BCUK Arctic Expedition 11 - 16 February 2013

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Becky

Forager
Nov 11, 2005
103
0
38
west midlands

BCUK Arctic Expedition 2013

INTRODUCTION


The Bushcraft UK, Arctic skills course is a 6 day (fully inclusive) Arctic bushcraft and survival course led by certified UK guides/instructors. The course is a "no frills" low cost opportunity for members of the Bushcraft UK community to experience and practice top of the range instruction, 400km inside the Arctic Circle.

This course has been devised after the completion of two other BCUK Arctic courses and feed back from them. The course is a mid - range course building on the feedback from these courses.

During the course students will be expected to participate in routine tasks around the camp such as firewood collection, water collection, and general camp duties.
Accommodation will be in Tents, snow holes and/or lean-to's. (The choice is up to the individual and can be a combination of the above)

NOTE: This course is not for those expecting a comfortable holiday! Moreover, it will be conducted in a wilderness location with no man made solid structures to return to in the case of inclement weather. There is no requirement for participants to have done any previous Arctic/cold weather course but they do need to have experience of wilderness living/camping and be able to cook/fend for themselves.

COURSE DETAILS:

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING A BOOKING.


Course provider: Bushcraft Expeditions.
Minimum numbers: 10
Maximum numbers 16
Minimum age: 18 (16 if accompanied by an adult)

Date of Expedition: 11th – 16th February 2013 (Inc)

Expedition go/no go date: 30th December 2012

Duration: 6-day itinerary. Arriving/starting day one/departing day six.

Timings and pick-up/drop off:

RV time 11:30hr on the 11th February in Bardufoss airport arrivals hall.

Drop off for travel home 09:00hr on the 16th February at BDU airport.

Accommodation and catering:

Accommodation: Tents, Snow holes and lean-too's

Catering: The Expedition is on a self-catering basis. Students can either bring rations from the UK or purchase locally. Transport will be provided on day one at a cost of £5.00 per person/per trip to the local supermarket to purchase rations. (This is payable on booking if you require this facility)
Cooking: Meth's burning (or similar) stoves – Students to provide, (Meths and unleaded can be purchased locally) and/or over open fires.
Nb. Every student must bring a cooker regardless of whether they intend to cook on open fires or not.


Expedition Cost and payment details:

Expedition Cost: £480.00 (Fully inclusive of VAT)

A Non refundable deposit of £150.00 is required on booking – THIS DEPOSIT WILL BE REFUNDED IN FULL IF THE EXPEDITION DOES NOT GO AHEAD

Final payments: payable immediately from the 30th December if expedition takes place and by no later than 30th January (any one failing to pay their final payment by the 15th February will lose their deposit and forfeit their place to a reserve)

All bookings and payments should be made directly to Bushcraft Expeditions by the following means:

To pay by credit/debit card:
Contact Becky in the Bushcraft Expeditions office on 01432 356700. You will need to provide your full name, address, bank/card and contact (email and phone) details and BCUK user name.

To pay by Paypal:

Contact Becky in the Bushcraft Expeditions office on 01432 356700 or on the email address below. You will need to provide your full name, address, contact (email and phone) details, and BCUK user name. Do not make any payment until you have confirmed your booking with Bushcraft Expeditions office.

inforequest@bushcraftexpeditio ns.com (use this email address for Paypal payments)

To pay by bank transfer:
If paying directly into the bank by bank transfer etc please phone the number above for the account details. You will need to provide your full name, address, bank/card and contact (email and phone) details and BCUK user name.

All payments are by secure means.

On receipt of your booking and clearance of your deposit, all paper work will be sent via email,unless otherwise requested differently

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT NO STUDENTS BOOK FLIGHTS OR PURCHASE EXPEDITION EQUIPMENT OR FOOD UNTIL THE EXPEDITION HAS BEEN CONFIRMED TO BE TAKING PLACE. NIETHER BUSHCRAFT UK OR BUSHCRAFT EXPEDITIONS WILL BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY EXPENSE AS A RESULT OF STUDENTS NOT COMPLYING WITH THE ABOVE STATEMENT

This course is an opportunity to put into practice true wilderness living skills and skills learnt from the previous week (If attended) and to learn advanced techniques for living in extreme cold away from conventional accommodations etc.

Subjects covered and practised:

1. Routine and living in the Arctic Wilderness environment.
2. Dressing for the cold environment.
3. Cold injuries recognition, and medical procedures in the cold environment. (Including situation scenarios)
4. Avalanche threats and other wilderness dangers
5. Tree felling in Cold environments
6. Natural Shelters. Quincy, Arctic lean to, emergency shelters snow holes and igloos - (conditions permitting)
7. Fire lighting and Extended fire husbandry in the extreme cold.
8. Campcraft and camp construction.
9. Arctic Tracking and wild life observation.
10. Ice Fishing.
11. Ice crossing procedures.
12. Traps and trapping lanes in the Arctic.
13. Navigation.
14. Signalling and rescue.
15. Water procurement, carriage and preparation for consumption in the Arctic.
16. Field cookery in the extreme cold.

Included in the price:

1. Full instruction in Arctic Bushcraft and Survival from UK/English speaking Guides.
2. All internal transfers from/to the meeting point.
3. Site fees (private land and National park)
5. Fully trained on site expedition medical cover.

Not included in the cost:

1. International flights/transport to designated meeting point.
2. Any additional activities other than those stated.
3. Clothing and equipment hire.
4. Personal travel/cancellation insurance

Optional/additional activities and equipment hire available on site:

1. Extreme cold clothing hire.
2. Extreme cold footwear hire.
3. Extreme cold sleeping bag + liner hire.

(all above subject to availability on a first come basis. If you require any of the above please notify Bushcraft Expeditions on booking)​


Kit and Equipment


Clothing you will need to bring:

• Wind/waterproof outer jacket. (ski wear is sufficient for this)
• Wind/waterproof outer trousers or saloppettes. (ski wear is sufficient for this)
• Warm outdoor/work trousers (1 pairs)
• Warm outdoor shirts (1)
• Fleece jacket or large sweater
• Cold weather hat preferably with ear protection
• Cold weather mitts or gloves
• Cold weather boots or walking type boots (large enough to be able to wear two pairs of thick socks with and not be tight /restrictive)
• Thermal underwear (1 set)
• Thick socks, preferably wool (3 pairs minimum)
• spare lightweight wool hat or similar
• Thin pair of work gloves
• Scarf or neck buff
• Towel and swimming costume (for sauna if that is taken as an optional extra)
• Slippers or trainers for indoors/tents
• Handkerchief
• Long belt (Preferably leather)

Equipment you will need to bring:

• Large (70ltr+) rucksack capable of carrying all your equipment and a Tent
• Sleeping bag (four seasons for use in temperatures down to -15)
• Insulated sleeping mat
• Bivouac (Bivvi) bag
• Head torch and spare batteries
• Mug, knife, fork and spoon and cooker.
• Billy cans (preferable) or mess tins (for cooking over open fires)
• Small pocket knife
• Small steel thermos type flask (optional but highly recommended)
• 10 metres of strong nylon cord
• Note book and pencil
• Wash bag
• Two candles (long life preferably)
• Ski goggles or similar eye protection (sun glasses)

Personal medications/Items:

• Lip salve
• Sun block
• Passport
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

Cold weather clothing hire costs:

Rental of extreme cold weather boots - £5.00 per day.

Rental of extreme cold weather sleeping bag+Liner - £5.00 per day

Rental of snow suit - £4.00 per day

(All above on a 1st come basis)

The Airport you need to fly into is Bardufoss airport. You can book all the way via www.norwegian.no or go to most airports in Scandinavia via all the big operators and then connect up to Bardufoss with Norwegian (which is a budget airline).
 
Last edited:

Becky

Forager
Nov 11, 2005
103
0
38
west midlands
Hi All

The following is an official list of all those that have paid their deposits for this expedition and consequently represent the numbers so far:

1. Big T
2. GreenKnight
 
Last edited:

Green Knight

Full Member
May 15, 2012
52
0
NW - UK
Hi Folks,

Been wanting to do this for ages, so i've finally booked. Yay!

I'm wanting to stay on another 1 week after the course, to fully utilize the skills learnt, so does anyone know if there is somewhere i can go and implement what i've learned on the course?

Anyone recommend places i could stay without needing land owners permission?

Any ideas / thoughts welcome

Cheers
 

Teepee

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 15, 2010
4,115
5
Northamptonshire
You can't however build natural shelters and clear the woods like we did on the course, as thats on private land with permission. ;)

Woody and co will advise you too :)
 

Becky

Forager
Nov 11, 2005
103
0
38
west midlands
Hi All

The following is an official list of all those that have paid their deposits for this expedition and consequently represent the numbers so far:

1. Big T
2. GreenKnight
3. Wull​
 

Becky

Forager
Nov 11, 2005
103
0
38
west midlands
Dear All
We regret to say that the above expedition is cancelled due to insufficient numbers. I will email you regarding your refund.
Regards
Becky
 

Wayland

Hárbarðr
That is sad to see but perhaps understandable in these austere times.

I hope such courses are viable in the future, I count the course I did last year with you as an important turning point in my life and certainly laid the foundations for our Sub Zero trip to Jokkmokk and others like it in the future.
 

Dave

Hill Dweller
Sep 17, 2003
6,019
9
Brigantia
Its difficult to understand why this course isnt booked solid every year, as it is great value compared to similiar courses offered by bushcraft schools.It must be a real let down for the three people who booked the course. I hope this doesnt mean future Arctic expeds will be cancelled?
I was hoping to go on one!
 

Teepee

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 15, 2010
4,115
5
Northamptonshire
Sad news. Understandable though I hope in these austere times. Feeling sorry for the 3 above and Bushex.

This course was one of the best experiences of my life and Woody, Ross and co were fantastic teachers and leaders. I hope this opportunity keeps open for others in the future-the quality of tuition would surely be a struggle to be matched at any price,from anywhere else, let alone the bargain price offered.
 

Graywolf

Nomad
May 21, 2005
443
2
67
Whereever I lay my Hat
I dont understand really why this is not booked up instantly every year,with the numbers on this forum,I would jump at it if I could(cant due to long turn health problems,before someone asks :).
 

jacko1066

Native
May 22, 2011
1,689
0
march, cambs
It is a shame as I would love to go.

But for me it would cost a fortune on top of the price if the course to get good gear to keep me safe and warm.

This isn't a 1 off trip, to make financially viable you would need to get more use out of the specialist equipment to make it worth while buying it all.

So if this course is to get the skills to be able to go out on your own in artic weather, then brilliant.

But if you wanted to just experience the arctic but under supervision then you would need to find a way of Huron the specialist equipment to do it.
 

Teepee

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 15, 2010
4,115
5
Northamptonshire
It is a shame as I would love to go.

But for me it would cost a fortune on top of the price if the course to get good gear to keep me safe and warm.

This isn't a 1 off trip, to make financially viable you would need to get more use out of the specialist equipment to make it worth while buying it all.

So if this course is to get the skills to be able to go out on your own in artic weather, then brilliant.

But if you wanted to just experience the arctic but under supervision then you would need to find a way of Huron the specialist equipment to do it.

They have all the kit for hire mate :) No need to buy it. It makes a lot of sense to do it like that too-luggage is much reduced.
 

Wayland

Hárbarðr
Compared to any other course like it on the market this was a bargain price.

The suggested kit list is sufficient, not difficult to put together and need not cost a fortune.

The bits that are costly can be hired at good prices.

The skills learned on this course open up possibilities for low cost adventure for years to come.

What's confusing about that?
 

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