NAC Newsletter 201 - 300

While spending time in the backcountry or even urban hiking trails there are many dangers you need to be weary of. Here in Ontario we are fairly lucky that most of these dangers are not life threatening, yet they can be very annoying or scary. The most annoying of these dangers would be urushiol (u-ROO-she-ol). You probably know it better as Poison Ivy, Poison Oak or Poison Sumac. It can make your life very uncomfortable for many weeks, so let's learn how to avoid it shall we

Those of you that have joined NAC on any adventure in the past have probably heard my "NO COTTON" speech and thought I was crazy. But the old addage, "Cottom Kills" may sound dramatic, but it is a very fair statement as it has been proven numerous times in the backcountry. Cotton has caused many hikers to lose body heat, faint and even perish in the backcountry. This week, I have chosen an article that will give you a better idea of why you need to steer clear of cotton (and

Many of you have joined NAC for one or more indoor climbing sessions. Those of you that truly enjoy it may want to begin to transition to outdoor climbing now that the warmer weather is upon us. In order to do so, you will need two things...   Knowledge: outdoor climbing is so much more dangerous than indoor climbing, and therefore you will need to learn quite a bit more before heading to the local crag.   A Rack: A rack, or all the gear you would need to bring with you for c

For the past few Newsletters we have been discussing backpacking gear and trying to help our readers choose the right gear and provide information on how to care for that gear. This week we will continue on with that trend with information on how to choose a proper backpack for you and what features you may want to consider. As always, it's NAC's hope that we can help both new and experienced backpackers take on the challenges of the backcountry fully prepared both in equipme

While exploring the backcountry, proper nutrition is instrumental to your safety and enjoyment. In order to get that nutrition, a good all around cook system is absolutely necessary. From boiling water for easy cook meals to gourmet backcountry cooking, a proper and reliable cook system will make all the difference. There are a lot of options out there, and they can all be narrowed down to four basic systems. This week, we'll take a look at the pro's and con's of each. A stov

A good quality sleeping bag or quilt is essential in the back country. As a part of a sleep system, it will keep you warm throughout the night and allow you to get a good nights sleep so you are well rested for the next day's hike. There are many different shapes and styles of sleeping bag with all different kinds of insulation. Each style and insulation type must be cared for properly, but all have a basic form of care. This week, let's take a brief look at Sleeping Bag care

Your tent is your source of shelter on the trail and so it's extremely important to make sure it is functional and kept in good repair. Not only should you practice setting up your tent before the season begins, but give it a good once over, making sure that there are no tears, the poles are sturdy and strong and the zippers move freely without snagging. Check out this week's article on tent care and become a well prepared backpacker. A good tent can provide you with years of

Last week, we took a look at sleeping bags. We learned a lot and we are ready to go get the right sleeping bag. However, a sleeping bag is useless without a proper sleeping pad. A sleeping pad supplies 40% of the insulation for your sleeping system, and no matter how good your sleeping bag is, you will still be cold without the proper sleeping pad. So let's dive in, shall we... Just because you aren’t sleeping in a bed, that doesn’t mean you can’t be comfortable while camping

The backpacking season is once again upon us. With that, it's time to get out all that gear that you packed and stored away last season and get it ready for this season. A good backpacker would have properly cleaned all their gear before putting it away, but we all know that doesn't always happen. And the worst culprit is typically the sleeping bag. This week, we are going to take a look into the best practices regarding sleeping bag care. Many of us have a warm and cozy rela