Like many outdoor sports, there are a lot of confusing hiking terms to learn. I spend a lot of time writing about hiking and teaching hiking skills and it can be easy to forget that not everyone knows all the hiking slang, jargon, and terminology. To help everyone out, I put together a comprehensive glossary …
I’m not a parent, but thanks to some good friends with children, I’ve spent quite a bit of time backpacking with kids. I wanted to write a post about how to start backpacking as a family, but I realized that I knew someone much more qualified for the job: Elliott, a 12-year-old backpacker. I’ve been …
So you want to try backpacking… exciting right? But it can also be daunting as there is lots to learn. I’ve been backpacking for almost 20 years, but I still remember what it was like to start out. I’ll walk you through it in this guide to backpacking for beginners. This handbook for first-time backpackers …
So you want to go winter hiking or snowshoeing, but… what do you wear? How do you stay warm? And how can you transition your summer hiking wardrobe into the winter season? I definitely had all of these questions when I first started winter hiking and snowshoeing, and through years of trial and error (oh …
Going hiking or camping while you have your period can seem a bit intimidating. Spending time away from toilets and running water is already unfamiliar for some, and adding in menstruation make it more challenging. I’ve been hiking, camping, and backpacking with my period for over 15 years. In this post, I’ll answer all your …
I have always been a bit outdoorsy, but it wasn’t until I met my husband that I got really into adventuring in the backcountry. He took me on my first backpacking trip (the West Coast Trail!) Being outdoors is something that has brought us closer and is something that is important to both of us. …
Over the years, I’ve done a lot of coastal hiking trips. I recently added it up, and I’ve been on 17 different beach backpacking trips in British Columbia and Washington. Coastal trails are in a totally different environment than the mountains or the forest, and they come with their own set of challenges. In this …
In the last few years snowshoeing has gotten really popular. And honestly, it’s about time. Basically, snowshoes let you keep hiking all winter long. And unlike skiing, there’s not much to learn. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. To get started snowshoeing, you need some winter hiking clothes, some snowshoeing boots and of course, …
Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you need to stop hiking. But it’s cold, dark and slippery out there, so you need to be prepare. In this post I’ve got my top top winter hiking tips. Hiking is a year-round activity for me and I’ve been winter hiking for over a decade. (If there’s …
I’ve been backpacking for nearly 20 years, but I still remember my first backpacking trip. I had no idea what I needed to pack and the whole process of choosing gear seemed daunting. But it doesn’t have to be! I’ve put together a super-simple backpacking checklist for you. It lists out all the gear you’ll …