Leo Donkersley
Malcolm Douglas
Hello folks,
I'm going to be trying out an alternative sleeping arrangement this autumn - one that interests me from a historical perspective.
Instead of the usual tent, or even bivvy bag/sleeping bag that I use, I want to try sleeping out in the forest with just a wool blanket. Now living in Lappland, I could get anything down to -15c in autumn.
Any advice from you guys who have a bit of experience with traditional camping? My thoughts are to work my own tarp by using a cotton sheet and waterproofing it with beeswax and linseed oil. I could stitch in some extra reinforcement and eyelets to hold the cord. I will have a fire going, but the ground will be horribly cold without a sleeping mat or similar. I want to try proper traditional though, and I don't think Roger's Rangers had the benefit of Thermorest! Layers of spruce might work, but are there any other tips or tricks that a woodsman might have used - I don't really want to carry two wool blankets if I can help it, but if that is the best solution (blanket on spruce) for a ground layer so be it.
My clothing will be wool and my equipment traditonal - and 17th century in style from my reenaction days. This is how your average soldier on campaign would've slept, I guess. The Swedes were at war for most of the first half of the 17th century, and the one thing we never reenacted was how the hell they survived the cold weather in camp!
I would be grateful for any advice.
I'm going to be trying out an alternative sleeping arrangement this autumn - one that interests me from a historical perspective.
Instead of the usual tent, or even bivvy bag/sleeping bag that I use, I want to try sleeping out in the forest with just a wool blanket. Now living in Lappland, I could get anything down to -15c in autumn.
Any advice from you guys who have a bit of experience with traditional camping? My thoughts are to work my own tarp by using a cotton sheet and waterproofing it with beeswax and linseed oil. I could stitch in some extra reinforcement and eyelets to hold the cord. I will have a fire going, but the ground will be horribly cold without a sleeping mat or similar. I want to try proper traditional though, and I don't think Roger's Rangers had the benefit of Thermorest! Layers of spruce might work, but are there any other tips or tricks that a woodsman might have used - I don't really want to carry two wool blankets if I can help it, but if that is the best solution (blanket on spruce) for a ground layer so be it.
My clothing will be wool and my equipment traditonal - and 17th century in style from my reenaction days. This is how your average soldier on campaign would've slept, I guess. The Swedes were at war for most of the first half of the 17th century, and the one thing we never reenacted was how the hell they survived the cold weather in camp!
I would be grateful for any advice.
