2021 Archive

In my many years of hiking, backpacking and rock climbing, I have met many many awesome people on trails all over North America. And some of those awesome people had some very weird notions of how the world in the backcountry worked. I may have even believed a few of the myths myself. So today, let's look at some of those myths, are they real? Let's find out! Not everything you learned about nature is true. Go ahead and forget these eight misconceptions. The things we learn w

Leave No Trace ethics are a standard which all those travelling or visiting the outdoors should know and practice. Visiting the outdoors is a priveledge earned with a little knowledge and a lot of respect.   Leave No Trace has 7 easy to follow rules, so let's take a closer look at those rules and commit them to memory before heading out on your next adventure! If you spend much time in the great outdoors, you’re likely to hear the phrase “Leave No Trace” as often as you hear

This will be the last article in our hydration and water treatment series. I feel if you have taken the time to read all five articles, you will be prepared and able to take care of all your hydration needs in the backcountry.   This final article will give you the guidance you need when deciding which time of filtration you want to use and purchasing your new filter. Water treatment is important to maintaining your health in the outdoors. Not all water sources are unsafe, bu

Last week we spoke of the importance of hydration and how to keep yourself properly hydrated, which is great, if you actually have access to clean drinking water. But what about those times that you don't?   This week we will dive into water, how to clean and purify it for drinking while on the trail or deep in the back country! Why all the fuss about water treatment outdoors? The answer is that there’s no easy way to tell whether or not that pristine-looking stream a few hun

Not much is more important than proper hydration while on the trail and in the backcountry. But it's not always the easiest task when you have uncertain water sources, limited carrying capacity and more working against you. Take a look at this weeks article for proper hydrating techniques, tips and tricks to stay hydrated and the risks associated with improper hydration. The adult human body is about 60 percent water, and even light exercise can deplete that percentage, leavi

Anyone who has hiked with me knows, Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke is difficult to deal with and, quite frankly, scares the s***t out of me while I'm guiding. With the extreme heat we have been facing this season, these ailments are on the rise. Hikers, Climbers and Backpackers are especially susceptible. Being in the outdoors for long periods of time and off the beaten path, far away from help and medical equipment make it especially difficult to care for someone with such

I have always known it to be called "Toxic Water Syndrome", but here, in this article, they refer to it as "Water Intoxication (Hyponatremia). Well, no matter what name it goes by, it is very dangerous, especially during the summer months, and we should all know how to prevent it! Hyponatremia, or water intoxication, isn’t a well-known hazard in the outdoors. But it’s more common than you think. In 1985, South African researchers reported a strange new syndrome of “water into

This week, we look at the final article in our orienteering segment. Although it will only affect a few of you in your life, those that choose to hike coastal trails must absolutely know how to read a tide table and plan around the tides. It could literally save you from losing all your gear, or worse, drowning! Whether you’re a coastal hiker, fisher or mariner, it’s important to know how to read a tide table for safe navigation. Understanding tide heights and when high or lo

We have now learned everything we need to know in order to find navigate a hike using a map and compass. The basics that all outdoor adventurers should know. But now let's look at some modern technology, the GPS Unit. Personally, I have been using a GPS Unit since 2009 (and yes, I still carry a map and compass at all times). I currently have two units, the Garmin GPSMaps 64c, the flagship in the Garmin outdoor line-up, and a Garmin InReach GPS/Satellite Communicator. I only c

Last week, you learned the very important task of using a Baseplate Compass to do things such as orientating your map, taking a bearing off a map, obtainign a bearing in the field and just basically getting to where you need to be. But you can't do any of that if you don't know how to adjust the declination on your specific compass. And so, with that, enjoy this week's article; Anyone learning navigation soon hears the somewhat confounding words “magnetic declination.” You’ll

We spent a few weeks looking at Wilderness First Aid and learning how to deal with various first aid issues. Last week we began learning about map reading. So now, we will carry on with the next chapter in orienteering, and probably the most important part... Finding your campsite, a spectacular viewpoint or your way back out of the wilderness won’t always be simple tasks. That’s why a magnetized compass, a paper map and the navigational knowhow to use them, are part of the T

For the past few weeks, we have looked at a series of six articles pertaining to Wilderness First Aid. In my opinion Wilderness First Aid is extremely important. Especially if you get lost! So, for the next few weeks, we will focus on not getting lost. Welcome to the first of five articles on staying on course! You probably know that a magnetized compass and a paper map are part of the Ten Essentials. Learning to read that paper topo map (short for topographic map) is every b

P.S.A.: Some of the images contained in this article may give some of the more sensitive readers the HeeBeeGeeBees!   As you may have noticed, the last six newsletters had articles with a basis in wilderness first aid. Today will be the seventh and final article on the topic. Not to say we won't visit it again in the future, as we should always stay in practice when it comes to first aid, but it will be the final first aid article for this season. And so, without further ado.

Blisters can put a quick end to any hiking or backpacking trip. Your feet are your only source of mobility while hiking the backcountry, so it's especially important to protect them. But hard as we may try, sometimes blisters sneak up on us. Follow along to see how to prevent, and in those unfortunate situations, treat blisters and carry on with your hike. The first blister probably occurred shortly after the first humans strapped something on their feet to protect them from

Nothing is worse than waking up terribly sick on day 3 of a 7 day trek. Knowing you have to drag yourself and a pack full of gear for 25kms when you feel completely drained is the absolute worst. You just want to wrap yourself in your sleeping bag like a burrito and stay in your tent for a week. But since we can't do that, here is a great article to help you through it. Getting sick at home is bad enough, but catching a bug in the backcountry, miles away from your cozy bed, c

The next in the series of First Aid articles deals with injured ankles on the trail. One of the most common and debilitating injuries on the trail. Knowing how to deal with a sprained ankle is extrememly important, but knowing how to prevent one is even more so important. After reading this article, take time to pactice a few of the techniques! Your ankle joints allow your feet to move this way and that so you can run along rocky trails, cruise down snowy slopes and jam your

In following with the First Aid topic of the last few Newsletters, I have decided to continue on this week with an article that will help you deal with some of the more common and dangerous injuries you will most likely come across during your journeys. A life lived outdoors will inevitably include a few wounds (hopefully only minor ones). Injuries such as little cuts or deeper gouges, minor scrapes or larger abrasions are fairly common among outdoor adventurers, so knowing h

I have always felt that Wilderness First Aid is one of the most important pieces of knowledge you can bring with you on the trail. Accidents happen, more often that we like to think, and in the wilderness even the smallest accident can ruin your trip or even become fatal if you don't know how to deal with it. This article will offer you some of the knowledge you need, but as with any knowledge, remember to practice these techniques as well. This is a long one, but worth the r

If you’re headed outdoors, you should always carry either a prepackaged first-aid kit or a DIY kit that you can create using our list as a guide. Knowing how to use the items in a first-aid kit is as important as having them, so consider taking a training course. This list is a good starting point. It also includes emergency essentials that you might carry separately from a kit. You'll also need to include any prescription medications your group needs, as well as additional s

Camping season is so close we can almost taste the s’mores, smell the forest, and feel the morning breeze. You better believe we’re counting down the days, so we want to spread the excitement with a contest and plenty of pre-season tips. Book your campsites early MEC is proud to call Parks Canada one of our community partners, and we’re excited to announce that Parks Canada camping reservations will open in April 2021 (for trips between May 2021 and March 2022) – details and