Overnight fieldtrip, forest winter. Location: Jegersberg, Kristiansand
The overnight trip was on 28th of January. It was the forest area Jegersberg and we stayed there for one night. We walked about 1 hour until we found our camp area. The class was split into 5 groups among 4 persons in each group. Then we made our camp as comfortable as possible. Some of us were responsible for build up the campfire and others ones to built the toilet.
Overnight backpacking does require extra gear, extra planning, and extra knowledge and skills.
When you want to do a trip the most important thing is prepare the plan and leave everything right before start. You will know the gear you will need and all will be easier and funnier.
What material should carry in your backpack as we prepare for an outing to the mountain? It is a question that we are always prepared to meet any mountain top or a simple hiking trail. Did we forget something important? Or are we too cautious to take up so much material?
It’s a difficult question to answer, and that experience will own us that over time our backpack goes as optimized as possible before any departure. From here we try to give some tips and list of materials to help you to not forget anything important depending on the type of activity that you should go to conduct and duration of it.
When choosing our material must bear in mind that we are the ones who will carry the backpack on our backs, so every ounce of weight you carry is important.
We will be careful to place at the bottom the material that we will use less during operation (eg sleeping bag, clothing…), attached to the back and in the deep we will have the heaviest things. At the top of most used (eg water bottle, gloves …), mushroom and pockets in the smaller objects (such as first aid kit, gps, maps, documents, ..). The most important thing is that the load is evenly distributed in the backpack. It will be interesting to store things in clear plastic bags to keep them more organized, isolated and visible without opening.
If there’s one rule for clothes in the backcountry, it’s layer, layer, layer. That way you can add or peel off clothing if you feel too cold or too hot. Make sure to avoid cotton: it’s a poor insulator when wet, making you feel colder and increasing your risk of hypothermia. Look for synthetic or wool materials instead.
- First (base) wicking layer: Tops and bottoms which help carry moisture away from your body and insulate even if wet.
- Second (middle) insulating layer: Warm insulator, like a fleece, down jacket or wool sweater (or a combination of these).
- Third, weather-proof layer: Windproof and waterproof pants and jackets made of water-shedding, preferable “breathable” material, like GoreTex is essential.
– Other clothing to bring includes:
- Leggings , trekking pants and waterproof pants, gloves, mittens, scarf, hat, socks, change of clothes to change into at the end of the activity.
Technical material common to any activity
- shovel, rope, sunglasses, sunscreen, Lip balm, thermal water drum cover 1.5 liters, camelbag (if no low temperatures to freeze the water in the tube), knife, Food and Drink, Map & Compass, Cell with battery charged, Whistle, Front, First aid kit, Plastic bag ( for dirty clothes , wet objects or trash ) .
Material for the night
- Isolate or self-inflating, Sleeping bag, Cover bivouac, Survival blanket , Tent, Lightweight and quick drying towel, Gas bottle, Lighter windproof , waterproof matches or flint.
Material for mountaineering in snow
- Gaiters, Crampons and / or snowshoes, Axes, Casco, Goggles, ARVA ( avalanche detection instrument), rope (you can make a shelter)
When you are in nature you have to be very careful with all your equipment because if you lose it, break it, etc can be a big problem in some circumstances. Also in the snow things can easily be buried so we have to be careful and always leave them upright.
The tent is going to be your home for you and your gear for the whole time you stay out. So it’s important to consider few things which can make your stay much more comfortable.
The food and drink are also very important when you are outside. You must to try eat and drink warm food. In this case we used the trangia. It’s very useful because you can cook almost everything. Also you can use the fire to cook and boil water. 
Make sure to drink enough. Bring some tea, hot chocolate, hot water. If you drink something cold it will take you a lot of energy so it’s better drink warm drinks.
The fire it’s also very important when you are outside. You will be warm and it’s a good place to stay with everybody and cook, keep warm, talk, etc.
You need dry wood to make it easy. Dry wood from dead trees is burning best. also it is very smart if you bring some dry wood to start the fire. We made a pagoda fire.
Place, according to the picture, wood around your pyramid fire. In this way you will achieve a fire which will burn closer to the ground. The wood placed around the fire will dry and, after a while, burn horizontally. A Pagoda Fire is much more efficiency way, to use your supply of wood.
It was an awesome night 🙂