Happy Christmas & Happy New Year

Happy Christmas & Happy New Year! Thank you so much for your interest, support and bookings over the past year.

Here are our various scheduled courses for the first two months of 2017 if you are considering some outdoor training:

Mountain Skills 1
7th - 8th Jan : Killarney/Kerry
18th - 19th Feb : Glengarriff/Cork

Mountain Skills 2
14th - 15th Jan : Glengarriff/Cork

Bushcraft Skills 1
21st - 22nd Jan : Killarney/Kerry

Bushcraft Foraging
28th Jan : Glengarriff/Cork
24th Feb : Glengarriff/Cork

Bushcraft Cooking
29th Jan : Glengarriff/Cork

Learn To Lead Climb (Beginner To Lead Climber/RC3)
3rd - 5th Plus 10th - 12th Feb

Forest & Jungle Navigation
25th - 26th Feb : Glengarriff/Cork

Please Click Here To Contact Us
Thanks, Nathan - Outdoors Ireland

Dealing With Lightning

Lightning strikes are more common than you may think in Ireland. In fact with our work over the past three years we have had lightning strikes close by while on the Burren Hills and while kayaking on Lough Lein.

5 seconds between lightning flash and thunder = 1 mile. When the lightning is six miles away or closer (which is 30 seconds) it is time to take cover.

Get off the water or off wet/boggy ground. Get off high points/exposed points, for example get into a re-entrant instead of a spur. Stay away from tall structures. Discard metal tools, such as walking pole/climbing gear/kayak paddle. Spread out your party to 30 meters between each person.

Get insulated off ground by sitting on backpack, kayak, buoyancy aid. Get into 'lightning crouch' which is squatting on ground, head tucked into chest and hands covering ears.

Best of all though check a local weather forecast (www.windguru.com is good). Be conscious of what the weather did the previous day. Be aware of how the day is unfolding in relation to large dark clouds forming, heat building up. If you stay alert generally you will see a storm building up and approaching you; which gives you time to take preventative action...

Mountain Skills 1 - Killarney - 17th & 18th Dec

We have a Mountain Skills 1 Training Course this Sat 17th & Sun 18th Dec, running in the Kerry Hills, close to Killarney. There is one place left for this course. If you are interested please contact Nathan on info@outdoorsireland.com or 086 860 45 63.

More MS1 Details Here

Climbing & Bushcraft Photos From Two Recent Courses

Sorry I have been a bit slack with photos recently. The work camera took a dive into the ocean and is not the same since. I am aspiring to buy a waterproof camera in the next couple of weeks and get back shooting again. Nathan

Cold Shots From Last Weekend's Mountain Skills 1 In The Wicklow Mountains

Last Training Courses Of 2016

As the end of 2016 approaches here are our last few training courses for this year:

















Bushcraft Skills 1 : 3rd & 4th Dec
Killarney : €250pp
http://www.outdoorsireland.com/bushcraftsurvival.php

Mountain Skills 2 : 10th & 11th Dec
Killarney : €170pp
http://www.outdoorsireland.com/mountainskills.php

Mountain Skills 1 : 17th & 18th Dec
Killarney : €170pp
http://www.outdoorsireland.com/mountainskills.php

We also have some availability for any bespoke private training or guided sea kayaking, so please do get in touch if this is of interest to you. Thanks, Nathan
info@outdoorsireland.com
+353 (0) 86 860 45 63

Safe System For Rock Climbing

Here's a simple communication and test system for safe climbing; whether you are bottom roping, top roping or leading.

Tied In & Climber On Belay - Then:

1. System Tight

2. Personal Check (Start Top With Helmet & Work Downward)

3. Buddy Check (Especially Checking Your Partner's Carabiners & Knots)

4. Call Of 'Climb When Ready'

5. Call Of 'Climbing'

6. While Climbing 'Slack' Or 'Take In' Are The Two Calls To Use

7. Use Your Partner's Name Before A Call In Windy/Noisy/Busy Conditions, To Get Their Attention

Mountain Skills 1 - Wicklow - 19th & 20th Nov

Our next Mountain Skills 1 Course is this Sat 19th & Sun 20th Nov in Laragh/Glendalough, Wicklow. Price is €170 per person and the course runs 930am - 530pm. I have a couple of places left available for this course. This link will give you an idea of what we are covering: http://www.outdoorsireland.com/resources.php.

To book please get in touch on 086 860 45 63 or info@outdoorsireland.com. Thanks, Nathan - Outdoors Ireland

Bushcraft Skills 1 & Bushcraft Skills 2 Syllabus

Bushcraft Skills 1 Syllabus : Two-Day Course With Overnight

Bushcraft V Survival
Bushcraft Circle
Survival Pyramid
Rule Of Three
Order Of Priority
Survival Kit

Efficient Movement
Leave No Trace
Resource Considerations
Water Considerations
Toilet Considerations
Knife Skills
Debris Shelter
Temporary Shelter
Fire Building
Fire Cooking
Water Sterilization
Cordage
Wood Ash Uses
Wood Charcoal Uses
Pine Tree Uses
Sphagnum Moss Uses
Wild Foraging


Bushcraft Skills 2 Syllabus : Two-Day Course With Overnight

Signaling
Camp Setup
Fire Building
Fire Pyramid Lay
Fire Horizontal Lay
Fire Star Lay
Fire Cooking
Fire Tripod
Pot Hook
Pot Hanger
Tarp Shelter
Swamp Fire
Swamp Shelter
Lean To Shelter


Click Here To See Our Bushcraft Skills Resources

Getting Lost With No Idea Of Where You Are

Getting Lost With No Idea Of Where You Are; No Map And No Compass. Here Are Some Simple Rules For Finding Your Way Back To Civilization:


1. Head downhill, not uphill
2. Head downstream, not upstream
3. Follow linear features, such as a path/stream/river/spur/power line/tree line. They will often and eventually lead to a road and the road will lead to civilization
4. In swamp try to circle around until you find an exit stream to follow
5. In forestry trees are often planted in rows, so try follow a straight line row, to ensure you do not walk in circles
6. In mountains try follow a spur or re-entrant downhill - looking for a stream to follow
7. In a lake situation try to circle around until you find an exit stream to follow.
8. Animal tracks will sometimes lead to water, so can be useful to follow if all else fails

Forest Navigation / Jungle Navigation

Forest Navigation / Jungle Navigation:

I am putting together a really awesome two-day course covering the skills for forest/jungle navigation. Course content being developed at the moment and I will have 2017 spring dates for this soon. The course ties into both our Mountain Skills Scheme and our Bushcraft Survival Skills Scheme.

This two-day course will be based in a mix of rolling deciduous forestry, dark partially impenetrable coniferous forestry, plus deep swampy overgrowth; and will run close to Glengarriff/Cork.

More details here soon. In the meantime if you are interested in booking onto this please email bushcraftireland@gmail.com. Thanks, Nathan - Outdoors Ireland

Mountain Tip - Walking Pole

Mountain Tip - Walking Pole:
Carry at least one walking pole (even strapped to your backpack if you do not usually walk with one).

This can be used to work your way through bog and swamp; helps your balance crossing streams; stabilises you in windy conditions; can work as a simple crutch and can be separated into three short lengths to splint a fracture.

Finally; although not encouraged; for a real short distance, two poles can be rolled up into the sides of a bivvy bag/survival bag (one on each side) and a makeshift stretcher made.

Coming Up

This is what we have available coming up the next while:

Sat 22nd Oct @ 10am
Glengarriff Bay Half-Day Sea Kayaking Tour

Sun 23rd Oct @ 2pm
Glengarriff Bay Half-Day Sea Kayaking Tour

Mon 24th Oct @ 10am
Killarney Lakes Half-Day Kayak Tour

Sat 19th - Sun 20th Nov @ 930am
Mountain Skills 1 Training In Wicklow
 
To Book Please Contact Nathan Here: http://www.outdoorsireland.com/contact.php

Autumn Kayaking Shots

Acorns Are Ready For Eating

The acorns right now are delicious to eat. Collect the ripe acorns; roast for five mins in red embers (or until brownish); then split the outer acorn shell with a knife or sharp stone and enjoy the white/brown nut inside!

Bushcraft Fire Tips

Dig a small bowel shaped pit for your fire - this keeps it contained and gives you a better chance of a long term hot ember base. Windy conditions - deeper the fire pit. Calm conditions - shallower the fire pit.

Build a fire reflector from damp timber close to the downwind side of your fire. This captures some of the heat normally blown away and at the same time drys damp timber for later fuel.

Lay a fire foundation of dry timber; then lay your tinder and fire on top of this. As the fire begins, it slowly burns down into the dry fire foundation - giving you a good hot ember base.

In wet ground conditions or snow, place a foundation of wet timber beneath your dry fire foundation, to prevent the fire burning into the wet ground.

In heavy rain start your fire in a cave, under an overhanging rock/overhanging bank, or somewhere as dry as possible, before moving it out into the rain - if that is where it needs to go.

Generally keep your fire as small and as smokeless as possible. A small fire can still be plenty hot and do the job it needs to, but requires less fuel, less work and attracts less attention.

Keep out of the smoke as much as possible. Smoke dehydrates you, can give you a headache and can dry out/crack your hands.

Two wet logs/stumps, one on either side of the fire can help to keep it contained and provide a 'cooking hob'. To repeat from above; you generally want your fire as small and as contained as possible - the two wet logs/stumps can really help this.

A pyramid lay gets the fire blazing up and allows you to enlarge if needed.

A horizontal lay gets the fire burning steady and protects it from heavy rain/snow - if fuel is stacked two or three logs high at least.

A star lay, with three large logs pushing into the fire, gets the fire burning steady and cuts down on having to constantly fuel and look after your fire. With a star lay keep your upwind 'working/cooking corridor' free from log obstructions.

Bedding down at night a deep horizontal lay of thick damp/wet logs will help preserve your fire for morning.

Find yourself a green withy to use as a poker. Holly or hazel is nice.

More Bushcraft Resources Here

Next Learn To Rock Climb Course (RC1) - 8th & 9th Oct

Our Next Two-Day Learn To Rock Climb Course (RC1) Is 8th & 9th Oct, In Kerry

This is a complete beginner friendly course, based on the sandstone crags of the spectacular Gap of Dunloe. Price is €160 per person, with all gear provided.

More details here: http://www.outdoorsireland.com/rockclimbing.php

Recent Sunset Kayak Tour Photos, From The Lakes Of Killarney

South Georgia Centenary Traverse

Delighted and honored to be involved in some ropework and mountain training for the next generation of Tom Crean's family; who are planning to follow his footsteps through South Georgia.


Tom Crean Family South Georgia Centenary Traverse 1916-2016 from stop.watch television on Vimeo.

Nearly Back To Bushcraft Time!

We are nearly back into our bushcraft season and cannot wait to get stuck back into making fire, building shelter and foraging!

Our next Bushcraft Skills 1 Course is 3rd & 4th Sep, including an overnight.

Click Here For More Details

Click Here To See Our Bushcraft Syllabus

Some Upcoming Killarney Lakes Kayaking Tours

Wed 17th : 6pm : €60pp
Killarney Lakes Sunset Kayaking

Thurs 18th : 6am : €60pp
Dawn/Sunrise Kayaking

Thurs 18th : 2pm : €60pp
Killarney Lakes Kayak Trip

Fri 19th : 6am : €60pp
Dawn/Sunrise Kayaking

Fri 19th : 2pm : €60pp
Killarney Lakes Kayak Trip

Sat 20th : 2pm : €60pp
Killarney Lakes Kayak Trip

Sun 21st : 10am : €80pp
Killarney National Park Full-Day Kayak Trip

Sun 21st : 6pm : €60pp
Killarney Lakes Sunset Kayaking

To Book Please Contact Nathan:086 860 45 63 / 00353 86 860 45 63

Rainbows & Sunshine & Cloud On Lough Lein

Rainbows & Sunshine & Cloud On Lough Lein, On Our Killarney Lakes Kayaking Tours Last Week

Butterwort

Insect eating Butterwort; mountain and bogland plant.

Amazing healing properties - can be used as a wound dressing. Here I applied a clean slimy leaf, under a plaster, to a slow-mending cut. The healing process within eight hours was fantastic.

Butterwort produces a bactericide which prevents insects rotting, while they are being slowly digested by the plant.



It was used at one time on cattle sores and wounds. I would guess that especially their udders were treated with butterwort.

It was used at one time to curdle milk and make a buttermilk type product in Sweden and Norway.