9 Hour Emergency Survival Shelter in Extreme Wet Conditions (Grim)

On this wet February eve I decided to try a hiker survival scenario – lost in the wild and having to spend an unexpected night out with only the contents of my day pack including a survival shelter, but no sleeping bag or sleeping mat. I lasted over 9 hours, and while I was able to keep my body temperature up by means of heat retention of the shelter and generating heat by movement & eating, this was a grim experience and a real eye-opener. Survival is never going to be easy, but some kind of emergency shelter like this gives you more of a fighting chance.

*Please note that I was very close to my car for this exercise, able to leave at any time and monitoring my body temperature. Never intentionally put yourself in potential danger without a solid escape plan

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Thank you so much for watching! Much love :) Claire 🌿🐻

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20L RUCKSACK Decathlon
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Food
Bag for rubbish
Tissues
Baby wipes
Hair Bands
Hand sanitiser
Headtorch Decathlon

MED KIT
Pain relief
Antihistamine
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Torniquet (only use with knowledge of how to use safely)
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Alcohol Wipes

PLB

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#Hiking #Survival #Rain #Shelter

[WildBeare]

What would you have done differently in this scenario? What do you take out with you on day hikes, ‘just in case’?

There’s finally some beautifulness on my editing pile! A pretty lil 2-night adventure coming next, I can’t wait to start on it :D Thank you so much for sticking with me throughout the long, wet winter! It’s the Easter holidays here in UK so I’m not able to get so much editing done.. there may be a bit of a quite spell now but I am still beavering away in the background whenever I’m able to. Happy Spring Wild Ones! 🐑💚🐇🌿

[richard_n]

For a shelter like that, bring a couple bits of string to tie on the ridge line. They will keep the water from running down the line into the shelter. Also always bring an extra pair of socks on any hike.

[Arc_Luena]

I spent 3 months homeless, most of that on a campsite (with facilities) however, the low point was spending nearly a week in a woods. Everything became damp, at night it was eerie, but it was preferable to being on a street in a city.

Contrary to what some may think, i didn't have substance misuse issues (though the alternative at the time was living with someone who did, simply not doable, believe me), and for many it is definitely NOT a "lifestyle choice". You never realise how much you take shelter and warmth for granted until you don't have it, or know where you'll be spending one night to the next. I never wish to repeat that experience.

[undernature]

Little snacks out in the wild can taste better than anything from the finest restaurants. Excellent video and very insightful.
Ty for sharing your experience

[JadeLeaf]

Actor Julian Sands is a prime example of how even an experienced hiker with years under his belt of doing the same trails can end up being caught out and succumbing to the elements. He left on a January morning last year to go on a hike and never returned - it was literally months before his remains were actually found :( .

I'm glad to see you didn't force yourself to stick it out just to prove a point. The body and mind can only take so much and I'm relieved you emphasised this over and over. Thanks for not glamorising these potentially dangerous situations to a ton of impressionable viewers and for being completely honest about every trip.

[jonoffensend]

I think the hardest part of this experiment would be knowing a dry, comfortable car was not too far off 👍😁🎩

[edwardharding]

I spent 23 years in the British Army, then 'travelled around a bit' after I left...thought I knew it all. But then along comes Wildbeare and I find myself learning anew. Thank you for everything, especially sharing your mishaps, and teaching us all a thing or two...and with a smile.

[GavinMorris]

Being cold over a sustained period is no joke. Well done you for planning it, doing it and also for knowing when to walk away safely!

[donpark]

Years ago, I took my section out on Dartmoor in July and we met a young couple in just T-shirts and shorts, this despite warnings everywhere about the possible dramatic weather changes frequent on the moor. And yes, in minutes the weather changed from bright sunshine to horizontal hail! No question they would have succumbed had we not intervened, and yet they had taken no precautions whatsoever. I do hope people watch this video, and take note of its content. Well done Claire! Another Masterpiece.

[jojo-edli]

It just made me think of what poor homeless people have to go through every cold/wet night of the year. Very very humbling 😢

[fingersclementine]

So I see you as the queen of camping. At least my queen. Keep it up . I’m with you.

[johnbaldwin]

Claire, Myself and my buddy walked over Dartmoor some years back with our only shelter being a survival bag each. It rained the whole time and was Baltic cold. We did it but it was great when we reached the Cafe on the other side of the pass the next day. Keep pushing yourself lass because knowing your physical limits will teach you what's possible. Full respect and keep it up!

[bodie]

I was homeless for 4 months & never had a night that bad! Well done for sticking with it. Proper shelter is indispensable.

[davidwhittington]

Hi, firstly, very well done for trying this out in bad weather. Referring to your question: As an experienced walker, ex military guy and search and rescue medic, I would have done things a little differently to stay warm. Position was bad. Downward slopes are going to let in running water, I expect you chose this position to make it difficult for yourself, but as you know, flatter ground would have been better. The survival item you used, I have never seen before. All survival bivy sacks or shelters I recommend to my crew, that are widely available, are all mylar reflective coating, that reflects a high amount of heat from your body, back to your body. So, I would have used one of those items instead. Another tip, don't have your shelter too high off the ground. Most people go for a traditional triangular shape and this is shown in many commercials for these products, however, if the entire shelter is more like a right angled 90 degree triangle, with a flattened side, this flattened side can be placed next to a tree or large rock, to stabilize the shelter and reducing the signature of the shelter. There is the added chance of placing leaves on the less acute angled side, to help retain more heat. It's a shame I can't send a picture, but I think you will get what I mean. There is less chance of wind and rain entering the shelter and less air space required to heat up the shelter, as you are in a seated position. Most people like yourself with some experience, will have para cord or string on them. This would have been useful to tie and hold down the edges of the shelter, preventing contact with the shelter walls. Well done in organising yourself and exercising to keep warm and retaining your alertness to the dangers. It is great to see adventurous women, like you, making these videos. I show your examples of videos to my daughters, who are inspired by your antics and joyous attitude to life.. Well done...

[doogsm]

I've had 2 survival type situations. One was a tip over while off-roading in extreme -10c weather and the other was our boat breaking down in similar weather to what you were going through. The boating incident was worse as there was no way to walk out and all we had was some snacks and beers and our rain gear. We tried rowing back but got totally lost in the rain and dark on an unfamiliar back lake. It took us until late the next day to finally make it back to camp and we were suffering hypothermia.
The vehicle incident was also bad as we weren't dressed for the weather and we stayed with the truck way too long. We finally had to hike 25 kilometres of trail to the main road in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. We suffered moderate frostbite on that adventure. Being wet and cold was definitely worse than just being cold although both could of ended tragically.
The things I learned was always dress warmer/drier than you need especially footwear. And always a compass and map (and use them) and enough food and water for at least 24 hours especially in unfamiliar territory even if it's a day hike/drive.
I'm an over- prepper now and I curse the weight constantly but I learnt my lessons the hard way.

[kaizen]

You know it's about to get serious when there is a disclaimer at the start, you're a brave person 😮❤

[richardfarrer]

This feels so much more honest than many of the 'survival' videos where they turn up in a snowy, but dry, environment with an axe, a saw, half a day to prepare, and access to as as much dead wood as they can carry

[catherinewalks]

'Survival is work' is a very important message. Thank you for a thought-provoking one.

[youtubezombie]

Only feeling of absolute respect lady.

[ianparker]

The waterlogged ground conditions looked terrible, well done for being realistic about a bad scenario.