C A N A D I A N 
HIGHLANDER 
Backpacking

Biography 

Rat lake is a lesser known lake located south within the treeline of Prairie creek. It sits within the geographical & ecological region of the foothills just before the front range of the mountains.  

 

The lake sits within a drainage muskeg & is surrounded by a predominantly coniferous mixedwood forest at its waterline. 

 

Geographical elevations.

- Rat Lake - 1140m  

 

Backpacking.

Rat Lake trail length: 0.2 km  

Basecamp trail length: 0.5 km  

Basecamp 

Rat lake’s basecamp is situated on the west end of the lake about .5 km within the treeline on the elevated lower foothill. This area is ideal for its dry deadfall, richer vegetation & protection from rain, snow & wind.

Angling 

Rat lake is a mesotrophic lake located within the foothills. 

Perimeter size of 1< 11 (250m x 250m) 

 

Fish Species 

• Brook Trout - 2 lbs > 

• Tiger Trout - 2 lb > 

 

Summer season angling - May - October 

Winter season ice fishing - November - March 

 

Summer season fly fishing 

Hatch seasons - May - June / July - September 

 

See Inventory for more details on Angling specifications.

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Flora

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In order of determining edible uses of vegetation, medical practices & precautions, knowing the regional biomes are essential. 

There are 3 regions in the perimeter of Rat. 

 

- Foothills 

The lower foothills consist of predominantly coniferous dense treeline & rolling elevations. The most variety of vegetation will be found within these regions. The base ground consists of moss or grass with lots of herbs & shrubs throughout the summer season. 

 

- Muskeg 

The muskegs are lower grounds between lower foothills that consist of poorly drained waterways, resulting in a marshy terrain. Vegetation is more limited within these areas & are home to many ferns & larches & very tall grasses. 

 

- Waterline 

The waterline is Rat lake & all biotic life within the lake. This waterline in particular is the scene of a drainage muskeg pooling up with water after the snow melts & during rainfall resulting in a large depth center of the lake. 

 

Identified species 

• White Spruce 

• Lodgepole Pine 

• Trembling Aspen 

• Tamarack 

• Common Labrador Tea 

 

See Inventory for more details on Flora specifications. 

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Bushcraft

Wood crafting, shoveling & fire management all take place within the basecamp. If a basecamp is not set, bushcrafting is an essential way to create a new camp. 

 

Forest biography 

• Spruce wood. 

• Pine wood. 

• Aspen wood.

• Birch wood. 

• Larch wood. 

 

Basecamp Fortitudes

• Wood crafted angled shelter. 

• Cooking stand.

 

Treeline density - 4/5 (dense)

Essential Tools. 
- Hatchet  or Chopping axe. 
- Saw blade.
- Army shovel.

- Firestarter multi-tool. 

 

See inventory for more details on Bushcraft specifications. 

Scouting

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Scouting the perimeter of basecamp, a waterline or a nearby mountain is essential to knowing what’s going on in the area. However scouting takes preparation & knowing recognisable geographical waypoints. 

 

Rat lake has a very dense forest surrounding the waterline making scouting more difficult. 

 

Waypoints 

• Rat lake • 1140m