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Outdoor Tips, Tricks, Inspiration and Activities | MEC Blog

We did it! MEC would like to send out a massive thank you to everyone who tagged their winter photos with #live4snow this season. We surpassed our target and will be donating $10,000 to [Protect Our Winters](http://protectourwinters.org/) (POW). POW is one of the hundreds of deserving non-profits MEC supports through our commitment to [1% for the Planet](/en/explore/granting). Since 2010, we’ve invested over $500,000 in non-profits that support winter activity in Canada.

### Meet our MEC Ambassadors
MEC Ambassadors Mark Sollors and [Roz Groenewoud](/en/explore/mec-ambassadors/roz-groenewoud) are members of the [POW Riders Alliance](http://protectourwinters.org/riders-alliance). This group of athletes believes the collective power of the winter sports community is massive, and if we can all work together, the end result can be revolutionary.



Mark Sollors  MEC Live4Snow

Roz Groenewoud MEC Live4Snow

**A note from Executive Director of Protect Our Winters Chris Steinkamp:**

“Our partnership with MEC in Canada has been a great first step in our outreach to the Canadian snowsports community – some of the most environmentally passionate individuals we work with. Engaging them in this creative way with our athletes helped reinforce the idea that at the end of the day, we’re doing this because we all love winter. The funds raised will help us accelerate our impact in Canada, uniting the community and taking action on the most important climate issues facing not just Canadians, but the rest of the world. Thank you MEC and to all those who took the time to submit photographs  – visual reminders of why we started POW – and for helping us raise a great deal of money to make sure that we effectively address Canadian climate issues.”



##### [Seeking Nirvana](http://blog.mec.ca/2016/03/14/seeking-nirvana-series-skiing/) Crew


Media Not Found

Check out all the photos from [#live4snow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/live4snow/).



These pics helped raise $10K for POW | MEC Blog

These pics helped raise $10K for POW

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/user48494445) 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

International Women’s Day happens every year on March 8, drawing attention to the need for gender equality while celebrating inspiring, creative and innovative women who have made political and social strides. We’d like to use the day to honour women we see getting after the everyday – living in the moment; taking advantage of our great Canadian backyard and the world abroad; leading active lifestyles and making strides in sport.

Follow them for some daily inspiration and to renew your love for Canadian winter.

#### Mirae Campbell


We found all this amazing inspiration in our [@mec](https://www.instagram.com/mec/), [@mec_nation](https://www.instagram.com/mec_nation/), [#mecnation](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/mecnation/) and [#mecambassador](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/mecambassador/) feeds – check it out and add your own adventures!



6 inspiring women who are crushing winter | MEC Blog

6 inspiring women who are crushing winter

As a staff gear tester at MEC and a rider who gets in 100+ days a year, I’ve had a chance to try out many different Ghost models over the past few years, and I was incredibly eager to get my hands on one of the new 2016 arrivals, the [Ghost SL AMR X 8 LC](/en/product/5044-702/Slamr-X-8-LC-Bicycle).

The frames for the new AMR bikes (short for All Mountain Ride) are redesigned to use a classic FSR suspension platform – a tried-and-true success story in the mountain biking industry. The SL AMR X 8 LC is built with a carbon fibre front triangle and aluminum rear triangle, both of which are updated and  improved.



Its Fox 34 Performance Series suspension fork is adjustable and can be set at 150mm or 120mm of travel depending on the changes happening on the trail. The fork is paired nicely with the new 150mm Fox Float X Performance rear shock, which uses Fox’s new Open-Medium-Firm 3-position adjustment platform.



2016 marks the debut of Shimano’s 11-speed XT group, and the 2×11 XT drivetrain is spec’d on this tier of AMR. The bike uses a full XT level drivetrain including medium-caged clutch derailleur, shift levers, 36-26 double crankset, and 11-42T wide range cassette. It also comes stock with Shimano XT 2-piston brakes and uses 180mm rotors in both the front and rear for aggressive all mountain riding. All of the cables for the drivetrain, seatpost, and rear hose for the hydraulic brake are routed internally through the frame with clean and stylish exit points.



The changes to the AMR series make these more robust and versatile mountain bikes. A 67-degree head tube angle is slack enough for descending aggressive terrain, without compromising climbing or maneuverability, and the Torsion X chainstay combined with oversized linkage bearings vastly improves the rear-end stiffness when compared to the previous standard chainstay bridge.



The most interesting change to the AMR design involves the ability to change the rear travel of the bike. The design basically allows  you to build three different bikes simply by changing the lower shock mount. To do it, you need to have a second/spare shock with a longer (or shorter) stroke length, but by flipping the lower shock mount and installing the spare shock, you can obtain more (or less) rear wheel travel depending on what you need.

As an example, if you’re interested in using the SL AMR (150mm of rear travel) as your everyday bike, but you’re also interested in doing a few XC or marathon-style races through the year, all you’d need is a shorter travel fork and shock to swap in, and your bike would be better suited to that riding discipline. You could switch from having 150mm front and 150mm rear, to 130mm front and 130mm rear in a matter of minutes.

All in all, the [SL AMR X LC 8](/en/product/5044-702/Slamr-X-8-LC-Bicycle) is truly a do-it-all, lightweight carbon mountain bike. It feels nimble and snappy on the climbs, and descends confidently even when the trails get aggressive. The design, the thought and care that have gone into the new AMR platform have produced a very versatile and incredibly fun ride!



Bike Review: The Ghost 2016 SL AMR | MEC Blog

Bike Review: The Ghost 2016 SL AMR

Not all rides are made equal. Ride More Roads is a tribute to rides fuelled by a desire to explore, to spontaneous moments and unexpected experiences that happen on a new route, and to that deeply satisfying feeling of there and back again.

To bring Ride More Roads to life, we travelled to southern California to ride the golden coast’s best roads. Between countless stops for espresso, technical descents and more than a few rough sections of asphalt, we pulled off a trip that we’re unlikely to forget any time soon. Connect with MEC for highlights from the trip, including exceptional roads, a brief Drake cameo and the ridiculously great Ridley bikes we were lucky enough to bring.

Join us: [#ridemoreroads](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ridemoreroads/)



Ride more roads / Roulez Plus

Ride more roads | MEC Blog

Ride more roads

There’s a lot to factor in when choosing where to ski or ride in the Great White North – everything from night skiing and terrain variety to driving time and après spots. Looking for a lesson? Head to Rabbit Hill outside Edmonton. Want to follow in the footsteps of three pro snowboarders? You might be surprised by the small but mighty Martock in Nova Scotia. Sure you can go after a massive bucket list, but if you’re seeking unique this season, these are the spots.

From big steeps in the Rockies to crisp corduroy out east, we chose 11 resorts that are each known for something different.

#### Mont Tremblant, Quebec


**Location:** Nestled in the Laurentian Mountains just a 1 hour and 40 minute drive from Montreal.

**Known for:** Variety of terrain and activities, plus plenty of après delights.

This eastern Canadian skier’s paradise offers 96 trails and four sides to choose from. Beginners and families will be pleased with the variety of accessible terrain, while intermediate and advanced skiers can find plenty of slopes to fulfill carving desires. Make sure you get up early – you’ll definitely want to lay first tracks into the mountain’s meticulously groomed corduroy. Off-piste, be prepared to mingle with a large outdoor crowd out for ice climbing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, dogsledding, skating and tubing.

The colourful village at Mont Tremblant’s base is European-influenced in its design, and is lively, buzzing through the day and night with shops, restaurants, and Quebecois traditions like *tire d’érable*(maple taffy). A gondola traffics pedestrians between the split village with ease, making the 75 shops and restaurants incredibly accessible. Microbrewerie La Diable has your local craft beers, La Forge Bar & Grill your après nosh and Le P’tit Caribou your spin-ready DJ.

**Top off your visit:**Spend a night on the hill for perks like ice skate loans, first track access and free evening tube rides.

#### Stoneham Resort, Quebec


**Location:**A quick 30-minute drive from downtown Quebec City.

**Known for:**Night skiing, freestyle terrain and exceptional park design.

An Olympic-size half-pipe is just one of the impressive features of this night skiing go-to. Freestyle terrain is king at Stoneham – the XL 418 Park has modules designed specifically for experts and step-up jumps that minimize the impact of landing. It’s a favourite of professional snowboarder Jason Dubois.

Those newer to park and pipe can work their way up. Beginner and intermediate parks are primed for lots of practice hours with nighttime flood lights and an intermediate rail section. The three mountains offer a total of 42 trails that are sheltered from strong winds. Three quad chairlifts get riders up top in a flash, and one bubble-top chair offers extra protection from the chill.

**Top off your visit:**Make sure your après includes a visit to the 4-Foyer bar, which *Ski Magazine*lauded as “one of the best designed ski bars anywhere.”

#### Blue Mountain Resort, Ontario


**Location:**On the shores of Georgian Bay, an approximate 2-hour drive from Hamilton, Mississauga or Toronto.

**Known for:** Holding the title of Ontario’s largest mountain resort and its family-friendly reputation.

Ontarians seem to charge “the Blue” at every opportunity, and with good reason. The hill boasts 42 trails with 15 lifts (including five high-speed six-person express chairs). Here, number of runs holds just as much cred as the number of days on your pass, and with night skiing, the laps can continue after the sun goes down.

The beginner-oriented Newbie program available through the mountain’s snow school includes lessons, gear, and access to a self-guided circuit aimed at developing your skills. Novice and advanced skiers and riders will find plenty of slick blue runs to charge and carve, plus glade runs to satisfy tree lovers.

The Ridge Runner mountain coaster makes for some seriously happy kiddos, and parents can find more to entertain young snow bunnies with skating, tubing or snowshoeing.

**Top off your visit:**Treat your tired muscles to a post-slope massage at the Scandinave Spa, a dunk in the Scandinavian baths and a session in the eucalyptus steam room.

#### Whistler Blackcomb, BC


**Location:**A 2-hour drive from downtown Vancouver up the stunning Sea to Sky highway.

**Known for:**Two mega mountains, sweeping views and powder days.

Whistler is a bucket list ski vacation destination for Canadians and international skiers and boarders the world over. Host to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, these hills are what you might call the Big Time. The two side-by-side mountains – Whistler and Blackcomb – span 8171 acres and are connected by the Guinness World Record-holding Peak 2 Peak Gondola, giving skiers of every ability several days’ worth of terrain to cover.

After a lengthy day of skiing or boarding, the village is the place to go for unconventional après like sushi and a variety of music, including 80s nights, house and reggae. Excessively garnished caesars at Merlin’s are a favourite.

**Top off your visit:** If ever there was a time to splurge on a heli-skiing venture, this is it.

#### Camp Fortune, Quebec


**Location:** Only a 15-minute drive from downtown Ottawa/Gatineau.

**Known for:**Servicing the lunchtime and after-work crowds and some seriously crisp corduroy.

If you can duck out for some day laps during the work week, you’ll be one happy camper to find lots of terrain over five hills and virtually no lift lines. There are sweet lines all over the mountain and this is where you get to really lay into groomers. Sparks and Paradis are fantastic cruisers; North American and Duffy are great on powder days (yes, they do exist) as they are all natural and have varied terrain; and Heggveit is the signature run and it is tonnes of fun to cruise down first thing in the morning.

The hill regularly takes the crown for the longest ski season in the region, has a terrain park with 12 hits, hosts well-lit night skiing and keeps the après crowd happy with two lodges.

**Top off your visit:**For expert skiers, check out the the Craigsmarc glade run.

#### Cypress Mountain, BC


**Location:**A 30–40 minute drive from downtown Vancouver.

**Known for:**The largest vertical rise on the North Shore mountains, great views of Vancouver and the ocean.

Cypress is a favourite among Lower Mainland residents. Canada’s first gold medals of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games were won on this mountain, giving it some hometown glory. The largest vertical in the area, great choice of terrain and several faces to explore make it the after-work or half-day no brainer. A total of 53 runs and four terrain parks will keep you interested until it’s time to duck into the lodge for a burger and a local brew.

Also home to 19km of groomed and track-set trails, the mountain is also popular with Nordic skiers (7.5km are lit for regular night skiing) and families looking to play in the snow tubing park.

**Top off your visit:**If you need to give your legs a bit of break, this is a great spot to try snowshoeing.

#### Rabbit Hill Snow Resort, Alberta


**Location:**Situated on the bank of the North Saskatchewan River, a 45-minute drive from downtown Edmonton.

**Known for:**Beginner-friendly terrain and accessible night skiing.

Small but mighty, Rabbit Hill has been a major snowsports hub in Edmonton for over 60 years. The snow making team at the hill keep the conditions fluffy, crisp and groomed regardless of what mother nature has in store. The hill is made for first timers and fast learners – magic carpets, tow ropes and T-bars sandwich a triple chairlift that caters to more advanced skiers.

Two terrain parks house a bunch of boxes and rails arranged in a progressive design so you can build your skills from ride-on to jump-on.

**Top off your visit:**Take a lesson. From group to private lessons, this is the place to learn and really nail down your technique.

#### Winsport COP, Alberta


**Location:**In the SW quadrant, a 20-minute drive from downtown Calgary.

**Known for:** Hosting the 1988 Olympic Winter Games and being Calgary’s only in-city ski hill.

You may find yourself asked to pose for a picture with tourists as you come off the top of the 88 Express Chair since the Winsport grounds are home to far more than just ski terrain. Ski jumps, Nordic trails, an Olympic-sized bobsled track, Canada Sports Hall of Fame, and an ice house for year-round winter training invite quite the crowd.

There are 14 hectares of skiable terrain on this little hill armed with two high-speed quad chairlifts and five magic carpets, including an impressive terrain park with a mini pipe and flow-optimized rail and jump system that build to western Canada’s largest pipe, a 22-foot tall, 60-foot wide super pipe. The hill is a favourite for after-school and work activity.

**Top off your visit:**Let an expert pilot whip you through 10 twists and turns at 100km/hour on the bobsled track.

#### Martock Resort, Nova Scotia


**Location:**Neighbouring the Avon River, an hour drive from downtown Halifax.

**Known for:**Friendly staff and holding its own through humid Atlantic weather.

Forget fishing, summer beaches and the Bluenose. Martock is home to a vibrant outdoor winter community. The hill may be small in size (600-feet of vertical with eight trails) but it packs a lot into a small space: two terrain parks, a halfpipe, Burton Riglet Park, five kilometres of Nordic trails and a biathlon range. Plus, the grounds are host to ski, snowboard, cross-country ski and biathlon competitions from local levels to national championchips.

For 100 odd days a year, this is where Atlantic Canadians come to play. The friendly nature of the hill keeps it feeling very neighbourly, and people come back season after season, including pro and Olympic snowboarders Trevor Andrew, Sarah Conrad and Alex Duckworth.

**Top off your visit:** Pay homage to the spirit of snowboarding and take a lesson, even if you’re a skier. The Burton Learn to Ride program makes it easy for adults or kids.

#### Sunshine Village and Ski Resort, Alberta


**Location:**In Banff National Park, approximately 90 minutes from downtown Calgary.

**Known for:**The longest non-glacial season in Canada, wrapping spring skiing with Slush Cup.

With skiers and boarders out and ripping well into May, you can bet on this resort lives up to its name thanks to a large number of bluebird days each season. Its unique location on the Continental Divide means that you can ski in two provinces in one run. This location also produces light, dry, champagne powder across three mountains (Goat’s Eye, Lookout and Standish).

They have varied terrain that caters to all skill levels to keep any ski- or board-bum happy. Now with the first chairlift in Canada with heated seats, the Teepee Town LX lift, novice blue and green run skiers stay toasty and reach the top in just 4.5 minutes.

Come spring, it’s worth sticking around the last day of the year to watch costumed snow lovers skip or swim in a pool of melted snow.

**Top off your visit:** For the expert skier, there’s the double-black monster Delirium Dive, which requires avalanche gear to ride.

#### Lake Louise Ski Resort, Alberta


**Location:** In the Canadian Rockies, a 2-hour drive from downtown Calgary.

**Known for:**A six-month ski season that ends in May and proximity to the stunning emerald lake of the same name.

One of North America’s biggest resorts, Lake Louise spoils skiers and boarders with 145 runs spread across nearly 1700 hectares of terrain. The resort’s unique layout offers beginner, intermediate and advanced runs from every chair, which allows groups to split up based on skill level and then meet back at the chair for another ride up. Whether you favour chutes, glades and gullies, gentle slopes, cruisers or remote bowls, the front and back sides have plenty to offer. The progressive design of the mountain continues in the Showtime Terrain Park and features varied levels of jumps, boxes and rails.

There are more than a few lunch and après options once your legs get tired. Highly recommended: dine on-piste and out in the sun on the wraparound deck at the Lodge of Ten Peaks.

**Top off your visit:**The Fairmont on the lake gets all the glory, but if you’re going all-out on a ski vacation, then the Post Hotel is a big bucket list check.



Planning a ski vacation? Check out these 11 Canadian resorts to ski and ride, from big steeps in the Rockies to crisp corduroy out east.

11 Canadian resorts to ski and ride this year | MEC Blog

11 Canadian resorts to ski and ride this year

From standout member moments and adventurous canines to being named the top brand in the nation, 2015 was full of surprises. Here we recall some favourite moments from the past year.

##### 1. Give and get**
**
Thanks to our members, we’ve been able to donate [$1.6 million](/en/explore/granting) to grants, outdoor expeditions and programs like Toronto’s [Kids In the Woods Initiative-KIWI](http://www.kidsinthewoodsinitiative.org/kidsinthewoodsinitiative.org/Welcome.html), which connects children to nature while exploring Rouge Park.



##### 2. Outdoor Nation out east**
**
Our 1% for the Planet program, [Outdoor Nation](https://outdoornation.mec.ca/), put on two events in Toronto and Montreal, hosting over 300 twenty-somethings who pitched ideas to inspire young people to get outside (alongside campfires and live music). Follow Outdoor Nation on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/mecnation/?fref=ts) to find out about upcoming events.



##### 3. Voted top brand in Canada
In October we were recognized as one of the top brands in Canada by *[Canadian Business](http://www.canadianbusiness.com/lists-and-rankings/best-brands/canadas-best-brands-2016-the-top-25/image/26/)*magazine. It was an honour to be featured alongside many iconic brands.



##### 4. Random acts of kindness
A Vancouver MEC member helped a cyclist get back on the road with a [new helmet and lock](http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2015/09/22/taiwanese-cyclist-says-thank-you-to-kind-stranger.html) after his bike was stolen during his mission to bike across the world. Thank you Mike!



##### 5. Our staff inspired us
MEC staffer Rick Wright (61) was featured in *[Running Magazine](http://runningmagazine.ca/stories-from-the-run-commute-i-run-to-my-job-at-mountain-equipment-co-op/)* for running the 19K route to and from his job at our Toronto store. Talk about determination!



##### 6. Three new store openings
We’re expanding across Canada with a new flagship in Vancouver, a store in North York, and one in Kelowna too (pictured below). We can’t wait to meet our customers and host some fun events in these new cities. Stay tuned!



##### **7. Staff celebrated a spooky and silly Halloween**
Our staff really got into the Halloween spirit. The photos speak for themselves



##### 8. “Adventure Dog” became part of our vocabulary
Dogs and adventures go together like peanut butter and jelly, but it was only until recently the term “Adventure Dog” became part of our daily vocabulary. Meet some of our favourite adventure dogs we met in 2015: [Gibson](https://www.instagram.com/p/9HGfYZNKVj/?taken-by=la_maude), [Rocco](https://www.instagram.com/roccothewolf/), [Ellie](https://www.instagram.com/lifeaccordingtoellie/) and [Loki](https://www.instagram.com/loki_the_wolfdog/) (pictured).



Here’s to topping it all in 2016! Follow along with us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mec/) and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/mec).



The best of MEC in 2015 | MEC Blog

The best of MEC in 2015

From highlighting your all-weather outdoor addictions on social media to teaming up with some inspired minds for events and partnerships, these are the top 10 moments of 2015.

### 10. 20,000 strong
There were over [20,000 photos shared](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/mecnation/) to #MECNation on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mec_nation/?hl=en)! From best buds chilling out in the wild (canines or humankind) to campouts, hangouts and just getting out, that’s 20,000 adventures, 20,000 new friends and 20,000 sources of inspiration for your 2016 goals.



### 9. Chasing sunset
We teamed up with the early birds behind [Chasing Sunrise](http://chasingsunri.se/) to get amped at sunset. The hike up to the Sea to Sky Gondola summit had all the makings of a typical Vancouver day – pouring rain and no view – but damned if we didn’t have the best time ever with 130 of our new BFFs.



### 8. Won’t back down
Speaking of rain, our urban camp out at [Evergreen Brickworks](http://www.evergreen.ca/get-involved/evergreen-brick-works/) in Toronto was soaking wet, but you wouldn’t know it from the singing, dancing, and partying. It may be Drake’s hometown, but cue Tom Petty: the 6ix won’t back down.



### 7. Moonlit magic
There’s nothing like partying on the boardwalk in downtown Montreal. Man, can that city have a good time. There was a definite dreamlike quality to sleeping under apple blossoms and a cool factor to stand up paddle boarding downtown, but dancing to music under the moonlight takes the cake.



### 6. Outdoor heroines
We have to celebrate some badass chicks who get outside. [Rad Girls Collective](https://www.instagram.com/radgirlscollective/?hl=en) and [Girls Gone Wilderness](https://www.instagram.com/girlsgonewilderness/) were some of the first groups we funded, and they keep working to get women outside on their own terms.



### 5. Surf and turf
Who needs ocean? We woke up our surf side by cleaning up Toronto’s beaches and getting out on the Great Lakes. Our new pals [Surf the Greats](http://surfthegreats.org/) make Hogtown cooler than Lake Ontario on a January day (which, incidentally, they’ve surfed in. Brrrrrrr!)



### 4. #Squadgoals
Building the best crew ever (that’s you!) With a digital community of over 16,000 (on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/mecnation/), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/MEC_Nation) & [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mec_nation/?hl=en)) and 700 peeps at our events, we have an amazing foundation to do great things with a nationwide pack. Did we mention we’re just getting started?



### 3. Cash money
This year we gave out $30,000 to fund some crazy, awesome, hyped-up ideas that aim to get more 20-somethings outside. [Hi5 Run](https://www.facebook.com/Hi5Run) and [Discover Your Wild](http://thepeakbaggers.com/discoveryourwild/) are just the beginning.



### 2. Bus(t) a move
We hear it all the time – lacking in wheels is a barrier to getting out there. This year, thanks to our friends at [Parkbus](https://www.parkbus.ca/), an overnight camping trip was a cinch for a band of Torontonians.



### 1. Forget resolutions
Planning to make 2016 your most outdoorsy year yet? Forget resolutions – science shows most of them falter by mid-February anyways (only about 64% of people are still hanging on after only a month into the New Year). Your only goal for this year should be to get outside and let us help. We have some big plans for the future, and free gear, clinics, and events are [just the beginning](http://outdoornation.mec.ca/).



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