Re: [bolger] Tax dollars at work
I never go out on the water, into the
Seriously, bomb-proof fire-making gear can be a life saver. When we
used to kayak in the winter we had these little kits with a hunk of
magnesium and a flint and steel. You'd use the steel to shave of a
little pile of magnesium dust, then use the flint and steel to throw
sparks at it. Magnesium burns HOT, hot enough to see anything ablaze.
The Cascade Mountains are notoriously wet, and are rich with tales of
folks who perished because they couldn't get a fire started in the
Winter.
YIBB,
David
CRUMBLING EMPIRE PRODUCTIONS
134 West 26th St. 12th Floor
New York, New York 10001
http://www.crumblingempire.com
(212) 247-0296
>"bush", or on a floatplane without my emergency kit. It consists of a candleI dunno, I could have used it to burn the boat once I got ashore.
>stub, a bic lighter, and a box of waterproof matches, double wrapped in
>plastic sandwich bags with a couple rubber bands to keep things tight. Its
>about the size of a pack of cigs and fits in any pocket. I also carry a
>"space blanket", pocket size. Though a kit like this would have been little
>use to you that day, had you been in a more remote area it might have been a
>life saver.
Seriously, bomb-proof fire-making gear can be a life saver. When we
used to kayak in the winter we had these little kits with a hunk of
magnesium and a flint and steel. You'd use the steel to shave of a
little pile of magnesium dust, then use the flint and steel to throw
sparks at it. Magnesium burns HOT, hot enough to see anything ablaze.
The Cascade Mountains are notoriously wet, and are rich with tales of
folks who perished because they couldn't get a fire started in the
Winter.
YIBB,
David
CRUMBLING EMPIRE PRODUCTIONS
134 West 26th St. 12th Floor
New York, New York 10001
http://www.crumblingempire.com
(212) 247-0296
David, Thanks for sharing your story. It's a good reality check for those of
us who must deal with cold water. Capsize drills for the Pirogue will be
conducted as soon as weather permits. Living in Alaska, I have had a few
brushes with hypothermia myself. I never go out on the water, into the
"bush", or on a floatplane without my emergency kit. It consists of a candle
stub, a bic lighter, and a box of waterproof matches, double wrapped in
plastic sandwich bags with a couple rubber bands to keep things tight. Its
about the size of a pack of cigs and fits in any pocket. I also carry a
"space blanket", pocket size. Though a kit like this would have been little
use to you that day, had you been in a more remote area it might have been a
life saver. One other thought: I can think of several times that folks I
know have had a bad situation become worse because they were too embarassed
to ask for help.To paraphrase Lincoln, I'd rather be alive and thought a
fool than be dead and remove all doubt. Phil
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us who must deal with cold water. Capsize drills for the Pirogue will be
conducted as soon as weather permits. Living in Alaska, I have had a few
brushes with hypothermia myself. I never go out on the water, into the
"bush", or on a floatplane without my emergency kit. It consists of a candle
stub, a bic lighter, and a box of waterproof matches, double wrapped in
plastic sandwich bags with a couple rubber bands to keep things tight. Its
about the size of a pack of cigs and fits in any pocket. I also carry a
"space blanket", pocket size. Though a kit like this would have been little
use to you that day, had you been in a more remote area it might have been a
life saver. One other thought: I can think of several times that folks I
know have had a bad situation become worse because they were too embarassed
to ask for help.To paraphrase Lincoln, I'd rather be alive and thought a
fool than be dead and remove all doubt. Phil
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer athttp://explorer.msn.com