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Outdoor Tips, Tricks, Inspiration and Activities | MEC Blog

We asked you to tell us your favourite Canadian camping destinations on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/mec/posts/10152042977651610), and the responses came flooding in. From your suggestions, here’s a list of 12 that show off the amazing places our country has to sleep outside. Maybe they’ll inspire you to find a new favourite this summer.

## Algonguin Provincial Park, Ontario
- About a 3-hour drive from Toronto and serviced by our partner [Parkbus](http://www.parkbus.ca/)
- Great for families, hiking and canoeing, and getting out of town for the weekend

Located between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River, [Algonquin Provincial Park](http://www.ontarioparks.com/park/algonquin) is the oldest provincial park in Canada. With over 2400 lakes and 1200km of streams and rivers within the Algonquin region, the park itself is made up of several smaller, separate provincial parks, so whether you’re a water, forest, or hill person, there’s an Algonquin park for you.



## Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario
- Super accessible via the highway and serviced by our partner [Parkbus](http://www.parkbus.ca/)
- Camping options for a wide range of outdoor adventurers

With its massive cliffs, old-growth cedars, and pristine waters of Georgian Bay, [Bruce Peninsula National Park](http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/on/bruce/index.aspx) is visually impressive. It’s also got you covered whether you’re looking to car camp, hit the backcountry, or camp in a tent-like structure called a yurt.



## Coppermine River, NWT
- Ideal for the hardy adventurer and those looking to get off the grid
- [Coppermine River](http://nunavutparks.ca/english/parks-special-places/coppermine-heritage-river/overview.aspx) is generally accessed by air charter from Yellowknife. It’s possible to portage up the river systems from the Snare or Yellowknife rivers, but it makes for a long trip.

Located in the North Slave and Kitikmeot regions of the Northwest Territories, the Coppermine River is known for its exceptional rafting, major rapids, and remarkable landscape.



## Discovery Islands, BC
- As the islands’ website claims, getting there is “part of the adventure.”
- Ferry hopping and driving is required, but once you get there, the weather, wildlife, tropical-esque beaches, and year-round recreation is well worth it.

Located on the West Coast between Campbell River (on north-central Vancouver Island) and BC’s mainland, the [Discovery Islands](http://www.discoveryislands.ca/) are tucked between mountains and water, have a relaxed vibe and boast a myriad of outdoor activities.



## Green Point Campground, Gros Morne National ParK, Newfoundland
- This campground operates on self-registration
- Running water, bathrooms, picnic tables, and a kitchen shelter are all cited as amenities

”It’s nestled gently within the coastal tuckamore, with the ocean so close that the saltwater smell and the crashing of the waves are the first thing to greet you in the morning,” explains Lisa Hutchings, who submitted [Green Point Campground](http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/planyourtrip/Detail/211400) as her favourite.



## Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, BC
- Made up of over 15 larger islands and numerous inlets and reefs, the park covers approximately 26 square kilometres of marine areas
- Accessible via a number of options: ferry, seaplane, boat taxi, or private charter

The [Gulf Islands National Park Reserve](http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/bc/gulf/carte-map-nfl.aspx) is one of Canada’s newest park reserves, and is located in the southern Strait of Georgia with exceptional coastal island landscape. Protecting one of the most ecologically at risk natural regions in Canada, it offers up a variety of overnight options, from populated islands to more remote wilds, depending on what sort of trip you want and what kind of recreation you’re looking for.



## Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia
[Kejimkujik](http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ns/kejimkujik/index.aspx) (Keji for short) has numerous drive-in campgrounds, as well as “interior camping,” which are campsites only accessible by canoe or hiking in the summer, or ski or snowshoe in the winter.

Designated almost entirely as a national historic site, Keji is made up of two parts. The main park, which is located along the Nova Scotia peninsula between Queens and Annapolis counties, is known for its canoeing and warm water swimming. Kejimkujik Seaside, the smaller of the two parts, is located on the Atlantic coast of Queens County, and is defined by pristine waters, white sand, and seals basking on nearby rocks.



## Killarney Provincial Park, Georgian Bay Islands, Ontario
- One campground exists within the park, accessed via the George Lake entrance
- The park offers extensive backcountry canoeing and sea kayaking, with yurt accommodation available year-round

Striking with its white quartzite ridges and sapphire lakes, [Killarney Provincial Park](http://www.ontarioparks.com/park/killarney) is largely a wilderness park, ideal for those looking to indulge in some solitude and the beauty of an undisturbed natural setting.



## Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta
- Easily accessible via a beautiful drive along Highway 1
- Campground is 1km from the village of Lake Louise and 4km from the lake itself

With gorgeous mountain views and water so blue it looks surreal, you could easily just spend your time staring at the landscape. But the great thing about [Lake Louise](http://www.banfflakelouise.com/Places-to-Stay/Campgrounds/Lake-Louise-Campground-Tent) is that there’s also a ton in the way of outdoor recreation (hiking, canoeing) and nearby Banff (60km away) always makes for interesting exploring.



## Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park, Alberta
- Jasper National Park is accessed quite easily via Highway 16
- Camping on Maligne Lake is limited to 4 nights so that everyone gets the chance to stay

[Maligne Lake](http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/jasper/activ/explore-interets/lac-maligne.aspx) is the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies, encased by a ring of snow-capped mountains and said to “epitomize the drama and the heritage of the Canadian Rockies.” Expect to find whitewater rafting, canoeing, and hiking and feeling like you’ve arrived at one of the breathtaking places in Canada.



## Thousand Islands National Park, Ontario
- Located a few hours from Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa

[Thousand Islands National Park](http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/on/lawren/index.aspx) is a small protected area in the heart of the Thousand Islands, defined by its rugged landscape, northern wilderness feel, and focus on sustainable recreation.



## Skagit Valley Provincial Park, BC
- Extends 23km north of the Canada/US border and runs along the east side of Manning Provincial Park
- [Skagit Valley Provincial Park](http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/skagit/) has 3 vehicle-accessed campgrounds, which are fully serviced throughout the summer

Carved out by retreating glaciers, the Skagit Valley is remarkable in its extremes: crazy deep valleys and towering mountain peaks. It’s a space known for its undeveloped wilds and outdoor recreation with up to 50km of trails, river fishing, camping and picnicking.



Inspired to find a new favourite camping destination? Check out our quality assortment of [camping gear](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/c/1549), [guide books and maps](/en/ideal-for/camping-and-hiking/products/gear/books%2c-maps-and-dvds/c/922?q=%3Asales-rank&text=) to get set up for your summer trip.



12 campsite favourites from our Facebook fans | MEC Blog

12 Campsite favourites from our Facebook fans | MEC Blog

12 favourite Canadian campsites

Most people think about tents when they think about camping, only a few hardcore minimalists picture a tarp hung over a bivy sack. But a tent combined with a tarp can revolutionize your camping experience

## Kitchen and assembly zone
At the end of a long hiking or paddling day, you might find yourself in heavy rain, wet and chilled. In this case, the first thing to do is set up a tarp. Once up, you change into your dry clothes and pitch the tent underneath it while you stay dry. Once the tent is set up, you can move it to another spot if you don’t plan to sleep under the tarp.

While you’re dry and warm (and assured of staying that way), you can contemplate supper or start getting warmed with a mug of hot soup. Rain isn’t the only reason to put up the tarp. If you rig end one low to the ground or a windbreak, it can block gusts and make it much easier to cook and more pleasant to hang out.



## Living room and porch
If you wake to bad weather or you’re taking a day off, you have a spacious refuge where you can hang out, sip coffee and observe changing weather, light and tides. You can even bask in the warmth of a wood stove or a small fire. Just try that in a tent.



## Which tarp?
A light, practical option is a lightweight nylon tarp impregnated with silicone. Water beads and runs off and they can be rigged in a variety of ways. An excellent option is the [MEC Silicone Guides Tarp](/en/product/5027-716/Silicone-Guides-Tarp). It fits into a small stuff sack that’s hardly bigger than a 1L water bottle will provide a 4 x 3-meter space, big enough for two people to sit and relax.

Once you get used to adding a tarp to your camp setup, it will become as essential as hot soup or fine chocolate to your camping weekends and multi-day adventures.



Tarp + tent = the ultimate camp set-up | MEC Blog

Tarp + tent = the ultimate camp set-up

You might not guess it from looking at serene paddlers, casually gliding along, but stand up paddleboarding is a workout. Like, a full body “burn up to 500 calories in an hour” kind of workout.

To give you some moves you can add to your everyday paddling, we asked Emily Hinton (certified SUP instructor, avid yogi and MEC staffer) to share her favourite exercises to build strength, burn calories and mix up your SUP routine.



## Things to keep in mind before you start
- The best part of incorporating exercises into paddleboarding is the built-in warm up. A quick paddle on the water gets your blood moving to warm up your core, legs and body.
- SUP is all about balance. So to give yourself an even workout, be sure to paddle and do every exercise on both sides of your body.
- Your [paddle](/en/ideal-for/watersports+paddleboarding/products/gear/paddles/c/1363?q=%3Asales-rank) can float beside you in the water, you can loop your leash around it to tether it to your board, or you can set it next to you if there’s space on your board.
- You can do exercises on any board, but wider or [yoga-specific boards](/en/ideal-for/sup-yoga/products/gear/c/gear?q=%3Asales-rank) are more stable and offer more displacement to make your paddling more efficient. Plus they often have space to store your [PFD](/en/ideal-for/watersports+paddleboarding/products/gear/safety-equipment/pfds/c/1398?q=%3Asales-rank), props and any other items you might need (like a [water bottle](/en/products/gear/hydration/water-bottles/bottles/c/1235) or [sunscreen](/en/ideal-for/watersports/products/gear/health-and-safety/sun-protection/sunscreen/c/1219?q=%3Asales-rank&text=)).
- Whether or not you anchor your board while you perform these exercises depends on the water conditions, the moves you want to do, and any hazards that might exist around you. If you want to focus on your workout without worrying about drifting off, then anchoring is a good way to secure peace of mind. Also, if there’s traffic or a strong current, it’s a really good idea to anchor your board or attach some kind of leash rope to a deck or buoy.

### Core
“One of my favourite poses to do with a paddle is the classic – and thematic – boat pose,” says Emily. “Depending on the level of difficulty you want, there are a number of ways to do boat pose. But no matter the level, your core will feel the burn – especially when it’s done on water.”

- Keeping your shins parallel to the ground (bent at the knees, as Emily demos in the photo) is easier than having them straight out.
- To include the paddle in your pose, keep your shins parallel to the ground, and hold the paddle perpendicular to your arms and legs.
- If you want a little extra core work, add movement. Keep your paddle stretched out, perpendicular to your legs, and pulse the paddle up and down. This helps strengthen your core, especially your psoas muscles. These deep core muscles connect all the way to your hip flexors, and help support your posture and provide more stability in balancing poses.

**Bonus:** Incorporating your paddle to an exercise adds an element of balance (which means more core work!). Plus, it solves the problem of where to put your paddle when you’re performing an on-SUP exercise.



### Squats
Chair pose is a great way to get the movement of squats on your board, and is much more challenging than it looks,” says Emily. “Playing around with how far apart your feet are will change the level of difficulty.”

- It’s very important to always keep your weight balanced behind your knees, and to keep your back as straight as possible. Try tucking your tailbone to maintain a neutral spine and discourage your back from arching.
- An option is to raise your paddle above your shoulders at the same time as you lower back into your chair pose, and hold the pose until your legs start to burn.

**Bonus:** To add more shoulder burn, come in and out of your squatting position, lowering and raising your paddle with every up and down.



### Chest stretch
“Paddling is a great way to strengthen your arms and shoulders, so it’s a good idea to balance out all that muscle work with a good stretch,” says Emily. “Bow pose is a great way to open up your chest and is especially fun to do while bobbing around on the waves.”

- Start on your stomach and breathe as you gently lift your chest up with your hands under your armpits. After coming in and out of this gentle warm-up pose a few times, reach behind you and grab your feet with your hands. You will feel yourself naturally rock backwards and forwards with your breath.
- Try not to rely too much on your arms in this pose – pushing your feet against your hands creates a great resistance and helps to work your legs a little more too.

**Bonus:** Because of the rocking that occurs in this pose, it’s also a great way to stimulate your organs, helping to increase their efficiency and flush out toxins.



### Plank
“Plank is one of the all-around best strengthening poses, on and off the water,” says Emily. “These variations allow you to ‘test the water,’ while also challenging your balance.”

- From plank pose (either full plank or plank on your forearms, as shown below), breathe out and lift one leg, moving it off the side of your board. This weight shift will mean your board will be slightly tilted – don’t panic, this instability is great for your core. Dip your toe just over the edge of the board into the water. Breathe out, and return your foot to its original position. As with all exercises, repeat on other side.
- Another plank variation is to reach your leg to the opposite side of the board. Stretch your right leg under your left leg to “test the water” on the left side of the board. Alternate legs and repeat.

**Bonus:**Dolphin plank is a variation where you place your forearms on the board and lift your hips up in the air (almost like a half-plank/half-down dog). The change in angle demands a lot from your core, and it works as a great shoulder opener, which your body will like after all of the paddling.



### Straight up cardio
“In addition to a vigorous paddling session, there are a lot of exercises you can do on a SUP to get your cardio fix,” says Emily.

- **Jump to it**. Instead of just standing up and down as you’re coming in and out of your squat, try adding a jump – it’ll get your heart going and really challenges your balance!
- **Go with the flow**. Move through a fluid sequence of downward dog, plank and dolphin (and repeat) to get your heart pumping and your mind calm.
- **Add a burst.**Interval training is easy to do on a board by repeating short bursts of fast paddling (say 30 seconds), followed by long, strong strokes for two minutes. Do a few repeats of this interval to get your heart going and build your endurance.

**Bonus:**Working out on a moving board helps engage your entire body. The water’s waves and currents add an element of playfulness and extra element to your workout. Not only does it challenge your core, but there’s also the chance of falling out of a pose and into the water. Just think of it as *really* getting to tune into nature.



5 great SUP exercises | MEC Blog

5 great SUP exercises

I’ve had a fantastic season on my Cagua series Ghost Bike, riding quite aggressively in multiple disciplines. It’s been incredibly capable of handling whatever I’ve asked of it – everything from all-day XC epics to steep and gnarly North Shore descents.

Using four bar linkage suspension, the Cagua is made to be an efficient pedaling machine. I found it had limited pedal bob on climbs, but that didn’t take away from how it handled downhill. It maintained a supple and active rear end on descents, and geometry wise, the 67° head tube angle boosted confidence on steep, technical lines.



The aluminum Cagua 6540 is the entry-level model to the Ghost Bikes enduro category of bikes, and uses 155mm of travel for an all-encompassing ride. The 6540 is spec’d with a Shimano drivetrain, mostly consisting of XT and SLX level components. Ghost has subbed in XT components for more important shifting pieces to keep the drivetrain as solid as possible at the price point. The brake system is Shimano SLX, which has become a benchmark for what should be expected from 2-piston brakes. To keep braking power optimal without adding extra weight, it uses a 203mm front rotor and a 180mm rear instead of stocking dual 203mm rotors.

Perhaps one of the greatest inventions for the modern mountain bike, dropper posts have become almost a necessity for aggressive riding. The Cagua 6540 comes stock with the [X-fusion Hilo post](/en/product/5032-950/Hilo-125-Seat-Post), which gives you 125mm of adjustability, and is another confidence-inspiring component that doesn’t require aftermarket purchase.



Wheel size is a much debated concept, but what really matters is what is going to work for you and your riding style. The Cagua series uses 650B wheels, and has developed the frame geometry to accurately complement the wheel size. 650B has recently grown in popularity due to some of its advantages including lower rolling resistance, better traction, and an overall smoother feeling ride.

Over the past season, my Cagua series bike performed solidly with all I’ve thrown at it. For the price-point, the 6540 gets you into the Cagua line-up with a mid- to high-end component spec, and is an awesome way to get hooked on mountain biking.



Full season: Ghost Cagua bike review | MEC Blog

Full season: Ghost Cagua bike review

When Arc’teryx challenged MEC to a trail building competition, we jumped at the chance to get dirty… plus we couldn’t resist a little friendly competition. Last November, dozens of MEC staff and supporters met up with the [NSMBA](http://nsmba.ca/) to dig, grub and mine for gold on the North Shore.

Mobilizing a group of 87 people at 9:30am is never easy. At the trailhead, getting people organized was a bit like herding cats – if the cats you were herding had fire rakes and were hunting down coffee. Undaunted, MEC [Trail Adoption Plan](http://nsmba.ca/trail-adoption-plan-0) coordinator Sebastian (in orange, below) got us moving and caffeinated, then asked us to grab a tool from the jumbled pile and head up the trail.



Walking through the woods, we form a long snake of red and blue GORE-TEX, orange and green coveralls, plaid flannel and fleece with a heavy concentration of moustaches (it’s Movember, after all). Along with the 10am mist, bits of conversations float through the trees: plans to ride Expresso, Tuesday night trail runs, hiking up Fromme in search of a view. Further up and behind, words are muffled by the sounds of boots scuffing rocks and the cloak of hemlock, cedar and salal.



From an up-slope vantage point at our build site, Mark Wood, the Program Manager for the NSMBA, starts the day talking safety. He takes us through the types of tools and how to use them so that we – and the tools we’re holding – stay in one piece. It’s a message he’s probably delivered dozens of times before, and that some in our group have likely heard dozens of times before. Nevertheless, everyone pipes down and listens. By the end of the safety talk, even first-time trail builders know their fire rakes from pulaskis and their McLeods from mattocks.



“Alright, let’s get eight people with fire rakes, eight people with McLeods, a couple with shovels and pulaskis, and follow Terry,” Mark begins divvying our crew into more manageable groups of about 20, each one headed up by a build leader and designated their own section. It takes a few minutes to sort ourselves out, and the tool you’re holding pretty much dictates your role for next hour or so.



MEC Trail Building Challenge With Arc'teryx



Small pink squares flag our route, marking the switchbacks of what will become the Skid Road re-route. When the re-route is done, it’ll be a multi-purpose trail and a sustainable solution to the old Skid Road, an eroded trail leftover from forestry days. Back then, things like water diversion and long-term use weren’t part of trail building – not the case on the Shore anymore. Now trails are made to last, while keeping the forest experience and treading as lightly as possible. Attention to environmental care and sustainable trail building practices are key to the NSMBA.



Crew with fire rakes start clearing a 2.5ft. corridor of logs, salal and branches, sticking to Mark’s “keep it tight, keep it right” philosophy. Following behind are people with McLeods, pulling back more duff to expose what we’re hunting for: North Shore gold. This golden-coloured mineral soil sheds water and packs down hard, so it’s prime trail material. In some spots, we uncover platinum-coloured soil, evidence of ashy deposits from a forest fire. In other spots, the duff doesn’t reveal anything but more duff. We grub and scrounge for rocks to fill these spaces so that the trail can support hikers, bikers, dog walkers and trail runners without dissolving into mud.



Soon, groups start splitting into other duties. Some are scooping shovelfuls of gold from a nearby “gold mine” into five-gallon buckets. Others are ferrying buckets from the mine to the trail, a short distance that seems longer when your bucket is full to the brim. Like real gold, this stuff is heavy. When break-time bananas appear, the shovels go down. (If you ever want to boost your ego, volunteer to be a snack runner on trail day.)



A small stereo gets plunked down at one of the switchbacks, and “Keep me searching for a heart of gold…” starts playing. Seriously? It’s like Neil Young has our backs as we shovel, carry, pour and shape gold soil. Soon the trail transforms in front of us, becoming a thin rich-coloured ribbon.

Shaping the trail is one of the last phases, and a favourite step for some experienced builders and accomplished rider. Stephen Matthews says this is what he likes best on trail days, as he gets to visualize what the trail’s going to look like and what it’s going to feel like to ride.



After a final 15-minute flurry of bucket assembly lines, we’re done for the day. But before grabbing tools and heading down to the post-build barbeque, a few of us walk the whole new, fern-lined section. It’s kind of astonishing to see what other people have been working on and just how much got done in a few hours. That’s one of the cool parts of trail building – you’re so focussed on your own section that you’re oblivious to what’s happening up or down from you until the day’s done.



Keeping everyone fed is a big part of many trail days, and the people that weren’t digging were supporting the builders by dishing out snacks, firing up the barbeque, and having lunch ready to go as soon as we arrive back at the trailhead. The crew demolishes potato salad and sausages, oranges and brownies. Even though everyone’s coated in dirt and we’re huddled under tents in heavy rain, there’s a good vibe. “I’ve never been to a trail day where there’s a negative atmosphere,” Stephen Matthews says before he leaves. “Everyone’s just here to help.”



And as for the trail building competition? The NSMBA judges walked the two new sections to look at factors like drainage, naturalization, quality, length, and the overall finished product… and we’re proud to announce that MEC won top trail building honours in this competition.

In the end, though, it was really a win-win event for the trail system on the North Shore. We hope you have as much fun riding, hiking, and running it as we did building it.**
**



Getting our hands dirty | MEC Blog

Getting our hands dirty

*Boris Issaev fills us in on the story behind [Parkbus](https://www.parkbus.ca/), a bus service in Ontario that gets people from the city to the great outdoors. He co-founded Parkbus with Alex Berlyand in 2010.*

Hard to believe, but it was less than four years ago when I clicked “send,” and fired off an email to MEC with our idea for a bus that would run between Toronto and Algonquin Provincial Park. That email snowballed into a bus network that’s now used by thousands of passengers in Toronto and Ottawa, and is run by dozens of volunteers in collaboration with Ontario Parks and Parks Canada.

##### Campfire idea
My family and I moved to Toronto when I was 12. Our first years in the city were car-free, so I had to spend hot and smoggy summers in the city. It was only when I turned 18 and started driving that Ontario truly became “Mine to Discover.” Later on, I experienced France’s excellent rural transit system, and used shuttle buses inside US national parks. These experiences helped me conceptualize a city-to-park bus network, connecting urban Ontarians to the key parks in the province.

Alex Berlyand, my classmate and backpacking partner, was also all too familiar with the challenges of car-free existence. He’d visited dozens of parks in Ontario and out west, and often resorted to hitchhiking by the side of the road. He had travelled extensively around the world, and it seemed like North America was the only place where not having a car was a real obstacle to getting to the great outdoors.



In November 2009, Alex and I were drinking tea in front of a campfire on Algonquin’s Highland Backpacking Trail. We shared our frustrations and ideas around transportation, and decided to persuade a local bus company to run a few trips to the park. We needed something to back up our vision, though, so we approached MEC to ask if we could spend a day or two in their Toronto store to survey the shoppers and figure out if the demand for city-to park transit was there.

### From campfires to boardrooms
MEC’s initial help with the project, along with the enthusiastic support from Ontario Parks, led Alex and I to a whirlwind of meetings across Ontario, all while working our 9–5 jobs. A pivotal moment was when we met with the founder of the Ontario Biketrain program, Justin Lafontaine, who guided us into the world of tourism and non-profits.

In July 2010, we ran the first ever Parkbus – a 9-passenger white van driven by us and rented at a premium as we were both under 25 at the time. We didn’t charge our first passengers either, as it was just a proof of concept at a time when we had no idea that Parkbus could also become our job.



There have been many milestones for Parkbus since then, including joining Transportation Options, a non-profit specializing in sustainable tourism and transportation; receiving funding both from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation; and having Parks Canada join the program. Our destinations have grown to five parks, and Ottawa is our new hub in 2013. MEC’s support has grown as Parkbus became its collaborative partner in Toronto and Ottawa, offering passengers affordable equipment rentals and quality gear for sale, and providing marketing support.



### Finding our next campsite
Looking back at how it all started, it’s hard to believe we’ve made it this far. Time and again, it proves that pursuing a good idea is never a waste, and challenges can become opportunities with the right mindset. Four years ago we never would have thought Parkbus could get to where it is now, with all its partners, media coverage, passengers and destinations. More than ever, we see how necessary a service like this is to so many people who live in the city.



Our focus remains the same: to have a sustainable transportation network between cities and outdoor destinations in our backyard. We’d like to think that Parkbus is part of the solution to today’s disconnect from nature, and a step towards offering the kind of access that other places have. We work hard to make it more than just a bus service too, with on-board programming, an informational website, and volunteers that know and love the great outdoors. The project continues to evolve each year, as we look for new parks and cities to expand to.



The making of Parkbus | MEC Blog

The making of Parkbus

Years ago, when the MEC spring catalogue arrived in my mailbox, the cover immediately caught my eye. It showed a young woman wading the chest-deep Homathko River, with a mountain bike hoisted overhead. Half the image was taken above the water and half below.



### 

Known in the photographic world as “*under overs,”* I instantly knew I wanted to shoot something similar myself. It just looked so cool!

But how? My first guess was Steve Ogle, the photographer who took the cover shot, had used a waterproof point-n-shoot camera, carefully aligning the small lens with the surface of the river. So I borrowed a buddy’s waterproof camera for a kayak trip and gave it a shot, but no luck. Those early attempts all appeared blurred, and either showed everything above surface, or below – but never a mix.



Next I investigated waterproof housings. Not wanting to invest the thousands required to buy a proper diving case for my DSLR, I decided to risk one of the cheaper ($120) plastic bag-like solutions. (*Note: my camera survived this ‘plastic bag’ experiment, but you must be VERY careful any time you mix cameras and water, for potential disaster is always lurking*!) During a trip to the Hakai on BC’s central coast I captured a few so-so images of friends diving for crabs and starfish, but was ultimately disappointed with the results. I knew something was missing.



Later that year, *Canadian Geographic* assigned me a story on the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s new flagship property, [The Darkwoods](http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/saving-darkwoods). When I heard rumours of streams clogged with bull trout during the autumn spawning run, it provided motivation to explore under-over imagery more thoroughly.

Research revealed under overs require specialized equipment: specifically an oversized dome port, measuring 9in. or more in diameter. Unfortunately, such things don’t come cheap. The housing would cost more than my entire assignment fee, and represent several months of work.  But wanted to nail a great story – it was my first time shooting for the magazine – so I went ahead I ordered an under over dome port from SPL Surf Housings in California.

Weeks later, on the edge of a chilly mountain stream in BC’s southern Selkirk Mountains, I pulled on a damp [neoprene wetsuit](/en/ideal-for/watersports/products/clothing/wetsuits-and-neoprene-clothing/c/1058?q=%3Asales-rank) and then carefully licked my new dome port to prevent it from fogging. Then I slipped in.

Pool after pool I found large bull trout, displaying full fall colours, most 70cm in length or more. How glorious! One apparently fell in love with its reflection, returning again and again to rub against the domeport as I shot! I later described the magic of that day in a column for the [Globe and Mail](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/travel-news/a-wild-chase-for-bull-trout-in-my-own-backyard/article4199332/).



I remain a big fan of under over images. They offer a unique glimpse of the world; one we could never see with our eyes alone, but a vision that feels natural and true. I continue to use my dome port – from travels to the Caribbean island of Saba to sea kayaking in Kyuquot Sound – and anytime I’m near water, I find myself seeking new and inventive under over opportunities.



The world of under over photography | MEC Blog

The world of under over photography

You dream, you plan, you negotiate with your significant other for sufficient time, then you just hope for good luck.

After landing under a brilliant sapphire sky on the Grand Plateau Glacier in May, we would have little of it. For photographer Steve Ogle, Prince Rupert fisherman and ski mountaineer Dean Wagner, and I things started well. Fairweather is a mountain of dreams that straddles the Alaska-BC border, whose 4,663 metre summit (the highest point in our province) soared above us in an arc of windblown snow and ice. More than 200 years ago Captain James Cook named the peak on a rare sunny day as he sailed through the Gulf of Alaska; these days it has the reputation among mountaineers as the most inappropriately named mountain in the world.

This trip would be different, we deluded ourselves into believing. As we listened to the buzz of the Bush Hawk’s engine fade into the vast icy wilderness of Glacier Bay, we were cheerful, almost ridiculously optimistic, shuffling around the snow in t-shirts to establish our base camp. Fairweather’s summit appeared so close, it seemed as though we could reach across the sky and touch it.



May 15. Two weeks have passed since we touched down. Wind blasts with nerve-shattering force. Somewhere above this maelstrom, I detect the roar of a jet. I fantasize about business class passengers ordering cocktails and watching an in-flight comedy.

Except for a handful of brief, between-storm forays, we’ve been pinned in our tent by spring storms dumping more than a metre of snow. Temperatures have plunged into the -30C° range. I have read my two books twice. One of them, Cormac McCarthy’s grim apocalyptic tale Blood Meridian, does little to boost spirits but serves to pass time. I have even scanned the labels of my long underwear, which oddly makes me dream of beaches in Vietnam and Thailand.



We monitor weather forecasts from Alaska’s National Weather Service multiple times daily like a call to prayer, growing to despise the computerized voice crackling over the handheld radio as if it is personally responsible for the horrendous weather. This time however, the voice delivers a few shreds of optimism in the form of a high pressure ridge that’s forecast to settle over the Gulf of Alaska. Our cheers are muted, having been suckered numerous times over the past couple of weeks into making a summit attempt only to be turned back by savage wind, cold and murky clouds. Yet late that night when I awake for a midnight pee, the wind has stopped and the night sparkles. In the morning, the sky is bluebird and the air is calm. Only a few wisps of wind are visible whipping snow from Fairweather’s whipped cream ridges.

We inhale bowls of oatmeal, pack lunches and climbing gear, pry our feet into boot liners and frozen plastic shells. Setting off, we skin across the flats of the Grand Plateau until it rears up steeply. Movement is invigorating but we’re stopped in our tracks by a cascade of ice and snow burying a nearby pass where we skied weeks ago, as if we need more reminders of our tenuous existence in this alpine. In less than two hours we pass through this avalanche alley, stash our skis, and force down some water and a steel-hard energy bar. Steve slaps his hands together and I wiggle toes trying to generate circulation. After roping up, we retrace our route across the bergschrund then ascend toward a low-angled dihedral that splits a vertical slab of ice. The col is tantalizingly close and when we crest the headwall we’re greeted by a surreal sight, the sweeping aquamarine crescent of the Gulf of Alaska 4000 vertical metres below us. This impressive height in just 20 kilometres from the tide line, making Fairweather one of the highest coastal mountains in the world.



We traverse the col until the west ridge rises into the sky, weaving around crevasses and crossing others, occasionally pausing to test with our ice axes the strength of snow bridges before committing our weight. I stop to lean on my ice axe and gulp mouthfuls of air. Steve and Dean do the same; the sight makes me think of the adage, mountaineering is fun only in hindsight, or something like that. My altimetre reads 4,210 – another grueling 450 metres to go. Gazing upwards, I piece together a route among cracks, drifts and gargoyles of ice.



I concentrate purely on the next 100 metres, unwilling to be tempted by the deception of another false summit. But the next time I look ahead, the slope decreases and before us sits the broad  plateau of Fairweather’s crown and beyond, the wildly corniced ridge of Mount Quincy Adams. Together we shuffle the final few paces to a wind-hammered knob of snow, the hostile but beautiful apex of BC that in a busy year might see the boot prints of a half-dozen souls, and in some years none at all. On one side, an ocean of ice and mountains, on the other, the wild blue north Pacific curves to the western horizon. Above us a jet liner traces a silent white arc across the blue sky. In a single instant, the mental torment of idle days spent waiting out storms beneath this brooding monolith of snow and ice washes away. Our trio gathers for a requisite hug, our shouts heard by nobody but ourselves. Dean produces a small flask of Jagermeister saved for the occasion. I look at my watch, 2:15pm. Six hours after leaving the tent this morning, and two weeks after flying in from Haines. Steve boldly removes his gloves then kneels to tap out a SPOT text to friends and family: S-u-m-m-i-t-!

May 22. Back on Vancouver Island, I’m lazing around in shorts in my backyard, fingers and toes numb. I peruse an email from a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Alaska in response to a query I made about the weather in the Glacier Bay region. I knew it was bad, but how bad? He tells me that the first half of the month witnessed some of the coldest and wettest weather ever recorded in the Gulf of Alaska region. Sometimes you’re lucky, sometimes you’re not, but we made it.





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