Sambaa K'e/Trout Lake - Dealing with cold weather, snowmobile breakdowns and a missing caribou herd were recent challenges faced by the members of the Trout Lake Ranger patrol.

Ten Rangers from the community took part in an annual training exercise that included five days on the land, from Nov. 22 to 26.

Trout Lake Rangers including Ranger Troy Lomen, left, Sgt. Phoebe Punch and Ranger Bianca Kotchea stayed in McPherson tents during their recent field training exercise. - photo courtesy of Clinton Betthale

"Everyone enjoyed themselves on the land," said Sgt. Phoebe Punch.

The field training exercise started with a snowmobile trip to kilometre 75 on the Trout Lake winter road where the patrol set up camp. Accommodations included McPherson tents and an outdoor fire pit.

The first full day at the camp was devoted to traditional activities. The male members of the patrol went looking for wild game while the female members set rabbit snares.

With a harvest of five rabbits, the women were more successful than the men who were unable to locate a caribou herd that was supposed to be in the area, said Punch. To make up for the missing caribou they bagged a few chickens and a ptarmigan.

The Ranger's marksmanship was tested on the second day.

After learning about different techniques, firing positions and sighting in their rifles the Rangers did a shoot. At stake was the right to have the Top Shot award for the year.

First, Rangers fired a series of shots in a grouping. In the second phase they shot two rounds in four different positions including standing, kneeling, sitting and prone. The shots were scored out of a possible total of 50.

With a score of 39, the highest in the patrol, Ranger David Gerrie was given the Top Shot award, said Punch.

The Rangers also spent a day conducting two patrols on snowmobiles before heading back to the community. Temperatures in the -30s made the ride a cold one, said Master Cpl. Clinton Betthale.

The group's snowmobiles provided a distraction from the cold. Starting out with 11 machines at the beginning of the training only six made it through the five days without breaking down.

Problems included torn tracks and compression problems with engines, said Sgt. Tim Stanistreet, a Ranger instructor who led the exercise. Overcoming difficulties is all part of what to expect when on an exercise, Stanistreet said.

"There's normally problems with machines but we just carry on and compensate," he said.

Despite the challenges all the Rangers, including two new recruits Travis Kotchea and Bianca Kotchea, remained upbeat, said Punch.

"They're looking forward to their next training," she said.

This training event was one of the exercises conducted yearly with the 57 Ranger patrols located in the three territories, said Stanistreet.

Each exercise normally includes four days in the classroom and on parade and six on the land.

The Trout Lake patrol has a skill and knowledge level on par with other patrols around the North, he said.

Stanistreet said he felt very welcome in the small community.

"I really enjoyed my time there," said Stanistreet.