November 2017

Fall Paddling Trip to Nunikani – Snorts, Surprises & Snow

By |2017-11-14T17:14:16-05:00November 14th, 2017|Categories: Adventure, algonquin highlands, backcountry, backcountry camping, Campers, camping, campsite, Canada, canoe camping, canoeing, cold, cold camp, day trip, Exploring, fall, kayak, kayak camping, kayak portaging, Kayaking, Nature, Ontario, ontarios highlands, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, recipes, tarps, tentcamping, waterfalls|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was a great weekend, it was cold, it was wet, it was windy and I vowed momentarily not to camp again until next summer, but it was a total hoot! I had been in correspondence with Mike Burns who had provided me with a huge amount of advice and information regarding my recent solo trip to Killarney.  I had met Mike at the 150 through another friend Derek, from Paddling Adventures Radio, a podcast [...]

August 2017

The French River – 4 Day Solo Kayak Trip – Worst Site, Best Site- Post 1 of 2

By |2022-03-31T10:13:10-04:00August 15th, 2017|Categories: Adventure, backcountry, backcountry camping, Bear vault, bugs, camp, camping, campsite, Canada, Exploring, Fun, georgian bay, kayak, kayak camping, Kayaking, Nature, navigating, navigation, Ontario, ontario parks, outdoor products, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, Provincial Park, Rapids, scenery, scenic, solo trip, tangii, tent, tentcamping, yolo|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

As long as I can remember, I've always wanted to visit the French River.  I had no idea where to go, where to access, what to see, etc and so the trip kept getting delayed.  Finding myself suddenly available on the August long weekend and dying to do a 4 day solo, I decided the French River was where I would go. My awesome friend Kevin Callan had been there and had written about the [...]

June 2017

My Instructor Sea Kayaking Course at OSKC – Am I An Instructor Now?

By |2020-05-19T16:18:13-04:00June 13th, 2017|Categories: #course, Campers, camping, Canada, certification, education, enthusiasm, glamping, harmony, harmony inn, inspiration, instructors, kayak, Kayaking, learning, level 1, level 1 instructor, Muskoka, Ontario, ontario sea kayak centre, paddle, paddle canada, paddling, sunrise, teach, teaching, tent, tentcamping, training, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I actually had decided going into my Level 1 Sea Kayak Instructor Course, that I wasn't going to blog about it.  I had things to learn and too much to do and needed to be serious and focused on learning as much as possible. Studying while kayak camping weeks before the course No time for pictures, (HAHAHA, yeah, well, I always get a few pics!!) But I think you get the drift of [...]

May 2017

Bentshoe Lake – 1st kayak camping trip of 2017

By |2017-05-02T16:07:22-04:00May 2nd, 2017|Categories: #drysuit, #kokatat, Bear vault, bearproof, camp, Campers, camping, camping tips, campsite, Canada, Exploring, gear, kayak, kayak camping, kayak portaging, Kayaking, loons, Ontario, outdoor products, Outdoors, owl, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, scenery, scenic, tangii, tent, tentcamping, water, waterways|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had plans to head over and visit my kayaking coach for some training in preparation of my Level  1 Sea Kayak Instructor Course, but as sometimes plans do, they were moved to another day during the week.  This put me at 8am on a Saturday morning, kayak on car all ready to go, and no plans for the weekend. Guess I could start my kayak camping season after all?  You didn't have to twist [...]

February 2017

The Outdoor Adventure Show! -So Many Awesome People in One Place!

By |2017-02-28T18:24:38-05:00February 28th, 2017|Categories: Adventure, animals, booths, Campers, camping, camping tips, Canada, canoe camping, carcamping, Chairs, day trip, Exploring, Fun, kayak, Kayaking, Ontario, ontarios highlands, Outdoor Adventure Show, outdoor products, Outdoors, outdoors show, paddle, paddle canada, paddling, portage, portaging, pot set, Presentation, Provincial Park, tent, tentcamping, trade show, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had an amazing time this past weekend at the Outdoor Adventure Show in Toronto .  I applied to get a bloggers pass and blog about the event and I was picked! I spent two days at the show this year and it was awesome!!!  Last year I was only at the event for one day and felt far too rushed. This year I was able to see all the booths I wanted to, talk [...]

Winter in the Wild -2017-Featuring-Different Ways People Winter Camp!

By |2017-02-23T06:50:28-05:00February 23rd, 2017|Categories: Adventure, Algonquin, Algonquin Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, alone, birds, camp, campchairs, camping, campsite, Canada, carcamping, Chairs, cold camping, day trip, Exploring, falls, family day weekend, food, Fun, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, homemade, hot tent, ice skates, ice skating, kyra on the go, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, ontarios highlands, outdoor products, Outdoors, Parks, Provincial Park, skating, skiing, sleep, snowshoe trails, tarps, teepee, tent, tentcamping, timriver, tipi, tourism, tourists, Trails, Uncategorized, walking, walks, waterfalls, winter, winter camping, winter Wonderland, winterglamping, winterinthewild, yurt|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was a great day to head to Algonquin Park for the Winter in the Wild Festival. I was pretty excited to be a demo this year with my hot tent and also get to see all the other great ways people camp in the winter! There are so many ways you can do it. This year, my plan was to capture a few of each type and post about them. (see green link partway [...]

1st Cold Camping Trip! – Solo Backcountry on St. Nora Lake

By |2017-02-14T15:16:15-05:00February 14th, 2017|Categories: Adventure, Algonquin, algonquin highlands, alone, backcountry, backcountry camping, camp, camping, campsite, Canada, cold, cold camp, cold camping, Exploring, falls, frozen waterfalls, gloves, hike, Hiking, hiking trails, ice, icefalls, inspiration, learning, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, ontarios highlands, outdoor products, Outdoors, Parks, portage, portaging, pull in, sledding, solo trip, summer tent, tent, tentcamping, texting gloves, toboggan, Uncategorized, walking, water, waterfalls, waterways, winter, winter camping, yolo|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

 It was Thanksgiving weekend, 2001 and I did a backcountry trip backpacking in to Bucholtz Lake on the Eastern Pines Backpacking Trail in Algonquin Park. I had a -5 sleeping bag and I remember I was laying there wearing all the clothes I had brought in,  including my jacket, in my sleeping bag and I was frozen solid.  All I wanted to do was be warm but there was no way I was walking  out [...]

January 2017

Tipi Test at Mew – Last Trip of 2016

By |2021-01-10T09:10:44-05:00January 10th, 2017|Categories: Algonquin, algonquin highlands, Algonquin Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, alone, backcountry, backcountry camping, Campers, camping, camping tips, campsite, Canada, day trip, DIY, Exploring, glamping, gloves, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hikingtrails, homemade, ice, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, ontarios highlands, outdoor products, outdoorproducts, Outdoors, Parks, Provincial Park, renovation, revised, revision, skating, sleep, sleeping, sleeping bag, sleeping matt, sleeping pad, solo trip, tarps, teepee, tent, tentcamping, texting gloves, tipi, tracks, Trails, Uncategorized, walking, walks, winter, winter Wonderland, winterglamping|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last year I had the great privilege of being invited to Mew Lake for New Years Eve Camping.  It was one of the best New Years Eve's I've ever had! I met some extraordinary people who I've spent time with over the past year and enjoyed camping in the snow more than I thought I would. This year, I was incredibly honored to be invited to my friend Stevie's wedding, happening on New Years Eve [...]

Revising the Tipi and a Sled for Winter Backcountry Camping!

By |2017-01-03T07:25:58-05:00January 3rd, 2017|Categories: #sled, Adventure, backcountry, backcountry camping, Campers, camping, camping tips, Canada, DIY, Exploring, gear, glamping, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hikingtrails, homemade, hot tent, inspiration, learning, Nature, Ontario, outdoor products, outdoorproducts, Outdoors, pulk, renovation, revised, revision, sledding, tarps, teepee, tent, tentcamping, tipi, toboggan, Uncategorized, walking, walks, winter, winter camping tips, winter Wonderland, winterglamping, winterinthewild|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Over the summer, I spent quite a bit of time thinking about Winter Camping. I know it might seem off but I am always looking ahead to what I want to do next and making sure I have sufficiently planned all of that out so it is not just a possibility but a reality! As many of you that have followed my winter adventures know, last year, I built my very own tipi from scratch [...]

December 2016

Paddling on Big East Lake – Living Life With No Regrets

By |2016-12-13T18:56:59-05:00December 13th, 2016|Categories: Adventure, algonquin highlands, alone, animals, backcountry, backcountry camping, camp, camping, campsite, Canada, Exploring, gloves, ice, Ice trail, inspiration, kayak, kayak portaging, Kayaking, moosehunting, Muskoka, Ontario, Ontario Trails, ontarios highlands, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, solo trip, sunrise, sunset, tangii, tent, tentcamping, texting gloves, Uncategorized, Up north, water, waterways, winter|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It is a time of year when one must be really careful going out on the water.  I often receive comments of concern, people calling me brave,  and others blatantly stating I am unsafe, careless and should not be doing what I'm doing.   What if you fall out of your kayak?  You will freeze instantly!!! I have been kayaking for over 15 years of my life.  In that time, I have never, not once, [...]

Go to Top