In truth the river waters that I have traveled have been easy-going with enough action for the beginner that I am to learn how to navigate. The waters have been shallow enough with rocks often enough to occasionally get hung up and I’ve had to learn bow to get loose to remain afloat.

Along with the action of the waters each trip offers awesome scenery. In my region it’s not uncommon to see squirrels, great blue herons, kingfishers, mallard ducks, Canadian geese and various song birds. Occasionally we have seen beavers, otters, snakes and deer. I think that the tracks left in the mud shown in the photo may well be otter spoor. what do you think?

In addition to the enjoyment of being on the water, kayaking and canoeing provide another mode of transportation that can be used in an emergency. It can be used for egress or simple transportation from place-to-place… perhaps to otherwise inaccessible places for safety. I’m preparing for a camping trip via kayak this Spring/Summer with eager anticipation. I’ve acquired a dry bag but I may need more. I’ll be sure to share that experience with you!

I was able to learn a few things with a little guidance from my friend: a single upstream pointing “V” indicates a rock to avoid; when encountering a double upstream pointing “V” you can pass between them safely; on the downstream side of a rock there is often an “eddy” that you can steer into which is generally calm and can sometimes draw your kayak upstream slightly – this is a good place to “park” and rest a bit. I had a variety of experiences, sometimes reading the current correctly and shooting through and a few times reading it wrong and hanging up on the rocks… a very educational experience.

When we beached the kayaks it was relatively easy to disembark and then re-board, however, I took a dump at the final exit point at some stairs along the bank of the river. I was glad to have a waterproof case for my phone. On the bright side I was able to collect two new lures just prior to my exit from fishing lines that had snagged in some trees so it helped to off-set my embarrassment.

There are more difficult passages to conquer in the future but this was a great entry into my first river experience and I’m sure more training will provide more confidence and safety to meet the new challenges ahead.

It goes without saying that you should always be careful around an open flame, observing precautions to keep flammable objects at a safe distance and the flame source in a stable position. In tight quarters be sure to have adequate ventilation. The following is a set-up that I have used successfully that you may find helpful. The objects needed are a metal coffee can, a tea-candle, matches or a lighter, and a blanket, sheet, poncho or other body cover.

In a sitting position I place a coffee can on the floor between the heels of my feet with the open end up. Then I place a tea-candle inside the can along the bottom edge. This position allows room for my hand to reach in with a match or lighter to light the candle. Once lit, I reposition the candle to the center of the can to provide even heat and a safety zone. Next, I place the blanket around my shoulders and over my lap which forms a tent-like covering. This captures the heat that rises from the candle and holds it around my body. The can enclosure shields both the flame from the wind, and adjacent clothing from the flame.

This heating set-up would be good to store in your vehicle on the occasion that you might get stranded during a Winter storm.

I was scheduled to set up my teepee outside where I could perform firecraft and cooking, but there was a driving rain all the way to the fairgrounds where the event was being held. Although teepees are portable shelters, they don’t store well when wet, so I was not inclined to set it up when I wouldn’t be able to let it dry out with eventual sunny weather. I spoke to the event coordinator about the possibility of setting it up inside the exhibition hall, and to my delight, there was both height and space available.

In lieu of a campfire, I decided to perform Flint and Steel fire making demonstrations using my fire tray as my portable campfire pit. I had invited a family friend, Jeremiah, to join me for this event to assist in handling equipment and interfacing with attendees. After several demonstrations, he was able to take a turn and was able to make his first Flint and Steel fire. Way to go! He also provided the photo for this blog.

I appreciated the opportunity to share my passion. If you are able to attend any of the events that I post in my calendar, I would love to have you contact me during your visit so that we can meet and chat.

I learned the “emergency action plan” for approaching an incident as well as the “ABCs” (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) of CPR. A new category of “D” or Defibrillation has be added when properly trained. Being able to help others, or even yourself, can save life and limb. Knowledge, enables you to properly approach an emergency situation, and when combined with practice, can give you confidence which contributes to clearer thinking and a calming effect in a time of panic or stress.

I would encourage you to attend these classes if you have not done so already. In many cases this will be offered through your employer, especially if you volunteer to be an emergency responder in their safety program at work. These skills will enable you to be better prepared in the case of natural disaster or other injury related situations. This is most certainly another tool that should be added to your survival skills.