Waaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy back in spring, I decided to make a few outdoor plans for the summer. The only problem was that I wrote them in French and have not bothered to share them in English. UNTIL NOW! So here ya go, without further ado, my summer checklist:
Montreal as seen from the Jacques-Cartier Bridge
1. Ride the entire circumference of the Island of Montreal. In one shot. Distance: about 160km.
This must be kilometre 153-ish
Ahhh, le printemps, saison de l’espoir. Et quand on a espoir, on fait des projets. J’ai décidé que ça serait une bonne idée de dresser une liste de projets de plein air que j’aimerai accomplir cet été. C’est une belle petite activité car ça permet de se concentrer sur des concepts de moyen terme. Il est si facile de se perdre dans le quotidien.
Montréal vue du Pont Jacques-Cartier
1. Faire la circonférence complète de l’Île de Montréal d’un coup, à vélo. Distance : environ 160km.
Surement le km 153
J'ai eu la chance de passer une fin de semaine à faire du camping au Parc National du Mont-Mégantic. J'avais vraiment hâte car la région jouie de lois contre la pollution lumineuse pour protéger l'observatoire ASTROLab. Ça, ça veut des ciels étoilées fous! À moins qu'il ne pleuve.
ASTROLab du Mont-Mégantic
What a feeling!
So many of us enjoy a “great adventure”, but we also have children who want to “adventure” with us. How in the heck do you climb Mount Everest or hike the jungles of India with a 5, 3, and 2-year old? Well, I haven’t done any of THOSE things with my kids, but we do have great adventures.
Hi, I go by “The General” and my 3 kids and I LOVE hiking and adventuring outdoors. Sometimes having your adventures with your kids isn’t as intense, but the wonderment on their faces is enough to make it fun.
Plus, if you keep adventuring with them they’ll grow up to be “big adventurers” one day. These are chronicles of places we’ve been, adventures we’ve had, things we do, and how we make it fun.
Since this is our first time together I’ll give you just a couple pointers on how to include your kids and what they can do that is fun. After today we’ll get into more specific things that will be cool for you AND your kids.
Let’s get trekking… Read more about Great Adventures For Your Kids
Not too long ago, I went to Mont-Mégantic National Park for a weekend of camping with my girlfriend. I was really looking forward to it since it has anti-light pollution by-laws, in order to protect the ASTROLab observatory. This means crazy starry skies. Unless it rains.
Mont-Mégantic ASTROLab
Have you ever tried organizing anything with your friends? It can be a frustrating experience. It can also be fulfilling and enjoyable, but sometimes at the cost of a few headaches. This applies to camping expeditions. Speaking of which, this weekend I’m going to go camping with my girlfriend and the other day, I stumbled on a great way to get on the same page for setting up the weekend. It’s a little thing called Google Docs. Many of you may already be aware of Google Docs (gdocs). But that doesn’t mean the link to use it for outdoor purposes has surfaced yet.
What does this picture have to do with Google or its documents? Honestly, nothing. I just felt it looked better than an image of Google's logo. This is an outdoor-centered blog after all.
I recently had the opportunity to head out to the Eastern Townships for a few days and I thought I’d take the time to review some products while I was out there. Of the many types of gear I brought with me, it was the tents that left the most lasting impressions. I brought two Mountain Hardwear tents: the Light Wedge 2 and Hammerhead 2. I went about testing them in several ways.
Part 3: Waking Up
wax paper = sleeping bag
I woke up feeling like I was a hamburger in a ski hill cafeteria: hot and soggy. In my inebriated state, I hadn’t thought of placing my tent in the shade. I’d also slept-in, so the sun had time to warm me to the point of a light simmer.
I laid there for a while, trying to piece together the evening. It was only after a few minutes that I remembered my late night visitor. I slowly peeked over my shoulder. He was gone, but had forgotten his fanny pack. That’s right… his fanny pack.
I recently had the opportunity to head out to the Eastern Townships for a few days and I thought I’d take the time to review some products while I was out there. Of the many types of gear I brought with me, it was the tents that left the most lasting impressions. I brought two Mountain Hardwear tents: the Light Wedge 2 and Hammerhead 2. I went about testing them in several ways.
Part 2: The Intimacy Test
the hammerhead 2
Let me set the scene. It’s late, I’ve just spent the past few hours with friends staying in nearby cabins deep in the woods, and I’m heading back to my campsite on the beach. I’ve had a few. I stumble towards my Hammerhead 2 bag (of course it wasn’t set up yet, it’s part of the test!). It only took me a few minutes to assemble the tent in the moonlit darkness.
I began stocking one of the vestibules with my remaining gear. This consisted of my trusty Jetboil, a backpack full of clothes and random supplies, my shoes, a case of beer, and the open beers I was double-fisting when I got to the site. There was tons of room for other stuff and I didn’t even need to use the other vestibule. I got into the tent, slipped into my favorite sleeping bag (The North Face Orion), and slowly began to fade away.
I recently had the opportunity to head out to the Eastern Townships for a few days and I thought I’d take the time to review some products while I was out there. Of the many types of gear I brought with me, it was the tents that left the most lasting impressions. I brought two Mountain Hardwear tents: the Light Wedge 2 and Hammerhead 2. I went about testing them in several ways.
Part 1: The Preliminary Test
the light wedge 2
I found a field and began setting up. I feel like no one should ever have to use an instruction booklet to set up a tent, and I didn’t (but then again, I’m really really smart). I was actually blown away at how easily and quickly I was able to set them up. Before I even had a chance to realize I was putting up a tent, it was already done.
When I started checking out all the bells and whistles however, it quickly became apparent to me that one of them might not make the grade. I’ll get back to the Hammerhead 2 later, but the Light Wedge 2 needs a small spanking. Problem is, my mommy always told me that if I didn’t have anything good to say, then I shouldn’t say anything at all.
