Fire

Fire

Walking through the sleet today, my mind turned to fire. Its conditions like this that can sneak up on us in the outdoors until we find ourselves at risk for hypothermia.

Like most aspects when it comes to survival, waiting until the last minute to prepare for the eventuality is a sure fire way to disaster. Those who know me would be a little surprised that I didn’t have the means for a fire and a knife on my person. No, I don’t throw my survival kit on in town, but if I am going any distance at all in the country its one of the first things I grab.

A survival fanatic might carry something like a steel and flint or a chord to make a fire with the bow method. I understand the methods and in some instances might even be tempted to try them. However, we are talking about survival here. Once the fingers reach a certain level of numbness and the body core temperature drops below the critical point is not the time to start regretting experimenting with these methods, or trying to use a magnifying grass.

I carry an expensive windproof lighter in my back and usually some waterproofed wooden matches. Most times these are fine for getting a fire going even if it is fairly damp. Careful searching usually can come up with the necessary tinder; dead needles sheltered for the rain, that black hair like moss, smaller dead branches under the dense over canopy of trees.

Usually, but not always. I also carry in my pack the stubs of candles. These little sources of flame although not all that hot, can be used to get a fire going under trying situations with some careful tending. Always start with the smallest and driest material and hand and once the fire gets going feed in larger pieces. If it is really damp you will also want to keep a nearby supply drying out.

Always plan on getting lost when you are out in the bush. I have been lost a few times in the past. Usually for only a few hours, but getting the fire going and roasting up a fool hen was a good way to calm the nerves and within minutes after setting out again we were soon on the right path.

Have fun and be safe.

Corn Snow

Corn Snow

It’s getting to be the time of the year when you can often run into “Corn Snow” on the slopes. I used to love this skiing right into May. In fact I have such fond memories of one May 24^th long weekend when I managed 65 runs per day (130,000 vertical feet for the weekend). George LaBounty, if you are still around give me a call. George was the lift operator who helped with this feat.

The lifts on the slopes no longer run that late into the season, but there is still a good run of spring skiing in the corn snow. Corn snow is granular and very watery, tremendous for carving turns with your edges. It can however freeze to a very hard icy sheet overnight before softening up later in the day, so if you want more relaxed skiing sleep in just a little longer and give the runs a chance to soften up. But, if you want to get the oh so good hard skiing in, get up and be prepared to use those steel edges.

If you have been thinking of trying your hand at alpine skiing, March and April are the ideal time of the year. Not only do you run into fabulous snow conditions, you are usually treated to relatively mild temperatures and lots of brilliant sunshine. Many times you can ski in shorts and T-shirts or even topless.(Although this could cause accidents) Take along some good sun-block, though, for the sun reflecting off the snow as well as from above can result in some serious sunburn. Do not forget the camera, either, the blue skies, white snow and the warm green of the trees make for some great pictures, and you just might run across an attractive ski bunny.

Lessons are likely the quickest way for a beginner to get comfortable and enjoy this sport, but it is possible to pick it up by watching and by trial and error. The new safety harnesses and shorter skies have helped reduce the risk of injury, but the warmer temperatures also mean the muscles are more relaxed.

I believe anyone who can dance can ski. The important things to remember are to keep most of the weight on the lower ski and not to sit back into the hill. Try to keep the shoulder at right angles to the fall line with most of the motion coming from the hips to the feet - all of which is much easier to show than to describe. Take a chance and hit the slopes if you can afford it.

For complete information on Apex log on to
 www.skibaldy.com
For complete information on Mount Baldy log onto
www.apexresort.com

Access issues

Access Issues

There is a notice to hunters in this years hunting regulations that caught my eye. Which I quote here. “ In order to protect sensitive alpine habitat, the Ministry of environment is considering restriction motorized vehicles (except snowmobiles) from travelling off established roads and trails in the alpine (above 1700m elevation0 in Region 8. Written comments on this proposed regulation can be sent to Brian Harris at the Ministry of Environment office in Penticton, 102 Industrial Place, B. C. V2A 7C8

Generally I agree with the intent of the proposed regulations and I do think you and I as the public using these areas do need to offer our input.

What concerns me is who then decides which roads and trails are established. While I can hike great distance and over tough terrain, what about those less able. We have all seen access roads and trails destroyed by logging, mining or other developments. Years ago there was a beautiful trail from the Kettle Valley Railway to Ratnip Lake, over a rickety bridge over a small streams and swamp and through fern lined sections of trail. This trail was obliterated by logging in the area and the next time I was in we had to search through a tangle of fallen trees to relocate the last section of the trail.

These old roads also provide access to the top of places like Apex mountain where one can enjoy snowball fights as late as July or just have a picnic lunch and enjoy the machinery. But these eco-systems are very fragile and I do agree that vehicles should keep to the old roads and trails as much as possible. There is nothing so disheartening as climbing to a beautiful mountain meadow only to find it torn up with Quads and four wheel drives.

I do use a four wheel drive vehicle and expect in another 40 years I will need a quad to get into my old haunts, however, we all must do our part to protect the unique experiences that draws us to the hills. If we all share these areas responsibly we will have them to use well into the future.

I am glad that most of the Kettle Valley Railway is still open to all modes of traffic. Each time I listen to a complain that it should be restricted to hikers, I look with sadness across the table at my wife. She did so enjoy the great outdoors and hiked into places like Brent Mountain, Little White Mountain and the Cathedrals. Just after she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and now it is hard for her to even ride into the hills with me. Let us continue to think of those who are not as physically capable and do not deny them access to the beauty of our alpine areas and back country.

The Agur family and Agur Lake Society have the right idea with their project at Agur Lake, I whole heartedly endorse their efforts. For more information e-mail
agurlakecamp@shaw.ca or phone 250-8809-7130.