PSK came in handy just now

[Mentor]

Hi all,

First, to my fellow Ontarians, I hope everyone has made or is making it through today's series of tornadoes and thunderstorms OK. My usual hiking spots up near Blue Mountains got hammered today. Multiple confirmed tornado sighting, loads of reported damage, and at least one fatality so far. Also, I haven't been able to get in touch with my family up there yet, which I'm chalking up to power outages, but is nonetheless disconcerting.

Anyway, on to the PSK stuff. I was in downtown Toronto this afternoon, working out of a coffee shop and availing myself of their free air conditioning, when the storm broke. Crazy thunder and lighting. Streets were flooded in about a minute, and everyone walking down the street (90% of whom were not prepared for the forecasted weather) started rushing inside, though it was the kind of rain that soaks you en route.

I had my PSK stuffed in my backpack. It takes up too much space for EDC, but I took it with me today because Toronto has a history of going to hell in a handbasket when the weather acts up.

Anyway, some of the folks who had wandered in were wearing sodden (or skimpy - or skimpy and sodden) clothing in a place where the air conditioning was going full-tilt, and they were just sitting there, shaking, staring out the window. So, out comes my big PSK, which had three large garbage bags and a space blanket in it. I had another space blanket stuffed at the bottom of my backpack, so that came out, too. You should have seen the looks I got.

Three people shared the two space blankets (after using napkins to dry off as best they could), and a few others accepted garbage bags with head and arm-holes (courtesy of a Koster forum knife!) as impromptu rain jackets for their ill-advised dashes back to their cars. Gratitude ensued. I scored a free cup of coffee out of the whole thing.

A few folks at the next table asked why I carry all of this stuff around, and if I'm some kind of survivalist. I told them that this is just how I get my hands on free coffee when it's raining. Then we had a chat about the difference between being a 'survivalist' (that term has so much baggage) and someone who takes preparedness in mind. It was a good conversation.

That's about it. The downside to the whole situation is that now I have to head down to MEC tomorrow to buy some more space blankets - and I might as well be a kid in a candy store when I walk in there.

All the best,

- Mike

 

[RescueRiley]

Nice..Way to go Brother....that's a great experience..Hope your loved ones are ok

 

[Mentor]

Thanks, RR. Here's a link to a story on the storms. The Bruce Trail runs along the ridge seen behind the tornado in the top pic. Much as I like being out in inclement weather, I'm glad I wasn't out for a hike today.

Best,

- Mike

 

[HikingMano]

:thumbup: Hope you and everyone else up there stays safe.

And, that pic is scary. Good thing you weren't out for a hike.

 

[ArturoTostadoIII]

Oh great. Now everybody's going to want to be prepared.

Good on you. Stay safe.

 

[kgd]

Great story Mike....

..... some of the folks who had wandered in were wearing sodden (or skimpy - or skimpy and sodden)

Add a camera to your PSK!!!

 

[EmsRescueGuy]

Great story, Hope your family is well.

I find it funny how preparedness can sometimes lable you as a freak in sheeples eyes.

I have had similar reactions at work ewhen I produce and extra flashlight or other emergency item during a power outage when the forcast clearly called for storms.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

Good stuff man, way to spread the gospel.

Great story Mike....



Add a camera to your PSK!!!

What he said.

 

[Bushman5]

^ +1, what they said!

way to help others! :thumbup:

by the way, did i send a walking stick to you a while back? if so i figured out the drying issue with the linseed oil, i bought raw linseed oil instead of boiled.... my bad :foot:

 

[Mentor]

I'm happy to report that all is well. There was a power outage, and quite a few trees came down (none in pivotal areas, but I think my next trip up north will involve testing some choppers!).

I should definitely add a camera to my PSK. This story was skirting (pun intended) the edge of a 'pics, or it didn't happen' comment.

What really blows me away is how this caught so many people in Toronto without warning. I mean, today's forecast ranged from 'severe thunderstorms' to 'update your will'. And the sky was greenish-black before the rain hit. Yet there were still lots of people walking around outside without even so much as a jacket stuffed in a handbag.

Thanks for the good thoughts re: my family, guys.

All the best,

- Mike

 

[Mentor]

by the way, did i send a walking stick to you a while back? if so i figured out the drying issue with the linseed oil, i bought raw linseed oil instead of boiled.... my bad :foot:

Hey Bushman5, you did indeed, and I gave it rave reviews in a thread or two. It's dry now, and it sees regular use.

Thanks much again! :thumbup: I'll be sure to take a few pics of it on my next trek.

All the best,

- Mike

 

[Lapp_Dance]

Those must be the wicked storm that rolled over my house around 12:30pm on 8-20-09....thought for sure that we were going to see the Wizard of Oz. Good on you for being prepared, and hopefully your family is a-ok.

 

[Joben]

Great story, and a very positive witness for our..."hobby."

I find it funny that people always ask why you have gear right after they see it used.

I always want to slap them with a large trout and yell, "So I can use it when this happens, the question is WHY DON'T YOU HAVE IT TOO?"

But of course I generally restrain myself and reply with only minor sarcasm.

 

[fishiker]

Isn't it strange that people wonder why you were prepared? Although a lot less serious I had a similiar experience a couple of years ago. We were at a teen-league basketball game at all of the lights went out. I believe that I was the only one of the hundred or so people there who had a flashlight. When the lights were back on I noticed a few people looking at me like I was strange for having the light. One guy did ask to see it and said he was getting one.

 

[hikeeba]

Nice job mentor. You certainly lived up to your screen name!:thumbup:


And this thread has reminded me to check my garbage bag inventory. I haven't assessed my garbage bag stashes for quite a while.

 

[actiondiver]

That was considerate to help those folks out. Maybe your actions taught a few more people that proper previous planning prevents piss poor performance!

 

[kgd]

That was considerate to help those folks out. Maybe your actions taught a few more people that proper previous planning prevents piss poor performance!

Excellent, we have an optimistic humanist among us. A breath of fresh air :thumbup:

Also good stuff on the saving the day Mike, even if it turns out that it was only the skimpy, sodden girls who managed to get the heat sheets and the males got the garbage bags

 

[BernM]

Mentor, that was quite the storm, be glad you weren't in Maple when it hit, lots of roofs gone. Wanted to mention, you might want to get your folks to dig out or buy one of the older-style corded hand-set phones for up north. Even if the electric power dies, those phones will keep working until the telephone lines themselves come down, unlike mobile hand-set units that rely on a power cord and electricity to function. I keep one stashed for those situations, and have had to use it twice when the power has died in years past. For some reason the electrical lines seem to come down quicker than the phone lines in my experience.

Know what you mean about MEC, I always come out of there with more stuff than I went in to get!