The first wild camp of the year to me has become synonymous with winter camping. I've only been going for wild camping trips in the winter months for the last few years, but in that short space of time they have quickly become one of the trips that I most look forward to. When the temperatures are low, and the weather is dry it makes for great conditions in the forest. The warmth and light produced by a camp fire are appreciated far more greatly when the days are short and cold, which I think adds to the magic of back-to-basics wild camping. Late season camping requires both planning and the right gear, but when you employ both, it can be just as comfortable, and enjoyable as any summer camp in my opinion.
We had initially aimed to have a winter camp in December 2023, but along with reasonably mild temperatures, the final month of the year had also been plagued with wet weather - so we pushed our plans through to January and the trip subsequently became the first trip of 2024. The usual spot that we use in the forest is well hidden and has served us well time and again, but I fancied a change to see new parts of the forest, and maybe even find a spot that we preferred. I took to the OS maps app, and scouted for somewhere away from main foot paths and bike tracks, checking the contour lines to see how the land sloped, and looking at the satellite imagery to see the density of the woodland. Before long, I thought that I might have found somewhere worth a look, and so the next weekend I was in the forest, headed for the potential spot. Upon arrival I was satisfied. The location was hidden from the view of surrounding paths by distance, slope, and trees, the ground was soft but dry, and there was space for both tent and hammock alike - it was definitely worth a go!
The following weekend, rucksacks loaded with warm layers and supplies, we headed to the new spot, not long after midday.
We didn't have far to walk from where I'd parked the car, another benefit of this spot, and once we had arrived we got to work setting up camp. I'd brought my DD jungle hammock, and set it up between a silver birch and a spruce tree, before hanging a tarp up above it which I pegged out at the back, and kept aloft at the front with two poles that I had made from dead branches found on the forest floor. I'd usually go for a simple A frame structure, but I thought I'd try this method to make getting in and out easier, it worked a treat.
With both of us setup, we got to work finding dead branches to use later as firewood, and fortunately there was much to choose from. We didn't have to range more than 50 metres from our camp to build a significant pile of branches, that were mostly dry. I then began the task of sawing up and splitting the larger logs with my forest axe, which would serve as the base of the fire. I had decided to try an 'upside down' fire, after seeing it used by other bush crafters, and these larger split logs made for a good 'jenga' like base, which we then piled smaller and smaller branches on top of to act as kindling. After piling some tinder material on the top of the structure, it was ready to light.
We had the fire roaring just as the darkness set in for the evening, and it was a good thing too, as the winter night in the woods quickly became pitch black, and we could feel the temperature drop significantly. We sat by the warmth of the fire and ate the food that we had brought for our supper. Sometimes I will cook on a trip like this, either over the fire or on my stove, but for some simplicity I had brought cold food that night, and warmed myself with a few cups of black coffee which I made in my billy can on the fire - cowboy style! The water in the can takes a surprisingly short time to boil, but it's important to wear thick gloves to remove it from the coals to avoid burns.
We had found some tree stumps near the spot that we had chosen to camp in, and they made for excellent chairs when pulled up close to the fire. Sitting around the warm, red glow of a camp fire with wisps of smoke rising all around is probably my favourite setting for a catch up with a friend. Conversation comes naturally around the fire, and the hours quickly pass as stories are exchanged and enjoyed.
As anyone who has ever camped in woodland will know, it comes alive once the sun has set. The owl calls seem to come first, from both near and far they seem to talk to each other, and each call and response almost seems to echo through the forest. Then there are the scattering sounds amongst the leaf litter, as squirrels and other small mammals scurry between the trees and shrubs. One of the more unnerving sounds comes from the Muntjac, which projects a loud call for such a small deer, sounding more like a screeching bark that any noise that you might expect a deer to make - the first time that you hear Muntjac in a pitch black forest can be quite chilling, but you quickly become accustomed to all the sounds, especially when you know what's making them.
Other than the glimmer of distant flash lights, and the occasional sound of dogs on the farmland nearby, we could have forgotten that we were anywhere near civilisation. The night was cold, but the hammock under blanket and my winter sleeping bag kept the chill at bay very well, although I was still glad that I had decided to keep my fleece on too.
I woke early the next morning, before 7am, but being winter, and being amongst tall conifer trees, it wasn't light until about 7.30, and even then it was a very grey dawn. Usually when I wake in the woods, I always think how different my surroundings look now that it is daylight again, and I take a note of how peaceful it is to be here before the early morning dog walkers and mountain bikers have started out on their routes around the forest.
I pack away my hammock and tarp and begin boiling some water for coffee, as the smell of smoked bacon fills the air - very few things beat a breakfast bap in the woods! We enjoy a delicious breakfast in wonderful surroundings and then make sure that we have successfully 'left no trace' before we leave the woods. Rucksacks hauled onto our backs, we head back to the car, a successful first camp of 2024.
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