CAMPOLOGY

I discovered candle lantern goodness about 25 years ago and nothing has changed. They provide so many good things in a small package.

Camping in warm weather they are great … however, during cold or damp adventures, they are super great. In fact a God’s send.

Not really ... but bare with me as I share my backwood's tale of woe.

Carrying water in the backwoods is always a challenge.

Water is the heaviest item in your pack at 1 kilogram per litre, yet likely the most important! So when it comes to water, there are loads of questions and a zillion different answers, and every wanna-be campologist has an opinion!  How do you carry the world's most valuable resource? Where do I get it? How do I ensure its safe? Do zombies drink water? ... and how do Urban Cougars survive only drinking Cosmo Cocktails?

To pee or not to pee, that is the question.

Deep in the woods and you suddenly wake up to a subtile calling from your bladder, it's time to pee. You resist and try to go back to sleep. You don't want to leave the warmth and comfort of your cozy sleeping bag. It has taken some time to settle in and toast up the bag, and now you must leave it to wander into the cold, dark, bug infested night to pee. Every bone in you body resists, but your bladder is starting to create an uncomfortable pressure. Eventually you have no choice... nature calls and you must answer.

Over the years my pack has slowing shrunk... the incredible shrinking pack!

There are a few reasons for this.

Technology - Over time technology has improved the quality of gear, and allowed for a more comfortable camping experience at a greatly reduced weight. Gortex, tent designs, improved fabrics, lighter and stronger alloys, etc. 

Camping during the biting cold months of winter is FUN 😀. 

This is something you don’t hear very often. The more common response from the average sterile, dirt avoiding, carbon emitting city slicker is…. “are you $%*#@# crazy!”

I very well may be crazy, however not because I choose to venture out into a glorious winter wonderland and spend an few cozy crisp nights with a close friend in a snow cave or tent. 

When you are equipped with the right gear, knowledge and a positive attitude…. winter camping simply put… is glorious. 

Taking photos in the summer is soooo provincial. Now try taking your favourite camera into the winter wilds. The environment will play havoc with both your equipment and the quality of your pics. As everyone who adventures to the great outdoors during the winter knows ... the scenery and photo opportunities can be stunning.

There is no need to stop taking pictures just because it is cold outside. Here are some simple tips and tricks to ensure your camera is ready when you are.

I'm a big fan of both.

This isn't a whinny caparison with blind evangleical enthusiasm. Let's be clear ... I'm not a advocate of either, and I passionately enjoy both!

With thousands of kilometres on the nordic skinnys, decades on the telemark boards, and countless descents on my alpine planks, I think I'm uniquely qualified to compare.

This post has nothing to do with camping - just a simple poem posted in honour of the man and women whom protect us selflessly without any expectation of thanks. Please pause after your turkey dinner and think about all the good people who have made great sacrifices this year, so you could be safe and secure this Christmas!

A Canadian Soldier’s Christmas

I have camped in far-away places, in harsh climates with the strangest of camping partners, but there’s no greater challenge than winter camping during a zombie apocalypse!

And there are benefits as well to camping during nordic zomboid-apocalyptic times. 

While city slicker co-workers are becoming fast food for hungry hordes of mindless zombies, you can quietly dine on dehydrated cuisine in the great outdoors without the uninvited undead.

MERRY CHRISTMAS … no political, cultural centric, religious proselytizing intended. Just one simple Middle-Aged-Campologist-Christian-Hetero-Sexual-Euro-Canadian attempting to share some joy to whomever is willing to join me.

So if you are inclined to participate in the gift giving tradition during Christmas … we have 10 suggestions for the campologist on your shopping list.