Mark's Bushcraft

30/12/2025

I slept in my new, down sleeping bag last night. It's rated to 0° and I understand why. While I had plenty of other items to increase the warmth, I didn't need them. I was comfortably warm all night.
Once out of the sleeping bag, I fired up the heater, the stove for boiling water, and the Coleman lantern, always good for an extra 15 degrees.
The outside sensor dropped to 13.5°, but the temperature inside quickly rose to 60°.
Coffee is ready and all is as it should be, at least at Camp Y2K.

22/12/2025

As a reward for having accomplished most chores, I fed the cats and a possum or two, then headed up to the tent.
I reinforced the tent with a tarp, hopefully adding to the heat retention from this week's Mylar addition.
A new thermometer measures the inside temperature as well as the outside temperature by means of a remote sensor.

11/12/2025

It's been more than a month since I've seen my tent. During that time, we had about five inches of snow and several days of strong wind. To my surprise, my 3-season tent was standing and intact!
The front cover collected a good deal of rain, but it held. Unfortunately, when some oaf tore the fabric while extracting the heavy block of ice from the dip in the cover. Easily fixed.
I'm quite excited in my adaptation that will make this tent a suitable 3-season shelter.
I purchased a four foot wide roll of heavy guage Mylar, and cut two sections that I placed between the outer shell and the screen interior. I'm testing it in the very near future, albeit with a propane heater and warm gear.

16/11/2025

I'm wearing a t-shirt in the tent, enjoying a mug of French press coffee, my first in many months. It's 65°F inside the tent, 23 degrees warmer than the outside. Still, the tent is a soft three-season tent that will need structural support and insulation to become winter worthy.
I have a plan!

16/11/2025

This makes my first visit since the first of the month. It's not cold, but I testing a new heater.

01/11/2025

This is my first visit in four weeks, maybe five, since I moved in with Mom.
Mom and I have push-to-talk walkie talkies, so if mom needs my help, she can give me a call as I'm, perhaps, 200 yards away.
My tent was in good shape, save for another small rip in a screen, one caused by some critter who simply stole an open box of Kleenex. Quickly and easily fixed.

My quick project for tomorrow is to line the screen walls with mylar, think emergency blanket, but on a 4X60 foot roll. Later, after building supports for the 3-season poles, I'll top the mylar with some insulation, rolled on top and sheets on the sides.
Above the tent will be my frane above, made of a couple of standing trees and poles lashed across, one side a couple of feet lower than the the leward side. A sturdy tarp will be supported by the frame, including cross supports between the end poles. My biggest challenge is available time.
Still, it's a plan.

03/08/2025

After a second, consecutive three-week absence, I'm finally back in my tent.
Kitties are fed, including a stray, litter boxes have been cleaned, and the house is secure.

13/07/2025

First time up to the tent in about three weeks. The rain flies are staked out to catch a breeze but not get water in the tent.
Mom's fed and watching the kitties, while I sit in my camp chair with my fan on high.
Predicted line of storms looms to the west. After they quickly pass, the weather should be fine for sleeping.

13/06/2025

11/06/2025

I made progress organizing the gear in the tent. Tonight, perhaps I won't sleep through the Strawberry moon as I'll need only to glance east from my hammock.

08/06/2025

Tippi gives me some love while riding out the heavy downpour after midnight. I cupped my hands over her ears to drown out the loud sound of the rain on the tent.

07/06/2025

This affordable, even inexpensive Treva fan with light bars is, fo me, indispensable for hot, humid weather tent camping.
6 D-cell batteries. Lasts all summer with heavy use.