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Outdoor Tips, Tricks, Inspiration and Activities | MEC Blog

Did you know that MEC chooses expeditions to support twice a year? As part of [MEC All Out](/en/explore/community) (our community program), we give ambitious members gear and funding to make their wild outdoor adventures a reality.

See where your fellow MEC members are planning to go this summer – it’s pretty inspiring stuff. It might just spark you to try something new yourself, whether it’s an overnight bike trip, a human-powered vacation, or tackling a climbing project you’ve had your eye on.

Of course, if you have a bigger goal in mind, check out our [expedition support page](/en/explore/community-support). Grant applications are open until August 7, 2019 – we can’t wait to see what members are planning to do next.

## IceSend: Iceland by bike


**MEC members**: Oliver Jorgensen, Kieran Evans, Jalen Sekhon
**Follow along**: [@icesend.exp](https://www.instagram.com/icesend.exp/) and [IceSend on Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/icesend)

The mission: a bikepacking expedition from the northernmost tip to the southernmost tip of Iceland, on a never-done-before route across the spine of the country. Two members of team IceSend also happen to be MEC staffers, and when they’re not helping members, they’re on their bikes. This team wowed us with their application, and they also ended up getting support through the [MEC Adventure Grant](https://vimff.org/mec-adventure-grant-vimff-1_1920x1080/) with VIMFF – keep an eye out for their presentation on this largely undocumented traverse at next year’s festival.

Some gear going along for the ride:

- [MEC Uplink Vest](/en/product/6016-915/uplink-vest?colour=Dark+Neptune+Blue)
- [Castelli Entrata Bibtights](/en/product/6015-260/entrata-bibtights?colour=Black) and [MEC Crinkum Shorts](/en/product/6020-735/crinkum-shorts)
- [MEC T2 1/4 Zip Top](/en/product/6018-176/t2-base-layer-1-4-zip-long-sleeve-top?colour=Black)
- [Garmin InReach Explorer+](/en/product/5060-919/inreach-mini)

## The Great Coast Mountains Bikepacking Expedition


**MEC members**: Michael Ford, Alyssa Stapleton, Matthew Janeway
**Follow along**: [@mikegoesupanddown](https://www.instagram.com/mikegoesupanddown/) and [@janesway_](https://www.instagram.com/janesway_/)

This self-supported, human-powered multi-sport epic is seeking first ascents along a new 1572km predominantly off-road cycling route that spans the entire length of BC’s Coast Mountains. The trio created the expedition with the intention of accessing remote mountain areas while remaining both self-propelled and self-reliant. It’s a novel approach to a climbing expedition, and combines bikepacking, climbing, camping, mountaineering and paddling as they travel from Prince Rupert to Vancouver, while seeking first ascents in the Howson Range, Ts’yl-los Provincial Park, Terrace, Bella Coola and the Sea to Sky region along the way.

In their expedition application, they also noted that, “Bikepacking this route instead of driving will save 588kg of CO2 emissions and allow us to take greater environmental responsibility for the landscapes we intend to explore.” Along the journey, they’ll cross three of the four road access points through the Coast Mountains to the ocean, traverse two dirt road mountain passes above 1200m, and packraft across the Nechako Reservoir.

## Outside Passage Paddle


**MEC members**: Owen Enright, Andrew Green, Gordon Kerslake, Arden Schiller, Alex Morrow

This team of seasoned paddlers plans to travel from Alaska to southern Vancouver Island entirely self-powered by sea kayak. Although most paddlers would complete this trip by travelling through the Inside Passage, they aim to paddle the entirety of the coast on the outside passage. This route ups the ante – they’ll be dealing with rugged coastlines that are exposed to extreme weather, have few landing spots, and require surf landings at most beaches. The team will be completely self-sufficient, and will fish and forage to help supplement their food rations.

While there’s no Instagram account to follow for this one, it’s a good reminder that this is prime paddling season. Always wanted to try kayaking? See what [paddling events](https://events.mec.ca/find-an-event?&activity%5B%5D=3&organization=mec) are happening near you.

Some gear going along for the journey:

- [MEC Couloir Gore-Tex Jacket](/en/product/6016-916/couloir-gore-tex-jacket?colour=Obsidian%2FBlack)
- [MEC Fulcrum Guide PFD](/en/product/5034-115/Fulcrum-Guide-PFD)
- [MEC TGV 2-person 4-season Tent](/en/product/5047-590/TGV-2-Person-4-Season-Tent)
- [MEC Deluxe Pillow](/en/product/5046-842/Deluxe-Pillow)

## Fellowship of the Klite


**MEC members**: Travis Foster and Drew Leiterman
**Follow along**: [@drewmagoo66](https://www.instagram.com/drewmagoo66/)

The objective: three granite spires that rise like gothic cathedrals out of the remote Klite basin in BC. This area’s been whispered about for many years, but surprisingly has still gone untouched. In their own words, Travis and Drew said:

“The southeast buttress of Klite, at 1400m from base to summit, would be a world-class objective in any location around the globe. Complemented by the central spire and eastern spire at 1200m and 1000m vertical relief respectively, this is a truly remarkable location. To quote John Clarke, ‘Klite Peak is a triumph of granite architecture. The appalling looking southeast buttress is a classic and will be climbed someday.’ These are no light words coming from John Clarke, and still the call has yet to be answered.

The north-facing walls climbing out of Klite basin are serious objectives in their own right. John Baldwin said, ‘The narrow ridge is wild alpine granite dropping over 1000m on both sides.’ To think that coming to the headwaters of the Klite River will be almost synonymous to the first climbers visiting Sam Ford Fjord is really quite a dizzying notion. It honestly feels to good to be true – but then again, so did the Daniels River Valley…” (The Daniels River Valley was one of their previous climbing expeditions, shown in the photo at the top.)

Some gear going along for the climb:

- [MEC Synergy GORE-TEX Jackets](/en/products/c/200/mec-synergy-collection)



*Travis in the [MEC Synergy Jacket](/en/product/6011-164/synergy-gore-tex-jacket?colour=Dark+Neptune+Blue) as he leads Thunder Corner on their previous expedition, where it rained four out of nine days on the wall. “It kept me dry and more than that, its 70-denier face fabric held up against all sorts of crazy chimney stemming abrasion,” he said in his review. Photo: Drew Leiterman*

## The Great Trail on foot


**MEC member**: Bonnie Thornbury
**Follow along**: [@bonnbury](https://www.instagram.com/bonnbury/)

Bonnie grew up in a bush town of 200 people. As a queer non-binary person, they found solace in the outdoors and have trekked and travelled in over 30 countries. The plan for this journey? A six-month walk across Canada via the Great Trail (formerly known as the Trans-Canada Trail) from west to east. This 5000km trip is as much about the epic challenge of self-propelled transportation and uninterrupted nature as it is about reconnecting with Canada.

In their words, “Like many folks, I’ve struggled with what it means to be Canadian in recent years: How do we tap into our greatest gift – this unimaginably vast and varied land – while acknowledging the hard truths of our nation’s past, and actively show up for reconciliation? How do we make space for new Canadians and new imaginings of Canada? How do we celebrate our incredible diversity while creating connections and community across a land as enormous and spread out as ours? I can’t think of a better way to fall back in love – and inspire others to fall in love with our country and each other – than setting out on foot, taking in the experiences and encounters, and sharing them with the world.”

Some gear trekking across Canada with Bonnie:

- [MEC Spark 2.0 Tent](/en/product/6000-986/spark-2.0-2-person-tent?colour=Neutral+Grey%2FDeep+Navy)
- MEC Talon Light +5C Down Sleeping Bag
- [Scarpa Kailash Trek GTX Hiking Boots](/en/product/5057-412/Kailash-Trek-GTX-Hiking-Boots)
- [MEC Hydrofoil Stretch Pants](/en/product/6000-270/hydrofoil-stretch-pants?colour=Deep+Navy)

## K2 southeast face: new route attempt


**MEC member**: MEC Ambassador [Louis Rousseau](https://vimeo.com/241918025)

K2, the Savage Mountain, is a massive summit of the Karakoram. At 8611m, it’s the second highest peak in the world. No routes on K2 have been ascended in pure alpine-style. Louis’ team’s proposed route will start from the base of the southeast face and go directly up an untouched buttress: the southeast buttress. “This southeast buttress is an amazing objective,” Louis noted in his expedition application, “The steep and highly technical character of this southeast buttress offer good opportunities for a major new alpine style ascent.” The line would take them on a highly technical mixed ground and a crux section below 7000m. Opening a new route, in a clean single push, will be a significant and bold alpinism achievement. While there’s no Instagram account for this attempt, we’ll be watching for his trip report to come in.

Gear Louis ordered before he left for K2:

- [MEC Hydrofoil Stretch Jacket](/en/product/6020-751/hydrofoil-stretch-jacket)
- [MEC Hydrofoil Stretch Pants](/en/product/6020-753/hydrofoil-stretch-pants)
- [MEC Uplink Vest](/en/product/6016-915/uplink-vest?colour=Dark+Neptune+Blue)

*Top photo: Travis Foster on the summit of Super Unknown, part of their 2018 climbing expedition to the Big Wall Belt in the Daniels River Valley near Powell River, BC. Photo: Drew Leiterman*



## Related articles
- [The time to travel is always now](/en/article/the-time-to-travel-is-always-now)
- [Award-winning gear: 20 top picks from the pros](/en/article/award-winning-gear-20-top-picks-from-the-pros)
- [Trekking to Everest Base Camp? Read this first](/en/article/trekking-to-everest-base-camp-read-this-first)



MEC members are going places, like bikepacking a new route in Iceland, walking the Great Trail, climbing in the Klite basin and more.

Inspiration alert: expeditions to follow this summer

I grew up in the leafy Toronto suburbs during the eighties, an era of feathered hair, tight jeans and Tears for Fears. Back then, the world seemed an impossibly large and mysterious place. Just catching the subway to Yonge and Bloor felt like a serious expedition, requiring an Adidas bag, lumberjack jacket and Kodiaks.

On summer holidays, when my father lashed canoes to the roof of our family station wagon and we set off northward to the lapping lakes and windblown pines of Algonquin, we might as well have been departing for another continent – this was the stuff of great explorers; the stuff of dreams.



During those formative years, my most important lesson came from an impromptu sermon delivered by my lanky, pocket-protector-wearing physics teacher. Our class had been tossing weights into the air, using ticker tape to measure acceleration due to gravity, when Mr. K. overheard someone grumble that they couldn’t attend the upcoming school gala – a sweaty dance party to be held in the school cafeteria – because they had too much homework.

“Too much homework?” Mr K. bellowed, his face turning red. Our classroom fell silent as he launched into a diatribe. “You should avoid the habit of putting off fun, or anything else important for that matter, in the belief you can save it up for later. Life doesn’t work that way.

“Right now, you probably think you only have to study hard for a few years, get into a good university, and then you can start having fun. But once you arrive at university, you’ll decide to put off fun a little longer, so you can graduate top of class and get a good job.

> “Then you’ll put it off again, until you get a promotion. Then until after kids. Then until you retire. And one day you’ll turn 65 and think: *At last, it’s time for me to have fun*. Then you’ll die.”
>
With that, Mr. K. collapsed in his chair.

In the silence that followed, our class awkwardly resumed our experiment. But his words stuck with me – and changed the course of my life.



In the decades that followed, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to criss-cross the globe as a writer, photographer and adventurer on journeys that have taken me from Mount Everest to Arabia, from Africa to the high Arctic. I’ve traversed Iceland by foot, Mongolia by horse, and paddled Greenland’s coast in a sea kayak. Recently, I took my young family on an overland journey from our home in British Columbia to a Himalayan monastery, where we spent three months living with Buddhist lamas.



I’m often asked for “top travel tips,” and while a multitude of ideas spring to mind – think big, go longer, take less, seek locals, be careful (but not paranoid), plan less (leaving space for serendipity), don’t be afraid to try a new location – the most fundamental piece of travel advice I can share comes from Mr. K.:

> Never put off until tomorrow the trip you can launch today.
>


This is not easy advice to follow, for as life grows busier and time becomes scarcer, travel dreams too often fall prey to the* “as-soon-as”*syndrome: As soon as I pay off the mortgage, top up my RRSP, re-roof the house, or do whatever. Each and every year in Canada, millions upon millions of vacation days go unclaimed. I would encourage you to avoid such delays and hit the road at any and every opportunity.



I trust in travel as an elemental force for good; a boundless source of hope and possibility. Whether wandering through rainforests, up crystalline peaks, or into unfamiliar nooks in our own backyard, travel reminds us of the vast, complex and richly diverse nature of our small planet. Along the way, we cultivate friendships and understanding for strangers with backgrounds, histories and beliefs different than our own – reaffirming humanity’s essential sameness.

Of course, life on the road is not always easy. With its randomness and unpredictability, travel demands a grit too often missing in our modern lives. But this is a good thing, and as our possessions are pared to the essentials, we live more simply and, in the eternal words of Proust, come to see the world with new eyes.



As Pico Iyer eloquently writes, “We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate… And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again – to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more.”



In this way, the whole magical process brings us back to Mr. K. and his simple maxim: No matter what travel you dream of – an African safari, climbing Kilimanjaro or trekking to Everest Base Camp – don’t wait until it’s too late. Rather, start planning today. Put pennies aside. Book tickets. Mark the calendar. There are only so many tomorrows. Go now.



## Related articles
- [16 rad travel hacks from adventurous Canadians](/en/article/16-rad-travel-hacks-from-adventurous-canadians)
- [The ultimate travel pants](/en/article/the-ultimate-travel-pants)
- [Travel packing checklist](/en/explore/travel-checklist)



Some words can stick with you – and change the course of your life.

The best time to travel is always now | By Bruce Kirkby

The time to travel is always now

*We’re committed to better representing the diversity of the outdoor community we love, so we’ve been reviewing our criteria for what makes for an epic expedition. We realize that funding crazy trips is awesome, but we need to adjust our definition of epic to ensure all our members get the chance to enjoy the outdoors in whatever ways they can.*

*This trip wasn’t a traditional choice, but it spoke to our hearts and to the wonder of new adventures in the great unknown.*

## Nuchatlitz kayaking expedition, BC
**July 28 to August 3, 2018**



It was the last night of our final day of kayaking, and we had the opportunity to go for a midnight paddle. I had the desire to see bioluminescence in the water, so I managed to get in my double kayak and we followed the rest of the group. Our kayak guides with lanterns on their boat led the way.

We floated on the water in pitch blackness, watching the twinkles and tingles as we dipped our paddles in the ocean. Little fish shot out of the water nearby. It was absolute bliss, indescribable, and an event that I will hold near and dear to my heart. Then, to top it off, one of the guides recited the poem *Being Human* by Climbing PoeTree, which highlights the resilience, wonder and mystery of nature.

It was a magic moment, and I feel so lucky and blessed to have experienced it first-hand.

Since birth, I’ve lived with a neurological disability, cerebral palsy (specifically, spastic diplegia, which affects mostly my lower limbs). Cerebral palsy affects everyone differently, depending on what area of the brain was damaged. For me, it affects my speech, balance, mobility, coordination and manual dexterity. As we age, the effects intensifies; the reality is that it takes more effort for us to do activities or everyday things. I have to find creative ways for me to participate in activities.

Over the past three years, I’ve built an amazing relationship with Spirit of the West Kayaking Adventures, and we’ve talked openly and authentically about supporting me on their kayaking expeditions while meeting their needs. This year, after many conversations with them, we decided that an extra support person would be the answer to enable me to experience the true joy of being in the outdoors. The funds from MEC allowed me to bring a friend to help me keep up with the group during the expedition.



The support person’s main function was to be my partner in a double kayak, as it’s much more stable for balance purposes. Other ways my friend supported me was to navigate the challenging terrain, help me get in and get out of the kayak, and assist me with the many camp duties. On trips like these, I’m part of a larger group and I shouldn’t be expected not to participate in larger camp duties – like washing dishes or organizing gear – just because I have a disability. My friend provided the equilibrium that allowed me to participate as a member of a larger expedition.

Inclusion has always been the framework of my life, and I’ve worked hard to ensure that the proper supports are in place. In my opinion, services that support people with disabilities have done well in providing programs and services. However, mainstream programs haven’t done well, since quite often they don’t have the knowledge, equipment or skillset to accommodate people with disabilities. That means the choice of where to participate doesn’t fall on the individual with a disability, as they’re often prescribed to participate in disabled program.

But to me, inclusion is about personal choice – being able to choose which program to participate in. I often don’t feel included in adaptive programs because the level of my disability is mild, so I don’t require any adaptive equipment or special skillset. I just need people with patience, a sense of open-mindedness, and the willingness to think outside the box.



The many conversations I’ve had with Spirit of the West Kayaking Adventures has helped us understand each other’s needs. This is inclusion at work at its finest: there was open communication from the beginning and a willingness to learn from each other. For inclusion to happen, it takes two to tango – we both need to be open and authentic with each other. I need to be honest with them as to what I can or cannot do in order for us to have a successful trip.

With this notion, I’ve been able to enjoy the gems that this province has to offer. I’ve promised myself to always play in the outdoors, slightly tweaking it a bit to ensure that it’s supportive for me to enjoy it with the changing condition of my disability.

The outdoors are where magical midnight paddle moments happen, and where I have the opportunity to reflect and to challenge my limits.



## Karen’s favourite gear picks
We asked Karen for the gear she loved the most on her trip, and here are her recommendations:



### MEC VectAir Sleeping Pad

Warm synthetic insulation to keep you comfy on cold nights. Raised outer chambers on the [MEC VectAir sleeping pad](/en/product/6008-339/vectair-insulated-sleeping-pad) help keep you centred so you don’t roll off.



### Delphinus -9C Sleeping Bag

The [MEC Delphinus -9C Sleeping Bag](/en/product/5060-385/delphinus--9c-down-sleeping-bag) is insulated with high-end down and has vertical baffles over the torso to prevent cold spots, since the down won’t shift as you move.



### Scrubba Wash Bag

Looks like a dry bag, but is actually a little wash bag for your hiking or travelling clothes. The [Scrubba Wash Bag](/en/product/5036-920/Wash-Bag) packs down small when you’re not using it.



## Related articles
- [5 ways to get funded by MEC](/en/explore/outdoor-impact)
- [Mandatory paddling gear checklist](/en/explore/mandatory-paddling-gear)
- [Kayaks 101](/en/explore/about-kayaks)



Magical midnight moments on an expedition, by MEC member Karen Lai.

Cultivating a sense of inclusion on the water | MEC Blog

Cultivating a sense of inclusion on the water

*MEC Ambassador [Louis Rousseau](https://vimeo.com/241918025) shares the story of an expedition in April and May 2017 with climbing partners Adam Bielecki (Poland), Rick Allen (Scotland) and Felix Berg (Germany). Written by Rick and Louis, with collaboration from Adam and Felix.*

## Video: Annapurna One


Annapurna One - Movie

## The story behind our attempt
Everything started in spring 2017. We’d planned to open a new route in alpine style (no fixed ropes, no supplemental oxygen, self-supported) on the north face of Cho Oyu in the Himalayan mountain range – the sixth-highest summit in the world.



Among the eight-thousanders (mountains above 8000m), Cho Oyu is generally considered the easiest to climb – if you go the normal route. But scaling the north or south face is a different story. The north face is steeper than Everest’s north face (45°) and about even with K2’s or Dhaulagiri’s north faces (+50°). In 1988, a [Slovenian team climbed the north face of Cho Oyu](http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199835202/Asia-Tibet-Cho-Oyu-New-Route) for the first time.

Since then, there have been only two other successes on the north side. With some research and help from members of the 1988 expedition, Louis put together a plan to establish a new line on the north face in the middle of the 4km-wide wall that’s about 2000m high, and invited Adam, Rick and Felix to join him.



## Rough start for the dream team
Before we started the expedition, a perfect storm of professional, personal and bureaucratic obligations put an end to our Cho Oyu plans. Our original expedition plan to the far end of the world ended before it even kicked off, but we wouldn’t let this setback stop us.

Since we were already in Katmandu, we sat in the hotel garden with a laptop and looked for a new line that would inspire us. What about Annapurna? According to the accident stats, it’s the most dangerous 8000m peak. But what about the northwestern flank? It was steep with mixed ice, snow and rock, but relatively safe.

So we made a new plan: the great Annapurna, 8000m, climbed for the first time in 1950. It inspired generations of climbers. We were on our way, smiling and highly motivated as the Cho Oyu dream slowly faded away.



Annapurna was our new goal, but we needed another mountain to acclimatize if we wanted to summit in true alpine style. We scanned the map to find a 7000m peak close to our main objective, something with a gentler slope where we could get in time with our ice axes and crampons, and also multiply our precious red blood cells to prepare for altitude. Tilicho Peak, at 7134m, had a ridge at 6200m followed by a long safe climb to the summit. This was going to be our prep for Annupurna.

## Getting to know Tilicho
We were relieved to leave Katmandu for the mountains with our new plan. It took 10 hours on a bumpy bus ride to reach Besishahar. At that time of the year, the road is passable by jeep past Manang (but it made the bumps from the day before pale in insignificance).



On April 18, we trekked to Tilicho Lake (the locals call it the highest lake in the world), which was completely ice covered. From there, we had a great view of Tilicho Peak, and admitted it was quite impressive, dominating the skyline northwest.

The next day, we left the comfort of the lodge and set out to reach the far end of the lake to establish our true basecamp for the next 10 to 12 days. But we’d underestimated how hard it was to trek in Nepal: it took a lot of effort to cross the 5340m Tilicho Pass in worsening weather with our heavy packs. After an 8-hour hike, we reached a fine spot close to the foot of our objective. We had huge respect for our porters who’d crossed the pass with heavier loads.



We spent April 20 resting and organizing basecamp, and the next day, we finally headed out to climb. The steep scree and snow slopes led to the first broken, rocky pillar, which we climbed quickly without touching the old, faded and unreliable fixed rope (indicating that this line had been followed by previous teams). We reached the ridge that was our goal for the day, and then set about finding a spot to establish camp. Climbing down about 80m on the other side of the ridge, we found a comfortable and safe site on top of a line of seracs (ice cliffs).



When we reached the windy crest, we quickly realized this was an inhospitable place to set up our second camp. Luckily, Adam found a canyon created by an old crevasse in the seracs. It seemed we couldn’t have asked for a better end to a good day, but at night, the wind shifted and our crevasse became a wind tunnel. We battled incoming snow in our prototype high-altitude tents, and our bodies suffered from the first night at 6150m. After sleepless hours and having accomplished our goal of acclimatization, we decided to descend.

Climbing down such steep terrain isn’t easy, and the safest option was a series of long rappels. We made good use of the pitons abandoned by previous expeditions that Louis had thoughtfully collected during the climb. Adam navigated the complex terrain and efficiently set up fresh anchors and we progressed quickly. We reached basecamp safe but tired, just in time for a late lunch. Sleep came easily. The next few days, we spent time in our newly installed mess tent that doubled as a perfect place to play chess.



## too optimistic
On April 27, we headed out again up Tilicho Peak to continue our acclimatization. About 9 hours later, we reached our wind-tunnel crevasse; most of us had a bad night and we postponed pushing further until the next day. We woke up at 2am, but the wind was even stronger and wasn’t relenting. Finally, at 6am, we reluctantly decided to begin the descent to basecamp, and were happy to reach it a few hours later.



For the next few days, heavy snow fell repeatedly and left about a metre of snow on the ground at basecamp. We spent the time resting and digging out our tents. At this point, we had to admit that our plan for a quick acclimatization on Tilicho Peak was proving to be too optimistic. Louis also had less time to complete the expedition than the rest of the team, and on May 3, he had to make the difficult decision to return home to Canada.

## The team continues on
After Louis left, the weather allowed the remaining team members to head straight on upwards, moving together over soft, deep snow patches and hard neve, over crevasses, through rock bands and around seracs to reach the summit of Tilicho. Satisfied with this fine, 7134m peak, the three of us – Adam, Rick and Felix – snapped some photos and saw our next destination: the northwest face of Annapurna.



We were sharing the open slopes above the north Annapurna glacier with small Italian, Spanish and Chilean teams who were all on the mountain, pushing for the summit via the 1950 French route. This period of low wind enabled the established teams to complete their ascents while the new arrivals could only look at the longer term forecast of strong summit winds (90kph) in frustration. When the successful pairs descended, their tales of avalanche risk and serac collapse confirmed the dangers associated with the classic route, and re-affirmed our team’s choice of Tilicho Peak for acclimatization.

The Annapurna line that we’d chosen beckoned: it was extremely challenging yet feasible. Acclimatized and ready to go, we hoped that mother nature would be kind to us and that the violent winds would die down before monsoon season began.



## 3 days, 2 sleepless nights
The team was waiting for a 3-day weather-window of low wind at 8000m, combined with little to no precipitation, to tackle the climb. As time passed, we realized this wasn’t going to happen. So we lowered our expectations and took advantage of a single day of low wind followed by a day of high snowfall. We set out on May 17 for a pure alpine-style attempt on the northwest face of Annapurna.

Our chosen route took us to the edge of the glacial lakes at the foot of the north Annapurna glacier (200m below our base camp at 4100m). From there, we slowly climbed over boulder-strewn terrain toward the moraines below our face. The glacier was extremely fractured and we toiled over alternating rocky ridges and abruptly icy slopes separating deep fissures of crevasses before we reached a snowy glacier in late afternoon. We pitched our tent on a flat spot at about 5000m and enjoyed the last few rays of the evening sun.



The next morning, after an hour’s walk, we arrived at the base of a huge triangular buttress and an icy couloir that ran up its right side. We crossed the bergschrund (major crevasse) which separated from the glacier face and began to climb.

The couloir started as a snow slope, but increasingly hard icy streaks predominated at an average of 55°. It was long – longer than we’d estimated – and afternoon snow showers didn’t help the situation.

There was no break in the angle to provide any relief for a bivouac site, so we cut a ledge in the ice at the foot of a rock wall where we could secure the rope. Torrents of spindrift poured intermittently down the wall. We were alert to the possibility that a full avalanche may develop.



At sunset, the snow relented and we had a glimpse of the sun and eastern flanks of Dhaulagiri. Finally, we had enough of a ledge for half a tent and we sat in a row, belayed inside our tent fabric with a single pole keeping it off our faces and our legs hanging free. We cooked a simple meal, brewed many hot drinks and lapsed into fitful rest. Through a tiny vent, we watched a clear, starlit night over the central Nepal Himalayas.

Getting moving in the morning was slow. We melted more snow for hot drinks, carefully unwound the safety lines that attached everything to the wall, and packed up. The icy slope angled right from the top of the couloir and we roped up; one climber led and placed ice screws as the other two followed simultaneously.

A mostly sleepless night, the efforts of the 2 previous days, and the brittle, thin ice over the rock made progress slower than before. Snow started falling again and at the end of the day we were in a place where there was nowhere to set up our tent.



Descending spindrift clouds added urgency to our search for a place to bivouac. An hour before dark, we tried to make something of a rock ledge at 6500m. It sloped alarmingly and gathered so much snow that we ended up hanging in our harnesses from our belay points, shrouded in tent fabric. There was no way to take off our boots to slip on dry socks or change into warmer clothes.

It took a lot of effort, but Felix did manage to melt some snow so everyone could have a little bit to drink. The previous night’s bivouac seemed like luxury compared to this one. We spent most of the night shivering and constantly disturbed each other as we shifted positions to mix up the pressure points from our harnesses.

When one careless movement created a rip in the tent (not designed to be hung like this) we suddenly had a new view of the world… through the hole in floor to the glacier far below. If that wasn’t enough, we lost a sleeping mat to the abyss overnight, and in the morning a sleeping bag slipped through the cellar door and disappeared as well.



In the morning, we seriously evaluated the situation and considered whether we should go on or turn back. On the one hand, we’d climbed half of the northwest face, had confidence we could handle technical difficulties, and had ample food and gas. On the other hand, the incessant afternoon snowfall was alarming, our progress had slowed and after 2 sleepless nights, we weren’t going to get any faster.

From here onwards, retreat would become much more serious and breaking through to the summit ridge would require full commitment. When you added on the loss of one member’s sleeping bag, it all tilted the decision firmly in favour of descent.



Nine hours, 20 rappels on Abalakov ice belays and several pitches of down-climbing later, we were back on the glacier, relieved and glad to pitch our wounded tent on flat snow. We cooked up our first meal in 2 days, and listened to the sound of powder snow avalanches pouring down the face, which confirmed our decision to descend. Another full day took us back down the glacier and its moraines to the welcoming tents of basecamp.

As we toiled back up from the glacial lakes, evening sleet continued to fall and it became clear that the weather window we’d needed to climb the northwest face of Annapurna never materialized.

*The decision-making on this kind of enterprise is crucial and most of us would say we would only contemplate seeking a route with someone we have climbed with extensively. Adam, Felix, Rick and Louis had never climbed together before but would gladly do so again. That is one measure of success.*

## Essentials Louis used on this expedition:


- [MEC Synergy Jacket](/en/product/6011-164/synergy-gore-tex-jacket)
- MEC Synergy Pants
- [MEC Talon -10 Down Sleeping Bag](/en/product/6005-007/talon--10c-down-sleeping-bag)
- MEC Light Obsession Hoodie (“It’s the best,” according to Louis.)
- [MEC Merino T1 Short Sleeve Crew](/en/product/6019-341/t1-merino-baselayer-short-sleeve-top)
- MEC Alpinelite 42 Backpack
- [MEC Reactor Sleeping Pad](en/product/6020-219/reactor-4-sleeping-pad-regular)



*Top photo:**Last vertical section before Tilicho Peak. Photo: Felix Berg*

## Related articles
- [Record-setting climb: Naomi Prohaska’s Mount Logan Sumit](/en/article/record-setting-climb-naomi-prohaskas-mount-logan-summit)
- [Who bolted that awesome line?](/en/article/escalade-le-travail-dans-lombre-des-ouvreurs-equipeurs)
- [About climbing ropes](/en/explore/about-climbing-ropes)



When it comes to 8000m mountains, things don’t always go as planned. Watch the video and read the story of MEC Ambassador Louis Rousseau’s team expedition.

Attempt on the northwest face of Annapurna | MEC Blog

Annapurna attempt: the northwest face

*“I would be lying if I didn’t say I had a huge pit in my stomach as soon as I saw it,” MEC Ambassador Sarah Hart says about her first good look up North Howser Tower and the line ahead: All Along the Watchtower.*

*Watch the story of two climbing soul-sisters – Sarah Hart and Jenny Abegg – on their ascent of this mega route, and what it means to attempt a huge, remote summit in the Bugaboos together.*



MEC Ambassador Sarah Hart climbs huge, remote route in Bugaboos

*We followed up with Sarah to find out more about this route:*



**What was your state of mind going into this climb?**

Climbing on the west side of the North Howser Tower had been a goal I’d built a long-term plan around to prepare and get fit for. I had a lot of desire to climb this particular route. The west side of the Howser Tower in the Bugaboos feels like the Canadian version of Patagonia, and being back there feels like you’re really in the mountains, alone.



**How do you stay focused when you’re tired and still have tough pitches ahead?**

That’s why alpine climbing is so cool – I feel like the situations and positions that the sport puts us in forces us to have 100% focus. I actually don’t have to try very hard to be emotionally and mentally present. It happens naturally for me. I’ve been told in the past that mountain-Sarah is much more pragmatic and calculated than everyday-Sarah, who tends to be a little goofy with a “whatever-happens-happens” approach.



**What was going through your mind on the ridge?**

I was exhausted and pretty much just wanted to get to the top, and get off. Half the journey is getting up, but the other half is getting down safely and efficiently. There isn’t time or energy to waste on savouring it. It’s all business for Sarah-on-a-mountain-top.



**Any memorable behind the scenes moments?**

I sure do have a favourite off-the-camera moment. On the summit ridge, [filmers] Josh and Delano were well ahead of us because Josh has been on that ridge many times and knew where to go. Jenny and I had never been up there, so we were getting lost and wasting some time navigating the complex ridge. I rounded a corner at one point, very tired, and Josh and Delano were waiting for us all smiles. Josh had the camera out. I looked up at him and said totally straight-faced, “Now is not the time to film, Josh.” Ha! I think he was a little surprised at my directness. We definitely laughed about that one on the way back to Applebee.



**What were your most trusted pieces of gear on this climb?**



**MEC Light Obsession**: I never really took this jacket off. I’m a sweaty person when I’m moving, but this jacket, more than most others, breathes well. I definitely put it through its paces on this trip. **(If you’re looking for other breathable insulated layers, check out more [ultralight insulated jackets here](/en/products/clothing/jackets/insulated-jackets/c/270?filters%5Bcustom_fields.features%5D%5B0%5D=ultralight).)**

**MEC Alpinelite 32L Backpack**: There will never be another Genie Pack, but this sure gets pretty close. It’s super minimal but still a very comfortable pack that hauled well in the upper corner pitches.

[**Petzl Micro Traxion**](/en/product/5027-141/Micro-Traxion-Pulley): One of my most cherished and trusted pieces of gear, especially for long routes in the mountains. The versatility of the Micro Traxion makes it useful for so many scenarios: hauling, simul-climbing, rescue systems, etc.



## Related articles
- [Gear I love: one pro climber’s summer essentials](/en)
- [How to wash waterproof jacket or pants](/en/explore/caring-for-a-waterproof-jacket)
- [Story: I did a 5-month ski traverse with my Mom](/en/article/i-did-a-5-month-ski-traverse-with-my-mum)



Watch the story of two climbing soul-sisters – Sarah Hart and Jenny Abegg – on their ascent All Along the Watchtower, and what it means to attempt this huge, remote route in the Bugaboos together.

Video: Climbing All Along the Watchtower | MEC Blog

Video: Climbing All Along the Watchtower

Last summer, on a beach in Sechelt Inlet, BC, a group of young women sat together in a circle and cried. They had been led there by a Defender of Culture from the Sechelt Nation, who told them how his ancestors had practiced a similar outpouring of emotion with the support of elders as a ritual of womanhood. He called it the “Crying Beach,” and over the next few nights, it became a place where the young leaders in Minerva BC’s Indigenous Roots program could share stories about their lives, hopes and dreams.

“These conversations can absolutely happen outside of an outdoor context,” explains Ashley Milbury, Youth Programs Coordinator at Minerva BC. “However, I am confident that they would not have been as deeply honest without the closeness that comes from overcoming challenges together in the wilderness. Connecting with the ocean, the forest and the beach offers valuable medicine to soothe these wounds once they’ve been opened.”

> “Connecting with the ocean, the forest and the beach offers valuable medicine to soothe these wounds once they’ve been opened.” – Ashley Milbury
>
Healing through a connection to the wilderness is at the core of the Indigenous Roots program, as it is for the Healing in Nature: Bereavement Network as well as Forest and the Femme – three incredible community programs that help participants develop strength, balance and resilience.

## Indigenous Roots


[Indigenous Roots](https://minervabc.ca/msyl/) is a year-long outdoor leadership program that gives Indigenous girls aged 13–19 the opportunity to create strong connections to themselves, other Indigenous girls and the natural world. The BC-based program includes day trips, leadership workshops and two longer trips that challenge participants and ask them to witness each other along the way.

Lisa Tallio, a former director with Minerva BC and a proud member of the Nuxalk and Heiltsuk First Nations, conceived of Indigenous Roots in 2017 when she saw a need for an in-depth, long-term commitment to Indigenous youth and their leadership. She connected with Jeff Willis of Fireside Adventures, and together they developed a program focused on leadership skills grounded in Indigenous culture and environmental principles. In the program’s inaugural year, 25 participants canoed and camped around Sechelt Inlet and circumnavigated Gambier Island.

“Many of the girls refer to Indigenous Roots as their family,” says Ashley. “This sense of community comes from their courage to share so much of themselves and to witness each other so powerfully. […] They have demonstrated tremendous vulnerability and willingness to learn throughout the program. Almost all participants have described feeling disconnected from their Indigenous culture.”



Ashley describes one participant who overcame a serious fear of water to flourish in the program. In her first outing, the group paddled the Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s large canoe down Indian Arm, and before long, she was kayaking, whitewater rafting, canoeing on a 21-day expedition, and even jumping into Howe Sound to swim to a nearby island.

“Indigenous Roots gave this young woman the opportunity to cultivate the bravery and resiliency that will serve her and her community her entire life,” says Ashley. “My hope is for every young Indigenous woman to know that she is valued and that her voice is important. We should all look forward to a future guided by their strong leadership and look for our part in supporting their voices.”

## Healing in Nature: Bereavement Network


Michael Modica and Paula Tablon founded the [Healing in Nature: Bereavement Network](http://www.bereavementnetwork.ca/) (HNBN for short) to provide a different avenue of grief support and change the conversation around death and dying for their generation.

“Personally speaking, we have been through various deaths together and the outdoors has helped ground us throughout our grief journeys,” explain Michael and Paula. Michael lost his father suddenly, and his grandfather and family dog within three months of one another. In between, Paula lost her grandparents. “Grief feels like ocean waves; it’s always moving – there are up and downs as there are good and bad days,” says Michael. Traditional bereavement support could not provide what they needed. “We know everyone grieves differently – for us, nature provided the support and healing we needed to be resilient.”

The graduates of MEC Outdoor Nation’s 2017 Think Outside Summit are recruiting young adults in the Greater Toronto Area who have faced significant loss for a 10-week pilot program focused on nature walks, mindfulness exercises and group activities.



In their own experience and from conversations with others, the HNBN duo have observed that being outside helps people get out of their heads, restores a sense of peace within, and helps people find themselves when they feel lost. “Being in nature connects us,” they explain. “When we go through grief, we tend to internalize, close ourselves off and stay indoors, but we want to be the safe space outside where bereaved individuals can go for support.”

## Forest and the Femme


As the founder of [Forest and the Femme](http://forestandthefemme.org/), Jaime Adams provides outdoor programming for highly marginalized women who face multiple barriers to accessing nature on their own. The program’s participants include trans, cis and gender-diverse women living with mental health and addictions, chronic physical health or mobility issues, trauma, cognitive disabilities, poverty, and who are involved in street-based survival sex work. “Indigenous women are prioritized because they should have unrestricted access to their land,” explains Jaime. Many of the participants have lived in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside community for years, often since they were teens. “Some have parents and even grandparents who live in similar circumstances in the community. This is the tragic legacy of colonialism and residential school trauma.”

Jaime came up with the idea to start the program in 2011 while working in a women’s transitional housing program in the Downtown Eastside. “I quickly discovered a huge gap in resources available to that vulnerable demographic and knew that I had to do something to support the wellness of those women,” she says.

Forest and the Femme creates a connection to nature for people who would otherwise have none. To keep things accessible, many outings are as simple as a picnic in a beautiful location, such as the bank of a North Shore creek or the shoreline of the Salish Sea. “So much physical and emotional healing and growth can occur in these places simply by being there,” Jaime explains. “We want them to create great memories, feel hopeful, have new stories to tell … recognize their own strength, and feel a part of something bigger than themselves.”



Jaime’s own experience with anxiety and the way being in the outdoors helped her overcome its terrifying hold on her life helps her connect with participants. “I have always found nature to be a healing place for me both in terms of finding resilience for trauma and anxiety and for finding my strength, building courage and changing my narrative around my sense of ability.” She sees similar transformations in the Forest and the Femme participants. “100% of the women surveyed each year reported that the outings helped them to socialize without drugs, to feel good about themselves and engage in more self-care.”

Instead of focusing on their limitations or circumstances, the women support one another, share stories, learn new skills and reconnect with their surroundings. “Nature gives anxiety a place to go and sadness a way out of the body,” says Jaime. “I know that being outdoors makes us strong and resilient, and I also know that those who have faced the most adversity should be able to access that healing.”

**We’re all connected**

Systemic injustice, [mental health](/en/article/why-being-active-outdoors-matters-more-than-ever) issues and personal circumstances make some of us more vulnerable to trauma, grief and loss. But whatever our story, nature therapies such as [*shinrin-yoku*](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/06/forest-bathing/532068/) (the Japanese practice of forest bathing) and grounding/[earthing](https://earthingcanada.ca/what-is-earthing/) (the idea that direct contact with the earth’s electrical energy promotes physical wellbeing) can provide accessible outdoor self-care. As these practices and programs demonstrate, getting outside can help us recharge and begin to heal on a deeper level.

It starts with warm sun on your face, the sound of wind rushing through the trees, and the first jolt of cool lake water washing over your toes. And this connection to nature, and to one another, is becoming more and more important – for all of us.



### 

*MEC is proud to provide funding and gear donations to Minerva BC’s Indigenous Roots program, the Healing in Nature: Bereavement Network program, and the Forest and the Femme program.*



### Related articles:
- [Why being active outdoors matters more than ever](/en/article/why-being-active-outdoors-matters-more-than-ever)
- [Science says: getting kids outdoors is a game-changer](/en/article/science-says-getting-kids-outdoors-is-a-game-changer)
- [Why we go outdoors](/en/article/why-we-go-outdoors)



Where can you go to heal, grow, and build resilience and strength? These programs all agree: nature is the best destination.

The healing power of the outdoors | MEC Blog

The Healing Power of the Outdoors

Cumberland, BC, is a small town on Vancouver Island known as “the village in the forest,” and once you watch the story below, you’ll understand why.

It’s hard to know what happened first. Did the community come together and protect this forest? Or did the forest help create a community? How ever you look at it, it’s a wonderful story that hopefully inspires other small towns in Canada.



Community Contributions | MTB & Hiking Trails in Cumberland, BC

A big thank you to the village of Cumberland, the Cumberland Community Forest Society and United Riders of Cumberland for inviting us to explore their backyard, mountain bike trails and nature school, and for their extremely warm welcome.



#### Related Articles
- [Science says: getting kids outside is a game-changer](/en/article/science-says-getting-kids-outdoors-is-a-game-changer)
- [How to choose backpacks for kids](/en/explore/packs-for-kids)



Watch our video to see the story of how it all came together in Cumberland, BC.

How a forest can change a community | MEC Blog

How a forest can change a community

[Fashion Revolution](https://www.fashionrevolution.org/) is a week focused on showcasing the designers, technical developers, and factory workers who are behind the MEC label.

We’re kicking the week off with the story of the [MEC Mountain Fountain 14 backpack](/en/product/6020-269/mountain-fountain-14-hydration-pack). Check out the infographic below for an idea of all the steps it takes to bring that backpack to life.

Follow along on [Facebook](http://facebook.com/mec) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mec/) each day this week as we feature the people behind the pack.



## Related articles
- [Tent vs. tee: the carbon footprint of outdoor gear](/en/article/tent-vs-tee-the-carbon-footprint-of-outdoor-gear)
- [The real deal behind Fair Trade at MEC](/en/article/the-real-deal-behind-fair-trade-at-mec)
- [Making MEC-label products](/en/explore/sourcing-and-supply-chain)



At MEC, we're proud of the skilled people who are behind each product. Find out the process of creating a backpack from start to finish.

It takes this many people to make your backpack | MEC Blog

It takes this many people to make your backpack

MEC Rewards Members save big on their favourite gear. Use promo code 20OFF, only until April 22.