I don't think we should knock Alberta too much. Industry has funded much of the research and my friends who work in the oil patch care as much as the average person. Recognizing our government isn't going to be kill the golden goose it's up to voters to speak up. Realizing that voters are not going to kill their own personal golden goose, makes me think we're all cooked.

Except we are a noble species despite ourselves, and I am an optimist.

Cool pic's , always enjoy the reading

If the price of oil keeps dropping you may not have to worry about the oil co. for long, at least the mom and pop ones any how

I'm thinking the way it is going there won't be any more funding. The reason is there won't be any habitat left for any animal to live in this province the way it is going. Study them all you want but when they all start to dissapear we all know why. Nothing we can do about it really. Your comments on toxin levels proves exactly what is going on and you are in some of the most prime , clean areas in Alberta even. Wonder what the toxin levels look like around Fox Creek lol

Actually industry might be the salvation, unfortunately. We are on the cusp of conservation off-sets in Alberta. I've read the white paper as presented to cabinet and Industry.

A conservation off-set is when the government requires industry to replace disturbed habitat with a piece of habitat of equal conservation value. It can be complicated when you're replacing a wetland fen with a piece of natural grass prairie but I've seen some models that make sense.

The land that is purchased for the conservation off-set is in the white-zone area ( private land) while the land disturbed is crownland ( public ) The disturbed land remains crown land and over time the hope is the industrialized land is reclaimed after each industry is finished its cycle. So long term we could end up with more public land. And yes there is enough marginal private land of every type to provide the needed landbank for the disturbed crownland.

I want to take this opportunity to wish Merry Christmas to all of you. I don't patronize many "forum's" as time is precious but this one has always been home. And many of you have become as close to a friend as we can be in a virtual world. I love that we're keeping the traditions of trapping and living on the land alive.

Merry Christmas.

Cheers to you as well Brian. You are a great asset here on this forum and I appreciate your comments and knowledge shared. This is a great forum with a lot to learn.

Merry Christmas and all the best in New Year to you also Brian. I really enjoy your postings and pictures.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to you and your family also Brian. We have have shared many a season on this forum and your right about our virtual friendships. As someone who travels for work, and play as often as I do it is nice to have familiar people to touch base with on a regular basis.
Thanks for your continued posting of your line and photos.

Ok finally holidays are wrapping up. Topped off with the celebration we held today for my folks 60th wedding anniversary. A great time but I'm craving some bush time.

I was going through my gear and thinking about the dude in the other post who survived a dunking and three cold days before being rescued. I've got some standard gear that I pack around in a soft cooler style pack. The pack sits in my sled rack and can be easily accessed if the crap hits the fan. Hopefully there's enough in there to keep me going. I have a change of cloths and footwear in a dry bag.

GPS - Headphones - Satellite phone in water proof pelican - 3 trail cams - spare glasses - leatherman- working man hand cream - battery pack for additional charge - extra batteries - Norma Knife - headlamp - bag with fire starter, matches, glass cleaner, napkins, jerky, & cyanide pill.

I take it that is for a really really bad day

yup, so far so good... haven't had to feed it to any guests yet.

I am not sure what you use up there for fire starter in your survival kit?
Here I use a doubled ziplock baggy with a lighter and some cubes of self light charcoal. They light instantly and stay burning until wood is added and then some. Do you have something better?
Thanks, Osky.

I carry 3 or 4 fusees.

two lighters - candle stub - birch bark. Same rigging I've had for years as this is just back up.

Might I ask what you use for a snowmobile tote? Hubby and I live of the grid in the Maine wilderness and though we have one of each (except the smallest) of the Otter totes, we have issues with them. We haul a couple hundred pounds (sometimes lots more) at a time and all winter long. Using those is how we snowmmobile our supplies in during the winter months. Winters are long up this way, especially due to our proximity of Mount Katahdin. While the Otter totes are rugged, the plastic runners that prevent the sled from zig-zagging, crack and break off, and the hitches are always losing the pins, or we bend them. The hitch pins just simply come off on their own, which is furstrating to have to keep replacing them or have to back-track to find where we lost the tote! Though the tote itself is rugged, the rest of it does not hold up to our usage here. We need something more rugged. Somewhow, some way. So, I am looking into other more dependable options. Any suggestions? Anyone? Usage can be seen at our Facebook page, Willey's Dam Camp if that helps anyone. Thanks a bunch for any and all suggestions. We're not novices at living here, but hubby is disabled, which compounds the challenge of this lifestyle. I am a woman who does most, if not all the "labor", and I am tired of replacing and reparing goods that normally would last most people for a life time, but here, we are the real deal. We are not the "Weekend Warrior" type people. We are lucky if anything lasts the winter in here. It seems that nothing is made durable to enough for our usages of them. That information may help you understand what we need, maybe?

Try one of these,it will outlast 5 snowmachines.

This product from Alaska Sled Works is bullet proof. I did 10 miles yesterday on trail and river with a light load - 25 ton log splitter, dead deer, 12 wolf traps, and a malamute in her rolling kennel. Pulled like nothing was there.

IMPRESSIVE! I am looking at the Fox Cross Sleds. I am liking what I see and hear! Thank you so much for your reply and photo!!!

We have considered that design, high sides, etc. We are still debating. Thank you so much for your reply and photo!