Hey there from the outback of BC

Hey Guys, I managed to get a day off and was able to locate a wireless zone that I could connect to the internet with. The link is pretty slow, but it allows me the chance to drop in and say hi, and let you all know I haven't been eaten by a bear or cougar just yet! LOL!

I'm currently out in the woods between Whistler and Squamish, BC, and will probably be packing up camp and moving to another site soon. Hopefully, I'll have a few more chances to log in soon. My stay here in BC has been slightly extended until 13 November; wish I had known that back in August, so I could've better packed for the weather!

Anyway, for my fellow Canadian dawgs, I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving weekend; mine will be spent in the woods, away from my family, eating God only knows what.

Talk to you soon (I Hope)

Good to hear from you Tyger...it's been a good while you have been away...if you are feeling the chill bad see if there are any Cat Tail plants by the side of the Lakes out there...I had a Sniping exercise in Canada and had the same issue...I stitched the sleeves and waist together on two Helly long sleeve vests and stuffed the down from the cat tail heads between the two...it is virtually like "down" when pulled apart and dried off...used the top for the evenings/sleeping and it worked like a charm. Did the same with two pair of light cammo gloves...best natural plant insulation you can find...and is really abundant round where you are...old tip from reading up on Rodgers Rangers back in the war with the French <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Excellent tip Pete! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Pat - it's good to hear from you again! Nice to know that a bear or cougar hasn't gotten to you! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Try to stay warm and check in when you get the chance. Take care Brother! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

That was a good tip,,,but I can't completely understand what you did..Lots of good tips from the old days..Newspaper is what the hobos stuffed under their shirts and pants for insulation..

Pat,,,So what exactly are you eating? Fish, Critters?

With this cooler weather moving in I would imagine that Pat would appreciate a nice roast beef or pork roast dinner! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Man, I'm loving this high-speed service! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

If you are in the BC area or anywhere really in Lower Canada/Lower Alaska around the shores of Lakes you get abundant wet lands where the Cat Tail Plant grows. It has a shape that looks like a hot dog on a skewer at the top...almost looks like water reeds from it's location but the top of the plant makes it clearly identifiable...as there are these thick sausage shaped heads. If you cut some of these down and get the head of the plant you can pull it apart and you get very down like fibres designed to be blown on the wind to enable the plant to propigate.

Collect this stuff and it makes a great "filling" for insulation...very much like down. Then all you need is to use a sewing kit and stitch the bottom and sleeves together on two tops...add the filling between the two...then you have a very warm lightweight top that works like a climbers down jacket. It also makes for great tinder...plus the roots of Cat Tail are one of the very few plants in that region which hold energy giving starch which is edible. The Canadian wilderness is very bereft of plants which give carbo-hydrate energy...to survive there you really need to eat meat and fish... and seasonally berries ... edible plants are hard come by...the root of Alpine Sweet Betch and the pith of Rosebay Willow Herb ( which makes a thick flower ) are all I can remember aside from Cat Tail Roots which are by far the best.

They say knowledge weighs "nothing"...but memory failure is hard to conquer I find... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the tip Pete, but sadly, I'm not near any areas where the cat tails grow. I've taken to doubling up on my clothing; layers help. I just wish I had brought my combat jacket, that would've been extremely useful for the nights up in the Northern part of BC. Sadly, the Chain Of Command doesn't keep their soldiers informed of the "Game Plan". When I set out in August, I was only going to be down in the lower mainland/Vancouver area (very warm weather) until the 24th Oct. Now, they've decided to use me as the roaming tech for pretty much all sites in BC, especially the Northern sites, until 13th Nov.

For food, they've arranged a couple field kitchens; anyone who has served in the military can tell you how enjoyable those meals can be! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> BLEEECH!

Off and on I luck out and they have to send me to more populous areas for work fo a couple days (like this weekend), so I get to stay in a hotel room, eat decent food, and go to work at the sites in civvies. I managed to buy a couple sets of Under Armour long johns that aren't visible while in my combats on one of those "vacations". They've become a very treasured item for me when I'm in the mountains.

I can't exactly discuss too much about what I'm doing, other than to say I'm setting up communications at various sites.


Anyway, glad to see that I'm missed, and will be sure to try and get on again when I can.

Cheers, and have a great weekend guys.

Where in Northern BC would you go?
I can't think of any events in the north
Anyways hope you are having fun and cattails (bullrushes) can be found anywhere in the province around water,
Just hit a Walmart if you want a cheap jacket, as you said down here it's still warm (I was wearing shorts out today)

Isn't it great! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

You know it Andy!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> While it's not as fast as many here, it sure beats 24-28 kps! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I know what your doing...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> but i wont say

Bushy, vancouver

Hey Tyger- nice to hear from you. Glad to hear all is going okay. Stay warm and be safe! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Field kitchens, *gag* I feel your pain. Under armour is great stuff though. Take care tyger.

Good to hear from you tyger, take care and keep warm. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Good to hear from you. Stay warm and be safe

I look forward to any sharable stories

Dan