What Do I Do First.

What Do I Do First?

Before you reach the area where you intend to set up camp or settle permanently, collect some firewood as you go. It may not be enough to see you through the coming night, but at least if dry, it will give you something to start a fire with.

If you are alone, then set up your shelter first. Store some kindling and other wood at the back of your shelter and put your pack and other gear under cover. If there are two of you under one shelter, then your partner can be collecting firewood whilst you are setting up the shelter. If you are using separate shelters then after both shelters are set up, one of you can start constructing the fireplace and make fire whilst the other collects the firewood.

Your first shelter will be the one you carry with you, your oilcloth. This will be your shelter until you get something more permanent built. A half-faced shelter can be built by one person, as can some of the smaller wigwams. Once this shelter is in place you can turn your attention to constructing snake fencing and putting in a garden.

This was the first garden fencing I put in, a snake or dog leg fence. You can make one from wood from the forest floor, from saplings, or as I did here split rails from logs.

If there are more than one of you then you will have brought in more tools, and the work can be divided amongst you. Whilst semi-permanent shelters are being built and gardens being put in, others can perhaps make a start on some permanent shelter construction.

The half-faced shelter I built in Fox Valley.