I have always wanted to build a camp sauna and, unusually for camp, I found myself with a bit of time on my hands. So I decided to have a go. The frame is a teepee shape of strong poles (about Scout staff size) the butts are pushed into the ground and the tops are tied together. The covering was an old piece of canvas wrapped around and pegged down. While the building was going on, the rocks had been heating in a fire. If you are going to build a sauna, you must select the rock very carefully. Avoid rocks from a stream bed and avoid sandstone as the water which has seeped into the rock may turn to steam and cause the rock to explode. The rocks should be heated for an hour or so. A few of the rock we used were visibly glowing red in the darkness. When everything is ready, it is time to get the rock into the sauna. We used a tin bucket which was raised on flat rocks to avoid scorching the grass. The it is a simple matter of getting in the sauna and toasting, occassionally pouring some water onto the rock to boost the heat. Absolute luxury! The first night, I was the first one in the sauna. the second night I saw the Scouts heating up the rocks for me. I went to my tent and got ready but when I arrived at the sauna it was full of Scouts. Thereafter it was Leaders first!

For some reason Steve decided not to wear trunks or shorts and instead went for the fully clothed sauna!? The photo to the left shows the results of the Scouts (successful) attempt to turn the sauna into a steam bath.

The Mark Two sauna was developed a few weeks after camp at a mountain biking weekend back in the Cairngorms.
The Mark Two consists of fibreglass dome-tent poles covered in polythene and then recovered in canvas. It greatly reduced the heat loss and kept any stem inside.
one wanrning though, we were camping at a site where other groups were camping and one distressed looking woman rushed over to tell us that one of our tents was on fire (the heat was causing the rain to boil off a steam)