Adventures And Explorations

Negotiating #Adventure-Sport’s Open Relationship

Hi #AdventureSport, You and I, we’ve had a bit of a thing going for a while, but I never really felt 100% accepted, until #vanlife came along. You know #vanlife pretty well these days, and it’s sibling #vancation. You are all way past “netflix and chill”, which means you’re understanding vehicles are part of the…

Adventure Running the Badwater Basin in Death Valley

Following running Rim to Rim to Rim in Grand Canyon, I was in the neighbourhood, and so stopped by Death Valley to go for a run in the Badwater Basin. I didn’t do the full crossing, since what made for a great day running, also made for a tough one, meaning I didn’t have the…

Running Grand Canyon from Rim to Rim to Rim

At the North Kaibab Trailhead of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, my watch’s GPS says I’ve run 44.54 kilometers before my return run to the South Rim. That’s a wrinkle, as I’ve only packed “nutrition” for a total 76.5kms based on my research.

Cactus to Clouds, or How to Outrun Hypothermia in Palm Springs

About 3.5 miles from the summit on the Cactus to Clouds, 10,400 feet (3,170 meters) of total vertical and 21 miles from Palm Springs to San Jacinto Peak, I conclude malevolent weather is the trail’s forte. Freezing rain, slush, and frigid wind have taken me to the edge of hypothermia outside Palm Springs – just for the irony.

10 Essentials of Outdoor Survival for Ultrarunners and Day Hikers

The difference between front and back country, is one slip, one mistake, one lapse of judgement away — and that can happen only a couple miles from the trail head. The “ten essentials” of outdoor survival are your insurance should that razor thin difference cut, and you need to overnight on the trail, or wait for rescue.

Inov-8 Terraclaw 250 – Snow Day

What would demo a shoe’s traction… Well, a snow day would. I throw on my much over-used pair of Inov-8 Terraclaw 250s for a something akin to a trail run in Stanley Park after a February snowfall.

Brooks Caldera (Version 1): Bargain Shoe Review

With Brooks introducing the second generation of the Caldera, the original shoe is hitting the bargain bins (http://amzn.to/2swlaNT). So, if you’re an ultrarunner type who burns through shoes like TP, are they worth picking up?

Thoughts on Cross-Country Skiing: Cypress Mountain

Played around with the boards and the phone this evening up (January 22nd) up at Cypress Mountain. A little xc ski reminiscence back to the race days as I work on my super-rusty skate ski technique.

Hoka One One Speed Instinct 2 Review

How I longed to love this shoe. Hoka had rectified the previous Speed Instinct’s shortcomings of a cramped toe box, spongy response, and improved traction. The first item of that list precluded me from the use of the shoe’s first generation. So dropping $160.00CND/130USD on a shoe should render glorious trail run fun. Well, mostly it will leave you and your bank account feeling shorted.

Getting Traction: Winter Ice and Snow Running

Another round of cold weather, with predicted rain or snow potentially making slick conditions on the local trails and seawall even slicker, has a few runners in my circle asking, “How do I safely train in this?” So, a few tips on equipment and preparation, to reduce the risk of slipping and injuring yourself while…

Destination Runs: Salt Spring Island Trailrunners Series

I am heads down navigating the trail, when a voice calls out, “I think you’re going the wrong way.” Like a true road runner, I’ve committed the situational awareness faux pas of looking at my feet, and missed one of the well marked turns in the 2015 Channel Ridge 9k produced by the Salt Spring…

Lessons Learned from Running the BMO Vancouver Marathon on a Whim

Less than ten kilometers in and I’m exiting my third port-a-potty, three port-a-potty stops into the 2015 Vancouver BMO Marathon. The run is quickly becoming a list of ‘what not to do’ in undertaking a marathon. Foremost, in embracing the spirit of the moment and adventure I had signed up for the marathon the day…

Utah: The White Rim Trail in Pictures

I’m walking across a wide open “campground”, where the sites are a several hundred meters apart. To disturb your neighbours under the darkening purple of the Moab sky, you’d have to work up a good, loud bellow. They do things big here, and it’s been a big day on the White Rim Trail in Canyon…

One Day Expedition: Indian Arm

Photos: Kevin Miklossy & Bart Stockdill The text message comes in, “Looks like Indian River blockade is passable on a quad or dirt bike, didn’t go any further on account of being alone and sunset.” The blockade in question is a 15-plus foot high cement barrier intended to keep all users off the Indian River…

Snow Small Adventure – Triumph Tiger 800 XC versus the Seasons

Forget what the Earth’s position around the sun says, judging by the encroachment of the snowline down the Vancouver’s North Shore Mountains, we’re facing the onset of winter on the West coast. That makes each ride a rarity, sparking in the firmament of suicidal-gray skies, a colour achieved in a tedium of dark and rainfall….