OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Trip reports. Gear reviews. Stories from the backcountry.
I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors but it wasn’t until my first backpacking trip that I really developed a passion for getting outside and off the grid. Now, I try to work as much outdoor time into my life as I can – whether that’s a quick snowshoe session in my own backyard, or a remote multi-day trek. I truly believe that getting outside is crucial to our wellbeing as humans. Unfortunately, our modern lives often leave us disconnected and cooped up indoors. Do yourself a favour and get out there.
Below you’ll find stories from my hiking, backpacking, paddling, camping, and other outdoor pursuits, as well as useful information, tips, and advice to help you find your own adventures in the great outdoors.
25+ USEFUL SKILLS FOR OUTDOOR ADVENTURISTS
There are a huge number of skills that come in handy when spending time outdoors. These can range from survival-type skills, to…
THE 10 ESSENTIALS FOR ANY OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Safety should be top of mind any time you head outside, whether you’re hiking, biking, backpacking, camping…
5 THINGS YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE EVERY OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Whether you’re heading out on a quick hike with friends or tackling a multi-day paddling trip solo, there are a few things you should do before every outdoor…
MY COMPLETE DIY FIRST AID KIT FOR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
I run through what’s in my first aid kit and important things to keep in mind when building out a first aid kit for yourself.
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO BACKPACKING
Want to try backpacking for the first time? Check out my tips, tricks, and gear recommendations for backpacking newbies!
ROAD TRIPPING WITH A DOG: THE ESSENTIALS
Are you planning a road trip with your dog? In my ~ totally biased ~ opinion, they make the best travel companions…
MSR ELIXIR 2 BACKPACKING TENT REVIEW
Let’s face it, backpacking tents are pricey. If you’re in the market for a new tent, you’re likely doing your research…
ROAD TRIPPING THE ICEFIELDS PARKWAY WITH DOGS
Alberta’s Icefields Parkway is considered to be one of the world’s most scenic drives, so it was a no-brainer to include it as part of our…
BACKPACKING THE SALTERY BAY LOOP ON THE SUNSHINE COAST TRAIL
The aptly named Sunshine Coast Trail runs 180 km along British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast – from Sarah’s Point in the…
WELL, THAT WAS FUN: A DECADE IN REVIEW
Always a sucker for an arbitrary moment of significance, I thought it would be fun to look back at the past decade as we turn our calendars over to the 2020s.
ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS
Hitting the road soon? Whether you’re on a long day trip or heading off on a weeks-long adventure, this list of road trip essentials…
JETBOIL ZIP COOKING SYSTEM REVIEW
I’ve been using the Jetboil Zip cooking system for years now and thought I’d share my thoughts on it here. If you’re in the market for…
FINDING A NEW PASSION IN FLY FISHING – AN INTERVIEW WITH ROCHELLE
I’ve got something a little different on the blog today – an interview! My niece Rochelle recently became the first female member…
HIKING IN JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK: A ONE-DAY ITINERARY
Hiking in Joshua Tree National Park has been on my wish list for some time now so on a recent trip to Palm Springs we decided…
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO: SNOWSHOEING
In my never-ending quest to find a way to enjoy the winter months, I’ve been making an effort at getting outside more during the deep freeze…
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK PHOTO ESSAY
Joshua Tree National Park has been on my hiking wish list for a long time so, on a recent trip to Palm Springs, we…
HOW NOT TO PLAN A PADDLING TRIP
Anyone who knows me knows I’m a planner. My control freak tendencies cause me to go into Google overdrive once I have…
GALATEA CREEK TRAIL TRIP REPORT: BACKPACKING TO LILLIAN LAKE CAMPGROUND
The Galatea Creek Trail is located within Alberta’s Kananaskis Country, just a little over an hour’s drive from Calgary…
CHIEF WHITECAP TRIP REPORT: PADDLING FROM OUTLOOK TO SASKATOON
The Chief Whitecap Waterway is a water-based section of the Trans Canada Trail which runs from the Gardiner Dam at Lake Diefenbaker…
CEDAR STRIP CANOE BUILD: PLANS, PREP, AND PROGRESS
One of my goals for 2018 is to build a cedar strip canoe. I wanted to document the process here in case anyone is…
HOW TO SURVIVE A SASKATCHEWAN WINTER
It’s no secret that I’m no fan of winter. I whine about it every chance I get – which I come by honestly, since complaining about the…
2018 GOAL SETTING
As part of my 2018 goal-setting process, I’ve been working on a to-do list of sorts. Basically a massive list, broken down into…
THE BEST (AND WORST) OF 2017
I’ve been spending the last few days looking back on 2017 – thinking about what worked, what didn’t, and what I would change in…
BACKPACKING SOLO – WHAT’S UP WITH HIKING ALONE?
Sitting around the backcountry campground’s communal cooking area, I struck up a conversation with three middle-aged men…
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO: HIKING
So, you want to start hiking but don’t know where to start? This post will help you with the very basic first steps to getting out on…
KANANASKIS COUNTRY TRIP REPORT
I recently posted a photo essay of my 3-day backpacking trip in Alberta’s Kananaskis Country. But I wanted to do up a trip report with a few…
BACKPACKING IN KANANASKIS COUNTRY: A PHOTO ESSAY
I recently spent three days in Alberta’s Kananaskis Country on my first solo backpacking adventure. It was a pretty amazing experience…
AND I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES…
I carefully picked my way down the steep side trail and stepped over a mound of rotting driftwood. I stumbled down onto the…
LEARNING TO LOVE WINTER, OR AT LEAST HATE IT A LITTLE LESS
Anyone who knows me knows I am not a fan of winter. I usually spend about 12 seconds enjoying the first snowfall of the season and…
HIKING THE CHILKOOT TRAIL – RESOURCES
Are you thinking of hiking the Chilkoot Trail? Or in the process of planning and preparing for a Chilkoot Trail hike? Well, you’ve come to…
THE CONCLUSION – DAY 5 ON THE CHILKOOT TRAIL
I plopped down on the bench outside the church, taking it all in. The air was fresh and cool, yet comfortable. Only the lightest breeze…
PULLING ME BACK IN – DAY 4 ON THE CHILKOOT TRAIL
Waking up in Happy Camp, the weather hadn’t changed much overnight. Fog continued to blanket the landscape and a cold wind drove…
FACING MY FEARS – DAY 3 ON THE CHILKOOT TRAIL
Starting out, under cloudy skies and a light drizzle, the trail out of Sheep Camp quickly moved from thick forest to sparser alpine terrain…
IS CRYING ALLOWED? – DAY 2 ON THE CHILKOOT TRAIL
The dirt trail, winding its way through towering trees and across flowing streams, had been taking us up and down all day. At 8.4 km…
BEAUTY AND BEAR SCAT – DAY 1 ON THE CHILKOOT TRAIL
“Watch out, another pile of scat here,” I called back to Mark, who was a few steps behind me on the muddy trail. It was the fifth we…
HIKING THE CHILKOOT TRAIL
Spanning 53 kilometers/33 miles, two countries, and centuries of history, the Chilkoot Trail offers a hike to remember…
2016 IN PHOTOS
Here’s a brief recap of our year, and some my favorite photos of the past 12 months.