When talking about my hiking and backpacking pace, I joke that I am an overweight asthmatic. It is also the truth. I feel no shame and in fact, I use the way my body is as a source of empowerment and motivation. My body is powerful and strong and is capable of doing incredible things. … Continue reading Mantario South to Caribou East
Trails in Southern Manitoba are bursting at the seams with new-to-the-outdoors explorers. While it is great that people are going outdoors, I am also concerned because risk management and safety may not be a priority or even on the minds of new hikers. Numbers have spiked in local Facebook hiking groups and many new hikers … Continue reading Risk Management in the Outdoors
Within my role at Backcountry Women, I started a Monthly Members “Fireside” Chat. It is an informal yet structured and unique learning opportunity that brings women together to talk about topics related to the outdoors. The goal is to learn from one another, meet new people, and enjoy local restaurants. We went to Prairie Ink … Continue reading Packing Our Fears
My breath was taken away as I moved myself and my heavy backpack over demanding terrain. Blue Jay floated along effortlessly, full of spirit and song. She's a good morale booster. We were out for what would be her first overnight on Mantario on August Long Weekend, along with a friend and her son. The … Continue reading Navigating my Garmin inReach
My daughter and I are cut from the same cloth and sometimes it creates challenges because we are both relentless, independent, and strong-willed. We are also both kindhearted, loving, and charismatic so overall, we are well-rounded and awesome. Our strong personalities sometimes get the best of us. It's not something I am proud of and … Continue reading Trusting Ourselves
My family and I hiked overnight to Tilson Lake in Riding Mountain National Park on June 22. We hiked a total of 16 km as part of a 38 km loop. Tilson Lake is on the west side of the park and is rated as difficult. I will most definitely return to this trail and … Continue reading Feed me on the trail: overnight hike with my family
I am preparing and planning for my family to hike overnight this weekend. This will be my third overnight since Easter weekend and the second trip for my husband (Bear Hug) and daughter (Blue Jay.) Our gear is fairly organized and ready to be packed. I am a little type-A when it comes to my … Continue reading A trail food chat
At one time I considered my family to be carb-junkies. Every dinner included either pasta, couscous, rice, quinoa, or potatoes (and sometimes garlic bread too!) I would follow dinner up with evening snacking and a high-carb breakfast and lunch the next day. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. I have lowered my carbohydrate intake for a couple of … Continue reading Giving Low-Carb Food a Whirl on the Trail
Hiker Midnight is a popular term on long-distance hiking trails such as the Appalachian Trail. The general idea is that hikers are tired from the day and want to have a restful night before breaking camp in the morning. The ask is that other hikers tone down the noise and commotion at 9 PM, even … Continue reading Leave No Trace: Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Everyone has a place in the outdoors and nature welcomes all of us. Nature meets us where we currently are in our lives and the trail gives us what we need, whatever it is that we are looking for. I believe that hiking is 90% mental and 10% physical. The amount of kilometers covered on … Continue reading Mentally Preparing for a Longer Distance Hike
Wild Woman Wisdom 