Outdoors

Nobody plans to have an accident, but everyone should plan to carry a personal first aid kit when hiking, backpacking or backcountry skiing– because you just never know what might happen.Personal first aid kits should be small enough to...

Sometimes even the best of planning isn’t enough. That’s when it really hits home – the adventure isn’t just the hidden trail, the scenic river, the snowy slope. It’s the whole package, from start to finish.I watched a snippet of Steve...

Hot Chihuahua! Big Bend National Park’s desert landscape came through with heat, spectacular hiking, and endless vistas.We stopped at the Panther Junction Visitor Centre for a little information and asked about hikes. The ranger suggested short, but scenic walks...

Note to self: add camera to “must-pack” gear checklist.Soft winter sunlight, snow-laden trees, crystal clear blue sky, towering white mountains – and a camera sitting at home. I could have kicked myself yesterday for missing out on some glorious photo...

Down is a very fine, fluffy feather that is a natural insulator. Ever wondered how ducks and geese manage daily polar bear swims without blinking an eye? Part of the reason is the thick down feathers that line their...

I’m a “must-have” morning coffee person. Tea doesn’t cut it, nor does hot chocolate or anything herbal – it’s gotta be strong black java. Pretty particular, huh? Just try and mess with my morning ritual and see what happens.So...

Bob “Sir-Packs-Alot” Gabrielsen is the owner of the Top of Georgia Hostel and Hiking Center, which serves thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail. We caught up with this esteemed Triple Crowner, a thru-hiker who has completed the three longest trails in America,...

Located near Page Arizona, Antelope Canyon is the most visited and photographed slot canyon in the American Southwest. The architecture and lighting of the canyon is truly unique and can easily be identified in photographs. In fact, it is so...

Summer is fast upon us. Many hikers will be heading for the hills in search for solace, scenery and some sort of adventure. Whether it’s an afternoon outing or a three-week river trip, one common denominator rings true for...

If there is an eternal tool in backcountry travel, it’s the shovel. Skiers, mountaineers and backcountry guides share this common denominator as much as the freedom of the hills. Beyond the obvious role of avalanche rescue, where shovels are...