Taiga Outdoors - Vancouver Hiking, Recreation, Gear & Clubs

WeEarth.com - an online community social network about social, environmental, economic responsibility

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:15:00 +0000

WeEarth.com - an online community social network about social, environmental, economic responsibility

Found a site called WeEarth.com an online community website that revolves around the idea that we're all connected (we're all connected through technology) and are connected to our planet. Interested in the ideas of green culture and collaborative creativity and expression?

Here's what they say about themselves:

A century ago Albert Einstein wrote: “Strange is our situation here upon Earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why…..yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others…for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much a I have received.”

Einstein got it a long time before the rest of us did. He saw that we are connected in ways large and small. It is stunning — yet perfect — that a man locked in the most solitary of cerebral human pursuits recognized this connectivity, and gave voice to it.At WeEarth we too celebrate that we are all connected We know we share a fragile, yet resilient planet and our actions toward that planet affect one another in ways both subtle and profound. But our connectedness goes far deeper than that the physical realm. Technology empowers us in ways never known before. More than at any time in human history, we have the means to connect. We can find what we have in common, explore our differences, amplifying them, and in the process we can learn, grow, create art, share expression, give voice to ideas.That’s what we’re about at WeEarth.Our sense of it is that WeEarth is not so much a specific philosophy as it is a general orientation toward the world, a view that rejects isolation, rejects the ‘nation-centric’ view of the world that might have been appropriate decades ago, but no longer applies in a time when we’re as likely to be chatting online with a student in India or a blogger in Russia as we are to be having a conversation with our next door neighbor. We used to be defined by our physical communities because we had no choice — those were the people we could connect with. This is no longer the case and as our ability to connect with anyone anywhere in the world becomes second nature, so too does our view of the world and our place in it begin to change. WeEarth is a place to explore that changing world; a place to learn, a place to grow.But those are just highminded words. What about really making it happen? Are we looking for a particular kind of person? One of the arguments that runs counter to the ‘one-world’ thematics that we embrace is the idea that the internet, by creating thousands upon thousands of niche communities, each with the ability to reach out and find like-minded people, is creating a universe of echo-chambers where like-minded people seek out other like-minded people, and in the process limit exposure to multiple points of view and diverse ways of thinking. Is there a danger that this might happen at WeEarth?We think not. The operative word here is “connected” — as in, we are all connected. That doesn’t mean we have to see things the same way, and it is our belief and expectation that over time a variety of points of view will find their way onto these page and into the videos.As we progress, we want you to undertand that WeEarth when it is full deployed will consist of at least four elements:

The WeEarth Portal — this is where you are now. New, articles, videos, blogs — everything that we and our community members feel is valuable and worth sharing on a wide basis.
Social Network — Each community member will have a profile, be able to upload videos, photos, be able to blog among friends or publicly, and generally be able to connect via email, chat, and other means. Our social network.
WeEarth Mall — we will offer a fascinating array of products, both bits and atoms (digital and physical).
Video Blog Hosting — we will serve the growing community of video bloggers as a premiere hosting service that in turn will offer our community the best selection of video commentators and producers.

Magnesium Fire Starter Tool for Hiking, Camping and Backpacking

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:45:00 +0000

I bought one of those cool little magnesium fire starter gizmos the other day to see how well it worked to make a fire. I was suprised how well it worked.

How does it work? Take your knife and scrape off magnesium shavings (the whole thing is magnesium) then when you've got a little pile of shavings (on top of your pre-built pile of super-dry tinder and wood shavings or whatever fire starter you can find) you then scrape your knife blade along the very top part of the gizmo pictured and it creates a spark -- that top part is a flint and it sparks when you scrape the steel knife blade on it. So all you need is a knife and this under-$10 gizmo and it's a pretty good all-weather, no-water-concerns fire starter. Bought mine at Walmart in Canada during the summer, but they don't have it now during their winter stock period. Try your local outdoors store.

where to buy snowshoes in Chilliwack, Abbotsford or Vancouver

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:58:00 +0000

A few people have asked about where to buy snowshoes in Chilliwack, Abbotsford or Vancouver:

If you're out in the Fraser Valley you could try Vedder Mtn Field Supplies in Chilliwack (Vedder), or Valhalla Pure in Abbotsford. MEC in Vancouver (mec.ca) also sell em -- also check out their gear swap section where you can get good deals on used gear. Sports Junkies is always a great place for used sports gear, but finding used snowshoes this time of year will be a little tough.

A small list of outdoor gear stores in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley is on our hiking website:
http://www.hikechilliwack.com/resources.html

Got any great outdoor gear stores you like...

Let us know.

Elk Mountain Hiking

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:18:00 +0000

Hike Elk Mountain, Chilliwack, BC

The Chilliwack Hiking Club is heading up Elk Mountain again. Join them on September 15th. Learn more at http://www.hikechilliwack.com

Distance: 8km return.

Elevation gain: 800m

Difficulty: Difficult

Description: Elk Mountain has an easily accessible trailhead, alpine meadows and an excellent view of the entire Fraser Valley and surrounding mountains -- with a strenuous uphill climb near the top that's well worth the effort.

How to get there:
Highway 1 Exit 123 (Prest Road) south 4km to Bailey Rd., turn left and go 1km to the bottom of the hill turning right and uphill on Elk View Rd. Stay on this road for 8km. The pavement will end and the road will continue for 2km as the Chilliwack Bench Forest Service Rd. The gravel pit/parking lot is on the left, with the trailhead to its right.

Notes:
The trail begins and remains in the forest for the first hour, with a friendly uphill grade. After the hour mark you'll hit the good steep stuff. You'll reach the first major lookout on Elk mountain in somewhere between 1.5 to 2 hours. Rest there and enjoy the view of the Fraser Valley, but don't quit yet. The real reward for all of your hard work is about another 10 minutes up the trail where you'll see breathtaking views of Mount Slessee, Border Peaks, Chilliwack River, and surrounding mountains. You'll think you're somewhere near Banff or Jasper.

Be sure to stay on the trail as the alpine meadows are delicate. Leave time in your schedule to hang out on the top for at least 30 minutes. In fact, if you hiked fast and didn't stop you could do this complete hike in 3.5 hours -- but we recommend giving yourself 2.5 hours to get to the top, 1 hour up top, and 2 hours down -- for a total of 5.5 hours.

This is a suitable hike for someone who's fairly fit. Bring food, more water than you think you'll need, and something long-sleeved as it's windy and can be cold up top. Hiking Elk in the Spring often includes seeing snow at the top, so bring appropriate hiking boots and gaitors if you've got them. A classic Chilliwack hike with great rewards.

Sumas Mountain (Chadsey Lake) Hike Review, Abbotsford, BC Canada

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:24:00 +0000

The full traverse of Sumas mountain (Abbotsford BC)

This is a trail that I have hiked on for over 15 years but keep coming back to because I am a cheap dutchman who doesn't want to drive any further than he has to. Another reason to hike it was to scout the whole length for a new hiking club outing. You just never know what condition a trail will be in from year to year with all the blow downs, washouts, and exploding bear and cougar populations:) We found the trail to be in reasonable condition, except for one spot. Coming from the north side of Sumas mountain, just past Chadsey lake, there were a lot of fallen trees across the path. These trees could be a big problem for someone that is injury prone or a little unsteady on their feet. This is really the only real problem I can see with the whole trail, though other more fussy hikers may think differently. There were also a few fallen trees before the lake, but I can't remember them being a big deal. This is a great hike with many different changes in the forest and one place where the trees have recently disappeared altogether. Don't worry, the logging slash isn't that big. Chadsey lake itself is nothing to write home about. It would look great in Ontario or Manitoba but over here we're used to alpine lakes with mountainous backdrops. It is a pleasant place, however, and very relaxing after the hike up.

It is my opinion that hiking the north end of the trail to Chadsey lake and coming down the same way is a little nicer than starting at the pump station on the south side. The south end of the trail starts out in nice forests, but after that you are going to mainly be following a logging road. We did get some nice views of the valley from the south end of the mountain, but those will disappear when all the leaves start coming out. Of course, doing the whole traverse with a two car system is the nicest, because you don't have to back track. I think the whole trip took under five hours to do and we were not rushing it at all.

by Reuben V.

Trails and Campsite improvements in Chillwack Lake and Skagit Valley area

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 22:08:00 +0000

BC Parks just let us know the following camping/hiking news:

Recently, BC Parks along with members of the BC Conservation Corps built 5 tent pads at Lindeman Lake, 2 tent pads at Greendrop Lake and brushed out the old Flora/Greendrop connector trail We hope that word gets out that the old Flora/Greendrop trail has been brushed out again and that people start using this trail. It is a beautiful hike in Chilliwack Lake P.P. (albeit a bit strenuous) that more people should get to enjoy!

BC Parks partnered up with the Student Conservation Association and for the last two summers have been working to brush out the trail to Galene Lakes in Skagit Valley Provincial Park. Thanks to the hard work of the Student Conservation Association this past summer, we were able to finish brushing out the trail all the way to Galene Lakes. We are hoping that lots of people take advantage of this trail that takes you to three beautiful alpine lakes, provides access to some great ridge walking and provides breathtaking views of Ross Lake.

Outdoors and Tourist Website: SummerBC.com

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:40:00 +0000

Here's a new BC Outdoors and tourism website called Summer BC.

Summer BC offers British Columbia tourism, travel, and vacation resources including BC resorts & hotels, BC RV parks & RV camping, campgrounds, outdoor gear and outdoor adventures including fishing, golf & hiking.

Here's what they say about BC's Parks:
"British Columbia Canada boasts some of the most beautiful parks in the world. If you're travelling to Canada, and especially if you're travelling to BC, make a point of visiting at least one of BC's parks. You'll be blown away by the beauty of the lakes, mountains, forests, and diverse ecosystems that make up so much of Beautiful British Columbia, known as the most beautiful place on earth."

Vancouver BC Hiking Tips: Hiking Clothing

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 23:29:00 +0000

1. Don't wear cotton: Cotton Kills! It quickly gets soaked with rain, or sweat, and takes too long for it to dry. When cotton gets wet it loses 100 percent of it's insulation properties. Wet clothes wick heat away from the skin.

2. Don't wear jeans: You'll be hiking in BC rainforests, not herding cattle in Saskatchewan. Jeans are heavy, and don't insulate when wet. Cotton sweatpants are just as bad.

3. Wear Synthetic Fabrics: Synthetic fabrics don't retain water easily, they insulate when wet and dry rapidly.

4. Dress in Layers: Layer 1 should be comfortable thin synthetics ( ie T-shirt and shorts). Layer 2 should be for warmth (ie a fleece jacket/vest and long pants). Layer 3 should be for protection (ie goretex jacket, toque, gloves)

Vancouver BC: Non-motorized transportation to promote zero or low-emission transportation as a means to combat climate change

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 20:23:00 +0000

Meet Colin and Julie.

Colin and Julie are only two people but they're changing the world. If Colin can travel 43,000 kilometres without producing any greenhouse gas emissions, we can all start taking small steps to use less energy and to walk and cycle more, even if it is just One Day a week.

The couple's journey, which started out with Colin and Vancouver-born Tim Harvey, involved cycling, skiing, canoeing, hiking and rowing through BC, Alaska, across the Bering Sea and through Europe. Julie and Colin traveled across the Atlantic to Costa Rica - a 156-day rowing odyssey, with Julie being the first and only woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean from mainland to mainland. From there it was an 8,300 kilometre ride back to Vancouver.

The couple, living in Courtenay BC and getting married this summer are available for speaking engagements and public presentations. They have played a big role in supporting the Vancouver Park Board’s Active Communities Program. The goal of their expedition and speaking tour is to show just how far you can take non-motorized transportation and to promote zero or low-emission transportation as a means to combat climate change. Click here to find out more about their work and look for Colin’s book, "Beyond the Horizon", to be released March 27. (info from One Day Vancouver)

Ottawa gives $700,000 to fix park: Pacific Rim was badly damaged by winter storms; funding means West Coast Trail to open on time

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 08:13:00 +0000

Jeff Bell, Times Colonist

Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim National Park, home to the famed West Coast Trail, is getting $700,000 in federal funds for recovery efforts stemming from December’s devastating windstorms.

The winds brought down more than 2,000 trees, triggered a mudslide, and toppled two cable cars and a suspension bridge on the well-travelled 75-kilometre hiking trail. Cleanup work has already begun.

“Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is one of the jewels of the West Coast,” Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn said yesterday as he announced the funding at Parks Canada’s Sidney Operation Centre.

Lunn’s words echoed those of federal Environment Minister John Baird, who in January called storm-damaged Stanley Park “a national treasure.” At that time, Baird gave $2 million in federal funds to help repair the urban Vancouver park, which suffered about $9 million in damage.

Of the funds announced yesterday, $500,000 will go toward general restoration work, said Lunn, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands. The remaining $200,000 is part of a deal between Parks Canada and the Ucluelet-based Central Westcoast Forest Society to restore Sandhill and Lostshoe creeks and improve their salmon-spawning capacity.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve encompasses about 50,000 hectares along the Island’s west coast divided into three areas: the Long Beach Unit, the Broken Group Islands and the West Coast Trail. Established in 1970, the park attracts millions of visitors from around the world, including about 5,000 a year who hike the West Coast Trail. Read full story

Four Tips for a Successful Hike

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 18:59:00 +0000

1. KNOW THE AREA
Know the area you will be going into. Although many areas have well documented hiking hot spots, even local parks close to home will have useful information available. Whether it's a web site with hiking trail info, or a map at the park office or trailhead, or maybe the local visitor center, always get all the information you can before you leave for your hike so you will know what to expect.

2. KNOW THE CONDITIONS
Know the conditions no matter where it is you're going. Don't make the common mistake of traveling to your hike only to have to turn back because you weren't prepared for the weather or conditions. Make a point of searching online to find out if the trail has washed out or if there's too much snow.

3. WEAR PROPER CLOTHING
Wear appropriate outdoor clothing for the season and the location. It can rain or snow anytime of the year in most mountains. Here's a couple of tips for dressing well for a hike: Stay away from cotton if you can. Instead, wear synthetic and natural fibers that keep moisture away from the body. Also wear a number of layers so you can add or remove items as conditions change. It's essential to have good socks and hiking shoes/boots. Too many people think they'll get by with inappropriate foot wear until it's too late and the pain of a blister reminds you of your error with every step. In cold weather, always bring a warm hat. You lose most of the head in your body through your head, so always bring a warm hat on every hike, regardless of the conditions at the trailhead or at your home before you leave for your hike.

4. FIRST AID KIT
In addition to knowing the are, hiking conditions, and wearing the right hiking clothes, you'll also need a good first aid kit. In most cases a simple lightweight first aid kit will do the trick. You can find these in most outdoors stores or sports or outdoors sections of departmenet or sporting good stores. If you've got the supplies at home already, you could even build your own hiking first aid kit. Include these basic items in a waterproof container:

lightweight emergency blanket
Asperin, laxative, allergy, and anti-diuretic medication
multi-use tool with scissors & knife
needle and thread
cell phone (charged!) (remember you may well be out of cell range while hiking, so always tell people where you're going and when you'll be home)
Matches and/or lighter
various sizes & shapes of bandages and gauzes
different types of tape for wounds & fixing tools
sun block

Hikers Wanted: Leaders, Members: Chilliwack BC Hiking Group

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 18:18:00 +0000

Chilliwack BC Hiking Club Co-Leaders Wanted

The Chilliwack Hiking Club (http://www.hikechilliwack.com) is looking for hike co-leaders (both men and women) to help lead hikes. You can lead pretty much any hike you like and all we ask is that you be available to co-lead at least 2 hikes this year.

Volunteer Hike Co-leader Requirements

1. Be over 18 years old (open to men and women)
2. Be reasonably physically fit
3. Have proper hiking gear for day hikes
4. Be willing to co-lead at least 2 hikes this year
5. Be able to greet and new members and collect new member waivers at the beginning of each hike
6. Be friendly
7. Love to hike
8. Direct hikers safely through a hike and back
9. First aid recommended but not essential

If you're interested in this Chilliwack volunteer opportunity, visit http://www.hikechilliwack.com/news/hiking_leaders.html

Mount Everest

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 01:53:00 +0000

Mount Everest conquered by disabled man

Tom Whittaker’s life as a mountaineer seemed to be destroyed after he was involved in a car accident with a drunk driver back in 1979 in Pocatello, Idaho. But his life reached its peak again on Nov. 4 when the Scottsdale-based motivational speaker received an award from Queen Elizabeth II of his native England for something he had accomplished eight years ago.

Click here to read this remarkable Mt Everest story

Celebrating Canada's Jasper National Park - Jasper Journal Launches JasperJournal.com

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 00:41:00 +0000

Jasper Journal launches a new website, JasperJournal.com, to provide resources about Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. The website celebrates a national park ideal for travelers interested in a quiet, back-to-nature vacation. The website takes a magazine format with the focus on Jasper National Park as a tranquil retreat into a land of extraordinary mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, glaciers, wildlife and scenic vistas.
Berlin, CT (PRWeb) December 12, 2006 -- Jasper Journal announces the launch of a new website, http://JasperJournal.com, to provide resources about Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. The website celebrates a national park ideal for travelers interested in a quiet, back-to-nature vacation."The idea for Jasper Journal emerged after a vacation at the park and wanting to create a website to help other travelers. Jasper National Park is one of those unique places that few have heard of, yet everyone would benefit from visiting," says D.H. Wall, MBA, Jasper Journal's founder, a travel enthusiast and marketing professional with over nine years experience.The website takes a magazine format with the focus on Jasper National Park as a tranquil retreat into a land of extraordinary mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, glaciers, wildlife and scenic vistas. With over 600 miles of Canadian Rockies hiking trails, Jasper National Park provides a desirable environment for vacationers who desire peace and solitude.JasperJournal.com features original articles about park activities and wildlife. An extensive photo gallery captures many of the scenic views, activities and wildlife within the park. Links to maps quickly orient visitors to locations within the park. The Jasper National Park directory provides links to official park attraction websites and selected photo galleries from other travelers.Each article on the website allows for visitor comments. "This allows travelers who have visited the park to share their experiences for the benefit of others. The ability for fellow travelers to contribute to the website will continue to be expanded in the future," says Wall."The Jasper Journal website is clean like the glacier waters of Jasper National Park. This is not a website littered with ads. The reward is in enabling travelers to learn about a national park that plays an important role in natural resource preservation and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site," says Wall.Visit the Jasper Journal website at: http://JasperJournal.com

Whistler seasonal snowfall approaches 20 feet before Christmas

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 00:35:00 +0000

Whistler seasonal snowfall approaches 20 feet before ChristmasFriday, December 22, 2006
As the cumulative alpine snowfall for the winter season in Whistler approaches a whopping 20 feet, winter enthusiasts are set to celebrate the holiday season with this extra special snowy gift (that keeps on giving!) from Mother Nature.
This season the Whistler alpine saw the snowiest November on record and the snow just keeps on coming, setting the region up for a holiday season not to be forgotten. To date 5.96 metres (19.58 feet) of snow has fallen and the forecast is for continued snow to come during the days leading up to the holiday season.
Whether hitting the slopes of Whistler Blackcomb with a snow base of 220cm (87 inches), including the newly-opened Symphony Express chairlift; taking advantage of the diversity of other winter activities; or wandering through the snowy village and nearby trails, guests can choose their personal favourite way to experience the winter wonderland in Whistler.
All winter snowbound activities in Whistler are in full operation: skiing and snowboarding at Whistler Blackcomb; cross country skiing at Lost Lake; sleigh rides; snowshoe tours; snowmobile tours; dogsledding tours; heli skiing; tube park; cat skiing; snow-limo and much more.
The free fire and ice show at the base of Whistler Mountain is now on every Sunday with entertainment for the whole family. North Pole Central is open at MY Place through December 31 and Whistler First Night is the family-friendly New Year's celebration of arts and entertainment. A range of other seasonal activities will include interdenominational Christmas services, a Nutcracker presentation, carolling and much more. Activity and event information is available at www.tourismwhistler.com.
Whistler is a year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and is site of the alpine, nordic, and sliding events for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Whistler has a range of accommodations totalling 3,200 hotel rooms, and more than 5,000 other tourist accommodation units including condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler offers a wide selection of restaurants, bars, spas, boutiques, and activities from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. Whistler Blackcomb Mountains feature 3,036 hectares (8,171 acres) of terrain and receive an average of 1005 centimetres (33 feet) of snow annually. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 10,000 permanent residents.
Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the TELUS Whistler Conference Centre, the Whistler Golf Club, in-resort Visitor Services centres, and tourismwhistler.com, as well as 1-800-WHISTLER and whistler.com - the official call to action for Whistler. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.

Eco Friendly Gifts for the Outdoors Lover and/or Hiker

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 21:59:00 +0000

For those that love being outdoors, there’s nothing like it. TreeHugger.com rounded up favorites gifts for land and sea. Always look for eco-friendly items when enjoying Mother Earth.

1. Climbing Ropes

Millet offers a wide range of outdoor gear, including climbing ropes, and is owned by parent company Lafuma, who continues to take large enviro endeavors.

2. Teko Socks

We’ve promoted Teko Socks before and continue to support their ecologically enhanced technical socks. In 2006 the company announced that they had become the first from the U.S. outdoor industry to participate in the Chicago Climate Exchange.

3. A Membership to the Outdoors

What’s better for an outdoors lover than to purchase them a membership to an outdoors organization? A few ideas that we like are the Sierra Club, the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Surfrider Foundation.

4. Patagonia Shoes

Joining forces with Merrell, Patagonia is new to the shoe industry but, as always with Patagonia, they aren’t compromising materials or style. A few styles have made their debut in time for the holidays with more to follow in Spring 2007.

5. Eco-Camp Kit

Make your outdoors lover a happy camper with the Eco-Camp Kit. With accessories like a solar shower, an organic cotton roll-up bed and a water-powered digital alarm clock, it makes the perfect gift. You can also take it a notch higher with the Luxury Eco-Camp Kit.

6. Fire-Fly Stove

Made from 100% recycled materials, the Fire-fly Stove also includes a stand made from 30% recycled content. It’s featherweight and perfect for stashing in the pack for overnight trips.

7. Blue Lotus Blankets

To keep warm during the chilly nights, your outdoors enthusiast will love Blue Lotus Blankets. They are made from Fortrel EcoSpun™ fleece made from 100% post-consumer plastic.

8. Solar Spark Lighter

As the only pocket-sized solar lighter, the Solar Spark Lighter is designed to focus the sun’s energy to a preside focal point.

9. EcoFoil Surfboard

In addition to their standard hemp covered models, OceanGreen offers three EcoFoil balsa boards, made from balsa wood from FSC certified Nicaraguan forests.

10. Prijon Kayaks

Said to be the “most durable” kayaks in the world, Prijon uses materials that are non-toxic.

Outdoor Store Review: MooseJaw.com

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:27:00 +0000

So I was checking out MooseJaw.com today - an outdoor gear and clothing store. First impression is they're pretty cool just based on the above graphic that appears on their front page. It's an old painting they've digitally doctored to put ski goggles and goretex jackets etc on some of the people in the painting. Fun.

Second, I noticed they have free shipping on orders over $49 (at least that's for now during Christmas I guess) which is better than some other major players (ie mec.ca requires $150 min. purchcase for free shipping and rei.com doesn't offer free shipping).

Overall the character of their site seems fun and inviting, which makes me believe the company may also be kinda hip and cool. I like the name of their legal section: "mean lawyer privacy policy"

These guys seem pretty with it regarding the web. Their site seems a bit cluttered at times because they're leaning heavily to the "search engine friendly" design with tons of text links in the footer of every page. Not terrible, just not that sightly for us humans.

They've even got their own myspace site: http://www.myspace.com/moosejawmountaineering no doubt as an attempt to just get more people linking to and visiting their site so they can sell more stuff and build more online mojo. They write "Moosejaw has 3358 friends. We want 10,327" which I don't really understand. It seems they're asking me to add them as my friend on my myspace, but it seems a little wierd to me and I'm not really given any motivation to do so even though I think their site is cool. Karma thing maybe?

I've yet to purchase something from them (although my wish list is long: a new north face jacket would be great :), but they carry lots of big brands you'll recognize.

Their online shopping seems secure and pretty straightforward, although they do try to push a lot of their email newsletters at you during the process and require you to choose a password if you're a new customer -- ie so you can login to your account later as a "returning customer".

Drop me a note in response to this posting and let me know your experiences with moosejaw's online store or brick and mortar shop(s) for others to read about.

What they write about themselves:

Moosejaw Mountaineering, Inc. is one of the Midwest's leading outdoor
adventure retailers, offering the finest outdoor gear and apparel as
well as some totally unnecessary non-sense guaranteed to make any day
better. Based in Madison Heights, Mich., the company operates six
locations in Michigan and Chicago and six websites, Moosejaw.com,
theLowdown.com, theJaw.com, CampMoosejaw.com, MoosejawRewards.com, and
AdventureWatches.com.

Some photos from their photo gallery. I like this section. Fun to see the stuff they sell in real life on real people, not headless, bodyless product-only shots.

What one customer wrote about them:

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK from Connie (12/05/06): From the great singer Rod Stewert...Have I told you lately that I love youuuu? Seriously, I LOVE your company. Y'all's website cracks me up, and so do the goofy emails. I had to make an exchange and the company was so helpful, and so totally moosejaw-liscious. I will buy from this company from now on, so keep up the good work, people!

A Dig at Vancouver From Back East

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:43:00 +0000

Vancouver (Reuters)

Day 2 - Vancouver Blizzard 2006 - Revenge of the Commuters

Chilled Vancouver commuters faced their second day of winter hell today,as an additional ¼ centimetre of the peculiar white stuff fell, bringing
the lower mainland to its knees and causing millions of dollars worth of damage to the marijuana crops. Scientists suspect that the substance is
some form of frozen water particles and experts from Saskatchewan are being flown in. With temperatures dipping to the almost but not quite
near zero mark, Vancouverites were warned to double insulate their lattes before venturing out.

Vancouver police recommended that people stay inside except for emergencies, such as running out of espresso or biscotti to see them
through Vancouver's most terrible storm to date. The local Canadian Tire reported that they had completely sold out of fur-lined sandals.

Drivers were cautioned to put their convertible tops up, and several have been shocked to learn that their SUV's actually have four wheel drive,
although most have no idea how to use it.

Weary commuters faced soggy sushi, and the threat of frozen breast implants. Although Dr. John Batherick, of the Coastal Health Authority
reassured everyone that most breast implants were perfectly safe to 25 below, down-filled bras are flying off the shelves at Mountain Equipment
Co-op.

"The government has to do something," snarled an angry Torry Easton. "I didn't pay $540,000 for my one bedroom condo so I could sit around and be
treated like someone from Toronto."

Hike Ontario

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:33:00 +0000

Heading out East this summer? Check out the HikeOntario.com website for access to all things hiking in Ontario.

Hike Ontario, founded in 1974, is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of all hikers and walkers in the Province of Ontario . The membership of Hike Ontario consists of 24 long distance trail associations and hiking clubs with memberships totalling over 13,000 people across Ontario . Hike Ontario also welcomes individual memberships.

Hike Ontario does not make or maintain trails, nor does it offer organized hiking/walking events, except through its member associations. Hike Ontario is the umbrella organization that provides these province wide associations with resources and services to build on these long established local and regional initiatives in a way which compliments and enhances them.

New BC Orienteering Club

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 07:19:00 +0000

Here's some info from a new club starting up in Chilliwack. Contact them if you're interested. The club leader, Rick, wrote:

I am in the process of forming a new Club, the Fraser Valley Orienteering Club (FVOC), to look after the Abbotsford-Hope area, and based in Chilliwack...

Orienteering is all about getting from point A to points B, C, D and so on, using just a map and compass... It can be done as a leisurely stroll taking Grandma and the Kids along, or it can be done in a highly competitive manner, against the clock, at a World Class level... It can be thought of as hiking with a twist... you don’t have to stick to the trails, you can go (delicately) through the forest too... each person (or small team) can decide their own route, easy or hard, shorter or longer, as long as you get to the designated point(s)...

There is a Canadian Orientation Federation, and an Orienteering Association of BC... there is a Greater Vancouver Orienteering Club too (GVOC)... and they have offered to take us “under their wings” until we can get going on our own...

What I would like to know is:

Is there any interest in the Chilliwack area to partake in such an activity, if it was up and running?
Are there any people who would be interested in forming part of the volunteer Executive or Staffing positions?
Should we look at this as being a “part” of HikeChilliwack or Chilliwack Outdoors Club, from simply an activity standpoint, or should it be a separate entity altogether? (Membership Fees will be required to cover insurance and Federation costs)...

There is a lot of information available on the internet... just Google “Orienteering” and see what comes up... or get hold of me... Thanks...

Rick Walker
604 847 0082
chillijack@gmail.com

Hiking Sumas Mountain, Fraser Valley, Abbotsford

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 22:51:00 +0000

Interested in hiking near Abbotsford, BC? Sumas Mountain (South) is a good, pretty easy option for a short hike that's right off the freeway.

See a slideshow of the Chilliwack Hiking Club's recent hike up this trail:

See Sumas Mountain South hiking trail details

Vancouver Green Living

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 22:42:00 +0000

Here's some tips for living a little greener and taking better care of our environment

BUY LOCAL FOOD

It is squash, apple and pear season! Buy lots, freeze, learn how to can. Local produce has been picked fresh, and in the case of farmers markets, inside of 24 hours. It comes to you ripe and with its full flavor, unlike the shipped in food and most supermarkets that may have been picked weeks or months before. Plus, buying local supports our BC farmers.

Check out the local farmers markets in Vancouver - they are open until mid to late October - http://www.eatlocal.org Look for these in-season foods in your grocery store - www.eatlocal.org/BuySeason.html Check out the labels. Ask the produce manager to bring in local foods.

WASH IN COLD WATER

Between 80 and 90% of the energy used to wash clothes is used for heating the water.

By switching from warm to cold water washing, you could save around $50/year in water heating costs. Plus, clothes washed in cold water retain their colour longer. And don't worry about the clothes not being cleaned properly - new detergents have been developed to work in specifically cold water, such as Tide Coldwater. For more information visit www.switchtocold.com.

And if you're really hard core...shower in cold water.

DON'T SIT IDLING

Be idle-free! Turn off your car when you will be parked for more than 10 seconds. If you are in a friend's car that is idling - let them know.

And why would you sit idle when parked, anyways? Idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more fuel than restarting your car. Check out idlefree.ca for more information, including the myths, about idling.

SWITCH TO ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING

Take one day this week to replace the most used light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent light bulbs (those twisty ones).

Did you know almost 90% of the energy used by a conventional light bulb (incandescent light bulb) is not even used to produce light but is wasted as heat? Halogen torchiere lamps are even more inefficient, releasing so much heat they could be a fire hazard if an object comes in contact with the bulb.

Compact fluorescents use one-sixth of the energy of incandescents and last up to 10 times longer.

CHECK YOUR TIRES

Did you know that over 70% of people in Vancouver have one or more of their tires improperly inflated?

If you own a vehicle, take one day this week to make sure your tires are properly inflated. Properly inflated tires allow your car to run more fuel efficiently. Your correct tire pressure is located on the inside of the door frame or on the fuel cap.

For best results get a tire gauge - they are cheap! And check it when the tires are cold (i.e. the car has been stationary for at least 3 hours or has not been driven for more than 2 km).

CHECK OUT YOUR ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

The Mountain Equipment Co-op website has a quiz you can take to figure out your 'ecological footprint', which is a measure the amount of nature's resources an individual, a community, or a country consumes in a given year.

The concept and process was developed by a professor at the University of British Columbia. Check it out on the MEC website

CHANGE YOUR SHOWERHEAD

Take one day this week to switch your shower heads to low-flow ones. It is a one-time effort that pays off for years to come. Hot water requires a lot of energy and therefore money. A family of three that showers daily can save $200 per year by making the switch.

The City of Vancouver offers residents subsidized water saver kits (costing only $12) that include not only a multi setting low-flow shower head, but also a kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators, and a toilet tank displacement bag (which decreases the amount of water being flushed). Water saver kits are available at City Hall (Cambie and 12th, main floor). Did we mention they are only $12?

If you don't live in Vancouver or you can't make it to City Hall, you can get low flow showerheads at hardware and household retailers (anywhere from $8 to $40). 2.5 gallons or less is considered low flow.

Also....we have been doing some research and have come across a pesky urban myth - that low flow is no flow. This is just not so - today's "low flow" showerheads are remarkably better than those of years past.

Please note, if you live in a newer home or apartment you likely already have a low flow showerhead. The Plumbing Code was changed in 1995, making low flow fixtures a requirement

TURN DOWN THE HEAT

Turn the temperature down in your home at night and when you are out of the house. You could also install a programmable thermostat to do it for you, available at most hardware stores for around $50.

Recommended temperatures:

16ºC = when away for an extended period of time;
18ºC = when sleeping or away during the day;
20ºC = when working or exercising; and
21ºC = when watching TV, reading or other light activities.

Lowering your thermostat by 3 degrees at night and while you're away from home is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to save money and make your home more energy efficient. For every 1 degree you lower your thermostat, you save 2-3% on your heating bill.

Invest in some thick blankets, cuddle a little closer, conserve energy, and save money all at the same time.

Some people think that regularly lowering and raising a thermostat wastes fuel. In fact, the energy required to reheat your home to a comfortable temperature is roughly equal to the fuel saved as your home drops to the lower temperature. You save energy while the temperature is stabilized at the lower level. The key is to turn the thermostat down for four hours or more.

DRAFT PROOF YOUR HOME

50% of the energy used in your home goes to heating. Get ready for the colder weather by taking one day this week to weatherstrip or caulk drafty areas and/or put window film over single paned windows.

Did you know that combined, the number of holes that heat is escaping out of the average home is equal to the size of a football?

These quick fixes are inexpensive and the Natural Resource Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency website provides detailed instructions on tackling this job.

Often though, people seek professional help. Vancouver is participating in the Provincial Energy Savings Plan (ESP), where residents can receive grants and rebates for energy efficient renovations, including draft proofing - check out the website for information about the steps to take on this limited time offer.

To put it in perspective here is how energy use is broken down in the home:

Space heating 51%
Water heating 27%
Appliances 16%
Lighting 6%

OFFSET YOUR AIR TRAVEL EMISSIONS

Air travel has a significant impact and releases huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Try to avoid flying if you don't need to. Drive, go on a rail adventure.

If you do fly, consider purchasing green house gas offsets which are essentially an inexpensive emission reduction credit.

People can purchase offsets through an organization like offsetters.ca or climatecare.org, who invest in projects that take greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere or stop them from being emitted in the first place.

If your work flies a lot let them know they can offset all the flights taken by employees.

SHARE A RIDE

Sit back and enjoy a coffee while someone else does the driving. Try ride-sharing (car-pooling) to and from work One Day this week. Chat with a co-worker and arrange a driving swap. If you don't know anyone at work that lives close by, check out Jack Bell's Online Ride-Sharing Database. It is a service where you can find other people who have a similar commute and schedule to your own.

There are 5 easy steps -

1 - Sign up with your email address
2 - Enter home and work addresses and schedule
3 - Search for matches
4 - Send (or receive) suggestions to ride-share
5 - Work out the details and start ride-sharing!

The website displays matches on maps and emails you when you have ride-share suggestions or new matches

BE MEAT FREE (even one day a week)

Meat production requires a tremendous amount of resources, specifically water and fossil fuels. Don't worry about having to give it all up - remember, small steps, big change: you don't have to become a full time vegan to make a difference - by designating even just one day a week to be meat-free, you'll be conserving valuable water, energy and land resources.

Besides, Canadians tend to eat significantly more protein than we need and Plant-based sources of protein are lower in saturated fats--and often lower in total fat--than animal protein.

Check out local restaurants that serve up vegetarian food available at the Veggie Directory.

Not sure what to cook? Check out some fantastic vegetarian recipes at vegweb.com or google "vegetarian recipes" - there are thousands of delicious dishes to make.

IMPROVE YOUR CONDO BUILDING EFFIENCY

Live in a condo unit? There are lots of opportunities through stratas to improve the energy efficiency of your building.

Terason Gas has an on-line energy efficiency evaluation targeted towards condominium strata councils. You can download it, fill out the form send it to them. An energy expert with analyze it and send it back.

Other tips include installing CFL bulbs in hallways, foyers and other high use areas. Look for the ENERGY STAR label when replacing your appliances, such as the common area washing machines. Take these tips to your next strata meeting.

GET AN ENERGY EFFICIENCY EVALUATION

Residents from Vancouver (and other participating municipalities) living in single family or row houses, qualify for a $1500 Energy Savings Plan grant plus over $800 in other financial incentives for energy efficiency improvements. Funding is limited so first come, first served and it is a limited time offer.

Go to the Energy Saving website for the details on the required steps and register for a free initial home energy evaluation.

Don't own a single family or row house? The Energy Savings Plan has a limited time offer for incentives for Multi-family units, so if your strata is thinking about making some upgrades, such as new windows or insulation, check out their website.

HOME OFFICE, WORK AND/OR SCHOOL

Turn computer monitors off when not being used. A PC and monitor left on continuously consume between $75 and $120 worth of electricity a year. In standby mode, this can be reduced to $15. For PCs, go to the Start menu, select Settings, then choose Control Panel, click on Display, and then set the Energy Star settings under the Screen Saver tab. "Sleep" or stand-by is not the same as "off" though, as equipment in sleep mode still uses some electricity, so always turn your equipment off if it will not be in use for long periods of time.

And don't be fooled by screen savers! They are not an energy-efficient feature.

Turn off printers and other office machines when not in use, as they can idle as much as 90% of the workday and are often left running at night and on weekends.

If you don't have the access to do these things yourself or let someone know

Green tips courtesy of onedayvancouver.ca

Chilliwack BC Hiking Club: Hike Notification: Chadsey Lake Hike, Sumas Mountain BC

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 03:20:00 +0000

November 25 (Saturday): Chadsey Lake, Sumas Mountain

Meeting Place: We will be meeting at 8:00AM in the Sardis Starbucks parking lot. Don’t be late. Once there we can divvy up everyone into different vehicles and head out to the trail. If you're new, make sure you've completed the membership paperwork before arriving.
It may also be more convenient for some people to meet at the Tim Hortons at Exit 95, instead of going all the way to Chilliwack. We can plan for a meetup there, if that would help. Contact us.
Chadsey lake hike details and driving directions

Wooden Hiking Sticks vs Telescoping Trekking Poles.

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 22:39:00 +0000

Hiking sticks, trekking poles, or whatever you want to call them, there seem to be more and mroe hikers these days packing one or two telescoping poles with them when they hit the trails.

Yes, even I bought a cheap pair from MEC a coupla years back. I have to say it's handy to be able to close down my poles to make them small enough to put inside my backpack when I'm not using them, or when I'm travelling.

If you're looking for a cool looking old-school hiking pole and don't care about size/weight/trends, try wooden hiking sticks at

http://www.sticksite.com/

What's your preference? Old school wood or new school poles?

outdoors search engine

Hiking and Outdoors Vancouver BC Canada — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 21:57:00 +0000

Here's a good Outdoor Gear and Clothing targeted search engine: at http://oudoor-gear-and-clothing-swicki.eurekster.com/