North Woods Adventure
Winter Bushcraft, travel & Survival skills
in association with North Woods Ways
Winter Bushcraft, travel & Survival skills
in association with North Woods Ways
“ The thick night falls over the forest, and the frost comes down
like an axe. Once the canvas has been stretched over the framework, and
the snow banked up all around the sides, and the stove is nice and warm
– then he (the trapper) can slip into an almost total state of
well-being – even though he may not yet fully realise that right then
and there, in the heart of the woods, he is living through the best
moments of his life.”
- Paul Provencher (Last of the Coureurs de Bois.)
- Paul Provencher (Last of the Coureurs de Bois.)
Join
us on an inspiring two-week snowshoeing expedition, traversing frozen
waterways, through the uninhabited interior of Maine’s taiga forest. Travelling
on foot we will use traditional clothing and equipment, pulling all our
equipment and supplies on toboggans through the winter wilderness of
the Maine North Woods.
Accommodation will be in wood-heated canvas tents. The
days will be spent trekking through breathtaking scenery, and the
nights enjoying classic pioneer trail food, good company and watching
the aurora borealis.
Maine is called the Pine Tree State, as over ninety percent of its land is wooded, with 3.5 million acres of boreal forest. The Maine North Woods are a mix of northern hardwoods and conifers, and home to moose, fox, fisher, martin, coyote, beaver, white-tailed deer, bear, and the endangered Canada lynx – the perfect place to learn snow-tracking skills.
Unlike modern winter camping we will veer away from brightly coloured synthetic mountain garments, and will outfit you with canvas parkas, mukluks and hide/canvas mittens, as worn by the natives of Labrador, designed to meet the needs of traditional winter travel.
The expedition will begin with an intensive preparatory phase, run from a static camp, covering classic Arctic survival skills and winter bushcraft where you will begin to understand the intricacies of living in this amazing environment.
Accommodation will be in wood-heated canvas tents. The
days will be spent trekking through breathtaking scenery, and the
nights enjoying classic pioneer trail food, good company and watching
the aurora borealis. Maine is called the Pine Tree State, as over ninety percent of its land is wooded, with 3.5 million acres of boreal forest. The Maine North Woods are a mix of northern hardwoods and conifers, and home to moose, fox, fisher, martin, coyote, beaver, white-tailed deer, bear, and the endangered Canada lynx – the perfect place to learn snow-tracking skills.
Unlike modern winter camping we will veer away from brightly coloured synthetic mountain garments, and will outfit you with canvas parkas, mukluks and hide/canvas mittens, as worn by the natives of Labrador, designed to meet the needs of traditional winter travel.
The expedition will begin with an intensive preparatory phase, run from a static camp, covering classic Arctic survival skills and winter bushcraft where you will begin to understand the intricacies of living in this amazing environment.
Phase one will cover base-camp and core emergency skills -
- Understanding thermo-regulation
Cold weather clothing and equipment- Understanding cold injuries
- Sanitation and hygiene
- The science of snow and using snow tools
- Emergency fire lighting and signalling techniques
- Axemanship and sawcraft
- Aputiak (igloo)
- Athapaskan quinzee
- Snow-holes, slab shelters and drift caves
- Expedient shelters – Spruce-trap shelter, snow graves, block walls & tarp shelters
- Trip planning
- Menu planning
- Natural hazards
- Backwoods sauna
During phase two, we will focus on winter travel and trail-skills by totally immersing ourselves in this amazing environment and 'hit the trail'.
- Living in canvas wall tents
- Bough beds
- Using wood stoves
- Snowshoe designs
- Ice reading skills
- Using Ojibwa and Maine snowshoes
- Loading and pulling traditional toboggans
- Backwoods cooking – reflector ovens, bannocks, pies, sourdoughs, stews, etc.
- Emergency snowshoes – Roycraft and bear-paw designs
- Ice fishing
- Using an Ice Chisel
- Making pack frames, blanket rolls and Tump lines.
- Star navigation and mythology
- Bark-craft
- Iroquois sledge
- Handmade snow goggles
- Making crooked knives
- Winter navigation
- Tracking and trailing
We are thrilled to be working with the founders of North Woods Ways - Garrett and Alexandra Conover.
In addition to being inspiring company, they are renowned Maine Guides
and internationally recognised experts in subarctic and traditional winter travel
skills. The Conover’s are also respected authors, having written some
of the most authoritative and valuable books on wilderness travel,
including Beyond the Paddle and, the Winter Wilderness Companion and
the Snow Walker's Companion.
What is it about?
The aim of the course is for you to acquire the skills in planning,
preparation, bushcraft, traditional skills, snow-craft and knowledge to
travel safely in the sub-arctic conditions of the boreal north. You will be spending everyday
exploring, walking, tracking and living in the North Woods.
Course Leaders: Garrett and Alexandra Conover, Ben McNutt and Lisa Fenton.
Course Duration: 14 Days
Dates: 26th Jan. – 9th Feb. '09
Availability: 2 places available
Maximum No: 10 people
Total Price: £1,495 (Does not include flights)
Deposit: £500
What is it about?
The aim of the course is for you to acquire the skills in planning,
preparation, bushcraft, traditional skills, snow-craft and knowledge to
travel safely in the sub-arctic conditions of the boreal north. You will be spending everyday
exploring, walking, tracking and living in the North Woods.Course Leaders: Garrett and Alexandra Conover, Ben McNutt and Lisa Fenton.
Course Duration: 14 Days
Dates: 26th Jan. – 9th Feb. '09
Availability: 2 places available
Maximum No: 10 people
Total Price: £1,495 (Does not include flights)
Deposit: £500
(Note: please do not book your flight until you have confirmed your place on the course with us first. Flights cost in the region of £385.)
If you are interested in this expedition and would like more detailed information, please download the North Woods Expedition Briefing Pack pdf.
An Expedition Booking Form can be downloaded here.
(No prior experience is required to attend this expedition.)