31 ways to make outdoor life easier

By Outdoor Canada
Rating: ***

          For the average camper, learning tips and tricks to make your life easier while out in the woods are always welcome, especially when they come from those who have more experience. It's the little things that may save you when there's a rip in your tarp or you wander too far away from your campsite in the dark.

          Every experienced camper has their own techniques for dealing with different situations and different items that they can't leave home without. This article takes a look at what some of these techniques and items are. The tips range from bringing dental floss to act as a method for fixing torn tarps to how to stay warm using rocks on a cold night. Each tip is from one of the field editors at the magazine Outdoor Canada and has its own individual use, and though there may be a few that don't apply to your particular situation, there is bound to be something that can help you the next time you go camping.

          This article gave me insights as to some more effective ways to do things on a campsite, such as melting candle stubs, mixing them with sawdust and putting the mixture in individual segments of egg cartons for a fail-proof fire starter. It has made me think about what special techniques I use when I go camping: using hand-sanitizer to help start a fire that won't light. And through this article, I have learned many more techniques that I plan on implementing this summer when I go camping again, like using an old credit card to scrape food off of dirty pans. It is definitely something I will consult as I pack for my next trip into the wild and has inspired me to develop my own techniques and share them with others so as to make their camping adventures easier. This is a great guide for anyone looking to make their next trip run a little bit smoother, or looking for easy ways to deal with problems they've encountered on past trips.

Article:
Outdoor Canada. "31 ways to make outdoor life easier." Outdoor Canada RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2014. <http://outdoorcanada.ca/21818/skills/articles-skills/31-ways-to-make-outdoor-life-easier>.

The Happy Camper: Tips for Camping Solo

By Kevin Callan

Rating: ****

          Tripping in numbers is great, you have people to help carry the supplies and cook the food. It's quieter than everyday life, but in order to achieve true silence, true solitude is required. Hearing solely the sounds of the wildlife around you is one of the most peaceful experiences a person can have. Furthermore, solo tripping requires you to rely on your own abilities and through this it develops a self trust that is not easily matched by other activities.

          Solo travel allows for a very free trip. You can eat what you want, when you want it, you can paddle however far you want to paddle and you can stop wherever you want. For those interested in solo tripping there are a few things to consider. Some of the things this article covered were if you are a new solo tripper you should have some group tripping experience under your belt; going at it alone requires certain skills: navigation, weather forecasting, wilderness first aid, etc. Also, going out for one or two days is not enough to decide whether solo tripping is for you. There will be things that scare you, like sleeping alone in the wilderness, but if you stay out long enough, exhaustion will get the better of you and you will get over your fears. Third, pack lightly. Unlike group trips, its just you, and you have to carry everything. Finally, tell someone what your schedule will be in case you get into trouble and bring an emergency device such as a satellite phone so you can contact someone or be located in emergency situations. These helpful tips and more were introduced in this article.

          This article affected me because it highlighted some important things to think about before going tripping on your own. As this is something I plan to do in the future, it has encouraged me to think about the ways I can prepare myself for a trip and to not be discouraged if at first I don't succeed; it points out that the first few days are always the hardest. I learned that there are many options outside of the traditional tent that might be better suited for a solo trip, such as hammock tents which are lightweight and offer some flexibility about when are where to camp, which should be considered. This article has inspired me to pursue solo tripping in the years to come because it is portrayed as a character building experience for outdoor lovers such as myself and has made me more aware of the times when solitude is a welcome reprieve from my normal life. Finally, it ensures that I will do the appropriate training and/or research leading up to a trip on my own so that I am confident in my abilities. This article is a great reference for anyone looking to try camping alone.

Article:

Callan, Kevin. "The Happy Camper: Tips for Camping Solo." Explore Magazine. N.p., 15 May 2014. Web. 16 June 2014. <http://www.explore-mag.com/The_Happy_Camper_Tips_for_Camping_Solo>.

Fire-Lighting 101

Fire-Lighting 101-By: Kevin Callan

Rating: ***

This article is about learning how to make a proper fire, and what the best material to use to make it with. The harder the weather becomes the more difficult starting a fire is.

In this article is explains how to start a fire from the types of tinder you need to the best way to get the flame going. In this article it tells you that using a butane lighter rather than matches because if the matches get wet you cant use them again and your stuck without a fire starter. It also tells you which wood is best to use to keep the flame going, which  is dead, dried maple, oak or ironwood.

This article has really shown me the importance of fire in the wild. I know now that the best way to light a fire the article gives you a step by step instruction to due so; 1.Go to the back of the campsite and collect and handful of dry, pencil-sized twigs. 2.Locate dry, standing wood no bigger in size than the thickness of your arm. 3.Get Birch for your tinder or dried lichen, dry pine needles or cattail fluff works well as well. This article made me think about how lazy humans are, any one can make a fire but almost every person does not know how to make one themselves. If you put a group of people together and ask them to make a fire only one will succeed at making one. This has inspired me to go out and learn to make a fire without someones help and if  at first I dont succeed than I will try again until I get it right.

Citation

Callan, Kevin . "Fire-Lighting 101." Explore 18 Nov. 2013: 34-35. Print.

Review: The 10 Best Urban Islands

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Article Three Review

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CHOSEN CONTENT:

The 10 Best Urban Islands

[Link to Article, Length: Medium]

REVIEW BY CAMERON BURGESS:

Urban islands often provide interesting features that are hard to find within the cities themselves — additionally, many cities either have them naturally or have built them. The National Geographic's Beyond the Guidebook blog has recently rounded up ten of the most interesting and worthy of your attention urban islands. The list takes us around the world onto islands that are both man-made and otherwise. You can see a complete list of selected islands below:

• Île aux Cygnes Island Paris, France
• Georges and Spectacle Island Boston, The United States of America
• Ilha de Paquetá Island Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Matiu/Somes Island Wellington, New Zealand
• Kampa Island Prague, Czech Republic
• City Island New York City, The United States of America
• Pulau Ubin Singapore
• Bowen Island Vancouver, Canada
• Margaret Island Budapest, Hungary
• Cockatoo Island Sydney, Australia

Reading this article exposed me to the truth that many large cities actually have islands — whereas I previously thought urban islands were a relatively rare occurrence. The incredible variety in these islands which all share proximity to large cities is also interesting; and it has certainly inspired me to want to visit at least a few of them.

The article does a good job of explaining the interesting benefits and reasons to visit the different islands. It also highlights interesting tidbits of information such as the fact that the maximum width if Île aux Cygnes Island is only 36 feet across and that in the city-state of the Singapore, the Pulau Ubin island is one of the last havens of wildlife and natural beauty within the country. In cities that are often dirty and smoggy, urban islands can provide a much needed relief for the locals while also making interesting tourist destinations.

STAR SCORE:

3

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NELSON ‘14, SEMESTER 2

By Cameron Burgess

Review: The 10 Best Daypacks for Every Adventure

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Article Two Review

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CHOSEN CONTENT:

The 10 Best Daypacks for Every Adventure

[Link to Article, Length: Medium]

REVIEW BY CAMERON BURGESS:

Austin Parker for Gear Patrol, a online men’s magazine, rounds up 10 of the best backpacks designed to “haul both your climbing gear and [...] laptop over mountains and through airports”. Ranging  from sub $100 to $230 in price, he covers a wide range of products from refined staples to cutting-edge packs. Here’s a complete list:

• Black Diamond Pack Best Hiking Pack $130
• Montane Dragon 20 Best Ultralight Pack $159
• Bergans Rondane 12L Dragon 20 Best Running Pack $109
• CAMP Roxback Best Cragging Pack $80
• Mountainsmith Borealis Best Camera Pack $209
• Arc’Teyyx Astri 19 Best Urban-to-Backcountry Pack $149
• Mountain Hardwear Hueco 35 Best Alpine climbing Pack $130
• Camelbak VOLT 13L Best Biking Pack $125
• Madden Equipment Daylite Best Throwback Pack $230
• Gregory Miwok 34 Editor’s Pick $149

If I learned one thing whilst reading article it’s this: there is a lot of variety in outdoor gear and from now on I’ll certainly be spending a lot more time in the research and shopping phase before buying products. Upon browsing Gear Patrol’s extensive list of items I was reminded of how much I truly love and hate choice — on the one hand, choice gives you the freedom to decide for yourself. On the other, choices take a lot of time and effort to make.

Though I just recently aquired a new backpack, this article has made me quite interested in investigating backpacks again, so I’ll probably be looking for some other excuse to buy another backpack soon.

Parker does a great job of highlighting the best gear across many different categories like Hiking, Running, Camera and Ultralight. His descriptions of each pack are descriptive, but to the point as he doesn’t waste your time with meaningless jargon or unnecessary superlatives. It would have been nice if Gear Patrol had opted to include a Pros and Cons for each bag in addition to the descriptions to help make isolating potential problems easier — but this qualm hardly diminishes what is included in the guide. Parker’s guide is quick and dirty; the best kind of useful.

STAR SCORE:

4

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NELSON ‘14, SEMESTER 2

By Cameron Burgess

Review: Camp Shelf

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Article One Review

By Cameron Burgess

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CHOSEN CONTENT:

Top Shelf Epi. 021: Camp Shelf

[Link to Video, Running time: fifteen minutes six seconds]

REVIEW BY CAMERON BURGESS:

Top Shelf is a weekly show (off-season) about technology and gear, produced by The Verge and hosted by David Pierce. In Episode 21, entitled Camp Shelf, they travel to the great outdoors with a smorgasbord of gadgets from tents-to-sporks-to-camp stoves that charge your phone. Here’s a full list of what David and company discussed and tested during the trip:

• Tents
• POP-UP Tent easy to set up tent $169
• REI Quarter Dome simple pole T2 plus tent $319
• Cave Tent pump-up tent $730
• Sleeping Bags
• REI Flash light summer sleeping bag $259
• Mountain Trails Standard winter sleeping bag $24
• Cooking
• Titanium sporks
• Biolite Camp Stove self-sustaining cooker with USB ports $129
• Wearable Gear
• Garmin Fenix GPS capable watch $400
• Petzl NAO Headlamp auto-adjusting headlamp  $175
• Cameras
• Sony RX100 pocket camera with uber nice photo quality $750
• Miscellaneous
• Soundcast Melody Speaker 360° bluetooth speaker $449
• REI Compass plain jane normal not-so-formal compass $13
• Garmin Oregon dedicated GPS navigator $550

I’m not traditionally an outdoors person, but Camp Shelf showed me how I could bring my favorite gadgets along while still enjoying nature. In fact, I was able to convince my family into planning an outdoor-focused trip this summer. I have to admit, I’m quite excited for  it partly because I’ll be able to use some of the knowledge I gained while watching this episode of Top Shelf.

The Verge did a great job of highlighting lots of interesting and novel products in a relatively small amount of time. But I do wonder how it would be possible for anyone to realistically utilize this much camping equipment on one trip, as sometimes it seemed like overkill. In conclusion, I would love for David to do another Camp Shelf come this summer in Season 2 of Top Shelf.

STAR SCORE:

5

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NELSON ‘14, SEMESTER 2

By Cameron Burgess

DIY Survival Kit – Aaron Kylie

** - Okay

            This article is about making a do-it-yourself survival kit and what you should include in it. This article is good at points but I can’t help but shake my head at other things. For instance, it recommends to bring about 10 feet of duct tape and I can’t help but wholeheartedly agree since duct tape is known as one of those universal tools that can be used to construct almost anything and is truly a godsend in an emergency situation. However, the author recommends using it to seal wounds. Now I will admit I am no doctor and lack a career in the medical field. In fact I am still in high school, but with what first-aid and medical knowledge I’ve been taught (as well as common bloody sense), they just seem to scream at me not to. It’s certainly great to seal wounds, but what happens when you need to take it off? Have you ever had a band-aid over a bad wound and had that painful pulling when taking it off? Try an even more serious wound… now try it with one of the strongest adhesive tapes known to man. I’d advise bringing a less adhesive type of tape to be safe, although if it is a life-threatening injury, use duct tape because it may work as well as sutures and can be removed in ER.

This also made me think about … inspired methods of materials. For instance, an interesting item that they want you to put in your survival kit is a condom (non-lubricated). It may seem odd, but it functions perfectly in a survival kit. Its small (rolled up) can perform its functions (hold water and seal cuts) and is a good way to see what brands are the strongest and don’t leak which will prove very helpful when you’re back to thriving and not surviving.

A cool thing that they thought of to note: 4 days’ worth of personal ration needs like medication. I wouldn’t have thought of this but if you don’t have these items, depending on how crucial they are, I can guarantee that you won’t make it for 4 days without these.

This has been a good reminder to keep my mind open to new possibilities and be creative and inventive. This has taught me that just when you think that you know almost everything about a subject there’s plenty more to learn around the corner. This makes me want to experiment and see what sort of first-aid/survival kit configurations work best.

By: Dylan Shorey

 

http://outdoorcanada.ca/11556/skills/articles-skills/diy-survival-kit

Mountain Biking the Cabot Trail

Mountain Biking the Cabot Trail, A cycling adventure in Cape Breton - Laurie March

Rating ****

Cycling gets you around faster than hiking, and you can still be right in the middle of nature - while still being active and seeing amazing views. Although it may seem intimidating to inexperienced cyclists, there are many trails with different degrees of difficulty - and the only way an inexperienced mountain biker will become more experienced is by, well, EXPERIENCE!

The Cabot Trail in the Cape Breton Highlands offers 298 kilometers of trails, and amazing views of the ocean. The trip begins in Baddeck, a small historical town with interesting museums to visit. The first cycle up Cape Smokey may be a challenge, but what goes up must come down, and there is a great downhill ride with breathtaking views! The first stop is in Ingonish where you can have a relaxing break and go swimming or golfing and then attend a delicious lobster supper. On the second day of your journey you will ride over North and McKenzie Mountains and through Pleasant Bay to Cheticamp. Here you can enjoy the local Acadian culture by experiencing the town’s fishing, tourism and crafts. On the final leg of your trip, you will cycle over Hunter's Mountain, back to your starting point in Baddeck. The hard work is well worth the amazing experience that you will have in Cape Breton. “Its stunning vistas, friendly people, quaint fishing villages and amazing sunsets”  will draw you back again soon for more adventure!

This article has not only attracted me to try more challenging mountain biking, but also to visiting Cape Breton in Nova Scotia! When (not if) I go out to Eastern Canada, I would love to try mountain biking on the Cabot Trail! Being out in a new environment and experiencing the local culture sounds amazing.

March, Laurie. "Adventure Cycling - Mountain Biking the Cabot Trail." Outdoor Adventure Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://www.outdooradventurecanada.com/biking-cabot-trail.htm>.

Backcountry Skiing 101: Avalanche Safety

Author: Ryan Stuart
Rating: ****
June 3rd 2014

In this article, I learned about avalanche safety and prevention.  Avalanches are nothing to joke around about.  The best piece of safety gear in an avalanche is knowledge.  There are many courses that you can take to help save your life in case of an avalanche.  There are 3 quick slope tests that you can preform.  

1. Hand Pit
With your hand, dig out a vertical column of snow about 30 centimeters square and deep. Pull from the back of the column with increasing force until the column slides or crumbles.
2. Pole Test
Handle first, push a ski pole as deep into the snow as possible. Feel for the different densities of snow, especially a hard layer followed by a soft one — a sign of instability.
3. Ski Cut
Skin or ski across a small slope and then have a second person ski a metre above your track. Watch for snow sliding between the tracks.
 
These tests will show how stable the snow is.  These is very important for back country skiers. There are also 5 signs that the snow could be unstable. These signs include, evidence of recent avalanches, cracks in the snow, whoomffing sounds or settling in the snowpack, temperatures climbing above zero, crust conditions (when a hard layer overlies a soft layer).  Some safety gear that you should have on you are, a beacon, probe, shovel, and backpack.  A beacon is probably the most important item out of this list.  A beacon is a device that is worn on a person that will send out a signal when in distress.  This will help the avalanche rescue team help find where you are buried.

After reading this article it really showed me how dangerous avalanches are.  You must react quickly and respond to the situation accordingly, if you want to survive.  Some of the tests I learned will be very helpful and I will remember to perform them if I am outback skiing.  I also learned what safety gear to bring.  This article was very helpful and interesting to read.    


                   
Cited:

• Url: http://www.explore-mag.com/Backcountry_Skiing_101_Avalanche_Safety
• Title: Backcountry Skiing 101: Avalanche Safety
• Website title: Explore Magazine
• Accessed on: 2014-06-03

By: Eric Boehling

Dog sledding in Explorers’ Edge: The great Canadian winter tradition

By Explorers' Edge

In this article, there is a lot of information how to enjoy dog sledding. We can have traditional Canadian experience easily because we can find many places to do it just in two hours from here. Also, if you want to see it but you’re not interested in the mushing, you can just see dog sledding events.

Actually, I went to do dog sledding these days. It was in Collingwood and it took about two hours to get there. It was about 20 people of group and there was a trail the dogs followed. They followed that trail and we just should brake them using brake, so that made it much easier for people who did it for the first time.

After I read this article, I thought I want to try dog sledding again and try longer one. Last time we just did a short course and I think I can find the other places I can try longer ones. Also, I’m interested in dog sledding race. It’ll be so different from the one we tried, maybe they are faster and stronger and it’ll be very cool.

http://outdoorcanada.ca/35170/skills/dog-sledding-in-explorers-edge-the-great-canadian-winter-tradition

The Happy Camper: Adventure Filmmaking on the Cheap

By Kevin Callan

Rating: 4 Stars

As technology advances, our lives become easier -- or so the saying goes. That simple fact is undeniable in our modern lives. It also applies to things like filmmaking. Bulky cameras that produced sped-up silent films are now replaced with smaller devices that perfectly capture the recorded motion with full audio, and are much easier to handle.

The article talks about how it is now easier to film movies on outdoor trips, especially extensive ones. The article compares old filming equipment (massive cameras, tripods and rolls of film) with today’s small, portable digital cameras. The article also discusses the advantages of this modern equipment and the compromises that have to be made using it outside, away from civilization.

This article affected me as it made me realize the lengths that dedicated people will go to in order to achieve their goals. For example, the article mentions filmmaker Bill Mason and how he, along with his cameraman, had to lug backbreaking equipment for many kilometres of terrain just to record their movie - they didn’t even know if their work provided a good result until they got back home and were able to develop the film. This demonstrates extreme determination and perseverance, skills that others may lack on such a task.

This article made me think about the advances in technology and how it is simplifying our lives. No longer do we need to carry heavy equipment through uneven and hazardous ground. We can just grab a few lightweight tools and be on our way. By viewing the material instantaneously after recording it, we can make sure we get the best possible results, and if we did not, we can just film again. 

But is this advancement beneficial to the human race? Is it improving our lives or detracting from our enjoyment of outdoor pursuits? Perhaps it is making us less attentive to our adventures in the outdoors, knowing we would always be able to experience nature later through our recorded moments.

I learned from this article how technology, cameras in particular, has improved. I acquired insight into the potential problems that may arise outdoors, even with this new technology. For example, battery charge is now of greatest concern instead of the amount of film remaining - how are you going to replace a battery in the middle of the forest, many kilometres from the nearest store? 

This article inspired me to further research the different sectors of outdoor pursuits in which modern technology is used and how it reshapes them.

This article changed my behaviour as it made me view many modern technologies as prohibitors of our enjoyment of nature.  For example, if we brought a camera on a trip with us we may end up spending more time fiddling around with it and taking pictures of others instead of actually looking around and experiencing nature -- this is one of the things that makes me view modern technology as something that affects us negatively in some ways instead of positively.

In conclusion, we can see that our lives are considerably improved with better technology. However, as we inevitably use it more, it potentially affects the way we perceive and enjoy nature and as well as the outdoors in general. And so we have to ask ourselves: is technology for the best when it comes to the outdoors?

Callan, Kevin. "The Happy Camper: Adventure Filmmaking on the Cheap." Explore Magazine. N.p., 14 Apr. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://www.explore-mag.com/The_Happy_Camper_Adventure_Filmmaking_on_the_Cheap>

The Happy Camper: Wi-Fi at our Campgrounds?

By Kevin Callan

Rating: 3 Stars

Technology strikes again! It seems technology is not only getting better and easier to use, but it is also creeping into the places where it seems to have no place — in this case, nature parks.

The article talks about how Parks Canada has decided to provide Wi-Fi within ‘some of our national parks’ and discusses the ensuring responses of different opinions. Some people are for having Wi-Fi at places such as a campground’s visitor centre as they claim it encourages people who stay at home on their computers to go camping. Conversely, others are against it, proclaiming that it is ‘better to connect to nature than to your iPad’.

This article affected me as it made me realize that even in places where people go to be away from technology, they can still not escape it. Technology is following them, permeating every single aspect of their lives.

Furthermore, this article made me think about the extent that technology has encompassed our lives — the use of it nowadays is so widespread that it is almost impossible to elude it.

When people believe in a certain cause, they will go to great lengths to support it in every way they can. For example, those that are against technology in nature don’t even want people who use technology outdoors to camp with them, believing ‘[people that use technology in nature] should just stay at home and pacify their addiction’.

This article inspired me be more outspoken against technology in areas where it is not a necessary component of life. However, I disagree with the radical beliefs that technology should be banned completely. On the contrary, I think technology is very important in our lives but needs to be regulated in places of nature.

This article caused me to be more grateful of places where technology is not dominant everywhere around you — places like conservation areas where one can go camping or hiking without having to pull out their phone every couple minutes.

In conclusion, Wi-Fi at campgrounds is a good way of getting people who use technology out of the house to enjoy nature, as they would still retain their connectivity, even away from home. However, in today’s world, you can use technology at any time, so it makes sense to sometimes let it go, even for a little bit.



Callan, Kevin. "The Happy Camper: Wi-Fi at our Campgrounds?." Explore Magazine. N.p., 5 May 2014. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://www.explore-mag.com/The_Happy_Camper_Wi-Fi_at_our_Campgrounds>.