Blog

My Least Favourite Thru-Hiking Chore

Posted on: Tuesday April 13, 2021 Hiking Great Divide Trail

In 2016, I applied for a PCT permit during the second round of applications. I didn’t bother with the first round, since I was sitting on a beach in Puerto Rico and I was reasonably sure that it wouldn’t fill up. I got my first choice of date. I would have been able to get my second choice too, and my third.

How to Survive Quarantine

Posted on: Wednesday April 7, 2021 Gear Lists bikepacking

We’re about to head back into stay at home orders here in Ontario. Once again, this means no camping, despite the fact that we normally see fewer people than when we walk Chester around the block. I struggle with being stuck at home at the best of times, but lockdowns are hard. I thought I’d share a little about what I did to keep busy during the first lockdown last year.

Frontenac

Posted on: Wednesday March 24, 2021 Hiking Stories Winter

It’s a different world in Frontenac from our hike two weeks ago. The snow has melted, leaving a thin sliver of ice running down the trail. Shake’nBake and I swap our snowshoes for microspikes. My bag is full and heavy- not with food for once, but instead with all the layers I’d normally wear over my t-shirt. It’s too warm for even a sweater.

Winter Camping Tips

Posted on: Wednesday March 17, 2021 Winter Tips

Spring is springing here in Canada. The snow is melting, and it won’t be long until the mosquitos are out. We’ve spent the winter practising our snow camping. We still have a lot to learn, but we’ve come a long way from this time last year. I thought I’d share some general tips, mostly for my own benefit when winter comes around again.

Training Levels

Posted on: Tuesday March 9, 2021 Hiking Stories Winter

It’s dark when we reach the crown land at the edge of Algonquin Park. No worries, we have headlamps. We strap on our snowshoes and head to our summer spot on the edge of a gravel pit. Wind whips the treetops above, and the snow blows up, powder glittering in the beam of my headlamp. It’s only -10c, but the windchill bites through every layer I own. By the time we’ve stamped down our sleeping area, my fingers are numb.

Don't Be a Dummy: Do a Dummy Check!

Posted on: Wednesday March 3, 2021 Hiking Tips Stories

It may sound obvious to check behind you for forgotten items, but so many hikers learn the importance of the dummy check the hard way. Learn from our mistakes, and you’ll never have to replace lost gear.

Minus 22 Degrees: Crown Land Winter Camping

Posted on: Wednesday February 24, 2021 Hiking Winter

About an hour after we leave the car, my jaw unclenches and my shoulders drop. I feel the tension start to burn away, like early morning mist. It’s been a long month and a half stuck in lockdown, unable to leave the house. But now we can camp again. It doesn’t matter that the forecast is bitterly cold, or that no one has packed down the trails. We’re finally outside, where we belong.

How to Find the Best Campsite in Algonquin Park

Posted on: Wednesday February 17, 2021 Canoeing

In Algonquin Park, you don’t book a specific spot. You book a lake, and can camp at any free site. One of my favourite things about Algonquin is exploring by canoe, and discovering beautiful campsites. Follow this advice and you too can find your new favourite campsite.

Want to Go for a Walk? Tips for Thru-Hiking with Dogs

Posted on: Saturday February 6, 2021 Tips Long Trail Hiking

Chester and I thru-hiked Vermont’s Long Trail in 2019. Chester is a nine pound Biewer Terrier: hardly your typical trail dog. But every day on the trail was the best day of his life.

Winter Adventure Gear List

Posted on: Tuesday February 2, 2021 Gear Lists

This is the gear I use for winter camping in Canada. It’s heavy in comparison to my thru hiking set up. But it’s warm, so it’s worth the weight.