Travel and places

Stories

Skills and tips

Gear

Community news

Activities

Outdoor Tips, Tricks, Inspiration and Activities | MEC Blog

Regular runners know that Canada’s pathways, roads and sidewalks are a never-ending parade of pace-chasing misfits. Popular run routes are full of *those runners* – ones who’ve become an archetype in run circles. While we couldn’t cover all of the different running personalities, there were a few particular roadies that stood out from the pack:

## The Stats Addict


She pre-maps her run routes online and has the latest [Garmin](/en/products/brands/garmin) model on her wrist – but sometimes it might be off by a kilometre so she backs it up with an [activity tracker](/en/products/running/training-electronics/watches/activity-fitness-trackers), which coincidentally links up to her Garmin as well. She’ll tell you how it changed her whole routine – did you know it can track your stats, monitor your sleep and prompt you to move when you’ve been sedentary for too long? You can also earn badges and compete with friends. All these slick devices link up to the apps on her phone that she carries during her run (for her power run playlist and to track each 5K on RunKeeper and Strava, of course). Oh, did she mention the heart rate monitor that clips right into her bra?

## The One Who Can’t Stop Fueling


Never without a [run belt or hydration vest](/en/products/running/running-packs), you can always count on this generous guy for a swig of [electrolyte-spiked fuel](/en/products/running/training-food-drinks/energy-and-recovery-drinks) when you hit the wall or to share some [gummies](/en/products/running/training-food-drinks/energy-gels-and-chews) while you’re stretching. During your dynamic warm-up, he’s checking his inventory. In his bottles? Plain water, coconut water and lemon-lime sugar-free hydration drink (the chocolate milk is stashed in his car for post-run recovery). Shorts pockets house [bars](/en/products/running/training-food-drinks/energy-and-protein-bars), the performance-enhancing fruit-nut-chocolate-ones, naturally. From some hidden zips he pulls out gels, dissolving tablets and energy balls. Wait. Where the heck did that banana come from? He’s not even wearing a jacket!

## The Wall of Flesh


At first you mistook him for a streaker. Coming towards you along the path, his [shorts](/en/products/clothing/bottoms/shorts/running-workout-shorts) are barely there, his [socks](/en/products/running/running-and-training-footwear/running-socks) are invisible, and his shirt came off after 30 seconds of warm-up walking. If the sun’s out, the guns are too. Any semblance of a top (which was probably small, cropped or had mega-size arm holes that showed off his side bod) now dangles effortlessly from his waistband. His bravado is backed up by a few strategically placed tattoos and a healthy glistening of sweat. You suspect he never closes the blinds at home.

## The Racer


She’s got her race calendar synched up with her work vacation calendar, and a bucket list of her must-do marathons, including the Big Six. Boston is checked off – you might have it guessed by the fact that she’s dressed head to toe in last year’s merch. (Just to be clear, she only wears it for training, never on race days.) She’s superstitious about race rituals, and always shows up at startlines in her lucky [shorts](/en/products/clothing/bottoms/shorts/running-workout-shorts), wearing her trusty [sports watch](/en/products/running/training-electronics/watches/sport-watches) and fueled by a plate of spaghetti as her pre-race meal. When talk turns to travel, she admits to scheduling her trips around training, start lines and chasing medals to add to her hefty collection.

## The Lite Brite


Prepare to be blinded. Between the hi-vis [jacket](/en/products/running/running-clothing/running-and-fitness-jackets?facets.Features=Reflective%20details) with reflective panels, the [headlamp](/en/products/running/headlamps), the [snap-on LED bracelets](/en/product/6009-186/nite-ize-slaplit-rechargeable-led-slap-wrap) (one on each ankle and one on each wrist) and the [mica lights](/en/product/6031-650/mec-mica-15-front-light) tied on to her laces that strategically bounce light back to her reflectively patterned pants, this safety conscious strider is intent on being *seen*. If she wasn’t part of your pace group you’d likely mistake her for a foot-propelled neighbourhood taskforce. And since she is part of your pace group? You’re secretly stoked, because dark December runs feel about 800 lumens brighter with her around.

## The 365er


This dedicated runner never sees sub-zero temperatures, 20cm of fresh snow, shimmering heat waves, or the occasional wind warning as any reason to turn to the treadmill. He’s got complicated and complex [layering systems](/en/explore/clothing-layers) for every potential weather system and adjusts his run time based on the hourly forecast. He also speaks fluent meteorologist, knows all the cold fronts and where they’re coming from, and keeps his [slip-on spikes](/en/products/footwear/footwear-accessories/traction-devices) handy in case of icy patches. Falling into the global pack known as “streak runners” (people who run every single day, no matter what), this runner lives by the credo, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear.”

## The Whole Dang Family


Never mind that readying the [run stroller](/en/products/travel-gear/child-transport/strollers-and-accessories) for an outing is a production in itself, this team has the prep routine down to a science – and that’s just the start of their workout. With tires filled, [first aid kit](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/health-and-safety/first-aid-kits-and-supplies/first-aid-kits) stashed, diapers, bottles, snacks and doggy bags on hand, they’re off in a flurry of running shoes and wheels. The toddler should be sleeping soundly for the next 30 minutes (hopefully), so it’s prime time for fresh air. Taking turns pushing the stroller, running the dog and keeping an eye on their kiddo riding a bike beside them, they operate like a well-tuned relay team – just with a few more goldfish crackers and juice boxes.

*Illustrations by [Suharu Ogawa](https://www.suharuogawa.com/).*




## Want to get road running?
- [Start with shoes](/en/explore/how-to-choose-running-shoes)
- [How to choose an activity tracker](/en/explore/choose-an-activity-tracker)
- [Beat the heat: tips for running in summer](/en/article/beat-the-heat-tips-for-running-in-summer)

Do you see yourself in any of these road running characters?

Which Runner Are You?

For the past six years, *Canada’s current fastest marathoner* and New Balance athlete Reid Coolsaet has spent 4–10 weeks training in the small Kenyan village of Iten. This year, his sights are set clearly on Rio.

Iten, Kenya, is the “Home of Champions.” Runners from all over the world come to train at this rural town 2400m above sea level, and this is where Reid Coolsaet comes to test his limits. He runs with locals who’ve finished a marathon in 2:06 and a half marathon in under 60 minutes, and he regularly runs a half marathon’s worth of kilometers in one day, ranging from 155 to 170km in one week. *Whoa*.

When you have just a few months to go before you race alongside the world’s best athletes in Rio, there’s a necessary predictability built into your daily itinerary: fuel, train, recover.

To give us an idea of what life is like leading up to such a big event, Reid shares an in-depth look at what goes into two days of his training stint in Iten.

## Hours 0–24
##### Fuel
My goal here is to leave fitter than when I arrived – it sounds simple, but because I’ve been doing this for so many years I can tell a lot by listening to my body, and it starts with fueling.

The High Altitude Training Centre (HATC) where I stay caters to Western athletes, and today’s breakfast includes eggs, porridge, bread and pancakes, plus tea and juice. Later I dip into Club Iten, a restaurant where the wifi is good and the mango juice is fresh.

I have lunch at my friend Thomas’s house. He lives with his wife Doris and daughter Grace in a one-room apartment adorned with race medals and posters; Doris has an upcoming marathon in Tanzania. There’s no running water, just a well outside and outhouses. Their small television plays dubbed over Spanish soap operas (very popular amongst Kenyans) as we sip a sweet milky tea with heaps of sugar. We also eat pawpaw fruit, which tastes like cantaloupe, as well as potatoes and beans. It seems crazy to me how simple their life is, and although many people don’t have much here they don’t seem poor in the sense North Americans are used to – they don’t stress about things they don’t have and aren’t in debt for a lifestyle they’re trying to capture but can’t afford.

For dinner at HATC, they serve Kenyan specialties. *Ugali* is close to polenta and made from cornmeal and there’s the nutrient dense and kale-like *sukuma wiki*. Kenyan runners swear by *ugali*as a big source of energy and even cook it in hotel rooms abroad before races.

##### Train
Today I’m running at my own pace. I pass children bundled up as though it’s the dead of winter. At 10–12°C in the early morning, the locals find it very cold. There are athletes of all different speeds out running, and almost all have tights and a jacket. I’m one of the few wearing shorts (very Canadian). I run 18km in an hour and 20 minutes, which is quite routine for me. My legs are fairly tired from the last few weeks of intense training, but a little soreness and fatigue is just part of the game. Later I do another 10km in 45 minutes with fellow Canadian John Mason.

I spend some time at the gym at HATC and go through my core routine, which I do 2–3 times per week. It consists of functional movements on my feet, work with a medicine ball, planks and injury prevention exercises.

##### Recover
I’ve been running up to 170km per week lately, which isn’t really high for me, but it’s enough that I feel like taking a nap. I feel very comfortable in Kenya, it’s like a second home to me. The weather, the trails, the people and the atmosphere are great.



## Hours 24–48
##### Fuel
Breakfast is functional tea and oatmeal. I dive into my stash of protein bars mid-morning and round things out with lunch of vegetable soup, fresh bread rolls, rice, lentils and salad.

*Ugali*, *sukuma wiki* and salad are on the dinner menu tonight, as well as beef stew and roasted potatoes with watermelon for dessert. It was a solid day, so I decide to treat myself to a mango and beetroot juice, too.

##### Train
Over 200 athletes use the track at Kamariny Stadium between 7 and 11am. Today’s work out begins at 9:10am and it’s hard. I prep by going through my stretching routine, listening to music and applying some much-needed sunscreen.

I lace up my [New Balance](/en/products/brands/new-balance) 1400v1 racing flats and finish off my 5km warm-up around the track. I brought a slightly used pair of runners so I could give them away to a local athlete at the end of my training camp. I came here with 16 pairs and will leave with just three.



There are typically 40–50 athletes in the group I train with. About 10 guys who all have experience racing abroad are doing 15 x 1000m and are targeting 2:50–2:55 for each interval, with just over two minutes rest between them. I join in, averaging 2:55 for the first six intervals while hanging on to the back of the group.

Martin Matathi (2007 World Championship 10,000m Bronze Medalist) picks up the pace on the seventh interval and I trail the group by a few seconds. I’m pretty tired and I’d rather run with the group than fall behind, so I decide to run the first 600m of their 1000m for the last eight intervals, embracing the extra rest. They ask me to pace the last two. I’m a little nervous about screwing up, but I hit the splits right on and run 1:43 and then 1:42 while leading the remaining seven guys still in the workout.

Later, I do an easy 6km run to get my daily running volume up to 26km. I run some drills and a bunch of kids come over. They mime my running drills, lunges, high knees and jumps.



##### Recover
I venture over to Dan’s apartment for a massage. He’s a really good masseuse and only charges 500 shillings (about $7 CDN) for an hour. I’ve heard different stats but it sounds as though the average income is about $1000 CDN a year in rural Kenya, plus I’ve seen world record holders getting massages here.



In the 12 weeks leading up to the games in Rio I’d like to average around 200km per week. Physiotherapy, stretching and pool running will keep me in training mode. My goal for Rio? To finish in the top 15 in the marathon or top 10 if training is going really well.

*We’ll be rooting for you in Rio, Reid. Thanks for the behind-the-scenes look at life training in Iten. – MEC*

*Reid Coolsaet is the second fastest Canadian marathon runner ever, after Jerome Drayton (2:10:09 in 1975), and is the current fastest at only 10 seconds behind Drayton at 2:10:29. That’s pretty darn fast.*



Road to Rio: 48 hours in Kenya with Reid Coolsaet | MEC Blog

Road to Rio: 48 hours in Kenya with Reid Coolsaet

This winter we hooked up with Canadian free skiers Mike Henitiuk, Joe Schuster, Riley Leboe, and Matt Margetts from the web series *Seeking Nirvana*. Sit back and enjoy three episodes of vast powder bowls, big lines and good-time skiing with friends.

#### Seeking Nirvana | Part 1: Home


This is the mountain village of Whistler, 675m above sea level. Forested with old growth fir and cedar. An important black bear habitat. Criss-crossed by deep valleys making way to endless glaciers. There are few paved roads but instead many miles of intersecting logging roads and dirt trails. It is an El Nino year. We are on the far edge of the Howe Sound, famous for fierce storms, which will make landfall from the west, come December.

4 men make haste into the storm in search of vast powder bowls, to which the mountain village has garnered a reputation. A difficult task, travelling the unchartered terrain, requires the groups combined wits. Only persistence and a spot of luck will reward success. The adventure begins in the mountain village they call home but foreign lands beckon. A journey awaits and a feeling desired. We follow this group, through trials and triumph, Seeking Nirvana.


Created by:
Mike Henitiuk
Joe Schuster
Riley Leboe
Matt Margetts

Cinematography by:
Taylor Loughran

Edited by:
Leigh Powis

Narration by:
Colby James West
Jay Henitiuk

Graphic Design by:
Alex Viau

Seeking Nirvana 1.1 - Home



This is the mountain village of Whistler, 675m above sea level. Forested with old growth fir and cedar, an important black bear habitat. Criss-crossed by deep valleys making way to endless glaciers. There are few paved roads but instead many miles of intersecting logging roads and dirt trails. It is an El Nino year. The far edge of Howe Sound is famous for fierce storms.

Four men make haste into the storm in search of vast powder bowls, to which the mountain village has garnered a reputation. A difficult task, travelling uncharted terrain requires the group’s combined wits. Only persistence and a spot of luck will reward success. The adventure begins in the mountain village they call home but foreign lands beckon. A journey awaits and a feeling desired. We follow this group, through trials and triumph, seeking nirvana.

#### Seeking Nirvana | Part 2: Cabin Fever


Childhood friends embark on a journey past roads-end. Far from civilization, deep in the wilds of British Columbia, time slows as they align with their surroundings. Battling blizzards they quest towards untracked landscapes of powder glory. Through trial and triumph they tirelessly press on. The snow falls, the angst builds. Fever has set in...

Strange adventures await, Seeking Nirvana.

Created by:
Mike Henitiuk ~ @mikeheni
Joe Schuster ~ @joe_schuster
Riley Leboe ~ @rileyleboe
Matt Margetts ~ @mattmargetts

Follow us:
@seeking.nirvana 

Video Editing, Sound Design and Color Grade:
Leigh Powis

Cinematography:
Taylor Loughran

Aerial Cinematography:
Dylan Ross

Narration:
Colby James West
Jay Henitiuk

Graphic Design:
Alex Viau

Seeking Nirvana 1.2 - Cabin Fever



Childhood friends embark on a journey past road’s end. Far from civilization, deep in the wilds of British Columbia, time slows as they align with their surroundings. Battling blizzards, they quest towards untracked landscapes of powder glory. Through trial and triumph they press on. The snow falls, the angst builds. Fever has set in. Strange adventures await.

#### Seeking Nirvana | Part 3: The Lucky Strike


This band of seekers have found a treasure, a mother lode if you will... it's time to stake their claim and strike it rich! This treasure.... it’s not the conventional kind ... gold, diamonds or other such things ... this treasure is much more rare. Found only in the alpine, an land of unrelenting rock and ice, caped with soft and endless snow.

Created by:
Mike Henitiuk ~ @mikeheni
Joe Schuster ~ @joe_schuster
Riley Leboe ~ @rileyleboe
Matt Margetts ~ @mattmargetts

Follow us:
@seeking.nirvana

Fellow Traveller:
Josh Bibby

Video Editing, Sound Design and Color Grade:
Leigh Powis

Cinematography:
Taylor Loughran

Aerial Cinematography:
Dylan Ross

Narration:
Colby James West
Jay Henitiuk

Seeking Nirvana 1.3 - The Lucky Strike



This band of seekers have found a treasure, a mother lode if you will… it’s time to stake their claim and strike it rich! This treasure…. it’s not the conventional kind … gold, diamonds or other such things … this treasure is much more rare. Found only in the alpine, an land of unrelenting rock and ice, caped with soft and endless snow.

*All videos via [Seeking Nirvana](https://vimeo.com/strangeadventures) on Vimeo.*



3 episodes of vast powder bowls, big lines and good-time skiing. Features Canadian free skiers Mike Henitiuk, Joe Schuster, Riley Leboe, and Matt Margetts from the web series Seeking Nirvana.

Seeking Nirvana captures backcountry ski radness | MEC Blog

Seeking Nirvana captures backcountry ski radness

Ah, the Great White North. Not just a hilarious 80s SCTV skit featuring everyone’s favourite hosers (Bob and Doug McKenzie), but also a land of endless snow. Our vast Canadian landscape is home to over 40 resorts, all dedicated to fulfilling the downhill desires of generations of ski bums. With many hills now open for the winter season, what better time to reminisce about the roots of our riding addictions? We’ve rounded up a sweet collection of vintage photos from some local resorts. Take off, eh!

##### Blue Mountain Resort, Ontario


## More ski articles
- [Why wool is great for your active wardrobe](/en/explore/wool-garments-for-the-outdoors)
- [10 tips for great ski photos](/en/article/10-tips-for-great-ski-photos)
- [7 snacks for the ski slopes](/en/article/4-easy-snacks-that-seasoned-skiers-pack)


23 vintage Canadian ski photos | MEC Blog

23 vintage Canadian ski photos

*What does it take to capture a one-one thousandth-of-a-second, once-in-a-lifetime shot? Reuben reveals how he teamed with Salomon, trekked to the Arctic Circle, and captured a skier in a solar eclipse.*

A third of the way through Salomon’s latest episode of [Freeski TV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edlJ2_924tU), viewers meet the dreamer behind a questionable chase to the Arctic Circle. His ambition: to capture a skier in motion during one of nature’s rarest phenomena – a total solar eclipse. The subject is photographer Reuben Krabbe, who wowed ski fans in February 2015 after capturing fellow ambassador Tobin Seagel skiing against a backdrop of the northern lights.

“There’s a Grant Gunderson photograph of a skier amongst a trail of stars,” says Reuben, citing the Gunderson work as the inspiration for his Aurora Borealis shot. “After that photograph of Tobin, I was looking at maps available through NASA that show all of the different places where solar eclipses are going to happen in the next 20, 50, 100, 200 years.” So where was Reuben to find his white whale? Svalbard – a Norwegian group of islands sandwiched between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Rugged and teeming with glaciers, frozen tundra, and a fellowship of polar bears, it’s the very definition of remote, and one of just two places where the total eclipse could be viewed in 2015.



Roughly one solar eclipse appears per year, but typically in places where people won’t see them, such as the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Worse yet, they often occur when the moon is too far away from earth, so it doesn’t fully cover the sun.

Eager to bring his dream to life, Reuben pitched the idea to the director of Salomon Freeski TV, Mike Douglas, in late 2014. He recognized the hook of the story immediately: this had never been done before. But, there were risks. “We both knew the chances of it working out were so low – if you miss it through the clouds, it’s not that interesting. It’s completely boring actually. You’d just be able to show a time lapse of a cloudy day getting dark and bright again.” Salomon came back to Reuben with a green light. “They said, ‘we love this idea, let’s do everything possible to make this happen in the best way.’ I was completely taken aback.”

The team consisted of skiers Chris Rubens, Cody Townsend and Brody Leven; director and filmmaker Anthony Bonello; on-slope videographer Bjarne Salen; guide Steve Lewis; Reuben; a camp cook; and two ski guides (one an ex-trauma doctor). They spent three weeks on Svalbard and winter-camped while scouting locations for an additional 12 days. Reuben credits Bonello as the coordinator behind the trip, allowing Reuben to simply make sure he was winter ready. His set up included the MEC Radiator Parka, boot warmers, and essentially everything a person needs to not freeze.



Leading up to the eclipse, the team had no idea of the elements they would face. Clear days were used to scout the right location, leading to some frustrated skiers. “We were burning these bluebird days that have stable snow and perfect light and we hadn’t got to ski great stuff yet, just two little chutes. They were all looking at all the stuff they wanted to ski and the pursuit of this single photo – a photo we don’t know whether or not will turn out – is preventing them from skiing,” Reuben sympathizes. “It’s just this impossible thing to deal with. They went through with it, but were vocal, which is good. I was just as frustrated that I was the person standing in the way.”

When the day of the eclipse finally arrived, the team was elated to see the weather was working in their favour, and Reuben’s dream was realized. Bonello shot some stunning footage of the total eclipse: waves of light gently rippling around a massive black orb. As the light changes, Svalbard appears as an alternate world with two moons; one bright orange, the other heavy ebony, both filled with quiet contrast and mystery. For a short time, the sky goes black, and moments later dawn-like rays careen into the scene, blanketing sheets of fresh white powder in light.

“It was pure elation. Everyone finally understood why this is such a dramatic thing that people fly around the world to just watch,” says Reuben. “We got to create something with it. The success validated the entire pursuit. And then, finally, we got to go skiing. We went back to camp, grabbed some food, and went. We got some beautiful shots [of that] right away. It was nice, to go back to simple shooting in the Arctic.”



Salomon’s Freeski TV episode recently screened at the Banff Mountain Film Festival to great acclaim, taking home the grand prize for Best Film in the Snow Sports category. “I had no idea going into it that it was going to have this kind of reception outside of skiers. It put this huge validating stamp on this concept and the entire project,” says Reuben. “It’s been a beautiful way to kick things off.”

For now, Reuben is enjoying the afterglow. “Regardless of whether you’re a skier or not, when you see the solar eclipse photo, you can’t help but stop and look and start trying to figure out ‘What is this? The moon? The sun? How on earth did they do this?’ I think the fact that I can do that by capturing one-one-thousandth of a second is just so cool.”

*– Photos by Reuben Krabbe. Check out MEC’s selection of [Salomon gear](/en/products/brands/salomon).*



The photo of a lifetime: solar eclipse | MEC blog

The photo of a lifetime: solar eclipse

Growing up skiing, I went on to become a ski-a-holic and CSIA Level II instructor while my sister swore off the sport. Where did my family and I go wrong?

If I remember right, we were at Nakiska and no more than eight and six years old when my Mum snuck up behind my little sister and gently unhooked the ski leash she was tethered to. Although she was in control, as soon as little Stacey realized her safety net was gone, she went wild with panic, gained a fair amount of speed, and went crashing into an orange safety fence. That was the beginning of the end.

Over the years she humoured us with family trips to Whitefish, Montana or days out on local mountains, but recently, while we were packing for a trip with friends to Fernie, she lamented, “Why doesn’t anyone believe me that I just don’t like skiing?” I don’t know why I hadn’t believed her. To me, skiing is just so damn *fun*. How could anyone not enjoy whipping down the hill, chill on your cheeks, feeling sheets of untouched snow at the base of your skis? There’s nothing else like it.

So, I figured it couldn’t have just been that one snow fence incident, but rather a collection of recurrent gaffes on the part of our family. Here’s where she said we went wrong:

### 1. Ski the same hill every time
Keep them super attached to the same bunny hill and same magic carpet. No need to expand their comfort or skill level.

*Ski coach fix: Introduce your kids to a bunch of different hills and runs. A change in terrain will give them the confidence to tackle new slopes as their ski level improves.*

### 2. Don’t ask, just do
Ignore your kids’ requests to repeat the bunny hill yet again. Remember, as the parent, you make the rules – they don’t know what they want.

*Ski coach fix: Stick it out on the bunny hill until you see confidence levels soar. Don’t rely too much on props to keep your kids upright, as they will rely on you to steer and stop. Play follow-the-leader or red light-green light and let them set the pace.*

### 3. Ski, lift, repeat
Stay focused on your end game – you’re raising a skier here. Breaks should be kept to a minimum, with lap and run count high. The more chairs you get in, the better.

*Ski coach fix: Give your kids a break from the descent and still work on their snowplough: find a flat space at the base of the hill out of the way of ski traffic and have them make bow ties and arrow shapes in the snow with only their boots. This helps develop the ability to pivot their feet without the weight of a ski.*



### 4. Seek to ski in cold weather
Snow covered trees and summit vistas are only enhanced by a severe drop in temperature. They’ll be tougher skiers if they go out at 40 below zero.

*Ski coach fix: Keep your kids warm and dry to keep them happy. Up your number of lodge visits as the temperature drops and carry extra layers, keeping a close eye out for frostbite (when pink cheeks turn white). On extra cold days, [hand and toe warmers](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/health-and-safety/emergency-and-survival-gear/hand-and-toe-warmers) and [tasty hot chocolate](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/camping-kitchen/food-and-drink/drinks/coffee-tea-and-hot-chocolate) are your best friends.*

### 5. Try to teach them yourself
You’ve got a lot of years under your belt, and you can teach a toddler a thing or two. Nothing brings a family closer together than 24/7 time on the hill.

*Ski coach fix: It’s that universal truth that no one wants to hear it from their own family. If you’ve got young skiers, stick them in a lesson. They’ll be comfortable around other kids at the same skill level and chomping at the bit to show you what they learned when class is over.*

### 6. Resort to Peer Pressure
Persuade your kids to do it your way, before they get old enough to realize they can form their own opinions about sports. “Everyone is outside skiing and having fun except you” is a good place to start.

*Ski coach fix: Your kids just might not love skiing the same way you do, or they might want to take up snowboarding, play in the terrain park, or try Nordic skiing instead. Keep them loving winter by trading in skis for tobogganing, tubing, building forts and snowmen or snowshoeing and try again next season.*

In the end, my sister still has fun in winter and she’s very active. Throughout high school she danced a lot, she plays softball in the summer, hits the gym frequently, and loves to run. I’ve decided to let her go a couple winters free from harassment. Besides, I estimate I’ve only got about five years before I can teach her kids to ski instead.



Ever wonder why some kids grow up loving a sport while others come to hate it? Learn to keep your kids loving the slopes.

How to make your kids hate skiing | MEC Blog

How to make your kids hate skiing

I’m interested in what folks keep in their packs for emergencies, and I like to compare notes so I can create the ultimate kit suited to my style of backcountry travel. My trips are usually one-day missions, where I depart from home at 3am and venture into the darkness. During early season, I start thinking about what I should include or pull from my bag. Contents might change depending on the mission or how remote my destination is.

There’s always a focus on lightening our loads in the backcountry and I cringe at the idea of adding more gear, but there should be a few minimum items carried by all enthusiasts. I’d like to think this list, made with one- to three-day excursions in mind, hits the sweet spot. Some of these items never leave my bag and would see me through an injury or unplanned bivy. Wherever possible, I try to use items that are multi-purpose to save space. Coordinate with your trip partners to find out what gear can be shared amongst a group and adjust your first aid kit to group numbers and personal requirements.

***Note:*** *This list does not include backcountry safety essentials. Visit [Avalanche Canada](https://avalanche.ca/map) for further information, and make sure you’re trained in avalanche safety before venturing into any backcountry situation.*

##### Ski straps
I carry four [ski straps](/en/products/ski-and-snowsports/skiing-essentials/ski-straps): two 15cm straps and two 24cm straps as a minimum. The uses are endless, from keeping you organized and efficient when loading a helicopter to lashing your skies/poles together like a pro.

Other strap hacks:

- Use the strap to bind your skins to your skis in the event they aren’t sticking.
- If your skins aren’t sticking to the snow, these add grip to your stride.
- Lash extras to your pack.
- Compress stuff sacks.
- You can immobilize limbs for a variety of injuries when you use them with ski poles or sticks. They can also hold pressure on soft tissue injuries or soakers on large open wounds.
- Helps MacGyver a rescue toboggan by fastening skis together.

##### Small headlamp
If I know I’m going to need a lamp, I’ll usually take a high powered model. I wouldn’t recommend a small [headlamp](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/headlamps-and-lighting/headlamps) as your primary light source, but I carry one as a backup unit for navigation. I’m a fan of the Petzl Zipka headlamp.

##### Tape
Tape can be used for injury aid, taping parts and skins to skis, and general resourcefulness.

- Electrician tape is great until temperatures dip.
- [Duct tape](/en/product/5028-390/survive-outdoors-longer-duct-tape) is best, but you can’t avoid the sticky residue.
- White medical tape is great, and can help in a real emergency.

##### Emergency bivy or tarp and sleeping pad
[Bivies](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/health-and-safety/emergency-and-survival-gear/emergency-blankets-and-bivies) or [tarps](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/tents-and-shelters/tarps-and-light-shelters) are great to have if an injury crops up. These lightweight shelters provide insulation from the snow and protection from the elements. And should you ever get trapped by the dark, you’ll need a stronghold.

- There are many emergency models of bivies to choose from. I tend to carry a siltarp that can fit two people for additional warmth and can also double as a shelter. A bright color helps you be seen.
- A bivy sleeping pad is cut to fit flat inside your pack, making it a great seat or extra insulation for an unexpected night out. I’ll often sit on my pack and put this under my feet, and it definitely makes a difference in heat loss.

##### Lighter and firestarter
In cases of delayed exit or unexpected overnights, fire is a great asset. Also, if someone incurs an injury and you’re stuck awaiting evacuation, it can help with shock prevention.

- A waterproof and impact-resistant [lighter](/en/product/6015-505/survive-outdoors-longer-fire-lite-fuel-free-lighter) case is great. I always store mine in an additional re-sealable plastic bag, because you can’t be too prepared. It’s best to make sure your ski partner has one as well.
- There are a few different kinds of [firestarters](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/camping-kitchen/stoves-fuel-and-fire/fire-starters-and-matches), so select the one best for you and test it out before you depart. I prefer the [sticks](/en/product/5061-802/uco-stormproof-sweetfire-strikeable-fire-starter) and have had good success starting a fire in doubtful conditions.

##### Multi-tool
You never know when you might need to do a field repair. Find a [multi-tool](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/tools-and-accessories/knives-and-tools/multi-tools) that works to cover your needs in an unexpected situation. Look at driver bits that suit the equipment you carry.



##### First aid kit
Taking a Wilderness First Aid course will help you think outside the box in case you end up dealing with backcountry emergencies. A [first aid kit](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/health-and-safety/first-aid-kits-and-supplies/first-aid-kits) is a definite necessity. Being able to modify or tweak your gear can be a real lifesaver.

- One thing I always make sure I have is one pressure dressing. The soaker gauze utilizes tensor bandage-like wrap for pressure, but can also be used as support for sprains and strains.
- Suture bandages, and lots of them.
- Bring along some Ibuprofen for that early season hip flexor pain.

##### Bailing wire
Simply put, if something starts falling apart or breaks, this is a great way to hold it together.

##### Synthetic jacket
I carry my [MEC Boundary Light Down Jacket](/en/product/6015-540/mec-boundary-light-down-jacket-mens) (women can grab the [MEC Boundary Light Down Jacket](/en/product/6019-623/mec-boundary-light-down-jacket-womens)) in a light dry bag and squeeze all the air out so it’s totally compact. Warm, compressible layers are essential to any backcountry outing. I bring mine every single time.

##### Pole baskets
In serious powder, poles are useless without baskets, so bring an extra pair and it could save your day, or at the very least, get you a few more turns. [These Powder Baskets](/en/products/ski-and-snowsports/backcountry-skiing-gear/ski-poles-and-baskets) are a great option.

##### Prima Bar
Fight the bonk and fuel the engine! These tasty bars are equally good frozen or thawed and pack a decent calorie punch for their size and weight. Cherry Coconut is my favourite flavour.

##### Small hot packs
[Hot packs](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/health-and-safety/emergency-and-survival-gear/hand-and-toe-warmers?brand=Grabber) make the coldest part of the night bearable. Make sure you bring multiple, and place these small packs in key areas to keep you warm, like around your femoral arteries (target it at your inner upper thigh or where they branch out at your tailbone). It’s amazing how long a single night can feel, and these little guys give you the confidence boost to see the night through.

##### Skin wax
When you’re out spring skiing with sticky snow conditions, it’s almost mandatory to keep a small block of [skin wax](/en/products/ski-and-snowsports/ski-tuning-and-tools/ski-wax-and-skins?facets.Ideal%20for=Backcountry%20skiing) to prevent snow building up on your skin bases. Bringing this wax along helps you save your hip flexors and energy.

##### Batteries
Someone always forgets to put fresh [batteries](/en/products/electronics/batteries) in either their headlamp or the transceiver. Pack a couple as backup and be the hero of the day.



See some of the essentials and a few clever hacks to up your safety quotient.

What to pack for a day of backcountry skiing | MEC Blog

What to pack for a day of backcountry skiing

How do you capture the brightness of snow, keep your ski photos from falling flat on an overcast day, or frame a motion shot? These are my top ten tips for shooting on the slopes.

#### 1. Sunny days play in meadows, cloudy days work in trees


Whatever terrain you find naturally gives you better visibility for skiing in bright or flat light, those same spots are where you’ll also find better light for photography. Trees absorb light during grey days and add contrast to the snow. On sunny days, bask in the abundant light of the open alpine.

#### 2. Leave space in the frame ahead of the skier


A photograph is a story in a single moment. Great images portray the past, present and future of action in a single image. Leave space in front of the skier so the viewer can imagine where they will be next.

In this example, there wasn’t much room inside of the couloir, and I wanted the bottom of the line, the sky, and Tobin all in the photo, so, I took out my shovel and dug myself into the snowpack a little. This way I could get far enough from the action and see everything at once, leaving room ahead of Tobin for the story to make sense.

#### 3. Account for bright snow in your exposure


Snow, mountains and sunsets are notoriously difficult things for cameras to capture since they are bright and framing them often includes fast-moving subject matter. The camera’s auto modes give you an average exposure of 50% grey. Since you’re standing on bright white snow, the camera is going to adjust that snow to be more of a grey tone in most auto settings. If I had used an automatic metering mode on the camera, this photo would’ve been much darker. Although many cameras have exposure compensation for this, shoot in full manual exposure if you can, and put time into figuring out how to use your histogram – a graphic representation of pixels used in your image (here’s some [more info](https://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-read-and-use-histograms/)). Using my histogram to calculate exposure helped properly expose the image.

#### 4. Bring action and location together


Skiing is as much about the sport as the place the sport happens. To show off great terrain, take time to focus on cool natural features like old broken trees, mossy patches on rock, or any other natural wonders that catch your eye.

#### 5. Coordinate a moment with your athlete


Great photographs have precise composition, so plan the way you want the action to unfold ahead of shooting it. Find the place you want to shoot from and determine exactly where you want the skier to be in that frame. Work with the athlete so they know where they need to hit their mark (snowballs thrown at the mark can help). I shot this picture of Eliel with my telephoto lens, purposefully leaving out the sky to focus on the bottom of the Cheakamus Glacier. We chatted for several minutes about having him execute a skier’s right hand turn on that exact part of the ridge. The photo was later published in *Backcountry* magazine.

#### 6. Pre-focus the camera


It’s an absolute pain to get everything right in a photo, but then have to tell the athlete that the shot isn’t in focus. I almost never focus the camera during action, but instead I have the camera setup so all I have to do is hold down the shutter button at the right time.

There are a ton of different techniques to pre-focus a camera. On a digital SLR you can use autofocus on the point where you want the action, and then flip the switch to manual so the camera can’t try to re-focus before the action happens. Or you can use focus lock, wherein the camera locks focus as long as you’re holding down the shutter button half way.

What if your camera isn’t focusing on the white seamless snow? Estimate the distance between where you are and where the skier will be, then look around. Are there any other objects about the same distance away? If so, focus on that, switch to manual, and shoot.

Since there was nothing to focus on for this photo of Stan on the white snow, I had to estimate the distance between us (about 30 feet) and find a tree nearby that seemed to be a similar distance away. Then, after focusing on that tree, I re-composed the shot, told Stan to drop in, and snapped the frame.

#### 7. Shoot early, or late


Great light happens early and late in the day, so bust out the toe warmers and have a thermos of tea or coffee at the ready – early birds and patient folk will be rewarded.

Working with Kicking Horse’s ski patrol, Tobin and I were given special access to an alpine bowl to shoot during the crispy morning light. This was a real privilege, as normally we ski tour through the darkness to get this kind of shot at dawn.

#### 8. Find ‘skim’ light


If you aren’t on the mountaintop at sunrise, there’s still good imagery to be found. Look for places on the hill where the light is hitting at a shallow angle; anywhere that’s happening, there lies great potential for dramatic lighting, especially if you shoot towards the sun. Also, the edge of most shadows can be a great place to create a dark background.

Although this shot was captured at 10am, many hours after sunrise, we were able to find a ridgeline where the light was falling away to shadow, and I knew I could shoot towards the sun to capture some beautiful, contrasting light.

#### 9. Shoot 45 degrees up slope


Shooting up towards a skier at roughly a 45-degree angle (right between straight up slope and straight across slope) keeps the skier visible and the slope looking steeper too. This has to do with “convergence”; if you shoot a photo of a skyscraper looking up, it appears to diminish towards a vanishing point. When you point your camera up slope, the same thing happens to the ski photograph, enhancing the steepness of the terrain.

Shot during the Deep Winter photo challenge in 2013, there wasn’t much snowfall, so we had to make the most of small pockets for fresh snow. This strategic shooting came in handy for making a mellow zone look a lot better.

#### 10. Copy images


I’m a firm believer that this is one of the best ways to learn photography techniques; to emulate the best. Find ski photographs you love, and try everything you can to recreate the image – I don’t mean similar, I mean identical. This isn’t to replicate someone else’s work or claim their creativity as your own, but by working through all the details of an existing composition, you’ll learn to recognize the nuances of a ski photograph and adjust accordingly.

Taken during the Deep Winter photo challenge in 2012, I was trying to emulate Eric Berger’s shot of a skier airing over a snow cave. During this shoot, I learned a lot about size of air, space, shape, falling snow, light condition, skier form, and much more.

##### 


## More ski articles
- [Ski touring checklist](/en/explore/ski-touring-checklist)
- [How to layer for outdoor activities](/en/explore/clothing-layers)
- [How to wash and re-waterproof your ski jacket](/en/explore/caring-for-a-waterproof-jacket)



10 tips for great ski photos | MEC Blog

10 tips for great ski photos

Online only: Get an extra 20% off clearance footwear. 

Camp weeks: 25% off all MEC Label camp gear, only until August 6.

August long savings event: Get up to 50% off gear for camping, biking, climbing and more. 