Dad's Outdoor Adventures

Exciting News!

2009-10-30T01:14:00.001-06:00

My Beautiful Bride and I have been invited down to Florida to visit a friend, outdoor survival practicioner, and fellow blogger...my friend Molawns!

Next April, Molawns will be our guide to experience Florida's scenery, culture and history before we escape to Myakka River State Park to explore, hike, kayak, fish and practice a some subtropical bushcraft & survival skills.

As we face another long, cold winter, T. and I will take great comfort in researching, planning and preparing for this once in a lifetime adventure together, and we will be sure to share it with you upon our return next Spring.

It's really nice to have something to look forward to.

Palm Forests at Myakka

Myakka River

First Snow of Autumn

2009-10-28T10:19:00.000-06:00

A mix of rain and snow fell last night, and this is what we woke up to this morning.

It's going to take some mental adjustment to accept the passing of autumn this year. The way I see it, there are actually almost a dozen seasons in your average calendar year, and this snow marks the start of

"late autumn - the first snows"

Get out the winter kit now, Mr. B...

Camping in the Boreal Forest

2009-09-12T22:48:00.006-06:00

Hello again!

This will be a shorter post than I wanted it to be, because I put alot of effort into making short video clips from our digital camera to share the experience, but I can't seem to upload the movies!

Tammylove and I took off after a hellacious Friday at work so we could do a bit of camping again...just to relax and do a bit more experimenting with kit and techniques. We went to Winagami Lake Provincial Park, about a half hour north of town, where camping in the Dry Mixedwood Boreal Forest can be experienced. Aspen, Cottonwood, Paper Birch, Willow and the odd Spruce or Pine are the overstorey, and wild rose, sarsaparilla, highbush cranberry, and red-osier dogwood make up the understorey.

After the Labour Day long weekend, the park was practically empty, and we revelled in the peace and solitude. Geese could be heard flying overhead with their distinctive honks, and woodpeckers hammered the trees around us to keep us company. As dusk deepend into night, the stars shone brilliantly above us, seeming close enough to touch. We sat and spoke in appropriately hushed tones to the the flickering firelight that danced and reflected in the tree canopies overhead.

In the still, wee hours of the morning, the moon shone brilliantly, casting stark shadows across the campsite and forest floor. All was absolutely still, silent and breathtaking.

We came home refreshed and recharged, and we're hoping to get out again in the next week or two, so we can capture and share with you the autumn colours at their peak.

The Canadian Rockies

2009-09-07T20:56:00.052-06:00

After an incredibly hectic summer, my beautiful bride and I decided to dump everything and run away for a week. Our initial plan was to hike Mount Robson (the world famous Berg Lake Trail) but bad weather encouraged us to change our minds.

Instead I decided to give T. a weeklong discovery of all the best parts of Jasper & Banff National Parks. T. had very little camping experience, so it would be a welcome "shakedown cruise" to sort ourselves out, as well as an opportunity to explore through the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

One thing new for me too...since I've always preplanned trips, I figured I'd throw caution to the wind and just wing it.

No preplanning.

No schedules.

No booking ahead.

We decided to just wake up each morning and ask each other "What do you want to do today, Darling?" Strangely enough, it actually worked! Every night we found a great place to sleep. Every day we found a new campsite, trail, hotspring or other activity to engage our minds and relax our hearts...

This photo essay is the chronicle of our adventures together.

Jasper Park's East Gate (from Hinton)
Rainy, windy, chilly day in Jasper

The getaway vehicle
These sheep almost caused a huge pileup.

Near the headwaters of the Athabasca River

Approaching the Columbia Icefields

The Columbia Icefields and the Athabasca River

Just entering the treeline again

"The Racetrack"

A huge sweeping switchback dropping down a steep sustained grade

More dropping down...

Towards Wenkchemna Pass

Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

This scene is famous in Canada as it was printed on the back of our old $20 bills
Valley of the Ten Peaks.

Tammylove admiring the view

Looking towards the Consolation Lakes and Paradise Valley

Moraine Lake

Hiking up the Rockpile

Beautiful Bride and me

Our Tacoma at Lake Louise town

Temple Mountain is the big mountain at left-centre and Victoria Glacier can be seen

just above the treed ridge in the distance
Mountain scenery at Bow Lake

Bow Lake

Headwaters of the Bow River

Johnston Canyon

At the top of Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon

Some Mountain Freak

Johnston Canyon

The town of Banff

Banff National Park is Canada's oldest national park (1885) that was

originally set aside to protect Cave and Basin Hot Springs

Tammylove's hand cooking supper at Two Jack Lake

Supper.

Tammylove's campfire cooking experiments were a complete success!

Some weirdo that Tammylove lets hang around.

Proof that if you feed a stray, he'll come back.

Lake Minnewanka, near Banff

Banff Upper Hot Springs, Sulphur Mountain

The mountain in the left distance is Cascade Mountain that you saw before from downtown Banff. Tunnel Mountain is the low ridge just above the trees.

A slightly different view (turned to the right a bit) showing Mt. Rundle.

The valley heading off to the right is the Bow River Valley that leads to Calgary, about an hour's drive away from Banff.

Miette Hot Springs.

This little cabin was my treat to Tammylove for camping with me.

These cabins were built in 1938 and have had only minimal upgrades.

Our Son's Graduation

2009-08-29T00:16:00.009-06:00

Jonah, our son, has now graduated from High School.

I have no way of expressing either the heights of my pride at his accomplishment or the depths of sadness at the pending loss of him from home as he pursues his dreams. Jonah is quite a talented drummer and loves playing heavy metal music...so I cannot imagine how we'll manage to keep him in this tiny farm town we call home.

C'est la vie is such a civilized way of saying "Too bad, so sad, Dad." My loss is my son's freedom.

Here are a few pictures of his special day!

Fort Edmonton Park

2009-08-28T21:40:00.029-06:00

For the Victoria Day Holiday (24th of May) I took my beautiful bride to Fort Edmonton National Historic Park. http://www.fortedmontonpark.ca/pages/FortEdmonton/default.aspx

Fort Edmonton Park is Canada's largest living history museum and is a fantastic example of "history in motion". An interactive museum spanning many decades of Alberta's capitol city, Fort Edmonton Park has four primary features: 1920 street, 1905 street, 1885 street and the original Fort Edmonton (built in 1795 and shown as a fully functioning post at the height of the fur trade in 1846.

The following photo essay is only a small collection of the photos we took and the experiences we enjoyed that day, but I hope it educates and entertains you with Alberta's history!

I'd say the sign is pretty self-explanatory...

Fort Edmonton Park entrance. This building is a refurbished (and actively used by the park) railway station.

1920 Street.

Time period automobiles and motordrome, circa 1920.

1920 Street.

The cap badge of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment (aka "The Loyal Eddies"). The LER was formed at the start of the First World War as the 49th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. The motto of the Loyal Eddies is "Fear No Foe".

The Loyal Edmonton Regiment still exists as a Reserve Force Regiment in the Canadian Armed Forces, and forms the 4th (Reserve) Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI).

Talking with a local actor portraying his own grandfather, who fought in the First World War with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment.

This intrepid young man has looked high and low for authentic uniform pieces to complete his post-WW1 uniform, and has almost completed the uniform - at his own cost.

Typical Edmonton street - including electric streetcars - circa 1905.

Edmonton council chambers circa 1905.

Tent camp where new settlers could stay until they could build a house. Many a shopkeeper, accountant or bank clerk stayed in these tent camps with their families for months at a time.

Bachelor's pads haven't changed much in the last 100+ years.

1885 Street.

Northwest Mounted Police outpost.

Typical tack of the NWMP circa 1885.

New construction methods for the 1880s.

Bellerose schoolhouse built in the 1880s.

Typical "land yacht" of the mid-late 1800s which many settlers used to cross the continent before the railway was completed.

Plains Cree trading camp located just outside Fort Edmonton. First Nations members participate as living exhibits of Plains Cree culture at the height of the fur trade at Fort Edmonton.

The refurbished Fort Edmonton, built in 1795 and exhibited at it's trading height in 1846.

Typical accomodations for fort-dwellers.

The fort's main square the the Governor's house.

Metis blacksmith working. The red sash he is wearing signifies his status as a Metis (halfbreed).

Emergency stores, no doubt!

Fort Edmonton's storehouse.

Another view of the Fort and the adjacent Cree trading camp. The Cree Indians would trap furs throughout the winter months, then trade them the following summer, when they could return by the rivers, the original "highways" of Canada.

New Truck.

2009-05-15T09:05:00.008-06:00

Hey Y'all!

It's been awhile since I last posted. The winter was spent working and conducting cold weather experiments (shelter, footwear and clothing).

Our car died...and let me tell you that you haven't lived until you've had a towering Trinidadian Honda Technician lean over you and tell you somberly in his thick accent "I'm sorry but your car is dead. I can't believe this car has worked so long! the Honda Gods have sure been looking after you!" A surreal experience to be sure...

HAHAHA!!!

Accordingly, we were forced (yes, FORCED, I say!!!) to purchase our dream truck ahead of schedule. It's a 2009 Toyota Tacoma TRD (off road) pickup. For you techies & geeks out there, it's a V6 auto transmission - meaning we get the six foot box. The truck comes with everything you could want and some stuff you probably don't. Good safety features, including 3 airbags per passenger: front, top and side). Yes the stereo rocks. We drove it home rocking to Dire Straits for 400kms! The TRD Off Road package means it's designed for towing loads and travelling - well - off road!

I never said I was eloquent.

We'll be putting a canopy on it soon, thus making it our ultimate bugout getaway vehicle, including T's "armored tent" so she can sleep peacefully in the great outdoors.

Yes, it's comfortable, strong and a great ride...that's why we bought it!

You'll be seeing our getaway truck featured in our survival, travel and recreational adventure posts coming up!

Historic Barkerville, the gold rush town of the 1860's!

2008-08-18T22:21:00.033-06:00

In August, my family (T & J) and I travelled to Barkerville, BC, to rediscover and savour the flavour of history!

Barkerville is a National Historic Park (http://www.barkerville.ca/newindex/index03.html) named after Billy Barker, a local miner who found the motherlode and sparked a gold rush to the mountainous Cariboo region of British Columbia.

Barkerville is a living museum, with period architecture, artifacts, exhibits, restaurants, inns, shops and actors to help visitors get lost in gold rush life in the 1860s. A few of the buildings are original structures that survived the fire that razed the town after a drunken miner tried to gain a waitress' affections and ran afoul of the inn's stove!

I found the design features of several frontier-era buildings of particular interest to the outdoorsman/survivalist who might endeavor to construct living space with simple hand tools.

We even managed a period-costume photo for the family!

If you have a love for history and love interactive exhibits, I recommend a trip to Barkerville!

British Columbia's North Coast

2008-08-18T21:32:00.042-06:00

My gorgeous girl, T, and I travelled to Prince Rupert, to discover British Columbia's north coast region...and to have a little time together! What we found was nothing short of amazing! Rugged terrain, lush temperate rainforests, rain, mists, fog and the deeply heart-fulfilling peace that comes with time spent communing with God's creation.

A two-day drive across the Peace Country of Alberta, through the northern Rocky Mountains, over the rolling interior plateaus and through the Coast (Cascade) Mountains was a voyage of delight and discovery all in itself!

Gently rolling forest & farmland of Alberta's Peace Country near our home.

Pine Pass and Azouetta Lake. The Pine Pass is the northernmost roaded pass through the Rocky Mountains.

Many waterfalls along the Skeena river valley west of Prince George.

Railway tunnel in the Coast mountains.

The Skeena River valley near where it flows into the Pacific Ocean.

Where the Skeena meets the sea.

Prince Rupert is called the "City of Rainbows"...and small wonder, given the mixed assortment of weather we experienced every day! Fog and rain in the morning. Midmorning sunshine. Light misty breezes in the afternoon. Patches of blue sky and forbiddingly dark stormclouds...All in a single day!

Prince Rupert - famous for sport fishing - is affectionately known by the locals as "The little drinking town with a fishing problem." Fishing is the primary economic engine here, with a large container port (soon to expand again) and a growing eco-tourism industry. Many fishing charter ships are available for day or extended hire

The recreational and eco-tourist potential of the area is still relatively unknown, but there is so much to explore and discover! I could spend a couple of weeks kayaking about and not discover half of the sights around here.

Arts and culture are growing in Prince Rupert. The Museum of Northern British Columbia (http://www.tourismprincerupert.com/museumofnorthernbc) is a world class facility, exhibiting historical and cultural artifacts from both pre and post-contact between Aboriginals and European settlers. Local parks, monuments, and a small shopping district lie adjacent to the cruise ship dock and the marina for the fishing fleet.

Citizen's Park adjacent to the museum.

Cow Bay Cafe. The best seafood in the town! Very small, very eclectic and always requiring reservations.

The seafood chowder is outstanding!

Two cruise ships visited Prince Rupert during our stay. This ship came from Seattle on it's way to Alaska's glacier & fiord cruise.

It should go without saying that the seafood was spectacular!

Discovering a new environment is always a balancing act. You must allow time to experience every environmental niche to have truly experienced the area...

Exploring wild places:

the not-so-wild places...

...and experimenting with various shelter systems!

Springtime on the Little Smoky River

2008-05-25T19:13:00.006-06:00

At the request of T., my beautiful bride (wanting to be introduced to camping and outdoor survival) my family took to the woods in the Little Smoky River valley. It was a gorgeous day! Lots green leaves, brilliant sunshine, a good breeze and not too many bugs...

We got a fire going with a Swedish metal match and tinder, then T. decided to cook up some corn, bannock, and sausages for lunch...supplemented with the finest spruce needle tea I could brew!

A note on the tinder. This spring freshet, the river was in full flood, and carried all manner of debris onto the benches above the gravel bars. We found perfect nests of grass, bark and other dried unidentifiable materials pressed about 4 feet up willow & alder clusters. Perfect tinder!

Lunch was delicious! The bannock was Karen Hood's recipe, with the addition of real bacon bits for extra protein. The corn turned out perfectly, with a good selection of flavours on each cob!

...I call this stuff CAJUN CORN. ...Yes, I tried out the corn charcoal to see how well it would take a spark. It does!

We rounded out the afternoon with cord making, whittling & chopping with various knives (to test their usability and have more fun...) and hiking around with J. (our son) to test gear loadouts and discuss optimal bivouac sites for the local geography. I also found many local survival food and use plants: Dandelion, Diamond willow, Alder, Birch, Aspen, Cottonwood, Spruce, Cattail, Wild Rose and Horsetail among them.

I've been really impressed with the construction strength, fit and layout of this British (Arktis 1601) battlevest. It holds all my personal survival kit and is easily supplemented with snivel kit in the Alice medium ruck I also carried. The axe is an Estwing camper's axe with the handle cut down to 18 inches, allowing it to be carried on the Alice ruck.

A great day...we wish you were here!

Great Outdoor Survival Videos!

2008-05-13T15:10:00.002-06:00

Ron and Karen Hood, who own www.survival.com have produced (to date) 24 DVDs that take a humorous and captivating take on outdoor survival. Our family has thoroughly enjoyed these productions and found them highly entertaining and instructive!

Can you get a more shameless plug than that?

If you want to learn outdoor survival, go to Hoods Woods website (www.survival.com).

The buds are about to burst!

2008-05-03T14:47:00.005-06:00

About ruddy time eh?

Spring has arrived late and progressed slowly this year. Just two days after the previous adventure, we got hit by two FEET of snow in a freak three-day blizzard! Very uncool... Feeling desperately behind the rest of my Hoodlum friends in experiencing Spring's splendor, I can't wait to get out the day the buds burst!

...Hopefully that'll be tomorrow...

April in the Boreal Forest

2008-05-02T22:18:00.016-06:00

My son, Joe, and I went exploring the Boreal Forests near our home in northern Alberta. Practicing spark-based firecraft was the order of the day. Melting snow and soggy conditions made this a challenge, but innovation and perseverence saved the day! (boreal firecraft secret: pitch pockets on balsam fir have sap that will burn when a spark hits it!)

Welcome!

2008-05-02T22:10:00.002-06:00

Welcome, visitor!

This is the blog of an avid outdoorsman who wants to share his adventures and experiences with anyone silly enough to take an interest! Keep checking back, hopefully there will be interesting material in the near future...