The Torres del Paine trek - which includes the O and W Circuits is nothing short of spectacular. These aren't easy multi-day hikes, especially with full backpacks but they sure are bucket list worthy. You are in for a treat if you head to this part of Patagonia to trek. It's time consuming researching the Torres del Paine trek - be it the O Circuit or the W circuit. I always had questions I could never…
I made a winter trip to Hokkaido - Japan's most northerly main island. Before I left I was warned by the group that invited me to be prepared for chilly temperatures. They obviously don't live in Calgary where chilly takes on quite a different meaning. Still I needed to put some thought into what to pack for Japan. Hokkaido, which is at the same latitude as Toronto, is famous for its spectacular mountain scenery, volcanoes,…
I went with my husband and friends to trek in Patagonia - with the goal to hike both the "O" Circuit in Chile's Torres del Paine National Park and to do a few day hikes in Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. I spent in excess of 30 hours researching, planning and preparing for this trek in Patagonia. From experience, here's what to pack and how to prepare for a trek in Patagonia. This post…
If you love the outdoors you don't want a short downpour, let alone a week of rain to stop you in your tracks. While rain might be less of an issue when it's warm outside, the right gear is essential when you're in a climate where hypothermia inducing temperatures are commonplace - cue the mountains and much of coastal Canada. Here's what to wear on rainy adventures. But first let me say that sometimes you get really…
If your teeth are chattering and you can only think about how cold you are, I guarantee you will be hard-pressed to enjoy the Northern Lights experience. Do you know what to wear on a Northern Lights trip? The right clothing can make or break Mother Nature's spectacle in the sky especially on a winter trip when temperatures can dip to -25°C and below. This post includes some affiliate links. If you make a qualifying purchase…
I travel a lot and what I most enjoy at the end of a flight, especially a long one, is walking off the plane with my carry-on knowing I don't have to wait for up to an hour to pick up a checked bag. On a two week trip to Morocco I went carry-on even though I planned a diversity of experiences including a two day backpacking trip, city walks, dusty off the beaten path…
Here's what you need to pack for a two to three week mountain trek where you'll be at altitude. Described is what I took for a three week mountain trek in the Zanskar region of the Indian Himalayas. Temperatures ranged from 20 - 25°C during the day and got to -10°C at night. There were multiple stream and river crossings, plenty of dust and numerous high altitude passes to deal with. A lot of thought…
If you're heading out self -supported on a multi-day cycling trip then you need to consider a few things. Are you planning to camp or stay in B&B's and hotels? How much weight do you want to carry? This packing list for a multi-day cycling trip is geared towards people who don't want to carry a lot and who are staying in accommodation other than tents. Adding camping equipment and a tent/sleeping bag likely means…
If you've got a kayaking trip planned, even for a day, then you'll appreciate this kayakers checklist - with roughly 100 items that you can't leave home without. The biggest difference between a short trip and a long trip, from my experience, is the amount of food and water I take. On longer trips I also take more repair gear. You need to be very organized if you're planning a multi-day kayaking trip. Sometimes the…
I visited Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island's Cumberland Peninsula at the end of June one year. Auyuittuq is an Inuktitut word meaning land that never melts. Normally I don't do adventure tours anymore figuring I have enough experience to do it on my own. But when a trip is remote and logistics are tough I am happy to leave the planning - especially meal planning to an outfit. But still packing was an issue.…