NAC Adventure Blog

As I mentioned above, we have just returned from completing the Northern Traverse in Gros Morne National Park. It was the most difficult trek I have ever completed and quite frankly, it kicked the s**t out of me. Moving at only 1.9km/h for most of the trek, it took us 9 hours straight to complete our 12-14km days. Recovering from such a hike is a long process, and it's not always easy, so this week, let's look at some tips for recovering from a long hike or thru-trek. Video p

We are only seven days away from the official end of Summer and the Fall hiking will begin. As always, you will always pack the 10 essentials for any hike, but in the Fall, you need to be prpepared for a much wider scope of weather and terrain. This week, take a few minutes to watch this short but very informative video to make sure you are prepared for all possibilities on a Autumn hike. Video posted to YouTube  by NYSDEC , posted on October 7, 2022 N.A.C. NEWS (Sunday, Sept

In a eight days, NAC will be heading to Gros Morne National Park to guide 8 brave and excited backpackers through one of Canada's most remote backcountry experiences. On our first day, we will be fording a deep and wide river to get to our first camp before climbing up into the Long Range mountains where we will spend the next 5 days and 4 nights. River crossings can be very difficult and dangerous, currents and cold waters can quickly swallow you and push you deeper down str

Did you know Canada has the longest coastline in the world! At 224 000 kms, it is completely unrivaled. We have ben talking a lot about orienteering and navigation and here in Canada, many of our hikes require a detailed knowledge of Ocean Tides. Some trails are impassible during high tide, and it can be extremely dangerous to be on a trail when the tide comes in. Reading tide chartsis an absolutely necessary skill, so let's dive in... Whether you’re a coastal hiker, fisher o

Knowing how to read a topo map and use a compass to navigate the backcountry is absolutely vital in wilderness expeditions. However in the last 20 years or so, Handheld GPS units have become very popular and in the last 5 years many have come to rely on smart phones for navigation. (NAC never, ever recommends relying on a smart phone for backcountry navigation!) Neither of these are a replacement for a map and compass. All backcountry travellers need to always carry a proper

If you have been keeping up with the most recent Adventure Weekly Newsletters, then you should now know how to read a Topographical map and how to use a compass. In order to use your compass with your Topo map, you're going to need to set the declination on your compass. It's a pretty straight forward task, but every comapss is a little different, so make sure you refer to the instructions that came with your compass. Then read this week's article to set up it up properly. An

Last week, if you read the article, you learned how to read a TOPO Map. A TOPO Map shows a lot of detail, but is useless for orienteering unless you have a proper compass and the knowledge to use it. So this week we will continue on along that path and learn how to properly use a compass to find your way home. 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

Orienteering is a lost art. The good old map and compass has gone the way of the Dodo and been replaced with high end GPS Handheld Devices, incredibly advanced GPS watches and the very unreliable smart phone that the majority of people use. And as many have learned, none of these are of any use when that battery runs low or it gets dropped from a cliff. I always encourage all hikers to carry a map and compass and take the time to learn how to use these devices efficiently. Ov

As I have mentioned a few times, I am fairly new to kayaking. I have a little experience from my youth and a few years back, NAC along with some club members visited our friends and NAC Partners at Ontario Sea Kayak Centre  for a Basic Sea Kayak lesson and Certification. As I am getting out on the water more, I am always looking for good sources to learn from. This week I will share two videos with you that I believe are very helpful.   10 Rules of Hiking Etiquette I Wish I’d

Each year more and more people are getting out and hitting the trails. As great as that is, many of them fail to get the information and education they need before doing so. Unprepared hikers can be dangerous to themselves and others. They may also ruin others experience in the outdoors and destroy trails and eco-systems without knowing they did so. So this week, let's watch this great video from Miranda Goes Outside  on proper trail etiquette.   Video by Miranda Goes Outside

Each summer approximately 6 million Canadians head out on Kayaking and Canoeing excursions all over the country, but many of them are very poorly prepared. The luck factor keeps many of them safe, but do you want to rely on luck alone? There is no substitute for knowledge, practice and being prepapred when it comes to paddling. Take a look a Rogers story, and learn from his experiences.   Roger is co-author of Sea Kayak Rescue, the Definitive Guide to Modern Reentry and Recov

Every year thousands of people decide to become backpackers. Some use guiding agencies, some spend much time nervously preparing by reading blogs and watching YouTube videos, and others just wing it. But one sure thing is, no matter how you decide to do it, you're going to make many mistakes and learn many valuable lessons. Making mistakes is how we learn to be better backpackers. I have certainly made my share! SOMETIMES IT’S JUST NOT YOUR DAY. If you’ve spent any time in th

We are all very much aware that water is life but in the backcountry obtaining clean drinking water is not always straight forward. We have rivers, streams, lakes and ponds, all of which are acceptable water sources, but may also very well be contaminated with deadly bacteria and viruses. Backpackers must use some sort of device to clean the water before consumption and there are a plethora of devices available on the market. All these devices can be broken down into two cate

Climbing is an amazing past time. It's a great form of exercise, teaches balance and coordination and is just over all fun. At the same time it's challenging for new comers. So challenging in fact that it tends to be a little discouraging for many. But with a few insights and a little practice, anyone can be a great climber and learn to truly enjoy it. Let's start with the most basic tips to make your climbing adventure more enjoyable. If you're new to rock climbing, learning

You or others may ask, "Why do you hike?" Well, hiking provides incredible exercise, refinement of skills and a great balance of physical and mental health. But it's much more than just that. It provides access to a world of amazing views, experiences and scenery that will enhance your quality of life, create long lasting memories and improve your general well-being. This week we will just scratch the surface on how hiking increase one's overall happiness. The benefits of hik

It's that time of year! Although ticks are out and about in all seasons, the warmer summer months increase their numbers and makes them more active. Contrary to popular belief, ticks do not jump, they are opportunistic. They hang out on leaves and branches, arms outreached waiting to latch on to passing prey, so avoiding ticks is as easy as avoiding shrubbery. As hikers, that's impossible, so let's look at the many ways to avoid ticks and the diseases they carry. Do ticks and

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