Daypack Overnight Challenge

That is preparedness.

Well done! This sort of test can be done in the back yard too, allowing you to go inside once you are cold and tired of the test :) The Orion fire starter flare ignites exactly like a road flare and takes a good hard strike to get it going. Like using any ignition source, you want to have all your tinder and a good supply of firewood ready to go before you light it. I carry my flare in a seal-a-meal bag to add protection and shelf life. Remember to renew matches and other fire starting materials that may degrade over time. I tape several MicroPur tablet foil packs to my water container in case I need to purify water and my other methods have failed. With the small size and light weight of the Sawyer Mini filter, I carry one all the time now.

Thanks. In the winter I have a down jacket with me with gloves and a down beanie always stashed in the pocket. I didn't pile up any leaves even though I knew it would help because I wanted to simulate stopping right at dark(of course I stopped earlier to be able to film) and not having time to safely roam around for that. The personal dog heater is definitely a plus and she didn't mind the all night cuddle either. My flare was stashed in a regular ziploc. They last a good while so it had slipped my mind to check it. It was 9 months past the date. And I do have water treatment capability but the creek in that area was bone dry so it wasn't even an option.

If you are out of water in a situation like this, it may be worthwhile to do a little digging in the creek bed. I've seen mountain streams that run "underground" with plenty of water a couple feet down in the loose rock bed. We tend to think that all the water runs on top of the "ground" but it has to fill up the nooks and crannies before we see it. Fresh green vegetation is a real tip-off. You can sometimes hear running water if you get down close. I agree that your dog's breathing added to the moisture. Another reason for condensation is a tent with no floor and moisture continuing to rise from grass and warm soil. I've often thought this was a reason for back yard pitches and condensation, with grass carrying a good water load. I carry enough polycryo to cover most of the floor area rather than just enough to fit under my sleeping pad. That also allows a clean area with enough room for sorting gear and crawling around without getting muddy, etc.