There’s something about birch forests that feels different. The white bark, the way light filters through the canopy, the soft ground underfoot. I packed my gear and headed out for a solo overnight – one night under a lavvu, cooking over open fire, with nothing but wool and canvas between me and the elements.
Setting Up Camp Between the Birches#
Finding a good spot didn’t take long. The birch forest offered flat ground with enough space to pitch the Lavvu Tyr – a classic conical tent that goes up fast once you get the rhythm down. A single center pole, a few stakes, and the shelter was standing. The shape handles wind well, which would turn out to be important later that night.
With the lavvu up, I turned to the seating situation. I built a tripod seat from three sturdy branches, lashing them together and stretching the canvas tripod seat across the top. Simple, stable, comfortable. It’s one of those small luxuries that makes a huge difference when you’re spending hours around the fire.
I rolled out the FREYA canvas wool mat inside the lavvu for ground insulation and draped the army green wool blanket over my sleeping setup. Wool stays warm even when damp – a property I’d come to appreciate before morning.
Cooking Over Open Fire – Chili Beans and Bacon#
For dinner, I fired up the Bushbox XL and set the carbon steel iron pan on top. The plan: chili beans with bacon. I diced the bacon and let it render in the pan, then added the beans with a generous amount of spice from my leather spice pouch. Everything organized neatly in the organizer pouch, which keeps small items from scattering across camp.
Here’s where things got creative. I’d forgotten a proper spoon. Rather than eat straight from the pan, I grabbed a piece of wood and started carving a spatula – a quick bushcraft fix that worked surprisingly well as a spoon substitute. Not pretty, but functional. That’s the beauty of being out here: you solve problems with what the forest gives you.
Wind, Rain, and Morning Coffee#
Night came with wind and rain. The lavvu held up without complaint – the conical shape sheds gusts naturally, and the canvas kept the interior dry. Wrapped in wool, I listened to the rain drumming on the tent walls and eventually drifted off.
Morning in a birch forest is quiet. I crawled out of the lavvu into cool, damp air and got a fire going for cowboy coffee – grounds straight into boiling water, let them settle, pour carefully. It’s the simplest method and, to me, the best-tasting one when you’re outdoors.
Breakfast was baked beans with a fried egg, cooked in the same iron pan from the night before. The carbon steel holds heat evenly and gives everything a slight crust that’s hard to beat. With coffee in hand and the pan still warm, I sat on the tripod seat and took in the morning.
Breaking Camp#
More impressions from camp
After breakfast, I packed everything down. The lavvu comes apart as quickly as it goes up. I checked the site, made sure nothing was left behind, and headed out the way I came. One night, two good meals, a hand-carved spatula, and a birch forest that delivered exactly what I was looking for – solitude, simplicity, and a proper night outdoors.
You can find all Nordic Wolf Germany products in the Nordic Wolf Shop – use code KAPPE for 10 % off.
If you want to watch the full tour, you can find the video here: https://youtu.be/ZMZr4FBDAtE.
