How to survive the most hostile weather conditions for a man and stay optimistic? How to protect against the weather that can kill within few hours? These questions are in mind of everyone who is planning a big expedition. My journey that I'm prepaing will take a YEAR away from home. When I will be crossing all Canadian provinces the main shelter would be the tent. It must provide me the minimum of comfort, regeneration after a long walk, sense of security and a little bit of heat as at home by the fireplace. What other methods can I use to survive this adventure?

What equipment am I using?

• Tent - Marmot Alpinist 2p - ultra light, 2-person expedition tent designed for the worst weather conditions - Himalayas, Antarctica or Canada. Its weight is about 2,2kg and it's supported by 2 strong, aluminum poles. It must withstand snow blizzards, heavy rain or a huricane! Breathable single wall design saves weight by eliminating the need for separated canopy and fly, it protects againsenvironment and provides a restful sleep. Simple structure allows me setting up this tent takes about 4 minutes in all conditions - snow, rain, wind which is a big advantage. In addition, the tent is designed in a way that when assembled in bad conditions it remains dry inside, even when placed into the pool!...... The main disadvantage are the tent pegs - during my first training all of them bent because the ground was too tough. During my expedition I will have to hammer it into the ice, hard packed soil or attach the tents' ropes to the stones around - I will have to improvise all the time! To prepare better for my expedition I was training setting up the tent with closed eyes, what an amazing experience! It is really difficult and it requires a lot of time and practice. What was the purpose? There is not enough of daylight time and setting up the camping will be mostly in darkness with help of headlamp and flashlights that can eventually break!
• Thermal blanket - multipurpose NRC foil (space blanket) of known brand combined with a tarpaulin, properly braced and secured against tearing. It's really huge - 210 x 120cm which means I can lay on almost with my arms streched. This blanket is really durable and because of that is really heavy - 340g which makes it one the biggest and heaviest items in my backpack. It can be used as the floor in the tent or a protection uder "my home". At night each layer that will separate me from the ground will be an advantage - I will loose less heat. During breaks it creates a perfect improvised shelter like a rain cover so I can have a dinner. Moreover, it can be connected to the tent to make some kind of a "roof" to rest, cook or store gear. It is also a good cover against snow blizzard and wind when tied to the trees. In the areas where there are no trees I will improvise and for examlple use my trekkng poles. Another good use for my walk in winter, it is a great protection of the tent against the snow, I will be able to construct some kind of barrier so it does not get buried under the snow at night. It is usefull especially at the front so I can get out easily
• It is worth mentionning that the resistance to abrasion will extend the life of this blanket hopefully up to 4 months. It can be used as sheet to lay down and relax in a beautiful summer day, put equipment on it not to loose or dirty it. Moreover, during long walk in a extreme cold days it can be used as a cover - what I have to do is to wrap and stay warm! Protection against cold and wind is extremely important! Instructors from Universal Survival advise to place this blanket on the chest during bad weather - it will protect key internal organs. Plus, is has a very important survival feature if there is a need to call for help. One side is red which makes a perfect contrast to the environment therefore I will be visible from air, the other side is sun-reflective which is even better, people can see me from many kilometers and help me in case of emergency! Personally I'm afraid of winter, I will use this blanket problably all the time.
• BIVVY - small, waterprooof, multipurpose and reusable foil that reflects heat. It is as small as a fist which makes it perfect item to carry in a pocket and it will be always there even in an emergency situation. It's lightweight - about 100g. Its application is similar to the thermal blanket (above), but its main purpose is to protect life in extreme situation. At the moment there is a rish of hypothermia I will have to tightly wrap in bivvy and I should be able to survive - it will reflect heat and protect against external conditions such as rain, snow, wind. Bivvy has a survival instruction printed on its surface - great tips that can be used and also something to read during long hours of waiting for help - I wish it never happend, but it's good to be prepared for unexpected. During the expedition I will be using only 1-person bivvy, after a training I came to a conclusion that it's larger version - 2-person bivvy is to big and to heavy.
• NRC foil (space blanket) - low-weight blanket made of heat-reflective thin plastic sheeting. Its design reduces heat loss during extreme conditions that would lead to hypothermia that would normally occur due to radiation, water evaporation or convection. Because it's single use only, during my walk across Canada I will keep it an a first aid kit for easy access. It's application is the sam as for bivvy (above). What is interesting, it is so thin, that when unfolded it is transparent - it's possible to look aroung when beeing fully covered. In addition, such a foil can be used as bandage for a pneumothorax. (I wish it never happened).

Maybe something more comfortable?

During my expedition I will be able to organize shelter at the bus stops next to the main roads, under bridges, huge trees. Having a dinner when it is raining on a head is quite unpleasant so it is better to stay in any dry place for a while.The most important and the most helpful in my journey are Canadians which always invite for a dinner or for a night to help. Imagine what is happening to your motivation after having a hot shower, great dinner and a bear with such a nice people! I wish it could happen all the time along the way!