Categories
general hiking moosling

Planning for camping

With a successful hut trip under our belts, I’ve started doing some planning for Summer trips with the Moosling. Starting off with a lot of research, and considering how other people manage things (especially people like Ground Truth Trekking), we came to the conclusion that if we want to get out on overnight hiking trips with an extra person to carry, we really want to be travelling as lightly as possible.

First up was a tent. The Big Agnes Seedhouse 2 we used on our bike trip only just had enough room for the two of us, so we’ve decided to move onto something bigger. And lighter. But to avoid this also being more expensive, we’ve gone more simplistic, and have ordered a Tarptent Rainshadow 2. A single wall tent with some good reviews, recommended by others hiking with offspring. It weighs in at 1.2kg (42oz) without poles, and can be set up using trekking poles if you are using them.

Without having used it yet, the main disadvantages I can think of at the moment are the fact that it’s not free standing, and the fly doesn’t offer full coverage to ground in case of rain. We’ll see how we go with any potential condensation issues too.

Now the tent is ordered and on it’s way, I’m trying to work out what to do for sleeping arrangements. We’ve got two thermarests, and won’t get anything extra for the Moosling just yet. But the two separate sleeping bags don’t work too well when sleeping as a family – plus we only have snow bags over here, which are enormous, heavy, and much warmer than they need to be.

So I’m thinking 2-person down quilt – light, warm, and just what we need for Summer camping in the mountains. And because the ones for sale are quite expensive, or not quite what I’m looking for, I’ve been busy studying home-made quilts. Thru Hiker stocks everything you need to make your own quilt, and the plan would be to end up with something like this (from tarbubble).

Everyone seems to want to sew in footboxes into their quilts though, and I hate the idea. I’m not sure if I need to be convinced that a footbox is reasonable, or I just need to make my own quilt the way I want it. And I’m still wondering if I should make two individual quilts that can join together instead – but if we were camping individually, we’d be using sleeping bags!

Right now, my theoretical quilt will be about 2m x 2m (79″ x 79″), with a little tapering at the end, some draft-excluding wings around the edges to allow tucking under thermarests if need be, and maybe a little velcro/clips on the wings around the foot end, so it can be closed in if need be. And it’ll be a lovely bright orange colour.

We’d bring along a light polar fleece blanket to be our under-layer, then with the down quilt weighing in at under 1kg, it should be a nice light-weight (but warm!) sleep system for hiking with.

Some awesome quilt making tutorials here:
Two person down quilt by Wystiria
Brian and Lis two person down quilt
Single down quilt

Categories
bikes canada general moosling

Legacy Trail

It’s a far cry from a few weeks ago when we last tried to cycle along here and were stopped short by huge drifts of snow. The trail has been ploughed and swept, and as we cycled to and from Banff, it felt like a Summer weekend. The trail was busy, the day was warm and sunny (I’m sunburnt now), and the snow was staying up on the mountains in a very civilised fashion.

The Chariot doesn’t induce sleep half so well behind a bike as it does when being towed by skis, but the Moosling still enjoys the ride.

Categories
general

Of bikes and generations and pyjamas

Once upon a time there was a cycling club in London. My grandparents were in it.

 

Also in it was Brendan’s grandfather. So as we skip a generation, here we are with me and my brother, and Brendan and his grandfather.

 

And then Brendan and I, when he came to visit my family, Once Upon a Time (yes, we were both terribly cute, but I think his pyjamas probably trump my socks and sandals)

 

And then at the end of our 2009 cycle tour, we stayed with Brendan in London. A few months later he came to visit Canmore, and then to live here for a Winter. For some reason we did a triathlon together, that involved cycling on snow.

 

He and the Moosling hung out together.

 

And now he’s headed south, to go mountain biking in the US, away from the snow that still haunts us in these parts. He’ll be down there for many months, so no doubt we’ll be having far fewer games of Settlers of Catan (note, this is an artists interpretation of his cycling trip, he may or may not actually go mountain biking on the Statue of Liberty, I couldn’t say for sure).

Categories
bikes canada general

Look at that, it’s a bike that’s not on snow

We’ve ridden out along the bike path towards the Three Sisters a few times in the last couple of weeks. Finally, it’s nearly clear of snow, and the Chariot is only getting a little muddy when we venture out.

Rumour has it that the Legacy Trail between Banff and Canmore has now been cleared and swept too, so once there comes a day without rain or snow in the forecast, I might get out there with the Chariot for a ride.

Categories
canada general snow

Spring skiing at Lake Louise

We spent Monday enjoying the free snow at Lake Louise. They’ve stayed open an extra week because the snow is so good – and it really is! There’s still snow all the way to the lodge, even if it does get a bit mucky towards the end. And thanks to their (as Brendan put it) either random generosity or attempt to deviously poach pass holders from other resorts, we got to ski for free (thanks to having passes to Sunshine Village).

The extra week of skiing lasts until this Sunday, but was gorgeous on a warm and sunny weekday. No crowds, and lots of slush all to ourselves! And very nice slush it was too. I even forgot my gloves, and didn’t get cold hands – ahhh, Spring skiing.

We wandered up to Lake Louise afterwards, which is looking less than inspiring at the moment. Still covered in snow and ice, with hoards of tourists tromping back and forth across it. It will be a while before all the lakes have melted properly, and we have the hiking trails back again. I’m beginning to wonder if I should buy some snowshoes, or just invest in a little more patience.