Wild Camping with Friends – Wraps, Mushrooms and Filtered Water in the Forest

There are trips that remind you why you started going into the woods in the first place. This was one of them. Together with Flo (@naturabenteuer), Bernd (@rheinlandoutdoor) and Patrick (@Naturedog), I headed deep into the forest for an overnight wild camp. No fixed plan, no rush — just four guys, heavy packs and the promise of a campfire meal.

Hiking into the autumn forest during the bushcraft overnighter — Hiking into the autumn forest

Setting Up Camp in the Moss
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Setting up the tipi center pole at camp — Setting up the tipi center pole

The tarp setup – Wild Camping with Friends – Wraps, Mushrooms and Filtered — The tarp setup

We found a beautiful spot: thick moss covering the ground, tall trees forming a natural canopy and an old fire pit waiting for us. Perfect. While the others started gathering wood and sawing logs, I set up my sleep system. My go-to for group trips is the Carinthia Observer Plus bivy bag paired with the Carinthia TSS inner sleeping bag and TSS outer bag in Multicam Black — a modular system that lets me adjust warmth depending on the season. Underneath I had the classic Bundeswehr Elefantenhaut as a ground layer and the Exped Synmat UL for extra comfort. One of the guys pitched a Poncho Canvas shelter from Nordic Wolf — quick to set up and surprisingly spacious for what it is.

Chopping vegetables by the campfire for dinner wraps — Chopping vegetables by the campfire

Clothing-wise I was wearing the Helikon-Tex Alpha Tactical Grid Fleece over a base layer, the UF Pro P-40 All-Terrain pants and my trusted Lowa Renegade GTX Mid boots. Solid combination for cool autumn temperatures.

Foraging, Filtering and Fireside Cooking
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Close-up of peppers and onions on the cutting board — Close-up of peppers and onions

In the pan – Wild Camping with Friends – Wraps, Mushrooms and Filtered — In the pan

Once camp was sorted, we went mushroom hunting. The forest delivered — we found a decent haul that would end up in our dinner wraps later. Nothing beats walking through the undergrowth, eyes scanning the ground, discussing whether something is edible or not. Always double-check with someone who knows their fungi.

Water came from a nearby stream. I filtered it through my setup and stored it in a Hydrapak Seeker 3L water bladder and a Nalgene Everyday Oasis bottle. Filtering your own water in the field is one of those bushcraft basics that never gets old — there is something deeply satisfying about it.

Assembling campfire wraps with fresh ingredients — Assembling the wraps

When evening came, the fire was crackling properly. We heated up the Stabilotherm Jägerpfanne XL — a cast-iron pan that is heavy to carry but absolutely unbeatable for campfire cooking. The wraps came together quickly: tortillas, fried mushrooms, some vegetables and spices. Simple, filling and ridiculously good when you eat it sitting on a log after a long day outdoors. I boiled water in the SilverAnt Titan Bushcraft Kettle for tea and coffee, eating with a Titan Spork — lightweight and virtually indestructible. My Opinel N08 carbon knife handled all the prep work from slicing mushrooms to cutting kindling.

Around the Fire and Into the Night
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By the campfire – At night – Wild Camping with Friends – Wraps, Mushrooms and Filtered — By the campfire – At night

After dinner we sat around the flames, talking, laughing, watching the sparks rise into the dark canopy above. Group trips like this have a different energy — you share stories, learn new tricks and simply enjoy being away from everything. Patrick, Flo and Bernd are all experienced outdoors people, so the knowledge exchange alone was worth the trip.

Morning came quietly. We packed up, made sure the fire pit was cold and left the spot cleaner than we found it. Leave No Trace is not just a slogan — it is how we make sure these places survive for the next generation of bushcrafters.