Well, first is layers, that extends into thermal regulation. In the cold, wet is dead. That includes sweat. So layers and ventilation along with regulating your exertion levels. This is a slow and steady wins situation.
If that isn’t possible, ensure you have dry gear to put in as soon as you stop.
Often overlooked(this was an issue for one guy) is hydration. Dehydration happens in the cold just as fast as in the heat but you notice it less. He assumed his 2l of water was enough and didn’t bother with more. His food intake was also very light for the exertion level. This all resulted in severe cramps in his legs overnight, kept him up, increasing his exhaustion level and by morning was in stage 2 hypothermia. Him being x military and quite honestly a very experienced woodsmen, he kept it to himself until it had reached a dangerous point.
We got him warm, rehydrated and fed.

For the others, it was mostly a battle against the exhaustion. We only did about 1.5km into the bush but the snow was more than they are used to, as was the pack weight for the trip. Winter requires more gear.

We went over basic fire starting and building techniques, again, harder out in the cold and snow than people expect. Showed them samples of tinder’s available for collection while we walked. The importance of at least one person with a liquid accelerant for emergencies.

We had some small but dangerous water crossings, deceptive snow cover over embankments and a little bit of track identification. In reality it was an almost ideal setting, nothing we experience was above a very basic level. This was literally done in the fields and forests behind my house. We could see the house lights at night some 1300 yards away. But for a novice introduction, it works well due to the diversity of terrain.
Next time out I’d like to get some shelter building and orientation covered.

Overall it sounds like a perfect event, no one injured and a great deal learnt. Can’t get much better. Yes walking in the snow, with or without snowshoes, winter clothing and a heavier then normal pack on your back is indeed a hot and irritating experience.

Well you did well by them and sure they appreciated it 👍🏻

here is a link to a similar product i purchased years ago. the one i purchased was the solatec aerovest ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzav-hh7guc ). never tested it and have in my vehicle bag ( for use in vehicle or to pillage from and add to other bags if needed). cant find them anymore

below is link to similar product.

https://www.xero-gear.com/

i think it should certainly help and as it weights next to nothing, no foul, no harm. one will need to watch sweating but that goes for most things when not applied properly.

cheers

Picked up another dozen 12 hour candles.
Another 6 bolts for the crossbow and a quiver for the recurve arrows.
2 gallons of bleach.
Tested generator under load.
Kept a close eye on the 2019-NCoV to either adapt the plan or upgrade our readiness level (no changes were made to either).
Started planning the garden and looking into fruit trees & shrubs. We will need to find a space for the 50 strawberry plants we have ordered for spring. Also looking at Elderberry and a couple hard fruit and nut trees.
2 X 5 packs of Bic lighters plus one more refillable long neck lighter (for lighting short candles in tall holders)
A couple free downloads of apocalyptic type fiction books for entertainment.
edit: After a quick trip to the mailbox I can add 12 broadheads for my arrows/bolts.

I did something different. I made some emergency kits. 4 in all in jan/feb. Basically bins, and prepared them each identical and provided them to people who have just gone through a power outage in the last couple weeks from inclement weather. They included candles, matches, lanterns, wind up flashlights/radios, KI tabs, and so on. And then a printed out sheet to list emergency contacts, and the website for EMO. Specifically to set up a "family emergency plan." Which..imo...the government of ontario does a pretty decent job on. (fill out the blanks..and then it spits out your plan.)

I think after a black out...fellow family/friends who realize sitting in the dark how ill prepared they are will become more ready with a little help. You dont need to break the bank, but can really put together a kick ass kit with some basic necessities fairly cheaply.

I'd love to check out that site.
Got a link?

I'd love to check out that site.
Got a link?

https://beprepared.emergencymanagementontario.ca/myplan/?language=en-CA

Nothing new, but due to ice storm, it made me think of a purchase last year so figured I would toss in.
Ice cleats to attach to boots... aggressive grip and good solid rubber frame. Slip on easy and decent when removing. I put them on an old pair of construction boots and leave them on.

Seeing as we get tired during storms.. the last thing one needs to do is slip and injure oneself, especially when your full assistance is required. No one is slipping with these suckers on your feet!!! HIGHLY recommend people get and use them.

Cheers

Bingo, Bingo. Best advice yet....Jan 3 carrying in a arm load of wood, walking on ice, and then not....two broken ribs, major deep tissue damage, and a groove plowed into my skull when it struck some rebar sticking up. Picture from 10 or so days after it happened. Luckly I had consumed a good bit of mead or the pain would have been considerable! I will be getting spiked boots!

Nothing new, but due to ice storm, it made me think of a purchase last year so figured I would toss in.
Ice cleats to attach to boots... aggressive grip and good solid rubber frame. Slip on easy and decent when removing. I put them on an old pair of construction boots and leave them on.

Seeing as we get tired during storms.. the last thing one needs to do is slip and injure oneself, especially when your full assistance is required. No one is slipping with these suckers on your feet!!! HIGHLY recommend people get and use them.

Cheers

Bingo, Bingo. Best advice yet....Jan 3 carrying in a arm load of wood, walking on ice, and then not....two broken ribs, major deep tissue damage, and a groove plowed into my skull when it struck some rebar sticking up. Picture from 10 or so days after it happened. Luckly I had consumed a good bit of mead or the pain would have been considerable! I will be getting spiked boots!

OUCH, lucky the rebar didn’t take out an eye! Stuff happens real fast and we all need to be real careful. Man we need to be real careful with ourselves and others, e it normal day or when under stress. Done some real stupid things and keep doing them.

All the best with recovery and hope you have some help with chores

Running my stash of batteries trough the charger to refresh them.

Setup a decent indoor seedling and growing station. Started my pepper and tomato plants while having a decent stash of seeds ready for this year’s crop.

Heli admired pic of your garden last year, sure everyone would appreciate pic of your startup bed/s. Cheers

First year trying it with a couple of grow lights and wrapped in Mylar for microclimate and light reflection. I’m still learning and experimenting.

So far, only tomatoes and peppers started, accounting for about 36 plants.

Cool, thanks for photos.
Keep us posted on what you see happening. It should work out better then without the special light.
Is that a straight up vertical rack or is it angled a bit? Hard to see and where did you purchase it?

Plain old cheap plastic rack from a box store of some sort. The pictures make it look crooked I guess, amplified but the Mylar wrap not being super tidy since my light’s cable is too short and therefore pulls the bottom of the wrap upward. Bottom shelf is just my empty trays. The upper light is from Costco last year, I couldn’t find another one like it this year, so I picked up something different from Amazon.

I’m having some issue with the Jiffy pots I’m using. In order for them to stay damp, I keep the plastic lid on, but now there is white mould growing up on top of some of them. I got to figure this out.

It is an endless cycle to separate you from your money lol. Friend of mind won a free grow tent. Then he bought a grow light. Then a fan. Then pots were too cold so in went a heat mat. Then moisture was climbing so in when special ducting connected to another fan. Then weed smell was getting strong so now there is a carbon filter on duct. System getting complex so sensors set to cycle 1 heat mat 2 humidity 3 lights and 4 outside heater. Dont forget special grow medium and additives.