Make no mistake. There is no way in hell I will ever be legally allowed to carry a .50 cal hand gun in Canada but I still can own one. I will only be able to take it to the range. Funny how my government trained me to use every weapon from the 9mm service pistol up to and including the Eryx anti-tank missile but will not trust me to carry a simple pistol for protection in civi land. I am still deciding on the purchase of this gun. Some would ask why I would want a handgun which is capable of shooting down a satellite in orbit. My answer is that sometimes we need to buy things that make no sense at all, just for fun. I love talking about survival on this forum, but survival aside I also enjoy LIVING. I love high power handguns, especially one that has bullets as long as my finger and as big around as quarter.
Sooooooo… a fellow re-loader eh? Nice to know if I have any questions. I spent this weekend reloading some new Hornady XPT 125 grain JHPs for my .357 mag. Next weekend if I don’t head out to Smokey lake for a bit of ice fishing I have a fresh box of Barnes - x triple shock 168 grain, and Hornady SST 150 grain in .30-06 to do using accurate 2700 powder.
To answer this question, I have considered a lightweight sleeping bag or sleep system like Hacksaw has, but the bulk is the killer. I try to keep the meat compartment of my pack clear for the game and fish. If I take too much stuff there is less room for the game. On those occasions where I do take a sleep system I usually just take my Army issued stuff as It is rated to about -60 deg cel. I hate to buy new stuff when the Army gives it to me for free. I have been turned around once or twice myself and had to spend the night away from safety. Usually with a roaring fire, fresh green bows for a bed, and my reflective tarp made into a nice lean-to I am quite comfortable. My best defense against the Alberta cold is my clothing and I rely on that more than a sleeping bag. I could probably curl up in the snow and take a good nap without any problem with my clothing system. I used to head out with a Mustang survival suit but changed because the one piece suits allow very little ventilation. While walking, even in this cold ventilation is so very important as no matter what you will sweat while snowshoeing. Maybe I will post my clothes system later so we can compare notes so to speak.
I used to carry a Gerber axe but the Kukri fit flat in my pack and thus was easier to carry. You would be surprised at how this knife can dig and chip through ice. By using a downward stabbing motion rather than a chop it gets through ice rather fast. It doesn’t send chips of ice up into your face like an axe does either. It is a bit slower granted, but still does the job.
I have eaten just about every countries Military rations and a lot will agree that Canada produces some of the best. The biggest [censored] off IMO is that a lot of the items rely on hot water(instant mashed potatoes, rice, dressing etc) This is fine when I am hunting on my own time but a real pain when on operations and you need to eat fast and don’t have time for boiling water. Every field exercise I go on I end up getting a bunch of them to take home so I can’t complain I suppose. Military rations are not cheap. All the rations allocated to a unit before an exercise are written off by supply and replacements ordered. When the unit gets back from the field whatever is left is considered expended and cannot be restocked. If I don’t take them home they will be thrown into a dumpster. I cannot stand by and see this happen so I usually take the whole lot home rather than see them wasted. What I don’t need I give away. I have collected 10 CASES for my emergency food supply, plus a bunch for hunting and 6 which remain in my truck at all times. I have given my neighbor several cases as well. He loves them (a civilian) but after eating rations every day for months on end in Afghanistan I would gladly take a case of American MREs in exchange. The snack bread and jalapeño cheese spread in the MREs is awesome.

If you want a pair of Canadian Military issued arctic mittens check ebay as they have some for 20 bucks. This is a steal as they are about 150 bucks a pair. The only drawback is that you need to take them off for any detailed work. They are rated to -50 or -60 deg cel so it’s hard to beat the warmth they offer. especially for snowmobiling. The new versions are replacing the old trigger mitts and have a single retractable finger so you can pull a trigger with them on. If you want black the closest you will find are made in the USA by wiggys but they are Expensive suckers. check them out at http://wiggys.com