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Syndicate
Rain tomorrow... a good day perhaps to get the belt on the snowblower. I haven't looked at long range forecasts, but it's not a bad bet that another significant snowstorm will be on the tail end of it when the next arctic air mass moves south.
When I was using the snowblower, I thought it kinda slow and tedious, a bit underpowered. But today, when I looked at the amount of snow I actually moved, and what that would have meant if I shoveled it, I was actually impressed.
It's a rickety old thing.
I use an old wool jacket for hiking and hunting. I use a Gore-Tex lining under the wool to keep dry now.
An old camping buddy and I were talking about “Survivor Man” a few weeks ago and we have decided that he is a dangerous person because of some of his actions especially in regards to novice hikers watching his show.
Anyways about a year ago he was hiking in the deep in backwoods of Newfoundland
and he came across this poor, and nearly dying novice hiker. This hiker (a university student) had watched a few episodes of the “Survivor Man” show and went to MEC, bought a 1000 dollars worth of gear and decided he could hike out into the woods with no trouble at all.
Well if it was not for my friend this poor chap would have died in the woods and he was pretty deep into the woods.
Boom Boom
I would like a nice pair of wooden snowshoes.
*Ahem* Busted. *cough*
[ 18 December 2007: Message edited by: arthur ]
CP Gear Gore-Tex Suit
Did you even bother to look at the link? The suit is very thin and is designed to be worn under a thicker outer jacket and between layers.
This is an effective piece of clothing for the cost. I am only speaking from personal experiences.
I would like to hear your experiences.
Mine were made by an old guy in Old Fort Bay here on the Quebec coast. I think the Hudson's Bay Company used to carry wooden snowshoes. There's probably a store in every city across Canada that still carries them. The smaller metal snowshoes are gaining in popularity here with the younger crowd.
I like the classic style; I am not sure how the new style performs in deep snow.
I would speculate the new metals snowshoes are not that difficult to maintain.
WTF???
ETA: by the way, here, where folks use snowshoes often when out hunting, trapping, and cutting firewood, I've seen broken metal snowshoes every winter - I've yet to see any broken snowshoes of the traditional model.
I am wondering which snowshoe performs better in deep snow?
I have only used the classical style however I have my doubts about the modern style.
Arthur
I see myself more as a young James Fitzgibbon or Edward Teach.
Do you see me as the “First Blood” Rambo or a later period Rambo?
Too cold to go anywhere today, I'll wait until it warms up a bit before showshoeing.
In the north, where there is deep snow and it rarely ever gets warm, I would think the traditional wooden ones would be good. My brother had a pair that I used a few times. He got them when he took forestry up at Cambrian college eons ago. While they were good there, they are not so good down south in wet, granular snow-- it's hell on the webbing.
I would agree in that he doesn't always mention everything one should know in every episode. And in every episode, he (it is entertainment, after all) decides to hike out of emergency situations instead of staying put, which under "normal" emergency situations is the best thing to do.
Even taking walks on the Bruce, I have always stressed with my daughters about staying put if lost. And if you have to move, it's only to find water. And, Snarfy the Wonder Girl gets the same lecture, and gets a stern review when we go out for a walk.
But, "Survivorman" can't help it if people don't listen. Starting a fire with unconventional means, for example, isn't something you try to learn when you are lost, weak, and probably not thinking straight, in weather that doesn't care if you live or die. And he's said as much, more than once. You can have a "survival kit" with you, but if you've never practiced, and don't know how to use the stuff, your setting yourself up for disaster.
I don't think the series is long for the networks, though. I heard an interview with the guy on CBC radio back in the fall, and he's tired of doing it.
(Could've used some on my street at the beginning of the week, when no one had shoveled the walk, and no snowploughs came along our street.) I guess that's one of the disadvantages of living on a residential sidestreet, as opposed to a main street. No snow service!
Yesterday, on CBC radio, they were asking people not to park on the street car tracks.
If I was mayor dictator for life and last king of Whitby, I wouldn't be asking. I'd be towing those cars to a scrap yard.
Generally the trails last year were excellent, because they were packed firm. I don't recall hearing many complaints. I don't think the trails are officially opened yet this year - but people are travelling, regardless. I used to travel between Kegaska and St. Augustine River - not any more, just too hard on my back.
Yeah, like that game show...I forget what it's called. I think it might be British or something. Anyhow, I remember seeing this game show where someone tries to get a prize by answering a question before time runs out. The prize, when I was watching it, was a car. But over the car was a gigantic heavy something or other that would drop on it as soon as the time runs out. (Or perhaps it was the contestant's own car? I forget.)
Anyhow, when I read your post, I immediately had visions of towing cars that are parked on streetcar tracks off to be demolished by a similar device. [img]biggrin.gif" border="0[/img] Personally, I would support that for anyone STUPID enough to park on streetcar tracks!
(note: If you don't know where McCaul St is, you must be one of those Canadians from out in "The Regions" so don't worry about it. Go back to watching your curling tournament or whatever.)
ETA: Say Michelle, you're up early!
[ 26 December 2007: Message edited by: oldgoat ]
People like her (the woman who parked on streetcar tracks) need a little tap from DrConway's cluebat. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
I'm visiting in Calgary, and a few days ago my sister-in-law took us down to look at the sights in Calgary's "old part".
We parked on the street in trendy Inglewood and were ambling through some shops. Looked outside at one point, no car. No cars period.
"Oh right." she asys "After 3:30 and a major road."
With the tribe of people and meeting times to keep, we were inconvenienced. And the fine and towing charge and taxis hurt. But my sister-in-law still laughed about it.
The scene at the city impoundment lot was quite something.