Purpose: This challenge teaches true heat management, not just “build a fire and hope.”Your objective is to retain, redirect, and manage heat while staying mostly static—the hardest condition in cold weather. Cold injuries happen after movement stops. This drill exposes weak points in your system. Challenge Objective: Remain comfortably warm for 30–60 minutes with minimal movement, using deliberate control of: - Conduction - Convection - Radiation Rules of the Challenge 1. No constant movement 2. One fire 3. One shelter 4. One insulation solution 5. Time Requirement The Heat Science 1️⃣ Conduction – Heat Lost to the Ground What it is: Heat transfer through direct contact. In the field: If you sit or lie on cold ground, rock, snow, or frozen earth, your body heat is being pulled out of you. Solutions you’re testing - Natural debris (pine boughs, leaves) - Foam pad, pack, bark - Raised bed or platform Failure sign: Cold creeping into hips, lower back, or legs. 2️⃣ Convection – Heat Taken by Moving Air What it is: Heat stripped away by wind or moving air. In the field: Even light wind will steal heat faster than cold air alone. Solutions you’re testing - Shelter orientation - Wind blocks - Terrain use Failure sign: Feeling chilled despite a fire burning. 3️⃣ Radiation – Heat You Can Capture What it is: Heat emitted from your fire in straight lines. In the field: If you can’t feel the fire on your face or chest, you’re wasting heat. Solutions you’re testing - Fire size and distance - Reflector (log wall, rock face, emergency blanket) - Fire height (platform fire) Failure sign: Fire burns well but doesn’t warm you. Pre-Drill Setup (Required) Before starting, record: - Air temperature - Wind conditions - Ground condition (snow, frozen soil, wet leaves) - Clothing layers worn at start - Fire type used - Shelter type used - Insulation material used HEAT MANAGEMENT LOG (Required) Participants must complete at least one full log.

After setting up my Emergency Shelter I set up and kindled a fire using the horizontal raised elevation. I used wind proof matches, and yes I had to use the second staged match. Pure and simple smothered the first match. After the tinder bundle of birch bark and flower tops got going, the batoned birch dry hardwood took well. The tinder was natural, kindling manufactured from dry storage cord wood, and the fuel was the same. Everything in the two stick fire was batoned or chipped with a Fiskers hatchet.

Welcome to the new members, we look forward to interacting and learning together. "Never too old to learn, never too young to teach." We're all over the place at the moment so feel free to hop in on the next weekly challenge. Looking forward to this spring and fairer weather. Introduce ourselves to each other in the replies.

This week is about a shelter you can build fast when weather turns. No fantasy builds. Something you’d actually trust. The Challenge Objective: Build a functional emergency shelter in 20 minutes using: - 1 tarp - Cordage (paracord or similar) - Stakes (or natural stakes) - Natural materials are allowed for windbreak and insulation Difficulty Levels (pick one and state it) - Level 1 (Fair): dry day, light wind - Level 2 (Realistic): damp ground OR moderate wind - Level 3 (Spicy): rain OR cold OR build after dark (headlamp ok) Requirements (pass/fail) To count, your shelter must: - Be oriented to block wind from the main direction - Have solid overhead coverage (no obvious leak points) - Keep you off the ground (pad, debris bed, boughs, etc.) - Be stable enough to hold for 2+ hours without constant babysitting What to Post Reply with: - Your difficulty level + conditions (wind/wet/cold) - Tarp size (if you know it) and pitch style (A-frame, lean-to, plow point, etc.) - Anchor method (stakes, trees, rocks) - Time to complete - One thing you’d change next time Photo helps but isn’t required. Rubric (100 points) 1) Setup + Knots/Anchors (20 pts) - 0–8: loose lines, weak anchors, constant retension - 9–16: stable, minor sag - 17–20: tight pitch, solid anchors, clean ridgeline 2) Weather Protection (30 pts) - 0–12: poor coverage, wind-driven rain gets in - 13–24: decent coverage, some exposure - 25–30: good pitch angle, windward side sealed, sheds rain 3) Ground Insulation + Sleep System (25 pts) - 0–10: cold ground contact, minimal insulation - 11–20: decent pad/debris, some protection - 21–25: insulated base + wind block, realistic for 2+ hours 4) Site Selection + Safety (15 pts) - 0–5: bad drainage, hazards overhead, exposed - 6–12: mostly safe, minor issues - 13–15: smart site, safe overhead, good drainage and wind orientation 5) Speed + Packability (10 pts) - 0–4: slow, messy, gear scattered - 5–8: reasonable time, decent organization