Survival 101

[bjeorn]

Okay, I said that I was going to try and do an update on my Survival Weekend excursion, so lets see if I can capture some of the essence of what I did. I’ll cut it for people who aren’t really interested.

Comments

[bjeorn]

It was an amazing experience.

I was given a few reasons why camping near water was bad. One was flash flood would be dangerous. Second was that it would be a place where bugs that like mosquitoes like to live and they can carry some unpleasant stuff. Third was that animals that might not be very friendly with people would/could use the area for water, in which case conflict is possible.

Another reason was mainly for water that wasn't running downhill, but was already level. In those areas cold temperatures are going to gather, and when its already cold out then those areas are going to be really unpleasant.

I'm thinking only the first three reasons really apply to water thats actually running downhill...but those would be enough for me. :)

When we camped, we did it on a hill about 50-100 yards from the water up on the side of the hill. So we were close enough for it to be relatively convenient to get to, but not so close as to have issues with any of the problems that I was told about.

I would totally suggest you get out and enjoy the outdoors. Fire-craft is totally fun because there is nothing quite like watching a fire burn and crackle. :)

[bloodkitty]

yeah, i got very into making fires when i was little & my family went camping every year.... and i ALWAYS volunteered for the firepit at girl scout camp!
'-D

i'd forgotten the bugs aspect of camping near water, but i think we never camped closer than about 100 yards from a river, either... tho' i *definitely* remember swatting mosquitoes!!!

one of our trips, we had the tents situated close enough to hear the river we were near, and a small creek that ran off it was about 30 yards or so? away from us.... the adults kept the perishables {eggs, milk, cheese & beer} in the creek in some kind of net that kept it from being washed downstream, because even in the middle of july, it was COOOOOOLD in the water!
i don't believe we'd have been threatened by very much predatory wildlife, even with food smells from our camp - the adults were entirely too loud partying the whole time!
'-D