In Part 2 of our Fundamental Friday series, we move from pack talk to practical fieldcraft. You’ll see how I:

Use American beautyberry as a natural bug repellent and grab elevated pine straw for dry tinder after rain.

Collect creek water, then pre-boil or filter it (quick demo with a GRAYL) for safe drinking.

Evaluate a campsite: distance between trees (12–14 ft), proximity to water, ground conditions, and scanning for widow-makers.

Rig a clean ridgeline using bank line with an overhand loop + toggle (marlinspike hitch), tighten it with a trucker’s hitch, and add three prusik loops with toggles to anchor the tarp.

Stake out a simple, stormworthy lean-to tarp and stage the area for sleeping, cooking, and lighting.

If this helped, drop a comment with your favorite knot—or the next shelter you want to see!

below is a list of gear used in this series:

Fire redundancy: Ferro rod, Bic lighter, char cloth, and even a pencil sharpener for tinder.

Cutting tools: Belt knife (Mora Garberg), backup knife, multi-tool, and folding saw.

Cooking gear: Bush pot, skillet, wood burning grill, cutting board, and seasoning containers.

Food & drink: Freeze-dried meals, tortillas, powdered milk, trail mix, and drink mixes. 
(if you are interested in my new homemade freeze-dried meals email me at chris@speiroutdoors.com I will be offering:
 Breakfast, (Southern) Red Beans & Rice, Chicken Stew and Shepherd's Pie)

Water systems: GRAYL filter, 6L gravity bag, and backup metal bottle for boiling.

Shelter: DD 3x3 tarp, wool blanket, hammock, and a blow-up mattress for flexibility.

Comfort & safety: First aid kit, solar lanterns, gloves, shemagh, change of clothes, and even a folding camp chair.

If you’ve ever wondered how to put together a primitive camping kit that covers every base without overpacking, this video lays out the blueprint.

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