The MSR Reactor system is an integrated stove and pot cooking system aimed at mountain sports and cold weather activities. As a system aimed at the harshest of conditions it is extremely efficient and robust. Released at 2007, and since then been a controversial stove – it can deal with very strong winds and low […]
Map Reading – How to plan a route on a map
If this is the first time you are joining the Map Reading series, you should start from the first post. Planning a route is a tool that is used prior to actually going outdoors and helps you be better prepared so you know what to expect. You can look at route planning as setting expectations […]
Dealing with solo weekend guilt
There is a real problem in being torn between two worlds, between the family/home world and the outdoors. It is almost like having a demanding mistress but knowing the demand exists only in your head. I guess this guilt exists with any hobby or personal activity that takes us away from home; but there is […]
What to take for a day hike – Winter hiking with a baby
Going hiking with a baby doesn’t have to be a disaster – the right gear can help a day out, make everyone more comfortable and enable enjoyment of the great outdoors. That is not to promise your baby will behave well, play nice and give you the chance to enjoy being out, but at least gear […]
Map Reading – Measuring Distance On a Map
If this is the first time you are joining the Map Reading series, you should start from the first post. After covering most aspects of map reading, it is time to get into using a map outdoors. This time it is all about measuring distance on a map. This is a relatively simple subject and […]
The best way to buy your outdoor gear
Outdoor gear is a big part of going outdoors and the more technical the activity, the more gear you need. If you you’ve been going hiking, climbing, running or mountaineering for a few years, you know that over time your gear desires just get bigger, not smaller. Personally, I’m a huge gear head, maybe even […]
Getting into trail running – get an outdoors fix
Sometimes going outdoors for a day is just not possible, let a lone a few days – family, work, or other obligations can keep you tied to home more then you want. What I found over the years to work is to go on a trail run. Wait, before you leave this post because “you […]
Map Reading – What are grid and coordinates systems?
If this is the first time you are joining the Map Reading series, you should start from the first post. A grid system on a map is usually square and is represented by drawn lines on the map creating those squares. The purpose of the grid system is to give each point in the map […]
How to not get bummed from a cancelled weekend outdoors
This weekend I was due to go for two nights and two days of camping, hiking and full outdoors immersion, but I’m not going. A combination of things such as health (my wife’s, not mine), poor planning (all mine this time) and some cold, cold weather (lacking on the gear front) means that my weekend […]
How to mentally climb a mountain
Climbing a mountain is not just a physical challenge, it is also a mental and emotional one. Often times when I find myself going uphill on a long stretch, I have the words that Robert M Pirsig wrote in “Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance” echo in my head: Mountains should be climbed with […]