"Just Add Water" Camping Meals

As I mentioned in my introduction to backcountry camping, I prefer "just-add-water" camp meals. These give you easy prep, easy clean-up, and ultimately more time to get the chores over and get on with the fun stuff. To me the essence of the "just-add-water" meal is that it the only things that get dirty are your bowl and spoon - the pot stays clean. This way all you have to do is lick your bowl and spoon clean and you are all finished!

In case you'd like to try this as well, here are my favorite "just add water" items

• Instant mashed potatoes. I often pre-mix in dried gravy mix, dried cheese mix (oh yeah, we're going seriously processed), dried onions, and spices. This pairs great with a can of peas (if weight isn't an issue), campfire roasted smokies, or summer sausage.
• Couscous. Pre-season your couscous (chicken bouillon does wonders). I like to mix it with a mini can of flavored tuna.
• Cup o' Soup. Chicken noodle is my fav. These tiny packets take up almost no space and sure make a welcomed first course or hot addition to a cold meal. Just don't make the same mistake that Mountain Man did and mix it with your hot chocolate. I can vouch that chicken noodle hot chocolate is gross. I can also vouch that since we were camping (ie super hungry and had no where to dispose of leftovers) we drank it anyway.
• Instant Oatmeal. I mix 50% pre-packaged type (think Quaker Oats) with 50% plain quick oats because I find the packaged stuff pretty sugary. I also always hit the bulk isle to find yummy add ins - macadamia nuts and coconut, almonds and dried apples, chocolate chips...whatever strikes your fancy.
• Ramen noodles. For me it's not quite filling enough, but many love to camp with Ramen. You can always fill this meal out with some pre-cut fresh veggies.
• Kraft Dinner Cups - good old KD in it's own little cup. You can ditch the cup and repackage in a Ziploc if it is too bulky. If you take yours with ketchup snag a to-go packet from a fast food joint.
  

Another upside of all these meals is that they are as cheap as they come. A big packet of instant mashed potatoes serves two and only costs about a dollar. (Take that freeze dried camping meals!) The downside is that we're going all out on processed food. I find it pretty hard to get away from processed food while camping light.

These are some of my favorite no-fuss-no-muss-nothing-but-hot-water-so-I-can-get-on-with-it meal ideas. How about you? What is your favorite easy peasy hot meal in the backcountry?

Yeti Snowshoe Race

I got the great idea in my head that I would do the 5K Yeti Snowshoe race on Mount Seymour last January.


Unfortunately once I signed up I didn't train. At all.

But the show must go on! And honestly, I knew I wasn't going to train anyway. I guess you could say I knowingly signed myself up for a world of pain.

So I signed up for the 5K and Mountain Man signed up for the 10K. I didn't realize how fitting a choice this was until we showed up to the race and found the 5K to be 90% women while the 10K was predominantly men. Anyway, on to the pain.

Have you ever done a 5K? Not too bad right? Did that 5K involve ascending and descending gigantic hills? Hills that are challenging at a walking pace? Did it take place on snow? Snow is a heck of a lot of fun when you're not in a hurry. But when every step counts it's a little maddening how much of your energy gets absorbed by the soft surface. But anyway, we were lucky. It hadn't snowed in days so the trail was packed and pretty firm.

I started the race off at a fairly quick jog. I'll be honest, this was mostly out of peer pressure. I had every intention of jog-walking this trail but EVERYONE was running. So off I went.

After about 15 minutes I settled into a pattern of walking and jogging (read: walking and kind of flailing on the downhills). Essentially the whole race felt like burning pain. There was a lot of single track which makes it a little harder for serious racers. I however, was happy to keep people bottled up behind me as a chance to improve my standings. Just kidding.

The race ends on a huge downhill slope. Thank goodness. But I couldn't enjoy it because my snowshoe was teetering on the brink of failure about to slip off my toe and trip me down the mountain at any point. I made one or two hasty attempts to fix it but couldn't make any progress without actually taking it off and re-adjusting things. Too time consuming. Luckily the gamble worked out and I didn't end up tumbling across the finish line.

Lord that finish line was like my savior in the night (but at 11 am). The searing pain went away eventually and I got to say that I did it. And in less than the 2.5 hours I'd guesstimated. Well, maybe I was being pessimistic. I finished in 57 minutes.

Mountain Man ran the 10K. Of course he breezed across the line in 71 minutes. You read that right. MM finished twice my distance in only 14 more minutes. Speedy like a fox that one. The best part was that at the finish line he didn't even know he was done. It's a figure eight style track that was a little hard to figure out. Well really, it wasn't hard to figure out. He just didn't listen to the instructions. Listening isn't his strong point. Being speedy is though. So he still kicked butt.

From my extensive experience as a snowshoe racer I will now give you my tips on running a snowshoe race:

1. Unless you are doing this as some sort of penance, train first.
   
2. But even if you don't train, show up. Just give it your best shot and at the end of the day you can say you did a snowshoe race. It'll help you get all the ladies.
   
3. Dress light. The day of our race was freezing cold but once you are 10 minutes in running pants and a base layer is plenty. Ditch the rest.
4. Bring warm clothes for before and after. I rocked my knee length parka until the race started and right after it ended. Much needed.
5. Wear light weight shoes. I normally wear hiking boots snowshoeing but they would have been to clunky for this. Trail runners would be ideal. I went with my running shoes and put neoprene biking booties over top to keep the snow out. In reality the trail was hard packed enough that the booties were probably unnecessary.

Have any of you ever made the choice to do a trip/race without training? How did that work out for you?

Merrell Boot Love

I can't understand people who wear hiking boots that make their feet sore by the end of the day. Why torture yourself when there is a better alternative?

My beloved first paid or Merrells. Last winter the waterproof layer finally died and it was time to replace them.

I religiously wear Merrell boots. And they are cushy and delightful.

I lucked into my first pair of Merrells. I was working at an outdoor shop at the time and they were on sale (I think the mid weight boots were selling for $70 from $150) so I grabbed a pair. And I loved them.

I started to understand how lucky I was when others couldn't wait to get their boots off at the end of the day. I never felt the need. But I truly realized how fab my boots were when they wore out (after about 5 years) and I started shopping for new ones. Now I can see why others can't wait to get their hiking boots off at the end of the day! Yikes, I genuinely doubt that most hikers need boots that are so stiff!

If you find your hiking boots to be uncomfortable maybe you should try a pair of Merrells next time. I doubt you'd be disappointed.

Mmm, mud.

I'm still trying to convince Mountain Man to get a pair. He wears a pair of Scarpas that don't fit and leak like crazy (probably because the water poof layer broke when he got them stretched). Mountain Man is too stoic to complain but I know his feet hurt on the trail.

How about you, what's your favorite brand of hiking boots?

Backcountry Cooking Tips

I had an interesting experience in observation on a trip to the Olympic Peninsula a couple years ago. It was a light weight backpacking trip - base camp was an easy few miles from the parking lot and we were only staying two nights. One of the couples on the trip had never been backcountry camping before and watching them prepare, eat, and clean up from their meals really made me thankful that I was taught the ways of low-maintenance leave no trace camping on my earliest trips.

I had the privileged of learning how to cook leave no trace style from these lovely ladies.

The couple's method went something like this:

Step 1) Lug a whole backpack worth of food into camp. It was a short hike (about an hour) but for only two nights, their food was quite heavy and bulky.
Step 2) Spend a solid hour cooking using a variety of pots and pans (all which had to be rotated over one burner), do things like drain pasta water onto the dirt, and use ingredients like fresh milk.
Step 3) Eat a big yummy meal...albeit long after everyone else was done cooking, eating, and cleaning up.
Step 4) Spend a good hour mucking up the beautiful little river with the remains from 5 or 6 dirty pans and containers. Even though this small river was rushing (the entry point was right below a 6 foot waterfall) the icky dirty water lingered for some time.
Step 5) Pack out a big old bag full of garbage.

I'm not sharing this story to pass judgment on these folks. They were absolutely lovely and the trip was much improved with them in attendance. It's just that this was their first time camping and they hadn't had the opportunity to learn the tricks that made backcountry cooking a faster, easier, and more eco friendly. If any of you are just starting out, here are some things I think you should consider when planning your menu.


Perishables. Think weather and duration.

Are you camping in the hot dessert sun? Better be vigilant about non-perishables only.

Are you doing an overnight snowshoe trip in the cold winter? Frozen or perishable foods are probably fine.

Somewhere in between? Use your best judgment. I have no problem taking eggs or smokies on a 2-3 day trip in the spring time. Is it perfectly food safe? Probably not, but it's a risk that I personally think is reasonable.



Size and Weight. Think mode of transportation and duration.

How will you carry your food? When I backpack I care a lot more about weight than when I kayak. If I'm on a one night trip and have lots of space in my bag I don't care too much about bulk. But If I'm on the trail for several days I have to actually be able to fit all of that food into my bag.

Look for foods that are dry or dehydrated (dried fruit instead of fresh, dried soup instead of canned) and packaged light (tuna in vacuum sealed packages instead of cans).

You can also reduce the weight and bulk of your food (not to mention of your garbage) by re-packaging foods before your trip. Get rid of that unnecessary box, open up those individual oatmeal packets and pour them all into one zip lock, take just the portion that you plan to use on your trip and leave the rest behind.

Price. Think time vs. money.

I'm sure you've probably heard of pre-packaged backpacking food. It is soooo convenient: open the pouch, add boiling water, let it stand a few minutes, and chow down. Your only clean up is licking your spoon and stowing the packaging with your garbage. And in my experience it is DE.LIC.IOUS. But it's pricey. One pouch usually costs about $8.


Aside: The package usually says it's for two...yeah right. I've been there. And when you have just dragged your kayak onto the beach for refuge (FINALLY A BEACH!) after paddling through a crazy storm (who plans their trips against the current when it's unnecessary? Stupid people like me, apparently) for about 2 hours you'll laugh at the idea that this meal is meant to two. Two NORMAL people. Not two ravenous backpackers (or in this case, kayakers).

Ultimately I can make dinner for a heck of a lot less than $8 a pop. But if your priority is your time, not your moola then these camping meals are a great alternative.

Preparation. Think materials and patience.

I happen to care a lot about getting my meals ready quickly and easily. You may have more patience than me. That's really a personal choice.

But are you choosing a meal that requires a lot of gear? I strive to make all my meals with nothing more than a pot, bowl, spoon, and backpacking stove. Look at the meal your planning. Will you need additional pots and pans? Cooking utensils such as knives, whisks, spatulas, can openers, or cutting boards? Will you need special items like a dutch oven?

Do you want to carry all of that weight an bulk? If you do then that's great. But if you'd rather have a low key experience I urge you to consider meals with simple preparation.

Also think about what you can do in advance to reduce your time and material needs on the trail. Can you pre-cut the veggies for your rice? Re-package and pre-mix the nuts into your oatmeal?

When the decisions are left completely up to me (which is rare) I bring only a stove, kettle, bowl, and spoon. The only hot meals I eat are of the "just add water" variety. This not only makes cooking super easy, but also makes clean up (my real concern) a breeze. Speaking of clean up...

Cleanup. Think environmental impact and convenience.

For me, cleanup is the number one driver of my backcountry meal choices. This is how I clean up after a meal:

Step 1) Eat EVERYTHING or pack it up as leftovers for tomorrow. Literally pick your pot clean of every food particle.
Step 2) Lick your bowl and spoon clean. To do this you need to make sure to buy a bowl that isn't too deep so that you can lick all the way to the bottom. If you are camping with a group be sure to label everyone's bowl and spoon so that they (and only they) will re-use it. If you like you can use just touch of hot water (maybe a table spoon's worth) to get things even cleaner. Swish the water around in the bowl and drink it or disperse it 200m away from a water source.

This shallow lexan bowl is perfect for licking clean, plus it's light weight.

Step 3) For the pot I have 3 methods:

• leave it clean (just use it for boiling water - this is why I often camp with just a kettle)
• clean it with your food (use bread to get all the leftovers off the sides of a soup/stew/pasta/etc pot - yummy and functional)
• leave it dirty (I often do this for the last meal of the trip. Just leave it dirty, fill it with other garbage, and put on the locking lid before you pack it up).

You'll notice there was no mention of biodegradable soap, washing dishes in rivers or lakes, or other dirty practices. If you plan ahead you wont need to do these things. They are not viable leave no trace practices.

But alright, if you did twist my arm I'd say that washing the MINIMUM dishes (just the cooking dishes for a group, you can still lick bowls and spoons clean) in a river would be ok if that river is named after a state or major city. That's a rule of thumb that I was taught by some pretty reputable leave-no-tracers. But you still need to pick the item clean of every last food morsel and forget soap. The gravel from the river bed is all the "soap" you need.

These group cooking pans had been scraped clean of any food particles before I washed them with rocks in the Colorado River.

Hopefully you'll find these tips helpful to make backcountry cooking quicker, easier, and more eco friendly! What is your favorite tip for backcountry cooking? Have you ever had any cooking mishaps while in the wilderness?

Better Snapshots for Beginners: Getting focused (part 2)

In my previous post about photography I explained that my modest little photography tips are only for photo novices like me that are interested in improving their pictures with point and shoot cameras. In the first post I talked about reducing camera shake.

Today, I'll move on to focus.

Taken at Granite Falls, BC

Are you familiar with the concept of lens focus? If not, think of your eyes. Notice how when you look at something that's close to you (like your computer screen) things that are far away (like the TV across the room) are blurry? Then, if you shift your eyes up and focus on that TV the computer screen is now blurry?

Get it?

That's the same kind of thing that a camera does. The lens inside the camera adjusts itself so that it can focus on things that are at different distances.

But how does it decided what distance to focus on? Good question my friend. Mechanically how it happens I don't really know (I think it's something to do with the sensor on the front, so don't cover that guy up). And I don't need to know. And you probably don't either. But if you really want to know this guy can tell you.

What you do need to know is how to tell what your camera is focusing on. If you are still using a film camera (seriously?) look through the view finder. See that little cross hatch in the middle? That's what your camera is focusing on (unless you have some crazy fancy camera - then check your manual).

I'll assume that most of you are using a regular old point and shoot digital camera. I'm sure you are familiar with the little square that appears onscreen when you take a picture. That's your camera telling you what it's focused on. Handy, right?

And if you're using an SLR - seriously, didn't I tell you that this tutorial is for novices only? Although if you want to read and add your tips I'd be much obliged!

All digi cams are a little different and on many you can customize the settings. Your camera might be set to always focus on what's in the center of the frame. Or it might be set to try to "guess" what your focused on. Either option has it's pros and cons and you can probably switch between the two modes. Check your manual.

If you aren't following grab your camera and play around with taking some pictures. See the little square? Get it now?

So now that we get what focus is and how our camera tells us what it's focusing on, now we can think about using focus to improve our pictures.

1) Locking the Focus

Auto mode on a camera is a beautiful thing. For a simple girl like me it gets the job done 9 times out of 10 (ok...maybe 8). When you set up to take a picture is that little square focused right on your main subject? Then perfect! Snap away and don't worry about locking your focus!

But what if the square does not settle on your subject? For example, maybe you've framed your picture so that your hiking partner is on the left of the shot and your camera keeps focusing elsewhere? That's when you need to lock the focus. Don't worry, it's crazy easy.

1. Point the camera directly at the subject you want it to focus on.
2. Press the shutter button half way. If you've never done this before you'll notice that it's quite easy. It kind of half clicks into place.
3. You'll see the square on screen. Ensure that the square is where you want it. If not just try again.
4. While keeping the shutter button in it's half pressed position, reposition your camera to frame the shot as desired. It is important that you stay the same distance from the subject that you just focused on (focus is all about the distance from the object, remember?). So keep your feet planted.
5. Press the button the whole way down to take a picture.

Easy right? This way you'll always be able to get the camera to focus on the object of your desire.

So now that we've got that basic covered let's talk about some other things we can do by locking the focus and playing around with settings.

2) Blue Skies

Have you ever taken a picture on a gorgeous blue bird day only to be disappointed that the sky turns out washed out or completely white? So frustrating, right? Well, I have a simple fix for you. Remember when we talked about how to lock the focus? (Like 3 seconds ago...jeeze, I hope you remember.) Lock the focus on the sky before you take the picture. Is this really to do with focal length of the lens? No. It's to do with something or other that adjusts for colours and light and all that good stuff. It doesn't matter. Lock the focus on the sky and you'll get brilliant blue in your picture.

I took these photos from the top of Grouse Mountain to show the different result you get when you lock the focus on the sky (pic 1) an when you lock the focus on an object in the foreground (Pic 2). See how washed out the sky is in the second shot?

This photo of Mountain Man was taken only seconds after the landscape photo on the left. Because the camera was focused on Mountain Man the bright blue sky in the background was washed out. When I took Mountain Man out and focused on the sky in the picture on the right you can see the brilliant blue as observed by the eye.

Note that this might mean that colours and light in other parts of the picture are not optimized. And of course, this works for other things too, blue skies are just a common problem because they are so bright.

3) Landscape Mode

Most cameras have something called a landscape mode. Use your manual to help you locate it. The symbol usually looks like a mountain and you'll often find it close to the macro mode (we'll talk about that next). All that landscape mode does is tell the camera to focus far off into the distance.

I used landscape mode to shoot through this fence at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. See how the bird is sharp but the fence is fuzzy? If possible it would have been better to put the camera through the fence to eliminate it entirely.

So when would you need to force your camera to focus off into the distance? I have found this to be useful in a few situations:

1. Have you ever tried to shoot a subject though a chain link fence or a window? Yes? Then you've probably had the experience of your picturing turning out blurry because the camera focused on the window or the fence instead of the beautiful landscape behind it. The ideal solution is to remove the obstacle (open the window, put your camera lens through the chain link). But if this isn't possible you can put on the landscape mode. Your camera will ignore the object that is close by and will focus into the distance.
2. This is also useful if you are intentionally trying to focus on the background and allow the foreground to be blurry and out of focus. If you are using a camera that keeps "guessing" that your focusing on an object in the foreground you can use the landscape mode to tell it to focus on the background.

Taken at Clayton Beach, Bellingham.

4) Macro Mode

The Macro mode is used to shoot objects close up (usually about 2 feet to 3 inches - check your manual). The Macro symbol usually looks like a tulip.

Simply use the Macro when you want to get a closeup of a small subject - flowers, bugs, details of fibers, etc. The only thing to keep in mind is that photos in Macro are more susceptible to shaky hands so be sure to keep your camera and your subject steady.

Taken at Rainbow Lake, BC

Taken on route to Opal Cone, BC

Those are my simple little photography tips for you today. Next time I'll talk about flash settings.

Would you like to see photography tips from someone who really knows what she's talking about? Check out Jenna over at That Wife. Girl's got skills and an awesome blog.

Balaclava hoods

Don't you love when you find something fabulous that you weren't even looking for?


When I got my MEC Slipstream jacked last year there was a lot to love about it. But there was one feature listed on the product description that I'd never heard of - a balaclava style hood. Essentially it's just a tight fitting hood.

At first I wasn't sure I loved it because, honestly, it looks kind of goofy. But as I used my jacket I realized that it added a whole new level of functionality. Not only was it a close fitting hood that fully covered your head yet never impeded your vision (how is that so rare?) but because of the tight fit it can be worn under things - like bike helmets, toques, and climbing helmets.

Ultimately it keeps me from having to carry/own extra items (like an ear cover when I'm biking) and adds an extra layer of coziness (a fleecy hood under your toque on a cold ski day keeps that back of your neck nice and warm).

And since I'm a dedicated function-over-fashion girl, the balaclava hood gets an enthusiastic thumbs up!

How about you? Did you ever find an indispensable piece of gear when you least expected it?

Nude Hikers Invade Switzerland

How the topic came up I cannot remember, but on Sunday night I found myself telling a group of friends of the stories I've heard about German "free body movement" enthusiasts causing a ruckass in Switzerland by hiking naked through their mountains.

Picture from Just South of North

I don't think anyone believed me so had a good laugh when I got a text message from my sister a few days later saying, "The Globe and Mail just ran a full page article about the naked hikers in Switzerland!"

But this got me to wondering - Of course there are legal issues (the Swiss government put a law in place so that they could fine future nude hikers) and morality issues (let's not even start) and personal modesty issues (funny thing...I don't want you to see my boobies). But putting all that aside, does hiking naked really sound appealing? Even if hiking naked were legal and socially acceptable and you had no hangups about anyone and everyone seeing you in the buff would you want to hike naked?

I know that people rave about it, but I've got to say, it doesn't sound like much fun to me. Firstly, Vancouver is rarely warm enough to make that practical. Second, I would think that a backpack against your bare skin would chafe. Thirdly, sitting down seems like a bit of an issue. I'd think you'd get dirt in places you'd rather not have it.

What do you think? Would hiking naked enhance your experiences in nature?

An Unexpected Outfitter

My favorite and most technical outdoor clothes come from a shop that doesn't specialize in camping our the backcountry at all - Lululemon Athletica. Lululemon is a clothing shop that predominantly make clothes for yoga but also provides a solid offering for running and dance.

While Lulu targets a crowd within the city limits, they've hit on all the things that (I think) makes for amazing backcountry gear.

• Fabric Technology. You wont find much plain cotton at Lululemon. Their garments are flat stitched to prevent chafing. They have a wide offering of lightweight and moisture wicking materials. And they have this fabulous fabric that they call Silver Sent Anti-Stink - useful when you bring one shirt on a multi-day backpacking trip.

Sporting my fav Lululemon top. It has Anti-Stink Silver Scent Technology and is light weight and quick drying making it perfect for multi-day backpacking trips. Plus, let's be honest, it's a pretty cute top!

• Durability. The quality and durability of their products is genuinely impressive. I've been wearing my gear hard for years and have yet to come close to wearing through a garment. Most of my stuff still looks practically new.


• Simple Construction. The construction of my Lulu gear is simple - buttons, zippers, belts etc are rare. And as well all know, the simpler something is the less likely it is to fail. Have you ever had the buttons pop off of your hiking pants? I have. (Yikes...maybe I should lay off the trail mix?). And I can tell you that I don't care for hiking with my pants falling down.

My quick drying running shorts are perfect for a canoe and hot springs adventure.

• Stretch. Am I crazy to think that most women prefer stretchy clothes? Why doesn't North Face (etc) know this? I find them infinitely more comfortable, especially for exercise. When I'm climbing a rock face I can tell you that I'm not going to choose a pair of synthetic pants with zero elasticity.


• Style and Little Extras. Let's face it. Lululemon gear is just more attractive and stylish than most outdoor gear (although don't get me wrong, I dig the REI look too). Plus, they add in fun little extras such as hidden pockets, thumb holes, and even hand covers which are all useful bonuses.


• Double Duty. I'm not made of money. I already have to buy a lot of gear to get out on the trials, I don't want to have to buy clothes that I don't use for anything but hiking. These pieces are just as at home in your gym or even as casual wear. Much more practical.
  

How about you? Do you have a favorite outfitter who's gear you use differently than intended?

Better Snapshots for Beginners: Steady as she goes (part 1)

I got an unexpected compliment today. After posting pictures of a recent trip to my Facebook account a friend wrote on my wall, "Man - I need to take some photography lessons from you. B E A U T I F U L! :-)"

And I've got to say - I was tickled pink. I realize that it's completely possible that she was just returning the favour because I had commented on how lovely one of her photos was. But I'm going to take it at face value. A compliment on my photography! Yipee!!!

So I thought, heck, why not share my photography tricks with the world? (Read: the no one who reads my blog...yet.) So I'm putting together a little four (or five? or six? We'll see) part series on tips to improve your photos.

Here is where I warn you. I'm just a simple point and shoot girl. And the only photography training I've ever received was from the book Photography for Dummies borrowed from the library back in the dying days of film cameras. And I don't even own Photoshop much less have a clue how to use it.

Translation: if you know anything about photography you wont find this useful. My little tutorial is meant for average folks like me (or like I used to be pre-Photography for Dummies) who just want to take some good snapshots on their wild adventures. This is basic people.

But that said, it did help me go from blah to B E A U T I F U L! (in the words of my very generous friend, of course).

Lesson 1: Blurry Photos

Blurry photos used to be my A#1 problem. And you know what? They are sooooo fixable!Blurry photos are almost always* caused by shaky hands.

A picture of Mountain Man and myself taken by a shaky handed photog.

A photo of Mountain Man taken by me with the same camera under the exact same conditions.

Here are a few simple things that you can do to reduce the blur and create sharper images:

1) Press the shutter button correctly.

Many people actually jolt the camera when they press the shutter button. Next time you go to take a picture audit yourself quickly - do you start with your index finger resting gently on the shutter button? Or do you start with it posed in the air about a centimeter above the button? If you are doing the later you are probably shaking the camera when you snap the picture.

To do this correctly start by lightly resting your index finger on the button. When you are ready to snap your picture press the button down smoothly and gently. When you release the shutter keep your index finger lightly rested on the button.

Please excuse the crazy looking claw hand. Graphic designer I am not.

2) Support those shaky hands.

Once you are pressing the shutter button correctly the next thing to deal with is shaky hands/arms/body. A good strategy is to try to stand with two hands on the camera, the camera held fairly close to the body, elbows tucked close to your sides (so that they have the support of your body), and your legs in a solid stance.

Is this necessary to get a sharp photo every time? No. But under tougher conditions it can certainly be useful.

3) Tricks for tricky lighting

When faced with low lighting or certain flash conditions (we'll get into these in later posts) your camera may be more prone to blurriness. When you find yourself in these conditions here are a few tricks you can use to better your chances of getting a sharp picture.

• Brace yourself as described above. Then lean your back against something sturdy (like a wall or tree trunk) for even more support. Essentially you become a tripod rather than a bipod.
• Use the automatic timer so that you don't have to press the shutter button at all and completely eliminate any shake caused by hitting the shutter.
• Use a tripod or perch your camera on a solid surface such as a wall or stump. They even make hiking poles with monopod attachments for your camera!
• Combine the tripod trick with the auto timer trick so that the camera is completely out of your hands.

Next time I'll talk about focusing. Your excited, I can tell.

*Disclaimer. It may not be almost always. But I'm pretty sure it is.

I Heart Wildflowers

Personal Photo from Yellow Island, San Juan Islands, WA

This is my ode to wildflowers and how they make my insides smile. The first time I ever saw a medow full of wildflowers was high in the Swiss Alps. I could have just died right there. Take me away, this was heaven. Dining on a picnic lunch of cheese and fresh bread on a rock amongst those gorgeous, steep, colorful meadows was liking Heidi come to life.


Since then I've seen many beautiful hillsides of wildflowers. Nothing compared to the brilliant display on Yellow Island, one of the San Juan Islands off the northern coast of Washington state. It takes only about 10 minutes to walk the circumference of the little islands but the whole thing is swathed in wildflowers in dozens of varieties and a rainbow of colours.


Wild spaces can be so awe inspiring. This is why we get outside.

Hello Blogosphere!

Hello Blogosphere, is anyone out there?


My first post ever...how exhilarating yet humbling.


About this blog: I need an outlet from all the days spent in the concrete jungle. I'm hoping to find a network of like minded outdoor enthusiasts to connect and converse with. I also hope to provide some tools for beginning hikers/campers/outdoor etcetera-ers to enable their own adventures. I'm no expert and I'm far from hardcore, but hopefully I'm a person that the gangs of weekend warriors can relate to.

The view from Blueberry Ridge, above Mount Baker ski area.


About Me: I started backcountry camping in the fall of 2006 and have been slowly building my experience and my arsenal since then. I believe in leaving no trace, in encouraging others to experience the outdoors, and in appreciating the beauty all around me. It's my goal to visit a new National Park each year. My guy, Mountain Man, loves the outdoors as much as I do and is always pushing me to do something new and exciting. I do a lot of hiking and snowshoeing, a fair bit of camping, an increasing amount of road biking, a sprinkling of paddling, and a smidgen of climbing.


Hopefully I can encourage you to wander over and visit a while. If not, you'll just find me here typing away for my own amusement, dreaming of my next weekend adventure.


Happy Wandering,


CB