Edges Magazine Issue 24: Survival In The forest

EDGES MAGAZINE Issue 24

January 2001

SURVIVAL IN THE FOREST

Simon reveals the hardships of a night spent out in the middle of nowhere.

A couple of months ago, four of the lads who where in our Reconcile Project made a suggestion to Lynda, one of our Project Workers, that they do something to raise money for T.H.O.M.A.S.. It was a way of saying thanks for their rehabilitation from the cruel world of drug addiction. There were several suggestions mentioned such as bungee jumping etc, but it was finally decided to do a sponsored survival course!

We finally set off to our destination - THE OUT WARD BOUND MOUNTAIN SCHOOL a beautiful location on the shore of Lake Ullswater. This is situated just south of Penrith. On arrival Peter Charnley, the instructor for the duration of our stay, greeted us. A quick brew and a tour of the corridors followed.

The adventure was just about to start - Steve and Mick as one team and Gav and myself as the other, the competition was on - who could make the most comfortable lean-to? Both teams were chopping and hacking trees like a crazed lumberjack who had spent too much time in the sun. Daylight was fading rapidly, both teams working furiously to get the shelters completed before nightfall. With the shelters in place the next job was to build a fire from three cotton balls, a flint and a small amount of tinder wood. Both teams found this task particularly frustrating as the cotton balls were damp, the frustration soon became anger and tempers were a little frayed with choice words being fired at each other.

With our fires lit, we took a break, having to get warm before the next task of finding firewood for the night. Steve and Mick joined us and Mick seemed reluctant to move. Steve was getting increasingly frustrated and stormed off in the futile hope of lighting his fire. By this time Gav, Mick and myself were nice and warm, (it might have had something to do with the fact that Pete had thrown some mentholated spirits and waterproof matches our way. A collection of more firewood was needed and so the mad axe men went about their task, with the forest starting to look like a scene out of a war film. After collecting what seemed a large amount of wood, we began to settle for something to eat. This was rabbit -cooked over an open fire. It tasted great. Apparently, two members of the team declined the offer. All I can say lads, is that you missed a treat! After a brew and a chat, I personally decided to get my head down, the others had other ideas... ...where do I start? Mick snooping about like he was a modern day Rambo, or Mick continually shouting for a chocolate bar or even Mick making good use of the Billy cans playing them like bongo drums for which he earned the name Bongo Bill. Eventually sleep crept up on us. Making full use of staff privilege, I took the inside of the lean-to which was the warmest, with a quick word to Gav about not letting the fire go out. I was a sleep, for about an hour. I can't remember whether it was Rambo or Bongo Bill that woke me. The fire was still in fine fettle and Steve and Mick had moved over to our camp for a chat, or more to the point to plot up on Pete who was nice and warm in his bivvy bag. If I remember rightly, the method of death ranged from decapitation to being placed on a stake a rung over the fire for a slow painful death.

After a while I drifted off again and awoke about a hour later, cold to the bone, fire out. Gav was asleep and I was wondering what the hell I am I doing here. Fortunately, Steve was awake and invited us over to get warm. What a saving grace that turned out to be. We talked for quite a while and started to realize the comfort that one has in everyday living situations. After a time the night began to dwindle and it was the break of a new day. A sight that amazed me. It made me realize how small I am in comparison to the world. With Helvylln looming in the background, it was an experience that will stay with me forever.