Back From WLC Winter Course

[hayseedw45]

Well I'm back from a week long Winter Survival Course that was put on by the Wilderness Learning Center. The school is located in Chateaugay, NY, and the school is actually on the Canadian border. The class room was a heated tent so that you could concentrate on the instruction, but you stayed in your tent that you brought or shelters that were made during the course. All meals were prepared by the school and were great. A binder was provided for the handouts that went along with the instruction.

Day One

Temp: 28 Degrees

Class:
-Hypothermia
-Windchill
-Clothing
-Food

Day Two

Temp: 9 Degrees

Class:
-Fire
-Navigation
-Frostbite

Day Three

Temp: 11 Degrees

Class:
-More Navigation
-Plant Walk
-Water Generator
-Shelters

Day Four

Temp: 17 Degrees

Class:
-Signal Fires & Signaling
-Knots
-Ice Fishing
-Vehicle Recovery & Vehicle Kits

Day Five

Temp: 35 Degrees

Class:
-Emergency Goggles & Snowshoes
-Navigation
-Trapping
-Fire Beds
-Tripod Building
-Emergency Stretchers
-More Shelters

Through out the week there were a few practical tests for the students. One was to build a fire on top of the snow, after gathering all the fire makings and light it with one paper match. Another was to gather the materials, build a fire and boil water in 30 minutes.

For shelters, I built a Quincey Shelter ( with some help from others) and spent the night in side of it with a 40 degree bag and a candle.

It was a great course for me and I learned a great deal.

Pictures to follow.

 

[hayseedw45]

Shelters:

 

[hayseedw45]

Fire:

Tinder Bundle in Motion

 

[hayseedw45]

 

[hayseedw45]

 

[k_estela]

Jerry,

Awesome photos! Congrats again on winning the fire challenge. By the way, "Do you know how many chickens were killed last year?"

 

[tonym]

Great pics!!! Looks like you had a good bunch of people participating.

 

[DiverDn]

Great pictures.

It sounds like the shelter you built would be something that you could survive in if you had too.
John

 

[hayseedw45]

Jerry,

"Do you know how many chickens were killed last year?"

Where is the reverence??????

 

[Jim Craig]

Ahh, the quinzee. Gotta be my favorite winter shelter. That looks like a good one. Looks like the course was a good one as well. Too bad you didn't have more snow....

 

[Gossman Knives]

Thanks for the pics Jerry. Looks like a great time. See you in a couple of weeks. :thumbup: