LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The challenge of paddling across the Mackenzie River on a homemade raft was all part of a recent on-the-land experience for Canadian Rangers in Fort Simpson.

Ranger Trevor Kjeldsli, left, Ranger Chris Kingsbury, recruit Marion Kikoak, Cpl. Derek Erasmus, Ranger Christina Holman and Master Cpl. Perry Rowe stand with their rifles during a parade that concluded the Fort Simpson Canadian Rangers' patrol on July 10. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Six members of the Fort Simpson Canadian Rangers participated in a five-day patrol with Sgt. Guy Noel, a ranger instructor. The patrols allow rangers to practise training and skills that they need in order to be ready on short-notice to do tasks like participate in search and rescues, he said.

"We need them because they know the land – they adapt quickly to the military," said Noel.

This patrol was also about learning what each ranger is capable of and how the Fort Simpson rangers work as a team. Noel, who was recently assigned as the village's ranger instructor, said he was watching to see who had particular skills, including navigation and first aid, and how they reacted when given a job to do.

One of the biggest challenges of the patrol came on July 8. The rangers, who were camped across the Mackenzie River from the mouth of the Trout River – an approximate 3.5-hour boat trip from Fort Simpson – were challenged to build a raft with only lumber harvested from the forest and rope and then paddle it, carrying a large rock, across the Mackenzie.

"Everybody has different background-skills and all that came out," said Ranger Sgt. Sandy Kidd, the officer in charge of the Fort Simpson patrol.

During the challenge that took about 6.5 hours to complete, including two hours of paddling, the rangers had to communicate and work together on the raft design. It revealed the different capacities and assets people have, Kidd said.

"You don't really know people until you have to deal with a situation," he said.

Noel, Ranger Master Cpl. Perry Rowe, Cpl. Derek Erasmus and Ranger Trevor Kjeldsli paddled the raft and the approximate 200-pound rock across the river while the other rangers followed in a motorboat. Water came over most of the raft, but they made it.

"I'm really impressed," Noel said about the overall performance of the rangers during the patrol.

"Not a lot of people, but good people."

During the patrol the rangers also made emergency shelters and trigger traps, a type of snare, and practised using GPS units. Kidd and Noel hid three items in the bush that the other rangers had to find after programming the co-ordinates into their GPS.

The patrol went really well, said Kidd. Everyone was respectful, helpful and willing to learn.

The Fort Simpson rangers' next patrol will be in January or February using snowmobiles. Noel said that he hopes to see more rangers participate. The patrol already has three new recruits.