What can you fit in a wide mouth Nalgene Bottle

[cntrybo2]

Ok fellas here is the scenario. My buddys and I are making a survival weekend and we are limiting ourselves to only be able to bring what will fit in a standard wide-mouth Nalgene bottle. SO, lemme hear the ideas, you experts give me a list of what you would include. Here is a scenario of the area:

Beside a fast flowing river a the base of a mountain. basecamp will be in the forest, the forest type is mixed hardwood and pine. we will be in the woods all day friday, saturday, and sunday. SO LETS HEAR IT!

[beerrunner13]

Oh god bud I can hear it now, Why don't you check out the stickys and run a forum search, you can save a lot of time and effort. Or not. Oh yeah ya may want to stop by in the intro section.

[Smok]

why a Nalgene use a metal bottle you boil water in it

[crashdive123]

cntrybo2: Before we give you any advice on what you seek, let us know a little about yourself in the introductions section. This will give us an idea of your skill levels and experience. There is alot of good information on the forums that can help you. I for one don't want to give advice on minimalist survival to somebody that has no business attempting that feat. I'm not saying that you fit into that category, but if you read through some of the posts on this, you will see what I'm talking about. Anyway, welcome to Wilderness Survival Forums.

[cntrybo2]

intro posted!

[Sarge47]

Please check out the "Sticky" on "The Bare Wilderness Numptys" as I've been down this road waaay too many times to keep going over it. The one thing I would suggest you try to fit in that bottle is.....no...I'm NOT going to say it!

[Sarge47]

p.s.: Here's the "Sticky" I referred to:

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...read.php?t=378

[trax]

How big's the bottle and how wide is the mouth? You going without shelter? Tarps or tents?Making your own? What about blankets? Nothing? Carrying any kind of bladed tools, knives or axes? Cuz I'm pretty sure they won't fit in your bottle.

Recommendation so far would be, fill bottle with very strong liquor, park azz under tree, remain in same spot until liquor runs out. It's a thought. You look pretty well acquainted with outdoors from your intro, but it seems to me I'd pack a wee bit more stuff than what I can put into whatever the heck size that bottle is.

[Beo]

Need more than you can carry in bottle, and Trax asked some good questions.
Try this link: http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...read.php?t=378

[Ole WV Coot]

OK, I will show my ignorance: what the devil is a Nalgene Bottle ??? I thought I had drank everything with alcohol in it. Is this a whoosy drink? Fill it with shine and crawl into it. You're gonna need more than it can hold if you are sober.

[crashdive123]

It's a plastic bottle Coot.

Contrybo2: Some great info on what to bring has been linked in the thread. If you just want to test your skills to see how little you can survive, or have fun on that's cool. I would recommend however that you bring the "stuff" that will keep you alive/comfortable/safe (pick one) just don't use it unless you need it. It would be a miserable weekend to discover that holy c*** sure wish I would've brought ________. After you've done this a time or two, you'll have a better feel for what you will need. For example, I would probably need more "stuff" with me than FVR or Beo. They practice minimalist trekking and I don't.

[canid]

preamble:

first off, you will find that many of us here are paranoid about those who go into the wilds unprepared, under prepared and especially intentionally so we can't be responsible for the use to which you put our oppinions. please remember that we do not know you and what you will want to include in such a limited space will depend on your skills and what you can use.

that said; i would highly recomend a relatively small blade sturdy and sharp enough to shave wood for kindling if you plan to build a fire, should you need one.

i would strongly advise including two methods for firemaking, methods you know you can get a flame with when needed. if you skills are such that this means a bic lighter and a magnesium firestarter, or even just two bic lighters [so if one breaks or gets lost you have a fallback] then that's what i think you should bring. i like to put them on a lanyard so i can clip them to my pocket, wear them on my neck, etc. when i was tree sitting, i kept anything dropable i would need often on my gear loops. it saved me a 200' decent and a half hour prusik climb back up.

i advise a space blanket. they suck, in wind or rain, there's a strong difference between a night with the clothes on your back, and they cloths on your back under something reflective, wind and water proof. i don't know what temps you'll be facing.

i would recommend a sound method of water treatment. i think should bring a days supply of water for good measure, since you won't have anything to boil it in. if you've ever had water boiled in plastic, you'll know what i mean]. iodine tablets are a good choice. you could of course just drink straight from the river, but then that would be dumb while you have a choice not to.

what do you intend to do for food? you won't strictly speaking need food on a weekend trip, but you'll be much happier with enough to keep your stomach at bay. you may know it plays hell on morale. if you know your local edibles, you can be certain to have something.

these are just my ideas.

[Tony uk]

I think your off your head.

[Ole WV Coot]

Its a 1 quart/liter widemouth bottle made of polycarbonate, I use these all the time. You can put most anything in them.

Thanks Sam.

[cntrybo2]

OK, so i have read the recommended suplimental readings you gentlemen have provided me. The biggest lesson i have learned is (no offense) but Sarge has confidence in no one but himself. I totally understand that this is a moderate undertaking but all parties involved are very comfortable in the woods and have a moderate depth when it comes to woodsman skills. We are all avid outdoorsman, and no this doesnt mean we shop at L.L. Bean and have a Bass Pro Shops credit card. It means we have all grown up stalking, tracking, trapping, and hunting not only terrestrial animals but aquatic and avian species aswell. This will be taking place in the mountains of Virginia. We are not foolish, we wont be 20 miles from anything, our camp will be approximately 3/4 of a mile from transportation and we will be 10 miles from the nearest community. yes, things can go wrong, but that is the case with many things in life. We feel this is just a good way to test our skills. I appreciate the response that suggested bring emergency gear and just not use it unless it is needed and i will take this advise. Now, fellow woodsman, please, lets here some advise, critiques of technique, and skills that must be honed before we take this journey.

[go2ndAmend]

When you get to whever your camp is going to be, don't rest until you've gathered more wood than you think you're going to need for the night. Make your shelter just big enough for yourself since your own body heat will be your heat source. Make sure you are a comfortable as possible and not sleeping on the ground. Use whatever native materials are availiable to keep yourself insulated from the earth. Camp close to good water and boil it. Have fun.

[Sarge47]

The biggest lesson i have learned is (no offense) but Sarge has confidence in no one but himself.

Ahh, but you most certainly meant to give offense and that's the way it was received. For you're information, Newby, I have a lot of confidence in most of the members here as they've more than proven they don't belong in the "Numpty" class. Wise a*s comments are NOT welcome here, they don't PROVE anything, and the only advice I'm going to give you is that if you don't follow the advice from the Wolves here just be sure you filled out those organ doner cards.

[MedicineWolf]

After reading your post, and this is my professional opinion since I work as a Ranger with the US Forestry Service, leave notice where your going, that way its easier for a SAR Team to reach you. We get these people all the time (no offense) in my job that say I have such and such experience in wilderness survival, I been to such and such survival school, and I been in the woods since I popped out my mama's womb, and I'm not Daniel Boone but damn near close and we're going into the woods for a week, a month, or however long and this is all I'm taking. We call those people moron's (again no offense meant) in my line of work. Survival is not something you throw yourself into like snowboarding for pleasure, its trying to stay alive since your were thrust into some kinda extreme emergency. All your skills are great and good but what will you do if (and I know your saying that won't happen) one of you gets seriously injured or both of get injured? Taking barely nothing makes a SAR teams job more difficult, a Ranger's job more difficult, and leaves you saying "I should've listened to the pack."
Do everyone a favor and go, just take what is needed and leave notice of where your going.

[Sarge47]

Okay, here's the only "down-to-earth" advice you're going to get from me. 1st, score a copy of Cody Lundin's book: 98.6 Degrees: The Art Of Keeping Your A*s Alive." Lacking that I strongly suggest one thing what Mr. Lundin suggests in his book & that is to make an imprint of the sole of each member's shoe on a square of aluminum foil with their name written somewhere on it so in case of emergency SAR can tell who's footprint is who's; it saves a heck of a lot of time in an emergency situation.

2nd: I don't know if you're Backpacking in or driving, but either way take a full outfit of gear for your 'Base Camp". That's your "Safety". From there I'd not go more than a short distance from Base Camp to do your Survival Training. This way if either of you suffer an accident you should make it back to your main supply area, hopefully you have a "Comm Link" of some sort there to reach outside help.

3rd: I recently bought the stainless steel cup that's made to slide over the base of the Nalgene Bottle and it doesn't take up much room. This cup is fairly large, has graduations on the inside, and you can use it to boil water in.

Finally, don't make the false assumption that I'm just a wise-guy; if I didn't care I wouldn't say anything at all and just let you toddle off into the woods on your own, facing what may come. Here's the thing you didn't mention knowing; part of Survival training is "Being Prepared". And that means with equipment as well as knowledge. If you think bad things can't happen to you then you're being foolish & immature. They can, and do, happen to anybody; you're not Superman! Also, please read Medicine Wolf's post over & over again; he knows what he's talking about!

[MedicineWolf]

Or anyone else here, but here are the basic guidlines for primitive camping up here. Take'um or leave'um your choice. But they work just about anywhere and in any wilderness setting.
More and more people are exploring our Natural Forests. Poor camping practices can destroy the natural character and beauty of the back country. We must all learn to use the back country wisely to prevent environmental damage.

Please do not feed the wildlife.

Primitive campers spending no more than 1 night at a campsite do not need a Camping Permit. However, a Camping Permit is required if:
you desire an emergency point-of-contact;
you stay at a campsite more than one night;
a campfire is desired during spring, summer, or fall fire seasons;
you camp using a vehicle for storage or transportation;
you are “group camping."

A Camping Permit will not be issued to anyone under the age of 18.
When planning and starting your camping trip, you must:
1)check with the local forest district office to determine where to camp OR if designated dispersed campsites are available;
2)bring sacks to carry out your trash; take a light trowel to help with personal sanitation; carry a small basin for washing;
3)and, let someone know of your trip plans.
Off trail campers need only do numbers 2 & 3.
Take a little extra time to select your campsite. Make sure it’s a well-drained area and where you don’t need to clear vegetation. Keep your campsite small.
If more than 10 people are in your group, a Letter of Authorization is required, in addition to a Camping Permit, from the District Forester 30 days prior to the date of camping.
All camping should be at least 100 feet from any stream or open water source.
Wash yourself, your dishes and your clothes using a container. Washing in a spring, lake or waterway is prohibited. Dispose of waste water at least 200 feet from all water resources.
All campsites must be at least 25 feet from the nearest edge of a trail, and the camp should be out of sight of the trail where possible.
Deposit solid human waste in cat holes dug 4-6 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cat hole when finished. Self-contained portable toilets are encouraged and may be required to be used at designated dispersed campsites.
Use of camp stoves is encouraged. Small campfires for cooking and warming purposes are permitted EXCEPT when the fire danger is high, very high or extreme and from June 1st to Oct 1st, unless authorized on a Camping Permit.
Put your fire OUT COLD and scatter the stone fire rings at “new”, non-designated dispersed campsites before leaving. Leave stone fire rings intact at established and designated dispersed campsites.
Only downed and dead wood within the immediate campsite may be gathered for firewood. Collect only the amount needed for your stay. Power saws are not permitted without a Fuelwood Permit.
Cutting, picking, digging, damaging or removing living or dead plant material is prohibited, this belongs to the wildlife. Edible wild plants may be gathered for one’s own personal or family consumption.
Horses may not be tied to trees.
Horse manure must be scattered at least 100 feet from the campsite.
All trash and refuse must be carried out. Leave the camping area better than you found it.
Respect other visitors and let nature’s sounds prevail. If you bring pets, keep them quiet and under control at all times.
There are no modern facilities, water, dump stations or utility hookups on some of the National Parks lands.
Stay Alert and Safe at all times.