Riding Mountain National Park is a place that feels like home away from home for me and I always feel wrapped in the warmth of Mother Nature's arms. I seek good vibes and I do a lot of work to cultivate it around me. My self-care sometimes calls for a little soul-reviving action and that … Continue reading A Soul-Reviving Solo Adventure
I have been mentally exhausted constantly and with gearing up to hopefully lead outdoor events again soon, I was also in need of professional development. What better way to get everything I need than to wander through the woods! Spending time in nature always helps me with refocusing. With a much longed for and needed … Continue reading My Day of Solo Hiking
Even though I am an extrovert, I feel I have become a lone wolf over the past 3 to 4 years. During these past few years, I have explored what I wanted a life with a focus on my mental health to look like. I found comfort in being by myself, which was a stark … Continue reading Living in Harmony as an Extroverted Lone Wolf
There is something about Hunt Lake Trail in the Manitoba Whiteshell that calls to me to conquer mental and physical goals. My first experience on Hunt Lake was traumatic and to this day, I still talk about it because it is part of a story that has catapulted a goal-oriented venture for me. I recall … Continue reading What is it about Hunt Lake Trail?
Blue Jay has been home since March and has had little-to-no formal structure other than spending one day at the Winnipeg Art Gallery for a small day camp. Select day camps are open this summer with greatly reduced numbers and we managed to secure a week at the YMCA. Well, let me tell you what … Continue reading Lovely Little Weekend
Trails in Southern Manitoba are bursting at the seams with new-to-the-outdoors explorers. While it is great that people are going outdoors, I am also concerned because risk management and safety may not be a priority or even on the minds of new hikers. Numbers have spiked in local Facebook hiking groups and many new hikers … Continue reading Risk Management in the Outdoors
I wrote the below post one year ago today for Backcountry Women. To my recollection, hosting the Ten Essentials of Hiking talk was the first event that I led with Backcountry Women. It felt like way longer than just a year ago when I saw the memory pop up on Facebook. Time flies when you … Continue reading The Tenderfoot Hiker and the Ten Essentials
A controversial topic has risen within the hiking community: to hike or not to hike? Our local National Park in Manitoba, Riding Mountain is closed, as are all National Parks throughout Canada. Some Provinces including Ontario and British Columbia have closed their Provincial Parks as well. Manitoba Provincial Parks are still open. I firmly believe … Continue reading Should Provincial Parks Close?
I recently read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and there is a section in the book that resonated with me. Gilbert describes possessing a creative mind is like having a border collie for a pet. Without a job, that breed of dog can become destructive and will eat the couch and drywall. She asks us … Continue reading Mission Accomplished: Certify as a Field Leader
Within my role at Backcountry Women, I started a Monthly Members “Fireside” Chat. It is an informal yet structured and unique learning opportunity that brings women together to talk about topics related to the outdoors. The goal is to learn from one another, meet new people, and enjoy local restaurants. We went to Prairie Ink … Continue reading Packing Our Fears
