In short order I am heading off on a trip to Hokkaido - Japan's most northerly main island. I have been 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. Hokkaido, which is at the same latitude as Toronto, is famous for its spectacular mountain scenery, volcanoes, natural hot springs and ski areas. I am told that…
I'm heading to Patagonia this week 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 have spent in excess of 30 hours researching, planning and preparing for this trek in Patagonia. Four of us are doing it on our own and good information seems to be really hard to come by. Here's how to prepare for…
Have a look outside. Do you see snow? I do. In some parts of Canada like Alberta we've skipped a season and arrived in winter. It looks and feels like late November which can mean only one thing. It's time to get serious about prepping for winter. When it comes to clothes and footwear these 15 must-have items will keep you warm and stylish. They won't change the season but at least if you go…
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. So what is the best wet weather gear for adventures in the rain? First let me say…
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. 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. Where I've seen the Northern Lights I've had the privilege of seeing…
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 my recent 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…
Here's what you need to pack for a two to three week mountain trek where you'll be at altitude. This 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 list 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 you'll have to carry a set…
If you've got a kayaking trip planned, even for a day, then you'll appreciate this kayaker's 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. I hope you find this comprehensive kayaker's checklist useful for future trips. Camp Clothing Capilene…
I'm heading to Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island's Cumberland Peninsula at the end of June. 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. As we're backpacking and carrying everything we''ll be…
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