In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about using birch polypore as a strop, the importance of reading the weather, which trees and plants to learn, what my favourite wild edibles are and running repairs on axes…
Conditions in winter can vary enormously. Much of this is down to weather. Snow is more likely to fall and persist on higher ground, so the terrain in which you choose to walk in winter will potentially provide a greater degree of difference underfoot than in the summer months. Here’s what to wear, carry and know when heading out in the hills in winter…
Short days and frigid weather mean many of the plants and trees we are surrounded by in the warmer months of the year are dormant. The landscape is populated by bare trees and skeletal plant remains. There is, however, still much detail in this dormancy. We can continue to work on our tree and plant identification skills through these winter days…
Kevin Callan is well known as a paddler and author of many canoe-route guidebooks for his native province of Ontario, Canada. He’s also known as the Happy Camper, and he certainly has always been happy when I’ve camped or chatted with him. Kevin has been a guest on my podcast before and today I’m delighted to welcome him back again to talk about another shared passion of ours – winter camping….
The Eighteen Mile Island Loop on the French River takes advantage of the complex nature of the French River waterways, combined with the ability to traverse this type of river both downstream and upstream, creating the opportunity for a varied, circular 70km (44 mile) route, taking in some fine, fast moving white water and pleasant conifer-lined flat water, through archetypal canoe country, along a Canadian Heritage River of unique historic importance. We took four days to make a canoe-camping journey from Wolseley Bay down to Dry Pine Bay and back again. Here I share photos, video, a written account of the trip and campfire notes.