Well it's trying to turn winter up here now. We had our first dusting of snow at the start of the month to the tune of around 10" or so. It hung around a few days and left. As of the last couple days it looks like winter is coming. Had some freezing rain and snow mix light dusting on the ground now. Sitting around freezing for highs and nearing -10c/15f for lows. Still running boat to cabin I think this will be the end of the season this weekend. Water temp nearing 35 or so and ice will be on its way.

I really need to get a copy of the book, no excuses now, just haven't bought a copy. I have thoroughly loved all of the bits you've given and really need to pick up a copy.

The avatar is a copy of one of our sniper targets supposed to have brown white and black. Shot that in a work up to CAFSAC our national shooting concentration. And yes now that you mention it he is cold looking.

Essentially every time I'm out once winter really sets in is a survival exercise. My hope is to either find some old pictures (had some computer issues) or remember to take some new ones to do some winter survival stuff in the real man knowledge base. The 30 & 40 below stuff gets easy, (read you can dress for it). The worst cold I've ever felt was at 4c/38f moose hunting. It rained, snowed, rained some more and I was overdressed then once sweated up a bit very underdressed. Never been so cold in my life. So I know of the involuntary shaking shivering need for warm.

I'll have to look at the battery connections. I had one get oxidized this summer, maybe...could it really be this easy.
If this isn't it, where exactly is the module located. I have the tools to maybe change the relay if that is a possibility. I do some electronics repairs as a part of my job.
Thanks Ken.

Hi guys. I have a 2006 LBZ with about 180k on the clock. A while back my ABS and brake light came on together, and have remained up together since. I commenced a normal mans oil change and inspection, front diff, trans, transfer case and had normal used oil come out. Had a bad wheel bearing and changed it too. All seems to be normal from my point of view. My scan tool can get to the ABS stuff, but that's about it.
Here's what I found when I hooked it up:
In park 3 MPH on all sensors.
While driving all three respond normally.

So, I did some research and it appears that my ABS module may need an update or reboot.

Does this sound right? I'm at a loss and don't just want to go throwing money at parts I don't need, and my truck hasn't seen a dealer in about 150k. I don't have access to a tech2 as I'm way out in the sticks 750 odd miles from a dealer I would trust.

Is there a way to reboot the module without a tech2?
Thanks. Sam

Thanks Nate. Mama had me pick up a bunch and I'd like to do a bit more with them than just grind them up. I know you'll understand that one!

 Wow. Nice find. Now I know little to nothing on this subject, but it appears they have done their homework on an nice little unit. My experience in RC is 25 years dated and I'm sure by the looks of this there have serious advances made. Impressive looking features and capabilities with this as well. But it seems to lack the return to 'Big D' feature.  ::)

Kit List for our BWST students:

Each team to consist of 2 persons if possible.

1.   Tarp fire resistant (canvas only, used for protection from sparks onto nylon sleeping bags, not for shelter), approximately 5 by 7 feet minimum, one per team.
2.   Axe (fiberglass handle preferred), one per team
3.   Billy Can large (1 gallon tin can), one per team;
4.   IMP Meal (B, L or S), one per team;
5.   Waterproof Bag, 10.5 x 13.5 inches, Coghlan’s No. 8417, one per team, containing:
   a.   Space Blanket, Coghlan’s No. 8235, one per team member;
   b.   Snare Wire, 22 gauge by 25 feet Brass, one per team;
   c.   Water Purification Tablets, Katadyn Micropur MP1, 30 tablets per team;
   d.   Lypsol, one per team member;
   e.   Signal Mirror, NSN 6350-00-105-1252, one per team;
   f.    Arctic Candle, NSN 6260-21-104-9283, one per team;
   g.   Cord, 1/8 inch by 30 feet, NSN 4020-21-882-9701, one per team;
   h.   Chemical Light, White, NSN 6260-01-218-5146, two per team;
   i.    Emergency Fishing Kit, NSN 4220-21-806-2686, one per team;
   j.   Fire Starter, NSN 4240-01-160-5618, two per team.
   k.   Whistle, Foxpro 2 per team
   l.   Ground Air Emergency Code, NSN 7530-21-890-0622, two per team

Note:  These stores will be pre-positioned at the stand sites for issue to each team.  This, along with sleeping bag valise and the clothing on their backs, is all the students should have in the survival sites.  If the weather is above -5 C (23 F), and favorable, removal of sleeping bags may be merited in order to increase training value.

Lesson 6 - Tool care and Safety

1.   Tool safety and correct handling:

   a.   All cutting and chopping will be done with gloves on;

   b.   Axe:
      (1)   condition of axe (no deformities and sharp);
      (2)   selection of log to be cut safe cutting/limbing; and
      (3)    there is no wood cutting to be done at night.

c.   Knife:
   (1)   knife safe handling;
   (2)   folding locking blade;
   (3)   fixed blade; and
   (4)   cutting away from self and in safe direction.

d.   Tree falling:

   a.   choosing direction tree will fall (safe direction);
   b.   method of felling (notch and cut method); and
   c.   ensure deflection of blade kept to minimum (clear axe travel front and back).

Note:  Safety and tool care.  Ensure tools are put away after use so as not to lose them. 

Lesson 4 - Signals

1.   Signals are the next phase in the Survival Pattern.

2.   Location:
   a.   in vicinity of camp; and
   b.   in open area (as clear as possible);

3.   The tri-pod smoke signal and the theory behind:

a.   Tri-pod approx 6 ft high;
b.   use cordage or wire to tie off;
c.   platform 2 to 3 ft off ground and tied off each leg;
d.   twig bundles and dry tinder stuffed into cavity;
e.   boughs (same principal as shelter) placed to keep tinder dry and generate smoke;
f.   ignition spot on side with abundance of very dry tinder;
g.   smoke signal must create a lot of heat very fast and this heat is what pushes the smoke up and above the tree canopy.

9.   Ground to air signals:

   a.   proportion is 6-1 (every 6 meter wide, it is 1 meter long);
   b.   lay boughs down then push the snow directly beside it to create shadow (winter);
   contrasting material used in summer (whites/reds depending on surroundings)
   c.   it must NOT look natural on the ground as it will look that way from above.

10.   The rule of 3 for signalling to draw attention to your location:

a.   3 gunshots;
b.   3 fires in line or triangle;
c.   3 whistle blasts.

11.   Signal mirror:

   a.   catch the sun through aim hole then place sun spot on thumb;
   b.   aim thumb at windshield of aircraft and drop thumb; and
   c.   can be seen for miles.
   
12.   Night signalling:

a.   Chemlite on string and whirl above head for night signal; and
b.   maintaining a fire all night is also a useful night signal.
   
Notes:  Increase footprint on the land by placing signs and notes along trails in hopes that maybe a hunter or hiker may pass.

Lesson 2 - Fire

1.   The importance of fire and how it fits into the Survival Pattern:

a.   warmth;
b.   drying of clothing and equipment;
d.   cooking and water purification;
e.   signals;
f.   animal deterrent; and
g.   moral.

2.   Requirements for a successful fire (spark, air and fuel).

3.   Location: 

a.   not under a snow laden tree, or in the wind or on soggy and wet ground; and
b.   look for area with cover and protection as well as in area of proposed shelter.   

4.   Gathering of material:

a.   Tinder (match stick size) in area (put in pocket to keep dry as you travel;
b.   Twig bundle (tinder gathered, tied and fast burning material stuffed in middle like birch bark or old man beard);
c.   Kindling standing dead (not green or ground soaked);
d.   Fuel logs, dead and dryer wood;
e.   Large quantities of each is necessary before lighting/building their fires;
f.   Suitable base both built (crisscross green logs) and natural (rock or clay ground,    etc); and
g.   Avoid building into peat areas or at base of trees to avoid underground fires.

5.   Building of the fire: 

a.   Once material is gathered in sufficient quantities, light match/candle then add tinder then kindling then fuel;
b.   Other methods of lighting: with flint using cotton balls and magnesium, etc;
c.   For ease and efficiency, do not waste time chopping fuel.  Feed logs into the fire;

Hello all. My name is Sam, I've been in the backgorund 'lurking' over on DF. Posed the topic to 'Big D' and he liked it, so here we go.

I am a Canadian Ranger, no not a bit like the US Army ranger, whole different concept. We are a part of the CF reserves, and are the military’s eyes and ears in the sparsely settled northern, coastal and isolated areas of Canada. Appropriately, our motto is Vigilans, meaning “The Watchers.”
I currently live in northern Manitoba, and have been serving since 2001 with the Rangers.

We provide many services to our communities,  the Junior Canadian Rangers (JCR) Program, a program that that gets the youth out and out of trouble, support and participate in events in the local community such Canada Day, and Remembrance Day.
As well we assist with sovereignty and domestic operations, report suspicious and unusual activities, collect local data of military significance.
Conduct coastal and inland water surveillance, provide local knowledge and expertise, participate in search and rescue operations, provide support in response to disasters and humanitarian operations, and assistance to federal, provincial/territorial or municipal authorities.

Here is a link to where the above information came from, and more information about the Rangers.

http://www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca/en/canadian-rangers/about.page

Given our unique environment in the area of northern Manitoba I call home, there are many challenges for travelling on the land. In the summer months, we are in an area of lakes, rivers, swamps (Read lots of water) and in the bush, edge of the boreal forrest, and into Canadian Shield.  I have trees at home, but not all that far north is the tree line and then the open tundra.
All sounds easy enough, but travelling in the summer months over floating bog through a swamp to get to a stream crossing...well you get the picture. This is where the Rangers come into play to provide the knowledge to the army group invloved to be able to reach their point of interest.

Then there is winter, I love winter and the cold and is probably why I call this home. Winter starts anytime around the end of October officially, as in the snow will likely stay, and ends sometime in May, and even into June some years. We'll typically see a stretch of a few weeks that does not see above -40, and then there's the wind.

Winter brings the ability to travel on the land just about anywhere you want to go, but even with the cold we still manage to find open water in some areas.
We have several northern response groups in the Canadian Military, and work with them quite regularly. The last large scale exercise took two different groups (somwhere around 200 personnel, 120+ machines)  from Churchill, Manitoba up to the 60th parrallel. To say it was an adventure would be an understatement, but the Rangers took two large companies 200 odd miles across nothing to their primary goal. There the Rangers from up north met up with us to take the one unit another 200 miles further north to Arviat.

So some of the work up for the army groups included: snowmobile training, winter ops training, and the topic of this thread BWST, among others.
Over the next while I will be adding the meat and potatoes of what we do for the BWST courses that we offer to the forces, as well as what some of the other patrols do differently.

Also, once I track down pictures I will add them into the mix.

Also followed over from the Duramax site. Well done so far guys, looks like this will be a great place full of all kinds of info.
Looking forward to seeing this site grow!