Had this Ulu brought down from Nunavut. Some of the local Inuit made it from a saw blade and a muskox horn.
The Ulu is a traditional Inuit knife, used primarily by women for general purpose needs.
There are several different styles of Ulu. This one in particular is an example of a “Western Arctic” Ulu knife. Other variations of the Ulu are specific to the geographic location in question.
This is a “mid-size” Ulu. Note the full-size Bic lighter for reference.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulu
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| If you have access to oak or poplar branches, you can learn to grow edible mushrooms in your back yard. In this demonstration, Ken Fosty will guide you through the process of planting a shiitake or oyster mushroom spawn on an oak or poplar log, then caring for and harvesting your crop. A take-home mushroom grow kit with everything you need – except a drill and the log – is included in the session. | ||
| Fee: $45.00 | ||
| Ken Fosty is a graduate of the Maritime Forest Ranger College in Fredericton, New Brunswick, as well as a Manitoba certified arborist. He is certified as a professional chainsaw operator by the Ontario Forest Safe Workplace Association (OFSWA). This certification is recognized in Ontario and the Prairie Provinces. On his managed woodlot in Southeast Manitoba, Ken taps Manitoba maple trees for syrup, grows Christmas trees, harvests firewood, plants trees and shrubs, and grows specialty mushrooms on logs. | ||
| All seminar net proceeds are donated to United Way. | ||
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Here are a few quick tips to remember the properties of clothing fabrics to help you dress for the outdoors:
Remember – In a survival situation, shelter and protection from the elements is critical. Don’t forget that your clothing is your primary shelter and clothing should therefore be well thought out.
Shelters are effectively micro-climates which allow us not only to survive, but to live and settle in environments that would otherwise be quite inhospitable. Proper clothing is what allows us to leave our shelters (homes, buildings, vehicles etc.) and move around. Therefore it is essential to think of our clothing as a shelter… After all, our clothing does in fact protect us from the sun, wind, rain, snow etc…
C is for Cotton: Casual, Comfort, Cold when wet, Can’t Wick moisture
W is for Wool: Warm, Wicking, Works Well Wet, Won’t Stink, Works Well around a fire
F is for Fleece: Fluffy (warm), Fears Flames, Fights moisture (wicking)
P is for Polyester: Poor around fires and flames, a Pro at wicking
S is for Synthetics: Sensitive to fire and flames, Super for Specialty kit (technical clothing)
Tip: If your outdoor clothing is not particularly suitable for sitting around a camp fire, pack a light wool blanket with which you can wrap yourself up in…this will help protect your clothing against sparks.
In a survival situation, shelter and protection from the elements is critical. Don’t forget that your clothing is your primary shelter and clothing should therefore be well thought out.
Shelters are effectively micro-climates which allow us not only to survive, but to live and settle in environments that would otherwise be quite inhospitable. Proper clothing is what allows us to leave our shelters (homes, buildings, vehicles etc.) and move around. Therefore it is essential to think of our clothing as a shelter… After all, our clothing does in fact protect us from the sun, wind, rain, snow etc…
Capilene baselayers feature a moisture-wicking polyester fabric that dries quickly. Capilene polyester is also recycled, recyclable and features Gladiodor® garment odor control.
Climbing, skiing, running: at some point you’re going to sweat, and at some point you’re going to stink. Gladiodor® Garment Odor Control reduces unwanted smells on the fabric of a garment so you and your partners can breathe a little easier. Gladiodor treatments are rigorously tested for functionality initially and after washing.
In preparation for next winter, I bought these Outdoor Research Highcamp mitts to replace my North Face Nuptse mitts. Haven’t had a chance to test them much, but from what I can tell, they should be a great mitt.
Cost: Around CDN $80
From the Outdoor Research website:
Super warm waterproof protection for cold, variable conditions.
With incredible versatility for extended backcountry adventures, these modular mitts are the warmest in the HighCamp™ family. Removable liners provide warmth and waterproof protection in variable conditions. A waterproof/breathable Ventia Dry™ nylon shell keeps hands dry on the ice, and a wrap-around water-resistant leather palm ensures a confident grip on even the wettest routes. The included 100-weight fleece insulated liner gloves, combined with integrated heat packet pockets and the natural warmth of the mitt design, provide warmth in freezing winter conditions.
Avg. Weight (oz./g): 8.9 / 252 L
Features:
Here at Outdoor Research, we are committed to developing truly functional solutions for Human Powered Adventure.
OR products are Designed By Adventure™ and from this, we deliver the hallmark of all Outdoor Research products – functional gear that works and lasts. By placing quality and function first, we can offer the finest guarantee in the industry for each and every product – OR’s Infinite Guarantee™.
We believe so strongly in the quality of what we make that if, at anytime, our product fails to meet your needs, we are happy to exchange or return it. Because of this solid belief, our products are guaranteed forever and are designed with this in mind. Your total satisfaction in our product is our goal.
Though we doubt you’ll ever need to, if you ever have to use our Infinite Guarantee, see the Returns and Exchanges section above.
Well…it’s time to pack away the snowshoes. Just purchased the MSR Snowshoe bag to pack away my Atlas 1025s – a perfect fit. Fits all 22″ and 25″ MSR snowshoes.
This pack features a ripstop nylon mesh which is rugged, long lasting, and allows for great ventilation and breathability. It also has an internal pocket for snowshoe accessories such as flotation tails, and exterior velcro loops for pole attachments. This bag is easy to carry thanks to the adjustable shoulder strap and handle which allows for different carry options.
“Great for worry-free packing and storage, this convenient, zippered bag is built from extra tough fabric to protect your snowshoes and the things you pack them in.”
– MSR website
Cost: Around CDN $35
FYI: MSR = Mountain Safety Research
This was my second year wearing the Woolpower Balaclava. On very cold winter days when I want to reduce heat loss and limit exposure from the neck up, I’ve come to appreciate the tried and true balaclava. The Woolpower Balaclava is breathable and quite comfortable. Not too itchy, this 200g/m2 straight neck piece is machine washable in hot (60°C) water, and machine dry-able. Simple and functional, this balaclava can be worn under winter headwear, accommodates ski goggles well, and is very packable.
The primary problem I’ve had with this particular item is its weakness for velcro. Wool is a great material but is prone to terrible snagging and often gets mangled when it comes in contact with velcro (with the exception of some finer wools and wool blends), and a lot of outdoor technical clothing these days often feature velcro. Although it has held up, my balaclava has been noticeably chewed up from a velcro flap closure near the neck of my parka.
Cost: Around CDN $30
All participants at our April 14th, 2012 Spring Survival Course at Trail Dreams Clothing & Gear Shop will receive a Free Family Day Pass to Fort Whyte Alive.