January 2019

Adding a Vent to the Hot Tent & Revising the Corner Loops

By |2022-03-31T10:16:31-04:00January 1st, 2019|Categories: Adventure, backcountry, backcountry camping, camping, Canada, DIY, hot tent, Ontario, Outdoors, renovation, renovations, revised, vent, winter, winter camping, winter camping tips|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In November of last year I built my very own backcountry winter hot tent.  I had previously built a hot tent tipi, but as I learned on a backcountry trip with my friend Ashley, the tipi would be far too difficult to take into the backcountry solo.  As that was my intention at that time, I needed a tent that was lighter, smaller and feasible to take where I wanted to take it.  So, I [...]

December 2018

Winter Backcountry Camping with Shirley – Testing out my new BCC Sled!

By |2018-12-20T13:14:05-05:00December 25th, 2018|Categories: Adventure, backcountry, backcountry camping, camping, Canada, crownland camping, Exploring, Hiking, hot tent, Nature, Ontario, Outdoors, pulk, pull in, sledding, tent, winter, winter camping|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I met Shirley a few years ago in the go home like parking lot. I was there to do an interview with Shawn James from my self-reliance and she was on her way out of a trip.  We chatted on social media throughout the years and have met a few times winter camping at Mew Lake. A few months ago we decided we should do a winter camping trip, so we planned one for this [...]

Mew Lake Winter Camping with The Outdoor Kind – 113018-120218

By |2018-12-11T18:34:21-05:00December 11th, 2018|Categories: Adventure, Algonquin, Algonquin Park, camping, campsite, Canada, carcamping, cold camp, cold camping, Exploring, hike, Hiking, hiking trails, hot tent, Mew Lake, Ontario, ontario parks, Outdoors, scenery, scenic, snowshoe trails, snowshoeing, waterfalls, winter, winter camping|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I have been chatting with an awesome guy online since November 2017, John Van Barriger from The Outdoor Kind.  We connected through social media due to mutual friends and similar interests and I have always thought what John does is really cool! After chatting for a year, I finally got to meet John at the Ontario Winter Camping Symposium.  He drove all the way from Wisconsin to attend the show and meet a bunch of [...]

Hot & Cold Camping in Killarney w James, Dympna & Molly

By |2018-12-04T21:22:22-05:00December 4th, 2018|Categories: Adventure, Campers, camping, campsite, Canada, cold camp, cold camping, enthusiasm, Exploring, Hiking, hot tent, killarney, Killarney Provincial Park, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, ontario sea kayak centre, Outdoors, pulk, pull in, winter, winter camping, winter Wonderland|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Over the years, I have done quite a few trips to Killarney, but I have not once stayed in the George Lake Campground. This weekend that would change. I headed out around 7am on Saturday, November 17th with my hot tent in my vehicle.  I expected to arrive at the campground around 9:15-9:30 and would be meeting my kayak instructors Jame and Dympna from Ontario Sea Kayak Centre there. I was pretty excited as I [...]

November 2018

First Canoe Cold Camp – Haliburton Highlands Water Trails

By |2018-11-20T16:01:34-05:00November 20th, 2018|Categories: Adventure, algonquin highlands, alone, backcountry, backcountry camping, backcountry custom canoes, camping, Canada, canoeing, cold camp, cold camping, Exploring, Nature, Ontario, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, solo, solo trip, winter, winter camping, yolo|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last year at this time, I didn't have the loaner canoe any longer from Backcountry Custom Canoes so I wasn't able to do a canoe trip in the snow.  I did head out in the kayak, right up until December 1st weekend,  but only had ice on the water to deal with, no snow, so this would be a first for me. I had planned to do a few more canoe trips this season before [...]

Hot Tent Stand – How to Erect a Hot Tent Without Staking it Into the Ground

By |2018-11-13T17:06:58-05:00November 13th, 2018|Categories: Adventure, backcountry, backcountry camping, camping, Canada, DIY, education, homemade, hot tent, Nature, Ontario, Outdoors, tent, winter, winter camping, winter camping tips|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last year I built my second hot tent.  This one specifically to take into the backcountry. The first, the tipi was made to do so as well but after a trip with my friend Ashley from Young Outdoors, I realized that was never going to happen, well, not solo at least. The tipi and stove weighed in at just over 100lbs without any gear!  Split between 2 people it was okay, but solo, was something [...]

April 2018

Hunters Bay Trail – Hiking with Eileen – 032418

By |2018-04-03T06:00:29-04:00April 3rd, 2018|Categories: Adventure, Canada, enthusiasm, Exploring, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, Huntsville, Muskoka, muskoka trails, Nature, Ontario, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, scenery, scenic, Uncategorized, Up north, walking, walks, winter, women, womens event|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In June, 2017, I was invited to participate in the Women on Water event.  It was a wonderful event and during my time there, I met a lovely lady named Eileen. Eileen was there by herself and I went over to introduce myself and talk to her a bit about her pink hair. She had put it in for the weekend to show she was a wild woman and I thought it was very cool, [...]

March 2018

Algonquin Logging Museum – A Cool Place to Visit In Winter

By |2018-05-31T10:19:57-04:00March 27th, 2018|Categories: Adventure, Algonquin, Algonquin Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, Canada, day trip, Exploring, family day weekend, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hikingtrails, Mew Lake, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Outdoors, Provincial Park, scenery, scenic, sightseeing, walking, walks, winter|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Have you ever been to he Algonquin Logging Museum Trail? Up until last February, I had never been there and was quite surprised there was a trail in the Park, that I didn't know about. Of course, had to rectify that quickly. The trail starts off around the side of the actual logging museum, which isn't open in the winter, unlike the trail. Some of the trees are marked with that types they are, which [...]

Hardy Lake Hike – Signs of Spring

By |2018-03-20T18:42:29-04:00March 20th, 2018|Categories: Adventure, alone, Canada, creek, creeks, enthusiasm, Exploring, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, ice, inspiration, Muskoka, muskoka trails, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, scenery, scenic, solo trip, Up north, walking, walks, water, winter, winter Wonderland|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I woke up to a gorgeous winter day and decided I would take advantage. I was so tired of sitting at home and waiting for my concussion to be over with, so off I went! I packed my backpack, some water, a few snacks and headed over to Hardy Lake Provincial Park which is about a 20 minute drive from where I live. Hardy Lake is a lovely provincial park with a few different trail [...]

January 2018

Hot Tent Reno’s -Stabilization of the Painters Pole

By |2018-01-30T17:01:44-05:00January 30th, 2018|Categories: Adventure, alone, backcountry, backcountry camping, camping, camping tips, Canada, DIY, education, enthusiasm, Exploring, homemade, hot tent, Muskoka, Ontario, outdoor products, Outdoors, renovation, renovations, revision, Uncategorized, winter, winter camping, winter camping tips|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

After my last backcountry trip, I had a major issue that I needed to deal with before my next trip.  The issue was being caused by  my painters pole.  It was quite a nifty thing and I really liked the idea of it, but in reality, my friend Tierney was right.  It was unstable and you didn't know if it would just suddenly collapse.  She was bang on on that. On my trip backcountry camping [...]

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