Well, it rained hard yesterday, and it's a little chilly today, I actually had to turn on the heat, and I'm thinking....
There is a decent chance that I am going to (sorry, we will be) spending next weekend at Brickhouse where it might be about 35 degrees in a soaking rain.
Well, I've been cold, I can remember camping in an unheated bunkhouse when it was about 30 degrees, and I did a lot of camping and hiking when I was a lot younger, and have been soaking wet. Heck, this summer we got poured on at a campground, I just put up the tarp and we were snug and dry as a bug in a rug.
But... in a dog tent? Wet? Cold? No where to get warm and dry?
There have to be some survial tips here. I will have an open air dog tent. I will have a couple of wool blankets, a rubber poncho/blanket, my wool outfit and a knapsack.
How do I do this, now?
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cold & wet? must be reenacting in Maine
Tom,
Best ask (within your unit) Terry Manning or Tim Jones who did this at Gettysburg this spring along with a few others. We all walk about 9 miles in the rain and went into camp in our dogs or under the rain clouds for the night. The best advice (that a Fab) can give you is to cocoon yourself.
Cocooning & Spooning
* slect a uphill slightly sloping site for your tent if possible. Also, this site should receive the early morning sun (Ha!) as soon as possible.
* After errecting your dog, place a rubber blanket on your sleeping ground.
* Then, place a ground pad (that can be covered with a heavy wool blanket) to keep you from lossing body heat to the ground on top of the rubber blacket.
* Then bring 2 other heavy wool blankets (or 1 blanket & a Greatcoat) to cover your body while you sleep.
* some would suggest adding another rubber blanket on to top to seal in your body heat.
* I would suggest that you bring at lest 5 pair of wool soxs as you may wish to change them twice a day. Also change (if possible) into dry soxs, shirt and underware before you turn in at night. Dry stuff next to skin will assist in keeping body heat.
* Spooning, an acient and honorable way for two or more soldiers to share their body heat.
So, enjoy the event weather or not for reenacting is mind over matter. If you do not mind (as you are having fun), then it does not matter.
Pvt/Lt Craig Young
3rd Maine, company A
"I ain't as good as I once was. But I'm as good once as I ever was. I used to be Hell on wheels Back when I was younger man. Now my body says 'You can't do this boy' But my pride says 'Oh, yes you can."
Well, yes, and darn it, I am
Well, yes, and darn it, I am going to have a good time whether I like it or not!
I just want to be prepared for whatever may happen. With my luck I'll be psyched and prepared for the worst weather, and it will be warm and sunny!
That's the spirit Tom!
Some of the best stories I have involve rain and/or large numbers of people standing around a campfire in the dark talking about how cold it is. :)
Craig's suggestions are great. I can't think of anything to add. I would stress though the socks. Even without rain, a cool night will create condensation and after a short time marching in wet fields your socks will be wet. A change mid morning and before bed is a relief.
--
Michael Johnson