The Acadian Kayaker

Sea Kayaking to Betty's Island

2011-04-16T16:24:00.000-07:00

Dan's ZipZone Rappel from the MacDonald Bridge

2010-10-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

Whirlygig Kayaker - complete

2010-09-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

East Coast Outfitters - sea kayaking to Otter Island

2010-09-28T15:04:00.001-07:00

East Coast Outfitters - sea kayaking across Cub Basin

2010-09-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

Dan does a wet exit, self rescue with underwater video

2010-09-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

Dan does a capsize & self rescue - with underwater cam

2010-09-28T15:02:00.001-07:00

Underwater video of the marine vegetation in Nova Scotia

2010-09-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

Underwater video of the marine vegetation in Nova Scotia

2010-09-28T15:01:00.001-07:00

Terns diving around me on Morris Lake - Dartmouth - Nova Scotia

2010-09-28T15:01:00.000-07:00

Beautiful sunset at East Coast Outfitters

2010-09-28T15:00:00.001-07:00

Adam walks on water.. well, almost.

2010-09-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

A visit to Mars. The Island, not the planet.

2010-09-28T14:59:00.001-07:00

Kayaking in the face of Hurricane Earl

2010-09-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

23 story abseil - Drop Zone 2010 rappel from 1801 Hollis Street, Halifax

2010-09-28T14:58:00.000-07:00

Well folks I did it ! This is a video pf my 23 story abseil!

Never leave without Jello

2010-09-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

One thing that ECO does, and does well, is training. The in-house Guide Training Program has got to be one of the most challenging outdoor adventures in Halifax.

I had so many firsts when I did my Guide Training Program. My first advanced first aid course, my first open water capsize, my first overnight on an island in the North Atlantic, my first night paddle, and I could keep going.

I was hardly prepared, neither mentally or physically, when I started on my adventure. But the culture at ECO is a culture of encouragement and acceptance, no one will give up on you until you get it. That’s what kept me going.

I have to say, of all the training over that winter, the most memorable is the Red Cross Wilderness & Remote First Aid course, which for three days completely challenges everything you THINK you know about first aid. After the first day of extensive classroom work, and when everyone is good and tired, we set off for an overnight on Marrs Island, well prepared to expect the unexpected.

It’s the overnighter on the Wilderness First Aid Course. It’s cold out, and everyone is wet or at least, damp. For two days we have been mentally and physically pushed with every first aid scenario you can imagine. The makeup and the actors do a good job – I recall having to ask myself

“Is this really a training scenario, or did the actor actually fall and hurt himself?”.

View this video

By nightfall, everyone was as tired as it gets. Just as we are about to get into our comfortable warm sleeping bags, horrible screams are heard from the other side of the island. We stumble through the brush to find our two faithful actors now staging a wonderful nighttime multiple injury scenario. No time to ask “is this real?”, as we pull out the two floating volunteers from the water. Injuries abound and everyone pitches in to make the scenario as real as possible.

Now by 2am we’ve finally gone to bed, this time, very tired. The clang of the bell buoy gently ringing until sunrise. The sunrise and ruffle of the tall grasses was as peaceful as it gets, until that is, all hell breaks loose again.

And did it ever. We were awaken by loud explosions and smoke and a mass casualty scenario on the beach, blood and burns everywhere, and more explosions. Good Morning Recruits!!

This is a course that takes you, shakes you, and makes you a better person.. and you’ll never leave the house without JELLO in your backpack! But I guess, you`ll have to come see us at ECO to find out why!!

We learn alot more than just first aid at ECO. I’ll try to add more posts as time goes on.

You may also enjoy reading My Gear Review

MacDonald Bridge rappel for Easter Seals

2010-08-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

Please help sponsor my MacDonald Bridge rappel for Easter Seals
Dear Survival Colleagues,

On October 2nd 2010, I will be joining a force of elite fundraisers in support of Nova Scotia Easter Seals, by rappelling from the MacDonald Bridge.

As an industrial photographer, I have had unusual access to the bridge for a number of years. I am excited to have been chosen to participate in the ZipZone for Easter Seals!

Easter Seals Nova Scotia’s Zip Zone is an extreme outdoor adventure where participants climb the Macdonald bridge’s 16-story Dartmouth tower (337.69 feet above the water) then rappel down to the pedestrian sidewalk on the bridge deck.

Each rappeller must raise a minimum of $3000 in pledges that funds Easter Seals Nova Scotia programs for Nova Scotian children and adults with physical disabilities – that include camp experiences, job skills training, and providing mobility equipment. All proceeds go directly to these programs.

So please, help me raise money for Nova Scotia Easter Seals, and for the children who benefit from their programs.

http://tinyurl.com/ZipZoneHFX

Follow the link above to access the online sponsorship.

Nova Scotia Easter Seals is a Registered Canadian Charity.

Many Thanks,

Dan Robichaud

My Gear Review

2010-07-19T10:40:00.000-07:00

Wilderness & Remote First Aid
A very important little red bag: My day pack revealed. Total weight, ten pounds.

The contents are as follows:

4 hand warmers
1 large tube of CakeMate
1 package of Jello
2 coffee bags
6 instant coffee
6 large black garbage bags
1 space blanket
6 Moist towellette
1 large moist towel
1 4 sec marine flare
3 pen-type flares
2 bear banger flares
1 5-0 nylon suture
1 1cc Syringe
1 3cc Syringe
1 21g 1.5 Needle (sterile)
1 18g 1.5 Needle (sterile)
1 25g 5/8ths Needle (sterile)
1 18g IV Catheder
6 pairs nitrile gloves
2 biohazard bags
1 tweezers
1 sewing kit (6x needle & thread)
1 laedral face sheild
1 spf50 sunscreen stick
20 alchool swabs
12 matches
6 cooling towellette
10 benzalkonium chloride antiseptic towelletes
6 lidocaine hydrochloride towellette (sting relief)
6 Benzoin Tincture swabsticks
2 tea bags
1 safety pin
1 small compass w/mirror
1 bottle germicidal drinking water tablets
1 blue marker, permanent
1 pencil
50 ft pink marking tape
1 tube Polysporin
1 tube Afterbite
2 large Triangulars bandages
2 large absorbent pads
30 2in gauze pads
4 large bandaid
50 ft 4in elastic bandage
20 ft 3in absorbent bandage
1 4x4in pressure bandage
2 large plain wound dressing
20 ft 2in absorbent bandage
1 Wilderness & Remote First Aid field guide
1 St Johns Ambulance First Aid guide
4 rolls various medical adhesive tape...

Mess Kit - Survival Foodstuffs
This kit contains:

Salt
Garlic Powder
Curry Powder
Barley (1.5 cups)
Dried apricots
Chicken Stock cubes
Miso Soup (dried)
Sesame seeds
Dried peas (1/4 cups)
Lentils (1/2 cup)
Sugar
Iced Tea mix
Cereal bars
Green tea
Lemon tea
Mash Potatoes (3/4 cup dried)
Sunflower seeds
Rice (1 cup)
Cajun Spice
Chili powder
Coffee whitener
Veg Soup Mix (1 cup)

Heat & Serve: (these can be heated using only hand-warmers)

Peas & Potato Curry
Vegetable Rice Pilaf
Vegetable Byranny

Just Add Boiling Water:

Lentil Soup
Minestrone with pasta
Vegetarian Chili
Spicy Black Bean Soup
Cream of Chicken Cupasoup (3)
2 Knorr soup packages

If you repackage for easier travel, make sure you pay attention to the best before dates on the perishable foods. Write these on the new packages.

Dehydrated foods can keep indefinitely, but have to be kept very dry.

Fishing Supplies
3 foam floats
1 large foam bobber
6 lead sinkers
6 flies
3 spinners
1 plastic bobber
20 feet orange marking tape
various lengths fishing line
1 compressed towel

Extended Camping Kit
This is my extended camping gear. Typically I will travel with these items spread out through my drybags, with my sleeping bag, clothes, etc.

These include:

Fire paste
Wax fire blocks
Fire spark stick
stove
small pot
plastic cup
tinned food
small first aid kit
bug spray
coleman fan (holds two batteries, small motor)
candles
Tea brewing stick
fishing lure
"turtle" light
headlamp
extra compass
space blanket
large carabiner (for hanging food away from animals)
small crystal radio & earpeice
boyant rope
hand warmers
plastic drop sheet (instant shelter!)
glow sticks
citronella tea candles
extra stove fuel

Video from Training Scenarios

2010-05-31T08:03:00.000-07:00

Photos of Sea Kayaking around Hearn Island

2010-05-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

Night paddle on a cold night!

2010-05-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

Open Water Rescues in Nova Scotia

2010-05-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

Baie Sainte Marie to the Sissiboo River

2010-05-18T15:40:00.001-07:00

Photos of our Sea Kayaking adventure with Hinterland Outfitters on Aug 23 2008

14 km paddle from Baie Sainte Marie to the Sissiboo River powerhouse.

Photos of our Sea Kayaking adventure with Hinterland Outfitters on Aug 23 2008

14 km paddle from Baie Sainte Marie to the Sissiboo River powerhouse.

14 km paddle from Baie Sainte Marie to the Sissiboo River

2010-05-18T15:39:00.001-07:00

Photos of our Sea Kayaking adventure with Hinterland Outfitters on Aug 23 2008

14 km paddle from Baie Sainte Marie to the Sissiboo River powerhouse.

Photos of our Sea Kayaking adventure with Hinterland Outfitters on Aug 23 2008

14 km paddle from Baie Sainte Marie to the Sissiboo River powerhouse.

Sea Kayaking adventure with Hinterland Outfitters on Aug 23 2008 14 km paddle from Baie Sainte Marie to the Sissiboo River powerhouse.

2010-05-18T15:38:00.001-07:00

Photos of our Sea Kayaking

Photos of our Sea Kayaking adventure with Hinterland Outfitters on Aug 23 2008 14 km paddle from Baie Sainte Marie to the Sissiboo River powerhouse. Photos of our Sea Kayaking adventure with Hinterland Outfitters on Aug 23 2008 14 km paddle from Baie Sainte Marie to the Sissiboo River powerhouse.