Quote of the Month
“Wisdom begins in wonder.” ~ Socrates
Above: The closest I usually come to being “outdoorsy.”
“Seasons change. Feelings Change.” - Expose, 80’s pop group.
Oprah often speaks of the things she “knows for sure.” She is far more confident than I. There is very little that I am truly certain of beyond my love for family and friends. I thought I also loved caffeine and chocolate. But recently that relationship was disrupted in a way that makes me unsure .
I spent 7 days at Mountain Trek in British Columbia. It’s a high-end retreat that aims to transform its guests. There are physical aspects to that change, but the biggest ones are mental. A focus on meditation - both traditional and forest bathing options, good, healthy food, and getting outside, turned this non-adventurous, happiest-on-the-couch-with-her-laptop introvert into a backpack wearing, sips from a 3L water bladder, eats an apple on the side of the mountain type of gal.
No one is more surprised than me.
When the kids were little, I often got outdoors by proxy. But by choice? When I’m home, I’m happiest watching the world pass by from my porch.
It took a semi-forced exodus to change my mind. But if I really think about it ,the transformation that happened at Mountain Trek is part of a series of transformations that are always happening in all of us, all of the time. It was the next step in a series of steps my body has been craving since the pandemic began to wane.
The week before Mountain Trek, knowing 3-hour hikes and coffee deprivation were in my future, I spent a week at the Adventure Travel Trade Association mini-conference in Maine. It’s an area of travel I’d like to be able to share more about with readers. There was a much shorter hike there, but it was a confidence builder. And seeing all of the adventurers in attendance, of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities and abilities…helped me to remember that there is room in the outdoors for us all.
My week at Mountain Trek wasn’t an easy week, but it was a week made easier by the support team. Not everyone will be able to afford this adventure. But you can take some of the basics and move them into your own life. Drink more water. Walk more often. Breathe more deeply. (In fact, the Mountain Trek website offers free recipes and ideas.)
Embracing your inner outdoorsy person takes effort (ask me how I know) but after a few nibbles of that outdoor life, I’m feeling better and more motivated to get up off the porch. And, like any good evangelist, I’m wishing you the same.
Making the outdoors more comfortable for all
If hiking brings to mind, thin bodies and expensive gear, you’ve likely seen a hiking brochure. Don’t fit the mold and you might feel left out. But things are slowly changing for the better.
Recent trips reminded me of two game-changing movements that could turn the tide and finally encourage more people to get outside.
Gear Sharing: I love this concept. A lot of us can’t afford the top priced stuff but want to have outdoor trips too. I saw this concept most recently while visiting Millinocket,Maine. The Katahdin Gear Library allows anyone to borrow everything from bikes to helmets to skis to backpacks to help you get outside. The great news is that these spots are popping up all over. Just search for “gear library” and your closest city to find them. In the Greater Toronto Are, check out the University of Toronto Outing Club, Arcteryx Gear Libray and the BIPOC outdoor gear library in Guelph .
Gear You Want to Wear: Another concept I love seeing is the increase in fitness gear that caters to people of all sizes and fashion tastes. You don’t have to wear gray and black to be outside, and you don’t have to already be fit and/or skinny to get into a great jacket. Helly Hansen which is one of the most popular gear designers out there has all kinds of offerings that now cater to all sizes and sentiments. I tested out some the items recently and was pleasantly surprised by the colour choices available and boots that didn’t require me to break them in before hitting the trails. And I’m excited to get my hands on some of the items in the Unlikely Hikers collection at Merrell.com collection.
Here’s hoping more outfitters move in this direction. The outdoors should be for everyone.
Now that you have the gear, I know exactly where you should go. Read all about it by clicking over to our post on Globetrottingmama.com by clicking the link below.
What we’re thinking about this week:
If you’re entering those messy middle years when aging parents and older kids collide, you’ll take comfort in reading about how Asha Dornfest manages it.
Whether you call Canada home or you’re looking for a place for your next family vacation, these hidden gems from writers who know them best are worth considering.
Did you catch my story about travelling to NYC with my son? You can read that here or pop over to my Instagram feed (@byheathergd) and check out this reel for some ideas for a trip of your own.
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