Monthly Archives: January 2012

Protect your eyes with Randolph Engineering Sunglasses

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“There are countless aviator styles out there but only one Randolph Engineering. Built for the U.S. Military, the RE Aviator surpassed rigid specifications standards. Since then, the Aviator has become a flagship product and has set the standard for world-class quality. These sunglasses are the epitome of serious equipment. From their unique bayonet temples that are designed to fit comfortably under headgear, to the lifetime warranted solder joints, you can always rely on the Aviator to perform… especially when you need it. This style is also available as a prescription frame with optional sunglass clip-ons. The Aviator is the first of many Randolph Engineering sunglasses that are worn by those who demand the best. When NASA Astronauts lift off the launch pad, or when America’s top gun pilots step into the cockpit, Randolph Engineering provides the priceless pair of sunglasses that helps them safely navigate the skies. Tour of duty: Vietnam, Desert Storm, Korea, and Kosovo.”

-Randolph Engineering

Cost: Around CDN $120

www.randolphusa.com

Dispatches from the edge of survival

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Easy to read, well written, educational… I found this book to be a worthwhile addition to my collection of survival literature. It allows the reader to gain a unique perspective and humbling appreciation for survival from those who’ve been there.

I really enjoyed the “Elements of Survival” that Les Stroud adds to the end of each survival story.

Not only does Les add a lot of insight into the stories, he assigns a percentage to the following categories based on their roles in the survival situation.

  • Knowledge
  • Luck
  • Kit
  • Will to Live

If you are serious about survival I would certainly recommend this book as a means to broaden your appreciation for survival, and perhaps more importantly, the will to live.

Cost: Around CDN $23

ISBN 978-1-55468-640-7

www.lesstroud.ca

2012 IGLOO Building Courses at Delta Marsh Field Station – SOLD OUT!

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Maple Leaf Survival will be Co-Instructing two weekend IGLOO building courses this February 2012 at the Delta Marsh Field Station.

“The Delta Marsh Field Station, a research and teaching facility of the Faculty of Science at the University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Canada), is located on the south shore of Lake Manitoba (98°23’W, 50°11’N). It borders Delta Marsh, a “Wetland of International Significance” under the Ramsar Convention, that is one of the largest lacustrine marshes in North America.”

“The course is designed for travelers and persons whose occupations expose them to winter Arctic conditions and winter camping enthusiasts.  It is also designed for persons wishing to become more aware of northern sociological and environmental issues.  Techniques of winter survival will be examined through field work, lectures, group discussions, slide presentations and films.

Personal survival kits for the northern travelers will be discussed as well as survival for persons in downed aircraft.  All participants will build their own Inuit igloo, and time permitting, the Athabaskan Quinzhee.  Participants will also have the opportunity to try out Inuit-made winter clothing.”

INTRUCTORS:

Drs. Rick Riewe and Jill Oakes

CO-INSTRUCTORS:

Maple Leaf Survival

FRIDAY NIGHT:

Introduction to the Arctic (Slide lecture – “Snow shelter construction”)

SATURDAY:           

Breakfast-Igloo construction – Lunch-Complete igloo construction – Dinner-Native skin clothing demonstrations – Northern foods & cross-cultural survival food discussion

SATURDAY NIGHT:

Sleep in igloo shelters

SUNDAY:

Quinzhee construction and Inuit games – Survival Kits designed and evaluated – Lunch

 

Contact us for more information:

info@mapleleafsurvival.com

 

Survival Handbook – In Association with the Royal Marines Commandos

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The Survival Handbook in Association with the Royal Marines Commandos is a very comprehensive and clear reference. The book is well organized and covers virtually everything you need to know about survival – combining the best of primitive and modern concepts and techniques. If not for the cover or title, you probably wouldn’t know it was written in conjunction with the Royal Navy’s elite commandos. There is almost no “military feel” about this manual.

The illustrations are fantastic and visually represent the text of this manual in a fashion that is very easy to absorb and retain. Due to its size (textbook), this survival handbook would be considered a home based resource – certainly one of the best on the market.

 

About the Author

After joining the Royal Navy in 1977, Colin qualified as a Combat Survival Instructor with 22 Regiment SAS, and has spent over 30 years teaching Land, Sea, Desert, Jungle, and Cold-Weather survival skills – as well as Survival and Conduct in Captivity – to UK and USA Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force personnel. He was the Royal Navy’s Chief Survival Instructor and also served three years as Chief Instructor at the US Navy SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) School in Brunswick Maine.

Colin has seen service in the Falklands, Germany, USA,  Bosnia and Northern Ireland in addition to serving a tour with the Army Intelligence Corps.  He still serves as a Royal Navy Reserve Chief Instructor with the UK Defence SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance & Extraction) Training Organisation, providing survival training for both instructors and students.

He provided the survival training, equipment, and rescue team for Sir Richard Branson’s balloon global circumnavigation attempts, and also trials, evaluates and instructs in the use of specialised survival equipment, both in the UK and abroad.

Colin’s first book, The Survival Handbook: Essential Skills for Outdoor Adventure by DK Publishing is available from all major book stores and Amazon (All Royalties donated to the Royal Navy, Royal Marines Association).

The American version of the book has been officially licensed by the Boy Scouts Association of America.

The book has also been officially licensed by the Royal Danish Marine Korps.

A smaller, more ‘back-pack’ version of the book, containing the essential survival information from the first book is now available from all major book stores.

www.colintowell-survival.com

Cost: Around CDN $30

ISBN 978-1-4053-2236-2

Paracord popularity

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In recent years 550 military spec. parachute cord, aka: paracord, has become quite ubiquitous in the world of survival and bushcraft. Its popularity comes from its strength and versatility where normal cordage comes up short.

Genuine paracord is made of 7 inner yarns, each composed of 3 yarns respectively. Light, slender, and super strong (550 lbs breaking strength), paracord has become an essential piece of kit. It can be used as a reliable string for a bow-drill fire set, hanging up a tarp or hammock, tying up gear etc.

The usefulness of having 25 – 50 feet of paracord in your kit cannot be underestimated. One of the main reasons cordage is such a valuable piece of kit, is because like most essential survival items (knife, fire-making device, water bottle, metal container, whistle, signal mirror etc.), they are considered valuable not only for their usefulness, but also because they are very difficult to effectively replicate or improvise in nature. Can you make natural cordage? Absolutely. But if you pack a kit – that basically means you’d rather not make what you’re packing. If you can pack some paracord – pack it.

Cost: Around CDN $8 (50 feet)

Tip:  If you’re looking for an inconspicuous method of carrying paracord, try replacing your bootlaces with it. Use enough so you can wrap excess amounts around your boots once (or twice) before tying them.

Hawke’s Special Forces Survival Handbook

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Compared to other survival books, Hawke’s Special Forces Survival Handbook seems a bit cluttered. In fairness, this might have something to do with its small size which is a good thing if you want a portable survival reference.

The diagrams aren’t anything to get excited about, nor is the content, which for the most part contains standard survival book concepts and techniques. However, this reference gets to the point quickly, where others can ramble on and on…

What I do appreciate are some of Mykel’s viewpoints on survival – which are somewhat different from those people have been generally adopting.

Cost: Around CDN $18

www.mykelhawke.com