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In Part 2 of our Fundamental Friday series, we move from pack talk to practical fieldcraft. You’ll see how I:
Use American beautyberry as a natural bug repellent and grab elevated pine straw for dry tinder after rain.
Collect creek water, then pre-boil or filter it (quick demo with a GRAYL) for safe drinking.
Evaluate a campsite: distance between trees (12–14 ft), proximity to water, ground conditions, and scanning for widow-makers.
Rig a clean ridgeline using bank line with an overhand loop + toggle (marlinspike hitch), tighten it with a trucker’s hitch, and add three prusik loops with toggles to anchor the tarp.
Stake out a simple, stormworthy lean-to tarp and stage the area for sleeping, cooking, and lighting.
If this helped, drop a comment with your favorite knot—or the next shelter you want to see!
below is a list of gear used in this series:
Fire redundancy: Ferro rod, Bic lighter, char cloth, and even a pencil sharpener for tinder.
Cutting tools: Belt knife (Mora Garberg), backup knife, multi-tool, and folding saw.
Cooking gear: Bush pot, skillet, wood burning grill, cutting board, and seasoning containers.
Food & drink: Freeze-dried meals, tortillas, powdered milk, trail mix, and drink mixes.
(if you are interested in my new homemade freeze-dried meals email me at [email protected] I will be offering:
Breakfast, (Southern) Red Beans & Rice, Chicken Stew and Shepherd's Pie)
Water systems: GRAYL filter, 6L gravity bag, and backup metal bottle for boiling.
Shelter: DD 3x3 tarp, wool blanket, hammock, and a blow-up mattress for flexibility.
Comfort & safety: First aid kit, solar lanterns, gloves, shemagh, change of clothes, and even a folding camp chair.
If you’ve ever wondered how to put together a primitive camping kit that covers every base without overpacking, this video lays out the blueprint.
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