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.