Wilderness Skills Journal

Northern Bushcraft e-magazine - First Impressions

2012-03-03T12:21:00.001-05:00

I recently won subscription to Northern Bushcraft e-magazine through a contest that they held on Facebook. I've already read the first issue and have got to say I'm very impressed. It has a lot of useful information in it and knowledgable contributing writers. I would gladly pay the cost of a 2-year subscription I encourage anyone who is interested in Bushcraft to take a look at it.

Looking forward to the next issue and seeing this publication grow.

A free preview of the first half of the emagazine can be viewed by following this link

2012 Mew Lake (1st Winter Camping Trip)

2012-02-23T19:58:00.002-05:00

Well I'm back from my first winter camp without any limbs lost to frostbite. This trip was a lot of fun, and taught me a lot about spending extended time outdoors in the winter. Most of the things I thought would be an issue turned out to be business as usual, and it was the little things that I overlooked that ended up causing the most issues.

Setting up the tent was the first example of thing. I had planned for a few cases which I thought was exhaustive enough for staking out my tent, but you can forget about snow stakes or deadman anchors. The ground was too hard to peg, the snow was too shallow to stake, and far too powdery to bury an anchor that would hold. That was as far ahead as I thought it through, and now none of my options were available.

The solution I finally came upon was to break off large blocks of snow and anchor the ties outs to them using paracord.

Ad-hoc solution to rigging the tent up, tying corners to ice boulders and sealing gaps with snow.

This by no means was as secure as stakes, and I could not tension the lines as much as I wanted to prevent drafts. I used our shovel to pile up walls and bury sections of the rain fly, using the insulative properties of the snow itself to seal off any areas I didn't want the wind to penetrate. There was still plenty of breath-ability, but it reduced the heat loss to convection that we experienced.

The snow shovel really saved me here. It is completely necessarily, and should be part of the arsenal of anyone who plans to do some winter camping. We used the telescoping kind normally reserved for emergency kit in the trunk of the car, but it might be worthwhile to upgrade this to surplus e-tool or an aluminum alpine shovel.

Having the car really helped out with hauling gear because we managed to bring a lot more equipment than we normally do.

All packed out. Ordinarily I'd cringe at seeing this much gear...this time not so much.

Being our first winter trip we ended up packing much more gear we normally do, to be safe and minimize being caught off guard. Extra clothes and outerwear to ensure our comfort during the day, warm dry clothes to change into at night and and of course extra blankets.

Dressing for sleep involved 3 layers of clothes

Base layer/ wool socks
Fleece layer
Outer layer

Our sleep system included 4 layers as well

a cheap quilt-type barrel sleeping bag opened up on the tent floor
sleeping pads
sleeping bags, jackets wrapped around our feet
final blanket on top

Warmth wasn't a major issue throughout the night, except for my face. From what I understand you don't pull the sleeping bag up over your face as doing so traps moisture from your breath, which will then freeze. Being mindful of this I made a point to breath through the opening in my mummy bag and not pull my face in. This lead to me waking up numerous times the first night to find my face extremely cold. The second night I pulled the top blanket well over my face and slept underneath it with my head exposed from my sleeping bag, this resulted in a much more comfortable sleep.

As always, getting up in the middle of the night to pee is the most irritating part. There is nothing quite like knowing you have to get up, and finally buckling. Unzipping the bag I felt the warmth escape as I scrambled to put on my frozen boots and exit the tent. I did manage to get great view of the clear stary night sky and some shooting stars as a result though.

Fire was obviously a major part of being comfortable, once the sun went down. I prepared the fire pit early on in the days so that all I would need to do later was introduce a flame and have a decent fire going.

As soon as dusk hit, I made a flame with my flint and steel kit and we had a fire up and running for the rest of the evenings. We ended up burning through approximately three times the amount of wood we would normally use in the summer, and this was with us being conservative with our fuel supply.

I chose to use a Pyramid style fire this time, because it helped burn larger sized pieces of wood and threw out consistent heat for many hours with very little maintenance.

Dealing with the cold during the day was less of a concern than I thought it would be, but we managed to luck out in terms of the weather.

We got a late start on the 2nd day. Waking up and getting out of bed on cold mornings is a pretty monumental task even in a heated house, so you can imagine how hard it was to leave the comfort of our sleeping bags. We ended up not breaking camp until after brunch and spent a few hours snowshoeing across Mew lake.

Breaking fresh track over a frozen lake is incredibly satisfying.

I found as soon as we started snowshoeing that I was breaking a sweat, so I quickly removed my jacket. Sweating in the winter time is a huge danger, as moisture pulls heat away from the body much quicker than air. One of the benefits of layering clothing is that it allows you to strip off or add pieces of clothing to regulate your body temperature more precisely.

After a few hours we headed back while we still had enough daylight left to navigate with, to get a start on dinner.

One thing I did not expect was how much more time is required to do the basic tasks like meal preparation and clean up. Cook time was greatly increased and food cooled down so quickly, you had to eat fast if you wanted to eat it hot enough to warm you up. It was a challenge to keep water liquid, as it quickly froze if left around too long unattended. Canned food that contained water was also prone to freezing solid in the can...and while we could get it out after a little heating over the fire, I found I had the best success cooking food that was initially dry(ish) and had moisture added to it during the cooking process (instant mashed potatoes, rice, stir fry, ramen noodles).

Washing dishes in the cold is not fun either and even after heating the water it still sucks the warmth out of your hands so quickly that it becomes painful to move your fingers. We eventually decided that for the remainder of our trip, that we would quickly rinse our dishes and then completely wash them in the nearby comfort station where we had hot water and didn't need to expose our hands to frostbite.

Our final night out was much colder than the first. At some point I had to relieve myself and lost all feeling in my fingers before I even made it back to my tent. Working the zippers on my sleeping bag was almost impossible, it took a good 15 mins of shivering and then another 20 mins before I warmed up again. I got just a very small glimpse into how detrimental hypothermia can be and how quickly it can set in.

Overall I would say it was a good experience and am glad that I did it. It gave me a lot to think about and I now have some ideas on what I need to improve for the next trip cold weather trip out.

Maybe one day I'll be able to work up to camping in the winter without a car nearby, but I'm not in a rush.

Preparing for my first Winter Camp

2012-02-13T14:33:00.002-05:00

This weekend I'll be going out with a group to partaking in my first winter camping experience. While we will be in a designated campsite and have the luxury of bringing a car full of equipment, this is still a fairly significant milestone as it marks my first foray into spending nights out in the cold.

The presented a problem to me. Of course I have gear, but the majority of what I have can be considered "3-season" equipment, that is, it was designed with spring/summer/fall conditions in mind. How then can could I reasonably make the transition into winter treks without having to invest hundreds of dollars into buying brand new specialized gear?

Of course this is a problem that has been encountered many times because, and because I have no intention of messing around with hypothermia and so a lot of research has gone into how to stay warm both at night and during the day. Of course I have invested in better quality cold weather clothing, but was surprised at what could be done to 'winterize' the gear I already had.

Tent
The first discovery I had was that the key difference between a 3-season tent and a 4-season tent is actually structural, since a 4 season will likely have to support the extra stress of snow and high winds. In terms of insulative value, there isn't much difference between what the 4-season offers compared to the 3-season.

Fortunately for us it's been a fairly mild winter so far, and so we're not expecting a lot of snowfall. At this point, warmth has more to do with the quality of clothing, sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

Clothing
As stated before I did a bit more investing in clothing, upgrading different parts of my base, mid and outer layers. I won't go into more detail that this, since it's way beyond the scope of this post. The key thing to remember is that layers are important, and each one has a specific purpose that should not be ignored.

Sleeping Bag
My sleeping bag is a SnugPak Softie Elite 3, which is rated to -10 extreme. I usually like assume a 10 degree tolerance for comfort and that the rating would be the bare minimum needed to keep me from dying. With that said, I will be bringing extra blankets for insulation, a luxury I can afford since we'll have a car.

Sleeping Pad
I've had my self-inflating pad for a few years now and would be foolish not to bring it. The sleeping pad adds a lay of insulation between the ground and body which makes a world of difference. The cold ground can suck the warmth out of the body very quickly and be deadly.

Other notes
One thing I almost overlooked was a method of staking out the tent. I take for grant that in the other seasons I can hammer stakes into the ground and have a fairly secure setup. In the winter, this doesn't work as well as snow doesn't hold on to the stakes. So how do we get around this?

Anchors
This could be bags filled with snow, rocks or a "deadman's anchor" made from sticks or tent stakes. All work well but involve digging a hole and then burying the anchor and stamping down the snow on top to secure.

Snow stakes
Specifically designed to hold in deep snow, these stakes aren't as likely to put up from the snow when hammered in.

At the end of the day, all the research I do will not match the lessons I will learn from actually going out and doing. Still, it pays to be prepared and I would rather be over prepared than under...

The Return of Survivorman

2011-11-22T22:51:00.001-05:00

Les Stroud just posted the following on his Facebook page:

well the cat got let out of the bag but here it is....yep:

SURVIVORMAN RETURNS!!!!

and I am upping the anty: i will be heading out for TEN days this time (instead of seven)

I have been in talks with the networks for some time to make this a reality and it all happened on Friday...in fact in three weeks I head out for the first one

I dont want to sound pretentious but my only reason is YOU....you have all been so kind and all requested I do some more that I thought - "yep....i should head out and show once again how it's really done!" still no camera crew - still real survival

wish me luck - send me positive vibes....lets have a blast this time!!! I'm actually quite stoked about heading out again...I remain extremely proud of my series Beyond Survival. But doing Survivorman again now is strictly for the pure enjoyment of the skills and as I said - for my fans. Feel free to post this up for me on the various survival forums and blogs that are out there to help get the word out. stay tuned! Les Stroud

Stripped and Polished ESEE 4 Knife

2011-11-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

My ESEE 4 (or RC-4 as it was known when I got it) is what I consider to be my first real bush knife. I've pounded hard on this thing during use and never once has it failed me. ESEE produces a heck of a knife, no complaints there.

You're rarely if ever, going to find a knife that suits your needs completely and there have also been a few modifications I'd wanted to make to it. Last Spring I finally got around to making those mods and I've had a whole summer/fall to test them out, and am thoroughly happy with them.

So how do you take a great knife and make it better?

First off, I've never really been a fan of the protective epoxy coat. Wet weather and humid conditions can ruin a high carbon blade very quickly and the ESEE 4 was designed as tough survival knife to function in all environments, so the blade was given a epoxy coating to protect the exposed steel. This has never really been a problem for me, and since the coating has always prevented me from using the spine as a firesteel striker I decided I wanted it gone.

Stripping was done using a dremel buffing attachment.While the epoxy was removed on all exposed steel, I left it on under the micarta scales. It seems counter-intuitive, but my rationale was that I could spot and clean up any surface rust, but I didn't want moisture to ruin the blade where I wouldn't see it and catch it early should rust occur.

It was at this point that I noticed there was some pitting on the surface of the blade. My best guess is that since the blade is coated, there's no need to grind out these small imperfections in the blade stock. For me, I'd have to spend some time reducing them since I wanted to bring the knife to a near-mirror finish.

With the pitting mostly removed I proceeded to bring the blade to a mirror finish by using a felt buffing wheel loaded with green stropping compound. This took a lot time and I had to stop frequently to make sure I wasn't heating the blade and ruining the temper.

I finished up by polishing the blade by hand using flitz and shop towel.

Next up was the edge grind. ESEE knives come from the factory with a 40 degree V-grind (20 degrees per side), and is wicked sharp. I however, prefer a convex secondary bevel for a full flat grind knife and this was easily done using an old textbook and some wet/dry paper. I used three grits, starting from 220 then moving on to 600 and then 1500. A good trick to use when convexing a knife is to run a sharpie marker along the edge of the knife where you are grinding. This gives you a quick reference to see where material is being removed and where you need to focus your efforts to thin out material.

With a final stropping I managed to get my knife shaving sharp with only a few hours of work, and been very pleased with the results. So far the knife has handled everything I've thrown as it without rusting or tarnishing and the edge has held up to intricate tasks (carving netting needles, pot hangers) as well as processing wood for fire (splitting, feathering) with minimal upkeep.

My First Trip to Killarney: Hiking Silver Peak in the rain

2011-10-25T11:46:00.000-04:00

A few weekends ago I made a trip out to Bell lake in Kilarney Provincial Park with my girlfriend and her family on a 3 day trip. Our goal was to hike up to the summit of Silver Peak, the third highest peak in Ontario. This would be my first time in Killarney, and attempting Silver Peak, though most members of our group have made this climb numerous times before.

Killarney is known for it's picturesque scenary (members of the Group of Seven were known to paint here) and on the eastern side of the park, Silver Peak is a big part of that. The exposed white quartzite on it's peak is known to glow brightly in the sunlight, giving the mountain it's name and at 1782ft up, it represents the highest point of the La Cloche mountain range. The view from the top must be spectacular on a clear day; I wouldn't know, but more on that later...

We started our trip early Friday morning and by the time we reached Kilarney it had already been raining for a full night, and it wasn't letting up. We packed our canoes and began paddling towards the site which would make the next day's hike the easiest.

After paddling through the rain for 20 mins we made our approached and were disappointed to find that it was occupied by another group.

We turned around and paddled to the other side of Bell lake where we could search for other available sites. On our trip to the other side, we passed by an island connected to the mainland by a walking bridge. As we paddled by we were spotted by a curious dog who saw us from the shore, and to our surprised he made the trip out from the mainland across to bridge to come say hi to us.

As we came to free sites we began scouting them out to compare which fit our needs the best, finally settling on #88. We unloaded the canoes and began to set up camp, with the rain letting up enough for us to set up our tents and base area without much wetness. It always surprises me how quickly camp chores can be completed when there are enough people who are experienced and know what tasks need to be completed.

With plenty of free time left in the day took the opportunity to collect and dry firewood while exploring the area. As it turned out there was a small waterfall not too far from our site, and the kids with us wasted no time in exploring the local fauna.

This time of year the sun sets by 6pm, and it's a strange feeling to be tired because of the darkness only to find out it's 7:30pm (stranger still is to hear kids who planned on staying up until midnight ask to go to bed at 8pm).

I find that being in the bush and disconnected from technology is like hitting a reset switch for my body. It knows when to sleep, what time to wake up, how much to eat and how much to drink. As a result I actually tend to get more restful sleep, wake earlier, eat less, drink more water...all while performing more work than usual. So taking cues from my body, I headed to bed (turns out it was around 9pm).

The next morning we woke up to more rain, and this time it didn't let up. We ate a quick meal of breakfast sandwiches and coffee and began paddling off to the trailhead. We paddled exposed on the water for about 40 mins with the wind and rain blowing on us the entire time; even with rain gear it was clear this was going to be a wet and cold climb.

When we got to the trail, we pulled the canoes on shore. In the time it took to get everyone out of the water and secure the gear, we had all chilled because of the blowing wind and wet conditions- the only option to stay warm was to keep moving and so we headed off.

2 1/2 hours of non-stop hiking. That's how long it took to reach the summit. The entire trail isn't long, only about 5.7 km, but the trail is rocky and last 1km-1.5km is straight up steep exposed quartzite, which tends to get slick when wet.

With the constant rainfall and the nature of water taking the path of least resistance, the trails we were on literally turned into small streams, and the the steep sections into miniature waterfalls.

More than once we found ourselves jumping from wet rock to wet rock in order to cross areas that had become flooded out.

We took minimal breaks to hydrate and snack, because the moment we stopped moving our core temperatures began to drop.

Once we reached the summit we spent 5 minutes "enjoying the view" while we were hit with 50km/hr winds and sprays of mist. The peak of Silver Peak is about 60ft shorter than the CN Tower so I have no doubt the view would have been spectacular on a clear day, but we just didn't have the kind of luck.

The climb down turned out to be more treacherous than the climb up. Not only were we more tired this time, but I suspect that we may even have been a bit dehydrated due to the lack of hydration breaks. Ironic that we were so wet and yet were lacking water. I took two falls on the slick rocks, the first time injuring my leg and the second time barely catching myself on a standing tree as I slide off the slick quartzite and almost down a steep muddy drop.

The paddle back was an adventure of it's own. With the winds having picked up while we were on our hike up the mountain, we were treated to high waves out in the middle of Bell Lake. Already exhausted after the hike, our saving grace was that the wind was blowing in our favour, coming at our backs. I kept my canoe tighter to the shoreline when the waves got rough, but we were still treated to swells strong enough that we could continue forward without even needing to paddle for certain stretches.

Back at camp we built a fire to dry out our rain soaked clothing. Once we changed into dry clothes we were treated to hot bowls of chili and mugs of warm mulled wine. There's nothing quite like a hot drink by the camp fire to breath life back into you after a cold, wet day.

I think it's safe to say everyone slept very well that night.

The next day we packed up out camp and made the short paddle back to the outfitters. The wind was still in force so a 20 minute paddle ended up being almost half an hour

After going through what we did to make it to the top of Silver Peak the day before, it only makes sense that the day we were leaving we'd be graced with the "mildest" weather of the trip. Fairly clear skies, with no rain...and what that in the distance? I believe that's Silver Peak, with a clear view of the park.

Hopefully the next time I come we'll have better weather. I'd like to come a few weeks earlier, before all the leaves fall so that we can see the colours.

A Summary of my 5-Days with Mors Kochanski (Part 2)

2011-10-17T16:17:00.000-04:00

My last post gave a more structured summary of the course. There are however, bits and pieces of knowledge I gain that Mors brought up, which I felt were important and hadn't been addressed in anything else I've read. This concepts didn't fit into any particular category, so I'll make a point to mention themhere.

The distinction that primitive living IS NOT the same as survival. In his experience Mors has found that indigenous people know very little about teaching survival, since from their perspective the skills that they know are just what it takes to live day-to-day. A true survival instructor will be able to recognize and emphasize the areas you are deficient in and would need to address if put in a survival situation.

75% of the knowledge encompassed by a person living 1000 years ago would be solely dedicated to the flora present in the areas they live in. The usefulness of each plant, which parts to utilize, the seasons they are useful, etc. The remaining 25% would be devoted to fauna, shelter, fire, and other skills. This was particularly humbling to me as I am particularly weak in this area.

Reflector fires are a misnomer and should actually be known as re-emitter fires.

Your clothing is your primary shelter. Dress properly and you can spent a winter night in the Boreal forest with nothing more than a large (correctly built) parallel log fire.

Diamond Willow fungus, Calamus (Ratroot/Sweetflag), and Balsam resin are what Mors turns to in the forest to remedy any illness or injury he encounters.

(1) Diamond Willow Fungus (2) Ratroot (3) Balsam

You have mastered the flint and steel fire when you can build a fire from striking a sewing needle on the bottom of a tea cup

The importance of fasting. It's funny that more often then not people fixing on methods of acquiring food in survival, whereas Mors exalted the benefits of not eating. By not eating you put yourself into starvation mode that allows your body to use stored fat. Eat something, even small and the insulin surge takes you out of that mode and your body tries to burn glucose again. This forces your body to metabolize muscle tissue until it switches back to burning fat, actually worsening your situation.

In a survival situation the sole goal is to last until rescue. If you've done your trip planning properly, someone will notice you're missing and will likely send rescue to look for you. Survival and wilderness living are not the same.

A stone ring placed around a fire isn't very useful at prevent forest fires and actually prevents you from utilizing the fire to it's full potential. A properly built fire is built on TOP of a stone platform, so that oxygen and freely flow through the fire from underneath.

A properly made survival fire in the Norther Boreal forest requires hug sized pieces of wood, laid out in a parallel log fire configuration. The heat radiating out from it should force you to stand 1 meter away from it to be comfortable. Mors found this fire setup to be optimal for fuel usage and utility because the heat that reaches you is strong and uniform enough to warm your whole body or dry wet clothes (ie. no singed clothing).

Through his own testing Mors claims that the heat that reaches you from a fire follows an inverse cubed law. That means the heat that reaches you at 2m from the fire is 1/8 the warmth as if you were 1m from the fire.

A Summary of my 5-Days with Mors Kochanski (Part 1)

2011-10-11T22:40:00.003-04:00

Photo courtesy of School in the Woods

It's been almost a month now since I spent almost a week learning from the man who literally wrote the book on Northern Bushcraft.

The course was held by School in the Woods and took place on 40 Acres by the Credit river in Norval, ON.

This visit marks the second time they've hosted him here in Ontario. In the 5 days I spent with Mors there was no want for more information. The man always had something to say, and it was not uncommon to stop every 15-20 steps on a hike for him to explain some useful plant or tree that caught his eye. This of doesn't mean the course was haphazard, we had plenty of structured lessons, both lecture and hands on work to gain experience with.

Photo courtesy of School In The Woods

In no particular order:

Emergency Whistle

Made from a single thin strip of aluminum- you don't carry the aluminum with you, it can easily be salvaged from an empty pop can, soup tin or any other garbage you might happen to find or have on you
A whistle can really save your voice if you're trying to signal for rescue, and these things can get wicked loud. I was surprised at how functional they are.

Folded containers

Photo courtesy of School In The Woods

We used butcher paper as a stand in, but these folded containers are just as easily made from Birch Bark
The usefulness of a device to boil water or a container to hold items should not be overlooked, as without one you aren't able to stay hydrated safely

Netting

Craving a netting needle an gauge out of any suitable wood means you're able to travel light and produce a tools when the need arises, rather than carrying it with you
Traditional netting techniques are simple once shown and can readily produce a gillnet, throw net or even impromptu hammock depending on the tensile strength of the available cordage.
Nets are a passive technique, meaning they can catch food while you're away, focused on another task

Grass cord / rope

Mors produced this grass rope right before my eyes in less than 5 mins.
No one was able to break it, and it's made from simple grass.
One trick to making stronger, more reliable cordage is to keep tension on the two ends while twisting.
Mors told us a story of a school bus running into a ditch when he was on a field trip with kids. Before a tow truck even arrived, 21 students collecting grass and twisting it into rope were able to produce a cord strong enough to pull the bus out of the ditch using the Kochanski flip-flop winch.

The Kochanski Flip-flop Winch

2 logs used as levers, 1 rope with one end tied to the object to be moved and the other to a stationary object.
One lever "flips" the cordage over the second lever, and the the second lever "flops" back over the first.
You have a winch with can move a tremendous amount of weight with very little effort from the operator.

Bucksaw

The bow saw can be made in the field with a saw blade and natural materials, or the frame can be packed as well.
Extremely efficient at processing larger sized pieces of wood. Staying warm in the Boreal forest requires wood of hug sized diameter, and lengths 1.5x the distance from nose to outstretched finger tip.
The 4ft bow saw shown above was gifted to Carl Chambers, instructor and owner of School in the Woods by Mors.

My own bow saw made after the demonstration.

Roycroft Pack

The Roycroft pack is a simple way of carrying a large amount of gear with minimal equipment.
The tarp can be used to set up shelter at camp once you arrive at your destination, and then used to bundle the gears again when you break camp again the next day.
Mors provided us anecdotal evidence of students he taught who stopped using their own packs and switched to the Roycroft pack because they found it much more comfortable and effective.

Skii Shoes

The skii shoe is a functional snowshoe than can be made in the bush.
To most people, the traditional snowshoe is tennis racket shaped shoe with sinew or cord criss-crossed throughout to hold the weight. Indigenous people did not use these as field expedient shoes, and to build a functional pair actually took many weeks by skilled craftsmen.
The skii shoe offers a soluation if you need quick method to walk a long distance through the bush in deep snow.
Estimate each support to hold 15-20 lbs of load (if I remember correctly), and then build the shoes accordingly.
One of the tests to become an instructor for Mors is to build a complete pair of skii shoes in less than 2 hours start to finish.

Principles of a bush knife

Mors cutting down a live sapling using nothing but a knife. I've read about and tried this method before but was never really successful until I saw him down it right in front of me.
Mors favors traditional Scandinavian styled knives, 4-6" and fairly thin blades.
A longer upsweep on the belly of the blade gives more cutting surface
The knife must be able to produce 4 distinct curls on a single stroke of feathered wood. If it can't do this, find one that can.

A Kochanski feather stick. This used to be a baseball bat sized piece of seasoned Aspen.
A razor edge takes wood carving from being a chore to an enjoyable task

Kochanski Scarf

Made out of parachute material, the Kochanski scarf is a folded rectangle sewn on all edges except 12" in the middle of one side. Length spans outstretched fingertip to fingertip
The scarf can be used as a neck protector, a bivy, a bed, a quilt, a head wrap, a wind screen, face mask, snow blindness filter and more.

Lean-to

Photo courtesy of School In The Woods

Mors took to time to inspect a lean-to shelter that we found on the property and point out a few key things to note (which visible in the picture above)
The horizontal brace supporting the roof should be on the other side of the trees. If the cordage holding it up was cut or snapped, you would be sleeping in a deadfall trap.
The pitch on the roof needs to be steeper in order to shed rain efficiently
A wind break should be created on one side only. If both sides are open, a breeze can pass through, but if both sides are closed then a vortex of air is trapped between. Choose the side which blocks the prevailing wind
Build the shelter in forested areas which exhibit patches where nothing grows. Typically it means no moisture makes it down from the tree canopy and you'll benefit from this
The fire should be 1m away from the bed. Further than that, and it burns too much wood to maintain; closer and it isn't hot enough to sustain itself without you constantly adjusting it.

Super Shelter

The Kochanski super shelter is Mors' attempt to recreate the benefits of an igloo using modern materials which can be packed in a kit.
Igloos (1) insulate (2) provide shelter (3) block wind (4) reflect warmth within the structure
The super shelter pictured above was built by 4 people in 30 minutes. It requires bedding, a reflective mylar sheet, clear poly tarp and parallel long fire to be considered complete. The exercise was to demonstrate building the structure.
A coffin shape is more effective at retaining warmth than a rectangle.
The whole shelter can be moved without being disassembled if the Flip-Flop winch is employed.

Signal Fire

Mors claims that this method shown to him by Tom Roycroft is superior to the standard tripod method that is known to most people.
The thick bundle of kindling and the closer proximity to the ground created a heat column that pushes the signal smoke through the tree canopy better than the common tripod
The downside I found was that it took much longer to collect the necessary material. It took 8 people close to 20 mins to create a bundle the size in the first picture.
I think this is great method for a signal fire, but I would spend the time to work on it only after first creating a tripod, which typically can be erected in around 20 mins by one person.

Next up: A Summary of my 5-Days with Mors Kochanski (Part 2)

Reflection: 5 Days with Mors Kochanski

2011-09-23T12:22:00.001-04:00

It's been a week since learning from one of the masters of Bushcraft, and each day I find myself reflecting on the experience and running to my notebook to draw some diagram or write down some tip or technique that I neglected to take down at them time.

The thing about being around Mors, is that no matter if it's sitting around a campfire or hiking into the field, he always he some nugget of wisdom to pass on. It can be overwhelming, and for someone like myself who's only a few paces into my learning journey there's a lot to take in. I only spent 5 days and there's only so much that can be passed on, or even absorbed in that timeframe. Yes, I left knowing a little bit more and improving on a number of skills, but I think the most important things I left with were the longer lasting lessons.

The importance of structured instruction
Since I've started this journey I've done most of my learning comfortably, at my own pace, using resources that I could access on my own. This meant books, DVDs, websites, forums and of course YouTube. I've always known that self study could only take me so far and that I'd need to learn directly from a more experienced instructor, but I've always put it off.
- I'll wait until I can do X, then I won't feel like an idiot trying to learn Y.
- I'll get more out of it if I go in knowing more, so I can ask better questions
- Some other half-hearted excuse
The truth is, I learned more in those 5 days than I could learn in a year on my own...and it's important to note that. Practicing a skill or building something, is different that watching it performed in front of you, which is different than watching it in a video, which is different than reading about it in a book. Yes, they're all valid methods of learning, but they work best in conjunction with each other...not independently.

The importance of being around like minded individuals
This is one area I had no idea how much would impact me. Discussing and exchanging ideas with people on forums is great, but it can't replace the camaraderie built by actually being on there. One piece of awesomeness was Caleb Musgrave of Canadian Bushcraft picking various wild edibles and handing them to me to eat as we walked. Educational AND delicious!

Trying out new gear
Being around likeminded people also means being able to try out other people's gear and ask their opinions on them. I tried out a Gransfors Bruks axe, and even managed to convince Caleb to let me handle the prototype for the new Brothers of Bushcraft Fieldcraft knife being developed by TOPS; an impressive knife, one I think I might have to add to my collection once it goes into production.

The importance of being challenged
The act of attending this course took me out of my comfort zone and put me on the spot. I was surrounded my individuals who had years more experience, and much more dirt time that I have. This made me a little uncomfortable since I'm relatively new, but it also gave me to opportunity to learn from many people, each with their own expertise and philosophies. Yeah I was there to learn from Mors, but I also gained a lot by talking to and being instructed by all of these knowledgeable people.

Coming away from this experience I made a few friends, and learned more than just bushcraft.

Thanks Mors

2011-09-16T23:23:00.000-04:00

"The more you know, the less you carry"

Thanks Mors, I'm that much closer to carrying less.

Learning from a master

2011-09-11T20:15:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow I leave to embark on a 5-day adventure to learn from one of the most skilled Bushcraft instructors alive today.

I wrote previously of a chance meeting that put me in touch with the owner of a local school who had plans to bring Mors to Ontario, but unfortunately I missed out on that opportunity. He contacted me out of the blue a few months ago to let me know Mors would again be coming out here and asked to see if I was still interested. I knew that I could not let it slip again.

Mors Kochanski authored the book that has been my bushcraft bible, and is highly regarded as one of the most skillful and knowledgable instructors alive today. His is the one book I return to, and even having read it cover-to-cover I always come away with some new trick.

I am very excited to be able to take part in this experience. Looking forward absorbing all the knowledge I can.

2011 Cyprus Lake National Park - Georgian Bay Trail

2011-09-09T16:02:00.000-04:00

2011 3 Day Algonquin Trip Summary - Rain Lake > Sawyer Lake > Jubilee Lake

2011-08-24T23:06:00.011-04:00

For a number of years now I've been wanting to introduce my group of friends to interior (or back-country) camping a see who enjoyed it, possibly building up a small team of like minded adventurers. This year I managed to pique the interest in a medium sized group of people, and planned to take a group of 9 people to Canisbay Lake in Algonquin Park. Canisbay Lake is a drive-in site park, but is also an access point to canoe routes in the interior. The plan was to arrive and then paddle out to the lake sites and stay, but be close enough to paddle back to the outhouses and shower facilities for those who wanted them. The best of both worlds so new members of the group could slowly gauge their comfort levels.

Slowly during the course of preparations the group dropped from 9 members to 4 and I came upon the realization that we no longer needed a "hybrid" style camping experience. I asked the remaining group members if they were interested in taking the trip a little further into the interior away from modern conveniences and they all responded positively.

I got on the phone with the parks reservation system and changed the trip to 2 nights on Jubilee Lake, through access point 4. The new trip consisted of paddling through Rain Lake, a portage of 310m, paddle through Sawyer Lake, a portage of 550m and finally arriving at Jubilee Lake where we would make base camp and stay for the duration of our trip.

Day 1
We arrived in Kearny and picked up the permit from the park office in the community center and canoes/PFDs/paddles from Canoe Algonquin which was located close by. The drive from Kearny took another 35mins to the Rain Lake Access Point.

Once there I gave a short tutorial to our two new members on how to portage a canoe and taught them the basic paddling strokes they would need to know (J-stroke, draw stroke and sweep stoke).

We packed the canoes, one with my guests and their bags, the other with myself and my girlfriend plus our packs, my tools and the food barrel. With canoes packed up with our gear, we took off on the beginning of our adventure.

Rain Lake is not a large lake, and I'd been here before. This year however, the water level of the lake was lower than I remember and in certain areas I found that our canoe would get snagged on fallen trees that we just below the surface. Our partners with a lighter canoe managed to get by without a problem though.

We took our time soaking in the scenery, and just enjoying being in the canoe. It was the first time for my girlfriend and I being in a canoe since last year and we just wanted to have fun with it.

When we reached our first portage we did two trips. I took one canoe ahead of the group while the rest took turns portaging the canoe and carrying bags. Once we brought all of our gear over to Sawyer Lake we took a 20 min break to hydrate and snack on some GORP and pepperoni sticks.

A group of "adventure dogs" came by with their canoe guides and we made friends with the excited pups. A few tried begging for snacks but luckily we held strong and eventually the adventure dogs were on their way. After our break we packed up again and headed back on the water. My partners were surprised at how short the paddle across Sawyer lake was compared to Rain Lake. The orange sign indicating the portage spot was a little harder to find however, and they paddled off in the direction they thought the portage should be, while I hung back and kept scanning the coastline for where the map told me it should be. I finally found it as I pulled up closer to the shoreline and noticed it was affixed to a tree that had bent forward and was on the verge of falling into the lake.

There are times you're going to question the map and your orientation. When push comes to shove, the map is usually right.

This portage was a little harder, not because of the length but because I got foolhardy and tried to carry the canoe and my pack in the same trip. Filled with tools for the group, a tent and personal gear my pack was easily the heaviest of the bunch and I tried to take it and portage my canoe in one go. I got about halfway before I started tiring out and by 3/4 I was just telling myself to put one foot in front of the other. I had no idea where the end of the portage was and finally about 50m away from the end I felt like my back was going to give out from the load and called out for my girlfriend to help unload the canoe from my shoulders. I planned on coming back for it, but she insisted on trying to portage it the rest of the way. She got it onto her shoulders and was so happy that she wanted a picture. In my state I was exhausted, frustrated and actually pretty pissed off at myself for having to give up and lashed out at her by telling her she was selfish and it wasn't the time for pictures. It totally killed her enthusiasm and put her in a foul mood for what should have been an exciting accomplishment. I ended up apologizing for being such a jerk, and explained how I was taking out my frustration on her for not making it the whole way.

Not impressed.

With things better we saw the other guys catching up behind us with their canoe and gear. We packed up and set off to look for a decent site to spend our 2 nights.

Jubilee lake is shaped like a horseshoe and at the top of the curve was what I thought might be a good spot. It had good view of both sides of the lake, had a back that was facing more remote forest and was far enough away from other camps that we'd have plenty of privacy.

When I stopped by to scout out the location, I found it had even more benefits such as a waist high rock outcropping which could act as a table, decent flat ground for the tents and some logs someone else had set up as a bench and sitting area. We unpacked the canoes and began to make camp.

This site gets the thumbs up

I set up camp the same way I'd prioritize my needs in a survival situation. It helps me practice my though pattern and helps me to analyze the situation I'm currently in and decide which need needs addressing first. This particular time our work-flow was

Shelter
We cleared the ground of debris set up tents
Water
One team begin pumping water through the filter to fill the dromedary bag and replenish our empty bottles
Fire
Secondary team began to search for tinder, kindling and fuel wood. Once I had enough I started the fire while my partner kept bringing back armfuls of fuel.
Food
Began cooking while team 1 continued pumping water and my partner retrieved more firewood.

Lunch was a simple meal of Kraft dinner with fried spam. The spam I pre-sliced the night before and froze in a ziplock bag. Minimal garbage, and the bag could be sealed to minimize food smells.

Those who didn't cook, clean up, and I scouted out a place to hang the food barrel for the night while we had a few hours left of daylight. When camp was clean we each had some free time to explore or relax as we saw fit.

One group decided to take the canoes out again to try their had at fishing, while I stayed back at camp to process the wood that had been collected.

Once light started to fade I stoked up the fire and started getting dinner ready. One benefit of staying in the same camp site is that the complexity of the meals can be so much more, and I prepared a dinner of steak fajitas and rice cooked in chicken bouillon.

Fajita fixin's

For dessert I made a cake like bannock with cranberries and dosed it with a good helping of amaretto and rum. In retrospect I could've eased up on the rum as I can still smell it in my mind as I write this.

Rum soaked cake bannock

One things I'm saddened by, is that we were out in the middle of nowhere and yet could hardly see the Perseid meteor shower since it actually occurred during a full moon this year. Ah well, next time.

With full bellies and tired muscles we went to bed.

Day 2

This was a much more relaxed day and we had the whole time to explore and simply make improvements. I woke up to find my guests already up...turns out they hadn't slept very well. I cleaned up and with hygiene out of the way to retrieved the food barrel from the trees. Breakfast was a thawed carton of pasteurized eggs with the rest of the frozen spam.

After we clean up camp a few of us decided it was the perfect weather for a swim. The water was cold and there was a lot of organic debris where we were, but there's nothing quite like swimming in a lake and washing off the sweat and salts from the day before.

We dried up a few of us decided to paddle around the lake looking for dried firewood. I prefer this method to pulling wood from the forest, because more often than not, the wood on the shore edges are dry and sun bleached...not having had time to start to rot. There is also the advantage of piling the wood into the canoe and having the "horse" do all the heavy lifting as you cart your spoils back to camp.

The others started to work on processing the firewood while I made a tripod with which I could suspend my billies from. We made lunch of angel hair pasta that was quite good for little effort...I think I'll pack it on future trips as well.

I got complaints that the water filter wasn't working and so I took over water pumping duties at this point. This was fair since I hadn't taken my turn yet the whole trip, and found that the organic material in the lake was really taking it's toll on my pump. I must've spent 40mins just pumping and cleaning the thing before it would start to flow at a reasonable rate again and by the time I had 5-6L of water I didn't feel like filling the dromedary anymore. Luckily I had people more than willing to tag out with me so I filled all the empty bottles and passed the responsibility (and empty bag) on.

The view while pumping water through the filter

Dinner is where my tripod really came into it's own. I had frozen chili in an empty 1L milk carton and it was defrosting the whole trip. It was even still cold when I pulled it out of the food barrel! I didn't want it to burn and so I kept the fire small and let the chili slowly come to a boil over 1 1/2 hours or so. There's just something about keeping a watchful eye on something you're cooking and letting it do it's thing slowly that makes it so much more fulfilling.

To go with the chili I made a simple bannock, but added shortening to the mix. The goal was something more biscuit like, but without the flaky layers. The bannock cooked extremely slowly, and I found I had to turn my billy into a makeshift dutch over by suspending it over the fire and laying coals on top to cook all the way around and right through. Of course, it burned....but only slightly.

While dinner was being prepared I overheard some commotion and ran to see what was up. Turns out far off in the distance, someone had noticed a black speck on the horizon moving. A bear? A moose maybe? At least, that what I think it was...I really wish we could've taken the canoes out to investigate, but the sun was setting quickly and it was not something I was willing to risk.

We sat down to eat our chili and bannock and slowly built up the fire as the darkness crept in.

At some point in the night a branch or twig snapped in the dark woods behind us. Not uncommon when you're in remote back country, but my two new adventurer buddies became obsessed with it. I thought it was strange that they were letting their imagination run wild on the second night, but looking back I think they were too tired to care the night of day 1.

Nothing calms the nerves like a cup of tea. Earl grey, hot.

For the rest of the night any crack or grunt in the darkness was met with questions about bears and large predators. There's nothing quite like going to sleep listening to two grown men whisper in their tents about whether a bear will eat them in the night.

Day 3
We woke the morning of the last day to find a bright warm sun shining down on us. This was quite the contrast from the overcast days we've had up until this point, though it's not uncommon for all of my camping trips to be rained out. Just bad luck I suppose...or good luck depending on how you look at it (I sure do get a lot of practice building shelters and starting fire with wet materials). We ate a breakfast of pancakes to fuel up for the journey back.

With everything pack up we paddled back across the lake back to the portage to Sawyer Lake.

This time around I learned my lesson decided to take too trips. Carrying the canoe separately from my pack was definitely a lot easier to make two run, even though you triple the distance you travel. This tactic might work well for shorter portages, but I'm not so certain it would be as effective on portages longer than 1km.

Packless, I can make good time carrying the canoe over the portage

While portaging the canoe ahead I passed my friends who were trying to do a two man carry, with their packs on. As I passed by, I heard one of them yell and remark that something had bite him. I put down my canoe and rushed over, to find two red marks in the area that was tender.

"A snake bite" I thought, as I tried to look around for the snake that bit him.

No luck! Now I know that no snake in the park is supposed to be venomous, but when you're in a situation where you're far from medical attention, you start planning strategies for the worst case scenarios. We get him to drop all of his gear and escort him to the end of the portage, where I inspect the wound again. There's no blood, and the looks as though only one of the marks is swelling. Actually it looks a lot like there's only one puncture mark...from a wasp! More than likely he just got stung by an angry wasp, but there was no way to tell for sure...or so I thought. One the route back, in the same exact spot my other friend got stung by a wasp, and this time we SAW the wasp make the sting and fall away! The little bastard! Fully relieved we pick up the rest of the gear plus what we drop on the side of the trail and made our way back to the end of the portage.

I gave my friend some insect sting relief pads to help with the pain and swelling and at this point we start noticing more and more wasps hanging around our location, and not wanting a repeat, we quickly pack our canoes and head out onto open water where they won't follow.

At our next portage I graciously allowed me girlfriend to portage the canoe the whole way...and this time I was kind enough to take a picture like she originally want.

All is right with the universe again

With the gear all transported, we stopped here for a small snack and hydration break. The last one of the trip. We took the time to soak up the calmness of the lake, the silence of the forest and the warm breeze before heading back to the hectic pace of the city.

With our break over, we paddled back to our launch point and packed the cars for our trip home.

Coming Soon: Trip Summary - 3 Day Trip to Jubilee Lake, Algonquin Park

2011-08-16T00:08:00.001-04:00

Sometimes a hike is just a hike...

2011-07-30T14:52:00.002-04:00

...and sometimes you get sucked into a bog.

Custom Leather Sheath for Mora 612 Carbon Steel Knife

2011-07-15T11:09:00.000-04:00

I've slowly been introducing my girlfriend to the types of knives typically used outdoors for camp tasks and we settled on the Mora 612 Carbon Steel knife design as her first beginner knife.

I chose this knife for a number of reasons:

classic, time tested design for woodcraft
comfortable in the hand
carbon steel blade
the Scandinavian grind is a great beginner's edge design
cost (can't beat the cost-value ratio of a Mora)
the presence of a finger guard (a major concern for her, since she's still developing proper technique)

One thing against Mora knives in general though is that the sheaths they come with just plain suck. For the price you pay you can't really complain, but then again there is nothing forcing you to keep it. Wanting to turn it into a truly functional belt sheath, I opted to make my own out of leather and use the stock plastic sheath inside the leather as a liner to make it even more secure. I felt using the stock sheath was the way to go since it actually locks the finger guard in place when the knife is sheathed, making for a very secure fit. Rather than having to come up with my own mechanism, I choose to use what already worked and adapt it to my needs

The first step was removing the loop from the plastic sheath. This isn't so much a belt loop as it is a button clip as it's meant to snap over the buttons on the overalls typically worn in Sweden (where the knife is made). It's got to go.

the next step (which probably should have been the first) was sketching out a basic design for the sheath. This served the purpose of solidifying my ideas of what I wanted from the sheath, and giving me a rough template to follow while working the leather.

Next comes the preparation of the plastic sheath which will need to be bonded to the leather with an adhesive to function as the liner. I roughed it up using 60 grit sandpaper which created microscopic groves for the epoxy to fill and bond to.

I used a simple two part epoxy which I mixed in small batches as I needed. As I wanted the leather to form fit the liner, I used a number of clip to wrap the leather around it. Simple binder clips do the trick, as they're cheap, secure and what I happen to have on hand.

Clamping the back of the sheath to the liner, the welts, and the firesteel loop that will be needed for the next step

Close up view of how I clamped the leather to the slit in the side of the plastic liner.

A scrap piece of leather in between the clamp and the sheath helps to avoid marking the sheath.

With the liner attached to the leather backing I then trimmed and glued the welts and firesteel loop to it.

Once again, a piece of scrap leather acts as a protective buffer for the sheath in areas I don't plan on trimming away excess

Once the pieces were bonded I trimmed away the excess and drilled out holes for the stitching. The way I do this is to take a ruler and push pin, and begin marking out 0.25" intervals all the way around the sheath. I then drill out the holes using a drill press, using (if I recall correctly) a 5/32" drill bit. Once that is complete it is simply a matter of running the artificial sinew through using a saddle stitch with two needles.

All trimmed up and stitched

At this point I would normally wax the sheath and finish the project, but I tried something new this time around. I was never happy with the edges of my sheathes so I tried burnishing with Gum Tragacanth.

I'm ok with the results, those it took a lot of work to slick the edges. That's probably due to my lack of experience and skill. Next time I might try using Edge-Kote as well to see how I like the results.

The final step was to wax the sheath to give it some water resistance. I used Sno-Seal for this purpose, and I really like the way it applies and soaks into the leather. I think I'll continue using it on any future leatherwork I do.

Overall I'm pleased with the way this turned out. I was putting this project off for a while because I wasn't quite sure how to tackle the split for the finger guard, but I think this works out. If in the future the leather starts to pull away from the epoxy, I think I'll drill out some holes and simply saddle stitch it in place.

Canoe Camping Gear / Packlist

2011-07-06T11:48:00.019-04:00

So you've decided to take a leap into canoe tripping, huh?

This is a short list of recommend items to bring if you're coming on a canoe trip with me. I'll have the rest of the gear (map, water filter, rope, food barrel, backpacking stove, cooking tools, etc...) so this is a list of things to pack for yourself.

Gear Checklist
The Essentials
□ Trip plan left with family or friends
□ Large Backpack
□ Waterproof pack liner (if your bag isn't waterproof on its own)
□ Tent
□ Sleeping bag
□ Sleeping pad (not necessary, but makes the experience so much better than being on the ground)

Clothing
□ Rain Jacket or Poncho
□ Shorts / T-Shirts
□ Long Pants / Long sleeved shirt (it can get chilly at night or if it’s raining)
□ Swimwear
□ Hiking Boots or Walking shoes
□ Sandals or flip-flops
□ Hat
□ Sunglasses

Personal Care Items
□ Toothbrush / Toothpaste
□ Towel
□ Biodegradable Soap
□ Toilet paper / Baby wipes
□ Hand Sanitizer
□ Contacts / Glasses + repair kit
□ Bug Spray
□ Sunscreen

Camping Gear
□ Bowl / Fork / Spoon
□ Heat Proof cup (for hot drinks- coffee, hot chocolate, etc...)
□ Small Day pack / possibles bag
□ Water bottle (I recommend 750ml or 1L bottles)
□ Fixed Blade / Swiss Army Knife / Multi-tool
□ Headlamp / Flashlight / Lantern
□ Compass
□ First-aid kit
□ Whistle
□ Lighter / Matches in waterproof container
□ Small sewing kit / duct tape or waterproof tape / repair kit (for tents, sleeping pad, poncho, etc)

Extras (optional)
□ Binoculars
□ Fishing gear
□ Camera
□ Notebook / Journal & Pencil / Pen
□ Watch
□ Deck of cards / Games

How to Pack
How you pack your gear is almost as important as what you pack. You're taking all of your personal effects with you, so the key is to identify what items are really needed and cut the ones that aren't. More than likely you aren't going to need 3 pairs of shoes and an entire wardrobe of clothes. For a 3 day trip, i usually carry

2 pairs of long pants (convertible pants are even better)
2-3 t-shirts
1 long sleeved shirt
Swim pants
Rain jacket / poncho
Hiking boots
Water shoes

I usually don't need more than that. If I get cold at night I can layer items to enhance the insulation power of my clothing. Wear the clean shirt you plan to wear the next day to bed and you no longer need a dedicated sleeping shirt. On longer journeys you can wash soiled clothes with biodegradable detergent and hang them to dry during the day.

Because all of your belongings will be taken with you in the canoe, you MUST pack as if you will flip the canoe. If canoe tripping is something you enjoy and plan to continue doing, it's not about if you spill...but when.

All items need to be in a waterproof pack, and if the pack isn't waterproof it must have a waterproof liner in the main bucket area where your items are being stored. In a pinch a garbage bag without holes in it will do, but I recommend a light weight ripstop nylon liner because it's durable and relatively cheap. Clothes, sleeping bag, sleeping pad and tent should be carried in this waterproof area so that in the event your canoe capsizes, you won't be sleeping in wet gear and you'll have dry clothes clothes to change into at night.

Any electronics (cameras, lenses, cellphones, lanterns, flashlights) will need to be placed into this waterproof areas as well.

Organization is also key. I have found that separating items into smaller kits is helpful in finding items I need quickly (all clothes in a stuff sack, hygiene items in a kit, first aid kit, etc...). A cost effective way to do this is by using large freezer bags, but any small pouch will do.

You'll want to pack items you're less likely to need at the bottom of the pack and items you need quick access to on top or in side pockets. Nothing is worse than realizing you're about to be rained on and your poncho/rain jacket is at the bottom of your pack under the rest of your gear.

If there are portages on this trip, try your best to pack everything so that nothing is loose. Remember that everything needs to be carried by hand over land, so having it all in the pack reduces the amount of trips you'll need to cart all the gear.

Do not keep food in your pack. The last thing you want is your clothes and gear smelling like food in bear country. If you have energy bars or snacks, it needs to be packed away into the food barrel.

Where to buy?
List of local retailers you can find most of these items:

Of course if you think you need guidance you can feel free to message me about specific items.

First contact with the Toulambi tribe - videos

2011-06-26T22:20:00.007-04:00

In 1993 filmmaker Jean Pierre Dutilleux filmed "first contact" with a group of members of the Toulambi tribe in Papua, New Guinea. Videos of this happening have been circling around the web and I just finished watching them and had to share. I was blown away by the footage and can only imagine the wonder, fear and excitement that must have been felt by both parties.

You can view the rest of the footage below:

Go to Jean Pierre Dutilleux's website to learn more about the Toulambi his documentaries.

Need a new pair of Vibram FiveFingers...

2011-06-17T10:43:00.006-04:00

I've had my Vibram FiveFingers Sprint shoes for over 2 years now and I've worn them 2-4 times a week, almost every week since I got them. By my estimate I've logged over 400 hours in them.

They been my trusted companion in the gym where I strength train, hiking on trails, canoeing Algonquin, my martial arts classes, and pounding the road. Hell I think I'd wear them everywhere if I could (except restaurants- for some unexplainable reason, that's totally unacceptable ).

I first got them as gym shoes, as an alternative to having to Squat and Deadlift barefoot. They kept me closer to the ground and didn't compress as I loaded more weight and I grew to enjoy wearing them a lot. I noticed that my calves got much stronger after wearing them for a few months, and even my posture improved. Wearing the shoes also changed how I walked, finding that when I wore them it changed my foot strikes from heel first, to ball first. This put more focus on my Achilles tendon, allowing it to strengthen and absorb more of the force. This doesn't sound like a big deal, but it actually made jogging and sprinting more enjoyable for me, which were things I had always despised.

As soon as spring came I hit the trails and was wearing my FiveFingers on them. It was a weird sensation wearing them outside for the first time, feeling the coolness of the ground, every pebble or twig under my feet. It didn't hurt...but I was able to feel connected to the ground and was more mindful of how I walked. The shoes actually forced me to start taking my time and I was actually able to enjoy my surroundings more, rather than feeling like I had to keep pushing forward on the trail. The shoes completely changed the entire experience!

I've noticed these shoes are becoming more and more of a fad in the fitness circles. This is kind of worrying, because with any fad, people tend to take things too far too fast. I've read stories about people who probably didn't take the time to ease into them (there's a steep learning curve) or aren't suited to wearing them (people with flat feet should avoid these shoes) injuring themselves. Hearing about cases of Plantar Fasciitis developing isn't uncommon, and I can only assume we'll be hearing more about it as barefoot activities become more popular and the trend continues

Lately the wear has been showing as some seams have needed to be hand stitched, and the adhesive glue is starting to give on the sole...but still I carried on with them.

Now I'm afraid it's time to retire them. Walking down the street a few days ago I noticed a sharp pain in my foot and when I checked it I realized that I've worn them so much, I've literally worn a hole into the soles and now there is no more protection.

I've been looking at the Vibram website, and things have changed since I made my initial purchase over 2 years ago. Some of the model they offer now look like they're damn near bullet proof, which makes me excited to try them out...however I still mourn for my Sprints. They've given me so much, I don't think I can send them to the trash heap just yet. I think I'll keep them around for when I go to the beach, but in the meantime I'll need new outdoor FiveFingers.

These caught my eye. The new KomodoSport look like they have more durable soles and might be better suited to the outdoors. I'll have to start searching the local retailers to see who's got them stocked in my size.

CDC Issues a Zombie Apocalypse 101 Primer

2011-05-19T15:44:00.006-04:00

It's often a fun game in the preparedness circles to to rate how well prepared you are is by comparing it to the worst care scenario you may likely face. The problem with this is that preparing for real life disasters that may or may not ever occur can be a little depressing and even boring . Preppers usually combat this drabe mentality by adding a fun and humourous element, which in this case happens to be the popular culture phenomenon of a Zombie Apocalyse.

Think about it, how often do you sit in a theater watching a zombie movie and think to yourself "I wonder how I'd compare?" or even "These people are idiots! I'd do ____ instead". You can't help it! Even I made light of this fact with an overly complicated and grossly inaccurate troll post back in April.

Well, turns out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also believes that this is an effective way to reach out to people and encourage preparedness. This week they've released a post on their blog detailing what it takes to deal with a Zombie Outbreak. It's obviously tongue-in-cheek, but I think it's a great way to garner attention through social media about the importance of preparedness.

And guess what? It seems to be working! The traffic generated by the post was enough to crash the server temporarily on Wednesday, which means that word is spreading!

I commend the CDC for making something as important as disaster preparedness fun and approachable for most people.

Small observation while watching 'SALT'...

2011-05-13T16:26:00.003-04:00

About a week or two ago I sat down to relax and watched a few action movies that have been out for a while and have been meaning to catch up on. One of these movies happened to be SALT, an action/thriller movie staring Angelina Jolie as a CIA agent.

At one point in the movie she makes a daring escape from being held for suspicion of being a double agent, and quickly makes her way to her apartment. She runs in, grabs a backpack and gets out while being chased.

What she grabbed, is known as a Bug Out Bag (B.o.B.) and is quite different than an Emergency Kit. I was actually thrilled to see it placed in a movie like this, because it's something that we all should have packed and ready to go at a moments notice, not because we might be secret Russian assassins, but rather because it's a practical way to have the essentials you'll need should you have very little time to evacuate.

Evacuate from what? Well that depends on where you live and what could threaten you. Currently the Mississippi River is rising and has flooded the surrounding area has been declared a disaster zone, two months ago Japan was hit by a tsunami that wreaked havoc over the entire of Tōhoku . Disasters can happen anywhere and to anyone.

"Advice From an Israeli Agent"

2011-04-21T13:59:00.001-04:00

I normally disregard chain e-mails, but recently once was passed on to me that caught my attention. After reading it I did a little digging and a few flags were raised when I tried to identify its origins. Firstly, I could not identify the original author of the work and found that its supposed reference had credentials which were suspect. It also seems that this e-mail has been circulating since around 2005. Since the original timeline for the events describe has likely long since passed, and the credentials of it's "sources" are unreliable, you might wonder why I am event bothering to mention it.

After reading it through I found a lot of the cultural criticisms relevant and the suggestions it provided were well thought out. We as a culture do lack situational awareness and lack the planning to effectively deal with disasterous situations, should they arise. This is a mixed blessing as this compliance has arisen because of the relative safety that we enjoy on a day-to-day basis. Of course when a catastrophe does happen, we are now left vulnerable and unable to cope.

For posterity's sake I reproduce it here, unedited. Take from it what you will...absorb what is useful, reject what is not.

Juval Aviv was the Israeli Agent upon whom the movie ‘ Munich ‘ was based. He was Golda Meir’s bodyguard, and she appointed him to track down and bring to justice the Palestinian terrorists who took the Israeli athletes hostage and killed them during the Munich Olympic Games.

In a lecture in New York City he shared information that EVERY American needs to know — but that our government has not yet shared with us.

He predicted the London subway bombing on the Bill O’Reilly show on Fox News stating publicly that it would happen within a week. At the time, O’Reilly laughed, and mocked him saying that in a week he wanted him back on the show. Unfortunately, within a week the terrorist attack had occurred.

Juval Aviv gave intelligence (via what he had gathered in Israel and the Middle East ) to the Bush Administration about 9/11, a month before it occurred. His report specifically said they would use planes as bombs and target high profile buildings and monuments. Congress has since hired him as a security consultant.

Now for his future predictions. He predicts the next terrorist attack on the U.S. will occur within the next few months.

Forget hijacking airplanes, because he says terrorists will NEVER try and hijack a plane again as they know the people onboard will never go down quietly again. Aviv believes our airport security is a joke — that we have been reactionary rather than proactive in developing strategies that are truly effective.

For example:

1. Our airport technology is outdated. We look for metal, and the new explosives are made of plastic.

2. He talked about how some idiot tried to light his shoe on fire. Because of that, now everyone has to take off their shoes. A group of idiots tried to bring aboard liquid explosives. Now we can’t bring liquids on board. He says he’s waiting for some suicidal maniac to pour liquid explosive on his underwear; at which point, security will have us all traveling naked! Every strategy we have is reactionary.

3. We only focus on security when people are heading to the gates.

Aviv says that if a terrorist attack targets airports in the future, they will target busy times on the front end of the airport when/where people are checking in. It would be easy for someone to take two suitcases of explosives, walk up to a busy check-in line, ask a person next to them to watch their bags for a minute while they run to the restroom or get a drink, and then detonate the bags BEFORE security even gets involved. In Israel , security checks bags BEFORE people can even ENTER the airport.

Aviv says the next terrorist attack here in America is imminent and will involve suicide bombers and non-suicide bombers in places where large groups of people congregate. (i.e., Disneyland, Las Vegas casinos, big cities (New York, San Francisco, Chicago, etc.) and that it will also include shopping malls, subways in rush hour, train stations, etc., as well as, rural America this time. The interlands ( Wyoming , Montana , etc.).

The attack will be characterized by simultaneous detonations around the country (terrorists like big impact), involving at least 5-8 cities, including rural areas.

Aviv says terrorists won’t need to use suicide bombers in many of the larger cities, because at places like the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, they can simply valet park a car loaded with explosives and walk away.

Aviv says all of the above is well known in intelligence circles, but that our U. S. Government does not want to ‘alarm American citizens’ with the facts. The world is quickly going to become ‘a different place’, and issues like ‘global warming’ and political correctness will become totally irrelevant.

On an encouraging note, he says that Americans don’t have to be concerned about being nuked. Aviv says the terrorists who want to destroy America will not use sophisticated weapons. They like to use suicide as a front-line approach. It’s cheap, it’s easy, it’s effective; and they have an infinite abundance of young militants more than willing to ‘meet their destiny’.

He also says the next level of terrorists, over which America should be most concerned, will not be coming from abroad. But will be, instead, ‘homegrown’, having attended and been educated in our own schools and universities right here in the U.S. He says to look for ‘students’ who frequently travel back and forth to the Middle East . These young terrorists will be most dangerous because they will know our language and will fully understand the habits of Americans; but that we Americans won’t know/understand a thing about them.

Aviv says that, as a people, Americans are unaware and uneducated about the terrorist threats we will inevitably face. America still has only a handful of Arabic and Farsi speaking people in our intelligence networks, and Aviv says it is critical that we change that fact SOON.

So, what can America do to protect itself? From an intelligence perspective, Aviv says the U.S. needs to stop relying on satellites and technology for intelligence. We need to, instead, follow Israel ‘s, Ireland ‘s and England ‘s hands-on examples of human intelligence, both from an infiltration perspective as well as to pay attention to, and trust ‘aware’ citizens to help. We need to engage and educate ourselves as citizens; however, our U. S. government continues to treat us, its citizens, ‘like babies’. Our government thinks we ‘can’t handle the truth’ and are concerned that we’ll panic if we understand the realities of terrorism. Aviv says this is a deadly mistake.

Aviv recently created/executed a security test for our Congress, by placing an empty briefcase in five well-traveled spots in five major cities. The results? Not one person called 911 or sought a policeman to check it out. In fact, in Chicago , someone tried to steal the briefcase!

In comparison, Aviv says that citizens of Israel are so well ‘trained’ that an unattended bag or package would be reported in seconds by citizen(s) who know to publicly shout, ‘Unattended Bag!’ The area would be quickly & calmly cleared by the citizens themselves.

Unfortunately, America hasn’t been yet ‘hurt enough’ by terrorism for their government to fully understand the need to educate its citizens or for the government to understand that it’s their citizens who are, inevitably, the best first-line of defense against terrorism.

Aviv also was concerned about the high number of children here in America who were in preschool and kindergarten after 9/11, who were ‘lost’ without parents being able to pick them up, and about our schools that had no plan in place to best care for the students until parents could get there. (In New York City , this was days, in some cases!)

He stresses the importance of having a plan, that’s agreed upon within your family, of how to respond in the event of a terrorist emergency. He urges parents to contact their children’s schools and demand that the schools too, develop plans of actions, just as they do in Israel .

Does your family know what to do if you can’t contact one another by phone? Where would you gather in an emergency? He says we should all have a plan that is easy enough for even our youngest children to remember and follow.

Aviv says that the U. S. government has in force a plan, that in the event of another terrorist attack, EVERYONE’s ability to use cell phones, blackberries, etc., will immediately be cut-off, as this is the preferred communication source used by terrorists and is often the way that their bombs are detonated.

How will you communicate with your loved ones in the event you cannot speak to each other? You need to have a plan.

If you understand, and believe what you have just read, then you must feel compelled to send this to every concerned parent, guardian, grandparents, uncles, aunts, whomever. Don’t stop there. In addition to sharing this via e-mail, contact and discuss this information with whomever it makes sense to. Make contingency plans with those you care about. Better that you have plans in place, and never have to use them, then to have no plans in place, and find you needed them.

If you choose not to share this, or not to have a plan in place, and nothing ever occurs — good for you! However, in the event something does happen, and even more so, if it directly affects your loved ones, then this e-mail will haunt you forever.

Disaster Prep: The Zombie Apocalypse

2011-04-01T07:06:00.005-04:00

It's 7:06 in the morning, and you're awakened suddenly from your sleep. You roll over to hit the snooze button on your alarm clock, but you realize it's not suppose to go off for another 24 minutes. What's that noise?! Jumping out of bed you head over to the window and look outside. CHAOS! Across the street from you is an overturned ambulance with it's siren till running! There are fires all around the block, and no law enforcement or fire trucks in sight! Out of the corner of your eye you see the neighbours little girl covered in blood hunched over the mailman on the ground biting and clawing at his body. You just bought scout cookies from her yesterday! What's going on!? How did this happen!?!!!

Zombies.

This is the nightmare hundreds of people face each year, and millions more fear. Contrary to popular belief, zombies are in fact real and do plague humanity, mostly in developing nations around the world. The key to management is swift action when dealing with an uprising. Only in that way has been possible thus far to keep any epidemics from spreading to worldwide pandemics.

So how do you prepare for something that seemingly cannot be killed? Knowledge and preparation!

1: Identification

What kind of zombie are you dealing with?
In his book The Zombie Survival Guide, Max Brooks identifies the virus Solanum as key culprit in zombie transformation. In the time since the publication of the guide there has been significant advances in our knowledge of zombism. In fact we have now identified two distinct types of zombies.

The solanum zombie, slow moving and dangerous in numbers due to their persistence. This is the classic view of the zombie which has inspired mythology through human culture.

The rabid zombie, fast moving, capable of sprinting and easily attracted to loud noises and bright lights. As the name suggest, these zombies are created by a mutation of the rabies virus. Due to it's more recent appearance, debated still rages regarding whether this mutation is natural or is the result of an attempt to weaponize the virus.

2. What makes them different from each other?

In either case, none of the infected are actually "dead". Their bodies still perform basic metabolic activities, however all cognitive functions of the brain have ceased. What made them human is gone, and what remains is a body left in auto-drive.

Due to the differing nature of the infection, tactics for dealing with the infected differ slightly.

The solanum zombie will have a slower metabolism and so can endure for much longer between feedings than the rabies zombie before shutting down. Consequently it can actually remain under water for quite some time as it's body uses oxygen at a slower rate. These zombies are slow moving and lumbering, so the real danger here comes from their persistence and large numbers.

Rabid zombies are different in that they have fast metabolisms and are known to sprint and chase down their victims. These zombies are voracious killers and need a constant supply of food to fuel their high metabolisms. Encountering even one of these infected can be more than most people are prepared for.

3. How do I deal with them?

When dealing with the zombie plague there is only one option. Destroy them. While the brain my no longer be capable of cognition, it is still the command center for the rest of the body. It is the primary target on any infected individual.

Effective methods of inducing trauma include firearms, blunt force and decapitation.

If you can find something heavy and can lift it, then start swinging.

If you can remove it's head, do so.

If you have a gun, shoot it.

A direct shot to the head is clearly the best option, however many things can affect the accuracy of your shot. Panic, adrenaline, lack of skill all contribute to a missed shot to the head (a relatively small target). Better instead to incapacitate the infected and finish with a melee weapon. A powerful shot to the chest will cause cell walls to rupture as the shock-wave passes through surrounded tissue, muscle fibres tear and neurons will stop firing. With the heart liquefied, and muscles none existent, the infected will attempt to pursue in vain, only to be physically incapable
of doing so. If you have the chance, finish it with a melee. Otherwise, keep running.

Your diligence will pay off in spades. Many a survivor has allowed themselves to become compliant and paid for it with their life.

4. Gear
Preparation is everything. Those who are not prepared will depend on law enforcement or military support. When the disaster hits, these resources will be stretched too thin to help all but the fortunate few.

I offer my own preparations to you as a guide, and possibly an insight into creating your own stockpile.

Get one here

Headgear
A tactical mask with goggles is the only way to go. Protect the face from splatter damage and reduce the risk of contamination.

Upper Garment
Who is best prepared to deal with the constant threat of physical harm? Firefighters? Law enforcement? The military? IMHO I must reject all answers except for one. Batman. No one else faces the constant threat of violence, and so it makes the most sense to adopt the armour mean to protect vital areas. Remember that during the apocalypse, threats will reveal themselves to you as both the infected AND survivors. Fortunately for us, this armour is available on the civilian market.

Lower Garment
More armoured clothing, light weight being an important factor as you will be carrying the weight as you travel.
Boots
Trekking long distances is a very real possibility in the zombie apocalypse as fuel for vehicles will be at a premium. My choice are the rugged Asolos that have reliably served me.

Tactical Accessories
Fixed blade and tactical gloves.

Primary Weapon
The Marlin 1895SBL is chambered for .45-70 rounds. This round has the stopping power to take down a charging Grizzly bear, and will be sufficient for a charging zombie.

Many people will have you believe that the best choice as a primary is the AR-15 rifle, due to the availability of the 5.56x45mm NATO round, which will be carried by law enforcement and military squads. This point is mute, as you should already be stocking enough ammunition for a 15 year war.

Secondary Weapon
Dan Wesson PPC .357 magnum. You're looking for stopping power here. As with above, you'll hear many people recommend the 9mm, since it will be available. Don't compromise! Go for the round that will leave a hole where flesh used to be, and you won't be disappointed. Stock up your own ammo or learn to reload yourself.

Melee Weapon
Most people will have you believe that a blunt force trauma instrument is the best bet against hordes of infected, citing "sticking" of blades as the primary reason to avoid them. I will tell you that this is a fallacy, and only the untrained will face this problem.

Sticking occurs when the surrounding muscle tissue puts inward pressure on the face of the blade, causing it to refuse to let go during a piecing or thrusting attack. Very often a survivor will find themselves embedding their melee machete or knife in cranial area of an infected only to be unable to remove it in time to defend against an onslaught of the horde.

This can be avoided by instead targeting behind the neck and severing the the spinal column, rather than attacking the cranium. This immediately shuts down the signals coming from the brain and allows for quick removal of the blade.

My choice of melee is the ESEE Junglas large survival knife/lite machete. If it can do this to a hog, then I'll wager my life on it during the outbreak.

Inventory (non-combat)

Pack
Headlamp
Lighter - Bics might be more reliable, but nothing tops the class of a Zippo
Gasoline - To power generators, fuel vehicles, and manufacture Molotov cocktails as improvised weapons.
Optics - To increase field of vision.
Water filter - To provide fresh water.
MRE Food rations -Enough to hold over until suitable agriculture programs can be implemented.

Vehicle
Once again...Batman.
The Tumbler is an armoured vehicle capable manuevering through city streets to quickly grab resources, capable of quick bursts of speed and yet robust enough to plow through hordes of infected or abandoned vehicles as needed.

Stronghold
A good base provides fortifications against the infected as well as means to support a growing populace of survivors. Movies have shown the folly of choosing grocery stores or shopping centers as strongholds. While initially a wise choice, after and extended siege from the infected, you will soon find yourself running low on resources. Indeed a better base provides both resources and means for self reliance.

It also needs to defense against both attacks from the infected, as well as invading marauders intent on ousting you and stealing your supplies.

To that end, a fortress with a guarded perimeter with access to fresh water and ample area to grow crops provides the ideal setting. However, an exit strategy is a requirement in the event that the outer defenses are breached and the inner walls begin to fall.

5. Never let your guard down Don't let times of peacefulness lull you into a passive state. Remember, it is those that prepare that will make it through times of hardship. When it comes to an enemy that never sleeps, never stops, and grows exponentially, we cannot afford to give an inch of leniency.

Happy First of April everyone!

DIY: ESEE Izula II Belt Clip

2011-02-17T22:43:00.009-05:00

While in Costa Rica, my EDC blade of choice was the ESEE Izula II. This second version of their Izula knife adds 1/2 inch to the handle and comes with micarta scales. For such a small knife, it has quite the bite (hence the name reference to the Bullet Ant).

I carried the Izula II by attaching molle clips to the screw points and then clipping it to my belt. Molle clips aren't really meant to be used in this way and are really more to secure gear to tactical vests or other molle strapping, so it's not a terrible surprise that this was sort of an inconvenient way to carry it.

When I got back I decided to go the route of purchasing the boot clip attachment, but after I calculated the cost of the purchase and shipping, it pushed it slightly beyond what I was willing to pay.

Of course, I did have a few spare pieces of kydex left over, a spare belt clip and some chicago screws...so why not just make my own?

I started off by lining up the sheath with the kydex and drilling out the holes. Really it was as simple as drilling out one hole, securing it with a chicago screw and then drilling out the rest.

The next step was trimming the kydex clip plate to match the sheath. The majority of the material was removed by scoring straight lines with a box cutter and breaking off the excess material. Rounding was carved by hand and then sanded smooth with 400 - 1000 grit papers.

I lined up the clip to where I wanted it to sit, and drilled out two holes at the end points, the width of the clip. It was then just a matter of connecting the holes with straight cuts and removing the material.

The belt clip was too long for my purposes so I cut off the excess with a grinding wheel and smoothed out the sharp edges.

Affixing the clip to the plate was just a matter of opening the the clip wide enough to slip it through the hole I made.

Once I screwed the clip plate on, the back end of the clip is sandwiched between the sheath and the kydex and is tensioned in place by the chicago screws.

The clip tension is perfect to keep it in place and it much more comfortable than the molle clips. While I made this clip plate for my Izula II, this is an easy project for any similarly sized knife. The Ka-Bar BK-11 (Becker Necker) or the Personal Survival Kit I built on it comes to mind as well.

Gerber / Bear Grylls Survival Kit

2011-02-11T20:59:00.007-05:00

Kit contents: Survival Instructions, Gerber Mini Multitool, Emergency Blanket,
Firesteel, Storm matches, Cotton Tinder, Signal Mirror, LED Light, Wire Saw,
Snare Wire, Cordage, Fishing Line, Fishing Hooks, Sewing kit

Bear Grylls of the Discovery channel's Man Vs Wild show has teamed up with Gerber Legendary Blades to what they call the "Ultimate survival kit".

While it's hardly what I'd call "ultimate" (I don't even think there exists such a thing), nor can I vouch for Bear's survival tactics on the show, this kit looks pretty well put together for something that could easily fit in a cargo pocket. Add a bic lighter, canteen/water vessel and a large fixed blade and you have yourself a decent kit. Much better those survival-in-can kits in which you don't know what items are available to you, nor could you possibly modify the contents.

At $50, the most expensive item in the kit is the Gerber Mini Multitool and for the cost-to-usefulness ratio I'd say this particular tool isn't a necessary inclusion.

However for the listed price you could and should build your own kit. I've spoken before on the merits of building your own kit, not the least of which is your intimate knowledge of the contents, there quality and usefulness to you. However, if you're looking for convenience, you could do worse.