One of the biggest challenges during a primitive survival situation will be finding ways to hold and transport water. Fortunately, if you happen to be in an area that has bamboo shoots, you can make a sturdy and efficient carrier by following some basic steps. While this may not be the ideal solution, it can be worth its weight in gold when other alternatives are not available.
Getting Started
The first step is to find a tall, thick bamboo shoot that’s around three inches in diameter. Cut it down near the base and move it to a flat surface. Next, you want to cut the bamboo into segments that are almost equal in length. The easiest way to do this is to cut each shoot from the bottom up at a point just above the ribs. The segments on most plants will be hollow except near the ribs which will be filled in. Cutting them above the ribs will ensure that one side of the segments are capped and sealed.
Once you’ve cut about 4-5 segments, the next step is to cut a series of notches that circle around the bamboo about an inch from the top and bottom. the top and bottom. You will use these to seat cordage to hold everything together. Finally, split one segment in half lengthwise, and split that piece in half as well. You will end up with two strips that will be used as a center brace on the frame.
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Assembly
Place one of the braces on the ground before laying the bamboo segments on top. Push the segments together and make sure they are as even as possible. Make sure that the brace is long enough to cross all of them at a perpendicular angle, with about an inch sticking out from either end as well. Take the second brace and place it atop the segments, and position it so that it’s directly above the one in the back. Tie each end securely with some cordage before adding one more tie in the center of the brace between two segments of bamboo.
The next step is to weave some cordage over and under each bamboo segment, pulling them together tightly as you go. You can either use some long cordage or small strips as long as you can tie them together to create a single strand from one end to the other. Make sure that you wrap each segment with cordage in a complete circle before moving on to the next one. Repeat the same process for the bottom before tying off the ends to secure everything in place.
All you need to do now is create two straps with some cordage that will allow you to wear the pack. Anchor these straps along the center support that you made earlier, and make any adjustments to the size of the straps as necessary. When finished, fill the shoots with water and you’re good to go.
A couple of things may surprise you that are worth mentioning. First, it can take some time and effort to gouge and break the bamboo due to its strength. Second, the carrier may be heavier than you expect, and this may cause some irritation on your shoulders from the straps. Consider improvising some padding in order to minimize discomfort. Finally, you can easily use the carrier to transport anything, including gear, supplies or food, so it makes for a great resource to have on hand.
Consequently, this is one trick worth remembering if you ever find yourself in a wilderness survival situation where there happens to be bamboo growing.
