The 30x30 Challenge: Day 6 & 7

My post didn't go up on Day 6, but that's OK because it wasn't anything exciting. Yet another backyard day, but I did follow that up in the evening with a stroll through the vineyards of Niagara wine country at the wedding of a friend.

Day 7 has me off in a local park, sitting under a tree and trying to finish Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air.

I still find the best thing about the challenge is a guaranteed relaxing 30 minutes every day.

I haven't decided what's in store for tomorrow, but I don't have to work so needless to say it will be something more exciting than another backyard day!

The 30x30 Challenge: Day 5

Short and sweet today. Time is short so I'm in the backyard once again. I've got some days off soon so I'll get to mix up my outdoor location a bit.

Truth be told though, I think it's amazing having nature, the beautiful Niagara Escarpment, 30 feet from my back door.

Keep up the good work challengers! And if you have started your 30x30 adventure, it's never too late!

The 30x30 Challenge: Day 4

A short one today. Things are busy for the Portly Hiker family this week, with work and the upcoming wedding of a friend, so it looks like yet another backyard 30 minutes before I head in to work.

It doesn't seem like much but basking in the shade given off by the beautiful Carolinian forest that surrounds my yard is a relaxing way to start a work day.

There will be bigger and better things to come for my daily nature time, including trail hiking and kayaking, but for today the chirp of the birds and the breeze in the backyard will have to do!

As always follow me on Twitter (@PortlyHiker) and let me know how your challenge is going and remember to enjoy the nature that surrounds you.

The 30x30 Challenge: Day 3

Day 3 of the 30x30 Challenge is another backyard day. It's before 9am and I've got my book and I'm sitting amongst the trees of the Niagara Escarpment once again.

In addition to reading, what I'm doing today is listening to the nature.

I never knew just how relaxing it was to shut out everything and just listen to the nature around you, but here I am. There's a blue jay screeching off in the distance and another bird chirping in a tree in my yard. Every couple of minutes a new sounds can be heard, filling the air with the sounds of life.

It just goes to show that even when you think you're alone in nature, you never really are.

On a day like today where I work a mid-day I'm finding that 30 minutes in nature actually can be a bit challenging but I'm feeling good about getting out of bed a little earlier and taking this "forest bath" of sorts.

Another good one on day 3 and I'm looking forward to day 4.

Have you signed up for your 30x30 Challenge yet? It's not too late! Sign up, then connect with me (@PortlyHiker) and tell me how you're doing!

Where will the Portly Hiker be tomorrow? I've got some ideas but I'm still not sure yet. Come back and see for yourself!

The 30x30 Challenge: Day 2

Too often people hear "nature" and automatically thing forests and trees, which is why i opted to spend Day 2 of my 30x30 Challenge on the shores of Lake Ontario.

I'm blessed to have one of the five Great Lakes within walking distance of my home, and too often I take it for granted.

Listening to the waves lapping at the shore is a great way to relax and unwind after a day at work while I get in my 30 minutes outdoors today.

It's also a great place to kick back, enjoy the cool lakefront breeze and read a book. Today's book is Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air, which details the Mount Everest disaster of 1996.

And this outlines another reason why I love the idea of the 30x30 Challenge; slowing down.  Life moves at a rapid pace for many; from jobs to kids to family issues, etc. By taking part in the the challenge it forces you to slow down, take 30 minutes per day to yourself, decompress and recharge your batteries, even if only for that 30 minutes.

So once again, I encourage you to participate in the 30x30 Challenge, which was created by the David Suzuki Foundation and is currently sponsored and promoted by Ontario Parks. Follow me on twitter (@PortlyHiker) and tell me how your challenge is going, or give me some ideas of activities you're planning.

The 30x30 Challenge: Day 1

I'm writing this entry on my phone as I take part in Day 1 of the 30x30 Challenge sponsored by Canadian naturalist David Suzuki, and Ontario Parks.

If you haven't heard about it, Ontario Parks is challenging people to spend at least 30 minutes a day for 30 straight days in August outdoors in nature.

Yes, I'm writing this post on my phone, but the idea of the 30x30 Challenge is to disconnect for half an hour and soak in the beautiful nature around you. Bring that phone along to snap a couple of pictures, but don't open up Facebook or Twitter while you're outside, save that for when you get home.

Now, I get outdoors as much as I can, but I can always find a way to say I'm too busy and skip a day, but I've opted to take part and get close to nature every day this month. And to stay accountable, I'll post daily about where and how I spent my time outside.

The bonus for me is that my backyard sits on the beautiful Niagara Escarpment, so nature is just a backyard away. Be ready for lots of posts from my home. Here's the picture of my Day 1 location:

I do have plans to get out this month and experience many different aspects of nature. I have a kayak tour planned, hiking at provincial parks and conservation areas and even nature parks in town.

I challenge all of you to get outdoors and into nature for half an hour a day for the month of August. It's shown that being outdoors is great for your health, so give it a shot.

Take a snapshot and tell everyone about your 30 minutes using #30x30challenge on Facebook or Twitter, follow and share with me on Twitter (@PortlyHiker) and spread the word to anyone who likes to be outdoors.

What to do when things go wrong: I'm Lost!

In a perfect world, hiking would be easy, navigation would be simple and no one would ever run into problems on the trail. But anyone who has ever spent any time outdoors knows that isn't the case.

No matter how many trips you've taken in the past or how much planning and research you do ahead of time, there will always be the chance you accidentally make a wrong turn, head off the trail and get lost.

Should you find yourself lost on the trail, the solution is simple; S.T.O.P

S - Stop
T - Think
O - Observe
P - Plan

To find out exactly what this means pay attention to this video. The details may just get you out of trouble one day.


What To Do If You Get Lost While Hill Walking from Simply Hike on Vimeo.

One day.. One day I'll Hike the AT

Since I got into hiking and the outdoors I've seen a lot of pictures and read a great number of fantastic places from around the globe.  One place that I always keep coming back to is the Appalachian Trail. Running between Georgia and Maine, the AT is about 2,200 miles long and goes through 14 different states.

I don't see myself doing a thru-hike of the trail any time soon, but it's always nice to see what I may have in store.  And thanks to this video we've got a chance to travel the Appalachian Trail without leaving home.

Pokemon GO: Good or Bad?

The debate has raged - well, not exactly raged so much as existed - since the launch of Pokemon Go. Is it good for the outdoor community? Is it good in general? What's a Pokemon and why are those kids on my lawn?

Luckily you've come to the Portly Hiker today where you'll get answers.

As the game launched yesterday here in Canada I downloaded, strapped on my shoes and headed out for some adventure, for purely scientific reasons of course.  So after spending the morning catching Pokemon I am fully prepared to give you the definitive answer to the question "Is Pokemon Go a good thing?".  And the answer...

A New Type of Bathing Hikers Can Get Behind

The Japanese, the same people that North Americans can thank for karaoke, anime, can now be thanked for bringing us forest bathing.

No, forest bathing isn't stripping down and jumping in a stream or rubbing yourself down with leaves in the middle of the woods. Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku in Japanese, is the idea of visiting a forest for relaxation and recreation and breathing in substances secreted by the plants and trees. By doing so, people generally find themselves more calm and relaxed, less stress an demonstrating great physical and mental health.

I'm Still Here!

I feel a little sad that I haven't been as active on the blog lately as I would've liked, but sometimes life gets in the way of all the fun that is hiking, and going outside, and writing about it. Things have changed over the last couple of weeks on a personal level and I haven't been able to pay attention and provide content like I wanted. I've started a new job and all is great personally; time is just tough.

But don't worry dear reader, I haven't forgot about you.  I'll have some new content up at some point Thursday with regular updates from that point on.

Thanks for sticking with me, I'm confident there will be some great things ahead.

-PH

Make Your Hikes Tick Safe

One of the greatest things about hiking is interacting and becoming a part of nature.  Seeing animals, flowers, bugs, and plants all within the same stretch of trail is something that makes hiking special. But what about the nature that can actually cause you harm? The biggest issue for outdoor enthusiasts of late is ticks.

Ticks are known for transmitting Lyme disease, which presents a myriad of symptoms, and makes daily life painful and exhausting.

There are over 40 different types of ticks, but luckily for humans only a few can transmit Lyme.

But do you know how to plan, prepare and protect against tick bites?  Here are a few tips on doing the best you can to prevent tick bites when you're on the trail and once you get home.

Valley of Fire State Park: Heaven Near Sin City

One of my favourite vacation destinations is Las Vegas. It has everything you could want. World class food, one-of-a-kind shows, lavish accommodations at a reasonable price, lots of drinks, second-to-none people watching and the occasional casino.

It's easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip, with it's bright lights and themed mega-resorts. People often forget that Las Vegas is in the middle of the Mojave Desert and about an hour away from the hustle and bustle of the Strip is Valley of Fire State Park. This gem offers day hiking and camping plus naturescapes that are unmatched and a multitude of different plants and animals.

Valley of Fire is a little slice of virtue in the shadow of Sin City.

Happy Independence Day

To my readers in the United States, have a safe and happy 4th of July. As a Canadian who lives near the border I know we like to share this holiday with you, as our country's birthday falls on July 1.  It makes for a fantastic long weekend around these parts.

Enjoy your holiday and use your time to enjoy your family, your friends, and the beauty that is your country.

149 Years Young

To my fellow Canadians out there, I'd like to wish you a Happy Canada Day. I hope you've got the day off and you use it to go out and enjoy the nature of our great country.

Remember, day-use admission to all National Parks and Historic Sites is free on July 1 to celebrate our wonderful nation! Many locations will have Canada Day festivities for guest. Go out and explore and kick off the long weekend right.

Paralyzed Hiker Tackles the Appalachian Trail

It's easy for a small injury or nagging pain to leave you on the shelf for a while as a hiker, but when there's something you've dreamt of tackling for a years you won't let anything stop you.  That's the case for Ohio woman Stacey Kozel, who despite becoming paralyzed two years ago, is living her dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail thanks to a pair of computerized leg braces.

A Taste of Backpacking Through Asia

So much of the talk of backpacking and long distance hiking revolves are the big three; the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Appalachian Trail. And even more of the backpacking talk focuses on the United States.  But have you taken time to travel the world with a pack strapped to your back? Seen the sites of the forests of Germany or the mountains of Switzerland or Nepal?  How about taking a few months and backpacking Asia.  So many vastly different cultures with unique people, traditions, attractions and history.

If you've never had the time or money to spend three months backpacking Asia, you're in for a treat.  And rather than three months, you'll get a quick sample in just 60 seconds.

Backpacking in 60 Seconds from Jordan Taylor on Vimeo.

A Bucket List Hike

I'm still fairly green when it comes to hiking. I'm getting in to shape more and more with every day hike. I'm feeling stronger with every hill and more confident in my abilities.  But I mentioned in the first post on the blog that one of my goals for the very near future was the venture to the Adirondacks and hike the highest peak in New York, Mount Marcy.

My fitness isn't where it needs to be just yet, so while Marcy is still on my list to check off as a major accomplishment it likely won't be this summer.  But this clip from Campology keeps me wanting to get out on the trail, get in shape and reach the summit.

The Allegheny 100: A True Hiking Challenge

How am I just finding out about this now?  In researching an unrelated blog topic I came across the Allegheny 100 Hiking Challenge.

The A-100 as it's called by those in the know, of which I am now one, challenges hikers to trek either 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles on a stretch of the North Country Scenic Trail in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest. It's all done over a 50-hour span.

The Online Outdoor Community; Are We Really Battling Each Other?

I was doing my usual cruising of other hiking blogs around the internet to see what other hikers are doing and talking about when I came across something that was a little concerning for me. Apparently within the Outdoor blogging community people are attacking one another in comment sections and social media sites. 

Over at Arizona Day Hiker site boss Jason Cleghorn(@JasonCleghorn) talked about a couple of members of our community that have been berated and humiliated by other members of our community for reasons unknown, or reasons that amount to basically nothing.

A Birthday Celebration for Nature Lovers

The news is great for Canadians, and anyone visiting Canada and looking to explore the outdoors. As we close in on the nation's 149th birthday, a day when Canadians will be granted free admission to the national parks, it is a great chance to remind readers what is in store for next year at the parks.

As part of Canada's 150th birthday the Government of Canada announced that admission to all national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas will be free for all visitors in 2017.

The Kindness of Strangers in Scotland

Today's story comes from Scotland, where a pair of university students decided to hike all over the country without using any money, putting the test the Scots' reputation of being generous.

The two intrepid adventurers, Tom Langhorne and Cameron Hyde, left from Aberdeen on Scotland's east coast with nothing but the packs on their backs, a bag of rice and a bag of oats and one week later they returned to their doorstep after traveling well over 400 miles. And they did it all without spending a cent.

Day Hikes: Rattlesnake Point & Mount Nemo

I haven't gone missing, I assure you.  Sometimes life gets in the way but i'm back with a post for you.  What I wanted to do today was re-hash one of my latest day hikes; what I'm calling 2 hikes, 1 day.

The hikes weren't much, but I hadn't been out in a while and I needed some me time. I wanted try something new and fresh so I opted to see what Conservation Halton had to offer. Halton Region is a hidden gem in southern Ontario and comprises the cities of Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills and all the towns in the area.

Google Street View Going Off-Road

Google is everywhere! And this summer that everywhere is going to include over 1500 kilometres of forest and mountains in British Columbia.

The initiative is a partnership between Destination BC, Northern BC Tourism and the Internet giant, with the hopes of showing off the the beautifully unique terrain of Canada's west coast.

Man Makes Interesting Discovery on Utah Trail

Have you ever been out on a hike and stumbled across something you've never seen before?  Maybe an colourful flower or a piece of gear left behind by another hiker. Or maybe you stumbled across the fossilized skull of a mythical primate... Wait, what?

Great Things Happen When Guys Go Camping

Easily one of the best things about getting outdoors and hiking or being active is meeting like-minded people to share stories and experiences with. There’s something motivating about meeting someone in your travels and hearing their stories about hiking through the places you want to go, or experiencing something you thought wasn’t possible for you.

In addition to the feeling of accomplishment and peace from going out into nature, these interactions are ones that I cherish and it was in preparation for The Portly Hiker blog that I stumbled across a group with similar goals to my own.

Let's Start at the Trailhead

Who is the Portly Hiker and How did we get here?

It only seems fair that if I share my thoughts with you, that I let you know a little about me and how I got to this point, give you a little background on me as a hiker and a person, what motivates me to hit the trail.

I’m rapidly approaching my 35^th birthday and I’ve been hiking for about a year.  Yes, you read that right! About a year. Approximately 52 weeks. Roughly 365 days.  Not very long at all. I don’t claim to be a hiking expert. In fact I’m quite clearly the opposite. I’m about as green as they come when it comes to hiking, backpacking and even camping.  I was never the outdoors type.

So Here We Are..

The blog is setup.. loosely.. and the Portly Hiker is set to get moving.

Now here's the situation. I wanted a place to get back to writing. I've got some things in my future the are rather exciting to me and I wanted a place to talk about that. And I wanted to do a little bit of playing around with websites.

Thus, the Portly Hiker is born.