how to start a fir in wet weather. I learned a lot. I never thought about the waxed canvas to protect the tinder or the fire until it got going. I just usually hunch over the fore with my coat extended.
Yes, yes I did enjoy that. I will never go and do it again myself (hunting with dad in the new Zealand bush when I was young was enough), but I like watching someone else do it.
Good viewing 👍 Can't beat the good ol' British weather 🌦️🌦️
Nice video presentation.
This kind of knowledge should not be allowed to die.
I like the way you make use of the pocket deploying the tarp.
I, as an old timer, would advise you to take care of you hands.
Snapping twiggs will take it's tole.
In the early '60s boy scouts we made Swedish torches camping in boggy areas.
One nice feature, of them, is their mobility.
One will burn, even if the base is submurged.
It mitigates wire in a kit.
Any cordage will do.
Thanks.
Nice used to keep a army bivi tarp with a mylar blanket taped to the inside for such occasions, between that and a poncho I got to stay dry more often than not. Adding a small square of tarp to the day bag now , top tip thanks 💪
I have the same Thermos and agree it is one of the best flask out there. One key factor that lead me to buy it was the width of the neck as this makes cleaning so much easier.