Section 13 EO C390.08 – USE BLAZING TECHNIQUES
Resources needed for the delivery of this lesson are listed in the lesson specification located in A-CR-CCP-803/PG-001, Chapter 4. Specific uses for said resources are identified throughout the instructional guide within the TP for which they are required.
Review the lesson content and become familiar with the material prior to delivering the lesson.
Blaze a route using grass and rocks for the demonstration in TP 2.
Prepare a route that is 100 m long for the cadets to use during the activity in TP 3.
Photocopy the handout located at Annex R for each cadet.
N/A.
An interactive lecture was chosen for TP 1 to present basic material on blazing.
Demonstration was chosen for TP 2 as it allows the instructor to explain and demonstrate blazing techniques.
Performance was chosen for TP 3 as it provides an opportunity for the cadet to practice blazing techniques under supervision.
N/A.
By the end of this lesson the cadet shall have used blazing techniques.
It is important for the cadets to know how to use blazing techniques in a survival situation. Blazing techniques can be used when a cadet leaves a site to find water or build a signal fire and needs to find their way back. Blazing techniques may also help searchers find a survival site.
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Teaching point 1
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Explain the Reasons for Blazing
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Time: 5 min
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Method: Interactive Lecture
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Leaving and Returning to the Site
When searching for water or finding higher ground to build a signal fire, the survivor may have to walk for a kilometre or more. Blazing will help to establish the route. If one loses their sense of direction they can follow it back to the survival site.
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Most trails are spotted (marked) coming and going so that they can be seen from both directions of travel. |
Acting as a Guide to a Ground Search and Rescue (SAR) Party
Signs in the area will act as a clue to any presence or past presence and the direction markers will help rescuers follow someone’s trail.
Why are trails spotted (marked) in two directions?
What does blazing help to establish?
What do signs in the area act as a clue to?
Most trails are spotted (marked) coming and going so that they can be seen from both directions of travel.
Blazing will help to establish the route. If one loses their sense of direction they can follow it back to the survival site.
Signs in the area will act as a clue to any presence or past presence and the direction markers will help rescuers follow someone’s trail.
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Teaching point 2
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Explain and Demonstrate Blazing Techniques
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Time: 10 min
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Method: Demonstration
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Blazing. Signals left behind if leaving the scene of a crash or moving to and from, or abandoning a survival site. These may include any of the following:
A large arrow shape made to indicate the direction in which one is travelling. It will be visible from the air and other direction markers which can be interpreted at ground level. Direction markers could include:
rocks or debris placed in an arrow shape,
a stick left in a crooked support, with the top pointing in the direction taken,
grass tied in an overhand knot with the end hanging in the direction followed,
forked branches laid with the fork pointing in the direction followed,
arrowhead-shaped notches cut out of tree trunks indicating a turn,
small rocks set upon larger rocks, with small rocks beside, and
a cross of sticks or stones meaning “not this way”.
Trail-blazing signals, not only for people to follow but to establish a route to retrace and guide someone if they lose their sense of direction.
In case rescuers find the survival site while the lost person is away, written messages left in containers with details of planned movements. Hang them from tripods or trees and draw attention to them with markers.
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Show the cadets the previously blazed trail with grass and rocks. Allow the cadets to ask questions. |
To blaze a trail with branches:
1.Find a route to follow for 100 m.
2.Gather branches which are already on the ground (deadfall or debris).
3.Create blazes by placing the branches along the route for 100 m.
4.At each created blaze, examine it from the point of view of returning along that trail. If necessary, create another blaze that will direct the person back along the trail.
5.Return the branches to the environment, when finished.
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Demonstrate blazing with branches as the cadets observe. |
What can direction markers include?
What is blazing?
What should be left at the survival site?
Direction markers may include:
rocks or debris placed in an arrow shape,
a stick left in a crooked support, with the top pointing in the direction taken,
grass tied in an overhand knot with the end hanging in the direction followed,
forked branches laid with the fork pointing in the direction followed,
arrowhead-shaped notches cut out of tree trunks indicating a turn,
small rocks set upon larger rocks, with small rocks beside, and
a cross of sticks or stones meaning “not this way”.
Signals left behind if you leave the scene of a crash or abandon a survival site.
In case rescuers find the survival site while the lost person is away, written messages should be left in containers with details of planned movements.
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Teaching point 3
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Have Cadets Blaze a Trail
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Time: 10 min
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Method: Performance
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Have cadets blaze a trail using branches. |
The objective of this activity is to have the cadets blaze a trail using branches.
Handout of blazing techniques located at Annex R.
A route that is 100 m long.
1.Distribute the handout located at Annex R to each cadet.
2.Have the cadets:
gather branches which are already on the ground (deadfall or debris);
place the branches along the route for 100 m;
turn the branches around when returning to the starting point; and
return the branches to the environment when the activity is complete.
Ensure the cadets stay in the designated area during this TP.
The cadets’ participation in the activity will serve as the confirmation of this TP.
The cadets’ participation in blazing a trail will serve as the confirmation of this lesson.
N/A.
N/A.
It is important for the cadets to know how to use blazing techniques in a survival situation. Blazing techniques can be used when the survivor leaves their site to find water or build a signal fire and needs to find their way back. Blazing techniques also help searchers find a survival site.
N/A.
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A3-016 |
B-GG-217-001/PT-001 Director Air Operations and Training. (1983). Down But Not Out. Ottawa, ON: Department of National Defence. |
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C0-111 |
(ISBN 978-0-9740820-2-8) Tawrell, P. (2006). Camping and Wilderness Survival: The Ultimate Outdoors Book (2nd ed.). Lebanon, NH: Leonard Paul Tawrell. |
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