August 2016

Kioshkokwi Lake – Algonquin Park aka Kiosk

By |2016-08-23T21:08:30-04:00August 23rd, 2016|Categories: #frog, Algonquin, Algonquin Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, backcountry, backcountry camping, Campers, camping, camping tips, campsite, Canada, Exploring, kayak, kayak rack, Kayaking, Kioshkokwi, kioshkokwi lake, kiosk, learning, malone, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, paddle, paddling, Provincial Park, rack, rack system, summer tent, sunrise, sunset, swimming, tarps, tent, tentcamping, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had not camped in Algonquin Park since February when it was minus 42.  It was time to change that.  My roommate Molly had been asking me to take her on a backcountry trip with me since we'd met, and this is the weekend we decided on.  As Molly has never backcountry camped previously, I didn't want to do anything too difficult, plus we only had 2 days and one night to spend somewhere. After [...]

Getting Lost at 3am…at The Massasauga PP

By |2016-08-17T22:11:20-04:00August 17th, 2016|Categories: #lost, #Massasauga, alone, camp, Campers, camping, camping tips, campsite, Canada, disoriented, Exploring, Hiking, Massassauga, Nature, navigating, navigation, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, Privy, Provincial Park, tent, tentcamping, Trails, Uncategorized, walking, walks, water, wildernessnavigation|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Have you ever gotten lost in the forest in the middle of the night? On a recent trip in the backcountry, it happened to me! I have been debating for a few weeks now if I would actually publish this post. In the end, you can see who won the battle because here I am telling the story to you. Yes, it is embarassing , but, even so, I am hoping that people will see [...]

Navigating to Snake Island – Paddling Beyond Handrailing!

By |2016-08-09T19:45:08-04:00August 9th, 2016|Categories: Adventure, backcountry, backcountry camping, Bear vault, bearproof, Campers, camping, camping tips, campsite, Canada, Chairs, compass, Exploring, kayak, kayak rack, Kayaking, learning, malone, Nature, navigating, navigation, Ontario, ontario parks, outdoor products, Outdoors, paddle, paddle canada, paddling, rack system, tarps, tent, tentcamping, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Before taking the Level 2 Sea Kayaking course with Ontario Sea Kayak Centre , I would've never attempted to camp out in the middle of Georgian Bay, on crown land, without being with someone who was experienced in doing so.  During my entire history of backcountry camping, I have used a method called handrailing and never knew how to use a compass.  I basically brought the map for the area I was in, and used landmarks, [...]

July 2016

Phillip Edward Island backcountry kayak trip!-Level 2 with OSKC

By |2016-07-12T21:46:56-04:00July 12th, 2016|Categories: animals, backcountry, camp, Campers, camping, campsite, Canada, Exploring, fish & chips, Fun, georgian bay, harmony inn, inspiration, instructors, kayak, Kayaking, killarney, Killarney Provincial Park, learning, mapping, Nature, navigating, navigation, Ontario, ontario parks, ontario sea kayak centre, Ontario Trails, outdoorproducts, Outdoors, paddle, paddle canada, paddling, sunrise, sunset, tarps, tent, tentcamping, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last month when I took my level 1 Sea Kayaking Course, I had no intention of taking my level 2.  If you read my Level 1 post, you would've seen that I had an amazing time at that course!  The instructors were full of knowledge and tonnes of fun and I learned so much!  I gained confidence in my skills, refreshed some of them and learned quite a few more. And, I met some extraordinary [...]

June 2016

Massasauga solo – Feeling ill in the backcountry

By |2016-06-28T21:37:47-04:00June 28th, 2016|Categories: Adventure, alone, backcountry, backcountry camping, beach, Bear Barrel, Bear vault, bearproof, brucetrail, camp, Campers, camping, campsite, Canada, clean up our parks, Exploring, Food storage, gear, georgian bay, harmony, kayak, Kayaking, Massassauga, Muskoka, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, outdoor products, Outdoors, paddle, paddle canada, paddling, Parks, Provincial Park, sleeping bag, sleeping matt, sleeping pad, solo trip, sunrise, sunset, swimming, tent, Uncategorized, water, waterways, wind|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last year I went on my first solo trip in the backcountry. It was at The Massasauga and it was awesome and I have been wanting to go back. I had every intention of spending last weekend at home.  Well my new home in Port Carling, but on Friday around 1pm, I was advised I could go home early.  So at 3pm, I decided to call it a day and packed up my camping gear. [...]

Paddle Canada Level 1 Sea Kayaking Skills Course with Ontario Sea Kayak Centre

By |2020-05-19T14:47:02-04:00June 14th, 2016|Categories: #sup, alone, Campers, camping, camping tips, campsite, Exploring, glamping, harmony, harmony inn, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hot tent, instructors, kayak, Kayaking, learning, level 1, mapping, Muskoka, Nature, Ontario, ontario sea kayak centre, Ontario Trails, outdoor products, Outdoors, paddle, paddle canada, paddling, parry sound, River, solo trip, summer tent, sunset, swimming, tarps, tent, tentcamping, Up north, walkling, walks, water, yoga|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've wanted to retake my kayaking course for some time now. I guess I should say 'retake' lightly as the first course I took in 2004 was not a certificate program through Paddle Canada and was only an 8 hour course, but, I did learn quite a few of the items that were on the list for the Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking Level 1 course. A few weeks ago I began researching a few places [...]

May 2016

Thermarest vs thermarest

By |2016-05-09T21:04:03-04:00May 9th, 2016|Categories: #thermarest, backcountry, backcountry camping, camp, camping, camping tips, campsite, kayak, Kayaking, mat, matt, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, outdoor products, Outdoors, pad, sleep, sleeping, sleeping matt, sleeping pad, tent, tentcamping, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The week before my last backcountry trip of the year, I went to Outdoors Oriented for a visit. I needed a few things for my trip.  I was also looking for some items to test out for my blog and Jamie, the stores owner, was kind enough to provide me with one of his tester NeoAir Trekker Thermarest mats! I was stoked. It was so tiny and I was curious to see how comfortable it would be [...]

Restoule PP – Spring has sprung!

By |2016-05-02T20:04:50-04:00May 2nd, 2016|Categories: #Restoule, Adventure, animals, beach, bearproof, camp, Campers, camping, campsite, Canada, carcamping, cold, Exploring, Fun, glamping, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, kayak, Kayaking, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, Parks, Pottery, Provincial Park, summer tent, tent, tentcamping, Trails, Up north|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last year at this time, I had not winter camped all season. I had not winter camped at all. By April I was dying to get outdoors and into my tent. With May long weekend coming up, I had a chat with mom to see if she'd want to go on a little trip, and then went onto the Ontario Parks site to find somewhere to go! We had never been to Restoule, but I have [...]

April 2016

Homemade fire starter

By |2016-04-12T07:26:26-04:00April 12th, 2016|Categories: #fire, Adventure, backcountry, backcountry camping, camping, camping tips, campsite, Canada, carcamping, cooking, DIY, fire starter, glamping, homemade, Nature, Ontario, outdoor products, outdoorproducts, Outdoors, tent, tentcamping, tipi, tips, winter, winter camping tips|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

With all the camping I do, I can use all the savings I can find. Even if its just a few dollars here and there!  I always bring firestarter with me on every trip. It is a small item that can sometimes make or break your camping trip.  Sometimes you are in the backcountry and all the good wood has been used up, or, you just arrived after several days of rain.  Sometimes the wood [...]

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