Camp

What is a bivouwack? A type of shelter made with limited supplies, originally made from sticks and leaves by military soldiers, as an improvisation of tents.

What is the best design for a bivouwack? Lie the first tarp flat on a dry area. Have a stake in two corners facing away from the direction of the wind, make sure you push the stakes firmly into the ground. Place another tarp as the roof on top incase it rains. Use the rope to tie it together and to tie it to the tree.

What is the criteria for making a bivouwack? It has to keep you sheltered, has to keep you dry, has to stay up all night, can’t fall apart, has to fit 5 people, can only use the objects we are given and has to block the rain no matter what way the wind is blowing.

What is the purpose of a bivouwack? To keep you dry and sheltered when you have limited supplies.

How do we keep out the water in a bivouwack? Cover the ground, the roof and whatever side that is facing towards the wind.

How do you make the bivouwack big enough for the whole group? If everyone doesn’t fit, stretch out the bivouwac and make it longer, but lower and everyone should fit.

How do you identify a good spot to set up a bivouwack? Somewhere dry, away from any rivers, stay close to a small tree, that is strong enough to stop you from blowing away if you tied your bivouwac to it, but light enough to not cause any injury if it was to fall on the bivouwac.

Where do you set up the bivouwack if it’s raining?

Somewhere sheltered like close to a small bank, but not closed to any trees because if they fall you will be in trouble.

What is the best way to tie the most reliable knot?

These are some different knots I found on a website.

**The Bowline** The Bowline Knot is one of the most used loop knots. This variant is most used in the world. Probably due to its simplicity, security, and its relationship with the Sheet bend. Keep the cross point in step A between a finger and thumb and make a clock-wise turn with your wrist. Without the loop in between, it is the same knot. If the loop is expected to be heavily loaded, the bowline is, in fact, not secure enough. There is a rule of thumb which states that the loose end should be as long as 12 times the circumference for the sake of safety.  The Bowline

 "Lay the bight to make a hole

 Then under the back and around the pole

 Over the top and thru the eye

 Cinch it tight and let it lie"

**The Dutch Marine Bowline / or The Cowboy Bowline** The Dutch Navy uses this variant of the bowline. And, of course, the Dutch sailor says this one is superior. The working end is not so easy pushed back by accident, they say. I think it is just a difference in culture. There is a rule of thumb which states that the loose end should be as long as 12 times the circumference for the sake of safety. **Double Figure-of-eight loop.** The double eight is a knot used by climbers. It is easy to tie and safer as the bowline. There is a discussion whether there should be a stopper at the end of the loose end or not. Speed of (un)tying is a safety factor itself. The first way of tying is equal to the way of tying the [|____flamish eight____], but now in a double rope. The 'loose-end' is the loop. This way is only applicable when the loop is 'empty' during tying. If the loop is to be tied round something (round "your waist" for instance) you first tie an eight then lay the loop and double the eight. It is important to have enough rope for the loop. It requires experience, so start practicing. <span style="color: #2b00af; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">__[|__The Double Figure-of-eight loop on the WEB.__]__ <span style="font: normal normal normal 20px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">**The Bowstring Knot** <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">The Bowstring Knot is an ancient knot that is used as an eye for bowstrings. The knot is simple and strong. Once tied and pulled firmly, you do not want to untie it: you might call it a good 'tie-once' loop knot. <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">The bowstring knot is appreciated because it is small, strong, secure, and easy to tie. It's neat because it does not have loose ends. <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">Modern archers prefer fixed spliced loops. <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">If the loose (cross marked) end is not secured within the loop between the bow and loop, it is wise to add a small [|____overhand knot____] as stopper. <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">__[|__The Bowstring Knot on the WEB.__]__ <span style="font: normal normal normal 20px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">**The Tucked Double Overhand** <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">If you need a good looking and strong loop this is a good candidate. The Loose end must be at least two to three rope diameters long. But if you make the loose end inflexible with for instance glue, resch or by melting and you can hide it almost completely inside the two round turns. The "tucked double overhand" is a permanent loop. It jams badly, but that´s what it is made for. <span style="font: normal normal normal 20px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">**The Butterfly or Lineman's Loop** <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">An excellent easy to tie loop for applications needing a loop in another place than the rope-end, but somewhere in the middle. It has an excellent lead, and is secure even if the forces on both ends are stronger than the load in the loop. <span style="color: #2b00af; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">__[|__The Butterfly loop on the WEB.__]__

<span style="font: normal normal normal 20px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">**The Artillery Loop** <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">A practical and easy to tie loop for applications needing a loop in another place than the rope-end but somewhere in the middle. It is not as strong as the [|____butterfly____] but is a bit faster to tie and untie. As the name already suggests it was used by the artillery (for carrying their guns over the shoulder.) Do not pull the rope too hard when the loop is not loaded. It is best used as temporary knot for carrying things. As always, work up the knot neatly! <span style="color: #2b00af; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">__[|__The Artillery loop on the WEB.__]__ <span style="font: normal normal normal 20px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">**The Pendant Hitch** <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">A hitch to tie a pebble or a breastplate to a necklace. You have to make sure the object is secured in the loop. If you use a loop (this loop) to tie a pebble or other nice stone to a neck loop without extra (visible) support it is wise to use a leather neck loop. Make a cut in the length of the inside of the loop. Not too deep; it is only to roughen the surface to improve the grip of the knot. And last but not least..... use a good shoemakers glue. The result is surprising. <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Times; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px;">The pendant hitch is closely related to the __[|__The True Lovers or Fisherman's Knot.__]__

Dragon Fly 1.mov media type="file" key="Dragon fly 1.mov" width="300" height="300"

media type="file" key="Mycamp.mp4" width="300" height="50" My Camp Reflection.mp4