Recent content by jenks

I've drunk untreated water from transpiration bags without ill effects. Made them and used them on survival training in Australia. It was hot so the relatively large volume water yielded may have been due to the heat. The corner where the water collected was tied off to allow water in but...

I remember being issued arctic rations for a summer exercise in Otterburn, Kielder and Wark forests. Amazingly someone thought there'd be a lot of water around to reconstitute the rats, there wasn't; it was a hot summer too. The water we had (two 58 patt bottles each) was for drinking, so...

Only when I'm wearing a bouyancy jacket. There's no mobile reception where I am working. Oh, and when I'm out of the range of mobiles when on land. A phone is electronic, it requires a power source and is most likely to let you down when you need it the most. If you're operating a chainsaw...

I was in Cornwall 2 weeks ago. As I was foraging in a coastal creek I couldn't help but notice the disposable BBQ and carrier bag of waste sat on a rock I was climbing. No excuse for it, the idle cretins involved could have cooled it in the water and disposed of it correctly.

I'm currently at work down under and last night I saw The Plough and the Southern Cross in the sky at the same time; 20 degrees south, 113 degrees east. I didn't know that The Plough was visible down here, it was 'upside down', with the handle to the right pointing slightly up. Polaris...

The Snow Walker. A pilot makes a forced landing in the Canadian Tundra with an Inuit girl. I've got it on DVD, but it's for US regions so I have to alter my finite DVD options every time. If you want something more light-hearted how about Top Gear when they raced to the Magnetic North Pole?

During survival training at the old LRRP school I had to make improvised equipment. One item was footwear to wear for river crossings etc. I removed the insoles from my boots (and went without) and stiched them to a pair of socks. Worked o.k but I wouldn't expect them to last too long.

I note that you are in Bramley, near Basingstoke I presume. I went there a couple of times in my army-life. It wasn't a bad training area, as it had (has?) one of the few areas left available to conduct survival training without scaring the powers-that-be to let troops use sharp objects and...

Did you know...that in the days of sail a tarpaulin was so called because it was a canvas sheet called a 'paulin' treated with tar or oil to proof it against rot and seawater? Hence tarpaulin. Sorry to bore you all out there, but I'm working this afternoon; share my misery. Good luck with...

The best dog for bushcraft would be one that's patient and doesn't try to snatch the bacon hanging over the fire, before it's cooked. So that rules out mine.

The term army medic is widely used. In its truest context it refers to Combat Medical Technician RAMC (other varieties are available). The skill set and experience that class 1 medics possess, including Advanced Trauma and Life Support and invasive resuscitation techniques are recognised and...

As counterpoint to the discussion, would anyone venture on an expedition, whether a LDP, mountain or kayak/canoe trip with their entire kit loaded into a single drybag or daysack? I expect the obvious answer to even the newest outdoor novice would be no. Small or essential items would be...

FAW, HSE Offshore & Norwegian. ALS (RCS of Ed). Just been working in the Atlantic off West Africa, days from the shore or practical assistance. Wish I had access to X-ray and lab sometimes, in fact access to a hospital would have been be nice! Please check on the validity of any traning...

Survival Advantage by Andrew Lane is a good one. It's A5, softback, covers all survival situations you'll encounter in the UK and NW Europe. Good colour plates of fungi, trees, seaweed etc. It was first published in the '90s so it may have been updated since. I remember seeing Andrew Lane on...

I had a '58 sleeping bag up until a couple of years ago. It was made by The North Face, as it was labelled on the hood. A good piece of kit, if you had a good one. The first one I was issued in the 80s was older than me and if you held it up to the light you could count the feathers!