JanSport Fort Hayes

Vous vous êtes calmés? Premièrement, vous avez besion d’un magnifique sac pour une escapade d’une fin de semaine. JanSport a pensé à vous avec leur sac Fort Hayes. Vous en conviendrez que son style est plus qu’étoffé. Votre partenaire sera impressionné par votre sense de la mode. De plus, sa construction est superbe et en plus viens avec une garantie à vie. Si, dans un moment de passion (inspiré, nul doute, par votre goût exquis), une glissière se brise, la garantie est là. Mais faites attention car les hipsters vous suivront partout d’un air envieux.

Coffrets Prestige Détente

Les sacs sont une manière facile, entièrement superficielle de vanter votre style. Mais comme avec les personnes, c’est ce qu’il y a l’intérieur qui compte. Paf, une boîte cadeau axée sur la relaxation! Inutile d’en dire plus, n’est-ce pas? Ce coffret vous donne plus de 20 idées de relaxation dans la région de Montréal. La musique zen, les huiles corporelles, des masseurs scandinaves musclés qui vous détendent les muscles : est-ce qu’il y a une meilleure façon de dire « je t’aime » ? Votre partenaire sera impressionné par votre côté attentive. Et si vous n’habitez pas proche de Montréal, alors vous n’avez qu’à ajouter un billet pour s’y rendre. Que vous êtes romantique, un massage et un voyage!

MSR Ensemble de Cuisson Quick 2 System

D’accord, les spas ne sont peut-être pas votre activité priviligiée. Vous êtes un pleinairien et vous désirez passer du temps dans la forêt. Comment mieux montrer votre appréciation de la personne qu’en cuisinant un délicieux repas accompagné d’une bonne bouteille de rouge. Tandis que vous séduisez votre douce moitié en racontant la fois que vous étiez pris dans une tente entourée de loups affamés à Yellowstone, vous terminez un repas quatre étoiles qui impressionnerait Martin Picard. 2 tasses, 2 assiettes, poêle, faciliteront votre tâche, mais ne rendront pas votre histoire plus croyable. Attention, ne cuisinez pas trop, sinon votre amour ne sera pas capable de bien vous remercier si elle assommé par la digestion.

TNF Twin Peaks

Un sac de couchage The North Face fait pour deux personnes. Difficile à battre. Il est chaud: c’est un -7C. Il est de haute qualité. C’est le seul bon choix pour des calins le jour de la St-Valentin en forêt (ou chez vous avec des chandelles et de la fondue au chocolat. Vous me remercierez plus tard.

Chocolat & Fleurs

Si vous ne sortez pas à l’instant pour immédiatement acheter des chocolats et des fleurs, vous le regreterez. Faites-le tout de suite. Faites-moi confiance.

JanSport Fort Hayes

Ok, stay calm first you need a beautiful bag to put you and your partner’s things in for the weekend getaway. JanSort has you covered with their Fort Hayes bag. First off it looks stylish as all heck. Your partner will be impressed with your fashion sense. Secondly it is an amazing construction with a Lifetime Warranty. If in a moment of heat nudge nudge wink wink a zip breaks no probs people. Just watch out because Hipsters will follow you drooling everywhere.

Coffrets Prestige Détente Giftbox

Bags are easy, totally superficial so your partner knows you style. What you put inside that bag is what counts. Bam, a relaxation giftbox! Need I say more? This baby is good for over 20 relaxation ideas in and around Montreal. What says I love you like zen music, oils and Scandinavian muscular individuals working out knots? They will be impressed with your thoughtfulllness. And if you don’t live near Montreal then there is the added benefit of your partner thinking you are buying a ticket to Montreal (I would suggest it otherwise the gift is sort of silly).

MSR Cook Quick 2 set 

Spas aren’t your thing, got it. You are an outdoorsy person and you want to share some quality time together in the woods. What better way to show you care than by cooking a delish meal with a nice bottle of red. As you woo your mate with stories of that time you were caught in your tent by circling wolves in Yellowstone, you can prepare them a 4-star dish fit for kings. 2 mugs, 2 plates, pots, frypans and all that jazz will make the meal a breeze. Don’t cook too much because he or she will not be able to thank you properly after if they are digesting up a storm.

TNF Twin Peaks

A two person sleeping bag from The North Face. It’s is warm: good until -7 Celsius. It is quality. It is the only choice for a Valentine’s Day snuggle-fest in the woods (or at home for that matter with candles and chocolate fondue on the floor). Thank me later.

Chocolate & Flowers

If you don’t go out now and buy chocolates and flowers then you are in trouble. Trust me.

This winter I decided to put together a list of some of the most useful gear I have, and package it as a suggested gift guide. Here you’ll find a number of items that surprisingly many people still don’t own. The gifts I suggest are all things that I didn’t appreciate before I got one, but that have since become a permanent resident of my backpack or car trunk. I also limited the list to only items that are fun to receive. You won’t find spare batteries, camp suds, or water repellent spray in this list, only cool toys.

20$-30$ Opinel Knife

This knife has been around since the 1800s and has been an outdoorsmen’s basic tool from the start. Back in the pre-gore tex days of external frame backpacks and triangular tents, my parents always had an Opinel handy on Canoe trips. For the past 18 years now, I have had my own and I can confirm one thing: they last forever. They hold a good edge and they are indestructible. But most importantly, they are super light, which makes this item (along with a waterproof lighter) a permanent resident of my pant pocket.

Suggestion: Opinel Classic Stainless Steel #8 ($19.99)

25$-100$ Headlamp

If you know someone that doesn’t have one of these yet, do them a favor and offer it as a gift. It’s plain and simple: handheld flashlights are over. Why would you carry around a big stick when you can free your hands with one of these? Side note: like most geometric objects, you can also hold a headlamp in your hands if that’s what you want to do.

For less than thirty bucks, you can get the Petzl e+LITE™. It’s tiny and weighs absolutely nothing (28g or roughly the mass of an AA battery). I keep one in my bag at all times as part of my safety equipment. On day trips, it can be a life saver if you get delayed past sundown. On longer trips, it’s a good backup light, just-in-case –and I have needed it.

For long evenings around the campfire or getting around in the woods, stronger lights are great. I use mine all the time, especially for cross country skiing after work on Mt Royal (when it gets dark at 4, you can get the quiet mystique feeling of the nighttime forest without having to stay up super late, and what a view when you get to the Belvedere!).

Suggestions: Petzl e+LITE (27.99) or Petzl Tikka Core ($81.99)

40$-150$ Camping Stove

The problem with this gift is that those who need it already have it, and those who don’t have it don’t need it. But that’s not exactly true. Here are three options for the different types of campers:

Don’t have a stove: Those who don’t have a stove should learn the joys of cooking in the fresh air, but let’s keep it light, simple and efficient. The MSR Reactor Stove System™ is a complete, self-contained pot+stove system that packs small and cooks incredibly fast. It’s perfect for boiling river water (which disinfects it) for dehydrated foods bags. Buy them this stove and a food pack and maybe an acetal spoon and voilà! Your city dweller can cook a picnic on a hike or a camping supper.

Have a stove: If your close one has a coleman-style two-burner cooker, he/she deserves something that they can take in a backpack. But even if they have a backpackable system, it could hardly be smaller and lighter than the record-breaking MSR pocket-rocket™ (40$). At just 85g, you’d sweat it’s made of air, but it’s quick and efficient when it comes to boiling water. This is my summer go-to. It lives in my pot set.

Or if you have a hardcore adventurer in your family, who may already have a standard iso propane (or butane) stove, you can now offer him the power of cold-weather cooking with a Naphta-burning stove like the MSR WhipserLite™ or the indestructible, 8000m-friendly, MSR XGK EX™.

Suggestions: MSR Reactor Stove System ($147.99), MSR Pocket Rocket ($38.99), MSR WhisperLite ($80.99), MSR XGK EX (

50$-150$ Collapsible Poles

Useful for walking and snowshoeing, as well as for pitching an impromptu shelter with a poncho and string, there are still surprisingly many people who don’t own a pair of these. They’re good for stability on a steep hike and are key for keeping your balance while snowshoeing before you get used to your oversized footprint. They hang out in my trunk with my snowshoes. I also find mine useful for backcountry skiing, where I like to adjust my pole length based on the terrain.

Suggestion: Black Diamond Trail Shock ($89.99)

150$-300$ Snowshoes

The greatest thing about snowshoes is that 1) anybody can use them, and 2) they open up new possible activities. Why should you stop hiking just because there’s snow on the ground? And why shouldn’t you be able to reach that little lookout picnic place you like in the winter? As a cross-country skier I always shunned snowshoes as too slow to be any fun… until I tried them. Turns out it’s a great feeling to be able to walk anywhere you want in the forest; you’re even freer than in the summer when the underbrush constricts movement. I keep my snowshoes in my trunk all winter and strap them on whenever I see something I want to explore.

Multiply the number of boxes under the tree by getting tails! If you plan to walk in deep powdery snow, or with a heavy backpack, they are great tools to expand your footprint.

Suggestion: MSR Lightning Axis 25 ($254.95)

220$-350$ Down sweater

The most underrated piece of equipment. Ever! The down sweater is my most prized and newest find. It’s like a puffy down coat, but the size of a sweater. Like a sweater, it’ll fit under any jacket, and like a down coat, it’s massively warm. Mountain Hardwear, Outdoor Research and Pantagonia make excellent ones.

In the early winter, when it is still only chilly (-5 to 10 C), you can use this as a stylish jacket. But what this is really useful for is as pocket-sized extra backup warmth. Unlike a fleece sweater, these pack tightly into a tiny little ball and weigh almost nothing. I keep mine in my bag all winter long. It’s always ready to pull out whenever somebody is cold. (You get quite popular fast when you have warmth to share.) Snowshoeing and want to stop for a picnic? Slip in right on. Or perhaps you’re cross-country skiing? Not to worry, it’ll fit in your fanny pack without weighing it down. I honestly don’t know how I lived without one.

Suggestion: Patagonia Down Sweater ($217.99)

Hope these ideas will inspire you to give someone a some really cool gear for Christmas!

Cet été, Altitude-sports.com a lancé sont programme de location appelé Essayez avant d'acheter. Le principe est simple: vous louez de l'équipement de l'année aux plus bas prix du marché et lors du retour, vous recevez le montant de votre location en $ à dépenser sur n'importe quoi en magasin. Le programme a connu un franc succès et sera en vigueur cet hiver et pour les prochaines saisons.

Le moment est venu de vendre notre flotte de cet été puisque nous renouvelerons le tout l'été prochain, dans l'optique de vous louer de l'équipement neuf à chaque début de saison. Spécialement cette année, nous vendrons aussi de l'équipement de location des années antérieures à prix minimes.

Au menu:

Jusqu'à 65% de rabais sur l'équipement de location de cette année
Catégories disponibles pour achat: Sacs de couchage 3 saisons et été, Tentes 3 saisons (2, 3, 4 et 6 places), Sacs à dos de randonnée et matelas de sol.

Jusqu'à 75% de rabais sur l'équipement de location des années antérieures
Catégories disponibles pour achat: Sacs de couchage 3 saisons et été, Tentes 3 saisons (2, 3, 4 et 6 places), Tentes 4 saisons (?), matelas de sol, bâtons de marche.

Marques disponibles:

The North Face, MSR, Mountain Hardwear, Therm-a-Rest, Gregory, Leki

Où?
Altitude-sports.com St-Denis
4140 rue St-Denis (entre Rachel et Duluth)
(514) 847-1515

Quand?
Dimanche 16 octobre, les porte ouvrent à 10hoo

Nos conseils et avertissement:
Certains morceaux sont presque neufs. Si vous cherchez à vous équiper à bas prix, c'est le moment ou jamais. Nous vous conseillons d'arriver tôt car les quantités sont limités et ce sera premier arrivé, premier servi. Profitez-en pour vous prendre un bon café au lait et un croissant à la boulangerie Aux Co'Pains D'Abord juste à côté sur Rachel, coin Rivard. Ça rendra l'attente moins longue. Finalement, nous ne mettons pas en vente l'entièreté de la flotte de location de cet été.

This summer, Altitude-sports.com launched its equipment-rental program called Try Before You Buy. Its a simple concept really: you rent equipment at the best price on the market and once you bring it back, you get that amount off anything in the store. The program was a huge success and will be ongoing this winter and the following seasons.

The time has arrived to sell our rental line since we'll get brand new stock next summer, the idea being that we'll be renting new equipment every season. Exceptionally, we'll be selling rental equipment from years past at incredibly low prices.

On the menu:

Up to 65% off this year's equipment
Categories available for purchase: 3-season and summer sleeping bags, 3-season tents (2, 3, 4 and 6 people), hiking packs and ground mats.

Up to 75% off previous years' equipment
Categories available for purchase: 3-season and summer sleeping bags, 3-season tents (2, 3, 4 and 6 people), 4 season tents (?), hiking packs, ground mats and walking sticks.

Available brands:
The North Face, MSR, Mountain Hardwear, Therm-a-Rest, Gregory, Leki

Where?
Altitude-sports.com St-Denis
4140 rue St-Denis (between Rachel and Duluth)
(514) 847-1515

When?
Sunday October 16th. Doors open at 10h

Advice and warning
Some pieces are practically new. If you're looking to equip yourself at a low cost, it's now or never. We recommend you get there early since quantities are limited and we'll be operating on a first-come, first-serve basis. Take of advantage of Aux Co'Pains D'Abord bakery's proximity to grab a coffee and croissant. They're on Rachel, corner Rivard. It'll make the wait seem shorter. Finally, we will not be renting out the entirety of this summer's rental range.

Good waterproof boots are absolutely crucial. I used the The North Face Jannu II GTX boots, which I previously reviewed here. They did the job superbly: they were comfortable, provided ample ankle support for my weighted pack, and most importantly, they were absolutely waterproof as I treaded for hours through low-tide submerged rock.

A light tent is key if you’re doing it solo. In a group, you can share the load. I use the MSR Carbon Reflex 2, which is as light as it gets in two-walled non-bivy sac tents.

My backpack is the Arc’teryx Bora 80. A classic. At 80 liters, it is larger than it needs to be for this trip, but I had brought this large pack for my sailing trip for which I had more gear.

A headlamp is always needed when camping. I used my usual Petzl Tikka XP, which I’ve had for years. Petzl now makes even brighter and longer-lasting lamps. Because I knew I might be camping alone and in isolation, I brought a backup lamp, the Tikka e+LITE, which is ridiculously small and light (28g) and provides ample light for all camp functions.

Because I was hiking alone, I brought a marine radio in case of emergency. Never undertake a solo trip without a way to contact help. I also often rent satellite phones from Roadpost.

Rain gear was absolutely key as well, given the daily mist. I have The North Face Venture Side Zip pants, which you can put on over your pants via the side zips, and an Arc’teryx Theta SL jacket, which is made with ultralite Gore-Tex® Paclite.

For cooking I used the MSR Pocket Rocket, which is one of the lightest stoves in the world, and is also very affordable. I also used cookware from MSR: the Exo 2 system, although the Quick 2 System would have worked as well, and would have been easier to clean!

As for food, I had sandwiches and dried fruit/nuts for lunch, oatmeal at breakfast and dehydrated foods from Lyo-san. For this kind of trip, you need a lot of food; my calorific intake was through the roof. (I brought 7 days’ worth of food, just in case, and finished it all in 3!)

I brought my Garmin GPS 60CSx, which revealed Park Canada’s lie about the length of the trail! (In reality, small adjustments to the trail have to be made as needed when storms uproot trees, etc… This probably explains the discrepancy.)

A sturdy rope to hang food at night.

Basically, I tried to bring the lightest of everything I had, and nothing more than what is strictly necessary.

---

For more of Jean-Yves's WCT experience, click the following links

The West Coast Trail – Jean-Yves’ Adventures Part I: The set-up

The West Coast Trail – Jean-Yves’ Adventures Part II: My Experience

The West Coast Trail – Jean-Yves’ Adventures Part III: My Gear

And, if you like Jean-Yves's style, you can also check out:

Wilderness First Aid

The Canadian Ski Marathon Challenge

Training and Preparation for the Canadian Ski Marathon

The End of the Road – Part I – Intro

Breafast fit for a Crusher

The most important cooking accessory for a hiker is unquestionably the stove. I began my trek with an MSR Whisperlite since it is robust and works with all kinds of fuel. However, I switched it at the very beginning for a Snowpeak GigaPower, that’s much lighter and easier to use. It works with canisters (relatively easy to find) filled with a mixture of butane and propane. It offers better control over the flame and it’s unnecessary to preheat it before lighting it. Nevertheless, the Whisperlite is still a very good stove, especially for group hikes, adverse weather conditions, or areas where the butane-propane canisters are harder to find.

Comestible ?

As for pots, I chose an anodized aluminum model (MSR Duralite), 1.5 litre format. The non-stick coating is suitable to my kind of cooking (mostly pasta). Although, one should be careful not to use metal utensils to avoid scratches. I could have opted for a slightly smaller model (1 litre), but I'd rather have room to maneuver when stirring up my culinary masterpieces. I will also not need to buy another one if I go camping with another person. As I mentioned earlier, I used a lexan spoon (GSI Outdoors) to preserve my pot’s non-stick coating and because it’s a very durable material. Still, titanium models are a bit lighter. Many hikers use the "spork", a hybrid fork-spoon. Personally, I hate this design since we eat almost nothing that requires being speared, and it makes it difficult to scrape the bottom of the pot in order to empty it out completely. Simple matter of preference. For cutting food I brought a “multitools” Swiss Army knife. Many hikers have a simple, single blade knife. Nevertheless, I preferred having the scissors, can opener and tweezers.

In terms of accessories, let’s start with the "hydration pack", commonly called Platypus (Big Zipper 2 litres). It is very convenient not having to stop walking in order to have a drink. The large opening allows it to be filled more easily than its predecessors and I had no problems with leaks. I also use a 1 litre Nalgene bottle. Some people prefer a simple Gatorade bottle, but I like the sturdiness and measuring lines (ounces and ml) of the Nalgene. I also use it as a "duct-tape holder". For water purification, the easiest and most effective way, in my opinion, is Pristine (Aquamira for our American neighbours). It kills all the nasty bacteria and weighs almost nothing. Filters are also frequently seen on the trail but they are bigger, heavier, and can break.

You were thirsty? There ya go, a whole bunch o' water

For convenient storage, most hikers use "stuff sacks". I had one for my clothes (approximately 15 litres) and another one for my food (25 litres), both by OR. This company offers beautiful designs that facilitate organization and identification. They are also water resistant to better protect clothes from the rain that manages to sneak into the pack. To hang the food bag (bear bagging), I had a 50 foot climbing rope. I probably could have gotten away with a length of 35-40 foot rope and a nylon parachute-style rope. Mine was quite heavy and I hardly used it as of midway along the trail.

Another very important accessory: the flashlight. I chose the Black Diamond Cosmo for its affordability, durability, and versatility. It is adjustable, comfortable on the head and offers two lighting modes (diffused light and concentrated) each with 3 intensities and a strobe mode. Ideal for walking at night, evening tasks around the campsite, and reading in your tent. The light is very bright with new batteries installed, and reasonably intense thereafter. However, this flashlight would be better if it offered a "red light", which I have often seen on the trail. It doesn’t blind the person facing the beam.

Hiking makes you hungry!

I sometimes found it useful to have a camping towel. You know, that piece of ultra-absorbent fabric that resembles a Shamwow? Very useful for drying the fly of your tent after a rainy night or to dry off after a swim. No need to buy a large towel, incidentally. Most are too big and too heavy. The tiny Lightload Towels work nicely and come in a small compact discs.

Last accessory but not least: the butt pad! It is a luxury that I consider necessary and useful. It is simply a piece of Z-Rest mattress that was given to me by a hiker who was trying to reduce the weight of his bag. Two sections are sufficient to constitute a portable and confortable seat to pull out when taking a break, or at your campsite.

There we have it, my last article for this blog. I hope the info helps to improve your hiking experience. I strongly encourage you to leave your home and get some fresh air, whether for six months, one week, or one afternoon. You'll find that it feels good to get out and oxygenate your soul. Thank you to Altitude Sports for making this trip possible and for supporting me all along my journey.

Read about my latest adventures at 5millionsdepas.com.

The Crusher, now back to Christian.

Intro - 5 Million Steps

Sleepy Time - 5 Million Steps

Walking - 5 Million Steps

Cooking + - 5 Million Steps

Un déjeuner de Crusher

L'accessoire le plus important de la cuisine d'un hiker est sans contredit le réchaud. J'avais commencé ma randonnée avec un Whisperlite de MSR puisqu'il est robuste et fonctionne avec toutes les sortes de carburant. Toutefois, j'ai changé au tout début pour un Snowpeak Gigapower, beaucoup plus léger et facile d'utilisation. Celui-ci fonctionne avec des bombonnes (relativement faciles à trouver) d'un mélange de butane-propane. On a un meilleur contrôle sur la flamme et il n'est pas nécessaire de préchauffer avant de l'allumer. Cela dit, le Whisperlite est quand même un très bon réchaud, particulièrement pour des randonnées de groupe, des conditions climatiques difficiles ou des endroits où les bombonnes de butane-propane sont plus rares.

Comestible ?

Côté chaudron, j'ai choisi un modèle en aluminium anodisé (MSR Duralite) de format 1,5 litres. Le revêtement anti-adhésif convient parfaitement au genre de cuisson que j'effectuais (principalement des pâtes). Il faut toutefois faire attention de ne pas utiliser d'ustensiles en métal afin d'éviter les égratignures. J'aurais pu opter pour un modèle un peu plus petit (1 litre), mais je préfère avoir une marge de manoeuvre pour brasser mes chefs-d'oeuvre gastronomiques. Et je n'aurai pas besoin d'en acheter un nouveau si je pars faire du camping à deux. Comme mentionné plus tôt, j'ai utilisé une cuillère en lexan (GSI Outdoors) pour préserver le revêtement anti-adhésif de mon chaudron et pour la durabilité du matériau. Les modèles en titane sont toutefois un peu plus légers. Beaucoup de hikers utilisent des "sporks", un hybride fourchette-cuillère. Personnellement, je déteste ce design puisqu'on ne mange à peu près rien qui nécessite d'être piqué et qu'il empêche de bien gratter le fond du chaudron pour le vider complètement. Simple question de préférence. Et pour couper les aliments, j'ai emmené avec moi un couteau suisse "multitools". Beaucoup de hikers n'ont qu'un simple couteau à une lame, mais je préférais avoir aussi les ciseaux, l'ouvre-boîte et la pince à cils.

Pour ce qui est des accessoires, commençons avec le "sac d'hydratation", communément appelé Platypus (Big Zipper 2 litres). Il est très pratique pour ne pas avoir à s'arrêter pour boire pendant la marche. La grande ouverture permet de le remplir plus facilement que les anciens modèles et je n'ai eu aucun problème de fuite. J'utilisais aussi une gourde Nalgene d'un litre. Certains lui préfèrent une simple bouteille de Gatorade, mais j'aime la robustesse et les mesures (onces et ml) de la Nalgene. Et je m'en sers aussi comme "tient-duct-tape". Pour purifier l'eau, le moyen le plus facile et efficace est, selon moi, la Pristine (Aquamira, pour nos voisins américains). Il tue toutes les méchantes bactéries et ne pèse presque rien. Les filtres sont aussi fréquents sur la piste, mais ils sont plus gros, lourds et peuvent briser.

T'avais soif ? En voilà de l'eau

Pour faciliter le rangement, la plupart des hikers utilisent des "stuff sacks". Pour ma part, j'en avais un pour mes vêtements (environ 15L) et un autre pour ma nourriture (25L), tousdeux de marque OR. Cette compagnie offre de jolis designs qui facilitent l'organisation et l'identification. Ils sont également résistants à l'eau pour mieux protéger les vêtements de la pluie qui réussirait à s'infiltrer dans le sac à dos. Pour accrocher le sac de bouffe (bear bagging), j'avais une corde style escalade d'environ 50 pieds. J'aurais probablement pu m'en tirer avec une longueur de 35-40 pieds et une corde en nylon de style parachute. La mienne était relativement lourde et je ne l'utilisais pratiquement plus à partir de la mi-chemin.

Un autre accessoire très important : la lampe de poche. J'ai choisi la Black Diamond Cosmo pour son prix abordable, sa durabilité et sa versatilité. Elle est ajustable, confortable sur la tête et offre deux mode lumineux (lumière diffuse et concentrée) avec chacun 3 intensités et un mode clignotant. Idéal pour la marche de nuit, les tâches au campement le soir et la lecture dans la tente. La lumière est très brillante avec des piles neuves, et raisonnablement intense par la suite. Toutefois, cette lampe aurait avantage à proposer la fonction "lumière rouge", que j'ai souvent vue sur la piste et qui n'éblouit pas la personne vers qui on dirige le faisceau.

La randonnée, ça donne faim !

J'ai trouvé parfois utile d'avoir une serviette de camping. Vous savez, ce morceau de tissu ultra-absorbant de type Shamwow ? Très utile pour sécher le double-toit de votre tente après une nuit pluvieuse ou pour vous sécher après une baignade. Inutile d'acheter une serviette de grande dimension, par contre. La plupart sont trop grosses et trop lourdes. Les minuscules Lightload Towels font très bien l'affaire et se vendent en petites rondelles compactes.

Dernier accessoire et non le moindre : le butt pad ! C'est un luxe que je juge nécessaire et très utile. Il s'agit simplement d'un bout de matelas Z-Rest qui m'a été donné par un hiker qui cherchait à diminuer le poids de son sac. Deux sections sont suffisantes pour constituer un siège portatif et confortable à sortir lors de n'importe quelle pause ou au site de camping.

Voilà, c'est ce qui termine ma dernière chronique sur ce blogue. J'espère que les infos vous auront servi à améliorer vos expériences de randonnée. Je vous encourage fortement à sortir de chez vous et d'aller prendre l'air, que ce soit pour six mois, une semaine ou un après-midi. Vous verrez que ça fait du bien de sortir un peu et de s'oxygéner l'esprit. Merci à Altitude Sports d'avoir rendu possible ce voyage et de m'avoir soutenu tout au long de celui-ci.

Lisez la fin de mes aventures au 5millionsdepas.com.

The Crusher, redevenu Christian

Introduction - 5 millions de pas

Lire la catégorie « dodo » - 5 millions de pas

Lire la catégorie « marche » - 5 millions de pas

Lire la catégorie « Bouffe + » - 5 millions de pas

Lire l'entrevue - 5 millions de pas

a coyote eating my christmas dinner

Although I have to admit, the most amazing thing I've discovered since my arrival has got to be the discovery of Merino wool. I tell you, there's nothing like having one of those sheep close to your naked skin.

But I digress...

The problem is, however, that working here is a double-edged sword. I may have become knowledgeable about, and even fallen in love with tons of brands and products, but this has left me wanting to equip myself with more and more. And I'm not about to stop paying rent just so I can completely drape myself in Merino wool. So my brain had an idea.

Brain: Hey Dave!

Me: Yes Brain?

Brain: Wouldn't it be great if you shared your wealth of knowledge with the rest of the world? Wouldn't it be great if others knew what you did?

Me: I guess so... could you elaborate?

a brain that isn't mine

Brain: Well, instead of being a whiny selfish jerk who always complains about the cool stuff he doesn't have, maybe you could suggest your favorite things to others. That way, they can feel the joy of receiving something cool! And you will have indirectly contributed to their joy!

Me: I guess...

Brain: What do you mean, "I guess..."?

Me: I suppose I could do it... can it wait until next week?

Brain: What!?! No! Why don't you just do it now?

Me: I don't really feel like it right now. And I'm hungry. Can I do it after lunch?

Brain: Ughhhh.... fine... do it after lunch.

Me: Deal.

Brain: Wait! You're not lying to me, are you?

Me: Would I lie to you?

Brain: Yes

[...]

This went on for a hours until we got so hungry that we couldn't communicate any more. But after a hearty lunch, I decided to get on it. I compiled a list of products that tickle my tinsel. You know, the kind of stuff I'd want to find at the foot of my Festivus pole. It's not a huge list, just a handful of goodies.

So here it is (you can see photos of the products at the bottom of the page):

1. Leatherman Skeletool CX: This is a great light and compact multi-tool that has all the basics and looks awesome. For a person like me who's into cycling, I think it's a must have. I don't know how long I will be able to resist getting this one. It also looks like it would really come in handy for when I'm sailing.

2. Icebreaker Men's Beast 150 Relaxed Boxer with Fly: I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love Merino wool. I already have a bunch of these but I won't be satisfied until all of my underwear are replaced.

3. Outdoor Research Downmat 7 DLX: I've always prided myself on not being picky when it comes to sleep. I can fall asleep anytime, anywhere. But after having tried this mat in-store, and feeling the difference in comfort and warmth, I will gladly throw my pride out the window for this kind of coziness. Also, I've never used a mat that was so easy to inflate.

christmas morning, 1864

4. Mammut Guide Radial Glove: This is the most comfortable pair of softshell gloves I've ever tried on. Surprising dexterity and sensitivity. I would sleep with them on. I can't justify buying a pair because I already have gloves. That being said, if I received them as a gift, I wouldn't return them.

5. Klean Kanteen 20oz Stainless Steel Wide Mouth Insulated Bottle: This is a handsome, insulated, stainless steel, BPA free bottle. It's got a wide mouth, making it easy to clean. They also offer interchangeable caps depending on your needs.

6. MSR Dragonfly: This is the perfect stove for traveling. You can use a whole array of fuels including unleaded auto fuel! I've heard from friends that there's just no comparison when it comes to precision cooking.

There you have it! My short but sweet Christmas list. You can count on these products to make any outdoor type happy. And if anyone I know is out there reading this: I love you more than that other person does.

In Gaspésie it’s an obligation to eat seafood, provided that you like that sort of thing. Who doesn’t like to tuck into a nice big, freshly caught lobster? We do, and certainly took maximum advantage of our situation. We tried, with our feet in water much too cold, to coax one into the cooler, but it was in vain…. After only a few seconds, we decided, due to our numb, swollen-red feet, to go to the nearby fish store and pick a monster out for ourselves. The choice wasn’t difficult as there were only lobsters in the tank. We’ve tried to cook them in all sorts of ways and our favourite is on the grill. This worked out well as we had brought one along with us!

You will need:

1- One frisky and very energetic lobster (it must move around with vigour!)
2- A well-sharpened chef’s knife.
3- A barbecue or a grill to put over the fire .
4- Tongs (to turn the lobster with).
5- A tasty garlic butter.

Directions:

1- Separate the pincers from the live lobster.

2- Put the lobster on its belly, with the tail nice and flat, and stick the point of the knife in its head. Then with an energetic and firm stroke, cut the lobster length-wise down the middle so you have two pieces. You will find this cruel, but tell yourself this beast can’t feel a thing.
3- Slather the lobster meat with garlic butter and put it meat side down on a very hot grill.
4- After about 5-7 minutes, turn the lobster shell side down on the grill.
5- At this time you can put the pincers on as they take less time to cook.
6- You’ll know the lobster is ready when the meat separates easily from of the shell. This will take around another 5-7 minutes depending on the size of your lobster.

Bon appétit.

*Translated by Judy Altitude

Where the sea begins...

We knew we wanted to camp most of the time in national parks, so we equipped ourselves with a grill for cooking meat over the fire, good cooking utensils, our camping stove – MSR Whisperlite international – and a good pot. Not to mention the cooler we used to drag our belongings around problem-free, and in particular, to keep the beer cold….

First Dinner in Gaspésie

We prepared chicken Tandoori drumsticks. They were frozen so we could put them in the cooler several hours even 2 days in advance without worrying. This way they marinate longer, taste better and are juicier.

Magalie at the grill

Chicken Tandoori Drumsticks

For two hungry people

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes.

Ingredients

8-10 frozen chicken drumsticks
750 ml plain yogourt
1 head of garlic, minced
5 tbs. Tandoori spice mix
juice of 2 lemons

Directions

1- Mix all the ingredients together until well combined.

2- Put the chicken in a zip-lock bag with the spice mix.

3- Close the bag and mix everything around so the drumsticks are well coated.

4- Keep the chicken cold until you’re ready to cook it.

5- To cook the chicken, the best is over a fire or on the barbecue. Shake off the excess marinade from the drumsticks and cook them until the meat comes easily off the bone.

Accompanied with baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil, this chicken is finger lickin’ good.

*translated by Judy Altitude

Magalie and baked potato

À la soupe!

Qui dit camping dit aussi nourriture. Déjà, si vous êtes comme moi, vous pensez toujours à la nourriture, mais en plein air, la nourriture devient autre. Quasiment comme si elle prenait une place plus importante. Et on veut encore plus que ça soit bon. Heureusement, en plein air, notre corps semble s’arranger pour que ça goûte meilleur, peu importe ce qu’on ingère!

Dans cette optique de la bouffe, je vous écris afin de vous présenter une nouvelle série d’articles qui se concentrera sur des recettes simples, rapides et faciles.

Tout d’abord, un peu d'infos sur mon côté culinaire. Mon éducation culinaire s’est fait à la Patate du Peuple, mieux connue sous le nom de People’s Potato. C’est une cafétéria végétalienne où l’on paye comme on peut. J’ai passé 3 ans là, depuis le presque tout début. Étant un organisme à but non-lucratif, il fallait apprendre à se débrouiller avec ce que nous avions et ça été une grande et excellente influence sur ma vision culinaire, en plus de me donner de la confiance dans ce domaine. J’aime beaucoup improviser et simplement m’arranger avec ce que j’ai dans le frigo et le garde-manger.

Bien-sûr, ce n’est pas tout le monde qui a eu cette chance, mais je compte justement partager de petits plats simples avec vous. Pour ceux qui ont un peu moins confiance côté cuisine, j’espère que ça vous donnera un petit coup de pouce. Pour les plus aguerris, si je ne fais que vous donner de bonnes idées, je serai comblé.

C’est avec plaisir que vous présente ma première recette,

Quesadillas – entrée pour 2-3 personnes

Un exemple de quesadillas

Équipement

Réchaud

Gamelle ou poêle, avec couvercle

Couteau

Ingrédients

• 2 tortillas qui rentrent dans votre gamelle ou poêle
• Assez de fromage pour couvrir une tortilla. Donc, environ 100 gr. De préférence un fromage qui fond bien, tel le Brick, le Monterey Jack, cheddar doux…
• 1 onion vert
• 2 champignons de taille moyenne
• Plusieurs feuilles de coriandre (11 pour ceux qui aiment les itinéraires culinaires précis)

Procédé

1. Râper ou couper en tranche le fromage.

2. Couper en petits morceaux l’onion vert et les champignons.

3. Mettre une tortilla dans la gamelle avec le réchaud réglé à un régime moyen-bas.

4. Étendre les champignons et couvrir le tout avec le fromage et la coriandre.

6. Mettre la deuxième tortilla par-dessus.

7. Couvrir la gamelle et attendre quelques minutes, que le fromage soit fondu.

8. Couper en triangles.

9. Savourer.

Vous pouvez aussi faire la recette pour une personne en utilisant qu’une tortilla. Dans ce cas, mettez les ingrédients sur une moitié de la tortilla et repliez-la ensuite. D’ailleurs, je crois que c’est la méthode plus traditionnelle, mais puisque je suis gourmand, je préfère une quesadilla double !

Notes

J’aime bien cette recette car elle est simple, facile à varier, n’utilise qu’un plat et les ingrédients n’ont pas besoin d’être réfrigérés.

Côté équipement, j’aurai pu ajouter une spatule, mais on peut tout simplement faire tomber la quesadilla sur le couvercle. Une planche à découper agrémentera aussi la préparation, mais elle s’improvise si facilement que je n’ai pas cru nécessaire de l’ajouter. Finalement, un bon feu remplace admirablement bien le réchaud, mais ce ne sont pas tous les endroits qui en permettent.

là où la mer commence

Nous savions que nous allions camper, la plupart du temps, dans des parcs nationaux. Alors nous nous étions "greyé" d'une grille pour les grillades sur le feu, de bons ustensils de cuisine, de notre bruleur MSR Whisperlite internationale et d'une bonne gamelle. Sans oublier la glacière pour trainer sans problème nos biens essentiels, en fait surtout pour garder la bière froide...

Gaspésie 1er souper

Alors nous avions préparé des pilons de poulets tandoori. Les pilons étaient gelés alors nous pouvions les mettre dans la glacière plusieurs heures même 2 jours sans crainte. Il marine plus longtemps alors ils sont beaucoup plus gouteux et juteux.

magalie et le grill

Pilons de poulet Tandoori Préparation: 10 minutes. Cuisson: 45 minutes. Pour deux personnes affamées

Ingrédients:

8 à 10 pilons de poulet congelés

750 ml de yaourt nature

1 tête d'ail haché

5 cuillères à table de mélange à épice Tandoori

jus de 2 citrons

Méthodes:

1- Mélanger tous les ingrédients pour que le tout soit bien homogène.

2- Mettre le poulet dans un sac à fermeture à glissière avec le mélange.

3- Fermer le sac et bien mélanger le tout pour que les pilons soient bien enrobés.

4- Garder le tout au frais jusqu'à ce que vous soyez prêt à faire cuire.

5- Pour la cuisson l'idéale est sur un feu ou BBQ. Enlever le surplus de la marinade sur les pilons et faire cuire jusqu'à ce que l'os se détache bien de la chair.

Nous l'avions accompagné d'une papillotte de pomme de terre; ces pilons de poulet sont délicieux à s'en lécher les doigts.

magalie et la patate

Sweet Potato Hash

Sunday morning was gloriously warm and sunny. Appropriately, Leigh Partington, (another loyal altitudiène), Carie, one of Leigh’s friends, and I brought our picnicking equipment, i.e., camping stoves, fuel, coffee, food, blankets, cutlery, cups, plates, bowls etc., to Jeanne-Mance Park in Montreal where we proceeded to cook ourselves up a delicious little breakfast. Trying to recreate the most authentic camping scene that I could, I wanted to think of a recipe that would be appropriate for folks spending some time out in the trees, or along the beach, or in the mountains, and that wouldn’t be too difficult.

There are many kinds of hash, but from what I gather, there are two kinds: wet and dry. Wet hashes use gravy in their preparation and dry ones use the fat rendered from butter or meat. (My recipe will be for a dry hash, but if you’d like to experiment by adding gravy, or searching for other recipes on the Internet, please, be my guest.) I am of the opinion that you can throw whatever the heck you want into hash. Maybe you want to add other ingredients such as spinach, cheese, dried herbs, and spices, to name a few. The main point is that you want your hash to have lots of crusty crunchy bits that will contrast silky yolks of fried eggs, or light pillowy scrambled ones. To avoid waiting an hour for breakfast to be ready, use pre-cooked potatoes that you have left over from the night before. That way the hash will heat up and cook quickly to a golden brown.

MSR Whisperlite International

You can use almost any stove to cook this meal because it involves quick sautéing and browning. I have a MSR Whisperlite International stove, which has two settings: high and low. It’s a hearty, lightweight little machine meant for expeditions and simple cooking. Using this as my number one weapon of choice, I have every intention on becoming a master, backpacking chef (even though I heard that the heavier MSR Dragonfly is the Rolls Royce of camping stoves….)

It’s also nice to have a friend like Leigh along who will bring her Jetboil and make you coffee while you cook. The Jetboil Personal Cooking System (PCS)is the ultimate solo hiker’s dream. It boils water at a rapid-fire speed, is insulated with a neoprene case so you can pick it up with your hands and everything fits into the canister! The real bonus is if you buy the French Press attachment, which you can also store inside the pot, it’s a real one-pot operation.

The Jet Boil (PCS)

For actual cooking I’ve however heard that it’s a bit tricky. Leigh said she burned a perfect black sphere into her pot of oatmeal when she left the pot unattended for 30 seconds. Next time I’m going to give it a go, so you can look out for an update. For now, here’s the recipe.

Sweet Potato Pesto Hash

Make this recipe after a night of fire-roasted potatoes and any meat you have left over such as, hamburger, hot dogs, other sausage, bacon etc.

For four hungry hikers/campers/picnickers

2 eggs per person
2 C diced cooked potato (or raw)*
2 C diced cooked sweet potato (or raw)
1 C chopped meat (can be uncooked)
1 C chopped onion
A couple TBS of pesto
Salt and Pepper

*If you use raw potato, this will take much longer.

Fry your onion and meat (I used bacon) together in a frying pan until it’s tender and brown.

Frying the onions and bacon

Then add your potatoes, sweet potatoes and pesto. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook until crunchy and crispy, it’s okay if some parts are almost burned.

Hash cooking

Set the hash aside in a pot with the lid on to conserve heat.

Cook eggs according to preference. I fried mine over-easy, but scrambled would also be delicious.