Do Try Not To Die: Overnight (Part 1)
life·@voraces·
0.000 HBDDo Try Not To Die: Overnight (Part 1)
https://youtu.be/djGAOChlTnw With egos high and expectations higher our two outdoor enthusiasts are back to take on their most involved challenge so far. Both are convinced that the skills they have gained trawling through YouTube videos will allow them to survive overnight in the chilly British early spring.  We join our heroes on another hillside on a farm in a nearby forest. Spirits are high as camp is already taking shape. Jack has the whole camp planned out and Tom is just happy he has mud on his hands. Being the proverbial hobbits they are, the boys minds quickly turn to food. Confidence in their survival skills overflowing they assure the audience that they felt no need to forage for their first meal and simply packed sandwiches. The idea of a Do Try Not To Die studio is quickly floated… maybe an idea for a later episode. Due to their highly tuned tracking skills the guys quickly find and identify what they deemed “a tree graveyard” (I’m sure that the technical term). Using only the finest buscraft tools, Tom sets about gathering kindling in a plastic Tesco bag (other supermarkets are available).  Whilst gathering wood a Jack makes a discovery may change the course of bushcraft forever. Upon finding a thinly sliced section of wood Jack surmises that it could be fashioned into the perfect surf board (Growing up by the sea obviously had a lasting effect on him). Stay tuned for the bushcraft-surfing crossover. Thankfully, Tom brought us back to reality suggesting that it would make a far better (and more useful) seat. Not soon after this astounding discovery, the first Do Try Not To Die injury is had. The years of training and mental fortitude has prepared Jack for this traumatic experience resulting in only a slight outcry at the invisible splinter wedged in his pinkie.  Attempting to regain his manhood, Jack picks up a large log and the two hunter gatherers head back to base for their 3rd fire lighting attempt. Refusing to be bested, this time the boys were prepared. They had gathered together a wad of silver birch bark and dried it for several days (or maybe it was an ancient manuscript).  This time it was right! It would work! Jack had be practicing in his bedroom and no cotton wool or gas stoves were going to be needed. Unfortunately, after 10 minutes of producing many glorious sparks, the extra dry birch bark still failed to light. Jacks bravado from his bedroom antics had steadily worn off and was ready to let Tom have a crack at the fire lighting crown. Just before handing over the striker Jack decided to demonstrate the technique one last time. The stars must have aligned (or as Jack would have it “how he had planned it all along”) the birch bark caught!  Fire was afoot but Tom’s quick wits quickly realised that the fire was, again, in the wrong place. Tom left fear behind that day and valiantly picked up the burning tinder, placing it perfectly in the clearing made for the fire. More bark was added and twigs were placed. Nearly too late, (or as they would have said, for educational purposes) the boys came to realise that the kindling they gathered was woefully lacking. Jack set out to gather more as quickly as possible and Tom was left to care for their new baby. After all, any expert would tell you, bushcraft is about improvisation. By this standard our dynamic duo was up there with the greatest. Jack returned to camp with Tom fighting to keep their burgeoning fire alive and our courageous adventures settled in for 40 minutes worth of blowing twig feeding. It was a long ordeal but after carefully nursing the wet twigs and logs to life, a stable fire was created. Success quickly going to the “survival experts” heads, their newly born fire almost engulfed the camera they had brought along to document the entire challenge.  Finally, after rescuing the GoPro, whether because heavy breathing induced light headedness or pure exhilaration, the duo were able joyfully celebrated their first TRUE matchless fire lighting. Find out how the rest of the trip goes in part 2. Question for the audience: Does this success grant Jack the fire lighting crown or should it be given to Tom for keeping the fire alive in Jacks absence?