http://panow.com/article/481324/mother-uses-survival-skills-help-keep-stranded-family-alive

Using the skills learned from hunting and trapping for 20 years (taught by her father), a Wollaston Lake (pop. 125) woman kept her family going for three days while they were stranded on a small island. “So, the wind blew us to the shore, and we stayed on the island for three days stranded there,” she said. Tsannie said they didn’t have a tent, but used a tarp for shelter. She also found something to cook their food in and had to keep the fire going. Her brother had been sick for two out of the three days, but when he recovered, Tsannie told her brother to help her paddle. Now back in the boat, she said they paddled for six hours. They also made a sail using the tarp and two big logs tied to the edge of the boat with a rope (to increase their visibility).

“Because it was raining, the wood got all wet, and my brother got sick on me, so I had to stay up all night chopping up wood, keep the fire going, keep my girls warm.”

Note: Please understand that there is actually NO cell phone coverage in the region. The family was using a cell radio 'beam' from SaskTel to Key Lake mine or Points North. A very narrow and isolated signal that is nearly impossible to get.

The stranding wasn't their fault either. They had enough gas but a relative mistakenly relieved them of some of their gas cans when he was dropped off.

When the four returned home, Tsannie said she got a reaction from within the community that she hadn’t expected. She said some people were crying. “It was touching.” Its good to hear the good stories about how people kept their wits to survive the elements.

Good story. She was not only able to keep her wits about her but also lead her party appropriately to make good decisions and maintain a positive mental attitude.

Survival in these conditions is a lot of work, require perseverance, training, and real survival skills

I have had the privilege of teaching survival four times North-West of Wollaston Lake. This area is very remote and the best you can do for firewood is searching the forest for dead seasoned Jack Pine. Resource are very scarce in this forest and trees are far apart. This is a picture from my last trip up their to teach a course in early April. Note the distance between trees and the small diameter of the trees. Please note this was my chosen area to teach in, i.e. the best forest I could find on high ground in the area after 4 trips to the area. This lush of a forest would be something you would never find near the shore of a lake.



The search for a nights wood in these conditions often takes participants 4 hours, even with 2 people per Fire and its often means walking 500m for wood. I actually took this photo as I was wandering the forest looking for wood for my fire for that night.

Proving that the little incidental things we teach children can indeed save thier lives some day.

I dunno, Bruce,that looks pretty lush compared to a lot of the Sonoran Desert. Plus there is lots of water!

I didn't say I wanted to get trapped in the Sonoran Desert either!

My last outing with students was Death Valley, in July! They would have gladly traded while we were walking through there. But, if it were reversed, they would have been wishing for the desert.

Kudos to that mom for a job well done!