Introduction
Field craft is a term that we use to encompass useful skills that help to support our field operations in the winter and summer. The purpose of this page is to provide a handy reference to our members to assist them in field operations or in their own personal activities concerning amateur radio. This includes everything from camping to hunting and fishing and ropework.
Weather and Wildlife and COVID
Eight months of the year is winter in Yellowknife. There is snow, ice, wind and for much of that time long nights. Sometimes the temperatures drop below -40ºC (or -40ºF). The coldest day in 2021 was -45ºC (or -49ºC). With the wind chill, it can become dangerously cold where exposed skin freezes in seconds. If one spills kerosene, for example, on skin at that temperature, frostbite is immediate. With a breeze at 25 km/h and an air temperature of -35ºC, it feels like -51ºC and the risk of frostbite is 2 to 5 minutes.
Interesting things happen when it gets cold. LCD displays may freeze, expand and crack. Radios are normally not rated for operation below -10 degrees Celsius - so you might be operating outside of the specifications of your radio. Transmission line becomes really efficient but cables become really stiff. Antennas and metal can become quite hard to handle without gloves. Batteries freeze and their performance degrades. Antennas might accumulate frost and become heavy and unstable or even break. That said, these conditions make operating more challenging and the value of making a QSO from the North all the more impressive.
A car or skidoo breaking down in the countryside is not an inconvenience as it is in the South; it is a life-threatening situation. If an amateur radio operator is coming up here to operate, plan your trip and plan for contingencies. Bring proper clothing. Bring a heater, sleeping bag etc. Repeater coverage is not continuous along the highway and may be non-existent in the communities. The same goes for cell phone repeaters.
In the summer, while the temperatures are warmer, they are still generally cool by southern standards. Prepare for contingencies. Bring insect repellent and sunscreen. UV light is very strong at higher latitudes. Insects are very voracious here (although we do not have West Nile Virus, Zika etc.). Much of the Northwest Territories is full of wildlife and that wildlife can be dangerous. This is black bear and grizzly country. If you are near the Arctic coast, you might be exposed to the risk of polar bears. There are wolves, coyotes, wolverines, lynx, birds of prey (eagles), bison, moose etc. Of course with a hunting licence or fishing licence, one could eat well. There are also many edible plants and fungi (such as morels) but there are also some that are very toxic. Local indigenous populations possess a great deal of traditional knowledge and it can be useful. May such persons act as guides and one might consider using their services when "out on the land".
- https://spectacularnwt.com/
- Explorer's Guide to the Northwest Territories
- Information on Hunting Licences
- Northwest Territories Sport Fishing Regulations Guide
If you are coming from the south, you might want to verify what COVID-19 rules are in place. You may have to isolate or get tested. If you are coming from outside of Canada, remember that not only do the rules of the Northwest Territories apply but also those of the federal government of Canada. If you transit through another Canadian province or territory, the rules of that province or territory may also apply.
Knots
The tying of knots its a useful skill to have. While one need not know how to tie sophisticated knots, an ability to tie some the more basic knots is very useful. Whether it is securing a mast to the roof of a car or setting up a block and tackle to pull a heavy object aloft, knot tying comes in handy no matter what one is doing. We often use them for erecting antenna masts and the like. Working with wire ropes can also be beneficial.
Scouting knots is a useful website that gives some demonstrations as to how to tie some basic knots. The bowline, half hitch and sheet bend are highly recommended.
A very good resource for ropework and wire ropes can be found in BR 67 Admiralty Manual of Seamanship (May 1995). One can order any version of this volume online. While the ships might change, the use of ropes does not. This volume also has some instruction about ship handling and marine navigation.
Plants
It is possible to live off the land consuming plants. In the NWT some plants are very nutritious and others are poisonous. The GNWT Department of Environment and Natural Resources has published a guide booklet that may be of assistance.