by Brian Patton | Jun 27, 2020 | Canadian Rockies, canadian rockies trail guide, gear, Home page News
Dr. Gerard Lachapelle from the University of Calgary refines elevations of peaks in the Canadian Rockies, elevating some and downgrading others. Two of the biggest problems in creating the first trail guide to the Mountain Parks was the accurate measurement of trail...
by Brian Patton | Mar 17, 2020 | backpacking, Canadian Rockies, canadian rockies trail guide, gear, hiking, technology
A veteran solo backpacker looks back to a decade of exploration on the remote trails of Banff, Jasper and the Willmore Wilderness and provides useful tips for today’s wilderness travellers. Back before there were text-enabled GPS units, solar panels with power...
by Brian Patton | Sep 28, 2018 | gear, hiking, review
When Mark’s suddenly released a line of permethrin-treated clothing under its WindRiver label this past spring, it came as a huge, personal surprise. For several years, I had been questioning why Canada was reluctant to approve insect-repellent clothing while it...
by Brian Patton | Jun 14, 2018 | blog, gear
After years of frustration, Canadians are now able to purchase clothing that is commercially treated to protect against mosquitoes and ticks and the diseases they can carry. Using “No Fly Zone by Burlington” technology, Marks (aka Marks Work Wearhouse)...
by Brian Patton | Oct 25, 2017 | gear, hiking, technology
After years of searching for the perfect water filter for the backcountry, I recently discovered the Katadyn BeFree Microfilter with Hydrapak 0.6L flask—a water filter and soft, collapsible bottle that comes very close to the good old days of scooping water...
by Brian Patton | Jul 1, 2017 | gear
Canada has a lot to celebrate on its 150th birthday. Not the least being companies that design and manufacture innovative and quality products in Canada for hikers. I’m a big fan of “Made in Canada”, and I recognize the quality of the Canadian...