2021 Archive

How often should you take a break while hiking? How long should your break be? We broke it down to show you the optimal break strategy to hike more miles in a day. Break Time Optimization   I have always wondered if longer breaks are better than shorter breaks for long-distance hiking. There are so many variables on the trail it is difficult to determine optimal break time with any accuracy. When you are hiking the terrain changes, you must stop to refill water, the weight of

The average person takes 2,000 steps to travel one mile. Factor in the up and down of a hiking trail and the roots and rocks you’ll encounter along the way, and that number only gets higher. With every step, the right socks play a critical role in keeping your feet comfortable and blister-free throughout your journey. To choose the best hiking socks for your trip, it’s important to consider these four things:   Sock height:  The right height sock protects against abrasion wit

Winter is over, and temperatures are starting to rise, but don't be fooled! Hypothermia can happen in the summer, spring, fall or winter. Learn how to prevent and treat a dropping core body temperature. Cold can be more than uncomfortable: Under the right circumstances, it can turn into hypothermia, a potentially-fatal lowering of the human body’s core temperature. It can happen in summer in the Smokies just as easily as in winter in the Rockies, and it can affect anyone from

Forget bears and lightning: The most common and dangerous backcountry hazard is a river crossing, especially during the spring melt, when backcountry waterways run high and rough. Follow these tips to learn to do it safely. Mark crossings  as you plan your route, and call ahead to check water levels. Carry a tide chart  if you’ll be hiking coastlines.   Look for a different place to cross if you’re in deeper than your knees; scout downstream  if you encounter rapids, waterfal

Trail guide and cellphone and water in bottles, Flashlight just in case your hike is a dawdle, High energy snacks secured with drawstrings, These are a few of our essential things… (can’t you just hear Maria von Trapp’s voice?)   This week, I decided to post an article about the necessities of winter hiking, as it is a very different challenge than summer hiking. So, with that said, take time to read this helpful article... A walk through a pine tree forest in crunchy snow

A few weeks back, I posted the article, How to Store a Tent. So, falling in line with that, and since this is the season that most of you have your sleeping bag stored away... Those of us who love to backpack often develop a secondary obsession: the love of a sleeping bag that stuffs down to almost nothing. When it comes to storing your sleeping bag between trips, though, it’s important to free it from stuff-sack confinement.   Properly storing your sleeping bag at home is b

That scenic path you’re hiking didn’t spring up out of nowhere. We talked to trail designers to find out what goes into creating a hike. Jed Talbot wakes up early in the morning, cocooned in a sleeping bag. He gets up, stretches, and heads out of his tent to take in the sunrise and the expanse of forest below him. After taking a few breaths of fresh air and pausing to listen to the birds’ dawn chorus, he gets out his grill and cooks breakfast.   Sounds like the perfect morni

This weeks article is not so much an article as much it is an advertisement, but it's a GREAT advertisement. I found this while researching possible future excursions and found it to be too good not to share with everyone. The photos, and the humour is awesome. Oh, and after seeing this, you will add it to your bucket list, so procede with the knowledge that this is going to cost you... Enjoy! Proceed with caution. Because, while the Northwest Territories is basically the bes

If you're a cycler, a runner, a long distance or multi-day hiker, or even just enjoy the occassional long walk, then you have no doubt experienced chaffing at some point. It is a very painful situation and can take days to heal. On long multi-day hikes, it can be the difffernce between enjoying the trip or just trying to rush through to the end. Here is a great article to help you control and stop chaffing. If you haven’t experienced chafing during a run or bike ride, conside

This week's Good to Know is an article I found on Popular Science. It is extremely informative, and I learned quite a bit. I am guilty of tossing my, "thought to be biodegradable food scraps", but after reading this article, I have learned that I need to pack out everything, apple cores, banana peels, ect. Take a look... You’re out on a hike, or maybe cruising down a country road, snacking on an apple, a banana, or a handful of nuts. When you’re finished, all that’s left is a

Upon returning home from a big adventure, it can be tempting to plop your gear down and not deal with it for a while. But taking the time to unpack and put items away properly will help ensure you get years of faithful service out of your equipment. This is especially true for your tent: Improper storage can quickly lead to mildew growth and material breakdown. To help prevent issues like these, simply follow two key steps for storing your tent: Make sure your tent is complet

Consider Signing Up for a Class or a Tour Even though it’s a simple activity that you can do on your own, going with an instructor or a guide on your first snowshoe sojourn will make things even easier. Snowshoeing Tours in Ontario, Canada Buy or Rent Suitable Snowshoes Wet, compact snow is best handled by smaller snowshoes (with less flotation) than you need in powder snow, which requires larger snowshoes (with more flotation). A snowshoe's "recommended load" refers to yo