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Bivouac shelter

A bivouac shelter or bivvy (alternately bivy, bivi, bivvi) is any of a variety of improvised camp site or shelter that is usually of a temporary nature, used especially by soldiers or people engaged in backpacking, bikepacking, scouting or mountain climbing.[1] It may often refer to sleeping in the open with a bivouac sack, but it may also refer to a shelter constructed of natural materials like a structure of branches to form a frame, which is then covered with leaves, ferns and similar material for waterproofing and duff (leaf litter) for insulation. Modern bivouacs often involve the use of one- or two-person tents but may also be without tents or full cover.[2] In modern mountaineering the nature of the bivouac shelter will depend on the level of preparedness, in particular whether existing camping and outdoor gear may be incorporated into the shelter.[3]

Rock climber Chuck Pratt bivouacking during the first ascent of the Salathé Wall on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley in September 1961.

Etymology edit

The word bivouac is French and ultimately derives from an 18th-century Swiss German usage of Beiwacht (bei by, Wacht watch or patrol).[2] It referred to an additional watch that would be maintained by a military or civilian force to increase vigilance at an encampment.[2] Following use by the troops of the British Empire the term became also known as bivvy for short.[2]

Construction edit

Artificial bivouacs can be constructed using a variety of available materials from corrugated iron sheeting or plywood, to groundsheets or a purpose-made basha. Although these have the advantage of being speedy to erect and resource-efficient, they have relatively poor insulation properties.

There are many different ways to put up a bivouac shelter. The most common method is to use one bivouac sheet as the roof of the shelter and a second as the groundsheet. The 'roof' flysheet is suspended along its ridge line by a cord tied between two trees which are a suitable distance apart. The four corners of the flysheet are then either pegged out or tied down to other trees. Care must be taken to leave a gap between the ground and the sheet to ensure that there is enough air flow to stop condensation.

A basha is a simple tent, made from one or two sheets of waterproof fabric and some strong cord. Generally a basha is made of reinforced nylon with eyelets and loops or tabs located along all four sides of the sheet and sometimes across the two central lines of symmetry. The basha is an extremely versatile shelter that can be erected in many different ways to suit the particular conditions of the location. (The word also sometimes refers to a special type of bivouac sack described below).[4]

Bivouac sack edit

 
A bivouac sack (in red) covering a man within a sleeping bag in Benediktenwand, Germany

A bivouac sack is a smaller type of bivouac shelter. Generally it is a portable, lightweight, waterproof shelter, and an alternative to larger bivouac shelters. The main benefit of a bivouac sack shelter is speed of setup and ability to use in a tiny space as compared to tent-like shelters. A bivouac sack is therefore a common choice for hikers, cyclists or climbers who have to camp in tight areas, or in unknown areas. A bivouac sack will usually have a thin waterproof fabric shell that is designed to slip over a sleeping bag, providing an additional 5 to 10 °C of insulation and forming an effective barrier against wind chill and rain.[5]

A drawback of a simple bivouac sack is the humidity that condenses on the inner side, leaving the occupant or the sleeping bag moist. Moisture severely decreases the insulating effect of sleeping bags.[6] This problem has been alleviated somewhat in recent years with the advent of more waterproof, but breathable fabrics, such as Gore-Tex, which allow some humidity to pass through the fabric while blocking most external water. A traditional bivouac bag typically cinches all the way down to the user's face, leaving only a small hole to breathe or look through. Other bivouac sack have a mesh screen at the face area to allow for outside visibility and airflow, while still protecting from insects. Fully zipping up a bivouac sack is poor practice, both from the obvious risk of hypoxia and the dramatically increased levels of condensation that will form inside the bag.

Boofen edit

In the German region of Saxon Switzerland in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, climbers refer to overnighting in the open air as Boofen (pronounced "bo-fen").[7] The spot selected for overnight stays usually comprises an overhang in the sandstone rock or a cave, the so-called Boofe ("bo-fe"). This has often been adapted with a sleeping area and fireplace. In the national park itself, Boofen is only permitted at designated sites and only in connection with climbing, although in this case lighting fires is absolutely forbidden. The colloquial Saxon word boofen was derived from pofen (= sleep soundly and for a long time).

Examples edit

Count Henry Russell-Killough, the "hermit of the Pyrenees", is broadly accredited with the invention of the bivouac in extreme, inhospitable places. He would bivouac in the open, creating a blanket of rocks and earth or using a simple bag.[8]

An example of a bivouac being made in a time of urgency was shown when the climber Hermann Buhl made his ascent of Nanga Parbat in 1953 and was forced to bivouac alone on a rock ledge at 8,000 metres (26,000 ft) altitude, in order to survive until the following morning.[9]

Modern bivouacs have evolved to offer heightened levels of comfort for climbers and explorers. Modern portaledges (the vertical camping version of a tent) are a more comfortable, safer, and sturdier option to hanging hammocks.[10]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ . Oxford English Dictionary. Archived from the original on September 25, 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Bradford, James (2004). International Encyclopedia of Military History. Routledge.
  3. ^ Houston, Mark (2004). Alpine Climbing: Techniques to Take You Higher. The Mountaineers Books.
  4. ^ "How to build a basha". timeoff2outdoors.com. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  5. ^ Howe, Steve; Getchell, Dave (March 1995). "Hit the sack". Backpacker. Vol. 23, no. 139. pp. 143–169. ISSN 0277-867X. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  6. ^ Camenzind, M., M. Weder, and E. Den Hartog. Influence of Body Moisture on the thermal insulation of sleeping bags 2017-03-05 at the Wayback Machine, Symposium on “Blowing Hot and Cold: Protecting Against Climatic Extremes”. Dresden, NATO RTO-MP-076 2001; KN4-1-KN4-15
  7. ^ "Where to find free, legal bivouac & camp sites in Europe". Caravanistan. 2020-09-26. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  8. ^ "Become an FT subscriber to read | Financial Times". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  9. ^ . Adventure Journal. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Big Wall Vertical Camping: How Does It Really Work?". The Dyrt Magazine. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2021-09-07.

bivouac, shelter, other, uses, bivouac, bivouac, shelter, bivvy, alternately, bivy, bivi, bivvi, variety, improvised, camp, site, shelter, that, usually, temporary, nature, used, especially, soldiers, people, engaged, backpacking, bikepacking, scouting, mounta. For other uses see Bivouac A bivouac shelter or bivvy alternately bivy bivi bivvi is any of a variety of improvised camp site or shelter that is usually of a temporary nature used especially by soldiers or people engaged in backpacking bikepacking scouting or mountain climbing 1 It may often refer to sleeping in the open with a bivouac sack but it may also refer to a shelter constructed of natural materials like a structure of branches to form a frame which is then covered with leaves ferns and similar material for waterproofing and duff leaf litter for insulation Modern bivouacs often involve the use of one or two person tents but may also be without tents or full cover 2 In modern mountaineering the nature of the bivouac shelter will depend on the level of preparedness in particular whether existing camping and outdoor gear may be incorporated into the shelter 3 Rock climber Chuck Pratt bivouacking during the first ascent of the Salathe Wall on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley in September 1961 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Construction 3 Bivouac sack 4 Boofen 5 Examples 6 See also 7 ReferencesEtymology editThe word bivouac is French and ultimately derives from an 18th century Swiss German usage of Beiwacht bei by Wacht watch or patrol 2 It referred to an additional watch that would be maintained by a military or civilian force to increase vigilance at an encampment 2 Following use by the troops of the British Empire the term became also known as bivvy for short 2 Construction editSee also Lean to Artificial bivouacs can be constructed using a variety of available materials from corrugated iron sheeting or plywood to groundsheets or a purpose made basha Although these have the advantage of being speedy to erect and resource efficient they have relatively poor insulation properties There are many different ways to put up a bivouac shelter The most common method is to use one bivouac sheet as the roof of the shelter and a second as the groundsheet The roof flysheet is suspended along its ridge line by a cord tied between two trees which are a suitable distance apart The four corners of the flysheet are then either pegged out or tied down to other trees Care must be taken to leave a gap between the ground and the sheet to ensure that there is enough air flow to stop condensation A basha is a simple tent made from one or two sheets of waterproof fabric and some strong cord Generally a basha is made of reinforced nylon with eyelets and loops or tabs located along all four sides of the sheet and sometimes across the two central lines of symmetry The basha is an extremely versatile shelter that can be erected in many different ways to suit the particular conditions of the location The word also sometimes refers to a special type of bivouac sack described below 4 Bivouac sack edit nbsp A bivouac sack in red covering a man within a sleeping bag in Benediktenwand GermanyA bivouac sack is a smaller type of bivouac shelter Generally it is a portable lightweight waterproof shelter and an alternative to larger bivouac shelters The main benefit of a bivouac sack shelter is speed of setup and ability to use in a tiny space as compared to tent like shelters A bivouac sack is therefore a common choice for hikers cyclists or climbers who have to camp in tight areas or in unknown areas A bivouac sack will usually have a thin waterproof fabric shell that is designed to slip over a sleeping bag providing an additional 5 to 10 C of insulation and forming an effective barrier against wind chill and rain 5 A drawback of a simple bivouac sack is the humidity that condenses on the inner side leaving the occupant or the sleeping bag moist Moisture severely decreases the insulating effect of sleeping bags 6 This problem has been alleviated somewhat in recent years with the advent of more waterproof but breathable fabrics such as Gore Tex which allow some humidity to pass through the fabric while blocking most external water A traditional bivouac bag typically cinches all the way down to the user s face leaving only a small hole to breathe or look through Other bivouac sack have a mesh screen at the face area to allow for outside visibility and airflow while still protecting from insects Fully zipping up a bivouac sack is poor practice both from the obvious risk of hypoxia and the dramatically increased levels of condensation that will form inside the bag Boofen editIn the German region of Saxon Switzerland in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains climbers refer to overnighting in the open air as Boofen pronounced bo fen 7 The spot selected for overnight stays usually comprises an overhang in the sandstone rock or a cave the so called Boofe bo fe This has often been adapted with a sleeping area and fireplace In the national park itself Boofen is only permitted at designated sites and only in connection with climbing although in this case lighting fires is absolutely forbidden The colloquial Saxon word boofen was derived from pofen sleep soundly and for a long time Examples editCount Henry Russell Killough the hermit of the Pyrenees is broadly accredited with the invention of the bivouac in extreme inhospitable places He would bivouac in the open creating a blanket of rocks and earth or using a simple bag 8 An example of a bivouac being made in a time of urgency was shown when the climber Hermann Buhl made his ascent of Nanga Parbat in 1953 and was forced to bivouac alone on a rock ledge at 8 000 metres 26 000 ft altitude in order to survive until the following morning 9 Modern bivouacs have evolved to offer heightened levels of comfort for climbers and explorers Modern portaledges the vertical camping version of a tent are a more comfortable safer and sturdier option to hanging hammocks 10 See also editBothy Bivouac ants List of human habitation forms Mosquito net Shelter half Swag bedroll Mountain hut a permanent shelter ranging from a refuge to a lodge Wilderness hut Portaledge Ultralight backpackingReferences edit Bivouac Oxford English Dictionary Archived from the original on September 25 2016 Retrieved 13 December 2016 a b c d Bradford James 2004 International Encyclopedia of Military History Routledge Houston Mark 2004 Alpine Climbing Techniques to Take You Higher The Mountaineers Books How to build a basha timeoff2outdoors com Retrieved 2020 10 05 Howe Steve Getchell Dave March 1995 Hit the sack Backpacker Vol 23 no 139 pp 143 169 ISSN 0277 867X Retrieved 2013 06 21 Camenzind M M Weder and E Den Hartog Influence of Body Moisture on the thermal insulation of sleeping bags Archived 2017 03 05 at the Wayback Machine Symposium on Blowing Hot and Cold Protecting Against Climatic Extremes Dresden NATO RTO MP 076 2001 KN4 1 KN4 15 Where to find free legal bivouac amp camp sites in Europe Caravanistan 2020 09 26 Retrieved 2020 10 05 Become an FT subscriber to read Financial Times www ft com Retrieved 2021 09 07 9 Legendary Bivoacs Adventure Journal Archived from the original on 21 January 2021 Retrieved 13 December 2016 Big Wall Vertical Camping How Does It Really Work The Dyrt Magazine 2019 05 15 Retrieved 2021 09 07 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bivouac shelter amp oldid 1208086784, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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