1. Swazi/Ray Mears Tahr Anorak

First in line is the legendary Swazi Tahr Anorak – an unmistakable bit of outdoor gear that has become Ray Mears’ firm favourite over the years. Originally designed for use by the farm workers of New Zealand (a people who see more than their fair share of rain), news soon spread of its unrivalled wet-weather performance and the Tahr Anorak was quickly adopted by Bushcraft enthusiasts and outdoor professionals around the world. With its extra-long cut, world-renowned hood design and highly breathable AEGIS fabric, the Tahr is the cream of the crop when it comes to staying dry.

Swazi/Ray Mears AEGIS Tahr Anorak

2. Norrona Recon Jacket

Not a million miles away from the Tahr, the Norrona Recon Jacket also offers superior protection from wind and rain, albeit in a full-length zip design. Developed with the help of the Norwegian, Swedish and Danish Special Forces, the Recon Jacket is a bombproof outer shell made from 3-layer GORE-TEX. Featuring articulated elbows, fully waterproof zips and underarm ventilation, the Recon is a technical waterproof jacket fit for almost anything you can throw at it.

Norrona Recon Gore-Tex Pro Jacket

3. Bergans Super Lett Jacket

At the opposite end of the price scale from the Swazi and Norrona offerings, the Bergans Super Lett Jacket is an ultra-lightweight coat that’s perfect for keeping in your rucksack for those sudden downpours. At just 460 g, the Super Lett offers excellent protection from the wind and rain without weighing you down. With a standard length cut and simple styling, this jacket is perfect for the great outdoors while being equally suitable for days spent around town.

Bergans Super Lett Jacket

For the full range of coats, jackets and anoraks stocked by Woodlore, please visit our Outdoor Jackets page.

The Ice Bear Japanese Waterstone Sharpening Set

Each video shows Ray using the comprehensive Ice Bear Sharpening Set (which includes both 800 and 2,000 grit stones, a clamp and nagura stone), as well as an additional 1,200 Grit Waterstone.

First up is the Ray Mears guide on how to sharpen your bushcraft knife:

Second is a guide for owners of Gransfors Axes:

Click here to view the full range of Sharpening Tools at Woodlore

The plan was simple. To cross the Northern Highlands of Scotland on foot from West coast to East coast, a distance of some 65 miles.

Packing for a trip is an art and my girlfriend and I were striving to achieve the right balance between light pack weight, safety and comfort. This means thinking hard about what items are really essential and those which can be considered a luxury. On this note, we opted to carry bivi bags and a tarp, rather than a tent. As someone who has spent a lot of time under tarps in the woods, I know they are a fantastic way to sleep out and I was keen to experiment with pitching my new Hilleberg tarp in the open terrain of the Scottish Highlands.

The Hilleberg Tarp in use in Scotland

We chose our equipment carefully and tried where possible to carry items that served two purposes, such as the walking poles that would later double as supports for our tarp. We anticipated low night temperatures at this time of year and for that reason we carried down jackets for use in camp, a decision we would be glad of in the days to come.

With all this in mind, we managed (just) to fit everything we needed for the four days into 50 litre rucksacks. Our trip coincided with high pressure over Scotland and we were greeted by bright if cool conditions on our arrival at the West Coast. We set off into the hills and as we ascended the views opened up, with the Outer Hebrides clearly visible out to the West. The cool air meant the visibility was excellent and we were to be rewarded with spectacular panoramas throughout the trip.

Lighter packs made traversing the tricky terrain easier

The next four days was spent winding our way across the hills and we were grateful for our light packs as we traversed the innumerable bogs and peat hags. In the evening we pitched our tarp wherever we could find a suitable a spot and despite some very cold night-time temperatures (-10 degrees on the last night), we slept soundly. I was very pleased with the way the tarp performed and to wake in your bivi bag with views of the mountains all round is an experience to savour.

Late on the fourth day we reached our destination on the East coast, tired but very pleased to have completed the journey. Our lightweight philosophy had paid off, without sacrificing safety or comfort. This approach can only work if the kit you carry is good quality and suitable for the task. This reinforces one of the underpinning values of bushcraft, which is to carry only those things that are essential and to rely instead on your skills and judgement to journey safely in wild places.

- Rob Bashford

There was still plenty of snow higher up

I got back today from my Introduction to Bushcraft course, taught by Keith and Mark.

I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the course, how much I learned, and home much stuff I thought I know that I unlearned! The pace and content of the course was ideal, and I have nothing but praise for the skills, patience and friendliness of both Keith and Mark.

Client shelters on the Introduction to Bushcraft course

In terms of expectations, the washing facilities were rather tough – but then I guess you don’t yet have the mastery over the weather!! Ice cold water (with ice crystals!) in a bowl.

The packing list was very useful, and I came more prepared than required, which is far more preferable to the alternative. So, I’ll be looking at the other courses available, and will now be trying to persuade a few friends to try it too.

Stuart Mason

The Woodlore field team at the annual training week

Training week is a very important fixture in the team calendar and provides an opportunity for us all to refresh friendships, brush-up on skills and come together in the environment that we are so passionate about. This year our focus was on renewing the team’s first aid qualifications and so, under the instruction and guidance of Jamie Cooke, Woodlore’s outdoor staff reminded themselves of the essential nature of this essential wilderness skill. The application of realistic scenarios ensured that the adrenaline kept pumping and Jamie’s humour and outstanding teaching ability made sure that what was learned held fast in the memories of the participants. Anybody attending one of Woodlore’s medical courses will be able to vouch for the unique ability of this kind of training to make things stick!

Woodlore field team practising their buschraft skills at training week

In amongst the fast-paced learning provided by Jamie, the team had other essential tasks. New course sites had to be readied, changes made to camp and the skills of the woodsman honed, ready to ensure the highest standards for the coming year. In amongst the blizzards, cold, rain and occasional sunshine, the team atmosphere was one of excitement and good humour, boosted by great food and better company. At the end of the day, the fireside beckoned and stories were shared as we all reminded ourselves why we love our job so much. Ready for this years’ exciting courses, we look forward to welcoming you into our family.

Woodlore’s communal camp fire during training week

Written by Keith Whitehead

]]> http://www.raymears.com/blog/woodlores-annual-training-week/4912/feed/ 1 http://www.raymears.com/blog/reflection-of-first-aid-training/4898/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reflection-of-first-aid-training http://www.raymears.com/blog/reflection-of-first-aid-training/4898/#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:10:47 +0000 The Woodlore Team http://www.raymears.com/blog/?p=4898 Last week Woodlore ran it’s annual training week, which included our usual first aid training from Jamie Cooke at Solo Medical Training Limited.

On Aspirant Instructor Sarah Day’s return home, the first aid training she had recieved left her feeling reflective. Here are her thoughts:

It’s not often that the whole team gets together; we often go a whole season without seeing certain people – apart from chance meetings at the beginning and end of courses.

One of the best aspects, both of our annual training weeks and of the end of season get-together, is that we can all share our stories of the season, and what we’ve been up to over the winter. As an inevitable and very helpful part of our regular first aid training, we often exchange stories of first aid incidents we’ve dealt with, (or even been the victim of!).  It’s natural to try and analyse an incident afterwards, whether it was real or a training scenario, and think about what you might do differently another time. I often think about two incidents I was involved in several years ago.

First aid scenario during the Woodlore staff training week

The first incident was at an off-roading day, shortly before I started work at Woodlore. It was January and freezing cold – not unlike our training week in fact! A Range Rover was being driven through a fairly deep pond when it became stuck. Icy water must have begun seeping under the doors, and a small boy of 5 or so stood up in the passenger seat and started banging on the window, then passed out. Some bystanders waded in and laid him on the bank. Having got him out of the car, none of them seemed to know what to do. I wandered over and offered to help, unsure what I could really do – he was so pale he had turned green, and was shaking, his eyes open but rolled back in his head and still lying on the ground in his wet clothes. I picked him up and laid him on my lap so he was at least off the ground, then jammed a borrowed hat on his head to try and keep him warm. He didn’t respond to any questions but did grip my hand. No one could offer any useful information such as his name, or if he suffered from any medical problems. His dad eventually got out of the car and waded over, picked the boy up and began shaking him violently in panic, then urged by a couple of others ran off  to take the boy to hospital. To this day I don’t know what was wrong with him but it still bugs me that I didn’t do more.

By contrast, a couple of years later, after at least one first aid training session, I was in town when a man came running into the shop shouting “Can somebody help, there’s someone on the floor!” I ran out of the shop to see a man collapsed on the pavement, having a seizure. His head was banging on the floor, so I immediately knelt down and tried to shield it with my hands. At the same time another woman knelt at his side. It was a slightly awkward moment, and we both spoke at the same time. She was an Army medic, and I briefly explained what training I’d had. She ordered the bystanders back and told one to call an ambulance and stay nearby to relay information. I stayed at the mans head, helping to keep bystanders back, checking his neck for a medical necklace and ‘witnessing’ when the other lady checked through his wallet for any information on his condition. The seizure stopped and he started to come round; because he had fallen on his arm, it had been grazed during the seizure and he immediately tried to move. The bloke on the phone shouted that he mustn’t get up, but we let him move into a more comfortable position. We helped him to sit up, but kept him still and talked to him. The ambulance arrived, we handed over, told what little we knew about what had happened, and that was that.

Both incidents were a bit unnerving, though not in themselves really that serious. But when I think about the little boy at the off-roading day I still wonder what more I should have done and it nags at me. The second incident, I can think about without the slightest qualm; I hope the man was alright, but I know that both the Army medic and myself dealt with it well and I would not have done anything different if faced with the same situation again.

It’s a horrible feeling, wanting to help but not knowing what to do, or beating yourself up after the event knowing you could have done more. Most of you reading this have probably experienced it at some point. Several members of the field team who have dealt with serious incidents outside of work have said they almost went into auto-pilot, it was just like a training scenario. I suppose the slight nagging doubts you feel afterwards, when you think over a situation, are always going to be there. But it makes a huge difference knowing you acted correctly, did the right things and did it well, and hopefully this means you will never feel the torment of standing by and wishing you could be more useful. First aid my not be as glamorous as learning to light fire by friction, or track animals (though we do our best!) but it is incredibly important. You can flick through a manual, and run over DRSABC as many times as you like but nothing beats actually doing it. Only good solid training will counteract the paralysing, mind-blanking panic so that the correct procedures become almost second nature. If a member of your family or a friend or colleague needed help, would you really know what to do?

Log rolling a casualty during Woodlore’s staff training week

‘Urban Bushcraft’ and Transferrable Skills (slightly tongue in cheek):

Occasionally over the last year or two I’ve heard the phrase ‘Urban Bushcraft’ and thought, surely it’s a bit of an oxymoron? Bushcraft  is a set of skills that can allow you to experience wild places in a wonderfully full way, seeing and understanding more and being a part of where you are in a way that is unlike ‘normal’ camping.

But then, why shouldn’t the skills be transferrable to urban life? With a bit of imagination you can practice most of them in an urban environment, though some of their actual uses may seem limited.

First aid and navigation are the most obviously useful skills; in a city like London with however many millions of people the chances of being nearby when someone collapses/gets hit by a car/gets bloodied in a fight is probably fairly high. Likewise, navigation - using observational skills to keep tabs on where you are, despite the urgings of a misguided satnav - is very useful, (never mind the nightmare scenarios of cars breaking down in a phone signal deadspot on the way to Christmas at Auntie Mauds and having to walk to the nearest house to use the phone with nothing but a button-compass-on-a-keyring and AA road map…).

But more than that, learning these ancient skills in the company of like-minded people teaches perseverance, resourcefulness, self-reliance, creativity, teamwork, leadership, and helps build confidence – all attributes that crop up as desirable buzzwords in the heady world of the urban jungle.

- Sarah Day

Steve starts a snowy winter’s day in his 5.11 boots

I purchased my 5.11 boots back in October 2008 after Ray recommended them to me. Ray mentioned that they were great to wear when travelling and I really liked the look of them. I am pleased to say that this same pair is still going strong today.

The 5.11 Tactical HRT Advance Boots were instantly comfortable and the UK sizing was fine. I find them so versatile that I wear them throughout the year in the UK; they manage to keep my feet cool in the summer, due to the vent holes, but also warm and dry in the winter, even in the snow.

5.11 state that these boots are designed to be lightweight and responsive, and I definitely agree with this. When I put these boots on in the mornings, they help give me that “ready for the day ahead” feeling and they are great for general day-to-day use and are not too bulky or clumsy for driving. The durable side zipper is also worth a mention as it really makes putting the boots on or taking them off very easy and quick; there is no need to touch the laces at all.

In summary, a very durable, comfortable and versatile boot, and I expect to wear mine for many years to come!

- Steve Gurney

The 5.11 Tactical HRT Advance Boot

Woodlore Team Member Wayne Egerton

“I’m having a girlie night in tonight with some friends.” Barely had my wife finished uttering these words and my rucksack was being stuffed and hoisted onto my shoulder. I knew just the spot… a seaside location about an hour’s walk away, and usually deserted.

The weather was clear, cold (2-3 degrees) and not a breath of wind. The joy of walking on one’s own is you see and hear more; wildlife not scared away by the idle banter of a pair. A woodpecker, wren, robin and not to mention a surprised fox, and that was only on the way there.

Tarp up and fire going, just big enough to keep warm and have a brew. As light faded, the tide retreated and it was just the oyster catchers, the curlew and the chill. I’m sure a fox visited in the night, but my hat was still on my head when I woke.

Home for the night

The dawn chorus is a truly wonderful sound when you are on the coast… who needs an alarm clock when you have Brent geese! A brew, pack up and head for home along the beach. More wonderful creatures from limpets to shore crabs.

Wayne’s early morning view of the Isle of Wight coastline

My reason for sharing my short trip is to hopefully inspire, and also help people to realise that not all of our forays into the outdoors have to be grand vogues that take weeks - some can be short and sweet and just as fulfilling.

- Wayne Egerton

1. Icebreaker Mondo Zip

An extremely lightweight turtleneck made from 100% merino wool, the Icebreaker Bodyfit 200 Mondo Zip makes a fantastic base layer for year-round use. Thanks to the superfine merino wool used by Icebreaker, this base layer is softer against the skin when compared to many other woollen garments, making it suitable for those with sensitive skin. It has been ergonomically shaped for a more comfortable fit, resulting in the perfect base layer for active use such as cycling, running or hill-walking.

The Icebreaker Bodyfit 200 Mondo Zip

2. Woolpower 200g Turtleneck

We’ve stocked the trusty Woolpower 200g Turtleneck for over ten years now, and you’ll find one in the wardrobes of every single member of the Woodlore team (Ray included of course!). With full-length sleeves and snug cuffs, a high collar and an extended back, this is a highly protective base layer, yet is still amazingly light in weight. Highly recommended for those attending our winter expeditions, the Woolpower Turtleneck is also great for cold-weather use here in the UK. Chuck one of these on before heading out in the morning and you’ll feel like you never left your bed!

The Woolpower Ullfrotte Original 200g Turtleneck

3. Brynje Arctic Double Zip Polo

A more substantial choice compared to the Icebreaker and Woolpower options, the Brynje Arctic Double Polo is a durable and heavy-duty garment made from two layers – a merino wool outer for warmth, and a synthetic mesh lining for enhanced breathability. While it may sound like an odd combination, this mesh-lined system has been tested and proven in some of the harshest environments. In fact, Brynje clothing was worn by the adventurer Sir Edmund Hillary on his legendary expedition to scale Mount Everest in 1953. If the extra weight isn’t an issue for you, this base layer offers incredible warmth and improved moisture-wicking ability.

The Brynje Arctic Double Zip Polo

For the full range of T-shirts and thermal underwear stocked by Woodlore, please visit our Thermal Base Layers page.

Ray in Idaho, during filming for the ‘Wolves’ episode of Survival with Ray Mears

I’ve been asked to write my autobiography many times, but it hasn’t felt right until now. I’ll be 50 this year, and it’s 30 years since I started Woodlore, the organisation that has helped thousands of people to a greater understanding of the world around us. – Ray Mears

Hodder & Stoughton commented:

We’re delighted that he’s chosen Hodder to publish his memoir, a story that will enthral his millions of admirers – and surprise a few people too.

For more information, please view the Hodder & Stoughton Press Release.