Day Hiking Adventures Archive
“People are usually more convinced by reasons they discovered themselves, than by those found by others.” – Blaise Pascal The first time I ever heard about merino wool, I was on an overnight hiking adventure during a typically cold February evening in minus 20-degree weather. My trail partner, Jonathan, who by 4am had already...
Hey guys, how’s it going? Facebook sent me a notification that I haven’t posted in a while and that I’ve been neglecting my 159 faithful friends, so my apologies. Here’s an update on my life: First off, let me just say that this whole woodworking thing started off as something to do while I...
“Hello, my name is Amelie and I am doing a big presentation on how hiking benefits your mental health. I know that you are very busy, but could you please spare a few minutes to answer the following questions: 1. How does hiking help you? 2. Do you think hiking helps your mental health?...
“It had nothing to do with gear or footwear or the backpacking fads or philosophies of any particular era or even with getting from point A to point B. It had to do with how it felt to be in the wild. With what it was like to walk for miles with no reason...
Greetings everyone! As many of you probably know by now, Jonathan Toews (pronounced toes not taves) has been hiking along the Bruce Trail in an effort to raise money and awareness for the Mood Disorders Society of Canada as part of a national campaign called Defeat Depression. It’s pretty amazing actually. At first, I...
As many of you may already know (or not), I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Jonathan Toews, a local athlete who plans to hike along the Bruce Trail in an effort to raise money and awareness for the Mood Disorders Society of Canada as part of a national campaign called Defeat...
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Niagara hiking enthusiast Jonathan Toews to discuss his upcoming plans to hike along the Bruce Trail in an effort to raise money and awareness for the Mood Disorders Society of Canada, which he plans to accomplish on weekends by hiking 24 consecutive hours on five...
“What sets a canoeing expedition apart is that it purifies you more rapidly and inescapably than any other. Travel a thousand miles by train and you are a brute. Pedal five hundred miles on a bicycle and you remain basically bourgeois. Paddle a hundred in a canoe and you are already a child of...
In my last post, I talked about my desire to hike all the way across Short Hills Provincial Park before eventually turning around and heading back to the Rockway Conservation Area prior to sunset, only I didn’t quite make it all the way across. Without knowing exactly how much more distance I needed to...
DISCLAIMER: Before attempting any level of exercise, please consult with your physician to ensure that you are in good physical condition and able to participate in any of the explained activities. You should understand that when participating in any form of an exercise program, there is always the possibility of physical injury. If you...
“There are lessons in life that can only be learned through fairly massive deviations from our normal, comfortable routines. These lessons alter our perspective on life and better equip us to deal with life’s unforeseen challenges. They can sharpen our optimism and generate a deeper appreciation for the simple things in life.” – Jared Campbell, the 16th finisher of the Barkley Marathon
“This is the way we fall. First we lose our balance, teetering precariously on the edge of uncertainty, until, mercilessly, gravity takes over. You can’t outshine gravity.” ― Cassia Leo When I set out to hike along the Bruce Trail from the Rockway Conservation Area all the way to Short Hills Provincial Park, I...
In my last article, I spoke about how treacherous the trails have been in terms of mud, and especially on the hilly landscapes that have been leading all the way up to the Rockway Conservation Area, so when it unexpectedly snowed this past week, I knew I was in for a real challenge on...
As some of you may recall from my last hike, I finally committed myself to trekking across every inch of the Bruce Trail, starting here in the Niagara Region, and then eventually, over an undetermined amount of time, hike the remainder of the trail all the way up to beautiful Tobermory. Something else that...
DISCLAIMER: Before attempting any level of exercise, please consult with your physician to ensure that you are in good physical condition and able to participate in any of the explained activities. You should understand that when participating in any form of an exercise program, there is always the possibility of physical injury. If you...
I couldn’t tell you how I got my hernia. All I know is, I had this walnut-sized, mysterious bump in my lower abdomen, and truthfully, I didn’t think much of it at the time. It wasn’t until my regular check-up at my doctor’s office that he told me rather nonchalantly that it was a...
As of today, it’s been three weeks since my hernia surgery, so to help celebrate, I decided to head out onto the Bruce Trail for a quick little three hour hike. How could I not on a day such as today? It was 18 degrees and gorgeous out there. A perfect Spring day. A...
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