Overnight Trip Jegersberg
Our first overnight trip on Wednesday the 31st of February took place in Jegersberg, a recreational area in Kristiansand. The place we chose was an open area next to a lake (Ovre Jegersbergvann) surrounded by forest and rocky hillocks. The area was easily accessible by paths and even had a small toilet house and some picnic tables.
Despite some group activities in the afternoon which included teambuilding games lead by students from each country the trips main aim was to learn how to build a camp in the forest in winter. Basically the purpose of building a camp is to survive the night, secondary it is about doing that in the most comfortable way as possible. Thus there are several things which have to be considered before building a camp including local rights, location, whether, equipment, food and activities.
Legally we were allowed to camp outside whilst respecting the Allemansrett in Norway which allows everyone to do so on uncultivated land and at least 150 meters away from main roads and houses.
The first thing we did when arriving at the location was to set up the camp as it wasn’t raining yet. We build up the tents on one of the small hillocks on flat forest soil between rocks and trees and hang up a tarp which turned out to be our group kitchen later in the evening. We tried to find spots sheltered from the wind and chose areas with gently slopping bottom so that the expected rain could flow off.
In the evening we had a cooking competition under the tarp where we used storm kitchens with both red spirit and gas to create delicious, hot and nutritious meals in 20 minutes. Preparing food on a storm kitchen is independent from whether conditions (e.g. in opposite to a campfire) and allows a fast and controlled cooking process. Gas cooker allow an easier regulation of heat and can be turned off immediately whilst the spirit has to burn down. Other aspects which have to be considered are the weight of the food, needed amount of water, cooking time and nutritional value. For shorter trips food can be easily prepared and precooked at home whereas dry food is a useful option for longer expeditions. Type and amount are depending on physical activity, length of the journey and the outside temperature. “Situations that increase energy expenditure, such as exercise and exposure to cold, stimulate appetite and cause an enhanced energy intake.” (LeBlanc, 1996: Nutritional Needs in Cold and in High-Altitude Environments: Applications for Military Personnel in Field Operations. Washington: National Academies Press). A nutritious meal should include enough protein and carbohydrates as well as spices which enhance the taste plus help to keep you warm. The evening proved, that it is definitely possible to have various delicious meals cooked with a storm kitchen in only 20 minutes.
Besides having a hot meal before going to bed, there are several different methods to keep the body warm in a cold winter night. As we were only outside for one night and close to the University we took the chance to bring some firewood and started a small campfire in the evening. As we didn’t use it for cooking it was kind of a tepee fire with the purpose of heat and light. In addition, a few of us decided to go for a walk and some physical activities to get the body temperature up before going into the sleepingbag. Moreover everyone has personal tricks to stay warm (bottle of hot water, extra socks, keeping trousers over the legs..).
Additional to all these aspects, the social aspect should not be underestimated as it keeps the mood up and creates an atmosphere of caring and being cared of in a cold winter environment.
