of Backpacks and Beards
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Mt Tupper – Upper Headwall of South Rib (5.11-) Personal Rating: ** Rock Quality: 6/10 Length: 7 pitches of 5.6 – 5.11- climbing Timeline: 12 hours (car-to-car) Gear: # Double Rack 0.3 – 3 I looked up at the relatively blank wall, seeing a few minor down sloping holds and poor feet with no obvious imperfections for gear placements, I thought we must have gotten a bit off route. I backtracked a… Read More
Maybe useful as a guide to someone? Bonnington Traverse Packing List General Info / Logistics The Bonnington Traverse is a 3+ Hut (Huckleberry Hut Optional) Traverse between Castlegar & Nelson. Based on the hut bookings our rough schedule will be: Traverse Day -> Ski Tour around hut day -> Traverse Day -> Ski Tour around hut -> Traverse Ideally, getting on the trailhead for 9am latest on March 5th would be ideal…. Read More
Climbing where you’d least expect it – Sudbury, ON If you search ‘Sudbury’ into google, it’s likely that you’ll find hits pertaining to mining, education, and perhaps the local hockey team, the Sudbury Wolves. What you’ll likely not come across or be looking for is the blossoming rock climbing scene that has slowly been growing within this Northern City, largely due to the well-run climbing gym that opened in 2015 – the… Read More
Unprepared, Unplanned, and Weather Permitting – How When Nothing Works, Everything Works Out When you’re out and about on the road traveling you’re constantly faced with unknown circumstances, unfamiliar regions, and typically this leads to a great story of being unprepared and learning along the way. However, it’s rare that these occurrences can happen at home, surrounded by so many recognizable comforts and living in a culture that is built on preparation… Read More
After feeling a soft shake on the mosquito netting surrounding my bed I realize it’s time to get up. Looking around I notice the other 7 in my group starting to stir, small creaks in the wood and rustling of plastic bags ensures that no one really has a solid chance to go back to sleep. It’s 5:30am and as I move around I feel the damp of the Colombian jungle has… Read More
Growing up, I always got the feeling that airports were not held in high regard. My parents always seem to hold disdain over the long flight cues, the crowded gates, and the general hustle and bustle of airports (of course, travelling with 3 kids I’m sure can be a bit of a nightmare). However, in my experience Airports have always been a bit of a magical place. A sort of limbo in… Read More
So you’ve decided that you want to backpack. Easy. Done. You’re going to love it. But deciding is only the first step. It’s the planting of the seeds. But as well all know, without the loving care of the gardener providing water and making sure there isn’t too much sun nothing will grow! Of course, the next logical step is to buy your plane ticket! 1) Start to get an idea of… Read More
Late Season Winter Camping In Algonquin – Who Needs Snowshoes? There’s something about the calming white abyss and the feeling of complete isolation that forges a passion for winter camping within a person. For my girl and I, it’s pristine wilderness without the bugs or people; a place where a warm fire really does make or break the night, and a place where the sky is never more alight with stars, and… Read More
Tuesday’s Travel Tip – Work With What You Have As I’ve mentioned before, and I’ll likely mention again, it’s in our human nature to want to be prepared. We want to have the gear, the education, the training, or the experience to tackle new obstacles. We research and catch up on current affairs of any place we wish to travel. And while obvious due diligence is necessary when travelling anywhere new, it… Read More
Siem and Reap – What To Do Besides Angkor Wat Although it was tough to say goodbye we knew we eventually had to leave Otres Beach and make our way through the rest of the beautiful country of Cambodia. Specifically, heading straight to Phnom Penh to spend a night and check out some memorials around the city. Then quickly catching the next morning bus to Siem Reap to check out Pub Street… Read More
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