Its one of the mantras we live by on our courses….Survival can happen at any time in any place. Book on a Backcountry Survival multi – environmental course and you’ll be in the woods, on the hills and mountains and more than likely descending gorges! There’s certain clothing systems that work better than others in each respective terrain, and as we are mountain leaders with a personal as well as professional relationship with the hills, we were pretty psyced to get our hands on the new Keb Jacket from Fjallraven to test.

Fjallraven describe the Keb range as a technical mountain trekking line of clothing, which it is! The Keb jacket is panelled with the 4 way stretch for ease of movement around the chest, arms and back but also paired with the famous G-1000 fabric around the parts of the jacket that are liable to wear and tear notably the shoulders and waist where rucksacks tend to rub.  As the shoulders are G-1000 they can be treated with Greenland wax for water proofing. The hood is very well thought out, giving you a number of options depending what the Scottish weather throws at you, and also sits over a climbing helmet exceptionally well.

Bushcraft and Wilderness skills in the Britain’s most northerly Survival School

What you tend to find nowadays is that companies are doing away with side pockets and are favouring the chest pockets instead. The thinking behind this is that if you have a waist belt on with your rucksack it’s a faff to get into the pockets, not to mention uncomfortable as the items are pressed against you by the waist strap. The Keb jacket is blatantly designed by outdoors men and women as the chest pockets are designed to hold a map comfortably with inner pockets to hold a compass or GPS securely.

The cut of the jacket is excellent, the waist line fits snugly with enough cover over your backside to stop it riding up under the rucksack or exposing flesh when you’re making an awkward reach whilst out climbing or scrambling. The front zipper comes right up to protect the lower part of your face, whilst the inner of the jacket is G-1000 to aid windproofing.

So where does the Keb jacket sit with regards to already existing mountain trekking systems and technologies?  Having used mine out and about for work and leisure I would say its closely akin to a soft shell set up.  The Keb jacket (like a soft shell) is never going to keep you completely dry in a deluge, but it is going to give you warmth, water repellence and flexability. Another point worth making is the modular thinking behind the Keb system and how it fits into the the Fjallraven Eco Shell which is their waterproof jacket, we’ll give the Eco Shell a write up next month.  All great ranges of Fjallraven clothing can be found at our friends at Above and Beyond. Remember when you book on one of our courses you are eligible to 15% off Fjallraven and other great ranges.

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

Backcountry Survival Exclusive!

Thanks to our bezzy buddies Above and Beyond we got the first copy of the OL57 Cairngorm and Aviemore explorer map, making Backcountry the first company in the ‪#‎cairngorms‬ to be using the OL range which covers the Cairngorms National Park.

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

We all know it, when it comes to producing outdoor clothing the Scandinavians have got it nailed. From the all round functionality of the clothes to the simple details that make all the difference when you’re using it in anger. The Fjallraven Vidda Pro trouser is a perfect example of a garment that strikes this balance.

Neil, owner of Britain’s most northerly Survival School, Backcountry Survival

Think about it for a minute, how many of us have spent hundreds of pounds on jackets, fleeces and tops but placed far less importance on trousers?  If we look at the percentage breakdown of how the human body loses heat, it may make you think again;

• 18% Upper front torso
• 18% Upper back torso
• 18% Per leg
• 9% Per arm
• 5% – 7% Head
• 3% – 5% Extremities

It’s incredible, but almost 40% of heat loss is through the legs. This coupled with the fact that many of us practicing Bushcraft and Survival end up scrambling about the ground on our hands and knees or sitting for large periods of time, and all this in the changeable British weather, means that a well designed and hard wearing trouser is essential.

The G1000 material that the Vidda’s are made of is 65% Cotton and 35% Polyester. So what does this mean?  Well basically it makes the fabric excellent for all round use as it is versatile, hard wearing and quick drying. I have personally used them above 1000 metres in the Scottish Winter, standing ball deep in water making river crossings, running woodland survival courses, and even simply walking down the street. The way these trousers react in these testing environments (perhaps not the streets) is interesting.

Some of you may be thinking “Wait a minute, wearing cotton when it’s likely to get wet?” It’s all down to the Polyester/Cotton ratio mix, and the ‘old school’ Greenland Wax that you are encouraged to treat them with. Once they’ve been saturated the drying out time is impressively quick, far quicker than you’d think. The clever thing about the Greenland wax is that it allows you to customise the water repellent capabilities of the garment. Say you were going into the woods for 3 days, scrambling around on the ground as mentioned previously – simply layer up the knee sections with wax, leaving the rest of the Vidda’s breathable. The Greenland wax can be applied at home and melted in with an iron or alternatively out in the field using a gas stove or open fire. Don’t get me wrong, they’re not waterproof, merely water resistant when treated, and shouldn’t be substituted for waterproof over trousers.

Using the Vidda’s in the mountains of Britain in the Winter isn’t a problem, you just need to understand how fabric behaves in cold environments. Scotland’s mountains during the winter are notoriously hard to cope in, the main reason being the temperate environment of the British Isles. Although it’s cold up high it can also be wet and, unlike Scandinavia and other Arctic regions, the ambient temperature on top of a Scottish mountain very rarely drops below -10°C. In extreme cold the G1000 fabric (cotton constituent especially) freezes almost like a shell, adding to the wind proofing. Yet in the wet and cold weather that prevails in the Scottish mountains the Vidda trousers will saturate unless heavily treated with Greenland wax, or covered by a water resistant layer.

Bushcraft and Wilderness skills in the Britain’s most northerly Survival School

One of the biggest problems I find with outdoor trousers is that the seams, usually around the crotch (insert joke here), tend to tear, which is never ideal. The G1000 material is bombproof, and the seams are all double sewn. The knees are articulated so that when you bend or stretch it doesn’t stress the fabric, and you can also purchase knee guards that slide between the inner and outer fabric. Both the knees and seat of the Vidda’s are reinforced and will take a real hammering.

The Vidda’s have a total of 6 outer pockets, one of which doubles up as an axe holder.  My personal favourite touch is the way the leg pockets are offset. The two left pockets sit at the front of the leg, so when you’re kneeling down you can get into them easily – a great place to stow your fire lighting equipment, tinder and generally handy things. I now double-check these pockets before putting them in the wash after a rogue limpet shell broke my washing machine.

Backcountry Survival | Survival School Scotland

The leg cuffs are superbly designed with an in-built gaiter feature at the front of the leg. There is also a popper ‘cinch’ feature that allows a tight fitting around the top of the boot. Ideal for those venturing into the high treeline where snow may be abundant, or those of you that are paranoid about ticks and other biting insects.

At Backcountry Survival we are big fans of KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) and the Fjallraven Vidda Pro trousers are a great example of this. Highly functional but with a simple design, we can’t recommend them highly enough. The Vidda Pros are part of a huge range of Fjallraven trousers available from specialist outdoor retailers such as Above and Beyond.

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

Over the top? Unrealistic?  The survival tin is an essential expedition component regardless of whether you’re an explorer, traveller, outoorsman/woman or serving in the military. It shows a preparedness and an acknowledgment that things may go wrong at some point in your trip. Remember the 7 P’s ;

• Prior
• Preparation
• Planning
• Prevents
• Piss
• Poor
• Performance

The Survival Tin should be small enough to keep on your person at all points and should cover the Survival Prioritise/ Hierarchy.

P – Protection from (further) harm and the elements. (you’ll last 3 hours max, worse case scenario, without it)

L – Location should be transmitted to potential rescuers at the earliest Opportunity. Location methods should remain in force throughout scenario.

A- Acquisition of water is your first priority (you’ll last 3 days max without it) Food is your second (you’ll last 3 weeks max without it)

N- Navigate yourself out of the situation if help doesn’t appear. Bear in mind that rescuers may be looking for you in your last known location. If Rescue tells you to stay where you are, you do just that!

M – Medical – Medical knowledge and first aid underpins everything.

From Top L to Bottom R

Survival Tin (Metal) – robust, able to boil water/cook food/signal location (mirror),  Sealed with water proof tape (Navigation and water crossings)

Foil Blanket – Improvised tarp, hypothermia treatment, water collection, signal/location (tinsel tree)

Fishing Kit – Acquisition of food (fishing/tangle), medical (sewing kit)

Cotton wool – Fire when used in conjunction with ferrous rod and

vaseline./ Medical.

Pencil and paper – Navigation/sketch map. Medical observations. Tinder from wood/rubber/paper.

Condom – Water collection (2 litres), tinder, Medical wound dressing

Small Knife and sharpening stone – The best knife to use in a survival situation?……..the knife you’ve got. Should be small and robust.

Candle – Fire lighting, light, signal, tinder, food (if made from animal fat) repairing torn clothing.

Fire Block – Fire lighting/signal

Chlorine tablets – water purification/sterilisation

Pottasium Permanginate – water purification/fire lighting/signal

Whistle – Location, in an emergency blow 6 LONG blasts over 1 minute

Storm matches – Fire

Razor blade (sterile) – Medical/game prep/protection

Button Compass – Navigation/Location

Rubber/Rubber band – Long burning tinder – Fire/ Medical

Small First Aid Kit – Medical/protection, Fire. Should include; Para/Brofen, plasters, small bandage.

Heliograph – Location, signalling Ground to Air

IR Beacon – Location, Signalling ground to Air

Ferrous striker – Essential for fire lighting

Wire Saw – Prep of fire wood, can be made into hand held saw by building jig. Acquisition/Medical

Parachord – Protection/Location/Acquisition/Medical

Wire – Carry enough for 8-10 snares. Protection/Medical

Tea/Coffee – Superb for morale!

Sewing kit – Medical, repairing clothes, trapping

Suspender Buttons –  Suspending water filters, replacement “larks feet” for improvised shelter.

Safety Pins – Repairing clothes, Medical, Acquisition – Fish hooks

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

The Changeability of Scotland’s Weather

Scotland has recently had a bit of a heat wave (heat wave for us!) and we’ve been running woodland courses in 22 degrees. But it’s never that straight forward – snow moved into the highlands over the weekends returning the Cairngorms to full on Arctic conditions.

It’s always worth doing your homework before venturing forth, we personally check the MWIS – mountain weather information service, and if venturing into the hills the SAIS – Scottish avalanche information service. It’s incredible seeing ill prepared folk out on the hills, more often than not in trainers and jeans without axe or crampons in the winter. 9 times out of 10 you’ll get away with it, but that 1 time…….

….people out without adequate equipment don’t only endanger their own life’s but everyone that’s on the mountain with them, or others that are close by. Not to mention the good men and women of the mountain rescue that risk their lives and sacrifice their time to help the unfortunate souls.

Don’t get me wrong, accidents will always happen in the wilderness….that’s why it’s called wilderness! The meaning of adventure is the undertaking of an activity where the outcome is uncertain. It adds to the excitement and allows us to draw on our own abilitys and nounce to complete an objective. But an adventure doesn’t start as you step out of the car into the woods, or into an open boat, it begins a week or more before with planning.

Remember; PRIOR PLANNING AND PREPERATION PREVENTS PISS POOR PERFORMANCE

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

Get 15% Off Gear from Above and Beyond

Book on a BCS course this year and you’ll receive 15% off their selected range of clothing and equipment.  These guys are definitely worth checking out at  aboveandbeyond.  From our personal favourites Fjallraven to DD Hammocks, primus, OS maps and a whole lot more.

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

Insects, leaves, roots, plants, berries and fungi. A lot of its edible, you just need to be 100% sure your eating the right thing, so you don’t risk an allergic reaction, anaphylaxis or worse, Death. Once you’ve learnt the basics the worlds your oyster……..or as these guys found out last week, Grub!

http://youtu.be/z7hrjAMovpA

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

January has seen some exceptional winter conditions in the Cairngorms. Last weekend saw us working in the mountains in testing conditions, 80 mph winds and “white out” conditions on day 1, yet 15mph winds and blue bird sky’s on day 2! What this confirmed to everyone taking part was the extreme changeability of winter weather in the mountains.

Any route plans and organisation should start a couple of days before you set out, checking the Scottish avalanche information service at www.sais.gov.uk is a must as is keeping an eye on the weather at the mountain weather information service www.mwis.org.uk. Taking the right kit with you and knowing how to use it is essential.

If you want to learn the skills that make the mountains more accessible then drop us a line.

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

Backcountry Survival Knife

Introducing the new Backcountry Survival Knife. Designed by Neil Foote of BCS and crafted by John Scruby of JES Knives. The BCS Knife is designed as an all round survival knife to be utilised in a wide range of scenarios and environments; from sea level to mountain top, and everything in between! When you book on a BCS course in 2015 the BCS knife will be the knife you will be using.

Vital Statistics;

•  Medium Profile. Full Tang Scandi Grind. 4″ 01 Tool Steel Blade (medium alloyed oil hardening steel). 4 mm Stock.
• Thumb Grips for wet weather grip. Ferrous Rod striker groove.
• 5.5 ” British Whale Brand Tuffnol handle. Stock handle is ergonomically designed for grip in wet weather.
• Bow drill dimples. Lanyard eyelet (to fit .22 bullet) Bone/Glass breaker.
• Kydex Sheath for easy care in the field/anti corrosion. 9mm ferrous sriker storage.

Does the perfect all round survival knife exist, or is it similar to the perfect pair of winter gloves?! Its all very much up to the individual as to what/where/when they will be using it at the end of the day.  The concept behind the BCS knife is that it has been designed with our courses in mind, and our clients complement us on our realistic training.

The blade has been designed to be heavy duty for all round woodland use, but well enough balanced and profiled for building traps and finer work. A full tang 4mm stock made of 01 Tool steel means the potential for distortion during heavy work is kept to a minimum, as does the potential for corrosion, yet the cutting edge can be kept razor sharp. The majority of Survival blades struggle with skinning small/big game, to us this is a big no no! The BCS is designed by John Scrubbie of JES knives. These guys have a long pedigree in providing quality knives to hunters and keepers who use their blades for this very reason!

bow drill dimples have been added to cut down on physical output when your friction wood isn’t perfectly dry and the lanyard eyelet will prize a .22 bullet from a round. The striker groove in the stock gives off a consistently bright shower of sparks. It is also possible to get sparks from the Bone/Glass breaker, using flint/quartz.

Backcountry Survival Knife

Why Kydex? Not as attractive as leather but the BCS knife is all about function over form. Having experience of running courses in the mountains, on the coast as well as in the woods we know that build up of grit over time can act as an abrasive on the cutting edge. Kydex is far easier to clean out, it also has the upside of drying out far quicker than leather, reducing the time that the steel is in contact with moisture.

The full package will weigh in at £180.00, which for an all rounder is exceptional. Still not sure? Why not book on one of our courses in 2015, where you will be able to test the BCS knife for free! Neil Foote.

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

Fjallraven

Backcountry are now proud do be supported by Fjallraven!  If your interested in Wilderness living, Survival and Bushcraft then the chances are you own a piece of Fjallraven clothing. Fjallraven take a fresh look at outdoor clothing but in a very traditional way.

The G1000 material is a Cotton mix…….cotton you say?!  well a 65% cotton to 35% poly mix to be precise. The addition of Fjallraven “Greenland wax” allows the wearer to increase the waterproofing of a particular garment. But here’s the clever part……you can increase or decrease the water repellent capabilities as you wish depending on conditions, by adding additional layers of wax as you see fit. Say for instance you knew you were walking early in the morning through long grass, you would wax upto the knees, almost turning the lower part of your Fjallraven trousers into Gaiters. Or what about working in the forest in the wet?  Simply wax the parts that you knew were going to get wet; the backside and knees, leaving the rest of the trousers waterproof.

Fjallraven is of course a Swedish brand, and as you can imagine works immensely well in a cold dry environment.  I’ve tested Cotton jackets in extreme cold before (-40 C), the bonuses being that when the cotton freezes it becomes both wind proof but also remains breathable, a far better material to be working hard in than the popular Goretex.

But what about using Cotton in a temperate environment, where the threats of heavy rain are present? Fjallraven doesn’t make any excuses here, as with any such material they advise that in torrential rain you cover over with a waterproof layer, such as their Hydratic range (for the spotters amongst you a water column of 1000 mills is regarded as being waterproof, the Hydratic range works within the parameters of 10 – 20,000 Mills). Lets face it, we’ve all been caught out in rain where only oil skins are going to keep us dry right?

Cotton as you know when saturated is a bastard to dry out. If you add a wind chill of 10-15 mph into the fact that you have wet clothing on you, will lose body heat at an average of 20 times quicker than if you were dry. Its not hard to imagine Hypothermia setting in extremely quickly, and if you are in a remote area this spells big problems.

Last month Backcountry had 40 clients for two days, the groups were alternated between different work stations and old muggins here drew the short straw, having to do river crossings and improvised floatation…….up to my bollocks in mountain river water all day! I was wearing a pair of Vidda pro trousers, and I could not believe the rapidity that they dried out, almost as quick as a pair of “light weights”. Speaking to Fjallraven a few weeks later, they explained the cotton to Poly mix was extremely quick drying. Its clear that when it comes to Fjallraven, perceptions of cotton materials need to be changed.

Pick up a piece of Fjallraven clothing and instantly you can feel the durability in your hands, this is hard wearing gear. For me personally working everyday in the outdoors and going through garment after garment, there is one clear choice.

Neil

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

The Winter Mountains

Due to accidents throughout Scotland in the 2012/13 winter, never before has there been such a demand of winter walkers, climbers and mountaineers looking for training and guidance whilst out on the hill.  Many factors have contributed to this however a number of high profile rescues have highlighted that the winter mountain environment can easily chew up and spit out the unaware and inexperienced.

Prolonged lengths of cold weather last year combined with heavy snow fall saw the avalanche forecast (which can be found at www.SAIS.gov.uk) go through the roof. The usual freeze thaw cycle that binds a snow pack together wasn’t happening.  This being said Avalanches weren’t the only reason for accidents, route finding and navigational skills were leading to mistakes being made. The  winter environment in the mountains is a dynamic and ever changing beast, a fickle mistress!  The margin for error is reduced significantly from summer to winter and one bad judgment sometimes paired with another can have dire consequences.

Avalanche pits

When leading or teaching a group in the winter mountains the first job is to kit the client out with specialist gear that will allow travel to become easier; Ice axe, crampons, helmet and rigid soled boots.  Not only this but the “faff factor” must be reduced prior to setting foot on the mountain.  Survival in extreme temperature relies on being organised and slick, you will know yourself that after exercise in the outdoors if your stopping and starting frequently how cold you can get,  if you add minus temperatures and wind chill factors to this hyperthermia sets in rapidly. Therefore finding a system whilst packing your bag for the day should be honed and refined with experience, to avoid stopping and starting.

For myself personally, being self-sufficient in the Mountains is the biggest reward. To be able to travel in a hostile environment knowing that I will be able to cope with almost anything the mountains have to throw at me is what Mountaineering is all about. Yet you cannot just turn up on the mountain and expect everything to go as planned. The mountain environment is frequently different from sea level when it comes to the weather. Setting off from the car on a sunny winters day, can rapidly turn into a fight for survival when up higher, never underestimate this factor. Prior to heading out you should check the weather, my preferred site is www.MWIS.org.uk . This service gives upland weather reports for many of the mountain regions in the UK. Remember it’s OK to change your initial plans if the conditions are looking rough, many accidents are caused by ignorance of signs such as weather or avalanche warnings. If in doubt turn about, discretion is often the better part of valour.

There has been a number of interesting articles recently  released by the Mountain Leader Training Association (MLTA) regarding decision making in the mountains.  One of these was regarding the use of Heuristic decision making. Put simply if you had to make minute decisions about everything, everyday then your head would be overloaded analysing. Heuristics are “short cuts” and include stereotyping, rule of thumb and common sense. Although these can be useful “shortcuts”, when coming to a decision they can lead to misinterpretation of a situation; “you can’t always read a book by its cover”.  Examples of Heuristics that you may face on a mountain day could be being faced by a steep avalanche prone slope that have footprints up it, you would be excused for thinking that if the slope were to avalanche it would have been triggered by the party in front of you.  Another scenario could be being familiar with an area and thinking there’s not usually a cornice there, so there won’t be one now. Your Heuristic findings do not take into account the dynamic nature of the snow pack or the historical weather patterns prior to setting out.

As they say, “theres no substitute for experience”, learn the basics, consolidate what you’ve learnt and make everything subsequently a gradual progression.

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

Running courses in Scotland gives us the added edge of being able to run courses in the snow.  During the winter months theres always snow to be found if you know where to look!  We use Alvie estate near Aviemore to run most of our courses.

A traditional estate where heards of red deer roam and the golden eagle is a regular sight. Taking the 4×4 track into the Monalaidh we can quickly find ourselves 500 metres above sea level, an hours walk in over open grouse moor takes us upto the tree line, mature pine trees stand like sentinels.  Its here that is home for the night, 2 hours hard graft and youve created a ‘shovel up’ shelter, another half hour and the fires blazing drying off wet clothes and boiling the brew pot.

As it gets dark the strange feeling of having no tent comes across you, the feeling of being exposed on a bleak hill side quickly fades away as you crawl into the snow cave, quietness descends.

Its easy to wax lyrically about these places and the people you spend time with when your there, but this is an experience we should all have at some point, no need to travel abroad, its all here in the highlands!

Neil

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

Dates are up for Survival Training in October, This year we will be running a combined course up in the NW of Scotland. Taking complete beginners all the way up to aspirant Survival Instructors. This is the perfect opportunity to not only learn from the leaders in Survival training but also from the diverse members taking part.  So if you’ve been unsure up to this point whether you’ve “got what it takes”, why not drop us a line and see what we can do for you?

STAS was founded by Duncan Clark of North Ridge Adventure with input from SAS survival guide author John “Lofty” Wiseman, the NCFE and others.  The current Handbook for all STAS is the SAS survival Handbook. All 4 levels within STAS are underpinned and structured by survival models such as PLAN-M, the rule of 3′s and the survival pyramid.

The Survival Training Award Scheme (STAS) – Founding Member

In response to a growing trend for regulation of adventurous training, STAS has been established to provide quality standards for land-based survival skills. The aims of the scheme are to:

• Provide quality training and assessment for survival skills – standardized, accountable and suitable for all individuals and organizations
• Offer a clear progression route for students (see course outlines below)
• Safeguard the adventurous nature of Survival Training – learning to manage risk appropriately
• Assure customers of instructor competence.

Survival Instructor Award (SIA) – The Top Award, Independently Accredited at Level 4 in the UK

This professional award takes place over all 4 seasons and is for people who wish to teach the full range of survival skills.

Already Instructing? SERE qualified? Contact us about Accredited Prior Learning (APL) 

Candidates must be highly self motivated and should be aware this course will involve rigorous performance assessment.  We do however allow for a wide range of learning styles and have assessment methods which allow you to shine, including video diaries and practical projects.

Your Survival Training/NCFE Certificate of Achievement will provide professional recognition in this fascinating and growing sector.

We invite serious enquiries from individuals or organisations, and will be pleased to advise on special courses for groups. This Award is restricted to those over 18 years of age with appropriate relevant experience.

Survival Group Leader (SGL) – the course for leaders in non remote areas

Stepping stone to the SIA or destination in its own right, the SGL is for those leading groups in non-remote locations and has a different remit to the SIA.

The SGL award focusses on being able to provide safe and enjoyable survival experiences to groups of beginners and to young people: – bivouac skills (woodland shelters), fire safety and general campcraft including sustainability issues feature highly. Over and above these skills however is the need for effective planning, risk assessment, and emergency procedures and these form a major part of assessment.

Personal Survival Award (PSA) – a personal proficiency course

Bushcraft and Wilderness skills in the Britain’s most northerly Survival School

The PSA has a broad scope and is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to operate effectively in any situation. On this course you will learn about the PLAN-M method (Protection, Location, Acquisition, Navigation – Medical) and will actually experience what it means to survive outdoors with minimal equipment. We will teach you how to construct shelter, build fire for warmth and cooking, attract rescuers and deal with the most challenging terrain and weather. Your certificate iwill be a passport to confidence in the great outdoors, wherever life may take you.

Survival AWare (SAW) – the essential course for everyone

Now including the Commando Survival courses we are running in association with Go Commando Bootcamp and our good friend Lee Stuart – former Royal Marines Commando instructor and fitness advisor.

Happy Campers

One night out in the woods with your family, friends or even alone. Sounds easy? Maybe the thought terrifies you…whatever the answer this course will show the reality – that with the right skills and knowledge it doesn’t need to be so bad, in fact we will ensure you have a good time as you learn and will assist you to develop some useful skills to go home with.

There are no age restrictions on this course and the subjects taught will be tailored to the group.

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

Possible the finest paddling expedition in Scotland?  Loch Shionasaig, Veyatie and Fionn Loch with access to Scotlands most iconic hills Stac Polly, Suilven, Cul Mor and Canisp.

The course ran for 5 days with 8 clients and started with a portage of gear and boats into Boat Bay on the
North side of Shionasaig. Every wild camp in this trip is a winner and the first night on the banks of Boat Bay didn’t disappoint, fine little outcrops of Torridon sandstone made for the evenings entertainment with some nice “bouldering” and scrambling.  The Second day saw us packing gear into boats and setting off. A force 3 head wind made for a tricky start but the group handled the boats well as we passed through the inlet into Shionasiag.  Hugging the West shore gave protection from the wind and at around 1700 we arrived at our intended second camp on a beach surrounded by the amphitheater of Cul Mor and Cul Beag. Long hours of light meant that we grabbed a quick bite and set straight off for Stac Polly which we summited at around 1800.  Straight back down to the boats for an open fire and food.

The second day saw an early start and straight up for Cul Mor, as we neared the top we were treated to a sighting of a pair of Golden Eagles.  Back down to the boats and an intended wild camp on Eilean Mor (big island). In my opinion this is one of the best wild campsites you can find.  Setting camp on the north shores you have a panorama of Stac Polly, Cul Beag and Mor, Suilven and Canisp – having said this the midges made an appearance “en force” and after a spot of fishing we cleared of into our tents away from pesky critters.

The third day was the big one…..a lengthy portage of boats and gear in to a connecting loch between Shionasaig and Fionn Loch and then another portage into Fionn Loch itself, this is the reality of expedition paddling, there’s always hard graft to be done to gain the objective. The group performed superbly and without a winge carried boats and gear 2 Kilometers into Fionn. A short paddle down the loch and a 3rd outstanding wild camp, with some rainbow trout for dinner that was landed that evening.

The 4th day was spent paddling, fishing (brown trout this time) and lining our boats upstream and into Loch Veyatie. Our final nights camp was a corker, stories told around the camp fire, fishing and a good breeze kept the midge away.

The final day was a easy paddle to Elphin and a quick shuttle to pick the transport up. Its quite clear to everyone on the course and the instructors that Scotland is a match for Canada and Scandanavia when it comes to quality paddling expeditions, we love this country!

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

Few races conjure up feelings of endurance, suffering, scenery second to none and pain both physical and mental. The race itself has a loyal following unlike any other race family in the industry and competitors are drawn from across the globe to compete in the West highland way race.  The course runs from Milngavie just outside Glasgow and follows a line through glens, along lochs, over mountains and past the most iconic scenery in the British isles finishing in Fort William – a total of 95 miles and an overall ascent of 16,000 feet. The entire course must be run non stop and be completed in under 35 hours.

During the race there is little room for error, from nutrition to kit, it all has to come together. One small blip can be magnified ten fold and become a reason to retire, ruining a years worth of training.   With this in mind I returned to Camelbak after a few years using a competitor brand that was low price and hence low quality.

The Camelbak venture was foremost in my mind for the WHW race, the pack itself sits on the hips as a belt arrangement which has the added advantage of easy access to the pack compartment and hydration bottles whilst running, a constant pace is essential during such an event and any faff with finding gear whilst running leads to seized muscles and loss of focus. The storage compartment is a slight 2 L which doesn’t seem much but will hold the essentials of anyone wishing to move light and fast, within mine I managed to get my emergency whistle, emergency foil blanket, map, compass, x4 energy bars and a light weight waterproof jacket with elasticised straps on the outside to store extras.

The start gun goes off in the dark at Milngavie  0100 hrs leaving the competitors 35 hours to get to Fort William. Initial feeling of the venture are that its mega comfortable. The perforated foam waist bands have been cunningly split in half allowing the belt to contour the body avoiding any rubbing. The first check point is 14 miles at Balmaha at the side of Loch Lomond where I meet my support team who feed me and refill my pack with energy bars and water into the bottles.

The trail winds along the East side of Loch Lomond to Inversnaid then on towards the 50 mile mark at  Auchtertyre outside Tyndrum. The juxtaposition of starting in Glasgow and running to some of the most spectacular places in Scotland doesn’t pass me by, this is one of the joys of this event, it is a true journey of magnitude, in some ways you can appreciate that the country isn’t that big if you go from glen to glen and hill to hill as our ancestors did, rather than by winding roads that are built due to the need of the road builders.

One of the most striking additions to the Camelback Venture are the two Podium water bottles that come with the pack. Each bottle holds .6 of a litre of fluids, have a jet valve outlet which in laymans terms means you don’t get any airlock whilst drinking, meaning the water is in continuous delivery, very impressive! Even more of a surprise is that the bottles double up as flasks due to the gel insulation surrounding the inner container, keeping cool water cool and warm water warm. This is another area Camelbak have outstripped the competitors, other brands have nasty cheap plastic bottles that compress.

Leaving Auchtertyre for Bridge of Orchy the ergonomics of the belt become apparent. The drinks bottles are canted out slightly making it easier to reach round and draw one from the holster.  Thankfully the holster doesn’t have superfluous bungee loops to hold the bottle in place, which to me is just another faff to overcome, getting on for the 60 mile mark and having not slept in 36 hours the body starts telling you to stop for the most minor things, including getting water bottles out….the less reasons you have to stop the less the body can trick you!

The next section is the one I looked forward to most but unfortunately is the section I suffer on. Coming down into Glencoe I’m hit with excruciating shin splints which turns a run into a jog and a jog into a walk. Leaving Glencoe after meeting the support team competitors are hit with the Devils staircase which climbs the flanks of the south side of glencoe and leads you down into Kinlochrannoch. A five mile descent on harsh underfoot conditions considering we’re now 80 miles into the race seems unfair to say the least, and in the dark the mind plays games, making figures out of the most benign features.

I hit Kinlochleven and begin the long climb up and over to Glen Nevis, the final stage of the race.  Camelbak are one of those companies that you, as the customer never have to do much thinking about the product, it does exactly what it says it will…and some. As I hit the tarmac and the 30 mile an hour sign into Fort William I know its over, and as my hands touch the doors of the leisure centre I feel nothing but acute tiredness and the need for sleep having spent 30 hours on the trail.

The Camelbak venture is a great piece of equipment and has been thought out brilliantly with ultra runners, as well as road runners in mind. If you want value for money mixed in equal measure with quality then get yourself one, stay with the original and the best.

For more details and to purchase please follow this link http://www.nightgear.co.uk/Camelbak/466ngb.htm

Neil Foote – Backcountry Survival

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

Survival AWare or SAW course is running on the 15th to the 16th of June, by Backcountry Survival and North Ridge Adventures. This two day and an overnight bivouac is a continually assessed award and is for individuals or groups wishing to learn more about the subject of survival. Candidates can continue on the Survival Training Award Scheme, ultimately working in the Survival industry. This course is also relevant for those wishing to  brush up on skills for expeditions and personal outdoor use.

The course will be run from Tallybont forest in the Brecon Beacons National Park, although a shuttle will be running from the Highlands of Scotland down.

PRICE – £260.00

STAS Registration, certificate and badges included in price.

BCS Phone – 01479 873388 (Neil)

NRA Phone – 07979 691989 (Duncan)

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.

Family Wilderness Trip

Seems like the summer will soon be upon us. Why not spend a few days with us over the holidays? BCS can tailor packages in multi environments, from rivers and lochs to woodlands and mountains. You can be assured that there’s something for all the family and it will be educational and challenging.

If you’ve got an idea that you want to talk over don’t hesitate to get in contact for advice.

Keep up to date with our blog for more offers on our Bushcraft and Survival Courses in Scotland and North East England – We feature discounts and competitions regularly.