Surviving in Canada

Crann na Beatha

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Doc Ruby

Good timing, just when the bears are trying to fatten up for the winter! A lot of Canada is the real deal, primal wilderness, I assume you're going to a supervised campsite? You'll probably miss black fly season but you'll still need plenty of bug spray.

krissovo

What part of Alberta are you going to? Its a big place;) with every kind of terrain possible. Its ranges from almost desert like prairies to the rockies which is mountainous Forrest.

I lived in Medicine Hat for 3 years and spent most weekends out and about in Alberta. I will assume you will be heading to the rockies as it simply cannot be missed. As a side note I prefer Jasper to Banff but really it does not matter as the place is stunning.

Firstly as stated already bug spray!!!! The mossies and flys will drive you insane if you are on the prairie and just mad if you are in the rockies. You will need the highest Deet content possible and I can recommend the brand "OFF" or "Feck OFF" as we nick named it. The heavy woods version if I recall has the highest deet content and the aerosol is by far the most practical. Also treat your self you to a mossie net for your bivi and for your head. You need to spray everywhere, if you take a piss spray your trouser snake as they will go for your fella in seconds.

Also have a can of pepper spray, this will keep bears away;)

Temperature, September is a strange time in Alberta. Seriously it can go from 27deg in the morning to 3ft of snow in the afternoon and back to 20 deg in a couple of hours. Alberta has a series of micro climates and a simple wind change could seriously ruin your day.

For clothing I would recommend 4 seasons "onion skin" or plenty of good quality layers. Your sleeping system should be rated down to at least -5.

Survival Specific - The prairies have limited water and what is available is mostly stagnant ponds so take a filter and puri tabs with you. There is plenty of meat available with Gofers and pronghorn are very common and relatively easy to catch and eat. It can be 100 miles to the nearest tree so your sleeping system should not rely on a ridge line tarp.

In the rockies there is normally plenty of (VERY) CLEAN water in the valleys, food is a bit more challenging to catch but abundant.

Crann na Beatha

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