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Hiking Saskatchewan’s Long Trail: The Boreal Trail, Part 1 – Planning

Planning a Hike on the Boreal Trail

Living 6 hours’ drive from the Rockies, I am glad they are so close but they aren’t close enough to “practice” on. I love hiking in the Rockies, but the problem of preparation is real out on the flatlands.

Thankfully, locally it is moderately hilly. When I go out in my local provincial park trails, Total elevation over 6km was about 120m. Better than nothing.

I am currently super excited about doing Section C of the Great Divide Trail this summer – booking National Parks was a horrific experience but I got the campsites I needed and am super pumped to venture out in August. But I know I need to get ready for this 11 day adventure.

So, I looked around to find out where I could go for an early season long hike – and I found one! The Boreal Trail is Saskatchewan’s “Long Trail” at over 120km in length. It runs the length of Meadow Lake Provincial Park from the eastern shore of Cold Lake all the way out to the Park office just north of Dorintosh.

What I have discovered though, is unlike many long trails with more reknown, the resources for planning this hike are not the most user-friendly. So I thought I would take a bash at introducing you, the internet to how to plan a multi-day adventure on the Boreal Trail. Once I hike it in a few weeks, I’ll certainly have something to say about the experience, so stay tuned!

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admin

May 12, 2021

Multi-Day Trails, Outdoors, The Boreal Trail, Trails

The Big One 2019: Mount Assiniboine and Section C of the Great Divide Trail

The Big Hike 2019: Mount Assiniboine

I would love to hike more but taking care of family still holds me back. Last summer I planned to hike Section A of the Great Divide Trail (Waterton Lakes National Park to the Crowsnest Pass), but my hiking partner had to back out last minute… so I visited Haida Gwaii instead. A decent tradeoff, but not a hike.

This year I am working on a plan that involves many other hikers, so hopefully even if a few back out I’ll have some people to go with. And the destination: Mount Assiniboine!

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admin

February 2, 2019

GDT Section C, Multi-Day Trails, Outdoors, Trails

banff, great divide trail, hike, mount assiniboine, rockies

Shopping for Hiking Gear in Canada: 2019

Shopping for Hiking Gear in Canada: 2019

Here’s the problem: Canada is not the USA.

Hear me out. That’s important when it comes to hiking gear, especially in this brave new world of lightweight and ultralight backpacking and hiking.

Like overseas hikers, the selection of gear available locally is not that light. It might be tough, it might be useful, but it is not light.

I have pored over Atmosphere, I have visited multiple Valhalla Pures, I have scanned Canadian Tire and Camper’s Village, I have scrolled through Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shop, and I have dug through the REI of Canada, MEC‘s catalog. The selection just isn’t there compared to the USA.

And ordering online from American outfitters, while technically possible, is expensive especially with the Canadian Dollar in the toilet.

I was in one shop, a specialty outdoors store, where I had previously had very good conversations with the owner about gear. But this time, looking to specifically cut my base weight, he had nothing to offer me except to point me towards insanely expensive gear that wasn’t even what I was looking for.

In general, all of the above stores, if they carry quality hiking gear at all, only carry the big names: Osprey, Deuter, Gregory if you’re lucky. The odd Kelty, Mountain Hardware, or North Face sprinkled here and there, occasionally MSR makes an appearance. Basically, if it’s made in a factory somewhere in the 3rd world, you can buy it in Canada.

But compared to what I already own, next to nothing would make serious cuts to my base weight.

However, I have good news: there is some reasonable gear available for sale in Canada for a decent price. I’ll tell you what I found.

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admin

January 29, 2019

Gear, Gear Reviews, Outdoors

backpacks, canada, gear, hiking, shelters, sleeping, ultralight, weight

Thru-Hiking is the Pinnacle of Minimalism

Thru-Hiking: The Pinnacle of Minimalism

It’s pretty bad.

Married 20 years, happily, six children, oldest graduating this spring, undergoing a job transition, no ability to step out of responsibilities and life.

But I can’t stop thinking about, dreaming about thru-hiking.

Somehow I’ve hit 44 and not experienced the hobbled back, the bad hip, the blown out knees that everyone else my age seems to have. I am blessed with good health for my age and I want to use it.

I want to roam, to see what’s beyond the next hill, to enjoy this beautiful wild world we live in. To feel nature all around me, to experience self-sufficiency, to meet people on a journey themselves and to share life with people who are grateful for the company around a fire or shelter, who don’t see how you are different from them, but how you are the same.

I have been trying to quantify this itch, to figure out why it’s hitting me so hard. I hope if I can understand it maybe it will lessen because the truth is I am not going to walk away from everyone who needs me right now.

My latest theory is this: thru-hiking is an expression of minimalism. Here’s why:

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admin

January 22, 2019

Outdoors

hiking, minimalism, stress, thru-hiking